Soliton Based Dynamic Nuclear Polarization: An Overhauser Effect in Cyclic Polyacetylene at High Field and Room Temperature

Polyacetylene, a versatile material with an electrical conductivity that can span 7 orders of magnitude, is the prototypical conductive polymer. In this letter, we report the observation of a significant Overhauser effect at the high magnetic field of 14.1 T that operates at 100 K and room temperature in both linear and cyclic polyacetylene. Significant NMR signal enhancements ranging from 24 to 45 are obtained. The increased sensitivity enabled the characterization of the polymer chain defects at natural abundance. The absence of end methyl group carbon-13 signals provides proof of the closed-loop molecular structure of cyclic polyacetylene. The remarkable efficiency of the soliton based Overhauser effect DNP mechanism at high temperature and high field holds promise for applications and extension to other conductive polymer systems.

Allisartan Isoproxil Promotes Uric Acid Excretion by Interacting with Intestinal Urate Transporters in Hyperuricemic Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

To evaluate the urate-lowering effect and potential drug targets of antihypertensive agent allisartan isoproxil (ALI) and its bioactive metabolite EXP3174, we developed an acute hyperuricemic zebrafish model using potassium oxonate and xanthine sodium salt. Losartan potassium served as the positive control (reference drug). In this model, ALI and losartan potassium exerted a greater urate-lowering effect than EXP3174 indicating that the latter is not the critical substance for elimination of uric acid. The quantitative real-time PCR showed that ALI upregulates the expression of intestinal urate transporters genes ABCG2, PDZK1, and SLC2A9 (p<0.01). Thus, we can suggest that this substance promotes uric acid excretion mainly by interacting with intestinal urate transporters.

Phase I clinical safety and efficacy observation of αPD-1-mesoCAR-T cells in the treatment of advanced gynecologic cancer

e17535

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Most of patients often have refractory or relapse. We have developed a CAR T cell secreting PD-1 nanoantibodies and targeting mesothelin (αPD-1-mesoCAR-T) and conducted a phase I clinical trial for evaluation of safety and efficacy of the αPD-1-mesoCAR-T cells in gynecologic tumors. Methods: This study is a single-arm, open, dose-increasing clinical study and two infusions (interval 14-35 days). Patients with advanced gynecological cancer were enrolled when immunohistochemical analysis for positive mesothelin over 70% and failed second-line treatment in Mengchao Cancer Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University and Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University. All patients underwent lymphodepletion before infusion at a dose of 1 to 15x106/kg. CAR copies, nanobody levels, cytokines, T lymphocyte subtypes were determined before and after infusion. Results: a total of 7 patients were enrolled so far and completed the first evaluation. After treatment, most symptoms of the patients were alleviated, two patients (#2, #3) had their lesions decreased. By RECIST 1.1, all 7 patients’ diseases became stable, and the disease control rate was 100%. The PFS of #3 patient with stable disease (SD) was 5.3 months, the patient #2 was 4.1 months. The frequent adverse events were fever, fatigue, nausea and pruritus. No sever adverse events above grade 3 occurred. The number of CAR-T cells in the peripheral blood increased significantly during day 4-14 after the infusion, and the PD-1 nanoantibody levels and the contents of INF-γ、IL-6、IL-2 and MCP-1 also increased at day 1-4. Conclusions: The preliminary clinical study showed that the aPD-1-mesoCAR-T cells are safe for the treatment of gynecologic cancer and stabilized the diseases. More data of the treatment is warrantied to continually follow up these patients.

Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Chronic Carotid Artery Occlusion on High-Resolution MR Vessel Wall Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic carotid artery occlusion remains a poorly understood risk factor for subsequent stroke, and potential revascularization is dependent on understanding the anatomy and nature of the occlusion. Luminal imaging cannot assess the nature of an occlusion, so the internal structure of the occlusion must be inferred. The present study examines the signal characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid occlusion that may point to management differentiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively recruited patients who were diagnosed with chronic carotid artery occlusion defined as longer than 4 weeks and confirmed by DSA. All patients underwent high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging examinations after enrollment. Baseline characteristics, vessel wall imaging features, and DSA features were collected and evaluated. The vessel wall imaging features included segment involvement, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, and vessel wall thickness. The symptomatic and asymptomatic chronic carotid artery occlusions were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients with 48 lesions were included in this study from February 2020 to December 2020. Of the 48 lesions, 35 (72.9%) were symptomatic and 13 (27.1%) were asymptomatic. There was no difference in baseline and DSA features. On vessel wall imaging, C1 and C2 were the most commonly involved segments (91.7% and 68.8%, respectively). Compared with symptomatic lesions, asymptomatic lesions were more often isointense (69.2%) in the distal segment (P = .03). Both groups had diffuse wall thickening (80% and 100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Signal characteristics between those with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery occlusions differ in a statistically significant fashion, indicating a different structure of the occlusion.

Elevated MMP10/13 mediated barrier disruption and NF-κB activation aggravate colitis and colon tumorigenesis in both individual or full miR-148/152 family knockout mice

Dynamic miRNA alteration is known to occur in colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC), while the molecular mechanisms underpinning how miRNAs modulate the development from chronic inflammation to CAC is lacking. For the first time, we constructed knockout (KO) mice for individual miR-148/152 family members and entire miR-148/152 family. Based on these KO mice, we conduct the first comprehensive analysis of miR-148/152 family, demonstrating that deficiency of any member of miR-148/152 family aggravate colitis and CAC. Loss of individual miR-148/152 family members or full-family enhance MMP10 and MMP13 expression, causing disruption of intestinal barrier and cleaving pro-TNF-α into bioactive TNF-α fragments to activate NF-κB signaling, thereby aggravating colitis. Individual and full-family deletion also increase accumulation of IKKα and IKKβ, resulting in further hyperactivation of NF-κB signaling, exacerbating colitis and CAC. Moreover, blocking NF-κB signaling exerts a restorative effect on colitis and CAC models only in KO mice. Taken together, these findings demonstrate deleting the full miR-148/152 family or individual members exhibit similar effects in colitis and CAC. Mechanically, miR-148/152 family members deficiency in mice elevates MMP10 and MMP13 to accelerate colitis and CAC via disrupting intestinal barrier function and activating NF-κB signaling, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for colitis and CAC.

Targeting STING attenuates ROS induced intervertebral disc degeneration

OBJECTIVE

DNA damage induced by ROS is considered one of the main causes of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells degeneration during the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). cGAS-STING pathway acts as DNA-sensing mechanism for monitoring DNA damage. Recent studies have proved that cGAS-STING contributes to the development of various diseases by inducing inflammation, senescence, and apoptosis. This work explored the role of STING, the main effector of cGAS-STING signaling pathway, in NP degeneration.

METHOD

Immunohistochemistry was conducted to measure STING protein levels in the nucleus pulposus tissues from human and puncture-induced IVDD rat models. TBHP induces degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells in vitro. For in vivo experiments, lv-NC or lv-STING were injected into the central intervertebral disc space. The degeneration level of IVDD was assessed by MRI, X-ray, HE, and Safranin O staining.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of STING was upregulated in human and rat degenerated NP tissue as well as in TBHP-treated NP cells. Overexpression of STING promoted the degradation of extracellular matrix; it also promoted apoptosis and senescence of TBHP-treated and untreated NP cells. Knock-down of STING significantly reversed these effects. Mechanistically, STING activated IRF3, whereas blockage of IRF3 attenuated STING-induced apoptosis, senescence and ECM degradation. In vivo experiments revealed that STING knock-down alleviated puncture-induced IVDD development.

CONCLUSION

STING promotes IVDD progress via IRF3, while suppression of STING may be a promising treatment for IVDD.

[The relationship between HPV integration and prognosis of cervical cancer]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) integration and prognosis of cervical cancer patients. Methods: The data of 82 patients with cervical cancer treated in the Radiotherapy Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2004 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into poor prognosis group (recurrence or metastasis after surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy) and good prognosis group based on a propensity score matching strategy.The HPV integration of the two groups were detected by whole exome sequencing to determine whether the integration sites were located in the common fragile sites (CFSs). HPV integration and integration into CFSs were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the enrolled 82 patients, 37 were divided in poor survival group and 45 in good survival group. A total of 90 integration breakpoints were identified, 30 of them occurred in poor prognosis group and 60 occurred in good prognosis group. In the poor prognosis group, HPV integration occurred in 20 patients, 13 of them were inserted in CFSs of 11 patients, and the numbers in good prognosis group were 26, 17, 11, respectively. There were no significantly statistical differences in the number of HPV integration events (P=0.289), HPV integration patients (P=0.735), CFSs integration events (P=0.427), and CFSs integration patients (P=0.591) between the two groups. In poor prognosis group, more CFSs integration events occurred in patients with metastasis than those in patients with only local recurrence (9 vs 2, P=0.003). Conclusions: No significant differences are observed in HPV integration and HPV integration into CFSs between cervical cancer patients with different prognoses. HPV integration into CFSs may be associated with distant metastasis.

The Clinical Significance and Mechanisms of REG4 in Human Cancers

Regenerating islet-derived type 4 (REG4), a member of the calcium-dependent lectin gene superfamily, is abnormally expressed in various cancers, such as colorectal, gastric, gallbladder, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate, and lung cancer. REG4 is associated with a relatively unfavorable prognosis and clinicopathologic features in cancers, including advanced tumor and nodal stage, histological differentiation, and liver and peritoneal metastasis. Moreover, REG4-positive cancer cells show more frequent resistance to chemoradiotherapy, especially 5-FU-based chemotherapy. REG4 participates in many aspects of carcinogenesis, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. The underlying mechanisms are complex and involve a series of signaling mediators and multiple pathways. Thus, REG4 may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as a candidate therapeutic target in cancer patients. In this review, we systematically summarize the advances about the clinical significance, biological functions, and mechanisms underlying REG4 in cancer to provide new directions for future cancer research.

Contributions of Lactobacillus plantarum PC170 administration on the recovery of gut microbiota after short-term ceftriaxone exposure in mice

This study aimed to determine the impact of Lactobacillus plantarum PC170 concurrent with antibiotic treatment and/or during the recovery phase after antibiotic treatment on the body weight, faecal bacterial composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration, and splenic cytokine mRNA expression of mice. Orally administrated ceftriaxone quantitatively and significantly decreased body weight, faecal total bacteria, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Lactobacillus plantarum, and faecal SCFAs concentration. Ceftriaxone treatment also dramatically altered the faecal microbiota with an increased Chao1 index, decreased species diversities and Bacteroidetes, and more Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. After ceftriaxone intervention, these changes all gradually started to recover. However, faecal microbiota diversities were still totally different from control by significantly increased α- and β-diversities. Bacteroidetes all flourished and became dominant during the recovery process. However, mice treated with PC170 both in parallel with and after ceftriaxone treatment encouraged more Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria, and the diversity by which to make faecal microbiota was very much closer to control. Furthermore, the expression of splenic pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-α mRNA in mice supplemented with PC170 during the recovery phase was significantly lower than natural recovery. These results indicated that antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, even with short-term intervention, could dramatically damage the structure of gut microbiota and their abilities to produce SCFAs with loss of body weight. Although such damages could be partly recovered with the cessation of antibiotics, the implication of antibiotics to gut microbiota might remain even after antibiotic treatment. The selected strain PC170 might be a potential probiotic because of its contributions in helping the host animal to remodel or stabilise its gut microbiome and enhancing the anti-inflammatory response as protection from the side effects of antibiotic therapy when it was administered in parallel with and after antibiotic treatment.

Incidence and Risk Factors of In-Stent Restenosis for Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

In-stent restenosis affects long-term outcome in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

PURPOSE

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of in-stent restenosis.

DATA SOURCES

All literature that reported in-stent restenosis was searched on PubMed, Ovid EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE data bases.

STUDY SELECTION

Original articles about stents for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis were selected.

DATA ANALYSIS

Meta-analysis was conducted to derive the pooled in-stent restenosis using a random-effects model. Meta-regression was performed to explore the risk factors predisposing to in-stent restenosis.

DATA SYNTHESIS

In total, 51 studies with 5043 patients were included. The pooled incidence rate of in-stent restenosis was 14.8% (95% CI, 11.9%-17.9%). Among the lesions with in-stent restenosis, 28.8% of them led to (95% CI, 22.0%-36.0%) related neurologic symptoms. The series in the United States had a higher in-stent restenosis rate (27.0%; 95% CI, 20.6%-33.9%) compared with those from Asia (13.6%; 95% CI, 10.3%-17.2%) and other regions as a whole (7.6%; 95% CI, 1.1%-18.1%) (P < .01). Multiregression analysis revealed that younger patient age was related to high in-stent restenosis rates (P = .019), and vertebrobasilar junction location (P = .010) and low residual stenosis (P = .018) were 2 independent risk factors for symptomatic in-stent restenosis rate.

LIMITATIONS

The heterogeneity of most outcomes was high.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed promising results of in-stent restenosis for symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis. Studies are needed to further expatiate on the mechanisms by which younger patient age, vertebrobasilar junction location, and low residual stenosis could increase in-stent restenosis and symptomatic in-stent restenosis, respectively.

Landscape-level validation of allometric relationships for carbon stock estimation reveals bias driven by soil type

Mitigation of climate change depends on accurate estimation and mapping of terrestrial carbon stocks, particularly in carbon dense tropical forests. Allometric equations can be used to robustly estimate biomass of tropical trees, but often require tree height, which is frequently unknown. Researchers and practitioners must, therefore, decide whether to directly measure a subset of tree heights to develop diameter : height (D:H) equations or rely on previously published generic equations. To date, studies comparing the two approaches have been spatially restricted and/or not randomly allocated across the landscape of interest, making the implications of deciding whether or not to measure tree heights difficult to determine. To address this issue, we use inventory data from a systematic-random forest inventory across Gabon (102 forest sites; 42,627 trees, including 7,036 height-measured trees). Using plot-specific models of D:H as a benchmark, we compare the performance of a suite of locally fitted and commonly used generic models (parameterized national, georegional, and pantropical equations) across a variety of scales, and assess which abiotic, anthropogenic, and topographical covariates contribute the most to bias in height estimation. We reveal marked spatial structure in the magnitude and direction of bias in tree height estimation using all generic models, due at least in part to soil type, which compounded to substantial error in site-level AGB estimates (of up to 38% or 150 Mg/ha). However, two generic pantropical models (Chave 2014; Feldpausch 2012) converged to within 2.5% of mean AGB at the landscape scale. Our results suggest that some (not all) pantropical equations can extrapolate AGB across large spatial scales with minimal bias in estimated mean AGB. However, extreme caution must be taken when interpreting the AGB estimates from generic models at the site-level as they fail to capture substantial spatial variation in D:H relationships, which could lead to dramatic under- or over-estimation of site-level carbon stocks. Validated allometric models derived at site- or soil-type-levels may be the best way to reduce such biases arising from landscape-level heterogeneity in D:H model fit in the Afrotropics.

Effect of dual versus mono antiplatelet therapy on recurrent stroke modulated by activated partial thromboplastin time

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The efficacy of dual antiplatelet treatment may be modified by many factors. The aim was to assess whether the effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin versus aspirin alone on recurrent stroke would be affected by admission activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).

METHODS

Data were derived from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. A total of 5074 patients were categorized into three groups based on the aPTT distribution according to the 15th and 85th percentile. The primary outcome was any stroke within 90 days. The interaction of aPTT with antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk was assessed with a Cox proportional hazards model with adjustment for covariates.

RESULTS

In the high aPTT group (defined as ≥35.9 s), stroke occurred in 6.7% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 11.9% in the aspirin arm [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.85]. In the medium aPTT group (24.6-35.8 s), stroke occurred in 7.7% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 11.8% in the aspirin arm (adjusted HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.50-0.75). Furthermore, in the low aPTT group (≤24.5 s), stroke occurred in 11.2% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 9.9% in the aspirin arm (adjusted HR 1.07; 95% CI 0.65-1.62). The interaction P value of antiplatelet therapy with aPTT level at the cut-point of approximately 25 s or below was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dual antiplatelet therapy was superior to single antiplatelet therapy in the high or medium aPTT group but not in the low aPTT group.

SPHK1-induced autophagy in peritoneal mesothelial cell enhances gastric cancer peritoneal dissemination

Gastric cancer peritoneal dissemination (GCPD) has been recognized as the most common form of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC), and the survival is pessimistic. The injury of mesothelial cells plays an important role in GCPD. However, its molecular mechanism is not entirely clear. Here, we focused on the sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) which regulates HPMCs autophagy in GCPD progression. Initially, we analyzed SPHK1 expression immunohistochemically in 120 GC peritoneal tissues, and found high SPHK1 expression to be significantly associated with LC3B expression and peritoneal recurrence, leading to poor prognosis. Using a coculture system, we observed that GC cells promoted HPMCs autophagy and this process was inhibited by blocking TGF-β1 secreted from GC cells. Autophagic HPMCs induced adhesion and invasion of GC cells. We also confirmed that knockdown of SPHK1 expression in HPMCs inhibited TGF-β1-induced autophagy. In addition, SPHK1-driven autophagy of HPMCs accelerated GC cells occurrence of GCPD in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we explored the relationship between autophagy and fibrosis in HPMCs, observing that overexpression of SPHK1 induced HPMCs fibrosis, while the inhibition of autophagy weakened HPMCs fibrosis. Taken together, our results provided new insights for understanding the mechanisms of GCPD and established SPHK1 as a novel target for GCPD.

TBX2 overexpression promotes proliferation and invasion through epithelial-mesenchymal transition and ERK signaling pathway

The present study aimed to clarify the clinical significance and biological effects of T-box (TBX)2 and its potential mechanism in gastric cancer (GC). TBX2 protein expression levels in human GC tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry, and it was demonstrated that TBX2 was overexpressed in 55.9% (90/161) GC samples. TBX2 overexpression correlated with tumor invasion, advanced tumor node metastasis stage and presence of lymph node metastasis. In addition, TBX2 correlated with poor patient survival. To investigate the effect of TBX2 on biological behaviors, TBX2 plasmid transfection was performed in SGC-7901 cells and TBX2 small interfering RNA knockdown was carried out in BGC-823 cells. MTT and matrigel invasion assays demonstrated that TBX2 overexpression promoted proliferation and invasion, whereas TBX2 depletion inhibited proliferation and invasion. TBX2 overexpression also promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition by downregulating E-cadherin and upregulating N-cadherin. TBX2 overexpression also upregulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, cyclin E and phosphorylated-extracellular signal regulated kinase levels, however downregulated p21. In conclusion, TBX2 may serve as an effective predictor and therapeutic target in human GC.

Prognostic value and clinicopathological significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in gastric cancer has long been assessed, yet results remain controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic value and clinicopathological significance of PCNA in gastric cancer.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to investigate the correlations between PCNA expression and clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies involving 2,852 participants were included in our analysis. The pooled HR indicated that high PCNA expression was significantly associated with poor OS (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.32-2.08) and DFS (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.40-2.36). Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between PCNA and OS was also significant in Asian and European patients. In addition, the pooled ORs showed that high PCNA expression was significantly associated with deeper tumor invasion (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.71-3.27), lymph node metastasis (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.85-3.35), and advanced stage cancer (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.36-2.63).

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis indicates that high PCNA expression might be a prognosticator of poor survival and a promising therapeutic target for gastric cancer patients.

By recruiting HDAC1, MORC2 suppresses p21 Waf1/Cip1 in gastric cancer

Microrchidia (MORC) family CW-type zinc-finger 2 (MORC2) regulates chromatin remodeling during the DNA-damage response, represses gene transcription, promotes lipogenesis. Here, we found that MORC2 down-regulated p21 by recruiting HDAC1 to the p21 promoter, in a p53-independent manner. MORC2-mediated down-regulation of p21 in turn promoted cell cycle progression in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, MORC2 expression correlated negatively with p21 expression in gastric tumors in patients. We suggest that MORC2 may be a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

Bioinformatics analysis of miRNA expression profile between primary and recurrent glioblastoma

OBJECTIVE

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor with rapid relapse. The goal of this study is to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in recurrent GBM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

miRNA transcription profile data (GSE32466) were downloaded, including 12 primary GBM samples and 12 recurrent GBM samples. Then, limma package was utilized to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) with the criteria of false discovery rate < 0.05 and |log2 fold change| ≥ 1. Thereafter, miTarget and TargetScan databases were used to predict the potential target genes of DEMs. Regulatory co-expression network was constructed based on co-expressed genes and potential miRNA-gene pairs, and then, pathway analysis was conducted. Furthermore, database miRWalk was used to screen out known GBM-associated miRNAs from the identified DEMs.

RESULTS

A total of 71 DEMs were identified between primary and recurrent GBM samples, and 2684 potential target genes were found. Besides, regulatory co-expression network was constructed, including 12 DEMs and 81 potential target genes. These genes significantly enriched in ECM-receptor interaction, ribosome, and focal adhesion pathways, and DEMs like hsa-miR-320a, hsa-miR-139-5p, has-miR-128, hsa-miR-140-5p, and hsa-miR-146b-5p had high degree. Notably, 7 DEMs in network were known GBM-associated miRNAs recorded in database miRWalk.

CONCLUSIONS

DEMs like hsa-miR-320a, hsa-miR-139-5p, has-miR-128, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-let-7c, hsa-miR-128, and hsa-let-7a might participate in recurrent GBM. These results would pave ways for further study of recurrent GBM mechanism, and for the prevention and treatment of recurrent GBM. However, more experimental verifications are required to prove these predictions.

Thymic carcinoma patients with myasthenia gravis exhibit better prognoses

BACKGROUND

Thymic carcinoma is an aggressive mediastinal neoplasm with a poor prognosis, but the factors that contribute to its prognosis are not completely understood. Myasthenia gravis (MG) can coexist with thymic carcinoma with low incidence, but the effect MG has on thymic carcinoma prognosis is unknown. Here, we investigated the prognostic factors of thymic carcinoma and the influence of MG on patients with this disease.

METHODS

Between January 1996 and December 2012, 49 patients were diagnosed with thymic carcinoma and surgically treated at our institution. Clinical data and survival information were recorded and systematically reviewed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated, and independent prognostic factors were identified by Cox's proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Complete resection was achieved in 30 patients (61.2 %), and incomplete resection was performed on the other 19 patients (38.8 %). Six of the 49 patients with thymic carcinoma also presented with MG (12.2 %). Interestingly, these 6 patients exhibited much better prognoses when compared to the other 43 patients. Patients with MG also had significantly smaller tumors (P = 0.045), earlier Masaoka stage (P = 0.048), and higher complete resection rates (P = 0.042). However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that complete resection was the only independent predictor for overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The OS of patients with thymic carcinoma depends on complete resection, but patients with MG also demonstrate improved prognoses. MG patients have higher rates of complete surgical resection, which may account for their better prognoses. Patients with MG have unique features that may aid in the clinical management of these patients.

The inhibition of Cdk5 activity after hypoxia/ischemia injury reduces infarct size and promotes functional recovery in neonatal rats

Recent studies indicate that over-activation of Cdk5 is a crucial pro-death signal and Cdk5 activity inhibition provides neuroprotection in animal stroke models. However, Cdk5 inhibitors are reported to affect physiological functions of Cdk5 and lead to serious side effects. Therefore, targeting Cdk5 or its activators without affecting physiological functions of Cdk5 is a therapeutic strategy for ischemic brain injury. In this study, we examined Cdk5 activity in a rat hypoxia/ischemia (HI) injury model. Cdk5 expression was not changed after HI injury, but Cdk5 activity significantly increased, which was demonstrated by the increased phorsphorylation-phosphorylation of Tau and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), two downstream signals of Cdk5. We further showed that the levels of Cdk5 activators p35 and p39 decreased after HI injury, while p25, which is converted from p35 and has a higher activator activity on Cdk5, increased markedly after HI injury. P5, a 24-residue mimetic peptide of p35, was reported to specifically inhibit the p25/Cdk5 signal pathway in an Alzheimer's disease model. P5-TAT, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and cell membrane facilitated by TAT protein, was used in our study. We found that p5-TAT treatment did not change the levels of p35, p39, and p25, but reduced the phorsphorylation of Tau and GR, suggesting the inhibition of the p25/Cdk5 by the peptide p5-TAT. This was supported by the fact that p5 interacted with Cdk5, but not with Cdk5 activators. In addition, p5-TAT reduced cleaved caspase-3 level, a marker of neuronal apoptosis. We further demonstrated that p5-TAT pre-treatment reduced cerebral infarct volume; even when p5-TAT was delayed to be administered at 24h after HI injury, p5-TAT still promoted long-term functional recovery. Therefore, Cdk5 inhibition by the small peptide p5-TAT or its derivatives is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic brain injury including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and stroke.

CD29 of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells is required for expansion of CD34(+) cells

OBJECTIVES

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) play a critical role in expanding haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by providing the essential microenvironment for haematopoiesis. In this study, we sought to investigate whether CD29 of hUCMSCs would play a key role in the ability of hUCMSCs to help expand HSCs in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To investigate whether CD29 of hUCMSCs would play a key role for the ability of hUCMSCs to expand HSCs, soluble anti-CD29 antibody was added to co-cultures of hUCMSCs and cord blood (CB) CD34(+) cells. It significantly blocked expansion of CB CD34(+) cells induced by hUCMSCs. Using CD29-deficient hUCMSCs models, long-term culture-initiating cell and non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient disease mouse repopulating cell assay, revealed that CB CD34(+) cells co-cultured with CD29-deficient hUCMSCs only retained the capacity of multipotent differentiation for 5 weeks at the most.

RESULTS

Soluble anti-CD29 antibody significantly blocked expansion of CB CD34(+) cells induced by hUCMSCs. CB CD34(+) cells co-cultured with CD29-deficient hUCMSCs only retained the capacity of multipotent differentiation for 5 weeks at the most.

CONCLUSIONS

CB CD34(+) cells co-cultured with CD29-deficient hUCMSCs gave rise to all major haematopoietic lineages, but failed to engraft long term.

Hypothesis on the source, transmission and characteristics of infection of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus--based on analysis of field epidemiological investigation and gene sequence analysis

On 31 March 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced that human infections with influenza A (H7N9) virus had occurred in Shanghai and Anhui provinces, China. H7N9 cases were later detected in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. It was estimated that the virus first spread northward along the route taken by migratory birds and then spread to neighbouring provinces with the sale of poultry. Epidemiological studies were carried out on samples from the external environment of infected cases, transmission routes, farmers markets and live poultry markets. Phylogenetic study of viral sequences from human and avian infections in Zhejiang showed that those from Shanghai and Jiangsu provinces along Taihu Lake were highly homologous with those from the external environment. This suggests that avian viruses carried by waterfowl combined with the virus carried by migratory birds, giving rise to avian influenza virus H7N9, which is highly pathogenic to humans. It is possible that the virus was transmitted by local wildfowl to domestic poultry and then to humans, or spread further by means of trading in wholesale poultry markets. As the weather has turned warm, and with measures adopted to terminate poultry trade and facilitate health communication, the epidemic in the first half of the year has been kept under control. However, the infection source in the triangular area around Taihu Lake still remains. The H7N9 epidemic will probably hit the area later in the year and next spring when the migratory birds return and may even spread to other areas. Great importance should therefore be attached to the wildfowl in Taihu Lake as the repository and disseminator of the virus: investigation and study of this population is essential.

Prediction of peritoneal recurrence by the mRNA level of CEA and MMP-7 in peritoneal lavage of gastric cancer patients

A number of tumor markers had been reported to be useful in detecting free cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity and predict peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer patients. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical impact of different tumor markers in peritoneal lavage fluid using the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and to screen the most effective ones from them. The peritoneal lavage fluid of 116 patients with gastric cancer was sampled at laparotomy. After RNA extraction and reverse transcription, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the primers and probes for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-20, matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), carbohydrate antigen 125, and transforming growth factor-beta-1. Among the 116 patients, 45 (38.8%) were confirmed to have peritoneal recurrence. Any of the PCR-positive results of the five tumor markers could predict peritoneal recurrence in the univariate analysis (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the PCR results of CEA (P = 0.003) and MMP-7 (P = 0.028) were found to be independent prognostic factors. A real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the CEA and MMP-7 transcripts in peritoneal lavage fluid could effectively predict peritoneal recurrence in advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent a potentially curative resection.

PAK4 kinase-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation involved in gastric cancer metastasis

Superior cervical ganglia 10 (SCG10), as a microtubule (MT) destabilizer, maintains MT homeostasis and has a critical role in neuronal development, but its function in tumorigenesis has not been characterized. In the present study, we demonstrated that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4)-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation regulates MT homeostasis in metastatic gastric cancer. Our results indicate that SCG10 is a physiological substrate of PAK4, which is phosphorylated on serine 50 (Ser50) in a PAK4-dependent manner. Phosphorylated SCG10 regulated MT dynamics to promote gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in a xenograft mouse models. Inhibiting PAK4, either by LCH-7749944 or RNA interference, resulted in the inhibition of Ser50 phosphorylation and a blockade to cell invasion, suggesting that PAK4-SCG10 signaling occurs in gastric cancer cell invasion. Moreover, we demonstrated a strong positive correlation between PAK4 and phospho-Ser50 SCG10 expression in gastric cancer samples. We also showed that high expression of SCG10 phospho-Ser50 is highly correlated to an aggressive phenotype of clinical gastric cancer. These findings revealed a novel function of SCG10 in promoting invasive potential of gastric cancer cells, suggesting that blocking PAK4-mediated SCG10 phosphorylation might be a potential therapeutic strategy for metastasis of gastric cancer.

CARMA3 overexpression accelerates cell proliferation and inhibits paclitaxel-induced apoptosis through NF-κB regulation in breast cancer cells

CARMA3 was recently reported to be overexpressed in several cancers and associated with malignant behavior of cancer cells. However, the expression pattern and biological roles of CARMA3 in breast cancer have not been reported. In the present study, we found that CARMA3 was overexpressed in 41.9 % of breast cancer specimens. Significant association was observed between CARMA3 overexpression and TNM stage (p = 0.0223), tumor size (p = 0.0227), and ErbB-2 status (p = 0.0049). Furthermore, knockdown of CARMA3 expression in MDA-MB-435 cells with high endogenous expression decreased cell proliferation and sensitized cell to paclitaxel-induced apoptosis, while overexpression of CARMA3 in MDA-MB-231 cell line promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. Further analysis showed that CARMA3 depletion downregulated, and its overexpression upregulated cyclin D1, Bcl-2, and p-IκB levels. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that CARMA3 is overexpressed in breast cancers. CARMA3 facilitates proliferation and inhibits apoptosis through nuclear factor-kappaB signaling.

Sulfate reduction in groundwater: characterization and applications for remediation

Sulfate is ubiquitous in groundwater, with both natural and anthropogenic sources. Sulfate reduction reactions play a significant role in mediating redox conditions and biogeochemical processes for subsurface systems. They also serve as the basis for innovative in situ methods for groundwater remediation. An overview of sulfate reduction in subsurface environments is provided, along with a brief discussion of characterization methods and applications for addressing acid mine drainage. We then focus on two innovative, in situ methods for remediating sulfate-contaminated groundwater, the use of zero-valent iron and the addition of electron-donor substrates. The advantages and limitations associated with the methods are discussed, with examples of prior applications.

Sulfate reduction in groundwater: characterization and applications for remediation

Sulfate is ubiquitous in groundwater, with both natural and anthropogenic sources. Sulfate reduction reactions play a significant role in mediating redox conditions and biogeochemical processes for subsurface systems. They also serve as the basis for innovative in situ methods for groundwater remediation. An overview of sulfate reduction in subsurface environments is provided, along with a brief discussion of characterization methods and applications for addressing acid mine drainage. We then focus on two innovative, in situ methods for remediating sulfate-contaminated groundwater, the use of zero-valent iron and the addition of electron-donor substrates. The advantages and limitations associated with the methods are discussed, with examples of prior applications.

βig-h3 supports gastric cancer cell adhesion, migration and proliferation in peritoneal carcinomatosis

βig-h3 is an extracellular matrix protein and its expression is highly induced by transforming growth factor (TGF-β). It has also been suggested to play an important role in the growth and invasion of colon and pancreatic cancers. In the present study, we demonstrated that βig-h3 is expressed in mesothelial cells, especially in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The positive rate of βig-h3 was significantly higher in cases with a more invasive and advanced serous-type, with visible peritoneal metastasis, and in peritoneal lavage cytological examination (PLC) (+) and peritoneal lavage fluid CEA mRNA(+) subgroups (p<0.05). Our study also showed that the expression of βig-h3 gradually increased with increasing TGF-β1 concentrations in vitro in a time-dependant manner. In addition, βig-h3 also induced human gastric carcinoma cell line (SGC-7901) cell adhesion in a dose-dependent manner and significantly increased cell migration and proliferation. The results suggest that βig-h3 expression in peritoneal mesothelial cells in gastric cancer patients is a marker of the biological behavior of gastric cancer and plays an important role in the process of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

MicroRNA-335 acts as a metastasis suppressor in gastric cancer by targeting Bcl-w and specificity protein 1

Aberrant expression of miR-335 has been frequently reported in cancer studies, suggesting that there is a close correlation between miR-335 and cancer during its development, progression, metastasis and prognosis. The expression of miR-335 in gastric cancer and its effects are not known. Relative expression of miR-335 in 4 gastric cancer cell lines and in 70 gastric cancer tissues was confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR compared with controls. Transwell cell migration and Matrigel invasion assay in vitro and metastasis formation assay in vivo were used to examine the effects of miR-335 expression on gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The effect of miR-335 expression on gastric cancer cell proliferation was estimated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to examine the potential target genes and related pathways. Gene silencing with small-interfering RNA was used to examine the effects of target genes on gastric cancer cell invasion. miR-335 was dramatically downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines than in the normal gastric cell line GES-1. Low expression of miR-335 was significantly associated with lymph-node metastasis, poor pT stage, poor pN stage and invasion of lymphatic vessels. Overexpression of miR-335 suppressed gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, but has no significant effects on cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-335 might suppress gastric cancer invasion and metastasis by targeting Bcl-w and specificity protein 1 (SP1). Taken together, our results provide evidence that miR-335 might function as a metastasis suppressor in gastric cancer by targeting SP1 directly and indirectly through the Bcl-w-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt-Sp1 pathway. miR-335 showing altered expression at different stages of gastric cancer could be a target for gastric cancer therapies and could be further developed as a potential prognostic factor.

Partial cancerous changes eventually developing into superficial spreading cancer over 18 months

In this report, we describe a patient presenting with the superficial spreading type of early gastric cancer (egc) accompanied by cancerous ulcers. Disease progression and treatment outcome are discussed. After symptoms persisted for more than 1 year, the patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The patient was diagnosed with superficial spreading cancer (ssc), accompanied by an extensive iic lesions. The progression of this patient suggests that the co-occurrence of cancerous ulcers may contribute to egc development to some extent. As is known, egc often develops into advanced gastric cancer with time. However, in our case, we observed a process during which partial cancerous changes developed into ssc over 18 months. Superficial spreading cancer should be considered an egc variant, which may have the ability to spread superficially along the stomach wall without invading the muscularis propria. But we speculate that, if gene expression changes for some reason, the malignant ssc cells may acquire the ability to grow deeply into the stomach wall. Eventually, Borrmann type iv gastric cancer may develop.

REP-PCR tracking of the origin and spread of airborne Staphylococcus aureus in and around chicken house

Staphylococcus aureus was used as an indicator to study the origin and spread of microbial aerosol in and around chicken houses. Air samples indoor, upwind (10 and 50 m), and downwind (10, 50, 100, 200, and 400 m) of four chicken houses were collected using Andersen-6 stages sampler. The concentrations of S. aureus were determined for every sample site. Isolation of S. aureus from chicken feces was performed according to the standard method. The genetic relationship among the isolates was determined by profiles of PCR-amplified repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP-PCR) elements. The results showed that the concentrations of S. aureus indoor of four chicken houses were higher than those upwind and downwind sites (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but there were no significant concentration differences among downwind sites (P > 0.05). The fingerprints and the phylogenetic tree indicated that a part of the S. aureus (55.6%, 10/18) isolates from indoor air had the same REP-PCR fingerprints as feces isolates. Consequently, most isolates (57.1%, 20/35) from downwind 10, 50, 100, 200, even 400 m had the same REP-PCR fingerprints as those from indoor or feces. These data indicated that some isolates from downwind and indoor originated from the chicken feces. However, those isolates from upwind had low similarity (similarity index 0.6-0.87) to those from indoor or feces. Therefore, the isolates upwind were not from the chicken feces or indoor. These results suggest that microbes in chicken feces can be aerosolized and spread indoor and outdoor, especially to downwind of the chicken houses. It should have an important epidemiological and public health significance.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Thus, the use of S. aureus as an indicator to study the origin and spread of airborne pathogens from chicken houses is potentially useful for enhancing public health and understanding the airborne epidemiology of this pathogen. Meanwhile it can provide evidence for studying the spreading model of airborne pathogens.

Treatment and outcome of intracranial hemorrhage after carotid artery stenting. A ten year single center experience

SUMMARY

Intracranial hemorrhage following carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The present study reviewed intracranial hemorrhage cases from patients undergoing CAS in ten years to find the methods to rescue patients from this fatal complication. Patients with postoperative intracranial hemorrhage following CAS were retrospectively selected, and clinical features, treatments and outcomes were studied. Ten patients with intracranial hemorrhage were identified. The mean onset time of hemorrhage was 6.1-/+7.1h. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in eight patients and SAH in two patients. The patients were treated by stopping anti-platelet and anticoagulant for at least three days, and surgical drainage of the hematoma/ventricle drainage or conservative treatment. Six patients survived, two had left moderate paralysis, four had a good recovery at four week follow-up, and four patients died. No patients underwent thrombosis in stent after withdrawing of antiplatelet and anticoagulant. Intracranial hemorrhage after CAS occurs usually in a few hours and leads to catastrophic results. Once patients have intracranial hemorrhage, good neurocritical care may help to save them. Stopping antiplatelet and anticoagulant for at least three days may avoid thrombosis in the stenting site.