LncRNA HOXA-AS2 regulates microRNA-216a-5p to promote malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA-AS2 is a cancer-promoting gene. However, the role of HOXA-AS2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been reported. This study aims to investigate the expression characteristics of HOXA-AS2 in NSCLC and whether HOXA-AS2 can promote the malignant progression of NSCLC by regulating microRNA-216a-5p.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the HOXA-AS2 level in 40 pairs of NSCLC tumor tissue samples and adjacent ones. Then, the relationship between HOXA-AS2 expression and clinical indicators and prognosis of NSCLC was analyzed. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR further verified the expression level of HOXA-AS2 in NSCLC cell lines. Also, HOXA-AS2 knockdown and overexpression models were constructed using lentivirus in NSCLC cell lines, and the effects of HOXA-AS2 on the biological function of NSCLC cells were analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell migration, and cell wound healing assays. Finally, Western blotting assay and cell recovery experiment were used to explore the regulatory mechanism of HOXA-AS2 and microRNA-216a-5p in NSCLC.

RESULTS

In this experiment, qRT-PCR results revealed that HOXA-AS2 level in NSCLC tumor tissue specimens was remarkably higher than that in adjacent tissues. Compared with those with low expression of HOXA-AS2, the patients with high expression had a higher incidence of distant metastases and a lower overall survival rate. The proliferative and metastasis abilities of the cells in the HOXA-AS2 overexpression group were remarkably increased when compared with the control group, while the opposite results were observed in HOXA-AS2 silence group. Subsequently, qRT-PCR verified that microRNA-216a-5p level was remarkably decreased in NSCLC tissues and negatively correlated with HOXA-AS2 expression. In addition, the result of the cell recovery experiment and Western blotting revealed that there might be a mutual regulation between HOXA-AS2 and microRNA-216a-5p, the two of which could jointly regulate the malignant progression of NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that lncRNA HOXA-AS2 is upregulated in NSCLC and is remarkably associated with distant metastasis and poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. In addition, lncRNA HOXA-AS2 is found to be able to promote the malignant progression of NSCLC via regulating microRNA-216a-5p.

[Preliminary study of a mask filtration test device with respiratory simulation]

Objective: To develop an air particulate protective mask filter test device that can simulate the dynamics process of human breathing. Methods: The new device used two air pumps working alternately to simulate the dynamics process of human breathing. On March 4th to 17th, 2017, the new device and the traditional one-way airflow mask filtration test device were used to measure the internal and external particle levels of 39 masks of 13 models of 6 brands, and then the filtration efficiency of the mask was calculated and the test results were compared. Results: For the mask without breathing valve, there was no statistically significant difference between the filter efficiency test results of the new device and the traditional unidirectional airflow filter performance test device (P>0.05) . For masks with breathing valves, the new device detected that three of them had lower filtration efficiency (99.50% vs 98.63%, P<0.01) . After sealing the mask breathing valve with glue, the filtering efficiency of the mask with a breathing valve detected by the new device significantly improved (98.63% vs 99.50%, P<0.01) . Conclusion: This new device can simulate the dynamic process of human exhalation and inhalation, and measure the filtration efficiency of the mask. For masks with breathing valves, the new device makes it easier to detect the decrease in the filtering efficiency of the mask caused by the breathing valve.

[Correlation between spatial navigation disorder and white matter hyperintensity in patients with mild cognitive impairment]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between white matter lesions and spatial navigation ability in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A total of 32 MCI patients [age (66±11) years, 16 males and 16 females] who were treated in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2015 to February 2018 were selected, and matched with age, gender and education level of 28 healthy controls (NC) [age (70±11) years, 19 males and 9 females] underwent spatial navigation ability test and neuropsychology scale evaluation. In the cross-sectional study, all subjects simultaneously underwent 3.0T magnetic resonance three-dimensional liquid inversion recovery sequence and high-resolution T(1) weighted imaging scan. The Wisconsin White Matter Hyperintensities Segmentation Toolbox (W2MHS) was used to automatically mark and extract the volume of the white matter hyperintensity. Results: The average error distances of egocentric virtual (P=0.002) and allocentric virtual (P=0.039) of MCI patients are greater than that of the control group, but the average error distance of mixed (allocentric-egocentric virtual) navigation had no statistic difference between two groups (P=0.070). The volume of the whole white matter hyperintensity, periventricular white matter hyperintensity, and deep white matter hyperintensity showed no significant differences between two groups (all P>0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that after controlling for age, gender, education level and whole brain volume, the average error distance of mixed (allocentric-egocentric virtual) navigation in MCI patients was positively correlated to the volume of the whole white matter hyperintensity, deep white matter intensity, and periventricular white matter hyperintensity (r=0.469, 0.434, 0.512, all P<0.05). The average error distance of allocentric virtual navigation is positively correlated with the volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (r=0.403, P=0.033). There is no correlation between the average error distance of egocentric virtual navigation and the hyperintensity of white matter. Conclusions: The spatial navigation ability of patients with MCI is related to white matter lesions, which is of great significance for further research on the potential biological mechanisms affecting human spatial navigation ability.

Long non-coding RNA PCAT-1 promotes cardiac fibroblast proliferation via upregulating TGF-β1

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Long non-coding RNA PCAT-1 promotes cardiac fibroblast proliferation via upregulating TGF-β1, by Q. Chen, C. Feng, Y. Liu, Q.-F. Li, F.-Y. Qiu, M.-H. Wang, Z.-D. Shen, G.-S. Fu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23(23): 10517-10522-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201912_19692-PMID: 31841207" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19692.

Possible itinerant excitations and quantum spin state transitions in the effective spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Na2BaCo(PO4)2

The most fascinating feature of certain two-dimensional (2D) gapless quantum spin liquid (QSL) is that their spinon excitations behave like the fermionic carriers of a paramagnetic metal. The spinon Fermi surface is then expected to produce a linear increase of the thermal conductivity with temperature that should manifest via a residual value (κ₀/T) in the zero-temperature limit. However, this linear in T behavior has been reported for very few QSL candidates. Here, we studied the ultralow-temperature thermal conductivity of an effective spin-1/2 triangular QSL candidate Na₂BaCo(PO₄)₂, which has an antiferromagnetic order at very low temperature (T_N ~ 148 mK), and observed a finite κ₀/T extrapolated from the data above T_N. Moreover, while approaching zero temperature, it exhibits series of quantum spin state transitions with applied field along the c axis. These observations indicate that Na₂BaCo(PO₄)₂ possibly behaves as a gapless QSL with itinerant spin excitations above T_N and its strong quantum spin fluctuations persist below T_N.

[Compliance of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography and influencing factors in urban area of Henan province]

Objective: To evaluate the compliance of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for high-risk groups of lung cancer and influencing factors in urban area of Henan province during 2013-2017. Methods: Cluster sampling method was used to select the residents of 40-74 years old in Henan for cancer risk factor investigation and lung cancer risk assessment. Subjects with high risk of lung cancer received LDCT screening. The differences of LDCT receiving rates between groups were compared with χ(2) tests, and the time trend of rates were tested with the Cochran- Armitage trend test. The potential factors correlating to the compliance of LDCT screening were identified with multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Overall, 35 672 participants who met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis, and 13 383 of them received LDCT screening, the receiving rate was 37.52%. The receiving rate varied greatly across cities, ranging from 38.47% to 26.73% (P<0.05). Moreover, the receiving rate varied greatly across periods, ranging from 29.22% during 2013-2014 to 43.30% during 2014-2015, and the receiving rate increases gradually as the screening year increases (P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that: being female, age 45-69 years, with education level of junior high school/high school, previous smoking, drinking or previous drinking, infrequent physical exercise, history of tuberculosis, history of chronic bronchitis, history of emphysema, history of asthma bronchiectasis and family history of lung cancer were positive factors for receiving LDCT screening (All P<0.05). Conclusions: The overall compliance of LDCT screening in high-risk population of lung cancer was still not high in urban area of Henan. Implementation of effective interventions targeting the specific high-risk populations might improve the overall compliance of LDCT screening in the future.

[Analysis of endoscopic screening compliance and related factors among high risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer in urban areas of Henan Province from 2013 to 2017]

Objective: To study the compliance of endoscopic screening for high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer and relevant factors in urban areas of Henan Province, 2013-2017. Methods: The study participants were from the Cancer Screening Program in Urban Henan Province, China. From October 2013 to October 2017, 43 423 residents, who were evaluated as high-risk population for upper gastrointestinal cancer, were recruited from Zhengzhou, Zhumadian and Anyang. The cancer risk assessment questionnaire was used to collect basic demographic characteristics, dietary habits, living environment and habits, psychology and emotions, disease history and family history of cancer, and women's physiological and reproductive history. The data of endoscopic screening was obtained from hospitals participating in the Cancer Screening Program. Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to explore potential factors related to the compliance of endoscopic screening. Results: The age of study participants was(55.49±8.15) years old, and 44.00% (19 105) were male. About 18.41% of study subjects (7 996) took the endoscopic screening. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females, individuals aged 45-64 years old, with junior high school education or above, unmarried/divorced/widowed, previous smoking, alcohol drinking, infrequent physical exercise, history of reflux esophagitis, history of superficial gastritis, history of gastric ulcer, history of duodenal ulcer, history of gastric polyps and family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer were more likely to accept endoscopic screening. Conclusion: The overall participation rate of endoscopic screening among high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer was still low in urban areas of Henan Province. Gender, age, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, history of upper gastrointestinal disease and family history of upper gastroin testinal cancer were associated with the compliance of endoscopic screening.

Clinical characteristics of non-critically ill patients with novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in a Fangcang Hospital

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical characteristics of patients in a Fangcang Hospital.

METHODS

Non-critically ill individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests admitted between 7 February and 12 February 2020 to Dongxihu Fangcang Hospital, which was promptly constructed because of the rapid, exponential increase in COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China, were included; clinical course through to 22 February was recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 1012 non-critically ill individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests were included in the study. Thirty (of 1012, 3.0%) individuals were asymptomatic on admission. During hospitalization, 16 of 30 (53.3%) asymptomatic individuals developed different symptoms. Fourteen of 1012 patients (1.4%) remained asymptomatic from exposure to the end of follow up, with a median duration of 24 days (interquartile range 22-27). Fever (761 of 1012, 75.2%) and cough (531 of 1012, 52.4%) were the most common symptoms. Small patchy opacities (355 of 917, 38.7%) and ground-glass opacities (508 of 917, 55.4%) were common imaging manifestations in chest CT scans. One hundred patients (9.9%) were transferred to designated hospitals due to aggravation of illness. Diarrhoea emerged in 152 of 1012 patients (15.0%). Male, older age, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chills, dyspnoea, So2 value of ≤93%, white blood cell counts of >10 × 109/L and large consolidated opacities on CT images were all risk factors for aggravation of illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-critically ill individuals had different clinical characteristics from critically ill individuals. Asymptomatic infections only accounted for a small proportion of COVID-19. Although with a low incidence, diarrhoea was observed in patients with COVID-19, indicating the possibility of faecal-oral transmission.

Individual risk and familial liability for suicide attempt and suicide in autism: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Studies on the individual gender-specific risk and familial co-aggregation of suicidal behaviour in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are lacking.

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-cohort study applying conditional logistic regression models on 54 168 individuals recorded in 1987-2013 with ASD in Swedish national registers: ASD without ID n = 43 570 (out of which n = 19035, 43.69% with ADHD); ASD + ID n = 10 598 (out of which n = 2894 individuals, 27.31% with ADHD), and 270 840 controls, as well as 347 155 relatives of individuals with ASD and 1 735 775 control relatives.

RESULTS

The risk for suicidal behaviours [reported as odds ratio OR (95% confidence interval CI)] was most increased in the ASD without ID group with comorbid ADHD [suicide attempt 7.25 (6.79-7.73); most severe attempts i.e. requiring inpatient stay 12.37 (11.33-13.52); suicide 13.09 (8.54-20.08)]. The risk was also increased in ASD + ID group [all suicide attempts 2.60 (2.31-2.92); inpatient only 3.45 (2.96-4.02); suicide 2.31 (1.16-4.57)]. Females with ASD without ID had generally higher risk for suicidal behaviours than males, while both genders had highest risk in the case of comorbid ADHD [females, suicide attempts 10.27 (9.27-11.37); inpatient only 13.42 (11.87-15.18); suicide 14.26 (6.03-33.72); males, suicide attempts 5.55 (5.10-6.05); inpatient only 11.33 (9.98-12.86); suicide 12.72 (7.77-20.82)]. Adjustment for psychiatric comorbidity attenuated the risk estimates. In comparison to controls, relatives of individuals with ASD also had an increased risk of suicidal behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians treating patients with ASD should be vigilant for suicidal behaviour and consider treatment of psychiatric comorbidity.

Genetic variants of the C11orf30-LRRC32 region are associated with childhood asthma in the Chinese population

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether genetic polymorphisms of C11orf30-LRRC32 region are associated with the development of childhood asthma in the Chinese population.

METHODS

A total of 732 asthma children and 824 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the subjects for total IgE analysis, DNA extraction and RNA extraction. Three previously reported asthma-related SNPs were genotyped, including rs7936070 (G/T), rs7927894 (A/G), and rs6592657 (A/G). Blood samples from 50 patients and 50 controls were randomly selected to detect the mRNA expression levels of C11orf30 and LRRC32 in serum.

RESULTS

There were significantly different genotype frequencies between the two groups in terms of rs7936070 and rs7927894. Compared with controls, patients were found to have remarkably higher risk allele frequencies of rs7936070 and rs7927894. Genotype GG of rs7936070 was indicative of remarkably elevated total IgE level as compared with genotype TT and genotype GT. Similarly, genotype AA of rs7927894 was also associated with significantly elevated total IgE level. The serum expression of C11orf30 was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. The C11orf30 expression was significantly correlated with the total IgE level (r = -0.463, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Variants of C11orf30 were associated with the risk of childhood asthma in the Chinese population. Besides, abnormally decreased expression of C11orf30 was detected in the serum of patients, which was correlated with the total IgE level. The C11orf30 might play a role in asthma via biological pathways involving the regulation of total serum IgE level.

Vertical distribution of microbial communities and their response to metal(loid)s along the vadose zone-aquifer sediments

AIMS

This study attempted to demonstrate the vertical shift in bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities along the vadose zone-aquifer sediments and their respective responses to environmental factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We collected samples from the vadose zone and three aquifer sediments along a 42·5 m bore of a typical agricultural land. The results showed that the bacterial community shifted greatly with depth. The classes of Actinobacteria (19·5%) and NC10 (11·0%) were abundant in the vadose zone while Alphaproteobacteria (22·3%) and Gammaproteobacteria (20·1%) were enriched in the aquifer. Archaeal and fungal communities were relatively more homogeneous with no significant trend as a function of depth. Process analyses further indicated that selection dominated in the bacterial community, whereas stochastic processes governed archaeal and fungal communities. Moreover environment-bacteria interaction analysis showed that metal(loid)s, especially alkali metal, had a closer correlation with the bacterial community than physicochemical variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Depth strongly affected bacterial rather than archaeal and fungal communities. Metal(loid)s prevailed over physicochemical variables in shaping the bacterial community in the vadose zone-aquifer continuum.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our study provides a new perspective on the structure of microbial communities from the vadose zone to the deep aquifers.

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of children with STXBP1 encephalopathy]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) caused by syntaxin-binding protein 1 (STXBP1) gene mutation. Methods: The clinical data, gene variation and treatment outcome of 15 children with STXBP1 encephalopathy admitted to Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2014 to June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among 15 patients, 11 were male and 4 were female, age ranged from 2 months to 69 months. The clinical manifestations of 14 children were epilepsy and developmental delay (DD) and the remaining one showed developmental delay without seizure. The onset age of epilepsy ranged from two days to 19 months and 11 of them experienced the first attack before 1 year of age. The common seizure types were epileptic spasms and tonic seizures. Seven patients were diagnosed with Ohtahara syndrome or West syndrome. Epileptic form discharges were observed in the interictal electroencephalograms (EEG) of 11 patients, including multifocal discharges, suppression-burst and hypsarrhythmia. The brain magnetic resonance imaging of 7 children were abnormal, including myelin dysplasia, less white matter, lack of corpus callosum or hypoplasia. The follow-up time ranged from 2 months to 57 months, after the last follow-up, 3 cases were seizure free, 6 children showed partial response and the other 5 patients had no response on multitherapy. Six of 8 patients showed good responses to levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy or in combination with other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Vigabatrin (VGB) was applied to 5 patients with epileptic spasms and 4 of them showed response. All patients showed different degrees of developmental delay while four of them showed autistic features. STXBP1 gene mutations were identified in all cases and there were 15 types of gene variations, including 8 missense mutations, 1 nonsense mutation, 5 frame shift mutations and 1 complex mutation. Five novel mutations were unreported before, including c.1193A>G, c.172delG, c.1769C>T, c.1038_1039delCC, c.348_351dupTGAA. Conclusions: Development delay and epilepsy are the major and independent clinical phenotypes in children with STXBP1 encephalopathy. The variation of STXBP1 gene is mainly de novo. Levetiracetam and vigabatrin may be more effective in epilepsy control than other AEDs.

AB0347 INCREASING TO OPTIMAL METHOTREXATE DOSE MIGHT BE A BETTER TRADITIONAL DMARD STRATEGY IN RA TREATMENTS: A RANDOMIZED CASE-CONTROL TRIAL OF HAKKA PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CHINA

Background:

The optimal methotrexate (MTX) dose is defined as 0.3mg/kg/week or ≥ 20mg/week at 6 months. [1] Considering average weight of Chinese, [2] the optimal MTX should be >15mg/w. However, not more than 30% in 25191 RA cases ever had MTX treatment in CREDIT (Chinese Registry of Rheumatoid arthritis). [3] The biggest concern is side effects of MTX. Our study is to investigate whether increasing MTX would get better results accompanied with more side effects to Chinese people.

Objectives:

Hakka people have the purest genes of the majority people-Han in China. It is planned to recruit 160 RA patients in Meizhou, where is a gathering place of Hakka people.

Methods:

The RA volunteers had no relief with 10 mg/w oral dose of MTX with/without other 1-2 inadequate dose of DMARDs for at least 3 months. They were randomly divided into 1:1 groups*. The experimental group would be treated with original DMARDs and incremental MTX (gradually increased to the optimal oral dose (0.3 mg/k/w) in the first 12 weeks and folic acid (the dose adjusted on demand with range from 5 mg/w to 5mg tid). While the control group would be treated with original MTX dose(10mg/w) but incremental original DMARDs(gradually increased to the maximum dose in the first 12 weeks). The two groups would keep the treatment at 12thweek last to the 36thweek, and the efficacy and safety indexes would be evaluated during the whole study.

Results:

1)We planned to recruit 160 RA patients in our study. 46 Hakka RA patients were enrolled in the study so far. 2 of 46 finished the 24thweek visit and 24 finished the 36thweek visit. The average age is 54.2± 9.3 years old, the average weight is 59.1±11.1kg, and the female to male ratio is 41:5.

2)The average Folic acid dose is 14.4±9.5mg/w in the experimental group at the 12thweek.

3)The morning stiffness time, PGA, PhGA, HAQ, DAS28 were better in experimental group after 12 weeks though slightly worse during 0-12 weeks. 100%(12) patients in experimental group, while 66.67%(8/12) in control group reach ACR20.

4) Only 1 case(5.9%,1/23)had adverse event while 6 cases (26%,6/23) occurred adverse events. All events were mild level. 1 case (4.2%,1/23) in control group withdrew from the study because the disease was getting worse during 0-24 weeks.

Conclusion:

Hakka patients in China might have better outcomes due to increasing MTX to the 0.3mg/kg/w dose than increasing the other DMARDs. Therefore, We recommended the Chinses patients choose MTX as first incremental DMARD. The appropriate dose of Folic acid plus with the optimal dose of MTX in our study is higher than previous studies (such as 13.0±4.8mg/w reported by Gaujoux-Viala, 2018[1]). We recommended Chinese patients take 15mg/w folic acid to prevent MTX side effects in view of lower folic acid level in Chinese population.[3]

References:

[1]Gaujoux-Viala C, Rincheval N, Dougados M, et al. Optimal methotrexate dose is associated with better clinical outcomes than non-optimal dose in daily practice: results from the ESPOIR early arthritis cohort. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12):2054-2060.

[2]Nan Jiang, Mengtao Li, Yanhong Wang, et al. Baseline characteristics and treatments among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the CREDIT study in China, 2016-2018. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019 Jun; 78 (Suppl 2) 1404-1405.

[3]He Y, Pan A, Hu FB,et al. Folic acid supplementation, birth defects, and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women: a population-based mega-cohort study, Lancet, 2016 Oct,Volume 388, Number 1, pp. S91-S91-(1)

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

The nurse outcomes and patient outcomes following the High-Quality Care Project

BACKGROUND

There have been many single cross-sectional studies on nurse or patient outcomes. However, long-term evidence on improving nurse and patient outcomes is still limited. The High-Quality Care Project is a national project in China for improving nurse and patient outcomes by implementing primary nursing.

AIM

(1) To assess the long-term changes in nurse and patient outcomes in the context of the High-Quality Care Project. (2) To explore the potential influences of primary nursing on nurse and patient outcomes based on this study and broader existing evidence.

METHODS

The data of two cross-sectional studies were used for analysis. The two cross-sectional studies were conducted before (2009) and after (2016) the High-Quality Care Project. A total of 1376 nurses and 904 patients from 40 units of 10 tertiary hospitals were surveyed. Reliable and validated instruments were used to measure nurse and patient outcomes. Multilevel modelling was the main method for data analysis.

RESULTS

Nurses in 2016 were more satisfied than nurses in 2009 with most dimensions of nurse work environment and job satisfaction. However, they were not more satisfied with burnout, global job satisfaction or intention to leave their job. Nurses in 2016 also reported better quality of patient care and patient safety while their patients reported higher patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of our results based on existing evidence indicates that primary nursing could be considered as a potentially effective way to improve nurse work environment and patient outcomes. More studies with rigorous study design from micro perspectives would be useful to further explore the direct effects of primary nursing on nurse or/and patient outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND NURSING POLICY

Policymakers, healthcare service leaders and nurse managers should make efforts to provide multi-level supports to cultivate an encouraging environment for nurses to practice primary nursing, because the implementation of primary nursing may improve the nurse work environment and patient outcomes. Furthermore, improving nurse participation in hospital affairs and developing nursing discipline and education for increasing nursing staff resource and nurses' capacity - which all need policy and management supports - are crucial to further improve nurse and patient outcomes.

GPR39 Overexpression in OSCC Promotes YAP-Sustained Malignant Progression

The clinical outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not improved in recent years, mainly due to the limited effective targeted therapy that has been applied. Recently, a transcriptional coactivator, YAP, has been shown to have a key regulatory role in malignant progression in multiple cancers, including OSCC. But pharmacologically targeting YAP or the Hippo pathway, which is the main signaling pathway regulating YAP, has been proven to be challenging. Therefore, uncovering YAP upstream regulators in cancer would identify novel therapeutic targets for treatment of YAP-sustained cancers. Here, we showed that YAP was overactivated in OSCC and that high YAP activity in patients with OSCC was associated with malignant progression and poor survival. We uncovered that GPR39 (a G protein-coupled receptor) was overexpressed in OSCC, that the expression level of GPR39 was correlated with the activity level of YAP, and that the high GPR39 expression was associated with malignant progression and poor survival in patients with OSCC. Moreover, we found that GPR39 regulated YAP through a Gαq/11-RhoA-dependent signaling pathway. Importantly, inhibition of GPR39 resulted in YAP-sustained OSCC growth inhibition. Our findings suggest that GPR39 is a potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment with itself as a biomarker.

Association of Melanophilin (MLPH) gene polymorphism with coat colour in Rex rabbits

Rex rabbit, with multiple phenotypes and colourful fur, is an interesting model for assessing the effect of coat colour gene mutations on characteristic pigmentation phenotype. Based on previous study, the <em>melanophilin</em> (<em>MLPH</em>) gene is a positional candidate gene related coat colour dilution. The fur colours are a lighter shade, e.g. grey instead of black. We sequenced 1689 base pairs of the <em>MLPH</em> gene in Chinchilla and black Rex rabbit. A total of 13 polymorphisms were identified, including seven missense mutations. The rabbit <em>MLPH</em> gene has a very high GC content and the protein shows 64.87% identity to the orthologous human protein (lack of homologous amino acids encoded by human MLPH exon 9). Hardy-Weinberg test showed that, except for the g.606C&gt;A single nucleotid polymorphism (SNP), all other SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Haplotype analysis revealed that the seven missense mutation SNPs of two strains of Rex rabbits formed 10 haplotypes, but there were only seven major types of haplotypes (haplotype frequency <em>P</em>&gt;0.05). The major haplotypes of the Chinchilla and black Rex rabbits were H1/H2/H3/H4/H5 and H1/H2/H3/H6/H8, respectively. The special haplotypes of Chinchilla Rex rabbit (H4, H5, H7) were consistently associated with the Chinchilla phenotype. This study provides evidence that different coat colour formation may be caused by one or more mutations within <em>MLPH</em> gene in several Rex rabbit strains. The data on polymorphisms that are associated with the Chinchilla phenotype facilitate the breeding of rabbits with defined coat colours.

Impact of P inputs on source-sink P dynamics of sediment along an agricultural ditch network

Phosphorus (P) loss from intensive dairy farms is a pressure on water quality in agricultural catchments. At farm scale, P sources can enter in-field drains and open ditches, resulting in transfer along ditch networks and delivery into nearby streams. Open ditches could be a potential location for P mitigation if the right location was identified, depending on P sources entering the ditch and the source-sink dynamics at the sediment-water interface. The objective of this study was to identify the right location along a ditch to mitigate P losses on an intensive dairy farm. High spatial resolution grab samples for water quality, along with sediment and bankside samples, were collected along an open ditch network to characterise the P dynamics within the ditch. Phosphorus inputs to the ditch adversely affected water quality, and a step change in P concentrations (increase in mean dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) from 0.054 to 0.228 mg L^-1) midway along the section of the ditch sampled, signalled the influence of a point source entering the ditch. Phosphorus inputs altered sediment P sorption properties as P accumulated along the length of the ditch. Accumulation of bankside and sediment labile extractable P, Mehlich 3 P (M3P) (from 13 to 97 mg kg^-1) resulted in a decrease in P binding energies (k) to < 1 L mg^-1 at downstream points and raised the equilibrium P concentrations (EPC₀) from 0.07 to 4.61 mg L^-1 along the ditch. The increase in EPC₀ was in line with increasing dissolved and total P in water, demonstrating the role of sediment downstream in this ditch as a secondary source of P to water. Implementation of intervention measures are needed to both mitigate P loss and remediate sediment to restore the sink properties. In-ditch measures need to account for a physicochemical lag time before improvements in water quality will be observed.

[Effects of estimated glomerular filtration rate on all-cause mortality in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China]

Objective: To investigate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and all-cause mortality in the elderly aged 65 years and older in longevity areas in China. Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, a sub-cohort of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, 1 802 elderly adults were collected in the study during 2012-2017/2018. In this study, the elderly were classified into 4 groups, moderate-to-severe group [<45 ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)], mild-to-moderate group [45- ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)], mild group [60- ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)] and normal group [≥90 ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)] according to their eGFR levels. Results: After 6 years of follow-up, 852 participants died, with a mortality rate of 47.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the levels of eGFR were negatively correlated with all-cause mortality risk in the elderly (the HR of elderly was 0.993 and the 95%CI was 0.989-0.997 for every unit of eGFR increased, P=0.001), while compared with the group with normal eGFR, the HRs (95%CI) of the elderly in the moderate-to-severe group, mild-to-moderate group, and mild group were 1.690 (1.224-2.332, P=0.001), 1.312 (0.978-1.758, P=0.070), 1.349 (1.047-1.737, P=0.020) respectively [trend test P<0.001]. Conclusion: The decrease in eGFR was associated with higher mortality risk among the elderly in longevity areas in China.

Prevalence of Cognitive Frailty Phenotypes and Associated Factors in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive frailty was notable target for the prevention of adverse health outcomes in future. The goal of this study was to use a population-based survey to investigate cognitive frailty phenotypes and potentially sociodemographic factors in elderly Chinese individuals.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

General community.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 5328 elderly adults (aged 60 years or older, mean age 71.36 years) enrolled in the Shanghai study of health promotion for elderly individuals with frailty.

MEASUREMENTS

The 5-item FRAIL scale and the 3-item Rapid Cognitive Screen tools were used to assess physical frailty and cognitive impairment, including dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Physical frailty was diagnosed by limitations in 3 or more of the FRAIL scale domains and pre-physical frailty by 1-2 limitations. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and pre-MCI SCD, was diagnosed with two self-report measures based on memory and other cognitive domains in elderly adults.

RESULTS

Of the participating individuals, 97.17% (n= 5177, female 53.4%) were eligible. Notably, 9.67%, 41.61% and 35.20% of participants were MCI, SCD and pre-MCI SCD; 35.86% and 4.41% exhibited physical pre-frailty and frailty; and 19.86% and 6.30% exhibited reversible and potential reversible cognitive frailty. Logistic regression analyses indicated that physical frailty phenotypes were significantly associated with MCI with SCD, and pre-MCI with SCD. Older single females with a high education level were more likely to exhibit the reversible cognitive frailty; and younger elderly individuals with a middle education level were at lower risk for potentially reversible cognitive frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of pre-physical and reversible cognitive frailty was high in elderly individuals and age was the most significant risk factor for all types of frailty phenotypes. To promote the rapid screening protocol of cognitive frailty in community-dwelling elderly is important to find high-risk population, implement effective intervention, and decrease adverse prognosis.

Development of a rapid, one-step-visual method to detect Salmonella based on IC-LAMP method

BACKGROUND

Salmonella can cause serious human gastroenteritis and is frequently isolated from various food samples. The cell culturing, immunoassay, and polymerase chain reactions (PCR) are the current methods to detect such pathogenic agents. However, these methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and thus unavailable for rapid-monitoring of Salmonella.

AIMS

This study aimed to develop an immunocapture-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (IC-LAMP) for rapid and sensitive detection of Salmonella.

METHODS

Salmonella was used as antigen to produce monoclonal antibody (mAb) and mAbs were prepared via subcloning three times. The mAb 1B12 with high affinity was coated on the surface of the immuno-magnetic beads (IMBs) to capture Salmonella. The enriched products (IMBs-Salmonella) were used for LAMP using the special primers targeted the conserved invA gene of Salmonella.

RESULTS

The IC-LAMP was developed based on mAb 1B12 and LAMP. Targeting the conserved invA gene of Salmonella, the detection time was shortened to 50 min from three days. If the reaction contains Salmonella, the green fluorescence and the trapezoidal strip can be clearly observed. Importantly, the method combines the specificity of antibody and LAMP with a detection limit of 5 CFU/ml in artificially contaminated water and milk. The specificity of this method was demonstrated by testing other similar bacteria. The results indicate that the IC-LAMP reacts only with Salmonella and does not cross-react with other similar bacteria.

CONCLUSION

The IC-LAMP assay developed here is a rapid, sensitive, one-step-visual method to screen for the presence of Salmonella in food samples. This method is faster than traditional PCR, LAMP, and other methods, and can be used as a primary screening method for the detection.

Determination of Place of Residence Using the Gene Information of Plants Carried by the Human Body

Abstract

Objective To identify the plant species using the DNA sequence of plant pollen from lung tissues of a unidentified body, infer the possible long-term places of residence of the deceased according to the distribution area of the pollen in the lung tissues, therefore narrow the scope of criminal investigation and provide clues for case solving. Methods Lung tissues were extracted from the deceased, total DNA was extracted by the mCTAB method. Gene fragments of the two plant DNA barcodes, matK and rbcL, were acquired using specific primers for amplification, then sequenced. The DNA sequences of target gene fragments were acquired through bioinformatics analysis. The sequences were combined with reference sequence data. Phylogenetic analysis was made to identify the species that the DNA sequences belonged to. The places where the deceased could have lived for a long time were inferred, according to the distribution information of plant species. Results Gene fragments of 32 plant species which belonged to 31 genera of 27 families were in the lung tissues of the deceased. Among them, plants of 9 genera that had certain indicative function were mainly endemic plants from Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. These results showed that the deceased may have stayed in these areas for a long time before death. After further investigation, the victim was confirmed to have come from a county in southern Guangxi, which was in accordance with the research results. Conclusion The method of using gene information of plants from lung tissues of human bodies to infer places of residence can assist inference of the places where the deceased could have lived for a long time. The present study may also provide new ideas for locating sources of the corpses in cases with unidentified victims.

Associations of serum magnesium levels and calcium-magnesium ratios with mortality in patients with coronary artery disease

AIMS

Low magnesium (Mg) and high calcium (Ca) levels are linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in the general population. This prospective study assessed whether there are any independent associations of serum Mg levels and Ca-Mg ratios with mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 3380 CAD patients. Cox regression models were used to estimate associations of serum Mg and Ca-Mg ratio with risk of mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 562 deaths (331 due to CVD) were recorded during a 7.59-year (median) follow-up. Spline plots displayed U-shaped associations between serum Mg levels and Ca-Mg ratios and risk of mortality. When compared with a moderate group, adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for low Mg levels and high Ca-Mg ratios were 1.59 (1.30-1.95) and 1.31 (1.06-1.61) for all-cause mortality, and 1.71 (1.32-2.22) and 1.44 (1.09-1.89) for CVD mortality, respectively. There was also a tendency to increase risk of mortality in patients with high serum Mg levels and low Ca-Mg ratios. Associations of low serum Mg and high Ca-Mg ratio with risk of mortality did not change when stratified by gender, body mass index, CAD type, estimated glomerular filtration rate, use of diuretics, or history of diabetes or hypertension.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that a moderate Ca-Mg ratio (range: 3.91-4.70) had the lowest mortality risk, and that low serum Mg and high Ca-Mg ratio were independent risk factors of mortality in CAD patients. Nevertheless, the optimal dose-response of Mg and Ca for mitigating CAD risk still requires further investigation.

Characterization of in vivo autophagy during avian spermatogenesis1

Spermatogenesis is a complex cellular process that includes many subcellular events that are essential for the production of healthy spermatozoa. Autophagy is a physiological process that plays a significant role in the process of spermatogenesis; however, autophagy during avian spermatogenesis has not yet been reported. In the current study, we characterized in vivo autophagy throughout the process of domestic fowl spermatogenesis. Autophagy-specific markers, including microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), sequestosome 1 (p62), and autophagy-related 7 (Atg7), were used to confirm the occurrence of autophagy in testicular germ cells. The protein expression of Atg7, LC3, and p62 in domestic fowl testes was confirmed by Western blotting. The immunohistochemical staining indicated a strong localization of LC3 and Atg7 within spermiogenic cells (intermediate and late spermatids) and primary spermatocytes. However, poorly expressed in cells (spermatogonia) that were located near the basement membrane. The immunofluorescence staining results showed the opposite tendency for LC3 and p62. LC3 was more strongly localized within the elongated spermatids, while p62 was strongly localized within the early spermatids. Moreover, the ultrastructural components of autophagy were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Well-developed autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies were found to be prominent in primary spermatocytes (zygotene and pachytene) and spermiogenic cells. Furthermore, other vesicular structures, such as early endosomes and amphisomes, were also observed during spermatogenesis. The above findings collectively suggest that autophagy is active during spermatogenesis and that the level of autophagy increases from the basal to the luminal regions of the seminiferous tubules of domestic fowl testes. We propose that autophagic pathways may be involved in multiple functions to sustain spermatogenesis.

MiR-1203 is involved in hepatocellular carcinoma metastases and indicates a poor prognosis

Non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs, have been shown to be important regulators in multiple human diseases, including malignant tumors, congenital disease, and autoimmune disease. In this study, we screened the metastasis-associated miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the miRNA microarray screening, miR-1203 was confirmed to be the most significant miRNA and was also highly associated with HCC metastases. Bioinformatics prediction indicated direct binding of miR-1203 in SOCS3, which was also confirmed by a dual luciferase reporter assay, resulting in suppression of SOCS3. Increased miR-1203 also promoted invasion of HCC cells through suppressing SOCS3, while no effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis was detected. Circulating expression of miR-1203 and SOCS3 might serve as a predictor of metastases and poor prognosis in HCC patients. In conclusion, miR-1203 might promote HCC metastasis by decreasing SOCS3. MiR-1203 predicts a poor outcome in HCC patients and thus might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of HCC.

[Prognostic value of donor chimerism at +90 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in young patients with intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between donor chimerism and relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: The clinical data of 105 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who underwent allo-HSCT and recurrence-free survival>90 days from January 2010 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The bone marrow samples were collected at 15, 30, 60, 90, 180, 270, 360 days after transplantation. Donor chimerism was detected by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -PCR. Results: Of the 105 patients, 43 cases were male and 62 cases were female, with a median age of 38 (16-60) years. Till April 2019, the median follow-up was 843 (94-3 261) days. Ninety days after transplantation, 18 cases relapsed, 33 cases died, and 72 cases survived. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was (66.8±5.1) %, and the recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was (65.1±5.0) %. Pre-transplant disease status, pre-transplant minimal residual disease (MRD) , and 90 day post-transplantation chimerism were independent risk factors related to RFS. The risk of recurrence was significantly increased in patients with a donor chimerism rate ≤97.24% at 90 days after transplantation[HR=6.921 (95%CI 2.669-17.950) , P<0.001], which was considered as a sign of early relapse. Conclusion: SNP-PCR is an applicable method for detecting donor chimerism in patients after allo-HSCT. Chimerism rate equal or less than 97.24% at 90 days after transplantation predicts a higher risk of relapse.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and disease resistance of the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata

AIMS

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic partners of many invasive plants, however, it is still unclear how AMF contribute to traits that are important for the successful invasion of their host and how environmental factors, such as nutrient conditions, influence this. This study was to explore the effects of Glomus versiforme (GV) and Glomus mosseae (GM) on the growth and disease resistance of the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata under different nutrient conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We found that GV and GM had higher root colonization rates resulting in faster W. trilobata growth under both low-N and low-P nutrient conditions compared to the normal condition. Also, the colonization of W. trilobata by GV significantly reduced the infection area of the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani under low-N conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that AMF can promote the growth and pathogenic defence of W. trilobata in a nutrient-poor environment, which might contribute to their successful invasion into certain type of habitats.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

In this study, we report for the first time that AMF can promote growth and disease resistance of W. trilobata under nutrient-poor environment, which contribute to a better understanding of plant invasion.

pUC18-CpG stimulates RAW 264.7 via TBK1-mediated pathway and presents adjuvanticity in mice

Phosphorothioate CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) are reported to be recognized by the membrane-bound TLR9 and trigger the MyD88-dependent up-regulation of Type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Whether plasmids containing multiple CpG motifs stimulate the same signaling pathway is yet to be determined. The present results show that the CpG motifs enrich plasmid pUC18-CpG stimulates RAW 264.7 in vitro, mainly through the TBK1-mediated signaling pathway, causing the up-regulation of IFN-β, and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. When pUC18-CpG is co-administered with the recombinant Echinococcus granulosus antigen, the antigen-specific antibody titers are markedly increased compared to the Quil-A adju- vanted group. Antigen specific cytokine quantification shows that cytokine profiles from the pUC18-CpG adjuvanted-group are switched to a Th1-biased immune response.

Laboratory safety of dupilumab in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: results from three phase III trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1, LIBERTY AD SOLO 2, LIBERTY AD CHRONOS)

Background

Dupilumab [a monoclonal antibody blocking the shared receptor subunit for interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13] is approved for patients aged ≥ 12 years with inadequately controlled, moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab trials of up to 52 weeks demonstrated efficacy and a favourable safety profile in patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD inadequately controlled with topical medications.

Objectives

To further characterize the safety of dupilumab by evaluating clinical laboratory findings from three randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled phase III trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 & 2 and LIBERTY AD CHRONOS).

Methods

Patients were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 (SOLO 1 & 2) or 3 : 1 : 3 (CHRONOS) for 16 and 52 weeks, respectively, to dupilumab weekly, every 2 weeks or placebo. CHRONOS patients received a standardized concomitant topical corticosteroid regimen. Laboratory outcomes were summarized descriptively in 1376 patients from SOLO 1 & 2 and 740 from CHRONOS.

Results

Treatment groups had similar results in baseline laboratory parameters. Platelets and neutrophils showed mild decreases from baseline in dupilumab vs. placebo groups. Some dupilumab‐treated patients had small transient increases in eosinophils. Grade 3 eosinophilia was reported in < 1% of dupilumab‐treated and placebo‐treated patients; no adverse events were associated with eosinophilia. Lactate dehydrogenase levels decreased from baseline during dupilumab treatment in all trials. No clinically meaningful changes were observed between treatment groups in other haematology, chemistry or urinalysis parameters.

Conclusions

There were no clinically important changes in routine laboratory parameters that could be attributed to dupilumab. This study supports the use of dupilumab as a systemic treatment for moderate‐to‐severe AD that does not require laboratory monitoring.

What's already known about this topic?

Long‐term treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) with conventional immunosuppressive agents is limited by the risk of significant side‐effects and a need for repeated tests to monitor haematological and/or organ (e.g. liver, kidney) toxicities.

Dupilumab [a monoclonal antibody blocking the shared receptor subunit for interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13] is approved for the treatment of patients with inadequately controlled, moderate‐to‐severe AD.

In 16‐week and 52‐week studies, dupilumab demonstrated a positive risk/benefit profile in moderate‐to‐severe AD.

What does this study add?

This study is the first comprehensive analysis of dupilumab laboratory safety data of the 16‐week SOLO 1 & 2 (pooled N = 1376) and 52‐week CHRONOS (N = 740) trials, demonstrating an absence of clinically important changes in haematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis parameters in patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD treated with dupilumab.

Our data support the use of dupilumab as a systemic treatment for the long‐term management of moderate‐to‐severe AD without routine laboratory monitoring in clinical practice.

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Validation of Three Rapid Screening Methods for Detection of Verotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Foods: Interlaboratory Study

An interlaboratory study was conducted for the validation of 3 methods for the detection of all verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in foods. The methods were a multi-analyte 1-step lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for detection of E. coli O157 and verotoxin (VT); an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeted against VT1, VT2, and VT2c (VT-ELISA); and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of VT genes (VT-PCR). Aliquots (25 g or 25 mL) of 4 food types (raw minced [ground] beef, unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized apple juice [cider], and salami) were individually inoculated with low numbers (&lt;9 to 375 cells/25 g) of 6 test strains of E. coli (serogroups O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157) with differing VT-producing capabilities. Five replicates for each test strain and 5 uninoculated samples were prepared for each food type. Fourteen participating laboratories analyzed samples using the LFIA, 9 analyzed the samples by ELISA, and 9 by PCR. The LFIA for O157 and VT had a specificity (correct identification of negative samples) of 92 and 94%, respectively, and a sensitivity (correct identification of positive samples) of 94 and 55%, respectively. The VT-ELISA and VT-PCR

[Study of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1B gene polymorphism in relation to the outcomes of HCV infection]

Objective: To investigate the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1B gene (TNFRSF1B) polymorphism in relation to the outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: One thousand six hundred and forty-five cases without HCV infection, 545 cases with HCV clearance, and 783 cases with chronic HCV infection were enrolled. TaqMan probe method was used to investigate genotype rs1061622 (T > G) and rs1061624 (G > A). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) sites were genotyped and haplotypes were constructed to evaluate their relation with the outcome of HCV infection. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no relation to the two SNPs with HCV infection susceptibility and chronicity (P > 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that carrier TA had an increased susceptibility to HCV infection [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01 to 1.30, P = 0.038)]. Carrier TA and GG haplotypes were conducive to chronic HCV infection (adjusted OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.53, P = 0.006; OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.66, P = 0.026). Conclusion: The combinational effects of rs1061622 and rs1061624 in TNFRSF1B gene may increase the risk of HCV chronicity and infection.

[Introduction of joint model and its applications in medical research]

In medical follow-up studies, longitudinal data and survival data are often accompanied and associated with each other, thus respective analysis of longitudinal and survival data might lead to biased results. Joint model can correct deviations, improve the efficiency of parameter estimation and provide effective inferences by simultaneously processing longitudinal and survival data. It is a popular method in medical research. Joint model has made much progress, whereas the literature about the joint model and its application is limited in China. This paper summarizes the main idea, basic framework, parameter estimation methods of random effect joint model and introduces the analysis on AIDS data set based on the R software package 'JM' to clarify the advantages of the joint model in processing medical follow-up data and promote the use of the joint model in clinical research.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Fire and Human Evacuation for Nuclear Applications

The nuclear industry has seen an increased use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology as a high-fidelity tool for design-basis and beyond-design-basis accident simulations. Among its applications, CFD modeling of fire and smoke propagation in confined zones (e.g., a main control room (MCR)) is a promising approach, since detailed experimental investigation under various accident scenarios would be difficult. Egress analysis considering human behaviors is of significant importance to an effective accident mitigation strategy, and high-fidelity analysis tools now encompass these parameters in the simulation and design of emergency evacuations. In this study, the fire and smoke propagation in a MCR is modeled using the large eddy simulations (LES) code fire dynamics simulator (FDS), along with an evacuation module, EVAC to simulate the emergency egress under an electrical cabinet fire scenario. The FDS results presented in this paper constitute the first step at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) in advancing the CFD modeling of fire and evacuation for nuclear applications.

Structural modification of azolylacryloyl derivatives yields a novel class of covalent modifiers of hemoglobin as potential antisickling agents

The intracellular polymerization and the concomitant sickling processes, central to the pathology of sickle cell disease, can be mitigated by increasing the oxygen affinity of sickle hemoglobin (HbS). Attempts to develop azolylacryloyl derivatives to covalently interact with βCys93 and destabilize the low-O2-affinity T-state (deoxygenated) HbS to the polymer resistant high-O2-affinity R-state (liganded) HbS were only partially successful. This was likely due to the azolylacryloyls carboxylate moiety directing the compounds to also bind in the central water cavity of deoxygenated Hb and stabilizing the T-state. We now report a second generation of KAUS compounds (KAUS-28, KAUS-33, KAUS-38, and KAUS-39) without the carboxylate moiety designed to bind exclusively to βCys93. As expected, the compounds showed reactivity with both free amino acid l-Cys and the Hb βCys93. At 2 mM concentrations, the compounds demonstrated increased Hb affinity for oxygen (6% to 15%) in vitro, while the previously reported imidazolylacryloyl carboxylate derivative, KAUS-15 only showed 4.5% increase. The increased O2 affinity effects were sustained through the experimental period of 12 h for KAUS-28, KAUS-33, and KAUS-38, suggesting conserved pharmacokinetic profiles. When incubated at 2 mM with red blood cells from patients with homozygous SS, the compounds inhibited erythrocyte sickling by 5% to 9%, respectively in correlation with the increase Hb-O2 affinity. These values compare to 2% for KAUS-15. When tested with healthy mice, KAUS-38 showed very low toxicity.