Cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar volume loss in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

BACKGROUND

Many neuroscience and neurology studies have forced a reconsideration of the traditional motor-related scope of cerebellar function, which has now expanded to include various cognitive functions. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3; the most common hereditary ataxia) is neuropathologically characterized by cerebellar atrophy and frequently presents with cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize cognitive impairment in SCA3 and investigate the cerebellum-cognition associations.

METHODS

This prospective, cross-sectional cohort study recruited 126 SCA3 patients and 41 healthy control individuals (HCs). Participants underwent a brain 3D T1-weighted images as well as neuropsychological tests. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region of interest (ROI) approaches were performed on the 3D T1-weighted images. CERES was used to automatically segment cerebellums. Patients were grouped into cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively preserved (CP), and clinical and MRI parameters were compared. Multivariable regression models were fitted to examine associations between cerebellar microstructural alterations and cognitive domain impairments.

RESULTS

Compared to HCs, SCA3 patients showed cognitive domain impairments in information processing speed, verbal memory, executive function, and visuospatial perception. Between CI and CP subgroups, the CI subgroup was older and had lower education, as well as higher severity scores. VBM and ROI analyses revealed volume loss in cerebellar bilateral lobule VI, right lobule Crus I, and right lobule IV of the CI subgroup, and all these cerebellar lobules were associated with the above cognitive domain impairments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate the multiple cognitive domain impairments in SCA3 patients and indicate the responsible cerebellar lobules for the impaired cognitive domain(s).

Rapid Immunodot AQP4 Assay for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Importance

Immunoglobulin G autoantibodies for aquaporin 4 (AQP4-IgG) serve as diagnostic biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and the most sensitive and specific laboratory tests for their detection are cell-based assays (CBAs). Nevertheless, the limited availability of special instruments limits the widespread use of CBAs in routine laboratories.

Objective

To validate an enzyme immunodot assay for simple and rapid detection of AQP4-IgG.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter case-control study, conducted from May 2020 to February 2023, involved 4 medical centers (3 in China and 1 in Korea). The study included patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD, patients with other immune-related diseases, and healthy control individuals. Participants were excluded if they did not agree to participate or if their serum sample had turbidity.

Exposures

Serum AQP4 antibodies measured with immunodot assay.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was performance of the immunodot assay compared with the gold standard CBA for detecting AQP4-IgG. To examine generalizability, cross-validation in Korea and at a second site in China, validation of patients with other immune-related diseases, and follow-up validation of the original cohort were performed.

Results

A total of 836 serum samples were collected; 400 were included in the diagnostic study and 436 in the validation sets. In a head-to-head diagnostic study involving 200 patients with NMOSD with AQP4-IgG (mean [SD] age, 43.1 [13.5] years; 188 [94%] female) and 200 healthy controls, use of an immunodot assay demonstrated antibody detection performance comparable to that of the gold standard (κ = 98.0%). The validation sets included 47 patients with NMOSD and 26 patients with other autoimmune diseases from Korea, 31 patients with NMOSD at a second site in China, 275 patients with other diseases, and 57 patients with NMOSD at follow-up. In the validation study, of 436 cases, 2 (<1%) were false positive and none were false negative. The CBA identified 332 AQP4-IgG-positive samples and 504 negative samples (200 [40%] in controls and 304 [60%] in patients with other diseases); 2 of the positive cases (<1%) were false negative and 4 of the negative cases (<1%) were false positive. The overall sensitivity of the immunodot assay was 99.4% (95% CI, 97.8%-99.9%), and the specificity was 99.2% (95% CI, 98.0%-99.8%).

Conclusions and Relevance

This case-control study found that the immunodot assay was comparable to CBA for detecting AQP4-IgG. With its time- and cost-efficient characteristics, the immunodot assay may be a practical option for AQP4-IgG detection.

Computed Tomography-Based Delta-Radiomics for Early Prediction of Short-Term Response to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with NSCLC

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study aimed to investigate the possibility of CT-based delta-radiomics for early prediction of short-term response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy and determine the optimal time point for prediction of short-term response.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Twenty patients with NSCLC who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy were prospectively enrolled. A total of 1210 delta-radiomic features (ΔRFs) were calculated from each planning and follow-up three weekly CTs per patient. The feature selection for ΔRFs was performed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation, ANOVA-test or Mann-Whitney U-test, and univariate logistic regression. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was preliminarily used to evaluate the prediction ability of short-term responses (first and third months) at different time points (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

Of the 1210 ΔRFs for weeks 1-3, 121 common features were retained after ICC and Pearson's correlation. Subsequently, 54 and 58 features at all time points were significantly different between the response group and non-response group for the first and third months, respectively (P< 0.05). Subsequently, 11 and 44 features remained after univariate logistic regression for the first and third months, respectively. Finally, eight ΔRFs that were able to discriminate short-term responses at both the first and third months with statistical accuracy were identified.

CONCLUSION

CT-based delta-radiomics may potentially provide reasonable biomarkers of short-term response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for NSCLC, which can help improve clinical decisions for early treatment adaptation.

Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of different types of congenital preauricular fistulas in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical features of congenital preauricular fistula (CPF) in pediatric patients to improve the levels of diagnosis and treatment, reduce the rates of missed diagnosis and recurrence, and shorten the total diagnosis and treatment time.

METHODS

A total of 353 patients with CPF who were admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology in The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January 2019 and December 2021 was enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Follow ups for 12-42 months were performed to investigate the classification, surgical methods, and postoperative conditions of CPF and to compare the recurrence rate, complication rate, and total diagnosis and treatment time between the active infection CPF group (AICPFG) and infection-controlled/non-infected CPF group (IC/NICPFG).

RESULTS

In 316 cases (89.5%) out of the 353 patients, the natural fistula orifice was located in front of the crus helicis; in 33 cases (9.4%), the natura fistula orifice was located at the crus helicis; and in 4 cases (1.1%), the natura fistula orifice was located in the external acoustic meatus. The AICPFG had 52 cases (14.7%), including 1 case (0.28%) of recurrence and 2 cases (0.56%) of infection at the incision site. The IC/NICPFG had 301 cases (85.3%), including 4 cases (1.13%) of recurrence, 6 cases (1.7%) of infection at the incision site, and 1 case (0.28%) of scar formation at the incision site. There were no significant differences in the recurrence rates and postoperative complications between the AICPFG and IC/NICPFG (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the total diagnosis and treatment time between the AICPFG and IC/NICPFG (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A reasonable classification of CPF, use of appropriate surgical methods, and belonging to the AICPFG do not increase the recurrence and complication rates of children but shorten the total treatment course, relieve patients' suffering, reduce treatment costs, and achieve a better clinical prognosis.

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Dehydroepiandrosterone Derivatives by Iron-catalyzed Stereoselective Hydroamination

The direct modification of structurally complex natural product dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) through Iron-catalyzed direct hydroamination of DHEA with various nitro(hetero)arenes was carried out to afford 5α-arylamino-DHEAs (1-25) in good yields (53-72%). Though as a radical reaction, it features high stereoselectivity, and only the 5α-substituted derivatives were produced. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these synthesized compounds against the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell was evaluated, showing that most of DHEA analogues possessed the moderate cytotoxic activity. The preliminary structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the electron-withdrawing groups installed at the para-position of arylamine ring had a great contribution to the improvement of the DHEA's cytotoxic potency. Among them, (4-trifluoromethylaniline)-DHEA (4) displayed the most potent cytotoxicity, with an IC₅₀ value of 19.3 μM, which was 2.3-fold more active than DHEA.

The promising significance of liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin in the prevention of early diabetic nephropathy

OBJECTIVE

To explore the significance of liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin in the prevention of early diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its effects on renal function indices.

METHODS

Three hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated in our hospital from April 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively included and divided into two groups according to different treatment regimens. Among them, 150 patients who received liraglutide alone were included in the single-drug group, and 150 patients treated with liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin were included in the combination group. The baseline data and the improvement of inflammatory indices, blood glucose indices and renal function-related indices were compared between the two groups of patients.

RESULTS

The baseline data such as age, body mass index, retinopathy, and course of disease had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the waist-to-hip ratio, total body fat percentage, total body fat mass, total body lean mass, and A/G ratio were significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05) compared with before treatment, and were significantly lower in the combination group than in the single-drug group (P < 0.05). The combination group had significantly lower urinary transferrin (Tf), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), retinol-binding protein (RBP), homocysteine (Hcy), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 24 h urinary albumin excretion ratio (UAER), urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) levels, and higher secretory frizzled-related protein 5 levels than the single-drug group after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Liraglutide combined with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin treatment can effectively reduce the levels of Tf, NGAL and TNF-α in patients with T2DM, and improve the renal function in terms of IGF-1, RBP, Hcy, BNP, UAER, UACR, L-FABP, showing high treatment safety.

Chinese patients with hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs): a protocol for a hospital-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are uncommon but not rare neurodegenerative diseases. More than 100 pathogenic genes and loci related to spastic paraplegia symptoms have been reported. HSPs have the same core clinical features, including progressive spasticity in the lower limbs, though HSPs are heterogeneous (eg, clinical signs, MRI features, gene mutation). The age of onset varies greatly, from infant to adulthood. In addition, the slow and variable rates of disease progression in patients with HSP represent a substantial challenge for informative assessment of therapeutic efficacy. To address this, we are undertaking a prospective cohort study to investigate genetic-clinical characteristics, find surrogates for monitoring disease progress and identify clinical readouts for treatment.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In this case-control cohort study, we will enrol 200 patients with HSP and 200 healthy individuals in parallel. Participants will be continuously assessed for 3 years at 12-month intervals. Six aspects, including clinical signs, genetic spectrum, cognitive competence, MRI features, potential biochemical indicators and nerve electrophysiological factors, will be assessed in detail. This study will observe clinical manifestations and disease severity based on different molecular mechanisms, including oxidative stress, cholesterol metabolism and microtubule dynamics, all of which have been proposed as potential treatment targets or modalities. The analysis will also assess disease progression in different types of HSPs and cellular pathways with a longitudinal study using t tests and χ² tests.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was granted ethics committee approval by the first affiliated hospital of Fujian Medical University (MRCTA, ECFAH of FMU (2019)194) in 2019. Findings will be disseminated via presentations and peer-reviewed publications. Dissemination will target different audiences, including national stakeholders, researchers from different disciplines and the general public.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04006418.

Ultra-stable 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers with 2.5 × 10-16 frequency instability

Cavity-stabilized ultra-stable optical oscillators are one of the core ingredients in the ground-based or spaceborne precision measurements such as optical frequency metrology, test of special relativity, and gravitational wave observation. We report in detail the development of two ultra-stable systems based on 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet lasers and 20-cm optical cavities. The optical cavities adopt ultra-low-loss silica mirrors with compensating rings. An electro-optic crystal with a wedged angle is used to reduce the residual amplitude modulation. Using two-stage thermal control, long-term stabilities of 100 µK are achieved for the outer wall of the vacuum chamber housing the optical cavity. Two additional thermal shields increased the time constant of the optical cavities to 70 h. By operating the optical cavity at the temperature of zero coefficient of thermal expansion, the frequency stability reaches 2.5 × 10^-16 at 10 s averaging time and remains below 5 × 10^-16 with an extended time of 1000 s after removing the first- and second-order drifts. The dependence of the laser linewidth on the measurement time is tested against a simplified theoretical model.

Functions of a C-type lectin with a single carbohydrate-recognition domain in the innate immunity and movement of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

C-type lectins (CTLs) are a superfamily of proteins found in almost all vertebrates and invertebrates. They play an important role in innate immune defences, development and epidermal structure. Here, a CTL with one carbohydrate-recognition domain containing a highly conserved Gln-Pro-Asp (QPD) motif was identified in Tribolium castaneum and given the name TcCTL5. Spatiotemporal analyses showed that Tcctl5 was highly expressed in the late pupa stage and mainly existed in the central nervous system and haemolymph. The transcript level of Tcctl5 was prominently induced after bacterial infection. Recombinant TcCTL5 proteins (rTcCTL5) were found to bind to lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and tested bacteria and induce microbial agglutination in the presence of Ca²⁺ . Interestingly, when Tcctl5 was knocked down, the transcript level of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) (attacin1, defensins3, coleoptericin1 and cecropins3) was prominently downregulated after induction with Gram-negative Escherichia coli. More interestingly, Tcctl5 was knocked down, leading to increased mortality and loss of locomotor activity, which exhibited less travel distances among early adults. These results demonstrate that Tcctl5 plays an important role in the innate immune reaction and the movement of T. castaneum. Thus, it may represent an alternative molecular target for pest control and thus reduce the use of pesticides in agricultural production.

Cell migration and osteo/odontogenesis stimulation of iRoot FS as a potential apical barrier material in apexification

AIM

To investigate the in vitro biological effects of a nanoparticle bioceramic material, iRoot Fast Set root repair material (iRoot FS), on the proliferation, migration and osteo/odontogenic differentiation of human stem cells from the apical papilla (hSCAP), and to further explore the mechanism involved in osteo/odontogenic induction of iRoot FS.

METHODOLOGY

hSCAP were isolated and characterized in vitro. iRoot FS conditioned medium were prepared and used to treat hSCAP, while using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) conditioned medium as the positive control and regular medium as the negative control. MTT assay and BrdU labelling assay were performed to determine cell proliferation. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to evaluate cell migration. The osteo/odontogenic differentiation of hSCAP was evaluated by qPCR, Western blot and Alizarin red S staining. Wnt inhibitor was used for downregulating the expression level of β-catenin of hSCAP.

RESULTS

The cell proliferation of hSACP in the iRoot FS group was not significantly different compared with the control groups. The cell migration of hSCAP in the iRoot FS group was significantly increased than the MTA and negative control groups (P < 0.01). The expression levels of osteo/odontogenic markers and mineralization nodule formation of hSCAP in the iRoot FS group were significantly elevated (P < 0.01). Furthermore, iRoot FS enhanced the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of hSCAP by activating Wnt/β-catenin signalling.

CONCLUSIONS

iRoot FS promoted the cell migration of hSCAP and enhanced their oseto/odontogenesis potential via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway without cytotoxicity. iRoot FS had satisfactory biological properties and has potential to be used as an apical barrier in apexification or as a coronal sealing material in regenerative endodontic treatment.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of isolated mesenteric artery dissections

Objectives

Diagnosis and treatment of isolated mesenteric artery dissections (IMAD) are overlooked. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical feature, possible diagnostic errors and treatment methods.

Methods

From January 2010 to December 2017, 99 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with IMAD on computed tomography angiography were enrolled retrospectively. Thirty-nine misdiagnosed patients, false negative, and 60 accurate diagnosis patients with revealed IMAD were compared. In addition, therapeutic schemes were evaluated.

Results

Ninety-nine patients participated in this study; 39 patients (34 men, 5 women; median age, 51.41 years, range 38–64 years) were included in group A who were misdiagnosed initial visit; the remaining 60 patients (52 men, 8 women; median age, 52.07 years, range 38–68 years) with IMAD who were diagnosed accurately initial visit were included in group B. Significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to dissection length (55.26 ± 3.88 mm vs. 43.37 ± 2.75 mm; p = 0.01), and branch involvement (14 and 9, respectively; p = 0.04). Ultimately, 33 patients (group A 14 patients and group B 19 patients) underwent invasive interventional therapy, and 66 patients with conservative treatment with antithrombotic agents (group A 25 patients and group B 41 patients). A total of 86 (86.87%) had follow-up computed tomography angiography with a median duration of 24.51 months (range 2–71 months). Three patients died during follow-up. The remaining patients recovered smoothly.

Conclusion

Physicians should raise the awareness of IMAD and use the optimal treatment time frame. Diagnosis of IMAD depends on imaging examinations, especially computed tomography angiography. Additionally, conservative management is the most common initial treatment. For patients in whom conservative treatment fails, endovascular and/or surgery may be necessary.

A C-type lectin with a single carbohydrate-recognition domain involved in the innate immune response of Tribolium castaneum

C-type lectins are one of the pattern-recognition proteins involved in innate immunity in invertebrates. Although there are 16 C-type lectin genes that have been identified in the genome of Tribolium castaneum, their functions and mechanisms in innate immunity remain unknown. Here, we identified one C-type lectin orthologue, TcCTL6 (TC003708), by sequencing random clones from the cDNA library of the coleopteran beetle, T. castaneum. TcCTL6 contains a 654 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 217 amino acids that includes a single carbohydrate-recognition domain. The expression of TcCTL6 was significantly induced by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and stimulation with carbohydrates, including lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. A binding assay suggested that the recombinant TcCTL6 not only bound to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan but also bound to Gram-positive (S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in the presence of calcium ions. Furthermore, when TcCTL6 was knocked down by RNA interference, four antimicrobial peptides (attacin1, attacin2, coleoptericin1 and coleoptericin2) were significantly decreased. These results demonstrate that TcCTL6 plays a vital role in the immune response towards pathogen infection by influencing the expression of antimicrobial peptides and the agglutination of bacteria in the presence of calcium ions in T. castaneum.

Suppressing residual amplitude modulation to the 10-7 level in optical phase modulation

Residual amplitude modulation is one of the major stability-degrading factors in many precision measurements. Using an electro-optic (EO) crystal with wedged input and output surfaces is an effective way to suppress residual amplitude modulation. Here the mechanism of residual amplitude modulation in this approach is investigated. The residual amplitude modulations measured in standard and wedged EO crystals bear similarities in their temperature and polarization dependences, implying that a mixture of the two orthogonal polarizations in the extraordinary light is responsible for the residual amplitude modulation in the wedged EO crystal. Similar to a standard EO crystal, a non-uniform spatial distribution of residual amplitude modulation is also observed in the extraordinary light emerging from the wedged EO crystal. The optical isolator after the EO crystal is replaced by a Faraday rotator, and an improvement in the long-term stability is observed. With the wedged-crystal approach, residual amplitude modulation as low as 2×10^-7 is observed, contributing a frequency instability of 8×10^-18 (500 s) in Pound-Drever-Hall frequency stabilization with a discrimination slope of 1×10^-4  V/Hz.

A two-axis tilt control system on a turntable for rotating-optical-cavity experiments

Many precision measurements using rotating optical cavities have tight requirement on the level of a rotating platform on which the cavities are installed. We develop a single-stage tilt control system as one part of the experimental setup for testing Lorentz invariance using two optical cavities that are perpendicular to each other. Home built voice-coil actuators, together with a tilt sensor and control electronics, are adopted to simultaneously suppress the tilt of the rotating platform in two orthogonal directions. The large cross coupling between two orthogonal axes is observed, and its mechanism is examined. By adding a compensating weight, the loop instability resulting from the cross coupling is effectively removed. With the active control, the variation of the tilt around each of the two axes is reduced from the free-running value of ±30 µrad to within ±0.2 µrad, independently measured by using a second tilt sensor. This residual tilt has a component at the rotational frequency with an amplitude of 0.1 µrad, which contributes a systematical offset of 1.8 × 10^-17 to the Lorentz violating parameter κ _e- ^ZZ, estimated by assuming that the tilt sensitivity of the optical cavity is 1 × 10^-16/μrad. Further improvement is still possible by using piezo-electric actuators that exhibit higher resonant frequencies, a different approach that will suppress the residual variation of the tilt to within ±0.01 µrad and allow a reduced systematical offset of 1.8 × 10^-18 for κ _e- ^ZZ.

Genetic Polymorphisms of 18 Autosomal STR loci in Changsha Han Population

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 18 autosomal short tandem repeats （STR） loci in Changsha Han population, and explore the population genetic relationships and evaluate its application value in forensic medicine.

METHODS

The DNA of 2 004 unrelated individuals in Changsha Han population were amplified using Goldeneye^®DNA ID System BASIC, and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis using 3130xl genetic analyzer. The fragment sizes of alleles were analyzed subsequently by GeneMapper^® ID v3.2. The frequency data and forensic genetic parameters ［observed heterozygosity （Ho）, expected heterozygosity （He）, power of discrimination （DP） and polymorphic information content （PIC）］ of 18 STR loci were statistically analyzed. Total probability of discrimination （TDP）, probability of exclusion in trio cases （PE_trio） and probability of exclusion in duo cases （PE_duo） were calculated by Cervus 3.0. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium of the loci were detected by Arlequin v3.5. The results were compared with the available data of other populations from different races and regions.

RESULTS

The power of discrimination （DP）, and the polymorphic information content （PIC） of each locus of Changsha Han population ranged from 0.783 6 to 0.987 9 and 0.549 4 to 0.914 5, respectively. The TDP, cumulative probability of exclusion in trio cases （CPE_trio） and cumulative probability of exclusion in duo cases （CPE_duo） were 0.999 999 999 999 999 999 999 865 2, 0.999 999 979 and 0.999 988 325, respectively. According to the Nei's D_A genetic distance, the genetic distance between Changsha Han and Hunan Han populations was the smallest （0.014 1）, while it was the largest （0.041 8） between Changsha Han and Xinjiang Kazakh populations.

CONCLUSIONS

The 18 STR loci shows abundant genetic polymorphisms in Changsha Han population. The study of genetic diversity among different populations has an important meaning for the research of their origins, migrations and their relationships.

Detection and Analysis of 12 Suspected Amelogenin Allelic Loss Cases

OBJECTIVES

To observe and analyse the Amelogenin allelic loss in parent-child identification cases, and to explore the type and mechanism of Amelogenin allelic loss as well as its influence on gender identification and solutions.

METHODS

After the detection by SiFaSTR™ 23plex DNA identification system, samples had the characteristics of the peak area of Amelogenin X was the same as the one of adjacent heterozygote or lower than one half of adjacent homozygote in females while Amelogenin X loss was observed in males were selected. X chromosome STR （X-STR） typing and Amelogenin X sequencing were performed. The samples with Amelogenin Y loss in males were confirmed by the detection of Y chromosome STR typing and sex-determining region of Y （SRY）. The type and rate of Amelogenin allelic loss were confirmed and calculated, and the mechanism and influence of this variation were also analysed.

RESULTS

Amelogenin X allelic loss was observed in one male sample, the mutation in primer-binding region was confirmed by sequencing. The suspected Amelogenin X allelic loss was observed in four female samples, but the mutation in primer-binding region was confirmed by sequencing in only one sample. Amelogenin Y allelic loss was observed in seven male samples, SRY positive cases was detected in five of them, and two were SRY negative. Y-STR type was detected in four cases of the five SRY positive cases, which was not detected in the two SRY negative cases. The rate of Amelogenin allelic loss was about 0.029%.

CONCLUSIONS

Amelogenin X allelic loss does not affect the gender identification, but Amelogenin Y allelic loss may cause wrong gender identification. Thus, Y-STR or SRY should be detected for gender confirmation. When Y-STR genotypes are not detected in a "male" whose SRY detection is also negative, then the chromosome karyotype analysis and sex differentiation related genes test should be taken to further confirm the gender.

Antiviral Effect of Retro-2.1 against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 In Vitro

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection has been a public health concern worldwide. It is the leading cause of genital herpes and a contributing factor to cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No vaccine is available yet for the treatment of HSV-2 infection, and routinely used synthetic nucleoside analogs have led to the emergence of drug resistance. The small molecule Retro-2^cycl has been reported to be active against several pathogens by acting on intracellular vesicle transport, which also participates in the HSV-2 lifecycle. Here, we showed that Retro-2.1, which is an optimized, more potent derivative of Retro-2^cycl, could inhibit HSV-2 infection, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 5.58 μM and 6.35 μM in cytopathic effect inhibition and plaque reduction assays, respectively. The cytotoxicity of Retro-2.1 was relatively low, with a 50% cytotoxicity concentration of 116.5 μM. We also preliminarily identified that Retro-2.1 exerted the antiviral effect against HSV-2 by a dual mechanism of action on virus entry and late stages of infection. Therefore, our study for the first time demonstrated Retro-2.1 as an effective antiviral agent against HSV-2 in vitro with targets distinct from those of nucleoside analogs.

Ocnus is essential for male germ cell development in Drosophila melanogaster

The ocnus (ocn) gene encodes a protein abundant in the testes, implying its role in testis development. When Drosophila melanogaster is infected with the endosymbiont wMel Wolbachia, which affects the spermatogenesis of its hosts, ocn is downregulated in the third-instar larval testes, suggesting a role of ocn in spermatogenesis. In this study, we knocked down ocn in the testes and found that the hatch rates of embryos derived from ocn-knockdown males were significantly decreased, and 84.38% of the testes were much smaller in comparison to controls. Analysis of the smaller testes showed no germ cells but they had an extended hub. Using RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq), we identified 69 genes with at least a twofold change (q-value < 5%) in their expression after ocn knockdown; of these, eight testes-specific and three reproduction-related genes were verified to be significantly downregulated using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Three genes (orientation disruptor, p24-2 and CG13541) were also significantly downregulated in the presence of Wolbachia. Furthermore, 98 genes were not expressed when ocn was knocked down in testes. These results suggest that ocn plays a crucial role in male germ cell development in Drosophila, possibly by regulating the expression of multiple spermatogenesis-related genes. Our data provide important information to help understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying spermatogenesis.

[Mutation Analysis of 19 STR Loci in 20 723 Cases of Paternity Testing]

OBJECTIVES

To observe and analyze the confirmed cases of paternity testing, and to explore the mutation rules of STR loci.

METHODS

The mutant STR loci were screened from 20 723 confirmed cases of paternity testing by Goldeneye 20A system．The mutation rates, and the sources, fragment length, steps and increased or decreased repeat sequences of mutant alleles were counted for the analysis of the characteristics of mutation-related factors.

RESULTS

A total of 548 mutations were found on 19 STR loci, and 557 mutation events were observed. The loci mutation rate was 0.07‰-2.23‰. The ratio of paternal to maternal mutant events was 3.06:1. One step mutation was the main mutation, and the number of the increased repeat sequences was almost the same as the decreased repeat sequences. The repeat sequences were more likely to decrease in two steps mutation and above. Mutation mainly occurred in the medium allele, and the number of the increased repeat sequences was almost the same as the decreased repeat sequences. In long allele mutations, the decreased repeat sequences were significantly more than the increased repeat sequences. The number of the increased repeat sequences was almost the same as the decreased repeat sequences in paternal mutation, while the decreased repeat sequences were more than the increased in maternal mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant differences in the mutation rate of each locus. When one or two loci do not conform to the genetic law, other detection system should be added, and PI value should be calculated combined with the information of the mutate STR loci in order to further clarify the identification opinions.

[Study on the recent application of ear correction model in children with congenital auricular deformity]

Objective:To study the short-term effect of Earwell ear correction model on congenital auricular deformity in children. Method:Selected 38 children with ear malformation, a total of 42 ears, born at the age of 7 days to 176 days, and the average age was 62.40 days, and all of patients were used the U.S. Earwell correction model for correction. Result:Final auricular morphologic results were classified as excellent (normal shape), good (nearnormal shape), and poor (slight or no improvement). And the patients were divided into group 1 (neonatal period), group 2 (28-90 days) and group 3 (more than 90 days) according to age, after using the Earwell ear correction device, the result which evaluated excellent are 100.00%, 89.47% and 72.73% respectively, and the average correction times are 16.75 days, 26.26 days and 38.91 days respectively, the ratio of complications are 0, 73.68% and 100.00% respectively. Conclusion:The effection of Earwell ear correction model is significant for the correction of children with congenital auricular deformity , the earlier treatment cause the better result, the shorter of the correcting time , and the lower of the complication rate.

Platelet factor 4 upregulates matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in gingival fibroblasts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease that causes tooth loss, morbidity and confers an increased risk for systemic disease. Tissue destruction during periodontitis is due in large part to collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) released by resident cells of the periodontium in response to proinflammatory cytokines. Platelets are immune-competent blood cells with a newly recognized role in chronic inflammation; however, their role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is undefined. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of platelet factor 4 (PF4), a major platelet-derived cytokine, on MMP-1 (collagenase) expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

HGFs were cultured in the presence or absence of recombinant PF4. Pro-MMP-1 secretion was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of the cell culture supernatants. MMP-1 transcription was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Regulation of MMP-1 production by the p44/42 MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was examined in the presence or absence of PF4.

RESULTS

Exposure to PF4 caused a ~ 2-3-fold increase in MMP-1 transcription and secretion from cultured HGFs. PF4 treatment also enhanced phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, which has been previously shown to induce MMP-1 expression in fibroblasts. Blockade of p44/42 MAPK signaling with the cell-permeant inhibitors PD98059 and PD184352 abrogated PF4-induced pro-MMP-1 transcription upregulation and release from cultured HGFs.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that PF4 upregulates MMP-1 expression in HGFs in a p44/42 MAPK-dependent manner. These findings point to a previously unidentified role for platelets in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.

Advanced parental age and autism risk in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Advanced parental age has raised additional concern as a risk factor of autism. We conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies investigating the association between advanced parental age and risk of autism.

METHOD

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for reports published up to November 11, 2015. Risk estimates from individual studies were pooled using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the reference points, the lowest parental age category was associated with a reduced risk of autism in the offspring, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) 0.89 (95% confidence intervals [CIs] 0.75-1.06) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.73-0.89) for mother and father, respectively, and the highest parental age category was associated with an increased risk of autism in the offspring, with adjusted ORs 1.41 (95% CI 1.29-1.55) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.39-1.73) for mother and father respectively. Dose-response meta-analysis indicated that an increase of 10 years in maternal and paternal age was associated with an 18% and 21% higher risk of autism.

CONCLUSION

Advanced parental age was associated with an increased risk of autism in the offspring. More mechanistic studies are needed to further explain this positive association.

130 A CATALOG OF REFERENCE GENES WITH HIGH, MEDIUM, AND LOW LEVELS OF EXPRESSION DURING BOVINE IN VIVO PRE-IMPLANTATION DEVELOPMENT

Appropriate reference genes for accurate normalization in RT-PCR are essential for the study of gene expression. Ideal reference genes should not only have stable expression across stages of embryo development, but also be expressed at comparable levels to the target genes. Using RNA-seq data from in vivo-produced bovine oocytes and embryos from the 2-cell to blastocyst stage (Jiang et al., 2014 BMC Genomics 15, 756), we tried to establish a catalogue of all reference genes for RT-PCR analysis. One-way ANOVA generated 4055 genes that did not differ across stages. To reduce this list, we used the entire RNA-seq data set and first removed genes with a FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads) of <1, and then rescaled each gene’s expression values within a range of 0 to 1. We subsequently calculated the expression variance for each gene across all stages. By assuming that the calculated variances follow a Gaussian distribution and that the majority of the genes do not have a stable expression level, a gene was classified as a reference if its variance significantly deviated (P < 0.05) from these assumptions. We identified 346 potential reference genes, all of which were among the candidates from the ANOVA analysis. We arbitrarily assigned genes in this list to high (FPKM ≥ 100), medium (10 < FPKM < 100), and low expression levels (FPKM ≤ 10), and 37, 154, and 155 genes, respectively, fell into these groups. Surprisingly, none of the commonly used reference genes, such as GAPDH, PPIA, ACTB, PRL15, GUSB, and H3F2A, were identified as being stably expressed across in vivo development. This is consistent with findings of prior RT-PCR studies (Robert et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 67, 1465–1472; Ross et al. 2010 Cell Reprogram. 12, 709–717). The following gene ontology terms were significantly enriched for the 346 genes: cell cycle, translation, transport, chromatin, cell division, and metabolic process, indicating that the early embryos maintained constant levels of genes involved in fundamental biological functions. Finally, we performed RT-PCR to validate the RNA-seq results using different bovine in vivo-derived oocytes and embryos (n = 3/stage). We successfully validated 10 selected genes, including those in the high (CS, PGD, and ACTR3), medium (CCT5, MRPL47, COG2, CRT9, and HELLS), and low expression groups (CDC23 and TTF1). In conclusion, we recommend the use of reference genes that are expressed at comparable levels to target genes. This study offers a useful resource to aid in the appropriate selection of reference genes, which will improve the accuracy of quantitative gene expression analyses across bovine embryo pre-implantation development.

Catalpol: a potential therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders, e.g., Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons and subsequent cognitive decline. They are mainly found in older populations. Due to increasing life expectancies, the toll inflicted upon society by these disorders continues to become heavier and more prominent. Despite extensive research, however, the exact etiology of these disorders is still unknown, though the pathophysiological mechanisms have been attributed to oxidative, inflammatory and apoptotic injury in the brain. Moreover, there is currently no promising therapeutic agent against these neurodegenerative changes. Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside contained richly in the roots of the small flowering plant species Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, has been shown to have antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and other neuroprotective properties and plays a role in neuroprotection against hypoxic/ischemic injury, AD and PD in both in vivo and in vitro models. It may therefore represent a potential therapeutical agent for the treatment of hypoxic/ischemic injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Based on our studies and those of others in the literature, here we comprehensively review the role of Catalpol in neuroprotection against pathological conditions, especially in neurodegenerative states and the potential mechanisms involved.

Epithelial Microvesicles Promote an Inflammatory Phenotype in Fibroblasts

Microvesicles (MVs) are extracellular vesicles secreted by various cell types that are involved in intercellular communication. We hypothesized that in human periodontal disease, the pocket epithelium releases MVs, which then modulate gene expression in the underlying fibroblasts to control periodontal inflammation. MVs were isolated from culture medium of gingival epithelial cells (GECs) treated with oral bacterial biofilm extract or left untreated. Biofilm treatment significantly increased MV release from the GECs. Mass spectrometry of GEC-MVs identified a total of 2,173 proteins, of which about 80% were detected in MVs from both control and biofilm-treated GECs. Among 80 signature genes of human gingival fibroblasts, 20 were significantly regulated ( P < 0.05) by MVs from control and biofilm-treated GECs in a similar manner. Matrix metalloproteinase 1 and 3 and interleukin 6 and 8 showed the strongest regulation at the mRNA and protein levels. Several cellular signaling pathways were activated by GEC-MVs in human gingival fibroblasts, including Smad and mitogen-activated protein kinase–associated pathways ERK1/2, JNK, and p38. However, ERK1/2 signaling dominated in the MV-induced gene expression changes. The results demonstrate that GEC-MVs have a strong regulatory effect on the expression of fibroblast genes associated with inflammation and matrix degradation and that bacterial biofilm stimulates the generation of GEC-MVs. This suggests that bacterial biofilms can contribute to the initiation and progression of periodontal disease by promoting a tissue-destructive phenotype in gingival fibroblasts via the enhanced secretion of epithelial MVs.

A mechanistic study on tumour spheroid formation in thermosensitive hydrogels: experiments and mathematical modelling

Thermo-reversible microgels to culture and harvest uniform-sized tumour spheroids with a narrow size-distribution.

Developing a narrow-line laser spectrometer based on a tunable continuous-wave dye laser

We present the development of a dye-laser-based spectrometer operating at 550-600 nm. The spectrometer will be used to detect an ultra-narrow clock transition ((1)S0-(3)P0) in an Ytterbium optical lattice clock and perform high-resolution spectroscopy of iodine molecules trapped in the sub-nanometer channels of zeolite crystal (AlPO4-11). Two-stage Pound-Drever-Hall frequency stabilization is implemented on the tunable continuous-wave dye laser to obtain a reliable operation and provide stable laser radiations with two different spectral linewidths. In the first-stage frequency locking, a compact home-built intracavity electro-optic modulator is adopted for suppressing fast frequency noise. With an acquisition time of 0.1 s the 670-kHz linewidth of the free-running dye laser is reduced to 2 kHz when locked to a pre-stabilization optical cavity with a finesse of 1170. When the pre-stabilized laser is locked to a high-finesse optical cavity, a linewidth of 1.4 Hz (2 s) is observed and the frequency stability is 3.7 × 10(-15) (3 s). We also measure and analyze the individual noise contributions such as those from residual amplitude modulation and electronic noise. The ongoing upgrades include improving long-term frequency stability at time scales from 10 to 100 s and implementing continuous frequency scan across 10 GHz with radio-frequency precision.

Detection of human cytomegalovirus DNA in various blood components after liver transplantation

The quantification of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV DNA) by real-time PCR is currently a primary option for laboratory diagnosis of HCMV infection. However, the optimal sample material remains controversial due to the use of different PCR assays. To explore the best blood component for HCMV DNA surveillance after liver transplantation, whole blood (WB), serum (SE), and plasma (PL) specimens were collected simultaneously from targeted patients and examined for HCMV DNA using one commercially available assay. The HCMV DNA-positive rate with WB (16.67%) was higher than that with either SE or PL (8.33%, both P<0.01). Quantitative DNA levels in WB were of greater magnitude than those in SE (WB-SE mean log-transformed difference, 0.99; 95%CI=0.74-1.25; P<0.0001) and PL (WB-PL mean log-transformed difference, 1.37; 95%CI=1.07-1.66; P<0.0001). Dynamic monitoring revealed that HCMV DNA in WB was positive sooner and had higher values for a longer period of time during therapy. With earlier positive detection, higher sensitivity, and yield of greater viral loads, WB compared favorably to SE or PL and hence is recommended as the superior material for HCMV DNA surveillance after liver transplantation. In addition, infant recipients require more intensive monitoring and prophylactic care because of their higher susceptibility to primary HCMV infection.

Myosin 1e is a component of the glomerular slit diaphragm complex that regulates actin reorganization during cell-cell contact formation in podocytes

Glomerular visceral epithelial cells, also known as podocytes, are critical to both normal kidney function and the development of kidney disease. Podocyte actin cytoskeleton and their highly specialized cell-cell junctions (also called slit diaphragm complexes) play key roles in controlling glomerular filtration. Myosin 1e (myo1e) is an actin-based molecular motor that is expressed in renal glomeruli. Disruption of the Myo1e gene in mice and humans promotes podocyte injury and results in the loss of the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. Here, we have used biochemical and microscopic approaches to determine whether myo1e is associated with the slit diaphragm complexes in glomerular podocytes. Myo1e was consistently enriched in the slit diaphragm fraction during subcellular fractionation of renal glomeruli and colocalized with the slit diaphragm markers in mouse kidney. Live cell imaging studies showed that myo1e was recruited to the newly formed cell-cell junctions in cultured podocytes, where it colocalized with the actin filament cables aligned with the nascent contacts. Myo1e-null podocytes expressing FSGS-associated myo1e mutant (A159P) did not efficiently assemble actin cables along new cell-cell junctions. We have mapped domains in myo1e that were critical for its localization to cell-cell junctions and determined that the SH3 domain of myo1e tail interacts with ZO-1, a component of the slit diaphragm complex and tight junctions. These findings suggest that myo1e represents a component of the slit diaphragm complex and may contribute to regulating junctional integrity in kidney podocytes.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 10 is associated with poor survival in patients with early stage of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Matrix metallopeptidase 10 (MMP10) is frequently expressed and correlates closely with metastasis and poor prognosis in various human cancers. However, the significance of MMP10 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its role in ESCC progression remains unclear. In this report, upregulation of MMP10 mRNA was detected in 39/60 (65.0%) of primary ESCC tissues compared with their paired nontumor esophageal tissues. Tissue microarray (TMA) study found protein overexpression of MMP10 in 188/239 (78.7%) of primary ESCC tissues but not in their corresponding nontumor esophageal tissues, suggesting that overexpression of MMP10 may play important roles in ESCC development and progression. Although the overexpression of MMP10 was not significantly associated with disease-specific survival rate (P= 0.182) for all tested ESCCs, it was significantly associated with poorer disease-specific survival (P= 0.001) in early stage of ESCCs (I-IIA). In addition, multivariate analysis found that MMP10 expression in tumor tissues was evaluated as a potential independent prognostic factor for early stage ESCC patients. These findings suggest that MMP10 plays an important role in ESCC progression in the early stage, and overexpression of MMP10 in tumor tissues could be used as a potential prognostic marker for patients with early clinical stage of ESCC.

Annexin A1 expression and its prognostic significance in human breast cancer

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein and is considered to play an important role in tumorigenesis. However, the correlation between ANXA1 expression and tumor clinicopathological features in patients with breast cancer remains unclear. This study investigated the prognostic value of ANXA1 protein as breast cancer marker. Tissue microarray blocks, containing 20 cases of non-tumor breast tissue, 20 cases of benign breast lesion and 135 cases of breast cancer (107 with lymph node metastasis), were constructed. Expression of ANXA1 in these specimens was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. In non-tumor tissue and benign breast lesions, myoepithelial cells showed strong expression of ANXA1. Negative ANXA1 expression was significantly associated with advanced disease stage (P<0.05), especially pathological-N stage (P<0.01). The patients with loss of ANXA1 expression in tumor tissues showed a significantly worse overall survival compared with positive ones (P<0.05). ANXA1 did not correlate well with estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu status. Moreover, the level of ANXA1 expression in lymph node metastases was higher than corresponding primary breast cancer. These results suggest that ANXA1 may play a multifaceted role in breast cancer development, progression, and metastases.

Overexpression of clusterin correlates with tumor progression, metastasis in gastric cancer: a study on tissue microarrays

Clusterin (CLU) is expressed in a wide variety of human tissues and fluids. Overexpression of cytoplasmic clusterin (sCLU) has been implicated in cancer development and progression. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association of sCLU overexpression with clinicopathological features of human gastric carcinomas (GC).We constructed a gastric cancer tissue microarray containing 173 primary gastric carcinomas and 70 paired non-neoplastic mucosa specimens. The expression of sCLU was studied by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between sCLU expression and clinicopathological features, p53 abnormality, as well as Ki67 activation were analyzed. Overexpressions of sCLU was detected in 28.5% (n=165) of primary GCs by immunohistochemical staining, but not in non-neoplastic mucosa. Clinical association study found that overexpression of sCLU was significantly correlated with lymph-node metastasis (p < 0.001), tumor invasion (p < 0.001) and TNM stage (p < 0.001). In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, overexpression of sCLU was significantly correlated with unfavorable survival in advanced GCs (p < 0.03). Furthermore, the association of sCLU with abnormal expression of p53 was ascertained. These results suggested that overexpression of sCLU was involved in the progression of GC and it's oncogenic function might be associated with p53 abnormality. Overexpression of sCLU seems to be related with patient's shorter survival in late stage GC.

Expansion of mouse sertoli cells on microcarriers

BACKGROUND

Sertoli cells (SCs) have been described as the 'nurse cells' of the testis whose primary function is to provide essential growth factors and create an appropriate environment for development of other cells [for example, germinal and nerve stem cells (NSCs), used here]. However, the greatest challenge at present is that it is difficult to obtain sufficient SCs of normal physiological function for cell transplantation and biological medicine, largely due to traditional static culture parameter difficult to be monitored and scaled up.

OBJECTIVE

Operational stirred culture conditions for in vitro expansion and differentiation of SCs need to be optimized for large-scale culture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the culturing process for primary SC expansion and maintaining lack of differentiation was optimized for the first time, by using microcarrier bead technology in spinner flask culture. Effects of various feeding/refreshing regimes, stirring speeds, seed inoculum levels of SCs, and concentrations of microcarrier used for expansion of mouse SCs were also explored. In addition, pH, osmotic pressure and metabolic variables including consumption rates of glucose, glutamine, amino acids, and formation rates of lactic acid and ammonia, were investigated in culture.

RESULTS

After 6 days, maximal cell densities achieved were 4.6 x 10(6) cells/ml for Cytodex-1 in DMEM/FBS compared to 4.8 x 10(5) cells/ml in static culture. Improved expansion was achieved using an inoculum of 1 x 10(5) cells/ml and microcarrier concentration of 3 mg/ml at stirring speed of 30 rpm. RESULTS indicated that medium replacement (50% changed everyday) resulted in supply of nutrients and removal of waste products inhibiting cell growth, that lead to maintenance of cultures in steady state for several days. These conditions favoured preservation of SCs in the undifferentiated state and significantly increased their physiological activity and trophic function, which were assessed by co-culturing with NSCs and immunostaining.

CONCLUSION

Data obtained in this study demonstrate the vast potential of this stirred culture system for efficient, reproducible and cost-effective expansion of SCs in vitro. The system has advantages over static culture, which has major obstacles such as lower cell density, is time-consuming and susceptible to contamination.