The role of uterus mitochondrial function in high-fat diet-related adverse pregnancy outcomes and protection by resveratrol

This study elucidates the mechanism of obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes and further investigates the effect of resveratrol on reproductive performance in a short- or long-term HFD-induced obese mouse model. Results show that maternal weight had a significant positive correlation with litter mortality in mice. A long-term HFD increased body weight and litter mortality with decreased expression of uterine cytochrome oxidase 4 (COX4), which was recovered by resveratrol in mice. Moreover, HFD decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factors-1 (Nrf-1), and phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) in the uterus. Resveratrol, a polyphenol that can directly bind to the ERK protein, suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, increased the expression of p-AMPK, PGC-1α and Nrf-1, and decreased litter mortality in mice.

Optimizing the indication of initial radioiodine oncolytic treatment for metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer by diagnostic 131I scan

AIM

As a classic theranostic radiopharmaceutical, radioiodine (131I) has been utilized in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) for more than 8 decades, and the refinement of its clinical practice has been raised recently. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a diagnostic (Dx) 131I scan in optimizing the indication of initial radioiodine oncolytic treatment (ROT) for metastatic DTC by predicting therapeutic outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients (Dx positive, n=29; Dx negative, n=71) were eligible for patient-based analysis. The matching rate was 83.0% between the Dx and the post-therapeutic scans (kappa = 0.648, P<0.001). The biochemical remission rate and structural shrinkage rate induced by the initial ROT in the Dx-positive group were, respectively, greater than those in the Dx-negative group (83.3% vs. 17.4%, P<0.001; 37.9% vs. 4.2%, P<0.001). Notably, the predictive values of positive Dx scans for ROT responsiveness and negative Dx scans for ROT nonresponsiveness reached up to 89.7% and 84.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This Dx scan approach seems viable in characterizing the 131I-avidity of metastatic DTC and plays a pivotal role in optimizing the indication of initial ROT for metastatic DTC.

Isoreticular Contraction of Cage-like Metal-Organic Frameworks with Optimized Pore Space for Enhanced C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/C2H4 Separations

The C2H2 separation from CO2 and C2H4 is of great importance yet highly challenging in the petrochemical industry, owing to their similar physical and chemical properties. Herein, the pore nanospace engineering of cage-like mixed-ligand MFOF-1 has been accomplished via contracting the size of the pyridine- and carboxylic acid-functionalized linkers and introducing a fluoride- and sulfate-bridging cobalt cluster, based on a reticular chemistry strategy. Compared with the prototypical MFOF-1, the constructed FJUT-1 with the same topology presents significantly improved C2H2 adsorption capacity, and selective C2H2 separation performance due to the reduced cage cavity size, functionalized pore surface, and appropriate pore volume. The introduction of fluoride- and sulfate-bridging cubane-type tetranuclear cobalt clusters bestows FJUT-1 with exceptional chemical stability under harsh conditions while providing multiple potential C2H2 binding sites, thus rendering the adequate ability for practical C2H2 separation application as confirmed by the dynamic breakthrough experiments under dry and humid conditions. Additionally, the distinct binding mechanism is suggested by theoretical calculations in which the multiple supramolecular interactions involving C-H···O, C-H···F, and other van der Waals forces play a critical role in the selective C2H2 separation.

Advances in the study of S100A9 in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of diseases that primarily affect the heart or blood vessels, with high disability and mortality rates, posing a serious threat to human health. The causative factors, pathogenesis, and characteristics of common CVD differ, but they all involve common pathological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. S100A9 belongs to the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, which are mainly secreted by myeloid cells and bind to the Toll-like receptor 4 and receptor for advanced glycation end products and is involved in regulating pathological processes such as inflammatory response, fibrosis, vascular calcification, and endothelial barrier function in CVD. The latest research has found that S100A9 is a key biomarker for diagnosing and predicting various CVD. Therefore, this article reviews the latest research progress on the diagnostic and predictive, and therapeutic value of S100A9 in inflammatory-related CVD such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and arterial aneurysm and summarizes its molecular mechanisms in the progression of CVD, aiming to explore new predictive methods and to identify potential intervention targets for CVD in clinical practice.

A time-averaged serum bicarbonate-based nomogram to predict the probability of residual kidney function preservation for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

OBJECTIVE

Residual kidney function (RKF) is an important prognostic indicator in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. So far, there are no prediction tools available for RKF, and the association between serum bicarbonate and RKF has received little attention in patients with PD. We aimed to develop a nomogram for the preservation of RKF based on the time-averaged serum bicarbonate (TA-Bic) levels.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prediction model was established by conducting a retrospective cohort study of 151 PD patients who had been treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The nomogram was developed using a multivariate Cox regression model. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the model were evaluated by the C-index, receiver operating curve (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis.

RESULTS

In the elderly PD onset, higher baseline values of residual glomerular filtration rate, total Kt/V and higher TA-Bic levels were identified as protective predictors of RKF loss. The nomogram was conducted on the basis of the minimum value of the Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion with a reasonable C-index of 0.766, showing great discrimination, proper calibration, and high potential for clinical practice. Through the total score of the nomogram, the patients were classified into the high-risk group and low-risk group, and a higher cumulative incidence of complete RRF loss was found in the high-risk group compared with the patients in the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel predictive nomogram model can predict the probability of RKF preservation in long-term PD patients with high accuracy. Future studies are needed to externally validate the current nomogram before clinical application.

Circ_ST6GAL1-mediated competing endogenous RNA network regulates TGF-β1-stimulated matrix Metalloproteinase-13 expression via Runx2 acetylation in osteoblasts

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13, a bone-remodeling gene) expression, and this effect requires p300-mediated Runx2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2) acetylation in osteoblasts. p300 and Runx2 are transcriptional coactivator and bone transcription factor, respectively, which play key roles in the regulation of bone-remodeling genes. Non-coding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs), such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), have been linked to both physiological and pathological bone states. In this study, we proposed that TGF-β1-mediated stimulation of MMP-13 expression is due to the downregulation of p300 targeting miRNAs in osteoblasts. We identified miR-130b-5p as one of the miRNAs downregulated by TGF-β1 in osteoblasts. Forced expression of miR-130b-5p decreased p300 expression, Runx2 acetylation, and MMP-13 expression in these cells. Furthermore, TGF-β1 upregulated circ_ST6GAL1, (a circular lncRNA) in osteoblasts; circRNA directly targeted miR-130b-5p. Antisense-mediated knockdown of circ_ST6GAL1 restored the function of miR-130b-5p, resulting in downregulation of p300, Runx2, and MMP-13 in these cells. Hence, our results suggest that TGF-β1 influences circ_ST6GAL1 to sponge and degrade miR-130b-5p, thereby promoting p300-mediated Runx2 acetylation for MMP-13 expression in osteoblasts. Thus, the circ_ST6GAL1/miR-130b-5p/p300 axis has potential significance in the treatment of bone and bone-related disorders.

Apoptosis Induction in HepG2 and HCT116 Cells by a Novel Quercetin-Zinc (II) Complex: Enhanced Absorption of Quercetin and Zinc (II)

Quercetin forms complexes with various metals due to its structural attributes. It predominantly exhibits chelating activity at the 3-hydroxy/4-carbonyl group. Previously, coordination in synthetically obtained quercetin-zinc (II) complexes has been limited to this group. However, the expanded coordination observed in quercetin-iron complexes has opened avenues for diverse applications. Thus, synthesizing novel quercetin-zinc complexes with different coordination positions is a significant advance. In our study, we not only synthesized and comprehensively characterized a new quercetin-zinc (II) complex, Zn-Q, but also evaluated the structure and bioactivity of chelate complexes (Q+Zn) derived from co-treatment in cell culture mediums. The structure of the new compound Zn-Q was comprehensively characterized using 1D 1H and 2D correlation spectroscopy (COSY), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) analysis. Subcellular localization and absorption of these zinc (II) complexes were determined using the ZnAF-2 DA zinc ion fluorescence probe. Throughout the experiments, both Zn-Q and Q+Zn exhibited significant antioxidant, cell growth inhibitory, and anticancer effects in HepG2 and HCT116 cells, with Zn-Q showing the highest potential for inducing apoptosis via the caspase pathway. Tracking intracellular zinc complex absorption using zinc fluorescent probes revealed zinc (II) localization around the cell nucleus. Interestingly, there was a proportional increase in intracellular quercetin absorption in conjunction with zinc (II) uptake. Our research highlights the advantages of quercetin complexation with zinc (II): enhanced anticancer efficacy compared to the parent compound and improved bioavailability of both quercetin and zinc (II). Notably, our findings, which include enhanced intracellular uptake of both quercetin and zinc (II) upon complex formation and its implications in apoptosis, contribute significantly to the understanding of metal-polyphenol complexes. Moving forward, comprehensive functional assessments and insights into its mechanism of action, supported by animal studies, are anticipated.

Effects of lysolecithins on performance, egg quality, blood profiles and liver histopathology in late-phase laying hens

1. This study investigated the effects of lysolecithins (LL) on performance, egg quality, blood profiles, relative organ weight and liver histopathology in laying hens.2. A total of 480 healthy 65-week-old Lohmann laying hens were randomly allocated into four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement design with two levels of energy (AMEn, 11.08 MJ/kg and 12.94 MJ/kg) and two levels of LL (0 and 0.05%).3. Birds fed high energy diets had lower (P < 0.05) average daily intake and feed conversion rate during weeks 0-4, 5-8 and 0-8, but higher (P < 0.05) average egg weight (AEW) during trial weeks 0-4. There was an interaction in (P < 0.05) AEW during trial weeks 0-14 and 0-8 for energy and LL. The high energy diets increased yolk colour at the end of weeks 2 and 4, while addition of LL increased albumen height at the end of week 2. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) in yolk colour between energy and LL at the end of week 2. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) in serum superoxide dismutase and LDL-C throughout the experiment.4. The high energy diets increased (P < 0.05) the relative weight of abdominal fat compared with low energy diets. The high energy diets increased (P < 0.05) liver ether extract content and liver pathological injury score compared with low energy diets at the end of week 8, while the addition of LL decreased (P < 0.05) liver pathological injury score.5. The supplementation of LL in high energy diets could alleviate some negative effects on liver injury in late laying hens.

Effects of main active components of rosemary on growth performance, meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs

Rosemary extracts have been widely used as feed additives in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and ursolic acid (UA), the main active components of rosemary, on growth performance, meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs. A total of 72 finishing pigs (Landrace; initial age of 150 d) were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 3 pigs each, and fed a basal diet or diet containing 500 mg/kg of RA or UA. The results showed that dietary supplementation of RA or UA had no significant effect on the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs (P > 0.05). However, both RA and UA significantly increased the triglyceride (TG) level in soleus muscle (P < 0.001). Supplementation of RA increased the expression of genes related to lipogenesis and transport including fatty acid synthase (FAS) (P < 0.001), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c) (P < 0.001) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (P < 0.05), while UA increased the expression of fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), a gene related to lipid uptake (P < 0.05). However, RA reduced the expression of adipogenesis-related gene acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase α (ACCα) (P < 0.01). Characterization of cecal microbiota indicated that RA increased the microbial richness (chao 1, P < 0.001) and diversity (observed species, P < 0.01). Further analysis of the genera revealed that RA increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and g-UCG-005 (P < 0.05), and UA enriched Prevotella (P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that g-UCG-005 was positively correlated with the expression of FAS, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B (CPT1B), SREBP1c and PPARγ (P < 0.01). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RA or UA may increase fat deposition in muscle of finishing pigs by regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.

Preclinical long-term safety of intraspinal transplantation of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons have shown promise in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously showed that hPSC-derived dorsal spinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons can alleviate spasticity and promote locomotion in rats with SCI, but their long-term safety remains elusive. Here, we characterized the long-term fate and safety of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in naive rats over one year. All grafted NPCs had undergone differentiation, yielding mainly neurons and astrocytes. Fully mature human neurons grew many axons and formed numerous synapses with rat neural circuits, together with mature human astrocytes that structurally integrated into the rat spinal cord. The sensorimotor function of rats was not impaired by intraspinal transplantation, even when human neurons were activated or inhibited by designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). These findings represent a significant step toward the clinical translation of human spinal neuron transplantation for treating SCI.

[Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of imported malaria in China]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemic status of imported malaria and national malaria control program in China, so as to provide insights into post-elimination malaria surveillance.

METHODS

All data pertaining to imported malaria cases were collected from Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2021. The number of malaria cases, species of malaria parasites, country where malaria parasite were infected, diagnosis and treatment after returning to China, and response were compared before (from January 1, 2018 to January 22, 2020) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 23, 2020 to December 31, 2021).

RESULTS

A total of 2 054 imported malaria cases were reported in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, and there were 1 722 cases and 332 cases reported before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. All cases were reported within one day after definitive diagnosis. The annual mean number of reported malaria cases reduced by 79.30% in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after the COVID-19 pandemic (171 cases) than before the pandemic (826 cases), and the number of monthly reported malaria cases significantly reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since February 2020. There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of species of malaria parasites among the imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 146.70, P < 0.05), and P. falciparum malaria was predominant before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.30%), while P. ovale malaria (44.28%) was predominant after the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by P. falciparum malaria (37.65%). There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of country where malaria parasites were infected among imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 13.83, P < 0.05), and the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in western Africa reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (44.13% vs. 37.95%; χ2 = 4.34, P < 0.05), while the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in eastern Africa increased after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (9.58% vs. 15.36%; χ2 = 9.88, P = 0.02). The proportion of completing case investigation within 3 days was significantly lower after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (96.69% vs. 98.32%; χ2= 3.87, P < 0.05), while the proportion of finishing foci investigation and response within 7 days was significantly higher after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (100.00% vs. 98.43%; χ2 = 3.95, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of imported malaria cases remarkably reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decreased proportion of completing case investigations within 3 days. The sensitivity of the malaria surveillance-response system requires to be improved to prevent the risk of secondary transmission of malaria due to the sharp increase in the number of imported malaria cases following the change of the COVID-19 containment policy.

Phase II Multi-Institutional Study of a Low-Dose (4 Gy) Palliative Response-Adapted Radiotherapy Regimen for Symptomatic Bone Metastases from Multiple Myeloma: Planned Interim Analysis of First 40 Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Painful bone lesions are common in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Radiotherapy (RT) is effective in providing pain relief from MM bone lesions in over 80% of patients. There is no consensus as to the most effective dose or fractionation for palliation. Shorter courses of therapy are not only more convenient for patients, but they also have less impact on timing of systemic therapies. There is precedent for using 4 Gy in the palliation of lymphomas, which have similar radiosensitivity to myeloma. The primary objective of this trial is to determine whether treatment with a total dose of 4 Gy to a painful myeloma bone lesion achieves patient-reported pain reduction comparable to historical controls at 4 weeks.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with a known diagnosis of MM and a painful bone lesion that was not at the base of skull, in need of stabilization, or causing cord compression were treated with 4 Gy (2 Gy x 2 or 4 Gy x 1). Patients' pain was measured using the brief pain index (BPI) prior to treatment and at 2, 4, 8 weeks and 6 months following treatment. Pain response was determined by the international consensus on palliative radiotherapy and considered change in BPI and oral morphine equivalent dose (OMED). A planned interim analysis for futility was completed after 40 patients. Reirradiation with clinician choice regimens could be considered at ≥4 weeks following initial treatment for indeterminate pain response or pain progression.

RESULTS

Forty patients were treated at 6 institutions between 2019 and 2022. Median age was 65 years with 40% women and 88% with an ECOG of 0-1. A complete response (CR) was defined as a BPI score of 0 with no concomitant increase in OMED. A partial response (PR) was defined as BPI reduction in 2 or more without analgesic increase, or an OMED reduction of 25% or more without an increase in pain. An indeterminate response (IR) was any response that is not captured by a CR, PR or pain progression. A CR was achieved in 48%, a PR in 38% of patients, an IR in 13% with 1 patient who refused participation. Pain response was achieved in 86% of patients. Seven patients (18%) requested reirradiation at ≥4 weeks. Median BPI at baseline and 4 weeks after RT for patients with CR, PR, and IR were 3.75 and 0, 4.00 and 1, and 5.25 and 4.75, respectively. Median change of BPI between baseline and 4 weeks after RT for all responders (CR and PR) was -3.25. The median PTV volume (cc) for patients with CR, PR and IR were 81, 140 and 226, respectively. Based on these results, the futility threshold was not met, and the recommendation by the DSMC is to continue the trial.

CONCLUSION

In the first 40 patients who received 4 Gy palliation for painful bone lesions from multiple myeloma, there were 86% that had a pain response (48% CR, 38% PR). This low dose, response-adapted treatment, led to reirradiation in less than 20% of patients.

[Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia infection in common mosquito species in Henan Province]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the infection and genotypes of Wolbachia in common mosquito species in Henan Province, so as to provide insights into management of mosquito-borne diseases.

METHODS

Aedes, Culex and Anopheles samples were collected from cowsheds, sheepfolds and human houses in Puyang, Nanyang City and Xuchang cities of Henan Province from July to September, 2022, and the infection of Wolbachia was detected. The 16S rDNA and wsp genes of Wolbachia were amplified and sequenced. Sequence alignment was performed using the BLAST software, and the obtained 16S rDNA gene sequence was compared with the sequence of the 16S rDNA gene in GenBank database. In addition, the phylogenetic trees were created based on 16S rDNA and wsp gene sequences using the software MEGA 11.0.

RESULTS

A total 506 female adult mosquitoes were collected from three sampling sites in Nanyang, Xuchang City and Puyang cities from July to September, 2022. The overall detection of Wolbachia was 45.1% (228/506) in mosquitoes, with a higher detection rate in A. albopictus than in Cx. pipiens pallens [97.9% (143/146) vs. 50.6% (85/168); χ2 = 88.064, P < 0.01]. The detection of Wolbachia in Cx. pipiens pallens was higher in Xuchang City (96.8%, 62/64) than in Nanyang (15.6%, 7/45) and Puyang cities (27.1%, 16/59) (χ2 = 89.950, P < 0.01). The homologies of obtained Wolbachia 16S rDNA and wsp gene sequences were 95.3% to 100.0% and 81.7% to 99.8%. Phylogenetic analysis based on wsp gene sequences showed Wolbachia supergroups A and B in mosquito samples, with wAlbA and wMors strains in supergroup A and wPip and wAlbB strains in supergroup B. Wolbachia strain wAlbB infection was detected in A. albopictus in Puyang and Nanyang Cities, while Wolbachia strain wPip infection was identified in A. albopictus in Xuchang City. Wolbachia strain wAlbA infection was detected in Cx. pipiens pallens sampled from three cities, and one Cx. pipiens pallens was found to be infected with Wolbachia strain wMors in Nanyang City.

CONCLUSIONS

Wolbachia infection is commonly prevalent in Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens pallens from Henan Province, and Wolbachia strains wAlbB and wAlbA are predominant in Ae. albopictus, while wPip strain is predominant in Cx. pipiens pallens. This is the first report to present Wolbachia wMors strain infection in Cx. pipiens pallens in Henan Province.

Detecting and characterizing special nuclear material for nuclear nonproliferation applications

There is an urgent need for new, better instrumentation and techniques for detecting and characterizing special nuclear material (SNM), i.e., highly enriched uranium and plutonium. The development of improved instruments and techniques requires experiments performed with the SNM itself, which is of limited availability. This paper describes the findings of experiments performed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center conducted using new instruments and techniques on unclassified, kg-quantity SNM objects. These experiments, performed in the framework of the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification, focused on detecting, characterizing, and localizing SNM samples with masses ranging from 3.3 to 13.8 kg, including plutonium and highly enriched uranium using prototype detectors and techniques. The work demonstrates SNM detection and characterization using recently-developed prototype detection systems. Specifically, we present new results in passive detection and imaging of plutonium and uranium objects using gamma-ray and dual particle (fast neutron and gamma-ray) imaging. We also present a new analysis of the delayed neutron emissions during active interrogation of uranium using a neutron generator.

[Biosynthesis of natural products by non-conventional yeasts]

Non-conventional yeasts such as Yarrowia lipolytica, Pichia pastoris, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Rhodosporidium toruloides and Hansenula polymorpha have proven to be efficient cell factories in producing a variety of natural products due to their wide substrate utilization spectrum, strong tolerance to environmental stresses and other merits. With the development of synthetic biology and gene editing technology, metabolic engineering tools and strategies for non-conventional yeasts are expanding. This review introduces the physiological characteristics, tool development and current application of several representative non-conventional yeasts, and summarizes the metabolic engineering strategies commonly used in the improvement of natural products biosynthesis. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of non-conventional yeasts as natural products cell factories at current stage, and prospects future research and development trends.

A Robust Squarate-Cobalt Metal-Organic Framework for CO2/N2 Separation

The separation of CO₂ from the industrial post-combustion flue gas is of great importance to reduce the increasingly serious greenhouse effect, yet highly challenging due to the extremely high stability, low cost, and high separation performance requirements for adsorbents under the practical operating conditions. Herein, we report a robust squarate-cobalt metal-organic framework (MOF), FJUT-3, featuring an ultra-small 1D square channel decorated with -OH groups, for CO₂/N₂ separation. Remarkably, FJUT-3 not only has excellent stability under harsh chemical conditions but also presents low-cost property for scale-up synthesis. Moreover, FJUT-3 shows excellent CO₂ separation performance under various humid and temperature conditions confirmed by the transient breakthrough experiments, thus enabling FJUT-3 with adequate potentials for industrial CO₂ capture and removal. The distinct CO₂ adsorption mechanism is well elucidated by theoretical calculations, in which the hierarchical C···O_CO2, C-O···C_CO2, and O-H···O_CO2 interactions play a vital synergistic role in the selective CO₂ adsorption process.

Optimized Pore Nanospace through the Construction of a Cagelike Metal-Organic Framework for CO2/N2 Separation

The development of metal-organic framework (MOF) adsorbents with a potential molecule sieving effect for CO₂ capture and separation from flue gas is of critical importance for reducing the CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere yet challenging. Herein, a cagelike MOF with a suitable cage window size falling between CO₂ and N₂ and the cavity has been constructed to evaluate its CO₂/N₂ separation performance. It is noteworthy that the introduction of coordinated dimethylamine (DMA) and N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) molecules not only significantly reduces the cage window size but also enhances the framework-CO₂ interaction via C-H···O hydrogen bonds, as proven by molecular modeling, thus leading to an improved CO₂ separation performance. Moreover, transient breakthrough experiments corroborate the efficient CO₂/N₂ separation, revealing that the introduction of DMA and DMF molecules plays a vital role in the separation of a CO₂/N₂ gas mixture.

Molecular cloning, expression analysis and functional characterization of chicken cytochrome P450 27A1: A novel mitochondrial vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase

Vitamin D₃ is hydroxylated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) before exerting biological effects. The chicken CYP involved in vitamin D₃ 25-hydroxylation has yet to be cloned, and little is known about its functional characteristics, tissue distribution, and cellular expression. We identified a novel, full-length CYP27A1 gene cloned from chicken hepatocyte cDNA that encodes a putative protein of 518 amino acids. Swiss modeling revealed that chicken CYP27A1 has a classic open-fold form. Multisequence homology alignment determined that CYP27A1 contains conserved motifs for substrate recognition and binding. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis in 2-mo-old Partridge Shank broilers demonstrated that CYP27A1 mRNA levels were highest in the liver, followed by the thigh muscles, the breast muscles, and kidneys. The transcripts of CYP27A1 in breast muscles were significantly higher in males than in females. A subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that CYP27A1 was mainly expressed in the mitochondria. In vitro enzyme assays suggested that recombinant CYP27A1 hydroxylates vitamin D₃ at the C-25 position to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃). The K_m and V_max values for CYP27A1-dependent vitamin D₃ 25-hydroxylation were estimated to be 4.929 μM and 0.389 mol min^-1 mg^-1 protein, respectively. In summary, these results suggest that CYP27A1 encodes a mitochondrial CYP that plays an important physiologic role in the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D₃ in chickens, providing novel insights into vitamin D₃ metabolism in this species.

[Fibroblasts overpressing WNT2b cause impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism by which fibroblasts with high WNT2b expression causes intestinal mucosa barrier disruption and promote the progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

Caco-2 cells were treated with 20% fibroblast conditioned medium or co-cultured with fibroblasts highly expressing WNT2b, with the cells without treatment with the conditioned medium and cells co-cultured with wild-type fibroblasts as the control groups. The changes in barrier permeability of Caco-2 cells were assessed by measuring transmembrane resistance and Lucifer Yellow permeability. In Caco-2 cells co-cultured with WNT2b-overexpressing or control intestinal fibroblasts, nuclear entry of β-catenin was detected with immunofluorescence assay, and the expressions of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and E-cadherin were detected with Western blotting. In a C57 mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD-like enteritis, the therapeutic effect of intraperitoneal injection of salinomycin (5 mg/kg, an inhibitor of WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway) was evaluated by observing the changes in intestinal inflammation and detecting the expressions of tight junction proteins.

RESULTS

In the coculture system, WNT2b overexpression in the fibroblasts significantly promoted nuclear entry of β-catenin (P < 0.01) and decreased the expressions of tight junction proteins in Caco-2 cells; knockdown of FZD4 expression in Caco-2 cells obviously reversed this effect. In DSS-treated mice, salinomycin treatment significantly reduced intestinal inflammation and increased the expressions of tight junction proteins in the intestinal mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal fibroblasts overexpressing WNT2b causes impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function and can be a potential target for treatment of IBD.

Uniaxial cyclic stretch enhances osteogenic differentiation of OPLL-derived primary cells via YAP-Wnt/β-catenin axis

The pathogenesis of posterior longitudinal ligament ossification (OPLL) remains inadequately understood. Mechanical stimulation is one of the important pathogenic factors in OPLL. As one of the mechanical stimulation transduction signals, the yes-associated protein (YAP) interacts with the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, which plays an important role in osteogenic differentiation. This study aimed to demonstrate the role of YAP-Wnt/β-catenin axis in cell differentiation induced by mechanical stress. Primary cells extracted from posterior longitudinal ligament tissues from OPLL or non-OPLL patients were subjected to sinusoidal uniaxial cyclic stretch (5 %, 0.5 Hz, 3 d). The expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, collagen I, osterix, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were compared between the static and the experimental groups. In addition, the cytoskeleton was detected using phalloidin staining while YAP phosphorylation states and nuclear location were identified using immunofluorescence. The results showed that mechanical stretching loading increased the expression of osteogenic genes and proteins in the OPLL group, while it had no significant effect on the control group. When OPLL cells were stretched, YAP exhibited an obvious nuclear translocation and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated. Knocking down YAP or β-catenin could weaken the impact upon osteogenic differentiation induced by mechanical stimulation. YAP-mediated mechanical stimulation promoted osteogenic differentiation of OPLL cells through Wnt/β-catenin pathway and this progress was independent of the Hippo pathway.

Automated Student Classroom Behaviors' Perception and Identification Using Motion Sensors

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, the exploration and application in the field of intelligent education has become a research hotspot of increasing concern. In the actual classroom scenarios, students' classroom behavior is an important factor that directly affects their learning performance. Specifically, students with poor self-management abilities, particularly specific developmental disorders, may face educational and academic difficulties owing to physical or psychological factors. Therefore, the intelligent perception and identification of school-aged children's classroom behaviors are extremely valuable and significant. The traditional method for identifying students' classroom behavior relies on statistical surveys conducted by teachers, which incurs problems such as being time-consuming, labor-intensive, privacy-violating, and an inaccurate manual intervention. To address the above-mentioned issues, we constructed a motion sensor-based intelligent system to realize the perception and identification of classroom behavior in the current study. For the acquired sensor signal, we proposed a Voting-Based Dynamic Time Warping algorithm (VB-DTW) in which a voting mechanism is used to compare the similarities between adjacent clips and extract valid action segments. Subsequent experiments have verified that effective signal segments can help improve the accuracy of behavior identification. Furthermore, upon combining with the classroom motion data acquisition system, through the powerful feature extraction ability of the deep learning algorithms, the effectiveness and feasibility are verified from the perspectives of the dimensional signal characteristics and time series separately so as to realize the accurate, non-invasive and intelligent children's behavior detection. To verify the feasibility of the proposed method, a self-constructed dataset (SCB-13) was collected. Thirteen participants were invited to perform 14 common class behaviors, wearing motion sensors whose data were recorded by a program. In SCB-13, the proposed method achieved 100% identification accuracy. Based on the proposed algorithms, it is possible to provide immediate feedback on students' classroom performance and help them improve their learning performance while providing an essential reference basis and data support for constructing an intelligent digital education platform.

Inhibition of Th17 cells by donepezil ameliorates experimental lung fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension

Rationale: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to lung fibrosis belongs to WHO Group III, one of the most common subgroups of PH; however, it lacks effective treatment options. Cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (DON) has been shown to effectively improve Group I PH. However, its effects on Group III PH are unknown. Methods: A lung fibrosis-induced PH mouse model was constructed using a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM), after which DON was administered daily. Pulmonary artery and right ventricle (RV) remodeling were evaluated at the end of the study. Lung tissue in each group was analyzed using RNA sequencing, and the results were further verified with datasets from patients with PH. The mechanisms underlying DON-induced effects on PH were verified both in vivo and in vitro. Results: DON effectively improved pulmonary artery and RV remodeling in the BLM-induced mouse model. Transcriptomic profiles of lung tissue indicated that the expression of inflammatory and fibrotic genes was significantly changed in this process. In the animal model and patients with PH, T helper 17 lymphocytes (Th17) were the most common inflammatory cells infiltrating the lung tissue. DON significantly inhibited lung fibroblast activation; thus, preventing lung fibrosis and reducing the inflammatory response and Th17 cell infiltration in the BLM-induced lung tissue. In addition, Th17 cells could activate lung fibroblasts by secreting IL17A, and DON-mediated inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation was found to depend on the α7nAchR-JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Conclusion: DON can alleviate lung fibrosis and PH in an experimental mouse model. It inhibited pro-inflammatory Th17 cell differentiation, which is dependent on a cholinergic receptor pathway, thereby regulating fibroblast activation.

The J-shape Association between Total Bilirubin and Stroke in Older Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES

To explore the relationship between total bilirubin (TBil) and stroke risk in older patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

A total of 1,007 patients with OSAS without stroke history aged ≥ 60 years and with complete serum TBil records were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up was 42 months. Participants were divided into four groups based on the quartile of the baseline serum TBil concentration. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to investigate the association of TBil with the incidence of new-onset stroke.

RESULTS

The PRIMARY part: the third quantile TBil level group had the lowest prevalence of stroke among the four groups. The RCS functions depicted a J-type curve relationship between TBil (3.3-33.3 µmol/L) and stroke (nonlinear P < 0.05). When the TBil level was in the range of 3.3 to 11.5 µmol/L, the possible protective influence of bilirubin against stroke in patients with OSAS enhanced with an increasing TBil level. However, when the TBil level exceeded 11.5 µmol/L and gradually increased, the effect of TBil on stroke risk became more and more pronounced. The SECONDARY part: for every 1 µmol/L increase in TBil levels in the range of 11.5 to 33.3 µmol/L, the risk of stroke in patients with OSAS increased by 16.2% (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a higher risk in women with OSAS (hazard ratio (HR)=1.292, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.093-1.528; P = 0.003). Moreover, an increased TBil level alone was significantly associated with stroke in subjects aged < 75 years (HR: 1.190, 95%CI: 1.069-1.324), patients with mild-to-moderate OSAS (HR: 1.215, 95%CI: 1.083-1.364), and individuals without atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR: 1.179, 95%CI: 1.083-1.285) within a TBil level in the range of 11.5 to 33.3 µmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Both lower and higher bilirubin levels may increase the risk of stroke in older persons with OSAS, and there was a J-type dose-response relationship. The risk of stroke was lowest when the TBil level was approximately 11.5 µmol/L.

Protection against Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease by Protocatechuic Acid

Gut microbiota-diet interaction has been identified as a key factor of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Recent studies suggested that dietary polyphenols may protect against MAFLD by regulating gut microbiota; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We first investigated the effects of cyanidin 3-glucoside and its phenolic metabolites on high-fat diet induced MAFLD in C57BL/6J mice, and protocatechuic acid (PCA) showed a significant positive effect. Next, regulation of PCA on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota were explored by MAFLD mouse model and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment. Dietary PCA reduced intraperitoneal and hepatic fat deposition with lower levels of transaminases (AST & ALT) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α & MCP-1), but higher HDL-c/LDL-c ratio. Characterization of gut microbiota indicated that PCA decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio mainly by reducing the relative abundance of genus Enterococcus, which was positively correlated with the levels of LDL-c, AST, ALT and most of the up-regulated hepatic lipids by lipidomics analysis. FMT experiments showed that Enterococcus faecalis caused hepatic inflammation, fat deposition and insulin resistance with decreased expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha (CPT1α), which can be reversed by PCA through inhibiting Enterococcus faecalis. Transcriptomics analysis suggested that Enterococcus faecalis caused a significant decrease in the expression of fibroblast growth factor 1 (Fgf1), and PCA recovered the expression of Fgf1 with insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (Igfbp2), insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs1) and insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2). These results demonstrated that high proportion of gut Enterococcus faecalis accelerates MAFLD with decreased expression of CPT1α and Fgf1, which can be prevented by dietary supplementation of PCA.

Portable diagnostic package for Thomson scattering and optical emission spectroscopy on Princeton field-reversed configuration 2 (PFRC 2)

An Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy funded diagnostic system has been deployed to the Princeton field-reversed configuration 2 (PFRC-2) device, located at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The Portable Diagnostic Package (PDP), designed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, allows for the measurement of Thomson Scattering (TS) for electron density and temperature and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) for ion temperature, impurity density, and ion velocity. A tunable spectrometer on the PDP with three gratings provides the flexibility to measure low (1 eV) and high (1000 eV) electron temperature ranges from TS. Additionally, using a second spectrometer, the OES diagnostic can survey light emission from various ion excitation levels for wide wavelength ranges. The electron density (<2 × 10¹⁹ m^-3) of plasmas generated in PFRC-2 has been below the PDP TS discrimination threshold, which has made TS signal detection challenging against a high-background of laser stray light. The laser stray light was iteratively reduced by making modifications to the entrance and exit geometry on PFRC-2. Rayleigh scattering experiments on PFRC have yielded the TS discrimination sensitivity to be >1 × 10²⁰ m^-3 for the PDP. A recently implemented narrow-band notch spectral filter that masks the second harmonic 532 nm Nd:YAG laser wavelength has increased the system's TS light discrimination sensitivity 65 times compared to the instance when the notch filter was not implemented. The hardware implementation including design changes to the flight tubes and Brewster windows will be discussed, along with results from Rayleigh and rotational Raman scattering sensitivity analyses, which were used to establish a quantitative figure of merit on the system performance. The Raman scattering calibration with the notch filter has improved the PDP electron density threshold to 1 ± 0.5 × 10¹⁸ m^-3.

Implementation of a portable diagnostic system for Thomson scattering measurements on an electrothermal arc source

To fulfill the increasing needs of diagnostic support for researchers in plasma technology, a portable diagnostic package (PDP) equipped for both laser Thomson scattering (TS) and optical emission spectroscopy has been designed and constructed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), aiming to measure the temperature and number density of electrons and temperatures of ions in plasma devices. The PDP has been initially implemented on a high density and low temperature electrothermal arc source (ET-arc) at ORNL to test its TS capability. TS from the plasmas in the ET-arc has been obtained using the PDP. The electron temperature and number density were determined from TS spectra. These results were then compared to measurements from previous studies on the ET-arc. The TS diagnostic measured 0.8 ± 0.1, 1.3 ± 0.2, and 0.7 ± 0.1 eV and (4.4 ± 0.5) × 10²¹, (5.9 ± 0.7) × 10²¹, and (4.3 ± 0.5) x 10²¹ m^-3, respectively, from three lines of sight that transect the plasma column.

Advances in the use of nanomaterials for nucleic acid detection in point-of-care testing devices: A review

The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has heightened awareness of the importance of quick and easy testing. The convenience, speed, and timely results from point-of-care testing (POCT) in all vitro diagnostic devices has drawn the strong interest of researchers. However, there are still many challenges in the development of POCT devices, such as the pretreatment of samples, detection sensitivity, specificity, and so on. It is anticipated that the unique properties of nanomaterials, e.g., their magnetic, optical, thermal, and electrically conductive features, will address the deficiencies that currently exist in POCT devices. In this review, we mainly analyze the work processes of POCT devices, especially in nucleic acid detection, and summarize how novel nanomaterials used in various aspects of POCT products can improve performance, with the ultimate aims of offering new ideas for the application of nanomaterials and the overall development of POCT devices.

P11.75.B Survival benefit of radiotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer brain metastases with poor prognosis factors

Background

Radiotherapy and surgery are the standard treatments for lung cancer brain metastases (BMs). However, limitted studies focused on the treatments for patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors, providing reference for clinical strategies.

Material and Methods

We analyzed retrospectively 714 patients with lung cancer BMs. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance potential confounders. Analyses of overall survival (OS) and risk factors for OS were assessed by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

Age ≥65 years, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score ≤70, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase (ALK)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild type, extracranial metastases, non-surgery and non-radiotherapy led to poor prognosis. Patients were stratified according to these factors. Radiotherapy and surgery showed no survival benefit in patients with aged ≥65 years or pretreatment KPS score ≤70 before and after PSM. Before PSM, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or extracranial metastases. WBRT also predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with extracranial metastases or non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS also predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type. Surgery improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-radiotherapy. After PSM, SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery or extracranial metastases. WBRT plus SRS also predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type. Surgery improved the OS of patients with non-radiotherapy. We defined that the treatment would provide significant survival benefit if it both prolonged the OS and predicted good prognosis. Meanwhile, the results after PSM were more convincing than the results before PSM.

Conclusion

Radiotherapy has significant survival benefit in patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors, including patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or extracranial metastases or non-surgery. Surgery only has significant survival benefit in patients with non-radiotherapy.

Development of a high specificity typing method for the detection of herpes simplex virus

Herpes disease is caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV). It has become one of the global health problems. This paper reports a method for HSV type testing. First specific primers sequence for HSV-1 and HSV-2 were selected, designed, and synthesized. Then, these amplification products were proved by sequencing and analysis. Lastly, we optimized the reaction system and PCR reaction program by orthogonal design and sensitivity testing. Results showed that the lowest concentration in HSV-type testing is about 6.67 × 10⁶ copies/ml. Moreover, the specificity of detection was very high. So, this method has very great potentials for HSV type testing in clinical practice.

Selective effects of perinatal estrogen on proliferation and new neurons in hippocampus and piriform cortex of rats at weaning

BACKGROUND

A recent report links heightened prenatal amniotic estrogen levels to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we examined the developmental effects of perinatal estrogen treatment on stem cell activity in weaned rats.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats received ethinyl estradiol (EE2, 10µg/kg/day) or vehicle orally from gestational day 6 until parturition. Offspring were then treated with the same daily dose from postnatal days (PNDs) 1-21. The effects of perinatal estrogen treatment on stem cell activities in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus and the piriform cortex were evaluated in male and female rat pups.

RESULTS

EE₂ treatment increased the total Ki67-immunoreactive (Ki67-ir) cell counts in the SGZ of males and females (p<0.05). However, no treatment or sex differences were detectable in the density of the doublecortin (DCX)-immunoreactive (DCX-ir) deposits in the hippocampus. In the piriform cortex, no treatment or sex differences were detected in Ki67-ir cell counts. However, the EE₂ treatment significantly reduced the DCX-ir cell count in male, but not female rats (male EE₂ group=29₂±22/mm², male vehicle group=402±19/mm², female EE² group=34₂±15/mm², female vehicle group=331±9/mm²).

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal estrogen treatment increased hippocampal Ki67-ir cell counts in both sexes and selectively reduced DCX-ir cell counts in the piriform cortex of males. These data suggest that exposure to abnormally high levels of estrogens early in life may have an impact on neural cell development. Alterations in development so early in life may have long-term cognitive impact.

Physical Exercise Modalities for the Management of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT

Different physical exercise modalities have been widely studied in patients having heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) but with variably reported findings. We, therefore, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether the efficacy of physical activity in the management of HFpEF is related to exercise modalities. PubMed and Embase were searched up to July 2021. The eligible studies included randomized controlled trials that identified effects of physical exercise on patients with HFpEF. Sixteen studies were included to evaluate the efficiency of physical exercise in HFpEF. A pooled analysis showed that exercise training significantly improved peak oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilatory anaerobic threshold, distance covered in the 6-minute walking test, the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow to annular velocities, the Short Form 36 physical component score, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire total score. However, the changes in other echocardiographic parameters including the ratio of peak early to late diastolic mitral inflow velocities, early diastolic mitral annular velocity, and left atrial volume index were not significant. Both high-intensity and moderate-intensity training significantly improved exercise capacity (as defined by peak VO2), with moderate-intensity exercise having a superior effect. Furthermore, exercise-induced improvement in peak VO2 was partially correlated with exercise duration. Physical exercise could substantially improve exercise capacity, quality of life, and some indicators of cardiac diastolic function in patients with HFpEF. A protocol of moderate-intensity exercise training lasting a longer duration might be more beneficial compared with high-intensity training for patients with HFpEF.

[The efficacy and prognostic factors of immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with different driver gene mutations]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and prognostic factors of immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different driver gene mutations. Methods: Medical records of advanced NSCLC patients who harbored driver gene mutations (EGFR, KRAS, ALK and etc.) and received PD-1 inhibitors in Henan Cancer Hospital from April 2016 to May 2021 were collected. Treatment patterns, progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors of patients with driver gene mutations were estimated. Results: A total of 120 patients were included. There were 70 males and 50 females, with a median age [M(Q₁,Q₃)] of 57 (50, 65) years. Of these, 52 patients harbored KRAS mutations, 42 patients harbored EGFR mutations, 16 patients harbored ERBB2 mutations, 5 patients harbored MET mutations or amplifications, 5 patients harbored ROS-1 mutations, 2 patients harbored BRAF mutations, and the last 2 patients harbored ALK and RET mutations, respectively. The PFS and OS [M (95%CI)] were 6.4 (5.1-7.8) and 31.2 (22.0-40.3) months in 120 participated patients. Patients with KRAS mutations showed the greatest survival benefit from Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with the PFS of 9.7 (4.8-14.6) months and OS of 31.2 (19.4-50.6) months. They mostly received the first-line (34.6%, 18/52) and second-line (38.5%, 20/52) ICIs. The PFS and OS of EGFR mutant patients were 3.9 (1.8-6.1) months and 18.0 (12.1-23.8) months, respectively. They tended to receive ICIs after resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and the proportion of second-, third-, fourth or further-line drugs was 38.1% (16/42), 11.9% (5/42), and 47.6% (20/42), respectively. PD-L1 expression level (negative vs ≥50% positive: HR=3.710, 95%CI: 1.372-10.031, P=0.010; 1%-49% positive vs ≥50% positive: HR=2.738, 95%CI: 0.841-8.912, P=0.094), age (every additional year: HR=0.957, 95%CI: 0.933-0.982, P=0.001) and different driver mutations status (EGFR vs KRAS: HR=2.676, 95%CI: 1.317-5.436, P=0.006; ERBB2 vs KRAS: HR=3.411, 95%CI: 1.493-7.792, P=0.004; other mutations vs KRAS: HR=0.727, 95%CI: 0.322-1.643, P=0.444) were prognostic factors for PFS. While PD-L1 expression level (negative vs ≥50% positive: HR=2.305, 95%CI: 0.748-7.103, P=0.146; 1%-49% positive vs ≥50% positive: HR=1.286, 95%CI: 0.337-4.913, P=0.713), and treatment lines of ICIs (first-line vs ≥ third-line: HR=0.322, 95%CI: 0.114-0.914, P=0.033; second-line vs ≥ third-line: HR=0.375, 95%CI: 0.178-0.789, P=0.010) were prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: KRAS mutant NSCLC patients mostly receive ICIs at the front line, and have best survival benefits from immunotherapy. While EGFR mutant NSCLC patients tend to receive ICIs at the back line, and obtain reasonable survival benefits. PD-L1 expression level, age, and different driver mutations status are prognostic factors for PFS, and PD-L1 expression level and treatment lines of ICIs are prognostic factors for OS.

Involvement of AMP-activated Protein Kinase α/Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-derived 2) Like 2-iniatived Signaling Pathway in Cytoprotective Effects of Wasabi 6-(Methylsulfinyl) Hexyl Isothiocyanate

6-(Methylsulfinyl) hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) is an active ingredient present in Wasabi, which is a popular pungent spice used in Japanese cuisine. Our previous studies suggested that the primary antioxidant activity of 6-MSITC may link to other biological activity. This study aimed to clarify how the antioxidant activity of 6-MSITC contributes to preventing overloaded lipid stress in hepatic cell model. HepG2 cells were treated with 6-MSITC at defined concentrations and times in normal medium or in combined fatty acids (CFA) medium, and the targeted proteins were detected by Western blotting. The kinetic data revealed that 6-MSITC activated AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2) like 2 (Nrf2), and then enhanced the protein expression of Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) and Sirtuin1 as well as that of the Nrf2 target proteins, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase (HO-1). Furthermore, lipid metabolic stress was mimicked in HepG2 cells by overloading CFA. 6-MSITC significantly alleviated CFA-induced formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and fat accumulation. Signaling analysis data revealed that 6-MSITC enhanced phosphorylation of AMPKα, upregulated the expression of Nrf2, NQO1, heme oxygenase 1, FOXO1, and Siruin1, and downregulated the expression of PPARα. Taken together, our results suggested that the AMPKα/Nrf2-mediated signaling pathways might be involved in the cytoprotective effects of Wasabi 6-MSITC against metabolic lipid stress.

Does Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Lead to Alzheimer's Disease in Young Wild-Type Mice?

Chronic sleep insufficiency is becoming a common issue in the young population nowadays, mostly due to life habits and work stress. Studies in animal models of neurological diseases reported that it would accelerate neurodegeneration progression and exacerbate interstitial metabolic waste accumulation in the brain. In this paper, we study whether chronic sleep insufficiency leads to neurodegenerative diseases in young wild-type animals without a genetic pre-disposition. To this aim, we modeled chronic sleep fragmentation (SF) in young wild-type mice. We detected pathological hyperphosphorylated-tau (Ser396/Tau5) and gliosis in the SF hippocampus. ¹⁸F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan (¹⁸F-FDG-PET) further revealed a significant increase in brain glucose metabolism, especially in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala. Hippocampal RNAseq indicated that immunological and inflammatory pathways were significantly altered in 1.5-month SF mice. More interestingly, differential expression gene lists from stress mouse models showed differential expression patterns between 1.5-month SF and control mice, while Alzheimer's disease, normal aging, and APOEε4 mutation mouse models did not exhibit any significant pattern. In summary, 1.5-month sleep fragmentation could generate AD-like pathological changes including tauopathy and gliosis, mainly linked to stress, as the incremented glucose metabolism observed with PET imaging suggested. Further investigation will show whether SF could eventually lead to chronic neurodegeneration if the stress condition is prolonged in time.