Radiomics-based distinction of small (≤2 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma and precancerous lesions based on unenhanced MRI

AIM

To assess the feasibility of a radiomics model based on unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate small hepatocellular carcinoma (S-HCC) (≤2 cm) and pre-hepatocellular carcinoma (Pre-HCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and fourteen histopathologically confirmed 114 hepatic nodules were analysed retrospectively. All patients had undergone MRI before surgery using a 3 T MRI system. Each nodule was segmented on unenhanced MRI sequences (T1-weighted imaging [T1] and T2WI with fat-suppression [FS-T2]). Radiomics features were extracted and the optimal features were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The support vector machine (SVM) was used to establish the radiomics model. One abdominal radiologist performed the conventional qualitative analysis for classification of S-HCC and Pre-HCC. The diagnostic performances of the radiomics and radiologist models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULT

Radiomics features (n=1,223) were extracted from each sequence and the optimal features were selected from T1, FS-T2, and T1+FS-T2 to construct the radiomics models. The radiomics model based on T1+FS-T2 showed the best performance among the three models, with areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.95 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.875-0.986) and 0.942 (95 % CI, 0.775-0.985), accuracies of 86 % and 88.5 %, sensitivities of 94.12 % and 100 %, and specificities of 85.48 % and 85.19 %, respectively. The radiomics model on FS-T2 showed better performance on a single sequence than that of the T1-based model. The diagnostic performance for the radiomic model was significantly higher than that for the radiologist (AUC = 0.518, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that a radiomics model based on unenhanced MRI may serve as a feasible and non-invasive tool to classify S-HCC and Pre-HCC.

SIRT6-mediated Runx2 downregulation inhibits osteogenic differentiation of human aortic valve interstitial cells in calcific aortic valve disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive cardiovascular disorder involving multiple pathogenesis. Effective pharmacological therapies are currently unavailable. Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) has been shown to protect against aortic valve calcification in CAVD. The exact regulatory mechanism of SIRT6 in osteoblastic differentiation remains to be determined, although it inhibits osteogenic differentiation of aortic valve interstitial cells. We demonstrated that SIRT6 was markedly downregulated in calcific human aortic valves. Mechanistically, SIRT6 suppressed osteogenic differentiation in human aortic valve interstitial cells (HAVICs), as confirmed by loss- and gain-of-function experiments. SIRT6 directly interacted with Runx2, decreased Runx2 acetylation levels, and facilitated Runx2 nuclear export to inhibit the osteoblastic phenotype transition of HAVICs. In addition, the AKT signaling pathway acted upstream of SIRT6. Together, these findings elucidate that SIRT6-mediated Runx2 downregulation inhibits aortic valve calcification and provide novel insights into therapeutic strategies for CAVD.

Fibrillin-1 mutation contributes to Marfan syndrome by inhibiting Cav1.2-mediated cell proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by mutation in fibrillin-1 (FBN1). However, the molecular mechanism underlying MFS remains poorly understood. The study aimed to explore how the L-type calcium channel (Ca_V1.2) modulates disease progression of MFS and to identify a potential effective target for attenuating MFS. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the calcium signaling pathway gene set was significantly enriched. We demonstrated that FBN1 deficiency exhibited inhibition on both the expression of Cav1.2 and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Then, we examined whether FBN1 mediates Cav1.2 via regulating TGF-β1. Higher levels of TGF-β1 were observed in the serum and aortic tissues from patients with MFS. TGF-β1 modulated Cav1.2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. We evaluated the role of Cav1.2 in MFS by small interfering RNA and Cav1.2 agonist Bay K8644. The effect of Cav1.2 on cell proliferation was dependent on c-Fos activity. These results demonstrated FBN1 deficiency decreased the expression levels of Cav1.2 via regulation of TGF-β1, and downregulation of Cav1.2 inhibited cell proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in MFS patients. These findings suggest that Cav1.2 may be an appealing therapeutic target for MFS.

Erratum: Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande [Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 031802 (2023)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.031802.

Celastrol confers ferroptosis resistance via AKT/GSK3β signaling in high-fat diet-induced cardiac injury

Obesity-induced cardiac dysfunction is a severe global disease associated with high dietary fat intake, and its pathogenesis includes inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis. Celastrol (Cel) is a bioactive compound isolated from the herb Tripterygium wilfordii, which has a protective influence on cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the role of Cel in obesity-induced ferroptosis and cardiac injury was investigated. We found that Cel alleviated ferroptosis induced by Palmitic acid (PA), exhibiting a decrease in the LDH, CK-MB, Ptgs2, and Lipid Peroxidation levels. After cardiomyocytes were treated with additional LY294002 and LiCl, Cel exerted its protective effect through increased AKT/GSK3β phosphorylation and decreased level of lipid peroxidation and Mitochondrial ROS. The systolic left ventricle (LV) dysfunction of obese mice was alleviated via ferroptosis inhibition by elevated p-GSK3β and decreased Mitochondrial ROS under Cel treatment. Moreover, mitochondrial anomalies included swelling and distortion in the myocardium which was relieved with Cel. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ferroptosis resistance with Cel under HFD conditions targets AKT/GSK3β signaling, which provides novel therapeutic strategies in obesity-induced cardiac injury.

Mechanical versus Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Mechanical prostheses and bioprosthetic prostheses have their own advantages and disadvantages. Mechanical ones are recommended for younger patients (<50 years old), and bioprosthetic ones are recommended for older patients (>70 years old). There is still debate regarding which kind of prosthesis is better for middle-aged patients (50 to 70 years old) receiving aortic valve replacement (AVR). To solve this problem, we conducted this meta-analysis. Given that only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) study was included, we conducted a subgroup analysis of RCT and propensity score matching (PSM) retrospective studies to reduce the bias.

METHODS

We systematically searched articles related to clinical outcomes of mechanical and bioprosthetic prostheses in middle-aged patients receiving AVR in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. The published date was up to 1 October 2022. Studies were excluded if not only middle-aged patients were included, or if they lacked direct comparisons between mechanical and bioprosthetic prostheses.

RESULTS

In total, 22 studies with 32,298 patients were included in the final analysis. The results show that patients aged between 50 and 70 receiving AVR with mechanical prostheses achieved better long-term survival and fewer reoperations and valve-related events but suffered more with bleeding events. No significant difference could be found in terms of early mortality and long-term cardiac death. The same results could be observed in the subgroup analysis of RCT and PSM retrospective studies.

CONCLUSION

Both mechanical and bioprosthetic prostheses are beneficial to middle-aged patients undertaking AVR procedures. However, mechanical prostheses show better clinical outcomes in long-term survival and comorbidities. Individual recommendation is still necessary.

Corrigendum: Clinical outcomes following surgical mitral valve plasty or replacement in patients with infectious endocarditis: A meta-analysis

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.1048036.].

Measurement of the ν_{e}-Nucleus Charged-Current Double-Differential Cross Section at ⟨E_{ν}⟩=2.4 GeV Using NOvA

The inclusive electron neutrino charged-current cross section is measured in the NOvA near detector using 8.02×10^{20} protons-on-target in the NuMI beam. The sample of GeV electron neutrino interactions is the largest analyzed to date and is limited by ≃17% systematic rather than the ≃7.4% statistical uncertainties. The double-differential cross section in final-state electron energy and angle is presented for the first time, together with the single-differential dependence on Q^{2} (squared four-momentum transfer) and energy, in the range 1  GeV≤E_{ν}<6  GeV. Detailed comparisons are made to the predictions of the GENIE, GiBUU, NEUT, and NuWro neutrino event generators. The data do not strongly favor a model over the others consistently across all three cross sections measured, though some models have especially good or poor agreement in the single differential cross section vs Q^{2}.

Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande

We report a search for cosmic-ray boosted dark matter with protons using the 0.37  megaton×years data collected at Super-Kamiokande experiment during the 1996-2018 period (SKI-IV phase). We searched for an excess of proton recoils above the atmospheric neutrino background from the vicinity of the Galactic Center. No such excess is observed, and limits are calculated for two reference models of dark matter with either a constant interaction cross section or through a scalar mediator. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter with hadrons using directional information. The results present the most stringent limits on cosmic-ray boosted dark matter and exclude the dark matter-nucleon elastic scattering cross section between 10^{-33}cm^{2} and 10^{-27}cm^{2} for dark matter mass from 1  MeV/c^{2} to 300  MeV/c^{2}.

Clinical outcomes following surgical mitral valve plasty or replacement in patients with infectious endocarditis: A meta-analysis

Background

For degenerative mitral disease, more and more evidences support that mitral valve plasty (MVP) has much better clincial outcomes than mitral valve replacement (MVR). However, the advantages of MVP in patients suffering from infectious endocarditis (IE) are unclear. To evaluate the appropriateness of MVP in IE patients, we conducted this meta-analysis. Based on the difference between active and healed phase, we not only compared the result of patients with IE, but also identified the subgroup with active IE.

Methods

We systematically searched the clinical trials comparing clinical outcomes of MVP and MVR in patients suffering from IE. Relevant articles were searched from January 1, 2000 to March 18, 2021 in Pubmed and Cochrane Library. Studies were excluded if they were with Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score less than 6 or lacking of direct comparisons between MVP and MVR.

Results

23 studies were involved and 25,615 patients were included. Pooled analysis showed fewer adverse events and early or long-term death in the MVP group. However, more reoperations existed in this patient group. And the reinfection rate was close between two groups. Similar results were observed after identifying active IE subgroup, but there is no difference in the freedom from reoperation due to all-events.

Conclusions

Although limitimations exited in this study, patients suffering from IE can benefit from both MVP and MVR. For surgeons with consummate skills, MVP can be the preferred choice for suitable IE patients.

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

Adipose tissue macrophage-derived exosomes induce ferroptosis via glutathione synthesis inhibition by targeting SLC7A11 in obesity-induced cardiac injury

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Long-term high fat diet (HFD) was found to be associated with ferroptosis and cardiac injury. HFD-induced obesity is characterized by sustained, low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue, while macrophage infiltration plays a crucial role in inflammation. Exosomes (Exos) derived from adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) participate in the physiological processes of recipient cells. In this study, we investigated the role of ATM-Exos in obesity-induced ferroptosis and cardiac injury. We found that HFD-induced obesity resulted in higher mRNA expression levels of specific markers, e.g., prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and increased the levels of lipid peroxides, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Macrophages infiltrated the adipose tissues, as examined by flow cytometry. Exosomes derived from ATM-Exos were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Obese ATM-Exos administration induced higher levels of PTGS2, MDA, 4-HNE, lipid ROS, and mitochondrial injury. Obese ATM-Exos further provoked obvious cardiac injury, demonstrated by abnormal levels of cardiac enzymes and inflammatory factors. Systolic left ventricle (LV) function anomalies were induced by ATM-Exos in obese mice. miR-140-5p is abundant in obese ATM-Exos and promotes ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) is a downstream target of miR-140-5p, which induces ferroptosis via inhibition of GSH synthesis by targeting SLC7A11. Attenuating exosomal-miR-140-5p expression alleviates ferroptosis and cardiac injury induced by obese ATM exosomes by alleviating GSH inhibition. In summary, the current study provides evidence that obese ATM-exosomal miR-140-5p promotes ferroptosis by regulating GSH synthesis and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for targeting obese ATM-Exos in obesity-induced cardiac injury.

Transcription factor Sp2 promotes TGFB-mediated interstitial cell osteogenic differentiation in bicuspid aortic valves through a SMAD-dependent pathway

Calcification of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) involves differential expression of various RNA genes, which is achieved through complex regulatory networks that are controlled in part by transcription factors and microRNAs. We previously found that miR-195-5p regulates the osteogenic differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) by targeting the TGF-β pathway. However, the transcriptional regulation of miR-195-5p in calcified BAV patients is not yet clear. In this study, stenotic aortic valve tissues from patients with BAVs and tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs) were collected. Candidate transcription factors of miR-195-5p were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and tested in diseased valves and in male porcine VICs. SP2 gene expression and the corresponding protein levels in BAV were significantly lower than those in TAV, and a low SP2 expression level environment in VICs resulted in remarkable increases in RNA expression levels of RUNX2, BMP2, collagen 1, MMP2, and MMP9 and the corresponding proteins. ChIP assays revealed that SP2 directly bound to the transcription promoter region of miR-195-5p. Cotransfection of SP2 shRNA and a miR-195-5p mimic in porcine VICs demonstrated that SP2 repressed SMAD7 expression via miR-195-5p, while knockdown of SP2 increased the mRNA expression of SMAD7 and the corresponding protein and attenuated Smad 2/3 expression. Immunofluorescence staining of diseased valves confirmed that the functional proteins of osteogenesis differentiation, including RUNX2, BMP2, collagen 1, and osteocalcin, were overexpressed in BAVs. In Conclusion, the transcription factor Sp2 is expressed at low levels in VICs from BAV patients, which has a negative impact on miR-195-5p expression by binding its promoter region and partially promotes calcification through a SMAD-dependent pathway.

Ultrafast identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma using colorimetric direct-VPCR

With the increasing growth of the herbal market, a rapid and easy-to-use system is highly desirable in the high-throughput identification of massive herbal medicine samples. Here, an ultrafast and colorimetric detection system was devised based on simplifying template preparation and a newly developed amplification technique, named colorimetric direct-VPCR. The system was successfully applied to the identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma. Compared to the traditional method, the whole test can be finished within 30 min from the sample treatment to the testing results. The method was evaluated by correctly identifying 72 samples obtained from 9 different habitats, demonstrating its high reliability. In summary, we present an ultrafast (less than 30 min) and colorimetric detection platform (under ultraviolet lamp) based on direct-VPCR for the identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma. The high practicability (100% accuracy) of this pipeline enables it to be a promising method in the routine detection of other herbal materials.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-03035-9.

Search for Active-Sterile Antineutrino Mixing Using Neutral-Current Interactions with the NOvA Experiment

This Letter reports results from the first long-baseline search for sterile antineutrinos mixing in an accelerator-based antineutrino-dominated beam. The rate of neutral-current interactions in the two NOvA detectors, at distances of 1 and 810 km from the beam source, is analyzed using an exposure of 12.51×10^{20} protons-on-target from the NuMI beam at Fermilab running in antineutrino mode. A total of 121 of neutral-current candidates are observed at the far detector, compared to a prediction of 122±11(stat.)±15(syst.) assuming mixing only between three active flavors. No evidence for ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{s} oscillation is observed. Interpreting this result within a 3+1 model, constraints are placed on the mixing angles θ_{24}<25° and θ_{34}<32° at the 90% C.L. for 0.05  eV^{2}≤Δm_{41}^{2}≤0.5  eV^{2}, the range of mass splittings that produces no significant oscillations at the near detector. These are the first 3+1 confidence limits set using long-baseline accelerator antineutrinos.

Prospects for beyond the Standard Model physics searches at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment: DUNE Collaboration

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a powerful tool for a variety of physics topics. The high-intensity proton beams provide a large neutrino flux, sampled by a near detector system consisting of a combination of capable precision detectors, and by the massive far detector system located deep underground. This configuration sets up DUNE as a machine for discovery, as it enables opportunities not only to perform precision neutrino measurements that may uncover deviations from the present three-flavor mixing paradigm, but also to discover new particles and unveil new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model (SM). Of the many potential beyond the Standard Model (BSM) topics DUNE will probe, this paper presents a selection of studies quantifying DUNE's sensitivities to sterile neutrino mixing, heavy neutral leptons, non-standard interactions, CPT symmetry violation, Lorentz invariance violation, neutrino trident production, dark matter from both beam induced and cosmogenic sources, baryon number violation, and other new physics topics that complement those at high-energy colliders and significantly extend the present reach.

Hinokinin alleviates high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced cardiac injury in mice through modulation in oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

Type 2 diabetes, a global health concern has been considered as major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Hinokinin, an emerging bioactive lignin, is reported to show wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the protective role and mechanisms of Hinokinin against type 2 diabetes-mediated cardiotoxicity are still remains unknown. An experimental type 2 diabetic mice model was created by treating animals with high fat diet for four weeks and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight). Post-type 2 diabetic induction, animals orally treated with Hinokinin (20 or 40 mg/kg body weight) for six weeks. The type 2 diabetic mice exhibited a rise in blood glucose level as well as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c %), decrease in weekly body weights, decrease in food intake, reduction in absolute heart weight, fall in serum insulin level with altered lipid profile and cardiac functional damage. Diabetic mice treated with Hinokinin attenuated hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and cardiac dysfunction. In addition, Hinokinin ameliorated histological alterations, fibrosis and glycated proteins in HFD/STZ-induced mice. Type 2 diabetic condition in mice exacerbated oxidative stress, inflammatory status and apoptosis. Hinokinin treatment significantly assuaged oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis and elevated antioxidant defenses in diabetic heart. The underlying mechanisms for such mitigation involved the modulation of Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway, MAPKs (JNK, p38 and ERK 1/2) and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB mediated inflammatory pathways and mitochondrial-dependent (intrinsic) apoptosis pathway. In conclusion, the results of this study provided clear evidence that Hinokinin protects against HFD/STZ (type 2 diabetes)-induced cardiac injury by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

[Application of aldosterone/direct renin ratio before drug washout in the screening of primary aldosteronism]

Objective: To explore the cut-off point of aldosterone/direct renin ratio (ADRR) before drug washout in the screening for primary aldosteronism (PA) in the Chinese population and reduce the potential risk caused by drug washout during PA screening. Methods: Hospitalized hypertensive patients in the Hypertension Ward of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to October 2019 were enrolled. PA was diagnosed according to the criterion of 2016 American Guideline and 2016 Chinese Consensus for PA. The plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), direct renin concentration (DRC) and ADRR before and after drug washout were measured. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of ADRR was drawn and the maximal Youden index was used to determine the best cut-off value. Results: A total of 542 hypertensive patients were included, with 467 patients diagnosed with essential hypertension (EHT) (297 males and 170 females), and 75 patients diagnosed with PA (51 males and 24 females). Patients with PA had higher PAC and ADRR before and after drug washout than those with EHT(150.0 (130.0, 210.0) vs 120.0 (80.0, 170.0) ng/L, 170.0 (120.0, 260.0) vs 130.0 (90.0, 180.0) ng/L; 28.9 (15.9, 63.5) vs 4.3 (1.9, 11.8) (ng/L) / (mU/L) , 55.6 (39.0, 109.0) vs 9.8 (4.5, 21.3) (ng/L) /(mU/L), all P<0.001). However, DRC of PA patients before and after washout were lower than those with EHT (4.0 (2.0, 10.0) vs 27.0 (10.0, 64.0) mU/L, 3.0 (2.0, 4.0) vs 12.2 (5.0, 27.0) mU/L, P<0.001). In EHT and PA groups, PAC and ADRR significantly increased (P=0.001, P<0.001) , but DRC significantly decreased after drug washout (all P<0.001) . The area under the ROC curve of ADRR before drug washout was 0.868 (95%CI 0.836-0.895) with the best cut-off value of 7.8 (ng/L) / (mU/L) for the screening of PA .The sensitivity and specificity was 94.7% and 66.8%, respectively, with the maximal Youden index of 0.615. Conclusion: ADRR before drug washout > 7.8 (ng/L) / (mU/L) can be used as an alternative cut-off point to screen PA when drug washout is not available.

Significant Day-time Ionospheric Perturbation by Thunderstorms along the West African and Congo Sector of Equatorial Region

The equatorial Congo has been recognized as the most active lightning chimney region in the Globe. Although the perturbation of tropospheric thunderstorms on the lower ionosphere has been noticed in the middle latitudes through their transient lightning electric fields or convective gravity waves, the effects on equatorial ionosphere and the horizontal extent of this perturbation remains a mystery because of the difficulties in extracting the effects due to the sporadic nature of the equatorial ionosphere. Here we present observational results showing solid evidence of deviations in ionospheric total electron content (TEC) and its direction of propagation associated with thunderstorms using the method of polynomial filtering, by utilizing the TEC measured from equatorial Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver stations along the West African region-Congo Basin. The TEC deviations due to the thunderstorms were found to be mostly propagated in a specific direction from the point of the event, with the highest absolute peak TEC at ~±1.5 TECUs. The internal dynamics of the equatorial ionosphere have been found to be suppressed by large thunderstorm effects during the daytime, with negligible impact at night.

First measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters using neutrinos and antineutrinos by NOvA

The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2 GeV ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam at a distance of 810 km. Using 12.33×10^{20} protons on target delivered to the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beamline, the experiment recorded 27 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{e} candidates with a background of 10.3 and 102 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{μ} candidates. This new antineutrino data are combined with neutrino data to measure the parameters |Δm_{32}^{2}|=2.48_{-0.06}^{+0.11}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4} and sin^{2}θ_{23} in the ranges from (0.53-0.60) and (0.45-0.48) in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The data exclude most values near δ_{CP}=π/2 for the inverted mass hierarchy by more than 3σ and favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy by 1.9σ and θ_{23} values in the upper octant by 1.6σ.

First Measurement of the Total Neutron Cross Section on Argon between 100 and 800 MeV

We report the first measurement of the neutron cross section on argon in the energy range of 100-800 MeV. The measurement was obtained with a 4.3-h exposure of the Mini-CAPTAIN detector to the WNR/LANSCE beam at LANL. The total cross section is measured from the attenuation coefficient of the neutron flux as it traverses the liquid argon volume. A set of 2631 candidate interactions is divided in bins of the neutron kinetic energy calculated from time-of-flight measurements. These interactions are reconstructed with custom-made algorithms specifically designed for the data in a time projection chamber the size of the Mini-CAPTAIN detector. The energy averaged cross section is 0.91±0.10(stat)±0.09(syst)  b. A comparison of the measured cross section is made to the GEANT4 and FLUKA event generator packages, where the energy averaged cross sections in this range are 0.60 and 0.68 b, respectively.

Expressions of miR-525-3p and its target gene SEMG1 in the spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia

BACKGROUND

Semenogelin 1 (SEMG1) is an important secretory protein in spermatozoa involved in the formation of a gel matrix encasing ejaculated spermatozoa. Previous studies show that the SEMG1 gene is highly expressed in spermatozoa from patients with asthenozoospermia (AZS); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet clear.

OBJECTIVES

To study the molecular mechanism of high expression of SEMG1 gene and its potential roles in AZS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression levels of SEMG1 protein and mRNA in the ejaculated spermatozoa from normozoospermic males and AZS patients. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict miRNAs targeting for SEMG1 3'-untranslated region detection of the expression levels of all the candidate miRNAs in ejaculatory spermatozoa in AZS patients or normozoospermic volunteers. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm it can directly bind to SEMG1. Correlation of miR-525-3p and SEMG1 mRNA expression with clinical sperm parameters were also analyzed. Finally, we conducted a follow-up study of reproductive history about all the subjects.

RESULTS

SEMG1 mRNA and protein level were significantly higher in AZS patients compared to that in normozoospermic volunteers (p < 0.001). Subsequently, microRNA-525-3p (miR-525-3p) which was predicted as a candidate regulator of SEMG1 was found lower expressed in ejaculatory spermatozoa in AZS patients (p = 0.0074). Luciferase experiment revealed that microRNA-525-3p could directly target SEMG1 3'-untranslated region and suppress its expression. Importantly, our retrospective follow-up study showed that both low miR-525-3p expression and high SEMG1 expression level was significantly associated with low progressive sperm motility, abnormal sperm morphology, and infertility.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The elevated expression of SEMG1 and reduced expression of miR-525-3p are associated with AZS and male infertility. Our study provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of male infertility or for male contraception.

Comparative study between mini-open TLIF via Wiltse's approach and conventional open TLIF in lumbar degenerative diseases

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical effects, operation safety and radiation exposure of mini-open TLIF via Wiltse's approach (MOTLIF) and conventional open TLIF (COTLIF) in the treatment of single-segment lumbar degenerative disease via the prospective control study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 77 patients were enrolled from November 2012 to July 2014, including 42 patients in the mini-open group (MOTLIF) and 35 patients in the COTLIF group. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores before operation, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, blood transfusion rates, postoperative bedridden time, postoperative hospital stays, intraoperative fluoroscopic time, levels of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) before operation, 3 days and 1 week after operation, VAS scores before operation, 3 days and 1 week after operation, and ODI and VAS scores in the last follow-up between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the two groups in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, blood transfusion rates, postoperative bedridden time, postoperative hospital stays and intraoperative fluoroscopic time; all indicators in MOTLIF group were superior to those in COTLIF group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in levels of serum CPK before operation and 1 week after operation (p>0.05). However, 3 days after operation, the level of serum CPK in COTLIF group was increased more significantly than that in MOTLIF group (647.4±178.6 vs. 467.4±189.4). There were no differences between the two groups in ODI and VAS scores before operation; ODI score in MOTLIF group in the last follow-up was significantly superior to that in COTLIF group (p>0.05). And VAS scores at 3 days and 1 week after operation and the last follow-up in MOTLIF group were superior to those in COTLIF group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the conventional open TLIF, mini-open TLIF via Wiltse's approach using the self-designed operating apparatus is characterized by the convenient operation, small trauma and quick recovery after operation. At the same time, the radiation exposure is lower and long-term follow-up effect is superior. Its short-term and long-term effects in the treatment of lower lumbar degenerative disease are also superior.

Comprehensive proteomics analysis of exosomes derived from human seminal plasma

Exosomes are membranous nanovesicles of endocytic origin that carry and transfer regulatory bioactive molecules and mediate intercellular communication between cells and tissues. Although seminal exosomes have been identified in human seminal plasma, their exact composition and possible physiologic function remain unknown. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive proteomics analysis of exosomes derived from human seminal plasma. Seminal exosomes were isolated and purified from 12 healthy donors using a 30% sucrose cushion‐based exosome‐isolation protocol, followed by characterization by western blot, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis before performing extensive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics analysis. The identified proteins were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, and seminal exosomes‐associated proteins were selectively validated by western blot. A total of 1474 proteins were identified in all seminal exosomes samples, with Gene Ontology analysis demonstrating that these identified seminal exosomes‐associated proteins were mostly linked to ‘exosomes,’ ‘cytoplasm,’ and ‘cytosol.’ Bioinformatics analysis indicated that these proteins were mainly involved in biologic processes, including metabolism, energy pathways, protein metabolism, cell growth and maintenance, and transport. Of these identified proteins, PHGDH, LGALS3BP, SEMG1, ACTB, GAPDH, and the exosomal‐marker protein ALIX were validated by western blot. This study provided a more comprehensive description of the seminal exosomes proteome and could also be a resource for further screening of biomarkers and comparative proteomics studies, including those associated with male infertility and prostate cancer.

[Response and prognosis of neoadjuvant dose-dense or standard schedule chemotherapy with anthracyclines and taxanes for Luminal B breast cancer]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant dose-dense or standard schedule chemotherapy with anthracyclines and taxanes for Luminal B (HER2-)Breast Cancer. Methods: From January 2010 to December 2014, 168 Luminal B (HER2-) breast cancer patients with stageⅡA-ⅢC confirmed by pathology were randomly assigned to receive one of the following regimens: (group A) concurrent TEC× 4 every 3 weeks, ( group B ) sequential EC× 4-T × 4 every 3 weeks, (group C ) dose-dense TEC× 4 every 2 weeks with G-CSF, (group D) sequential EC× 4(dose-dense)-T × 4 with dose-dense every 2 weeks . Results: A total of 168 patients completed the neoadjuvant chemotherapy as planned. The pathologic complete response (pCR) was 16.8% in the 4 groups.The pCR were 30.9% and 26.1% in the group C and group D respectively, significantly higher than patients with group A and group B(9.5%and 7.1%) ( P<0.05). Median follow-up was 43 months (IQR 3-63). The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) rate was 64.7%, 55.5%, 87.8% and 92.1% and the 3-year overall survival(OS)rate was 79.4%, 77.7%, 95.1%, 97.3% in the 4 groups respectively. Patients in the dose-dense group had better 3-year DFS and 3-year OS than those with the regular group.The side-effects could be evaluated in 154 patients.The incidence of neutropenia was 29.2% and 21.9% in the group C and group D versus 65.7%and 51.3% in the regular group(P<0.05), the incidence of nervous toxicity was 54.2%, 18.9%, 60.0%, 26.8% in the 4 groups respectively. The incidence of nervous toxicity in the dose-dense group was lower than that in the regular regimen group(P<0.05). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy with anthracyclines and taxanes for Luminal B (HER2-)Breast Cancer was effective and can improve the pCR, DFS and OS.Comparing the two dose dense regimens, sequentially with anthracyclines and taxanes, the incidence of nervous toxicity were lower.

A novel framework for biomedical entity sense induction

BACKGROUND

Rapid advancements in biomedical research have accelerated the number of relevant electronic documents published online, ranging from scholarly articles to news, blogs, and user-generated social media content. Nevertheless, the vast amount of this information is poorly organized, making it difficult to navigate. Emerging technologies such as ontologies and knowledge bases (KBs) could help organize and track the information associated with biomedical research developments. A major challenge in the automatic construction of ontologies and KBs is the identification of words with its respective sense(s) from a free-text corpus. Word-sense induction (WSI) is a task to automatically induce the different senses of a target word in the different contexts. In the last two decades, there have been several efforts on WSI. However, few methods are effective in biomedicine and life sciences.

METHODS

We developed a framework for biomedical entity sense induction using a mixture of natural language processing, supervised, and unsupervised learning methods with promising results. It is composed of three main steps: (1) a polysemy detection method to determine if a biomedical entity has many possible meanings; (2) a clustering quality index-based approach to predict the number of senses for the biomedical entity; and (3) a method to induce the concept(s) (i.e., senses) of the biomedical entity in a given context.

RESULTS

To evaluate our framework, we used the well-known MSH WSD polysemic dataset that contains 203 annotated ambiguous biomedical entities, where each entity is linked to 2-5 concepts. Our polysemy detection method obtained an F-measure of 98%. Second, our approach for predicting the number of senses achieved an F-measure of 93%. Finally, we induced the concepts of the biomedical entities based on a clustering algorithm and then extracted the keywords of reach cluster to represent the concept.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed a framework for biomedical entity sense induction with promising results. Our study results can benefit a number of downstream applications, for example, help to resolve concept ambiguities when building Semantic Web KBs from biomedical text.

[Relationship between Myofibril Fragmentation Index and Postmortem Interval]

OBJECTIVES

To study the relationship between myofibril fragmentation index （MFI） of human skeletal muscle and postmortem interval （PMI）.

METHODS

The protein concentrations of human right biceps brachii muscle and right quadriceps femoris muscle were obtained at different PMI, and detected at room temperature by biuret method. The MFI of skeletal muscle at 540 nm was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Regression analysis was performed with time of death as independent variable （x） and MFI as dependent variable （y）.

RESULTS

In early PMI, the MFI of human skeletal muscle increased obviously according to the prolongation of PMI, and peaking by 12 h and then tended to steady. Within 12 h after death, the regression equations of right biceps brachii muscle and right quadriceps femoris muscle were y=32.660+3.227 x（r=0.987 9） and y=32.380+3.495 x（r=0.983 9）, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There's high correlation between MFI and PMI. Combining with forensic practice, MFI can be used for the estimation of early PMI （especially in 12 h）.

Regulation of oncogenes and gap junction intercellular communication during the proliferative response of zearalenone in TM3 cells

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a nonsteroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species. The exposure risk to humans and animals is the consumption of contaminated food and animal feeds. The aim of this study was to investigate ZEA-induced effects and its tumorigenic mechanism in TM3 cells (mouse Leydig cells). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) were assessed in this study. Results showed that low concentrations of ZEA could significantly promote the growth of TM3 cells. The percentage of cell distribution was decreased significantly in G1/G0 phase and was increased significantly in S phase with 10 and 20 μg/L of ZEA for 72 h ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The expressions of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 were significantly increased in the exposure groups compared with the control group ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the apoptosis was significantly decreased in 10 and 20 μg/L groups ( p < 0.01), and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein level was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The protein levels of proto-oncogene c-Myc, c-Jun, and c-Fos were significantly elevated and the protein levels of anti-oncogene p53 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were decreased obviously compared with the control group ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01). ZEA affected the expressions of connexins and inhibited the activity of GJIC. These results demonstrated that ZEA can disturb the dynamic balance between proliferation and apoptosis and causes abnormal regulation of oncogenes, GJIC, and connexins in TM3 cells, which may easily induce the translation of normal cells into tumor cells.

Growth and lasing performance of a Tm,Y:CaF2 crystal

A Tm³⁺ ion and Y³⁺ ion co-doped CaF₂ crystal was grown and characterized, in which spectral and lasing performance was presented for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Under diode end-pumping, in a continuous-wave regime, maximum output power of 453 mW was delivered under an absorption pump power of 2.5 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 17.9% and a slope efficiency of 21%. With a birefringent quartz plate, wavelength-tunable operation with a tunable range of more than 190 nm was realized. The results show that Tm,Y:CaF₂ is a promising laser crystal operating in a spectral region ranging from 1850 nm to 2050 nm.

Measurement of the Neutrino Mixing Angle θ_{23} in NOvA

This Letter reports new results on muon neutrino disappearance from NOvA, using a 14 kton detector equivalent exposure of 6.05×10^{20} protons on target from the NuMI beam at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The measurement probes the muon-tau symmetry hypothesis that requires maximal θ_{23} mixing (θ_{23}=π/4). Assuming the normal mass hierarchy, we find Δm_{32}^{2}=(2.67±0.11)×10^{-3}  eV^{2} and sin^{2}θ_{23} at the two statistically degenerate values 0.404_{-0.022}^{+0.030} and 0.624_{-0.030}^{+0.022}, both at the 68% confidence level. Our data disfavor the maximal mixing scenario with 2.6σ significance.

Wnt11 overexpression promote adipose-derived stem cells differentiating to the nucleus pulposus-like phenotype

OBJECTIVE

Our present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Wnt11 overexpression on the adipose-derived stem (ADSCs) cells differentiation to the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and its function in the ADSCs cells growth, proliferation and induction of the NP cells markers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cell growth was detected using the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay and the cell cycle was assessed by the flow cytometry. The cells morphology was evaluated using the transmission electron microscopy. The transfection efficiencies of Wnt11 lentivirus were observed under fluorescence microscope. Besides, Quantitative Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were applied to detect the relative mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

Wnt11 lentivirus treatment could inhibit the ADSCs cells growth and arrest the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase. Besides, the overexpression of Wnt11in ADSCs cells could induce the expression of the NP cells markers. Levels of SOX-9, aggrecan, and collagen type II were significantly increased in the ADSCs cells transfected with the Wnt11 lentivirus, in comparison with the untreated cells or the vector controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The Wnt11 overexpression may provide some experimental evidence for the possible opportunity of the Wnt11 to promote the ADSCs cells differentiating to the NP cells. Therefore, the Wnt11 overexpression may have a potential utility for the treatment of the intervertebral disc degeneration.

[Analysis on the data of antibiotic prescriptions comment in China, 2014-2015]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the rationality of antibiotic use in the outpatient and emergency departments in some class 3A hospitals in China through International Network for Rational Use of Drugs(INRUD).

METHODS

The antibiotic prescriptions were collected from the outpatient and emergency departments in 78 class 3A hospitals of 25 provinces through INRUD during 2014-2015. The basic information of the antibiotic prescriptions and the prescriptions rationality were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 447 894 prescriptions of antibiotics were analyzed. From 2014 to 2015, the qualified rate the prescriptions increased from 91.52% to 93.08%, and the antibiotic use rate was similar(11.72% and 12.04%). The major irrational prescription type was inappropriate prescription, including inappropriate indication(32.42%, 34.02%)and inappropriate usage and dosage(24.22%, 18.56%).

CONCLUSIONS

Totally, the antibiotic use in the outpatient and emergency department reached the standard in China. However, the use of antibiotics didn't meet the national requirements in some area. It is necessary to promote the rational use of antibiotics.

Correlation between RNA Degradation Patterns of Rat's Brain and Early PMI at Different Temperatures

OBJECTIVES

To explore the correlation between early postmortem interval （PMI） and eight RNA markers of rat's brain at different temperatures.

METHODS

Total 222 SD rats were randomly divided into control group （PMI=0 h） and four experimental groups. And the rats in the experimental groups were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and respectively kept at 5 ℃, 15 ℃, 25 ℃ and 35 ℃ in a controlled environment chamber. The RNA was extracted from brain tissues, which was taken at 9 time points from 1 h to 24 h postmortem. The expression levels of eight markers, β-actin, GAPDH, RPS29, 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA, U6 snRNA, miRNA-9 and miRNA-125b, were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively. Proper internal reference was selected by geNorm software. Regression analysis of normalized RNA markers was performed by SPSS software. Mathematical model for PMI estimation was established using R software. Another 6 SD rats with known PMI were used to verify the mathematical model.

RESULTS

5S rRNA, miR-9 and miR-125b were suitable as internal reference markers for their stable expression. Both β-actin and GAPDH had well time-dependent degradation patterns and degraded continually with prolongation of PMI in 24 h postmortem. The mathematical model of the variation of ΔCt values with PMI and temperature was set up by R software and the model could be used for PMI estimation. The average error rates of model validation using β-actin and GAPDH were 14.1% and 22.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression levels of β-actin and GAPDH are well correlated with PMI and environmental temperature. The mathematical model established in present study can provide references for estimating early PMI under various temperature conditions.

First Measurement of Electron Neutrino Appearance in NOvA

We report results from the first search for ν_{μ}→ν_{e} transitions by the NOvA experiment. In an exposure equivalent to 2.74×10^{20} protons on target in the upgraded NuMI beam at Fermilab, we observe 6 events in the Far Detector, compared to a background expectation of 0.99±0.11(syst) events based on the Near Detector measurement. A secondary analysis observes 11 events with a background of 1.07±0.14(syst). The 3.3σ excess of events observed in the primary analysis disfavors 0.1π<δ_{CP}<0.5π in the inverted mass hierarchy at the 90% C.L.

[Impact of long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

This case control study was performed among 154 patients with moderate or severe OSAS between September 2009 and September 2014. Patients were divided into treatment group (n=66, 53 patients with hypertension) and control group (n=88, 67 patients with hypertension). The long-term efficacy of CPAP treatment on clinical events and blood pressure was evaluated.

RESULTS

The combined incidence of death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and stroke events was 1.5% (1/66) in treatment group and 11.4% (10/88) in control group (P<0.05). CPAP treatment also led to more significant reduction in systolic blood pressure ((12.24±18.06) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (4.24±16.63) mmHg, P<0.05) in the patients with hypertension in these two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CPAP treatment could reduce the risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular events for patients with moderate or severe OSAS.

Longitudinal Association between Selenium Levels and Hypertension in a Rural Elderly Chinese Cohort

OBJECTIVES

Results from previous studies have been inconsistent on the association between selenium and hypertension, and very few studies on this subject have focused on the elderly population. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between selenium level and hypertension in a rural elderly Chinese cohort.

DESIGN

A longitudinal study was implemented and data were analyzed using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for potential confounders. The associations between selenium level and prevalent hypertension at baseline and between selenium and incident hypertension were examined.

SETTING

Community-based setting in four rural areas in China.

SUBJECTS

A total of 2000 elderly aged 65 years and over (mean 71.9±5.6 years) participated in this study.

MEASUREMENTS

Nail selenium levels were measured in all subjects at baseline. Blood pressure measures and self-reported hypertension history were collected at baseline, 2.5 years and 7 years later. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure 140 mmHg or higher, diastolic blood pressure 90 mmHg or higher, or reported use of anti-hypertensive medication.

RESULTS

The rate of baseline hypertension was 63.50% in this cohort and the mean nail selenium level is 0.413±0.183μg/g. Multi-covariate adjusted cross-sectional analyses indicated that higher selenium level was associated with higher blood pressure measures at baseline and higher rates of hypertension. For the 635 participants with normal blood pressure at baseline, 360 had developed hypertension during follow-up. The incidence rate for hypertension was 45.83%, 52.27%, 62.50%, 70.48%, and 62.79% from the first selenium quintile to the fifth quintile respectively. Comparing to the lowest quintile group, the hazard ratios were 1.41 (95%CI: 1.03 to1.94), 1.93 (95%CI: 1.40 to 2.67), 2.35 (95%CI: 1.69 to 3.26) and 1.94 (95%CI: 1.36 to 22.77) for the second selenium quintile to the fifth quintile respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that high selenium may play a harmful role in the development of hypertension. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and to elucidate a plausible biological mechanism.

Dysregulated choline metabolism in T-cell lymphoma: role of choline kinase-α and therapeutic targeting

Cancer cells have distinct metabolomic profile. Metabolic enzymes regulate key oncogenic signaling pathways and have an essential role on tumor progression. Here, serum metabolomic analysis was performed in 45 patients with T-cell lymphoma (TCL) and 50 healthy volunteers. The results showed that dysregulation of choline metabolism occurred in TCL and was related to tumor cell overexpression of choline kinase-α (Chokα). In T-lymphoma cells, pharmacological and molecular silencing of Chokα significantly decreased Ras-GTP activity, AKT and ERK phosphorylation and MYC oncoprotein expression, leading to restoration of choline metabolites and induction of tumor cell apoptosis/necropotosis. In a T-lymphoma xenograft murine model, Chokα inhibitor CK37 remarkably retarded tumor growth, suppressed Ras-AKT/ERK signaling, increased lysophosphatidylcholine levels and induced in situ cell apoptosis/necropotosis. Collectively, as a regulatory gene of aberrant choline metabolism, Chokα possessed oncogenic activity and could be a potential therapeutic target in TCL, as well as other hematological malignancies with interrupted Ras signaling pathways.