DPSCs regulate epithelial-T cell interactions in oral submucous fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous lesion characterized by fibrous tissue deposition, the incidence of which correlates positively with the frequency of betel nut chewing. Prolonged betel nut chewing can damage the integrity of the oral mucosal epithelium, leading to chronic inflammation and local immunological derangement. However, currently, the underlying cellular events driving fibrogenesis and dysfunction are incompletely understood, such that OSF has few treatment options with limited therapeutic effectiveness. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have been recognized for their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis capabilities, making them promising candidates to treat a range of immune, inflammatory, and fibrotic diseases. However, the application of DPSCs in OSF is inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the pathogenic mechanism of OSF and, based on this, to explore new treatment options.

METHODS

A human cell atlas of oral mucosal tissues was compiled using single-cell RNA sequencing to delve into the underlying mechanisms. Epithelial cells were reclustered to observe the heterogeneity of OSF epithelial cells and their communication with immune cells. The results were validated in vitro, in clinicopathological sections, and in animal models. In vivo, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of DPSCs were characterized by histological staining, immunohistochemical staining, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

RESULTS

A unique epithelial cell population, Epi1.2, with proinflammatory and profibrotic functions, was predominantly found in OSF. Epi1.2 cells also induced the fibrotic process in fibroblasts by interacting with T cells through receptor-ligand crosstalk between macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-CD74 and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). Furthermore, we developed OSF animal models and simulated the clinical local injection process in the rat buccal mucosa using DPSCs to assess their therapeutic impact and mechanism. In the OSF rat model, DPSCs demonstrated superior therapeutic effects compared with the positive control (glucocorticoids), including reducing collagen deposition and promoting blood vessel regeneration. DPSCs mediated immune homeostasis primarily by regulating the numbers of KRT19 + MIF + epithelial cells and via epithelial-stromal crosstalk.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the current ambiguity surrounding the cause of OSF and the limited treatment options available, our study reveals that epithelial cells and their crosstalk with T cells play an important role in the mechanism of OSF and suggests the therapeutic promise of DPSCs.

Cardiac contractility modulation and subcutaneous defibrillator (S-ICD): First experience with simultaneous implantation

BACKGROUNDS

Two technologies, cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD), can be successfully combined and applied to patients with advanced heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

CASE REPORT

We reported a case of a 51-year-old man with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF = 33%) and a narrow QRS complex who first underwent simultaneous implantation of CCM and S-ICD.

CONCLUSION

Our case report aimed to reveal that the simultaneous implantation of CCM and S-ICD could be successfully used in patients with advanced HF, which could significantly improve the clinical symptoms of such patients during one surgery.

Conversion of THz refractive index variation to detectable voltage change realized by a graphene-based Brewster angle device

The Brewster effect has been previously reported as an essential mechanism for terahertz (THz) wave sensing application. However, generally in a sensing application, a complex rotation apparatus is required for detecting the slight change in Brewster angle. Here, we propose a graphene-based Brewster angle device operating at a specific terahertz frequency capable of sensing the refractive index at a fixed incident angle. In other words, our sensing device could avoid the impact of Brewster angle shift and eliminate the need for high-precision rotating equipment, which is usually required in traditional sensing applications. The conversion from the refractive index to a Volt-level detectable voltage roots from the tunability of graphene's Fermi level in the external electrical field. A linear correlation between the output voltage and the background refractive index is observed and theocratically analyzed. Furthermore, we present the improvement of our device in terms of sensing range and sensitivity by adjusting the permittivity of the dielectric substrate. As a demonstration of our proposed device, a detection range of 1.1-2.4 and a sensitivity of 20.06 V/RIU for refractive index is achieved on a high-resistance silicon substrate operating at 0.3 THz.

Conductance of o-carborane-based wires with different substitution patterns

Here, we report the synthesis, structure, and single-molecule conductance of three o-carborane-based molecular wires (ortho-, meta- and para-CN) with multiple conduction channels. The effect of connectivity in target wires compared with the corresponding phenyl-centered wires was studied using the scanning tunneling microscope break junction (STM-BJ) technique and theoretical calculations. Interestingly, the three-dimensional structure in o-carborane-based wires can effectively promote the through-space transmission paths or the formation of stable molecular junctions compared to the corresponding phenyl-centered wires. Moreover, the significant conductance difference of o-carborane-based wires was due to the combination of multiple conduction channels and quantum interference. Understanding the effects of different bridging groups and anchor group substitution patterns provides guidelines for designing o-carborane-based multichannel molecular wires.

Chemometrics applied quantitative analysis of iron oxide mixtures by terahertz spectroscopy

A quantitative analysis method for corrosion products based on terahertz spectroscopy is proposed in this paper. Mixture samples consisting of three major corrosion products (magnetite, hematite, and goethite) were prepared in 51 different concentrations. The refractive index spectra measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy were projected to the 2D score diagram by performing principal component analysis. The Euclidean distances between the mixtures and pure analyte on the diagram were used to build a concentration prediction model. The results indicate that the established model can precisely predict the concentration of magnetite, which is essential for a stability evaluation of the corrosion system.

Nonlinear Properties of Benzothiadiazole-based Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Compounds

Intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) chromophores have received a lot of attention due to their wide range of applications in nonlinear optical materials. In this work, we introduced the electron-rich benzothiadiazole group...

CT-based radiomics to predict development of macrovascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Macrovascular invasion (MaVI) occurs in nearly half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at diagnosis or during follow-up, which causes severe disease deterioration, and limits the possibility of surgical approaches. This study aimed to investigate whether computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics analysis could help predict development of MaVI in HCC.

METHODS

A cohort of 226 patients diagnosed with HCC was enrolled from 5 hospitals with complete MaVI and prognosis follow-ups. CT-based radiomics signature was built via multi-strategy machine learning methods. Afterwards, MaVI-related clinical factors and radiomics signature were integrated to construct the final prediction model (CRIM, clinical-radiomics integrated model) via random forest modeling. Cox-regression analysis was used to select independent risk factors to predict the time of MaVI development. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to stratify patients according to the time of MaVI development, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) based on the selected risk factors.

RESULTS

The radiomics signature showed significant improvement for MaVI prediction compared with conventional clinical/radiological predictors (P < 0.001). CRIM could predict MaVI with satisfactory areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.986 and 0.979 in the training (n = 154) and external validation (n = 72) datasets, respectively. CRIM presented with excellent generalization with AUC of 0.956, 1.000, and 1.000 in each external cohort that accepted disparate CT scanning protocol/manufactory. Peel9_fos_InterquartileRange [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.98; P < 0.001] was selected as the independent risk factor. The cox-regression model successfully stratified patients into the high-risk and low-risk groups regarding the time of MaVI development (P < 0.001), PFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The CT-based quantitative radiomics analysis could enable high accuracy prediction of subsequent MaVI development in HCC with prognostic implications.

[The relationship between HPV integration and prognosis of cervical cancer]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) integration and prognosis of cervical cancer patients. Methods: The data of 82 patients with cervical cancer treated in the Radiotherapy Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2004 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into poor prognosis group (recurrence or metastasis after surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy) and good prognosis group based on a propensity score matching strategy.The HPV integration of the two groups were detected by whole exome sequencing to determine whether the integration sites were located in the common fragile sites (CFSs). HPV integration and integration into CFSs were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the enrolled 82 patients, 37 were divided in poor survival group and 45 in good survival group. A total of 90 integration breakpoints were identified, 30 of them occurred in poor prognosis group and 60 occurred in good prognosis group. In the poor prognosis group, HPV integration occurred in 20 patients, 13 of them were inserted in CFSs of 11 patients, and the numbers in good prognosis group were 26, 17, 11, respectively. There were no significantly statistical differences in the number of HPV integration events (P=0.289), HPV integration patients (P=0.735), CFSs integration events (P=0.427), and CFSs integration patients (P=0.591) between the two groups. In poor prognosis group, more CFSs integration events occurred in patients with metastasis than those in patients with only local recurrence (9 vs 2, P=0.003). Conclusions: No significant differences are observed in HPV integration and HPV integration into CFSs between cervical cancer patients with different prognoses. HPV integration into CFSs may be associated with distant metastasis.

D–π–A type ferrocene-substituted azobenzene photochromic switches: synthesis, structures, and electrochemical and photoisomerization studies

A series of D–π–A type azobenzenes with a ferrocenyl/ferrocenylethynyl electron donor at the para/meta-position have been synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and UV-vis spectroscopy.

MicroRNA-29b Promotes Subchondral Bone Loss in TMJ Osteoarthritis

Abnormal subchondral bone remodeling plays important roles during osteoarthritis (OA) pathology. Recent studies show that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in osteoarthritic subchondral bones exhibit a prominent pro-osteoclastic effect that contributes to abnormal subchondral bone remodeling; however, the pathologic mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we used a mouse model with OA-like change in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) induced by an experimentally unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) and found that the level of microRNA-29b (miR-29b), but not miR-29a or miR-29c, was markedly lower in BMSCs from subchondral bones of UAC mice as compared with that from the sham control mice. With an intra-articular aptamer delivery system, BMSC-specific overexpression of miR-29b by aptamer-agomiR-29b rescued subchondral bone loss and osteoclast hyperfunction in UAC mice, as demonstrated by a significant increase in bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and the gene expression of osteocalcin and Runx2 but decreased trabecular separation, osteoclast number and osteoclast surface/bone surface, and the gene expression of cathepsin K, Trap, Wnt5a, Rankl, and Rank as compared with those in the UAC mice treated by aptamer-NC (all P < 0.05). In addition, BMSC-specific inhibition of miR-29b by aptamer-antagomiR-29b exacerbated those responses in UAC mice. Notably, although it primarily affected miR-29b levels in the subchondral bone (but not in cartilage and synovium), BMSC-specific overexpression of miR-29b in UAC mice largely rescued OA-like cartilage degradation, including decreased chondrocyte density, cartilage thickness, and the percentage areas of proteoglycans and type II collagen, while BMSC-specific inhibition of miR-29b aggravated these characteristics of cartilage degradation in UAC mice. Moreover, we identified Wnt5a, but not Rankl or Sdf-1, as the direct target of miR-29b. The results of the present study indicate that miR-29b is a key regulator of the pro-osteoclastic effects of BMSCs in TMJ-OA subchondral bones and plays important roles in the TMJ-OA progression.

Carborane bridged ferrocenyl conjugated molecules: synthesis, structure, electrochemistry and photophysical properties

mono- and bis-carborane bridged ferrocenyl conjugated molecules 8–11 have been synthesized and systematically analyzed.

[Survival and prognostic factors analysis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). Methods: The clinical data of 99 patients with PNET from February 1, 1998 to February 1, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier and Log rank test. Multiviate Cox regression was applied to analyzed independent prognostic factor for patient survival. Results: Among the 99 patients, 81 were peripheral PNET(pPNET) and 18 were central PNET (cPNET) . Biopsy was performed exclusively in 16 cases, with R0 resection in 61 cases, with R1 resection in 4 cases, and with R2 resection in 18 cases. Twelve patients underwent surgery only, nine had chemotherapy only, and one received radiotherapy only. There were 72 patients who had combined treatment including chemotherapy, and 48 patients had combined therapy including radiotherapy. The one-year, three-year and five-year overall survival(OS) rates of the 99 PNET patients were 79.2%, 63.9% and 56.1% respectively, and median OS time was 14.0 months. The one-year, three-year and five-year progression free survival (PFS) rates of these patients were 42.7%, 25.7% and 19.8% respectively, and median PFS time was 8.0 months. The univariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis, surgical resection, numbers of cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy dose were the main factors affecting the OS (all P<0.05). Gender, age, lymph node metastasis, staging, and chemotherapy cycles were related to PFS in PNET patients (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the degree of surgical resection, chemotherapy cycle, and radiotherapy dosage were independent influencing factors of OS in PNET patients (risk ratio=1.856, 0.398, and 0.408, respectively, all P<0.05), and gender was an independent factor influencing PFS in PNET patients (risk ratio=0.494, P<0.05). Conclusions: Comprehensive therapy is the main therapy for PNET patients. The surgical resection, cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy dosage are independent prognostic factors for patient's OS.

[Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a report of 233 cases by a single team]

Objective: To summary the experience of 233 cases of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) performed by a single surgical team. Methods: Data of patients undergoing LPD from September 2012 to October 2016 were reviewed. There were 145 males and 88 females with the mean age of(60.3±13.0)years old, ranging from 19 to 92 years old, and the mean body mass index of (22.8±3.5)kg/m(2,) ranging from 16.3 to 36.8 kg/m(2). There were 195 patients with clinical manifestation and 54 patients who had the history of abdominal surgery. Results: LPD were performed on 233 patients by same surgical team consecutively. The mean operative time was(368.0±57.4)minutes. Mean blood loss was(203.8±138.6)ml. The postoperative morbidity rate was 33.5%, with 6.9% of grade B or C pancreatic fistula and 9.9% of bleeding. The reoperation rate was 5.6%. The mortality during 30 days after operation was 0.9%. Mean postoperative hospital stay was (18.1±11.2)days. Mean tumor size was (3.9±2.4)cm, and the mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 21.3±11.9.One hundred and sixty-three patients were diagnosed as malignant tumor, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma(n=84), cholangiocarcinoma(n=17), ampullary adenocarcinoma(n=55), duodenal adenocarcinoma(n=5), gastric cancer(n=1)and duel cancer (n=1) located in distal stomach and duodenum. Conclusion: The key point to make laparoscopic pancreaticduodenectomy a routine safe procedure is to operate the procedure under skilled hands in selected patients via suitable surgical approaches.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci for the bolting trait in Brassica rapa under vernalizing conditions

Premature bolting can occur occasionally during spring cultivation of heading Chinese cabbage in East Asia when the plants encounter low temperatures (vernalization), leading to economic loss. Breeding bolting-resistant cultivars is the best choice for solving this problem. We looked for QTLs responsible for varietal differences in the bolting trait in Brassica rapa under environmental conditions that promote vernalization. To achieve this goal, we constructed a linkage map with 107 simple sequence repeats and 54 insertion/deletion markers based on a segregating population of 186 F2 individuals. The resulting map consisted of 10 linkage groups and covered a total length of 947.1 cM, with an average genetic distance of 5.84 cM between adjacent markers. QTL analysis of the bolting trait was performed by two phenotypic evaluations (bolting index and flowering time) based on the scores in an F2 population in the spring of 2010, and scores in F2:3 families in autumn 2010 and spring 2011, respectively. Twenty-six QTLs that controlled bolting were detected, accounting for 2.6 to 31.2% of the phenotypic variance. The detected QTLs with large effects co-localized mainly on linkage groups A02, A06, and A07. These QTLs may provide useful information for marker-assisted selection in a breeding program for late bolting or bolting-resistant cultivars in B. rapa crops.

Structural determinants in the second intracellular loop of the human cannabinoid CB1 receptor mediate selective coupling to G(s) and G(i)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The cannabinoid CB(1) receptor is primarily thought to be functionally coupled to the G(i) form of G proteins, through which it negatively regulates cAMP accumulation. Here, we investigated the dual coupling properties of CB(1) receptors and characterized the structural determinants that mediate selective coupling to G(s) and G(i).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A cAMP-response element reporter gene system was employed to quantitatively analyze cAMP change. CB(1)/CB(2) receptor chimeras and site-directed mutagenesis combined with functional assays and computer modelling were used to determine the structural determinants mediating selective coupling to G(s) and G(i).

KEY RESULTS

CB(1) receptors could couple to both G(s)-mediated cAMP accumulation and G(i)-induced activation of ERK1/2 and Ca(2+) mobilization, whereas CB(2) receptors selectively coupled to G(i) and inhibited cAMP production. Using CB(1)/CB(2) chimeric receptors, the second intracellular loop (ICL2) of the CB(1) receptor was identified as primarily responsible for mediating G(s) and G(i) coupling specificity. Furthermore, mutation of Leu-222 in ICL2 to either Ala or Pro switched G protein coupling from G(s) to G(i), while to Ile or Val led to balanced coupling of the mutant receptor with G(s) and G(i) .

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The ICL2 of CB(1) receptors and in particular Leu-222, which resides within a highly conserved DRY(X)(5) PL motif, played a critical role in G(s) and G(i) protein coupling and specificity. Our studies provide new insight into the mechanisms governing the coupling of CB(1) receptors to G proteins and cannabinoid-induced tolerance.

[Research of Hg2+ sol-gel membrane made of organically modified silicates]

A photochemical sensor for the determination of Hg2+ consisting of organically modified silicates (ormosils) was developed. Hg(2+)-sensitive fluorescent sol-gel films were prepared by co-condensation of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and dimethyldimethoxysilane (DMOS), and the fluorescent indicator 5,10,15, 20-tetra (p-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin sodium was embedded in sol-gel in the form of ion pairs with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. The optimization condition of preparation and response performance of sol-gel membrane were investigated. The experimental results showed a linear range of Hg2+ concentrations from 1.0 x 10(-5) to 1.0 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) in a Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.0 with fast response and good repetition. The indicators in the sol-gel membrane did not leak out and the sensor showed good selectivity over other metal ions.

A time-temperature rheological study of konjac glucomannan hydrocolloid

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is one of the most versatile soluble biomaterials having wide-ranging applications. The shear storage, G', and loss, G", moduli of this hydrocolloid were recorded as functions of angular frequency varying from 0.1 to 100.0 rad/s and temperature from 5 to 50 degrees C. It was found that both G' and G" mainly increase with angular frequency in the range from 0.1 to 100 rad/s. As the temperature increases from 5 to 95 degrees C, the values of G' and G" decrease. A novel criterion for the thermorheologically simple material, and a procedure to calculate the shift factor from the angular frequency sweep and temperature ramp data were presented. By these methods, the KGM hydrocolloid is found to obey the TTS principle as log G" and log G' are less than 1.529 and 1.436, respectively. The Williams-Landel-Ferry equation can describe the shift factor of the KGM hydrocolloid.

Size and folding in globular proteins

We have modeled protein folding by packing a unified length of regular structural elements (alpha-helices and beta-sheets) into a 'cube'. In a globular protein with m alpha-helices and n beta-strands, this unified length is expressed in units of heptapeptides in alpha-helices, and in units of tripeptides in beta-strands. Calculations using published data show that a 4-helix bundle (m = 4, n = 0) has at least 2 x 2 x 2 helical heptapeptides; the 16-strand beta-barrel of porin (m = 0, n = 16) is at most 4 x 4 x 4 tripeptides in beta-strands. Compact, recurring protein modules with mixed helices and beta-strands are the ones that actually acquire a geometrically quasi-spherical, or cubic, shape.

Prime numbers and the amino acid code: analogy in coding properties

Natural numbers are characterized as being odd or even, prime or non-prime. If the quaternary information units of (DNA or RNA) nucleotide bases are assigned as 0 (for A), 1 (C), 2 (U or T) and 3 (G), then a unique set of amino acid numbers can be obtained by comparing the properties of numbers and coding properties. These numbers are: 0 for "stop" signals, 1 for Trp, 2 for Ile and 3 for Met. For other codons, synonymous quartets follow exclusively the P1 number series (prime numbers of the form 4n + 1); doublets mostly follow the P3 series (primes with quaternary remainder 3). A "one-to-one correspondence" between these numbers and the genetic code is established by considering their combinatorial specificities.

Kinetics of Delignification: A Molecular Approach

A treelike model has been proposed for the structure of lignin. Kinetics of delignification are formulated to account for the cleavage of linkages along the linear primary chains and at the cross-links. Experimental data obtained from isothermal delignification are used to verify this theory. Good agreement has been obtained in calculating the delignification curves. Activation energies are found to be 172 kilojoules per mole of cross-links and 132 kilojoules per mole of aryl ether bonds.