Kaempferol attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriatic skin inflammation in a mouse model

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that mainly affects the skin barrier. Treatment for psoriasis mainly includes conventional immunosuppressive drugs. However, long-term treatment with global immunosuppressive agents may cause a variety of side effects, including nephrotoxicity and infections. Kaempferol, a natural flavonol present in various plants, is known to possess potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous properties. However, it is unknown whether kaempferol is also anti-psoriatic. Here we established an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic mouse model to explore the potential therapeutic effects of kaempferol on psoriatic skin lesions and inflammation. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment with kaempferol protected mice from developing psoriasis-like skin lesions induced by topical administration of IMQ. Kaempferol reduced CD3⁺ T cell infiltration and gene expression of major proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in the psoriatic skin lesion. It also down-regulated proinflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in the skin. The therapeutic effects were associated with a significant increase in CD4⁺ forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)⁺ regulatory T cell (T_reg ) frequency in the spleen and lymph nodes as well as FoxP3-positive staining in the skin lesion. Conversely, depletion of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T_regs reversed the therapeutic effects of kaempferol on the skin lesion. Kaempferol also lowered the percentage of IL-17A⁺ CD4⁺ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes of IMQ-induced psoriatic mice. Finally, kaempferol suppressed the proliferation of T cells in vitro and their mTOR signaling. Thus, our findings suggest that kaempferol may be a therapeutic drug for treating human psoriasis in the near future.

Magnolol inhibits Streptococcus suis-induced inflammation and ROS formation via TLR2/MAPK/NF-κB signaling in RAW264.7 cells

Our previous studies have shown that Magnolol (Mag) improves the symptoms and decreases the levels of cytokines during infection induced by Streptococcus suis (S. suis) in mice. Although some reports show that Mag inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses via downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways, the molecular mechanisms underlying Mag-mediated inhibition of S. suis-induced inflammatory responses are poorly understood. Here, RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with S. suis in the presence or absence of Mag. Cell viability and bactericidal effects were examined, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), IL-1β (interleukin-1β), IL-6 (interleukin-6), and IL-8 (interleukin- 8) were determined by ELISA. The change in ROS (reactive oxygen species) was determined by fluorescence microscopy and ELISA. The levels of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and MAPK family proteins and NF-κB signaling were determined by Western blot analysis. S. suis induced massive RAW264.7 cell death, a decline in bactericidal activity, the release of inflammatory cytokines, increased oxidative stress, and activation of TLR2/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Mag treatment significantly suppressed macrophage cell death and caused a decline in bactericidal activity. Furthermore, Mag decreased inflammatory cytokines production and ROS generation. It also prevented p38, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), and NF-κB phosphorylation induced by S. suis in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that Mag exerts anti-inflammatory and cell-protective effects and mediates the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling by downregulating the expression of TLR2 upregulated by S. suis.

[Relationship of BMI and wrist joint index with carpal tunnel syndrome in manual laborers]

Objective: To evaluate the severity of median nerve damage in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) , and to analyze its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and wrist joint index. Methods: From May 2016 to January 2017, 23 patients with mild CTS (mild group) and 35 patients with moderate to severe CTS (moderate to severe group) were enrolled in this study. And 22 healthy volunteers matched for sex and age were selected as control group. The neuroelectrophysiological monitor was used to measure the median nerve movement and sensory nerve conduction in the subjects. The BMI and wrist joint index were calculated. The relationship of neuroelectrophysiological parameters with BMI and wrist joint index was analyzed in the CTS patients. Results: Compared with the control group, the mild group and the moderate to severe group had significantly higher wrist joint index, significantly longer distal motor latency (DML) of the median nerve, and significantly lower sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude of the finger 1-wrist and finger 3-wrist (P<0.01) ; the moderate to severe group had significantly higher BMI and significantly lower composite muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (P<0.01) . The wrist joint index and BMI were positively correlated with DML of the median nerve and negatively correlated with SCV and SNAP amplitude of the finger 1-wrist and finger 3-wrist (all P<0.05) . The patients with a wrist joint index of >0.73 had a significantly higher risk of CTS than those with a wrist joint index of <0.73 (odd ratio=30.67, 95% confidence interval: 3.79-248.36) . Conclusion: A wrist joint index of >0.73 is an independent risk factor for CTS in manual laborers. CTS should be prevented in the manual laborers with high wrist joint index and BMI.

Intra-articular corticosteroids and the risk of knee osteoarthritis progression: results from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

OBJECTIVE

A recent randomized clinical trial reported that repeated intra-articular corticosteroids (IACs) were associated with a greater cartilage loss. This study aimed to examine the relation of IACs to knee radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) progression in a real-world setting.

DESIGN

A cohort that initiated IACs and a comparison cohort without IACs from participants with mild to moderate knee ROA in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) were assembled (from 0-month to 48-month). Two measures of knee ROA progression were assessed during the follow-up period: (1) an increase in Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade by ≥1 grade or having a knee replacement (i.e., KL grade worsening); and (2) a decrease in joint space width (JSW) by ≥0.7 mm or having a knee replacement (i.e., JSW worsening). The associations of IACs initiation using a propensity-score matched cohort study and continuous IACs using marginal structural models with the risk of knee ROA progression were examined.

RESULTS

Among 684 propensity-score matched participants at baseline (148 IACs initiators, 536 comparators), 65 knees (21.7/100 person-years) in the IACs initiation cohort and 90 knees (7.1/100 person-years) in the comparison cohort experienced KL worsening. The hazard ratios (HRs) of KL worsening from IACs initiation and continuous IACs were 3.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.19-4.16) and 4.67 (95% CI, 2.92-7.47), respectively. The corresponding HRs of JSW worsening were 2.93 (95% CI, 2.13-4.02) and 3.26 (95% CI, 1.78-5.96), respectively. All HRs for continuous use of IACs were further away from the null.

CONCLUSIONS

IACs, especially continuous IACs, may be associated with an increased risk of knee ROA progression.

Alkaline phosphatase 2 is a functional receptor of Cry1Ac but not Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa zea

Although membrane-bound alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) have been proposed as a receptor for Cry1Ac in a few lepidopteran species, their potential functions as a Cry2Ab receptor are yet to be verified. To determine if ALP2 also serves as a receptor for Cry1Ac and even for Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa zea, we measured the potency of activated Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab against midgut and fat body cell lines of H. zea and the ovarian cell line of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) expressing H. zea ALP2 (HzALP2) or transfected with HzALP2 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Relative to the control cells, the three cell lines expressing HzALP2 were more susceptible to Cry1Ac but there was no difference for Cry2Ab. By contrast, the two H. zea cell lines transfected with HzALP2 dsRNA were resistant to Cry1Ac while kept susceptible to Cry2Ab. Furthermore, RNA interference knockdown of HzALP2 in H. zea larvae enhanced larval survival on Cry1Ac-containing diets. These findings indicate that HzALP2 functions as a receptor of Cry1Ac but not Cry2Ab.

Investigation of the Match Relation between Steel Fiber and High-Strength Concrete Matrix in Reactive Powder Concrete

This study investigated the strength and toughness of reactive powder concrete (RPC) made with various steel fiber lengths and concrete strengths. The results indicated that among RPC samples with strength of 150 MPa, RPC reinforced with long steel fibers had the highest compressive strength, peak strength, and toughness. Among the RPC samples with strength of 270 MPa, RPC reinforced with short steel fibers had the highest compressive strength, and peak strength, while RPC reinforced with medium-length steel fibers had the highest toughness. As a result of the higher bond adhesion between fibers and ultra-high-strength RPC matrix, long steel fibers were more effective for the reinforcement of RPC with strength of 150 MPa, while short steel fibers were more effective for the reinforcement of RPC with strength of 270 MPa.

Predicative values of serum microRNA-22 and microRNA-126 levels for non-small cell lung cancer development and metastasis: a case-control study

Presented study aims to explore the predictive values of serum microRNA-22 (miR-22) and miR-126 levels for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and metastasis.A total of 127 NSCLC patients who were admitted in the First People's Hospital of Yancheng City from May, 2013 to May, 2015 were selected as the case group, including 71 cases of adenocarcinoma and 56 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. There were 112 healthy individuals selected as the control group. The qRT-PCR was performed to testify the serum miR-22 and miR-126 levels. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze independent factors influencing NSCLC metastasis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of serum miR-22 and miR-126 levels in predicting NSCLC developments and metastasis.The serum miR-22 level was significantly higher in the case group than that in the control group, while the serum miR-126 level was lower in the case group as compared with that in the control group. Compared with squamous cell carcinoma patients, serum miR-22 level significantly increased, while serum miR-126 level decreased in patients with adenocarcinoma. Patients at III + IV stage showed increased serum miR-22 level and relatively decreased serum miR-126 level as compared to patients at I + II stage. Serum miR-22 level elevated in patients with metastasis; in contrast serum miR-126 level reduced in comparison to those without metastasis. In patients with familial inheritance, serum miR-22 level increased but serum miR-126 level decreased as compared to those without familial inheritance. The specificity and sensitivity of serum miR-22 and miR-126 levels in predicting NSCLC development were 99.11%, 84.30%, 82.68% and 96.40%, respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of serum miR-22 and miR-126 levels in predicting NSCLC metastasis were 59.74%, 96.00%, 84.00% and 62.30%, respectively.Results indicated that serum miR-22 and miR-126 levels may be used as the predicative biomarkers for NSCLC development and metastasis.

Risk factor heterogeneity for medial and lateral compartment knee osteoarthritis: analysis of two prospective cohorts

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the etiologic heterogeneity between medial and lateral tibiofemoral radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA).

METHODS

Knees without medial or lateral tibiofemoral ROA at baseline were followed for 60-month in Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) and for 48-month in Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). We examined the relation of previously reported risk factors to incident medial and lateral tibiofemoral ROA separately and determined the etiology heterogeneity with a ratio of rate ratios (RRs) (i.e., the RR for medial tibiofemoral ROA divided by the RR for lateral tibiofemoral ROA) using a duplication method for Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

Of 2,016 participants in MOST, 436 and 162 knees developed medial or lateral tibiofemoral ROA, respectively. Obesity and varus malalignment were 95% and 466% more strongly associated with incident medial tibiofemoral ROA than with lateral tibiofemoral ROA, respectively (ratios of RRs, 1.95 [95% confidence interval (CI):1.05-3.62] and 5.66 [95% CI:3.20-10.0]). In contrast, the associations of female sex and valgus malalignment with incident medial tibiofemoral ROA were weaker or in an opposite direction compared with lateral tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis (OA) (ratios of RRs, 0.40 [95% CI:0.26-0.63] and 0.20 [95% CI:0.12-0.34], respectively). Older age tended to show a weaker association with incident medial tibiofemoral ROA than with incident lateral tibiofemoral ROA. No heterogeneity was observed for the relation of race, knee injury, or contralateral knee ROA. These findings were closely replicated in OAI.

CONCLUSION

Risk factor profiles for medial and lateral tibiofemoral ROA are different. These results can provide a framework for the development of targeted prevention and potential treatment strategies for specific knee OA subtypes.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Electrons

Precision results on cosmic-ray electrons are presented in the energy range from 0.5 GeV to 1.4 TeV based on 28.1×10^{6} electrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. In the entire energy range the electron and positron spectra have distinctly different magnitudes and energy dependences. The electron flux exhibits a significant excess starting from 42.1_{-5.2}^{+5.4}  GeV compared to the lower energy trends, but the nature of this excess is different from the positron flux excess above 25.2±1.8  GeV. Contrary to the positron flux, which has an exponential energy cutoff of 810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV, at the 5σ level the electron flux does not have an energy cutoff below 1.9 TeV. In the entire energy range the electron flux is well described by the sum of two power law components. The different behavior of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is clear evidence that most high energy electrons originate from different sources than high energy positrons.

Abstract P3-10-22: BluePrint molecular subtyping versus HER2 assessment by immunohistochemistry and FISH in the real-world diagnostic setting

Background: Both the Aphinity and ExteNET trials for anti-HER2 targeted agents were challenged in showing significant benefit of added HER2-targeted treatment. The findings suggested biological heterogeneity in HER2+ cancers, not entirely identified by IHC/FISH, requiring more nuanced biomarkers to clearly identify patient subsets who may derive benefit from new HER2-targeted agents. We have previously shown that BluePrint (80-gene) molecular subtyping reclassifies nearly half of HER2+/ER+ patients to Luminal-type with differential neoadjuvant treatment response (Whitworth, Ann Surg Oncol 2014; Whitworth, ASCO 2018). Here, we evaluated the reclassification rate in the real-world diagnostic setting. Methods: Physicians regularly provide pathology reports to Agendia, Inc for samples which are processed for MammaPrint (70-gene signature) and BluePrint molecular assays as part of routine diagnostic care. For this analysis, 4986 sequentially available pathology reports (submitted between October 2016 to October 2017) were reviewed; HER2 and ER IHC results were captured. The molecular subtype was compared to IHC/FISH status. Results: HER2 IHC/FISH results were available for 1568 samples. Of those, 85% (1330/1568) were HER2-nonamplified, 10% (153/1568) were HER2-equivocal, and 5% (85/1568) were HER2-amplified by IHC/FISH. Of the HER2-nonamplified tumors, BluePrint reclassified 0.1% (2/1330) as HER2-type. Of the HER2-equivocal tumors, none were HER2-type by BluePrint; 91% (139/153) were Luminal-type and 9% (14/153) were Basal-type. Of the HER2-amplified tumors, 15% (13/85) were dominant HER2-type, 79% (67/85) were dominant Luminal-type, and 6% (5/85) were Basal-type. Conclusions: In this set of tumors identified as HER2-amplified by IHC/FISH, BluePrint reclassified 85% of tumors to non-HER2 molecular subtypes, mostly Luminal-type for ER-positive tumors and Basal-type for ER-negative tumors. Moreover, BluePrint gave clarity where IHC/FISH could not, classifying all HER2-equivocal tumors to non-HER2 subtypes. Additional therapeutic options should be explored for HER2+/ER+ BluePrint Luminal-type patients who have observed much lower pCR rates versus BluePrint HER2-type patients (12% vs. 51%, respectively; Lee, AACR 2018).

HER2 IHC/FISH vs BluePrint SubtypeHER2 IHC/FISH StatusHER2-type Luminal-type Basal-type Total IHC ER-IHC ER+IHC ER-IHC ER+IHC ER-IHC ER+ Nonamplified (ER-Unknown, n=28)118120353361330Equivocal (ER-Unknown, n=6)  2131104153Amplified (ER-Unknown, n=2)112 664 85Total21310140067401568

Citation Format: Treece T, Audeh W, Navarro F, Wei J. BluePrint molecular subtyping versus HER2 assessment by immunohistochemistry and FISH in the real-world diagnostic setting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-10-22.

Activation of the cannabinoid receptor 2 increases renal perfusion

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an increasing clinical problem that is associated with chronic kidney disease progression. Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) activation has been shown to mitigate some of the deleterious tubular effects due to AKI, but its role on the renal vasculature has not been fully described. In this study, we investigated the effects of our novel CB2 receptor agonist, SMM-295, on renal vasculature by assessing cortical perfusion with laser Doppler flowmetry and changes in luminal diameter with isolated afferent arterioles. In this study, intravenously infused SMM-295 (6 mg/kg) significantly increased cortical renal perfusion (13.8 ± 0.6%; P < 0.0001; n = 7) compared with vehicle (0.1 ± 1.5%; n = 10) normalized to baseline values in anesthetized C57BL/6J mice. This effect was not dependent upon activation of the CB1 receptor (met-anandamide; 6 mg/kg iv) and was predominantly abolished in Cnr2 knockout mice with SMM-295 (6 mg/kg iv). Ablation of the renal afferent nerves with capsaicin blocked the SMM-295-dependent increase in renal cortical perfusion, and the increased renal blood flow was not dependent upon products synthesized by cyclooxygenase or nitric oxide synthase. The increased renal perfusion by CB2 receptor activation is also attributed to a direct vascular effect, since SMM-295 (5 μM) engendered a significant 37 ± 7% increase ( P < 0.0001; n = 4) in luminal diameters of norepinephrine-preconstricted afferent arterioles. These data provide new insight into the potential benefit of SMM-295 by activating vascular and nonvascular CB2 receptors to promote renal vasodilation, and provide a new therapeutic target to treat renal injuries that impact renal blood flow dynamics.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Positrons

Precision measurements of cosmic ray positrons are presented up to 1 TeV based on 1.9 million positrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. The positron flux exhibits complex energy dependence. Its distinctive properties are (a) a significant excess starting from 25.2±1.8  GeV compared to the lower-energy, power-law trend, (b) a sharp dropoff above 284_{-64}^{+91}  GeV, (c) in the entire energy range the positron flux is well described by the sum of a term associated with the positrons produced in the collision of cosmic rays, which dominates at low energies, and a new source term of positrons, which dominates at high energies, and (d) a finite energy cutoff of the source term of E_{s}=810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV is established with a significance of more than 4σ. These experimental data on cosmic ray positrons show that, at high energies, they predominantly originate either from dark matter annihilation or from other astrophysical sources.

Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in a Post-Kidney Transplant Patient: An Initial Case Report in China

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate the general applicability, feasibility, and safety of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in Chinese renal allograft patients for prostate cancer removal.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 62-year-old patient diagnosed as having biopsy-proven localized prostate cancer in March 2016 who had undergone renal transplant 12 years ago was studied. The preoperative prostate-specific antigen value was determined to be 11.82 ng/mL and the Gleason score was determined to be 3 + 3. The RARP was carried out using a transperitoneal and posterior approach with 5 ports in May 2016. The most important technique was ensuring that the transplanted kidney and ureter remained untouched during the surgery. Only the right obturator lymph nodes were dissected because the renal allograft was overlying the iliac vessels.

RESULTS

The RARP was successfully concluded following 230 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 200 mL. There were no postoperative complications. Final pathology was T2cN0M0, Gleason 3 + 3. Following catheter removal, the patient was completely continent and was discharged with no change in serum creatinine or glomerular filtration rate levels. During a 21-month follow-up, unobstructed urination, no incontinence, no biochemical recurrence, and normal kidney function were observed.

CONCLUSION

RARP in Chinese renal allograft patients is a feasible method that can be accomplished with no injuries to the transplanted kidney or ureter and is achieved with favorable oncological and functional outcomes. In addition, post-kidney transplant male patients are recommended to have routine prostate-specific antigen screening for the early detection of prostate cancer.

Multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles and superb mechanical behaviors of complex alloys

Alloy design based on single–principal-element systems has approached its limit for performance enhancements. A substantial increase in strength up to gigapascal levels typically causes the premature failure of materials with reduced ductility. Here, we report a strategy to break this trade-off by controllably introducing high-density ductile multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles (MCINPs) in complex alloy systems. Distinct from the intermetallic-induced embrittlement under conventional wisdom, such MCINP-strengthened alloys exhibit superior strengths of 1.5 gigapascals and ductility as high as 50% in tension at ambient temperature. The plastic instability, a major concern for high-strength materials, can be completely eliminated by generating a distinctive multistage work-hardening behavior, resulting from pronounced dislocation activities and deformation-induced microbands. This MCINP strategy offers a paradigm to develop next-generation materials for structural applications.

Differential expression profile of hepatic circular RNAs in chronic hepatitis B

CircRNAs exert gene regulatory effects by sequestering target microRNAs (miRNAs) and play a vital role in the onset and development of disease. Until recently, little has been known about the expression, regulation and biological function of circRNAs in both health and chronic hepatitis B (CHB).To identify hepatic circRNAs associated with CHB, we performed RNA sequencing using liver biopsies from untreated CHB patients and controls. We then established a bioinformatics pipeline for identification of CHB-associated circRNAs and in silico analysis of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways. We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm these results. The profiles of hepatic circRNA expression were significantly different in CHB compared with controls, with a total of 99 dysregulated circRNAs identified to be correlated with CHB. Computational analysis of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways revealed a large number of miRNAs (665), which were putatively targeted by the differentially expressed hepatic circRNAs. Interestingly, four of the predicted CHB-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways were found to be involved in the pathogenesis of HBV infection and progression of HBV-associated liver disease. Among these pathways, regression analysis of gene expression revealed a strong positive correlation between hsa_circ_0000650 and TGFβ2 and a negative correlation between hsa_circ_0000650 and miR-6873-3p, which hinted that hsa_circ_0000650 interacted with TGFβ2 mediated by miR-6873-3p. This study firstly demonstrates that patients with CHB present different profiles of hepatic circRNAs and circRNA/miRNA interactions. Thus, circRNAs have promise as novel mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and progression of CHB.