High performance self-assembled sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron for the immobilization of cadmium in contaminated sediments: Optimization, microbial response, and mechanisms

Sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) showed excellent removal capacity for cadmium (Cd) in aqueous phase. However, the remediation effects of S-nZVI on Cd-contaminated sediment and its interactions with microorganisms in relation to Cd fate remain unclear. The complexity of the external environment posed a challenge for Cd remediation. This study synthesized S-nZVI with different S and Fe precursors to investigate the effect of precursors and applied the optimal material to immobilize Cd in sediments. Characterization analysis revealed that the precursor affected the morphology, Fe0 crystallinity, and the degree of oxidation of the material. Incubation experiments demonstrated that the immobilization efficiency of Cd using S-nZVIFe3++S2- (S/Fe = 0.14) reached the peak value of 99.54%. 1% and 5% dosages of S-nZVI significantly reduced Cd concentration in the overlying water, DTPA-extractable Cd content, and exchangeable (EX) Cd speciation (P < 0.05). Cd leaching in sediment and total iron in the overlying water remained at low levels during 90 d of incubation. Notably, each treatment maintained a high Cd immobilization efficiency under different pH, water/sediment ratio, organic acid, and coexisting ion conditions. Sediment physicochemical properties, functional bacteria, and a range of adsorption, complexation and precipitation of CdS effects dominated Cd immobilization.

Affecting factors and mechanism of removing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes by nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and modified nZVI: A critical review

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genetic pollution have become a global environmental and health concern recently, with frequent detection in various environmental media. Therefore, finding ways to control antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is urgently needed. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has shown a positive effect on antibiotics degradation and restraining ARGs, making it a promising solution for controlling antibiotics and ARGs. However, given the current increasingly fragmented research focus and results, a comprehensive review is still lacking. In this work, we first introduce the origin and transmission of antibiotics and ARGs in various environmental media, and then discuss the affecting factors during the degradation of antibiotics and the control of ARGs by nZVI and modified nZVI, including pH, nZVI dose, and oxidant concentration, etc. Then, the mechanisms of antibiotic and ARGs removal promoted by nZVI are also summarized. In general, the mechanism of antibiotic degradation by nZVI mainly includes adsorption and reduction, while promoting the biodegradation of antibiotics by affecting the microbial community. nZVI can also be combined with persulfates to degrade antibiotics through advanced oxidation processes. For the control of ARGs, nZVI not only changes the microbial community structure, but also affects the proliferation of ARGs through affecting the fate of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Finally, some new ideas on the application of nZVI in the treatment of antibiotic resistance are proposed. This paper provides a reference for research and application in this field.

Work-family conflict categories and support strategies for married female nurses: a latent profile analysis

Objective

To clarify subgroups of married female nurses experiencing work-family conflict (WFC), explore the factors associated with the subgroups, and determine how desired support strategies differ among the subgroups.

Methods

Data was collected from a sample of 646 married female nurses from public hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, in December 2021. Latent profile analysis was used to group the participants, and multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with higher WFC. The STROBE criteria were used to report results.

Results

According to latent profile analysis, there were three distinct profiles of WFC among married female nurses: "low-conflict type," "work-dominant-conflict type," and "high-conflict type." These profiles differed in the number of children, night shifts, family economic burden, childcare during working hours, family harmony, colleague support, and nurse-patient relationships. Nurses with multiple children, higher pressures in childcare during working hours, heavier family economic burdens, lower family harmony, lower colleague support, and poorer nurse-patient relationships are more likely to be classified as "high-conflict type" nurses.

Conclusion

This study found that married female nurses experience different types of WFCs. The structure of these WFCs and their associated factors suggests that customized intervention strategies can be developed to address the specific needs of married female nurses.

Emerging role of SENP1 in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy

Acting as a cysteine protease, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)/sentrin-specific protease1 (SENP1) involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes through processing the precursor SUMO protein into mature form and deSUMOylating target protein. It has been reported that SENP1 is highly expressed and plays a carcinogenic role in various cancers. In this paper, we mainly explore the function and mechanism of SENP1 in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, stemness, angiogenesis, metabolism and drug resistance. Furthermore, the research progress of SENP1 inhibitors for cancer treatment is introduced. This study aims to provide theoretical references for cancer therapy by targeting SENP1.

Activation of persulfate by biochar-supported sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron for degradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solution: process optimization and degradation pathway

The pollution of antibiotics, specifically ciprofloxacin (CIP), has emerged as a significant issue in the aquatic environment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are capable of achieving stable and efficient removal of antibiotics from wastewater. In this work, biochar-supported sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI/BC) was adopted to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of CIP. The impacts of different influencing factors such as S/Fe molar ratios, BC/S-nZVI mass ratios, PS concentration, S-nZVI/BC dosage, CIP concentration, initial pH, coexisting anions, and humic acid on CIP degradation efficiency were explored by batch experiments. The results demonstrated that the highest degradation ability of S-nZVI/BC was achieved when the S/Fe molar ratio was 0.07 and the BC/S-nZVI mass ratio was 1:1. Under the experimental conditions with 0.6 g/L S-nZVI/BC, 2 mmol/L PS, and 10 mg/L CIP, the degradation rate reached 97.45% after 90 min. The S-nZVI/BC + PS system showed significant degradation in the pH range from 3 to 9. The coexisting anions affected the CIP degradation efficiency in the following order: CO32- > NO3- > SO42- > Cl-. The radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) revealed that oxidative species, including SO4•-, HO•, •O2-, and 1O2, all contribute to the degradation of CIP, in which •O2- plays a particularly prominent role. Furthermore, the probable degradation pathway of CIP was explored according to the 12 degradation intermediates identified by LC-MS. This study provides a new idea for the activation method of PS and presents a new approach for the treatment of aqueous antibiotics with highly catalytic active nanomaterials.

"Discovering shine through feedback seeking"---feedback seeking among new graduate nurses: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Feedback is critical to improving practitioners' clinical practice and professional growth. Although they are still considered junior practitioners, their feedback-seeking experiences have yet to be investigated. This study aimed to understand the fundamental thoughts and experiences of new graduate nurses regarding feedback-seeking and to identify the main factors that influence their feedback-seeking behaviors.

METHODS

Conducting a descriptive phenomenological study, semi-structured in-depth interviews with newly graduated nurses from four hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, face-to-face or via video call in the hospital conference room through purposive and snowball sampling. Interview data were evaluated using Colaizzi's 7-step phenomenological data analysis. The COREQ checklist was followed.

RESULTS

A total of 15 new graduate nurses were interviewed as a sample, and 13 categories emerged from our data. They were categorized into four central elements: (1) perceptions and attitudes, (2) drivers, (3) dilemmas and needs, and (4) transformation and growth.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that new graduate nurses have various needs but face dilemmas in the feedback-seeking process. Nursing managers should be proficient at providing positive leadership, collaborating with clinical mentors to foster an atmosphere where new graduate nurses may obtain honest, transparent, and fair feedback, and exercising caution when providing negative feedback.

Chromothripsis orchestrates leukemic transformation in blast phase MPN through targetable amplification of DYRK1A

Chromothripsis, the process of catastrophic shattering and haphazard repair of chromosomes, is a common event in cancer. Whether chromothripsis might constitute an actionable molecular event amenable to therapeutic targeting remains an open question. We describe recurrent chromothripsis of chromosome 21 in a subset of patients in blast phase of a myeloproliferative neoplasm (BP-MPN), which alongside other structural variants leads to amplification of a region of chromosome 21 in ∼25% of patients ('chr21amp'). We report that chr21amp BP-MPN has a particularly aggressive and treatment-resistant phenotype. The chr21amp event is highly clonal and present throughout the hematopoietic hierarchy. DYRK1A , a serine threonine kinase and transcription factor, is the only gene in the 2.7Mb minimally amplified region which showed both increased expression and chromatin accessibility compared to non-chr21amp BP-MPN controls. We demonstrate that DYRK1A is a central node at the nexus of multiple cellular functions critical for BP-MPN development, including DNA repair, STAT signalling and BCL2 overexpression. DYRK1A is essential for BP-MPN cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo , and DYRK1A inhibition synergises with BCL2 targeting to induce BP-MPN cell apoptosis. Collectively, these findings define the chr21amp event as a prognostic biomarker in BP-MPN and link chromothripsis to a druggable target.

Immobilization of cadmium in river sediments by different modified nanoscale zero-valent iron: performance, mechanisms, and Fe dissolution

Modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) exhibited great potential for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated river sediments, but its mechanisms and environmental risks are still unclear. This study systematically discussed the performance and the mechanisms of modified NZVI materials, i.e., sodium alginate-coated NZVI (SNZVI), rhamnolipid-coated NZVI (RNZVI), and graphene oxide-loaded NZVI (GNZVI), for the stabilization of Cd in sediment, with the exploration of their stability to Cd at various pH values and Fe dissolution rate. Compared with the control, the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) leachable Cd decreased by 52.66-96.28%, and the physiologically based extraction test (PBET) extractable Cd decreased by 44.68-70.21% after 56 days of incubation with the immobilization efficiency varying according to GNZVI > RNZVI > SNZVI > NZVI. Besides, the adsorption behavior of Cd on materials was fitted with the Freundlich model and classified as an endothermic, spontaneous, and chemical adsorption process. SEM-EDX, XRD, and FTIR results verified that the stabilization mechanisms of Cd were principally based on the adsorption, complexation of Cd2+ with secondary Fe minerals (including Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, and γ-FeOOH) and precipitation (Cd(OH)2). From the risk assessment results, it was observed that the materials were favorable for Cd stabilization at a pH range from 7 to 11, meanwhile, the leaching concentration of Fe in the overlying water was detected below the limit value. These findings pave the way to developing an effective strategy to remediate Cd contaminated river sediments.

Recent advances in sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron materials for environmental remediation and challenges

Over the past decade, sulfidized nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) has been developed as a promising tool for the remediation of contaminated soil, sediment, and water. Although most studies have focused on applying S-nZVI for clean-up purposes, there is still a lack of systematic summary and discussion from its synthesis, application, to toxicity assessment. This review firstly summarized and compared the properties of S-nZVI synthesized from one-step and two-step synthesis methods, and the modification protocols for obtaining better stability and reactivity. In the context of environmental remediation, this review outlined an update on the latest development of S-nZVI for removal of heavy metals, organic pollutants, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and also discussed the underlying removal mechanisms. Environmental factors affecting the remediation performance of S-nZVI (e.g., humic acid, coexisting ions, S/Fe molar ratio, pH, and oxygen condition) were highlighted. Besides, the application potential of S-nZVI in advanced oxidation processes (AOP), especially in activating persulfate, was also evaluated. The toxicity impacts of S-nZVI on the environmental microorganism were described. Finally, the future challenges and remaining restrains to be resolved for better applicability of S-nZVI are also proposed. This review could provide guidance for the environmental remediation with S-nZVI-based technology from theoretical basis and practical perspectives.

Safety and Feasibility of the Addition of a Radiosensitizing Methionine-Restricted Diet to Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Methionine is an amino acid necessary for numerous processes critical for cell growth and survival. While normal cells can tolerate methionine deficiency, most cancer cells are methionine auxotrophs, requiring dietary intake since they cannot synthesize it. In vitro, methionine deficiency causes cancer cells to undergo cell cycle arrest and cell death, and in vivo a methionine restricted diet (MRD) enhances radiosensitization without significant adverse effects. Combining a MRD and radiation therapy (RT) to treat human malignancies has never been evaluated. The hypothesis of this Phase I study was that a MRD would be safe, and feasible to administer concurrently with curative-intent RT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Eligible patients included adults with any non-skin cancer malignancy undergoing standard radiation therapy without concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy. The MRD consisted of low-protein cereals, grains, and breads; fruits; vegetables; margarines and oils; and simple carbohydrates. A clinical dietician developed a personalized meal plan with each subject to reduce methionine consumption to 5-10 mg/kg body weight/day, while maintaining adequate protein and caloric intake. An unlimited supply of a commercially available methionine-free protein supplement was provided to minimize hunger and weight loss. The MRD extended from 2 weeks before initiation of RT, through 2 weeks beyond completion of RT. The primary endpoint for safety was the rate of grade 3 or higher acute and late toxicities per CTCAE, over 12 months follow-up. Feasibility was assessed with a biweekly quantitative plasma amino acid panel during the MRD. The target accrual was 15 subjects.

RESULTS

Over two years, 53 patients were offered enrollment, 9 subjects enrolled, 5 completed the MRD and RT, and 4 withdrew during the MRD. The table summarizes subjects' characteristics and outcomes. There was no grade 3 or higher adverse events attributable to the MRD. Methionine plasma levels varied over the course of treatment, and while no subject achieved the target of 13 μM, two nadired at 14 μM. The trial was closed early due to slow accrual and subjects' difficulty maintaining the diet.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests a MRD is safe with thoracic or abdominopelvic RT, with toxicities comparable to those expected with RT alone. However, the diet was challenging, and unacceptable to most patients with cancer.

The identification and characterization of genome-wide long terminal repeat retrotransposon provide an insight into elucidating the trait evolution of five Rhododendron species

Rhododendron is well-known for its beauty and colorful corolla. Although some high-quality whole-genome sequencing of Rhododendron has been completed, there is lack of studies on long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons in Rhododendron, which limits our ability to elucidate the causes of genetic variations in Rhododendron species. The properties of the intact Rhododendron LTR retrotransposon were investigated at the genome-wide level. Based on the available data, the high-quality genomes from five species, i.e., R. griersonianum, R. simsii, R. henanense subsp. lingbaoense, R. mucronatum var. ripense and R. ovatum were selected as the identification targets with good assembly continuity. A total of 17,936 intact LTR retrotransposons were identified; they belong to the superfamilies Copia and Gypsy with 17 clades. The insertion time of these transposons was later than 120 million years ago, and the outbreak period was concentrated more recently than 30 million years ago. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that many LTR retrotransposons might originate from intraspecific duplication. The current evidences also suggests that most of the LTR retrotransposons were inserted in the interstitial part of the genes in R. griersonianum, R. simsii, R. henanense, and R. ovatum, and the functions of the inserted genes are mainly involved in starch metabolism and proteolysis etc. The effect of LTR retrotransposon on gene expression depends on its insertion site and activation. Highly expressed LTR retrotransposons tended to be younger. The activity of LTR retrotransposons may affect some stage-specific expression genes of flower development, such as leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase. The available results herein improve our knowledge of LTR retrotransposons in Rhododendron genomes and facilitate the further study of genetic variation and trait evolution in Rhododendron.

The link between cutaneous inflammation and cognitive impairment

Cognitive impairment is a symptom of neurological disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease; and mild cognitive impairment can be a precursor of both disorders. Aged humans and animal models with other systemic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, display a higher incidence of cognitive decline. Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of cognitive impairment also is higher in subjects with certain inflammatory skin disorders, including psoriasis and chronic eczematous dermatitis. Chronologically aged individuals exhibit increased cutaneous inflammation and elevated circulating cytokine levels, linked to alterations in epidermal function, which itself can induce cutaneous inflammation. Conversely, strategies that improve epidermal function can lower cytokine levels in both the skin and circulation. Thus, it seems likely that epidermal dysfunction could contribute, at least in part, to the development of chronic low-grade inflammation, also termed 'inflammaging', in the elderly. The evidence of cognitive impairment in patients with inflammatory dermatoses suggests a link between cutaneous inflammation and cognitive impairment. Because of the pathogenic role of epidermal dysfunction in ageing-associated cutaneous inflammation, improvements in epidermal function could be an alternative approach for mitigation of the ageing-associated decline in cognitive function.

Identification and analysis of HD-Zip genes involved in the leaf development of Liriodendron chinense using multidimensional analysis

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in different biological processes, especially leaf development. However, no studies to date have identified the HD-Zip genes in Liriodendron chinense nor characterized their functions. We identified the HD-Zip genes in L. chinense by analysing the phylogeny, chromosome location, structure, conserved motif, cis-regulatory elements, synteny, post-transcriptional regulation and expression patterns of these genes during leaf development. A total of 36 LcHD-Zip genes were identified and divided into four subfamilies (HD-Zip I to IV). Synteny analysis revealed that segmental duplication was the main force driving the expansion of LcHD-Zip genes. These 36 LcHD-Zip genes exhibited 11 different expression patterns. Pattern 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 genes may play important roles in leaf development, such as leaf initiation, leaf polarity establishment, leaf shape development, phytohormone-mediated leaf growth and leaf epidermal structure formation. Four HD-Zip III genes were targeted by microRNAs (miRNAs), and the miR165/166a-HD-Zip regulatory module formed regulated leaf initiation and leaf polarity establishment. Overall, LcHD-Zip genes play key roles in leaf development of L. chinense. This work provides a foundation for the functional verification of HD-Zip genes identified in this study.

A Topical Emollient Mitigates the Progression of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: A Randomized, Open-Label Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is common in the elderly. Prior studies suggest a link between chronic inflammation and cognitive dysfunction, while aging-associated epidermal dysfunction has been connected to elevations in circulating cytokines.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed here whether improvements in epidermal function can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment.

METHODS

This randomized, open-label pilot trial was carried out in two cities in northern China. A total of 200 participants aged ≥65 years were randomly assigned to the emollient-treated and untreated groups at 1:1 ratio. Participants in the treated group were treated topically with Atopalm cream® twice-daily from November to the following May each year for three consecutive years, while the untreated subjects served as controls. The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was used to assess the severity of cognitive impairment, while epidermal biophysical properties were measured on the forearms and the shins in parallel.

RESULTS

Over the three-year trial, GDS significantly increased from baseline (p<0.0001) in the controls, while in the treated group, GDS stabilized. While stratum corneum hydration on the forearms did not change significantly in the controls, transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL), significantly increased by the end of the trial compared to baselines in the controls (p<0.0001). On the forearms of the treated group, stratum corneum hydration increased (p<0.0001) while skin surface pH decreased from baseline (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollient can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment. However, the sample size was relatively small, and trials in a larger cohort are needed to validate the present results.

Muti-omics integration analysis revealed molecular network alterations in human nonfunctional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors in the framework of 3P medicine

Nonfuctional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (NF-PitNET) is highly heterogeneous and generally considered a common intracranial tumor. A series of molecules are involved in NF-PitNET pathogenesis that alter in multiple levels of genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, and those molecules mutually interact to form dynamically associated molecular-network systems. This article reviewed signaling pathway alterations in NF-PitNET based on the analyses of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, and emphasized signaling pathway network alterations based on the integrative omics, including calcium signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway, oxidative stress response, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell cycle dysregulation, and those signaling pathway networks are important for NF-PitNET formation and progression. Especially, this review article emphasized the altered signaling pathways and their key molecules related to NF-PitNET invasiveness and aggressiveness that are challenging clinical problems. Furthermore, the currently used medication and potential therapeutic agents that target these important signaling pathway networks are also summarized. These signaling pathway network changes offer important resources for insights into molecular mechanisms, discovery of effective biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for patient stratification, predictive diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and targeted therapy of NF-PitNET.

Ubiquitination-mediated molecular pathway alterations in human lung squamous cell carcinomas identified by quantitative ubiquitinomics

Abnormal ubiquitination is extensively associated with cancers. To investigate human lung cancer ubiquitination and its potential functions, quantitative ubiquitinomics was carried out between human lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and control tissues, which characterized a total of 627 ubiquitin-modified proteins (UPs) and 1209 ubiquitinated lysine sites. Those UPs were mainly involved in cell adhesion, signal transduction, and regulations of ribosome complex and proteasome complex. Thirty three UPs whose genes were also found in TCGA database were significantly related to overall survival of LSCC. Six significant networks and 234 hub molecules were obtained from the protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis of those 627 UPs. KEGG pathway analysis of those UPs revealed 47 statistically significant pathways, and most of which were tumor-associated pathways such as mTOR, HIF-1, PI3K-Akt, and Ras signaling pathways, and intracellular protein turnover-related pathways such as ribosome complex, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, ER protein processing, and proteasome complex pathways. Further, the relationship analysis of ubiquitination and differentially expressed proteins shows that ubiquitination regulates two aspects of protein turnover - synthesis and degradation. This study provided the first profile of UPs and molecular networks in LSCC tissue, which is the important resource to insight into new mechanisms, and to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets/drugs to treat LSCC.

Phosphorylation-Mediated Molecular Pathway Changes in Human Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors Identified by Quantitative Phosphoproteomics

To investigate the biological role of protein phosphorylation in human nonfunctional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PitNETs), proteins extracted from NF-PitNET and control tissues were analyzed with tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics coupled with TiO₂ enrichment of phosphopeptides. A total of 595 differentially phosphorylated proteins (DPPs) with 1412 phosphosites were identified in NF-PitNETs compared to controls (p < 0.05). KEGG pathway network analysis of 595 DPPs identified nine statistically significant signaling pathways, including the spliceosome pathway, the RNA transport pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, SNARE interactions in vesicular transport, platelet activation, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, tight junctions, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. GO analysis revealed that these DPPs were involved in multiple cellular components (CCs), biological processes (BPs), and molecule functions (MFs). The kinase analysis of 595 DPPs identified seven kinases, including GRP78, WSTF, PKN2, PRP4, LOK, NEK1, and AMPKA1, and the substrate of these kinases could provide new ideas for seeking drug targets for NF-PitNETs. The randomly selected DPP calnexin was further confirmed with immunoprecipitation (IP) and Western blot (WB). These findings provide the first DPP profiling, phosphorylation-mediated molecular network alterations, and the key kinase profiling in NF-PitNET pathogenesis, which are a precious resource for understanding the biological roles of protein phosphorylation in NF-PitNET pathogenesis and discovering effective phosphoprotein biomarkers and therapeutic targets and drugs for the management of NF-PitNETs.

XBP1- IGFBP3 Signaling Pathway Promotes NSCLC Invasion and Metastasis

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the main cause of cancer death in the world. X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), which is an important transcription factor involved in regulating the unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, might act as a potent oncogenic protein in the processes of tumorigenesis, tumor proliferation and metastasis in various cancers. However, the clinical significance and pathological role of XBP1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of XBP1s protein in the 104 NSCLC tumor tissues and matched adjacent normal lung tissues (ANLT) by Immunohistochemical (IHC), and we found overexpressed XBP1s protein was associated with NSCLC TNM stages, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The further gain-and loss-of-function experiments indicated overexpression of XBP1s protein promoted cell invasion, migration and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Further study showed XBP1s protein could upregulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) expression, and regulated NSCLC cells invasion and metastasis by regulating IGFBP3. Taken together, XBP1s protein is markedly overexpressed in NSCLC and serves as an oncogene that play a critical role in NSCLC tumorigenesis and development. Importantly, XBP1s protein might not only be a potential biomarker for metastasis and prognosis but also a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.

[Serological study of Lyme disease antibody in 2 311 patients with arthritis symptoms in Hainan Province]

Objective: To understand the infectious status of Lyme disease among patients with arthritis symptoms in Hainan Province, and to provide a theoretical basis for prevention and control of Lyme disease. Methods: From 2013 to 2018, sampling surveys had been conducted in medical institutions in 8 cities in Hainan Province(Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Dongfang, Wenchang, Qionghai, Qiongzhong, Wuzhishan), 2 311 patients serum samples were collected with arthritis symptoms, and descriptive research were conducted base on the collected clinical data. The Indirect Fluorescent-Antibody Test (IFA) method was used for preliminary screening of Lyme disease antibody, the Western Blot (WB) method was used for IFA positive samples confirmation. Statistical analysis using χ² test. Results: 2 311 serum samples were tested by IFA, and 166 were positive with the positive rate of 7.18%. Further confirmed by WB method, 62 samples were positive, the positive rate of Lyme disease antibody was 2.68%(62/2 311). The positive rate of Lyme disease antibody among patients with arthritis in different regions of Hainan was statistically significant (χ²=40.636,P<0.001), and the positive rate in Qiongzhong city was the highest (8.81%, 14/159). Danzhou's positive rate was the second highest, 5.62%(5/89). Dongfang city had the lowest positive rate (0.51%, 2/394). The positive rates of Lyme disease serum antibody in men and women were 2.79% (33/1 182) and 2.57% (29/1 129), respectively; the positive rates of antibodies between each age groups were in the range of 1.74% to 3.64%. The antibody positive rate of Lyme disease showed no significant difference between gender and age (χ²=0.110,P=0.740 ;χ²=1.938,P=0.747). Conclusion: Patients with arthritis symptoms caused by Borrelia burgdorferi infection were found in 8 cities in Hainan province, but the Lyme disease antibody positive rate was different among cities, with Qiongzhong County being the highest.

Evaluation of a Custom SNP Panel for Identifying and Rectifying of Misjudged Paternity in Deficiency Cases

Parentage testing is routinely performed by genotyping short tandem repeat (STR) through capillary electrophoresis in the present. However, ambiguous or even misjudged paternity based on STRs happens from time to time in cases where only one putative parent is available. We analyzed STR data of 7,818,969 unrelated pairs and 75 close-relative pairs and found that although the probability of a random false match between non-relatives was 4.22 × 10^-6, the incidence of false or ambiguous paternity results between children and first-degree relatives of their true parent was as high as 18.67%. These results highlight the risk of false inclusion of a relative or even non-relatives in parentage testing with STRs. We then validated all ambiguous STR results by targeted sequencing with a custom panel containing 4,830 individual identification single nucleotide polymorphisms (IISNP), found that the ratio of mismatch loci to total SNPs was 1.78-6.95% in close relatives compared with 10.93-13.49% in unrelated pairs. Last, we reported three real cases with undetermined paternity by STRs and rectified them by dissecting with our IISNP panel. These results suggested that high-density IISNP panel can be used to identify and rectify misjudged cases effectively.

Quantitative Acetylomics Revealed Acetylation-Mediated Molecular Pathway Network Changes in Human Nonfunctional Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Acetylation at lysine residue in a protein mediates multiple cellular biological processes, including tumorigenesis. This study aimed to investigate the acetylated protein profile alterations and acetylation-mediated molecular pathway changes in human nonfunctional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PitNETs). The anti-acetyl antibody-based label-free quantitative proteomics was used to analyze the acetylomes between NF-PitNETs (n = 4) and control pituitaries (n = 4). A total of 296 acetylated proteins with 517 acetylation sites was identified, and the majority of which were significantly down-acetylated in NF-PitNETs (p<0.05 or only be quantified in NF-PitNETs/controls). These acetylated proteins widely functioned in cellular biological processes and signaling pathways, including metabolism, translation, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress. The randomly selected acetylated phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), which is involved in glycolysis and amino acid biosynthesis, was further confirmed with immunoprecipitation and western blot in NF-PitNETs and control pituitaries. Among these acetylated proteins, 15 lysine residues within 14 proteins were down-acetylated and simultaneously up-ubiquitinated in NF-PitNETs to demonstrate a direct competition relationship between acetylation and ubiquitination. Moreover, the potential effect of protein acetylation alterations on NF-PitNETs invasiveness was investigated. Overlapping analysis between acetylomics data in NF-PitNETs and transcriptomics data in invasive NF-PitNETs identified 26 overlapped molecules. These overlapped molecules were mainly involved in metabolism-associated pathways, which means that acetylation-mediated metabolic reprogramming might be the molecular mechanism to affect NF-PitNET invasiveness. This study provided the first acetylomic profiling and acetylation-mediated molecular pathways in human NF-PitNETs, and offered new clues to elucidate the biological functions of protein acetylation in NF-PitNETs and discover novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of NF-PitNETs.

Beat-to-beat variability in the tricuspid annulus dimensions and dynamics is markedly increased in atrial fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) leads to beat-to-beat variability in cycle length; however, whether there is associated beat-to-beat variability in the tricuspid annulus (TA) dimensions or variability in the time in cardiac cycle when TA reaches maximal size is unknown.

Purpose

We aim to assess the beat-to-beat variability in the TA dimensions in Afib compared with sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods

Images were obtained from 58 patients (29 in Afib, 29 in SR) undergoing either 3D TTE or TEE examination. We measured TA in 3–6 cardiac cycles per patient using commercially available software (TomTec 4MV).

Results

Median absolute difference in maximal TA area over 3–6 cardiac cycles was 1.60 cm2 (range 0.35 cm2 to 4.08 cm2) in Afib vs. 1.17 cm2 (range 0.32 cm2 to 2.19 cm2) in SR, p=0.0063. Median absolute difference in the maximal circumference was 0.79 cm (range 0.09 cm to 2.2 cm) in Afib vs 0.54 cm (range 0.12 cm to 1.43 cm) in SR, p=0.0175. A total of 118 cardiac cycles were analyzed in patients in SR and 147 in Afib. Timing of maximal TA area was most commonly recorded at end-diastole (80–100% of the R-R interval) in 62% of cycles in SR; however, it was distributed over a broad range in Afib, p&lt;0.0001, [Figure].

Conclusion

Afib leads to significant beat-to-beat variability in the maximal TA area, minimal TA area, maximal TA circumference, and in the time of maximal TA area. These findings suggest that accurate assessment of TA dimensions should be based on continuous tracking of the TA over several cardiac cycles, especially in patients with Afib. These observations have significant implications for device sizing in percutaneous tricuspid valve interventions.

Timing of Maximal TA Area

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Ephedrine causes liver toxicity in SD rats via oxidative stress and inflammatory responses

Ephedrine abuse has spread in many parts of the world and severely threatens human health. The mechanism of ephedrine-induced toxicity still remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ephedrine treatment on the liver and explore the underlying mechanisms. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into saline and ephedrine groups. Rats were treated with ephedrine at 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg ( n = 10) by oral gavage daily for 7 days. Pathological changes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the liver functional markers, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure gene and protein expression, respectively. Our data showed that ephedrine treatment increased hepatocellular cell apoptosis and impaired liver function. Moreover, ephedrine treatment increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which may be due to the increase of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad3 expression. Our study demonstrated that short-term treatment of ephedrine caused liver toxicity in rats through regulating TGF-β/Smad pathway.

A Novel Approach for Repairing Superior Mesenteric Artery Injury During Left Nephrectomy-6-year Follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel approach for reconstructing the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during left nephrectomy and review the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patient was a 57-year-old man with left back pain from an unknown cause for more than 3 hours. A computed tomography scan showed a 12- × 15-cm firm mass and a subcapsular hematoma in the left kidney. It was considered to be bleeding and rupture of the solid renal mass, and because of persistent pain and no documented distant metastatic disease, a transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy was elected, but the procedure was converted to open surgery for SMA injury. We reconstructed the SMA with end-to-end anastomosis between the SMA and the left renal artery stump.

RESULTS

At the 6-year follow-up, the patient had no intestine-related sequelae.

CONCLUSION

Our novel approach of an end-to-end anastomosis between the SMA and the left renal artery stump is an option for SMA injury, especially when orthotopic anastomosis or repair of the SMA is not indicated.

[Efficacy of three-dimensional visualization technology in the precision diagnosis and treatment for primary liver cancer: a retrospective multicenter study of 1 665 cases in China]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional(3D) visualization technology in the precision diagnosis and treatment for primary liver cancer. Methods: A total of 1 665 patients with primary liver cancer who admitted to seven medical centers in China between January 2009 to January 2019, diagnosed and treated by 3D visualization protocol were analyzed, and their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. There were 1 255 males(75.4%) and 410 females(24.6%), with age of (52.9±11.9) years (range: 18 to 86 years). The acquisition of high-quality CT images with submillimeter spatial resolution were conducted using a quality control system. By means of homogenization methods, 3D reconstruction and 3D visualization analysis were performed. Postoperative observation: pathology reports, microvascular invasion, perioperative complications and follow-up. SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used for statistical description and analysis of clinical data. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to calculate overall survival and disease-free survival rate. Results: (1)In the sample of 1 265 patients, 3D reconstructed models clearly displayed as follows. tumor size: ≤2 cm in 155 cases (9.31%), >2 cm to 5 cm in 551 cases (33.09%), >5 cm to 10 cm in 636 cases (38.20%), >10 cm in 323 cases (19.40%). (2) Classification of hepatic blood vessels. Hepatic artery: type Ⅰ(normal type) in 1 494 cases(89.73%),variant hepatic artery in 171 cases (10.27%), including type Ⅱ in 35 cases, type Ⅲ in 38 cases, and other types in 98 cases. Hepatic vein: type Ⅰ (normal) in 1 195 cases (71.77%),variant hepatic veins in 470 cases(28.23%), including type Ⅱ in 376 cases and type Ⅲ in 94 cases. Portal vein:normal type in 1 315 cases (78.98%), variant portal veins in 350 cases (21.02%), including type Ⅰ in 189 cases, type Ⅱin 103 cases, type Ⅲ in 50 cases, type Ⅳ in 8 cases. Hepatic artery variation coexisting with portal vein variation in 24 cases (1.44%). Hepatic vein variation coexisting with portal vein variation in 113 cases (6.79%). Three types of vascular variation in 4 cases (0.24%), including coexistence of type Ⅱ hepatic artery variation or type Ⅰ portal vein variation with type Ⅲ hepatic vein variation in 2 cases,coexistence of type Ⅲ hepatic artery variation or type Ⅲ portal vein variation with type Ⅱ hepatic vein variation in 2 cases. (3) Preoperative liver volume calculation:1 499.3 (514.4)ml (range:641.7 to 6 637.0 ml) of total liver volume, including 479.1 (460.1) ml (range:10.5 to 2 086.8 ml) for liver resection and 959.9 (460.4)ml (range:306.1 to 5 638.0 ml) for residual function. (4)Operative methods: anatomical hepatectomy in 1 458 cases (87.57%); non-anatomic hepatectomy in 207 cases (12.43%). (5)the median operation time was 285(165)minutes (range: 40 to720 minutes). (6)The median intraoperative blood loss was 200(250)ml (range:10 to 4 200 ml) and 346 cases (20.78%) had intraoperative transfusion. (7)Pathology reports: hepatocellular carcinoma in 1 371 cases (82.34%), cholangiocarcinoma in 260 cases (15.62%) and mixed hepatocellular carcinoma in 34 cases (2.04%). Microvascular invasion: M0 in 199 cases, M1 in 64 cases, and M2 in 27 cases. (8)Postoperative complications in 207 cases (12.43%), including Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ in 57 cases, grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in 147 cases and grade Ⅴ in 3 cases.There were 13 cases (0.78%) of liver failure and 3 cases (0.18%) of perioperative death. (9) The follow-up time was 3.0 to 96.0 months, with a median time of 21.0(17.8) years. The overall 3-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 80.0% and 56.5%, respectively. The overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 59.7% and 30.0%, respectively. Conclusion: 3D visualization technology plays an important role in realizing accurate diagnosis of anatomical location and morphology of primary liver cancer, improving the success rate of surgery and reducing the incidence of complications.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression in an Immune Microenvironment

Increasing evidence has revealed a significant association between microorganisms and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, is considered an important potential etiologic agent of OSCC, but the underlying immune mechanisms through which P. gingivalis mediates tumor progression of the oral cancer remain poorly understood. Our cohort study showed that the localization of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues was related to poor survival of patients with OSCC. Moreover, P. gingivalis infection increased oral lesion multiplicity and size and promoted tumor progression in a 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide (4NQO)–induced carcinogenesis mouse model by invading the oral lesions. In addition, CD11b+ myeloid cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) showed increased infiltration of oral lesions. Furthermore, in vitro observations showed that MDSCs accumulated when human-derived dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs) were exposed to P. gingivalis, and CXCL2, CCL2, interleukin (IL)–6, and IL-8 may be potential candidate genes that facilitate the recruitment of MDSCs. Taken together, our findings suggest that P. gingivalis promotes tumor progression by generating a cancer-promoting microenvironment, indicating a close relationship among P. gingivalis, tumor progression of the oral cancer, and immune responses.

Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for treating uterine arteriovenous malformation

OBJECTIVE

To explore HIFU treatment for uterine arteriovenous malformation.

DESIGN

A case report.

SETTING

Gynaecological department in a university teaching hospital of China.

POPULATION

A patient with uterine arteriovenous malformation.

METHODS

The diagnosis of uterine arteriovenous malformation was made through MRI. Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) ablation was performed.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

HIFU is effective in treating uterine arteriovenous malformation.

RESULTS

The patient had reduction of the lesion volume and obvious symptom relief, without significant adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

HIFU can be used as a new treatment option for uterine arteriovenous malformation.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation is effective in treating uterine arteriovenous malformation.

Long-term immunogenicity and immune persistence of live attenuated and inactivated hepatitis a vaccines: a report on additional observations from a phase IV study

Both live attenuated (HA-L) and inactivated (HA-I) hepatitis A vaccine were licensed for routine use in China. Although phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical studies of both vaccines have been completed, further systematic evaluation of their immunogenicity and immunological persistence under phase 4 clinical studies in a wide range of conditions and involving large populations is necessary. A phase IV clinical trial (NCT02601040) was performed in 9000 participants over 18 months of age. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and seroconversion rates (SRs) were compared at five time points during 3 years for 1800 individuals among them. The SRs of HA-L and HA-I were 98.08% (95% CI 95.59%-99.38%) and 99.64% (95% CI 98.93%-100.00%) respectively 28 days after administration of the first dose, and remained at 97.07% (95% CI 94.31%-98.73%) or above and 96.73% (95% CI 94.07%-98.42%) or above respectively during the following 3 years. The GMCs for both the HA-L and HA-I groups showed that both vaccines elicited high anti-HAV titres, considerably more than the threshold of protection needed against HAV infection in humans, and these titres were sustained. Hence, both HA-I and HA-L vaccines could provide an excellent long-term protective effect, and supported the routine use of both vaccines.

Enhanced energy transfer in heterogeneous nanocrystals for near infrared upconversion photocurrent generation

The key to produce inorganic heterogeneous nanostructures, and to integrate multiple functionalities, is to enhance or at least retain the functionalities of different components of materials. However, this ideal scenario is often deteriorated at the interface of the heterogeneous nanostructures due to lattice mismatches, resulting in downgraded performance in most hybrid nanomaterials. Here, we report that there is a narrow window in controlling temperature in a Lewis acid-base reaction process to facilitate epitaxial alignment during the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials. We demonstrate a perfectly fused NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@ZnO heterogeneous nanostructure, in which the semiconductor ZnO shell can be epitaxially grown onto lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles. By achieving a matched crystal lattice, the interface defects and crystalline grain boundaries are minimized to enable more efficient energy transfer from the upconversion nanoparticles to the semiconductor, resulting in both enhanced upconversion luminescence intensity and superior photoelectrochemical properties. This strategy provides an outstanding approach to endow lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles with versatile properties.

FTY720 ameliorates renal fibrosis by simultaneously affecting leucocyte recruitment and TGF-β signalling in fibroblasts

Renal fibrosis is the common final manifestation of chronic kidney diseases and usually results in end-stage renal failure. In this study, we evaluated the effect of fingolimod (FTY720), an analogue of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), as a treatment for the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis animal model. We treated mice with FTY720 at a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day by intragastric administration from day 1 until day 7. The control group received the same amount of saline. FTY720 reduced significantly the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) in treated UUO mice. FTY720 treatment also caused a significant decrease in interstitial expansion and collagen deposition in the kidney, accompanied by reduced mononuclear cell recruitment and inflammatory cytokine expression. In addition, the expression levels of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) were suppressed in the ligated kidney by FTY720 administration, suggesting reduced renal endothelial cell activation. Furthermore, in renal interstitial fibroblast normal rat kidney (NRK)-49F cells, FTY720 significantly affected transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression and collagen synthesis by inhibiting both the Mothers against decapentaplegic homologue (Smad)2/3 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (PI3K/AKT/GSK3β) signalling pathways. S1P1 knock-down by siRNA reversed this effect significantly in our fibroblast cell culture model. Therefore, FTY720 attenuates renal fibrosis via two different mechanisms: first, FTY720 suppresses the synthesis of extracellular matrix in interstitial fibroblasts by interfering with TGF-β signalling; and secondly, FTY720 affects endothelial cell activation and chemokine expression, thereby reducing immune cell recruitment into the kidney.