P–772 Blastocyst quality and perinatal outcomes in women undergoing single blastocyst transfer in frozen cycles

Study question

Is the morphological grading systems of a blastocyst associated with perinatal outcomes in women undergoing frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer (SBT)?

Summary answer

Preferential transfer of a blastocyst based on their morphological grading systems appears to be supported by observed differences in perinatal outcomes.

What is known already

The transfer of a morphologically good quality blastocyst is associated with higher implantation and pregnancy rates as compared with a poor quality blastocyst. However to date, the association of the morphologic parameters of the blastocyst (developmental stage, inner cell mass (ICM), and trophectoderm (TE)) with the perinatal outcomes after blastocyst transfer remains unknown.

Study design, size, duration

A retrospective cohort study including 21,648 frozen-thawed SBT cycles from January 2013 to March 2019.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

6037 women with singleton delivery in Peking University Third Hospital were eligible for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test the risk of factors with the expression of crude odds ratios (OR) and adjusted OR (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main results and the role of chance

Transfer of a blastocyst with grading lower than 3BB was associated with a higher chance of female baby (49% vs 43%, aOR = 1.27 (1.12, 1.43)) and a higher rate of cesarian section (C-section) (69% vs 65%, aOR = 1.17 (1.03, 1.34)). Compared with stage 4 blastocyst, transfer of a stage 3 blastocyst was associated with a higher chance of preterm delivery (PTD) (aOR = 1.77 (1.08, 2.90)). Both stage 3 and stage 6 blastocyst transfer was associated with a lower chance of female baby (aOR = 0.68 (0.48, 0.97), 0.66 (0.47, 0.93), respectively). Compared with grade A ICM blastocyst transfer, Grade B ICM and grade C ICM blastocyst transfer was associated with a lower chance of a female baby (adjusted OR = 0.84 (0.73, 0.96), 0.63 (0.48, 0.83), respectively) and a higher risk of large for gestational age (LGA) (aOR = 1.20 (1.01, 1.42), 1.46 (1.07, 1.98), respectively). Grade C ICM blastocyst transfer was associated with an increased risk of macrosomia (aOR = 1.66 (1.14, 2.42)).Grade B TE and grade C TE blastocyst transfer had a lower risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (aOR = 0.76 (0.60, 0.98), 0.69 (0.50, 0.94), respectively) than grade A TE blastocyst transfer.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The main limitations of this study were its retrospective nature and the relative subjectivity of blastocyst scoring. The follow-up was conducted through a phone call and some patients might not report their obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, leading to a relatively lower rate of several obstetrical outcomes.

Wider implications of the findings: Transfer of a poor quality blastocyst is associated with a higher rate of C-section. The association between ICM grading and LGA and macrosomia would suggest that blastocysts with grade A ICM grading should be transferred preferentially and supports the use of current morphological grading systems for embryo prioritisation.

Trial registration number

N/A

Targeting STING attenuates ROS induced intervertebral disc degeneration

OBJECTIVE

DNA damage induced by ROS is considered one of the main causes of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells degeneration during the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). cGAS-STING pathway acts as DNA-sensing mechanism for monitoring DNA damage. Recent studies have proved that cGAS-STING contributes to the development of various diseases by inducing inflammation, senescence, and apoptosis. This work explored the role of STING, the main effector of cGAS-STING signaling pathway, in NP degeneration.

METHOD

Immunohistochemistry was conducted to measure STING protein levels in the nucleus pulposus tissues from human and puncture-induced IVDD rat models. TBHP induces degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells in vitro. For in vivo experiments, lv-NC or lv-STING were injected into the central intervertebral disc space. The degeneration level of IVDD was assessed by MRI, X-ray, HE, and Safranin O staining.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of STING was upregulated in human and rat degenerated NP tissue as well as in TBHP-treated NP cells. Overexpression of STING promoted the degradation of extracellular matrix; it also promoted apoptosis and senescence of TBHP-treated and untreated NP cells. Knock-down of STING significantly reversed these effects. Mechanistically, STING activated IRF3, whereas blockage of IRF3 attenuated STING-induced apoptosis, senescence and ECM degradation. In vivo experiments revealed that STING knock-down alleviated puncture-induced IVDD development.

CONCLUSION

STING promotes IVDD progress via IRF3, while suppression of STING may be a promising treatment for IVDD.

[Efficacy of intravascular ultrasound-guided rotational atherectomy combined with cutting balloon for pretreatment of severe coronary artery calcified lesions]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided rotational atherectomy (RA) combined with cutting balloon for pretreatment of severe calcified lesions in the coronary artery before stent placement.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with severe coronary artery calcifications detected by IVUS that required percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recruited from our hospital between January, 2016 to January, 2019. The patients were randomized into two groups for pretreatment of the lesions with semicompliant balloon (SB group, 60 cases) or RA combined with CB (RA+CB group, 60 cases), and drug-eluting stents were implanted after the procedure. The immediate success rate of PCI, vascular parameters detected by IVUS after PCI, and the rates of residual stenosis < 10% were compared between the two groups. The incidences of intraoperative complications and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 24 months after the surgery were also observed in the two groups.

RESULTS

The immediate success rate was significantly higher in RA+CB group than in SB group (P=0.032). After pretreatment and stent placement, the minimum stent lumen diameter (P=0.035), minimum stent lumen cross-sectional area (P=0.029), immediate lumen acquisition, immediate lumen cross-sectional area acquisition and the rate of residual stenosis < 10% were all significantly higher in RA+CB group than in SB group (P < 0.001). The patients in RA+ CB group showed obviously less residual stenosis of lumen cross-sectional area than those in SB group after the surgery (χ²= 7.859, P=0.005). The incidences of intraoperative complications (χ²=5.997, P=0.014) and MACE within 24 months after the operation (χ²=4.285, P=0.038) were significantly lower in RA+CB group than in SB group.

CONCLUSION

For patients with severe coronary artery calcifications eligible for PCI, RA combined with CB angioplasty can significantly improve the success rate of immediate PCI, expand the lumen diameter and cross-sectional area of the stent after PCI, enhance immediate lumen gain, and reduce the incidence of intraoperative complications and MACE after the operation.

Association of improved overall survival with decreased distant metastasis following asparaginase-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy for intermediate- and high-risk early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma: a CLCG study

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the survival benefit of asparaginase (ASP)-based versus non-ASP-based chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in a real-world cohort of patients with early-stage extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 376 patients who received combined radiotherapy with either ASP-based (ASP, platinum, and gemcitabine; n = 286) or non-ASP-based (platinum and gemcitabine; n = 90) regimens. The patients were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups using the early stage-adjusted nomogram-revised risk index. Overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis (DM)-free survival (DMFS) between the chemotherapy regimens were compared using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

ASP-based (versus non-ASP-based) regimens significantly improved 5-year OS (84.5% versus 73.2%, P = 0.021) and DMFS (84.4% versus 74.5%, P = 0.014) for intermediate- and high-risk patients, but not for low-risk patients in the setting of radiotherapy. Moreover, ASP-based regimens decreased DM, with a 5-year cumulative DM rate of 14.9% for ASP-based regimens compared with 25.1% (P = 0.014) for non-ASP-based regimens. The survival benefit of ASP-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy remained consistent after adjusting the confounding variables using IPTW and multivariate analyses; additional sensitivity analyses confirmed these results.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provided support for ASP-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy as a first-line treatment strategy for intermediate- and high-risk early-stage ENKTCL.

AutoCCS: Automated collision cross section calculation software for ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry

MOTIVATION

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) separations are increasingly used in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) for separation and characterization of ionized molecular species. Information obtained from IMS measurements includes the ion's collision cross section (CCS), which reflects its size and structure and constitutes a descriptor for distinguishing similar species in mixtures that cannot be separated using conventional approaches. Incorporating CCS into MS-based workflows can improve the specificity and confidence of molecular identification. At present, there is no automated, open-source pipeline for determining CCS of analyte ions in both targeted and untargeted fashion, and intensive user-assisted processing with vendor software and manual evaluation is often required.

RESULTS

We present AutoCCS, an open-source software to rapidly determine CCS values from IMS-MS measurements. We conducted various IMS experiments in different formats to demonstrate the flexibility of AutoCCS for automated CCS calculation: 1) stepped-field methods for drift tube-based IMS (DTIMS), 2) single-field methods for DTIMS (supporting two calibration methods: a standard and a new enhanced method) and 3) non-linear calibration methods for traveling wave based-IMS (TWIMS) in Waters Synapt and Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations (SLIM). We demonstrated that AutoCCS offers an accurate and reproducible determination of CCS for both standard and unknown analyte ions in various IMS-MS platforms, IMS-field methods, ionization modes, and collision gases, without requiring manual processing.

AVAILABILITY

https://github.com/PNNL-Comp-Mass-Spec/AutoCCS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

[Effect of VDR gene silencing on proliferation and NF-κB activation of airway smooth muscle cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of VDR gene silencing on proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and elucidate the role of NF-κB. Methods: A recombinant lentiviral vector specifically targeting VDR gene in rat was constructed by RNA interference. Rat ASMCs were divided into blank group, empty vector group and interference group. ASM cell line model stably silencing the VDR gene RNA expressing was selected by puromycin. Then MTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry were used to examine cell proliferation. The activation of nuclear factor-κB was determined by immunofluorescence double label method. Moreover, NF-κB-dependent transcription activity was tested through luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blotting was used for IκBα and phospho-IκBα protein levels and actinomycin D treatment was used to determine IκBα mRNA stability. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 23.0 software. Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis. Multiple comparisons among groups were made by Student-Newman-Keuls test. Results: (1) As compared with those in the blank group and the empty vector group, the cell proliferation index (PI) and the percent of ASMCs at G₂/M phase in the interference group were markedly increased (P<0.05), but their percent at G_0/1 phase was decreased (P<0.05).(2) In the interference group, the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in ASMCs was obviously induced. And its level of receptor gene NF-κB p65 (1.37±0.28) was significantly higher than that in the blank group (1.00±0.19,P=0.031) and in the empty vector group (0.96±0.18,P=0.027).(3) In the interference group, the IκBα protein level in ASMCs (0.13±0.04) was obviously less than that in the blank group (0.29±0.05, P=0.023) and in the empty vector group (0.32±0.07, P=0.014). Oppositely, the p-IκBα/IκBα level in the interference group (0.86±0.04) was much more than that in the blank control group (0.41±0.07, P=0.026) and in the empty vector group (0.37±0.05, P=0.017). (4) In the interference group, IκBα mRNA showed a shorter half-life, (171.31±9.67) min, compared to that in the blank group [(224.69±7.95) min,P=0.032] and in the empty vector group [(230.41±6.37) min,P=0.035]. Conclusion: VDR gene silencing could promote ASMC proliferation and the underlying mechanism may involve the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

POS0400 METABOLIC CHANGES INDUCED BY ANTI-MALONDIALDEHYDE/MALINDIALDEHYDE-ACETALDEHYDE ANTIBODIES PROMOTE OSTEOCLAST DEVELOPMENT

Background:

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a highly reactive compound generated during lipid-peroxidation in conditions associated with oxidative stress. MDA can irreversibly modify proteins (e.g. lysine, arginine and histidine residues). In addition, acetaldehyde can further react with MDA adducts to form malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) modification. Such protein modifications can lead to immunogenic neo-epitopes that are recognized by autoantibodies. In fact, anti-MDA/MAA IgG antibodies are significantly increased in the serum of patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1). Interestingly, anti-MDA/MAA antibodies have been shown to promote osteoclast (OC) differentiation in vitro suggesting a potential role for these autoantibodies in bone damage associated with RA (1).

Objectives:

Little is known about the molecular mechanisms activated by autoantibodies in RA. Here, we elucidate the pathways specifically triggered by anti-MDA/MAA autoantibodies in developing osteoclasts.

Methods:

Recombinant human monoclonal anti-MDA/MAA antibodies, which were previously cloned from single synovial B cells of RA patients, were added to different OC assays. OCs were generated from monocyte-derived macrophages in the presence of the cytokines RANK-L and M-CSF. OC development was monitored by light microscopy following tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and by erosion assays using calcium phosphate-coated plates. Bone morphometrics were studied in anti-MDA/MAA-injected mice using X-ray microscopy. Cellular metabolism was analyzed by mass spectrometry, Seahorse XF Analyzer and a colorimetric L-Lactate assay.

Results:

Anti-MDA/MAA antibodies induced a robust OC differentiation in vitro and bone loss in vivo. The anti-MDA/MAA antibodies acted on developing OCs by increasing glycolysis via an Fcγ receptor I-mediated pathway and the upregulation of the transcription factors HIF-1α, Myc and CHREBP. Such regulation of cellular metabolism was exclusively observed in the presence of the osteoclastogenic anti-MDA/MAA clones, whereas other RA-associated autoantibodies (anti-MDA/MAA or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies) had no effect on metabolism. The anti-MDA/MAA treatment induced a shift in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity in developing OCs, leading to the accumulation of citrate and aconitate.

Conclusion:

We described a novel type of autoantibody-induced pathway in RA, which might contribute to increased OC activation and a consequent bone loss. Anti-MDA/MAA antibodies promoted osteoclast development by increasing glycolysis and by modulating the TCA cycle through a signaling pathway that included Fcγ receptor I and a network of transcription factors acting on glycolysis. A TCA cycle bias towards citrate production suggests that the anti-MDA/MAA antibodies might stimulate OCs via increasing lipid biosynthesis in the cells.

References:

[1]Grönwall C. et al. J. Autoimmunity 84 (2017): 29-45.

Acknowledgements:

This Project has received funding from FOREUM, Foundation for Research in Rheumatology, from the European Research Council (ERC) grant agreement CoG 2017 - 7722209_PREVENT RA, the EU/EFPIA Innovative Medicine Initiative grant agreement 777357_RTCure, the Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

Disclosure of Interests:

Koji Sakuraba: None declared, Akilan Krishnamurthy: None declared, Alexandra Circiumaru: None declared, Vijay Joshua: None declared, Heidi Wähämaa: None declared, Marianne Engström: None declared, Meng Sun: None declared, Xiaowei Zheng: None declared, Cheng Xu: None declared, Khaled Amara: None declared, Vivianne Malmström Grant/research support from: collaboration with Pfizer, unrelated to the abstract, Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina: None declared, Caroline Grönwall: None declared, Bence Réthi: None declared, Anca Catrina Grant/research support from: collaboration with BMS and Pfizer, unrelated to the present abstract

Accurate Determination of the Neutron Skin Thickness of ^{208}Pb through Parity-Violation in Electron Scattering

We report a precision measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry A_{PV} in the elastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from ^{208}Pb. We measure A_{PV}=550±16(stat)±8(syst) parts per billion, leading to an extraction of the neutral weak form factor F_{W}(Q^{2}=0.00616  GeV^{2})=0.368±0.013. Combined with our previous measurement, the extracted neutron skin thickness is R_{n}-R_{p}=0.283±0.071  fm. The result also yields the first significant direct measurement of the interior weak density of ^{208}Pb: ρ_{W}^{0}=-0.0796±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo)  fm^{-3} leading to the interior baryon density ρ_{b}^{0}=0.1480±0.0036(exp)±0.0013(theo)  fm^{-3}. The measurement accurately constrains the density dependence of the symmetry energy of nuclear matter near saturation density, with implications for the size and composition of neutron stars.

Circ_0056618 promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR-206 and upregulating CXCR4 and VEGF-A in colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence has revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the development of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we mainly focused on the expression of circ_0056618 and potential functions of circ_0056618 in CRC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

RT-PCR was performed to detect circ_0056618 and miR-206 expressions in CRC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between circ_0056618 and miR-206. Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to analyze the overall survival (OS) for CRC patients. Moreover, CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell proliferation ability and transwell assay was performed to detect cell migration ability. Besides, tube formation assay was performed to measure cell angiogenesis capacity. Western blot (WB) was performed to measure protein levels of tissues samples and CRC cell lines. Notably, the Luciferase reporter assay was performed to prove the binding sites in circ_0056618 with miR-206, miR-206 with CXCR4 and VEGF-A.

RESULTS

We found that circ_0056618 was elevated in CRC tumor tissues and CRC cell lines, which was related to poor diagnosis for CRC patients. MiR-206 was reduced in CRC tissues, which was negatively related with circ_0056618. Protein levels of CXCR4 and VEGF-A were elevated in CRC tumor tissues, which were negatively related with miR-206. Circ_0056618 inhibition inhibited proliferation, angiogenesis and migration of HT29 cells, and repressed protein levels of Cyclin D1, VEGF-A and N-cadherin and increased E-cadherin. Notably, Luciferase reporter assay indicated that circ_0056618 could sponge with miR-206, which could directly target at CXCR4 and VEGF-A. Finally, we proved a pathway that circ_0056618 promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR-206 and removing the repressing effects of miR-206, thereby upregulating CXCR4 and VEGF-A in CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Above all, this study revealed that circ_0056618 was increased in CRC tissues, which was related with the poor OS of CRC patients. We found that circ_0056618 could promote cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR-206 and upregulating CXCR4 and VEGF-A in CRC, which might provide a novel potential therapeutic target for treating CRC.

Downregulation of GNAS inhibits osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and promotes osteoporosis through the Wnt pathway

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the role of GNAS in accelerating the progression of osteoporosis by inhibiting osteogenesis of BMSCs by the Wnt pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

GNAS levels in OP tissues and BMSCs undergoing osteogenesis for different time points were detected. Regulatory effects of GNAS on osteogenesis-related gene expressions, ALP activity, capability of mineralization, and activation of the Wnt pathway in BMSCs were assessed through a series of functional experiments. At last, rescue experiments were performed to further verify the significance of the Wnt pathway during GNAS-mediated osteogenesis development.

RESULTS

GNAS was downregulated in OP tissues relative to normal bone tissues. With the prolongation of osteogenesis, GNAS level gradually increased in BMSCs. Knockdown of GNAS downregulated expression levels of ALP and RUNX2, and attenuated ALP activity and capability of mineralization in BMSCs. GNAS was able to activate the Wnt pathway in BMSCs. Notably, overexpression of Wnt3a could reverse the regulatory effects of GNAS on osteogenesis-related gene expressions, ALP activity, and capability of mineralization in BMSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Downregulation of GNAS suppresses osteogenesis of BMSCs through the Wnt pathway, thus aggravating the progression of osteoporosis.

LiCl Promotes Recovery of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis and Dysgeusia

Oral mucositis and taste dysfunction are frequently complained by patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy, challenging the clinical outcome of cancer treatment. Recent studies have indicated the protective role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) and its pivotal role in the development and self-renewal of taste buds. The current study hypothesizes that lithium chloride (LiCl), a potent activator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, can promote the postirradiation restoration of oral mucosa integrity and taste function. To validate this hypothesis, we established a RIOM mouse model and evaluated the treatment efficacy of LiCl on oral mucositis and taste dysfunction in comparison with keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), an agent approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral mucositis. The results showed that LiCl alleviated the weight loss and tongue ulceration of RIOM mice, promoted proliferation of basal epithelial cells, and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tongue mucosa. More important, elevated taste bud renewal and dysgeusia recovery toward sweetness were observed in RIOM mice treated with LiCl as compared to those treated by KGF. Collectively, our data demonstrate that LiCl can mitigate oral mucositis and rescue taste alteration induced by irradiation, and activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling may represent a promising therapy to improve the quality of life of patients receiving radiotherapy.

A catalog of associations between rare coding variants and COVID-19 outcomes

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness that can result in hospitalization or death. We investigated associations between rare genetic variants and seven COVID-19 outcomes in 543,213 individuals, including 8,248 with COVID-19. After accounting for multiple testing, we did not identify any clear associations with rare variants either exome-wide or when specifically focusing on (i) 14 interferon pathway genes in which rare deleterious variants have been reported in severe COVID-19 patients; (ii) 167 genes located in COVID-19 GWAS risk loci; or (iii) 32 additional genes of immunologic relevance and/or therapeutic potential. Our analyses indicate there are no significant associations with rare protein-coding variants with detectable effect sizes at our current sample sizes. Analyses will be updated as additional data become available, with results publicly browsable at https://rgc-covid19.regeneron.com.

[Huangqin decoction alleviates ulcerative colitis by regulating ILC3s-TH cell response]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of Huangqin decoction (HQD) on group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and helper T cells (Th) for treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

OBJECTIVE

Male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group, DSS group, mesalazine group (ME, 400 mg/kg), and 2.275 g/kg, 4.55 g/kg and 9.1 g/kg HQD groups. All the mice were given free access to normal chow. Except for those in the normal control group, all the mice were given 3% DSS solution for 7 days to establish models of UC. The mice in ME group and 3 HQD groups were given mesalazine or HQD via oral gavage at the specified doses once a day. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the ILC3s, MHC Ⅱ, Th1 and Treg in the lamina propria lymphocytes in the colon. Milliplex was performed to determine cytokine levels of in the colon tissues.

OBJECTIVE

Compared with those in DSS group, the mice in the 3 HQD groups all showed obviously lessened symptoms of UC with significantl decreased DAI score (P < 0.001) and macroscopic score (P < 0.001). The results of flow cytometry showed that HQD treatment significantly increased the percentage of ILC3s (P < 0.05) and expression of MHCⅡ (P < 0.05), obviously reduced the proportion of Th1 (P < 0.05) but increased Treg cells (P < 0.05) in the colon tissues. Milliplex showed that HQD treatment significantly reduced the expressions of Th-related pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-2 (P < 0.05), IL-17A (P < 0.05), IL-23 (P < 0.05), TNF-α (P < 0.05), and IFN-γ (P < 0.05).

OBJECTIVE

HQD alleviates DSS- induced UC in mice by increasing ILC3s and MHC Ⅱ expression to suppress the function of Th17 and Th1 cells and promote Treg and Th2 cells.

Development of Native MS Capabilities on an Extended Mass Range Q-TOF MS

Native mass spectrometry (nMS) is increasingly used for studies of large biomolecules (>100 kDa), especially proteins and protein complexes. The growth in this area can be attributed to advances in native electrospray ionization as well as instrumentation that is capable of accessing high mass-to-charge (m/z) regimes without significant losses in sensitivity and resolution. Here, we describe modifications to the ESI source of an Agilent 6545XT Q-TOF MS that is tailored for analysis of large biomolecules. The modified ESI source was evaluated using both soluble and membrane protein complexes ranging from ~127 to ~232 kDa and the ~801 kDa protein chaperone GroEL. The increased mass resolution of the instrument affords the ability to resolve small molecule adducts and analyze collision-induced dissociation products of the native complexes.

Assessing Collision Cross Section Calibration Strategies for Traveling Wave-Based Ion Mobility Separations in Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations

The collision cross section (CCS) is an important property that aids in the structural characterization of molecules. Here, we investigated the CCS calibration accuracy with traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) separations in structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM) using three sets of calibrants. A series of singly negatively charged phospholipids and bile acids were calibrated in nitrogen buffer gas using two different TW waveform profiles (square and sine) and amplitudes (20, 25, and 30 V_0-p). The calibration errors for the three calibrant sets (Agilent tuning mixture, polyalanine, and one assembled in-house) showed negligible differences using a sine-shaped TW waveform. Calibration errors were all within 1-2% of the drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS) measurements, with lower errors for sine waveforms, presumably due to the lower average and maximum fields experienced by ions. Finally, ultrahigh-resolution multipass (long path length) SLIM TWIMS separations demonstrated improved CCS calibration for phospholipid and bile acid isomers.

PEAR1 rs12041331 polymorphisms and the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome and/or percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Platelet endothelial aggregation receptor-1 (PEAR1), expressed in endothelium, platelets, and other tissues, is a platelet transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor involved in platelet aggregation and platelet-platelet contact. The minor allele (A) in intron 1 of the PEAR1 gene (rs12041331, G&gt;A) is associated with an reduced PEAR1 protein expression and suppressed platelet aggregation response toward multiple agonists. But current evidences on the association between PEAR1 rs12041331 polymorphisms and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are discordant.

Purpose

To characterize and quantify the association between PEAR1 rs12041331 polymorphisms and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ACS and/or PCI.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Data before Dec 7, 2019 to identify studies evaluating the association between PEAR1 rs12041331 polymorphisms and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ACS and/or PCI. The primary outcome was the major adverse cardiovascular outcomes (MACEs) defined by each study. We adopted the Mantel-Haenszel method to calculate the relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the corresponding P values using the random effect model. To assess the effect of ethnicity, we performed the subgroup analyses per ethnic population using the fix effect model.

Results

Among 542 citations identified along with 1 from additional sources, we included 4 studies, which documented 218 MACEs in 8180 patients. The A allele frequency in each study was comparable with that reported in the 1000 Genome Project, but varied among ethnic populations, that is 45.8% in East Asians, 46.5% in American Africans, and 9.2% in Caucasians, adopted from the 1000 Genome Project. A-allele carriers are associated with a 54% increase in MACEs than non-A-carriers (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.10–2.16; P=0.01) with a low but non-significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses showed that A-allele carriers tend to have more MACEs than non-A-allele carriers despite of ethnicity, that is 1.32-fold increase in East Asians (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.99–1.77; P=0.06), 2.43-fold in Caucasians (RR, 2.43; 95% CI, 0.99–5.98; P=0.05), and 3.56-fold (RR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.08–11.70; P=0.04) in American Africans.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the PEAR1 rs12041331 is prognostic in patients with ACS and/or PCI and treated with DAPT, which might be not caused by the associations with pharmacological response to antiplatelet agents. Further investigations are thus required to address the unrevealing mechanisms of PEAR1, especially on the development of atherosclerosis and the occurrence of acute adverse ischemic events.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Obesity prevalence and risks among Chinese adults: findings from China PEACE Million Persons Project, 2014–2018

Background

With demographic and epidemiologic transitions, China has become home to the greatest number of obese individuals in the world. Effective policy intervention requires a contemporary assessment of obesity across broad socio-demographic subgroups.

Purpose

We aim to assess the prevalence of overall and abdominal obesity by socio-demographic characteristics and the associations of these characteristics with obesity in China.

Methods

Using the data of 2.7-million community-dwelling participants aged 35–75 years in the China PEACE Million Persons Project, a nationwide cross-sectional screening project from 2014 to 2018, we calculated the prevalence of overall and abdominal obesity based on national guideline definitions (body mass index ≥28 kg/m2, waist circumference ≥85/90 cm for women/men). We examined 12 available socio-demographic variables that are potentially associated with obesity, in addition to self-reported co-morbidities, and quantified the associations of these socio-demographic characteristics with obesity using multivariable mixed models.

Results

The prevalence of overall and abdominal obesity were 15.8% and 37.6% in women and 15.0% and 36.3% in men (Figure). Compared to individuals with normal weight, those with overall obesity had a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes (in women: by 30.4, 16.1, and 6.0 percent points; in men, by 29.9, 31.2, and 5.8 percent points). A similar pattern was observed with abdominal obesity. In women, those aged 55–64 years constituted the largest age group with overall and abdominal obesity (33.7% and 35.0%), while in men, those aged 45–54 and 55–64 years constituted the largest age group with overall obesity (30.4%) and abdominal obesity (30.5%), respectively. Older women were at substantially higher risk for obesity (e.g., adjusted relative risk [95% CI] of women aged 65–75 vs. 35–44 years: 1.29 [1.27–1.31] for overall obesity and 1.76 [1.74–1.77] for abdominal obesity) while older men were not. Higher education was associated with lower risk in women (e.g., those with college or university education vs. less than primary school: 0.47 [0.46–0.48] for overall obesity and 0.61 [0.60–0.62] for abdominal obesity) but higher risk in men (1.07 [1.05–1.10] and 1.17 [1.16–1.19]). In both women and men, current smoking was associated with lower risk for obesity, and current drinking was associated with higher risk, but the magnitude of associations was smaller in women than men.

Conclusions

In China, over one in seven individuals meet criteria for overall obesity, and one in three for abdominal obesity. Wide variation exists across socio-demographic subgroups. The associations of age and education with obesity are significant and differ by sex. Understanding obesity in contemporary China has broad domestic policy implications and provides a valuable international reference.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): The National Key Research and Development Program from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Science