[Epidemiology related to soil-borne nematode disease in Danzhou city, Hainan province]

Objective: To understand the prevalence, trend and related factors on soil-borne nematode in Danzhou city to provide information for prevention and control of the disease. Methods: According to the guidelines set by the National National soil-borne nematode technical solutions, one village was randomly chosen from every township as the monitoring location, in the east, west, south and north parts of Danzhou city. A total of 200 residents aged 3 years and over were randomly selected in each monitoring site, with modified Kato thick smear and Cellophane tape anal swab used for microscopy. Results: In this survey, we retrospectively analyzed the rates on soil borne nematode infection in five monitoring locations of Danzhou city and the results showed that the overall positive rates of infection was 19.5% (195/1 000). Comparing with the previous surveys, rates on soil-borne parasites infection were decreasing. The main types of soil-borne nematode infection appeared as roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and pinworm in Danzhou city, with rate of hookworm-egg infection ranking the highest (42.5%, 85/200) in Dacheng. The infection rate was seen significantly higher in females than males. People aged over 60 and between 3-10, had a higher rates of infection. Rate on multiple infections reached 16.9%, including 5 triple infection cases. Conclusion: Rates of infection on soil-borne nematodes in Danzhou city showed a decreasing trend from 2013 to 2016 with hookworm and whipworm as the major ones.

Laser-Induced Skyrmion Writing and Erasing in an Ultrafast Cryo-Lorentz Transmission Electron Microscope

We demonstrate that light-induced heat pulses of different duration and energy can write Skyrmions in a broad range of temperatures and magnetic field in FeGe. Using a combination of camera-rate and pump-probe cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we directly resolve the spatiotemporal evolution of the magnetization ensuing optical excitation. The Skyrmion lattice was found to maintain its structural properties during the laser-induced demagnetization, and its recovery to the initial state happened in the sub-μs to μs range, depending on the cooling rate of the system.

Abstract P2-02-11: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

Abstract P2-05-12: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

[Research Progress of MALDI-TOF-IMS in Biomedicine and Its Application Prospect in Forensic Sciences]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-IMS） can analysis unknown compounds in sections and obtain molecule imaging by scanning biological tissue sections, which has become a powerful tool for the research of biomarker, lipid distribution and drug metabolism, etc. This article reviews the application of this technique in protein identification, clinical application, drug discovery, lipid research and brain injury.

Structural responses of metallic glasses under neutron irradiation

Seeking nuclear materials that possess a high resistance to particle irradiation damage is a long-standing issue. Permanent defects, induced by irradiation, are primary structural changes, the accumulation of which will lead to structural damage and performance degradation in crystalline materials served in nuclear plants. In this work, structural responses of neutron irradiation in metallic glasses (MGs) have been investigated by making a series of experimental measurements, coupled with simulations in ZrCu amorphous alloys. It is found that, compared with crystalline alloys, MGs have some specific structural responses to neutron irradiation. Although neutron irradiation can induce transient vacancy-like defects in MGs, they are fully annihilated after structural relaxation by rearrangement of free volumes. In addition, the rearrangement of free volumes depends strongly on constituent elements. In particular, the change in free volumes occurs around the Zr atoms, rather than the Cu centers. This implies that there is a feasible strategy for identifying glassy materials with high structural stability against neutron irradiation by tailoring the microstructures, the systems, or the compositions in alloys. This work will shed light on the development of materials with high irradiation resistance.

Disrupting G6PD-mediated Redox homeostasis enhances chemosensitivity in colorectal cancer

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a key enzyme that generates NADPH to maintain reduced glutathione (GSH), which scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) to protect cancer cell from oxidative damage. In this study, we mainly investigate the potential roles of G6PD in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and chemoresistance. We discover that G6PD is overexpressed in CRC cells and patient specimens. High expression of G6PD predicts poor prognosis and correlated with poor outcome of oxaliplatin-based first-line chemotherapy in patients with CRC. Suppressing G6PD decreases NADPH production, lowers GSH levels, impairs the ability to scavenge ROS levels, and enhances oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis in CRC via ROS-mediated damage in vitro. In vivo experiments further shows that silencing G6PD with lentivirus or non-viral gene delivery vector enhances oxaliplatin anti-tumor effects in cell based xenografts and PDX models. In summary, our finding indicated that disrupting G6PD-mediated NADPH homeostasis enhances oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis in CRC through redox modulation. Thus, this study indicates that G6PD is a potential prognostic biomarker and a promising target for CRC therapy.

Effects of IL-10 on iron metabolism in LPS-induced inflammatory mice via modulating hepcidin expression

OBJECTIVE

Body's iron metabolism is at one dynamic balance status, and abnormal iron metabolism may lead to renal anemia. Inflammation stimuli may lead to abnormal iron metabolism and aggravation of chronic failure anemia. Hepcidin can regulate iron metabolic homeostasis, further mediating renal anemia. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an inflammatory inhibitor, but with an unclear function in the regulation of hepcidin expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into three groups: control group; lipid polysaccharide (LPS) group, which received 0.1 mg/kg LPS via tail veins; IL-10 group with 0.2 mg/kg IL-10 injection after LPS. Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobulin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and iron content in hemoglobulin were measured. Real-time PCR quantified hepcidin mRNA expression in all groups. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tested serum hepcidin, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Western blot analyzed expression of mouse transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) and hepcidin signal pathway molecule STAT3.

RESULTS

LPS model group had lower RBC, Hb, HCT, MCV and iron content in Hb, plus elevated hepcidin, IL-6, TNF-α, TfR2 and STAT3 expression (p < 0.05 compared to the control group). IL-10 treatment group significantly facilitated RBC, Hb, HCT, MCV and Hb iron contents in LPS-induced inflammatory model mice, which also had lower hepcidin, IL-6, TNF-α, TfR2 or STAT3 expression (p < 0.05 compared to LPS group).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-10 can improve iron metabolism and alleviate anemia via suppressing inflammatory factor, modulating STAT3 signal pathway, down-regulating hepcidin expression and inhibiting TfR expression.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of fulvestrant versus anastrozole as first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer

Although recent studies demonstrated that fulvestrant is superior to anastrozole as first-line treatment for hormone receptor (HR)-positive advanced breast cancer, the cost-effectiveness of fulvestrant versus anastrozole remained uncertain. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of fulvestrant compared with anastrozole in the first-line setting. A Markov model consisting of three health states (stable, progressive and dead) was constructed to simulate a hypothetical cohort of patients with HR-positive advanced breast cancer. Costs were calculated from a Chinese societal perspective. Health outcomes were measured in quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was expressed as incremental cost per QALY gained. Model results suggested that fulvestrant provides an additional effectiveness gain of 0.11 QALYs at an incremental cost of $32,654 compared with anastrozole, resulting in an ICER of $296,855/QALY exceeding the willingness-to-pay threshold of $23,700/QALY. Hence, fulvestrant is not a cost-effective strategy compared with anastrozole as first-line treatment for HR-positive advanced breast cancer.

[Related factors for severe liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients with remunerated blood donation history in Jurong of Jiangsu province]

Objective: The incidence of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C is high. Without effective treatment, it would lead to liver cirrhosis. This study is to identify the related factors for the incidence of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C in order to make early intervention treatment and reduce the case fatality rate. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in adults aged ≥50 years with local residence for more than 5 years in Jurong of Jiangsu province from March to May in 2015, the patients infected with hepatitis C virus through remunerated blood donation were screened and included in the analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis was done to compare the differences in the incidence of liver fibrosis among the patients with different age, sex and education level or co-infected with hepatitis B virus or not. The risk factors for severe liver fibrosis were identified with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Liver fibrosis was diagnosed by using FIB-4 index method. Results: A total of 719 patients with chronic hepatitis C were surveyed. Severe liver fibrosis developed in 285 of the 719 patients, in whom 21.84% was males. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients with higher education level (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.90) and with access of antiviral therapy (OR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.22-0.49) had lower risk for severe liver fibrosis, the patients with high fasting blood glucose level (OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.19-2.77) and abnormal white blood cell count (OR=2.77, 95% CI: 1.95-3.90) had higher risk for severe liver fibrosis. Conclusions: The incidence of severe liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C was affected by many factors. Higher education level and antiviral therapy were the protective factors, but high fasting blood glucose level and abnormal white blood cell count were the risk factors.

[Correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 polymorphisms with chronic periodontitis in Uygur adults]

Objective: To investigate the association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) polymorphisms and chronic periodontitis in Uygur adults. Methods: A total of 196 patients with chronic periodontitis and 97 healthy controls were selected from 2 500 Uygur people. Buccal swab samples were taken, the genomic DNA was extracted and the genotype distribution and allele frequency of MMP-9 were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The distribution of genotypes, allele frequencies and risk factors were analyzed by chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Results: Significant difference was found between healthy controls and the mild periodontitis and moderate to severe periodontitis in the MMP-9 1562C/T CC genotype expression (χ(2)=9.901, P=0.002; χ(2)=13.397, P< 0.001), and detectable rate of MMP-9 1562C/T CC genotype in the three groups was 31.3%(30/96), 53.5% (53/99), 27.8%(27/97), respectively. The detectable rate of CT genotype expression in the three groups were 65.6% (63/96), 45.5% (45/99), 69.1% (67/97) respectively and there was significant difference between healthy controls and mild periodontitis and between the mild periodontitis and moderate to severe periodontitis (χ(2)=8.025, P=0.005; χ(2)=11.159, P<0.001). There was also significant difference in allele frequency between healthy controls and mild periodontitis and between mild periodontitis and moderate to severe periodontitis (χ(2)=6.270, P=0.012; χ(2)=8.184, P=0.004). Logistic analysis showed that age under 35 years old was the protective factor of chronic periodontitis (OR=0.061, 95% CI=0.035-0.108, P<0.001) while the male and CT genotype were the risk factors of chronic periodontitis (OR=2.392, 95%CI=1.496-3.819, P<0.001; OR=1.280, 95%CI=0.794-2.067, P=0.031). Conclusions: The susceptibility to chronic periodontitis in Uygur adults in Moyu county of Xinjiang is related to the age and gender and polymorphism of MMP-9. The age over 35 years old, male and CT genotype may be the risk factors of chronic periodontitis in Uygur adults.

Unplanned reattendances at the paediatric emergency department within 72 hours: a one-year experience in KKH

INTRODUCTION

Unscheduled reattendances at the paediatric emergency department may contribute to overcrowding, which may increase financial burdens. The objectives of this study were to determine the rate of reattendances and characterise factors influencing these reattendances and hospital admission during the return visits.

METHODS

Medical records of all patients who attended the emergency department at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, from 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. We collected data on patient demographics, attendance data and clinical characteristics. Planned reattendances, recalled cases, reattendances for unrelated complaints and patients who left without being seen were excluded. A multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the odds ratio of variables associated with hospital admission for reattendances.

RESULTS

Of 162,566 children, 6,968 (4.3%) returned within 72 hours, and 2,925 (42.0% of reattendance group) were admitted on their return visits. Children more likely to reattend were under three years of age, Chinese, triaged as Priority 2 at the first visit, and were initially diagnosed with respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions. However, children more likely to be admitted on their return visits were over 12 years of age, Malay, had a higher triage acuity or were uptriaged, had the presence of a comorbidity, and were diagnosed with gastrointestinal conditions.

CONCLUSION

We identified certain subgroups in the population who were more likely to be admitted if they reattended. These findings would help in implementing further research and directing strategies to reduce potentially avoidable reattendances and admissions.

ITD mutation in FLT3 tyrosine kinase promotes Warburg effect and renders therapeutic sensitivity to glycolytic inhibition

Internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3/ITD) represents an unfavorable genetic change in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. Metabolic alterations have been involved in tumor progression and attracted interest as a target for therapeutic intervention. However, few studies analyzed the adaptations of cellular metabolism in the context of FLT3/ITD mutation. Here, we report that FLT3/ITD causes a significant increase in aerobic glycolysis through AKT-mediated upregulation of mitochondrial hexokinase (HK2), and renders the leukemia cells highly dependent on glycolysis and sensitive to pharmacological inhibition of glycolytic activity. Inhibition of glycolysis preferentially causes severe ATP depletion and massive cell death in FLT3/ITD leukemia cells. Glycolytic inhibitors significantly enhances the cytotoxicity induced by FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib. Importantly, such combination provides substantial therapeutic benefit in a murine model bearing FLT3/ITD leukemia. Our study suggests that FLT3/ITD mutation promotes Warburg effect, and such metabolic alteration can be exploited to develop effective therapeutic strategy for treatment of AML with FLT3/ITD mutation via metabolic intervention.

[HCV infection status and risk factors in remunerated blood donors in Jiangsu province]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the infection status of HCV in remunerated blood donors and risk factors in Jiangsu province.

METHODS

A Cross-sectional study was conducted among people aged >50 years. Questionnaires were used to collect the information about their demographic characteristics and risk behaviors, and venous blood samples were collected from them to detect HCV anti-body, HCV-RNA and other biochemical indicators. EpiData and Stata were used for data entry and statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The overall HCV sero-prevalence rates were 22.55% and 61.05% among remunerated blood donors. Data from multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(adjusted OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.18-1.62)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(adjusted OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.10-1.54)were associated with the outcomes of HCV infection, and fasting plasma glucose(adjusted OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.01-1.35)were associated with HCV RNA viral loads.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of HCV infection in remunerated blood donors was high, clinical ALT, AST and fasting plasma glucose levels were associated with the risk for HCV infection and HCV RNA viral load.