Identification of ASF1A and HJURP by global H3-H4 histone chaperone analysis as a prognostic two-gene model in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with poor prognosis. Abnormal expression of H3-H4 histone chaperones has been identified in many cancers and holds promise as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. However, systemic analysis of H3-H4 histone chaperones in HCC is still lacking. Here, we investigated the expression of 19 known H3-H4 histone chaperones in HCC. Integrated analysis of multiple public databases indicated that these chaperones are highly expressed in HCC tumor tissues, which was further verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in offline samples. Additionally, survival analysis suggested that HCC patients with upregulated H3-H4 histone chaperones have poor prognosis. Using LASSO and Cox regression, we constructed a two-gene model (ASF1A, HJURP) that accurately predicts prognosis in ICGC-LIRI and GEO HCC data, which was further validated in HCC tissue microarrays with follow-up information. GSEA revealed that HCCs in the high-risk group were associated with enhanced cell cycle progression and DNA replication. Intriguingly, HCCs in the high-risk group exhibited increased immune infiltration and sensitivity to immune checkpoint therapy (ICT). In summary, H3-H4 histone chaperones play a critical role in HCC progression, and the two-gene (ASF1A, HJURP) risk model is effective for predicting survival outcomes and sensitivity to immunotherapy for HCC patients.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals ferrimagnetic vortex iron oxide nanoring-mediated mild magnetic hyperthermia exerts antitumor effects by alleviating macrophage suppression in breast cancer

The potential of Ferrimagnetic vortex iron oxide nanoring-mediated mild magnetic hyperthermia (FVIO-MHT) in solid tumor therapy has been demonstrated. However, the impact of FVIO-MHT on the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. This study utilized single-cell transcriptome sequencing to examine the alterations in the TME in response to FVIO-MHT in breast cancer. The results revealed the cellular composition within the tumor microenvironment (TME) was primarily modified due to a decrease in tumor cells and an increased infiltration of myeloid cells. Subsequently, an enhancement in active oxygen (ROS) metabolism was observed, indicating oxidative damage to tumor cells. Interestingly, FVIO-MHT reprogrammed the macrophages' phenotypes, as evidenced by alterations in the transcriptome characteristics associated with both classic and alternative activated phenotypes. And an elevated level of ROS generation and oxidative phosphorylation suggested that activated phagocytosis and inflammation occurred in macrophages. Additionally, cell-cell communication analysis revealed that FVIO-MHT attenuated the suppression between tumor cells and macrophages by inhibiting phagocytic checkpoint and macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling pathways. Inhibition of B2m, an anti-phagocytosis checkpoint, could promote macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and significantly inhibit tumor growth. These data emphasize FVIO-MHT may promote the antitumor capabilities of macrophages by alleviating the suppression between tumor cells and macrophages.

rs144012689 is a highly specific representative marker of HLA-B*15:02 in the Chinese population

Objective: To develop an accurate and rapid real-time PCR technique for HLA-B*15:02 genotyping and investigate HLA-B*15:02 allele frequency in four ethnic populations in China. Materials & methods: Based on the highly specific representative markers, a real-time PCR assay was developed for HLA-B*15:02 genotyping, and HLA-B*15:02 allele frequencies were screened in four ethnic populations of China. Sequence-based typing was used to validate the accuracy of the assay. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 100%, and the detection limit was 0.2 ng. The frequency of HLA-B*15:02 alleles distributed in the Bouyei population was significantly higher than in the Han group (p < 0.01). Neither the Tibetan nor the Uyghur population carried the HLA-B*15:02 haplotype. Conclusion: The authors developed an accurate HLA-B*15:02 genotyping method for evaluating the risk of adverse drug reactions induced by carbamazepine in various ethnic populations in China.

[Relationship between carotid plaque and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients]

Objective: To analyze the relevant factors for diabetic retinopathy. Methods: The data of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients undergoing general examination and ophthalmology specialist consultation were collected from the inpatients of Department of Endocrinology in Beijing Airport Hospital between 2013 and 2016, and the relevant factors of diabetic retinopathy were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 432 cases were analyzed, including 168 cases of non-diabetic retinopathy and 264 cases of diabetic retinopathy. In the non-diabetic retinopathy group, there were 88 cases of male and 80 cases of female, with an mean age of (57.0± 13.6) years old. Meanwhile, the diabetic group had 142 cases of male and 122 cases of female, with an mean age of (62.7±10.4) years old. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and glycosylated hemoglobin value were significantly higher in the diabetic retinopathy group than those of the non-diabetic retinopathy group, and the incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, carotid plaque and central retinal thickness was significantly higher than that of the non-diabetic retinopathy group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis displayed that carotid plaque (OR=9.922, 95%CI: 3.700-26.603, P<0.001) and thinning of central retinal thickness (OR=9.639, 95%CI: 3.604-25.781, P<0.001) were independently associated with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: Carotid plaque is an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy, and thinning of central retinal thickness may indicate the progression of retinopathy. Therefore, patients with these two signs need to be observed more closely in clinical practice.

A novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine in various age groups

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need for a vaccine that is effective against the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.

METHODS

A split-virus, inactivated candidate vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 virus was manufactured, and we evaluated its safety and immunogenicity in a randomized clinical trial. Subjects were between 3 and 77 years of age, stratified into four age groups. The immunization schedule consisted of two vaccinations, 21 days apart. Subjects were injected with placebo or with vaccine, with or without alum adjuvant, at doses of 7.5 microg, 15 microg, or 30 microg. Serologic analysis was performed at baseline and on days 21 and 35.

RESULTS

A total of 2200 subjects received one dose, and 2103 (95.6%) received the second dose, of vaccine or placebo. No severe adverse side effects associated with the vaccine were noted. In the nonadjuvanted-vaccine groups, injection-site or systemic reactions, most mild in nature, were noted in 5.5 to 15.9% of subjects. Among the subjects receiving 15 microg of nonadjuvanted vaccine, a hemagglutination-inhibition titer of 1:40 or more was achieved by day 21 in 74.5% of subjects between 3 and 11 years of age, 97.1% of subjects between 12 and 17 years, 97.1% of subjects between 18 and 60 years, and 79.1% of subjects 61 years of age or older; by day 35, the titer had been achieved in 98.1%, 100%, 97.1%, and 93.3% of subjects, respectively. The proportion with a titer of 1:40 or more was generally highest among the subjects receiving 30 microg of vaccine, with or without adjuvant. Vaccine without adjuvant was associated with fewer local reactions and greater immune responses than was vaccine with adjuvant.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that a single dose of 15 microg of hemagglutinin antigen without alum adjuvant induces a typically protective immune response in the majority of subjects between 12 and 60 years of age. Lesser immune responses were seen after a single dose of vaccine in younger and older subjects. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00975572).

Number of phase levels of a talbot array illuminator

The number of phase levels of a Talbot array illuminator is an important factor in the estimation of practical fabrication complexity and cost. We show that the number (L) of phase levels of a Talbot array illuminator has a simple relationship to the prime number. When there is an alternative pi-phase modulation in the output array, the relations are similar.

Number of phase levels in a two-dimensional separable Talbot array illuminator

The number of phase levels in a Talbot array illuminator (TAIL) is an important factor for estimation of practical fabrication complexity and cost. We show that the number of phase levels in a two-dimensional TAIL (2D-TAIL) has a simple relation to the prime number. When the output array is alternatively pi phase modulated, there are similar simple relations. These simple relations should be highly interesting for practical use. An experiment with the 2D-TAIL based on the joint-Talbot effect is given as well.

[Effects of different processed products of radix Angelica sinensis on clearing out oxygen free radicals and anti-lipid peroxidation]

Different processed products of Radix Angelica Sinensis could clear out superoxide radical (O2.-) generated through hypoxanthinexanthine oxidase system and hydroxyl radical (.OH) generated through Fenton action, and inhibit lipid peroxidation of supernatant hepati homogenate in mice induced by free radical generation system. There exist significant differences among the different processed products.

[The damaging effect of activated human neutrophils on isolated perfused rat lungs--the role of elastase]

Human neutrophil and its elastase play an important role in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases. We investigated the damaging effect of human neutrophils stimulated with PMA (phorbol myristate acetate 10ng/ml) or calcium ionophase A23187 (2ng/ml) on isolated perfused rat lungs. The study specimens consisted of 4 groups of animals. A control, B perfused with human neutrophils, C perfused with human neutrophils stimulated with PMA, and D perfused with human neutrophils stimulated with A23187. By using the ELISA method, we found that the level of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) in perfusate increased significantly at 30min (1.68 +/- 0.79ng/ml P < 0.05) and 60min (2.35 +/- 0.87 ng/ml P < 0.01) after PMA stimulating, but the HNE in the lung lavage fluid of the same group only slightly increased and the concentration of protein in lavage fluid did not change. After stimulating with A23187, the concentration of HNE in perfusate increased markedly at 30min (4.03 +/- 1.96ng/ml P < 0.01) and maintained at high level (P < 0.01). There was a significant increase of HNE level in lung lavage fluid (2.49 +/- 0.61ng/ml) from group D rat lungs, compared with group A, B or C, and the protein as well (1.61 +/- 0.58mg/ml P < 0.05). All the results indicate that the stimulated human neutrophils can release elastase in perfused rat lung. Neutrophil stimulated with A23187 can increase pulmonary permeability and injure the lung. We suggest that the lung damage, caused by human neutrophils, may be the effect of neutrophil elastase or the synergistic effect with some other substances derived from neutrophil.

The protective effect of colchicine on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

With the purpose of evaluating the therapeutic effect of colchicine on lung fibrosis in rats, bleomycin A5 (BLM-A5) was injected intratracheally to produce a lung fibrosis model. The animals were then treated with colchicine, 50 micrograms/d i.m. One month later, collagen fiber deposition scores (stained by Masson trichrome) were significantly lower in the treated group than in the untreated group (P less than 0.01). This result was proved further by assaying total lung hydroxyproline content (P less than 0.05). Histopathologic findings showed that the proliferation of fibroblasts dropped slightly in the treated group as compared with the untreated group. From this study, we conclude that colchicine has certain antifibrotic effects and may be used in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.