In Situ-Generated Hollow CoFe-LDH/Co-MOF Heterostructure Nanorod Arrays for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Assembling a heterostructure is an effective strategy for enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of hybrid materials. Herein, CoFe-layered double hydroxide and Co-metal-organic framework (CoFe-LDH/Co-MOF) hollow heterostructure nanorod arrays are synthesized. First, [Co(DIPL)(H3BTC)(H2O)2]n [named as Co-MOF, DIPL = 2,6-di(pyrid-4-yl)-4-phenylpyridine, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid] crystalline materials with a uniform hollow structure were prepared on the nickel foam. The CoFe-LDH/Co-MOF composite perfectly inherits the original hollow nanorod array morphology after the subsequent electrodeposition process. Optimized CoFe-LDH/Co-MOF hollow heterostructure nanorod arrays display excellent performance in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with ultralow overpotentials of 215 mV to deliver current densities of 10 mA cm-2 and maintain the electrocatalytic activity for a duration as long as 220 h, ranking it one of the non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for OER. Density functional theory calculations validate the reduction in free energy for the rate-determining step by the synergistic effect of Co-MOF and CoFe-LDH, with the increased charge density and noticeable electron transfer at the Co-O site, which highlights the capability of Co-MOF to finely adjust the electronic structure and facilitate the creation of active sites. This work establishes an experimental and theoretical basis for promoting efficient water splitting through the design of heterostructures in catalysts.

Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

Association of cord plasma metabolites with birth weight: results from metabolomic and lipidomic studies of discovery and validation cohorts

BACKGROUND

Birth weight is a good predictor of fetal intrauterine growth and long-term health. Although several studies have evaluated the relationship between metabolites and birth weight, no prior study has comprehensively investigated the metabolomic and lipidomic and further validated and quantified meaningful metabolites.

METHODS

Firstly, a pseudotargeted metabolomics approach was applied to detect 2418 metabolites in 504 cord blood samples in the discovery set enrolled from the Wuhan Healthy Baby Cohort (HBC), China. Metabolome-wide association scan (MWAS) analysis and pathway enrichment were applied to discover metabolites and metabolic pathways that were significantly associated with birth weight for gestational age (BWGA) z-score. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of metabolites in the most significantly associated pathways with small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW). Subsequently, 350 cord blood samples in a validation cohort were subjected to targeted analysis to validate the metabolites screened from the discovery cohort.

RESULTS

In the discovery set, 513 metabolites were significantly associated with BWGA z-score (PFDR <0.05), of which 298 KEGG-annotated metabolites were included in the pathway analysis. The primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway was the most relevant metabolic pathway associated with BWGA z-score in our study. Elevated cord plasma primary bile acids were associated with lower BWGA z-score and higher odds of SGA or LBW in the discovery and validation cohorts. In the validation set, a 2-fold increase in taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) and taurocholic acid (TCA) was associated with 0.10 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.20) and 0.18 (95 %CI: 0.04, 0.31) decrease in BWGA z-score, respectively, after adjusting for covariates. In addition, a 2-fold increase in cord plasma TCDCA and TCA was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.52 (1.00, 2.30) and 1.77 (1.05, 2.98) for SGA, respectively. The adjusted ORs for a 2-fold increase in TCDCA and TCA concentrations were 2.39 (95% CI 1.00, 5.71) and 3.21 (0.96, 10.74) for LBW, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate a significant association between primary bile acids and lower BWGA z-score, as well as higher risk of SGA and LBW. Abnormalities of primary bile acid metabolism may play an important role in restricted fetal development. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Valsartan Attenuated Homocysteine-Induced Impaired Autophagy and ER Stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism underlying homocysteine- (Hcy-) induced vascular injury remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine a potential mechanism by which Hcy induced injury in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The protein abundance of autophagy-related markers was markedly decreased after Hcy treatment, which was associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in HUVECs. Protein expression level of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 receptor) was dramatically increased in response to Hcy. Valsartan, an AT1 receptor blocker, improved autophagy and prevented ER stress and apoptosis in HUVECs treated with Hcy. Consistent with this, silence of AT1 receptor with siRNA decreased the protein abundance of ER stress markers, prevented apoptosis, and promoted autophagy in HUVECs. Inhibition or knockdown of AT1 receptor was shown to be associated with suppression of p-GSK3β/GSK3β-p-mTOR/mTOR signaling pathway. Additionally, inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA aggravated Hcy-induced apoptosis, while amelioration of ER stress by 4-PBA prevented Hcy-induced injury in HUVECs. Hcy-induced HUVEC injury was likely attributed to AT1 receptor activation, leading to impaired autophagy, ER stress, and apoptosis.

[Clinical and pathological features of 20 cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF). Methods: The clinical and pathological findings of 20 patients diagnosed with CHF from 2017 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 20 patients, 8 were males and 12 were females with a median age of 21.5 years. Mostly patients were admitted to the hospital with cirrhosis, portal hypertension and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Pathological features were diffuse fibrosis in the portal area, formation of fibrous septa of varying width, segmentation of the liver parenchyma, with hyperplasia of small bile ducts. Among them, 1 case (5%) was complicated with Caroli's disease, and 1 case (5%) was HNF1α hepatocellular adenoma. IHC GS showed that was positively expressed in acinar region 3 in 75% cases. Conclusion: CHF is mainly manifested by portal hypertension and its complications. Histopathology is the gold standard for diagnosis. The possibility of CHF should be considered first in children and adolescents with portal hypertension but no history of hepatitis, and complicated kidney disease. The positive pattern of acinus-3 region of GS in IHC is helpful for the diagnosis of CHF.

High Resolution Imaging with Focused kV X-Rays for Small Animal Radio-Neuromodulation

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

High precision radiotherapy for small animal radio-neuromodulation requires conformal treatment to very small targets down to 2.5 mm. A focused kV technique based on novel usage of polycapillary x-ray lenses can focus x-ray beams to <0.2 mm in diameter, which is ideal for such uses. Such application also requires high resolution CT images for treatment planning and setup, which was hard to achieve using conventional x-ray tube. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a virtual focal spot generated with an x-ray lens to perform high-resolution CBCT acquisition.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The experiment with x-ray lens was set up on an x-ray tabletop system to generate a virtual focal spot. A pinhole image was acquired for the virtual focal spot and compared with the one acquired with the conventional focal spot without the lens. The planar imaging resolution with and without the lens were evaluated using a line pair resolution phantom. The spatial resolution of the two settings were estimated by reconstructing a 0.15-mm wire phantom and comparing its full width half maximum (FWHM). A CBCT scan of a rodent head was also acquired to further demonstrate the improved resolution using the x-ray lens.

RESULTS

Compared to conventional imaging acquisition with a measured x-ray focal spot of 0.395 mm FWHM, the virtual focal spot size was measured at 0.175 mm. The reduction in focal spot size with lens leads to an almost doubled planar imaging resolution and a 26% enhancement in 3D spatial resolution. A realistic CBCT acquisition of a rodent head mimicked the imaging acquisition step for radio-neuromodulation and further showed the improved visualization for fine structures.

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrated that the focused kV x-ray technique was capable of generating small focal spot size of <0.2 mm. The proposed method provides an adaptive imaging platform to acquire x-ray and CBCT images for treatment planning and setup with improved spatial resolution compared to conventional CBCT image acquisition.

First Dark Matter Search Results from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment

The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment is a dark matter detector centered on a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA. This Letter reports results from LUX-ZEPLIN's first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with an exposure of 60 live days using a fiducial mass of 5.5 t. A profile-likelihood ratio analysis shows the data to be consistent with a background-only hypothesis, setting new limits on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon, spin-dependent WIMP-neutron, and spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross sections for WIMP masses above 9  GeV/c^{2}. The most stringent limit is set for spin-independent scattering at 36  GeV/c^{2}, rejecting cross sections above 9.2×10^{-48}  cm at the 90% confidence level.

Can we evidence-base injury prevention and management in women's football? A scoping review

This review aimed, as part of a larger FIFA project aiming to steer women's football research, to scope literature on any level of competitive football for women, to understand the current quantity of research on women's football injuries. The study reviewed all injury-related papers scoped by a recent scoping review mapping all published women's football research with an updated search performed on 23 February 2021. Eligibility criteria assessment followed the recent scoping review with injury-specific research focus. A total of 497 studies were scoped. Most studies contained an epidemiological (N = 226; 45%) or risk factors assessment (N = 105; 21%). Less assessed areas included financial burden (N = 1; <1%) and injury awareness (N = 5; 1%). 159 studies (32%) assessed injuries of the whole body. The most common single location assessed in the literature was the knee (N = 134, 27%), followed by head/face (N =108, 22%). These numbers were, however, substantially lowered, when subdivided by playing level and age-group. The volume of research focuses especially on descriptive research and specific body locations (head/face and knee). Although information can be taken from studies in other sports, more football-specific studies to support management and prevention of injuries are warranted.

Asymmetric warming reduces the strength of selection pressure of moderate grazing on reproductive phenology in alpine plants

Both warming and grazing already affect the reproductive phenology of alpine plants. However, their effects have mostly been studied in isolation, and their interaction is still unclear. In this study, an asymmetric warming (average + 1.2 °C during daytime and + 1.7 °C during nighttime and + 1.5 °C during summer and + 2.0 °C during winter) with moderate grazing experiment was conducted for four years to determine their individual and interactive effects on the onsets and durations of reproductive phenophases for fifteen alpine plant species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Individual warming and grazing simultaneously advanced the average start dates and ending dates of budding, flowering and fruiting by 5.3-6.2 days, and further resulted in smaller effects on their durations for most plant species. The interactions between warming and grazing on them varied with plant species and year, which advanced by average 12.1 days for all plant species. The effects of grazing on the temperature sensitivity of the start dates of reproductive phenophases (average by -8.5 days °C^-1) were greater than that of warming alone (average by -3.4 days °C^-1) and warming with grazing (average by -5.5 days °C^-1) for most of the alpine plant species. There were significant effects of the previous phenological events on subsequent reproductive phenophases. Therefore, our results suggested that both warming and grazing advanced reproductive phenophases through altered soil temperature and soil moisture and carry-over effects of previous phenological events on subsequent phenological events. Warming reduced the temperature sensitivity of the start dates of reproductive phenophases to grazing, suggesting that it depressed strength of selection pressure of grazing on the onsets of reproductive phenology in alpine plants.

Radiomic analysis of MRI for prediction of response to induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

AIM

To establish and validate radiomic models for response prediction to induction chemotherapy (IC) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using the radiomic features from pretreatment MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 184 consecutive NPC patients, 132 in the primary cohort and 52 in the validation cohort. Radiomic features were derived from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1) and T2-weighted imaging (T2-WI) for each subject. The radiomic features were then selected and combined with clinical characteristics to build radiomic models. The potential of the radiomic models was evaluated based on its discrimination and calibration. To measure the performance of these radiomic models in predicting the treatment response to IC in NPC, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were used.

RESULTS

Four radiomic models were constructed in the present study including the radiomic signature of CE-T1, T2-WI, CE-T1 + T2-WI, and the radiomic nomogram of CE-T1. The radiomic signature of CE-T1 + T2-WI performed well in distinguishing response and non-response to IC in patients with NPC, which yielded an AUC of 0.940 (95% CI, 0.885-0.974), sensitivity of 83.1%, specificity of 91.8%, and accuracy of 87.1% in the primary cohort, and AUC of 0.952 (95% CI, 0.855-0.992), sensitivity of 74.2%, specificity of 95.2%, and accuracy of 82.7% in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

MRI-based radiomic models could be helpful for personalised risk stratification and treatment in NPC patients receiving IC.

Hollow Carbon Nanopillar Arrays Encapsulated with Pd-Cu Alloy Nanoparticles for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Delicate design and bottom-up synthesis of hollow nanostructures for oxygen evolution electrocatalysts is a promising way to accelerate the reaction kinetics of overall water splitting. Herein, an efficient and versatile strategy for the controllable preparation of Pd-Cu alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanopillar arrays (PD-Cu@HPCN) is developed. Core-shell structured MOF@imidazolium-based ionic polymers (ImIPs) have been prepared and adopted as a template, along with the decomposition of the inner Cu-MOFs when an anion exchange occurs between sodium tetrachloropalladate in solution and bromides in the external ImIP shell. Pd nanoparticles will be highly dispersed in the resulting Pd-Cu@HO-ImIP array, and subsequent topotactic transformation generates Pd-Cu@HNPC. No hazardous reagents or tedious steps are used to remove the inner Cu-MOF templates in contrast to the traditional top-down methods. Remarkably, the Pd-Cu@HPCN catalyst possesses outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, including small overpotential with 10 mA cm^-2 at an overpotential of 188 mV, a large double layer capacitance (73.8 mF cm^-2), and high stability (20 h). This simple, green, and efficient synthesis methodology represents a new way to design metal alloys for OER electrocatalysts or other electrocatalytic devices.

A196 CROHN’S DISEASE PATIENT DERIVED MACROPHAGES ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HYDROGEN PEROXIDE INDUCED CELL DEATH

Background

Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by intestinal inflammation due to the interplay between immunity, genetics, and environmental factors such as diet. Selenium (Se) deficiency is common in patients with CD due to malabsorption or high enteric losses. Selenium is used in the synthesis of selenoproteins that have antioxidant properties (e.g. glutathione peroxidases (GPx)) and are highly expressed in macrophages. However, how Se deficiency affects immune system function in patients with CD is unknown. We hypothesize that characterizing Se status, selenoprotein expression and subsequently macrophage function will advance knowledge of mucosal immunity and provide novel insight into CD.

Purpose

To determine if patients with active CD and healthy controls differ in Se dietary intake and status, oxidative stress, and macrophage cytotoxicity in response to oxidative stress.

Method

Blood was collected from healthy volunteers and patients diagnosed with ileal, ileocolonic or colonic CD (age ≥18 years, with mild or moderate endoscopic disease activity or fecal calprotectin ≥250 µg/g, and Harvey Bradshaw index <16, stable medications including biologics for at least 8-weeks prior to recruitment). Serum was analyzed for GPx activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Monocytes were isolated by plastic adherence and treated with M-CSF (10 ng/ml, 7d) to derive macrophages. mRNA expression of GPx1, GPx4 and SelenoP was determined by qPCR. Lactate dehydrogenase release was measured in macrophages treated with 500 µM H₂O₂ for 2h.

Result(s)

Samples and/or dietary intake data were collected from 9 patients with CD (3 female, 6 male, mean age=36.8 years) and 13 controls (7 female, 6 male, mean age=27.7 years). Dietary Se intake did not differ between patients with CD and controls (126.1 ± 23.2 vs. 123.3 ± 19.8 µg/day). GPx activity was greater in the serum of patients with CD compared to controls (369 ± 49 vs. 169 ± 27 mU/mL, n=6-8, p<0.005). Patients with CD and controls did not differ in serum MDA concentration (7.80 ± 0.57 vs. 6.53 ± 1.1 µM). CRP levels correlated with serum MDA concentration in patients with CD (r=0.95, n=5, p<0.05) but not GPx activity. Macrophages from patients with CD (n=6) and controls (n=7) did not differ in expression of GPx1 and GPx4 mRNA, whereas SelenoP mRNA was ~200-fold lower in macrophages from patients with CD. Macrophages derived from patients with CD were more susceptible to H₂O₂-evoked cell death (10.3 ± 1.1 vs. 4.7 ± 0.7 % n=2-3 p<0.05).

Conclusion(s)

Despite adequate dietary Se intake our findings suggest altered Se metabolism in patients with active CD, with increases in serum GPx potentially indicative of the need for antioxidant activity to counter oxidative stress. The increased sensitivity of macrophages from patients with CD to H₂O₂ emphasizes the role of oxidative stress and redox balance in IBD. Defining how micronutrients, in this instance Se, impacts innate immunity may provide new approaches to the management of CD.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A4 PREDNISOLONE, A GLUCOCORTICOID WIDELY USED FOR TREATMENT OF IBD, ENHANCES A HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-4-ACTIVATED MACROPHAGE PHENOTYPE

Background

With cellular immunotherapy, the individuals’ medication could ablate (or enhance) any therapeutic benefit of the transferred cells. Murine and human macrophages activated with IL-4 (i.e., M(IL4)) improve wound healing and reduce the severity of disease in murine models of colitis. Advancing the position that autologous M(IL4) could be a novel approach to IBD, a critical question arises: will concurrent medication impact the M(IL4)s anti-colitic effect? To address this, we tested if prednisolone, a synthetic, anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used to induce remission in IBD flares,impacts human M(IL4) phenotype and function.

Purpose

To determine if prednisolone suppresses or enhances a human M(IL4) phenotype as defined by canonical marker molecules and wound healing and anti-colitic activities.

Method

Macrophages were differentiated from the blood monocytes of healthy volunteers using M-CSF (7 days) and treated with GMP-grade IL-4 (10 ng/mL, 48h) ± a 24h treatment with prednisolone (1μg/mL). Subsequently, conditioned medium was collected for TGFb measurement by ELISA and for use in a T84 epithelial cell in vitro wound healing assay. Retrieved M(IL4) and M(IL4,pred.) were characterized by mRNA expression of CD206 (mannose receptor), RAMP1 (CGRP receptor), and CD14 (LPS co-receptor). One million murine bone marrow-derived M(IL4) or M(IL4,pred.) were injected into BALB/c mice 48h prior to intra-rectal DNBS (3mg), and colitis was assessed 72h-post DNBS.

Result(s)

Human M(IL4)s displayed increased mRNA expression of CD206 and RAMP1, and reduced CD14 compared to M(0), with the CD206 and RAMP1 being further increased by prednisolone treatment. M(IL4,pred.) produced more TGF-β than M(IL4) upon LPS stimulation [363 ± 30 vs. 241 ± 24 pg/ml, n= 4, p<0.05], which would predict an enhanced wound healing capacity. Stimulated M(IL4,pred.) produced more IL-10 than M(IL4). Furthermore, murine M(IL4,pred.) retained an anti-colitic capacity comparable to M(IL4) as determined by disease activity score in the DNBS model.

Conclusion(s)

Human M(IL4)s subsequently exposed to the potent immunomodulatory glucocorticoid, prednisolone show increased expression of phenotypic markers and increased output of TGFb and IL-10. Crucially M(IL4,pred.) retained an anti-colic effect in the murine DNBS model of colitis. Interpreting these data, we suggest that the anti-colitic effect of M(IL4) immunotherapy would not be adversely offset by the individuals concomitant use of steroids. Our preliminary findings support pursuing M(IL4) transfers as a novel approach to the management of IBD.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Helmsley Charitable Trust

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A29 HIGH DIMENSIONAL SINGLE CELL ANALYSIS OF IL-4 TREATED MACROPHAGES REVEALS A HETEROGENIC PHENOTYPE AND THE ABSENCE OF CD206+ SUBSETS IN CROHN'S DISEASE PATIENTS

Background

Individuals with IBD have a reduced quality of life and while treatment has improved, a cure remains elusive. Interleukin-4 differentiated macrophages (M(IL4)s) from healthy donors and IBD patients in remission promote epithelial wound repair and reduce the severity of colitis in a mouse model: findings that support the autologous transfer of M(IL4)s to treat IBD. However, issues remain if this novel therapy is to advance to clinical evaluation: a much greater understanding of the possible heterogeneity within the human M(IL4) population, the biology of any sub-groups therein and the biology of any M(IL4) subtypes is needed.

Purpose

To determine if cryopreservation, sex, and disease status in Crohn's disease (CD) impact the phenotype and function of M(IL4)

Method

Blood mononuclear cells were collected from healthy donors, and individuals with active CD or in remission (n=6/group), and differentiated to macrophages with GMP-grade recombinant human M-CSF (10 ng/ml, 7 days). Macrophages (2.5 x10⁵) were activated with IL-4 (10ng/ml, 48h). Fresh and cryopreserved M(0) and M(IL4) were stained using a panel of 18 metal-conjugated antibodies. Data were acquired on a Helios CyTOFII mass cytometer. FCS files were imported into Cytobank for manual gating (viable CD45⁺CD3^-CD19^- singlet cell events) and exported for meta-clustering in R with the CATALYST package using the FlowSOM function with 10 metaclusters.

Result(s)

FlowSOM analysis on M(IL4) from healthy donors indicated clear differences between M(0) and M(IL4), with 8 metaclusters >1.5% of M(IL4)s: the most abundant metaclusters express high and intermediate CD206, PDL1, CD11b, CD33, CD64, HLA-DR and low CD14 levels. There were no significant differences in these M(IL4)s metaclusters between males and females, or fresh vs. cryopreserved cells using this characterization strategy. M(IL4) from patients with active CD, were markedly different with the absence of three high-intermediate CD206⁺PDL1⁺ metaclusters and a general lack of CD206⁺ metaclusters compared to healthy controls. Surprisingly, and despite M(IL4)s from CD patients in remission showing increased CD206 mRNA, CYTOF analysis revealed that the macrophages were more similar to those from individuals with active disease than those from healthy controls

Conclusion(s)

Here human macrophages activated with IL4 in vitro are revealed as a heterogeneous population, and subsets characterized by increased high CD206 expression are generally absent in active Crohn’s disease. Intriguing while prior experiments with M(IL4) from CD patients in remission reduced the severity of colitis in rag1^-/- mice, the characterization of these cells via 18 protein markers indicates they are more like M(IL4)s from patients with active disease compared to healthy controls. While presenting autologous M(IL4) transfer as a novel approach for IBD, a much fuller understanding of the phenotype and function of M(IL4)s (and sub-populations therein) is required before this would become a therapeutic option

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

CAG

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A58 ENTERIC TUFT CELLS MODULATE LOCAL BUT NOT SYSTEMIC HOST IMMUNE RESPONSES TO CO-ORDINATE TIMELY EXPULSION OF HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA

Background

The intestinal tuft cell is a versatile epithelial cell implicated in host detection and defence against enteric nematode and trematode parasites by producing interleukin(IL)-25 and cysteinyl leukotrienes. We have shown that immunocompetent mice develop small intestinal tuft cell hyperplasia during infection with the cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta. Whether tuft cells coordinate murine expulsion of H. diminuta and if this response is similar to other well-established parasitic models is unknown.

Purpose

To test 1) if tuft cells coordinate host detection and immune responses to H. diminuta; and, 2) if the lack of functional B, T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) affect tuft cell hyperplasia and expulsion of the parasite.

Method

Male and female pou2f3^-/-/^-/+ littermates, rag-1^-/- and C57BL6 mice were infected with 5 cysticercoids of H. diminuta. ILC2s were depleted in rag-1^-/- with anti-CD90.2 (250μg/mouse, intraperitoneal). At necropsy, small intestines were flushed with cold PBS to count worms. IgG1, IgG2α and mast cell protease-1 (MCPT-1) was measured in serum and supernatants from splenic cells stimulated with ConA (48h) were assessed by ELISA for IL-4, -5, -10 and -13. Doublecortin-like kinase -1 (DCLK-1)+ tuft cells, goblet cells and eosinophils were identified in sections of paraffin embedded or cryopreserved mid-jejunum sections. mRNA of small intestinal epithelium enriched fractions isolated from mice at control and 11 days post-infection (dpi) was evaluated by qPCR.

Result(s)

Unlike pou2f3^+/- and C57Bl6 mice that expel H. diminuta by 8-11 dpi., pou2f3^-/- mice harbour H. diminuta at 11 dpi. Pou2f3^-/- mice show similar splenic IL-4, -5, -10, -13, and serum IgG1, IgG2a and MCPT-1 levels at 8 dpi. and higher splenic IL-4, -10 at 11 dpi. compared to pou2f3^+/- mice. In contrast, pou2f3^+/- mice show higher jejunal goblet cell hyperplasia at 8 dpi., higher levels of small intestinal epithelium expression of dclk-1, alox5 and il-25 and jejunal eosinophilia at 11 dpi. compared to pou2f3^-/- mice. At 11 dpi, ILC^depletedrag-1^-/- develop tuft cell hyperplasia to the same extent as infected PBS/isotype controls and show no trace of intestinal worms in the lumen.

Conclusion(s)

Enteric tuft cells coordinate rapid expulsion of H. diminuta from mice, but are not essential for the host to detect and develop Th2 systemic responses in response to the worm. However, in the absence of tuft cells, deficiencies are observed in gut-specific effector immune events commonly associated with timely expulsion of enteric helminths; illustrating a disparity between local and systemic immunity following infection with this tapeworm parasite in a non permissive host. The lack of a functional adaptive immune system and surprisingly, depletion of ILC2s, does not completely abrogate worm expulsion or tuft cell hyperplasia in rag-1^-/- at 11 dpi. with H. diminuta. This suggests that an innate immune cell population other than CD90.2⁺ ILC2s amplifies Th2 immunity to H. diminuta-infection.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

NSERC, , Eyes High doctoral scholarship, Alberta Graduate excellence scholarship

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A163 INFECTION WITH HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA ELICITS A TH2 IMMUNITY AND ALLEVIATES DNBS-COLITIS IN A MOUSE MODEL WITH MINIMAL INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA

Background

Immunocompetent mice infected with the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta are protected from dinitrobenzene sulphonic-acid (DNBS)-induced colitis that was accompanied by the increased relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and fecal SCFA levels at 8 days post-infection (dpi). These changes were not observed in antibiotic-treated BALB/c mice or germ-free mice. To further characterize the host-parasite-microbiota interaction in the control of colitis, experiments have been conducted in a reductionist system in which the H. diminuta anti-colitic response was tested in mice colonized with 12 commensal bacteria representing the major five phyla of the mouse gut.

Purpose

To identify key bacterial species and microbe-derived mediators involved in the H. diminuta-induced protection from DNBS-induced colitis.

Method

OligoMM¹² (Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota) mice (n=4-8/group) were infected with 10 viable antibiotic-treated H. diminuta cysticercoids eight days prior to challenge with DNBS (3mg, i.r.). Mice were monitored daily and necropsied 72h post-DNBS. Disease was assessed by a macroscopic disease activity score, colon length and histopathology on H&E sections of mid-colon. Production of IL-4, -5, -10 and -13 by concanavalin-A treated spleen cells by ELISA was used as an index of successful helminth infection.

Result(s)

OligoMM¹² mice treated with DNBS developed acute colitis, with 3/8 mice requiring humane euthanization, while all mice infected with H. diminuta survived the DNBS challenge. Successful infection was confirmed by statistically significant increases in splenic output of the Th2-cytokines in response to mitogenic stimulation and efficient expulsion of the worms burden by 11 dpi. The severity of DNBS-induced colitis was reduced in H. diminuta-infected mice (n=4), although additional experiments are required to confirm the statistical significance of these data.

Conclusion(s)

Reproducible DNBS-induced colitis in mice with the simplified OligoMM¹² consortium of bacteria and reduced disease in H. diminuta-infected mice has created a model by which the participation of exact bacterial groups or species in H. diminuta-induced suppression of colitis can be tested. This is of translational value, since the failure of helminth therapy in IBD could be predicated by dysbiosis in the patient, and therefore potentially overcome by combination therapy of ‘probiotic’ and helminth.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

CIHR, Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

NSERC-CGS D, Eyes High doctoral Recruitment Scholarship

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

TRAP-induced PAR1 expression with its mechanism during AMI in a rat model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is crucial in individuals with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The continuous and prompt PAR1 activation mainly dependent on PAR1 trafficking is essential for the role of PAR1 during AMI in which cardiomyocytes are in hypoxia. However, the PAR1 trafficking in cardiomyocytes specially during the hypoxia is still unclear.

METHODS AND RESULT

A rat AMI model was created. PAR1 activation with thrombin-receptor activated peptide (TRAP) had a transient effect on cardiac function in normal rats but persistent improvement in rats with AMI. Cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were cultured in a normal CO2 incubator and a hypoxic modular incubator chamber. The cells were then subjected to western blot for the total protein expression and staining with fluorescent reagent and antibody for PAR1 localization. No change in total PAR1 expression following TRAP stimulation was observed; however, it led to increased PAR1 expression in the early endosomes in normoxic cells and decreased expression in the early endosomes in hypoxic cells. Under hypoxic conditions, TRAP restored the PAR1 expression on both cell and endosomal surfaces within an hour by decreasing Rab11A (8.5-fold; 179.93 ± 9.82% of the normoxic control group, n = 5) and increasing Rab11B (15.5-fold) expression after 4 h of hypoxia. Similarly, Rab11A knockdown upregulated PAR1 expression under normoxia, and Rab11B knockdown downregulated PAR1 expression under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Cardiomyocytes knocked out of both Rab11A, and Rad11B lost the TRAP-induced PAR1 expression but still exhibited the early endosomal TRAP-induced PAR1 expression under hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONS

TRAP-mediated activation of PAR1 in cardiomyocytes did not alter the total PAR1 expression under normoxic conditions. Instead, it triggers a redistribution of PAR1 levels under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. TRAP reverses the hypoxia-inhibited PAR1 expression in cardiomyocytes by downregulating Rab11A expression and upregulating Rab11B expression.

Warming delays but grazing advances leaf senescence of five plant species in an alpine meadow

Leaf senescence is the final stage in the life cycle of leaves and is critical to plants' fitness as well as to ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling. To date, most understanding about the responses of leaf senescence to environmental changes has derived from research in forests, but the topic has been relatively neglected, especially under grazing conditions, in natural grasslands. We conducted a 3-year manipulative asymmetric warming with moderate grazing experiment to explore the responses of leaf senescence of five main species in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that warming prolonged leaf longevity through earlier leaf-out and later leaf senescence, and grazing prolonged it through a greater advance in leaf-out than first leaf coloration for all plants. Warming did not affect leaf nitrogen (N) content or N resorption efficiency (NRE), but grazing increased N content in coloring leaves for P. anserine and P. nivea and decreased NRE for K. humilis, P. anserine under no-warming, and for P. nivea under warming. The interactive effects of warming and grazing on leaf phenology and leaf traits depended on species identity and year. There were positive relationships between leaf-out and leaf senescence mainly derived from grazing, and positive relationships between NRE from old leaves and leaf senescence for three out of five plant species. Therefore, our results indicated that earlier leaf-out could result in earlier leaf senescence only under grazing, but depending on plant species. Delayed leaf coloring increased NRE from old leaves for some plant species measured under warming and grazing. Our results suggested that alpine plants may develop strategies to adapt to warming and grazing to assimilate more carbon through prolonged leaf longevity rather than increased NRE through earlier leaf coloring in the alpine meadow.

Clinical outcomes among distinct groups of patients with severe tricuspid valve regurgitation

Introduction

Severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) is associated with increased 1-year morbidity and mortality. Characterization by valve etiology (primary, secondary, and lead-associated), a classification borrowed from mitral valve disease, has not been universally shown to correlate with outcomes.

Purpose

Among a large, racially diverse cohort with newly identified severe TR, we aimed to 1) characterize outcomes of severe TR by etiology, and 2) assess whether unsupervised phenoclustering or supervised outcome-driven prediction trees were more effective in establishing subgroups of TR with differential clinical risk profiles.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 5-year all-cause death and a composite of death or heart failure hospitalization (HFH) among adult patients with new severe TR identified by echocardiography between 2007 to 2018 at a large academic tertiary referral center in the United States. Patients were initially categorized by etiology of TR, including primary, secondary, and lead-associated. Second, we separately applied unsupervised hierarchical clustering to identify distinct clusters using demographics, clinical, and echo data at the time of diagnosis. Third, we applied a supervised recursive partitioning algorithm (survival trees) by each outcome to identify distinct TR subgroups. We estimated the cumulative incidence of death and composite death or HFH over 5 years by 1) etiology of TR, 2) distinct clusters, and 3) groups identified by supervised learning (prediction trees).

Results

Among 2,379 consecutive patients with newly identified severe TR, the median age was 70 years, 61% were female, and 40% were Black. Event rates (95% CI) were 30.9 (29.0 to 32.8) events/100 PY for death and 49.0 (45.9 to 52.2) events/100 PY for composite death or HFH over median follow-up of 1.6 years. Event rates were similarly high across TR etiology groups for both death and composite death or HFH (Figure 1). Multiple methods of unsupervised clustering did not yield distinct clusters by patient demographic and imaging characteristics. After applying supervised survival tree modeling, four phenoclusters with distinct clinical prognoses were separately identified for death and composite death or HFH (Figure 2). Variables identified to partition the cohort to discriminate both death and composite death or HFH were age, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, right ventricular contractility, and right ventricular systolic pressure (all p&lt;0.05).

Conclusions

Five-year cumulative incidence of adverse events among patients with newly diagnosed severe TR was 69% for death and 80% for composite death or HFH. TR etiology did not stratify prognosis, while supervised survival tree models identified phenoclusters with distinct clinical risk. The identified subgroups of severe TR with differential outcomes offer insights towards enrichment in clinical trials of TR and risk/benefit analysis in patients undergoing TR therapies.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Abbott

Ligand-Assisted Controllable Growth of Self-Supporting Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheet Electrodes for an Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Rational design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets with controllable thickness is significantly attractive but is also a significant challenge. Herein, the authors report, for the first time, the synthesis of ultrathin 2D nickel-based MOF nanosheets with a thickness of only about 2 nm via a ligand-assisted controllable growth strategy, which cannot be acquired from the exfoliation of their bulky counterparts or the conventional hydrothermal method. The correlation between 2D nanosheets and crystal growth preference was demonstrated through a judicious choice of a specific [Ni(BIP)(p-BDC)(H₂O)₂]_n framework (BIP = (3,5-bis(1-imidazoly)pyridine), p-H₂BDC = terephthalic acid) to underlie the geometry of the resultant morphology. Under the modulation by the dosage of terephthalic acid through a corrosion-dissolution-coordination process, the nanosheets of Ni-MOFs with a controllable thickness can be tuned to 50 and 100 nm. Ultrathin 2D Ni-MOF nanosheet-derived N-doped Ni@carbon exhibits a satisfactory electrocatalytic performance with a small overpotential of 170 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^-2, much outperforming the bulk Ni-MOF and the most reported non-noble-metal oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts to date. It is believed that this ligand-assisted controllable growth strategy represents a novel and simple path to prepare high-performance MOF-based electrocatalysts for wide applications.

[FNDC1 is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma and closely related with poor prognosis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the expression of fibronectin type Ⅲ domain containing 1(FNDC1) protein in lung adenocarcinoma and its prognostic significance.

METHODS

The expression of FNDC1 in lung adenocarcinoma was predicted by analysis of data from GEO database and GEPIA, and the results were verified by immunohistochemical staining in 92 pairs of clinical specimens of lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent tissues.We further analyzed the correlation of FNDC1 expression with the clinicopathological features of the patients, and evaluated its prognostic value using Cox survival analysis.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data form GEO database and GEPIA showed a significantly higher expression level of FNDC1 in lung adenocarcinoma than in matched normal tissues (P < 0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that a high expression of FNDC1 protein was associated with a significantly shorter overall survival time of the patients (P < 0.05).Immunohistochemistry of the clinical specimens also showed a significantly higher protein expression of FNDC1 in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than in paired adjacent tissues (P < 0.001).A high expression of FNDC1 protein was significantly correlated with advanced clinical stage, T stage and N stage (P < 0.05).Cox univariate and multivariate regression survival analysis indicated that an increased expression of FNDC1 was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

FNDC1 protein is highly expressed in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and in closely related with the occurrence, progression and prognosis of the tumor, suggesting the value of FNDC1 protein as a potential biomarker for assessment of the survival and prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

[Clinical effects of free peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing forefoot skin and soft tissue defect wounds assisted with three-dimensional computed tomography angiography]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of free peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing forefoot skin and soft tissue defect wounds assisted with three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From March 2017 to September 2019, 15 patients with skin and soft tissue defect wounds in the forefoot were treated in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, including 12 males and 3 females, with age of 18-60 years. The wound area on admission was 3.0 cm×3.0 cm-9.0 cm×8.0 cm. The 3D-CTA examination before operation was performed to select the peroneal artery perforating vessels with appropriate length of vascular pedicle and good blood perfusion. According to the wound area and the perforating vessels of the peroneal artery located by 3D-CTA, the peroneal artery perforator flaps of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm-9.5 cm×8.5 cm carried with lateral sural cutaneous nerve was designed and cut, and the nerve was anastomosed with the nerve of the wound. The wound in the donor site of the flap was directly sutured or covered with medium-thickness skin graft from the thigh. The consistencies of type, diameter, and perforating position of perforating vessel of the peroneal artery detected by 3D-CTA before the operation with those of the actual measurement during operation were observed. The length of time for flap cutting and the survival of the flap after operation were recorded. During follow-up of 12 months after the operation, the patients were instructed to evaluate the foot function according to the Maryland foot function score standard, and the wound healing in the donor area and the occurrence of complications affecting the motor function of limb were observed. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test. Results: The types of peroneal artery perforating vessels in patients measured during the operation were septocutaneous perforator of 12 cases, musculocutaneous perforator of 2 cases, and musculomuscular septal perforator of 1 case, which were consistent with those measured by preoperative 3D-CTA. The diameter of the peroneal artery perforating vessel measured by preoperative 3D-CTA was (1.38±0.17) mm, which was close to (1.40±0.19) mm measured during the operation (t=0.30, P>0.05). The horizontal distance from the starting point of the perforating vessel to the outer edge of the shank was (42±6) mm, and the vertical distance from the starting point of the perforating vessel to the level of the lateral ankle tip was (219±14) mm measured by preoperative 3D-CTA, which were respectively close to (43±6) and (221±15) mm of intraoperative measurement (with t values of 0.46 and 0.38, respectively, P>0.05). The length of time for cutting flap was (31±6) min. All flaps survived post operation without vascular crisis. During follow-up of 12 months after the operation, the foot function was evaluated as excellent in 11 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case, the donor site wound healed well, the scar was not noticeable with no contracture, and the motor function of joints was not affected. Conclusions: Free peroneal artery perforator flap is one of the effective methods to reconstruct skin and soft tissue defect wounds in the forefoot, and the risk of surgery can be reduced when the anatomical location of the perforating vessels is confirmed by 3D-CTA.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

The petrosal artery and its variations: a comprehensive review and anatomical study with application to skull base surgery and neurointerventional procedures

BACKGROUND

The petrosal artery supplies several structures at the skull base and is often the focus of various neurointerventional procedures. Therefore, knowledge of its anatomy and variations is important to surgeons and interventionalists.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty latex injected cadaveric heads (40 sides) underwent microsurgical dissection of the petrosal artery. Documentation of the course of the artery and its branches were made. Measurements of the petrosal artery's length and diameter were performed using microcallipers.

RESULTS

A petrosal artery was identified on all sides. The mean length and diameter of the artery within the middle cranial fossa was 2.4 cm and 0.38 mm, respectively. Branches included the following: dural, ganglionic, V3 branches, branches extending through the foramen ovale, branches directly to the greater petrosal and lesser petrosal nerves, branches to the floor of the hiatus of the greater and lesser petrosal nerves, branch to the arcuate eminence, and superior tympanic artery. No statistically significant differences were noted between male and female specimens, but right-sided petrosal arteries were in general, larger in diameter than left sides.

CONCLUSIONS

A thorough anatomical knowledge of the petrosal artery and to its relationship to the facial nerve and other neurovascular structures is necessary to facilitate effective endovascular treatment and to preclude facial nerve complications.

Statins attenuate cholesterol-induced ROS via inhibiting NOX2/NOX4 and mitochondrial pathway in collecting ducts of the kidney

Background

Statins therapy has been primarily recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney diseases. Statins has also been proved some benefits in lipid-induced kidney diseases. The current study aims to investigate the protection and underlying mechanisms of statins on renal tubular injuries induced by cholesterol overloaded.

Methods

We used tubular suspensions of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells from rat kidneys and mouse collecting duct cell line mpkCCD cells to investigate the effect of statins on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by cholesterol. Protein and mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) /NOX4 was examined by Western blot and RT-PCR in vitro studies and in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy and high-fat diet. Mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential was observed by Mito-tracker and JC-1.

Results

Statins treatment was associated with decreased NOX2 and NOX4 protein expression and mRNA levels in 5/6Nx rats with high-fat diet. Statins treatment markedly reduced the ROS production in IMCD suspensions and mpkCCD cells. Also, statins reduced NOX2 and NOX4 protein expression and mRNA levels in cholesterol overload mpkCCD cells and improved mitochondrial morphology and function.

Conclusion

Statins prevented ROS production induced by cholesterol in the kidney, likely through inhibiting NOXs protein expression and improving mitochondrial function. Statins may be a therapeutic option in treating obesity-associated kidney diseases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-022-02815-6.