Speciation and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Soils from Overlapped Areas of Farmland and Coal Resources in Northern Xuzhou, China

Contamination caused by heavy metals (HMs) in soil of overlapped area of farmland and coal resources (OAFCR) has impact on crops. The concentrations and speciation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were investigated in topsoil of an OAFCR in Xuzhou, China. The results showed that mean concentrations of all six metals were higher than the background values of Xuzhou city and Cd was moderate accumulated with the maximum I_geo equalled to 2.13. Cd showed moderate contamination level (IP_i = 1.75) and potential ecological risk (Er = 44.06). Most of the total Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were presented in the residual forms (above 60%), and the percentages of reducible, oxidisable and residual forms of Pb were 23%, 21% and 43% respectively. Pb and Cd reflected a moderate degree of potential ecological risk and a considerable migration risk and ecotoxicity.

Stoichioproteomics study of differentially expressed proteins and pathways in head and neck cancer

Hypoxia is a prominent feature of head and neck cancer. However, the oxygen element characteristics of proteins and how they adapt to hypoxia microenvironments of head and neck cancer are still unknown. Human genome sequences and proteins expressed data of head and neck cancer were retrieved from pathology atlas of Human Protein Atlas project. Then compared the oxygen and carbon element contents between proteomes of head and neck cancer and normal oral mucosa-squamous epithelial cells, genome locations, pathways, and functional dissection associated with head and neck cancer were also studied. A total of 902 differentially expressed proteins were observed where the average oxygen content is higher than that of the lowly expressed proteins in head and neck cancer proteins. Further, the average oxygen content of the up regulated proteins was 2.54% higher than other. None of their coding genes were distributed on the Y chromosome. The up regulated proteins were enriched in endocytosis, apoptosis and regulation of actin cytoskeleton. The increased oxygen contents of the highly expressed and the up regulated proteins might be caused by frequent activity of cytoskeleton and adapted to the rapid growth and fast division of the head and neck cancer cells. The oxygen usage bias and key proteins may help us to understand the mechanisms behind head and neck cancer in targeted therapy, which lays a foundation for the application of stoichioproteomics in targeted therapy and provides promise for potential treatments for head and neck cancer.

Development of a human heart-on-a-chip model using induced pluripotent stem cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells

Background

The use of animal models in cardiovascular research is associated with two serious, intrinsic problems: inaccuracy in the extrapolation of data obtained from animals such as rodents due to different cardiac physiology and animal ethics.

Purpose

To develop an artificial human heart model for cardiovascular research using organ-on-a-chip technology and human cells

Methods

Organ chips made of silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) that have two microfluidic channels, a top channel and a bottom channel, separated by a 50-μm thick membrane with 7-μm pores hexagonally packed at 40-μm intervals (Figure 1), were used in this study.

We seeded 10,000 human umbilical vein endothelial cells on the membrane surface in the bottom channel to mimic the vasculature. Next, we seeded a mixture of 100,000 human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and 50,000 human gingival fibroblasts on the membrane surface in the top channel (Figure 1). Human gingival fibroblasts facilitate cardiac differentiation of hiPSCs [1]. We performed the cardiac differentiation of hiPSCs using a previously described protocol [1]. Culture medium was perfused at a constant rate of 60 μl/h to maintain the culture.

Results

We observed spontaneous contraction of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes 20–26 days after the start of the differentiation protocol. Simultaneously, we conducted live intracellular calcium imaging using a fluorogenic calcium-sensitive dye, Cal-520 AM (5 μM in the culture medium). hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes exhibited a periodic, coordinated pattern of calcium influx synchronised with their contraction under fluorescence microscopy (Figure 2A). Moreover, we found that the β-adrenergic agonist noradrenaline elevated the heart rate of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes on the organ chips in a dose-dependent manner (Figures 2A, B).

After observing the contraction and intracellular calcium influx of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, we performed immunocytochemistry. Confocal microscopy indicated that the fluorescent signal obtained from anti-cardiac troponin T antibody staining in the top channel exhibited a typical striated pattern with 1.56±0.12-μm interval that reflected sarcomere structure (Figure 2C, yellow). Moreover, the fluorescent signal obtained from anti-CD31 antibody staining in the bottom channel exhibited a typical pattern at the boundary between cells, which is expected at the cell–cell junction of endothelial cells.

Conclusion

We developed a human heart-on-a-chip model that was confirmed by the functional response to noradrenaline and the histological evidence of sarcomere structure and vasculature, with a capability of live imaging. We expect that this model would be useful for examining the physiological function and for the pharmacological analysis of not only the normal heart but also the heart that reflects specific patient's pathophysiology using patient-derived hiPSCs.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Figure 1Figure 2

5-hydroxymethylcytosine profiles in circulating cell-free DNA as candidate diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for coronary artery disease

Background

DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modification is an epigenetic marker involved in a range of biological processes. However, little information is available about its role in coronary artery disease (CAD), particularly in the acute phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Aims

To investigate whether 5hmC modification correlates with the pathogenesis and progression of CAD and whether 5hmC in cfDNA can be used as biomarkers.

Methods

We utilized 5hmC-Seal to generate genome-wide 5hmC profiles in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of normal coronary artery (NCA, n=200) controls and CAD patients, including stable coronary artery disease (sCAD, n=200) patients and ACS patients (n=371). To investigate the correlation between 5hmC modifications and CAD subtypes, we separated samples into training and validation cohorts and developed a 5hmC-based logistic regression model from the training cohort to predict the progression of CAD in the validation cohort.

Results

We detected a significant difference of 5hmC enrichment in gene bodies from CAD patients compared with NCA individuals. Particularly, our results showed that patients of CAD subgroups can be well separated from NCA individuals by 5hmC markers. The prediction performance of the model established by differentially regulated 5hmC modified genes achieved an AUC of 0.81 (sCAD vs. NCA) and 0.74 (ACS vs. NCA) in validation cohorts.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that patients of CAD subtypes and NCA individuals had distinct differences in 5hmC enrichment. 5hmC markers derived from plasma cfDNA may potentially serve as a clinical-applicable, minimally invasive, and liquid biopsy-based approach to diagnose CAD, particularly used to predict the occurrence of fetal ACS.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences Figure 1Figure 2

Methionine supplementation during a hydrogen peroxide challenge alters components of insulin signaling and antioxidant proteins in subcutaneous adipose explants from dairy cows

Enhanced postruminal supply of methionine (Met) during the peripartal period alters protein abundance of insulin, AA, and antioxidant signaling pathways in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Whether SAT is directly responsive to supply of Met and can induce molecular alterations is unknown. Our objective was to examine whether enhanced Met supply during an oxidative stress challenge in vitro alters insulin, AA, inflammation, and antioxidant signaling-related protein networks. Four late-lactation Holstein cows (average 27.0 kg of milk per day) were used for SAT collection. Tissue was incubated in duplicate for 4 h in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ at 37°C according to the following experimental design: control medium with an "ideal" profile of essential AA (CTR; Lys:Met 2.9:1), CTR plus 100 μM H₂O₂ (HP), or CTR with greater Met supply plus 100 μM H₂O₂ (HPMET; Lys:Met 2.5:1). Molecular targets associated with insulin signaling, lipolysis, antioxidant nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (NFE2L2), inflammation, and AA metabolism were determined through reverse-transcription quantitative PCR and western blotting. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc.). Among proteins associated with insulin signaling, compared with CTR, HP led to lower abundance of phosphorylated AKT serine/threonine kinase (p-AKT) and solute carrier family 2 member 4 (SLC2A4; insulin-induced glucose transporter). Although incubation with HPMET restored abundance of SLC2A4 to levels in the CTR and upregulated abundance of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and phosphorylated 5'-prime-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), it did not alter p-AKT, which remained similar to HP. Among proteins associated with AA signaling, compared with CTR, challenge with HP led to lower abundance of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-MTOR), and HPMET did not restore abundance to CTR levels. Among inflammation-related targets studied, incubation with HPMET led to greater protein abundance of nuclear factor kappa B subunit p65 (NFKB-RELA). The response in NFKB observed with HPMET was associated with a marked upregulation of the antioxidant transcription regulator NFE2L2 and the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1). No effects of treatment were detected for mRNA abundance of proinflammatory cytokines or antioxidant enzymes, underscoring the importance of post-transcriptional regulation. Overall, data indicated that short-term challenge with H₂O₂ was particularly effective in reducing insulin and AA signaling. Although a greater supply of Met had little effect on those pathways, it seemed to restore the protein abundance of the insulin-induced glucose transporter. Overall, the concomitant upregulation of key inflammation and antioxidant signaling proteins when a greater level of Met was supplemented to oxidant-challenged SAT highlighted the potential role of this AA in regulating the inflammatory response and oxidant status. Further studies should be conducted to assess the role of postruminal supply of Met and other AA in the regulation of immune, antioxidant, and metabolic systems in peripartal cow adipose tissue.

[Rivaroxaban with aspirin for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in Chinese patients with stable cardiovascular diseases: subgroup analysis of COMPASS]

Objective: This analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of rivaroxaban-aspirin combination therapy in secondary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in Chinese patients enrolled in the COMPASS trial. Methods: COMPASS was a prospective, international multi-center and randomized controlled trial. From September 2014 to February 2017, 1 086 patients with stable coronary artery disease and peripheral artery diseases were recruited from 31 centers in China. Patients were randomly assigned to separately receive the therapy of rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice a day) plus aspirin (100 mg once a day,) group (n=366), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice a day) alone group (n=365), and aspirin (100 mg once a day) alone group (n=355). Baseline information such as age, sex, etc. of all three groups was collected. Finally, 1 081 patients were followed up successfully, with the follow-up rate 99.5% and the average follow-up time was 19 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke. The primary safety endpoint was major bleeding evaluated by modified International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Results: Age of patients was (64.2±8.3) years and there were 293 male in rivaroxaban plus aspirin group. Age of patients was (63.8±9.0) years, and there were 301 male patients in rivaroxaban alone group. Age of patients was (63.6±8.8) years, and there were 282 male patients in the aspirin alone group. The incidences of primary efficacy endpoint occurred in 9 cases (1.5%) in rivaroxaban with aspirin group, 21 cases (3.7%) in rivaroxaban alone group and 14 cases (2.5%) in aspirin alone group. Meanwhile, the incidences of primary safety endpoint occurred in 6 cases (1.0%) in rivaroxaban with aspirin group, 9 cases (1.6%) in rivaroxaban alone group and 7 cases (1.2%) in aspirin alone group. The net clinical benefit events were 10 cases (1.7%) in rivaroxaban with aspirin group, 22 cases (3.9%) in rivaroxaban alone group and 15 cases (2.7%) in aspirin alone group (P>0.5%). Conclusions: The combination of rivaroxaban with aspirin can be safe and effectively used for the secondary prevention in Chinese patients with stable coronary artery disease and peripheral artery diseases.

Pericardial effusion caused by accidently placing a Micra transcatheter pacing system into the coronary sinus

BACKGROUND

Leadless pacemaker has been acknowledged as a promising pacing strategy to prevent pocket and lead-related complications. Although rare, cardiac perforation remains a major safety concern for implantation of Micra transcatheter pacing system (TPS).

CASE PRESENTATION

A 83-year-old female with low body mass index (18.9 kg m^-2) on dual anti-platelet therapy, was indicated for Micra TPS implantation due to sinus arrest and paroxysmal atrial flutter. The patient developed mild pericardial effusion during the procedure since the delivery catheter was accidentally placed into the coronary sinus for several times. Cardiac perforation with moderate pericardial effusion and pericardial tamponade was detected 2 h post-procedure. The patient was treated with immediately pericardiocentesis and recovered without further invasive therapy.

CONCLUSION

Pericardial effusion caused by accidently placing a delivery catheter into the coronary sinus is rare but should be carefully considered in Micra TPS implantation, especially for those with periprocedural anti-platelet therapy.

[Ultrasound biomicroscopic differences between fellow eyes of acute angle-closure glaucoma and chronic angle-closure glaucoma]

Objective: To compare the structural differences of the anterior segment between fellow eyes of acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) and the eyes of chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) with milder glaucomatous damage. Methods: In this case-control study, patients with AACG (41 eyes) and CACG (46 eyes) without prior treatment in the glaucoma clinic of Peking University People's Hospital from September 2016 to October 2018 were enrolled. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed under dark condition. Parameters were measured on images including lens vault (LV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), iris thickness (IT750 and IT2000), angle-opening distance (AOD500 and AOD750), and trabecular iris angle (TIA500 and TIA750). The independent t-test was used to compare the continuous variables of the fellow eyes of AACG patients and the eyes of CACG patients with milder glaucomatous damage. After adjusting for age and gender, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the most important parameters that may distinguish AACG from CACG. Results: The mean age of AACG patients was (65±10) years old and the age of CACG patients was (67±12) years old (P>0.05). The ACD [(1.79±0.25) mm vs. (1.99±0.34) mm], IT750 [(0.39±0.07) mm vs. (0.43±0.05) mm], AOD500 [(0.12±0.06) mm vs. (0.15±0.07) mm], TIA500 (10.91°±5.23° vs. 13.93°±6.33°), and TIA750 (9.33°±5.02° vs. 13.93°±6.82°) were less and the LV [(0.99±0.44) mm vs. (0.72±0.30) mm] was greater in the fellow eyes of AACG as compared to the eyes of CACG with milder glaucomatous damage (all P<0.05). In the forward multivariate logistic regression analysis, every 1-degree decrease in TIA750 (odds ratio=0.872, 95%CI: 0.794 to 0.958, P<0.01) and every 1-mm increase in LV (odds ratio=14.138, 95%CI: 2.348 to 85.130, P<0.01) were significantly associated with AACG. Conclusions: Compared with the eyes of CACG with milder glaucomatous damage, fellow eyes of AACG have thinner peripheral iris thickness, narrower angle width, shallower ACD, and greater LV. LV and TIA750 may play important roles in distinguishing eyes predisposed to AACG or CACG. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 672-678).

Three Novel Structural Variations at MHC and IL12B Predisposing to Psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Structural variations (SVs, defined as DNA variants ≥50 bp) have been associated with various complex human diseases. However, research to screen the whole genome for SVs predisposing to psoriasis is still lacking.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association of SVs and psoriasis.

METHODS

We performed a genome-wide screen on SVs using an imputation method on 5 independent cohorts with 45,386 subjects from the Chinese Han population. Fine mapping analysis, genetic interaction analysis and RNA expression analysis were conducted to explore the mechanism of SVs.

RESULTS

We obtained 4,535 SVs in total and identified 2 novel deletions (esv3608550, OR=2.73, P<2.00×10^-308 ; esv3608542, OR=0.47, P=7.40×10^-28 ) at 6q21.33 (MHC), 1 novel Alu element insertion (esv3607339, OR=1.22, P=1.18×10^-35 ) at 5q33.3 (IL12B), and confirmed 1 previously reported deletion (esv3587563, OR=1.30, P=9.52×10^-60 ) at 1q21.2 (LCE) for psoriasis. Fine mapping analysis including SNPs and small Insertions/Deletions (InDels) revealed that esv3608550 and esv3608542 were independently associated with psoriasis, and a novel independent SNP (rs9378188, OR=1.65, P=3.46×10^-38 ) was identified at 6q21.33. By genetic interaction analysis and RNA expression analysis, we speculate that the association of 2 deletions at 6q21.33 with psoriasis might relate to their influence on the expression of HLA-C.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study constructed the most comprehensive SV map for psoriasis thus far and enriched the genetic architecture and pathogenesis of psoriasis as well as highlighted the nonnegligible impact of SVs on complex diseases.

Ceramide accumulation accelerates nucleus pulposus cells degradation by p38MAPK activation

The article "Ceramide accumulation accelerates nucleus pulposus cells degradation by p38MAPK activation, by W.-J. Wu, J. Wang, J. Liang, Q. Zhou, Y. Liang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (19): 9787-9796-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202010_23187-PMID: 33090381" has been withdrawn from the authors due to inaccuracies (there are some errors and incorrect data). The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/23187.

Multiple surgical excision for recurrent primary mediastinal liposarcoma

Liposarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue malignancies, occurring mostly in the extremities and retroperitoneal cavities, and occasionally in the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity. Here, we present a patient undergoing four operations over a period of 33 years because of repeated recurrence of mediastinal liposarcoma. A 34-year-old woman underwent her first surgery for mediastinal liposarcoma in 1986. Ten years later, a recurrent tumour was found during follow-up. The patient underwent a second operation for complete excision. The pathology was liposarcoma, partly myxoid and partly dedifferentiated. The patient remained tumour-free for 22 years, until one year ago, when a third operation was performed to resect the recurrent tumour which was myxoid liposarcoma. Unfortunately, upon computed tomography imaging three months later a fatty mass was spotted which increased rapidly in size. The patient underwent further surgery to achieve radical excision of the recurrent liposarcoma. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and a follow-up examination showed no recurrence to date. For mediastinal liposarcoma, surgical removal is the treatment of choice. Considering that the tumour is prone to recurrence, the lesion should be removed as thoroughly as possible in the first operation. If the tumour recurs repeatedly, multiple resections are beneficial to patient survival on most occasions.

Observation of D_{s}^{±}/D^{0} Enhancement in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report on the first measurement of charm-strange meson D_{s}^{±} production at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV from the STAR experiment. The yield ratio between strange (D_{s}^{±}) and nonstrange (D^{0}) open-charm mesons is presented and compared to model calculations. A significant enhancement, relative to a pythia simulation of p+p collisions, is observed in the D_{s}^{±}/D^{0} yield ratio in Au+Au collisions over a large range of collision centralities. Model calculations incorporating abundant strange-quark production in the quark-gluon plasma and coalescence hadronization qualitatively reproduce the data. The transverse-momentum integrated yield ratio of D_{s}^{±}/D^{0} at midrapidity is consistent with a prediction from a statistical hadronization model with the parameters constrained by the yields of light and strange hadrons measured at the same collision energy. These results suggest that the coalescence of charm quarks with strange quarks in the quark-gluon plasma plays an important role in D_{s}^{±}-meson production in heavy-ion collisions.

O-137 Salpingectomy versus neosalpingostomy in women with hydrosalpinx: a prospective cohort study with long-term follow-up

Study question

What is the comparative effectiveness between salpingectomy and neosalpingostomy in the treatment of bilateral severe hydrosalpinx?

Summary answer

In women with bilateral severe hydrosalpinx, salpingectomy combined with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment resulted in a higher cumulative live birth rate than neosalpingostomy.

What is known already

Hydrosalpinx accounts for 25% to 35% of female subfertility and has a negative effect on pregnancy rates in women who undergo IVF. So far salpingectomy before in vitro fertilization treatment has been suggested for the treatment of hydrosalpinx in order to improve the chance of a live birth. Previous studies have reported a pooled live birth rate of 25% through natural conception after neosalpingostomy and an ongoing pregnancy rate of 55.8% after salpingectomy with IVF. Direct comparison of the cumulative live birth rate after salpingectomy versus neosalpingostomy, both followed by IVF is lacking.

Study design, size, duration

We performed a single center, prospective comparative cohort study in the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China. We studied women diagnosed with tubal subfertility with bilateral hydrosalpinx between January 2005 and December 2012. Based on a shared decision approach, they had bilateral salpingectomy or neosalpingostomy followed by IVF. They were annually followed up until July 2020 for the occurrence of live birth.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Out of 113 women, 55 had bilateral salpingectomy and 58 had bilateral neosalpingostomy. Primary outcome was cumulative live birth rate, defined as the cumulative birth rate of the first living neonate through either natural conception or in vitro fertilization. Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis were processed. Cox proportional hazards regression model with potential variables was performed to identify predictors of successful live birth.

Main results and the role of chance

Baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups. There were 42 live births in the salpingectomy and 36 in the neosalpingostomy group. When the result of IVF was incorporated (55/55 in salpingectomy group and 25/58 in neosalpingostomy group underwent IVF), salpingectomy resulted in a higher cumulative live birth rate (85.3% vs 76.0%; hazard ratio of the whole survival curve, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.37 - 3.45; P = 0.001), a lower risk of ectopic pregnancy (1.8% vs 20.7%; risk ratio, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01 - 0.57; P = 0.013), and a shorter time to live birth (19 [14,27] versus 36 [17,76] months, P = 0.001).The number of live birth rates after natural conception was 0% (0/55) in the salpingectomy group and 28% (16/58) in neosalpingostomy group.The results of PP analyses were comparable with the ITT analyses apart from the biochemical pregnancy rate and the overall live birth rate, they were higher (the former: 76% (42/55) versus 58% (29/50), P = 0.045; the latter: 76% (42/55) versus 56% (28/50), P = 0.027) in salpingectomy group.

Limitations, reasons for caution

This is an observational study. The small sample size along with the data was obtained from a cohort study in a single center.

Wider implications of the findings

In women with confirmed bilateral severe hydrosalpinx, salpingectomy followed by IVF results in a higher cumulative live birth rate and decreases the risk of EP as compared to neosalpingostomy. However, neosalpingostomy is the only option to achieve a live birth by natural conception that should be discussed with patients preoperatively.

Trial registration number

not applicable

Left ventricular-only fusion pacing versus cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients: A randomized controlled trial

Background

It is unclear whether clinical benefits of cardiac resynchronization can be achieved by pacing only the left ventricle.

Hypothesis

We aimed to compare the effect of a novel adaptive left ventricular‐only fusion pacing (LVP) on ventricular function with conventional biventricular pacing (BVP) in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) indicated patients.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, multicenter study enrolled CRT‐indicated patients with PR interval ≤ 200 ms who were randomized in the adaptive LVP group (using the AdaptivCRT™ algorithm with intentional non‐capture right ventricular pacing) or the echocardiography‐optimized BVP group. Cardiac function and echocardiography were evaluated at baseline and follow‐ups. CRT super response was defined as two‐fold or more increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or final LVEF >45%, and LV end‐systolic volume (LVESV) decrease >15%, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improved by at least one level.

Results

Sixty‐three patients were enrolled in the study (LVP = 34 vs. BVP = 29). At 6‐month follow‐up, significant improvements in LVEF, LVESV, and NYHA class were observed in both groups. The CRT super response rate was significantly higher in patients with high‐percentage adaptive LV‐only pacing in LVP group (68.4%) than in BVP group (36.4%, p = .04).

Conclusions

Adaptive LV‐only pacing was comparable to BVP in improving cardiac function and clinical condition in CRT‐indicated patients. This finding raises the possibility that an adaptive LVP algorithm with appropriate right ventricular sensing to fuse with intrinsic right ventricular activation in a two‐lead (right atrium and left ventricle) device may provide clinical benefit in a subset of CRT patients with intact atrioventricular conduction.

Measurement of e^{+}e^{-} Momentum and Angular Distributions from Linearly Polarized Photon Collisions

The Breit-Wheeler process which produces matter and antimatter from photon collisions is experimentally investigated through the observation of 6085 exclusive electron-positron pairs in ultraperipheral Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. The measurements reveal a large fourth-order angular modulation of cos4Δϕ=(16.8±2.5)% and smooth invariant mass distribution absent of vector mesons (ϕ, ω, and ρ) at the experimental limit of ≤0.2% of the observed yields. The differential cross section as a function of e^{+}e^{-} pair transverse momentum P_{⊥} peaks at low value with sqrt[⟨P_{⊥}^{2}⟩]=38.1±0.9  MeV and displays a significant centrality dependence. These features are consistent with QED calculations for the collision of linearly polarized photons quantized from the extremely strong electromagnetic fields generated by the highly charged Au nuclei at ultrarelativistic speed. The experimental results have implications for vacuum birefringence and for mapping the magnetic field which is important for emergent QCD phenomena.

Comparison of long non-coding RNAs in adipose and muscle tissues between seven indigenous Chinese and the Yorkshire pig breeds

lncRNAs play crucial roles in fat metabolism in animals. Previously, we have compared the mRNA transcriptome profiles between seven fat-type Chinese pig breeds and one lean-type Western breed (Yorkshire, YY). The associations between differentially expressed (DE) genes and phenotypical traits were investigated. In the present study, to further explore the underlying regulatory mechanisms, lncRNAs were sequenced and compared between YY and Chinese indigenous breeds. The results showed 9114 and 7538 DE lncRNAs between at least one Chinese breed and the YY breed in the adipose and muscle tissue respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of these DE lncRNAs mainly influenced the glucolipid metabolism, which is an important process affecting meat quality. Correlation analyses between the DE lncRNA and DE mRNA genes related to meat quality and growth traits were performed. The results showed that LTCONS_00073280 was associated with intramuscular fat content. Four lncRNAs (LTCONS_00101781, LTCONS_00037879, LTCONS_00088260 and LTCONS-00128343) might mediate backfat thickness. Overall, this study provides candidate lncRNAs that potentially affect meat quality, which might be useful for molecular breeding of pig breeds in future.

[Efficacy of vaginal administration of Crinone versus Utrogestan combined with oral dydrogesterone tablets for luteal support in PGT freeze-thaw embryo transfer cycles]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of two vaginal progesterone formulations, Crinone gel or Utrogestan capsules, combined with dydrogesterone tablets, for luteal phase support in pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

METHODS

We analyzed 209 FET cycles in patients undergoing PGT-blastocyst transfer in our center between June, 2017 and June, 2020. The patients received vaginal administration of either Crinone gel (n=135) or Utrogestan capsules (n=74) combined with oral dydrogesterone tablets for luteal supplementation, and the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and miscarriage rate (MR) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The Crinone gel and Utrogestan capsule groups were comparable for age, duration of infertility, AMH, AFC, BMI, basal FSH, LH, and E2 (P > 0.05). The gonadotrophin dose, duration of stimulation, levels of LH, E2, P and endometrial thickness on hCG day, and the numbers of oocytes retrieved, MII oocytes, 2PN and blastocysts did not differ significantly between two groups (P > 0.05). In FET cycles, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the duration of endometrial preparation, P and endometrial thickness on endometrial transformation day, biochemical pregnancy rate (69.63% vs 78.38%), CPR (62.96% vs 72.97%), MR (12.94% vs 11.11%), vaginal bleeding rate in early pregnancy (20% vs 27.78%), or MR in patients with vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy (35.29% vs 20%) (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Crinone gel and Utrogestan capsules combined with oral dydrogesterone have similar clinical efficacy for luteal support in PGT FET cycles.

[Design, screening and antibacterial activity evaluation of the novel antibacterial peptide KR-1]

OBJECTIVE

To design novel antimicrobial peptides with high activity and low toxicity and evaluate their effect against Streptococcus mutans and other oral bacteria for prevention and treatment of dental caries.

OBJECTIVE

We synthesized two antimicrobial peptides (KR-1 and KR-2) using Dhvar4 (a histatins5 mimic) as the template. The antimicrobial peptides with high activity and low toxicity were screened using minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, hemolysis test, and CCK-8 assay. Streptococcus mutans biofilms cultured in 96-well plates were divided into experimental group (KR-1) and positive control group (CHX) and treated with concentration gradients (0.6×, 0.8×, 1× and 2× MICs) of KR-1 and CHX, respectively. Crystal violet staining was used for quantitative analysis of the changes of the biofilms after the treatments. The structural changes of the biofilms were observed with laser confocal microscopy after KR-1 treatment at 10 × MIC. The antimicrobial activity of KR-1 against oral Streptococcus was analyzed based on the time required for sterilization after KR-1 treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The MIC of KR-1 and KR-2 for S. mutans was 3.2 μmol/L and 12.8 μmol/L, respectively. Under the effective concentration, KR-1 and KR-2 resulted in hemolysis rates of 0.35% and 48.8% in rabbit red blood cells and lowered the survival rates of gingival fibroblasts to 88.7% and 21.94%, respectively. KR-1 treatment significantly reduced biofilm formation with a minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC₅₀) lower than 1.92 μmol/L, and showed an even stronger antimicrobial than CHX at the concentration of 2.56 μmol/L (P=0.001). Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the biofilm structure became loosened after KR-1 treatment, which was capable of killing about 90% of the bacteria within 5 min.

OBJECTIVE

The antimicrobial peptide KR-1 has a stronger antibacterial activity and a low toxicity with a good inhibitory effect against S. mutans biofilm.