THU0604 UNDIAGNOSED RHEUMATIC DISEASE IN NEWLY PRESENTING MGUS PATIENT

Background:

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is considered to be a premalignant condition with on average of 1% annual risk of progression to multiple myeloma or other lymphoproliferative disorders [1]. Numerous studies have highlighted a common feature of autoimmune inflammatory diseases is non-specific hypergammaglobulinaemia which can be associated with monoclonal gammopathy [2, 3]. We looked at a population of 3.6 million where patients with MGUS was referred to haematology network for evaluation.

Objectives:

Our hypothesis was that undiagnosed rheumatic diseases were being referred to haematology rather than rheumatology erroneously.

Methods:

The Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN) ethics approval (REC 04/01/1205/69) from Leeds West Research Ethics Committee. The HMRN that comprises a population-based cohort of patients newly diagnosed by a single integrated haemato-pathology laboratory in two adjacent UK Cancer Networks (population 3.6 million). The database includes prognostic factors, sequential treatment/response history and socio-demographic details which are recorded to clinical trial standards. 255 patients were screened in this study. We looked at a range of autoimmune/innate immune conditions diagnosed after MGUS.

Results:

In the 255 patients cohort group, the average age at the diagnosis of MGUS was 70.23 ± 11.95 years (median 70.2 years), with more subjects being male (n=145, 56.9%). Mean duration of follow up was 2570 days. 10 out of the 255 patients progressed onto multiple myeloma.

Diagnosed rheumatic disease was found in 48 patients (18.8%). None of the patient in this group has disease progression to multiple myeloma. In this group, 37 patients (14.5%) presented the rheumatic disease before their MGUS diagnosis and 11 (4.3%) were diagnosed after their MGUS referral. Interestingly, among the 11, more males(n=8, 72.7%) have their rheumatic disease diagnosed after MGUS.

Those 11 cases included crohn’s disease (1), polymyalgia rheumatica (2), immune thrombocytopenia (2), autoimmune hepatitis (2), Schnitzler’s syndrome (1), giant cell arteritis (1), rheumatoid arthritis (2).

Conclusion:

Approaching 1 in 20 cases of MGUS have an underlying inflammatory disease that may often be non-specifically driving antibody production including monoclonal band formation. When diagnosing MGUS, clinicians should be aware of the potential underlying autoimmune rheumatic conditions.

References:

[1]Kyle, R.A., et al.,A long-term study of prognosis in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.N Engl J Med, 2002.346(8): p. 564-9.

[2]Renier, G., et al.,Ankylosing spondylitis and monoclonal gammopathies.Ann Rheum Dis, 1992.51(8): p. 951-4.

[3]Sugai, S., et al.,Non-IgM monoclonal gammopathy in patients with Sjogren's syndrome.Am J Med, 1980.68(6): p. 861-6.

Disclosure of Interests:

Qiao Zhou: None declared, Kaiwen Wang: None declared, Laiba Rahman: None declared, Abdulla Watad: None declared, Sinisa Savic: None declared, Eve Roman: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Association between preconception paternal smoking and birth defects in offspring: evidence from the database of the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in China

OBJECTIVE

To clarify whether preconception paternal smoking has any adverse effects on the offspring.

DESIGN

Prospective, population-based study.

SETTING

Preconception registry data from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project.

POPULATION OR SAMPLE

Couples planning pregnancy, with complete information on preconception paternal smoking behaviour and pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

The effect of questionnaire-based paternal smoking behaviour during preconception and pregnancy was assessed via logistic regression. Additionally, we performed a 1:1 case-control (birth defects versus normal pregnancy) analysis, matched for maternal province, folic acid supplementation and paternal alcohol consumption.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risk of birth defects in offspring.

RESULTS

In total, 566 439 couples with complete information on preconception paternal smoking behaviour and pregnancy outcomes were enrolled. The preconception paternal smoking rate was 28.7% (162 482) overall: 8.7% (49 303) stopped smoking, 13.3% (75 517) decreased their smoking, and 6.6% (37 662) continued smoking during early pregnancy. The risk of birth defects was higher in the continued-smoking (P < .000, odds ratio [OR] 1.87, 95% CI 1.36-2.56) and decreased-smoking groups (P = .007, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.10-1.82). In the case-control analysis, infants whose fathers stopped (P = .003, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.67) or decreased smoking (P = .000, OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.13-0.49) were at lower risk of congenital heart diseases, limb abnormalities, digestive tract anomalies and neural tube defects than those whose fathers continued smoking.

CONCLUSION

Preconception paternal smoking may be associated with congenital heart diseases, limb abnormalities and neural tube defects in the offspring. Changes in smoking behaviour may reduce this risk.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

This study suggests that preconception paternal smoking is associated with birth defects in offspring. Changes in smoking behaviour may reduce this risk.

Pithecellobium clypearia extract enriched in gallic acid and luteolin has antibacterial activity against MRSA and reduces resistance to erythromycin, ceftriaxone sodium and levofloxacin

AIMS

Antibiotic adjuvants can give a second life to the antibiotics to which bacteria are highly resistant. We evaluated the antimicrobial effects of extracts from Pithecellobium clypearia against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and also the potential for synergy with several antibiotics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

For this study, four extracts from P. clypearia were tested on MRSA using the broth microdilution method for activity assessment. The ethyl acetate fraction (S20b) had the strongest antibacterial activity against MRSA among the fractions tested. In all, 14 compounds such as gallic acid and luteolin in S20b were analysed by UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. S20b combined with erythromycin showed synergy effects against MRSA and combined with ceftriaxone sodium and levofloxacin showed additive effects against MRSA. Electron microscopy showed that extract S20b damaged the MRSA cell wall and K⁺ efflux measurements indicated that extract S20b increased cell membrane permeability. Moreover, S20b suppression of PBP2a expression was assessed by Western blot. Furthermore, an in vivo study was used to investigate the therapeutic potential of S20b based on a mouse pneumonia model.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro study results have shown that S20b not only inhibits MRSA growth directly but also reduces the resistance of MRSA to the evaluated antibacterial agents. Based on the in vivo study, it can be concluded that S20b can treat pneumonia in the mouse model.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study is the first research to demonstrate that S20b can inhibit MRSA growth and reduce drug resistance of clinical isolates to antibiotics. S20b has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent against MRSA and treatment for MRSA pneumonia.

Observation of a Resonant Structure in e^{+}e^{-}→K^{+}K^{-}π^{0}π^{0}

A partial-wave analysis is performed for the process e^{+}e^{-}→K^{+}K^{-}π^{0}π^{0} at the center-of-mass energies ranging from 2.000 to 2.644 GeV. The data samples of e^{+}e^{-} collisions, collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider with a total integrated luminosity of 300  pb^{-1}, are analyzed. The total Born cross sections for the process e^{+}e^{-}→K^{+}K^{-}π^{0}π^{0}, as well as the Born cross sections for the subprocesses e^{+}e^{-}→ϕπ^{0}π^{0}, K^{+}(1460)K^{-}, K_{1}^{+}(1400)K^{-}, K_{1}^{+}(1270)K^{-}, and K^{*+}(892)K^{*-}(892), are measured versus the center-of-mass energy. The corresponding results for e^{+}e^{-}→K^{+}K^{-}π^{0}π^{0} and ϕπ^{0}π^{0} are consistent with those of BABAR with better precision. By analyzing the cross sections for the four subprocesses, K^{+}(1460)K^{-}, K_{1}^{+}(1400)K^{-}, K_{1}^{+}(1270)K^{-}, and K^{*+}(892)K^{*-}(892), a structure with mass M=(2126.5±16.8±12.4)  MeV/c^{2} and width Γ=(106.9±32.1±28.1)  MeV is observed with an overall statistical significance of 6.3σ, although with very limited significance in the subprocesses e^{+}e^{-}→K_{1}^{+}(1270)K^{-} and K^{*+}(892)K^{*-}(892). The resonant parameters of the observed structure suggest it can be identified with the ϕ(2170), thus the results provide valuable input to the internal nature of the ϕ(2170).

Long noncoding RNA SOX2OT maintains the stemness of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating DEK via interacting with miR-200a/141

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNA sex determination region of Y chromosome (SRY)-related HMG-box (SOX) is involved in the development of various cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of SOXOT, an overlapping transcript of SOX, in pancreatic cancer (PC) is still undefined. We aimed to explore the epigenetic function of SOX2OT and its downstream factors in advanced PC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The levels of SOX2OT, miRNA, and DEK proto-oncogene (DEK) in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The log-rank test was applied to evaluate the role of high SOX2OT levels in shortening the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The Chi-squared test was made to assess the relation between SOX2OT expression and clinicopathological features of PC patients. Colony assay tested the cell proliferation of PC cells with SOX2OT knockdown. Flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to determine the stemness of tumor cells in vitro. The underlying regulatory mechanism between SOX2OT and miR-200a/141 was predicted by bioinformatics and verified by RNA transfection, qPCR, and Western blotting. Mice xenograft models were applied to determine the promoting effects of SOX2OT on PC in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of SOX2OT in PC tissues and cell lines is strongly elevated. High levels of SOX2OT expression are more likely to present in patients with advanced TNM stage, positive CD44, and poor overall survival. SOX2OT overexpression promotes proliferation and stemness maintaining of PC cells in vitro and boosts tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, SOX2OT upregulates DEK expression by binding to miR-200a/141 as a competing endogenous RNA.

CONCLUSIONS

DEK induced by SOXOT- miR-200a/141 axis may markedly promote stem cell property of PC, resulting in an advanced stage and inferior survival. These findings suggest the SOX2OT-DEK axis as a novel therapeutic target in PC.

[Strategy of nursing care on the face skin injuries caused by wearing medical-grade protective equipment]

For effective resistance to virus attack and infection, reducing virus transmission chance, it is extremely important for the medical staff and related workers to have their own safe protection. This paper summarizes the development causes, common locations, and prevention ways about the device related pressure injuries on the face resulted from wearing medical-grade protective equipment for a long working time. The paper proposes the nursing strategy for device related pressure injuries and other nursing strategy is proposed to take care efficiently the device related pressure injuries. Meantime, a corresponding nursing strategy is also suggested to deal with the correlative skin diseases during the application of medical-grade protective equipment. These paper aims to provide reference for the prevention of device related pressure injuries and the care of skin-related diseases for clinical working staff, especially to the respectable personnel in front line of fighting against Corona virus disease 2019.

Coupled approach for radiometric calibration and parameter retrieval to improve SPM estimations in turbid inland/coastal waters

High-precision radiometric calibration (RC) coefficients are required to retrieve reliable water quality parameter products in turbid inland/coastal waters. However, unreliable RC coefficients when satellite sensors lack accurate and in-time RC may lead to pronounced uncertainties in the products through error propagation. To address this issue, a novel approach for estimating water quality parameters, taking suspended particulate matter (SPM) as a case, was proposed by coupling the procedures of RC and SPM model development. The coupled models were established using digital numbers (DNs) from target sensors and "in-situ" SPM measurements from concurrent well-calibrated reference sensors, with the RC coefficients introduced as unknown model parameters. The approach was tested and validated in varied Chinese inland/coastal regions, including the Hongze lake (HL), Taihu lake (TL), and Hangzhou bay (HB). The results show: (1) the DN-based SPM models can achieve a degree of accuracy comparable to reflectance-based SPM models with determination coefficients (R²) of 0.94, 0.92, and 0.72, and root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of 7.02 mg/L, 15.73 mg/L, and 619.2 mg/L for the HL, TL, and HB, respectively, and the biases less than 3% between the derived and official gain RC coefficients; (2) the uncertainty of SPM products increases exponentially as the RC uncertainty increases for exponential reflectance-based SPM models; (3) the DN-based SPM models are less sensitive to the uncertainties of atmospheric correction and RC coefficients, while the reflectance-based models suffer deeply. This study provides encouraging results to the improvement of SPM retrieval using the DN-based models by coupling RC and SPM retrieving processes, especially for sensors without precise RC coefficients.

Effects of different doses of propofol on the growth and expression of PCNA, CD34 and pAKT proteins in xenografted tumor of BALB/C mice with liver cancer

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of different doses of propofol on the growth of transplanted liver tumor in BALB/C mice and check the expression of PCNA, CD34 and pAKT proteins to clarify the mechanism on molecule level.

METHOD

Human primary liver cancer cells SMMC-7721 were subcutaneously cultured in BALB/C mice, and the transplanted tumor model of BALB/C mice was constructed. Forty mice successfully modeled were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): the blank control group (group C), low-fat milk group (group I), low-dose (50 mg/kg) propofol group (P1), middle-dose (100 mg/kg) propofol group (P2) and high dose (150 mg/kg) propofol group (P3). Tumor volume changes were observed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7) before and after administration of the drug, and tumor growth curves were plotted. After 19 days of administration, all mice were killed for tumor collection, tumor weight was measured, and the tumor inhibition rate of propofol was calculated. The protein expression of cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) in transplanted tumor was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and phospho-Akt (pAKT) was detected by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Compared with group C, there was no significant difference in tumor volume in group I. At T2 ~ 7, the tumor volume of group P1, P2 and P3 decreased successively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the inhibitory rate of tumor in group I, and the inhibitory rate of tumor in group P1, P2 and P3 increased successively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PCNA, CD34, and pAKT protein expression in group I, while PCNA, CD34, and pAKT protein content in P1, P2, P3 groups were successively decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Propofol had a dose-dependent effect on the growth of liver cancer xenografts in mice, inhibiting the expression of PCNA, CD34 and pAKT proteins, and the effect was most obvious in the 150 mg/kg propofol group.

Wrist-ankle acupuncture attenuates cancer-induced bone pain by regulating descending pain-modulating system in a rat model

Background

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) presents a multiple-mechanism of chronic pain involving both inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and its pathogenesis is closely related to endogenous descending system of pain control. However, the action mechanism underlying the effects of wrist–ankle acupuncture (WAA) versus electroacupuncture (EA) on CIBP remains unknown.

Methods

Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into sham, CIBP, EA-treated and WAA-treated groups. CIBP was induced in rats of the latter three groups. Time courses of weight and mechanical hyperalgesia threshold (MHT) were evaluated. After 6 days of EA or WAA treatment, the expressions of 5-hydroxytryotamine type 3A receptor (5-HT_3AR) and μ-opioid receptor (MOR) in rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and/or spinal cord, as well as the levels of 5-HT, β-endorphin, endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in RVM and spinal cord, were detected.

Results

Injection of cancer cells caused decreased MHT, which was attenuated by EA or WAA (P < 0.05). WAA had a quicker analgesic effect than EA (P < 0.05). No significant difference of MOR in RVM was found among the four groups. EA or WAA counteracted the cancer-driven upregulation of 5-HT_3AR and downregulation of MOR in spinal cord (P < 0.05), and upregulation of 5-HT and downregulation of endomorphin-1 in both RVM and spinal cord (P < 0.05). β-endorphin and endomorphin-2 in RVM and spinal cord decreased in CIBP group compared with sham group (P < 0.05), but EA or WAA showed no significant effect on them, although a tendency of increasing effect was observed.

Conclusion

WAA, similar to EA, alleviated mechanical hyperalgesia in CIBP rats by suppressing the expressions of 5-HT and 5-HT_3AR, and increasing the expressions of MOR and endomorphin-1 in RVM-spinal cord pathway of the descending pain-modulating system. However, WAA produced a quicker analgesic effect than EA, the mechanisms of which need further investigation.

[Establishing reference intervals of thyroid hormone based on a laboratory information system]

Objective: To establish reference intervals (RIs) of thyroid hormone based on data from healthy subjects in laboratory information system (LIS) by indirect methods. Methods: Data were selected from the physical examination center in LIS of the First Hospital of Jilin University from May 2014 to December 2018. The normal distribution of the original data was checked by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Skewed data were transformed into normal distribution using BOX-COX techniques, and outliers were identified by the Turkey method. The continuous percentile curve was established by coefficient of skewness-median-coefficient of variation(LMS) methods. Cut-off value of age was determined by decision trees, and the differences between groups were verified by Z-tests. P(2.5) and P(97.5) in the RIs were analyzed by non-parametric methods. Results: A total of 45 742 subjects were included in the study. There were no differences in the RI for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) among age groups or between men and women (Z<Z*), and the RI was 0.60-4.41mIU/L (20-79 years old). However, the levels of free triiodothyronine(FT(3)) decreased with age in males and females under 35-year-old. The RIs for FT(3) were 4.47-6.44pmol/L (20-44 years old), 4.19-6.21pmol/L (45-64 years old) and 3.90-5.85pmol/L (65-79 years old) in males, and 4.04-6.13pmol/L (20-34 years old) and 3.87-5.76pmol/L (35-79 years old) in females, respectively. The levels of free thyroxine(FT(4)) in men were higher than those in women from 20 to 49 years old, and no gender and age differences could be viewed in subjects after 50 years old (Z<Z*). The RIs for FT(4) were 13.69-21.76pmol/L (male, 20-49 years old), 12.99-20.83pmol/L (female, 20-49 years old) and 12.98-21.21pmol/L (50~79 years old). Conclusion: Establishment of RIs of thyroid hormone based on the data from LIS is simple and reliable, which is suitable for clinical laboratory application.

Measurement of Proton Electromagnetic Form Factors in e^{+}e^{-}→pp[over ¯] in the Energy Region 2.00-3.08 GeV

The process of e^{+}e^{-}→pp[over ¯] is studied at 22 center-of-mass energy points (sqrt[s]) from 2.00 to 3.08 GeV, exploiting 688.5  pb^{-1} of data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider. The Born cross section (σ_{pp[over ¯]}) of e^{+}e^{-}→pp[over ¯] is measured with the energy-scan technique and it is found to be consistent with previously published data, but with much improved accuracy. In addition, the electromagnetic form-factor ratio (|G_{E}/G_{M}|) and the value of the effective (|G_{eff}|), electric (|G_{E}|), and magnetic (|G_{M}|) form factors are measured by studying the helicity angle of the proton at 16 center-of-mass energy points. |G_{E}/G_{M}| and |G_{M}| are determined with high accuracy, providing uncertainties comparable to data in the spacelike region, and |G_{E}| is measured for the first time. We reach unprecedented accuracy, and precision results in the timelike region provide information to improve our understanding of the proton inner structure and to test theoretical models which depend on nonperturbative quantum chromodynamics.

Measurement of the Cross Section for e^{+}e^{-}→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+} and Observation of an Excited Ξ Baryon

Using a total of 11.0  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data with center-of-mass energies between 4.009 and 4.6 GeV and collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, we measure fifteen exclusive cross sections and effective form factors for the process e^{+}e^{-}→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+} by means of a single baryon-tag method. After performing a fit to the dressed cross section of e^{+}e^{-}→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+}, no significant ψ(4230) or ψ(4260) resonance is observed in the Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+} final states, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level on Γ_{ee}B for the processes ψ(4230)/ψ(4260)→Ξ^{-}Ξ[over ¯]^{+} are determined. In addition, an excited Ξ baryon at 1820  MeV/c^{2} is observed with a statistical significance of 6.2-6.5σ by including the systematic uncertainty, and the mass and width are measured to be M=(1825.5±4.7±4.7)  MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(17.0±15.0±7.9)  MeV, which confirms the existence of the J^{P}=3/2^{-} state Ξ(1820).

[Establishment of patient derived xenograft model of high-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei accompanied with signet ring cells and identification of biological characteristics]

Objective: To establish the patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), and identify the key characteristics of tumor biology of this model, in order to provide a reliable model for studying the pathological mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies of PMP. Methods: PMP tumor tissue was obtained from surgery and cut into pieces after washing. Then tumor pieces were implanted subcutaneously in BAL B/c-nu mice for 6 stable passages. In the 7th passage, tumor tissue was implanted orthotopically into abdomen. Subcutaneous tumor and orthotopic tumor were then homogenized to make tumor cell suspension, implanted into abdomen of 10 BAL B/c-nu mice through midline laparotomy, 100 μl for each. The key experimental parameters including body weight changes in the observation period, experimental peritoneal cancer index (ePCI) score at the autopsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, and gene expression profiles by high-throughput whole-genome exon sequencing were detected and recorded. Results: The successful rate of established orthotopic PDX model of human PMP was 100% (10/10). The animals showed smooth body weight increases after tumor inoculation until day 27, then the body weight began to decrease steadily. Widespread tumor dissemination of PMP tumor through the whole abdomen was found by autopsy, including the diaphragm, liver, spleen, stomach, kidney, parietal peritoneum, bowel and mesenterium. Gelatinous ascites was also observed in abdominopelvic cavity. The ePCI score ranged from 5 to 9, with a 8 of median ePCI. Histopathological studies showed peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis accompanied with signet ring cells (PMCA-S), obvious tumor cell atypia and parenchymal invasion.Immunohistochemistry showed the expressions of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, CEA, CA199, CK20, CDX-2 and Ki-67 were positive, MUC6, CK7 and p53 were negative. Whole-exome sequencing identified that the most significant genetic alteration is the exon10 missense mutation c. 1621A>C of KIT gene, the mutation abundance was 89.7%. Conclusion: PDX model of PMCA-S is successfully established, which displays the characters of high-degree malignancy, high proliferation and strong aggressiveness.

[Analysis of maternal deaths with cardiovascular diseases in Shanghai obstetric heart disease intensive care unit within twenty-six years]

Objective: To analyze risk factors, cardiovascular complications, time of death, gestational age of delivery and offspring outcomes in the maternal deaths with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: Totally 4 112 cases of pregnant women with CVD in Shanghai obstetric heart disease intensive care unit within 26 years (from January 1993 to December 2018) were collected, and 20 maternal deaths within these cases were analyzed retrospectively. Results: (1) Among the 20 deaths, structural heart diseases accounted for 90% (18/20), pregnancy induced heart diseases was 10% (2/20) while there was no dysfunctional heart disease. The mortality of pregnant women with CVD was 0.486% (20/4 112). (2) The following risk factors were common in these women, getting pregnant without counselling (95%, 19/20) , New York Heart Association classⅢ or Ⅳcardiac function (70%, 14/20), complicated with pulmonary hypertension (75%, 15/20) and prior heart events (60%, 12/20). And 85% (17/20) deaths occurred in puerperium, 15% (3/20) occurred before labor,while no death occurred during labor. And 65% (13/20) deaths died due to heart failure, 20% (4/20) deaths were due to pulmonary hypertension crisis, 5% (1/20) died on sudden cardiac arrest, rupture of aortic dissection and sudden death, respectively. Conclusions: Women with CVD should get pregnant after strict evaluation. Pulmonary hypertension is one of the most severe contraindications to pregnancy, especially in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension. The puerperium period is a critical period that threatens the safety of these patients. Since heart failure is the most common cause of death, it is necessary to prevent and treat heart failure and to monitor heart function dynamically, especially in those with structural abnormal heart diseases. Moreover, it is also of importance to standardize antenatal care and to identify the severity of heart diseases in time.

The Performance of Belle II High Level Trigger in the First Physics Run

The Belle II experiment is a new generation B-factory experiment at KEK in Japan aiming at the search for New Physics in a huge sample of B-meson decays. The commissioning of the accelerator and the detector for the first physics run has started from March this year. The Belle II High Level Trigger (HLT) is fully working in the beam run. The HLT is now operated with 1600 cores clusterized in 5 units, which is 1/4 of the full configuration. The software trigger is performed using the same offline reconstruction code, and events are classified into a set of physics categories. Only the events in the categories of interest are finally sent out to the storage. Live data quality monitoring is also performed on HLT. For the selected events, the reconstructed tracks are extrapolated to the surface of the pixel detector (PXD) and quickly fed back to the readout electronics for the real time data reduction by sending only the associated hits. The maximum trigger rate in the first physics run was 3.5kHz, and the Belle II data acquisition system was stably operated. There were several problems in the HLT operation, but they have successfully been fixed during the data taking period. The HLT reduction factor is measured to be 8 which is still higher than the design because of the high background environment.

Organic trace minerals improve eggshell quality by improving the eggshell ultrastructure of laying hens during the late laying period

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low inclusion levels of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on performance, eggshell quality, serum hormone levels, and enzyme activities of laying hens during the late laying period. A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet supplemented with proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted 56 D (8 wk). Compared with the CON group, the ITM group showed decrease in (P < 0.05) egg production, eggshell strength, eggshell palisade layer, palisade layer ratio, serum estrogen, luteinizing hormone, glycosaminoglycan concentration, and carbonic anhydrase activity and increase in (P < 0.05) egg loss and mammillary layer ratio. However, the TRT group almost kept all the indices close to the CON group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, hens fed with low inclusion levels of organic trace minerals had smaller mammillary knobs (P < 0.05) than those in the CON and ITM groups. In conclusion, hens fed with low inclusion levels of proteinated trace minerals had better performance and eggshell strength than those fed with identical levels of inorganic compounds; organic trace minerals improved eggshell quality by improving the eggshell ultrastructure of laying hens during the late laying period.

Observation of the Semileptonic D^{+} Decay into the K[over ¯]_{1}(1270)^{0} Axial-Vector Meson

By analyzing a 2.93  fb^{-1} data sample of e^{+}e^{-} collisions, recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII collider, we report the first observation of the semileptonic D^{+} transition into the axial-vector meson D^{+}→K[over ¯]_{1}(1270)^{0}e^{+}ν_{e} with a statistical significance greater than 10σ. Its decay branching fraction is determined to be B[D^{+}→K[over ¯]_{1}(1270)^{0}e^{+}ν_{e}]=(2.30±0.26_{-0.21}^{+0.18}±0.25)×10^{-3}, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, and the third originates from the input branching fraction of K[over ¯]_{1}(1270)^{0}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{0}.

[Application of low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band in fixing abdominal pedicled flap for repairing 17 patients with deep electric burn wounds in hands]

If the abdominal pedicled flaps are not well fixed after repair of deep electric burn wounds in hands, many problems such as poor blood supply may occur. In order to solve the above problems, we designed and manufactured the individualized low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band to fix abdominal pedicled flaps for repairing of 17 patients (12 males and 5 females, aged 2-35 years) with deep electric burn wounds in hands from February 2016 to August 2018, and achieved the desired results. The shoulder joint, elbow joint, and wrist joint were fixed by low temperature thermoplastic plate according to the 1/2 circumference of the patient's side chest and upper arm, and the braking of wrist joint and elbow joint was strengthened by special abdominal band. Application of the combined method of fixing abdominal pedicled flaps in repairing deep electric burn wounds in hands has high success rate of flap transplantation. It is simple to make and practical, and worthy of clinical promotion.

[Application of ultrasonography in etiologic judgment of hoarseness after thyroidecomy]

Objective:To explore the application value of ultrasound in etiologic judgement of hoarseness after thyroidecomy. Method:Sixty-three cases of hoarseness after thyroidecomy were examed by laryngeal ultrasonography. Vocal cord, arytenoid cartilage, pyriform fossa, thyroid operation area and recurrent laryngeal nerve pathway were evaluated. Regard electronic laryngoscope results as gold standard and compare the differences between the two methods. Result:Sixty-three patients were detected by ultrasound, then, 29 cases were diagnosed with left vocal cord paralysis, 24 cases with right vocal cord paralysis, 2 cases with bilateral vocal cord paralysis, 1 case with right vocal cord polyp, 3 cases with left vocal cord polyp, 1 case with renke layer edema, and 3 cases has normal laryngeal imaging. The accuracy of ultrasonography in determining the etiology of hoarseness after thyroidecomy is 92.1%, the sensitivity is 93.3%, and the specificity is 66.7%. Conclusion:The ultrasonography can not only show laryngeal structures, but also display thyroid operation area and recurrent laryngeal nerve pathway. Moreover, as an non-invasive method, ultrasonography has high accuracy in etiologic judgement of hoarseness after thyroidecomy and certain clinical application values.

Unique genetic profiles from cerebrospinal fluid cell-free DNA in leptomeningeal metastases of EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer: a new medium of liquid biopsy

Background

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) are more frequent in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Due to limited access to leptomeningeal lesions, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a source of liquid biopsy in patients with LM.

Patients and methods

Primary tumor, CSF, and plasma in NSCLC with LM were tested by next-generation sequencing. In total, 45 patients with suspected LM underwent lumbar puncture, and those with EGFR mutations diagnosed with LM were enrolled.

Results

A total of 28 patients were enrolled in this cohort; CSF and plasma were available in 26 patients, respectively. Driver genes were detected in 100% (26/26), 84.6% (22/26), and 73.1% (19/26) of samples comprising CSF cell-free DNA (cfDNA), CSF precipitates, and plasma, respectively; 92.3% (24/26) of patients had much higher allele fractions in CSF cfDNA than the other two media. Unique genetic profiles were captured in CSF cfDNA compared with those in plasma and primary tissue. Multiple copy number variations (CNVs) were mainly identified in CSF cfDNA, and MET copy number gain identified in 47.8% (11/23) of patients was the most frequent one, while other CNVs included ERBB2, KRAS, ALK, and MYC. Moreover, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of TP53 was identified in 73.1% (19/26) CSF cfDNA, which was much higher than that in plasma (2/26, 7.7%; P < 0.001). There was a trend towards a higher frequency of concomitant resistance mutations in patients with TP53 LOH than those without (70.6% versus 33.3%; P = 0.162). EGFR T790M was identified in CSF cfDNA of 30.4% (7/23) of patients who experienced TKI progression.

Conclusion

CSF cfDNA could reveal the unique genetic profiles of LM and should be considered as the most representative liquid biopsy medium for LM in EGFR-mutant NSCLC.

Observation of the Leptonic Decay D^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ}

We report the first observation of D^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ} with a significance of 5.1σ. We measure B(D^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ})=(1.20±0.24_{stat}±0.12_{syst})×10^{-3}. Taking the world average B(D^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ})=(3.74±0.17)×10^{-4}, we obtain R_{τ/μ}=Γ(D^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ})/Γ(D^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ})=3.21±0.64_{stat}±0.43_{syst}., which is consistent with the standard model expectation of lepton flavor universality. Using external inputs, our results give values for the D^{+} decay constant f_{D^{+}} and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{cd}| that are consistent with, but less precise than, other determinations.

CD31 induces inflammatory response by promoting hepatic inflammatory response and cell apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether CD31 could regulate paracetamol-induced liver injury, thereby providing a new direction for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced hepatitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wild-type (WT) mice were treated with acetaminophen (APAP) (250 mg/kg) or isodose of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). 1, 3, 6 and 12 h after the treatment, the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression level of CD31 in the liver of mice were determined by Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Once CD31 was confirmed to be involved in APAP-induced liver injury, the acute liver injury model in WT mice and CD31 gene deficient (CD31-/-) mice induced by APAP was established. Serum samples were collected at 8 and 24 h after APAP injection (250 mg/kg), and the activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was measured. The liver tissues of mice were isolated and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Meanwhile, mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from the liver tissues of mice. The number of infiltrating macrophages and neutrophils was detected by flow cytometry, and the activation level of these cells was analyzed. The expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines in liver tissues, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), MCP-1 and IL-6, were determined by RT-PCR. The expression levels of cytokines in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, the protein expression levels of JNK, Caspase-3, and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) in liver tissues were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

After APAP treatment, we found that WT mice were more sensitive to APAP-induced liver injury. The level of ALT in WT mice was significantly higher than that of CD31-/- mice, meanwhile, more necrotic or apoptotic cells were found in WT mice. Results also indicated that the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including KC, IL-1β, MCP-1 and IL-6, were significantly higher in WT mice. Meanwhile, the number of infiltrating macrophages and neutrophils in the liver tissues of WT mice were much more than that of CD31-/- mice.

CONCLUSIONS

APAP-treated CD31-/- mice exhibited less liver injury when compared with WT mice. We also confirmed that CD31 was greatly involved in APAP-induced inflammatory response by promoting hepatic inflammatory and cell apoptosis, which might provide a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced hepatitis.

Histamine H3 receptor antagonist Clobenpropit protects propofol-induced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to explore whether histamine H3 receptor antagonist Clobenpropit could protect propofol-induced neurotoxicity in hippocampal neurons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hippocampal neurons were extracted from neonatal rats and induced with propofol. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was performed to detect apoptotic rate of neurons. Western blot was conducted to detect protein levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2. After LY294002 treatment, the PI3K pathway antagonist was applied in neurons, protein levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 were detected by Western blot as well.

RESULTS

Propofol treatment remarkably induced neuronal apoptosis. Clobenpropit alleviated cell apoptosis induced by propofol. Protein expressions of cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 were remarkably downregulated in neurons treated with Clobenpropit. LY294002 induction remarkably reverses the protective role of Clobenpropit in neuronal apoptosis, manifesting as downregulated PI3K and p-AKT after LY294002 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Clobenpropit protects propofol-induced neuronal apoptosis through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

High expression of lnc-CRNDE presents as a biomarker for acute myeloid leukemia and promotes the malignant progression in acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937

OBJECTIVE

To detect the expression of long non-coding RNA-CRNDE in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and its effect on proliferation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

81 cases of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were enrolled, and 35 non-malignant hematological patients were selected as controls. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of lncRNA-CRNDE in the bone marrow specimens of the subjects, and the difference between the two groups was also compared. The correlation between the expression of lncRNA-CRNDE and the sex, age, classification and total survival of clinical patients was analyzed according to the clinical data. U937 cells and monocytes isolated from normal people were cultured, and the expression of lncRNA-CRNDE in acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937 and normal monocytes was compared. SiRNA-CRNDE and pcDNA-CRNDE were transfected into U937 cells, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to detect proliferation of U937 cells, Annexin V/PI flow cytometry was carried out to detect cell apoptosis. Cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The expression of lncRNA-CRNDE in patients with AML and U937 cells was significantly higher than that in non-malignant hematological controls. Results of clinical data showed that the expression of lncRNA-CRNDE was associated with the classification and total survival of myeloid leukemia in clinical patients. After transfection of siRNA-CRNDE, the proliferation and cloning ability of U937 cells decreased, while the apoptosis increased (p < 0.01) and cells were arrested in G0-G1 phase. Meanwhile, after transfection of pcDNA-CRNDE, the proliferation ability of U937 cells increased significantly, which indicated that the expression of lncRNA-CRNDE might play an essential role in promoting the proliferation of U937 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA-CRNDE is highly expressed in the bone marrow tissues of AML patients, and the expression level is negatively correlated with the total survival of those clinical patients. Meanwhile, the expression is higher in FAB type M4 and M5 than that in M1, M2 and M3. LncRNA-CRNDE promotes the proliferation and cell cycle of U937 cells, and inhibits cell apoptosis, which is expected to become a molecular marker for predicting and treating AML.

[Influences of follow-up methods on rehabilitation and compliance of patients with severe scar after burns]

Objective: To observe the influences of different follow-up methods on rehabilitation and compliance of patients with severe scar after burns. Methods: From January 2012 to May 2016, medical records of 116 patients with severe scar after burns who were admitted to our unit, discharged after wound healing and conforming to the criteria, were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into face-to-face follow-up group [n=59, 45 males and 14 females, aged (36±9) years] and routine follow-up group [n=57, 44 males and 13 females, aged (35±9) years] based on different follow-up methods they received. On the day of discharge and in post discharge month (PDM) 1, 3, and 6, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the hypertrophic scar in joints, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale was used to evaluate the disability of patients in the 2 groups. In PDM 1, 3, and 6, Medical Compliance Behavior Questionnaire was used to investigate the medical compliance behaviors of patients in the 2 groups. Data were processed with chi-square test, t test with Bonferroni correction, and analysis of variance for repeated measurement. Results: (1) The VSS score of patients in face-to-face follow-up group on the day of discharge was (11.1±0.7) points, which was close to (11.7±0.7) points of routine follow-up group (t=2.021, P>0.05). The VSS scores of patients in face-to-face follow-up group in PDM 1, 3, and 6 were (10.5±0.6), (8.6±0.7), and (4.7±0.5) points, which were significantly lower than (11.4±0.7), (10.9±1.0), and (9.4±0.8) points of routine follow-up group respectively (t=2.034, 2.033, 2.042, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) The ADL score of patients in face-to-face follow-up group on the day of discharge was close to that of routine follow-up group (t=1.781, P>0.05). The ADL scores of patients in face-to-face follow-up group in PDM 1, 3, and 6 were higher than those of routine follow-up group respectively (t=9.683, 8.584, 9.772, P<0.01). (3) The compliance rates of consisted rehabilitation, reasonable diet, and timing consultation of patients in face-to-face follow-up group were better than those of routine follow-up group respectively (χ(2)=19.015, 13.251, 8.652, P<0.01). Conclusions: Compared with routine follow-up by phone, face-to-face follow-up can do better in evaluating the scar condition and ADL of patients with severe scar after burns, and improve the medical compliance rates of patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

[The clinical study of Chinese version of voice activities and participation profile in patients with voice disorder]

Objective:To explore the applicability of the Chinese version of voice activity and participation profile in patients with voice disorder. Method:This study enrolled patients with voice disorder and their healthy family members in the outpatient, from 2017 July to 2019 April. They were divided into voice disorder group and without voice disorder group, and the questionnaire was filled out. Result:These scores of 28 items and five dimensions in the voice disorder group were higher than those in the group without voice disorder, and the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）. In the voice disorder group, the score of items affecting work was the highest（4.26）, and the score of low self-esteem caused by voice disorder was the lowest（1.98）. Conclusion:Voice disorder could negatively affect the voice related quality of life. The Chinese version of voice activity and participation profile is suitable for evaluating voice related quality of life.