[Incidence of postoperative complications in Chinese patients with gastric or colorectal cancer based on a national, multicenter, prospective, cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the incidence of postoperative complications in Chinese patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, and to evaluate the risk factors for postoperative complications. Methods: This was a national, multicenter, prospective, registry-based, cohort study of data obtained from the database of the Prevalence of Abdominal Complications After Gastro- enterological Surgery (PACAGE) study sponsored by the China Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgical Union. The PACAGE database prospectively collected general demographic characteristics, protocols for perioperative treatment, and variables associated with postoperative complications in patients treated for gastric or colorectal cancer in 20 medical centers from December 2018 to December 2020. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of postoperative complications. Postoperative complications were categorized and graded in accordance with the expert consensus on postoperative complications in gastrointestinal oncology surgery and Clavien-Dindo grading criteria. The incidence of postoperative complications of different grades are presented as bar charts. Independent risk factors for occurrence of postoperative complications were identified by multifactorial unconditional logistic regression. Results: The study cohort comprised 3926 patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, 657 (16.7%) of whom had a total of 876 postoperative complications. Serious complications (Grade III and above) occurred in 4.0% of patients (156/3926). The rate of Grade V complications was 0.2% (7/3926). The cohort included 2271 patients with gastric cancer with a postoperative complication rate of 18.1% (412/2271) and serious complication rate of 4.7% (106/2271); and 1655 with colorectal cancer, with a postoperative complication rate of 14.8% (245/1655) and serious complication rate of 3.0% (50/1655). The incidences of anastomotic leakage in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer were 3.3% (74/2271) and 3.4% (56/1655), respectively. Abdominal infection was the most frequently occurring complication, accounting for 28.7% (164/572) and 39.5% (120/304) of postoperative complications in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer, respectively. The most frequently occurring grade of postoperative complication was Grade II, accounting for 65.4% (374/572) and 56.6% (172/304) of complications in patients with gastric and colorectal cancers, respectively. Multifactorial analysis identified (1) the following independent risk factors for postoperative complications in patients in the gastric cancer group: preoperative comorbidities (OR=2.54, 95%CI: 1.51-4.28, P<0.001), neoadjuvant therapy (OR=1.42, 95%CI:1.06-1.89, P=0.020), high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores (ASA score 2 points:OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.23-2.07, P<0.001, ASA score ≥3 points:OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.25-0.73, P=0.002), operative time >180 minutes (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.42-2.31, P<0.001), intraoperative bleeding >50 mL (OR=1.29,95%CI: 1.01-1.63, P=0.038), and distal gastrectomy compared with total gastrectomy (OR=0.65,95%CI: 0.51-0.83, P<0.001); and (2) the following independent risk factors for postoperative complications in patients in the colorectal cancer group: female (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.44-0.80, P<0.001), preoperative comorbidities (OR=2.73, 95%CI: 1.25-5.99, P=0.030), neoadjuvant therapy (OR=1.83, 95%CI:1.23-2.72, P=0.008), laparoscopic surgery (OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.30-0.72, P=0.022), and abdominoperineal resection compared with low anterior resection (OR=2.74, 95%CI: 1.71-4.41, P<0.001). Conclusion: Postoperative complications associated with various types of infection were the most frequent complications in patients with gastric or colorectal cancer. Although the risk factors for postoperative complications differed between patients with gastric cancer and those with colorectal cancer, the presence of preoperative comorbidities, administration of neoadjuvant therapy, and extent of surgical resection, were the commonest factors associated with postoperative complications in patients of both categories.

Cells in the liver microenvironment regulate the process of liver metastasis

The research of liver metastasis is a developing field. The ability of tumor cells to invade the liver depends on the complicated interactions between metastatic cells and local subpopulations in the liver (including Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and immune-related cells). These interactions are mainly mediated by intercellular adhesion and the release of cytokines. Cell populations in the liver microenvironment can play a dual role in the progression of liver metastasis through different mechanisms. At the same time, we can see the participation of liver parenchymal cells and nonparenchymal cells in the process of liver metastasis of different tumors. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to summarize the relationship between cellular components of liver microenvironment and metastasis and emphasize the importance of different cells in the occurrence or potential regression of liver metastasis.

Evidence for Chiral Wobbler in Nuclei

Three ΔI=1 bands with the πg_{9/2}⊗νg_{9/2} configuration have been identified in _{35}^{74}Br_{39}. Angular distribution, linear polarization, and lifetime measurements were performed to determine the multipolarity, type, mixing ratio, and absolute transition probability of the transitions. By comparing these experimental observations with the corresponding fingerprints and the quantum particle rotor model calculations, the second and third lowest bands are, respectively, suggested as the chiral partner and one-phonon wobbling excitation built on the yrast band. The evidence indicates the first chiral wobbler in nuclei.

Dynamic Cytoophidia during Late-Stage Drosophila Oogenesis

CTP synthase (CTPS) catalyzes the final step of de novo synthesis of CTP. CTPS was first discovered to form filamentous structures termed cytoophidia in Drosophila ovarian cells. Subsequent studies have shown that cytoophidia are widely present in cells of three life domains. In the Drosophila ovary model, our previous studies mainly focused on the early and middle stages, with less involvement in the later stages. In this work, we focus on the later stages of female germline cells in Drosophila. We use live-cell imaging to capture the continuous dynamics of cytoophidia in Stages 10-12. We notice the heterogeneity of cytoophidia in the two types of germline cells (nurse cells and oocytes), manifested in significant differences in morphology, distribution, and dynamics. Surprisingly, we also find that neighboring nurse cells in the same egg chamber exhibit multiple dynamic patterns of cytoophidia over time. Although the described dynamics may be influenced by the in vitro incubation conditions, our observation provides an initial understanding of the dynamics of cytoophidia during late-stage Drosophila oogenesis.

Improved Measurement of the Evolution of the Reactor Antineutrino Flux and Spectrum at Daya Bay

Reactor neutrino experiments play a crucial role in advancing our knowledge of neutrinos. In this Letter, the evolution of the flux and spectrum as a function of the reactor isotopic content is reported in terms of the inverse-beta-decay yield at Daya Bay with 1958 days of data and improved systematic uncertainties. These measurements are compared with two signature model predictions: the Huber-Mueller model based on the conversion method and the SM2018 model based on the summation method. The measured average flux and spectrum, as well as the flux evolution with the ^{239}Pu isotopic fraction, are inconsistent with the predictions of the Huber-Mueller model. In contrast, the SM2018 model is shown to agree with the average flux and its evolution but fails to describe the energy spectrum. Altering the predicted inverse-beta-decay spectrum from ^{239}Pu fission does not improve the agreement with the measurement for either model. The models can be brought into better agreement with the measurements if either the predicted spectrum due to ^{235}U fission is changed or the predicted ^{235}U, ^{238}U, ^{239}Pu, and ^{241}Pu spectra are changed in equal measure.

Precision Measurement of Reactor Antineutrino Oscillation at Kilometer-Scale Baselines by Daya Bay

We present a new determination of the smallest neutrino mixing angle θ_{13} and the mass-squared difference Δm_{32}^{2} using a final sample of 5.55×10^{6} inverse beta-decay (IBD) candidates with the final-state neutron captured on gadolinium. This sample is selected from the complete dataset obtained by the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment in 3158 days of operation. Compared to the previous Daya Bay results, selection of IBD candidates has been optimized, energy calibration refined, and treatment of backgrounds further improved. The resulting oscillation parameters are sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0851±0.0024, Δm_{32}^{2}=(2.466±0.060)×10^{-3}  eV^{2} for the normal mass ordering or Δm_{32}^{2}=-(2.571±0.060)×10^{-3}  eV^{2} for the inverted mass ordering.

Synthesis of Sulfilimines via Selective S-C Bond Formation in Water

Sulfilimines are valuable compounds both in organic synthesis and in pharmaceuticals. Here we developed a mild and simplified method for preparation of sulfilimines via selective S-C bond formation rather than traditional S-N bond formation. The method is both attractive and useful for the following reasons: it uses a readily available alkylation reagent such alkyl bromide or alkyl iodide, it uses water as solvent, it is easy to perform, and it is convenient for late-stage diversification of drugs.

One-Pot Tandem Oxidative Bromination and Amination of Sulfenamide for the Synthesis of Sulfinamidines

The sulfinamidines as aza analogues of sulfinamides received limited attention from both organic chemists and pharmaceutical chemists. Herein, we present a tandem oxidative/nucleophilic substitution approach for the synthesis of sulfinamidines in high yield (up to 98%). This cascade reaction method is enabled by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as an oxidant and diverse readily available amines as nucleophiles without any additives or catalysts. Notably, this method is highly time-economical, safe to operate, and easy to scale up and has excellent functional group compatibility.

Synthesis of Chiral Sulfonimidoyl Chloride via Desymmetrizing Enantioselective Hydrolysis

Direct construction of chiral S(VI) from prochiral S(II) is a formidable challenge due to the inevitable formation of stable chiral S(IV). Previous synthetic strategies rely on the conversion of chiral S(IV) or enantioselective desymmetrization of preformed symmetrical S(VI) substrates. Here, we report desymmetrizing enantioselective hydrolysis of in situ-generated symmetric aza-dichlorosulfonium from sulfenamides for the preparation of chiral sulfonimidoyl chlorides, which could be used as a general stable synthon for obtaining a series of chiral S(VI) derivatives.

Crystal structure of 2-methoxy-6-[(2-morpholin-4-yl-phenylamino)-methylene]-4-nitro-cyclohexa-2,4-dienone, C18H19N3O5

C18H19N3O5, orthorhombic, Pna21 (no. 33), a = 15.5675(12) Å, b = 17.0299(13) Å, c = 6.2644(5) Å, V = 1660.8(2) Å3, Z = 4, R gt (F) = 0.0322, wR ref (F 2) = 0.0815, T = 296 K.

[Trends in the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020 based on Joinpoint regression analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changing trends in the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the schistosomiasis elimination strategy in the province.

METHODS

The epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020 were collected, and the trends in the endemic status of schistosomiasis were analyzed using a Joinpoint regression model. The trends in the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans, bovines and Oncomelania hupensis were measured in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020 using average annual percent change (AAPC), and the correlations among the changing trends in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans, bovines and O. hupensis snail status were evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of S.japonicum human infections continued to decline in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020, with an annual mean decline of 14.8% [AAPC = -14.8%, 95% confidential interval (CI): (-18.9%, -10.5%), P < 0.01]. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections continued to decline in bovines in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2015 [AAPC = -31.3%, 95%CI: (-35.1%, -27.2%), P < 0.01], and was 0 for 5 successive years from 2016 to 2020. During the period from 2004 to 2020, there was an annual mean decline of 0.7% in areas of snail habitats [AAPC = -0.7%, 95%CI: (-1.2%, 0.3%), P < 0.05] and an annual mean decline of 9.2% in the density of living snails [AAPC = -9.2%, 95%CI: (-18.3%, 1.0%), P = 0.08] in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020, and an annual mean decline of 35.6% was found in the density of S. japonicum-infected snails [AAPC = -35.6%, 95%CI: (-49.2%, -18.3%), P < 0.01] from 2004 to 2012, with no infected snails detected in Anhui Province from 2013 to 2020. There were significant correlations in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections between humans and bovines (r = 0.959, P < 0.01), between the prevalence of S. japonicum human infections and the density of S. japonicum-infected snails (r = 0.823, P < 0.01) and between the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in bovines and the density of S. japonicum-infected snails (r = 0.902, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of S. japonicum infections appeared a decline in humans, bovines and O. hupensis in Anhui Province from 2004 to 2020, and significant correlations were found among the changing trends in the prevalence of S. japonicum human infections, the prevalence of S. japonicum bovine infections and the density of S. japonicum-infected O. hupensis snails. Because of a minor decline in the area of snail habitats and widespread distribution of O. hupensis, however, there is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission, and precision control for schistosomiasis remains to be reinforced in Anhui Province.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in apoptosis and pyroptosis in epilepsy

Dysfunction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase contributes to neurotoxicity, which triggers cell death in various neuropathological diseases, including epilepsy. Studies have shown that inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity increases the epilepsy threshold, that is, has an anticonvulsant effect. However, the exact role and potential mechanism of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in seizures are still unclear. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing, functional enrichment analysis, and weighted gene coexpression network analysis of the hippocampus of tremor rats, a rat model of genetic epilepsy. We found damaged hippocampal mitochondria and abnormal succinate dehydrogenase level and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity. In addition, we used a pilocarpine-induced N2a cell model to mimic epileptic injury. After application of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole, changes in malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase, which are associated with oxidative stress, were reversed, and the increase in reactive oxygen species level was reversed by 7-nitroindazole or reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetylcysteine. Application of 7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c and reversed the apoptosis of epileptic cells. Furthermore, 7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the abnormally high expression of NLRP3, gasdermin-D, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. This indicated that 7-nitroindazole and N-acetylcysteine each reversed epileptic cell death. Taken together, our findings suggest that the neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in pyroptosis of epileptic cells, and inhibiting neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity or its induced oxidative stress may play a neuroprotective role in epilepsy.

[Investigation on prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild mice in Shitai County, Anhui Province, 2018]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in wild mice in Shitai County, Anhui Province, so as to provide insights into precise control of the source of S. japonicum infections.

METHODS

Wild mice were captured using the trapping method for three successive nights at snail-infested settings from Jitan Village of Jitan Township, and Shiquan Village and Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township, Shitai County, Anhui Province in June and October, 2018. All trapped wild mice were sacrificed and liver and mesenteric vein specimens were collected for detection of S. japonicum eggs using microscopy, while the fecal samples in mouse intestines were collected for identification of S. japonicum infections using Kato-Katz technique. In addition, the population density of trapped wild mice was estimated and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was calculated in trapped wild mice.

RESULTS

A total of 376 wild mice were trapped from three villages in Shitai County. The population density of trapped wild mice was 9.1% (376/4 124), and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 24.2% (91/376) in trapped wild mice. The highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in Shiquan Village of Dingxiang Township (30.1%), and the lowest prevalence was seen in Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township; however, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in trapped wild mice among three villages (χ²= 4.111, P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild mice captured between on June (26.8%, 34/127) and October (22.9%, 57/249) (χ² = 0.690, P = 0.406). The trapped wild mice included 6 species, including Rattus norvegicus, Niviventer niviventer, R. losea, Apodemus agrarius, Mus musculus and N. coning, and the two highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in R. losea (34.9%, 22/63) and R. norvegicus (31.2%, 44/141).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of S. japonicum infections is high in wild mice in Shitai County, and there is a natural focus of schistosomiasis transmission in Shitai County.

First Measurement of High-Energy Reactor Antineutrinos at Daya Bay

This Letter reports the first measurement of high-energy reactor antineutrinos at Daya Bay, with nearly 9000 inverse beta decay candidates in the prompt energy region of 8-12 MeV observed over 1958 days of data collection. A multivariate analysis is used to separate 2500 signal events from background statistically. The hypothesis of no reactor antineutrinos with neutrino energy above 10 MeV is rejected with a significance of 6.2 standard deviations. A 29% antineutrino flux deficit in the prompt energy region of 8-11 MeV is observed compared to a recent model prediction. We provide the unfolded antineutrino spectrum above 7 MeV as a data-based reference for other experiments. This result provides the first direct observation of the production of antineutrinos from several high-Q_{β} isotopes in commercial reactors.

[Sharing the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China]

Currently, the national schistosomiasis control program of China is moving from transmission interruption to elimination, and there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards the progression of schistosomiasis elimination, including a high difficulty in shrinking snail-infested areas, unstable achievements for infectious source control, imperfect surveillance system and a reduction in schistosomiasis control and administration. Based on the core suggestions proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, recommendations on schistosomiasis surveillance system building, development of novel diagnostics, adjustment of the schistosomiasis control strategy and maintaining and improvements of the schistosomiasis control capability are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China in the new era according to the actual status of schistosomiasis control in China. Formulation of the national schistosomiasis control strategy and goal from One Health perspective, verification of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis, precision implementation of schistosomiasis control interventions with adaptations to local circumstances, development and application of highly sensitive and specific diagnostics are recommended for elimination of schistosomiasis in China. In addition, the implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis may guide the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

[Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis]

Preventive chemotherapy is one of the pivotal interventions for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis, which is effective to reduce the morbidity and prevalence of schistosomiasis. In order to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the targets set for schistosomiasis control in the Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis in 2022, with major evidence-based updates of the current preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis. In China where great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, the preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis has been updated several times during the past seven decades. This article reviews the evolution of the WHO guidelines on preventive chemotherapy and Chinese national preventive chemotherapy schemes, compares the current Chinese national preventive chemotherapy scheme and the recommendations for preventive chemotherapy proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, and proposes recommendations for preventive chemotherapy during the future implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control among public health professionals engaging in healthcare foreign aid.

[Spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020, to provide insights into precision control of O. hupensis snails in Anhui Province.

METHODS

O. hupensis snail distribution data were collected in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020 and descriptively analyzed, including actual area of snail habitats, area of emerging snail habitats and area of Schistosoma japonicum-infected snails. The actual area of snail habitats and area of emerging snail habitats were subjected to spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspot analysis, standard deviation ellipse analysis and space-time scanning analysis, and the clusters of snail distribution and settings at high risk of snail spread were identified in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020.

RESULTS

The actual area of snail habitats gradually decreased in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020. The actual area of snail habitats were 26 238.85 hm² in Anhui Province in 2020, which were mainly distributed in marshland and lake regions. There was a large fluctuation in the area of emerging snail habitats in Anhui Province during the period from 2011 to 2020, with the largest area seen in 2016 (1 287.65 hm²), and 1.96 hm² emerging infected snail habitats were detected in Guichi District, Chizhou City in 2020. Spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analyses showed spatial clusters in the distribution of actual areas of snail habitats in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020 (Z = 3.00 to 3.43, all P values < 0.01), and the hotspots were mainly concentrated in the marshland and lake regions and distributed along the south side of the Yangtze River, while the cold spots were mainly concentrated in the mountainous regions of southern Anhui Province. There were no overall spatial clusters in the distribution of areas of emerging snail habitats (Z = -2.20 to 1.71, all P values > 0.05), and a scattered distribution was found in local regions. Standard deviation ellipse analysis showed relatively stable distributions of the actual areas of snail habitats in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020, which was consistent with the flow direction of the Yangtze River, and the focus of the distribution of areas of emerging snail habitats shifted from the lower reaches to upper reaches of Anhui section of the Yangtze River. Space-time scanning analysis identified two high-value clusters in the distribution of actual areas of snail habitats in lower and middle reaches of Anhui section of the Yangtze River from 2011 to 2020, and two high-value clusters in the distribution of areas of emerging snail habitats were identified in mountainous and hilly regions.

CONCLUSIONS

There were spatial clusters in the distribution of O. hupensis snails in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2020, which appeared a tendency of aggregation towards the south side and upper reaches of the Yangtze River; however, the spread of O. hupensis snails could not be neglected in mountainous and hilly regions. Monitoring of emerging snail habitats should be reinforced in mountainous and hilly regions and along the Yangtze River basin.

Identifying Functions of Proteins in Mice With Functional Embedding Features

In current biology, exploring the biological functions of proteins is important. Given the large number of proteins in some organisms, exploring their functions one by one through traditional experiments is impossible. Therefore, developing quick and reliable methods for identifying protein functions is necessary. Considerable accumulation of protein knowledge and recent developments on computer science provide an alternative way to complete this task, that is, designing computational methods. Several efforts have been made in this field. Most previous methods have adopted the protein sequence features or directly used the linkage from a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. In this study, we proposed some novel multi-label classifiers, which adopted new embedding features to represent proteins. These features were derived from functional domains and a PPI network via word embedding and network embedding, respectively. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance method was used to assess the features, generating a feature list. Incremental feature selection, incorporating RAndom k-labELsets to construct multi-label classifiers, used such list to construct two optimum classifiers, corresponding to two key measurements: accuracy and exact match. These two classifiers had good performance, and they were superior to classifiers that used features extracted by traditional methods.

Chiral Primary Amine Catalyzed Enantioselective Tandem Reactions Based on Heyns Rearrangement: Synthesis of α-Tertiary Amino Ketones

Herein, we disclose a new catalytic asymmetric tandem reaction based on the Heyns rearrangement for the synthesis of chiral α-amino ketones with readily available substrates. The rearrangement is different from the Heyns rearrangement in that the α-amino ketones were obtained without the shift of the carbonyl group. The key to success is using chiral primary amine as a catalyst by mimicking glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase in catalyzing the efficient Heyns rearrangement in organisms.

Exploring the Genomic Patterns in Human and Mouse Cerebellums Via Single-Cell Sequencing and Machine Learning Method

In mammals, the cerebellum plays an important role in movement control. Cellular research reveals that the cerebellum involves a variety of sub-cell types, including Golgi, granule, interneuron, and unipolar brush cells. The functional characteristics of cerebellar cells exhibit considerable differences among diverse mammalian species, reflecting a potential development and evolution of nervous system. In this study, we aimed to recognize the transcriptional differences between human and mouse cerebellum in four cerebellar sub-cell types by using single-cell sequencing data and machine learning methods. A total of 321,387 single-cell sequencing data were used. The 321,387 cells included 4 cell types, i.e., Golgi (5,048, 1.57%), granule (250,307, 77.88%), interneuron (60,526, 18.83%), and unipolar brush (5,506, 1.72%) cells. Our results showed that by using gene expression profiles as features, the optimal classification model could achieve very high even perfect performance for Golgi, granule, interneuron, and unipolar brush cells, respectively, suggesting a remarkable difference between the genomic profiles of human and mouse. Furthermore, a group of related genes and rules contributing to the classification was identified, which might provide helpful information for deepening the understanding of cerebellar cell heterogeneity and evolution.

Joint Determination of Reactor Antineutrino Spectra from ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu Fission by Daya Bay and PROSPECT

A joint determination of the reactor antineutrino spectra resulting from the fission of ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu has been carried out by the Daya Bay and PROSPECT Collaborations. This Letter reports the level of consistency of ^{235}U spectrum measurements from the two experiments and presents new results from a joint analysis of both data sets. The measurements are found to be consistent. The combined analysis reduces the degeneracy between the dominant ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu isotopes and improves the uncertainty of the ^{235}U spectral shape to about 3%. The ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu antineutrino energy spectra are unfolded from the jointly deconvolved reactor spectra using the Wiener-SVD unfolding method, providing a data-based reference for other reactor antineutrino experiments and other applications. This is the first measurement of the ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu spectra based on the combination of experiments at low- and highly enriched uranium reactors.

Compromised autophagy and mitophagy in brain ageing and Alzheimer's diseases

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most persistent and devastating neurodegenerative disorders of old age, and is characterized clinically by an insidious onset and a gradual, progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities, ranging from loss of memory to impairment of judgement and reasoning. Despite years of research, an effective cure is still not available. Autophagy is the cellular 'garbage' clearance system which plays fundamental roles in neurogenesis, neuronal development and activity, and brain health, including memory and learning. A selective sub-type of autophagy is mitophagy which recognizes and degrades damaged or superfluous mitochondria to maintain a healthy and necessary cellular mitochondrial pool. However, emerging evidence from animal models and human samples suggests an age-dependent reduction of autophagy and mitophagy, which are also compromised in AD. Upregulation of autophagy/mitophagy slows down memory loss and ameliorates clinical features in animal models of AD. In this review, we give an overview of autophagy and mitophagy and their link to the progression of AD. We also summarize approaches to upregulate autophagy/mitophagy. We hypothesize that age-dependent compromised autophagy/mitophagy is a cause of brain ageing and a risk factor for AD, while restoration of autophagy/mitophagy to more youthful levels could return the brain to health.

Predicting Human Protein Subcellular Locations by Using a Combination of Network and Function Features

Given the limitation of technologies, the subcellular localizations of proteins are difficult to identify. Predicting the subcellular localization and the intercellular distribution patterns of proteins in accordance with their specific biological roles, including validated functions, relationships with other proteins, and even their specific sequence characteristics, is necessary. The computational prediction of protein subcellular localizations can be performed on the basis of the sequence and the functional characteristics. In this study, the protein-protein interaction network, functional annotation of proteins and a group of direct proteins with known subcellular localization were used to construct models. To build efficient models, several powerful machine learning algorithms, including two feature selection methods, four classification algorithms, were employed. Some key proteins and functional terms were discovered, which may provide important contributions for determining protein subcellular locations. Furthermore, some quantitative rules were established to identify the potential subcellular localizations of proteins. As the first prediction model that uses direct protein annotation information (i.e., functional features) and STRING-based protein-protein interaction network (i.e., network features), our computational model can help promote the development of predictive technologies on subcellular localizations and provide a new approach for exploring the protein subcellular localization patterns and their potential biological importance.

[Research progress in biomarkers for diagnosis of glaucoma]

Glaucoma is a serious irreversible blinding disease. The pathogenesis is still unknown, and the diagnosis and treatment effect is not good. An effective early diagnosis method is urgently needed. In recent years, a number of glaucoma-related biomarkers have been discovered. In order to promote clinical application of these biomarkers, a series of studies are actively carried out to clarify specificity and sensitivity of these molecules, to verify the criteria by clinical randomized controlled trials, and to provide large sample data by multi-center clinical trials. However, the samples of these biomarkers are provided by patients who have been diagnosed with glaucoma by clinical examinations. The differences may represent the molecular features of middle-stage and advanced glaucoma. Whether they are helpful for early diagnosis and the exploration of pathological mechanisms should be further investigated. This article describes the potential molecular targets that can help in diagnosis of glaucoma from the aspects of DNA, RNA and protein, and discusses further research pathways and clinical application prospects. It is hoped to explore the effective molecular marker for early diagnosis of glaucoma. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 707-711).

Conophylline Suppresses Angiotensin II-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis In Vitro via the BMP4/JNK Pathway

We studied the effects and mechanisms of action of conophylline in different concentrations in the original in vitro model of myocardial fibrosis (treatment of cardiac fibroblasts isolated form the hearts of newborn rats with angiotensin II). Viability, collagen content, and expression of related protein in cardiac fibroblasts were assessed using the MTT-test, Sircol assay, and Western blotting, respectively. Conophylline markedly protected the cultured cells against the development of angiotensin II-induced fibrosis, which was seen from reduced viability of fibroblasts, decreased collagen content, and down-regulation of the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Conophylline did not affect the TGF-β pathway altered by angiotensin II, but markedly decreased the level of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) enhanced by angiotensin II and BMP4 itself. Conophylline produced no effect on phosphorylation of α-SMA and Smad homologue-1/5/8, the classic BMP4 downstream pathway elements, but reduced the level of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) elevated by BMP4. Conophylline did not inhibit the development of myocardial fibrosis in the presence of JNK activator anisomycin. Thus, conophylline inhibited angiotensin II-provoked myocardial fibrosis via the BMP4/JNK pathway.

Identification of Microbiota Biomarkers With Orthologous Gene Annotation for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a systematic chronic metabolic condition with abnormal sugar metabolism dysfunction, and its complications are the most harmful to human beings and may be life-threatening after long-term durations. Considering the high incidence and severity at late stage, researchers have been focusing on the identification of specific biomarkers and potential drug targets for T2D at the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic levels. Microbes participate in the pathogenesis of multiple metabolic diseases including diabetes. However, the related studies are still non-systematic and lack the functional exploration on identified microbes. To fill this gap between gut microbiome and diabetes study, we first introduced eggNOG database and KEGG ORTHOLOGY (KO) database for orthologous (protein/gene) annotation of microbiota. Two datasets with these annotations were employed, which were analyzed by multiple machine-learning models for identifying significant microbiota biomarkers of T2D. The powerful feature selection method, Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy (mRMR), was first applied to the datasets, resulting in a feature list for each dataset. Then, the list was fed into the incremental feature selection (IFS), incorporating support vector machine (SVM) as the classification algorithm, to extract essential annotations and build efficient classifiers. This study not only revealed potential pathological factors for diabetes at the microbiome level but also provided us new candidates for drug development against diabetes.

Highly Regio- and Enantioselective Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Aldehydes via Photoredox Cobalt Dual Catalysis

A Co-catalyzed highly regio- and enantioselective reductive coupling of alkynes and aldehydes has been developed under visible light photoredox dual catalysis. A variety of enantioenriched allylic alcohols have been obtained by using unsymmetrical internal alkynes and commercially available catalyst, chiral ligand, and reagents. It is noteworthy that this approach has considerable advantages, such as excellent regio- (>95:5 for >40 examples), stereo- (up to >95:5 E/Z), and enantioselectivity (92-99% ee, >35 examples) control, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group compatibility, making it a great improvement to enantioselective alkyne-aldehyde reductive coupling reactions.

LncRNA SNHG14 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells via regulating miR-185-5p/WISP2 axis

Osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) is vital for bone formation, and its dysfunction is linked to osteoporosis (OP). In this work, we explored the function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) in regulating osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. In the present study, the expression of SNHG14 in hBMSCs obtained from OP patients was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). SNHG14 was over-expressed or knocked down in hBMSCs, and the expression levels of OP-related genes (ALP, OCN, and OPN) in hBMSCs were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. StarBase database and miRanda database were used to predict the binding sites between SNHG14 and miR-185-5p, and between miR-185-5p and 3'UTR of WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP2), respectively. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to validate the binding relationship between SNHG14 and miR-185-5p, and miR-185-5p and 3'UTR of WISP2, respectively. Here, we report that SNHG14 was significantly down-regulated in hBMSCs obtained from patients with OP. Overexpression of SNHG14 promoted osteogenic differentiation, while knockdown of SNHG14 worked oppositely. Mechanistically, miR-185-5p was demonstrated to be a target of SNHG14, and could reverse the function of SNHG14. Additionally, WISP2 was identified as a target gene of miR-185-5p in hBMSCs and could be indirectly regulated by SNHG14. Taken together, down-regulation of SNHG14 in hBMSCs accelerated the progression of OP via regulating miR-185-5p/WISP2 axis.

MicroRNA-126 Attenuates the Effect of Chemokine CXCL8 on Proliferation, Migration, Apoptosis, and MAPK-Dependent Signaling Activity of Vascular Endothelial Cells Cultured in a Medium with High Glucose Concentration

We studied the mechanisms by which microRNA-126 regulates proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultured in a medium with high glucose concentration and treated with chemokine CXCL8. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were analyzed by the CCK-8 assay, Annexin V-PI staining, and Transwell assay, respectively. The ratios of p-ERK/ERK, p-P38/P38, p-JNK/JNK were determined by ELISA. HUVEC cells cultured in the presence of high glucose concentration (30 mmol/ml) and treated with CXCL8 (50 ng/ml) demonstrated more intensive proliferation, migration, and p-ERK/ERK, p-P38/P38, and p-JNK/JNK ratios and significantly lower apoptosis rate than control cells (high glucose, no treatment) and cells treated with CXCL8 and transfected with microRNA-126-mimic. Thus, microRNA-126 regulates proliferation and migration of HUVEC cells cultured in the presence of high glucose concentrations and treated with CXCL8 through inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway.

[Intensified surveillance promotes the process towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China]

Surveillance is an important part of the national schistosomiasis control program of China, which play a critical role in facilitating the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China. The coverage of schistosomiasis surveillance has shifted from the high-risk regions at the initial stage of the national schistosomiasis control program of China to the current all endemic counties (cities, districts), and the surveillance contents have extended from single surveillance of endemic status to comprehensive surveillance of endemic status, epidemic factors and transmission risks. With the continuous progress towards schistosomiasis elimination, the national schistosomiasis control program has shifted from "extensive control" to surveillance and early warning-based "precision control" in China, which proposes much higher requirements for schistosomiasis surveillance. Currently, the surveillance of schistosomiasis has been covered in all schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) of China, and the development of rapid and early identification of Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and S. japonicum-infected Oncomelania hupensis snails will greatly improve the sensitivity of and the duration of responses to schistosomiasis surveillance, which will provide powerful tools for elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

[Expert consensus on the strategy and measures to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis in China]

Since 2015 when the transmission of schistosomiasis was controlled in China, the country has been moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis, with the surveillance-response as the main interventions for schistosomiasis control. During the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted in four provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, Yunnan and Hubei and the prevalence of schistosomiasis has been at the historically lowest level in China. As a consequence, the goal set in The 13th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China is almost achieved. However, there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China, including the widespread distribution of intermediate host snails and complicated snail habitats, many types of sources of Schistosoma japonicum infections and difficulty in management of bovines and sheep, unmet requirements for the current schistosomiasis control program with the currently available tools, and vulnerable control achievements. During the 14th Five-Year period, it is crucial to consolidate the schistosomiasis control achievements and gradually solve the above difficulties, and critical to provide the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of elimination of schistosomiasis in China. Based on the past experiences from the national schistosomiasis control program and the challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in China, an expert consensus has been reached pertaining to the objectives, control strategy and measures for The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China, so as to provide insights in to the development of The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China.

Clinical features of asthma with comorbid bronchiectasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This meta-analysis aimed to systematically estimate the prevalence of comorbid bronchiectasis in patients with asthma and to summarize its clinical impact.

METHODS

Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies published from inception until March 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if bronchiectasis was identified by high-resolution computed tomography. Outcomes included the prevalence of bronchiectasis and its association with demographic characteristics and indicators of asthma severity, including results of lung function tests and the number of exacerbations.

RESULTS

Five observational studies with 839 patients were included. Overall, the mean prevalence of bronchiectasis in patients with asthma was 36.6% (307/839). Patients with comorbid bronchiectasis had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) (MD: -2.71; 95% CI: -3.72 to -1.69) and more frequent exacerbations (MD: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.03 to 1.33) than those with asthma alone, and there was no significant difference of sex, duration of asthma and serum levels of immunoglobulin(Ig)Es between asthmatic patients with or without bronchiectasis.

CONCLUSION

The presence of bronchiectasis in patients with asthma was associated with greater asthma severity. There are important therapeutic implications of identifying bronchiectasis in asthmatic patients.

Identification of Gene Signatures and Expression Patterns During Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition From Single-Cell Expression Atlas

Cancer, which refers to abnormal cell proliferative diseases with systematic pathogenic potential, is one of the leading threats to human health. The final causes for patients’ deaths are usually cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance against continuing therapy. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is the transformation of tumor cells (TCs), is a prerequisite for pathogenic cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Conventional biomarkers can only define and recognize large tissues with obvious EMT markers but cannot accurately monitor detailed EMT processes. In this study, a systematic workflow was established integrating effective feature selection, multiple machine learning models [Random forest (RF), Support vector machine (SVM)], rule learning, and functional enrichment analyses to find new biomarkers and their functional implications for distinguishing single-cell isolated TCs with unique epithelial or mesenchymal markers using public single-cell expression profiling. Our discovered signatures may provide an effective and precise transcriptomic reference to monitor EMT progression at the single-cell level and contribute to the exploration of detailed tumorigenesis mechanisms during EMT.

[Clinical analysis of 30 cases with asbestos-related occupational tumors]

Asbestos is classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by the International Cancer Organization (IARC) , and almost all types of asbestos are carcinogenic. The clinical data of 30 asbestos-induced occupational tumor patients in Qingdao city from January 2002 to May 2019 were analyzed, including 24 cases of asbestos-induced lung cancer and 6 cases of asbestos-induced malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma was significantly worse than lung cancer in terms of malignancy, the survival time of patients is shorter, and the mortality rate was higher. Both its diagnostic methods and treatment methods should be improved. The high incidence of asbestos-caused tumors is coming. It is recommended that workers exposed to asbestos dust should undergo regular chest CT examinations for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment.

[Flood disasters and schistosomiasis control]

Currently, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis has dropped to the lowest level in China; however, there are still factors affecting the transmission of schistosomiasis. Flood disasters may pose a great impact on the transmission of schistosomiasis and even affect the progress of schistosomiasis control and the consolidation of schistosomiasis control achievements. In 2020, major flood disasters occur across China. This paper analyzes the current status of schistosomiasis and the impact of flood disasters on the transmission of schistosomiasis in China, and systematically describes the assessment of and response to schistosomiasis transmission risk before flood disasters, the prevention of Schistosoma japonicum infections during flood disasters and the assessment of the endemic situation of schistosomiasis and surveillance of schistosomiasis after flood disasters. It is considered that schistosomiasis control is an important part of conventional schistosomiasis control activities and an important part of anti-flood and schistosomiasis-preventive activities in flood disaster-affected areas. It is recommended that emergence response interventions are implemented in a scientific and well-organized manner to avoid or reduce the risk of schistosomiasis transmission caused by flood disasters. In addition, the research on early surveillance and forecast approaches for schistosomiasis should be emphasized and reinforced to provide the scientific and precise tools for achieving the goal of the 13th Five-year Plan for Schistosomiasis Control and elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

[The efficacy analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 48 leukemia patients with central nervous system leukemia]

目的

探讨异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）治疗合并中枢神经系统白血病（CNSL）患者的疗效。

方法

对2012年5月至2017年12月收治的48例合并CNSL患者进行回顾性分析。

结果

①全部48例患者中，男38例，女10例，中位年龄20（6~48）岁；急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）22例，急性髓系白血病（AML）21例，慢性髓性白血病（CML）5例。移植前骨髓完全缓解（CR）19例（CR组），未缓解（NR）29例（NR组）。②预处理方案：成人采用以全身照射（TBI）为主方案，其中6例患者联合全脑全脊髓放疗，2例患者联合射波刀治疗；儿童患者采用改良伊达比星（IDA）联合Bu-Cy（白消安+环磷酰胺）方案。③48例患者均顺利植活，粒细胞植活中位时间为14（10~23）d，血小板植活的中位时间为16（6~78）d。④移植后28天评估骨髓，48例患者均达CR，经DNA检测证实均为完全供者嵌合状态。⑤中位随访时间为14（2~69）个月，28例患者存活，10例复发，其中CNSL复发3例。移植前CR组、NR组allo-HSCT后1年总生存（OS）率分别为（77.3±10.0）%、（57.6±9.3）%（P=0.409），无病生存率（DFS）分别为（71.2±11.0）%、（53.9±9.5）%（P=0.386）。ALL、AML组移植后1年OS率分别为（54.2±10.7）%、（80.1±8.9）%（P=0.200），DFS率分别为（49.2±10.8）%、（75.0±9.7）%（P=0.190）。

结论

allo-HSCT治疗CNSL是安全、有效的。

[Endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in national surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018, so as to provide scientific evidence for schistosomiasis control and prevention in Anhui Province.

METHODS

According to the National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Programme (2014 version), a total of 51 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in Anhui Province in 2015, and Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and livestock and snail distribution were monitored from 2015 to 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 89 638 local residents and 42 609 mobile populations received serological screening of schistosomiasis in 51 national surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018, and the sero-prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 1.41% to 3.69% in local residents and 0.84% to 2.13% in mobile populations, respectively. There were 5 egg-positive local residents and 1 egg-positive mobile populations detected in 2015, with occupations of farmers and fishermen. There were 6 405 livestock detected for S. japonicum infections, and no egg-positives were identified. Among an area of 12 661 hm² surveyed in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of Anhui Province from 2015 to 2018, the areas of snail habitats were 2 461.27 to 2 628.96 hm², andthemeandensityoflivingsnailswas 0.3757 to 0.4330 snails/0.1 m², with no S. japonicum infections identified in snails.

CONCLUSIONS

The endemic situation of schistosomiasis is at a low level in Anhui Province; however, the risk of schistosomiasis transmission remains in local regions of the province. The construction of the surveillance-responsesystemshouldbereinforcedtoconsolidatetheachievementsofschistosomiasis control in Anhui Province.

Ultra-long high quality catalyst-free WO3 nanowires for fabricating high-performance visible photodetectors

This work presents a study on the controlled growth of WO₃ nanowires via chemical vapor deposition without catalyst, and their potential applications in visible photodetectors. The influence of growth conditions on the morphology of WO₃ nanowires is studied in order to understand the growth mechanism of WO₃ nanowires, and ultra-long (60 [Formula: see text], the longest one ever reported) WO₃ nanowires with a spindle shape are achieved by optimizing the growth conditions. It was found that the length of WO₃ nanowires increases from 15 [Formula: see text] to 60 [Formula: see text] with increasing the argon carrier gas flow rate from 30 sccm to 90 sccm, and then saturates with further increasing the argon carrier gas flow rate. However, the length of WO₃ nanowires reduces from 60 [Formula: see text] to 19 [Formula: see text] with increasing the tube inner pressure from 2.5 Torr to 3.5 Torr. The photoconductor detectors based on WO₃ single nanowires present excellent device performance with a responsivity as high as 19 A W^-1 at a bias of 0.1 V, a detectivity as high as 1.06 × 10¹¹ Jones, and a response (rising and decay) time as short as 8 ms under the illumination of a 404 nm laser. These results indicate the great potential of WO₃ nanowires for applications in fabricating high performance visible photodetectors.

[Spatial variability of soil water content in field of Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China]

To clarify the spatial variability of soil water content at field scale, a reasonable sampling method was established to support precision irrigation in the field. Soil samples were collected from Caoxinzhuang experimental area in Yangling District, Shaanxi Province at seven different dates. The spatial variation of soil water content in different soil layers of 0-60 cm were analyzed with classical statistics and geostatistics methods. The results showed that spatial distribution of soil water content in field scale was weak and moderate. When soil water content was within the range of 11.7%-20.1%, soil water content was negatively correlated with spatial variability. Sampling interval signifi-cantly affected the calculation accuracy of the spatial variability of soil water content. The coefficient of variation of soil water content between the east-west direction spacing of 27 m and the north-south direction spacing of 9 m was about 3.3% higher than the east-west direction spacing of 9 m and the north-south direction spacing of 18 m. With increasing sampling density, the contour change of soil water content distribution increased, and the number of grids with the least spatial variability of soil water content at the field scale was 21 points. When the sampling spacing was 18 m in the east-west direction, 9 m in the north-south direction, soil water content at field scale had a high spatial distribution correlation with soil water content in the middle position being 3%-5% higher than the surrounding. Our results provided reference for reasonable sampling of soil water content in the Guanzhong Plain and could guide the precision irrigation in agriculture.

An organocatalytic asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of 2-substituted indoles with aldehydes: enantioselective synthesis of α-hydroxyl ketones by low loading of chiral phosphoric acid

Hydroxyl alkylation of indoles by Friedel-Crafts reaction with a carbonyl compound is a useful strategy. However, the reaction was restricted to ketones due to the easy formation of a bisindole byproduct. Therefore, hydroxyl alkylation of an aldehyde with indole is confronted with great challenges. Here, we report an efficient strategy for asymmetric hydroxyl alkylation of 2-substituted indoles with aldehydes under 0.1 mol% chiral phosphoric acid. A series of α-hydroxyl ketones were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97%).

Copy Number Variation Pattern for Discriminating MACROD2 States of Colorectal Cancer Subtypes

Copy number variation (CNV) is a common structural variation pattern of DNA, and it features a higher mutation rate than single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and affects a larger fragment of genomes. CNV is related with the genesis of complex diseases and can thus be used as a strategy to identify novel cancer-predisposing markers or mechanisms. In particular, the frequent deletions of mono-ADP-ribosylhydrolase 2 (MACROD2) locus in human colorectal cancer (CRC) alters DNA repair and the sensitivity to DNA damage and results in chromosomal instability. The relationship between CNV and cancer has not been explained. In this study, on the basis of the genome variation profiling by the SNP array from 651 CRC primary tumors, we computationally analyzed the CNV data to select crucial SNP sites with the most relevance to three different states of MACROD2 (heterozygous deletion, homozygous deletion, and normal state), suggesting that these CNVs may play functional roles in CRC tumorigenesis. Our study can shed new insights into the genesis of cancer based on CNV, providing reference for clinical diagnosis, and treatment prognosis of CRC.

Fast separation of water-soluble vitamins by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography based on submicrometer flow-through silica microspheres

In the present study, submicrometer flow-through silica microspheres (Sub-FTSiO₂) was for the first time obtained via a suspension polymerization method coupled with sol-gel transition and phase separation. The Sub-FTSiO₂ was characteristic of rich mesopores, penetrable macropores and small particle size, which would be beneficial to fast mass transfer, low column backpressure and high column efficiency. It was directly used as the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic (HILIC) stationary phase, and the fast separation of seven water-soluble vitamins in 2.2 min was realized. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of water-soluble vitamins in two functional beverages on the market. The prepared Sub-FTSiO₂ was well demonstrated for fast HILIC, and would be potential as the stationary phase matrix for fast liquid chromatography in diverse separation modes.

[Clinical study on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation and treatment of pneumoconiosis]

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation in the treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods: We selected 160 pneumoconiosis patients who were hospitalized in our hospital from July 2015 to July 2016. 102 patients were divided into experimental groups, and the other 58 patients were assigned to the control group. These patients were randomly assigned. The control group was given routine treatment, while the experimental group received conventional treatment combined with TCM syndrome differentiation. We rated patients' quality of life using the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. C-reactive protein levels in both groups before and after treatment were detected by ELISA. Furthermore, we detected the expression levels of IL-6 mRNA and TGF-β mRNA in serum before and after treatment by RT-PCR.The analysis was performed with SPSS19.0 software. The normal distribution measurement data was expressed by Mean±SD, and the t-test was used for statistical analysis. Non-normal distribution measurement data were expressed as median(M) and interquartile range (P(25), P(75)), and non-parametric test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared with the control group, the readmission rate in the experimental group decreased within 3 months; The SF-36 quality of life score results of the two groups showed a statistically significant difference in BP, VT and RE (P<0.05);The levelofCRPdecreasedsignificantlyafter treatment in bothgroups,and thedifferencewasstatistically significant (P<0.05).Comparedwith thecontrolgroup, the levelsofIL-6mRNAandTGF-β1mRNA alsodecreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: TCM syndromedifferentiation and treatmentofpneumoconiosis can effectively improve the patient's condition and life quality. We predict that it may inhibit the progression of pulmonary fibrosis in pneumoconiosis.

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery

AIM

To investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery (PSA) compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From May 2002 to Dec 2018, 61 consecutive patients seen at Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute with a clinical suspicion of PSA were included. Ultrasonography was used to assess the abdominal and lower-limb arteries. The main sonographic criteria for a positive diagnosis were the visualisation of PSA, the enlarged internal iliac artery, and abnormality of common femoral artery and superficial femoral artery. These data were compared with CTA findings. Kappa statistics was applied to determine the level of agreement. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of ultrasonography as a diagnostic method were assessed.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography findings were positive in 16 of 61 patients with a clinical suspicion of PSA. The diagnosis was confirmed by CTA in 17 patients. There was one false-positive result and two false-negative results at ultrasonography. The kappa value was 0.875. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of ultrasonography were 88.2%, 97.7%, 93.8%, 95.6%, 95.1% and 0.859, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography could be a reliable, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic imaging method in the diagnosis of patients with suspected PSA.

Proton Shell Evolution below ^{132}Sn: First Measurement of Low-Lying β-Emitting Isomers in ^{123,125}Ag

The β-delayed γ-ray spectroscopy of neutron-rich ^{123,125}Ag isotopes is investigated at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN, and the long-predicted 1/2^{-} β-emitting isomers in ^{123,125}Ag are identified for the first time. With the new experimental results, the systematic trend of energy spacing between the lowest 9/2^{+} and 1/2^{-} levels is extended in Ag isotopes up to N=78, providing a clear signal for the reduction of the Z=40 subshell gap in Ag towards N=82. Shell-model calculations with the state-of-the-art V_{MU} plus M3Y spin-orbit interaction give a satisfactory description of the low-lying states in ^{123,125}Ag. The tensor force is found to play a crucial role in the evolution of the size of the Z=40 subshell gap. The observed inversion of the single-particle levels around ^{123}Ag can be well interpreted in terms of the monopole shift of the π1g_{9/2} orbitals mainly caused by the increasing occupation of ν1h_{11/2} orbitals.

Evidence of a Resonant Structure in the e^{+}e^{-}→π^{+}D^{0}D^{*-} Cross Section between 4.05 and 4.60 GeV

The cross section of the process e^{+}e^{-}→π^{+}D^{0}D^{*-} for center-of-mass energies from 4.05 to 4.60 GeV is measured precisely using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring. Two enhancements are clearly visible in the cross section around 4.23 and 4.40 GeV. Using several models to describe the dressed cross section yields stable parameters for the first enhancement, which has a mass of 4228.6±4.1±6.3  MeV/c^{2} and a width of 77.0±6.8±6.3  MeV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic. Our resonant mass is consistent with previous observations of the Y(4220) state and the theoretical prediction of a DD[over ¯]_{1}(2420) molecule. This result is the first observation of Y(4220) associated with an open-charm final state. Fits with three resonance functions with additional Y(4260), Y(4320), Y(4360), ψ(4415), or a new resonance do not show significant contributions from either of these resonances. The second enhancement is not from a single known resonance. It could contain contributions from ψ(4415) and other resonances, and a detailed amplitude analysis is required to better understand this enhancement.

[Effects of CD34(+) selected stem cells for the treatment of poor graft function after allogeneic stem cell transplantation]

目的

观察输注纯化供者CD34⁺细胞治疗单倍型造血干细胞移植后移植物功能不良的疗效和安全性。

方法

对2014年1月至2018年3月期间接受供者纯化CD34⁺细胞治疗的12例单倍型造血干细胞移植后移植物功能不良患者进行回顾性分析。

结果

12例患者中男9例、女3例，中位年龄26（14~54）岁；急性淋巴细胞白血病4例，急性髓系白血病5例，慢性髓性白血病2例，慢性粒-单核细胞白血病1例。分选产物CD34⁺细胞纯度为92.0%（44.0%~97.0%），回收率为55.0%（45.0%~96.7%），回输CD34⁺细胞的中位数为1.9（0.9~4.4）×10⁶/kg，CD3⁺细胞中位数为0.6（0.3~2.0）×10⁴/kg。中性粒细胞恢复中位时间为18（14~39）d，血小板恢复中位时间为29（16~153）d，红细胞恢复中位时间为60（9~124）d。12例患者输注过程中未发生严重不良反应，10例获得完全缓解，1例患者获得部分缓解，1例患者无效，未发生重症感染和重度GVHD。

结论

回输供者纯化CD34⁺细胞是单倍型造血干细胞移植后植入功能不良的一种安全、有效治疗方法。

Experimental Evidence for Transverse Wobbling in ^{105}Pd

New rotational bands built on the ν(h_{11/2}) configuration have been identified in ^{105}Pd. Two bands built on this configuration show the characteristics of transverse wobbling: the ΔI=1 transitions between them have a predominant E2 component and the wobbling energy decreases with increasing spin. The properties of the observed wobbling bands are in good agreement with theoretical results obtained using constrained triaxial covariant density functional theory and quantum particle rotor model calculations. This provides the first experimental evidence for transverse wobbling bands based on a one-neutron configuration, and also represents the first observation of wobbling motion in the A∼100 mass region.