[Research advances of K-ras mutation in the prognosis and targeted therapy of gastric cancer]

K-ras mutations have been described in 30% of human cancers with significantly different mutation frequencies. High K-ras mutation frequency is found in many cancers such as pancreas and lung cancers, whereas, gastric cancer has a relatively low K-ras mutation frequency. In recent years, numerous researches have focused on the K-ras mutation in gastric cancer. This review summarizes the K-ras mutation frequency in gastric cancer, the relationship of K-ras mutation with clinicopathologic features and prognosis of gastric cancer patients, targeted therapy for K-ras mutated gastric cancer, some small-molecular inhibitors of K-ras, and development of targeted therapy drugs for K-ras signaling pathway in gastric cancer.

Association of ectomycorrhizal fungi with Picea crassifolia (Pinaceae, Piceoidae) from high-altitude stands in Mount Helan Nature Reserve, China

We investigated the diversity of ectomycorrhiza associated with the endemic Picea crassifolia in Mount Helan National Nature Reserve in Inner Mongolia, China. Toward this objective, we conducted morphological and molecular identification of ectomycorrhizae in soil cubes taken from pure P. crassifolia stands. Eleven types of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) organisms were separated, briefly described, and identified. Nine morphotypes belonged to the phylum Basidiomycotina [Amphinema byssoides, Cortinarius sp (cf. limonius), Cortinarius vernus, Inocybe cf. nitidiscula, Inocybe sp 1, Sebacina incrustans, Sebacina sp, Suillus luteus, and Piceirhiza tuberculata x Picea crassifolia (comb. Nov.)], and two morphotypes to the phylum Ascomycotina (Cenococcum geophilum and Helvella sp). The diversity of ECM organisms in P. crassifolia was lower than that reported by other studies on spruce or pine forests, or on sporocarp diversity in the high-mountain forests of China. Most of the fungi in the rhizosphere did not correspond to species previously recorded as sporocarps above ground. Here, several new ectomycorrhiza morphotypes are proposed and described. We also confirmed the ectomycorrhizal status of the genus Sebacina (order Sebacinales).

Characterization of Th17 and FoxP3(+) Treg Cells in Paediatric Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis is one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions affecting both children and adults. Growing evidence indicates that T-helper 17 (Th17) cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the relationship between Th17 and Treg cells and their dynamic variations in paediatric psoriasis remain unclear. In this study, we found that both Th17 and FoxP3(+) Treg cells and the ratio of Th17 to Treg cell frequency in the peripheral circulation were increased in patients with paediatric psoriasis and were positively correlated with the disease severity. The function of Treg to suppress CD4(+) CD25(-) T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion was impaired during the onset of psoriasis. After disease remission, both the Th17 and Treg cell frequencies were decreased, and the suppressive function of the Treg cells was obviously restored. However, neither Treg cells from the disease onset nor those after remission can regulate IL-17 secretion by CD4(+) T cells. These findings will further our understanding of the associations between Th17 and Treg cells in paediatric psoriasis and their influence on disease severity.

Development and characterization of aptamer-based enzyme-linked apta-sorbent assay for the detection of Singapore grouper iridovirus infection

AIMS

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a devastating aquaculture virus responsible for heavy economic losses to grouper, Epinephelus sp. aquaculture. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive detection method for SGIV infections in infected groupers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We previously generated DNA aptamers against SGIV-infected cells. In this study, we established and characterized a novel aptamer (Q3)-based enzyme-linked apta-sorbent assay (ELASA) for the detection of SGIV infection in Epinephelus coioides. The Q3-based ELASA could detect SGIV infection rapidly in vitro and in vivo, with high specificity and stability. Q3-based ELASA specifically recognized SGIV-infected cells, but not other-virus-infected cells or uninfected cells. Q3-based ELASA detected SGIV infection in a dose-dependent manner at Q3 concentrations as low as 125 nmol l(-1) . The results in relation to SGIV-infected cells (5 × 10(4) ), incubation time (1 min) and incubation temperature (37°C) demonstrated that Q3-based ELASA could detect SGIV infection quickly and stably, superior to antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Q3-based ELASA could detect the presence of SGIV infection in kidney, liver and spleen samples in vivo, at dilutions of 1/50, 1/100 and 1/50 respectively. The complete detection process took 1-2 h.

CONCLUSIONS

Q3-based ELASA could be a useful tool for diagnosing SGIV infection.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first developed aptamer-based ELASA for detecting SGIV infection, and is widely applicable in grouper aquaculture industry in light of its rapidity, and high specificity and stability.

Increased expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the cytoplasm of placental syncytiotrophoblast from preeclamptic placentae

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterised by an inappropriate maternal inflammatory response during pregnancy. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was originally characterised as a nuclear protein but when released into the extracellular environment following necrotic cell death, it is proinflammatory. HMGB1 is expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast of human placenta. Higher levels of uric acid are reported in preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression of HMGB1differed between early onset and late onset preeclampsia or severe and mild preeclampsia and whether its expression correlated with the levels of uric acid.

METHODS

74 preeclamptic placentae and 110 normotensive placentae were included in this study. The levels of uric acid in women with preeclampsia were measured. The expression of HMGB1 in preeclamptic placentae or in first trimester and term placentae that had been treated with uric acid was measured.

RESULTS

HMGB1 was expressed predominantly in the syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta and the expression of HMGB1 in the cytoplasm of the syncytiotrophoblast was significantly increased in both severe preeclampsia and early onset preeclampsia compared to normotensive pregnancies. The circulating levels of uric acid were significantly increased in preeclampsia and correlated with the expression of HMGB1. Increased levels of HMGB1 were significantly correlated with the severity and the time of onset of preeclampsia, but pathologic levels of uric acid did not increase the expression of HMGB1.

CONCLUSION

Our data provides a better understanding of the function of HMGB1, a danger molecule in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

[Study on anti-oxidase in smoking-related laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective:To investigate the role of oxidative stress in smoking-related laryngeal squamous carcinoma through detecting the expression of antioxidant enzymes in smoking patients. Method:A total of 138 cases with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma enrolled in the first hospital affiliated the northern he bei college from 2012 to 2015 and forty five volunteers were conducted. All participants were divided into three groups according to smoking index: group A(heavy smoking, 88 cases of laryngeal cancer patients) and group B(no smoking 50 cases of laryngeal cancer patients) and C group(45 heavy smoking volunteers).Catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px) and malondialdehyde(MDA) and the expression of NRF2 in serum, tissue adjacent to carcinoma, and carcinoma tissues from each groups were measured, respectively. Result:①the expression of the CAT and GSH-px in group A were significantly lower than that of group B(P <0.05), but higher than that of group C(P <0.05); ②the MDA level of group A is significantly higher than group B(P <0.05) and C group(P <0.01);③NRF2 was highly expressed in carcinoma tissues, and the expression level was negatively correlated with degree of carcinoma differentiation (P <0.05). Conclusion:Compared with nonsmoking patients, heavy smoking patients with laryngeal cancer were under more severe oxidative stress. NRF2 expression level in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas was associated with pathological stage.

ID: 115: TRKA TRANSACTIVATION BY LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID REGULATES LUNG EPITHELIAL CELL MIGRATION

Background

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid, which plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. LPA exerts its biological effects mainly through cell-surface LPA receptors (LPA1-6), which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Recent studies suggest that cross-talk between receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and GPCRs modulates GPCR-mediated signaling. TrkA receptor is a RTK, which mediates nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced biological functions including cell migration in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues.

Methods and Results

Here, we show that LPA treatment of the murine lung epithelial cell line (MLE-12 cells) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of TrkA in both time- and dose-dependent manners. These effects were attenuated by downregulating the LPA1 receptor. Furthermore, LPA induces interaction between LPA1 and TrkA. Co-immunoprecipitation experiment reveals that c-terminus of LPA1 contains the binding site for TrkA. Further, we found that LPA1 and phosphorylated TrkA were co-localized in both the plasma membrane and cytoplasm. Pretreatment with a TrkA inhibitor attenuated LPA-induced phosphorylation of TrkA receptor and LPA1 internalization as well as lung epithelial cell migration.

Conclusion

These studies reveal a molecular mechanism for the transactivation of TrkA by LPA, and suggest that the cross-talk between LPA1 and TrkA regulates LPA-induced receptor internalization and lung epithelial cell migration.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01HL091916 and R01HL112791 to Y.Z, R01GM115389 to J.Z.), American Heart Association 12SDG9050005 (J.Z.), American Lung Association Biomedical Research Grant RG350146 (J.Z.).

ID: 114: AN ANTAGONIST OF LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID RECEPTOR1, AM966, INCREASES PULMONARY ENDOTHELIAL PERMEABILITY THROUGH ACTIVATION OF VE-CADHERIN

Background

Maintenance of pulmonary endothelial barrier integrity is important for reducing severity of lung injury. VE-cadherin is a major component of cell–cell adherens junctions in endothelium. In response to inflammatory stimuli, VE-cadherin is tyrosine phosphorylated, resulting in dissociation with catenins, which links to f-actin. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid, which regulates cell motility. LPA has been shown to increase lung epithelial barrier integrity, while it reduces endothelial barrier function. AM966 is an antagonist exhibiting an anti-fibrotic property. However, the effect of AM966 on pulmonary endothelial barrier integrity has not been well studied.

Methods and Results

To investigate endothelial barrier integrity, electric cell-substrate sensing (ECIS) system was used to measure permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). Similar to the effect of LPA, AM966 increases permeability immediately in a dose dependent manner. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which regulates AM966-mediated reduction of endothelial barrier function, HLMVECs were treated with AM966, and then phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) and VE-cadherin were determined by immunoblotting. AM966 increased phosphorylation of MLC and VE-cadherin. VE-cadherin and f-actin double immunostaining revealed that AM966 induces gap formation and f-actin stress fibers as well as dissociation between VE-cadherin and f-actin.

Conclusion

This study reveals that AM966 induces lung endothelial barrier dysfunction, which is regulated by phosphorylation of VE-cadherin.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01GM115389 to J.Z.), American Heart Association 12SDG9050005 (J.Z.), American Lung Association Biomedical Research Grant RG350146 (J.Z.).

ID: 107: MITOXANTRONE INHIBITS TGFβ1-INDUCED SIGNALING THROUGH PROMOTING TGFβ RECEPTOR II DEGRADATION

Background

The transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling pathway and its downstream effects play a central role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. TGFβ induces the phosphorylation of transcriptional factors SMAD2 and SMAD3, thereby increasing the expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibronectin (FN), two key proteins in the development of fibrosis. This effect is mediated by two receptors, TGFβ receptor I (TβRI) and TGFβ receptor II (TβRII). The protein stability of TβRI has been well studied, while the molecular regulation of TβRII still remains unclear. This project elucidates the role that Mitoxantrone (MTX), a FDA-approved anti-cancer drug, has in the regulation of TGFβ1 signaling through the reduction of TβRII stability.

Methods and Results

To study TGFβ1 signaling, human fetal lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) was used. As expected, TGFβ1 treatment of MRC-5 cells induced phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3, with the ultimate expression of FN and SMA. These effects of TGFβ1 on FN and SMA were attenuated by MTX treatment, without altering SMAD2 and SMAD3 levels. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which MTX regulates TGFβ1 signaling, we examined the expression of TβRI and TβRII. MTX reduced TβRII levels in time and dose dependent manners, while MTX had no effect on TβRI levels. MTX-induced TβRII degradation was inhibited by proteasome inhibitor (MG-132), not lysosome inhibitor (Leupeptin). Overexpression of HA tagged ubiquitin promoted MTX-induced TβRII degradation, suggesting that TβRII degradation by MTX is through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Further, MTX increased TβRII ubiquitination and reduced TβRII neddylation, which has been known to negatively regulate TβRII stability by c-Cbl.

Conclusion

These studies reveal that treatment with MTX reduces the levels of TβRII by increasing its ubiquitination and reduction of TβRII neddylation; therefore, MTX is a potential anti-fibrotic drug for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

The study is supported by NIH R01 HL112791 (to YZ), NIH R01GM115389 (to JZ), and American Lung Association Biomedical Research Grant RG350146 (to J.Z.).

ID: 108: DEUBIQUITINATING ENZYME 11 STABILIZES TGFβ RECEPTOR II AND REGULATES TGFβ1 SIGNALING IN PULMONARY FIBROBLAST

Background

Protein stability is regulated by ubiquitination and deubiquitination. The ubiquitin-deubiquitination system contributes to the regulation of tumor growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling. TGFβ1 mediates its signaling and pro-fibrotic effects through binding to its receptors, TGFβ receptor I (TβRI) and TβRII. Here we reveal that deubiquitinating enzyme USP11 regulates TGFβ1 signaling through stabilization of TβRII.

Methods and Results

Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis is a wildly used murine model of pulmonary fibrosis. Analysis of murine lung tissue lysates from 3 weeks of bleomycin challenge revealed that USP11 levels were elevated in lung tissues from bleomycin-challenged mice. TGFβ1 plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. TGFβ1 treatment of human lung fibroblast cells (HLF) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of USP11. To investigate the effect of USP11 in the TGFβ1 signaling, HLF cells were transfected with USP11 shRNA. USP11 shRNA reduced USP11 levels as well as TβRII expression in HLF. Overexpression of HA tagged USP11 (USP11-HA) enhanced TβRII lifespan. Co-immunostaining revealed that V5 tagged TβRII (TβRII-V5) and USP11-HA colocalized at plasma membrane and cytoplasm. TβRII ubiquitination was promoted by USP11 shRNA, while it was reduced by USP11-HA. Further, we investigated the role of USP11 in TGFβ1-mediated signaling, such as phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3. USP11-HA facilitated TGFβ1-induced phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3, which was attenuated in USP11 shRNA transfected HLF cells.

Conclusion

This study indicates that USP11 contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis by regulating targeting TβRII for its deubiquitination and stabilization.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01HL091916 and R01HL112791 to Y.Z, R01GM115389 to J.Z.), American Heart Association 12SDG9050005 (J.Z.), American Lung Association Biomedical Research Grant RG350146 (J.Z.).

Multicenter study of autoverification methods of hematology analysis

This study was designed to establish and validate a set of autoverification methods for hematology analysis. One thousand and twenty-four samples were selected from Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and 999 from Beijing Hospital, China. False positive, false negative and autoverification pass rates were verified and the rules were then adjusted and confirmed according to the verification results. After confirmation, at least 10,000 sample cases were selected from Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Beijing Hospital and China Armed Police General Hospital and checked automatically. The differences in the autoverification pass rate and average report delivery time before and after the application of the autoverification methods were compared between the three hospitals. Preliminary validation results showed that the false negative rates of the Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and Beijing Hospital were less than 2%. The false positive rates of these two hospitals were high, close to 18%. After rule adjustment, the false negative rate was basically the same as before adjustment, but the false positive rate declined obviously while the pass rate of autoverification improved significantly. The autoverification pass rates of the three hospitals were 76.4%, 85.1% and 84.2%, respectively. The turnover time (TAT, time from receipt of sample to report of the result) of the three hospitals decreased by 4.1 min, 8.8 min and 10.2 min, respectively. Autoverification systems using a Mindray BC-6800 auto hematology analyzer and labXpert were confirmed as being effective in reducing TAT and enhancing working efficiency on the premise of ensuring low false negative rate.

Spectroradiometric and Chemical Analysis of Severely Discolored Endodontically Treated Teeth

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the chemical changes and discoloration of endodontically treated teeth using spectroradiometric and chemical analyses.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Ten freshly extracted sound third molars and 10 discolored molars obtained after root canal treatment (RCT) were included in this study. Dentin blocks (3 × 3 × 1 mm) were prepared and treated with an intracoronal bleaching agent. Spectroradiometric evaluations, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analyses were performed before and after bleaching. The spectroradiometric parameters and XPS and ATR-FTIR spectra of the dentin slabs were analyzed using independent-sample t-tests or one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Differences in color coordinates and translucency parameters were observed between the two groups before bleaching. Demineralization effects were also detected in the discolored dentin. No binding energy shifts or new spectral bands were found in the XPS and ATR-FTIR spectra, except in the narrow-scanned XPS spectra of C1s. Significant changes in color coordinates were also found in both groups after bleaching, and the translucency parameter was remarkably altered in discolored dentin. The organic and inorganic components of dentin also decreased in both groups. However, binding energy shifts (ie, C1s, Ca2p, and P2p) were detected only in discolored dentin.

CONCLUSION

Significant alterations in the organic and inorganic components of dentin contributed to the discoloration of endodontically treated teeth. Moreover, intracoronal bleaching could effectively whiten both discolored and vital dentin. The chemical compositions of mineral and organic components within discolored dentin are more sensitive to the acid bleaching agent than normal teeth.

Management of hip fractures in older people in Beijing: a retrospective audit and comparison with evidence-based guidelines and practice in the UK

Despite the high burden of hip fracture in China, there is limited information on its management. This study investigated the management of hip fractures in a Beijing tertiary hospital and compared practice with that in 180 hospitals in the UK. The findings show a significant gap exists between the countries.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to determine if the management of older people with hip fractures in a Beijing tertiary hospital is comparable with the UK best practice guidelines for hip fracture management and the UK National Hip Fracture Database 2012, obtained from 180 hospitals.

METHODS

A retrospective audit was undertaken in a large tertiary care hospital in Beijing. Data were compared with the National Hip Fracture Database 2012 collected in 180 hospitals in the UK on the proportion of patients managed according to the UK Blue Book standards.

RESULTS

Sixty-six percent of patients were admitted to an orthopaedic ward within 24 h of fracture, while 100 % of patients in the UK were admitted to an orthopaedic ward within 24 h of arrival to an accident and emergency department. Only 8 % of patients received surgery within 48 h of admission compared with 83 % in the UK; 10 % received no surgery compared with 2.5 % in the UK; and 27 % received orthogeriatrician assessment compared with 70 % in the UK. New pressure ulcers developed in 2 % of patients compared with 3.7 % of those in the UK; whereas, 0.3 % of patients were assessed for osteoporosis treatment and 3.8 % received falls assessment, and comparable figures for the UK were 94 and 92 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant gaps exist in hip fracture management in the Beijing hospital compared with the best practice achieved in 180 UK hospitals, highlighting the need to implement and evaluate proactive strategies to increase the uptake of best practice hip fracture care in China.

π Berry phase and Zeeman splitting of Weyl semimetal TaP

The recent breakthrough in the discovery of Weyl fermions in monopnictide semimetals provides opportunities to explore the exotic properties of relativistic fermions in condensed matter. The chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and π Berry phase are two fundamental transport properties associated with the topological characteristics of Weyl semimetals. Since monopnictide semimetals are multiple-band systems, resolving clear Berry phase for each Fermi pocket remains a challenge. Here we report the determination of Berry phases of multiple Fermi pockets of Weyl semimetal TaP through high field quantum transport measurements. We show our TaP single crystal has the signatures of a Weyl state, including light effective quasiparticle masses, ultrahigh carrier mobility, as well as negative longitudinal magnetoresistance. Furthermore, we have generalized the Lifshitz-Kosevich formula for multiple-band Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations and extracted the Berry phases of π for multiple Fermi pockets in TaP through the direct fits of the modified LK formula to the SdH oscillations. In high fields, we also probed signatures of Zeeman splitting, from which the Landé g-factor is extracted.

High thermoelectric performance of the distorted bismuth(110) layer

The thermoelectric properties of the distorted bismuth(110) layer are investigated using first-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport equation for both electrons and phonons.

Use of morphological features of carbonaceous materials for improved mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites

The mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites can be significantly altered by tailoring the morphological features of carbonaceous fillers.

Edge multi-energy soft x-ray diagnostic in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak

A multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) diagnostic has been built for electron temperature profile in the edge plasma region in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) after two rounds of campaigns. Originally, five preamplifiers were mounted inside the EAST vacuum vessel chamber attached to five vertically stacked compact diode arrays. A custom mechanical structure was designed to protect the detectors and electronics under constraints of the tangential field of view for plasma edge and the allocation of space. In the next experiment, the mechanical structure was redesigned with a barrel structure to absolutely isolate it from the vacuum vessel. Multiple shielding structures were mounted at the pinhole head to protect the metal foils from lithium coating. The pre-amplifiers were moved to the outside of the vacuum chamber to avoid introducing interference. Twisted copper cooling tube was embedded into the back-shell near the diode to limit the temperature of the preamplifiers and diode arrays during vacuum vessel baking when the temperature reached 150 °C. Electron temperature profiles were reconstructed from ME-SXR measurements using neural networks.

An efficient empirical Bayes method for genomewide association studies

Linear mixed model (LMM) is one of the most popular methods for genomewide association studies (GWAS). Numerous forms of LMM have been developed; however, there are two major issues in GWAS that have not been fully addressed before. The two issues are (i) the genomic background noise and (ii) low statistical power after Bonferroni correction. We proposed an empirical Bayes (EB) method by assigning each marker effect a normal prior distribution, resulting in shrinkage estimates of marker effects. We found that such a shrinkage approach can selectively shrink marker effects and reduce the noise level to zero for majority of non-associated markers. In the meantime, the EB method allows us to use an 'effective number of tests' to perform Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. Simulation studies for both human and pig data showed that EB method can significantly increase statistical power compared with the widely used exact GWAS methods, such as GEMMA and FaST-LMM-Select. Real data analyses in human breast cancer identified improved detection signals for markers previously known to be associated with breast cancer. We therefore believe that EB method is a valuable tool for identifying the genetic basis of complex traits.

Associations between body mass index and maternal weight gain on the delivery of LGA infants in Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk for maternal and fetal complications including delivery of large for gestational age (LGA) infants. Maternal body mass index (BMI) and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are associated with delivery of LGA infants. However, whether maternal BMI and weight gain are associated with LGA infants in women with GDM is unclear.

BASIC PROCEDURES

Data on 1049 pregnant women who developed GDM were collected from a university teaching hospital in China and retrospectively analyzed. Data included maternal BMI, weight gain, incidence of LGA and gestational week at diagnosis.

MAIN FINDINGS

The incidence of LGA infants was significantly associated with maternal BMI (p=0.0002) in women with GDM. The odds of delivery of LGA for obese or overweight pregnant women are 3.8 or 2 times more than normal weight pregnant women. The incidence of LGA infants was also significantly associated with maternal weight gain in women with GDM. The odds ratio of delivery of LGA for pregnant women with excessive weight gain was 3.3 times more than pregnant women with normal weight gain. The effect of weight gain was not significantly different between different maternal BMI.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION

The incidence of delivery of LGA infants in Chinese women with GDM who were overweight or obese is higher than Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian-Americans. The effects of maternal BMI and weight gain on the delivery of LGA infants by women with GDM are additive.

Expression and function of PDGF-α in columnar epithelial cells of age-related cataracts patients

We studied the expression and function of platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-α) in the lens epithelial cells of cataracts patients. Ninety age-related cataracts patients were recruited in our hospital between January 2012 and January 2014. The expression levels of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) in the anterior capsule of the lens at different degrees of turbidity, and PDGF-α in the aqueous humor were detected. A human lens epithelium cell line was also cultured and studied. To investigate its function, PDGF-α was used to treat a PDGFR-silenced human lens epithelium cell line to observe changes in the proliferation, transfer, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The expression of PDGF-α and its receptor increased in patients with more serious cataracts. Lens epithelium cells stimulated by PDGF-α showed greater proliferation and migration. The degree of EMT was also upregulated in cells stimulated by PDGF-α. However, silencing the expression of PDGFR inhibited the effects. The development and severity of age-related cataracts was related to the secretion and expression of PDGF-α. This may be a new therapeutic target for cataracts treatment.

IL-1 beta but not the NALP3 inflammasome is an important determinant of endothelial cell responses to necrotic/dangerous trophoblastic debris

INTRODUCTION

Necrotic but not apoptotic trophoblastic debris can induce endothelial cell activation but the mechanism by which endothelial cells distinguish apoptotic from necrotic debris is unclear. The NALP3 inflammasome is a pattern recognition receptor that macrophages employ to recognise "danger signals" in necrotic cell corpses. In this study, we hypothesized that endothelial cells can identify and respond to necrotic trophoblastic debris via the NALP3 inflammasome.

METHODS

The effect of trophoblastic debris on endothelial expression of NALP3 inflammasome components was investigated using qRT-PCR, immunoassays and fluorescent caspase 1 activity assay. IL-1β in was quantified by ELISA. Endothelial cell activation was measured by cell surface ICAM expression and monocytes adhesion assay.

RESULTS

The NALP3 inflammasome was expressed in resting vascular endothelial cells and is involved in endothelial response to danger signals. However, exposure to necrotic trophoblastic debris did not significantly alter the expression of any of the three components of the NALP3 inflammasome at the mRNA level, nor was caspase-1 activation increased. Conditioned media from endothelial cells exposed to necrotic trophoblastic debris contained elevated levels of IL-1β which was derived from the necrotic debris and which contributed to endothelial cell activation.

DISCUSSION

Necrotic trophoblastic debris induced endothelial cell activation through the IL-1β/IL-1R pathway. However, the NALP3 inflammasome in endothelial cells was not involved in this process.

Inhibition of Drp1 by Mdivi-1 attenuates cerebral ischemic injury via inhibition of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway after cardiac arrest

Mitochondrial fission is predominantly controlled by the activity of dynamin-related protein1 (Drp1), which has been reported to be involved in mitochondria apoptosis pathways. However, the role of Drp1 in a rat model of cardiac arrest remains unknown. In this study, we found that activation of Drp1 in the mitochondria was increased after cardiac arrest and inhibition of Drp1 by 1.2 mg/kg of mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (Mdivi-1) administration after the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) significantly protected against cerebral ischemic injury, shown by the increased 72-h survival rate and improved neurological function. Moreover, the increase of the vital neuron and the reduction of cytochrome c (CytC) release, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation and caspase-3 activation in the brain indicate that this protection might result from the suppression of neuron apoptosis. Altogether, these results indicated that Drp1 is activated after cardiac arrest and the inhibition of Drp1 is protective against cerebral ischemic injury in a rat of cardiac arrest model via inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Detection of functional polymorphisms influencing the promoter activity of the SAA2 gene and their association with milk production traits in Chinese Holstein cows

Our previous RNA sequencing experiment showed that the serum amyloid A2 (SAA2) gene was one of the most promising candidates for milk protein and fat traits in dairy cattle. The SAA2 gene encodes an apolipoprotein related to high-density lipoproteins. To further validate its genetic effects, genotype-phenotype associations were performed in this study. Through resequencing of the entire coding region and the 5'-regulatory region of the SAA2 gene using pooled DNA of 12 unrelated sires, one novel 3-bp insertion-deletion and five previously reported SNPs were detected. These identified SNPs were genotyped and tested for association with five milk production-related traits in 717 Chinese Holstein cows. After Bonferroni correction for multiple t-tests, five of them were found to be statistically significant for milk yield, fat yield and protein yield (P < 0.0001~0.0053). Haplotype-based association analysis revealed a similar effect on fat yield and protein yield (P = 0.0005, P = 0.0032 respectively). Then, using luciferase report assay, the regulatory effect of the three SNPs located in the promoter region (c.-22G>A; c.17G>C; c.114G>A) was evaluated on transcriptional activity. In HEK-293 cell lines, we found that constructs GCG and AGG showed higher luciferase activity compared with GCA (P < 0.01, P < 0.01 respectively). Meanwhile, the prediction of the putative differential transcription factor binding site revealed that c.17G>C and c.114G>A caused the alteration in the transcription factor. Overall, the findings presented here provide the first evidence for associations of the SAA2 gene with milk fat and protein traits, which appears to be a key candidate for milk production traits in dairy cattle.

In Vivo Antioxidant Properties of Lotus Root and Cucumber: A Pilot Comparative Study in Aged Subjects

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of lotus root and cucumber on antioxidant function in aged subjects.

DESIGN

Pilot comparative study.

SETTING

Research setting with vegetable intervention.

PARTICIPANTS

Healthy aged subjects over the age of sixty.

INTERVENTION

30-day supplementation of lotus root or cucumber powder.

MEASUREMENTS

Plasma value of ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, activity of antioxidant enzymes, contents of some antioxidants, oxidation products, hemolysis, blood mononuclear cell DNA damage and urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine were measured before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, contents of vitamin C, total phenolics were significantly increased, while plasma uric acid content significantly decreased in both groups at the end of the intervention. Meanwhile, hemolysis was significantly reduced in both groups and DNA injury rate of blood mononuclear cells in lotus root group and the ratio of comet tail length to total length in cucumber group were also declined significantly post-intervention. However, plasma value of ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, contents of reduced glutathione, vitamin E, malondialdehyde, oxidized low density lipoprotein, carbonyls and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase were not changed significantly in both group after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that lotus root and cucumber are not remarkably different in improving antioxidant function in aged subjects, though they are significantly different in antioxidant capacity in vitro. The benefits observed in this study may come from the additive or synergistic combinations of antioxidants contained in vegetables.

Drastic Pressure Effect on the Extremely Large Magnetoresistance in WTe2: Quantum Oscillation Study

The quantum oscillations of the magnetoresistance under ambient and high pressure have been studied for WTe2 single crystals, in which extremely large magnetoresistance was discovered recently. By analyzing the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, four Fermi surfaces are identified, and two of them are found to persist to high pressure. The sizes of these two pockets are comparable, but show increasing difference with pressure. At 0.3 K and in 14.5 T, the magnetoresistance decreases drastically from 1.25×10(5)% under ambient pressure to 7.47×10(3)% under 23.6 kbar, which is likely caused by the relative change of Fermi surfaces. These results support the scenario that the perfect balance between the electron and hole populations is the origin of the extremely large magnetoresistance in WTe2.

The anti-inflammatory effect of calcium for preventing endothelial cell activation in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by endothelial activation. It is believed to be a response to a 'toxin(s)' from the placenta including trophoblastic debris and inflammatory cytokines. Calcium is known to reduce the risk of preeclampsia but the mechanism of its protective effect remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism(s) of calcium supplementation for preventing endothelial activation induced by trophoblastic debris. Trophoblastic debris was harvested from preeclamptic placentae and also from first-trimester placentae, which had been treated with preeclamptic sera. Endothelial cells were then cultured with trophoblastic debris in the presence of calcium. Endothelial activation was measured by quantifying endothelial cell-surface intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and by U937 monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. The expression of ICAM-1 and U937 adhesion to endothelial cells were significantly reduced following exposure of endothelial cells to trophoblastic debris from preeclamptic placenta or from first-trimester placentae treated with preeclamptic sera in the presence of calcium compared with treatment without calcium. The expression of ICAM-1 was also significantly reduced following exposure of endothelial cells to trophoblastic debris with the nitric oxide donor or following treatment of endothelial cells with interleukin (IL)-1β in the presence of calcium. Our study demonstrated that calcium supplementation prevented endothelial cell activation induced by trophoblastic debris from preeclamptic placentae. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway and anti-inflammatory effects are involved in the action of calcium on endothelial cell activation. These findings may suggest, at least in part, the protective mechanism of calcium supplementation on preeclampsia.