Genetic association of DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes with milk yield and composition in dairy cattle

Previously, we identified by RNA sequencing that DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes were significantly differentially expressed between the mammary glands of lactating Holstein cows with extremely high and low milk protein and fat percentages; thus, these four genes are considered as promising candidates potentially affecting milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle. In the present study, we further verified whether these genes have genetic effects on milk traits in a Chinese Holstein population. By re-sequencing part of the non-coding and the entire coding regions of the DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes, a total of 35 SNPs and three insertions/deletions were identified, of which three were found in DDIT3, 12 in RPL23A, 16 in SESN2 and seven in NR4A1. Moreover, two of the insertions/deletions-g.125714860_125714872del and g.125714806delinsCCCC in SESN2-were novel and have not been reported previously. Subsequent single SNP analyses revealed multiple significant association with all 35 SNPs and three indels regressed against the dairy production traits (P-value = <0.0001-0.0493). In addition, with a linkage disequilibrium analysis, we found one, one, three, and one haplotype blocks in the DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes respectively. Haplotype-based association analyses revealed that some haplotypes were also significantly associated with milk production traits (P-value = <0.0001-0.0461). We also found that 12 SNPs and two indels (two in DDIT3, two in RPL23A, nine in SESN2 and one in NR4A1) altered the specific transcription factor binding sites in the promoter, thereby regulating promoter activity, suggesting that they might be promising potential functional variants for milk traits. In summary, our findings first determined the genetic associations of DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 with milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle and also suggested potentially causal variants, which require in-depth validation.

Plasma metabolite changes in dairy cows during parturition identified using untargeted metabolomics

The metabolic responses of cows undergo substantial changes during the transition from late pregnancy to early lactation. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with these changes in physiological metabolism have not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in transition cows from the perspective of plasma metabolites. Plasma samples collected from 24 multiparous dairy cows on approximately d 21 prepartum and immediately postpartum were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry in positive and negative ion modes. In conjunction with multidimensional statistical methods (principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis), differences in plasma metabolites were identified using the t-test and fold change analysis. Sixty-seven differential metabolites were identified consisting of AA, lipids, saccharides, and nucleotides. The levels of 32 plasma metabolites were significantly higher and those of 35 metabolites significantly lower after parturition than on d 21 prepartum. Pathway analysis indicated that the metabolites that increased from late pregnancy to early lactation were primarily involved in lipid metabolism and energy metabolism, whereas decreased metabolites were related to AA metabolism.

Abstract P3-03-01: Comparison of sentinel lymph node detection performances using methylene blue in conjunction with indocyanine green or radioisotope in breast cancer patients: A prospective single-center cohort study

Aim: This cohort study aimed to compare the clinical efficacies between the novel dual tracer composed of indocyanine green (ICG) and blue dye (BD) and the conventional dual tracer composed of radioisotope and BD for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in breast cancer patients.

Methods: This study enrolled 471 clinically lymph node-negative patients with primary breast cancer. All the patients received mastectomy, while, for the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), they were randomized to receive BD plus radioisotope or BD plus ICG. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients received radioisotope plus BD (Control, RB group) for SLNB, while, 200 patients underwent the ICG plus BD (IB group) for SLNB. The detection performances on SLN identification rate, positive SLN counts, detection sensitivity, and false-negative rate were compared between the two groups. Following SLNB, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed only on patients with metastatic SLNs. Injection safety and potential side-effects of the two dual tracers were evaluated by a 24-month follow-up after the SLNB procedure.

Results: In the IB group, 97% (194/200) of the patients who underwent the ICG and BD dual tracer injection showed fluorescent-positive lymphatic vessels within 2-5 minutes. The identification rate of SLNs was comparable between the IB group (99.0%, 198/200) and the RB group (99.6%, 270/271) (P=0.79). No significant differences were observed in identification rate of metastatic SLNs (22.5% versus 22.9%, P&gt;0.05, RB group versus IB group, the same below), positive SLN counts (3.72±2.28 versus 3.91±2.13, P&gt;0.05), positive metastatic SLN counts (0.38±0.84 versus 0.34±0.78, P&gt;0.05), SLNB detection sensitivity (94.4% vs. 92.5%, P&gt;0.05), or false-negative rate (5.6% versus 7.5%, P&gt;0.05) between the two groups. No obvious allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, infection at the injection sites, skin necrosis or distal metastasis was reported in either group during the 24-month follow-up.

Conclusions: ICG can be used as a promising alternative tracer for radioisotope in SLN mapping, and when it is combined with BD in lymphangiography, it offers comparable detection sensitivity compared to the conventional lymphatic mapping strategies that are widely used in clinical practice.

Efficacy of indocyanine green vs. radioisotope + blue dye for sentinel lymph node mapping in breast cancer patients.Parameters99Tcm-Dx+BD(N=271)ICG+BD (N=200)P-valueSLN identification rate (%)99.6(270/271)99.0(198/200)0.79SLN counts3.91±2.133.72±2.280.09Metastatic SLN rate (%)22.9(62/271)25.5(51/200)0.51Metastatic SLN counts0.34±0.780.38±0.840.46Sensitivity92.5(62/67)94.4(51/54)0.96False-negative rate (%)7.5(5/67)5.6(3/54) 

Citation Format: Qi X, Yuan L, Zhang Y, Jiang J. Comparison of sentinel lymph node detection performances using methylene blue in conjunction with indocyanine green or radioisotope in breast cancer patients: A prospective single-center cohort study [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 P3-03-01.

Abstract OT1-01-04: Phase 1 study of D-0502, an orally bioavailable SERD with optimized pharmacological and PK/PD property for ER-positive breast cancer

Background: Endocrine therapy such as selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) fulvestrant has been used effectively to extend the life of HR+ (ER+ and PR+) and HER2- breast cancer patient, either alone or in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib or abemaciclib. D-0502 is an orally bioavailable SERD with potent activity in various HR+ and HER2- breast cancer cell lines and xenograft models. Its combination with palbociclib in both MCF-7 xenograft model and ESR-1 mutated (Y537S) patient derived breast cancer xenograft models resulted in further tumor growth inhibition or regression. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies both in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that D-0502 exhibits favorable PK profiles suitable for clinical development.

Trial Design: D-0502 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 trial of women with advanced or metastatic HR+, HER2- breast cancer (MBC) (NCT03471663). This is a multicenter, open-label phase I study of D-0502 single agent and D-0502 in combination with standard dose of palbociclib. The primary objective is to characterize the safety and tolerability of D-0502 and D-0502 in combination with palbociclib, to identify an MTD and/or RP2D. The secondary objective is to evaluate the PK properties and the preliminary anti-tumor activities. Patients will receive D-0502 orally every day and treatment will be administered as 28-day cycles. The study has two parts: Dose Escalation (phase 1a) and Dose Expansion and Combination (phase 1b). In phase Ia, patients will be enrolled using a conventional dose-escalation algorithm (3+3 subjects per dose level) with 4 sequential dose cohorts to identify the MTD and RDE (recommended dose for expansion) in phase 1b) which will be at or below MTD. In phase 1b, there will be 2 cohorts, one is D-0502 single agent administered at RDE and the other is D-0502 in combination with standard dose of palbociclib, each with approximately 12 patients.

Key Eligibility Criteria: Eligible patients included women with confirmed HR+, HER2- MBC who have previously received no more than 2 prior chemotherapies for MBC; ECOG 0-1; evaluable (phase 1a) or measurable (phase 1b) disease (RECIST v1.1); premenopausal or postmenopausal status; adequate hematologic, hepatic and renal functions.

Current Status and Contact Information: At the time of abstract submission, the first cohort of 50 mg patients have started the study treatment. For inquiry of the study, please contact ling.zhang@inventisbio.com.

Citation Format: Zhang L, Dai D, Shi Z, Jiang J, Wang Y. Phase 1 study of D-0502, an orally bioavailable SERD with optimized pharmacological and PK/PD property for ER-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 OT1-01-04.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields: promising treatment for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is considered to be a well-defined disease which results in high morbidity and mortality. In patients diagnosed with OP, low bone mass and fragile bone strength have been demonstrated to significantly increase risk of fragility fractures. To date, various anabolic and antiresorptive therapies have been applied to maintain healthy bone mass and strength. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are employed to treat patients suffering from delayed fracture healing and nonunions. Although PEMFs stimulate osteoblastogenesis, suppress osteoclastogenesis, and influence the activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and osteocytes, ultimately leading to retention of bone mass and strength. However, whether PEMFs could be taken into clinical use to treat OP is still unknown. Furthermore, the deeper signaling pathways underlying the way in which PEMFs influence OP remain unclear.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in atypical valve anatomy using the Lotus valve : A Chinese single-center experience

BACKGROUND

In the West, the safety and efficacy of the Lotus valve have been demonstrated; however, data in the Chinese population are still lacking. Few studies have compared the clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the Lotus valve in patients with bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve stenosis. Our aim was to assess TAVR outcomes with the Lotus aortic valve in a Chinese patient cohort.

METHODS

In total, 23 symptomatic, high-surgical risk patients with severe aortic valve stenosis were enrolled. Among them, nine patients (39%) had bicuspid aortic valves, and three patients had a large annulus dimension. The Lotus valve was successfully implanted in all patients. To facilitate accurate positioning, partial re-sheathing was attempted in ten patients (43.5%), while one patient had a full retrieval. One-year clinical follow-up was completed in all patients.

RESULTS

There were no deaths, strokes, or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in 22 of the 23 patients at 30 days; the all-cause mortality rate at 1 year was 4.4% (1 of 23 patients). The mean aortic valve gradient decreased from 51.5 ± 8.8 mm Hg at baseline to 13.4 ± 4.9 mm Hg (p < 0.001) and the valve area increased from 0.6 ± 0.2 cm² to 1.5 ± 0.4 cm² (p < 0.001) at 30 days. Paravalvular leakage was absent or mild (22%), and no patient had severe paravalvular leakage. Six patients (26.1%) required a postprocedural pacemaker. There was no difference regarding the procedural and the 1‑year outcomes between patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Our single-center experience demonstrated that the Lotus valve is feasible and effective for Chinese patients with aortic valve stenosis, including atypical cases with bicuspid aortic valves or large aortic annulus size.

Clinical utility of quantitative dual-energy CT iodine maps and CT morphological features in distinguishing small-cell from non-small-cell lung cancer

AIM

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of quantitative dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT) iodine enhancement metrics combined with morphological CT features in distinguishing small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and six untreated lung cancer patients who underwent DECT before biopsy or surgery were prospectively enrolled. Twenty-seven routine CT descriptors, including tumour location, size, shape, margin, enhancement heterogeneity, and internal and surrounding structures, and associated findings were assessed and DECT parameters were measured in all patients. Multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to identify independent predictors of SCLC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was compared between CT features combined with DECT metrics and CT features alone for distinguishing SCLC from NSCLC.

RESULTS

Histology revealed NSCLC in 80 and SCLC in 26 patients. In univariate analysis, 12 morphological CT features and two DECT metrics differed significantly between NSCLC and SCLC. When DECT parameters were combined with CT features for multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of SCLC were large tumour size, central location, confluent mediastinal lymphadenopathy, homogeneous enhancement, absence of coarse spiculation, and lower iodine density and iodine ratio (all p<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was improved from 0.908 to 0.981 after adding DECT metrics compared with CT features alone (p=0.007).

CONCLUSION

The combination of DECT measures and CT morphological features can be used to distinguish SCLC from NSCLC, with higher diagnostic performance compared with CT morphological features alone.

Feasibility of manufacturing ultra-high performance cement-based composites (UHPCCs) with recycled sand: A preliminary study

Due to the excellent mechanical and durability properties, ultra-high performance cement-based composites (UHPCCs) have attracted a lot of attention during the past decades. It is noted that most existing UHPCCs are manufactured from raw materials with high quality, for instance, well-graded river sands. However, the huge consumption of river sands as construction materials has inevitably resulted in some serious ecological impacts, as reported around the world. In this regard, it shall be much beneficial if some substitutes, such as recycled sands produced through processing of construction and demolition waste (CDW), could be used to replace natural sands to manufacture the qualified UHPCCs. This paper presents such a preliminary study on the feasibility of manufacturing UHPCCs with recycled sands. A total of five UHPCCs are designed and cast with different replacement percentages of recycled sand, i.e., 0%, 30% 50%, 70% and 100% (in mass). The associated packing density of the mixed sands is estimated based on the linear packing model. The fresh and hardened properties of the UHPCCs, including the workability, strength and shrinkage, are experimentally examined. The test results indicate that it is possible to use recycled sand to replace natural river sand in the manufacture of UHPCCs; however, the amount of the recycled sand needs to be limited. In the case when the replacement percentage of the recycled sand is lower than 50% (in mass), the properties of the UHPCCs with the recycled sand are comparable with those containing river sand only.

Using transmission Kikuchi diffraction in a scanning electron microscope to quantify geometrically necessary dislocation density at the nanoscale

It is challenging to quantify the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density at the nanoscale using conventional electron backscatter diffraction due to its limited spatial resolution. To overcome this problem, in this study, the transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) technique is used to measure lattice orientation and to calculate the corresponding nanoscale GND density. Using the TKD method, a variation of GND density from 6 × 10¹⁴ to 10¹⁶ m^-2 has been measured in a welded super duplex stainless steel sample. The distribution of dislocation density is shown to be in good agreement with transmission electron microscope (TEM) result. Compared with dislocation measurements obtained by TEM, the TKD-GND method is revealed to be a relatively accurate, fast and accessible method.

Sex-specific aortic root anatomy in patients with bicuspid aortic valve undergoing TAVR in a Chinese cohort

Objectives

The aim of this study is to investigate the sex-specific aortic root anatomy in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Patients and methods

This retrospective study includes 73 consecutive patients with BAV who underwent CT evaluation before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) between July 2013 and April 2017 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University.

Result

The size of the annulus, diameter and height of the sinotubular junction (STJ), height of the coronary artery ostia, and dimension of the aorta were measured. Women had significantly smaller annulus parameters (mean diameter: 23.4 ± 1.8 vs. 26.1 ± 2.1 mm; area: 425.3 ± 59.4 vs. 527.4 ± 84.6 mm²; perimeter: 74.3 ± 5.2 vs. 83.2 ± 6.4 mm), and STJ diameter (29.7 ± 3.1 vs. 32.6 ± 4.5 mm) than men (p < 0.01 for all), even after adjustment for their smaller body surface area (BSA). Dimension of aorta and height of right coronary artery were also significantly smaller in women, although not when indexing for the BSA. The left ventricular ejection fraction of women is significantly higher than that of men before discharge (60.2 ± 9.7% vs. 53.7 ± 13.6%, p = 0.01). There were no differences between women and men in the all-cause 30-day and 1‑year mortality.

Conclusion

Women with BAV had smaller annulus and STJ diameter after indexing for BSA, reflecting a sex-specific difference. There were no differences in 30-day and 1‑year mortality between the two groups.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00059-018-4740-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Related factors of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus]

Objective: To analyze the related factors of diabetic nephropathy in inpatients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: A total of 300 patients with T1DM who were treated in the Department of Endocrinology of Anhui Provincial Hospital between 2014 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were divided into two groups according to their urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: non-diabetic nephropathy group (n=193) and diabetic nephropathy group (n=107). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the factors related to diabetic nephropathy in T1DM, including the age, diabetic duration, body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of the two groups. Results: Age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid (UA) of diabetic nephropathy group were higher than those of non-diabetic nephropathy group (all P<0.05). The total bilirubin, hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin in non-diabetic nephropathy group were higher than those in diabetic nephropathy group (P<0.05). The proportion of women in diabetic nephropathy group was higher than non-diabetic nephropathy group (62.6% vs 42.0%, P=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes duration (OR=2.142, 95% CI: 1.011-4.539), HbA1c (OR=1.262, 95% CI: 1.090-1.462), DBP (OR=1.048, 95% CI: 1.001-1.096), UA (OR=1.005, 95% CI: 1.001-1.009) and Hb (OR=0.952, 95% CI: 0.929-0.975) were independent related factors for diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: Positive controlling of blood pressure, blood glucose, hyperuricemia and correcting anemia may reduce the incidence of diabetic nephropathy in T1DM patients.

[Analysis on characteristics of hearing loss in occupational noise-exposed workers in automotive manufacturing industry]

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of hearing loss in occupational noise-exposed workers in automotive manufacturing industry. Methods: According to Technical Specifications for Occupational Health Surveillance (GBZ188-2014) , 530 noise-exposed workers were examined for health and pure tone audiometry during January to June, 2017, and the data were collected for analysis. Poisson regression analysis was used to analysis the relationship between work age and hearing loss. Results: After correction of age and gender, pure-tone threshold of 500, 1 000, 2 000, 3 000, 4 000, 6 000 of the noise-exposed workers in the <3 year-exposure group were 20.15±3.60, 18.80±3.43, 18.54±3.38, 19.10±4.03, 20.32±6.79, 23.48±8.92 dB (A) ; the values in the 3-10 year-exposure group were 20.96±5.38, 19.25±4.76, 19.22±5.29, 20.17±7.50, 21.36±8.88, 25.39±11.60 dB (A) ; the values in the >10 year-exposure group were 20.18±3.67, 18.34±3.60, 18.36±4.25, 18.49±4.41, 20.32±9.24, 22.50±9.57 dB (A) . Poisson regression analysis showed that the relative risk (RR) of hearing loss of the noise-exposed workers compared with the noise-free workers was 4.38 (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The noise-exposed workers in automotive manufacturing industry revealed hearing loss, which was associated with their actual working age of noise exposure.

Genetic contribution of suppressor of cytokine signalling polymorphisms to the susceptibility to infection after traumatic injury

Suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins are crucial negative regulators in many signalling pathways and are implicated in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to uncover possible associations of common polymorphisms within SOCS genes with infectious outcomes after traumatic injury. A total of 1087 trauma patients (Chongqing cohort 806 and Yunnan cohort 281) were recruited and followed-up for the development of infectious outcomes, such as sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Twelve selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were screened by pyrosequencing to determine their genotypes and associations with infectious complications. Among the 12 selected SNPs, only the cytokine-inducible Src homology (SH2) domain protein (CISH) promoter rs414171 polymorphism was found consistently to be associated statistically with the incidence of sepsis and MOD score in the two cohorts, despite analysing the SNPs independently or in combination. Further, patients with a T allele had significantly lower CISH expression and lower production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, but higher production of interleukin (IL)-10. Luciferase assay confirmed that the A→T variant in the rs414171 polymorphism inhibited the transcriptional activities of the CISH gene significantly. The CISH rs414171 polymorphism is associated significantly with susceptibility to sepsis and MODS in traumatic patients, which might prove to be a novel biomarker for indicating risk of infectious outcomes in critically injured patients.

Correlations of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory factors with symptom score of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors on International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), to explore their correlations and evaluate the clinical significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

90 patients with BPH were selected and divided into normal blood glucose group and abnormal blood glucose group. The changes of indexes related to prostate function, prostate volume (PV), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and IPSS in two groups were evaluated. The fasting blood glucose (FBS), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and inflammatory factors interleukin-8 (IL-8) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) levels in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) were compared. The correlations of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory factors with IPSS were analyzed by Logistic regression. The changes of these indexes after treatment of BPH were observed.

RESULTS

The FBS, FINS, HOMA-IR, and inflammatory factors IL-8 and COX-2 levels were significantly different between high IPSS group and low IPSS group of patients with BPH. Moreover, the PV and PSA were higher in high IPSS group than those in low IPSS group. The FBS, FINS and inflammatory factors IL-8 and COX-2 levels were positively correlated with IPSS (p<0.05). All the indexes above of BPH patients were decreased after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The FBS, FINS, and inflammatory factors IL-8 and COX-2 levels are closely correlated with IPSS, which can reflect the severity and prognosis of BPH. It can effectively postpone the progression of BPH by lowering blood glucose, improving insulin resistance, and controlling the expressions of inflammatory factors in serum through a healthy lifestyle and clinical comprehensive treatment.

[Xanthogranulonatous pyelonephritis: report of 5 cases]

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an unusual form of chronic pyelonephritis in which the renal parenchyma is destroyed and replaced by lipid-laden foamy macrophages. It usually affects middle-aged women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection, diabetes, or kidney stones. The inflammatory process is usually diffuse and can extend beyond the kidney. The rare focal forms may simulate primary renal tumours. The preoperative imaging diagnosis may be difficult. We reported five cases of XGP, The findings of ours were recorded including kidney size, shape, contour, the echogenecity of the renal parenchyma, the internal echoes of the dilate collecting system, the presence of perinephric fluid accumulation and obstruction. One of the 5 cases was a male patient, and the other four were female, with a mean age of 53 years. He affected kidneys of the 5 cases swelled in different degrees, and one of them was found with line-like anechoic fluid. Among the 5 cases, one kidney appeared as diffusely reducing of the parenchyma echogenicity, multiple hypoechoic areas, disappearance of corticomedullary differentiation and multiple hyperecho with shadow. A round cystic anechoic lesion was found in one kidney, with internal punctate echo and peripheral fluid. Ultrasonographic finding of 1 case was extremely hypoechoic lesion on the left kidney, protruding from the outline of the kidney, with the partial renal capsule discontinuous, the less clear boundary, and a little blood flow in it. Ultrasonographic demonstration of 2 cases was mild dilatation of the collecting system with irregular wall thickening and internal hypoechogenicity, and 1 case was solid lesion with less clear boundary to the pelvic wall and a small amount of blood flow signal, the another 1 case was showed floccule without internal blood flow. Three cases were caused by chronic obstruction verified by operation, of which one was staghorn calculi, one was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in the middle part of the ureter, and one was inflammatory stricture of upper ureteral. Through analysis of the above five cases and review of related literature, we explored diagnoses and management of the patients with XGP. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare chronic variant of pyelonephritis characterized by destruction of the renal parenchyma. Combining ultrasonographic features of XGP with clinical recurrent urinary infection and chronic obstruction, XGP can be included in the differentiation. The diagnosis of XGP suspected by ultrasound can be clarified by CT, MRI, contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

How does social development influence life expectancy? A geographically weighted regression analysis in China

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine how social development influenced life expectancy from a spatio-temporal perspective.

STUDY DESIGN

Data were taken from the China Statistical Yearbooks for 2001 and 2011, which presented results from 2000 to 2010, respectively.

METHODS

A geographically weighted regression method was performed. A total of 31 provinces were treated as units of our analysis, and four social development dimensions were extracted by exploratory factor analysis.

RESULTS

Generally speaking, healthcare and education development could significantly improve life expectancy. Between 2000 and 2010, the positive effects of social harmony and eco-environment development were gradually increasing. Spatially speaking, the enhancing effect of healthcare development on life expectancy generally declined from south to north China; the improving effect of education development generally declined from southwest China to northeast and northwest China. The geographical distributions of the effects of eco-environment and social harmony development on life expectancy were different between 2000 and 2010; the former declined from the eastern coast to west China in 2000 and declined from northwest to south China in 2010, while the latter first declined from north to southwest China in 2000 and then declined from southwest to northeast China in 2010.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the effects of various social development dimensions on life expectancy vary with time and space, it is necessary to improve certain aspects of social development in specific areas and social stages to efficiently improve life expectancy and population health.

Determination of quantitative trait nucleotides by concordance analysis between quantitative trait loci and marker genotypes of US Holsteins

Experimental designs that exploit family information can provide substantial predictive power in quantitative trait nucleotide discovery projects. Concordance between quantitative trait locus genotype as determined by the a posteriori granddaughter design and marker genotype was determined for 30 trait-by-chromosomal segment effects segregating in the US Holstein population with probabilities of <10^-20 to accept the null hypotheses of no segregating gene affecting the trait within the chromosomal segment. Genotypes for 83 grandsires and 17,217 sons were determined by either complete sequence or imputation for 3,148,506 polymorphisms across the entire genome; 471 Holstein bulls had a complete genome sequence, including 64 of the grandsires. Complete concordance was obtained only for stature on chromosome 14 and daughter pregnancy rate on chromosome 18. For each quantitative trait locus, effects of the 30 polymorphisms with highest concordance scores for the analyzed trait were computed by stepwise regression for predicted transmitting abilities of 26,750 bulls with progeny test and imputed genotypes. Effects for stature on chromosome 11, daughter pregnancy rate on chromosome 18, and protein percentage on chromosome 20 met 3 criteria: complete or almost complete concordance, nominal significance of the polymorphism effect after correction for all other polymorphisms, and marker coefficient of determination >40% of total multiple-regression coefficient of determination for the 30 polymorphisms with highest concordance. An intronic variant marker on chromosome 5 at 93,945,738 bp explained 7% of variance for fat percentage and 74% of total multiple-marker regression variance but was concordant for only 24 of 30 families. The missense polymorphism Phe279Tyr in GHR at 31,909,478 bp on chromosome 20 was confirmed as the causative mutation for fat and protein concentration. For effect on fat percentage on chromosome 14, 12 additional missense polymorphisms were found that had almost complete concordance with the suggested causative polymorphism (missense mutation Ala232Glu in DGAT1). The only polymorphism found likely to improve predictive power for genomic evaluation of dairy cattle was on chromosome 15; that polymorphism had a frequency of 0.45 for the allele with economically positive effects on all production traits.

Insights on magnesium and sulfate ions' adsorption on the surface of sodium alumino-silicate hydrate (NASH) gel: a molecular dynamics study

The movement of water and ions in sodium alumino-silicate hydrate gel (NASH) influences the physical and chemical properties of the geopolymer material. In this paper, in order to better understand the structure and dynamics of water and ions in the interfacial region of the NASH gel, molecular dynamics was utilized to model Na2SO4 and MgSO4 solutions (both at 0.44 mol L-1) near the NASH surface. The broken silicate-aluminate surface network, with predominant percentage of randomly connected Q1 and Q2 silicate and aluminate species, provides plenty of non-bridging oxygen sites to accept the H bond from the surface water molecules, contributing toward a strongly adsorbed hydration layer with a thickness of around 5 Å. Consequently, the water molecule in the hydration layer exhibits increased density, increased dipole moment magnitude, orientation preference, and slow diffusivity. In contrast, up to 36.4% of the counter sodium ions, originally caged in the vacancies on the NASH surface, gradually dissociate from the silicate-aluminate skeleton and migrate into the bulk solution, which is consistent with the experimentally observed leaching process of alkali ions in the geopolymer material. In the MgSO4 solution, the magnesium ions-with a smaller ionic radius-penetrate into the silicate-aluminate skeleton vacancy, have 1.8 to 2.5 coordinated solid oxygen atoms, and remain on the NASH surface for a fairly longer time due to the stable Mg-O bonds. Mg species adsorbed on the inner sphere got rooted onto the hydroxyl layer, healing the damaged silicate-aluminate structures and stabilizing the network by inhibiting Na ion immigration into the solution. Mg ions in the outer layer, on average, associated with around one neighboring SO4 ion, forming ionic pairs and accumulating into large Mg-SO4 clusters, to help the immobilization of sulfate ions on the NASH surface.

Observation of Laser Power Amplification in a Self-Injecting Laser Wakefield Accelerator

We report on the depletion and power amplification of the driving laser pulse in a strongly driven laser wakefield accelerator. Simultaneous measurement of the transmitted pulse energy and temporal shape indicate an increase in peak power from 187±11  TW to a maximum of 318±12  TW after 13 mm of propagation in a plasma density of 0.9×10^{18}  cm^{-3}. The power amplification is correlated with the injection and acceleration of electrons in the nonlinear wakefield. This process is modeled by including a localized redshift and subsequent group delay dispersion at the laser pulse front.

Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study of an H4 R-antagonist (JNJ-39758979) in adults with uncontrolled asthma

BACKGROUND

The effects of H₄ R antagonists in preclinical asthma models support the study of antagonists of the H₄ R in the treatment of asthma in humans. JNJ-39758979 is a potent and highly selective oral H₄ R antagonist.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the H₄ R-antagonist JNJ-39758979 in adult patients with uncontrolled asthma.

METHODS

One hundred and fifteen eligible patients were randomly assigned to JNJ-39758979 300 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks in this phase 2a, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study. Primary efficacy was assessed via week-12 change from baseline in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁ ). Secondary efficacy assessments included patient-reported outcome (PRO) asthma assessments (Asthma Daily Diary data [AM and PM peak expiratory flow rate, number of puffs of albuterol/salbutamol, the presence of nocturnal awakenings and asthma symptom score]).

RESULTS

The study did not meet the primary end-point. However, nominally significant improvements in pre-bronchodilator FEV₁ were observed with JNJ-39758979 versus placebo at week 12 in pre-specified subgroups with elevated exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils or blood eosinophils at baseline. Nominally significant improvements across PRO assessments were consistently observed in the overall population, as well as in eosinophilic subgroups. Safety, such as adverse event rates, was comparable between JNJ-39758979 and placebo. No serious adverse events were reported. No clinically relevant changes in laboratory values were observed.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The findings suggest potential benefit of H₄ R antagonists on lung function and asthma control in eosinophilic asthma patients and warrant further evaluation of this mechanism in asthma with eosinophilic inflammation. NCT00946569.

MicroRNA-375 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cancer cells by inhibiting CTGF-EGFR signaling pathway

AIM

To evaluate the correlation between miRNA-375 and cell proliferation and apoptosis in glioma cancer cell.

METHODS

Collecting 30 cases of glioma cancer patients and 30 cases of cerebral infarction patients. The miRNA-375 and CTGF protein expressions were evaluated by ISH and IHC methods. In the cell experiment, the U87 cells were divided into 3 groups: NC group (the cells were treated with normal method); BL group (the cells were transfected with empty vector) and miRNA group (the cells were transfected with miRNA-375). The U87 cell proliferation and apoptosis rates and cell cycle of the different groups were measured by MTT and flow cytometry. The relative proteins (CTGF, EGFR, AKT, Erk and P21) expressions were measured by WB assay.

RESULTS

The miRNA-375 and CTGF expressions of glioma cancer tissues were significantly different compared with those of no-cancer tissues (p < 0.05, respectively). In the cell experiments, the cell proliferation of miRNA group was significantly decreased compared with that of NC group (p < 0.05); the cell apoptosis and G1 phase rate of miRNA group was significantly decreased compared with NC group (p < 0.05, respectively). Depending on the WB assay, the CTGF, EGFR, AKT, Erk and P21 proteins expressions of miRNA group were significantly different compared with proteins expressions of NC group (p < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

miRNA-375 over-expression suppresses glioma cancer cells development via CTGF-EGFR pathway (Fig. 3, Ref. 30).

Calcite crystallization in the cement system: morphological diversity, growth mechanism and shape evolution

Carbonation plays an indispensable role in engineering construction, embracing mineralization, CO2 sequestration and low pH induced corrosion, but the essential mechanism of carbonation occurring in calcium silicate hydrate or portlandite can hardly be interpreted. Observation on how carbonation proceeds at the nano scale is thus critical for a better understanding of its dynamics. Here, using electron microscopy combined with first-principles calculation, a new view on carbonation in the cement system is revealed, considering morphological diversity, growth mechanism and shape evolution. Two types of crystalline forms of calcium carbonate (i.e. cubic and spindle) under room conditions were observed and determined to be calcite, both experimentally and theoretically. The mechanism of morphological evolution of calcite in a cement system was demonstrated based on the theory of aqueous chemistry. The [Ca2+] to [CO3] ratio was the principle cause for the diversity in crystal morphology instead of the types of reactants (i.e. portlandite or calcium silicate hydrates). Excess calcium species in the solution could selectively adsorb on surfaces, resulting in an inhibitive effect on the growth of specific crystal faces, (1 0 4)calcite and (2 1 1[combining macron])calcite in this case. Furthermore, a relationship between relative ionic concentration and the length to diameter ratio was established to predict the shape transformation. This work makes it possible to explore the chemical nature of carbonation from a nano scope rather than being confined to the macroscopic carbonation of concrete.

Understanding the deformation mechanism and mechanical characteristics of cementitious mineral analogues from first principles and reactive force field molecular dynamics

In this paper, first principles and reactive force field molecular dynamics were utilized to study the mechanical properties of tobermorite 9 Å, tobermorite 11 Å and jennite. These are essential minerals in cement chemistry. The mechanical properties calculated by the first-principle method match well with previous experimental results, pointing to the introduction of vdW dispersion-type forces as able to improve the precision. The calculated elastic constants of the three minerals confirm anisotropic mechanical behavior of the layered structures. The crystals jennite and tobermorite 9 demonstrate stronger mechanical behavior in the ab plane than the interlayer direction due to the presence of stable covalent "dreierketten" silicate chains. For tobermorite 11 Å, the Q3 silicate tetrahedrons bridging the neighboring calcium silicate sheets heal the weak interlayer structure and enhance the c-direction stiffness and cohesive strength. Furthermore, analysis of uniaxial tension by reactive force MD elucidated the chemical and mechanical responses of the atomic structures in loading resistance. The stress-strain relation of the layered mineral tensioned along b direction, showing the "strain hardening" region, where stress continues to increase past the yield stage. The strain hardening and ductility enhancement for the minerals is largely due to the ability of the silicate chains to first de-polymerize into short chains or separate tetrahedrons before the broken Q species re-polymerize to form branched networks and ring structures which are able to resist loading. For all three minerals, protons transfer to oxygen and water, resulting in the formation of Si-OH and Ca-OH groups during the strain hardening stage as Si-O-Si or Si-O-Ca bonds start to break and the calcium atoms and silicate morphology is rearranged. Hydrolysis therefore accelerates structural damage and contributes to weakening of mechanical properties in the interlayer direction. Increased tensile stress level in the tobermorite 11 Å can contribute to a greater extent of water damage.

[Research progress in pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of HPV positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma]

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth common malignant tumors of whole body with a high incidence, which accounts for 90% of the head and neck malignant tumors. Previous studies have shown the risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol, are related to the occurrence and development of HNSCC. However, recent studies have shown that the non-tobacco and non-alcohol related HNSCC increased year by year. At the same time, more and more studies have shown that HNSCC is related to the infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), and the occurrence and development of HPV-positive HNSCC has own characteristics in epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis. In this paper the research progress for HPV-positive HNSCC is reviewed.

[Prognostic value of myeloperoxidase concentration in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: To evaluate the difference of plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) level in different types of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, and the value of baseline MPO level in predicting short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with ACS. Methods: The study cohort was derived from "the 12th Five-Year" National Science and Technology Support Program Project "Study on Comprehensive Intervention and Prognosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome" . We enrolled all hospitalized ACS patients who were enrolled in "the 12th Five-Year" cohort from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. A total of 630 patients from 20 centers were enrolled. According to the diagnosis, the patients were divided into two groups: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) group. Plasma levels of MPO were measured by ELISA method. Cardiovascular events in the hospital were recorded. All patients were followed-up by telephone, follow-up ended December 31, 2015. The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, defined as cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, unscheduled coronary revascularization procedure and stroke) and all-cause death were recorded. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the predictive value of baseline MPO levels obtained during hospitalization and the long-term outcomes of ACS patients. Results: A total of 597 ACS patients were enrolled in final analysis. Level of plasma MPO in STEMI patients was significantly higher than that of NSTE-ACS patients (34.02(19.31, 67.87) μg/L vs. 27.25(16.69, 52.92) μg/L, P=0.028) . MPO was not related to the in-hospital cardiovascular events (OR=0.797, 95%CI 0.366-1.737, P=0.569). Follow up was completed in 476 patients, median follow-up time was 796 (32, 1 816) days. There were 23 all-cause deaths and 51 MACE. Plasma MPO level was not an independent predictor for all-cause death (HR=1.434, 95%CI 0.502-4.100, P=0.501) and MACE (HR=1.271, 95%CI 0.662-2.442, P=0.471). Conclusion: In hospitalized ACS patients, level of plasma MPO was significantly higher in STEMI patients than in NSTE-ACS patients, but MPO could not predict the short-term or long-term outcomes in patients with ACS.

Effects of Talaromyces marneffei infection on mortality of HIV/AIDS patients in southern China: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Talaromyces marneffei is an opportunistic infection with high morbidity among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS patients in Southeast Asia and southern China. Its effects on mortality in HIV/AIDS patients has not been clearly elucidated.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized HIV-infected individuals at the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, Guangxi, China during 2012-2015. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to calculate the cumulative mortality. Cox proportional hazard models and 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) were used to evaluate the effects of T. marneffei infection on mortality of HIV/AIDS patients.

RESULTS

In total, 6791 HIV/AIDS patients were included, 1093 of them (16.1%) with documented T. marneffei co-infection. The mortality of T. marneffei-infected patients (25.0 per 100 person-months, 95% CI 21.5-26.7) was the highest among all AIDS-associated complications and was significantly higher than that of T. marneffei-uninfected HIV/AIDS patients (13.8 per 100 person-months, 95% CI 12.5-15.1; adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.48-2.16). The results using PSM were similar (AHR 4.52 95% CI 2.43-8.42). The mortality of T. marneffei-infected patients was also significantly higher than that of patients without any complications. When stratified by demographic characteristics, T. marneffei infection has higher mortality risk in all stratifications. Co-infection with T. marneffei carries a higher mortality risk in patients at any CD4⁺ T-cell count.

CONCLUSIONS

Talaromyces marneffei infection is commonly found in hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients in southern China and was associated with a higher mortality rate than most HIV-associated complications. These results highlight the need for improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infection by this neglected fungal pathogen in southern China.

Measurement of Ti-6Al-4V alloy ignition temperature by reflectivity detection

Fires resulting from titanium combustion are complex and violent processes which can instantly burn a titanium alloy once ignited. The occurrence of titanium combustion is a disaster for aircraft. Accurate measurement of the ignition temperature of titanium alloys is of significance in preventing such fires and in investigating combustion-resistance properties. In this study, monochromatic temperature and emissivity measurement methods based on reflectivity detection were used to determine the ignition temperature of a titanium alloy. Experiments were carried out using a titanium burning apparatus. The temperatures of titanium in the oxidation stage before ignition and in the combustion stage during the ignition process were measured using wavelengths of 1050 nm and 940 nm, respectively. Experimental results showed that the ignition temperature of the titanium alloy could be measured by reflectivity detection and that measurement precision during thermal oxidation (500-900 °C) was ±1 °C. The temperature of the ignition process ranged between 1653 and 1857 °C, and the ignition temperature was around 1680 °C.

Insights into the interfacial strengthening mechanisms of calcium-silicate-hydrate/polymer nanocomposites

The mechanical properties of organic/inorganic composites can be highly dependent on the interfacial interactions. In this work, with organic polymers intercalated into the interlayer of inorganic calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the primary binding phase of Portland cement, great ductility improvement is obtained for the nanocomposites. Employing reactive molecular dynamics, the simulation results indicate that strong interfacial interactions between the polymers and the substrate contribute greatly to strengthening the materials, when C-S-H/poly ethylene glycol (PEG), C-S-H/poly acrylic acid (PAA), and C-S-H/poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) were subject to uniaxial tension along different lattice directions. In the x and z direction tensile processes, the Si-OCa bonds of the C-S-H gel, which were elongated and broken to form Si-OH and Ca-OH, play a critical role in loading resistance, while the incorporation of polymers bridged the neighboring silicate sheets, and activated more the hydrolytic reactions at the interfaces to avoid strain localization, thus increasing the tensile strength and postponing the fracture. On the other hand, Si-O-Si bonds of C-S-H mainly take the load when tension was applied along the y direction. During the post-yield stage, rearrangements of silicate tetrahedra occurred to prevent rapid damage. The polymer intercalation further elongates this post-yield period by forming interfacial Si-O-C bonds, which promote rearrangements and improve the connectivity of the defective silicate morphology, significantly improving the ductility. Among the polymers, PEG exhibits the strongest interaction with C-S-H, and thus C-S-H/PEG possesses the highest ductility. We expect that the molecular-scale mechanisms interpreted here will shed new light on the stress-activated chemical interactions at the organic/inorganic interfaces, and help eliminate the brittleness of cement-based materials on a genetic level.

Association of Body Mass Index and the Risk of New-Onset Diabetes After Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively examine the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation (NODAT).

METHODS

The electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, updated in December 2016, were searched, and a literature review was conducted as well to identify relevant research studies. With the use of R 3.12 software, the association between BMI and NODAT risk was analyzed by means of a meta-analysis, with the mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect indexes. Publication bias was assessed with the use of the Egger test. A sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding 1 study at a time. And the overall morbidity of NODAT was calculated.

RESULTS

In the meta-analysis, 55 eligible studies involving 15,458 kidney transplantation cases were included. After the heterogeneity test, the random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled results of the effect indexes. The results of the meta-analysis showed that BMI was an independent risk factor of NODAT (MD, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.48-2.27). No publication bias was found among the included studies (t = 0.3417; P = 0.7339). The sensitivity analysis revealed that the pooled MD did not reverse after ignoring 1 study at a time. In addition, the overall morbidity of NODAT was 21% (95% CI, 21%-23%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that BMI is an independent risk factor for NODAT.

The effect of melasma on self-esteem: A pilot study

Melasma is a common disorder of hyperpigmentation characterized by tan or brown macules and patches affecting sun-exposed areas, particularly the face. Melasma has been shown to have a significant impact on the quality of life and self-esteem of those affected. We interviewed six patients who were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe melasma with regard to the effect of their disorder on their self-esteem. All patients reported a significant negative effect on their quality of life and self-esteem. With successful therapy using a triple combination of cream and oral tranexamic acid to treat their melasma, all reported a marked improvement in self-esteem. Physicians who treat patients with melasma should be aware of its profound psychosocial effects and the improvement that successful melasma treatment can have on self-esteem.