Evaluation of QSAR models for predicting mutagenicity: outcome of the Second Ames/QSAR international challenge project

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models are powerful in silico tools for predicting the mutagenicity of unstable compounds, impurities and metabolites that are difficult to examine using the Ames test. Ideally, Ames/QSAR models for regulatory use should demonstrate high sensitivity, low false-negative rate and wide coverage of chemical space. To promote superior model development, the Division of Genetics and Mutagenesis, National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan (DGM/NIHS), conducted the Second Ames/QSAR International Challenge Project (2020-2022) as a successor to the First Project (2014-2017), with 21 teams from 11 countries participating. The DGM/NIHS provided a curated training dataset of approximately 12,000 chemicals and a trial dataset of approximately 1,600 chemicals, and each participating team predicted the Ames mutagenicity of each trial chemical using various Ames/QSAR models. The DGM/NIHS then provided the Ames test results for trial chemicals to assist in model improvement. Although overall model performance on the Second Project was not superior to that on the First, models from the eight teams participating in both projects achieved higher sensitivity than models from teams participating in only the Second Project. Thus, these evaluations have facilitated the development of QSAR models.

Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy plus Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) Blockade for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Preliminary Results of a Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase II Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study aims to assess the anti-tumor activity and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus PD-1 blockade in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This is a single-arm, open-label, prospective phase II study. The key inclusion criteria were treatment-naive patients aged 18-75 years with stage II A2-IVA (FIGO 2018) locally advanced cervical cancer. All patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy including 2 cycle cisplatin (75mg/m2, for three days, every 3 weeks[Q3W]), nedaplatin or carboplatin can be selected for patients who can't tolerate cisplatin. After CCRT, patients achieving complete response (CR), partial responses(PR), stable disease(SD) received adjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 day 1+ cisplatin DDP 25 mg/m2 day 1-3, Q3W) for 2 cycle. PD-1 blockade Sintilimab and Tislelizumab was administered intravenously at 200 mg every 3 weeks up to 1 year or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by investigators per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours (RECIST) version 1.1. Secondary endpoints were the 12, 24-month overall survival (OS) rates, the 12, 24-month disease free survival (DFS) rates and safety.

RESULTS

From February 2020 to June 2022, a total of 15 patients was enrolled. Median age was 57 years (range, 36-74 years). Stage IIA1 was documented in 2 patients, stage IIA2 in two patients, stage IIIA in one patient, stage IIIC1 in eight patients, and stage IVA in two patients. And 66.7% (10/15) of patients had Metastatic lymph node. Four patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. The ORR was 100%, with 4 patients achieving CR and 11 PR. The 12 and 24-month OS rates are 93.3% and 84%, the 12 and 24-month DFS rates are 86% and 75.4%, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 86.7% (13/15) of patients. Grade 3 TRAEs are leukocyte (n = 1), thrombocytopenia (n = 1), hepatitis (n = 1), skin reaction (n = 1). No treatment-related deaths occurred. And IFN-γ was significantly elevated after radiotherapy (p = 0.0073).

CONCLUSION

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus PD-1 blockade showed promising antitumor activity and manageable toxicities in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Long-term outcomes are still pending to further evaluate their therapeutic effects. (ChiCTR2000032856).

Outcomes and Failure Patterns after Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer with Positive Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) combined with positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN) tends to present worse prognosis. However, for those patients it remains unclear whether other combination high-risk factors affect the prognosis. This study aimed to use propensity score matching (PSM) to examine long-term outcomes and failure patterns in patients with positive vs. negative LPLN.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with LARC were retrospectively divided into LPLN-positive and LPLN-negative groups. LPLN-positivity was defined as lymph node short diameter greater than or equal to 7 mm with specific morphological features. Clinical characteristics were compared between the groups using the chi-square test. PSM was applied to balance these differences. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and local-regional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastasis (DM) rates were compared between the groups using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

Prior to PSM, a total of 651 LARC patients were included. The LPLN-positive group had higher rates of lower location (53.1% vs. 43.0%, P = 0.025), mesorectal fascia (MRF)-positive (53.9% vs. 35.4%, P<0.001) and extramural venous invasion (EMVI)-positive (51.2% vs. 27.2%, P<0.001) disease than the LPLN-negative group. After PSM, there were 114 patients for each group along with the balanced clinical factors, and both groups had comparable surgery, pathologic complete response (pCR), and ypN stage rates. The median follow-up time was 45.9 months, 3-year OS (88.3% vs. 92.1%, P = 0.276) and LRR (5.7% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.172) rates were comparable between LPLN-positive and LPLN-negative groups. Meanwhile, despite no statistical difference, 3-year PFS (78.8% vs. 85.9%, P = 0.065) and DM (20.4% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.061) rates slightly differed between the groups. Among 10 patients with LRR, seven (70.0%) had lateral pelvic recurrence, among them, five patients were LPLN-positive, and four (80.0%) of these patients did not receive simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB- IMRT).45 patients were diagnosed with DM, 11 (40.7%) LPLN-positive and 3 (17.6%) LPLN-negative patients were diagnosed with oligometastases (P = 0.109).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows there is a tendency of worse PFS and DM in LPLN-positive than LPLN-negative patients, for LPLN-positive patients, oligometastases account for a large proportion of all distant metastases.

Long noncoding RNA LOC646029 functions as a ceRNA to suppress ovarian cancer progression through the miR-627-3p/SPRED1 axis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the development and progression of multiple cancers. However, the potential mechanism by which lncRNAs affect the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the current study, the lncRNA LOC646029 was markedly downregulated in metastatic ovarian tumors compared with primary tumors. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that LOC646029 inhibits the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the downregulation of LOC646029 in metastatic ovarian tumors was strongly correlated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LOC646029 served as a miR-627-3p sponge to promote the expression of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 1, which is necessary for suppressing tumor metastasis and inhibiting KRAS signaling. Collectively, our results demonstrated that LOC646029 is involved in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer, which may be a potential prognostic biomarker.

Delta-Radiomics Guides Adaptive De-Intensification after Induction Chemotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the IMRT Era

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

In the setting of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and induction chemotherapy (IC), the benefits from concurrent chemotherapy remained controversial for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). This study aimed to construct a delta-radiomics model for benefit prediction and patient selection for omitting concurrent chemotherapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Between December 2009 and December 2015, a total of 718 patients with LANPC treated with IC+IMRT or IC+concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were retrospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to a training set (n = 503) and a validation set (n = 215). Radiomic features were extracted from magnetic resonance images of pre-IC and post-IC. Interclass correlation coefficients and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to select robust radiomic features. After univariate Cox analysis, a delta-radiomics signature was built using the LASSO-Cox regression. A nomogram incorporating the delta-radiomics signature and clinical prognostic factors was then developed and evaluated for calibration and discrimination. Risk stratification by the nomogram was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier methods. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The delta-radiomics signature, which comprised 19 selected features, was independently associated with prognosis. It yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71 to 0.82) for the training set and 0.71 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.81) for the validation set. The nomogram composed of the delta-radiomic signature, age, T category, N category, pre-treatment Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and treatment showed great calibration and discrimination performance with an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.85) for the training set and 0.75 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.85) for the validation set. Risk stratification by the nomogram excluding the treatment variable resulted in two risk groups with distinct OS. Significant better outcomes were observed in the high-risk patients with IC+CCRT compared to those with IC+IMRT (5-year OS: 73.8% vs. 61.4% in the training set and 85.8% vs. 65.6% in the validation set; all log-rank p < 0.05), while comparable outcomes between IC+CCRT and IC+IMRT were shown for the low-risk patients (95.8% vs. 95.8% in the training set and 92.2% vs. 88.3% in the validation set; all log-rank p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The delta-radiomics signature was identified as an independent indicator of LANPC. Integrating clinical predictors with the delta-radiomics signature, the radiomics-based nomogram could predict individual's survival outcomes and benefits from concurrent chemotherapy after IC for LANPC. Low-risk patients with LANPC determined by the nomogram may be potential candidates for omission of concurrent chemotherapy following IC in the IMRT era.

Local Cost-Effectiveness of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Screening Strategies in Southern China: Secondary Analysis of the PRO-NPC-001 Cluster-Randomized Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Population-based screening for endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) detects most cases at an early stage. In a cluster-randomized trial conducted in Guangdong, a combination of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) anti-VCA/EBNA1 IgA serology and endoscopy reduced NPC mortality. We conducted a secondary analysis of this trial in conjunction with local incidence and cost data, hypothesizing that screening would be cost-effective in this region.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We estimated population-level NPC mortality reduction, resource utilization, and cost-effectiveness of 12 unique screening strategies in six populations in Guangdong/Guangxi using a previously-validated time-inhomogeneous decision-analytic cohort model. These 12 strategies evaluated combinations of serology, nasopharyngeal swab PCR (NP PCR), endoscopy, and head/neck MRI. Incidence data, screening costs, and healthcare costs were obtained from local cancer registries, laboratories conducting ELISA/PCR, and the Guangdong provincial healthcare system. We evaluated variable screening ages, sexes, intervals, and durations to identify optimal screening approaches from the perspective of the healthcare system in southern China. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) willingness-to-pay threshold of 1.50 times the per-capita GDP was considered cost-effective in southern China.

RESULTS

For the base strategy screening 50-year-old men and women using only serology and endoscopy, the average cost per screened subject for a single round of screening over a five-year cycle was ¥175.69. The addition of MRI improved sensitivity (76% vs. 62%) and approximately doubled screening costs. Triage with NP PCR was cost-neutral when used in conjunction with MRI and reduced endoscopy/MRI utilization by 37% with a 3-4% reduction in screening sensitivity. Among 50-year-old men and women, screening was cost-effective in all populations provided that medium-risk subjects were not referred for endoscopy/MRI (ICER/GDP 0.62-0.83). The use of NP PCR without MRI (ICER/GDP 0.83) was dominated by the base strategy (ICER/GDP 0.62) due to higher costs and NPC mortality. After a single five-year screening cycle, screening reduced population NPC mortality by 14% with serology + endoscopy and 21% with serology + endoscopy + MRI. Introduction of MRI with or without NP PCR could be cost-effective in all populations. For MRI-based strategies, the most efficient use of resources was deferral of endoscopy unless MRI was abnormal (ICER/GDP 0.67). Overall, the best-performing strategies balanced NPC mortality, screening costs, and MRI utilization.

CONCLUSION

EBV serology-based screening for endemic NPC is likely to be cost-effective among adult men and women in Guangdong and Guangxi. Referring medium-risk subjects for endoscopy/MRI should be avoided, and NP PCR should be used to triage individuals for MRI rather than endoscopy. These data may aid the design of population-based screening programs in this region.

4D-MRI Guided Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study evaluated the feasibilities and outcomes following four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI) guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

MATERIALS/METHODS

From March 2018 to January 2022, we identified 76 unresectable CRLM patients with 123 lesions who received 4D-MRI guided SBRT in our institution. 4D-MRI simulation with or without abdominal compression was conducted for all patients. The prescription dose was 50-65 Gy in 5-12 fractions. The image quality of computed tomography (CT) and MRI were compared using the Clarity Score. Clinical outcomes and toxicity profiles were evaluated.

RESULTS

The 4D-MRI significantly improved the image quality compared with CT images (mean Clarity Score: 1.67 vs 2.88, P < 0.001). The abdominal compression significantly reduced motions in cranial-caudal direction (P = 0.03) with 2 phase T2 weighted images assessing tumor motion. The median follow-up time was 12.5 months. For 98 lesions assessed for best response, the complete response, partial response and stable disease rate were 57.1 %, 30.6 % and 12.2 %, respectively. The local control (LC) rate at 2 year was 97.3%. 46.1% of patients experienced grade 1-2 toxicities and only 2.6% patients experienced grade 3 hematologic toxicities.

CONCLUSION

The 4D-MRI technique allowed precise target delineation and motion tracking in unresectable CRLM patients. High LC rate and mild toxicities were achieved. This study provided evidence for using 4D-MRI guided SBRT as an alternative treatment in unresectable CRLM.

DNA damage repair profiling of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma uncovers clinically relevant molecular subtypes with distinct prognoses and therapeutic vulnerabilities

BACKGROUND

DNA damage repair (DDR) is a critical process that maintains genomic integrity and plays essential roles at both the cellular and organismic levels. Here, we aimed to characterize the DDR profiling of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), investigate the prognostic value of DDR-related features, and explore their potential for guiding personalized treatment strategies.

METHODS

We analyzed bulk and single-cell transcriptomics data from 377 ESCC cases from our institution and other publicly available cohorts to identify major DDR subtypes. The heterogeneity in cellular and functional properties, tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics, and prognostic significance of these DDR subtypes were investigated using immunogenomic analysis and in vitro experiments. Additionally, we experimentally validated a combinatorial immunotherapy strategy using syngeneic mouse models of ESCC.

FINDINGS

DDR alteration profiling enabled us to identify two distinct DDR subtypes, DDRactive and DDRsilent, which exhibited independent prognostic values in locoregional ESCC but not in metastatic ESCC. The DDRsilent subtype was characterized by an inflamed but immune-suppressed microenvironment with relatively high immune cell infiltration, abnormal immune checkpoint expression, T-cell exhaustion, and enrichment of cancer-related pathways. Moreover, DDR subtyping indicates that BRCA1 and HFM1 are robust and independent prognostic factors in locoregional ESCC. Finally, we proposed and verified that the concomitant triggering of GITR or blockade of BTLA with PD-1 blockade or cisplatin chemotherapy represents effective combination strategies for high-risk locoregional ESCC tumors.

INTERPRETATION

Our discovery of DDR-based molecular subtypes will enhance our understanding of tumor heterogeneity and have significant clinical implications for the therapeutic and management strategies of locoregional ESCC.

FUNDING

This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2501000, 2022YFC3401003), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82172882), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7212085), the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-018, 2021-I2M-1-067), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (3332021091), and the Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019PT310027).

[Clinical analysis of surgical treatment of infection after interventional operation for major iliac artery disease in 6 cases]

Objective: To explore the surgical treatment strategy of stent graft infection after interventional treatment of major iliac artery related diseases. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 6 patients with secondary stent graft infection after interventional treatment for major iliac artery related diseases admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery,Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital,Medical School of Nanjing University from November 2021 to August 2022.There were 5 males and 1 female,with a mean age of 64 years (range:49 to 79 years).The infection time was 53 to 3 165 days.All the 6 patients received surgical treatment,including 3 patients who underwent anatomic bypass grafting (axillary arterial-femoral artery bypass,femoral arterial-femoral artery bypass) using artificial vessels,and 3 patients who underwent in situ abdominal aorta reconstruction using bovine pericardium.The perioperative situation,postoperative infection and the occurrence of serious adverse events were recorded,and the safety of different treatment methods and materials was evaluated. Results: All patients successfully completed the operation and no death occurred during hospitalization.Intraoperative blood loss was 2 000~5 000 ml,and intraoperative blood transfusion was 1 600 to 5 350 ml.All the patients were followed up for 81 to 395 days after surgery,and the incision healed well,and no reinfection occurred.Postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 1 patient,secondary surgery (retroperitoneal hematoma removal) was performed in 1 patient due to postoperative bleeding at the vascular anastomosis,both lower limb amputations were performed in 1 patient due to postoperative lower limb ischemia,and intermittent claudication occurred in 2 patients.All patients were alive at the last follow-up. Conclusion: For patients with aortic stent graft infection,when the infection is not serious and there is enough space to block the proximal and distal aorta,in situ aortic reconstruction is an effective treatment,and different materials can achieve satisfactory results in a short period of time.

Spatiotemporal trends of carbon stock in wood and bamboo products in China during 1987-2020

Harvested wood/bamboo products (HWP/HBP) constitute a large global carbon stock. However, the contribution of HBP to carbon stocks has been neglected in mixed wood and bamboo data, especially in China. Therefore, the production approach and the first-order decay method were used to estimate the spatiotemporal carbon stock change in HWP/HBP based on provincial production data from the China Forestry Statistical Yearbooks for 1987-2020. The results showed that China's total carbon stocks of HWP and HBP were 328.7 teragram carbon (TgC) and 129.7 TgC between 1987 and 2020. Of this, the HWP carbon stock was mainly sourced from three provinces across the north and south: Guangxi (60.8 TgC), Heilongjiang (37.2 TgC), and Fujian (24.2 TgC), and HBP carbon stock was mainly sourced from three southern provinces: Fujian (33.4 TgC), Guangxi (20.3 TgC), and Zhejiang (13.7 TgC). The proportion of the HBP carbon stock in the total carbon stock increased from 20% in 2010 to 28% in 2020, indicating that bamboo products play an important role in the accumulation of carbon stocks in China. The differences in contributions to spatiotemporal trends between the provinces provide more specific information to make precise decisions about forest management and carbon sequestration.

Non-symmetric responses of leaf onset date to natural warming and cooling in northern ecosystems

The northern hemisphere has experienced regional cooling, especially during the global warming hiatus (1998-2012) due to ocean energy redistribution. However, the lack of studies about the natural cooling effects hampers our understanding of vegetation responses to climate change. Using 15,125 ground phenological time series at 3,620 sites since the 1950s and 31-year satellite greenness observations (1982-2012) covering the warming hiatus period, we show a stronger response of leaf onset date (LOD) to natural cooling than to warming, i.e. the delay of LOD caused by 1°C cooling is larger than the advance of LOD with 1°C warming. This might be because cooling leads to larger chilling accumulation and heating requirements for leaf onset, but this non-symmetric LOD response is partially offset by warming-related drying. Moreover, spring greening magnitude, in terms of satellite-based greenness and productivity, is more sensitive to LOD changes in the warming area than in the cooling. These results highlight the importance of considering non-symmetric responses of spring greening to warming and cooling when predicting vegetation-climate feedbacks.

A bibliometric analysis of Barrett's esophagus

OBJECTIVE

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is known to have a high incidence and poor prognosis in the population and is a serious threat to public health. As a precancerous lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma, early intervention of Barrett's esophagus is key to the prevention and treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research publications on Barrett's esophagus (BE) were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection, and the extracted publications were screened to obtain relevant data. The included articles were analyzed bibliometrically using Microsoft Excel 2019, Citespace V, and VOSviewer 1.6.18. The keywords used for the search can be categorized into 4 clusters: endoscopic therapy, clinical screening, risk factors, and drug therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 3,497 publications from 83 countries and 3,319 research institutions were retrieved. Since 1983, there has been a rapid increase in publications in this field. The United States (n = 1,941) and Mayo Clinic (n = 218) were the most productive countries and institutions, respectively, and the most prominent author was Kenneth K. Wang, who published 89 papers.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we were able to perform a comprehensive and systematic analysis of literature related to BE. Endoscopic resection and radiofrequency ablation may emerge as research hotspots for BE in the future. Our findings provide insight into the current trends in the management of BE and facilitate the choice of appropriate measures to improve the prognosis of patients.

Correlation between APOE4 gene and gut microbiota in Alzheimer's disease

Gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis has been increasingly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the association between APOE4, the most common genetic risk factor for sporadic AD, and GM in AD remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the GM of participants from China and the USA, with and without APOE4 genes and with or without AD (67 AD cases, 67 control cases). Our results revealed that the GM alpha diversity was not different between groups (AD_APOE4, Control_APOE4, AD_non-APOE4, and Control_non-APOE4) (419.031 ± 143.631 vs 391.091 ± 126.081, 351.086 ± 169.174 and 386.089 ± 177.200, respectively. P > 0.05). Interestingly, individuals in the AD_APOE4 group had different bacterial compositions and bacterial biomarkers. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test indicated that the abundances of many bacterial species in the AD_APOE4 patients differed from those in control individuals, including decreases in unclassified_g__Escherichia-Shigella (1.763 ± 6.73, 4.429 ± 11.13, 8.245 ± 16.55, and 5.69 ± 13.91 in four groups, respectively; P < 0.05), and unclassified_g_Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (0.1519 ± 0.348, 2.502 ± 5.913, 0.5146 ± 0.9487, 1.063 ± 3.428 in four groups, respectively; P < 0.05), and increases in gut_metagenome_g_Faecalibacterium (2.885 ± 4.47, 2.174 ± 3.957, 0.5765 ± 1.784, 1.582 ± 2.92 in four groups, respectively. P < 0.01) and unclassified_g_Bacteroides (3.875 ± 3.738, 2.47 ± 2.748, 2.046 ± 3.674, 3.206 ± 3.446 in four groups, respectively; P < 0.05). In the KEGG pathway level 2 analysis, we identified three significant differences in relative abundances of predicted functions between AD_APOE4 and AD_non-APOE4_carrier groups: neurodegenerative diseases (0.0007 ± 0.0005 vs 0.0009 ± 0.0004; P < 0.01), metabolism (0.0240 ± 0.0003 vs 0.0250 ± 0.0003; P < 0.05), and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites (0.0094 ± 0.0002 vs 0.0090 ± 0.0002; P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves further demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.74 for the discrimination of AD_APOE4_carrier and AD_non-APOE4_carrier individuals.

Purification and characterization of an alkali-organic solvent-stable laccase with dye decolorization capacity from newly isolated Lysinibacillus fusiformis W11

A new Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain with abundant laccase activity was isolated from soil under forest rotted leaf and identified as L. fusiformis W11 based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence and physiological characteristics. The laccase LfuLac was purified and characterized. The optimum temperature and pH of LfuLac on guaiacol were 45 °C and pH 9, respectively. LfuLac kept 78%, 88%, 92%, 74%, and 47% of activity at pH 7-11, respectively, suggesting the alkali resistance of the enzyme. The effects of various metal ions on LfuLac showed that Cu2+, Mg2+, and Na+ were beneficial to laccase activity and 10 mM Cu2+ increased the activity of LfuLac to 216%. LfuLac showed about 90% activity at 5% organic solvents and more than 60% activity at 20%, indicating its resistance to organic solvents. In addition, LfuLac decolorized different kinds of dyes. This study enriched our knowledge about laccase from L. fusiformis W11 and its potential industrial applications.

Erratum: Global Polarization of Ξ and Ω Hyperons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 162301 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.162301.

Matrine Protects Intestinal Barrier Function via MicroRNA-155 Through ROCK1-Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects on intestinal barrier function and tight junction by matrine via a small, non-coding RNA microRNA-155-signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tight junction protein and target gene expressions were determined through microRNA-155 inhibition or overexpression of Caco-2 cell line with or without the treatment of matrine. In order to further verify the role of matrine, dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice colitis was treated by matrine. MicroRNA-155 and ROCK1 expressions were detected in clinical specimens of acute obstruction patients.

RESULTS

Matrine could enhance the expression level of occludin, which might be inhibited by the overexpression of microRNA-155. After the transfection of the precursor of microRNA-155 into Caco-2 cells, ROCK1 expression was increased at both mRNA and protein levels. MicroRNA-155 inhibitor could decrease the ROCK1 expression after transfection. Furthermore, matrine could increase the permeability and decrease tight junction-associated proteins induced by dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice colitis. Clinical sample detection also found high levels of microRNA-155 in stercoral obstruction patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Matrine could maintain the tight junction and protect the intestinal barrier from dysfunction. The molecular mechanism may be that matrine might inhibit microRNA-155 and increase the expression level of tight junction proteins.

Glutaric Aciduria Type 1: Comparison between Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging and Conventional MR Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Routine MR imaging has limited use in evaluating the severity of glutaric aciduria type 1. To better understand the mechanisms of brain injury in glutaric aciduria type 1, we explored the value of diffusional kurtosis imaging in detecting microstructural injury of the gray and white matter.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 17 patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 and 17 healthy controls who underwent conventional MR imaging and diffusional kurtosis imaging. The diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics of the gray and white matter were measured. Then, the MR imaging scores and diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics of all ROIs were further correlated with the morbidity scores and Barry-Albright dystonia scores.

RESULTS

The MR imaging scores showed no significant relation to the morbidity and Barry-Albright dystonia scores. Compared with healthy controls, patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 showed higher kurtosis values in the basal ganglia, corona radiata, centrum semiovale, and temporal lobe (P < .05). The DTI metrics of the basal ganglia were higher than those of healthy controls (P < .05). The fractional anisotropy value of the temporal lobe and the mean diffusivity values of basal ganglia in glutaric aciduria type 1 were lower than those in the control group (P < .05). The diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics of the temporal lobe and basal ganglia were significantly correlated with the Barry-Albright dystonia scores. The mean kurtosis values of the anterior and posterior putamen and Barry-Albright dystonia scores were most relevant (r = 0.721, 0.730, respectively). The mean kurtosis values of the basal ganglia had the best diagnostic efficiency with area under the curve values of 0.837 for the temporal lobe, and the mean diffusivity values of the basal ganglia in glutaric aciduria type 1 were lower than those in the control group (P < .05). The diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics of the temporal lobe and basal ganglia were significantly correlated with the Barry-Albright dystonia scores. The mean kurtosis values of the anterior and posterior putamen and Barry-Albright dystonia scores were most relevant (r = 0.721, 0.730, respectively). The mean kurtosis values of the basal ganglia had the best diagnostic efficiency with area under the curve values of 0.837.

CONCLUSIONS

Diffusional kurtosis imaging provides more comprehensive quantitative information regarding the gray and white matter micropathologic damage in glutaric aciduria type 1 than routine MR imaging scores.

[Enhanced nitrogen removal by bioelectrochemical coupling anammox and characteristics of microbial communities]

To investigate the bioelectrochemical enhanced anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) nitrogen removal process, a bioelectrochemical system with coupled anammox cathode was constructed using a dual-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Specifically, a dark incubation batch experiment was conducted at 30 ℃ with different influent total nitrogen concentrations under an applied voltage of 0.2 V, and the enhanced denitrification mechanism was investigated by combining various characterization methods such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and high-throughput sequencing methods. The results showed that the total nitrogen removal rates of 96.9%±0.3%, 97.3%±0.4% and 99.0%±0.3% were obtained when the initial total nitrogen concentration was 200, 300 and 400 mg/L, respectively. In addition, the cathode electrode biofilm showed good electrochemical activity. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the applied voltage enriched other denitrifying functional groups, including Denitratisoma, Limnobacter, and ammonia oxidizing bacteria SM1A02 and Anaerolineaceae, Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrospira, besides the anammox bacteria. These electrochemically active microorganisms comprised of ammonium oxidizing exoelectrogens (AOE) and denitrifying electrotrophs (DNE). Together with anammox bacteria Candidatus Brocadia, they constituted the microbial community structure of denitrification system. Enhanced direct interspecies electron transfer between AOE and DNE was the fundamental reason for the further improvement of the total nitrogen removal rate of the system.

[Inhibitor of growth protein-2 silencing alleviates angiotensin Ⅱ-induced cardiac remodeling in mice by reducing p53 acetylation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of inhibitor of growth protein-2 (Ing2) silencing on angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ)-induced cardiac remodeling in mice and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

An adenoviral vector carrying Ing2 shRNA or empty adenoviral vector was injected into the tail vein of mice, followed 48 h later by infusion of 1000 ng · kg^-1 · min^-1 Ang Ⅱ or saline using a mini-osmotic pump for 42 consecutive days. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess cardiac geometry and function and the level of cardiac hypertrophy in the mice. Masson and WGA staining were used to detect myocardial fibrosis and cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes, and myocardial cell apoptosis was detected with TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to detect myocardial expressions of cleaved caspase 3, ING2, collagen Ⅰ, Ac-p53(Lys382) and p-p53 (Ser15); Ing2 mRNA expression was detected using real-time PCR. Mitochondrial biogenesis, as measured by mitochondrial ROS content, ATP content, citrate synthase activity and calcium storage, was determined using commercial assay kits.

RESULTS

The expression levels of Ing2 mRNA and protein were significantly higher in the mice with chronic Ang Ⅱ infusion than in saline-infused mice. Chronic infusion of AngⅡ significantly increased the left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) in the mice. Ing2 silencing obviously alleviated AngⅡ-induced cardiac function decline, as shown by decreased LVEDD and LVESD and increased LVEF and LVFS, improved myocardial mitochondrial damage and myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Chronic AngⅡ infusion significantly increased myocardial expression levels of Ac-p53(Lys382) and p-p53(Ser15) in the mice, and Ing2 silencing prior to AngⅡ infusion lessened AngⅡ- induced increase of Ac-p53(Lys382) without affecting p53 (ser15) expression.

CONCLUSION

Ing2 silencing can inhibit AngⅡ-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in mice by reducing p53 acetylation.

Bladder Cancer Progression Is Suppressed Through the Heart and Neural Crest Derivatives Expressed 2-Antisense RNA 1/microRNA-93-5p/Defective in Cullin Neddylation 1 Domain Containing 3 Axis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical in progression of bladder cancer (BCa). miRNA-93-5p is increased in cancers and is positively correlated with an unfavorable prognosis. But its effects on BCa remain rarely understood. This investigation aimed to dig out miRNA-93-5p affecting biological behaviors of BCa. In this research, mRNA and protein expression in cancer cells were assessed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, scratch healing, and transwell assays were utilized to analyze cancer cell viability, colony-forming, migration, and invasion, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis predicted upstream regulatory genes and downstream target genes of miRNA-93-5p, with the targeting relationship being verified through a dual-luciferase assay. The BCa xenograft model in nude mice further investigated the effect of miRNA-93-5p and AND2-AS1 on tumor size and quality, and validated the relationship between HAND2-AS1/miRNA-93-5p/DCUN1D3. Our results displayed that miRNA-93-5p was increased in BCa cell lines. Knockdown miRNA-93-5p constrained BCa cell malignant phenotypes. HAND2-AS1 targeted miRNA-93-5p, thus restraining malignant progression of BCa cells. DCUN1D3 was found downstream of miRNA-93-5p. miRNA-93-5p modulated proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa cells by targeting DCUN1D3. In vivo experiments disclosed that forced expression of lncRNA HAND2-AS1, and inhibited miRNA-93-5p regressed tumor growth. Meanwhile, the same as the results of cell experiments, the expression of miRNA-93-5p was downregulated, and DCUN1D3 expression was advanced in tumor tissues. To conclude, lncRNA HAND2-AS1 exerted anti-tumor effects and regulated BCa cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting miRNA-93-5p/DCUN1D3.

Standard sine motion video-based virtual traceability method for monocular vision low-frequency vibration measurements

The low-frequency vibration exists in building structures, mechanical devices, instrument manufacturing, and other fields, and is the key to modal analysis, steady-state control, and precision machining. At present, the monocular vision (MV) method has gradually become the primary choice to measure the low-frequency vibration because of its distinctive advantages in efficiency, non-contact, simplicity, flexibility, low cost, etc. Although many literature reports have demonstrated that this method has the capability to reach high measurement repeatability and resolution, its metrological traceability and uncertainty evaluation are difficult to be unified. In this study, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, virtual traceability method is presented to evaluate the measurement performance of the MV method for the low-frequency vibration. This presented method achieves traceability by adopting the standard sine motion videos and the precise position error correction model. Simulations and experiments confirm that the presented method can evaluate the amplitude and phase measurement accuracy of the MV-based low-frequency vibration in the frequency range from 0.01 to 20 Hz.

Search for Dark Photons with Superconducting Radio Frequency Cavities

We conduct the first "light-shining-through-wall" (LSW) search for dark photons using two state-of-the-art high-quality-factor superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities -Dark SRF-and report the results of its pathfinder run. Our new experimental setup enables improvements in sensitivity over previous searches and covers new dark photon parameter space. We design delicate calibration and measurement protocols to utilize the high-Q setup at Dark SRF. Using cavities operating at 1.3 GHz, we establish a new exclusion limit for kinetic mixing as small as ε=1.6×10^{-9} and provide the world's best constraints on dark photons in the 2.1×10^{-7}-5.7×10^{-6}  eV mass range. Our result is the first proof of concept for the enabling role of SRF cavities in LSW setups, with ample opportunities for further improvements. In addition, our data set a competitive lab-based limit on the standard model photon mass by searching for longitudinal photon polarization.

Compositional alterations of the gut microbiota in acute myocardial infarction patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and a common comorbidity in patients with AMI. T2DM doubles the fatality rate of patients with AMI in the acute phase of AMI and the follow-up period. However, the mechanisms by which T2DM increases the fatality rate remain unknown. This study sought to investigate changes in the gut microbiota of patients with AMI and T2DM (AMIDM) to extend understandings of the relative mechanisms from the aspects of gut microbiota.

Methods

Patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups comprising 15 patients with AMIDM and 15 patients with AMI but without T2DM (AMINDM). Their stool samples and clinical information were collected. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing was used to analyze the structure and composition of the gut microbiota based on the operational taxonomic units.

Results

A significant difference was observed in the gut microbiota β diversity between the 2 groups. At the phylum level, the AMIDM patients showed an increase in the abundance of Firmicutes and a decrease in the abundance of Bacteroidetes compared to the AMINDM patients. At the genus level, the AMIDM patients showed an increase in the abundance of Companilactobacillus, Defluvitaleaceae UCG-011 and UCG-009, and a decrease in the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and CAG 56 compared to the AMINDM patients. At the species level, the AMIDM patients showed an increase in the abundance of species unclassified NK4A214 group, Bacteroides clarus, Coprococcus comes, unclassified Defluviltaleaceae UCG-011, uncultured rumen bacterium, unclassified CAG 56, Barnesiella intestinihominis, Lachnospiraceae bacterium, Bacteroides nordii, unclassified UCG-009, and the Family XIII AD3011 group compared to the AMINDM patients. The gut microbiota function predictions indicated that the nucleotide metabolism-related pathway was significantly more increase in the patients with AMIDM than those with AMINDM. Additionally, the patients with AMIDM showed an increase in gram-positive bacteria and a decrease in the proportion of gram-negative bacteria. Our correlation analysis results on the gut microbiota and clinical parameters might extend understandings of the progression of AMI.

Conclusions

Changes in the gut microbiota composition of patients with AMIDM affect the severity of the metabolic disturbance and may be responsible for poorer clinical outcomes and worse disease progression in patients with AMIDM compared to those with AMINDM.

The transcriptional landscape and diagnostic potential of long non-coding RNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly cancer with no clinically relevant biomarkers for early detection. Here, we comprehensively characterized the transcriptional landscape of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in paired tumor and normal tissue specimens from 93 ESCC patients, and identified six key malignancy-specific lncRNAs that were integrated into a Multi-LncRNA Malignancy Risk Probability model (MLMRPscore). The MLMRPscore performed robustly in distinguishing ESCC from normal controls in multiple in-house and external multicenter validation cohorts, including early-stage I/II cancer. In addition, five candidate lncRNAs were confirmed to have non-invasive diagnostic potential in our institute plasma cohort, showing superior or comparable diagnostic accuracy to current clinical serological markers. Overall, this study highlights the profound and robust dysregulation of lncRNAs in ESCC and demonstrates the potential of lncRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of ESCC.