Association of IL1R2 rs34043159 with sporadic Alzheimer's disease in southern Han Chinese

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between IL1R2 rs34043159 and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Chinese population.

METHODS

A total of 500 AD patients and 500 healthy controls were recruited. The SNaPshot technique was used to detect IL1R2 rs34043159.

RESULTS

The dominant and recessive models of IL1R2 rs34043159 were associated with AD with or without adjustment of age, gender and education [dominant model, P = 0.019, odds ratio (OR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.89, adjusted; recessive model, P = 0.011, OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.92, adjusted]. The recessive model of IL1R2 rs34043159 was associated with early-onset AD (EOAD) with or without adjustment of age, gender and education (recessive model, P = 0.038, OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.97, adjusted). The additive model was associated with late-onset AD (LOAD) (P = 0.041). The dominant model of IL1R2 rs34043159 was associated with LOAD with or without adjustment of age, gender and education (dominant model, P = 0.005, OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.17-2.44, adjusted).

CONCLUSION

An association between the dominant and recessive model of IL1R2 rs34043159 and AD was found. The recessive model of IL1R2 rs34043159 was associated with EOAD. The additive and dominant models of IL1R2 rs34043159 were associated with LOAD.

Identification of human temporomandibular joint fibrocartilage stem cells with distinct chondrogenic capacity

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to identify the residence of human fibrocartilage stem cells (hFCSCs), characterize their stem cell properties and investigate the functional mechanisms which regulate fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) toward chondrogenic differentiation during cartilage homeostasis and repairing.

METHODS

Cytological characteristics of hFCSCs and human orofacial mesenchymal stem cells (hOFMSCs) were analyzed. Chondrogenic potential of hFCSCs was compared with hOFMSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Regulatory role of SOX9 during FCSCs chondrogenesis was studied by shRNA interference in vitro, and by GFP⁺ FCSCs treatment in rat condylar cartilage defect model. SOX9 expression was also examined in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) patients' cartilage surface.

RESULTS

hFCSCs exhibited typical mesenchymal stem cell characteristics, with significantly stronger chondrogenic capability compared to hOFMSCs. Moreover, hFCSCs showed remarkably increased expression of SOX9. During cartilage pellet culture, there was stronger SOX9 expression in hFCSCs than hOFMSCs. SOX9 shRNA interference downregulated chondrogenic capability of hFCSCs in vitro, as well as disrupting migration and chondrogenic differentiation of GFP⁺ FCSCs toward mature chondrocytes in rat condylar cartilage defect. Of note, SOX9 expression was also found suppressed in the condylar superficial zone of TMJOA patients.

CONCLUSION

We found the existence of FCSCs in human TMJ cartilage, and characterized their distinct stem cell features. SOX9 is essential for hFCSCs chondrogenic differentiation, and a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory role of SOX9 in hFCSCs would be important for exploring potential intervention strategy of condylar cartilage degradation during TMJ disorders.

0682 Evaluation Of An Incentive-based Intervention To Improve 90-day Adherence In Pap-naive Patients

Introduction

Although PAP therapy is the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, adherence to treatment is suboptimal. Without sustained therapy adherence, patients are at risk of serious negative health outcomes. The objective of this study was to test whether a digitally delivered monetary and social reward program helped patients new to PAP therapy. Financial incentive schemes are effective in helping patients adhere to difficult medication or therapy plans. Additionally, there is an abundance of evidence that social support is a critical component to long-term health behavior change.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, single site pilot is evaluating the effectiveness of an app-based intervention in helping patients adhere to PAP therapy. The financial incentive design leverages loss aversion, and the social incentive design leverages the strength of close ties and variable reinforcement. The primary endpoint is mean PAP usage at 3 months. Secondary endpoints include Medicare compliance, change in functional status, and baseline scores of perceived disease severity, claustrophobia, coping skills, and health literacy as moderators of the intervention’s effectiveness. Study recruitment is ongoing, with an expected sample size of 150 subjects.

Results

Of the 132 subjects enrolled, 56% are male, 61% are Caucasian, and 65% are married. The mean age is 49.6 ± 12.0 years and mean BMI is 32.4 ± 8.4 kg/m2. Additional demographics such as income level, education level, and number of children along with the primary and secondary endpoints will be presented. A subgroup analysis of the primary endpoint will be generated for subjects identified as strugglers within the first 3 days of usage.

Conclusion

The results of this study will provide insight into methods such as financial and social incentives delivered via a smartphone on initial compliance with PAP therapy, as well as provide more information on the behavioral change associated with beginning PAP therapy.

Support

ResMed

0126 Local Slow Wave Sleep and Post-Stroke Brain Repair

Introduction

Recent evidence suggests that slow wave sleep (SWS) is important for synaptic plasticity and brain repair following stroke. Previous studies described a progressive increase in whole cortex and contralesional regional delta power during sleep after stroke, suggesting a global increase in SWS. However, these studies did not distinguish between the effects of global vs. local SWS. We hypothesized that local changes in SWS delta power would parallel changes in the functional remapping and circuit repair.

Methods

To study SWS in living mice we used Thy-1-GCaMP6f mice (n=12), serially imaged (baseline, 24 hours, weeks 1, 4,) during sleep following photothrombotic stroke of the left forepaw somatosensory cortex (S1FP). An optical fluorescence imaging system (OFI) was used to image whole-cortex neuronal activity. The evolution of local delta activity was compared across three ROIs: 1) infarct, 2) perilesional remapped, and 3) perilesional non-remapped left.

Results

The photothrombotic infarct encompassed the left S1FP stimulus map, resulting in significant attenuation of S1FP evoked responses at week 1; however, a small region of activation was retained in posterior left S1FP (peri-lesional remapped). The infarct region demonstrated a decrease in delta power during sleep; however, the perilesional region of future remapping exhibited a rebound in focal delta power at 1 week after an initial decline at 24 hours. In the perilesional non-remapped area delta power decreased, but did not increase until week 4. We also observed an early wide-spread increase in delta power at 24 hours and week 1 that decreased on week 4.

Conclusion

With the high spatial resolution of OFI, we find that SWS is disrupted throughout the brain following focal ischemia. These data suggest that local SWS selectively increases in the region of remapping prior to repair of that circuit and that local SWS may play a role in brain repair following stroke.

Support

AASM Foundation #183-PA-18, #201-BS-18

[Epidemiological investigation on clinical characteristics of 801 inpatients with chronic wounds]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of 801 inpatients with chronic wounds. Methods: The medical records of patients with chronic wounds who were admitted to the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA (hereinafter referred to as the author's unit) from January 2013 to December 2017, including gender, occupation, wound type, age, department distribution, recovery status, recovery time, hospitalization time, hospitalization cost, treatment method, clinical outcome, and medical expenses were retrospectively analyzed. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: Of 245 037 inpatients admitted to the author's unit within 5 years, 801 (3.3‰) patients with chronic wounds met the inclusion criteria. The composition ratio of chronic wound patients during the 5 years was 2.4‰ (106/44 230)-3.9‰ (191/49 342). Among chronic wound patients, there were 527 males and 274 females, with manual labor, retired, and unemployed patients accounted for a large proportion. The main type of chronic wound was unhealed wound after surgery, accounting for 28.2% (226/801), followed by diabetic wound, accounting for 22.7% (182/801) and traumatic wound, accounting for 16.5% (132/801). There was statistically significant difference in gender distribution of patients with different types of chronic wounds (χ(2)=28.236, P<0.05). The main types of wound in male patients were unhealed wound after surgery, diabetic wound, and traumatic wound, while the main types of wound in female patients were diabetic wound and unhealed wound after surgery. There was statistically significant difference in the age group distribution of patients with different types of chronic wounds (P<0.01). Patients aged 41-60 years had a high incidence of unhealed wound after surgery and traumatic wound, and patients aged 61-80 years had a high incidence of diabetic wound. Patients with chronic wounds in department of orthopedics had the highest recovery rate, followed by comprehensive department. There were statistically significant differences in hospitalization time and hospitalization cost of patients with chronic wounds admitted to different departments (χ(2)=47.390, 107.390, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in cure status and cure time of patients with chronic wounds admitted to different departments (χ(2)=7.163, 15.510, P>0.05). Patients treated with surgery in combination with drug had higher recovery rates than patients given other treatment methods. There was no statistically significant difference in the cure rate of patients with different treatment methods (χ(2)=7.600, P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in cure time, hospitalization cost, and hospitalization time of patients given different treatment methods (χ(2)=38.067, 130.520, 130.890, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in hospitalization cost and hospitalization time of patients with different clinical outcomes (χ(2)=2.070, 5.790, P>0.05). The total medical cost of 801 patients with chronic wounds was about 47 million yuan, of which the total hospitalization cost per capita was 50, 725 yuan, with a minimum of 1 164 yuan and a maximum of about 1.16 million yuan per capita, and with drug and materials costs accounted for high proportions of the total cost. Conclusions: Patients with chronic wounds in the author's unit are mainly physical labor and middle-aged and elderly people, with more male patients than female patients. The main type of wound is unhealed wound after surgery, which brings serious economic burden to the patients and the society. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the public knowledge about chronic wounds and improve the awareness of prevention and treatment.

Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antipseudomonal bacteriophage therapy in rats: a proof-of-concept study

OBJECTIVES

Pan-drug-resistant (PDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the three top-priority pathogens identified by the WHO, and bacteriophages have been investigated as an alternative therapy. However, knowledge on the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of phage therapy is sparse, limiting its clinical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the PK/PD of the antipseudomonal phage øPEV20 in vivo following intravenous administration.

METHODS

Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were given øPEV20 as a single intravenous bolus of ~6, 9 and 11-log₁₀PFU/rat. Arterial blood was sampled over 72 h. At 72 h, the animals were killed and multiple tissues were harvested for biodistribution studies. A PK model was developed using the importance sampling algorithm and deterministic simulations with a PD model were performed.

RESULTS

A three-compartment model with non-linear clearance described the exposure of øPEV20 in blood. Model evaluation indicated that the model was robust and parameter estimates were accurate. The median (standard error) values of model-predicted PK parameters for V_C, V_P1, V_P2, Q₁, Q₂, V_m and K_m were 111 mL/rat (8.5%), 128 mL/rat (4.97%), 180 mL/rat (4.59%), 30.4 mL/h/rat (19.2%), 538 mL/h/rat (4.97%), 4.39 × 10¹⁰ PFU/h/rat (10.2%) and 1.64 × 10⁷ PFU/mL/rat (3.6%), respectively. The distribution of øPEV20 was not homogeneous; there was preferential accumulation in the liver and spleen. Deterministic simulations with a PD model confirmed the importance of the host immune system in facilitating phage-mediated bacterial elimination.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a robust PK model to describe the disposition of phages in healthy rats. This model may have significant potential in facilitating future preclinical and clinical PK/PD investigations.

[AMG-102 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells by regulating c-Met/PI3K/Akt pathway]

Objective: To investigate the effects of c-Met inhibitor AMG-102 on the proliferation and apoptosis of laryngeal squamous carcinoma Hep-2 cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep-2 cells were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L AMG-102, respectively. The proliferation activities of Hep-2 cells were detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The apoptotic rate of Hep-2 cells was detected by flow cytometry analysis and Hoechst staining. The mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase Chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the protein expressions of c-Met/PI3K/AKT pathway were detected by western blot. Results: Compared with the control group, the proliferation rates of Hep-2 cells treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L AMG-102 for 24 hours were (89.8±1.1)%, (79.8±1.0)% and (69.1±1.2)%, respectively; for 48 hours were (76.8±2.0)%, (60.2±1.1)% and (49.8±1.2)%, respectively; for 72 hours were (50.1±2.0)%, (41.5±1.1)% and (33.6±1.0), respectively, with significant differences (all P<0.05). The apoptotic rates of Hep-2 cells treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L AMG-102 for 48 hours were (16.09±1.53)%, (27.51±2.02)% and (36.57±1.42)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than (3.62±0.10) % in the control group (all P<0.05). After treated with 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L AMG-102 for 48 hours, the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA in Hep-2 cells were 0.58±0.13, 0.38±0.12 and 0.20±0.13, respectively; the relative protein expression of p-Met were 80.0±3.8, 50.6±4.2 and 28.5±1.3, respectively; the relative protein expression of p-PI3K were 87.1±0.9, 54.2±1.2 and 21.0±1.2, respectively; the relative protein expression of p-AKT were 98.7±5.6, 56.9±3.2 and 32.2±4.3, respectively; which were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The relative expression levels of Bax mRNA were 1.78±0.13, 2.37±0.14 and 3.05±0.13, respectively, and the relative expression levels of caspase-3 mRNA were 1.98±0.14, 2.47±0.14 and 3.15±0.13, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: c-Met inhibitor AMG-102 could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of laryngeal squamous carcinoma Hep-2 cells by regulating the c-Met/PI3K/Akt pathway.

[Disparity of minnesota multiphasic personality inventory between positions and its relationship with job burnout in a general hospital]

Objective: To explore the difference of personality characteristics of physicians, nurses, medical skills and administrative personnel in a general hospital and its influence on job burnout. Methods: Employee entered the hospital before 2018 were enrolled in the current study and the position was classified as physicians, nurses, medical technician and administrative staff. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was completed by the employee at the time of entering the hospital. Status of job burnout was assessed in 2018 using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) . Results: Physicians have a higher rate of paranoia than others (P<0.05) , and administrative staff and medical technician have a slightly higher score than the other two categories of people (P<0.05) , and administrators lie at a higher rate than others (P<0.05) . Further analysis found that personality traits did not have a significant association with job burnout at the time of entry. Conclusion: The administrative and medical staff is slightly more irritable, the administrative staff lying slightly higher score, the staff after the entry of job burnout is not affected by the personality characteristics of the onboarding.

[Effect of c-Met inhibitor AMG-102 on radiosensitivity in laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of c-Met inhibitor AMG-102 on proliferation and radiosensitivity in laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Methods: The effects of AMG-102 on proliferation and radiosensitivity of laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell lines Hep-2 and KBV200 were detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethy-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and colony formation assay, respectively. The apoptosis of Hep-2 and KBV200 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of c-Met, phospho-Met (p-Met), cleaved caspase-3 and Akt/p-Akt, Erk/p-Erk were detected by Western blot. Specific small interfering RNA targeting c-Met or plasmid of c-Met were transfected into Hep-2 and KBV200 cells to investigate the cell sensitivity to AMG-102. Results: Compared with KBV200 cells, Hep-2 cells were more sensitive to AMG-102 with IC(50) of 14 and 9 μmol/L, respectively. The relative expression levels of c-Met and p-Met proteins in Hep-2 cells were 194.48±0.57 and 177.76±1.53, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in KBV200 cells (171.24±1.00 and 115.37±0.56, respectively, P<0.001 for both). Exogenous hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was added to increase the expression level of p-Met protein in KBV200 cells. The results showed that AMG-102 significantly reduced the expression of p-Met in KBV200 cells treated with HGF (P<0.001). Compared with the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, AMG-102 treatment combined with radiotherapy significantly increased the radiosensitivity of Hep-2 cells (SER=1.28, P<0.001). However, AMG-102 had little effect on the radiosensitivity of KBV200 cells (SER=1.18, P=0.002). Compared with the 4 Gy radiotherapy alone group and the 5 μmol/L of AMG-102 alone treatment group, the apoptosis rate of Hep-2 cells in the combined treatment group was significantly increased. Meanwhile, the expression level of cleaved caspase-3 protein was also markedly increased. However, there were no significant changes in the apoptotic rate and cleaved caspase-3 expression in each treatment group of KBV200 cells. Compared with DMSO treatment group, the expression levels of p-Met, p-Akt and p-Erk were significantly decreased in the 4 Gy radiotherapy group, 5 μmol/L of AMG-102 treatment group and combined treatment group of Hep-2 cells. And the levels of p-Met, p-Akt and p-Erk in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the 4 Gy radiotherapy alone group and 5 μmol/L of AMG-102 treatment alone group. By contrast, in KBV200 cells, the expression of p-Met, p-Akt and p-Erk in each group was not changed. The relative expression of p-Met in Hep-2 cells before and after radiotherapy at 30 min, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h were 99.89±0.61, 138.62±1.00, 163.07±5.00, 87.80±1.85, 90.67±0.65 and 94.09±1.41, respectively. The level of p-Met was slightly increased after radiotherapy at 30 min and 1 h (P<0.001 for all), whereas it was significantly decreased from 4 h to 24 h after radiotherapy (P<0.05 for all). By contrast, the expression of p-Met in KBV200 cells did not change with time after radiotherapy (P>0.05). The sensitivity of Hep-2 cells to AMG-102 was decreased after silencing of c-Met, while the sensitivity of KBV200 cells to AMG-102 was not significantly changed (P>0.05). Moreover, the radiosensitivity of Hep-2 cells in c-Met knockdown group had a slightly increasing trend (SER=1.07, P=0.068). After the treatment with 10 μmol/L of AMG-102, the proliferation rate of c-Met ectopically expressed KBV200 cells was 60.05%±3.23%, It was significantly lower than that of the blank control 90.08%±1.04% and siRNA negative control (90.12%±1.01%, P<0.001). The results suggested that the overexpression of c-Met in KBV200 cells increased the radiosensitivity to AMG-102, whereas depletion of c-Met resulted in resistance to AMG-102 in Hep-2 cells. Furthermore, the radiosensitivity of KBV200 cells that overexpressed c-Met showed a decreased trend (SER=0.7, P=0.005). Conclusions: c-Met inhibitor AMG-102 has a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of c-Met overexpressing laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells, leading to increased radiosensitivity. It suggests that molecular targeted therapy against c-Met receptor is more effective in c-Met overexpressed subtype of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Association between Skeletal Muscle Strength and Dysphagia among Chinese Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults

OBJECTIVES

Swallowing disorder is a health burden for the elderly in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of dysphagia and to test the association between skeletal muscle strength and swallowing problems among community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community-dwelling Chinese elderly in China.

PARTICIPANTS

3361 adults aged 65 years or above were involved, among which 1740 (51.8%) were female, with average age of 72.64 (Standard deviation, SD=6.10) years old.

MEASUREMENTS

Handgrip strength (HGS) was used to evaluate skeletal muscle strength. Dysphagia assessment was performed using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) and the 30mL water swallow test (WST). Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between skeletal muscle strength and dysphagia, and covariates as age, gender, material status, etc. were adjusted.

RESULTS

The prevalence of dysphagia were 5.5% and 12.9%, screened by EAT-10 and 30mL WST respectively. Participants with dysphagia showed lower HGS (21.73 ± 9.20 vs. 25.66 ± 11.32, p<0.001, by EAT-10; 20.26 ± 9.88 vs. 26.22 ± 11.28, p<0.001, by WST). The adjusted model suggested that muscle strength is a protective factor for swallowing disorders (adjusted OR=0.974, 95%CI: 0.950-0.999, by EAT-10; adjusted OR=0.952, 95%CI: 0.933-0.972, by WST). Subgroup analyses of WST found the effects were significant among participants aged in 70-74 years group and ≥75 years group, rather than those aged under 70.

CONCLUSION

Dysphagia was significantly associated with skeletal muscle strength among the community-dwelling elderly population. Effective interventions should be taken to manage the decline of muscle strength for the older adults, especially early prevention before 70 years old.

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 is required for silkworm metamorphosis

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 (Vps4) not only functions with its positive regulator vacuolar protein sorting 20-associated 1 (Vta1) in the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway but also participates alone in MVB-unrelated cellular processes. However, its physiological roles at the organism level remain rarely explored. We previously identified their respective homologues Bombyx mori Vps4 (BmVps4) and BmVta1 from the silkworm, a model organism for insect research. In this study, we performed fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot to globally characterize the transcription and protein expression profiles of BmVps4 and BmVta1 during silkworm development and in different silkworm tissues and organs. The results showed that they were significantly up-regulated in metamorphosis, adulthood and embryogenesis relative to larval stages, and displayed a roughly similar tissue-and-organ specificity for transcriptions in silkworm larvae. Importantly, BmVps4 was down-regulated during the early period of the fifth instar, reaching the lowest level of transcription on Day 6, then up-regulated from Day 7 to the wandering, spinning and pupal stages, and down-regulated again in adulthood. Moreover, knocking down BmVps4 by RNA interference significantly inhibited silk gland growth, shortened spinning time, prolonged pupation, reduced pupal size and weight, and increased moth wing defects. Together, our data demonstrate the critical and broad requirements for BmVps4 in silkworm metamorphosis.