Targeting a cardiac abundant and fibroblasts-specific piRNA (CFRPi) to attenuate and reverse cardiac fibrosis in pressure-overloaded heart failure

Cardiac fibrosis under chronic pressure overload is an end-stage adverse remodeling of heart. However, current heart failure treatments barely focus on anti-fibrosis and the effects are limited. We aimed to seek for a cardiac abundant and cardiac fibrosis specific piRNA, exploring its underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential. Whole transcriptome sequencing and the following verification experiments identified a highly upregulated piRNA (piRNA-000691) in transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mice, TAC pig, and heart failure human samples, which was abundant in heart and specifically expressed in cardiac fibroblasts. CFRPi was gradually increased along with the progression of heart failure, which was illustrated to promote cardiac fibrosis by gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of CFRPi in mice alleviated cardiac fibrosis, reversed decline of systolic and diastolic functions from TAC 6 weeks to 8 weeks. Mechanistically, CFRPi inhibited APLN, a protective peptide that increased in early response and became exhausted at late stage. Knockdown of APLN in vitro notably aggravated cardiac fibroblasts activation and proliferation. In vitro and in vivo evidence both indicated Pi3k-AKT-mTOR as the downstream effector pathway of CFRPi-APLN interaction. Collectively, we here identified CFPPi as a heart abundant and cardiac fibrosis specific piRNA. Targeting CFRPi resulted in a sustainable increase of APLN and showed promising therapeutical prospect to alleviate fibrosis, rescue late-stage cardiac dysfunction, and prevent heart failure.

Influence of Selective Carbon 1s Excitation on Auger-Meitner Decay in the ESCA Molecule

Two-dimensional spectral mapping is used to visualize how resonant Auger-Meitner spectra are influenced by the site of the initial core-electron excitation and the symmetry of the core-excited state in the trifluoroethyl acetate molecule (ESCA). We observe a significant enhancement of electron yield for excitation of the COO 1s → π* and CF3 1s → σ* resonances unlike excitation at resonances involving the CH3 and CH2 sites. The CF3 1s → π* and CF3 1s → σ* resonance spectra are very different from each other, with the latter populating most valence states equally. Two complementary electronic structure calculations for the photoelectron cross section and Auger-Meitner intensity are shown to effectively reproduce the site- and state-selective nature of the resonant enhancement features. The site of the core-electron excitation and the respective final state hole locality increase the sensistivity of the photoelectron signal at specific functional group sites. This showcases resonant Auger-Meitner decay as a potentially powerful tool for selectively probing structural changes at specific functional group sites of polyatomic molecules.

[Frontiers and advances in dental caries research]

Dental caries is a prevalent infectious disease caused by microbial metabolism, affecting the hard tissues of teeth. According to data from the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey, there is a gradual increase in caries prevalence in China, particularly among children and elderly individuals. As an etiological factor for dental lesions, caries not only impact oral health but also exhibit significant associations with various systemic diseases, suggesting that systemic diseases may serve as potential risk factors of caries development. To effectively implement the plan of national oral health action, researchers investigate the pathogenesis of caries actively while concurrently develop innovative preventive and treatment strategies based on advanced concepts and technologies, aiming to comprehensively enhance China's oral health status. Therefore, this article provides insights into the pathogenesis of caries, its correlation with systemic diseases, as well as cutting-edge research advancements pertaining to novel preventive measures for caries.

[Effect of a novel pH-responsive tertiary amine monomer dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate modified resin adhesive on biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei in vitro]

Objective: To explore the application prospect of a new pH-responsive tertiary amine monomer dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEM) modified resin adhesive (DMAEM@RA) in the prevention and treatment of secondary caries. Methods: Five percents DMAEM was added to the resin adhesive to synthesize DMAEM@RA for modifying. Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Lactobacillus casei (Lc) biofilms were cultured on resin adhesive and DMAEM@RA, respectively. The culture systems were set up at pH=7.4, 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0. The antimicrobial activity of DMAEM@RA was evaluated by quantitative PCR. The effects of DMAEM@RA on biofilm thickness, bacterial amount, and extracellular polysaccharides were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and extracellular polysaccharide staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to study the effect of DMAEM@RA on the expression levels of cariogenic genes in Sm. Results: DMAEM@RA could significantly reduce the amount of Sm and Lc under acidic conditions, especially Lc. At pH=5.0, the logarithm value of co-cultured Sm bacteria [lg (CFU/ml)] in DMAEM@RA group (7.58±0.01) was significantly lower than that in control group (7.87±0.03) (t=14.32, P<0.001), and the logarithm value of Lc bacteria [lg (CFU/ml)] (7.29±0.04) was also significantly lower than that in control group (7.93±0.15) (t=6.93, P=0.002). SEM observed that the bacteria decreased and the cell fragments appeared in DMAEM@RA group. In addition, DMAEM@RA significantly reduced the biomass of extracellular polysaccharides in the dual-species biofilm under acidic conditions. At pH=5.0, the biomass of extracellular polysaccharides in DMAEM@RA group [(25.13±3.14) mm3/mm2] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(42.66±7.46) mm3/mm2] (t=3.75, P=0.020). DMAEM@RA could significantly up-regulate the expressions of gtfB and gtfC genes in Sm under acidic conditions. At pH=5.0, gtfB and gtfC genes were significantly up-regulated by (14.64± 0.44) times and (2.99±0.20) times, respectively (t=-42.74, P<0.001; t=-13.55, P<0.001). Conclusions: The DMAEM@RA has a good antibacterial effect under acidic conditions, demonstrating that it has a good potential to prevent the occurrence and development of secondary caries.

Natural disasters: a comprehensive study using EMDAT database 1995-2022

INTRODUCTION

The frequency, intensity, and geographical reach of natural disasters, fueled in part by factors such as climate change, population growth, and urbanization, have undeniably been escalating concerns around the world.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of natural disasters recorded in the Emergency Events Database from 1995 to 2022.

RESULTS

Between 1995 and 2022, 11,360 natural disasters occurred, with a mean of 398 per year. Asia experienced the most disasters (4390) and the highest number of casualties (918,198). Hydrological disasters were the most common subgroup (4969), while geophysical disasters led in terms of deaths (770,644). Biological disasters caused the most injuries (2544), particularly in Africa.

CONCLUSION

Recognizing the historical impacts of the various subtypes of natural disasters may help different regions better risk analyze and mitigate the unique risks associated with such events.

HPV-positive clinically advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (aBSCC): A comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) study

BACKGROUND

Advanced bladder squamous cell carcinoma (aBSCC) is an uncommon form of urinary bladder malignancy when compared with the much higher urothelial carcinoma incidence. We studied the genomic alteration (GA) landscape in a series of aBSCC based on the association with human papilloma virus (HPV) to determine if differences in GA would be observed between the positive and negative groups.

METHODS

Using a hybrid capture-based FDA-approved CGP assay, a series of 171 aBSCC were sequenced to evaluate all classes of GA. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was determined on up to 1.1 Mbp of sequenced DNA and microsatellite instability (MSI) was determined on up to 114 loci. Programmed cell death ligand -1 (PD-L1) expression was determined by IHC (Dako 22C3) with negative expression when PD-L1 was 0, lower expression of positivity set at 1 to 49%, and higher expression set at ≥50% expression.

RESULTS

Overall, 11 (6.4%) of the aBSCC were found to harbor HPV sequences (10 HPV16 and 1 HPV 11). HPV+ status was identified slightly more often in women (NS) and in younger patients (P = 0.04); 2 female patients with aBSCC had a prior history of SCC including 1 anal SCC and 1 vaginal SCC. HPV+ aBSCC had fewer GA/tumor (P < 0.0001), more inactivating mutations in RB1 (P = 0.032), and fewer inactivating GA in CDKN2A (P < 0.0001), CDKN2B (P = 0.05), TERT promoter (P = 0.0004) and TP53 (P < 0.0001). GA in genes associated with urothelial carcinoma including FGFR2 and FGFR3 were similar in both HPV+ and HPV- aBSCC groups. MTAP loss (homozygous deletion) which has emerged as a biomarker for PRMT5 inhibitor-based clinical trials was not identified in any of the 11 HPV+ aBSCC cases, which was significantly lower than the 28% positive frequency of MTAP loss in the HPV- aBSCC group (P < 0.0001). MTOR and PIK3CA pathway GA were not significantly different in the 2 groups. Putative biomarkers associated with immunotherapy (IO) response, including MSI and TMB status, were also similar in the 2 groups. PD-L1 expression data was available for a subset of both HPV+ and HPV- cases and showed high frequencies of positive staining which was not different in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

HPV+ aBSCC tends to occur more often in younger patients. As reported in other HPV-associated squamous cell carcinomas, HPV+ aBSCC demonstrates significantly reduced frequencies of inactivating mutations in cell cycle regulatory genes with similar GA in MTOR and PIK3CA pathways. The implication of HPV in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer remains unknown but warrants further exploration and clinical validation.

The generation of genuine quadripartite Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering in an optical superlattice

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering is a quantum effect based on quantum entanglement and it is the key resource for building quantum networks because of its useful properties. Based on the criterion for genuine multipartite EPR steering, the genuine quadripartite EPR steering is confirmed and it can be generated by a spontaneous parametric down-conversion cascaded process with two sum-frequency generations in an optical superlattice. This occurs either below the oscillation threshold and without oscillation threshold. The influence of the parameters of cascaded nonlinear process on the quadripartite EPR steering among signal, idler, and two sum-frequency beams are also discussed. Choosing appropriate nonlinear parameters can achieve good quadripartite quantum steering. This scheme of the generation of genuine quadripartite EPR steering has potential applications in quantum communication and computing.

Temporal Structures in Positron Spectra and Charge-Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic positron fluxes in the rigidity range from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 3.4×10^{6} positrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The positron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the electron fluxes at short and long timescales. A hysteresis between the electron fluxes and the positron fluxes is observed with a significance greater than 5σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. On the contrary, the positron fluxes and the proton fluxes show similar time variation. Remarkably, we found that positron fluxes are modulated more than proton fluxes with a significance greater than 5σ for rigidities below 7 GV. These continuous daily positron fluxes, together with AMS daily electron, proton, and helium fluxes over an 11-year solar cycle, provide unique input to the understanding of both the charge-sign and mass dependencies of cosmic rays in the heliosphere.

High genetic merit dairy heifers grazing low quality forage had similar weight gain and urinary nitrogen excretion to those of low genetic merit heifers

Climate variability and increasing drought events have become significant concerns in recent years. However, there is limited published research on body weight (BW) change of dairy heifers with different genetic merit when grazing on drought impacted pastures in southern Australia. Achieving target body weight (BW) is vital for dairy heifers, especially during critical stages like mating and calving. This study aimed to assess dry matter (DM) intake, BW change, urinary nitrogen excretion, and grazing behaviours of high vs. low genetic dairy heifers grazing pasture during a 43-day experimental period in a drought season. Forty-eight Holstein Friesian heifers grazed on ryegrass-dominant pasture and were divided into two groups based on their high and low Balanced Performance Index (HBPI and LBPI, respectively). Each group was further stratified into six plots, with similar BW, resulting in four heifers per replication group. Data from the five measurement days were averaged for individual cows to analyse the dry matter intake, nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion. The statistical model included the treatment effect of BPI (H and L) and means were analysed using ANOVA. The pasture quality was poor, with metabolizable energy 9.3 MJ/Kg DM and crude protein 5.9% on a DM basis. Nitrogen intake and urinary nitrogen excretion were significantly higher (p  <  0.05) in HBPI compared to the LBPI. However, despite these differences, the study did not find any advantages of having HBPI heifer grazing on low quality forage in terms of BW performance.

[Research advances on allergen component-resolved diagnosis in respiratory allergic diseases]

Allergen component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) is an emerging molecular diagnostic technology, which can further clarify the protein profile of allergen components in allergic patients, achieve accurate detection of allergens, and have great significance and value for the precise prevention and treatment of allergic diseases. In this article, the CRD technology and its research progress in respiratory allergic diseases are introduced, and the importance of CRD in the evaluation, prevention and treatment of respiratory allergic diseases are discussed.

Clashes and crowds: protests, riots, and other mass gathering events in North America 2021-2022

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to provide an overview of the scope and challenges of historic events and help better prepare emergency healthcare services for future similar mass gathering events.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective descriptive analysis of protest and conflict events in North America from 2021 to 2022.

INTRODUCTION

Recent protests, riots, and other conflict events in North America have highlighted the increasing challenges hospital-based and prehospital healthcare providers face. This study provides a retrospective descriptive analysis of protest and conflict events in North America from 2021 to 2022, which may aid emergency healthcare services in understanding the scope and challenges of historic events and help better prepare for future similar mass gathering events.

METHODS

Data collection was performed using a retrospective database search through the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) database. The ACLED database was searched using the internal database search functions for recorded events that occurred in North America from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Date, event type, event subtype, the country of incident, and fatality numbers were extracted. The results were exported into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed independently by L.C., H.S., and R.H.

RESULTS

There were a total of 52,529 recorded events of political conflict in North America, with 30,269 events in 2021 and 29,260 in 2022. Political conflict events included protests (40,934, 68.8%), violence against civilians (11,532, 19.4%), strategic developments (2,819, 4.7%), battles (2,293, 3.9%), riots (1,909, 3.2%), and remote violence (42, 0.1%). Violence against civilians caused the highest fatalities (13,466, 82.6%), followed by battles (2,662, 16.3%), riots (111, 0.7%), strategic developments, remote violence, and protests (57, 6, and 3 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Mexico and the United States accounted for most of the political conflicts in North America across 2021 and 2022. In Mexico, protests and violence against civilians were the most common types of conflict, with the latter accounting for the comparatively high fatality compared with the other countries. Battles in Mexico between cartels were the most deadly political conflicts recorded in North America.

[Clinical effect of the giant deep inferior epigastric artery paraumbilical perforator flap in repairing the circular high-voltage electric burn wounds on the wrist]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the giant deep inferior epigastric artery paraumbilical perforator flap in repairing the circular high-voltage electric burn wounds on the wrist. Methods: A retrospective observational study method was used. From September 2016 to October 2021, thirteen male patients (aged 20-43 years) with annular high voltage (10-100 kV) electrical burns on the wrist were admitted to the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. At the early stage after injury, the patient's wrist was subjected to incision, tension reduction and debridement, with the wound area after debridement being 27 cm×16 cm-32 cm×19 cm; in 12 patients with vascular injury, the radial or ulnar artery was reconstructed by great saphenous vein transplantation, with the length of 15-25 cm; the wrist wound was repaired by free transplantation of the deep inferior epigastric artery paraumbilical perforator flap (if the wound was giant, the lower abdominal flap carrying other perforators was used), with the area of 30 cm×19 cm-35 cm×20 cm. The donor site was repaired by direct suture+skin grafting or relay flap transplantation. After surgery, the survival of flap in recipient area, as well as survival of the skin or flap in donor site were observed. During follow-up, the appearances of the flap in recipient area and the recovery of hand function, as well as the healing of donor site, occurrence of abdominal wall hernia, and scar in skin graft area were observed. Results: After surgery, all the 13 patients' paraumbilical perforator flaps survived. Among them, 3 patients had subcutaneous fat necrosis at the distal end of the wrist flap, and the wound had mild infection, which healed after re-expansion and dressing change. All the skin grafts in the donor site of 10 patients survived, and the flaps in the donor site of 3 patients survived well. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years. The flaps in recipient area were in good shape, 8 cases had partial recovery of hand function, and 5 cases had loss of finger flexion function; the donor site of abdominal flap healed well with no abdominal hernia occurred, and the skin graft site had no obvious scar hyperplasia and was soft in texture. Conclusions: Early vascular reconstruction after injury, together with free transplantation of the giant deep inferior epigastric artery paraumbilical perforator flap are effective in repairing circular high-voltage electrical burn wounds on the wrist.

Disaggregated Nano-Hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) with Inhibitory Effects on Biofilms and Demineralization

Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) is considered a biocompatible agent that promotes the remineralization of dental hard tissue; however, its antibacterial efficacy is under scientific discussion. Therefore, this investigation aimed to specify the inhibitory effects of disaggregated nano-hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) on regrown biofilms and demineralization. Regrown biofilm models of single-species (Streptococcus mutans), dual-species (S. mutans and Candida albicans), and saliva-derived microcosm biofilms were established in vitro. Repeat treatment with DnHAP was applied to biofilms. The viability, lactic acid, biofilm structure, biomass, the inhibitory effect of demineralization, and virulence factors' expression were determined. In addition, the biofilm microbial community was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. DnHAP inhibited metabolism, lactic acid production, biomass, and water-insoluble polysaccharide production (P < 0.05) of regrown single/dual-species biofilms. Concerning the saliva-derived biofilms, samples treated with DnHAP showed lower biofilm metabolic activity without significant differences from samples treated with sterile deionized water (P > 0.05); in addition, saliva-derived biofilms treated with DnHAP exhibited lower lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The demineralization of bovine enamel was the lowest in the DnHAP group, as detected by transverse microradiography, and the lesion depth and volume decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The application of DnHAP did not change the diversity of regrown saliva-derived microcosm biofilms. In conclusion, this investigation showed that DnHAP could be a promising solution for the management of regrown biofilms to combat dental caries.

[Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population]

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Properties of Cosmic-Ray Sulfur and Determination of the Composition of Primary Cosmic-Ray Carbon, Neon, Magnesium, and Sulfur: Ten-Year Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the properties of primary cosmic-ray sulfur (S) in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.38×10^{6} sulfur nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment (AMS). We observed that above 90 GV the rigidity dependence of the S flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of Ne-Mg-Si fluxes, which is different from the rigidity dependence of the He-C-O-Fe fluxes. We found that, similar to N, Na, and Al cosmic rays, over the entire rigidity range, the traditional primary cosmic rays S, Ne, Mg, and C all have sizeable secondary components, and the S, Ne, and Mg fluxes are well described by the weighted sum of the primary silicon flux and the secondary fluorine flux, and the C flux is well described by the weighted sum of the primary oxygen flux and the secondary boron flux. The primary and secondary contributions of the traditional primary cosmic-ray fluxes of C, Ne, Mg, and S (even Z elements) are distinctly different from the primary and secondary contributions of the N, Na, and Al (odd Z elements) fluxes. The abundance ratio at the source for S/Si is 0.167±0.006, for Ne/Si is 0.833±0.025, for Mg/Si is 0.994±0.029, and for C/O is 0.836±0.025. These values are determined independent of cosmic-ray propagation.

Signal-processing electronics for stable and sensitive weak-field atomic vector magnetometers

We present the electronics developed for a sensitive and stable atomic vector magnetometer used in low-field detections. These electronics are required to be not only highly reliable and sophisticated for signal processing but also compact in size and low cost in resource consumption for the purpose of miniaturization. In addition, this magnetometer works with multiple modulations, where the interferences between harmonics of modulation fields often disturb the long-term measurements of the sensor. We work out a robust method to eliminate this problem by choosing the modulation frequencies with separations to match the minimum response points of the low-pass filters used in the demodulation processes. We validate the performance of the electronics and the frequency-selection scheme of the modulation fields with corresponding experimental results.

Temporal Structures in Electron Spectra and Charge Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic electron fluxes in the rigidity interval from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 2.0×10^{8} electrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The electron fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. Recurrent electron flux variations with periods of 27 days, 13.5 days, and 9 days are observed. We find that the electron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the proton fluxes. Remarkably, a hysteresis between the electron flux and the proton flux is observed with a significance of greater than 6σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. Furthermore, significant structures in the electron-proton hysteresis are observed corresponding to sharp structures in both fluxes. This continuous daily electron data provide unique input to the understanding of the charge sign dependence of cosmic rays over an 11-year solar cycle.

Dabrafenib and Trametinib Therapy for Advanced Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer - Real-World Outcomes From UK Centres

AIMS

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but aggressive form of thyroid cancer with a median survival of 4 months. Recent advances in molecular profiling have shown that up to half of ATCs harbour the BRAF-V600E mutation. The aim of this study was to provide real-world data and experience on the use of combination therapy dabrafenib and trametinib in patients with BRAF-V600E-mutated advanced ATC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients with confirmed BRAF-V600E-mutated ATC, defined as patients with locally advanced or metastatic ATC with no locoregional, radical treatment options. Outcomes measured were overall survival, progression-free survival, response rate, discontinuation rate, dose reduction rate and toxicity data.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were evaluated and the mean age was 68 years. Ten patients died by the time of censoring. The median duration of follow-up was 12 months (3-43 months). The estimated median overall survival was 6.9 months (95% confidence interval 2.46 months - upper confidence interval not reached) and the median progression-free survival was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval 1.4-7.8 months). Dose interruptions and/or reductions were common, but none of the patients had to permanently discontinue treatment because of toxicities. Severe toxicities (grades 3 and 4) were uncommon.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the indication of dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF-V600E-mutated ATC as an effective and well-tolerated treatment in an historically difficult to treat cancer.

The clinical and genetic findings in a Chinese family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome

Objecive

To describe the clinical and genetic findings of an Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) family with a new PITX2 splicing mutation.

Methods

A Chinese ARS family with five affected individuals was recruited. Exome sequencing was performed on the proband and the variant (C.253-9C > A) in PITX2 gene was detected as a pathogenic mutation. Sanger sequencing was performed for verification and cosegregation analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and Western blotting were performed to verify the expression of the pathogenic gene.

Results

All the patients showed abnormalities in the anterior segment of both eyes including posterior embryotoxon, corectopia, iris dysplasia, and iridocorneal tissue adhesions. In addition, they all presented systemic features, including maxillary hypoplasia, underbite, hypodontia, conical teeth. Only III-7 showed obvious umbilical skin. In the PITX2 family, we identified a novel heterozygous splicing mutation (C.253-9C > A) which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be completely cosegregated with the ARS phenotype. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western results showed that PITX2 mRNA and protein expression were significantly lower in patients compared with unrelated normal controls.

Conclusion

In the ARS pedigree, we summarized the variable phenotype, described a novel PITX2 splicing mutation which expand the genetic spectrum of ARS. We further confirmed the possibility of development of ARS induced by this PITX2 gene deficiency.

[Characteristics and significance of outer retinal thickness changes in reticular macular disease]

Objective: To study the characteristics and significance of changes in the thickness of the outer retinal layer (ORL) outside the macula in patients with reticular macular disease (RMD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The clinical data of patients who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from February to September 2019 were retrospectively collected. Thirty-one patients with at least one eye (54 eyes in total) diagnosed with early/mid-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were consecutively included in the AMD group, and 33 patients with at least one eye (64 eyes in total) showing subretinal wart-like deposits on optical coherence tomography images were consecutively included in the RMD group. Thirty-two volunteers aged between 50 to 90 years with a normal fundus in both eyes (64 eyes in total) were consecutively included in the healthy control (HC) group. Frequency domain optical coherence tomography was applied to examine and analyze the thickness features of the ORL, inner retinal layer and choroid at the macular fovea (F), 2 mm of the temporal edge (T), the nasal edge (N), the superior edge (S) and inferior edge (I) of the macular fovea in each group. The correlations of the thickness of ORL with the choroidal thickness and the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer in patients with RMD were also analyzed. Results: The thickness of ORL at the F, T, S and I sites in the RMD group was significantly thinner than that in the AMD and HC groups. The difference was most obvious at the F site [(90.27±8.93), (98.04±11.7) and (97.19±7.02)μm] in the RMD, AMD and HC groups, respectively; all P<0.01). In the logistic regression model with independent variables of the ORL thickness at the macular F site, gender and age, there was a significant association between the thickness of ORL at the F site and the incidence of RMD (odds ratio=0.926, P<0.05). The ORL and choroid in the eyes of patients with RMD were significantly thinner at the F site [(90.27±8.93) and (163.21±72.43) μm, respectively; both P<0.01] compared with the AMD [(98.04±11.7) and (235.34±64.15) μm, respectively] and HC [(97.19±7.02) and (240.08±62.27) μm, respectively] groups. However, the ORL and choroidal thickness did not show significant and strong linear correlations at multiple sites. In contrast, there was a significant linear correlation between the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer and the thickness of ORL at the F, T and S sites in patients with RMD (r=0.487, 0.722, 0.467, respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusions: The thickness of ORL outside the macula of eyes with RMD is thinner than that of healthy eyes and eyes with early/mid-stage AMD. The thinning of ORL outside the macula is related to the decrease in the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer in patients with RMD.

P-606 Androgen receptor splice variant lead to PCOS with insulin resistance via IRS1/AKT signaling pathway in mice

Study question

How does the androgen receptor splice variant (ARSV) contribute to insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients?

Summary answer

ARSV inhibited the intracellular signaling pathway of insulin, resulting in decreased glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation, impaired cellular glucose uptake, and insulin resistance.

What is known already

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulation dysfunction, and ovarian polycystic changes. In addition, a significant proportion of PCOS patients will experience insulin resistance. Our previous study identified an ARSV in granulosa cells from PCOS patients, which may be associated with higher insulin levels in follicular fluid.

Study design, size, duration

/

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Glucose metabolism of a mouse model presenting ARSV by CRISPR-Cas9 was measured by glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test. Body composition was measured by a nuclear magnetic resonance system. KGN cell lines stably overexpressing wild type androgen receptor (AR group) or ARSV (ARSV group) were successfully constructed by lentivirus infection. The process of glucose uptake by GLUT4, and the expression of target genes in the glucose uptake pathway were detected in cells.

Main results and the role of chance

The mice expressing ARSV had higher body weight and body fat content than the wild type mice, while the muscle content was equivalent.ARSV mice displayed diabetes with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance at 48 week-age. The levels of fasting glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in ARSV mice. The basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake capacity were also found impaired in ARSV group. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that under insulin stimulation, GLUT4 protein was less expressed in the membrane and more expressed in the cytoplasm in ARSV group. Similar results were obtained by detecting the expression of GLUT4 protein after separating the cell membrane and cytoplasmic proteins. Further detection of the upstream signaling molecules of GLUT4 revealed that the phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) at Ser1101 were slightly increased in ARSV group, after stimulation with insulin and DHT. Besides, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (AKT) were also found significantly decreased at Thr308 and slightly decreased at Ser473 in ARSV group. ARSV inhibited the intracellular signaling pathway of insulin by altering the phosphorylation level of IRS1/AKT signaling, resulting in decreased GLUT4 translocation, impaired cellular glucose uptake, and insulin resistance.

Limitations, reasons for caution

In this study, we failed to obtain clinical samples of PCOS to prospectively verify the association between ARSV and glucose uptake, insulin resistance, and subsequent onset diabetes.

Wider implications of the findings

This transgenic animal model can simulate the reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of PCOS patients, providing a model for future PCOS research. PCOS patients with ARSV should delay the onset of insulin resistance through lifestyle intervention, exercise, and drug therapy as early as possible.

Trial registration number

NA

Properties of Daily Helium Fluxes

We present the precision measurement of 2824 daily helium fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 in the rigidity interval from 1.71 to 100 GV based on 7.6×10^{8} helium nuclei collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The helium flux and the helium to proton flux ratio exhibit variations on multiple timescales. In nearly all the time intervals from 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent helium flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. In the entire time period, we found that below ∼7  GV the helium flux exhibits larger time variations than the proton flux, and above ∼7  GV the helium to proton flux ratio is time independent. Remarkably, below 2.4 GV a hysteresis between the helium to proton flux ratio and the helium flux was observed at greater than the 7σ level. This shows that at low rigidity the modulation of the helium to proton flux ratio is different before and after the solar maximum in 2014.

POS0562 AUTOANTIBODIES TO JOINT PROTEINS AS NOVEL BIOMARKERS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF UNTREATED EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Autoantibodies to citrullinated protein (ACPA; measured as anti-CCP; aCCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) appear years before clinical onset of RA and are essential tools in today’s classification criteria for RA. In animal models, antibodies to joint specific proteins (JP) can induce arthritis, and they are also present at onset of RA [1]. As there is a need for increased precision for early diagnosis of RA as well as identification of different subtypes of the disease, we aim to assess whether autoantibodies to native or modified JP can be used for early and precise diagnosis of RA.

Objectives

To study whether antibodies to JP, alone or in combination with ACPA/RF, could increase the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in untreated early (ue)RA patients.

Methods

Antibodies to JP were analysed in serum from patients in three independent ueRA cohorts as well as from population controls without rheumatic diseases (WINGA, Gothenburg and MFM-ÅUS, Malmö n=1062). ERAp (n=66), the smallest and most recent cohort was chosen for screening, and BARFOT and TIRA-2 (n=1939) for validation. We have developed a bead-based multianalyte flow immunoassay [2] and screened approx. 350 peptides derived from JPs of interest. We included monoclonal antibodies as assay calibrators and determined limit of detection (LoD). To assess positivity for autoantibodies to JP of interest above LoD, we used 5MAD (median absolute deviation) of the control populations as the cut-off.

Results

In the ERAp cohort, 5 autoantibodies discriminated RA patients from controls with 81% sensitivity and 100% specificity (Table 1). The same autoantibodies had 68% sensitivity and 98% specificity in the combined BARFOT and TIRA-2 cohorts. Together with RF and aCCP, only 2 of the 5 autoantibodies added statistically significant diagnostic value, increasing the sensitivity from 48% to 61% with 99% specificity. In aCCP- and RF-negative ueRA patients (n=536), the novel biomarkers identified 22.5% of the patients with 99% specificity compared to controls.

Table 1.

Diagnostic capacity of the joint-specific antibodies

Test panelPerformanceGroup of patientsaCCP+RF+JP+SensitivitySpecificityAUC(ROC)ERApAll patients (n=66)--X81%100%89%RF and aCCP-neg patients (n=7)1------BARFOT and TIRA-2, combined dataAll patients (N=1939)--X68%98%86%All patients (N=1939)X--58%99%78%All patients (N=1939)2XX-48%100%84%All patients (N=1939)2, 3XXX61%99%86%RF and/or aCCP-pos patients (N=1403)--X84%99%93%RF and aCCP-neg patients (N=536)--X22%99%67%RA, literature valuesAnti-CCP testXN/AN/A53–71%95–96%N/A

1Not analysed due to lack of power

2This patient population is both aCCP+ and RF+

3Only 2 of the 5 autoantibodies added statistically significant to the diagnostic value

AUC, Area under the curve; ROC, receiver operating characteristic curve; N/A, not applicable. Controls without rheumatic diseases: N=935 for BARFOT / TIRA-2 and N=27 for ERAp.

Conclusion

Autoantibodies to JP discriminate ueRA patients better then aCCP and RF alone and add an increased diagnostic value in particular for seronegative patients.

References

[1]Holmdahl, R., V. Malmstrom, and H. Burkhardt, Autoimmune priming, tissue attack and chronic inflammation - the three stages of rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Immunol, 2014. 44(6): p. 1593-9.

[2]Viljanen, J., et al., Synthesis of an Array of Triple-Helical Peptides from Type II Collagen for Multiplex Analysis of Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis. ACS Chem Biol, 2020. 15(9): p. 2605-2615. Correction: ACS Chem Biol, 2020. 15(11): p. 3072

Acknowledgements

BARFOT study group.

Disclosure of Interests

Erik Lönnblom: None declared, Monica Leu Agelii: None declared, Outi Sareila Employee of: Part time employee in Vacara AB, Ingiäld Hafström: None declared, Maria Andersson: None declared, Lei Cheng: None declared, Göran Bergström: None declared, Anna-Karin H Ekwall: None declared, Anna Rudin: None declared, Alf Kastbom: None declared, Christopher Sjowall: None declared, Bingze Xu: None declared, Lennart T.H. Jacobsson: None declared, Johan Viljanen: None declared, Jan Kihlberg: None declared, Inger Gjertsson: None declared, Rikard Holmdahl Shareholder of: Rikard Holmdahl the founder of Vacara AB.

Toxic Effects of Thioacetamide-Induced Femoral Damage in New Zealand White Rabbits by Activating the p38/ERK Signaling Pathway

Thioacetamide (TAA) is widely used in the production of drugs, pesticides and dyeing auxiliaries. Moreover, it is a chemical that can cause liver damage and cancer. TAA has recently been identified to cause bone damage in animal models. However, the type of bone damage that TAA causes and its potential pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. The toxic effects of TAA on the femurs of New Zealand white rabbits and the underlying toxicity mechanism were investigated in this study. Serum samples, the heart, liver, kidney and femurs were collected from rabbits after intraperitoneal injection of TAA for 5 months (100 and 200 mg/kg). The New Zealand white rabbits treated with TAA showed significant weight loss and femoral shortening. The activities of total bilirubin, total bile acid and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the serum were increased following treatment with TAA. In addition, the cortical bone became thinner, and the trabecular thickness decreased significantly in TAA-treated rabbits, which was accompanied by significantly decreased mineral density of the cortical and trabecular bone. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in modulus of elasticity and maximum load on bone stress in TAA-treated rabbits. The western blotting results showed that the expression of phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p-ERK in femur tissues of rabbits were increased after TAA administration. Collectively, these results suggested that TAA may lead to femoral damage in rabbits by activating the p38/ERK signaling pathway.

[Clinicopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis of 6 cases of congenital granular cell tumor]

To provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital granular cell tumor (CGCT), by comprehensive analysis of the clinical data, histopathological and immunohistochemical results. Patients with CGCT were involede, from March 2015 to November 2020, at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A total of 6 children, aged 3-16 days, 1 male and 5 female, 5 maxillary and 1 mandibular, with maximum tumor diameter of 6-70 mm, were included. The lesions of CGCT were single and connected to the alveolar ridge by a pedicle. The surface of the tumor was covered with a vascular network, and two cases had ulcers on the surface of the tumor. All 6 cases had the tumor removed surgically and there was no recurrence or metastasis in the follow-up visit. Although CGCT is rare, it is a benign tumor and generally does not recur or metastasize after surgery, and has a good prognosis. The prenatal imaging, clinical manifestations after delivery, pathological characteristics and immunohistochemical analyses may provide reference for early diagnosis and treatment of CGCT.

Definition of large niche after Cesarean section based on prediction of postmenstrual spotting: Chinese cohort study in non-pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

A large niche after Cesarean section (CS) is associated with long-term complications, of which postmenstrual spotting is associated positively with the size of the niche. However, the diagnosis of a large niche in the literature is inconsistent and the definition is largely subjective. The aim of this study was to generate a definition for a large niche in non-pregnant women based on the presence of postmenstrual spotting.

METHODS

Women who had undergone CS in our hospital between January 2012 and June 2017 were selected randomly from our database, contacted by telephone and subsequently examined between January 2016 and June 2020. Eligible for inclusion were non-pregnant women who had their last CS more than 1 year earlier and agreed to undergo transvaginal sonography (TVS). All participants underwent examination of their CS scar by TVS (two-dimensional color Doppler) during the midfollicular phase. Niche depth, length, width, residual myometrial thickness (RMT), adjacent myometrial thickness (AMT) and ratio of niche depth/AMT were recorded. Women diagnosed with a niche, defined as an indentation at the site of the CS with a depth of at least 2 mm, were classified into two groups (symptomatic or asymptomatic) according to whether they experienced postmenstrual spotting. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the best cut-off values for the niche parameters to predict postmenstrual spotting. A new definition was generated based on the niche parameters with the highest area under the receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC) for the prediction of postmenstrual spotting.

RESULTS

A total of 727 women who had a CS > 1 year earlier underwent TVS examination, of whom 263 were diagnosed with a niche (prevalence of 36.2%). Of these, 160 women experienced postmenstrual spotting and 103 were asymptomatic. The three variables with the highest AUC for prediction of postmenstrual spotting were niche depth/AMT ratio (AUC, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.745-0.852), niche depth (AUC, 0.731; 95% CI, 0.668-0.795) and RMT (AUC, 0.683; 95% CI, 0.618-0.748). Based on the best cut-offs according to ROC-curve analysis, a large niche was defined as: niche depth ≥ 0.50 cm, RMT ≤ 0.21 cm or niche depth/AMT ratio ≥ 0.56. The prevalence of a large niche according to this definition was 22.4% (163/727). The new definition had a specificity of 61.17% (95% CI, 52.34-70.41%) and sensitivity of 76.87% (95% CI, 70.28-84.16%) for a large niche.

CONCLUSION

This study has provided a new definition for a large niche after CS. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The soybean TGA transcription factor GmTGA13 plays important roles in the response to salinity stress

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important oil, food and economic crop in the world. High salinity severely affects the growth and yield of soybean. Overexpressing a specific anti-retroviral transcription factor by biotechnology is an effective way to cultivate new stress-tolerant varieties of soybean. TGA transcription factor is a subfamily of bZIP and plays an important role in abiotic stress responses. A TGA subfamily gene GmTGA13 was cloned and the gene expression, subcellular localization and transcriptional activity were measured. Through the Ag. tumefaciens mediated flower dip method and the Ag. rhizogenes mediated transformation of soybean hairy roots, the transgenic Arabidopsis and the 'combination' soybean plants of overexpressing GmTGA13 were obtained. The two types of transgenic plants were treated with salt stress respectively, and the related physiological indexes were determined. Furthermore, the expression levels of five abiotic stress responsive genes were analyzed in GmTGA13 overexpression hairy roots. GmTGA13 gene was highly expressed in roots and significantly induced by saline stress in soybean. GmTGA13 encoded a nuclear localization protein and had transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of GmTGA13 enhanced the saline stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis and the 'combination' soybean plants. Furthermore, overexpression of GmTGA13 enhanced the expression of the stress responsive genes in transgenic soybean hairy roots. In conclusion, overexpression of GmTGA13 is beneficial to the absorption of K+ and Ca2+ by the cell, thereby regulating the ion homeostasis in the cell balance. GmTGA13 enhanced salt resistance of plants by regulating the expression of many stress-responsive genes.

Treponema denticola Promotes OSCC Development via the TGF-β Signaling Pathway

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and periodontal pathogens such as Treponema denticola are implicated in the pathogenesis of OSCC. Previous studies have mainly focused on T. denticola surface proteins—for example, chymotrypsin-like proteinase, which was detected in the majority of orodigestive tumor tissues. T. denticola may influence the development of OSCC. Nevertheless, the potential direct regulatory mechanism of T. denticola in OSCC is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the direct effect of T. denticola on OSCC cell proliferation and elucidate potential mechanisms of T. denticola in contributing to cell proliferation. A series of in vitro experiments (e.g., CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry) were performed to explore the effect of T. denticola on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Mice experiments were performed to explore the effect of T. denticola on tumor growth. Whole mRNA transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to explore the intracellular signaling pathway. Our study found that T. denticola could invade Cal-27 cells and directly promote cell proliferation, regulate the cell cycle, and inhibit apoptosis. T. denticola could also promote the growth of OSCC tumors in mice, and it upregulated Ki67 expression. Regarding the mechanism, T. denticola could promote the development of OSCC by activating the TGF-β pathway. In conclusion, T. denticola could promote OSCC cell proliferation directly, and the mechanism was associated with intracellular TGF-β pathway activation.

Periodicities in the Daily Proton Fluxes from 2011 to 2019 Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from 1 to 100 GV

We present the precision measurement of the daily proton fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 (a total of 2824 days or 114 Bartels rotations) in the rigidity interval from 1 to 100 GV based on 5.5×10^{9} protons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. The proton fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. From 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. The rigidity dependence of the 27-day periodicity is different from the rigidity dependences of 9-day and 13.5-day periods. Unexpectedly, the strength of 9-day and 13.5-day periodicities increases with increasing rigidities up to ∼10  GV and ∼20  GV, respectively. Then the strength of the periodicities decreases with increasing rigidity up to 100 GV.

[The role of RUNX1 in the apoptosis of epithelial cells in nasal polyps]

Objective: To explore the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) in nasal polyps (NPs) tissues and the potential role on apoptosis of primary human nasal epithelial cells (pHNECs) in NPs. Methods: The expression level of RUNX1 in NPs tissues was determined by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). In vitro, TNF-α (20 ng/ml) was used to stimulate pHNECs to establish the apoptosis injury model. Hoechst staining was performed to observe pHNECs apoptosis by kit. Subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and WB were utilized to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), BCL2-associated X (BAX) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) to assess the level of apoptosis. The plasmid of sh-RUNX1-6 was transfected into the pHNECs apoptosis model, then the effect of RUNX1 silence on apoptosis was evaluated by WB and flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS 19.0 and GraphPad Prism5 software. Results: The expression of RUNX1 in NPs tissue was significantly higher than that in inferior turbinates, and the difference was statistically significant (0.274±0.042 vs 0.110±0.027, t=9.675, P<0.05). Compared with the inferior turbinates, BAX and Caspase-3 expressions were increased whereas BCL-2 was decreased in NPs, and the differences were statistically significant (BAX 0.346±0.032 vs 0.302±0.037, Caspase-3 0.228±0.061 vs 0.158±0.065, BCL-2 0.090±0.047 vs 0.276±0.057, t value was 2.680, 2.361 and 7.575, respectively, all P<0.05). The expression levels of RUNX1 and apoptosis in pHNECs increased in a time-dependent manner after TNF-α exposure (P<0.05). Plasmid of sh-RUNX1-6 transfected silenced the expression of RUNX1 in pHNECs treated by TNF-α. After silencing RUNX1 in pHNECs apoptosis model, the protein levels of BAX and Caspase-3 were decreased, while the expression of BCL-2 was increased, the rate of apoptosis was decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions: RUNX1 is increased in NPs. Silencing RUNX1 can inhibit the apoptosis and reduce cell inflammatory damage of pHNECs induced by TNF-α.

[Evaluation of papilledema and visual improvement in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension after venous sinus stenting]

Objective: To evaluate the improvement of papilledema and visual acuities in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) after venous sinus stenting. Methods: The clinical data of 8 IIH patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent venous sinus stenting between January 2013 and December 2016 at Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 6 females and 3 males,aged (32.9±14.4)years (range:19 to 57 years).The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was measured by optical coherence tomography. Fundus,visual acuity and visual field examination were performed before and after operation. If pressure gradient ≥10 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) across the venous stenosis was indicated by intraoperative pressure measurement,the patient would be treated with venous sinus stenting. Intracranial pressure was measured by lumbar puncture 3 to 7 days after operation. RNFL thickness and eye examination were detected 6 months after surgery. CT venogram was used to observe the sinus venous conditions. Paired t test was used to compare the data before and after surgery. Results: All the 8 patients underwent venous sinus stenting successfully. The mean pressure gradient across the venous stenosis was reduced from (24±9.2) mmHg to (2.6±2.0) mmHg (t=8.02,P<0.01). Intracranial pressure decreased from preoperative (41.4±12.7) cmH₂O(1 cmH₂O=0.098 kPa) to postoperative (12.9±3.3) cmH₂O (t=7.08, P<0.01). The RNFL thickness decreased from (275.3±68.3)μm to (131.4±31.8)μm(t=5.80,P<0.05) 6 months after surgery and the baseline visual acuity was improved from(M(Q_R))0.24 (0.25) to 0.65 (0.23)(Z=-2.52,P<0.05).Papilledema was significantly improved in 6 patients,and no significant change in 2 patients. CT venogram indicated adjacent stent restenosis in 1 patient. Conclusion: Venous sinus stenting can effectively improve papilledema and visual acuity caused by IIH.

The effect of sheep genetic merit and feed allowance on nitrogen partitioning and isotopic discrimination

Animal nitrogen (N) partitioning is a key parameter for profitability and sustainability of ruminant production systems, which may be predicted from N isotopic discrimination or fractionation (Δ¹⁵N). Both animal genetics and feeding level may interact and impact on N partitioning. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the interactive effects of genetic merit (G) and feed allowance (F) on N partitioning and Δ¹⁵N in sheep. The sheep were drawn from two levels of G (high G vs. low G; based on New Zealand Sheep Improvement Limited (http://www.sil.co.nz/) dual (wool and meat) growth index) and allocated to two levels of F (1.7 (high F) vs. 1.1 (low F) times Metabolisable Energy requirement for maintenance) treatments. Twenty-four Coopworth rams were divided into four equal groups for a N balance study: high G × high F, high G × low F, low G × high F, and low G × low F. The main factors (G and F) and the interaction term were used for 2-way ANOVA and regression analysis. Higher F led to higher N excretions (urinary N (UN); faecal N (FN); manure N), retained N, N use efficiency (NUE), and urinary purine derivatives excretion (P < 0.05). On the other hand, higher UN/N intake, and plasma Δ¹⁵N were observed with the lower F (P < 0.05). Higher G led to increased UN, FN, manure N, apparent N digestibility, and urinary purine derivatives excretion (P < 0.05). Higher F only increased UN in high G sheep, with no effect on low G sheep (P < 0.05). Regression analysis results demonstrated potential to use plasma Δ¹⁵N to reflect the effects of G and F on NUE and UN/N intake. Further research is urged to study interactive effects of genetic and feeding level on sheep N partitioning.

Erratum: Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 021101 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.021101.

Modified anterior midline approach to treat hyperextension bicondylar tibial plateau fractures: Surgical technique and clinical experience with 18 cases

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the modified anterior midline approach and its efficacy for hyperextension bicondylar tibial plateau (HEBTP) fractures.

METHODS

From 2015 to 2019, 18 patients with HEBTP fractures with just little posterior cortical displacement were treated using the modified anterior midline approach. The operative protocols are fully described in this article, and the following parameters: articular step-off height (ASH), posterior tibial slope angle (pTSA), and medial tibial plateau angle (mTPA) were measured perioperatively and at the final follow-up. We also recorded the Rasmussen score and range of motion (ROM) to assess knee joint function at the final follow-up.

RESULTS

No complications, such as percutaneous nerve damage, infection, skin necrosis, and internal fixation breakage or loosening occurred perioperatively. The mean time for bony union was 13.7 weeks, and the mean preoperative ASH of the anterior cortex was 4.49 mm; this was restored to its normal height after surgery. The mean preoperative pTSA and mTPA were - 5.89° and 81.69°, respectively, compared with 3.89° and 87.91°, respectively, postoperatively. Comparing the postoperative and final follow-up radiographs, there were no significant differences in ASH, pTSA, and mTPA (P < 0.05). The average Rasmussen score was 27.2 (range, 23-29) at the final follow-up. Excellent results were achieved in 14 (77.8%) patients and good in 4 (22.2%) patients. The mean ROM in flexion was 123.2° and 2.9° in extension at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the modified anterior midline approach is a reasonable alternative for HEBTP fracture repair.

Review: Markers and proxies to monitor ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants

Developing the rumen's capacity to utilise recalcitrant and low-value feed resources is important for ruminant production systems. Early-life nutrition and management practices have been shown to influence development of the rumen in young animals with long-term consequences on their performance. Therefore, there has been increasing interest to understand ruminal development and function in young ruminants to improve feed efficiency, health, welfare, and performance of both young and adult ruminants. However, due to the small size, rapid morphological changes and low initial microbial populations of the rumen, it is difficult to study ruminal function in young ruminants without major invasive approaches or slaughter studies. In this review, we discuss the usefulness of a range of proxies and markers to monitor ruminal function and nitrogen use efficiency (a major part of feed efficiency) in young ruminants. Breath sulphide and methane emissions showed the greatest potential as simple markers of a developing microbiota in young ruminants. However, there is only limited evidence for robust indicators of feed efficiency at this stage. The use of nitrogen isotopic discrimination based on plasma samples appeared to be the most promising proxy for feed efficiency in young ruminants. More research is needed to explore and refine potential proxies and markers to indicate ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants, particularly for neonatal ruminants.

[Application strategy and clinical effects of paraumbilical perforator flap with inferior epigastric vessels in repairing destructive wounds]

Objective: To explore the application strategy and clinical effects of paraumbilical perforator flap with inferior epigastric vessels in repairing various destructive wounds. Methods: The retrospective observational study method was applied. From January 2015 to December 2020, 28 patients (21 males and 7 females, aged 25 to 66 years) with destructive wounds in various body parts were admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. The wound areas of patients ranged from 17 cm×8 cm to 35 cm×22 cm after debridement. Pedicled or free paraumbilical perforator flaps with inferior epigastric vessels were used to repair the wounds respectively. The areas of flaps were from 18 cm×10 cm to 37 cm×24 cm, and the lengths of vascular pedicles were 13.0-17.0 (15.1±2.3) cm. For type Ⅲ high-voltage electric burn wounds of wrist, two methods were used to reconstruct the blood flow of hand, one is to bridge the radial artery with saphenous vein grafting and the other one is to design blood flow-through flap. The strength of abdominal wall in the donor site was strengthened by polypropylene patch, and then the wounds were directly sutured. If the wounds could not be sutured directly, then allogenic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) was applied to strengthen the abdominal wall first, and then autologous medium-thickness skin graft was taken from the thigh to cover the wounds. The flap transplantation, hand blood flow reconstruction, the repair of donor site, the flap survival, the wound and donor site healing after operation, the appearance of flaps, and the wound and donor site recovery during follow-up were observed. Results: Among the patients in this group, 13 patients were treated with pedicled flap grafting, while 15 patients were treated with free flap grafting. The hand blood flow of 7 patients with type Ⅲ high-voltage electric burn wounds of wrist was reconstructed by bridging radial artery with saphenous vein grafting. The hand blood flow of 3 patients with type Ⅲ high-voltage electric burn wounds of wrist was reconstructed with blood flow-through flap. In 16 patients, the strength of abdominal wall was strengthened using patch in the donor site,and then the donor sites were sutured directly. In 12 patients, the strength of abdominal wall was strengthened using allogenic ADM, and then the donor sites were covered by skin grafting. All the transplanted flaps survived completely. The wounds of 24 patients were healed, while the wounds of 3 patients with type Ⅲ high-voltage electric burn wounds of wrist and 1 patient with chronic radiation ulcer of ilium failed to heal because of there were still some necrotic tissue and purulent secretion under the flaps. The wounds were healed eventually after debridement and dressing changes. During the follow-up of 6 months to 3 years, the flap survived well with good appearance in all patients, and there was no recurrence, or no abdominal wall hernia occurred in the donor site. Conclusions: Paraumbilical perforator flap with inferior epigastric vessels has flexible design, long vascular pedicle, large area for cut. It can be pedicled or freely transplanted, which is a good choice for repairing destructive wounds in various areas.

[The comparison of animal drug illustrations between Ben Cao Tu Jing (illustrated classic of materia medica) and Sman Thang of Tibetan medicine]

Animal drugs and their paintings were recorded in both Ben Cao Tu Jing(Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) and Sman Thang of Tibetan medicine. By analyzing the species,techniques of expression, and facticity in the book and the paintings, different characteristics of animal drugs and their paintings were manifested, reflecting a colorful scene of diverse cultures.

Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen

We report the properties of sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.46 million sodium and 0.51 million aluminum nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. We found that Na and Al, together with nitrogen (N), belong to a distinct cosmic ray group. In this group, we observe that, similar to the N flux, both the Na flux and Al flux are well described by the sums of a primary cosmic ray component (proportional to the silicon flux) and a secondary cosmic ray component (proportional to the fluorine flux). The fraction of the primary component increases with rigidity for the N, Na, and Al fluxes and becomes dominant at the highest rigidities. The Na/Si and Al/Si abundance ratios at the source, 0.036±0.003 for Na/Si and 0.103±0.004 for Al/Si, are determined independent of cosmic ray propagation.

Inhibition of microRNA-495 inhibits hypoxia-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells via targeting NFIB

OBJECTIVE

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious cardiovascular disease that threatens human life. MicroRNA is considered to be an important participant in the pathophysiology of AMI. This article focused on the role of microRNA-495 (miR-495) in regulating apoptosis after myocardial infarction (MI) and its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

H9c2 cells were cultured in an incubator containing 1% O2 to establish a cell model of MI. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized to detect miR-495 expression in H9c2 cells. The effects of miR-495 and NFIB on hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells were observed by Western blot, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) detection, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, flow cytometry, and terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Luciferase reporter gene experiment was used to prove the regulatory relationship between miR-495 and NFIB.

RESULTS

Hypoxia induced injury to H9c2 cells, which was manifested by decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, increased pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Cleaved Caspase-3) expression, decreased anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) expression, and increased in the rate of apoptosis and TUNEL positive cells. MiR-495 expression was remarkably increased in H9c2 cells treated with hypoxia. Inhibiting miR-495 expression markedly alleviated the hypoxia-induced injury in H9c2 cells, while silencing NFIB aggravated the hypoxia-induced damage. In addition, NFIB was confirmed to be the target of miR-495.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-495 expression was increased in hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. Silencing miR-495 could significantly inhibit hypoxia-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells by targeting NFIB.

POS0851 IDENTIFICATION OF HUB GENES AND PATHWAYS IN DERMATOMYOSITIS BY BIOINFORMATICS ANALYSIS

Background:

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory infiltrates in the skin and muscle1. The genes and pathways in the inflamed myopathies in patients with DM are poorly understood2.

Objectives:

To identify the key genes and pathways associated with DM and further discover its pathogenesis.

Methods:

Muscle tissue gene expression profile (GSE143323) were acquired from the GEO database, which included 39 DM samples and 20 normal samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DM muscle tissue were screened by adopting the R software. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed by Metascape online analysis tool. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed by STRING software using the genes in significantly different pathways. Network of DEGs was analyzed by Cytoscape software. And degree of nodes was used to screen key genes.

Results:

Totally, 126 DEGs were obtained, which contained 122 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated. GO analysis revealed that most of the DEGs were significantly enriched in type I interferon signaling pathway, response to interferon-gamma, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, response to interferon-alpha and bacterium, positive regulation of cell death, leukocyte chemotaxis. KEGG pathway analysis showed that upregulated DEGs enhanced pathways associated with the hepatitis C, complement and coagulation cascades, p53 signaling pathway, RIG-I-like receptor signaling, Osteoclast differentiation, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Ten hub genes were identified in DM, they were ISG15, IRF7, STAT1, MX1, OASL, OAS2, OAS1, OAS3, GBP1, and IRF9 according to the Cytoscape software and cytoHubba plugin.

Conclusion:

The findings from this bioinformatics network analysis study identified the key hub genes that might provide new molecular markers for its diagnosis and treatment.

References:

[1]Olazagasti JM, Niewold TB, Reed AM. Immunological biomarkers in dermatomyositis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2015;17(11):68. doi: 10.1007/s11926-015-0543-y [published Online First: 2015/09/26].

[2]Chen LY, Cui ZL, Hua FC, et al. Bioinformatics analysis of gene expression profiles of dermatomyositis. Mol Med Rep 2016;14(4):3785-90. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5703 [published Online First: 2016/09/08].

[3]Zhou Y, Zhou B, Pache L, et al. Metascape provides a biologist-oriented resource for the analysis of systems-level datasets. Nat Commun 2019;10(1):1523. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09234-6 [published Online First: 2019/04/05].

Acknowledgements:

This project was supported by National Science Foundation of China (82001740), Open Fund from the Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University) (KLCP2019) and Innovation Plan for Postgraduate Education in Shanxi Province (2020BY078).

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared