[Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase and p16 as surrogate diagnostic markers for CDKN2A homozygous deletion in brain tumors]

Objective: To examine whether immunohistochemistry of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) and p16 could be used to predict the CDKN2A status in various brain tumors. Methods: A total of 118 cases of IDH-mutant astrocytomas, 16 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, 17 polymorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) and 20 meningiomas diagnosed at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China from November 2017 to October 2023 were collected and analyzed. The CDKN2A status was detected by using fluorescence in situ hybridization or next-generation sequencing. Expression of MTAP and p16 proteins was detected with immunohistochemistry. The association of loss of MTAP/p16 expression with CDKN2A homozygous/heterozygous deletion was examined. Results: Among the 118 cases of IDH-mutant astrocytoma, 13 cases showed homozygous deletion of CDKN2A. All of them had no expression of MTAP while 9 cases had no expression of p16. Among the 16 cases of IDH wild-type glioblastoma, 6 cases showed homozygous deletion of CDKN2A. All 6 cases had no expression of MTAP, while 3 of these cases had no expression of p16 expression. Among the 17 PXA cases, 4 cases showed homozygous deletion of CDKN2A, and the expression of MTAP and p16 was also absent in these 4 cases. Among the 20 cases of meningiomas, 4 cases showed homozygous deletion of CDKN2A. Their expression of MTAP and p16 was also absent. Among the four types of brain tumors, MTAP was significantly correlated with CDKN2A homozygous deletion (P<0.05), with a sensitivity of 100%. However, it was only significantly correlated with the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of CDKN2A in astrocytomas (P<0.001). P16 was associated with CDKN2A homozygous deletion in IDH-mutant astrocytoma and PXA (P<0.001), but not with the LOH of CDKN2A. Its sensitivity and specificity were lower than that of MTAP. Conclusions: MTAP could serve as a predictive surrogate for CDKN2A homozygous deletion in adult IDH-mutant astrocytoma, PXA, adult IDH-wildtype glioblastoma and meningioma. However, p16 could only be used in the first two tumor types, and its specificity and sensitivity are lower than that of MTAP.

Molecular-Sieving Separation of Methanol/Benzene Azeotrope by a Flexible Metal-Organic Framework

Separation of methanol/benzene azeotrope mixtures is very challenging not only by the conventional distillation technique but also by adsorbents. In this work, we design and synthesize a flexible Ca-based metal-organic framework MAF-58 consisting of cheap raw materials. MAF-58 shows selective methanol-induced pore-opening flexibility. Although the opened pores are large enough to accommodate benzene molecules, MAF-58 shows methanol/benzene molecular sieving with ultrahigh experimental selectivity, giving 5.1 mmol g-1 high-purity (99.99%+) methanol and 2.0 mmol g-1 high-purity (99.97%+) benzene in a single adsorption/desorption cycle. Computational simulations reveal that the preferentially adsorbed, coordinated methanol molecules act as the gating component to selectively block the diffusion of benzene, offering a new gating adsorption mechanism.

[Intraductal carcinomas of the salivary glands: a clinicopathological and molecular genetic analysis of twenty-seven cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, molecular genetic features, and differential diagnosis of intraductal carcinomas (IDC) of the salivary glands. Methods: Twenty-five cases of salivary gland IDC diagnosed at the Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital and two cases from Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China from January 2008 to July 2023 were collected. Their clinical and pathological features were analyzed retrospectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and Sanger sequencing were performed. The patients were followed up and related literatures were reviewed. Results: There were 27 patients with IDC, including 15 males and 12 females, ranging in age from 20.0 to 80.0 years (mean 55.9 years). Clinically, the tumor often presented as a painless mass with a tumor diameter of 1.0-3.0 cm (mean 2.0 cm). All patients received surgical treatment. Twenty patients were followed up. One of them (1/20) died of lung cancer, while the rest survived without tumor recurrence. Histologically, IDC were classified as: intercalated (63.0%, 17/27), apocrine (25.9%, 7/27), oncocytic (7.4%, 2/27) and mixed (3.7%, 1/27) types. Intercalated tumors showed positive S-100 and negative androgen receptor (AR) immunoreactivity. Ki-67 proliferation index was low (about 1%-5%). Nine cases had the RET gene disruption, and 2 cases showed the BRAF V600E mutation. Apocrine tumors showed strong AR immunoreactivity but no S-100 immunoreactivity. Ki-67 proliferation index was high (about 10%-60%), and the RET gene rupture was detected in 1 case. Oncocytic tumors were similar to that of intercalated type in 2 cases, and RET gene disruption was detected in the both cases. Mixed tumors showed histologic features of oncocytic and apocrine patterns and harbored the RET gene disruption. Conclusions: IDC is a rare low-grade malignant tumor of the salivary gland and easily confused with other salivary gland tumors with similar morphology. Molecular testing is helpful for its differential diagnosis.

Quasi-open Cu(I) sites for efficient CO separation with high O2/H2O tolerance

Carbon monoxide (CO) separation relies on chemical adsorption but suffers from the difficulty of desorption and instability of open metal sites against O2, H2O and so on. Here we demonstrate quasi-open metal sites with hidden or shielded coordination sites as a promising solution. Possessing the trigonal coordination geometry (sp2), Cu(I) ions in porous frameworks show weak physical adsorption for non-target guests. Rational regulation of framework flexibility enables geometry transformation to tetrahedral geometry (sp3), generating a fourth coordination site for the chemical adsorption of CO. Quantitative breakthrough experiments at ambient conditions show CO uptakes up to 4.1 mmol g-1 and CO selectivity up to 347 against CO2, CH4, O2, N2 and H2. The adsorbents can be completely regenerated at 333-373 K to recover CO with a purity of >99.99%, and the separation performances are stable in high-concentration O2 and H2O. Although CO leakage concentration generally follows the structural transition pressure, large amounts (>3 mmol g-1) of ultrahigh-purity (99.9999999%, 9N; CO concentration < 1 part per billion) gases can be produced in a single adsorption process, demonstrating the usefulness of this approach for separation applications.

[Environmental influences on food allergy]

Food allergy is an abnormal immune response triggered by food allergens, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, pruritus, dyspnea, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock and mortality. The prevalence of food allergy varies within the population, with a significantly higher incidence observed among children compared to adults. This escalating trend in pediatric food allergy has emerged as a prominent concern jeopardizing children's well-being, thus prompting extensive investigations within the realm of global public health. Over the past three decades, there has been a progressive increase in the global prevalence of food allergy, accompanied by a heightened severity of allergic manifestations. Environmental factors have been identified as crucial determinants in this escalating phenomenon. Extensive research has demonstrated the pivotal role played by the environment in both the onset and progression of food allergies. The present article aims to consolidate the effects of diverse environmental factors on food allergy, elucidating their underlying mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on delineating the impact of distinct environmental factors on food allergy, thereby furnishing valuable insights for comprehending the risk factors associated with this condition. Furthermore, this comprehensive analysis contributes to the advancement of scientific strategies for the prevention and management of food allergy, promoting the development and advancement of preventive medicine.

[Primary synovial sarcoma of lung: a clinicopathological analysis of 12 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, molecular features and differential diagnosis of primary synovial sarcoma of the lung (PSSL). Methods: Twelve cases of PSSL were collected at Henan Provincial People's Hospital, during May 2010 and April 2021, and their clinicopathological parameters were summarized. SS18-SSX, H3K27Me3, and SOX2 were added to the original immunomarkers to evaluate their diagnostic value for PSSL. Results: The age of 12 patients when diagnosed ranged from 32 to 75 years (mean of 50 years). There were 7 males and 5 females, 2 left lung cases and 10 right lung cases. Of the 6 patients who underwent surgical resection, five cases were confined to lung tissue (T1), one case had mediastinal invasion (T3), two cases had regional lymph node metastasis (N1), and none had distal metastasis. Microscopically, 11 cases showed monophasic spindle cell type and one case showed biphasic type composed of mainly epithelial cells consisting of cuboidal to columnar cells with glandular and cribriform structures. It was difficult to make the diagnosis by using the biopsy specimens. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed CKpan expression in 8 of 12 cases; EMA expression in 11 of 12 case; TLE1 expression in 8 of 12 cases; S-100 protein expression in two of 12 cases; various expression of bcl-2 and vimentin in 12 cases, but no expression of SOX10 and CD34 in all the cases. The Ki-67 index was 15%-30%. The expression of SS18-SSX fusion antibody was diffusely and strongly positive in all 12 cases. SOX2 was partially or diffusely expressed in 8 of 12 cases, with strong expression in the epithelial component. H3K27Me3 was absent in 3 of 12 cases. SS18 gene translocation was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test in all 12 samples. Six cases underwent surgery and postoperative chemotherapy, while the other six cases had chemotherapy alone. Ten patients were followed up after 9-114 months, with an average of 41 months and a median of 26 months. Five patients survived and five died of the disease within two years. Conclusions: PSSL is rare and has a broad morphological spectrum. IHC and molecular tests are needed for definitive diagnosis. Compared with current commonly used IHC markers, SS18-SSX fusion antibody has better sensitivity to PSSL, which could be used as an alternative for FISH, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or next generation sequencing in the diagnosis of PSSL.

[Effects of advanced platelet-rich fibrin on deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice]

Objective: To explore the effects of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) on deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice and its mechanism. Methods: The experimental study method was adopted. Forty healthy volunteers in Subei People's Hospital were recruited, including 32 females and 8 males, aged 60 to 72 years. Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and A-PRF membranes were prepared after venous blood was extracted from them. The microstructure of two kinds of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. The number of samples was 3 in the following experiments. The L-PRF and A-PRF membranes were divided into L-PRF group and A-PRF group and cultured, and then the release concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in culture supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on culture day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Mice L929 fibroblasts (Fbs) were divided into L-PRF group and A-PRF group, and cultured with L-PRF or A-PRF conditioned medium, respectively. On culture day 1, 3, and 7, the cell proliferation activity was detected by thiazole blue method. The cell migration rate was detected and calculated at 24 h after scratching by scratch test. Thirty-six male BALB/c nude mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected to make a deep partial-thickness burn wound on one hind leg, and then divided into normal saline group, L-PRF group, and A-PRF group, according to the random number table, with 12 mice in each group. The wounds of nude mice in normal saline group were only washed by normal saline, while the wounds of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were covered with the corresponding membranes in addition. The wounds of nude mice in the 3 groups were all bandaged and fixed with dressings. On treatment day 4, 7, and 14, the wound healing was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. Masson staining was used to observe the new collagen in wound tissue, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the percentage of CD31 positive cells in the wound. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, analysis of variance for factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference test. Results: L-PRF membrane's dense network structure was composed of coarse fibrin bundles, with scattered white blood cells and platelets with complete morphology. A-PRF membrane's loose network structure was composed of fine fibrin bundles, with scattered small amount of deformed white blood cells and platelets. On culture day 1, the release concentration of PDGF-AB in PRF culture supernatant in A-PRF group was significantly higher than that in L-PRF group (t=5.73, P<0.05), while the release concentrations of VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). On culture day 3, 7, and 14, the release concentrations of PDGF-AB and VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in A-PRF group were significantly higher than those in L-PRF group (with t values of 6.93, 7.45, 5.49, 6.97, 8.97, and 13.64, respectively, P<0.05). On culture day 3, 7, and 14, the release concentrations of PDGF-AB and VEGF in PRF culture supernatant in the two groups were all significantly higher than those in the previous time points within the group (P<0.05). On culture day 1, 3, and 7, the proliferation activity of mice Fbs in A-PRF group was 0.293±0.034, 0.582±0.054, and 0.775±0.040, respectively, which were significantly stronger than 0.117±0.013, 0.390±0.036, and 0.581±0.037 in L-PRF group (with t values of 8.38, 5.14, and 6.16, respectively, P<0.05). At 24 h after scratching, the migration rate of mice Fbs in A-PRF group was (60.9±2.2)%, which was significantly higher than (39.1±2.3)% in L-PRF group (t=11.74, P<0.05). On treatment day 4, the wound exudates of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were less with no obvious signs of infection, while the wounds of nude mice in normal saline group showed more exudation. On treatment day 7, the wounds of nude mice in L-PRF group and A-PRF group were dry and crusted, while there was still a small amount of exudate in the wounds of nude mice in normal saline group. On treatment day 14, the wounds of nude mice in A-PRF group tended to heal; a small portion of wounds remained in nude mice in L-PRF group; the wound of nude mice was still covered with eschar in normal saline group. On treatment day 4, 7, and 14, the wound healing rate and percentage of CD31 positive cells of nude mice in L-PRF group were all significantly higher than those in normal saline group (P<0.05); compared with those in normal saline group and L-PRF group, the wound healing rate of nude mice in A-PRF group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the newborn collagen was orderly and evenly distributed, with no excessive deposition, and the percentage of CD31 positive cells was significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions: The stable fibrin network structure of A-PRF can maintain the sustained release of growth factors, accelerate cell proliferation, and promote cell migration, so as to shorten the healing time and improve the healing quality of deep partial-thickness burn wounds in nude mice.

[Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis]

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone strength and increased fracture risk associated with long-term glucocorticoid use. GIOP is the most common secondary osteoporosis that critically affects the quality of life of patients. Currently, the incidence of GIOP in China remains high, with insufficient awareness and lack of prevention and treatment norms. Therefore, the Chinese Rheumatology Association has established this standard based on domestic and international experience, with the aim of raising awareness of prevention and treatment among clinicians, guiding the standardized diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and improving the overall prognosis of patients with GIOP.

[Development and validation of prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma]

Objective: To development the prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Two hundred and ten patients pathologically confirmed as MPM were enrolled in this retrospective study from 2007 to 2020 in the People's Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the First and Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and divided into training (n=112) and test (n=98) sets according to the admission time. The observation factors included demography, symptoms, history, clinical score and stage, blood cell and biochemistry, tumor markers, pathology and treatment. The Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of 112 patients in the training set. According to the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis, the prognostic prediction nomogram was established. C-Index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model's discrimination and consistency in raining and test sets, respectively. Patients were stratified according to the median risk score of nomogram in the training set. Log rank test was performed to compare the survival differences between the high and low risk groups in the two sets. Results: The median overall survival (OS) of 210 MPM patients was 384 days (IQR=472 days), and the 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 75.7%, 52.6%, 19.7%, and 13.0%, respectively. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that residence (HR=2.127, 95% CI: 1.154-3.920), serum albumin (HR=1.583, 95% CI: 1.017-2.464), clinical stage (stage Ⅳ: HR=3.073, 95% CI: 1.366-6.910) and the chemotherapy (HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.292-0.777) were independent prognostic factors for MPM patients. The C-index of the nomogram established based on the results of Cox multivariate regression analysis in the training and test sets were 0.662 and 0.613, respectively. Calibration curves for both the training and test sets showed moderate consistency between the predicted and actual survival probabilities of MPM patients at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The low-risk group had better outcomes than the high-risk group in both training (P=0.001) and test (P=0.003) sets. Conclusion: The survival prediction nomogram established based on routine clinical indicators of MPM patients provides a reliable tool for prognostic prediction and risk stratification.

Co-Crystallization between Aliphatic Polyesters through Co-Inclusion Complexation with Small Molecule

Crystalline/crystalline blends of polymer have shown advantages in the preparation of new polymeric materials. However, the regulation of co-crystallization in a blend is still full of challenges due to the preferential self-crystallization driven by thermodynamics. Here, an inclusion complex approach is proposed to facilitate the co-crystallization between crystalline polymers, because the crystallization process displays a prominent kinetics advantage when polymer chains are released from the inclusion complex. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) and urea are chosen to form co-inclusion complexes, where PBS and PBA chains play as isolated guest molecules and urea molecules construct the host channel framework. The coalesced PBS/PBA blends are obtained by fast removing the urea framework and systematically investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry. It is demonstrated that PBA chains are co-crystallized into PBS extended-chain crystals in the coalesced blends, while such a phenomenon has not been detected in simply co-solution-blended samples. Though PBA chains could not be totally accommodated in the PBS extended-chain crystals, their co-crystallized content increases with the initial feeding ratio of PBA. Consequently, the melting point of the PBS extended-chain crystal gradually declines from 134.3 °C to 124.2 °C with an increasing PBA content. The PBA chains playing as defects mainly induce lattice expansion along the a-axis. In addition, when the co-crystals are soaked in tetrahydrofuran, some of the PBA chains are extracted out, leading to damage to the correlative PBS extended-chain crystals. This study shows that co-inclusion complexation with small molecules could be an effective way to promote co-crystallization behavior in polymer blends.

[Effect of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on Long-term Hematopoietic Recovery in Mice with Acute Radiation Sickness and Relative Mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and relative mechanism of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on long-term hematopoietic recovery in mice with acute radiation sickness.

METHODS

Mice were intramuscularly injected with rhTPO (100 μg/kg) 2 hours after total body irradiation with 60Co γ-rays (6.5 Gy). Moreover, six months after irradiation, peripheral blood, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) ratio, competitive transplantation survival rate and chimerization rate, senescence rate of c-kit+ HSC, and p16 and p38 mRNA expression of c-kit+ HSC were detected.

RESULTS

Six months after 6.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation, there were no differences in peripheral blood white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils and bone marrow nucleated cells in normal group, irradiated group and rhTPO group (P>0.05). The proportion of hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitor cells in mice of irradiated group was significantly decreased after irradiation (P<0.05), but there was no significant changes in rhTPO group (P>0.05). The counts of CFU-MK and BFU-E in irradiated group were significantly lower than that in normal group, and rhTPO group was higher than that of the irradiated group(P<0.05). The 70 day survival rate of recipient mice in normal group and rhTPO group was 100%, and all mice died in irradiation group. The senescence positive rates of c-kit+ HSC in normal group, irradiation group and rhTPO group were 6.11%, 9.54% and 6.01%, respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, the p16 and p38 mRNA expression of c-kit+ HSC in the irradiated mice were significantly increased (P<0.01), and it was markedly decreased after rhTPO administration (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The hematopoietic function of mice is still decreased 6 months after 6.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation, suggesting that there may be long-term damage. High-dose administration of rhTPO in the treatment of acute radiation sickness can reduce the senescence of HSC through p38-p16 pathway and improve the long-term damage of hematopoietic function in mice with acute radiation sickness.

[Active surveillance for thyroid micro-malignant nodules]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid micro-malignant nodules and accumulate practical experience for the management of active surveillance for them, so as to avoid overtreatment. Methods: A total of 949 patients who were diagnosed with thyroid malignant nodules using ultrasonography, with the nodules being less than 1 cm in size and without regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis, were included. They were treated by the same surgeon of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from February 2014 to December 2020. 112 patients chose immediate surgery. The rest patients were asked to accept ultrasound examination every 6 months to 1 year. Follow-up endpoints: tumor size growth of 3 mm, tumor volume increase greater than 50%, lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis. Results: The median follow-up time was 19 months. 713 patients underwent surveillance for more than 6 months. Of the 713 patients, 570 (79.9%) were women, with mean age at 43.5 years old. Tumor progression was observed in 47 (6.6%) patients with a cumulative incidence of 2.7% (1 year), 7.2% (2 years) and 9.5% (3 years). In multivariate analysis, patient age [HR=0.508, 95%CI: 0.275-0.939, P=0.031], lesion number [HR=2.945, 95%CI: 1.593-5.444, P=0.001] and tumor size [HR=2.245, 95%CI: 1.202-4.192, P=0.011] at the beginning of observation were independent risk factors for tumor progression in patients with minimal thyroid malignant nodules during follow-up. During a median (range) active surveillance of 19 (6-80) months, 74 patients chose surgery during the surveillance. Among the 186 patients who underwent surgery, only 3 patients were diagnosed with fibrotic nodules in pathology, while the rest were papillary thyroid carcinoma. The ultrasound accuracy reached 98.4%(183/186). Conclusions: Ultrasonography is an effective method of diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules. Thyroid micro-malignant nodules progress slowly. As a result, it is safe to observe them instead of taking immediate surgery. Patient age, lesion number and tumor size at the beginning of observation are independent risk factors for the tumor progression of malignant nodules.

[Effect of Interleukin-6 Gene Deletion on Radiation-Induced Mouse Hematopoietic Injury and Relative Mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene deletion on radiation-induced hematopoietic injury in mice and relative mechanism.

METHODS

Before and after whole body ⁶⁰Co γ-ray irradiation, it was analyzed and compared that the difference of peripheral hemogram, bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells conts in IL-6 gene knockout (IL-6^-/-) and wild-type (IL-6^+/+) mice and serum IL-6 and G-CSF expression levels in above- mentioned mouse were detected. Moreover, 30 days survival rate of IL-6^-/- and IL-6^+/+ mice after 8.0 Gy γ-ray irradiation were analyzed.

RESULTS

IL-6 levels in serum of IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^-/- mice were respectively (98.95±3.85) pg/ml and (18.36±5.61) pg/ml, which showed a significant statistical differences (P<0.001). There were no significant differences of peripheral blood cell counts and G-CSF level in serum between IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^-/- mice before irradiation (P>0.05). However, the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets in peripheral blood and G-CSF level in serum of IL-6^-/- mice were significantly decreased at 6 h after 8.0 Gy γ-ray irradiation compared with that of IL-6^+/+ mice. On days 30 after 8.0 Gy γ-ray irradiation, the survival rate of IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^-/- mice was 62.5% and 12.5%, and the mean survival time of dead mice was 16.0±1.0 and 10.6±5.3 days, respectively. On days 14 after 6.5 Gy γ-ray irradiation, bone marrow nucleated cells in IL-6^+/+ and IL-6^-/- mice were respectively (10.0±1.2)×10⁶ and (8.3±2.2)×10⁶ per femur. Compared with IL-6^+/+ mice, the proportion of Lin^-Sca-1^-c-kit⁺ (LK) in bone marrow of IL-6^-/- mice had no significant change (P>0.05), but the proportion of Lin^-Sca-1⁺c-kit⁺ (LSK) was significantly decreased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-6 plays an obvious role in regulating hematopoietic radiation injury, and IL-6 deficiency can inhibit the radiation-induced increase of endogenous G-CSF level in serum, aggravates the damage of mouse hematopoietic stem cells（HSC） and the reduction of mature blood cells in peripheral blood caused by ionizing irradiation, resulting in the shortening of the survival time and significant decrease of the survival rate of mice exposed to lethal dose radiation.

[Investigation on the growth factor regulatory network of dermal fibroblasts in mouse full-thickness skin defect wounds based on single-cell RNA sequencing]

Objective: To explore the heterogeneity and growth factor regulatory network of dermal fibroblasts (dFbs) in mouse full-thickness skin defect wounds based on single-cell RNA sequencing. Methods: The experimental research methods were adopted. The normal skin tissue from 5 healthy 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (the same mouse age, sex, and strain below) was harvested, and the wound tissue of another 5 mice with full-thickness skin defect on the back was harvested on post injury day (PID) 7. The cell suspension was obtained by digesting the tissue with collagenase D and DNase Ⅰ, sequencing library was constructed using 10x Genomics platform, and single-cell RNA sequencing was performed by Illumina Novaseq6000 sequencer. The gene expression matrices of cells in the two kinds of tissue were obtained by analysis of Seurat 3.0 program of software R4.1.1, and two-dimensional tSNE plots classified by cell group, cell source, and gene labeling of major cells in skin were used for visual display. According to the existing literature and the CellMarker database searching, the expression of marker genes in the gene expression matrices of cells in the two kinds of tissue was analyzed, and each cell group was numbered and defined. The gene expression matrices and cell clustering information were introduced into CellChat 1.1.3 program of software R4.1.1 to analyze the intercellular communication in the two kinds of tissue and the intercellular communication involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal pathways in the wound tissue, the relative contribution of each pair of FGF subtypes and FGF receptor (FGFR) subtypes (hereinafter referred to as FGF ligand receptor pairs) to FGF signal network in the two kinds of tissue, and the intercellular communication in the signal pathway of FGF ligand receptor pairs with the top 2 relative contributions in the two kinds of tissue. The normal skin tissue from one healthy mouse was harvested, and the wound tissue of one mouse with full-thickness skin defect on the back was harvested on PID 7. The multiple immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression and distribution of FGF7 protein and its co-localized expression with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), stem cell antigen 1 (SCA1), smooth muscle actin (SMA), and PDGF receptor α (PDGFRα) protein. Results: Both the normal skin tissue of healthy mice and the wound tissue of full-thickness skin defected mice on PID 7 contained 25 cell groups, but the numbers of cells in each cell group between the two kinds of tissue were different. Genes PDGFRα, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, lymphatic endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase C, keratin 10, and keratin 79 all had distinct distributions on two-dimensional tSNE plots, indicating specific cell groups respectively. The 25 cell groups were numbered by C0-C24 and divided into 9 dFb subgroups and 16 non-dFb groups. dFb subgroups included C0 as interstitial progenitor cells, C5 as adipose precursor cells, and C13 as contractile muscle cells related fibroblasts, etc. Non-dFb group included C3 as neutrophils, C8 as T cells, and C18 as erythrocytes, etc. Compared with that of the normal skin tissue of healthy mice, the intercellular communication in the wound tissue of full-thickness skin defected mice on PID 7 was more and denser, and the top 3 cell groups in intercellular communication intensity were dFb subgroups C0, C1, and C2, of which all communicated with other cell groups in the wound tissue. In the wound tissue of full-thickness skin defected mice on PID 7, VEGF signals were mainly sent by the dFb subgroup C0 and received by vascular related cell groups C19 and C21, PDGF signals were mainly sent by peripheral cells C14 and received by multiple dFb subgroups, EGF signals were mainly sent by keratinocyte subgroups C9 and C11 and received by the dFb subgroup C0, and the main sender and receiver of FGF signals were the dFb subgroup C6. In the relative contribution rank of FGF ligand receptor pairs to FGF signal network in the normal skin tissue of healthy mice and the wound tissue of full-thickness skin defected mice on PID 7, FGF7-FGFR1 was the top 1, and FGF7-FGFR2 or FGF10-FGFR1 was in the second place, respectively; compared with those in the normal skin tissue, there was more intercellular communication in FGF7-FGFR1 signal pathway, while the intercellular communication in FGF7-FGFR2 and FGF10-FGFR1 signal pathways decreased slightly or did not change significantly in the wound tissue; the intercellular communication in FGF7-FGFR1 signal pathway in the wound tissue was stronger than that in FGF7-FGFR2 or FGF10-FGFR1 signal pathway; in the two kinds of tissue, FGF7 signal was mainly sent by dFb subgroups C0, C1, and C2, and received by dFb subgroups C6 and C7. Compared with that in the normal skin tissue of healthy mouse, the expression of FGF7 protein was higher in the wound tissue of full-thickness skin defected mouse on PID 7; in the normal skin tissue, FGF7 protein was mainly expressed in the skin interstitium and also expressed in the white adipose tissue near the dermis layer; in the two kinds of tissue, FGF7 protein was co-localized with DPP4 and SCA1 proteins and expressed in the skin interstitium, co-localized with PDGFRα protein and expressed in dFbs, but was not co-localized with SMA protein, with more co-localized expression of FGF7 in the wound tissue than that in the normal skin tissue. Conclusions: In the process of wound healing of mouse full-thickness skin defect wound, dFbs are highly heterogeneous, act as potential major secretory or receiving cell populations of a variety of growth factors, and have a close and complex relationship with the growth factor signal pathways. FGF7-FGFR1 signal pathway is the main FGF signal pathway in the process of wound healing, which targets and regulates multiple dFb subgroups.

First report of a new leaf blight disease of bletilla (Bletilla striata) caused by Curvularia reesii in China

Bletilla striata is an important Chinese herbal plant grown widely in southwest China (Qian et al. 2021). Leaf blight was found on cultivated bletilla crops in Yunnan in 2021. The disease infected bletilla leaves and it was present in the field from April to November with the highest incidence (86% plants diseased) recorded in early September in Puer area. Foliar lesions were circular (Φ0.5-1.8 cm) or oval, with pale-gray center and narrow gray-brown outer area surrounded by a yellow halo. The lesions coalesced later to form large irregular spots or blighted areas on leaves. Symptomatic bletilla leaves were sampled from fields in Jiangcheng (E101.8672o, N22.5803o) and Simao (E109.7816o, N22.7891o) counties, Yunnan in July 2021. Seven fungal isolates were obtained from (BJ01-BJ04) and Simao samples (HBJ05-HBJ07) via lesion-tissue culture and hypha-tip purification on PDA medium. A pathogenicity test following Koch's Postulates (Grimms et al. 2006) was conducted using each isolate by inoculating 45-day old bletilla plant (n=30, Zihua cultivar) in a greenhouse through spraying hypha-spore suspension (3.25×104 CFU/mL) prepared with 14 d fresh DNA culture. Non-inoculated plants (n=30) were used as controls. The experiment was repeated once. The isolates BJ02 and HBJ06 (deposited in Yunnan Agric. Univ. Microbes Herbarium) were shown pathogenic to bletilla since similar lesions formed on seedlings 7 d post inoculation and pure fungal cultures with the same colony morphology as those of BJ02 and HBJ06 were re-isolated from leaf lesions 14 dpi. Isolates BJ02 and HBJ06 produced identical colony and conidium morphology after they were incubated at 25oC for 7 d on PDA. Colonies were circular, pale brown, Φ5.5-7.5cm, with villous surface and abundant aerial hyphae. Mycelia were septate, colorless, Φ3-4 µm and with acute-angled branches. Conidiophores developed from hyphae were erect, septate, pale-brown colored and 60-200 µm long. Conidia (produced scarcely and ripened slowly) were long-oval or petaloid, straight or slightly curved, brown, sized 28-45×10-14 µm. Most conidia were divided into 4 cells by 3 septa; the middle two were bigger than the basal and apex cells. Both BJ02 and HBJ06 were identified as Curvularia sp. based on their morphological characters (Tan et al. 2018). The rDNA-ITS, TEF1α and GAPDH genes (Tan et al. 2018) were amplified from these isolates with PCR (White et al. 1990) and sequenced. ITS sequences of the two isolates were both 574 bp (acc. no. OL587997 & OL336480) and 100% (574/574 bp) identical shown by blast comparison. Further blast analyses of ITS (574 bp, OL587997), TEF1α (532 bp, ON637120) and GAPDH (881 bp, ON637121) from isolate BJ02 showed that they were 99.27% (547/551 bp), 100% (842/842 bp) and 99.8% (507/508 bp) identical respectively with those of Curvularia reesii BRIP4358 (MH414907). The 3 genes of BJ02 were concatenated and phylogenic analysis (Tamura et al, 2013) of the concatenated sequence with those of Curvularia spp. showed that BJ02 was clustered with C. reesii BRIP4358 on the same end-branch of the tree with 100% confidence. Therefore, BJ02 and HBJ06 are the same species identified as Curvularia reesii and it is the pathogen causing bletilla leaf blight. C. reesii was first isolated from the air in Australia in 1963 and was named by Tan et al. in 2018. It has not been reported as a plant pathogen elsewhere. This is the first record of this fungus causing bletilla leaf blight in China. Keywords: Bletilla striata; leaf blight; Curvularia reesii; disease symptoms; pathogen morphology; multigene identification References (1) D.J. Grimes. Microbes, 1(5): 223-228, 2006. (2) L.H. Qian et al. Jiangshu Agric. Sci. 49(19): 64-71, 2021. (3) K. Tamura et al. Mol. Bio. & Evol. 30 (12): 2725- 2729, 2013. (4) Y. P. Tan et al. MycoKeys, 35: 1-25. 2018. (5) T.J. White et al. In: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (eds. M.A. Innis et al.), Acad. Press, Inc. New York. 315-322, 1990.

Flexible Cuprous Triazolate Frameworks as Highly Stable and Efficient Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction with Tunable C2 H4 /CH4 Selectivity

Cu-based metal-organic frameworks have attracted much attention for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction, but they are generally instable and difficult to control the product selectivity. We report flexible Cu(I) triazolate frameworks as efficient, stable, and tunable electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction to C₂ H₄ /CH₄ . By changing the size of ligand side groups, the C₂ H₄ /CH₄ selectivity ratio can be gradually tuned and inversed from 11.8 : 1 to 1 : 2.6, giving C₂ H₄ , CH₄ , and hydrocarbon selectivities up to 51 %, 56 %, and 77 %, respectively. After long-term electrocatalysis, they can retain the structures/morphologies without formation of Cu-based inorganic species. Computational simulations showed that the coordination geometry of Cu(I) changed from triangular to tetrahedral to bind the reaction intermediates, and two adjacent Cu(I) cooperated for C-C coupling to form C₂ H₄ . Importantly, the ligand side groups controlled the catalyst flexibility by the steric hindrance mechanism, and the C₂ H₄ pathway is more sensitive than the CH₄ one.

[Fibrous hamartoma of infancy: a clinicopathological and molecular genetic analysis of 33 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotypic and molecular genetic characteristics and differential diagnosis of fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FHI). Methods: Thirty-three cases of surgically removed FHI were collected from the Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from October 2011 to December 2020, the clinical and pathologic data with follow-up were collected and analyzed. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) were used to study the molecular genetics. Results: The FHI cases occurred in 21 males and 12 females (mean age 16.7 months, range 6 months to 6 years). The sites included trunk (n=21), limb (n=11), and neck (n=1). All patients had painless solitary superficial soft tissue masses, the size was 1.5-9.0 cm (mean 3.8 cm). Microscopically, they were composed of mature adipose tissue, fibroblast/myofibroblast bundle and primitive mesenchymal cells in different proportions; giant cell fibroblastoma-like areas were seen in 14 cases. Immunohistochemistry showed variable expression of EGFR in the spindle cells and primitive mesenchymal components. In most cases, the spindle cells were positive for CD34 and SMA; giant cell fibroblastoma-like areas were strongly positive for CD34; and S-100 protein was expressed by adipocytes in all cases. Ki-67 labeling index ranged 1%-5%. There were recurrent somatic EGFR exon 20 insertion/duplication mutations in six cases tested by NGS, and there were three different mutation types: p.Asn771_His773dupAsnProHis, p.Pro772_His773insProProHis, and p.His773_Val774insThrHis. All the above 6 and another 15 tested cases showed EGFR exon 20 insertion/duplication mutations by q-PCR. Conclusions: FHI is a rare benign fibroblast/myofibroblast tumor. The characteristic histologic feature is organoid triphasic morphology, and the molecular feature is somatic mutation of EGFR exon 20 (insertion/duplication).

Coupling Ruthenium Bipyridyl and Cobalt Imidazolate Units in a Metal-Organic Framework for an Efficient Photosynthetic Overall Reaction in Diluted CO2

Artificial photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, using water as the reductant, is challenging mainly because it is difficult for multiple functional units to cooperate efficiently. Here, we show that the classic photosensitive and H₂O-oxidizing ruthenium bipyridyl units and CO₂-reducing cobalt imidazolate units can be incorporated into a metal-organic framework using a classic organic ligand, imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline. Under visible light without additional sacrificial agents and photosensitizers, the overall conversion of CO₂ and H₂O to CO and O₂ was achieved by the multifunctional photocatalyst in the CH₃CN/H₂O mixed solvent with a high CO production rate of 11.2 μmol g^-1 h^-1 and CO selectivity of ca. 100%. Thanks to its ultramicroporous structure with moderately strong CO₂ adsorption ability, the photocatalyst also exhibited high performances with CO/CH₄ production rates of 5.15/0.62 and 4.26/0.20 μmol g^-1 h^-1 in the gas phase with pure and even diluted CO₂, respectively. Photoluminescence emission spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical tests confirmed that the photosensitive and catalytic units cooperated well to give suitable photocatalytic redox potentials and fast electron-hole separation.

[Clinical study on the relationship between the exosomes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma and the severity of lung injury and outcome in early acute respiratory distress syndrome patients]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the levels of exosomes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma and the severity of lung injury and its outcome in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: Patients who were admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University and received invasive mechanical ventilation were selected from August 2020 to April 2021, and they were divided into ARDS group and non-ARDS group. Finally, 33 ARDS patients were included, including 18 males and 15 females, aged (65.5±15.5) years; 10 non-ARDS patients, 8 males and 2 females, aged (57.2±15.3) years. The BALF and plasma of the two groups of patients were collected within 24 hours after enrollment, and the total exosomes of the samples were collected by ultracentrifugation. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was used to detect and compare the differences in exosome content between the two groups. Correlation of content with the severity and prognosis of lung injury in ARDS patients. Results: There was no significant difference in gender and age between ARDS group and non-ARDS group (both P>0.05). The exosome in plasma of ARDS group was significantly higher than that of non-ARDS group [(25.3±1.2)/ml vs (24.2±1.6)/ml, P=0.031], while the exosomes in BALF of ARDS group was also higher than that of non-ARDS group [(26.5±1.6)/ml vs (24.6±1.1)/ml, P=0.001]. The exosomes in BALF of patients with ARDS caused by intrapulmonary causes was higher than that in ARDS group caused by extrapulmonary causes [(26.9±1.5)/ml vs (25.2±0.9)/ml, P=0.01], and the infection caused by bacterial shows that the highest exosome level in BALF. The exosomes in the BALF of the mild ARDS group was significantly lower than that of the severe ARDS group [(25.7±1.3)/ml vs (27.2±1.5)/ml, P=0.038]; the exosomes in BALF of ARDS patients was negatively correlated with P/F ratio (r=-0.38, P=0.03); and it was positively correlated with Murray lung injury score (r=0.47, P=0.01). However, the static compliance levels, length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and 28-day outcome were not associated with the exosomes in BALF. Conclusion: Compared with non-ARDS patients, ARDS patients have significantly higher levels of exosomes in BALF and plasma, there is a certain correlation between exosomes derived from BALF and the severity of lung injury in ARDS.

Effect of Hepatocyte Targeting Nanopreparation Syringopicroside on Duck Hepatitis B Virus and Evaluation of Its Safety

Syringopicroside is a kind of iridoid monomer compound isolated from Syringa oblata exhibiting a potent effect against hepatitis B virus (HBV). The therapeutic effect and safety of syringopicroside-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (SYR-NP) were studied on the model of HBV-infected ducklings and on cultured HepG2.2.15 cells. HBV DNA in ducklings was assessed by fluorescence quantitative PCR. In HepG2.2.15 cells, the content of HBsAg and HBeAg were assayed. Acute toxicity of SYR-NP was studied in ICR mice in 12 h and 7 days after SYR-NP administration. The serum levels of HBV DNA in ducklings treated with SYR-NP in a high dose was significantly lower than in the control. In HepG2.2.15 cells treated with different doses of SYR-NP, the concentrations of HBsAg and HBeAg were significantly below the control. Acute toxicity test showed high safety of SYR-NP. Thus, SYR-NP can inhibit replication of HBV DNA and protect the liver tissue.

[Clinical and immunological characteristics of 88 cases of overlap myositis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and immunological characteristics of overlap myositis (OM) patients.

METHODS

The data of 368 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from January 2004 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, including demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics (including fever, Gottron' s sign/papules, Heliotrope rash, V-sign, Shawl sign, Mechanic' s hands, skin ulceration, periungual erythema, subcutaneous calcinosis, dysphagia, myalgia, myasthenia, arthritis, Raynaud' s phenomenon, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension and myocardial involvement), laboratory characteristics, immunological characteristics [including antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors, myositis-associated autoantibodies (MAAs) and myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs)] and survival. The clinical and immunological characteristics and prognostic differences of OM and non-OM were compared. The Kaplan-Meier and Log Rank methods were used to analyze the survival.

RESULTS

A total of 368 patients were included. 23.9% (88/368) of IIMs patients were OM patients. Among the 88 OM patients, 85.2% (75/88) of them were female, and the median interval between disease onset and diagnosis was 13.5 months. The incidence of overlapped connective tissue diseases in the OM patients was dermatomyositis (DM) in 60.2%, polymyositis (PM) in 3.4%, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) in 2.3% and anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) in 34.1%. Compared with the non-OM patients, the proportion of the females in the OM patients was higher (85.2% vs. 72.1%, P=0.016), the OM patients had longer disease duration [13.5(4.5, 48.0) months vs. 4.0(2.0, 12.0) months, P < 0.001]. As for clinical characteristics, compared with the non-OM patients, the incidence of V-sign (25.0% vs. 44.6%, P=0.001) and periungual erythema (8.0% vs. 19.6%, P=0.013) were lower; the incidence of Raynaud's phenomenon (14.8% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.001), interstitial pneumonia (88.6% vs. 72.1%, P=0.001), pulmonary hypertension (22.7% vs. 7.5%, P < 0.001) and myocardial involvement (18.2% vs. 9.3%, P=0.033) were higher. As for immunological characteristics, compared with the non-OM patients, the incidence of elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (31.8% vs. 45.0%, P=0.035) was lower and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (58.0% vs. 44.6%, P=0.037) was higher; the positive rates of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (85.1% vs. 63.4%, P=0.001) and rheumatoid factors (RF) (40.2% vs. 17.8%, P < 0.001) and anti-Ro-52 (71.6% vs. 56.1%, P=0.038) in serum were higher. There was no significant difference in the survival between the OM patients and non-OM patients.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary hypertension and myocardial involvement were frequently observed in OM.

Single-crystal superprotonic conductivity in an interpenetrated hydrogen-bonded quadruplex framework

A proton-transporting pathway is crucial to the conduction mechanism in fuel cells and biological systems. Here, we report a novel 5-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional (3D) hydrogen-bonded quadruplex framework, which exhibits an ultrahigh single-crystal proton conductivity of 1.2(1) × 10^-2 S cm^-1 at 95 °C and 98% relative humidity, benefitting from the spiral H₃O⁺/H₂O chains in 1D pore channels studded with COOH/COO^- groups.

Inhibition of pyrimidine biosynthesis by strobilurin derivatives induces differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

All-trans retinoic acid-based differentiation therapies have succeeded in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Their clinical efficacy is negligible, however, for other subtypes of AML. Here, we showed that strobilurin derivatives, a well-established class of inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex III, possessed differentiation-inducing activity in AML cells. Impairment of mitochondrial ETC activity was involved in the differentiation effects of strobilurin derivatives, where reactive oxygen species generation appeared unnecessary. Conversely, strobilurin derivative-mediated differentiation was triggered by pyrimidine deficiency, which resulted from the inhibition of the mitochondrial-coupled dihydroorotate dehydrogenase enzyme. Moreover, strobilurin derivative-mediated pyrimidine depletion led to the activation of the Akt/mTOR cascade, which was required for the differentiation. Our study provided evidence that strobilurin derivatives may represent a novel class of differentiation-inducing agents for the treatment of AML.

Guest-Driven Light-Induced Spin Change in an Azobenzene Loaded Metal-Organic Framework

Stimuli-responsive materials that can be reversibly switched by light are of immense interest. Among them, photo-responsive spin crossover (SCO) complexes have great promises to combine the photoactive inputs with multifaceted outputs into switchable materials and devices. However, the reversible control the spin-state change by photochromic guests is still challenging. Herein, we report an unprecedented guest-driven light-induced spin change (GD-LISC) in a Hofmann-type metal-organic framework (MOF), [Fe(bpn){Ag(CN)₂ }₂ ]⋅azobenzene. (1, bpn=1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)naphthalene). The reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene guest upon UV/Vis irradiation in the solid-state results in the remarkable magnetic changes in a wide temperature range of 10-180 K. This finding not only establishes a new switching mechanism for SCO complexes, but also paves the way toward the development of new generation of photo-responsive magnetic materials.

[Proximal incisal edge length and recent clinical observation of Siewert type Ⅱ advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the radical resection with a proximal incisal edge length of 20-25 mm and 30-35 mm in Siewert type Ⅱ advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma, to shorten the minimum safe distance of the proximal incisal edge to 20-25 mm. Methods: A retrospective cohort study method was used. The clinical data of 166 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who underwent total gastrectomy from January 2017 to August 2020 in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Heji Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College were retrospectively collected. According to the proximal incisal edge length, the patients were divided into two groups: the proximal incisal edge length of 20-25 mm group (69 cases) and 30-35 mm group (97 cases). The perioperative conditions and the 6-month follow-up after the operation were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in baseline information between the patients in the two groups (P>0.05). The operations of both groups were completed. The intraoperative operation time of the proximal incisal edge length of 20-25 mm group was shorter than that in the proximal incisal edge length of 30-35 mm group ((172±24)and(206±27)min, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in the amount of intraoperative blood loss, the treatment of the diaphragm during the operation and the positive rate of intraoperative freezing of the upper incisal edge between the patients in the two groups (all P>0.05). And there was no significant differences in the first exhaust time, gastric tube removal time, first feeding time and hospital stay after the operation of the two groups (all P>0.05). There was no significant differences in the incidence of anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, reflux esophagitis and intestinal obstruction after the operation between the patients in the two groups (all P>0.05). And there was no anastomotic leakage case among the 69 cases in the proximal incisal edge length of 20-25 mm group. Postoperative pathological treatment showed no significant differences in the vascular tumor thrombus and nerve infiltration between the two groups (both P>0.05). During the 6-month follow-up, there was no death or tumor recurrence in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in body weight loss at 6 months after the operation between the two groups (P=0.178). Conclusion: When radical resection of Siewert type Ⅱ advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma is performed, it is feasible to shorten the minimum safe distance of the proximal incisal edge to 20-25 mm under the premise of ensuring R0 resection. The operation time is shortened. Due to the shortening the incisal edge distance, the anastomotic tension is decreased, and the incidence of postoperative anastomotic leakage is also reduced.

A Porous Coordination Polymer Showing Guest-Amplified Positive and Negative Thermal Expansion

A solvothermal reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂ and 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoic acid (H₂pba) with toluene (Tol) as the template yielded a porous coordination polymer, [Zn(pba)]·0.5Tol, possessing a three-dimensional (3D) fence-like coordination framework based on inclined two-dimensional (2D) fence-like coordination layers. By virtue of the classic deformation mode of the 2D/3D fence structures, the guest-free structure exhibits very large positive thermal expansion of 347 MK^-1 and moderate negative thermal expansion of -63/-83 MK^-1, which are remarkably enhanced to new records of 689 and -171/-249 MK^-1, respectively, by inclusion of Tol.

[Preliminary study of superselective lymph node dissection in regional lateral cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma]

Objective: To explore the applied value of super-selective cervical lymph node dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with clinically suspicious lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 232 cN1b PTC patients who underwent surgery from September 2013 to May 2018 in the Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center. Among them, 90 cases received super-selective neck dissection (level Ⅲ and IV) and 142 cases underwent selective neck dissection (level Ⅱ-Ⅳ). The LNM of two groups were analyzed. Results: Postoperative pathological results showed that 173 cases had LNM in the central compartment. The LNM cases of level Ⅱ-Ⅳ were 47, 147 and 130, respectively. Eight patients of super-selective neck dissection and 6 of selective neck dissection had postoperative lymphatic fistulas (P=0.146). No patients in super-selective neck dissection group while 9 patients in the selective lymph node dissection group had postoperatively permanent impairment of shoulder mobility, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.015). In the super-selective neck dissection group, 2 patients had long-term postoperative incision discomfort, and 5 cases had obvious cicatrix after surgery. In the patients with selective neck dissection, 27 cases experienced long-term incision discomfort after surgery, and 26 patients had apparent scar tissue, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.005). There was no recurrence during the follow-up. Conclusions: Super-selective neck dissection is a feasible, safe and effective treatment for cN1b PTC patients. It can improve the quality of postoperative life and avoid the over treatment for patients.

Bracovirus-mediated innexin hemichannel closure in cell disassembly

Cell-cell communication is necessary for cellular immune response. Hemichannel closure disrupts communication between intracellular and extracellular environments during polydnavirus-induced immunosuppression in invertebrates. However, the effects of hemichannel closure on cellular immune response are unclear. Here, we examined apoptotic body formation triggered by hemichannel closure in hemocytes of Spodoptera litura infected with bracovirus from the parasitic wasp, Microplitis bicoloratus. We showed that Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus (MbBV) induced apoptotic cell disassembly, accompanied by hemichannel closure. Hemocyte apoptotic body formation was caused by the dysregulation of the innexins (Inxs), Inx1, Inx2, Inx3, and Inx4, during the MbBV-mediated inhibition of pI3K/AKT signaling and activation of caspase-3, which cleaved gap junction Inx proteins. Our results showed that hemichannel opening or closure in response to various stimuli, which induces the modulation of Inx levels, could inhibit or activate apoptotic body formation, respectively. Therefore, the "hemichannel open and close" model may regulate the cellular immune response.

The draft genome of the specialist flea beetle Altica viridicyanea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

BACKGROUND

Altica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a highly diverse and taxonomically challenging flea beetle genus that has been used to address questions related to host plant specialization, reproductive isolation, and ecological speciation. To further evolutionary studies in this interesting group, here we present a draft genome of a representative specialist, Altica viridicyanea, the first Alticinae genome reported thus far.

RESULTS

The genome is 864.8 Mb and consists of 4490 scaffolds with a N50 size of 557 kb, which covered 98.6% complete and 0.4% partial insect Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. Repetitive sequences accounted for 62.9% of the assembly, and a total of 17,730 protein-coding gene models and 2462 non-coding RNA models were predicted. To provide insight into host plant specialization of this monophagous species, we examined the key gene families involved in chemosensation, detoxification of plant secondary chemistry, and plant cell wall-degradation.

CONCLUSIONS

The genome assembled in this work provides an important resource for further studies on host plant adaptation and functionally affiliated genes. Moreover, this work also opens the way for comparative genomics studies among closely related Altica species, which may provide insight into the molecular evolutionary processes that occur during ecological speciation.

[Research advances on mechanism of exosomes derived from adipose derived stem cells in the treatment of chronic wounds]

Exosomes are a kind of membrane vesicle with a diameter of 30-150 nm. It is formed by the budding of multiple vesicles in cells, which can fuse with the cell membrane and be released into the extracellular matrix. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential of self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. They can transport the active substance, regulate the inflammatory response, cell migration, proliferation, differentiation and angiogenesis via the action of paracrine exosomes, so as to enhance the ability of wound repair, promote wound healing, and inhibit the formation of scars. Chronic wounds refer to the wounds that can not reach the anatomic and functional integrity through the normal, orderly, and timely repair process, and the course of the wound healing is more than 4 weeks. At present, there are various treatment methods for chronic wounds, among which ADSCs, although showing a good application prospect, have some limitations due to ethical issues, while exosomes can avoid this problem. This article reviews the treatment of chronic wounds with ADSC exosomes.

Two New Benzophenones From the Endohydric Moss Polytrichastrum formosum

Two new benzophenone derivatives (1 and 2), were obtained from the endohydric moss Polytrichastrum formosum. Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS methods. The cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 against HCT-116, A-549, HepG2 and HeLa cell lines was evaluated, but no obvious cytotoxic activities were observed (IC50 >100 µM). Benzophenones may be characteristic components of Polytrichaceae.

[Comparison of quality of life of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients after laryngeal preservation surgery and total laryngectomy]

Objective: To evaluate and compare the quality of life (QOL) in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after laryngeal preservation surgery and total laryngectomy. Methods: We selected parts of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and the Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and designed the QOL questionnaire. We investigated 42 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma underwent laryngeal preservation surgery and 38 patients underwent total laryngectomy by QOL questionnaire and followed up their survival. Results: The somatic function dimension, psychological function dimension, and social function dimension of patients underwent laryngeal preservation surgery were (92.46±15.71), (80.56±22.67) and (90.08±19.50), respectively, which were higher than (79.39±32.75), (68.42±25.05) and (61.84±29.55) of the total laryngectomy group (P<0.05), while the economic dimension was not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). The social function dimension (including social support and socialization, family relationship) of laryngeal preservation surgery group were (89.04±25.47) for postoperative time < 70 months and (90.94±13.28) for postoperative time ≥70 months, which were higher than (65.48±29.14) and (57.35±30.32) of the total laryngectomy group (P<0.01). Conclusions: The somatic function dimension, psychological function and social function of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma underwent laryngeal preservation surgery obtain a better QOL than patients underwent total laryngectomy. Therefore, we should improve the laryngeal function and QOL of patients under the premise of ensuring the survival rate.

A Hydrogen-Bonded yet Hydrophobic Porous Molecular Crystal for Molecular-Sieving-like Separation of Butane and Isobutane

Porous molecular crystals sustained by hydrogen bonds and/or weaker connections are an intriguing type of adsorbents, but they rarely demonstrate efficient adsorptive separation because of poor structural robustness and tailorability. Herein, we report a porous molecular crystal based on hydrogen-bonded cyclic dinuclear Ag^I complex, which exhibits exceptional hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 134°, and high chemical stability in water at pH 2-13. The seemingly rigid adsorbent shows a pore-opening or nonporous-to-porous type butane adsorption isotherm and complete exclusion of isobutane, indicating potential molecular sieving. Quantitative column breakthrough experiments show slight co-adsorption of isobutane with an experimental butane/isobutane selectivity of 23, and isobutane can be purified more efficiently than for butane. In situ powder/single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational simulations reveal that a trivial guest-induced structural transformation plays a critical role.

[The progress in management of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in cirrhotic portal hypertension]

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB) is the most dangerous complication of cirrhotic portal hypertension.With the continuous emergence of research findings on EVB, multiple disciplinary team, including internal medicine department, surgery department, intervention therapy department, radiology department, has become a new mode for the prevention and treatment of EVB. This article first reviewed the classification of esophageal varices and gastric varices, and then reviewed the recent research findings of EVB from three aspects: primary prophylaxis, active variceal bleeding treatment, and secondary prophylaxis.The aim was to provide new ideas for the individualized prevention and treatment of EVB.

Expression of PD-L1 on Monocytes Is a Novel Predictor of Prognosis in Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma

Background: Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a highly aggressive lymphoma with a dismal prognosis, and novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has become a promising therapeutic target for various cancers, but most of the studies have focused on expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells. Expression of PD-L1 on tumor-infiltrating non-malignant cells, especially monocytes, has not been studied in NKTCL, and its prognostic value remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Expression of PD-L1 on tumor-infiltrating stromal cells was measured in NKTert and HS5 cells when cultured alone or co-cultured with NKTCL cell lines. Clinical samples were collected from 42 patients with newly diagnosed NKTCL. Expression of PD-L1 on monocytes was analyzed in patients' peripheral blood and tumor tissues using flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining, respectively. Survival data were retrospectively collected and the prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression on monocytes was analyzed. Results: PD-L1 expression on tumor-infiltrating stromal cells was remarkably elevated when co-cultured with NKTCL cells. The percentage of PD-L1+ monocytes among all monocytes in peripheral blood was significantly higher in NKTCL patients than that in healthy individuals. Among NKTCL patients, percentage of PD-L1+ monocytes in blood positively correlated with that in tumor tissues. Patients with a higher percentage (≥78.2%) of PD-L1+ monocytes in blood or with a higher percentage (≥24.2%) of PD-L1+ monocytes in tumor tissues exhibited a significantly inferior survival, compared with their counterparts. A higher percentage of PD-L1+ monocytes in blood or tumor tissues was an independent adverse prognostic factor. Conclusions: Expression of PD-L1 on monocytes is up-regulated and has significant prognostic value in patients with NKTCL.

Single-Dose Administration of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin Mitigates Total Body Irradiation-Induced Hematopoietic System Injury in Mice and Nonhuman Primates

PURPOSE

Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) has been evaluated as a therapeutic intervention for radiation-induced myelosuppression. However, the immunogenicity induced by a repeated-dosing strategy raises concerns about the therapeutic use of rhTPO. In this study, single-dose administration of rhTPO was evaluated for efficacy in the hematopoietic response and survival effect on mice and nonhuman primates exposed to total body irradiation (TBI).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Survival of lethally (9.0 Gy) irradiated C57BL/6J male mice was observed for 30 days after irradiation. Hematologic evaluations were performed on C57BL/6J male mice given a sublethal dose of radiation (6.5 Gy). Furthermore, in sublethally irradiated mice, we performed bone marrow (BM) histologic evaluation and evaluated BM-derived clonogenic activity. Next, the proportion and number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were analyzed. Competitive repopulation experiments were conducted to assess the multilineage engraftment of irradiated HSCs after BM transplantation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate DNA damage, cell apoptosis, and cell cycle stage in HSCs after irradiation. Finally, we evaluated the efficacy of a single dose of rhTPO administered after 7 Gy TBI in male and female rhesus monkeys.

RESULTS

A single administration of rhTPO 2 hours after irradiation significantly mitigated TBI-induced death in mice. rhTPO promoted multilineage hematopoietic recovery, increasing peripheral blood cell counts, BM cellularity, and BM colony-forming ability. rhTPO administration led to an accelerated recovery of BM HSC frequency and multilineage engraftment after transplantation. rhTPO treatment reduced radiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis and promoted HSC proliferation after TBI. Notably, a single administration of rhTPO significantly promoted multilineage hematopoietic recovery and improved survival in nonhuman primates after TBI.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that early intervention with a single administration of rhTPO may represent a promising and effective radiomitigative strategy for victims of radiation disasters.

Prognostic value of preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in gallbladder carcinoma patients and the establishment of a prognostic nomogram

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and establishment of a prognostic nomogram in post surgical patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off value of LMR. The correlation between preoperative LMR and overall survival (OS) was analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A relevant prognostic nomogram was established.Three hundred fifteen GBC patients were retrospectively enrolled. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cutoff value of LMR was 2.685. Patients were categorized into high-LMR group (n = 143) or low-LMR group (n = 172). Low-LMR value was significantly associated with elderly age, advanced tumor, and the performance of a palliative cholecystectomy. The results of the univariate and multivariate analyses eliminated the degree of tumor differentiation, tumor-node-metastasis stages, surgery types, and LMR as independent predictors of OS. Based on those independent predictors, a predictive nomogram for OS was generated with an accuracy of 0.848.Based on our findings, the predictive nomogram should be included in the routine assessment of GBC patients.

[Primary study on the mechanism of ductus arteriosus closure in rats: impact of aging pathway]

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of aging pathway in patent ductus arteriosus closure of rats. Methods: Thirty outbreeding Sprague Dawley rats(20 females, 10-15 weeks old, 270-330 g) underwent random mating and conception. The primary Ductus Arteriosus smooth muscle cells (DASMCs) of pregnant 19 days(E19 group), 21 days(E21 group) and newborn(Day0 group) fetus were extracted and cultured. mRNA expression of cell senescence related markers p16, 21 and 53 genes in each group were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-PCR) after 48 hours culture. After hypoxic culture on DASMCs for 3 days, the DASMCs were divided into 3 groups: hypoxic control group(G0 group), 3 hours normal oxygen concentration treatment group(G3 group) and 6 hours normal oxygen concentration treatment group(G6 group). After intervention, mRNA expression of p16, 21 and 53 RT-PCR was detected. The DASMCs of newborn rats(Day0 group) were extracted and divided into 3 groups:low-oxygen culture control group, low-oxygen+siRNA culture group and normal oxygen concentration culture group. The DASMCs migration ability was tested experimentally by Transwell method. Result: The mRNA levels of p16, 21 and 53 in DASMCs were higher in E19 group than in Day0 group(all P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of p16, 21 and 53 in DASMCs were also higher in E21 group than those in Day0 group (all P<0.01). The mRNA levels of p16, 21 and 53 in DASMC were all higher in G0 group than those in G3 group (P<0.05 or 0.01), and the mRNA levels of p16, 21 and 53 in DASMCs were all higher in G0 group than those in G6 group (all P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of p16, 21 and 53 in DASMCs were all higher in G3 group than those in G6 group (all P<0.05). DASMCs migration ability of newborn rats was higher in normal oxygen concentration culture group than that in low-oxygen culture group (P<0.01), and DASMCs migration ability of newborn rats was also higher in low-oxygen+siRNA culture group than that in low-oxygen culture group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The expression of senescence marker of DASMCs decreases with the birth in rats during the process of ductal closure, and the aging pathway may affect ductal closure by inhibiting DASMCs migration in rats.

[Meta-analysis of the effects of dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine during dressing changes in burn patients]

Objective: To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine during dressing changes in burn patients using meta-analysis. Methods: Foreign language databases including PubMed, Cochrane Central, Embase, and Web of Science were searched with the terms of " burns, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, and dressing" , and Chinese databases including Chinese Journal Full-Text Database, Wanfang Data, and China Academic Journal Network Publishing Database were searched with the terms in Chinese version of ",,,,," to retrieve the publicly published randomized controlled trials on the application of dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine for sedation and analgesia during dressing changes in burn patients from the establishment of each database to March 2019. The outcome indexes included systolic blood pressure at 5 minutes after administration, arousal restlessness score, ketamine dosage, dressing change time, body movement/recovery time, pain score, Ramsay sedation scores at 10 minutes after the start of dressing change and 1 hour after dressing change, physician satisfaction score, neuropsychological symptoms, nausea and vomiting times, nausea and vomiting score. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 statistical software were used to conduct a meta-analysis of eligible studies. Results: A total of 396 burn patients were included in 7 articles, including 198 patients in dexmedetomidine+ ketamine group who received dexmedetomidine and ketamine for sedation and analgesia, and 198 patients in ketamine alone group who received ketamine alone for sedation and analgesia. The bias risks of the seven studies included were uncertain. Compared with those of ketamine alone group, the systolic blood pressure at 5 minutes after administration, arousal restlessness score, nausea and vomiting score of patients in dexmedetomidine+ ketamine group were significantly decreased, with standardized mean differences of -13.89, -0.84, and -0.99 (95% confidence interval=-20.89--6.89, -1.17--0.52, -1.31--0.68, P<0.01), the Ramsay sedation score at 10 minutes after the start of dressing change and that at 1 hour after dressing change were significantly increased, with standardized mean differences of 1.53 and 0.72 (95% confidence interval=1.05-2.02, 0.13-1.31, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the number of neuropsychological symptom and number of nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced, with relative risks of 0.20 and 0.16 (95% confidence interval=0.07-0.58, 0.05-0.58, P<0.01). The patients in the two groups were similar in ketamine dosage, dressing change time, body movement/recovery time, pain score, and physician satisfaction score. There was no publication bias in dressing change time or ketamine dosage (P>0.05), while the other indexes might have publication bias (P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with ketamine alone, combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine during dressing changes in burn patients can reduce the occurrence of restlessness, nausea and vomiting, neuropsychological symptoms, and other complications, better stabilize blood pressure, and enhance sedation effect.

[Changes and clinical significance of peripheral blood CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients]

Objective: To investigate the expression of CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its correlation with clinical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 38 patients with RA, and 20 healthy control subjects, RA patients admitted to Peking University people's hospital from May to October 2018, and record the RA patients with the clinical manifestations and laboratory indexes, extraction in the peripheral blood lymphocytes, using flow cytometry to analyse the percentage of CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells in peripheral blood, by using the software SPASS20 and Prism6 to analyze its correlation with clinical and laboratory indices. Results: The expression of CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells in peripheral blood of RA patients was significantly increased, which was statistically different from that of healthy patients (P<0.05). CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells in peripheral blood of RA patients showed significant positive correlation with ESR(r=0.352,P=0.030), CCP(r=0.312,P=0.047) and DAS28(r=0.330,P=0.043), and negatively correlated with C3 (r=-0.354,P=0.046) and C4(r=-0.440,P=0.010).No significant correlation was found in other indicators. In RA patients, there were statistically significant differences in CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells between the low-disease active group and the high-disease active group(P<0.05), but CD8(+)CD25(+)T cells between the low-disease active group and the moderate-disease active group, or between the moderate-disease active group and the high-disease active group had no significant statistical difference. Conclusion: CD8(+)CD25(+)Tcells in peripheral blood of patients with RA are significantlyincreased, and aresignificantly correlated with laboratory and clinical indicators, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.