[Neutrophil extracellular traps-induced endothelial cell damage in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease]

Objective: To explore the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-induced endothelial cell damage in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis (DM)-associated interstitial lung disease(ILD). Methods: Serum free DNA and krebs von den lungen-6 (KL-6) level were tested in healthy controls, dermatomyositis patients with or without interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD and DM-NILD). Subjects' peripheral blood neutrophils were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), then human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were co-cultured with NETs. The cell morphology was observed by the inverted phase contrast microscope. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8). Results: The concentration of serum free DNA in DM patients [(271.27± 76.53) μg/L] was significantly higher than that in health control (HC)[(152.89±37.34) μg/L, P<0.001]. Moreover, free DNA level in DM-ILD patients [(302.67±74.15) μg/L] was higher than that in DM-NILD patients [(235.59±63.55 ) μg/L, P<0.005]. The concentration of KL-6in DM patients [(3.08±2.07) μg/L]was higher than that in HC[(0.87±0.51) μg/L, P<0.001]. Similarly, KL-6 in DM-ILD patients [(4.00±2.44) μg/L ] was higher than that of DM-NILD patients [(2.03±0.61) μg/L, P<0.005]. Free DNA and KL-6 were positively correlated (r=0.251, P<0.05). The survival of endothelial cells in DM group (53±11)% was lower than that of HC group [(70±5)%, P<0.001]. Not surprisingly, the survival of endothelial cells in DM-ILD group (44±4) % was lower than that in DM-NILD group [(61±8)%, P<0.01]. Conclusion: NETs could play an important role in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis associated interstitial lung disease, suggesting that NETs may be the potential therapeutic target.

[Evaluation on efficacy of corticotomy-facilitated treatment in skeletal class Ⅱ patients]

Objective: To investigate the effect of corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics on the treatment time and final outcome in skeletal class Ⅱ division 1 patients. Methods: Twenty adult skeletal class Ⅱ division 1 patients treated with two maxillary first premolar extractions were included and randomly divided into two groups (the corticotomy group and the control group). The treatment time was recorded and the changes of soft and hard tissue were compared by using three-dimensional measurement and analysis of cone-beam CT images before and after treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in the alignment time between two groups, while the time of maxillary space closure and the total treatment time in corticotomy group ([5.8±1.3] and [24.9±5.1] months, respectively) were shorter than that in the control group ([9.9±1.1] and [30.8±4.6] months, respectively) and the differences were significant (P<0.01). In the corticotomy group, the retraction amount of the upper central in cisal margin, apical tip, supradentale, labrale superius and the increase of nasolabial angle were greater than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with mild to moderate skeletal class Ⅱ division 1 malocclusion, corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics can not only shorten the treatment time, but is more conductive to the retraction of upper anterior teeth and improvement of the profile.

mTORC1 activation downregulates FGFR3 and PTH/PTHrP receptor in articular chondrocytes to initiate osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Articular chondrocyte activation, involving aberrant proliferation and prehypertrophic differentiation, is essential for osteoarthritis (OA) initiation and progression. Disruption of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) promotes chondrocyte autophagy and survival, and decreases the severity of experimental OA. However, the role of cartilage mTORC1 activation in OA initiation is unknown. In this study, we elucidated the specific role of mTORC1 activation in OA initiation, and identify the underlying mechanisms.

METHOD

Expression of mTORC1 in articular cartilage of OA patients and OA mice was assessed by immunostaining. Cartilage-specific tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (Tsc1, mTORC1 upstream inhibitor) knockout (TSC1CKO) and inducible Tsc1 KO (TSC1CKO^ER) mice were generated. The functional effects of mTORC1 in OA initiation and development on its downstream targets were examined by immunostaining, western blotting and qPCR.

RESULTS

Articular chondrocyte mTORC1 was activated in early-stage OA and in aged mice. TSC1CKO mice exhibited spontaneous OA, and TSC1CKO^ER mice (from 2 months) exhibited accelerated age-related and DMM-induced OA phenotypes, with aberrant chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation. This was associated with hyperactivation of mTORC1 and dramatic downregulation of FGFR3 and PPR, two receptors critical for preventing chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. Rapamycin treatment reversed these phenotypes in KO mice. Furthermore, in vitro rescue experiments demonstrated that p73 and ERK1/2 may mediate the negative regulation of FGFR3 and PPR by mTORC1.

CONCLUSION

mTORC1 activation stimulates articular chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation to initiate OA, in part by downregulating FGFR3 and PPR.

Comparison between two population-based hepatitis B serosurveys with an 8-year interval in Shandong Province, China

BACKGROUND

Tremendous progress has been made in hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevention and control in the last 30 years in China, but it continues to be a major public health problem. The most recently reported population-based seroepidemiological survey on HBV in Shandong Province in China was published in 2006, and an updated baseline for HBV prevalence was badly needed in the province to identify the change in HBV epidemiology in the last decade.

METHODS

Two population-based cross-sectional serosurveys were performed among the population aged 1-59 years in the same sample areas in Shandong Province, China in 2006 and 2014, respectively. Data on demographic characteristics were collected. A blood sample was obtained from each person and was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs), and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc).

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were 3.39% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.51-4.26), 44.96% (95% CI 41.34-48.57), and 24.45% (95% CI 22.19-26.71), respectively, among the population aged 1-59 years in the 2006 serovsurvey; the corresponding prevalence rates were 2.49% (95% CI 1.81-3.17), 48.27% (95% CI 45.63-50.92), and 22.56% (95% CI 20.14-24.97), respectively, in 2014. The prevalence rates of HBsAg and anti-HBc were lower in 2014 than in 2006. Conversely, the prevalence of anti-HBs showed an increase. However, none of these differences were statistically significant (all p>0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg showed an increase among persons aged 20-24 years in 2014 (3.83%) compared with 2006 (2.98%) (t=0.45, p=0.67). Among all occupation groups, the prevalence of HBsAg was lower in 2014 than in 2006, while the prevalence of anti-HBc showed moderate increases in students and farmers (all p>0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg decreased more obviously in urban areas (65.49%) than rural areas (7.07%) from 2006 to 2014.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiology of HBV infection has changed in Shandong Province, China over the last decade. More attention should be paid to HBV infection among students and farmers.

A Europium ion post-functionalized indium metal–organic framework hybrid system for fluorescence detection of aromatics

A Eu³⁺-functionalized indium metal–organic framework hybrid system is employed as a fluorescent probe for the discrimination of BTEX in both the liquid and the gas phase.

Lanthanide functionalized hybrid materials of polyoxometallate based metal–organic frameworks for multi-color luminescence

Lanthanide functionalized hybrids of polyoxometallate based MOF Ln³⁺⊂COK-15 are prepared and display multi-color light, together with a white luminescence (x = 0.3845, y = 0.303) by tuning an appropriate amount of Eu³⁺ and a suitable excitation wavelength.

Chiral Weyl Pockets and Fermi Surface Topology of the Weyl Semimetal TaAs

Tantalum arsenide is a member of the noncentrosymmetric monopnictides, which are putative Weyl semimetals. In these materials, three-dimensional chiral massless quasiparticles, the so-called Weyl fermions, are predicted to induce novel quantum mechanical phenomena, such as the chiral anomaly and topological surface states. However, their chirality is only well defined if the Fermi level is close enough to the Weyl points that separate Fermi surface pockets of opposite chirality exist. In this Letter, we present the bulk Fermi surface topology of high quality single crystals of TaAs, as determined by angle-dependent Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen measurements combined with ab initio band-structure calculations. Quantum oscillations originating from three different types of Fermi surface pockets were found in magnetization, magnetic torque, and magnetoresistance measurements performed in magnetic fields up to 14 T and temperatures down to 1.8 K. Of these Fermi pockets, two are pairs of topologically nontrivial electron pockets around the Weyl points and one is a trivial hole pocket. Unlike the other members of the noncentrosymmetric monopnictides, TaAs is the first Weyl semimetal candidate with the Fermi energy sufficiently close to both types of Weyl points to generate chiral quasiparticles at the Fermi surface.

Observation of unusual topological surface states in half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y)

Topological quantum materials represent a new class of matter with both exotic physical phenomena and novel application potentials. Many Heusler compounds, which exhibit rich emergent properties such as unusual magnetism, superconductivity and heavy fermion behaviour, have been predicted to host non-trivial topological electronic structures. The coexistence of topological order and other unusual properties makes Heusler materials ideal platform to search for new topological quantum phases (such as quantum anomalous Hall insulator and topological superconductor). By carrying out angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations on rare-earth half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y), we directly observe the unusual topological surface states on these materials, establishing them as first members with non-trivial topological electronic structure in this class of materials. Moreover, as LnPtBi compounds are non-centrosymmetric superconductors, our discovery further highlights them as promising candidates of topological superconductors.

Heusler compounds have been predicted to host topological order with other emergent properties, which yet awaits for experimental evidence. Here, Liu et al. report a direct observation of topological surface states on half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression in Women With and Without Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This meta‐analysis was conducted to estimate the association between matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1) expression and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women. Relevant studies published before 6 December 2015 were identified by searching PubMed, Ovid, EBSCO, and EMBASE. A total number of five case–control studies, including 182 POP cases and 192 controls, were identified. The results indicated that women without POP had a lower MMP‐1 level of expression compared with women with POP (odds ratio = 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.43–0.67, P = 0.000). After stratification by biopsy site, ethnicity, or menopausal status, this finding was also confirmed in the subgroup analysis with no significant changes. Egger's linear regression test revealed a potential publication bias (P = 0.028). The findings of our study indicate that women who suffer from POP have a higher expression level of MMP‐1 than women without POP.

Buccally impacted maxillary canines increase the likelihood of root separation in adjacent first premolars

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of maxillary impacted canines on the root morphology of adjacent premolars in a Chinese population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A sample of 370 Chinese subjects with maxillary canine impaction and 370 control subjects were collected in this study. CBCT data of all subjects were collected and analyzed. The prevalence of separate-rooted maxillary premolars was compared between subjects with and without impacted canines. Then, the prevalence of separate-rooted maxillary premolars was compared between subjects with buccal canine impaction (BIC) and those with palatal impaction (PIC).

RESULTS

The prevalence of separate-rooted first premolars was significantly higher in the canine impaction group (P = 0.046), but the prevalence of separate-rooted second premolars was not different (P = 0.780). Furthermore, a significant higher prevalence of first premolar root separation was found on the impacted site in the BIC subgroup (P < 0.001), but not in the PIC subgroup (P = 0.508). Also, the prevalence of separate-rooted first premolars in the BIC subgroup was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = 0.008), but not so for the PIC subgroup (P = 0.097).

CONCLUSIONS

Buccally impacted maxillary canines are associated with an increased prevalence of root separation in the adjacent maxillary first premolars. This is likely because that buccally impacted canines encroach on the space needed for root development of the first premolars.

Real-time PCR assay with high resolution melting for EGFR and BIM mutation of lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To establish and develop a reliable and simple Real-time PCR assay with high resolution melting (Real-time PCR-HRM) method for detection epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and BIM mutation of lung cancer and looking for effective targeted drugs to control lung cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 6858 participants (2538 cases with lung cancer and 4275 healthy controls who took part in the study by doing the physical examination in Shanghai Xuhui community) were recruited in the study. Clinical characteristics and 5 ml peripheral blood were collected from each participant, and the DNA has been extracted, which were determined the EGFR and BIM mutation by Real-time PCR-HRM. Data were recorded and Statistical analyses.

RESULTS

All samples completed the study. BIM deletion polymorphism was no related with age, sex, and smoking or EGFR mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no relations among BIM deletion polymorphism, EGFR mutation or lung cancer risk. HRM is a novel procedure and provides rapid, sensitive, specific and simultaneous detection for gene mutation of cancer patients for predicting the efficacy of targeted therapy.

[The application of radiofrequency ablation in the resection of lateral skull base tumor through an endoscopic endonasal approach]

Objective:To summarize our experience of resecting tumors in lateral skull base via a radiofrequency ablation-assisted endoscopic approach to investigate the safety and feasibility of the technique and to assess its treatment outcomes.Method:Twelve patients with lateral skull base tumor were operated through a radiofrequency ablationassisted endoscopic transnasal or transoral approach. In this study, the operative technique was described,and the degree of resection, complications and the clinical outcomes was analyzed.Result:Complete resection was achieved in all patients using this technique. No patient in the series experienced a new neurological deficit, cerebrospinal fluid leak or meningitis after surgery. One patient suffered from dissecting aneurysm on 4th day after operation. And the dissecting aneurysm were treated by vascular interventional therapy. No recurrence and death related skull base tumor in the follow-up period(28-30 months) were found. The volume of intraoperative blood loss was from 60 ml to 500 ml(medium 190 ml). The duration of operations was from 60 min to 180 min(medium 95 min).Conclusion:Our limited experience indicates that this technique is feasible and safe for the complete resection of some skull base tumors in selected cases.

Expression of transforming growth factor-β1 in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia and its relationship with lung development

The aim of this study was to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and to explore its relationship with lung development. Forty-eight rats (2-3 days old) were randomly divided into a hyperoxia group and a control group (N = 24) which were then fed in ≥95% oxygen atmosphere and air, respectively. On the 1st, 3rd and 7th days of hyperoxia exposure, morphological changes of lung tissues were observed under an optical microscope. TGF-ß1 mRNA and protein levels in lung tissues were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. With increasing time of hyperoxia exposure, the hyperoxia group gradually suffered from pathological changes such as poor development of lung tissues, alveolar simplification, decrease in the number of alveoli, and hindered pulmonary microvascular development. On the 7th day of hyperoxia exposure, TGF-ß1 mRNA and protein levels (relative to b-actin) of the hyperoxia group (0.34 ± 0.19 and 0.21 ± 0.09, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the control group (0.83 ± 0.45 and 0.57 ± 0.45, respectively; P < 0.05). TGF-ß1 participates in the pathogenesis of BPD as an important regulatory factor during pulmonary vascular development.

Chemotherapy promotes tumour cell hybridization in vivo

Spontaneous cell-cell fusion has been recognized to be an important mechanism for tissue and organ development and repair. In cancer, cell fusion is critically involved in tumourigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance, as illustrated by in vitro experiments. However, there has been no direct detection of tumour cell fusion or hybridization in an in vivo tumour environment, and the features of hybridized cells under selective pressures, such as chemotherapy, are unknown. Here, we expressed two fluorescent marker proteins in the human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 to detect tumour cell hybridization in vivo and performed a xenograft chemotherapy experiment in mice to evaluate the chemotherapeutic response of the hybrids. The mice treated by epirubicin showed that chemotherapy promoted tumour cell hybridization in vivo, which elicited the production of more hybrids in the outer section of the tumour. These results provide the first in vivo evidence of tumour cell fusion and indicate that chemotherapy may contribute to a poor prognosis by enriching for fused cells, which are more malignant. It is therefore necessary to reassess chemotherapy strategies.

From fighting depression to conquering tumors: a novel tricyclic thiazepine compound as a tubulin polymerization inhibitor

A novel tricyclic thiazepine derivative, 6-(p-tolyl)benzo[f] pyrido[2,3-b][1,4] thiazepine 11,11-dioxide (TBPT), exhibits potent inhibitory effects in two non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines, H460 and its drug-resistant variant, H460_TaxR, while exhibiting much less toxic effects on normal human fibroblasts. After five injections of TBPT at a dose of 60 mg/kg, it inhibits H460_TaxR tumor growth in xenografted mouse models by 66.7% without causing observable toxicity to normal tissues. Based on gene perturbation data and a series of investigations, we reveal that TBPT is not a P-glycoprotein substrate and it inhibits microtubule formation by targeting tubulin, thereby causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M stage and eventually inducing apoptosis. This redeployment of anti-depressant compound scaffold for anticancer applications provides a promising future for conquering drug-resistant tumors with fewer side effects.

Time-course of treatment-emergent adverse events in a long-term safety study of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in children and adolescents with ADHD

Introduction

The long-term safety and efficacy of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) in children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was evaluated in a European 2-year, open-label study (SPD489-404).

Objective

To evaluate the time-course of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in SPD489-404.

Methods

Participants aged 6–17 years received open-label LDX (30, 50 or 70 mg/day) for 104 weeks (4 weeks dose-optimization; 100 weeks dose-maintenance).

Results

All enrolled participants (n = 314) were included in the safety population and 191 (60.8%) completed the study. TEAEs occurred in 282 (89.8%) participants; most were mild or moderate. TEAEs considered by the investigators as related to LDX were reported by 232 (73.9%) participants with the following reported for ≥ 10% of participants: decreased appetite (49.4%), weight decreased (18.2%), insomnia (13.1%). TEAEs leading to discontinuation and serious TEAEs occurred in 39 (12.4%) and 28 (8.9%) participants, respectively. The median (range) time to first onset and duration, respectively, of TEAEs identified by the sponsor as being of special interest were: insomnia (insomnia, initial insomnia, middle insomnia, terminal insomnia), 17.0 (1–729) and 42.8 (1–739) days; weight decreased, 29.0 (1–677) and 225.0 (26–724) days; decreased appetite, 13.5 (1–653) and 169.0 (1–749) days; headache, 22.0 (1–718) and 2.0 (1–729) days. Reports of insomnia, weight decreased, decreased appetite and headache were highest in the first 4–12 weeks.

Conclusions

TEAEs associated with long-term LDX treatment were characteristic of stimulant medications, with the greatest incidence observed during the first 4–12 weeks.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Evolution of the Fermi surface of Weyl semimetals in the transition metal pnictide family

Topological Weyl semimetals (TWSs) represent a novel state of topological quantum matter which not only possesses Weyl fermions (massless chiral particles that can be viewed as magnetic monopoles in momentum space) in the bulk and unique Fermi arcs generated by topological surface states, but also exhibits appealing physical properties such as extremely large magnetoresistance and ultra-high carrier mobility. Here, by performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on NbP and TaP, we directly observed their band structures with characteristic Fermi arcs of TWSs. Furthermore, by systematically investigating NbP, TaP and TaAs from the same transition metal monopnictide family, we discovered their Fermiology evolution with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) strength. Our experimental findings not only reveal the mechanism to realize and fine-tune the electronic structures of TWSs, but also provide a rich material base for exploring many exotic physical phenomena (for example, chiral magnetic effects, negative magnetoresistance, and the quantum anomalous Hall effect) and novel future applications.