An inflammation-related subtype classification for analyzing tumor microenvironment and clinical prognosis in colorectal cancer

Background

The inflammatory response plays an essential role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of colorectal cancer (CRC) by modulating tumor growth, progression, and response to therapy through the recruitment of immune cells, production of cytokines, and activation of signaling pathways. However, the molecular subtypes and risk score prognostic model based on inflammatory response remain to be further explored.

Methods

Inflammation-related genes were collected from the molecular signature database and molecular subtypes were identified using nonnegative matrix factorization based on the TCGA cohort. We compared the clinicopathological features, immune infiltration, somatic mutation profile, survival prognosis, and drug sensitivity between the subtypes. The risk score model was developed using LASSO and multivariate Cox regression in the TCGA cohort. The above results were independently validated in the GEO cohort. Moreover, we explored the biological functions of the hub gene, receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2), leveraging proteomics data, in vivo, and in vitro experiments.

Results

We identified two inflammation-related subtypes (inflammation-low and inflammation-high) and have excellent internal consistency and stability. Inflammation-high subtype showed higher immune cell infiltration and increased sensitivity to common chemotherapeutic drugs, while inflammation-low subtype may be more suitable for immunotherapy. Besides, the two subtypes differ significantly in pathway enrichment and biological functions. In addition, the 11-gene signature prognostic model constructed from inflammation-related genes showed strong prognostic assessment power and could serve as a novel prognostic marker to predict the survival of CRC patients. Finally, RIPK2 plays a crucial role in promoting malignant proliferation of CRC cell validated by experiment.

Conclusions

This study provides new insights into the heterogeneity of CRC and provides novel opportunities for treatment development and clinical decision making.

Molecular Imaging of Radiation-Induced Lung Injury Using [18F]AlF Labeled Polypeptide Targeting C-X-C-Chemokine-Receptor-Type-4

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a severe side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for thoracic malignancies and we currently lack established means for the early detection of RILI. In this study, we synthesized a new tracer, [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04, targeting C-X-C-chemokine-receptor-type-4 (CXCR4) and investigated the feasibility of using this tracer in positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) for detecting RILI.

MATERIALS/METHODS

An RILI model was established using a high-dose single RT (50 Gy/Fraction) to the right lung of female Wistar rats. Experimental animals were scanned with [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT at various time-points post-RT. MicroCT imaging was conducted weekly till 11 weeks post-RT. Dynamic, competition, autoradiography and histopathological studies were performed on day 14 post-RT. Biodistribution study was further performed on day 18 post-RT. Lung QHY-04 uptake was analyzed in twelve patients with radiation pneumonia, developed during or after thoracic RT.

RESULTS

The yield of [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 was 28.5-43.2%, and the specific activity was 27-33 GBq/μmol. Significantly increased [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 uptake in the damaged lung compared with that in the normal lung was observed in the experimental animal model on 6 post-RT and peaked on day 14 post-RT (0.96 ± 0.06 vs. 0.50 ± 0.05 %ID/mL, P<0.05), whereas no apparent uptake of [18F]FDG was shown on day 7 and 15 post-RT. Significant intense [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 uptake was confirmed by autoradiography. No significant difference in CT density was observed between the damaged and normal lung tissues until six weeks post-RT. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated expression of CXCR4 was significantly increased in the damaged lung tissue, which correlated with results obtained from hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were significantly higher in the irradiated lung compared with that in the normal lung in 12 patients with radiation pneumonia (3.07 ± 0.86 vs. 0.585 ± 0.17, P<0.001). SUVmax of patients with grade 2 RILI was significantly higher than that of patients with grade 1 RILI (3.30 ± 0.65 vs. 1.64 ± 0.08, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 PET/CT imaging can detect RILI noninvasively and earlier than [18F]FDG PET/CT in a rat model. Clinical studies verified its' feasibility, suggesting the clinical potential of [18F]AlF-NOTA-QHY-04 as a PET/CT tracer for early monitoring of RILI.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between posterolateral approach and modified Hardinge approach in salvage total hip arthroplasty after medial buttress plate failure for femoral neck fractures

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of salvage total hip arthroplasty (THA) after medial buttress plate surgery for femoral neck fractures via the modified Hardinge approach (MHA) and posterolateral approach (PLA) through a retrospective analysis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From October 2016 to October 2020, a total of 41 patients with failed femoral neck fractures treated with cannulated screws and medial buttress plates underwent unilateral salvage THA, and a retrospective study was conducted. According to the surgical approach, patients were divided into PLA group and MHA group. Clinical and radiological data were evaluated. The primary outcome indicators were the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Hip Harris Score (HHS). Secondary outcome indicators include hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), etc. The occurrence of postoperative complications was also recorded.

RESULTS

There were no differences in demographic or clinical characteristics before surgery. There were no differences in postoperative HGB, HCT, CK-MB and radiological parameters. The surgical approach had no effect on the hospitalization period. The PLA group had earlier ambulation time, and the serum level of CK was also low. Analysis of the HHS and VAS showed that on postoperative day 3, the PLA group had superior scores. The incidence of complications did not significantly differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The posterolateral approach for salvage THA provides better functional recovery with less muscle damage in the early postoperative period.

[Research advances on improving the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in wound repair]

How to promote high-quality wound healing is a common problem for plastic surgery and burn physicians. In recent years, numerous animal studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote wound repair through multiple mechanisms and are promising cell-free therapeutic agents with broad prospect of application. How to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of exosomes, optimize their drug delivery strategy, and improve their biological properties are the challenges to be overcome in order to move from basic research to clinical application of exosome therapy for wound repair. This article focuses on methods to improve the wound repair potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, and reviews the recent research advances on improving the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in wound repair from three aspects, including pretreatment of parental mesenchymal stem cells, hydrogel bio-scaffold loaded with exosomes, and engineered exosomes, to provide a reference for further clinical studies.

A24 INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE-ASSOCIATED GENES ON INTESTINAL HOMEOSTASIS

Background

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) provide an essential physical barrier between harsh luminal contents and underlying host tissue. The maintenance of intestinal homeostasis in this rapidly renewing tissue must be intricately regulated through the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Dysregulation of this system results in the loss of barrier function, causing pathologies in both intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. While Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is primarily a neurodegenerative disorder, there is increasing evidence linking PD progression and gastrointestinal dysfunction. For instance, constipation and increased bowel permeability are frequently observed years prior to development of motor dysfunction in PD, people with inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to develop PD, and a positive correlation exists between gastrointestinal infections and PD incidence. Our group recently developed a model to investigate the role of the gut in PD, demonstrating that mice with genetic ablation of the PD-associated gene Pink1 exhibited motor phenotypes only when previously infected with Gram-negative Citrobacter rodentium intestinal bacteria. As Pink1 and other PD-associated genes are expressed in IECs, we hypothesize that PD-associated gene mutations directly affect the epithelium and impact early PD pathophysiology.

Purpose

Investigate the impact of Pink1 and other PD-associated genes in IECs under steady state and infection.

Method

Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on IECs isolated from Pink1 WT and KO mice, at steady state and following in vivo C. rodentium infection. Mice were sacrificed at an early timepoint of infection (day 6) to elucidate transcriptional differences between epithelial lineages of each genotype. Additionally, ex vivo colonoids were derived from primary mouse tissue and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to determine how PINK1 loss-of-function affects the inflammatory response of the epithelium.

Result(s)

Our data revealed that loss-of-function of PINK1 profoundly affected the ISC compartment and several epithelial lineages. Specifically, ISCs from infected Pink1 KO mice demonstrated differentially regulated proliferative and cell cycle genes, while transit amplifying cells showed dysregulated expression of tight junction genes, and enterocytes displayed differentially expressed oxidative damage and apoptotic genes. Preliminary data from colonoids showed that Pink1 KO mice, when stimulated with LPS, had increased pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

Conclusion(s)

In Pink1 KO intestinal epithelial cells, there is indeed an altered cellular response upon infection in vivo and LPS treatment ex vivo. However, more information is needed to decern the mechanistic role of IECs in PD. By investigating the role of PD genes in the gastrointestinal tract, these studies carry important implications for understanding the initiation and progression of PD.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Low-grade hepatocellular carcinoma characteristics, a practical nomogram and risk stratification system: a SEER population-based study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to establish a nomogram and risk stratification system to predict OS in patients with low-grade HCC.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were extracted from the SEER database. C-index, time-dependent AUCs, and calibration plots were used to evaluate the effective performance of the nomogram. NRI, IDI, and DCA curves were adopted to compare the clinical utility of nomogram with AJCC.

RESULTS

3415 patients with low-grade HCC were available. The C-indices for the training and validation cohorts were 0.773 and 0.772. The time-dependent AUCs in the training cohort were 0.821, 0.817, and 0.846 at 1, 3 and 5 years. Calibration plots for 1-, 3- and 5-year OS showed good consistency between actual observations and that predicted by the nomogram. The values of NRI at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.37, 0.66, and 0.64. The IDI values at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.11, 0.16, and 0.23 (P< 0.001). DCA curves demonstrated that the nomogram showed better ability of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS probabilities than AJCC.

CONCLUSIONS

A nomogram and risk stratification system for predicting OS in patients with low-grade HCC were established and validated.

Clinical features and prognostic factors in patients with microvascular infiltration of hepatocellular carcinoma: Development and validation of a nomogram and risk stratification based on the SEER database

Background

The goal is to establish and validate an innovative prognostic risk stratification and nomogram in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with microvascular invasion (MVI) for predicting the cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Methods

1487 qualified patients were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and randomly assigned to the training cohort and validation cohort in a ratio of 7:3. Concordance index (C-index), area under curve (AUC) and calibration plots were adopted to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the nomogram. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to quantify the net benefit of the nomogram at different threshold probabilities and compare it to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor staging system. C-index, net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were applied to evaluate the improvement of the new model over the AJCC tumor staging system. The new risk stratifications based on the nomogram and the AJCC tumor staging system were compared.

Results

Eight prognostic factors were used to construct the nomogram for HCC patients with MVI. The C-index for the training and validation cohorts was 0.785 and 0.776 respectively. The AUC values were higher than 0.7 both in the training cohort and validation cohort. The calibration plots showed good consistency between the actual observation and the nomogram prediction. The IDI values of 1-, 3-, 5-year CSS in the training cohort were 0.17, 0.16, 0.15, and in the validation cohort were 0.17, 0.17, 0.17 (P<0.05). The NRI values of the training cohort were 0.75 at 1-year, 0.68 at 3-year and 0.67 at 5-year. The DCA curves indicated that the new model more accurately predicted 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year CSS in both training and validation cohort, because it added more net benefit than the AJCC staging system. Furthermore, the risk stratification system showed the CSS in different groups had a good regional division.

Conclusions

A comprehensive risk stratification system and nomogram were established to forecast CSS for patients of HCC with MVI.

Integrated proteome and lipidome analysis of naturally aged safflower seeds varying in vitality

Seed ageing has an important effect on germination and productivity. During natural ageing, seed vigour decreases rapidly but, to date, the molecular mechanisms underlying this decrease have not been fully elucidated. Using omics, some of the details regarding seed vigour decline during natural ageing might be elucidated through integrated analysis. Safflower seed germination and physio-biochemical changes during natural ageing (stored for 4, 16 and 28 months) were determined. Proteome and lipidome profiling during natural seed ageing was performed, and the differentially expressed proteins and lipid metabolite species analysed. The surface and internal structures of cotyledons were observed. An integrating analysis of the proteome and lipidome was also carried out. Natural seed ageing significantly decreased safflower seed germination and vigour. 4,184 proteins and 1,193 lipids were quantified, both of which show huge differences among the different naturally aged seeds. The surface of the cotyledons collapsed and cracked, and the oil bodies become looser during natural ageing. The total content of DAG and PA increased, while the content of TAG and PL (PC, PE, PS, PI and PL) significantly decreased during seeds ageing. Two lipase genes (HH-026818-RA and HH-025320) likely participated in this degradation of lipids. We conclude that the enzymes that participate in glycerolipid metabolism and fatty acid degradation probably lead to the degradation of oil bodies (TAG) and membrane lipids (PC, PE, PS, PI, PG) and, ultimately, destroy the structure, causing a decline in seed vigour during natural seed ageing.

[Effects of normobaric hyperoxia intervention on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats]

Objective: To investigate the effects of normobaric hyperoxia intervention on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its possible mechanism. Methods: Twenty-one adult male SD rats were enrolled and their right kidneys were excised. After two weeks, they were randomly assigned to 3 groups, with 7 rats in each group, namely sham-operated group (Group S), ischemia-reperfusion group (Group I/R), and normobaric hyperoxia+ischemia-reperfusion group (Group NBHO+I/R). In group S, only the left renal pedicle was isolated, but no ischemic treatment was performed. However, in group I/R and group NBHO+I/R, left renal pedicles were separated and left renal ischemia was induced by noninvasive arterial clamp for 45 min, and after 24 h of reperfusion, rats in group S and group I/R inhaled regular concentration of oxygen (21%), while rats in group NBHO+I/R inhaled high concentration of oxygen (60%), 2 h at each time, once a day for 7 days. On the 7th day after surgery, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) levels were measured by taking blood from the orbital veins of rats. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected from the left kidney tissues. The mRNA and protein contents of Keap1 and Nrf2 gene in kidney tissues were determined by qPCR and Western Blotting, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) was employed to observe the pathological changes of kidney tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the protein expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 in kidney tissues. Results: Compared with group S, the serum BUN [(10.7±1.7) mmol/L, (8.4±1.0) mmol/L vs (6.1±1.3) mmol/L, both P<0.05] and Cr [(81.0±3.7) μmol/L, (62.9±3.4) μmol/L vs (48.3±2.9) μmol/L, both P<0.05] levels of rats in the group I/R and group NBHO+I/R increased, and the I/R group had the most significant increase. Compared with group S, the MDA content of kidney tissue in the rats of group I/R and NBHO+I/R increased [(10.5±1.0) μmol/L, (8.6±0.8) μmol/L vs (6.5±0.5) μmol/L, both P<0.05], but the MDA content in group NBHO+I/R was lower than that of group I/R (P<0.05). Compared with group S, the SOD content in the kidney tissues of rats in both group I/R and group NBHO+I/R decreased. However, the SOD content of group NBHO+I/R was higher than that of group I/R (P<0.05). Compared with group S, the mRNA and protein contents of Keap1 gene in kidney tissues of group I/R and group NBHO+I/R decreased, and group NBHO+I/R had the most significant decrease (P<0.05). However, compared with group S, mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 gene increased in kidney tissues of group I/R and group NBHO+I/R, and NBHO+I/R group had the most significant increase (P<0.05). Postoperative pathological results suggested that compared with group S, the pathological damage of kidney tissues in group I/R and group NBHO+I/R increased, but the degree of damage in group NBHO+I/R was lower than that in group I/R. Conclusion: Normobaric hyperoxia intervention may have protective effects on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Multi-omics integration identifies key upstream regulators of pathomechanisms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy due to truncating MYBPC3 mutations

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic disease of the cardiac muscle, frequently caused by mutations in MYBPC3. However, little is known about the upstream pathways and key regulators causing the disease. Therefore, we employed a multi-omics approach to study the pathomechanisms underlying HCM comparing patient hearts harboring MYBPC3 mutations to control hearts.

RESULTS

Using H3K27ac ChIP-seq and RNA-seq we obtained 9310 differentially acetylated regions and 2033 differentially expressed genes, respectively, between 13 HCM and 10 control hearts. We obtained 441 differentially expressed proteins between 11 HCM and 8 control hearts using proteomics. By integrating multi-omics datasets, we identified a set of DNA regions and genes that differentiate HCM from control hearts and 53 protein-coding genes as the major contributors. This comprehensive analysis consistently points toward altered extracellular matrix formation, muscle contraction, and metabolism. Therefore, we studied enriched transcription factor (TF) binding motifs and identified 9 motif-encoded TFs, including KLF15, ETV4, AR, CLOCK, ETS2, GATA5, MEIS1, RXRA, and ZFX. Selected candidates were examined in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with and without mutated MYBPC3. Furthermore, we observed an abundance of acetylation signals and transcripts derived from cardiomyocytes compared to non-myocyte populations.

CONCLUSIONS

By integrating histone acetylome, transcriptome, and proteome profiles, we identified major effector genes and protein networks that drive the pathological changes in HCM with mutated MYBPC3. Our work identifies 38 highly affected protein-coding genes as potential plasma HCM biomarkers and 9 TFs as potential upstream regulators of these pathomechanisms that may serve as possible therapeutic targets.

Prognostic Values of Preoperative Inflammatory and Nutritional Markers for Colorectal Cancer

Background

Increasing evidence indicates that inflammation and nutritional status are associated with survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic values of preoperative inflammatory and nutritional factors and develop a prognostic model individually predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with CRC.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data on patients with CRC who underwent radical surgery. Independent prognostic inflammatory and nutritional markers were identified and novel prognostic models were developed incorporating the identified factors. The discriminative ability and model-fitting performance were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves and Akaike information criteria. Clinical usefulness was assessed by decision curve analysis.

Results

A total of 400 eligible patients were identified. Multivariate analysis identified pN stage, tumor differentiation grade, neutrophil count, and body mass index as independent prognostic factors for OS, and pN stage, tumor differentiation grade, neutrophil count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and serum albumin as prognostic factors for DFS. The combined inflammatory and nutritional prognostic model showed better discriminative ability, model-fitting performance, and net benefits than the inflammatory and nutritional models alone, and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th TNM classification for predicting OS and DFS.

Conclusion

Preoperative nutritional and inflammatory factors have significant prognostic value in patients with CRC. A novel prognostic model incorporating preoperative inflammatory and nutritional markers provides better prognostic performance than the AJCC 8th TNM classification. A novel nomogram incorporating preoperative inflammatory and nutritional markers can individually predict OS and DFS in patients with CRC.

A Modified Tumor-Node-Metastasis Classification for Primary Operable Colorectal Cancer

Background

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification for colorectal cancer (CRC) has limited ability to predict prognosis.

Methods

We included 45 379 eligible stage I-III CRC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Patients were randomly assigned individually to a training (n = 31 772) or an internal validation cohort (n = 13 607). External validation was performed in 10 902 additional patients. Patients were divided according to T and N stage permutations. Survival analyses were conducted by a Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis, with T1N0 as the reference. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve and Akaike information criteria were applied for prognostic discrimination and model fitting, respectively. Clinical benefits were further assessed by decision curve analyses.

Results

We created a modified TNM (mTNM) classification: stages I (T1-2N0-1a); IIA (T1N1b, T2N1b, T3N0); IIB (T1-2N2a-2b, T3N1a-1b, T4aN0); IIC (T3N2a, T4aN1a-2a, T4bN0); IIIA (T3N2b, T4bN1a); IIIB (T4aN2b, T4bN1b); and IIIC (T4bN2a-2b). In the internal validation cohort, compared with the AJCC 8th TNM classification, the mTNM classification showed superior prognostic discrimination (area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.675 vs 0.667, respectively; 2-sided P < .001) and better model fitting (Akaike information criteria = 70 937 vs 71 238, respectively). Similar findings were obtained in the external validation cohort. Decision curve analyses revealed that the mTNM had superior net benefits over the AJCC 8th TNM classification in the internal and external validation cohorts.

Conclusions

The mTNM classification provides better prognostic discrimination than AJCC 8th TNM classification, with good applicability in various populations and settings, to help better stratify stage I-III CRC patients into prognostic groups.

Effect of TAGLN2 in the regulation of meningioma tumorigenesis and development

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of transgelin-2 TAGLN2 in the development and progression of meningioma and the potential regulatory.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TAGLN2 knockdown expression and overexpression in vitro models were constructed using lentivirus in meningioma cell line CH157; their corresponding transfection efficiencies were verified by qRT-PCR and Western Blot. Actions of TAGLN2 on the proliferation of meningioma cells were explored by CCK8 and colony formation assays. The effect of TAGLN2 on invasion of meningioma cells was analyzed by transwell cell invasion assay. Biological function of TAGLN2 on apoptosis of meningioma cells was determined by flow cytometry. Finally, Western Blot was used to investigate the detailed mechanism of TAGLN2 on regulating the biological functions of meningioma cells.

RESULTS

After down-regulating the expression of TAGLN2, there were significantly decreased capacities of cells proliferation and colony formation of meningioma cells, meanwhile, cell invasion was significantly decreased but the apoptosis rate was increased. On the contrary, up-regulation of TAGLN2 expression, the proliferation, colony formation ability were significantly increased as well as the invasion capacity, whilst apoptosis rate was decreased. Western Blot showed that expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT were inhibited after knockdown of TAGLN2, which were significantly increased after TAGLN2 was overexpressed.

CONCLUSIONS

TAGLN2 can affect the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of meningioma cells and may participate in the development of meningioma through regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Structure and mode of action of a novel antibacterial peptide from the blood of Andrias davidianus

Andrias davidianus is widely recognized in traditional medicine as a cure-all to treat a plethora of ailments. In a previous study, a novel antibacterial peptide named andricin B was isolated from A. davidianus blood. In this study, we investigated andricin B structure and its mode of action. Circular dichroism spectra suggested that andricin B adopts a random coil state in aqueous solution and a more rigid conformation in the presence of bacteria. Moreover propidium iodide/fluorescein diacetate double staining indicated that bacteria treated with andricin B were not immediately eliminated. Rather, there is a gradual bacterial death, followed by a sublethal stage. Scanning electronic microscope imaging indicates that andricin B might form pores on cell membranes, leading to the release of cytoplasmic contents. These results were consistent with flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests that andricin B induces changes in the chemical properties in the areas surrounding these "pores" on the cell membranes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results of this study suggested the new perspectives about the mode of action of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) active against sensitive bacteria. The AMP was able to be in a random coiled state in aqueous solution but to change to a more rigid one in the presence of sensitive bacteria. Exposure to AMP might not lead to immediate death of treated bacteria, rather bacteria concentration decreased gradually flattening at a sublethal stage. These findings will help people to understand better how the AMPs activate against sensitive bacteria.

A comprehensive analysis of candidate gene signatures in oral squamous cell carcinoma

This study aimed to unravel the molecular mechanism of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). With microarray dataset GSE30784, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between OSCC and control samples. The DEGs overlapped with genes obtained from online database MalaCards were determined as OSCCDEG, followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. A total of 5177 up-regulated and 6081 down-regulated DEGs were identified between OSCC and control. Out of the DEGs, 451 genes were overlapped with the 704 genes gained from MalaCards and regarded as "OSCCDEG". Up-regulated OSCCDEG were associated with cell cycle pathway, while down-regulated OSCCDEG were linked to ErbB pathway. ANGPT1, ANGPT2 and 3 hub proteins (EGFR, HSP90AA1, RB1) in the PPI network were associated with the survival rates of several tumors. The largest network module with the hub protein EGFR was associated with positive regulation of cell communication. The second largest module with the hub node FN1 was related to angiogenesis. For the third network module in connection with DNA metabolism, the hub protein was PCNA. ErbB and cell cycle pathways were crucial for OSCC. EGFR, FN1, PCNA, ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 might be potential biomarkers for OSCC. These findings help provide guidelines for treating OSCC.

Increased intrinsic connectivity for structural atrophy and functional maintenance after acute ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Significant clinical recovery has commonly been observed in ischaemic stroke patients with irreversible brain structural damage. However, brain mechanisms that help to maintain clinical function remain unclear.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with acute ischaemic stroke underwent longitudinal clinical assessments and magnetic resonance scanning. The clinical recovery trajectory was evaluated using a hierarchical linear model and intrinsic connectivity was analysed with a seed-based approach to examine its changing pattern based on the regional volume changes calculated using voxel-wise analysis.

RESULTS

It was observed that clinical outcome measures improved mainly in the short-term period (baseline versus 3 weeks) and then remained stable. Grey matter volume was reduced significantly in the bilateral caudate over the entire 3-year long-term period. Significant intrinsic connectivity increases were observed in the caudate-middle cingulum over the short-term period and in the caudate-precuneus and caudate-calcarine over the long-term period. Finally, it was found that increased caudate-calcarine connectivity was associated with reduced right caudate volume, and a positive correlation was found between increased caudate-middle cingulum connectivity and the amount of modified Rankin score changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased intrinsic connectivity found in this study tends to be a compensatory mechanism for post-stroke structural damage, associated with clinical recovery. The study helps in understanding the significance of enhanced intrinsic connectivity in post-stroke long-term assessment and rehabilitation.

Prevalence and characteristics of adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in corrections: a Canadian case ascertainment study

BACKGROUND

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of cognitive, affective, and physical deficits following prenatal alcohol exposure. They are thought to be overrepresented in criminal justice settings. However, limited evidence is available to inform prevalence. We sought to estimate the prevalence of FASD in a Northern Canadian correctional population.

METHODS

Using an active case ascertainment approach we recruited a representative sample of 80 justice-involved adults (ages 18-40, 85% male) over an 18-month period from 2013 to 2015. Participants completed interdisciplinary clinical assessments comprising medical and psychological evaluations that adhered to the 2005 Canadian FASD Diagnostic Guidelines.

RESULTS

We identified a high rate of FASD (17.5, 95% CI [9.2, 25.8%]) in this sample, and this rate could have been as high as 31.2% with confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure. Most participants in this study presented with significant neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits in at least two domains of functioning, irrespective of diagnosis, with only five of 80 participants (6.3%) demonstrating no cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings showed disproportionately high estimated FASD prevalence in this representative sample compared to general population estimates in both Canada and the U.S. (2-5%), underscoring the need for improved FASD screening and diagnosis in correctional settings, and education for clinicians working in the justice context. Strengthened health prevention and intervention efforts to support the needs of individuals with FASD outside the criminal justice context are needed.

Excessive Activation of TLR4/NF-κB Interactively Suppresses the Canonical Wnt/β-catenin Pathway and Induces SANFH in SD Rats

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) interactively affects the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and is closely related to different diseases. However, such crosstalk effect in steroid-associated necrosis of femoral head (SANFH) has not been fully explored and evaluated. In this study, early-stage SANFH was induced by two doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2 mg/kg/day) and three doses of methylprednisolone (MPS, 40 mg/kg/day). LPS and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) were administered to activate the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and selectively block the activation of NF-κB, respectively. Results showed that PDTC treatment significantly reduced NF-κB expression, diminished inflammation, and effectively decreased bone resorption processes (osteoclastogenesis, adipogenesis, and apoptosis), which were evidently reinforced after osteonecrosis induction. Moreover, PDTC remarkably increased the interfered Wnt/β-catenin pathway and elevated bone formation processes (osteogenesis and angiogenesis). Ultimately, PDTC treatment effectively reduced the incidence of SANFH. Therefore, the excessive activation of TLR4/NF-κB may interactively suppress the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and induce SANFH. Hence, we propose NF-κB-targeted treatment as a novel therapeutic strategy for SANFH.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-associated Protein 4 Acts on Local Draining Lymph Nodes in the Allogeneic Abdominal Skin Flap of a Rat Model to Extend Its Survival

BACKGROUND

Early acute allograft rejection is the result of immune cells mainly composed of thymocyte (T) cells, which are activated, mature, and differentiate in lymphoid tissue.

METHODS

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) competitively suppresses the cluster of differentiation 28/CTLA4-B7 costimulatory signaling pathway and alters the ratio of T helper 1 to T helper 2, leading to the inhibition of T cell activation.

RESULTS

We used lentivirus-packed CTLA4-Ig to infect the local draining lymph nodes of the allograft skin flap in a rat model, which effectively extended the survival of the allograft. Meanwhile, it also reduced the dose of immunosuppressant necessary in the early stages of transplantation, which lowered the toxicity and side effects of the drug.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide new insights into transplantation immunology, facilitate the exploration of a safe and effective immunosuppressive therapy, and promote the wide clinical application of composite tissue allotransplantation.

Rashba spin–orbit coupling enhanced anomalous Hall effect in MnxSi1−x/SiO2/Si p–i–n junctions

The Mn_0.48Si_0.52/SiO₂/Si p–i–n junction shows greatly enhanced negative anomalous Hall effect in the high temperature range due to the interfacial Rashba spin–orbit coupling.

Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms of fatty acid synthase gene and meat quality traits in Datong Yak (Bos grunniens)

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a key enzyme in fatty acid anabolism that plays an important role in the fat deposit of eukaryotic cells. Therefore, in this study, we detected 2 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FASN gene in 313 adult individuals of Datong yak using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing techniques. SNP g.5477C>T is located in intron 3 of FASN, and 3 genotypes, HH, HG, and GG, were detected in this mutation site. SNP g.16930T>A is located in exon 37 of FASN, and 2 genotypes, EE and EF, were detected in this site. Association analysis of these 2 SNPs with meat quality traits showed that in SNP g.5477C>T, yaks with the HH genotype and HG genotype had significantly higher intramuscular fat content than individuals with the GG genotype (P < 0.01). In SNP g.16930T>A, yaks with the EE genotype also had significantly higher IMF content than individuals with the EF genotype (P < 0.01). The results indicate that FASN may be used as a candidate gene affecting intramuscular fat content in Datong yaks.

Overexpression and characterization of laccase from Trametes versicolor in Pichia pastoris

A laccase-encoding gene of Trametes versicolor, lccA, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris X33. The lccA gene consists ofa 1560 bp open reading frame encoding 519 amino acids, which was classified into family copper blue oxidase. To improve the expression level of recombinant laccase in P. pastoris, conditions of the fermentation were optimized by the single factor experiments. The optimal fermentation conditions for the laccase production in shake flask cultivation using BMGY medium were obtained: the optimal initial pH 7.0, the presence of 0.5 mM Cu2+, 0.6% methanol added into the culture every 24 h. The laccase activity was up to 11.972 U/L under optimal conditions after 16 days of induction in a medium with 4% peptone. After 100 h of large scale production in 5 L fermenter the enzyme activity reached 18.123 U/L. The recombinant laccase was purified by ultrafiltration and (NH4)2SO4 precipitation showing a single band on SDS-PAGE, which had a molecular mass of 58 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the laccase were pH 2.0 and 50 degrees C with 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as a substrate. The recombinant laccase was stable over a pH range of 2.0-7.0. The K(m) and the V(max) value of LccA were 0.43 mM and 82.3 U/mg for ABTS, respectively.

Ozone reaction with clothing and its initiated VOC emissions in an environmental chamber

Human health is adversely affected by ozone and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from its reactions in the indoor environment. Hence, it is important to characterize the ozone-initiated reactive chemistry under indoor conditions and study the influence of different factors on these reactions. This investigation studied the ozone reactions with clothing through a series of experiments conducted in an environmental chamber under various conditions. The study found that the ozone reactions with a soiled (human-worn) T-shirt consumed ozone and generated VOCs. The ozone removal rate and deposition velocity for the T-shirt increased with the increasing soiling level and air change rate, decreased at high ozone concentrations, and were relatively unaffected by the humidity. The deposition velocity for the soiled T-shirt ranged from 0.15 to 0.29 cm/s. The ozone-initiated VOC emissions included C6-C10 straight-chain saturated aldehydes, acetone, and 4-OPA (4-oxopentanal). The VOC emissions were generally higher at higher ozone, humidity, soiling of T-shirt, and air change rate. The total molar yield was approximately 0.5 in most cases, which means that for every two moles of ozone removed by the T-shirt surface, one mole of VOCs was produced.

Characterization of bacteriocin bificin C6165: a novel bacteriocin

AIMS

To purify and primarily characterize an anti-Alicyclobacillus bacteriocin produced by Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis CICC 6165, suggested to be named bificin C6165.

METHODS AND RESULTS

During purification of the bificin C6165, optimal recovery was achieved with ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by two chromatographic steps. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed a distinctive peak corresponding to a molecular mass of 3395·1 Da. This bacteriocin was heat stable, effective after refrigerated storage and freeze-thaw cycles. The primary mode of action of bificin C6165 is most probably due to pore formation, as indicated by the efflux of K(+) from metabolically active cells of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris. In the presence of 10 mmol l(-1) gadolinium, bificin C6165 did not affect cells of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris. This suggests that the mode of action of bificin C6165 relies on a net negatively charged cell surface.

CONCLUSIONS

Bificin C6165 is indeed a novel bacteriocin and it exhibited remarkable potency for Alicyclobacillus control.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Application of bacteriocins in preservation of fruit juices has seldom been studied. Bificin C6165 may be an alternative method to control juice spoilage by this Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and meet increasing consumer demand for nature and artificial chemical additive-free food products.

Developmental changes of <i>GHR</i> and <i>IGF-I</i> mRNA expression in lamb rumen

Abstract. Lambs from birth (0-day-old) to 56-day-old were selected in present study to investigate developmental changes of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression in their rumen tissue. Forty-five lambs (5 lambs per group) were slaughtered at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56 days of age respectively for sampling the tissue of the rumen dorsal sac. The abundance of GHR and IGF-I mRNA were detected through real-time quantitative PCR method. The results indicated that the expression levels of GHR and IGF-I mRNA had similar change tendency in rumen tissue that the GHR and IGF-I mRNA abundance decreased with age from birth to 56-day-old. There was significant positive correlation between the two gene mRNA expression levels. The results suggested that GHR and IGF-I gene expression levels had the specific developmental pattern in rumen tissue.

Model for propagation speed in turbulent channel flows

The propagation speed Vc of the streamwise velocity fluctuations u' in turbulent channel flows is calculated using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data at four Mach numbers (M=0, 0.8, 2.0, and 3.0). The profiles of Vc are shown to display remarkable similarity at different M. Quantitative models are developed based on a statistical structure called Velocity-Vorticity Correlation Structure (VVCS), defined as the vorticity region most correlated to velocity fluctuations at a fixed location. Good agreement with DNS-measured propagation velocities is obtained throughout the channel and for all M. The result confirms earlier speculation that the near-wall propagation is due to an advection by coherent vortex structures, and validates the concept of the VVCS.