AB0053 BERGENIN, ACTING AS AN AGONIST OF SIRT1, REDUCE SERUM URATE IN MICE THROUGH THE UPREGULATION OF ABCG2

Background:

About 20% of individuals in the USA have asymptomatic hyperuricaemia[1]. However, Urate-lowering therapy in asymptomatic hyperuricaemia condition is still controversial considering the benefit and side effects[2]. Therefore, safe and effective anti-hyperuricemia therapies are necessary.

Objectives:

Bergenin, the major bioactive ingredient isolated from Saxifraga stolonifera, could activate SIRT1. In this study, we identify the effect of bergenin on hyperuricemia, and explored the related mechanisms.

Methods:

Significant hyperuricemia was established in C57BL/6N mice treated with oxonate and yeast polysaccharide. Bergenin was administered to the mice at the same time. The serum uric acid and creatinine levels, clearance of uric acid and creatinine, the intestinal uric acid excretion, and renal pathological lesions were determined were used to evaluate the anti-hyperuricemic effects. The location and expression levels of ABCG2 in the kidney and intestine were analyzed. HK-2 and Caco-2 cell lines were exposed to soluble uric acid with or without the treatment of Bergenin. Then the expression of ABCG2 and underlying mechanisms were explored.

Results:

The administration of bergenin decreased serum uric acid in hyperuricemic mice by the promotion of uric acid excretion both in kidney and intestine. Bergenin recued the downregulation of ABCG2 in the kidney of hyperuricemic mice and upregulated the expression of ABCG2 in the jejunum and ileum. In vitro, Bergenin significantly increased the expression of ABCG2 as well as activated SIRT1, which was reversed by addition of PPARg antagonist GW9662 and siPPARg.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest bergenin increases uric acid excretion both in the kidney and intestines, which may be related to the upregulation of ABCG2 via SIRT1- PPARg pathway.

References:

[1]Zhu, Y., Pandya, B. J. & Choi, H. K. Prevalence of gout and hyperuricemia in the US general population: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2008. Arthritis Rheum. 63, 3136–3141 (2011).

[2]Joosten LAB, Crisan TO, Bjornstad P, Johnson RJ: Asymptomatic hyperuricaemia: a silent activator of the innate immune system. Nature reviews Rheumatology 2020, 16(2):75-86.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0610 SEASONAL VARIATION IN IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHIES INCIDENCE AND PRESENTATION: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN BEIJING AND HONG KONG

Background:

Seasonal patterns of disease onset and severity in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) as a whole are conflicting [1-3]. In recent years, over 10 myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) have been identified. They are able to divide patients into homogenous subgroups and inform on prognosis [4].

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation of onset of IIMs characterised serologically.

Methods:

This was a multi-centred retrospective observational study. Consecutive Chinese patients with IIMs admitted to the rheumatology wards of the participating major regional hospitals in Beijing and Hong Kong from July 2013 to June 2018 were recruited. The diagnosis of IIMs was based on the Bohan and Peter’s criteria with definite or probable cases being included [5]. Patients with clinically amyopathic disease must have the typical Gottron’s papules or heliotrope rash as determined by rheumatologists or dermatologists, and with no symptoms or signs of muscle involvement according to Sontheimer [6]. Patients with juvenile myositis, inclusion body myositis, cancer-associated myositis and myositis associated with other connective tissue disease were excluded. A commercial line blot immunoassay kit (EUROLINE) was used to detect the MSAs.

Results:

All together 495 patients were studied. The mean age of the patients at disease onset was 48.1 years (S.D. 13.3). There was a female predominance (68.3%). The subgroups of IIMs were: dermatomyositis (61.0%), polymyositis (21.8%), clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (12.9%), immune mediated necrotising myopathy (3.8%) and nonspecific myositis (0.4%). No particular seasonal pattern in disease onset was observed in IIM patients as a whole (Figure 1) or in any classical subgroups. However, significantly more patients with any one MSA had their disease started in the first half of the year (p=0.007) as shown in Figure 2. Patients with either anti-synthetase or anti-MDA5 antibodies, which are associated with interstitial lung disease, had more frequent disease onset from November to February, which might coincide with the local flu season. It was also found that MSA positivity was associated with infection of the patient (p=0.005). Further analyses showed that patients with MSAs which are typically associated with severe skin disease (MDA5, TIF1g, NXP2, SAE) had more hospitalisation from April to September where excessive sun exposure is expected. There were no major differences between the Beijing and Hong Kong subgroups.

Conclusion:

Apparent seasonal patterns were noticed in our ethno-serologically defined IIM patients. Certain environmental factors, particularly infection or UV exposure, could be potential triggers. Our findings could shed light on the identification of etiologic factors and enhance our understanding of disease pathogenesis.

References:

[1]Manta P, Kalfakis N, Vassilopoulos D. Evidence for Seasonal Variation in Polymyositis. Neuroepidemiology 1989;8:262–265.

[2]Phillips BA, Zilko PJ, Garlepp MJ, et al. Seasonal occurrence of relapses in inflammatory myopathies: a preliminary study. J Neurol 2002;249:441–4.

[3]Lefe R, Burgess S, Miller F, et al. Distinct Seasonal Pattern in The Onset of Adult Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy in Patients with Auto Antibodies Anti-Jo-1 and Anti-Signal Recognition particle. Arthritis and Rheumatism 1991;34(11):1391-1396.

[4]Tansley SL, Betterridge ZE, McHugh NJ. The diagnostic utility of autoantibodies in adult and juvenile myostis. Curt Opin Rheumatol 2013;25(6):772-777.

[5]Bohan A, Peter JB. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. N Engl J Med 1975;292:344-347.

[6]Sontheimer RD. Clinically myopathic dermatomyositis: what can we now tell our patients? Arch Dermatol 2010;146(1):76-80.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Microstructure, mechanical property and corrosion behavior of porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr

In this paper, biomedical porous Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr with 40% porosity and 166 ± 21 μm macro-pore size was successfully fabricated by space holder method. The microstructure, Vickers hardness, compressive and electrochemistry behavior were studied. It results that a few second phases exist in β matrix of the porous Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr. Its Young's modulus is 0.8 GPa, close to 0.01–3 GPa for trabecular bone. The total recovery strain ratio and pseudoelastic strain ratio are 8.8% and 2.7%, respectively. It fails mainly by brittle cleavage with the fan-shaped and smooth cleaved facets. Although, local ductile fracture by a few dimples and a small amount of transcrystalline fracture with the cleavage of similarly oriented laths in a colony are observed on the fracture surface. The impedance spectrum of porous Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr has the characteristics of half capacitive arc resistance, showing good corrosion resistance in SBF solution.

•

Porous Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr alloy with mainly β phase was fabricated by space holder method.

•

Porous Ti alloy with 40% porosity and 166 ± 21 μm macro-pore size failed by brittle cleavage.

•

The total recovery strain ratio and pseudoelastic strain ratio are 8.8% and 2.7%, respectively.

•

The Young's modulus of porous TNTZ is 0.8 GPa, close to trabecular bone.

•

The impedance spectrum of porous TNTZ shows good corrosion resistance in SBF solution.

Racial disparity of Crouzon syndrome in maxilla and mandible

The racial disparity of facial features in craniosynostosis patients is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore the difference in maxillary and mandibular morphology and spatial position in Asian and Caucasian Crouzon syndrome patients. Ninety-one computed tomography scans were included (12 Asian Crouzon syndrome patients, 22 Asian controls; 16 Caucasian Crouzon syndrome patients, 41 Caucasian controls) and measured using Materialise software. The maxillary and mandibular volumes of Asian patients were both reduced by 19% (P=0.102 and P=0.187), and those of Caucasian patients were reduced by 15% (P=0.142) and 14% (P=0.211) when compared to the respective race-specific controls. Maxilla length of Asian patients was reduced by 6.36mm (14%, P=0.003), while the reduction in Caucasian patients was 4.88mm (10%, P=0.038). ANS was retracted 11.99mm (P<0.001) in Asian patients and 11.54mm (P<0.001) in Caucasian patients. The ANB angle was narrowed by 13.17° (P<0.001) in Asian patients compared to Asian controls, and by 7.02° (P<0.001) in Caucasian patients compared to Caucasian controls. The retrusive midface profiles of Asian and Caucasian Crouzon syndrome look similar; both result from the combined effect of hypoplastic size and backward displacement. However, the insufficiency was found to be more a failure of the anteroposterior maxillary length in Asian patients, and more due to posterior maxillary positioning in Caucasian patients. Therefore, prognathism in Crouzon syndrome patients is more likely caused by displacement rather than elongation of mandibular length in both races. Crouzon syndrome results in the same extent of overall volume deficiency of the maxilla and mandible in these races.

Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance in a Long-Baseline Muon Antineutrino Beam

Electron antineutrino appearance is measured by the T2K experiment in an accelerator-produced antineutrino beam, using additional neutrino beam operation to constrain parameters of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) mixing matrix. T2K observes 15 candidate electron antineutrino events with a background expectation of 9.3 events. Including information from the kinematic distribution of observed events, the hypothesis of no electron antineutrino appearance is disfavored with a significance of 2.40σ and no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions is found. A complementary analysis that introduces an additional free parameter which allows non-PMNS values of electron neutrino and antineutrino appearance also finds no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions.

A transition of ω-Fe3C → ω'-Fe3C → θ'-Fe3C in Fe-C martensite

Carbon steel is strong primarily because of carbides with the most well-known one being θ-Fe₃C type cementite. However, the formation mechanism of cementite remains unclear. In this study, a new metastable carbide formation mechanism was proposed as ω-Fe₃C → ω′-Fe₃C → θ′-Fe₃C based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. Results shown that in quenched high-carbon binary alloys, hexagonal ω-Fe₃C fine particles are distributed in the martensite twinning boundary alone, while two metastable carbides (ω′ and θ′) coexist in the quenched pearlite. These two carbides both possess orthorhombic crystal structure with different lattice parameters (a_θ′ = a_ω′ = a_ω = \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\sqrt{2}$$\end{document}2a_α-Fe = 4.033 Å, b_θ′ = 2 × b_ω′ = 2 × c_ω = \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\sqrt{3}$$\end{document}3a_α-Fe = 4.94 Å, and c_θ′ = c_ω′ = \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\sqrt{3}$$\end{document}3a_ω = 6.986 Å for a_α-Fe = 2.852 Å). The θ′ unit cell can be constructed simply by merging two ω′ unit cells together along its b_ω′ axis. Thus, the θ′ unit cell contains 12 Fe atoms and 4 C atoms, which in turn matches the composition and atomic number of the θ-Fe₃C cementite unit cell. The proposed theory in combination with experimental results gives a new insight into the carbide formation mechanism in Fe-C martensite.

2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets and Their Derivatives Toward Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted tremendous research interest in widely spreading applications. Most notably, transition-metal-bearing LDHs are expected to serve as highly active electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their layered structure combined with versatile compositions. Furthermore, reducing the thickness of platelet LDH crystals to nanometer or even molecular scale via cleavage or delamination provides an important clue to enhance the activity. In this review, recent progresses on rational design of LDH nanosheets are reviewed, including direct synthesis via traditional coprecipitation, homogeneous precipitation, and newly developed topochemical oxidation as well as chemical exfoliation of parent LDH crystals. In addition, diverse strategies are introduced to modulate their electrochemical activity by tuning the composition of host metal cations and intercalated counter-anions, and incorporating dopants, cavities, and single atoms. In particular, hybridizing LDHs with conductive components or in situ growing them on conductive substrates to produce freestanding electrodes can further enhance their intrinsic catalytic activity. A brief discussion on future research directions and prospects is also summarized.

Two-Dimensional Bimetallic Zn/Fe-Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Derived Porous Carbon Nanosheets with a High Density of Single/Paired Fe Atoms as High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Catalysts

Developing efficient non-precious-metal catalysts to accelerate the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is highly desired but remains a great challenge. Herein, using 2D bimetallic Zn/Fe-MOF as the precursor and g-C₃N₄ as the nitrogen source and stabilizer, porous carbon nanosheets doped with large amounts of single/paired Fe atoms (3.89 wt %) and N (10.28 wt %) are successfully prepared. It is found that the addition of g-C₃N₄ plays a key role in achieving a high loading of Fe single/paired atoms, and the 2D nanosheet structure gives the materials a high surface area and highly porous structure, resulting in outstanding ORR catalytic activity in both alkaline and acidic solutions. Our optimal sample achieved half-wave potentials in alkaline and acid media of up to 0.86 and 0.79 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), respectively, values 20 mV higher than a commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline medium and only 60 mV lower than Pt/C in an acidic medium. Moreover, its ORR durability was superior to that of commercial Pt/C in both electrolytes. We found that almost all the doped Fe in the sample existed as single or paired atoms coordinated with N. This work may provide an effective strategy for preparing high-performance catalysts bearing single/paired atoms by using MOFs as precursors.

[Association between brain glucose metabolism and cardiac dysfunction in patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging]

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the brain glucose metabolism and left ventricular function parameters, and to explore the cerebral glucose metabolism reduction regions in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: A total of 110 consecutive IHD patients who underwent gated (99)Tc(m)-sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging, gated (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT myocardial and brain glucose metabolic imaging within three days in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from April 2016 to October 2017, were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular functional parameters of SPECT/CT and PET/CT including end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed by QGS software. Viable myocardium and myocardial infarction region were determined by 17-segment and 5 score system, and the ratio of viable myocardium and scar myocardium was calculated. According to the range of viable myocardium, the patients were divided into viable myocardium<10% group (n=44), viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (n=36) and viable myocardium≥20% group (n=30). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the range of viable myocardium and scar myocardium and the level of cerebral glucose metabolism. Brain glucose metabolism determined by the mean of standardized uptake value (SUV(mean)) was analyzed by SPM. The ratio of SUV(mean) in whole brain and SUV(mean) in cerebellum were calculated, namely taget/background ratio (TBR). Differences in cerebral glucose metabolism among various groups were analyzed by SPM. Results: There were 101 males, and age was (57±10) years in this cohort. The extent of viable myocardium and the extent of scar, LVEF evaluated by SPECT/CT and PET/CT were significantly correlated with TBR (r=0.280, r=-0.329, r=0.188, r=0.215 respectively,all P<0.05). TBR value was significantly lower in viable myocardium<10% group, compared with viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.32±0.17, P<0.05) and viable myocardium≥20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.34±0.16, P<0.05). Furthermore, in comparison with viable myocardium≥20% group, the hypo-metabolic regions of viable myocardium<10% group were located in the precuneus, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and so on. Conclusions: There is a correlation between impaired left ventricular function and brain glucose metabolism in IHD patients. In IHD patients with low myocardial viability, the level of glucose metabolism in the whole brain is decreased, especially in the brain functional areas related to cognitive function.

Biology and applications of Clonostachys rosea

Clonostachys rosea is a promising saprophytic filamentous fungus that belongs to phylum Ascomycota. Clonostachys rosea is widespread around the world and exists in many kinds of habitats, with the highest frequency in soil. As an excellent mycoparasite, C. rosea exhibits strong biological control ability against numerous fungal plant pathogens, nematodes and insects. These behaviours are based on the activation of multiple mechanisms such as secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes, production of antifungal secondary metabolites and induction of plant defence systems. Besides having significant biocontrol activity, C. rosea also functions in the biodegradation of plastic waste, biotransformation of bioactive compounds, as a bioenergy sources and in fermentation. This mini review summarizes information about the biology and various applications of C. rosea and expands on its possible uses.

[Genomic recombination of the vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 El Tor pandemic strains]

Objective: To analyze the genomic recombination of the vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 El Tor pandemic strains. Methods: A total of 292 complete or draft genome sequences of Vibrio cholerae O1 serogroup El Tor strains isolated from 1937 to 2015 were selected from National Biotechnology Information Center database. The genome alignment of strains was computed by snippy software by using N16961 as reference sequence. Then ClonalFrameML software was used to do the recombinant analysis. The wilcox.test function in agricolae package was used to compare the number recombinant segments and the total length of recombinant regions between small and large chromosomes. The kruskal function was used to compare the number recombinant segments and the total length of recombinant regions among different isolation continents. The KOBAS tool was used to do the gene ontology enrichment analysis of recombinant hotspot genes. Results: Of all 292 strains of Vibrio cholerae, 163 strains (55.8%) were recombined. The median of normalized recombinant segment number of small chromosome was 4.7×10(-6) (9.3×10(-7), 2.0×10(-5)), which was significantly larger than that of large chromosome [2.4×10(-6) (3.4×10(-7), 5.7×10(-6))] (P<0.001). The median (P(25),P(75)) of recombinant segment number of strains isolated from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America were 23(1.0,33.0), 1.0(0.0,34.0), 6.0(2.0,13.0), 0.0(0.0,1.0) and 29.5(6.8,56.8), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The median (P(25),P(75)) of total length of recombinant regions of strains isolated from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America were 233.0(4.0, 461.0), 11.0(0.0, 695.5), 56.0(4.0,111.0), 0.0(0.0,9.0) and 347.5(132.8,1 323.5) bp, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Gene ontology Enrichment analysis showed that the functions of 62 recombinant hotspot genes were mainly enrichment in chemotaxis, taxis, response to external stimulus, receptor activity and molecular transducer activity. Conclustion: In this study, we found that there were significant differences in the number of recombinant fragments and the length of recombinant regions between large and small chromosomes of Vibrio cholerae El Tor. We also found significant differences in the number of recombinant fragments and the total length of recombinant regions among different continents.

[Safety and effectiveness of transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: a pilot study]

Objective: To evaluate the indication, safety and effectiveness of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal cancer based on our preliminary experience. Methods: Twelve patients, including six with tonsil cancer, five with tongue base cancer and one with posterior pharyngeal wall cancer, who underwent TORS with Da Vinci Si surgical system from March 2017 to October 2018 at Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science Technology were respectively analyzed. And the surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative local bleeding, dyspnea, nerve function injury, oral intake time, whether or not to receive chemoradiotherapy were analyzed. Results: All tumors in the 12 patients were en bloc removed by TORS. Surgical time ranged from 25 to 80 min with an average of 34.2 min. The blood loss ranged from 10 ml to 50 ml with an average of 20.8 ml. The recovery time for oral intake ranged from 1 day to 30 days with an average of 8.4 days. No patient underwent tracheostomy after TORS. Also, no patient manifested with airway obstruction, bleeding or nerve injury symptoms after operation. All 12 patients reached pathologically negative surgical margins. The patients were followed up for 4 to 22 months, with a median of 12 months. All patients who combined with more advanced than T3 stage, or more advanced than N2 stage were recommended to oncologist, then, followed with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy if no relevant contradictions occurred. No local recurrence or distant metastasis case was found. Conclusion: With proper indications, the application of TORS in oropharyngeal cancer is a relatively safe, effective and minimal invasive therapy, which merits more clinical applications.

A high level of serum neopterin is associated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease and reduced survival in dermatomyositis

Neopterin is primarily synthesized and released by activated macrophages/monocytes upon stimulation with interferon-γ and is considered as a marker for macrophage activation. This study aimed to analyze the serum levels of neopterin in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) in association with clinical manifestations, laboratory data and patient prognosis. One hundred and eighty-two consecutive DM patients and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled into the study. Serum levels of neopterin were significantly increased in DM patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0·001). High serum neopterin levels were associated with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA5) antibody, rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) and characteristic DM cutaneous involvement. Longitudinal assessment of serum samples revealed that the serum neopterin levels were closely correlated with disease severity (β = 30·24, P < 0·001). In addition, a significant increase in serum neopterin concentration of non-survivors was observed when compared to that of survivors (P < 0·001). Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that serum neopterin could distinguish non-survivors and survivors at an optimal cut-off level of 22·1 nmol/l with a sensitivity and specificity of 0·804 and 0·625, respectively (P < 0·001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that DM patients with serum neopterin > 22·1 nmol/l had a significantly higher mortality compared to the patient group with serum neopterin < 22·1 nmol/l (log-rank P < 0·001). Multivariate regression analysis identified high serum neopterin concentration to be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in DM (adjusted hazard ratio = 4·619, 95% confidence interval = 2·092-10·195, P < 0·001). In conclusion, increased serum levels of neopterin were significantly associated with RP-ILD and reduced survival in DM patients, suggesting it as a promising biomarker in disease evaluation of DM.

Whole exome sequencing identified a second pathogenic variant in HOMER2 for autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness

Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders worldwide, and about half of all occurrences are attributable to genetic factors. Here, we have identified a novel pathogenic variant in HOMER2 in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant, non-syndromic hearing loss. This is the second family reported globally with hearing loss caused by a variant in HOMER2. The pathogenic variant c.840_841insC in HOMER2 (NM_199330), segregating with the hearing-loss phenotype in the family, leads to a premature stop codon producing a truncated protein. The coiled-coil domain in the C-terminal of HOMER2 protein is essential for protein multimerization and HOMER2-CDC42 interaction. We compared the phenotypes in the two families and found that hearing impairment in this Chinese family was more severe. Furthermore, we found that the ability of this insertion mutant type HOMER2 (HOMER2_MU ) to multimerize decreased more significantly than wild-type HOMER2 (HOMER2_WT ) and the reported c.554G>C (NM_004839) mutant HOMER2. HOMER2_MU protein tended to be distributed in a diffuse manner, whereas HOMER2_WT and the reported mutant HOMER2 tended to cluster together. Our research provides a validating second family for variants in HOMER2 causing non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. HOMER2 homo-/hetero-multimerization might be the first step in exerting its normal function.

Long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma through activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression characteristics of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZFAS1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to further investigate the role and mechanism of ZFAS1 in the occurrence and development of NPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

76 surgical excision samples from newly diagnosed NPC patients and 76 cases of paracancerous tissues were selected. The expression of ZFAS1 was detected by qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction), and the relationship between the expression of ZFAS1 and the clinical prognosis of patients with NPC was analyzed. After the knockdown, the expression of ZFAS1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1 by small interfering RNA, the effect of ZFAS1 on the biological function of NPC cells was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation assay, flow cytometry and apoptosis assay. The effect of ZFAS1 on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS

After analyzing the clinical data of enrolled patients, we found that ZFAS1 was overexpressed in NPC patients, which was closely correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis of NPC. Moreover, ZFAS1 was negatively correlated to the survival of NPC patients. After interfering with the expression of ZFAS1, the proliferation of NPC cells was significantly decreased, the cell cycle was inhibited and the apoptosis rate was increased. Western Blot showed that ZFAS1 promoted the occurrence of NPC by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

ZFAS1 was overexpressed in NPC and was significantly related to tumor size, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of NPC. ZFAS1 could promote NPC by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

[Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics and differential diagnosis of common sellar cystic lesions]

Objective: To investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristic and differential diagnostic keypoints of common sellar regional cystic lesions with the purpose of improving differential diagnostic accuracy. Methods: In total, 174 cases of the pathologically diagnosed cystic lesions in sellar region between March 2016 and June 2019 were included in the current retrospective analysis. These cases included Rathke's cleft cyst (n=68), craniopharyngioma (n=48), pituitary adenoma (n=56) and arachnoid cyst (n=2) in the sellar region. The position, texture and morphology of leisions, signal of cystic and solid part, invasion of surrounding tissues and maximum diameter of cysts on the MRI images were evaluated and compared between different groups. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were several specific changes on several MRI sequences in Rathke's cleft cysts, craniopharyngioma and pituitary adenoma groups. For Rathke's cleft cysts, round shape, rare polycystic structure, lack of solid part and maximum diameter of cysts which was significantly less than that of craniopharyngioma and pituitary adenoma groups ((17.37±6.12) mm vs (30.29±13.51) mm vs (28.18±11.13) mm, t value was 6.680, 5.838, respectively, all P<0.05), were favorable diagnostic criteria. While, the intracystic nodules were mostly found in craniopharyngioma. There was no high signal intensity in cystic wall on T1WI and T2WI of pituitary adenoma. MRI signal of arachnoid cyst in sellar region was basically the same as CSF signal, with low signal intensity on T1WI and DWI, high signal intensity on T2WI, without enhanced signal. Conclusions: Common sellar regional cystic lesions showed characteristic manifestations on different MRI sequences. Valuable information in the morphology, MRI signal intensity, maximum diameter measurements may improve accuracy of differential diagnosis for sellar regional cystic lesions.