Modulating β-catenin homeostasis for cancer therapy

β-Catenin is a well-established driver of many cancers; however, there are challenges in developing agents targeting β-catenin for clinical use. Recent progress has indicated that most of the pathological changes in β-catenin may be commonly caused by loss of protein homeostasis. Modulation of β-catenin homeostasis, especially by hyperactivation of β-catenin, potentially leads to robust antitumor outcomes. Here, we comprehensively dissect the protein homeostasis of β-catenin in terms of time, compartmentalization, supramolecular assemblies, and dynamics, with emphasis on changes in β-catenin homeostasis upon oncogenic mutations. We propose that altered β-catenin homeostasis could be deleterious for β-catenin-dependent cancers and that modulation of β-catenin homeostasis offers a novel avenue for targeting β-catenin for cancer therapy.

Activation of hepatic adenosine A1 receptor ameliorates MASH via inhibiting SREBPs maturation

Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the advanced stage of metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) lacking approved clinical drugs. Adenosine A1 receptor (A1R), belonging to the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily, is mainly distributed in the central nervous system and major peripheral organs with wide-ranging physiological functions; however, the exact role of hepatic A1R in MAFLD remains unclear. Here, we report that liver-specific depletion of A1R aggravates while overexpression attenuates diet-induced metabolic-associated fatty liver (MAFL)/MASH in mice. Mechanistically, activation of hepatic A1R promotes the competitive binding of sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) to sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), rather than protein kinase A (PKA) leading to SCAP degradation in lysosomes. Reduced SCAP hinders SREBP1c/2 maturation and thus suppresses de novo lipogenesis and inflammation. Higher hepatic A1R expression is observed in patients with MAFL/MASH and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, which is supposed to be a physiologically adaptive response because A1R agonists attenuate MAFL/MASH in an A1R-dependent manner. These results highlight that hepatic A1R is a potential target for MAFL/MASH therapy.

[Progress in application of aspirin desensitization and maintenance therapy in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease]

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, asthma and the development of significant airway symptoms following the ingestion of aspirin and other nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). At present, aspirin challenge is the gold standard for diagnosis. Aspirin desensitization and aspirin therapy after desensitization (ATAD) is one of the classical therapies. This paper described the application of aspirin desensitization and ATAD in AERD and provided the reference for the comprehensive treatment of AERD.

Small molecule activates citrullination through targeting PAD2

Citrullination is a post-translational modification catalysed by peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes, and dysregulation of protein citrullination is involved in various pathological disorders. During the past decade, a panel of citrullination inhibitors has been developed, while small molecules activating citrullination have rarely been reported so far. In this study, we screened citrullination activator using an antibody against citrullinated histone H3 (cit-H3), and a natural compound demethoxycurcumin (DMC) significantly activated citrullination. The requirement of PAD2 for DMC-activated citrullination was confirmed by a loss of function assay. Notably, DMC directly engaged with PAD2, and showed binding selectivity among PAD family enzymes. Point mutation assay indicated that residue E352 is essential for DMC targeting PAD2. Consistently, DMC induced typical phenotypes of cells with dysregulation of PAD2 activity, including citrullination-associated cell apoptosis and DNA damage. Overall, our study not only presents a strategy for rationally screening citrullination activators, but also provides a chemical approach for activating protein citrullination. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'The virtues and vices of protein citrullination'.

Hyodeoxycholic acid ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting RAN-mediated PPARα nucleus-cytoplasm shuttling

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is usually characterized with disrupted bile acid (BA) homeostasis. However, the exact role of certain BA in NAFLD is poorly understood. Here we show levels of serum hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) decrease in both NAFLD patients and mice, as well as in liver and intestinal contents of NAFLD mice compared to their healthy counterparts. Serum HDCA is also inversely correlated with NAFLD severity. Dietary HDCA supplementation ameliorates diet-induced NAFLD in male wild type mice by activating fatty acid oxidation in hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)-dependent way because the anti-NAFLD effect of HDCA is abolished in hepatocyte-specific Pparα knockout mice. Mechanistically, HDCA facilitates nuclear localization of PPARα by directly interacting with RAN protein. This interaction disrupts the formation of RAN/CRM1/PPARα nucleus-cytoplasm shuttling heterotrimer. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of HDCA for NAFLD and provide new insights of BAs on regulating fatty acid metabolism.

[Definition of severe pulmonary tuberculosis: a scoping review]

Objective: To clarify the definition of severe pulmonary tuberculosis and its inclusion criteria by summarizing and analyzing the studies of severe pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: A systematic search of Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, Embase, CNKI, WanFang database, and CBM database was conducted to collect studies published between 2017 and 2022 on patients with severe pulmonary TB. Searches were performed using a combination of subject terms and free words. The search terms included: tuberculosis, severe, serious, intensive care, critical care, respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, hospitalization, respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, pulmonary heart disease, and pneumothorax. The definitions and inclusion criteria for severe pulmonary TB in the included studies were extracted. Results: A total of 19 981 studies were identified and 100 studies were finally included, involving 8 309 patients with severe pulmonary TB. A total of 8 (8.00%) studies explicitly mentioned the definition of severe pulmonary TB, and 53 (53.00%) studies clearly defined the inclusion criteria for patients with severe pulmonary TB. A total of 5 definitions and 30 inclusion criteria were extracted. A total of 132 dichotomous variables and 113 continuous variables were included in the outcome indicators related to patients with severe pulmonary TB of concern in the studies. Conclusions: The definition and diagnostic criteria for severe TB are unclear, and there is an urgent need to develop a clear definition and diagnostic criteria to guide clinical practice.

[Clinical observation and preliminary economic study of rush immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis]

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy, safety, compliance, and cost-effectiveness of rush immunotherapy (RIT) and conventional immunotherapy (CIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), so as to evaluate the clinical significance of CIT and preliminarily explore its economic value. Methods: A study was conducted on 72 AR patients who had received specific immunotherapy from Oct 2019 to Jun 2020 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, including 39 males and 33 females, aging 8 to 60 years. RIT or CIT was performed respectively according to the patients' wishes. There were 35 cases in the RIT group and 37 cases in the CIT group, all subjects were followed up for 1 year. Visual analysis scale (VAS) and effectiveness were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Systemic adverse reactions were used to assess safety. Failure rate was calculated to evaluate the compliance. The cost and cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) were conducted to evaluate the health economics preliminarily. Results: After half a year and one year's treatment, both RIT and CIT groups had significant clinical efficacy and RIT group had more significant clinical efficacy than CIT group at half a year (76.67% vs 46.67%, χ²=7.37, P=0.007). During the dose accumulation phase, there was no significant difference in the incidence of systemic adverse reactions between the two groups (8.57% vs 8.10%, χ²=0.05, P=0.943), while the drop-out rate in the RIT group was significantly lower than that in the CIT group (0 vs 13.51%, χ²=5.08, P=0.024). After one year, the costs in RIT group were significantly higher ((8 163.08±452.67) yuan vs (7 385.87±369.92) yuan, t=-2.78, P=0.009), while there was no statistical differences in CER between the two groups ((3 298.06±1 374.09) yuan/point vs (3 154.38±1 532.51) yuan/point, t=-0.36, P=0.418). Conclusions: Both RIT and CIT are beneficial for AR, and they have similar clinical efficacy, safety, and CER. RIT is more effective in the early stage, with higher patient compliance. Thus, RIT is worth promoting and exploring in clinic.

Lattice distortions and the metal-insulator transition in pure and Ti-substituted Ca3Ru2O7

We report pair distribution function studies on the relationship between the metal-insulator transition (MIT) and lattice distortions in pure and Ti-substituted bilayer Ca₃Ru₂O₇. Structural refinements performed as a function of temperature, magnetic field and length scale reveal the presence of lattice distortions not only within but also orthogonal to the bilayers. Because of the distortions, the local and average crystal structure differ across a broad temperature region extending from room temperature to temperatures below the MIT. The coexistence of distinct lattice distortions is likely to be behind the marked structural flexibility of Ca₃Ru₂O₇under external stimuli. This observation highlights the ubiquity of lattice distortions in an archetypal Mott system and calls for similar studies on other families of strongly correlated materials.

A study on serum pro-neurotensin (PNT), furin, and zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) levels in patients with acromegaly

PURPOSE

Acromegaly caused by growth hormone cell adenoma is commonly associated with abnormal glucolipid metabolism, which may result from changes in adipocytokine secretion. This study aims to investigate serum adipokine levels, including pro-neurotensin (PNT), furin, and zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG), in acromegalic patients and the correlation between the levels of these three adipokines and GH levels and glucolipid metabolism indices.

METHODS

Sixty-eight acromegalic patients and 121 controls were included, and their clinical data were recorded from electronic medical record system. Serum PNT, furin and ZAG levels were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Serum PNT levels in acromegalic patients were significantly higher than controls (66.60 ± 12.36 vs. 46.68 ± 20.54 pg/ml, P < 0.001), and acromegaly was an independent influencing factor of PNT levels (P < 0.001). Moreover, subjects with the highest tertile of PNT levels had a close correlation with acromegaly (OR = 22.200, 95% CI 7.156 ~ 68.875, P < 0.001), even in Model 1 adjusted for gender and age and Model 2 adjusted for gender, age and BMI. Additionally, serum PNT levels were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.220, P = 0.002) and triglycerides (TGs, r = 0.295, P < 0.001), and TGs were an independent influencing factor of serum PNT levels in acromegalic subjects (P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum PNT levels in obese acromegalic patients were significantly higher than those with normal BMI (P < 0.05). However, serum furin levels were lower in acromegalic patients than controls (0.184 ± 0.036 vs. 0.204 ± 0.061 ng/ml, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that acromegalic patients have increased serum PNT levels. Moreover, serum PNT plays a potential role in abnormal lipid metabolism of acromegalic patients.

Mussel-Inspired Hydrogels for Fluoride Delivery and Caries Prevention

Fluoride agents hold promise for the repair and prevention of caries lesions, but their interaction with enamel is often hampered and diminished because of the dynamic wet environment in the oral cavity, which affects the efficacy of fluoride delivery and limits treatment success. We herein developed a mussel-inspired wet adhesive fluoride system (denoted TS@NaF) fabricated by the self-assembly of tannic acid (TA), silk fibroin (SF), and sodium fluoride (NaF). TS@NaF demonstrated remarkable biological stability and biocompatibility, showed reliable wet adhesion, released fluoride ions (F−) topically, and induced significant deposition of calcium fluoride (CaF2) onto enamel in vitro. Furthermore, TS@NaF provided an anticaries effect in vitro and induced a detectable increase in enamel mineral density. Advanced fluoride-releasing bioadhesives are therefore promising candidates for caries prevention and highlight the great potential of mussel-inspired dental materials in clinical applications.

Tideglusib Inhibits Pif1 Helicase of Bacteroides sp. via an Irreversible and Cys-380-Dependent Mechanism

Pif1 helicase plays multiple roles in maintaining genome stability, which is an attractive therapeutic target for helicase-related diseases, while small molecules targeting Pif1 are not yet available. In this study, we performed a fluorescence polarization-based high-throughput screening and identified that an FDA-approved drug, Tideglusib (TD), could inhibit the DNA-binding activity (IC₅₀ = 6.2 ± 0.4 μM) and ATPase and helicase activity (IC₅₀ = 2-4 μM) of Bacteroides sp. Pif1 (BaPif1), which was also confirmed with human Pif1. In addition, the TD analogue TDZD-8 displayed similar inhibitory effects on Pif1 activities. Notably, TD irreversibly inhibited BaPif1 and severely induced BaPif1 aggregation. Furthermore, inhibition of BaPif1 by TD was significantly attenuated in the presence of dithiothreitol, indicating that TD could be a thiol-reactive compound. We also identified that Cys-380 of BaPif1 is critical for the inhibition by TD, suggesting that TD inhibits BaPif1 via an irreversible and Cys-380-dependent mechanism.

Bone microarchitecture impairment in prolactinoma patients assessed by HR-pQCT

PURPOSE

Prolactinoma may reduce bone mineral density (BMD) and increase fracture risk, but its influence on bone microarchitecture remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone microarchitecture parameters by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in prolactinoma patients.

METHODS

31 prolactinoma patients and 62 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in our center were included, and HR-pQCT was used to evaluate their bone microarchitecture at the radius and tibia. Z-scores for bone microarchitecture parameters were calculated based on previously published reference.

RESULTS

After adjusting for height and weight, prolactinoma patients had lower trabecular (- 0.011 mm, p = 0.005) and cortical thickness (- 0.116 mm, p = 0.008) and cortical area (- 6.0 mm2, p = 0.013) at radius, as well as lower trabecular (- 0.014 mm, p = 0.008) and cortical (- 0.122 mm, p = 0.022) thickness at tibia compared with the controls. Patients with higher prolactin level had more severe bone microarchitecture impairments. After adjusting for prolactin level and age, male patients had lower trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD), trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and cortical porosity at radius, as well as lower trabecular vBMD, trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and cortical area, and higher trabecular separation at tibia compared with female patients. Z-score for radius vBMD was correlated with Z-score for areal BMD (aBMD) at lumbar and femoral neck, while Z-score for tibia vBMD was correlated with Z-score for lumbar aBMD, and some patients with vBMD Z-score below - 2.0 had aBMD Z-score within normal range.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral bone microarchitecture was impaired in prolactinoma patients, especially in patients with higher prolactin level. We compared the bone microarchitecture of prolactinoma patients and healthy controls by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and found that many bone microarchitecture parameters were impaired among prolactinoma patients. Such impairment was more prominent among patients with higher prolactin level.

Eltrombopag binds SDC4 directly and enhances MAPK signaling and macropinocytosis in cancer cells

Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein implicated in a variety of oncogenic signaling pathways. It is also an intrinsically disordered protein and considered "undruggable". In the present study, we confirmed that knocking out SDC4 in pancreatic cancer cells markedly impaired macropinocytosis, colony formation, as well as xenograft tumor initiation and growth. Quantitative proteomic profiling of Sdc4 knockout (KO) cells revealed significant changes in cell metabolic pathways. In a cellular protein-based ligand interaction screening, we identified that Eltrombopag (ETBP), an FDA-approved agonist of the thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR) for immune thrombocytopenia, could directly bind to SDC4 with a Kd value of ~2 µM. We showed that the transmembrane motif was essential for SDC4 binding to ETBP. Unexpectedly, ETBP not only increased SDC4 abundance, but also enhanced SDC4-associated MAPK signaling pathway and macropinocytosis in cancer cells. Our results indicate that ETBP is a potential agonist of SDC4 in a fashion similar to its original target TPOR, and that caution should be taken when using ETBP for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in cancer patients.

GPR108 is Required for Gambogic Acid Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling in Cancer

GPCRs are the most potential targets for drug discovery, however, their role in oncology is underappreciated and GPCR-based anti-cancer drug is not fully investigated. Herein, we identified GPR108, a GPCR protein described in innate immune system, is a potential therapeutic target of cancer. Depletion of GPR108 dramatically inhibited the survival of various cancers. Notably, TNFα activation of NF-κB was totally impaired after GPR108 knockout. We identified gambogic acid (GA), a natural prenylated xanthone, selectively targeting GPR108. Importantly, GA engaged with GPR108 and promoted its degradation, knockout of GPR108 remarkably blocked GA inhibition of NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that GA was dependent on GPR108 to exert anti-cancer activity. Overall, our findings supported GPR108 as a promising therapeutic target of cancer, and provided a small molecule inhibitor GA directly and selectively targeting GPR108 for cancer therapy.

Novel STAT3 Inhibitors Targeting STAT3 Dimerization by Binding to the STAT3 SH2 Domain

Our drug discovery model has identified two novel STAT3 SH2 domain inhibitors 323–1 and 323–2 (delavatine A stereoisomers) in a series of experiments. In silico computational modeling, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), and fluorescence polarization (FP) assays altogether determined that 323–1 and 323–2 directly target the STAT3 SH2 domain and inhibited both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated STAT3 dimerization. Computational docking predicted that compound 323s bind to three subpockets of the STAT3 SH2 domain. The 323s inhibition of STAT3 dimerization was more potent than the commercial STAT3 SH2 domain inhibitor S3I-201 in the co-immunoprecipitation assay, correlating with computational docking data. The fluorescence polarization assay further confirmed that the compound 323s target the STAT3 SH2 domain by competitively abrogating the interaction between STAT3 and the SH2-binding peptide GpYLPQTV. Compared with S3I-201, the 323 compounds exhibited stronger inhibition of STAT3 and reduced the level of IL-6-stimulated phosphorylation of STAT3 (Tyr705) in LNCaP cells over the phosphorylation of STAT1 (Tyr701) induced by IFN-ɣ in PC3 cells or the phosphorylation of STAT1 (Ser727) in DU145 cells. Both compounds downregulated STAT3 target genes MCL1 and cyclin D1. Thus, the two compounds are promising lead compounds for the treatment of cancers with hyper-activated STAT3.

Neddylation is essential for β-catenin degradation in Wnt signaling pathway

β-Catenin is a central component in the Wnt signaling pathway; its degradation has been tightly connected to ubiquitylation, but it is rarely examined by loss-of-function assays. Here we observe that endogenous β-catenin is not stabilized upon ubiquitylation depletion by a ubiquitylation inhibitor, TAK-243. We demonstrate that N-terminal phosphorylated β-catenin is quickly and strongly stabilized by a specific neddylation inhibitor, MLN4924, in all examined cell types, and that β-catenin and TCF4 interaction is strongly enhanced by inhibition of neddylation but not ubiquitylation. We also confirm that the E3 ligase β-TrCP2, but not β-TrCP1, is associated with neddylation and destruction of β-catenin. GSK3β and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are not required for β-catenin neddylation but essential for its subsequent degradation. Our findings not only clarify the process of β-catenin modification and degradation in the Wnt signaling pathway but also highlight the importance of reassessing previously identified ubiquitylation substrates.

Proteasome-Mediated Regulation of GATA2 Expression and Androgen Receptor Transcription in Benign Prostate Epithelial Cells

GATA2 has been shown to be an important transcription factor together with androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cells. Less is known about GATA2 in benign prostate epithelial cells. We have investigated if GATA2 exogenous expression in prostate epithelial basal-like cells could induce AR transcription or luminal differentiation. Prostate epithelial basal-like (transit amplifying) cells were transduced with lentiviral vector expressing GATA2. Luminal differentiation markers were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blot and global gene expression microarrays. We utilized our previously established AR and androgen-dependent fluorescence reporter assay to investigate AR activity at the single-cell level. Exogenous GATA2 protein was rapidly and proteasome-dependently degraded. GATA2 protein expression was rescued by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 and partly by mutating the target site of the E3 ligase FBXW7. Moreover, MG132-mediated proteasome inhibition induced AR mRNA and additional luminal marker gene transcription in the prostate transit amplifying cells. Different types of intrinsic mechanisms restricted GATA2 expression in the transit amplifying cells. The appearance of AR mRNA and additional luminal marker gene expression changes following proteasome inhibition suggests control of essential cofactor(s) of AR mRNA expression and luminal differentiation at this proteolytic level.

Liquidambaric acid inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and colon cancer via targeting TNF receptor-associated factor 2

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a well-established driver of colon cancer; however, a targeted therapeutic agent has not reached clinics yet. In the present study, we report that the natural compound liquidambaric acid (LDA) inhibits oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo through its direct target tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). Mechanistically, TRAF2 positively regulates Wnt signaling by interacting with the N-terminal of β-catenin via its TRAF-C domain; this interaction is disrupted in presence of LDA. Particularly, a TRAF2/β-catenin/TCF4/TNIK complex is present in colon cancer cells, where TRAF2 is indispensable for the complex formation, and TRAF2/β-catenin and β-catenin/TCF4 interactions are disrupted upon LDA treatment. Our findings not only highlight that TRAF2 is an oncogenic regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and colon cancer but also provide a lead compound targeting TRAF2 for cancer therapy.

Small Molecule Palmatine Targeting Musashi-2 in Colorectal Cancer

Musashi-2 (MSI2) is an evolutionally conserved RNA-binding protein and recently considered as an attractive therapeutic target in a wide spectrum of malignancies. However, MSI2-engaged mRNAs are not well profiled, and no MSI2-dependent antagonist is available so far. In the study, we created MSI2 knockout cancer cells and demonstrated that MSI2 is required for the survival of colorectal cancer HCT116 cells but not non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. In addition, the global profiling of the transcriptome and proteomics of MSI2 knockout colorectal cells revealed 38 candidate MSI2-targeted genes. In a loss–rescue screening, palmatine was identified as a functional MSI2 antagonist inhibiting the MSI2-dependent growth of colorectal cancer cells. Finally, we confirmed that palmatine is directly bound to MSI2 at its C-terminal. Our findings not only indicated MSI2 as a promising therapeutic target of colorectal cancer but also provided a small molecule palmatine as a direct and functional MSI2 antagonist for cancer therapy.

Oleanolic acid blocks the purine salvage pathway for cancer therapy by inactivating SOD1 and stimulating lysosomal proteolysis

Metabolic reprogramming is a core hallmark of cancer and is key for tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Investigation of metabolic perturbation by anti-cancer compounds would allow a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these agents and identification of new anti-cancer targets. Here, we demonstrated that the administration of oleanolic acid (OA) rapidly altered cancer metabolism, particularly suppressing the purine salvage pathway (PSP). PSP restoration significantly opposed OA-induced DNA replication and cell proliferation arrest, underscoring the importance of this pathway for the anti-cancer activity of OA. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) and 5′-nucleotidase (5′-NT), two metabolic enzymes essential for PSP activity, were promptly degraded by OA via the lysosome pathway. Mechanistically, OA selectively targeted superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and yielded reactive oxygen species (ROS) to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)/macroautophagy pathway, thus eliciting lysosomal degradation of HGPRT and 5′-NT. Furthermore, we found that the PSP was overactivated in human lung and breast cancers, with a negative correlation with patient survival. The results of this study elucidated a new anti-cancer mechanism of OA by restraining the PSP via the SOD1/ROS/AMPK/mTORC1/macroautophagy/lysosomal pathway. We also identified the PSP as a new target for cancer treatment and highlighted OA as a potential therapeutic agent for cancers with high PSP activity.

Small molecule targeting topoisomerase 3β for cancer therapy

DNA topoisomerases are proved cancer therapeutic targets with clinically successful anticancer drugs for decades. However, the role of RNA topoisomerase (TOP3β) remained mysterious especially in cancer, and no targeted agent has been reported yet. In a target identification assay of anti-cancer compound using a modified DrugTargetSeqR strategy, mutation of TOP3B was detected in cancer cells acquired resistance to cinobufagin (CBG), a key compound of Huachansu that has been approved for cancer therapy in China. We demonstrated that CBG directly engaged with TOP3β, and promoted TOP3β depletion in wildtype but not mutant cancer cells. Notably, knockout of TOP3β in cancer cells significantly reduced tumor enlargement but not initiation, and inhibited colony formation upon nutrient deprivation. We also demonstrated that CBG induced formation of stress granule, RNA-loop and asymmetric DNA damages in cancer cells, and all these phenotypes were significantly attenuated in TOP3B knockout cells. Of note, examination of a panel of cancer cell lines revealed associations among cell growth inhibition and induction of DNA damage as well as TOP3B depletion upon CBG treatment. Our findings not only highlighted TOP3β as a promising therapeutic target of cancer, but also identified CBG as a lead chemical inhibitor of TOP3β for cancer therapy.

Proteomic Exploration of Endocytosis of Framework Nucleic Acids

Efficient cell internalization of framework nucleic acid nanostructures free of transfection agents provides new opportunities for developing biocompatible and intelligent nanoprobes and drug delivery carriers. Here, a proteomic identification method to screen target proteins that interact with tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) during the process of endocytosis by combining drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques, is reported. It is found that that caveolin-1 (CAV1) and macropinocytosis-related protein sorting nexin5 (SNX5) are associated with the endocytosis of TNDs, which is further validated by microscale thermophoresis (MST) analysis. CAV1- and SNX5- knockout experiments reveal that both caveolae-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis mediate the cellular uptake of TDNs, which complement previous findings with fluorescence tracing methods. This method provides a generic strategy to analyze cellular internalization process of DNA nanostructures for biomedical applications.

[Progress in the traceability of tumor marker detection]

Tumor markers (TM) detection is of great significance in tumor screening, monitoring and treatment intervention, which puts forward higher requirements for its detection quality. TM traceability is very important in the process of reagent production and clinical laboratory testing, which can help improving the reliability and comparability of TM testing. Based on the current principles and classification system of metrology traceability in the world, this paper reviews the quality requirements of reference materials and reference measurement methods related to protein and nucleic acid of TM, as well as the problems existing in the international convention reference measurement procedure and traceability system of TM, so as to provide a new idea for the quality assurance work of TM detection.

The phytochemical hyperforin triggers thermogenesis in adipose tissue via a Dlat-AMPK signaling axis to curb obesity

Stimulation of adipose tissue thermogenesis is regarded as a promising avenue in the treatment of obesity. However, pharmacologic engagement of this process has proven difficult. Using the Connectivity Map (CMap) approach, we identified the phytochemical hyperforin (HPF) as an anti-obesity agent. We found that HPF efficiently promoted thermogenesis by stimulating AMPK and PGC-1α via a Ucp1-dependent pathway. Using LiP-SMap (limited proteolysis-mass spectrometry) combined with a microscale thermophoresis assay and molecular docking analysis, we confirmed dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (Dlat) as a direct molecular target of HPF. Ablation of Dlat significantly attenuated HPF-mediated adipose tissue browning both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, genome-wide association study analysis indicated that a variation in DLAT is significantly associated with obesity in humans. These findings suggest that HPF is a promising lead compound in the pursuit of a pharmacological approach to promote energy expenditure in the treatment of obesity.

[Development and application of a fundus image quality assessment system based on computer vision technology]

Objective: To develop a fundus image quality assessment system based on computer vision technology and to verify its accuracy by comparing the results of artificial discrimination and using this system. Methods: The process of image evaluation was divided into four modules: fundus image preprocessing, fundus image quality evaluation, fundus image content detection and evaluation result output. The system was designed to automatically evaluate the image quality of each fundus image, identify the optic disc and macula, and judge whether the image was qualified or not according to the image quality discrimination rules. A total of 2 397 fundus images of 787 type 2 diabetes patients were selected as the test data set. The average age of the patients, including 384 males and 403 females, was (69.65±19.09) years old. The images were taken by the staff of community health service centers in Shanghai with a fundus camera. The fundus image quality assessment system was used to conduct quality control and classification of the data set. At the same time, 12 professional fundus picture readers were employed to conduct manual quality control and classification of this data set. The system quality control results and artificial quality discrimination results were compared and analyzed. Results: The fundus image quality assessment system automatically recognized left and right eyes and eye positions on the input fundus images. The quality control interface included four indicator lights, which respectively corresponded to the images with the optic disc or macula as the center of the left or right eye. Evaluation of each fundus image was completed within 1 second, and the results were automatically displayed on the user interface. The 2 397 fundus photos were identified manually as 1 846 qualified photos and 551 unqualified photos. Among the unqualified images, 62 (11.27%) were too dark, 51 (9.27%) were too bright, 59 (10.73%) were not clear in the macular area, 36 (6.54%) showed no macula or optic disc, 125 (22.73%) could not present the fundus structure, 175 (31.82%) were blurred, and 42 (7.64%) were blocked. The results of the system and manual assessment were consistent in 1 788 qualified images (96.86%) and 550 unqualified images (99.82%), with an overall consistency rate of 97.54%. Conclusion: The fundus image quality assessment system can achieve highly consistent results with the professional judgment of ophthalmologists and has the characteristics of objectivity. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56:920-927).

[The correlation between the degree of anxiety/depression and the improvement of subjective and objective symptoms after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic sinusitis]

Objective: To explore whether the improvement of subjective symptoms and objective grades after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic sinusitis (CRS) are related to the degree of preoperative anxiety or depression and to provide reference for improving the effects of clinical treatment. Methods: The clinical data of one hundred and sixty patients with CRS treated by endoscopic sinus surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2018 to August 2019 were collected prospectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores, self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores, Lund-Kennedy scores of nasal endoscopy and the Lund-Mackay scores of CT before and 6 months after surgery were used to analyse the correlation between the scores of anxiety or depression and the subjective and objective scores of patients before and after operation by grouping and layering. One hundred and one males (63.1%) and 59 females (36.9%) with an average age of 47.3 years (18-75 years) were included. Single-sample, independent or paired t-test, one-way ANOVA and rank-sum test were used for comparison and Pearson correlation analysis was used for the correlation between groups. Results: There was no statistical difference of anxiety or depression between different groups in terms of age, gender and course in the 160 effective patients (t values were -0.151, -0.487, -0.846, all P values>0.05; t values were -0.473, -1.302, -1.069, all P values>0.05). And the degree of preoperative anxiety or depression was positively correlated with the subjective scores, including overall discomfort, nasal obstruction, runny nose and olfactory decline (r values were 0.515, 0.606, 0.424, 0.306, all P values<0.01; r values were: 0.518, 0.584, 0.448, 0.308, all P values<0.01), but not significantly correlated with objective scores of Lund-Mackay and Lund-Kennedy (all P value>0.05). Moreover, as far as the symptoms of overall discomfort, nasal obstruction, headache and runny nose, the results of one-way ANOVA showed that the improvement of symptoms in patients with serious anxiety or depression was worse than that of the normal, mild and moderate patients (all P values<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the scores of Lund-Kennedy 6 months after surgery between them (both P values>0.05). Conclusion: The state of anxiety or depression affects the improvement of symptoms after endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS patients. Compared with the patients with normal and mild to moderate anxiety or depression, the improvement of symptoms in patients with severe anxiety and depression is worse. It is necessary to evaluate the anxiety or depression of the patients with CRS who are going to undergo endoscopic sinus surgery.

The clinical impact of serum sLOX-1 level in coronary artery disease patients as inferred from its implication in the in vitro protective effects of metoprolol against hypoxic injury of HUVECs

Background

Ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major public health problem across the world. Early detection and appropriate management significantly reduced CAD-induced morbidities and death. Endothelial cells are pathogenically implicated.

Purpose

Our study was designed to investigate the role of the soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) in the in vitro protective effect of Metoprolol against hypoxia-induced injury of Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Secondly, the clinical significance of variations in serum levels of sLOX-1 in patients with CAD was assessed.

Methods

In vitro, hypoxic injury model of HUVECs was established in an atmosphere of 1% O2, 95% N2, and 5% CO2 for 24 hours. The protective effect and mechanism of action of the cardio-selective beta-blocker Metoprolol at 10–6 μM concentration was investigated.

Consented stable atherosclerotic CAD (n=150) and unstable angina pectoris patients (n=75) along with 150 healthy volunteer subjects were voluntarily enrolled in this ethically approved study. Invasive coronary angiogram with ≥50% stenosis at least in one major coronary artery was used for diagnosis. ESC/ACC/AHC/practical protocols were used for categorizing patients into stable or unstable CAD. Serum sLOX-1 level was measured using specific ELISA kit. The diagnostic significance of serum sLOX-1 levels was assessed by analyzing its area under the curve (AUC).

Results

In vitro hypoxic conditions induced high rate of cellular apoptosis, high levels of LOX-1 expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and LDH release from HUVECs after 24 hours incubation, compared to normoxic control cells. Metoprolol significantly decreased LOX-1 levels, and prevented the release of LDH and generation of ROS. This culminated into marked improvement in cellular viability of hypoxia-exposed HUVECs (p&lt;0.001).

Compared to healthy subjects, serum levels of sLOX-1s were significantly elevated in atherosclerotic stable and unstable CAD patients (p&lt;0.001). Serum sLOX-1 levels were increased by 4.21 folds in stable CAD patients and by 6.373 folds in atherosclerotic unstable angina patients vs. healthy participants. Moreover, the levels in the two patients' groups were significantly different (p&lt;0.001). In stable angina CAD patients, sLOX-1 AUC = 0.929; and in unstable CAD patients, AUC = 0.944, indicating that serum sLOX-1 levels clearly differentiated patients from healthy participants with high specificity and sensitivity.

Conclusions

Extrapolated from HUVECs hypoxia-induced injury model and the protective effect of Metoprolol, elevation of the circulating levels of sLOX-1 correlated with increased risks for atherosclerotic CAD and is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for early detection of the disease.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

[Application of the subjective and objective evaluation in functional rhinoplasty]

Objective: To explore the subjective and objective evaluation methods in functional rhinoplasty. Methods: Sixty-four patients who underwent rhinoplasty in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were included in this study from January 2017 to October 2018. There were 32 males and 32 females, with the age ranging from 18 to 45 years old. Before and 6 months after operation, nasal ventilation function was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), nasal acoustic reflex and nasal resistance. Satisfaction with nasal appearance was evaluated by VAS, Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) and facial proportions evaluation. Psychological state was assessed by Emotional Balance Scale and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. Finally, the Pearson correlation analysis of patient satisfaction was performed. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared with pre-operation, nasal obstruction VAS, NOSE scores, total nasal resistance and difference ratio of nasal resistance showed significantly decline after surgery (1.62±0.85 vs 7.56±1.44, 22.62±3.54 vs 69.75±7.85, (0.16±0.08) Pa·s/ml vs (0.31±0.43) Pa·s/ml, 0.33±0.28 vs 0.71±0.32, all P<0.05). VAS of appearance and ROE scores showed an increase after surgery (11.20±3.66 vs 2.70±0.97, 17.80±2.71 vs 7.50±1.12, all P<0.05). The measurement of the external nasal subunits showed that the length of the dorsum of the nose, the angle of the face to the nose, the angle of the frontal and the angle of the alar of the nose were obviously reduced ((29.33±4.26) mm vs (33.61±5.24) mm, (135.11±3.81)° vs (139.91±6.30)°, (130.63±2.88)° vs (136.74±5.72)°, (99.71±4.02)° vs (106.27±5.60)°, all P<0.05). The scores of postoperative Emotional Balance Scale and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale increased significantly (5.88±1.54 vs 4.31±1.85, 28.31±2.64 vs 22.13±2.77, all P<0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis showed that patients' satisfaction was positively correlated with subjective score of nasal ventilation (VAS, NOSE), subjective score of nasal appearance (VAS, ROE) and emotional balance scale, while negatively correlated with nasal resistance, and not correlated with the measurement of external nasal subunit. There was a significant positive correlation between the subjective score of nasal ventilation and the measurement of nasal resistance, but there was no significant correlation between the subjective score of nasal appearance and the measurement of external nasal subunit. Conclusion: The subjective and objective evaluation of nasal ventilation function, aesthetics of nasal appearance and psychological state can evaluate the effect of functional rhinoplasty effectively.

Coexistence and Interaction of Spinons and Magnons in an Antiferromagnet with Alternating Antiferromagnetic and Ferromagnetic Quantum Spin Chains

In conventional quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnets with quantum spins, magnetic excitations are carried by either magnons or spinons in different energy regimes: they do not coexist independently, nor could they interact with each other. In this Letter, by combining inelastic neutron scattering, quantum Monte Carlo simulations, and random phase approximation calculations, we report the discovery and discuss the physics of the coexistence of magnons and spinons and their interactions in Botallackite-Cu_{2}(OH)_{3}Br. This is a unique quantum antiferromagnet consisting of alternating ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 chains with weak interchain couplings. Our study presents a new paradigm where one can study the interaction between two different types of magnetic quasiparticles: magnons and spinons.

Applications of Ultrafine Limestone Sorbents for the Desulfurization Process in CFB Boilers

With the stringent emission regulation taking effect, it is difficult for the conventional desulfurization technology in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers to meet the requirements of ultralow SO₂ emission. Therefore, in this paper, the application of natural ultrafine limestone, with a Sauter mean diameter of less than 20 μm, was tested by conducting bench-scale, pilot-scale, and commercial-scale experiments to realize highly efficient desulfurization in CFB furnaces. In the past, such small-size limestone was considered unsuitable for CFB boilers. However, as demonstrated by bench-scale results, the desulfurization performance was clearly superior to that of coarse limestone, especially at low SO₂ concentrations. In a 3 MW_th pilot-scale CFB boiler, the ultrafine limestone exhibited competent desulfurization efficiency to that of the coarse limestone but clearly less significant catalytic effects on NOx formation. As revealed by field tests in four commercial-scale CFB boilers, when high-efficiency cyclones were applied to CFB boilers, the mass inventory of ultrafine particles was significantly increased and the residence time would be extended accordingly; thus, the ultrafine limestone can be used to achieve high desulfurization efficiency and even ultralow SO₂ emission with a favorable Ca/S ratio. Furthermore, a technical roadmap was drawn for the cost-effective control of SO₂ emission.

Crocin Protects Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells from High Glucose-Induced Injury Via Inhibiting the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response

BACKGROUND

Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in diabetic atherosclerosis. High glucose (HG) is considered a stimulator in the development of diabetic atherosclerosis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is involved in HG-induced vascular injury. Crocin has antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was to evaluate whether crocin can protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from HG-induced injury and explored the associated mechanism.

METHODS

HUVECs were treated with 33 mmol/L glucose as the HG condition. The endothelial protective effects of crocin were evaluated by comparison with the control groups.

RESULTS

The exposure of HUVECs to HG for 24 h remarkably induced the ER stress response and a sequence of injuries, as demonstrated an increase in the apoptotic cell number, the reactive oxygen species level and inflammatory cytokine generation, as well as a decline in vascular endothelial growth factor A expression. These changes were markedly alleviated by pretreating the HUVECs with either crocin or 4-phenylbutyrate (ER stress inhibitor) before exposure to HG.

CONCLUSION

Crocin exerted antioxidative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic effects in the HG-induced HUVEC injury model, which were probably mediated by a favorable modification of ER stress that requires further investigation.

WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Regulating T Cell-Inflammation in the Tumor Microenvironment

Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has greatly prolonged the overall survival of cancer patients in melanoma and many other cancer types. However, only a subset of patients shows clinical responses from these interventions, which was predicated by the T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment. T cell-inflamed phenotype is characterized by the infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells, CD8α/CD103-lineage dendritic cells (DCs), as well as high density of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) that are associated with the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. A number of regulators has been associated with T cell-inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, and WNT/β-catenin signaling is one of the best characterized. The tumor-intrinsic WNT/β-catenin signaling activation is frequently associated with poor spontaneous T cell infiltration across most human cancers. In this article, we review the essential roles of WNT/β-catenin signaling in the T cell-inflamed and non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment, including the development and function of immune cells, activation of immune exclusion of tumor cells, and cancer immunosurveillance. We also discuss the impact of this pathway in driving the non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment in other tumor types. To improve immunotherapy efficacy, we argue that targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling should be a high priority for combinational cancer therapy to restore T cell infiltration.

Insulator-metal transition induced by electric voltage in a ruthenate Mott insulator

We report the observation of electric-voltage induced insulator-metal phase transition in a ruthenate Mott insulator Ca₃(Ru_0.9Ti_0.1)₂O₇. We show that the electric field effect dominates and leads to a sharp phase transition at measurement temperatures far below the Mott transition, whereas the thermal effect becomes more significant and broadens the phase transition as the measurement temperature approaches the insulator-metal transition. The electric field induced insulator-metal transition is presumably attributed to the avalanche breakdown of the correlated insulating state when driven out of equilibrium. This work highlights the strategy of using electric voltage to control the phase transition of this system in addition to other nonthermal parameters such as magnetic field and pressure reported previously.

Xylopins A–F, six rare guaiane dimers with three different connecting modes from Xylopia vielana

Six rare guaiane-type sesquiterpene dimers xylopins A–F, having three different connecting modes through two direct C–C bonds, were isolated from the roots of Xylopia vielana. Their absolute configurations were established by NOESY analysis, Cu Kα X-ray crystallography, and experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Flow cytometry demonstrated the fact that compound 6 arrested the cell cycle at G2 phase and concentration-dependently induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. Furthermore, the EPT2-TGC cell model, zebrafish study and western blot analysis illustrated compound 6 could induce apoptosis by efficiently inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via decreasing the expression of β-catenin.

Six rare guaiane-type sesquiterpene dimers xylopins A–F, having three different connecting modes through two direct C–C bonds, were isolated from the roots of Xylopia vielana.

[Rosai-Dorfman disease with nasal septum involvement:two cases report]

Clinical data of 2 cases with Rosai-Dorfman disease(RDD) originating from nasal septal mucosa were reported retrospectively,and the pertinent literature was reviewed. Without specific clinical features,RDD in nasal cavity could be misdiagnosed easily. Pathology revealed different morphologies of cell proliferation with engulfed lymphocytes,plasma cells and neutrophils. Immunohistochemical staining showed S-100(+),CD68(+)，CD1(-).RDD disease generally has a benign course and is self-limited. Its diagnosis depends mainly on biopsy．As for the treatment of this disease,the strategies are not systemic and standard. Surgical treatment is used to excise the mass in nasal cavity,glucocorticoids treatment after surgery is inconclusive. The long-term effect need to be further observed．.

Dual androgen receptor (AR) and STAT3 inhibition by a compound targeting the AR amino-terminal domain

Prostate cancer (PCa) often recurs as incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after the failure of androgen deprivation therapy. CRPC development relies on androgen receptor (AR) signaling. The IL6/STAT3 pathway is also a key driver of CRPC. The crosstalk between IL6/STAT3 and the AR pathways provides opportunities to explore next-generation agents to treat PCa. Through screening of around 600 natural compounds in our newly established prostate tumorigenesis model, potential STAT3 signaling inhibitors were found and additionally examined for effects on AR signaling. The small molecular compound 154 exhibited dual effects on IL6/STAT3 and AR pathways. We show here that compound 154 inhibits AR and STAT3 transcriptional activity, reduces the expression of phosphorylation of STAT3 (Y705) and downregulates the mRNA levels of AR target genes. Compound 154 also inhibits protein expression of AR and AR splice variants (ARv567es and AR-V7) without altering AR mRNA levels. Compound 154 binds to AR directly, but not to STAT3 and is identified as an antagonist of the AR amino-terminal domain (NTD) by disrupting protein-protein interactions between STAT3 and the AR NTD. Moreover, compound 154 does not reduce AR nuclear translocation. Compound 154 possesses the potential to become a leading compound in novel therapies against CRPC.

[Analysis of the clinical characteristics of fungus ball sphenoid sinusitis]

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of fungus ball sphenoid sinusitis(FBSS) and its differences from fungus ball maxillary sinusitis(FBMS). Method:A retrospective analysis was made for 50 patients with FBSS and 273 patients with FBMS in the corresponding period, which were confirmed by postoperative pathological diagnosis. And the related factors and clinical characteristics of them were analyzed. Result:FBSS were common disease in women around 50 years old. The left side FBSS was more common than the right side. About 40 percent of patients' disease course was less than half a year.FBSS had many presenting symptoms such as headache, nasal obstruction, nasal mucus with blood, smelly nasal secretions, eye ache bilges or nasion acheand tears spill. However, headache, eye ache bilges and tears spill were more common in FBSS compared with FBMS(P<0.05). The CT scan showed that there were calcification shadows in the diseased softtissue of sinus cavity.It could be accompanied by local bone thickening, sclerosis and coloboma. Only one case had a secondary surgery in 50 cases of FBSS. The surgery cure rate was as high as 98 percent. Conclusion:FBSS had various of clinical symptoms.Some presenting symptoms such as headache, eye ache bilges, and tears spill had relative specificity. CT diagnosis was more specific, and the endoscopic sphenoidotomy was the most effective treatment.

Thickness evolution of transport properties in exfoliated Fe1+y Te nanoflakes

We report the evolution of transport properties in exfoliated Fe_1+y Te (y  =  0.04) nanoflakes of various thickness. In contrast to the sharp semiconducting-to-metallic phase transition observed in both bulk and thicker flakes, this transition becomes broadened for flakes with an intermediate thickness followed by the appearance of a superconducting-like feature upon further cooling. With the thickness further decreased, the flakes exhibit insulating transport behavior with significantly enhanced positive magnetoresistance, which can be explained using a variable range hopping mechanism, suggesting the nature of a highly disordered 2D system.

Temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations in triple-layer ruthenate Sr4Ru3O10

Sr₄Ru₃O₁₀, the n = 3 member of the Ruddlesden-Popper type ruthenate Sr_n+1Ru_nO_3n+1, is known to exhibit a peculiar metamagnetic transition in an in-plane magnetic field. However, the nature of both the temperature- and field-dependent phase transitions remains as a topic of debate. Here, we have investigated the magnetic transitions of Sr₄Ru₃O₁₀ via single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements. At zero field, we find that the system undergoes a ferromagnetic transition with both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic components at T_c ≈ 100 K. Below T ^* = 50 K, the magnetic moments incline continuously toward the out-of-plane direction. At T = 1.5 K, where the spins are nearly aligned along the c axis, a spin reorientation occurs above a critical field B_c, giving rise to a spin component perpendicular to the plane defined by the field direction and the c axis. We suggest that both the temperature- and field-driven spin reorientations are associated with a change in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is strongly coupled to the lattice degrees of freedom. This study elucidates the long-standing puzzles on the zero-field magnetic orders of Sr₄Ru₃O₁₀ and provides new insights into the nature of the field-induced metamagnetic transition.

Rapid characterization of chemical constituents and metabolites of Qi-Jing-Sheng-Bai granule by using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Qi-Jing-Sheng-Bai granule is an effective traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been widely used for the treatment of leukopenia post radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, its chemical constituents were still unclear, which hindered interpreting bioactive constituents and studying integrative mechanisms. In this study, we developed a three-step strategy to characterize the chemical constituents and metabolites of Qi-Jing-Sheng-Bai by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As a result, a total of 143 compounds, including 56 flavonoids, 51 saponins, and 36 other compounds, of which contained six pairs of isomers, were tentatively identified and characterized via reference standards and by comparing mass spectrometry data with literature. After oral administration of 15 g/kg Qi-Jing-Sheng-Bai, a number of 42 compounds including 24 prototype compounds and 18 metabolites have been detected in the serum of rats. This work serves as the first reference for Qi-Jing-Sheng-Bai chemical components and metabolites. Moreover, it provided a rapid and valid analytical strategy for characterization of the chemical compounds and metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine formula.

Field-induced magnetic phase transitions and memory effect in bilayer ruthenate Ca3Ru2O7 with Fe substitution

Bilayer ruthenate Ca3(Ru1-x Fe x )2O7 (x  =  0.05) exhibits an incommensurate magnetic soliton lattice driven by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Here we report complex field-induced magnetic phase transitions and memory effect in this system via single-crystal neutron diffraction and magnetotransport measurements. We observe first-order incommensurate-to-commensurate magnetic transitions upon applying the magnetic field both along and perpendicular to the propagation axis of the incommensurate spin structure. Furthermore, we find that the metastable states formed upon decreasing the magnetic field depend on the temperature and the applied field orientation. We suggest that the observed field-induced metastability may be ascribable to the quenched kinetics at low temperature.

Final kissing balloon inflation for coronary bifurcation lesions treated with single-stent technique : A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of final kissing balloon (FKB) inflation in one-stent techniques for bifurcation lesions is controversial. The goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of FKB on long-term clinical outcomes in one-stent strategies.

METHODS

A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was undertaken through August 2017. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization. Overall hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Ten studies comprising 7364 patients treated with a one-stent technique were included in the analysis. Overall, FKB did not demonstrate a significant reduction in MACE compared with non-FKB in both randomized trials (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.65-1.98) and observational studies (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.61-1.20). The risk of cardiac death (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.53-1.49), myocardial infarction (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.53-1.09), and target lesion revascularization (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.74-1.23) was also similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

FKB may not be mandatory and a selective FKB strategy might be more justified in one-stent techniques for bifurcation lesions.