Automatic Detection of Nuclear Spins at Arbitrary Magnetic Fields via Signal-to-Image AI Model

Quantum sensors leverage matter's quantum properties to enable measurements with unprecedented spatial and spectral resolution. Among these sensors, those utilizing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond offer the distinct advantage of operating at room temperature. Nevertheless, signals received from NV centers are often complex, making interpretation challenging. This is especially relevant in low magnetic field scenarios, where standard approximations for modeling the system fail. Additionally, NV signals feature a prominent noise component. In this Letter, we present a signal-to-image deep learning model capable of automatically inferring the number of nuclear spins surrounding a NV sensor and the hyperfine couplings between the sensor and the nuclear spins. Our model is trained to operate effectively across various magnetic field scenarios, requires no prior knowledge of the involved nuclei, and is designed to handle noisy signals, leading to fast characterization of nuclear environments in real experimental conditions. With detailed numerical simulations, we test the performance of our model in scenarios involving varying numbers of nuclei, achieving an average error of less than 2 kHz in the estimated hyperfine constants.

Polyploidy-associated autophagy promotes larval tracheal histolysis at Drosophila metamorphosis

Polyploidy is an extended phenomenon in biology. However, its physiological significance and whether it defines specific cell behaviors is not well understood. Here we study its connection to macroautophagy/autophagy, using the larval respiratory system of Drosophila as a model. This system comprises cells with the same function yet with notably different ploidy status, namely diploid progenitors and their polyploid larval counterparts, the latter destined to die during metamorphosis. We identified an association between polyploidy and autophagy and found that higher endoreplication status correlates with elevated autophagy. Finally, we report that tissue histolysis in the trachea during Drosophila metamorphosis is mediated by autophagy, which triggers the apoptosis of polyploid cells.Abbreviations: APF: after pupa formation; Atg: autophagy related; btl: breathless; CycE: Cyclin E; DT: dorsal trunk; fzr: fizzy-related; L3: larval stage 3; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; RI: RNAi; Tr: tracheal metamere; yki: yorkie.

Quantum neural networks with multi-qubit potentials

We propose quantum neural networks that include multi-qubit interactions in the neural potential leading to a reduction of the network depth without losing approximative power. We show that the presence of multi-qubit potentials in the quantum perceptrons enables more efficient information processing tasks such as XOR gate implementation and prime numbers search, while it also provides a depth reduction to construct distinct entangling quantum gates like CNOT, Toffoli, and Fredkin. This simplification in the network architecture paves the way to address the connectivity challenge to scale up a quantum neural network while facilitating its training.

Antagonistic role of the BTB-zinc finger transcription factors chinmo and broad-complex in the juvenile/pupal transition and in growth control

During development, the growing organism transits through a series of temporally regulated morphological stages to generate the adult form. In humans, for example, development progresses from childhood through to puberty and then to adulthood, when sexual maturity is attained. Similarly, in holometabolous insects, immature juveniles transit to the adult form through an intermediate pupal stage when larval tissues are eliminated and the imaginal progenitor cells form the adult structures. The identity of the larval, pupal and adult stages depends on the sequential expression of the transcription factors chinmo, Br-C and E93. However, how these transcription factors determine temporal identity in developing tissues is poorly understood. Here we report on the role of the larval specifier chinmo in larval and adult progenitor cells during fly development. Interestingly, chinmo promotes growth in larval and imaginal tissues in a Br-C-independent and -dependent manner, respectively. In addition, we found that the absence of chinmo during metamorphosis is critical for proper adult differentiation. Importantly, we also provide evidence that, in contrast to the well-known role of chinmo as a pro-oncogene, Br-C and E93 act as tumour suppressors. Finally, we reveal that the function of chinmo as a juvenile specifier is conserved in hemimetabolous insects as its homolog has a similar role in Blatella germanica. Taken together, our results suggest that the sequential expression of the transcription factors Chinmo, Br-C and E93 during larva, pupa an adult respectively, coordinate the formation of the different organs that constitute the adut organism.

High-Resolution NMR Spectroscopy at Large Fields with Nitrogen Vacancy Centers

Ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are used as sensors to detect nuclear magnetic resonance signals from micron-sized samples at room temperature. In this scenario, the regime of large magnetic fields is especially interesting as it leads to a large nuclear thermal polarization-thus, to a strong sensor response even in low concentration samples-while chemical shifts and J couplings become more accessible. Nevertheless, this regime remains largely unexplored owing to the difficulties of coupling NV-based sensors with high-frequency nuclear signals. In this Letter, we circumvent this problem with a method that maps the relevant energy shifts in the amplitude of an induced nuclear spin signal that is subsequently transferred to the sensor. This stage is interspersed with free-precession periods of the sample nuclear spins where the sensor does not participate. Thus, our method leads to high spectral resolutions ultimately limited by the coherence of the nuclear spin signal.

Tailored ion beam for precise colour centre creation

We present an invariant-based quantum control scheme leading to a highly monochromatic ion beam from a Paul trap. Our protocol is implementable by supplying the segmented electrodes in the trap with voltages of the order of volts. This mitigates the impact of fluctuations in previous designs and leads to a low-dispersion beam of ions. Moreover, our proposal does not rely on sympathetically cooling ions, which bypasses the need of loading different species in the trap-namely, the propelled ion and, e.g. a [Formula: see text] to exert sympathetic cooling-significantly incrementing the repetition rate of the launching procedure. Our scheme is based on an invariant operator linear in position and momentum, which enables us to control the average extraction energy and the outgoing momentum spread. In addition, we propose a sequential operation to tailor the transversal properties of the beam before the ejection to minimize the impact spot and to increase the lateral resolution of the implantation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Shortcuts to adiabaticity: theoretical, experimental and interdisciplinary perspectives'.

A single-center comparison of our initial experiences in treating penile and urethral cancer with video-endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) and later experiences in melanoma cases

Background

Video-endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) is a minimally invasive approach that is increasingly indicated in oncological settings, with mounting evidence for its long-term oncological safety.

Objectives

To present our single-center experience of treating penile and urethral cancer with VEIL, as well as its more recent application in melanoma patients.

Methods

We prospectively recorded our experiences with VEIL from September 2010 to July 2018, registering the patient primary indication, surgical details, complications, and follow-up.

Results

Twenty-nine patients were operated in one (24) or both (5) groins; 18 had penile cancer, 1 had urethral cancer, and 10 had melanoma. A mean 8.62 ± 4.45 lymph nodes were removed using VEIL and of these, an average of 1.00 ± 2.87 were metastatic; 16 patients developed lymphocele and 10 presented some degree of lymphedema; there were no skin or other major complications. The median follow-up was 19.35 months; there were 3 penile cancer patient recurrences in the VEIL-operated side. None of the melanoma patients presented a lymphatic inguinal recurrence.

Conclusions

VEIL is a minimally invasive technique which appears to be oncologically safe showing fewer complications than open surgery. However, complications such as lymphorrhea, lymphocele, or lymphedema were not diminished by using VEIL.

Control of hormone-driven organ disassembly by ECM remodeling and Yorkie-dependent apoptosis

Epithelia grow and shape into functional structures during organogenesis. Although most of the focus on organogenesis has been drawn to the building of biological structures, the disassembly of pre-existing structures is also an important event to reach a functional adult organ. Examples of disassembly processes include the regression of the Müllerian or Wolffian ducts during gonad development and mammary gland involution during the post-lactational period in adult females. To date, it is unclear how organ disassembly is controlled at the cellular level. Here, we follow the Drosophila larval trachea through metamorphosis and show that its disassembly is a hormone-driven and precisely orchestrated process. It occurs in two phases: first, remodeling of the apical extracellular matrix (aECM), mediated by matrix metalloproteases and independent of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, results in a progressive shortening of the entire trachea and a nuclear-to-cytoplasmic relocalization of the Hippo effector Yorkie (Yki). Second, a decreased transcription of the Yki target, Diap1, in the posterior metameres and the activation of caspases result in the apoptotic loss of the posterior half of the trachea while the anterior half escapes cell death. Thus, our work unravels a mechanism by which hormone-driven ECM remodeling controls sequential tissue shortening and apoptotic cell removal through the transcriptional activity of Yki, leading to organ disassembly during animal development.

Speeding up quantum perceptron via shortcuts to adiabaticity

The quantum perceptron is a fundamental building block for quantum machine learning. This is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates abilities of quantum computing, such as state superposition and entanglement, to classical machine learning schemes. Motivated by the techniques of shortcuts to adiabaticity, we propose a speed-up quantum perceptron where a control field on the perceptron is inversely engineered leading to a rapid nonlinear response with a sigmoid activation function. This results in faster overall perceptron performance compared to quasi-adiabatic protocols, as well as in enhanced robustness against imperfections in the controls.

Systemic and local effect of the Drosophila headcase gene and its role in stress protection of Adult Progenitor Cells

During the development of a holometabolous insect such as Drosophila, specific group of cells in the larva survive during metamorphosis, unlike the other larval cells, and finally give rise to the differentiated adult structures. These cells, also known as Adult Progenitor Cells (APCs), maintain their multipotent capacity, differentially respond to hormonal and nutritional signals, survive the intrinsic and environmental stress and respond to the final differentiation cues. However, not much is known about the specific molecular mechanisms that account for their unique characteristics. Here we show that a specific Drosophila APC gene, headcase (hdc), has a dual role in the normal development of these cells. It acts at a systemic level by controlling the hormone ecdysone in the prothoracic gland and at the same time it acts locally as a tissue growth suppressor in the APC clusters, where it modulates the activity of the TOR pathway and promotes their survival by contributing in the regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response. We also show that hdc provides protection against stress in the APCs and that its ectopic expression in cells that do not usually express hdc can confer these cells with an additional stress protection. Hdc is the founding member of a group of homolog proteins identified from C. elegans to humans, where has been found associated with cancer progression. The finding that the Drosophila hdc is specifically expressed in progenitor cells and that it provides protection against stress opens up a new hypothesis to be explored regarding the role of the human Heca and its contribution to carcinogenesis.

Unravelling the distinct contribution of cell shape changes and cell intercalation to tissue morphogenesis: the case of the Drosophila trachea

Intercalation allows cells to exchange positions in a spatially oriented manner in an array of diverse processes, spanning convergent extension in embryonic gastrulation to the formation of tubular organs. However, given the co-occurrence of cell intercalation and changes in cell shape, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain their respective contribution to morphogenesis. A well-established model to analyse intercalation, particularly in tubular organs, is the Drosophila tracheal system. There, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling at the tip of the dorsal branches generates a ‘pulling’ force believed to promote cell elongation and cell intercalation, which account for the final branch extension. Here, we used a variety of experimental conditions to study the contribution of cell elongation and cell intercalation to morphogenesis and analysed their mutual requirements. We provide evidence that cell intercalation does not require cell elongation and vice versa. We also show that the two cell behaviours are controlled by independent but simultaneous mechanisms, and that cell elongation is sufficient to account for full extension of the dorsal branch, while cell intercalation has a specific role in setting the diameter of this structure. Thus, rather than viewing changes in cell shape and cell intercalation as just redundant events that add robustness to a given morphogenetic process, we find that they can also act by contributing to different features of tissue architecture.

Upregulation of E93 Gene Expression Acts as the Trigger for Metamorphosis Independently of the Threshold Size in the Beetle Tribolium castaneum

Body size in holometabolous insects is determined by the size at which the juvenile larva undergoes metamorphosis to the pupal stage. To undergo larva-pupa transition, larva must reach a critical developmental checkpoint, the threshold size (TS); however, the molecular mechanisms through which the TS cues this transition remain to be fully characterized. Here, we use the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying entry into metamorphosis. We found that T. castaneum reaches a TS at the beginning of the last larval instar, which is associated with the downregulation of TcKr-h1 and the upregulation of TcE93 and TcBr-C. Unexpectedly, we found that while there is an association between TS and TcE93 upregulation, it is the latter that constitutes the molecular trigger for metamorphosis initiation. In light of our results, we evaluate the interactions that control the larva-pupa transition and suggest alternative models.

External trigeminal nerve stimulation for drug resistant epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

External trigeminal nerve stimulation (ETNS) is an emergent, non-invasive neurostimulation therapy delivered bilaterally with adhesive skin electrodes. In previous studies, ETNS was associated to a decrease in seizure frequency in patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the long-term efficacy and tolerability of ETNS in patients with focal DRE. Moreover, to explore whether its efficacy depends on the epileptogenic zone (frontal or temporal), and its impact on mood, cognitive function, quality of life, and trigeminal nerve excitability.

METHODS

Forty consecutive patients with frontal or temporal DRE, unsuitable for surgery, were randomized to ETNS or usual medical treatment. Participants were evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months for efficacy, side effects, mood scales, neuropsychological tests and trigeminal nerve excitability.

RESULTS

Subjects had a median of 15 seizures per month and had tried a median of 12.5 antiepileptic drugs. At 12 months, percentage of responders was 50% in ETNS group and 0% in control group. Seizure frequency in ETNS group decreased by -43.5% from baseline. Temporal epilepsy subgroup responded better than frontal epilepsy subgroup (55.56% vs. 45.45%, respectively). Median stimulation intensity was 6.2 mA. ETNS improved quality of life, but not anxiety or depression. Long-term ETNS affected neither neuropsychological function, nor trigeminal nerve excitability. No relevant adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

ETNS is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for focal DRE. Patients with temporal epilepsy showed a better response than those with frontal epilepsy. Future studies with larger populations may define its role compared to other neurostimulation techniques.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class II evidence that ETNS reduces seizure frequency in patients with focal DRE.

Guidelines and definitions for research on epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) encompasses dynamic changes in cellular organization from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotypes, which leads to functional changes in cell migration and invasion. EMT occurs in a diverse range of physiological and pathological conditions and is driven by a conserved set of inducing signals, transcriptional regulators and downstream effectors. With over 5,700 publications indexed by Web of Science in 2019 alone, research on EMT is expanding rapidly. This growing interest warrants the need for a consensus among researchers when referring to and undertaking research on EMT. This Consensus Statement, mediated by ‘the EMT International Association’ (TEMTIA), is the outcome of a 2-year-long discussion among EMT researchers and aims to both clarify the nomenclature and provide definitions and guidelines for EMT research in future publications. We trust that these guidelines will help to reduce misunderstanding and misinterpretation of research data generated in various experimental models and to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration to identify and address key open questions in this research field. While recognizing the importance of maintaining diversity in experimental approaches and conceptual frameworks, we emphasize that lasting contributions of EMT research to increasing our understanding of developmental processes and combatting cancer and other diseases depend on the adoption of a unified terminology to describe EMT.

In this Consensus Statement, the authors (on behalf of the EMT International Association) propose guidelines to define epithelial–mesenchymal transition, its phenotypic plasticity and the associated multiple intermediate epithelial–mesenchymal cell states. Clarification of nomenclature and definitions will help reduce misinterpretation of research data generated in different experimental model systems and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration.

P704 Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction in the era of early reperfusion therapy: a case report

Introduction

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare mechanical complication of myocardial infarction, and its incidence has decreased with the widespread use of reperfusion therapies. Pseudoaneurysm is the result of a free wall rupture contained by pericardial adherences and mural thrombi, which contain the bleeding and prevent cardiac tamponade.

Clinical Presentation

A 68-year-old woman who had hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (caused by diabetic nephropathy) was first admitted with acute myocardial infarction of the inferior wall. Emergent coronary angiography revealed proximal occlusion of the right coronary artery. Primary angioplasty was performed with three stents implantation. However due to transitory no reflow, verapamil, nitrate and intracoronary abciximab were administered with recovery of coronary flow. Patient remained stable, without recurrence of symptoms. Echocardiography, at discharge, showed normal biventricular function and no mechanical complications.

Two months later, the patient was readmitted in the emergency room with constant chest pain, fatigue, prostration and loss of appetite beginning ten days earlier and an episode of syncope. Physical examination revealed fever, cardiac auscultation was rhythmic and without murmurs or pericardial friction rub, and pulmonary auscultation revealed crackles in inferior hemithorax. 12-lead electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm, Q waves and negative T waves in inferior leads. Blood tests revealed leucocytosis, high sensibility troponin I was 28,8 ng/L and brain natriuretic peptide was 264,9 pg/mL. Chest-X-ray demonstrated enlargement of the cardiac silhouette and echocardiography showed moderate to large pericardial effusion with large amounts of fibrin close to right cardiac chambers and a basal inferior pseudoaneurysm with 23 mm x 24 mm; intracavitary contrast was administered without opacification of pericardial space; biventricular function remained normal.

Patient was promptly admitted on Cardiac Intensive Care Unit with diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm due to myocardial infarction. Therapeutic with ticagrelor was suspended and surgical correction was proposed, after discussion in Heart Team. False aneurysm correction was performed with a bovine pericardial patch without complications, and the patient was discharged asymptomatic eight days later.

Conclusion

Even with lower incidence, pseudoaneurysms remains as a potential life-threatening due to its high risk of rupture. Prompt diagnosis, usually with echocardiography and surgical referral are crucial.

Abstract P704 Figure. Inferior Pseudoaneurysm

Modulated Continuous Wave Control for Energy-Efficient Electron-Nuclear Spin Coupling

We develop energy efficient, continuous microwave schemes to couple electron and nuclear spins, using phase or amplitude modulation to bridge their frequency difference. These controls have promising applications in biological systems, where microwave power should be limited, as well as in situations with high Larmor frequencies due to large magnetic fields and nuclear magnetic moments. These include nanoscale NMR where high magnetic fields achieves enhanced thermal nuclear polarization and larger chemical shifts. Our controls are also suitable for quantum information processors and nuclear polarization schemes.

The trigger (and the restriction) of Torso RTK activation

The Torso pathway is an ideal model of receptor tyrosine kinase systems, in particular when addressing questions such as how receptor activity is turned on and, equally important, how it is restricted, how different outcomes can be generated from a single signal, and the extent to which gene regulation by signalling pathways relies on the relief of transcriptional repression. In this regard, we considered it pertinent to single out the fundamental notions learned from the Torso pathway beyond the specificities of this system (Furriols and Casanova 2003 EMBO J. 22, 1947-1952. ( doi:10.1093/emboj/cdg224 )). Since then, the Torso system has gained relevance and its implications beyond its original involvement in morphogenesis and into many disciplines such as oncogenesis, hormone control and neurobiology are now acknowledged. Thus, we believe that it is timely to highlight additional notions supported by new findings and to draw attention to future prospects. Given the late development of research in the field, we wish to devote this review to the events leading to the activation of the Torso receptor, the main focus of our most recent work.

Long-term oncological results of treatment for high-risk prostate cancer using radical prostatectomy in a cancer hospital

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the most relevant oncologic results of treatment using radical prostatectomy (RP) for high-risk prostate cancer (HRPC) in a specialist cancer hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive retrospective study of RP was conducted at our centre from 1986 to 2017 on HRPC whose primary objective was to determine overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The study's secondary objectives were to determine biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), rescue therapy-free survival (RTFS), hormone therapy-free survival (HTFS) and the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. We performed a Cox regression analysis to establish predictive models and to better understand the weight of each variable that defines high risk.

RESULTS

A total of 2093 RPs were performed, 480 (22.9%) of which were for HRPC. The median follow-up for the overall series was 79.57 months (P_25-75 37.92-135.16). Lymphadenectomy was not performed in 6.5% of the cases. The lymphadenectomy was of the obturator type in 51.2% of the cases and extended in 42.3%. Overall survival at 5, 10 and 15 years was 89.8% (95% CI 86.7-92.9%), 73.3% (95% CI 68-78.6%) and 51.4% (95% CI 43.8-59%), respectively. CSS at 5, 10 and 15 years was 94.8% (95% CI 92.4-97.2%), 84.0% (95% CI 79.3-88.7%) and 75.5% (95% CI 68.8-82.2%), respectively. MFS at 5, 10 and 15 years was 87.4% (95% CI 84.1-90.7%), 72.2% (95% CI 66.7-77.7%) and 61.7% (95% CI 54.3-69.1%), respectively. A total of 120 patients of 477 analysed (25.1%) required rescue radiation therapy, and 293/477 never required hormone therapy (61.4%). Of the 93 pN1 patients, 33 (35.5%) did not require hormone therapy. The time from RP to biochemical progression was the variable with the greatest prognostic weight for MFS, CSS and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

RP plus extended lymphadenectomy should be the first therapeutic manoeuvre when feasible within a multimodal strategy. A longer follow-up of the series is needed to validate the hypothesis of better oncologic results based on the earlier implementation of rescue radiation therapy, extended lymphadenectomy and drugs that prolong survival in the CRPC phase.

Soft Quantum Control for Highly Selective Interactions among Joint Quantum Systems

We propose a quantum control scheme aimed at interacting systems that gives rise to highly selective coupling among their near-to-resonance constituents. Our protocol implements temporal control of the interaction strength, switching it on and off again adiabatically. This soft temporal modulation significantly suppresses off-resonant contributions in the interactions. Among the applications of our method we show that it allows us to perform an efficient rotating-wave approximation in a wide parameter regime, the elimination of side peaks in quantum sensing experiments, and selective high-fidelity entanglement gates on nuclear spins with close frequencies. We apply our theory to nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond and demonstrate the possibility for the detection of weak electron-nuclear coupling under the presence of strong perturbations.

GATA factor genes in the Drosophila midgut embryo

The Drosophila GATA factor gene serpent (srp) is required for the early differentiation of the anterior and posterior midgut primordia. In particular, srp is sufficient and necessary for the primordial gut cells to undertake an epithelial-to-mesenchimal transition (EMT). Two other GATA factor genes, dGATAe and grain (grn), are also specifically expressed in the midgut. On the one hand, dGATAe expression is activated by srp. Embryos homozygous for a deficiency uncovering dGATAe were shown to lack the expression of some differentiated midgut genes. Moreover, ectopic expression of dGATAe was sufficient to drive the expression of some of these differentiation marker genes, thus establishing the role of dGATAe in the regulation of their expression. However, due to the gross abnormalities associated with this deficiency, it was not possible to assess whether, similarly to srp, dGATAe might play a role in setting the midgut morphology. To further investigate this role we decided to generate a dGATAe mutant. On the other hand, grn is expressed in the midgut primordia around stage 11 and remains expressed until the end of embryogenesis. Yet, no midgut function has been described for grn. First, here we report that, as for dGATAe, midgut grn expression is dependent on srp; conversely, dGATAe and grn expression are independent of each other. Our results also indicate that, unlike srp, dGATAe and grn are not responsible for setting the general embryonic midgut morphology. We also show that the analysed midgut genes whose expression is lacking in embryos homozygous for a deficiency uncovering dGATAe are indeed dGATAe-dependent genes. Conversely, we do not find any midgut gene to be grn-dependent, with the exception of midgut repression of the proventriculus iroquois (iro) gene. In conclusion, our results clarify the expression patterns and function of the GATA factor genes expressed in the embryonic midgut.

Differential roles of the Drosophila EMT-inducing transcription factors Snail and Serpent in driving primary tumour growth

Several transcription factors have been identified that activate an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which endows cells with the capacity to break through basement membranes and migrate away from their site of origin. A key program in development, in recent years it has been shown to be a crucial driver of tumour invasion and metastasis. However, several of these EMT-inducing transcription factors are often expressed long before the initiation of the invasion-metastasis cascade as well as in non-invasive tumours. Increasing evidence suggests that they may promote primary tumour growth, but their precise role in this process remains to be elucidated. To investigate this issue we have focused our studies on two Drosophila transcription factors, the classic EMT inducer Snail and the Drosophila orthologue of hGATAs4/6, Serpent, which drives an alternative mechanism of EMT; both Snail and GATA are specifically expressed in a number of human cancers, particularly at the invasive front and in metastasis. Thus, we recreated conditions of Snail and of Serpent high expression in the fly imaginal wing disc and analysed their effect. While either Snail or Serpent induced a profound loss of epithelial polarity and tissue organisation, Serpent but not Snail also induced an increase in the size of wing discs. Furthermore, the Serpent-induced tumour-like tissues were able to grow extensively when transplanted into the abdomen of adult hosts. We found the differences between Snail and Serpent to correlate with the genetic program they elicit; while activation of either results in an increase in the expression of Yorki target genes, Serpent additionally activates the Ras signalling pathway. These results provide insight into how transcription factors that induce EMT can also promote primary tumour growth, and how in some cases such as GATA factors a ‘multi hit’ effect may be achieved through the aberrant activation of just a single gene.

Many cancer cells acquire abnormal motility behaviour leading to metastasis, the main cause of cancer related deaths. In many cancers, transcription factors capable of inducing motile migratory cell behaviours, so-called EMT transcription factors, are found highly expressed. However, the expression of these genes is not restricted to metastatic invasive cancers; they are often found in benign tumours, or in tumours long before they show any sign of metastasis. This observation motivated us to ask if they may play a role in driving primary tumour growth. Our results show that the Drosophila EMT-inducers Snail and Serpent are both capable of driving overproliferation. However, Snail overproliferation is accompanied by a decrease in cell size as well as cell death, and consequently the tissue does not increase in size. Serpent also drives cell proliferation but this occurs together with an increase in cell size, but not cell death, thus having a profound effect on the overall size of the tissue. We show that both Snail and Serpent trigger activation of the Yorki pathway and in addition Serpent, but not Snail, also triggers activation of the Ras pathway. These results provide insight into how activation of some EMT-inducing genes can also promote primary tumour growth.

Tumorigenic Properties of Drosophila Epithelial Cells Mutant for lethal giant larvae

BACKGROUND

Mutations in Drosophila tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) lead to the formation of invasive tumors in the brain and imaginal discs.

RESULTS

Here we studied the tumorigenic properties of imaginal discs mutant for the TSG gene lethal giant larvae (lgl). lgl mutant cells display the characteristic features of mammalian tumor cells: they can proliferate indefinitely, induce additional tracheogenesis (an insect counterpart of vasculogenesis) and invade neighboring tissues. Lgl mutant tissues exhibit high apoptotic levels, which lead to the activation of the Jun-N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway. We propose that JNK is a key factor in the acquisition of these tumorigenic properties; it promotes cell proliferation and induces high levels of Mmp1 and confers tumor cells capacity to invade wild-type tissue. Noteworthy, lgl RNAi-mediated down-regulation does not produce similar transformations in the central nervous system (CNS), thereby indicating a fundamental difference between the cells of developing imaginal discs and those of differentiated organs. We discuss these results in the light of the "single big-hit origin" of some human pediatric or developmental cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Down-regulation of lgl in imaginal discs is sufficient to enhance tracheogenesis and to promote invasion and colonization of other larval structures including the CNS. Developmental Dynamics 245:834-843, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PCA3 as a second-line biomarker in a prospective controlled randomized opportunistic prostate cancer screening programme

OBJECTIVES

PCA3 performance as a single second line biomarker is compared to the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer risk calculator model 3 (ERSPC RC-3) in an opportunistic screening in prostate cancer (PCa).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

5,199 men, aged 40-75y, underwent prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with a normal DRE and PSA ≥3ng/ml had a PCA3 test done. All men with PCA3 ≥35 underwent an initial biopsy (IBx) -12 cores-. Men with PCA3 <35 were randomized 1:1 to either IBx or observation. We compared them to those obtained with ERSPC RC-3.

RESULTS

PCA3 test was performed on 838 men (16.1%). In PCA3(+) and PCA3(-) groups, global PCa detection rates were 40.9% and 14.7% with a median follow-up (FU) of 21.7 months (P<.001). In the PCA3(+) arm (n=301, 35.9%), PCa was identified in 115 men at IBx (38.2%). In the randomized arm, 256 underwent IBx and PCa was found in 46 (18.0%) (P<.001). The biopsy-sparing potential would have been 64.1% as opposed to 76.6% if we had used ERSPC RC-3. However, the estimated false negative cases for HGPCa would have been reduced by 37.1% (89 to 56 patients). Moreover, if we had applied PCA3-35 to avoid IBx, 14.7% PCa and 9.1% of clinical significant PCa patients would not have been diagnosed during this FU.

CONCLUSIONS

When PCA3-35 is used as a second-line biomarker when PSA ≥3ng/ml and DRE is normal, IBx could be avoided in 12.5% less than if ERSPC RC-3 is used and would reduce the false negative cases by 36.2%. At a FU of 21.7 months, this dual protocol would miss 9.1% of clinically significant PCa, so strict FU is mandatory with established biopsy criteria based on PSA and DRE in cases with PCA3 <35.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma: A European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society study on 266 patients

PURPOSE

Prognosis of extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is reported to be poorer than that of skeletal osteosarcoma. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate factors influencing ESOS prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Members of the European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) submitted institutional data on patients with ESOS.

RESULTS

Data from 274 patients treated from 1981 to 2014 were collected from 16 EMSOS centres; 266 patients were eligible. Fifty (18.7%) had metastases at diagnosis. Of 216 patients with localised disease, 211 (98%) underwent surgery (R0 = 70.6%, R1 = 27%). Five-year overall survival (OS) for all 266 patients was 47% (95% CI 40-54%). Five-year OS for metastatic patients was 27% (95% CI 13-41%). In the analysis restricted to the 211 localised patients who achieved complete remission after surgery 5-year OS was 51.4% (95% CI 44-59%) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 43% (95% CI 35-51%). One hundred twenty-one patients (57.3%) received adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 80 patients (37.9%) received radiotherapy. A favourable trend was seen for osteosarcoma-type chemotherapy versus soft tissue sarcoma-type (doxorubicin ± ifosfamide) regimens. For the 211 patients in complete remission after surgery, patient age, tumour size, margins and chemotherapy were positive prognostic factors for DFS and OS by univariate analysis. At multivariate analysis, patient age (≤40 years versus >40 years) (P = 0.05), tumour size (P = 0.0001) and receipt of chemotherapy (P = 0.006) were statistically significant prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSION

Patient age and tumour size are factors influencing ESOS prognosis. Higher survival was observed in patients who received perioperative chemotherapy with a trend in favour of multiagent osteosarcoma-type regimen which included doxorubicin, ifosfamide and cisplatin.

Congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia and chylothorax - a case series

Congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia (CPL) and chylothorax (CC) are rare lymphatic developmental disorders. We report six clinical cases of CPL and CC that were admitted to our level III neonatal intensive care unit over the last 20 years. One case of unilateral CC was successfully treated with pleuro-amniotic shunt; three cases of bilateral CC were associated to lung hypoplasia, hydrops fetalis, and generalized lymphangiectasias; one case of CPL was associated with obstructive congenital heart defect; one case of unilateral CC was successfully treated with thoracocentesis and medium-chain triglyceride diet. Mortality was high (66.6%).

A common framework for EMT and collective cell migration

During development, cells often switch between static and migratory behaviours. Such transitions are fundamental events in development and are linked to harmful consequences in pathology. It has long been considered that epithelial cells either migrate collectively as epithelial cells, or undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migrate as individual mesenchymal cells. Here, we assess what is currently known about in vivo cell migratory phenomena and hypothesise that such migratory behaviours do not fit into alternative and mutually exclusive categories. Rather, we propose that these categories can be viewed as the most extreme cases of a general continuum of morphological variety, with cells harbouring different degrees or combinations of epithelial and mesenchymal features and displaying an array of migratory behaviours.

Noise-Resilient Quantum Computing with a Nitrogen-Vacancy Center and Nuclear Spins

Selective control of qubits in a quantum register for the purposes of quantum information processing represents a critical challenge for dense spin ensembles in solid-state systems. Here we present a protocol that achieves a complete set of selective electron-nuclear gates and single nuclear rotations in such an ensemble in diamond facilitated by a nearby nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center. The protocol suppresses internuclear interactions as well as unwanted coupling between the NV center and other spins of the ensemble to achieve quantum gate fidelities well exceeding 99%. Notably, our method can be applied to weakly coupled, distant spins representing a scalable procedure that exploits the exceptional properties of nuclear spins in diamond as robust quantum memories.

Genetic basis for the evolution of organ morphogenesis: the case of spalt and cut in the development of insect trachea

It is not clear how simple genetic changes can account for the coordinated variations that give rise to modified functional organs. Here, we addressed this issue by analysing the expression and function of regulatory genes in the developing tracheal systems of two insect species. The larval tracheal system of Drosophila can be distinguished from the less derived tracheal system of the beetle Tribolium by two main features. First, Tribolium has lateral spiracles connecting the trachea to the exterior in each segment, while Drosophila has only one pair of posterior spiracles. Second, Drosophila, but not Tribolium, has two prominent longitudinal branches that distribute air from the posterior spiracles. Both innovations, while considered different structures, are functionally dependent on each other and linked to habitat occupancy. We show that changes in the domains of spalt and cut expression in the embryo are associated with the acquisition of each structure. Moreover, we show that these two genetic modifications are connected both functionally and genetically, thus providing an evolutionary scenario by which a genetic event contributes to the joint evolution of functionally inter-related structures.

Snoo and Dpp Act as Spatial and Temporal Regulators Respectively of Adult Progenitor Cells in the Drosophila Trachea

Clusters of differentiated cells contributing to organ structures retain the potential to re-enter the cell cycle and replace cells lost during development or upon damage. To do so, they must be designated spatially and respond to proper activation cues. Here we show that in the case of Drosophila differentiated larval tracheal cells, progenitor potential is conferred by the spatially restricted activity of the Snoo transcription cofactor. Furthermore, Dpp signalling regulated by endocrine hormonal cues provides the temporal trigger for their activation. Finally, we elucidate the genetic network elicited by Snoo and Dpp activity. These results illustrate a regulatory mechanism that translates intrinsic potential and extrinsic cues into the facultative stem cell features of differentiated progenitors.

An important feature of organs is their ability to maintain their structure and function in spite of natural or accidental cell loss. This capacity is often sustained by so-called stem cells, which are able to provide new cells of the different types in the organ. In addition, some specialized cells, known as facultative stem cells, also retain the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and replace lost tissue. This process has to be very precisely regulated to provide for the maintenance of the tissues and organs while preventing uncontrolled cellular growth. We have analysed this mechanism in the Drosophila trachea; there, a group of Differentiated Adult Progenitor cells (or DAP cells) share the features of facultative stem cells as they remain quiescent during larval growth, reactivate their proliferation at the last larval stage and give rise to the different cell types of the adult tracheal network during metamorphosis. The DAP cells, conversely to the majority of the larval cells, do not enter endocycle and by doing so they acquire the features of adult progenitor cells. In this paper we identify the regulatory mechanism that integrates spatial and temporal cues to precisely activate the tracheal adult progenitor program.

Measuring Entanglement in a Photonic Embedding Quantum Simulator

Measuring entanglement is a demanding task that usually requires full tomography of a quantum system, involving a number of observables that grows exponentially with the number of parties. Recently, it was suggested that adding a single ancillary qubit would allow for the efficient measurement of concurrence, and indeed any entanglement monotone associated with antilinear operations. Here, we report on the experimental implementation of such a device-an embedding quantum simulator-in photonics, encoding the entangling dynamics of a bipartite system into a tripartite one. We show that bipartite concurrence can be efficiently extracted from the measurement of merely two observables, instead of 15, without full tomographic information.

A feedback mechanism converts individual cell features into a supracellular ECM structure in Drosophila trachea

The extracellular matrix (ECM), a structure contributed to and commonly shared by many cells in an organism, plays an active role during morphogenesis. Here, we used the Drosophila tracheal system to study the complex relationship between the ECM and epithelial cells during development. We show that there is an active feedback mechanism between the apical ECM (aECM) and the apical F-actin in tracheal cells. Furthermore, we reveal that cell-cell junctions are key players in this aECM patterning and organisation and that individual cells contribute autonomously to their aECM. Strikingly, changes in the aECM influence the levels of phosphorylated Src42A (pSrc) at cell junctions. Therefore, we propose that Src42A phosphorylation levels provide a link for the ECM environment to ensure proper cytoskeletal organisation.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09373.001

Animal cells can secrete proteins and molecules into the space around them to create a support they can attach to. This structure – known as the extracellular matrix – comes in various forms and can help to shape tissues or influence the way in which cells behave. Inside cells, filaments made of a protein called actin also provide structural support.

In fruit fly larvae, “tracheal” cells create a network of tubes that will form the airways of the adult fly. Once this network is complete, these cells secrete the materials to make an extracellular matrix in the internal (apical) surface of the tubes. This matrix has a series of spiralling ridges made from a molecule called chitin. These ridges run along the tubes, spanning several cells and providing the mechanical strength needed to keep the airways open.

The ridges appear to form through a co-ordinated effort between the cells, and recent studies suggest that actin filaments may be involved in this process. Here, Öztürk-Çolak et al. investigate this idea further by carrying out a detailed analysis of the relationship between the extracellular matrix and the tracheal cells as the airways develop. The experiments reveal that rings of actin filaments form on the apical side of tracheal cells before the ridges appear. These rings generate regular folds in the membrane that surrounds each tracheal cell and are required for an enzyme to accumulate in the cells. This enzyme produces chitin, leading to its deposition in stripes above the actin rings.

Further experiments show that the junctions between cells play an important role in organising the pattern of the extracellular matrix. The active form of a protein called Src42A – which is known to regulate the way actin filaments are organized inside cells – accumulates at these junctions. Excessive Src42A activity in tracheal cells alters the networks of actin filaments and disrupts the formation of the matrix. Öztürk-Çolak et al. also find evidence of a “feedback” mechanism, in which the presence of chitin reduces the activity of Src42A to maintain the correct patterning of actin.

These findings reveal that actin and junctions between cells play a central role in co-ordinating the formation of the extracellular matrix in fruit fly airways. The next challenge will be to understand which proteins and other molecules are involved in the process that allows the extracellular matrix to communicate with the cells.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09373.002

Germline and somatic vitelline proteins colocalize in aggregates in the follicular epithelium of Drosophila ovaries

Nasrat and Polehole, two Drosophila proteins related functionally and by sequence, are secreted from the oocyte and incorporated into the vitelline membrane, where they play a role in the integrity of the same and in the activation of embryonic Torso RTK. In addition, they also accumulate in a punctate pattern in the follicular epithelium. Here we show that their accumulation at the follicle cells depends on their gene expression in the germline, indicating that these proteins move from the oocyte to the follicle cells in a process that does not require endocytosis. Finally we used cell markers to examine the distribution of these proteins at the follicle cells and show they accumulated in aggregates with vitelline membrane proteins in close association with the plasmatic membrane. We propose that these aggregates represent spatially restricted sinks for vitelline membrane proteins that fail to be incorporated into vitelline bodies and later on into the vitelline membrane.

Ligand-binding and constitutive FGF receptors in single Drosophila tracheal cells: Implications for the role of FGF in collective migration

BACKGROUND

The migration of individual cells relies on their capacity to evaluate differences across their bodies and to move either toward or against a chemoattractant or a chemorepellent signal respectively. However, the direction of collective migration is believed to depend on the internal organization of the cell cluster while the role of the external signal is limited to single out some cells in the cluster, conferring them with motility properties.

RESULTS

Here we analyzed the role of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling in collective migration in the Drosophila trachea. While ligand-binding FGF receptor (FGFR) activity in a single cell can drive migration of a tracheal cluster, we show that activity from a constitutively activated FGFR cannot-an observation that contrasts with previously analyzed cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that individual cells in the tracheal cluster can "read" differences in the distribution of FGFR activity and lead migration of the cluster accordingly. Thus, FGF can act as a chemoattractant rather than as a motogen in collective cell migration. This finding has many implications in both development and pathology.

Accumulation of the Drosophila Torso-like protein at the blastoderm plasma membrane suggests that it translocates from the eggshell

The eggshell serves as a depository for proteins that play an important role in early embryonic development. In particular, the Drosophila eggshell is responsible for transferring asymmetries from the egg chamber to specify the regions at both ends of the embryo through the uneven activation of the Torso (Tor) receptor in its membrane. This process relies on the restricted expression of the gene torso-like (tsl) in subpopulations of follicle cells during oogenesis and its protein accumulation at both poles of the eggshell, but it is not known how this signal is transmitted to the embryo. Here, we show that Tsl accumulates at the embryonic plasma membrane, even in the absence of the Tor receptor. However, during oogenesis, we detected Tsl accumulation only at the eggshell. These results suggest that there is a two-step mechanism to transfer the asymmetric positional cues from the egg chamber into the early embryo: initial anchoring of Tsl at the eggshell as it is secreted, followed by its later translocation to the egg plasma membrane, where it enables Tor receptor activation. Translocation of anchored determinants from the eggshell might then regulate the spatial and temporal control of early embryonic developmental processes.

Fermion-fermion scattering in quantum field theory with superconducting circuits

We propose an analog-digital quantum simulation of fermion-fermion scattering mediated by a continuum of bosonic modes within a circuit quantum electrodynamics scenario. This quantum technology naturally provides strong coupling of superconducting qubits with a continuum of electromagnetic modes in an open transmission line. In this way, we propose qubits to efficiently simulate fermionic modes via digital techniques, while we consider the continuum complexity of an open transmission line to simulate the continuum complexity of bosonic modes in quantum field theories. Therefore, we believe that the complexity-simulating-complexity concept should become a leading paradigm in any effort towards scalable quantum simulations.

Obligatory information that a patient diagnosed of prostate cancer and candidate for an active surveillance protocol must know

OBJECTIVES

To know the necessary information to reproduce the results found in the literature on active surveillance (AS) in prostate cancer (PCa) in our own center so that the information would be objective and correctly given to the patients. We have aimed to study the percentage of candidates for AS chosen in our setting, and the data on infrastaging, subgrading and prediction of insignificant PCa, debugging the predictive value of clinical variables to improve our selection criteria and finally to analyze the results of our patients enrolled in AS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retro- and prospective review of our data bases was performed. A one-year period was analyzed to know AS candidates. Analysis of our radical prostatectomy specimens for infrastaging, subgrading and prediction of insignificant PCa (Epstein's criteria) was made as well as a uni/multivariate analysis of clinical variables in patients with insignificant PCa in the specimen. A prospective validation was performed with overall survival and survival free of active treatment (SFAT) as endpoints in patients enrolled in AS.

RESULTS

Between October-2010/October-2011, 44.7% of our PCa were candidates for AS, but only 11.2% choose it. The percentages found for infrastaging, subgrading and prediction of insignificant PCa were 14%, 31.4% and 55.7%, respectively. However, only just 6 patients (6.97%) had≥pT3a+Gleason≥7+volume>0.5cc PCa. The multivariate analysis showed that PSA density and number of affected cores were independent predictors of insignificant PCa. With a mean follow-up of 36±39months, 63 out of 232 patients enrolled in AS went on to active treatment (27.1%), with only 13 due to anxiety without pathologic progression. Median time of SFAT was 72.7 months (CI 95% 30.9-114.4). SFAT at 24 months was 76.4% (69.7-83.1%) and at 48 months 58.1% (48.8-67.4%). Only 10 patients died (4.3%), 9 due to causes different of PCa. Estimated overall survival at 5 years was 92.8% (CI 95% 86.7-98.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

It should be mandatory to have the exact knowledge of the local data of each Center in order to objectively inform patients about prostate biopsy efficiency, and if percentages of infrastaging, subgrading and prediction of insignificant PCa are in accordance with the literature. At 3 years, we reproduced the results of the longest series of AS, so we have ascertained that our AS protocol can be implemented with increasingly more patients.