Thermochemical conversion of silkworm by-product into syngas

This study explored the valorisation of silkworm by-product, a major by-product of the silk industry (sericulture), which amounts to 16 million tonnes annually. The focus was on transforming waste into energy resources through pyrolysis under CO2 conditions. In one-stage pyrolysis, the evolution of syngas under N2 was found to be comparable to that under CO2. A notable allocation of carbon to biocrude rather than syngas was observed. The two-stage pyrolysis resulted in increased syngas production. However, achieving a homogeneous reaction between CO2 and the volatiles liberated from silkworm byproduct proved challenging. Indeed, the reaction kinetics governing CO2 reactivity was not fast although the temperature windows of the reaction were aligned in the two-stage pyrolysis. To address this issue, pyrolysis was performed using a Ni-based catalyst to expedite the reaction kinetics. Consequently, syngas formation, particularly CO formation, was significantly enhanced under CO2 conditions compared to that under N2 conditions. The syngas yield under CO2 was 36.42 wt% which was 2-fold higher than that of N2. This suggested the potential of CO2 altering the carbon distribution from biocrude to syngas. This strategy would contribute to the establishment of sustainable production of silk by converting sericulture by-product into energy/chemical resources.

Biological aging in maltreated children followed up into middle adulthood

BACKGROUND

Childhood adversity has been linked to many indicators of shorter healthy lifespan, including earlier onset of disease and disability as well as early mortality. These observations suggest the hypothesis that childhood maltreatment may accelerate aging.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the relationship between childhood maltreatment and accelerated biological aging in a prospective cohort of 357 individuals with documented cases of childhood maltreatment and 250 controls matched on demographic and socioeconomic factors.

METHODS

Cases were drawn from juvenile and adult court records from the years 1967 through 1971 in a large Midwest metropolitan geographic area. Cases were defined as having court-substantiated cases of childhood physical or sexual abuse, or neglect occurring at age 11 or younger. Controls were selected from the same schools and hospitals of birth and matched on age, sex, race, and approximate socioeconomic status. We compared biological aging in these two groups using two blood-chemistry algorithms, the Klemera-Doubal method Biological Age (KDM BA) and the PhenoAge. Algorithms were developed and validated in data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) using published methods and publicly available software.

RESULTS

Participants (55% women, 49% non-White) had mean age of 41 years (SD=4). Those with court substantiated childhood maltreatment history exhibited more advanced biological aging as compared with matched controls, although this difference was statistically different for only the KDM BA measure (KDM BA Cohen's D=0.20, 95% CI=[0.03,0.36], p = 0.02; PhenoAge Cohen's D=0.09 95% CI=[-0.08,0.25], p = 0.296). In subgroup analyses, maltreatment effect sizes were larger for women as compared to men and for White participants as compared to non-White participants, although these differences were not statistically significant at the α= 0.05 level.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

As of midlife, effects of childhood maltreatment on biological aging are small in magnitude but discernible. Interventions to treat psychological and behavioral sequelae of exposure to childhood maltreatment, including in midlife adults, have potential to protect survivors from excess burden of disease, disability, and mortality in later life.

Synergistic effects of CO2 on complete thermal degradation of plastic waste mixture through a catalytic pyrolysis platform: A case study of disposable diaper

Consumption of diverse plastics has posed an environmental threat because their disposal practices, landfilling and incineration, release toxic chemicals and microplastics into all environmental media. Indeed, heterogeneous matrix of plastic wastes makes them hard to be disposed. As such, this study aimed to introduce an environmentally benign/reliable disposal platform for complete decomposition of plastic wastes. Pyrolysis process was adapted to convert plastics into syngas, and a disposable diaper (DD) was used as model plastic waste, because it is composed of a variety of polymeric materials. Pyrolysis of DD resulted in the formation of gaseous products and pyrogenic oils, composed of (oxygenated) hydrocarbons. Nonetheless, reactivity of CO₂ as an oxidant in pyrolysis of DD was negligible. To impart the strong/desired reactivity of CO₂, Ni-based catalyst was adopted. Ni catalyst enhanced H₂ and CO formations 4 and 15 times more than pyrolysis without catalyst at 700 °C under CO₂. The value-added syngas production was originated from the reduction of polymeric waste, and its derivatives including aromatic compounds. Thus, CO₂ offered a strategic means to produce value-added chemicals and reduce aromaticity of pyrogenic products. The observations could offer an innovative way to control the fate of toxic chemicals derived from plastic pyrolysis.

NTRK- and RET-fusion-directed therapy in pediatric thyroid cancer yields a tumor response and radioiodine uptake

BACKGROUND

Molecular characterization in pediatric papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), distinct from adult PTC, is important for developing molecular targeted therapies for progressive 131I-refractory PTC.

METHODS

PTC samples from 106 pediatric patients (age: 4.3-19.8 years; 21 boys) who attended Seoul National University Hospital (January 1983-March 2020) were available for genomic profiling. Previous transcriptome data from 125 adult PTCs were used for comparison.

RESULTS

Genetic drivers were found in 80 tumors; 31 with fusion oncogenes (RET in 21, ALK in 6, and NTRK1/3 in 4), 47 with point mutations (BRAFV600E in 41, TERTC228T in 2, and DICER1 variants in 5), and 2 with amplifications. Fusion-oncogene PTCs, predominantly detected in younger patients, presented with a more advanced stage and showed more recurrent or persistent disease than BRAFV600E PTCs, which were detected mostly in adolescents. Pediatric fusion PTCs (in those aged < 10 years) showed lower expression of thyroid differentiation genes, including SLC5A5, than adult fusion PTCs. Two girls with progressive 131I-refractory lung metastases harboring a TPR-NTRK1 or CCDC6-RET fusion received fusion-targeted therapy; larotrectinib and selpercatinib decreased the tumor extent and restored radioiodine uptake. The girl with the CCDC6-RET fusion received 131I therapy combined with selpercatinib, leading to a tumor response. In vitro 125I uptake and 131I clonogenic assays showed that larotrectinib inhibited growth and restored radioiodine avidity.

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric fusion-oncogene PTC cases with 131I-refractory advanced disease, selective fusion-directed therapy may restore radioiodine avidity and lead to a dramatic tumor response, underscoring the importance of molecular testing in pediatric PTC patients.

FUNDING

The Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (grant number NRF-2016R1A2B4012417 91 and 2019R1A2C2084332), the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number 92 H14C1277), the Ministry of Education (grant number 2020R1A6A1A03047972), and the Seoul 93 National University Hospital Research Fund (grant number 04-2015-0830).

Valorization of synthetic textile waste using CO2 as a raw material in the catalytic pyrolysis process

Since an invention of synthetic fibers (textiles), our life quality has been improved. However, the cumulative production and disposal of them have perceived as significant since they are not biodegradable and hard to be upcycled/recycled. From washing textiles, microplastics are released into the environment, which are regarded as emerging contaminants. As a means for source reduction of microplastics, this study proposed a rapid disposal platform for waste textiles (WTs), converting them into value-added products. To this end, catalytic pyrolysis of WT was studied. To offer more environmentally sound process, CO₂ was used as a raw material for WT pyrolysis. Thermal cracking of WT led to the production of syngas and CH₄ under the CO₂ environment. CO₂ resulted in additional CO production via gas phase reaction with volatile compounds evolved from pyrolysis of WT. To expedite the reaction kinetics for syngas formation, catalytic pyrolysis was done over Co-based catalyst. Comparing to non-catalytic pyrolysis, CO₂-assisted catalytic pyrolysis had 3- and 8-times higher production of H₂ and CO, respectively. This process also suppressed catalyst deactivation, converting more than 80 wt% of WT into syngas and CH₄. The more generation of CO from the use of CO₂ as a raw material offers an effective means to minimize the formations of harmful chemical species, such as benzene derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Long-term natural history of transient constrictive pericarditis

Background

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of a potentially-reversible, transient/ subacute form of constrictive pericarditis (CP). To date, studies have been small with lack of long-term longitudinal follow-up.

Purpose

We aimed to elucidate the causes and natural history of subacute CP.

Methods

Patients were included if (1) they had a diagnosis of CP, (2) had cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 12 months of symptom onset with evidence of pericardial delayed enhancement/ inflammation (Figure) (3) received anti-inflammatory medications.

Results

A total of 78 individuals were included, comprising 61 men (78%) with a mean age of 59±14 years. Causes of subacute CP included idiopathic/ viral pericarditis (58%), post-pericardiotomy (29%), autoimmune (6%), radiation therapy (3%) and others (4%). After median follow-up of 4.4 years, 31 (40%) required pericardiectomy. There were no deaths.

Patients who underwent pericardiectomy had longer duration of symptoms at presentation [6 (4–9) vs. 3 (2–5) months, P&lt;0.01], were more likely to be on diuretic therapy (87 vs. 45%, P&lt;0.001), had lower ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein [4.4 (2.6–13.1) vs. 11.95 (1.8–61.55) mg/dl, P&lt;0.001] and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate [5 (2–10) vs. 25 (6–43 mm/hr), P=0.031] compared to those who were managed medically. There were no other significant differences in clinical characteristics or baseline anti-inflammatory therapy. The presence of elevated inflammatory markers (HR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06–0.58, P&lt;0.01) was an independent predictor of freedom from pericardiectomy after adjustment for relevant clinical and imaging parameters.

Conclusions

We present the original observations of the largest cohort of patients with transient CP to date and demonstrate that increased inflammatory markers were independently associated with long-term freedom from pericardiectomy. Our results suggest that a trial of anti-inflammatory therapy in the setting of elevated inflammatory markers may be appropriate prior to referral for surgery given the possible reversibility.

Pericardial delayed enhancement

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

0558 Sleep Disordered Breathing and Right Ventricular Electrocardiographic and Functional Characteristics in Group 1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Introduction

Right ventricular (RV) electrophysiologic and functional alterations related to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are not well understood. We hypothesize an association between SDB and RV electrophysiological/functional measures in World Symposium of Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH) Group 1 PAH.

Methods

The NHLBI multicenter PVDOMICS study (NCT02980887) enrolls patients with PAH undergoing a battery of assessments including home sleep apnea testing(NOX-T3, Carefusion®) or with historical sleep study data. Logistic(OR,95%CI) and linear(beta coefficients,95%CI) regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), PAH medications, supplemental oxygen(O2), positive airway pressure(PAP) were used to assess associations of SDB(apnea hypopnea index,(AHI), ≥3% desaturations(hypopnea), percentage recording time with SaO2&lt;90% (TRT&lt;90%) with electrocardiographic measures: RV hypertrophy(RVH), right bundle branch block(RBBB), and right axis deviation(RAD), echocardiographically-derived RV systolic pressure(RVSP) and RV ejection fraction(RVEF) from cardiac MRI. Analyses were performed based on an overall significance level of 0.05, using SAS software (version 9.4, Cary, NC).

Results

The analysis consisted of 182 PAH participants with age: 52.5±13.9 years, 71.4% female, 88.9% Caucasian, BMI:30.3±7.8 kg/m2, RVEF: 37.3±11.6, and RVSP: 67.0±23.4. None of the electrocardiographic measures were associated with AHI and only RVH was significantly associated with TRT&lt;90% (1.25:1.09,1.43),p=0.001. Although AHI was not associated with RVSP, a 10% increase in TRT&lt;90% was associated with a 2.60mmHg increase in RVSP (2.60:1.44,3.76),p&lt;0.001. Each 10-unit increase in AHI was associated with a 2.72% reduction of RVEF (-2.72:-4.89,-0.56),p=0.014, and each 10-unit increase in TRT&lt;90% was associated with a 0.72% reduction of RVEF (-0.72:-1.38,-0.06),p=0.033.

Conclusion

We identify nocturnal hypoxia as a predictor of RV electrophysiological and functional alterations even after consideration of confounding factors. SDB as determined by AHI was also more so associated with reduced RVEF than hypoxia. Future mechanistic studies should focus on further elucidation of SDB and nocturnal hypoxia on pathogenesis of RV dysfunction in PAH.

Support

U01HL125218/U01HL125205/U01HL125212/U01HL125208/U01HL125175/U01HL125215, U01HL125177/Pulmonary Hypertension Association

Clinicopathological features of programmed cell death-1 and programmed cell death-ligand-1 expression in the tumor cells and tumor microenvironment of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified

The expression patterns of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) and their clinicopathological implications were investigated in peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) including angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) and PTCL-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). PTCL-NOS was further classified into nodal PTCL with follicular helper T cell (Tfh) phenotype ("PTCL-Tfh_new") and "PTCL-NOS_new". PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and reactive immune cells was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (PD-1^T and PD-L1^T, respectively) was interpreted as positive when more than 5% of tumor cells expressed PD-1 or PD-L1. For PD-1 and PD-L1 on tumor cells and/or reactive immune cells (PD-1^T + IC and PD-L1^T + IC, respectively), a cutoff of 10% of cells was used. PD-1^T, PD-L1^T, and PD-L1^T + IC expressions tended to be higher in AITLs than in PTCLs-NOS. PD-1^T, PD-1^T + IC, PD-L1^T, and PD-L1^T + IC expressions tended to be higher in PTCLs with Tfh phenotype including AITLs and "PTCL-Tfh_new" than in PTCLs without Tfh phenotype. The serum LDH level was significantly elevated in patients with PTCL positive for PD-L1^T (P = 0.006) and PD-L1^T + IC (P < 0.001). Patients with PTCL who were positive for combined expression of PD-1^T/PD-L1^T + IC presented at older ages (P = 0.010), nodal diseases (P = 0.001), higher IPI (P = 0.060), and elevated LDH (P = 0.030). Combined PD-1^T/PD-L1^T + IC positivity was related to shorter overall survival in patients with AITL (P = 0.051). Combined PD-1^T/PD-L1^T + IC positivity was a significant poor prognostic factor in patients with stage IV AITL, independent of B symptoms and performance status (HR = 6.282 [CI, 1.655-23.844], P = 0.007). In summary, the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway could be a potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarker for PTCL.

Programmed cell death ligand-1-mediated enhancement of hexokinase 2 expression is inversely related to T-cell effector gene expression in non-small-cell lung cancer

Background

We investigated the role of PD-L1 in the metabolic reprogramming of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Changes in glycolysis-related molecules and glycolytic activity were evaluated in PD-L1^low and PD-L1^high NSCLC cells after transfection or knockdown of PD-L1, respectively. Jurkat T-cell activation was assessed after co-culture with NSCLC cells. The association between PD-L1 and immune response-related molecules or glycolysis were analyzed in patients with NSCLC and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

Transfecting PD-L1 in PD-L1^low cells enhanced hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rates, but minimally altered GLUT1 and PKM2 expression and oxygen consumption rates. By contrast, knocking-down PD-L1 in PD-L1^high cells decreased HK2 expression and glycolysis by suppressing PI3K/Akt and Erk pathways. Interferon-γ (IFNγ) secretion and activation marker expression was decreased in stimulated Jurkat T-cells when co-cultured with HK2-overexpressing vector-transfected tumor cells rather than empty vector-transfected tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with HK2 expression in NSCLC (p < 0.001). In TCGA, HK2 exhibited a positive linear association with CD274 (PD-L1) expression (p < 0.001) but an inverse correlation with the expression of CD4, CD8A, and T-cell effector function-related genes in the CD274^high rather than CD274^low group. Consistently, there were fewer CD8⁺ T-cells in PD-L1^positive/HK2^high tumors compared to PD-L1^positive/HK2^low tumors in squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusions

PD-L1 enhances glycolysis in NSCLC by upregulating HK2, which might dampen anti-tumor immunity. PD-L1 may contribute to NSCLC oncogenesis by inducing metabolic reprogramming and immune checkpoint.

Cancer Panel Assay for Precision Oncology Clinic: Results from a 1-Year Study

Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based cancer panel tests are actively being applied in the clinic for precision oncology. Given the importance of NGS panel tests in the palliative clinical setting, it is critical to understand success rates, factors responsible for test failures, and the incidence of clinically meaningful genetic alterations. We performed NGS cancer panel test with tumors from the stomach (n = 234), colorectum (n = 196), and rare tumors (n = 105) from 535 recurrent or metastatic cancer patients for 1 year. Sequencing was successful in 483 (95.3%) archival tumor samples to find single nucleotide variant (SNV), copy number alteration (CNA), and fusion. NGS testing was unsuccessful in 52 (9.7%) specimens due to inadequate tissue (n = 28), low tumor volume (n = 19), and poor quality of nucleic acid (n = 5). According to the Tier system, variants were classified as Tier IA, 0.8%; IIC, 10.3%; IID, 2.0%; III, 66.7% for gastric: Tier IA, 3.6%; IIC, 11.6% for colorectal: Tier IA, 1.6%; IIC, 13.5%; IID, 0.5%; III, 70.8% for melanoma, and Tier IA, 9.1%; IIC, 1.8%; IID, 1.0%; III, 66.4% for GIST. In total, 30.8% of 483 sequenced cases harbored clinically meaningful variants. In Tier IA, KRAS and ERBB2 were the most commonly altered genes. Interestingly, we identified CD274 (PD-L1) amplification, PTPN11 (SHP2) SNV, TPM3-NTRK1 fusion, and FGFR3-TACC3 fusion as a rare (<2%) alteration having therapeutic targets. In conclusion, although small biopsy samples constitute half of cases, informative NGS results were successfully reported in >90% of archival tissue samples, and 30.8% of them harbored clinically meaningful variants.

Orange peel valorization by pyrolysis under the carbon dioxide environment

To valorize biomass waste, pyrolysis of orange peel was mainly investigated as a case study. In an effort to establish a more sustainable thermolytic platform for orange peel, this study particularly employed CO₂ as reactive gas medium. Accordingly, this study laid great emphasis on elucidating the mechanistic role of CO₂ in pyrolysis of orange peel. The thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed that no occurrence of the heterogeneous reactions between the solid sample and CO₂. However, the gaseous effluents from pyrolysis of orange peel experimentally proved that CO₂ effectively suppressed dehydrogenation of volatile matters (VMs) evolved from the thermolysis of orange peel by random bond scissions. Moreover, CO₂ reacted VMs, thereby resulting in the formation of CO. Note that the formation of CO was being initiated at temperatures ≥550 °C. The two identified roles of CO₂ led to the compositional modification of pyrolytic oil by means of lowering aromaticity.

High tumoral PD-L1 expression and low PD-1+ or CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are predictive of a poor prognosis in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system

We investigated the clinicopathological role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system (PCNS-DLBCL) arising in the immune-privileged site. PD-L1 immunostaining of ≥30% of tumor cells was defined as tPD-L1+, and PD-L1 immunostaining of ≥30% of total cellularity, including tumor and non-tumoral cells, as tmPD-L1+ . PD-1⁺ and CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were enumerated. Thirty-five cases (35.7%) were tPD-L1+ and 47 cases (48%) were tmPD-L1+ . The number of TILs was greater in tmPD-L1+ cases than in tmPD-L1- cases (CD8⁺, P= .050; PD-1⁺, P= .019). tPD-L1+ and tmPD-L1+ cases tended to have a poor performance status. In contrast, the numbers of CD8⁺ and PD-1⁺ TILs tended to be higher in patients with a good performance status and MYC/BCL2 negativity. Patients with tPD-L1+ had a worse overall survival (P= .026), and those with increased CD8⁺ or PD-1⁺ TILs tended to have a better overall survival (P= .081 and 0.044, respectively). Tumoral PD-L1 expression and the number of PD-1⁺ TILs were independent prognostic factors. tPD-L1+ patients with a small number of CD8⁺ or PD-1⁺ TILs had the worst prognosis, and tPD-L1- patients with a large number of CD8⁺ or PD-1⁺ TILs had the best prognosis. In validation group, increased CD8⁺ or PD-1⁺ TILs were significantly associated with a prolonged survival, but PD-L1 had no prognostic significance. In conclusion, PD-L1 is frequently expressed in tumor cells and the immune microenvironment of PCNS-DLBCL and is correlated with increased TILs. PD-L1 and CD8⁺ and PD-1⁺ TILs have potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in PCNS-DLBCL.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm with unusual extracutaneous manifestation: Two case reports and literature review

RATIONALE

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy. This disease almost always presents with cutaneous involvement.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The 1st patient was a 16-year-old girl who presented with recurrent epistaxis. The 2nd patient was a 17-year-old female who presented with nasal obstruction and voice change for a month.

DIAGNOSES

In the 1st patient, sinonasal computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.9-cm sized, polypoid mass in the nasal cavity. In the 2nd patient, CT scans revealed a large enhancing nasopharyngeal mass involving adenoid and several small indeterminate lymph nodes at the neck. Cutaneous examination was unremarkable for either patient. Biopsy of these 2 masses and bone marrow biopsy were performed. Histologic diagnosis of the 2 cases was BPDCN.

INTERVENTIONS

Both patients were treated with induction chemotherapy and received allogenic peripheral blood stem-cell transplant.

OUTCOMES

No relapse was observed in the 2 patients for 14 and 11 months, respectively, after transplantation. Interestingly, they had no skin lesions at initial diagnosis or during the course of their illness.

LESSONS

We 1st identified nasal cavity as an unusual site of BPDCN. BPDCN should be considered in differential diagnosis of blastic leukemia with an undifferentiated and ambiguous immunophenotype despite the absence of skin lesions.