Cryopreservation of Borassus flabellifer L. (arecaceae) using excised embryos: a first report for the genus Borassus

BACKGROUND

Embryos of many palm species that produce desiccation-sensitive, i.e. recalcitrant seeds have been successfully cryopreserved. However, storage protocols for some genera such as Borassus are still lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mature fruits of Borassus flabellifer L were collected in south India at the time of natural dispersal (June-July). After removal of the pericarp and mesocarp, the pyrenes were dried in silica gel and the desiccation tolerance level determined. Isolated embryos were also subjected to drying, exposure to liquid nitrogen temperature and recovery in vitro.

RESULTS

Mature fruits weighed an average mass of 0.9 kg and germinated to 89%. The moisture contents (MCs) of the pyrenes and embryos were 48 and 78%, respectively. Pyrenes dried in silica gel to c. 20% MC lost viability, whereas embryos could be dried to 11% MC with 55% survival. These results indicate that the seeds are relatively desiccation-sensitive. Embryos dried to 21 and 11% MC had 23 and 36% survival following exposure to liquid nitrogen for 48 h, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is a hydration level window between c. 10 and 20% MC that is optimal for the cryopreservation of Borassus embryos. However, long-term storage possibilities remain to be explored.

[The impact of digoxin on the long-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation]

Objective: To investigate the long-term safety of digoxin in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: This was a prospective study, in which 25 512 AF patients were enrolled from China Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study. After exclusion of patients receiving ablation therapy at the enrollment, 1 810 CAD patients [age: (71.5±9.3)years] with AF were included. The subjects were grouped into the digoxin group and non-digoxin group, and were followed up for a period of 80 months. Long-term outcomes were compared between the groups and an adjusted Cox regression analysis was applied to evaluate the risk of digoxin on the long-term outcomes. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Results: The patients were followed up for a median period of 3.05 years. After multivariable adjustment, the Cox regression analysis showed that digoxin significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.28, 95%CI 1.01-1.61, P=0.038), cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.48,95%CI 1.10-2.00,P=0.010), cardiovascular hospitalization (HR=1.67,95%CI 1.35-2.07,P=0.008) and the composite endpoints (HR=2.02,95%CI 1.71-2.38,P<0.001). In the subgroup of patients with heart failure (HF), digoxin was not associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, but was still associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.44,95%CI 1.05-1.98,P=0.025), cardiovascular hospitalization (HR=1.44,95%CI 1.09-1.90,P=0.010) and the composite endpoints (HR=1.37, 95%CI 1.01-1.70, P=0.004). However, in the subgroup of patients without HF, digoxin was only associated with all-cause mortality (HR=2.56,95%CI 1.44-4.54,P=0.001). Conclusion: Digoxin significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality in CAD patients with AF, especially in patients without HF.

Enhanced Protection by Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing Infectious Bronchitis Virus Spike Ectodomain and Chicken Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

We previously reported that recombinant Newcastle disease virus LaSota (rLS) expressing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) Arkansas (Ark)-type trimeric spike (S) ectodomain (Se; rLS/ArkSe) provides suboptimal protection against IBV challenge. We have now developed rLS expressing chicken granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) and IBV Ark Se in an attempt to enhance vaccine effectiveness. In the current study, we first compared protection conferred by vaccination with rLS/ArkSe and rLS/ArkSe.GMCSF. Vaccinated chickens were challenged with virulent Ark, and protection was determined by clinical signs, viral load, and tracheal histomorphometry. Results showed that coexpression of GMCSF and the Se from rLS significantly reduced tracheal viral load and tracheal lesions compared with chickens vaccinated with rLS/ArkSe. In a second experiment, we evaluated enhancement of cross-protection of a Massachusetts (Mass) attenuated vaccine by priming or boosting with rLS/ArkSe.GMCSF. Vaccinated chickens were challenged with Ark, and protection was evaluated. Results show that priming or boosting with the recombinant virus significantly increased cross-protection conferred by Mass against Ark virulent challenge. Greater reductions of viral loads in both trachea and lachrymal fluids were observed in chickens primed with rLS/ArkSe.GMCSF and boosted with Mass. Consistently, Ark Se antibody levels measured with recombinant Ark Se protein-coated ELISA plates 14 days after boost were significantly higher in these chickens. Unexpectedly, the inverse vaccination scheme, that is, priming with Mass and boosting with the recombinant vaccine, proved somewhat less effective. We concluded that a prime and boost strategy by using rLS/ArkSe.GMCSF and the worldwide ubiquitous Mass attenuated vaccine provides enhanced cross-protection. Thus, rLS/GMCSF coexpressing the Se of regionally relevant IBV serotypes could be used in combination with live Mass to protect against regionally circulating IBV variant strains.

Clinical features of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and development of a nomogram for predicting survival

Background

Different estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression patterns have important biological and therapeutic implications in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. However, little is known about hormone receptor (HR)-positive and triple-positive subtypes, making therapy selection and survival prognosis difficult. This study investigated the clinical characteristics and nomogram-predicted survival of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Materials and methods

Data on patients with HER2-positive breast cancer were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Comparisons were carried out between single HR-positive and double HR-positive/double HR-negative subtypes. A nomogram-based model of predicted outcomes was developed.

Results

This cohort study included 34 819 patients with breast cancer (34 606 women and 213 men). Single HR-positive and double HR-positive/double HR-negative subtypes showed distinct clinicopathological characteristics. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that patients with ER-positive/PR-negative/HER2-positive [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-1.39], ER-negative/PR-positive/HER2-positive (HR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.23-1.97), and ER-negative/PR-negative/HER2-positive (HR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.43-1.70) subtypes had worse breast cancer-specific survival than patients with the triple-positive subtype. Thirteen clinical parameters were included as prognostic factors in the nomogram: age, sex, race, grade, histology type, bone, brain, liver, and lung metastasis, TNM (tumor–node–metastasis) staging, and molecular subtype. The C-index was 0.853 (95% CI: 0.845-0.861). Calibration plots indicated that the nomogram-predicted survival was consistent with the recorded 3-year and 5-year prognoses.

Conclusions

Significant differences in survival rates were observed between single HR-positive and double HR-positive/double HR-negative subtypes. A nomogram accurately predicted survival. Different treatment strategies may be required for HER2-positive patients with single HR-positive and double HR-positive tumors to ensure optimal treatment and benefits.

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Significant differences in survival were observed in single HR-positive and double HR-positive/double HR-negative subtypes.

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A nomogram based on molecular subtypes of HER2-positive breast cancer accurately predicted breast cancer-specific survival.

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Different treatment strategies may be required for HER2-positive breast cancer to ensure optimal treatment and benefits.

Dietary calcium levels regulate calcium transporter gene expression levels in the small intestine of broiler chickens

1. This study investigated the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) levels on growth performance, bone development and Ca transporter gene expression levels in the small intestine of broiler chickens.2. On the day of hatch, 350, Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allotted to one of five treatments with five replicate pens each and 14 birds per pen. Dietary Ca levels in feed were 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, 11.0 and 13.0 g/kg, in which 9.0 g/kg was in the control diet. All diets contained 4.5 g/kg non-phytate phosphorus (NPP).3. The increase in dietary Ca levels from 5.0 to 13.0 g/kg did not affect the growth performance of 1- to 18-day-old broilers (P > 0.05).4. Increasing the Ca levels linearly increased the ash weight and the contents of ash, Ca and phosphorus (P) in the tibia of broilers at 18 days of age (P < 0.05). The contents of ash, Ca and P in broilers fed with 9.0 g/kg Ca were higher than those in birds fed with 5.0 g/kg Ca (P < 0.05).5. Increasing the Ca levels linearly decreased mRNA expression levels of the Ca-binding protein 28-kDa (CaBP-D28k), plasma membrane Ca-transporting ATPase 1b (PMCAlb), sodium (Na)/Ca exchanger 1 (NCX1), nuclear vitamin D receptor (nVDR) and membrane vitamin D receptor (mVDR) in the duodenum of broilers at 18 d of age (P < 0.05). Similar results were seen in the jejunum and ileum. Broilers fed 9.0-13.0 g/kg Ca in feed had lower mRNA expression levels of CaBP-D28k and PMCAlb in the small intestine than birds fed 5.0 g/kg Ca in feed (P < 0.05).6. The data indicated that low levels of dietary Ca stimulated its transporter gene transcription and promoted absorption, but high levels of Ca inhibited transporter gene expression and prevented excessive absorption in the small intestine of broiler chickens.

Transcriptomic landscape of persistent diarrhoea in rhesus macaques and comparison with humans and mouse models with inflammatory bowel disease

Diarrhoea is a widespread disease in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and a small proportion of individuals may experience persistent diarrhoea. Persistent diarrhoea can lead to a compromised immune system, intestinal inflammation and malnutrition. We analyzed the blood transcriptomes of 10 persistent diarrhoeal and 12 healthy rhesus macaques to investigate the gene expression differences between the two groups. We identified 330 DEGs between persistent diarrhoeal and healthy rhesus macaques. The 211 up-regulated DEGs in the diarrhoeal group were mainly enriched in immune-related and interleukin-related categories. Among them, three interleukin (IL) 18 related DEGs (IL18, IL18R1, and IL18BP) played important roles in actively regulating pro-inflammatory responses. Interestingly, the up- and down-regulated DEGs were both enriched in the same immune-related categories. Thus, we applied a new method to examine the distribution of DEGs in all child categories. We found that interleukin and T cell related categories were mainly occupied by up-regulated DEGs, while immunoglobulin production and B cell related categories were enriched by down-regulated DEGs. We also compared rhesus macaque DEGs with the DEGs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) humans and IBD mouse models and found that 30-40% of macaque DEGs were shared with IBD humans and mouse models. In conclusion, our results showed that there were significant immune differences between persistent diarrhoeal rhesus macaques and healthy macaques, which was similar to the expression differences in IBD patients and mouse models.

Sex-specific gene expression in the blood of four primates

Blood is an important non-reproductive tissue, but little is known about the sex-specific gene expressions in the blood. Therefore, we investigated sex-specific gene expression differences in the blood tissues of four primates, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), Tibetan macaques (M. thibetana), yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus), and humans. We identified seven sex-specific differentially expressed genes (SDEGs) in each non-human primate and 31 SDEGs in humans. The four primates had only one common SDEG, MAP7D2. In humans, immune-related SDEGs were identified as up-regulated, but also down-regulated in females. We also found that most of the X-Y gene pairs had similar expression levels between species, except pair EIF1AY/EIF1AX. The expression level of X-Y gene pairs of rhesus and Tibetan macaques showed no significant differential expression levels, while humans had six significant XY-biased and three XX-biased X-Y gene pairs. Our observed sex differences in blood should increase understanding of sex differences in primate blood tissue.

[Causes of death and influencing factors of atrial fibrillation patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy]

Objective: To investigate the causes of death and predictors in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing anticoagulation therapy. Methods: Consecutive anticoagulated nonvalvular AF patients were recruited from the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry (China-AF) Study from August 2011 to December 2018. After exclusion of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, or loss of follow-up within 1 year, 2 248 patients were included in this analysis. Enrolled patients were followed up were followed up for 3 and 6 months, and then every 6 months. The primary endpoint was death, including cardiovascular death, non-cardiovascular death and undetermined death. The patients were divided into survival group and death group according to the survival status after follow-up. Clinical information such as age and sex was collected. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify associated risk factors for all-cause mortality, and Fine-Gray competing risk model was used to identify associated risk factors for cardiovascular mortality. Results: A total of 2 248 patients with atrial fibrillation receiving anticoagulant therapy died over a mean follow-up of (42±24) months, mean age was (67±10) years old and 41.1% (923/2 248) patients were female. The mortality rate was 2.8 deaths per 100 patient-years. The most common cause of death was cardiovascular deaths, accounted for 55.0% (120/218). Worsening heart failure was the most common cause of cardiovascular deaths (18.3% (40/218)), followed by bleeding events (12.9% (28/218)) and ischemic stroke (8.7% (19/218)). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR = 1.05, 95%CI 1.04-1.07, P<0.001), anemia (HR = 1.81, 95%CI 1.02-3.18, P = 0.041), heart failure (HR=2.40, 95%CI 1.75-3.30, P<0.001), ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)(HR = 1.59, 95%CI 1.21-2.13, P = 0.001) and myocardial infarction (HR = 2.93, 95%CI 1.79-4.81, P<0.001) were independently associated with all-cause death. Fine-Gray competing risk model showed that age (HR=1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, P<0.001), heart failure (HR=2.81, 95%CI 1.79-4.39, P<0.001), ischemic stroke/TIA (HR=1.50, 95%CI 1.02-2.22, P=0.041) and myocardial infarction (HR=3.31, 95%CI 1.72-6.37, P<0.001) were independently associated with cardiovascular death. Conclusions: In anticoagulated nonvalvular AF patients, ischemic stroke represents only a small subset of deaths, whereas worsening heart failure is the most common cause of cardiovascular deaths. Heart failure, ischemic stroke/TIA, and myocardial infarction are associated with increased mortality.

[Effects of protein disulfide isomerase on hyperglycemia and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes]

Objective: To explore the effect of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in diabetic ischemic heart disease. Methods: We established an in vitro model of high glucose and hypoxia/reoxygenation in H9c2 rat myocardial cells. Cultured cells were divided into four groups: Control, high glucose (HG), hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and HG+H/R. Changes in PDI expression mediated by PDI adenovirus(Ad-PDI) infection and siRNA(PDI-siRNA) transfection in myocardial cells were observed by inverted fluorescence microscopy. We also measured lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) and high molecular weight(HMW)-APN concentrations. PDI, APN, cleaved caspase-3, and glucose regulated protein 78 (Grp78) protein expression were detected. Results: PDI expression was significantly decreased in the HG, H/R and HG+H/R groups compared to the Control group; however, LDH activity[(179.7±10.4) U/L、(218.4±18.4) U/L、(328.2±5.3) U/L vs (91.0±11.0) U/L], MDA concentration[(7.0±0.4) μmol/L、(10.0±1.0) μmol/L、(11.7±1.0) μmol/L vs (4.2±1.8) μmol/L], cleaved caspase-3, and Grp78 expression were increased. Interestingly, APN and HMW-APN expression were decreased [(2.01±0.21) μg/L、(1.64±0.27) μg/L、(1.20±0.14) μg/L vs (2.62±0.12) μg/L, all P<0.05]. Over expression of PDI attenuated high glucose and hypoxia/reoxygenation induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyocytes(all P<0.05), and simultaneously increased APN and HMW-APN expression [(2.86±0.03) μg/L vs (3.03±0.10) μg/L、(2.06±0.05) μg/L vs (2.31±0.06) μg/L、(1.83±0.07) μg/L vs (1.96±0.11) μg/L、(1.20±0.06) μg/L vs (1.39±0.09) μg/L]. PDI-siRNA transfection increased LDH activity, MDA concentration, and cleaved caspase-3 and Grp78 expression, and decreased APN and HMW-APN expression [(0.75±0.09) μg/L vs (0.59±0.09) μg/L、(0.62±0.04) μg/L vs (0.53±0.05) μg/L、(0.55±0.14) μg/L vs (0.51±0.12) μg/L、(0.48±0.12) μg/L vs (0.35±0.08) μg/L] in response to different treatments in cultured H9c2 cardiomyocytes (all P<0.05). Conclusion: PDI may regulate the expression of APN and HMW-APN, and play an important role in the function of diabetic ischemia-reperfusion cardiomyocytes.

Diffusion MRI Microstructural Abnormalities at Term-Equivalent Age Are Associated with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 3 Years of Age in Very Preterm Infants

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Microstructural white matter abnormalities on DTI using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics at term-equivalent age are associated with cognitive and motor outcomes at 2 years of age or younger. However, neurodevelopmental tests administered at such early time points are insufficiently predictive of mild-moderate motor and cognitive impairment at school age. Our objective was to evaluate the microstructural antecedents of cognitive and motor outcomes at 3 years' corrected age in a cohort of very preterm infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively recruited 101 very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age) and performed DTI at term-equivalent age. The Differential Ability Scales, 2nd ed, Verbal and Nonverbal subtests, and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd ed, Motor subtest, were administered at 3 years of age. We correlated DTI metrics from Tract-Based Spatial Statistics with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd ed, and the Differential Ability Scales, 2nd ed, scores with correction for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Of the 101 subjects, 84 had high-quality DTI data, and of these, 69 returned for developmental testing (82%). Their mean (SD) gestational age was 28.4 (2.5) weeks, and birth weight was 1121.4 (394.1) g. DTI metrics were significantly associated with Nonverbal Ability in the corpus callosum, posterior thalamic radiations, fornix, and inferior longitudinal fasciculus and with Motor scores in the corpus callosum, internal and external capsules, posterior thalamic radiations, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi, cerebral peduncles, and corticospinal tracts.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified widespread microstructural white matter abnormalities in very preterm infants at term that were significantly associated with cognitive and motor development at 3 years' corrected age.

Toroidal soft x-ray array on the EXL-50 spherical tokamak

A toroidal soft x-ray array system for spectrum and intensity measurements on the EXL-50 spherical tokamak is described. Silicon drift detectors and digital multichannel analyzers are adopted for all 21 channels of the array, and an average energy resolution of 147 eV at 5.89 keV has been achieved at count rates over 500 kcps. In total, 20 channels of the array are symmetrically observed in both co- and counter-current directions on the EXL-50 mid-plane with a spatial resolution of around 10 cm, and the remaining one serves as a background reference channel. Tungsten emissions from tungsten coating of the limiters on the central post are observed. The influence of hard x rays on measured soft x-ray spectra and system operation is discussed.

Development and preliminary test of a space-resolved vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy in EAST

The impurity radiation from the divertor region of the EAST tokamak is dominantly in the wavelength range of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) due to the elevated edge electron temperature. A space-resolved VUV spectroscopy is developed to measure impurity radiation in the divertor region. An eagle-type VUV spectrometer with a focal length of 1 m is adopted in this system, equipped with a spherical grating and a charged-coupled device (CCD) detector. The performance of the VUV spectrometer is preliminarily tested on a synchrotron radiation facility. The wavelength calibration is conducted near 65 nm. It is found that the wavelength range observed by the CCD detector is about 11.07 nm around the central wavelength of about 65 nm. With a linear dispersion of 0.0053 nm/pixel, it is possible to measure the ion temperature lower than 20 eV at the edge region by analyzing the Doppler broadening of a carbon line. These test results show that the performance of the VUV spectrometer is capable of measuring divertor radiation and analyzing the ion temperature of edge impurity ions.

[CD44 regulates biological behavior and Ras signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells]

Objective: To study the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and to explore the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44. Methods: CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC were nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells and obtained by serum-free suspension culture. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, Transwell migration assay, cell adhesion array were used to investigate the growth, proliferation, migration and adhesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells. Western blot test was used to detect the expressions of Ras signaling pathway related proteins and siRNA-mediated interference was used to determine the activation of Ras signaling pathway regulated by CD44. Results: The growth rates of CNE2-SC and 5-8F-SC cells were significantly lower than those of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation (P<0.05). After 14 days of implantation, the colony formation rates of CNE2-SC (44.5±1.9)% and 5-8F-SC (47.4±1.8)% were higher than those of CNE2 (34.9±1.5)% and 5-8F (37.2±1.7)%, respectively(P<0.01). The migration cell number of CNE2-SC was (87.6±7.8), 3.97 times higher than that of CNE2 (P<0.01). The migration cell number of 5-8F-SC was (67.2±5.7), 3.07 times higher than 5-8F (P<0.01). The adhesion rates of CNE2-SC and CNE2 cells were (42.1±7.6)% and (8.9±2.0)%, respectively at 3 hours after inoculation and were (82.4±5.0)% and (12.1±2.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of CNE2-SC cells was higher than that of CNE2 cells (all P<0.01). The adhesion rates of 5-8F-SC and 5-8F cells were (53.6±6.1)% and (7.3±1.5)% at 3 hours after inoculation, and (90.7±3.6)% and (11.0±1.2)% at 6 hours after inoculation, respectively. The adhesion rate of 5-8F-SC cells was higher than that of 5-8F cells (P<0.01). The expression levels of CD44, Ras and N-cadherin were significantly higher, while phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), E-cadherin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells were lower than those of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated mitogen extracellular kinase1/2 (p-MEK1/2) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (p-ERK1/2)were significantly increased in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells (P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the protein expression levels of CD44 was highly positively correlated with RAS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells(r=0.985, P=0.002; r=0.962, P=0.038). Deletion of CD44 in CNE2-SC decreased the expression levels of HER-2, Ras and p-ERK1/2, p-Akt and phosphorylated protein kinase C-δ(p-PKCδ) (P<0.01). Conclusions: Despite compare to the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell, nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells grows at a relatively slow rate, the capacities of clone formation, migration, adhesion are promoted. This may be related to the CD44-regulated abnormal activation of Ras signaling pathway.

Observation of a quantum phase transition in the quantum Rabi model with a single trapped ion

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) are usually associated with many-body systems in the thermodynamic limit when their ground states show abrupt changes at zero temperature with variation of a parameter in the Hamiltonian. Recently it has been realized that a QPT can also occur in a system composed of only a two-level atom and a single-mode bosonic field, described by the quantum Rabi model (QRM). Here we report an experimental demonstration of a QPT in the QRM using a ¹⁷¹Yb⁺ ion in a Paul trap. We measure the spin-up state population and the average phonon number of the ion as two order parameters and observe clear evidence of the phase transition via adiabatic tuning of the coupling between the ion and its spatial motion. An experimental probe of the phase transition in a fundamental quantum optics model without imposing the thermodynamic limit opens up a window for controlled study of QPTs and quantum critical phenomena.

Quantum phase transition occurs in many-body systems with abrupt changes in the ground state around zero temperature. Here the authors report signatures of quantum phase transition in single trapped ion that can be described using quantum Rabi model.

[Whole genomic copy number variation score: an indicator of potential diagnostic and prognostic value for lung adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To verify the value of whole genomic copy number variation (WGCNV) detection and scoring system in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: Seventy-six lung adenocarcinoma specimens including ninety-one tumor samples and twenty adjacent non-tumor lung tissue samples were collected using Laser capture microdissection (LCM). Whole genomic amplification (WGA) was used to enrich DNA and construct a sequencing library for next generation sequencing (NGS). Changes of larger than 5Mb CNV in this study were analyzed and scored. The nuclear grading and score of tumor cells in the surgery and pleural effusion cytology of lung adenocarcinoma specimens were evaluated separately. For each case, we evaluated (1) nuclear size, (2) mitotic counts, (3) nuclear atypia, (4) atypical mitoses. The data of disease-free survive (DFS) and overall survive (OS) were collected for assessing the prognostic value of WGCNV score. Meanwhile, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to define a cut-off value and evaluate the diagnostic significance in lung adenocarcinoma. Results: The WGCNV scores of twenty adjacent non-tumor lung tissue samples were treated as normal control and all of WGCNV scores of tumor samples range from 0 to 9.95, the median score was 2.7. The WGCNV scores were divided into three groups: low score group <1.74, medium score grade 1.74~4.23, high score grade >4.23. The WGCNV score was positively associated with the nuclear grade scoring (r=0.780 90, P<0.001). The result for evaluation of prognostic value of the WGCNV scores showed that comparing with low WGCNV score group, Hazard Ratio (HR) of medium score group was 4.11 (95%CI=0.72~23.57) and high score group was 2.07 (95%CI=0.30~14.12). These results suggested that the risks of the medium and high WGCNV score group elevated. According to the analysis results of ROC curve, when the cut off value was 0.01, the sensitivity and specificity for lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis were 97.8% and 95.0% respectively, the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 99.0% and 90.1%, respectively, the AUC was 0.981. In the differentiation of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) group and invasive adenocarcinoma group, when the cut off value was 1.8, the sensitivity and specificity between the two groups were 78.1% and 94.4%, and the PPV and NPV were 98.0% and 52.0%, respectively, the AUC was 0.896. Conclusion: This study verifies that WGCNV scoring system has a potential diagnostic and prognostic value in lung adenocarcinoma.

Bone marrow stem cells therapy alleviates vascular injury in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease‑obstructive sleep apnea overlap syndrome rat model

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly prevalent potential risk factors for systemic disease. Previous studies have reported that COPD and OSA are major independent risk factors for cardio- or cerebrovascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on vascular injury in a COPD-OSA overlap syndrome (OS) rat model. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, OS model and BMSC. BMSC localization in major organs was detected via confocal laser fluorescence microscopy, and the aortic tissue pathological changes and related genes were measured using hematoxylin & eosin and Masson staining. Genes associated with vascular endothelial cell injury, including endothelin 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was detected using TUNEL and immunofluorescence assays. The endothelial cell marker CD31 in injured vessels was analyzed via immunohistochemistry. BMSCs migrated into the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain and aorta in the OS model. The green fluorescence expression of BMSCs demonstrated the highest level in the lung, followed by the aorta. Aortic tissue had a more severe vascular injury and increased apoptosis in the model group compared with the BMSC group. Vascular endothelial cell apoptosis was decreased in the BMSC group compared with the model group. The findings suggested that BMSCs could repair vascular injury by inhibiting endothelial cell damage and apoptosis. These data provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases caused by OS with BMSCs.

[Total laparoscopic left colectomy intracorporeal anastomosis]

Laparoscopic left colectomy (LLC) has been widely performed for treating patients with left hemicolon cancer. For less invasion, totally laparoscopic left colectomy intracorporeal anastomosis (TLC/IA) has been increasingly attempted and proposed. Up to now, there is no standard for intracorporeal anastomosis. Authors list various types of intracorporeal anastomosis in terms of technical details and postoperative complications. According to the literatures, side to side anastomosis with linear laparoscopic stapler is the mainstream method. Surgeons should make flexible choices based on personal technical characteristics, colon conditions and objective economic conditions of patients. An individualized anastomosis method is acceptable.

Nanomicelles potentiate histone deacetylase inhibitor efficacy in vitro

Background

Amphiphilic block copolymers used as nanomicelle drug carriers can effectively overcome poor drug solubility and specificity issues. Hence, these platforms have a broad applicability in cancer treatment. In this study, Pluronic F127 was used to fabricate nanomicelles containing the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA, which has an epigenetic-driven anti-cancer effect in several tumor types. SAHA-loaded nanomicelles were prepared using a thin-film drying method and characterized for size, surface charge, drug content, and drug release properties. Loaded particles were tested for in vitro activity and their effect on cell cycle and markers of cancer progression.

Results

Following detailed particle characterization, cell proliferation experiments demonstrated that SAHA-loaded nanomicelles more effectively inhibited the growth of HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines compared with free drug formulations. The 30 nm SAHA containing nanoparticles were able to release up to 100% of the encapsulated drug over a 72 h time window. Moreover, gene and protein expression analyses suggested that their cytoreductive effect was achieved through the regulation of p21 and p53 expression. SAHA was also shown to up-regulate E-cadherin expression, potentially influencing tumor migration.

Conclusions

This study highlights the opportunity to exploit pluronic-based nanomicelles for the delivery of compounds that regulate epigenetic processes, thus inhibiting cancer development and progression.

Research progress on flat epithelium of the inner ear

Sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo, resulting from lesions in the sensory epithelium of the inner ear, have a high incidence worldwide. The sensory epithelium of the inner ear may exhibit extreme degeneration and is transformed to flat epithelium (FE) in humans and mice with profound sensorineural hearing loss and/or vertigo. Various factors, including ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, aging, and genetic defects, can induce FE. Both hair cells and supporting cells are severely damaged in FE, and the normal cytoarchitecture of the sensory epithelium is replaced by a monolayer of very thin, flat cells of irregular contour. The pathophysiologic mechanism of FE is unclear but involves robust cell division. The cellular origin of flat cells in FE is heterogeneous; they may be transformed from supporting cells that have lost some features of supporting cells (dedifferentiation) or may have migrated from the flanking region. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition may play an important role in this process. The treatment of FE is challenging given the severe degeneration and loss of both hair cells and supporting cells. Cochlear implant or vestibular prosthesis implantation, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy show promise for the treatment of FE, although many challenges remain to be overcome.

Improved reliability of mechanical behavior for a thermal tempered lithium disilicate glass-ceramic by regulating the cooling rate

Traditional thermal tempering was applied to lithium disilicate (LD) glass-ceramic specimens with bar-like and disc-like shapes. The tempering process was conducted by heating the specimens to a temperature below the dynamic softening point, and then rapid cooling in silicone oil with different temperatures ranging from room-temperature to 300 °C to regulate the cooling rate. Effect of the oil-temperature on mechanical behavior of the tempered glass-ceramic was investigated. For the tempering at the lower oil-temperature (e.g., at room-temperature), it was found that the LD glass-ceramic specimens with both the bar-like and disc-like shapes could be remarkably strengthen and toughen, however, obvious anisotropy in fracture toughness was displayed by the specimens with the bar-like shape. With increasing the oil-temperature up to 250 °C, the mechanical anisotropy of the bar-like specimens could be significantly alleviated without much loss of the strengthening effect. The results can provide references for improving reliability of mechanical behavior for the tempered LD glass-ceramic by regulating the cooling condition according to specimen geometry.

[Comparison of compliance and cost effectiveness between brand-name statins and generic statins]

Objective: To explore the differences of adherence, lipid reduction and cost-effectiveness between brand-name and generic statins. Methods: Statins prescription records of adult patients aged 18 years and above with the first prescription of statins between January 2015 to December 2017, were collected from community health information system of Chaoyang district of Beijing. Medication compliancy after first prescription was compared between group only taking brand-name statins (41 496 records) and group only taking generic statins (60 491 records). Lipid reduction and cost-effectiveness were also compared between two groups. Results: The medication compliancy of generic statins was worse than brand-name statins (28.2% vs. 36.2%, P<0.001). After excluding the influence of age, sex, history of hypertension and diabetes, and community correlation, generic atorvastatin (20 mg/day) showed better total cholesterol reduction effect [(0.86±0.07) mmol/L] and better low density lipid-cholesterol reduction effect [(0.67±0.07) mmol/L] one year later in 199 patients who consistently used it compared with brand-name atorvastatin at same dosage in 232 patients [(0.40±0.10) mmol/L and (0.42±0.08) mmol/L] (P<0.001, P=0.003). From the perspective of cost effectiveness, generic atorvastatin (20 mg/day) can reduce more than 50% of medical expenses at the same cholesterol reduction level. Conclusions: Generic statins might replace brand-name statins with similar treatment effect but lower medical expenses although its compliancy needs improvement. However, the data of adverse reactions of generic statins are lacking, it is necessary to carry out high-quality clinical research to improve and promote the development of generic statins.

Topologically protected beam splitters and logic gates based on two-dimensional silicon photonic crystal slabs

The beam splitters are essential optical components that are widely used in various optical instruments. The robustness of beam splitters is very necessary to all-optical networks. Here we report the design of the topologically protected beam splitter, whose splitting ratio can change flexibly to an arbitrary ratio, such as 50:50, 33:67, 25:75, based on the two-dimensional silicon photonic crystal slab. By using the 50:50 beam splitter, all major logic gates (OR, AND, NOT, XOR, NAND, XNOR, and NOR) are suitably designed with the linear interference approach. Additionally, these devices exhibit robustness even though some disorders exist. It is expected that these robust and compact devices are potentially applicable in optical computing and signal processing.

Impact of macrophage infiltration in patients with st-segment elevation myocardial infarction caused by plaque erosion: an in vivo optical coherence tomography study

Background

Chronic inflammatory infiltration is a common process for atherosclerosis development. However, autopsy studies reveal that incidence rate of inflammatory infiltrates are less abundant in plaque erosion compared with plaque rupture.

Purpose

Studies performed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) have allowed to establish the severity of plaque inflammation by assessing macrophage infiltration (MØI). In this study, we aimed at assessing the impaction of MØI in plaque erosion among patients with STEMI by using OCT.

Methods

A total of 1561 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) who underwent OCT imaging were enrolled in this study. According to the exclusion criteria, 312 patients with STEMI exhibiting plaque erosion were classified as MØI or no MØI.

Results

163 (52.2%) patients had MØI at the site of plaque erosion, whereas 149 (47.8%) patients had no evidence of MØI and patients of MØI group were significantly older (P=0.015). The result of angiography showed the prevalence of multi-vessel disease appeared more frequency (P=0.021) and diameter stenosis% were higher (P=0.031) in MØI group. OCT results showed the minimum fibrous-cap thickness was thinner (P&lt;0.001) and the maximum lipid arc was larger (P=0.005) in MØI group. Some patients underwent imaging follow-up at 1 year. There was no significant difference in the culprit plaque morphology progress among two groups (Figure 1A-1D).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that plaque inflammation can increase culprit lesion severity and plaque vulnerability in patients with STEMI caused by plaque erosion.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None