Comprehensive genomic profiling to identify actionable alterations for breast cancer brain metastases in the Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is a crucial issue in the treatment of breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to identify potential actionable targets in brain metastases (BMs) utilising the FoundationOne® CDx (F1CDx).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archived specimens including 16 primary breast tumours (PTs), 49 BCBMs and 7 extracranial metastases (ECMs) from 54 patients who underwent surgery for BCBM were tested using F1CDx. Tumour-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs) of BMs were also tested using haematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTS

The median tumour mutational burden (TMB) and TILs in BMs were 5.0 (range 0-29) mut/Mb and 1.0% (range 0%-5.0%), respectively. High TMB (≥10 mut/Mb) was detected in four cases (8%). Genomic alterations (GAs) were detected in all samples. The top-ranked somatic mutations in BMs were TP53 (82%), PIK3CA (35%), MLL2 (22%), BRCA2 (14%) and ATM (14%) and the most prevalent copy number alterations were ERBB2 (64%), RAD21 (36%), CCND1 (32%), FGF19 (30%) and FGF3 (30%). The most prevalent GAs were relatively consistent between paired PTs and BMs. Actionable GAs were detected in 94% of all BMs. Consistent rate in actionable GAs was 38% (6/16) between paired PTs/ECMs and BMs. Compared to matched PTs/ECMs, additional actionable GAs (BRAF, FGFR1, PTEN, KIT and CCND1) were discovered in 31% (5/16) of the BMs.

CONCLUSIONS

TMB and TILs were relatively low in BCBMs. Comparable consistency in actionable GAs was identified between BCBMs and matched PTs/ECMs. It was, therefore, logical to carry out genomic testing for BCBMs to identify potential new therapeutic targets when BCBM specimens were available, as ∼31% of samples carried additional actionable GAs.

Causal association between complement system FHR-5, CTRP9, and breast carcinoma in situ: a Mendelian randomization study

OBJECTIVE

Breast carcinoma in situ accounts for a significant number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. However, the cause of this type of cancer is unclear, which has led to debates regarding treatment strategies. A Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted to explore whether complement system or complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related proteins (CTRPs) are causally associated with breast carcinoma in situ.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This two-sample multivariable MR study used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for all complement system factors and CTRPs. Summary-level statistics were obtained from the breast carcinoma in situ GWAS database. The study employed the MR-Egger method, inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, and weighted median method. Additionally, sensitivity analyses, including the MR-Egger intercept, funnel plot, and leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to address uncertainties and enhance the reliability of the findings.

RESULTS

The study indicated that certain immunomodulatory molecules might increase the risk of breast carcinoma in situ, with consistent results. Specifically, CTRP9 showed a 57.0% increased risk [IVW: odds ratio (OR) 0.570 (0.350, 0.928), p < 0.05], and complement factor H (FH)-related protein 5 (FHR-5) was linked to a 67.2% higher risk [IVW: OR 0.672 (0.477, 0.947), p < 0.05]. However, no associations were found with other molecules, suggesting the relationship between immunomodulatory molecules and cancer may be context-specific.

CONCLUSIONS

This MR study marks the initial identification of a direct link between FHR-5 and CTRP9 and the susceptibility to breast carcinoma in situ. Delving into the roles of immunomodulatory molecules and immune responses within the tumor microenvironment holds considerable importance for the management of breast carcinoma in situ.

Analysis of prognostic factors for vocal fold leukoplakia based on 344 cases at a two-year follow up

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate risk factors for poor prognosis in vocal fold leukoplakia.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected for 344 patients with vocal fold leukoplakia who received surgical treatment in our otolaryngology department from October 2010 to June 2019. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the relevant factors were conducted.

RESULTS

Among the 344 patients, 98 exhibited recurrence and 30 underwent a malignant change. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that size of the lesion (p = 0.03, odds ratio = 2.14), form of the lesion under white light (p < 0.001), surgical method (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 0.28) and pathological type (p < 0.001) were independent factors that affected the recurrence of vocal fold leukoplakia. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the sole independent risk factor for malignant transformation of vocal fold leukoplakia was pathological type (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The outlook for vocal fold leukoplakia depends on several clinical factors, especially pathological type. The more severe the pathological type, the more likely it is to recur or become cancerous.

[Preliminary report on the use of total lumpectomyconical remnant gastric - esophagus side overlap anastomosis in radical resection of Siewert type II proximal gastric cancer]

Objective: There is no standard method for esophageal remnant gastric reconstruction for proximal gastrectomy. Reflux esophagitis caused by esophagogastrostomy remains a difficult surgical problem. To report the preliminary surgical results of novel esophagus-conical remnant gastric side overlap anastomosis (CGEO) , with particular emphasis on postoperative esophageal reflux. Methods: In June 2022, we developed a novel CGEO for laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy on two patients with Siewert type II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Surgical procedures for CGEO: (1) Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and preparation of conically shaped gastric remnant; (2) Determining anastomotic site of residual stomach and esophagus; (3) Side-to-side anastomosis of right esophageal wall to anterior of conical gastric remnant; (4) Valvuloplasty of esophageal stump. Results: Case 1 was a 71-year-old man with an operation time of 305 minutes and was successfully discharged from the hospital on the 9th day after surgery, and the postoperative pathology was T3N0M0. Case 2 was an 82-year-old man with an operation time of 325 minutes. He was discharged on the 10th day after surgery. In both cases, only mild esophageal mucosal changes were seen in gastroscopy, there were no obvious symptoms of esophageal reflux. There was also no significant weight change at half a year after operation. Conclusion: CGEO is moderately safe in radical surgery for proximal gastric cancer, and may have a preventive effect on the occurrence of postoperative esophageal reflux, but long-term results need to be confirmed by further studies with follow-up.

Farrerol Alleviates Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy by Inhibiting Ferroptosis in Neonatal Rats via the Nrf2 Pathway

Farrerol (FA) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties in various diseases. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent oxidative stress-induced cell death. It is characterized by lipid peroxidation and glutathione depletion and is involved in neuronal injury. However, the role of FA in inhibiting ferroptosis in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and its underlying mechanisms are not yet completely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether FA could mediate ferroptosis and explore its function and molecular mechanism in HIE. A neonatal rat model of HIE was used, and rats were treated with FA, ML385 (a specific inhibitor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2]), or a combination of both. Neurological deficits, infarction volume, brain water content, pathological changes, and iron ion accumulation in the brain tissues were measured using the Zea-Longa scoring system and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and Perls' staining. The expression levels of GSH-Px, MDA, SOD, and ROS in brain tissues were also evaluated. Western blot analysis was performed to analyze the expression of the Nrf2 pathway and ferroptosis-related proteins. The results showed that FA administration significantly reduced neuronal damage, infarct volume, cerebral edema, and iron ion accumulation and inhibited MDA and ROS levels while promoting GSH-Px and SOD levels. FA also increased the expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), Nrf2, and HO-1. Moreover, the combination of ML385 and FA in HIE abolished the FA protective effects. Therefore, the study concludes that FA exerts a neuroprotective effect after HIE by inhibiting oxidative stress and ferroptosis via the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

A systematic review and net meta-analysis of the effects of different warm-up methods on the acute effects of lower limb explosive strength

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of different warm-up methods on the acute effect of lower limb explosive strength with the help of a reticulated meta-analysis system and to track the optimal method.

METHODS

R software combined with Stata software, version 13.0, was used to analyse the outcome metrics of the 35 included papers. Mean differences (MD) were pooled using a random effects model.

RESULTS

1) Static combined with dynamic stretching [MD = 1.80, 95% CI: (0.43, 3.20)] and dynamic stretching [MD = 1.60, 95% CI: (0.67, 2.60)] were significantly better than controls in terms of improving countermovement jump height (cm), and the effect of dynamic stretching was influenced by the duration of stretching (I2 = 80.4%), study population (I2 = 77.2%) and age (I2 = 75.6%) as moderating variables, with the most significant effect size for dynamic stretching time of 7-10min. 2) Only dynamic stretching [MD = -0.08, 95% CI: (-0.15, -0.008)] was significantly better than the control group in terms of improving sprint time (s), while static stretching [MD = 0.07, 95% CI: (0.002, 0.13)] showed a significant, negative effect. 3) No results were available to demonstrate a significant difference between other methods, such as foam axis rolling, and the control group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this review indicate that static stretching reduced explosive performance, while the 2 warm-up methods, namely dynamic stretching and static combined with dynamic stretching, were able to significantly improve explosive performance, with dynamic stretching being the most stable and moderated by multiple variables and dynamic stretching for 7-10min producing the best explosive performance. In the future, high-quality studies should be added based on strict adherence to test specifications.

Qiliqiangxin capsule improves cardiac remodeling in rats with DOCA-salt-induced diastolic dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of action (MOA) of Qiliqiangxin capsule (QL) in the deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-induced rat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nono-nephrectomy sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats received DOCA salt injection and 1% saline in drinking water for 4 weeks and were randomly divided into four groups on average: Model group (n=15), Sac/Val group (Sacubitril Valsartan 0.02 g/kg, n=15), QL-L group (Qiliqiangxin 0.25 g/kg, n=15) and QL-H group (Qiliqiangxin 1 g/kg, n=15). Another Normal group was set (n=15). Blood pressure, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac index, echocardiography, and hemodynamics were measured to evaluate heart function. Masson and Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining was performed to observe the fibrosis deposition and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of cardiomyocytes. The concentration levels of the serum cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-10 inflammatory factors, were detected by ELISA; matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Smad homologue 2 (Smad2) and Smad homologue 3 (Smad3) expression were detected by Western-blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the Model group, QL treatment significantly ameliorated the heart function in DOCA salt-induced rat HFpEF model, showing a decrease in cardiac index, an increase of the EF and E/A ratio, a reduction in the left ventricular anterior/posterior wall (LVAW/LVPW), in the time contraction of isovolumic diastolic time (IVRT), -dP/dt Max, and Tau, and the decrease of serum NT-ProBNP. Masson and WGA staining indicated that QL inhibited the fibrosis deposition and the myocardial hypertrophy compared with the Model group, which was consistent in reducing the protein expression levels of cardiac remodeling such as TGF-β1, MMP2, MMP9, Smad2, and Smad3. Moreover, QL treatment inhibited the expression of NF-κB in the heart tissues and decreased the serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-2, instead, increasing the IL-10 concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

QL improved the cardiac function and inhibited the myocardial fibrosis in DOCA salt-induced rat HFpEF by improving diastolic dysfunction, preventing left ventricular hypertrophy, and ameliorating the inflammatory responses model in DOCA salt-induced rat HFpEF model.

Bevacizumab biosimilar candidate TAB008 compared to Avastin® in patients with locally advanced, metastatic EGFR wild-type non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is a monoclonal antibody targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Used alone or in combination with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy, Avastin® has shown promising efficacy in many cancers. This study compared the efficacy and safety of TAB008 with Avastin® sourced from the EU (bevacizumab-EU), in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC).

METHOD

In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, phase III similarity study, treatment naïve for metastatic lung cancer., EGFR wild-type, locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-squamous, non-small cell, lung cancer (nsNSCLC) patients were enrolled and randomized (1:1) into TAB008 or Avastin® groups. Patients received TAB008 or Avastin® 15 mg/kg intravenously plus paclitaxel/carboplatin for 4-6 cycles followed by TAB008 or Avastin® 7.5 mg/kg until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or death. The primary endpoint compared the objective response rate (ORR) within 6 cycles as read by an independent radiological review committee (IRRC). Secondary endpoints compared disease control rate (DCR) Within 6 cycles, duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), a year overall survival rate (OSR), overall survival (OS), safety, immunogenicity, and steady-state pharmacokinetics.

RESULTS

A total of 549 nsNSCLC patients were enrolled (277 in TAB008 group and 272 in Avastin® group). In the full analysis set, ORRs were 55.957% for TAB008 and 55.720% for Avastin®, and the ORR ratio was 1 (90% CI 0.89-1.14), well within the predefined equivalence margin of 0.75-1.33. No significant differences were found in DCR within 6 cycles (95.703% vs 95.367%, p = 0.8536), DoR (8.17 vs 7.3 months, p = 0.3526), PFS (9.10 vs. 7.97 months, p = 0.9457), 1 year overall survival rate (66.2% vs 68%, p = 0.6793), or OS (20.4 vs 17.6 months, p = 0.6549). Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 37.55% (104/277) of patients in the TAB008 group and 34.32% (93/271) in the Avastin® group. Anti-drug antibodies were reported in 3 of 277 (1.08%) TAB008 patients, and 5 of 271 (1.85%) Avastin® patients, neutralizing antibody (Nab) was positive in 1 patient on Avastin®, which became negative upon follow-up. The steady-state trough concentrations (Cssmin) were 106.13 μg/mL in TAB008 group and 96.03 μg/mL in Avastin® groups, with the treatment group ratio of LS geometric means fully contained within the bioequivalence limits of 80.00-125.00% (90% CI was 101.74-120.05%).

CONCLUSIONS

TAB008 is similar to Avastin® in terms of efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic parameters, with comparable immunogenicity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number; NCT05427305.

[Procine recombinant NK-lysin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by downregulating FKBP3 and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis: a proteomic analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential mechanisms that mediate the inhibitory effect of porcine recombinant NKlysin (prNK-lysin) against liver cancer cell metastasis.

METHODS

HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins in prNK-lysin-treated hepatocellular carcinoma SMMOL/LC-7721 cells in comparison with the control and PBS-treated cells. GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway analysis of the differentially expressed proteins were performed using GO and KEGG databases. RT-qPCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of polypeptide-N-acetylgalactosaminotransferase 13 (GALNT13), transmembrane protein 51 (TMEM51) and FKBP prolyl isomerase 3 (FKBP3) in the cells, and the protein expression of FKBP3 was verified using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Proteomic analysis identified 1989 differentially expressed proteins in prNK-lysin-treated cells compared with the control cells, and 2753 compared with PBS-treated cells. Fifteen proteins were differentially expressed between PBS-treated and the control cells, and 1909 were differentially expressed in prNK- lysin group compared with both PBS and control groups. These differentially expressed proteins were involved mainly in the viral process, translational initiation and RNA binding and were enriched mainly in ribosome, protein process in endoplasmic reticulum, and RNA transport pathways. RT-qPCR showed that compared with the control group, prNK-lysin treatment significantly increased the mRNA expressions of GALNT13 (P < 0.05) and TMEM51 (P < 0.01) and lowered FKBP3 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Western blotting also showed a significantly decreased expression of FKBP3 protein in prNK-lysin-treated cells (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with prNK-lysin causes significant changes in protein expression profile of SMMOL/LC-7721 cells and inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by downregulating FKBP3 protein and affecting the cellular oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis pathways.

[Related factors and prognosis analysis of esophagorespiratory fistula after esophageal cancer surgery]

Objective: To explore the factors associated with the development of esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) after esophageal cancer surgery and its relationship with patient survival. Methods: A total of 241 patients with esophageal cancer after surgery, who received postoperative sputum suction through bronchoscope from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January and December 2021 were included. The clinical data and airway features under bronchoscope of these patients were collected. Of the 241 patients, 203 were males (84.2%) and 38 were females (15.8%), aged (63.63±8.05) years. The related factors of ERF were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and Kaplan-meier was used to analyze the relationship between bronchoscopic specific manifestations, treatment modality and patient survival. Results: Of the 241 postoperative patients with esophageal cancer, 21 (8.7%) developed ERF. There were 39 (16.2%) patients with bronchoscopic specific manifestations, including 16 cases (6.6%) of hyperemia, 13 cases (5.4%) of congestion, and 15 cases (6.2%) of erosion. Bronchoscopic specific manifestations of tracheal mucosa (OR=13.734, 95%CI: 3.535-29.074, P<0.001) and thoracotomy (OR=9.121, 95%CI 1.843-44.237, P=0.007) were independent risk factors for the development of ERF, and preoperative chemotherapy (OR=0.128, 95%CI: 0.052-0.607, P=0.006) was a protective factor in the occurrence of ERF. The median survival time was 224 (95%CI: 95-353)d in the stent-treated group (14 patients) after the onset of ERF, and the median survival time of patients in the supportive care group (7 patients) was 29 (95%CI: 8-50)d, and the survival difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.69, P=0.017). Conclusions: Bronchoscopic specific manifestations are independent risk factors for the development of ERF in postoperative patients with esophageal cancer and are useful in assessing the risk of developing ERF. After the occurrence of postoperative ERF, timely intervention by insertion of tracheal stents to seal the fistula may prolong the survival time of the patients.

[Preliminary analysis of the promotion effect of laparoscopic standardized surgical treatment for gastric cancer in regional medical centers in Shanghai]

Objective: To explore the promotion effect of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer observational in some regional medical centers in Shanghai. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Eleven regional medical centers in Shanghai received the promotion program of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer, which was led by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (Shanghai Minimally Invasive Surgery Center) from January to December 2020. Clinicopathological data of gastric cancer patients treated at these 11 regional medical centers before and after the promotion program were collected. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients undergoing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy; gastric cancer confirmed by pathology; without distant metastasis or peritoneal metastasis. Patients who did not undergo laparoscopic D2 radical resection, or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery, or without complete clinical data were excluded. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery from January to December 2019 were included in the pre-promotion group (46 cases). Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery from January to December 2021 were included in the post-promotion group (102 cases). In addition, patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery at Ruijin Hospital from January 2021 to December were included in the control group (138 cases). The baseline data, perioperative measurements postoperative complications, and pathological results of the three groups were analyzed and compared. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the pre-promotion group, the operation time in post-promotion group was significantly shorter [(207.3±36.0) minutes vs. (254.2±47.1) minutes, t=7.038,P<0.001], and the number of harvested lymph node was significantly more (24.4±12.2 vs. 18.9±5.5, t=2.900, P=0.004). However, there were no significant differences in the extent of resection, time to fluid intake, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the operation time [(207.3±36.0) minutes vs (172.6±26.0) minutes, t=8.281, P<0.001], time to fluid intake [(6.3±3.2) days than (5.5±3.0) days, t=2.029, P=0.044], and the postoperative hospital stay [(14.3±5.6) days vs. (10.1±4.8) days, t=6.036, P<0.001] in the post- promotion group were still longer. Total gastrectomy was less common in the post-promotion group compared with the control group [18 cases (17.6%) vs. 41 cases (29.7%), χ²=7.380, P=0.007]. However, there was no significant difference in the number of harvested lymph node between the two groups (P>0.05). The morbidity of postoperative complication in the post-promotion group (9.8%, 10/102) was significantly lower than that in the pre-promotion group (23.9%, 11/46) (χ²=5.183, P=0.023), while above morbidity was not significantly different between the post-promotion group and the control group [9.8% vs. 6.5% (9/138), χ²=0.867, P=0.352]. Conclusion: After the promotion of laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer in regional medical centers, the standardization degree of surgery has been improved, and the morbidity of postoperative complication decreases. Laparoscopic standardized surgery for gastric cancer can be promoted to more regional medical centers.

A case of linezolid-induced SIADH in elderly and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Linezolid is a synthetic oxazolidinone antimicrobial drug with a broad spectrum and a unique mechanism of inhibiting resistant pathogenic strains, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2000. Several different systemic side effects were reported after the use of this medication. In this article, we report a case in which a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was developed after linezolid treatment was started.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 79-year-old woman who developed severe hyponatremia during linezolid treatment (0.6 g i.v. q12 h) after undergoing hemiarthroplasty for left femoral neck fracture. The patient's baseline serum sodium upon admission (138 mmol/L) decreased to 118 mmol/L, urine sodium was 102 mmol/L, plasma osmolality was 248 mOsm/kg and urine osmolarity was 310 mOsm/kg at day 4, thus a diagnosis of SIADH was made. The patient was not taking any other medication known to cause SIADH, and she did not present a comorbidity that could explain her condition. Her serum sodium increased to 135 and 137 mmol/L, respectively, 11 and 12 days after cessation of linezolid, strongly suggesting that SIADH was the cause in this case.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the fourth case of linezolid-induced SIADH. A thorough workup was essential for the diagnosis to correctly differentiate between SIADH and other causes of hyponatremia, which helped us properly conducting follow-up treatments. SIADH is a rare but serious side effect of linezolid, and practicing physicians should be aware of this complication. It is necessary to periodically monitor the serum sodium.

Towards performing high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering measurements at hard X-ray free-electron lasers coupled with energetic laser drivers

High-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering is an established technique in the synchrotron community, used to investigate collective low-frequency responses of materials. When fielded at hard X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) and combined with high-intensity laser drivers, it becomes a promising technique for investigating matter at high temperatures and high pressures. This technique gives access to important thermodynamic properties of matter at extreme conditions, such as temperature, material sound speed, and viscosity. The successful realization of this method requires the acquisition of many identical laser-pump/X-ray-probe shots, allowing the collection of a sufficient number of photons necessary to perform quantitative analyses. Here, a 2.5-fold improvement in the energy resolution of the instrument relative to previous works at the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) endstation, Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), and the High Energy Density (HED) instrument, European XFEL, is presented. Some aspects of the experimental design that are essential for improving the number of photons detected in each X-ray shot, making such measurements feasible, are discussed. A careful choice of the energy resolution, the X-ray beam mode provided by the XFEL, and the position of the analysers used in such experiments can provide a more than ten-fold improvement in the photometrics. The discussion is supported by experimental data on 10 µm-thick iron and 50 nm-thick gold samples collected at the MEC endstation at the LCLS, and by complementary ray-tracing simulations coupled with thermal diffuse scattering calculations.

Introduction to DOK2 and its potential role in cancer

Cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease that modern medicine ultimately aims to overcome. Downstream of tyrosine kinase 2 (DOK2) is a well-known tumor suppressor gene, and a member of the downstream protein DOK family of tyrosine kinases. Through a search of original literature indexed in PubMed and other databases, the present review aims to extricate the mechanisms by which DOK2 acts on cancer, thereby identifying more reliable and effective therapeutic targets to promote enhanced methods of cancer prevention and treatment. The review focuses on the role of DOK2 in multiple tumor types in the lungs, intestines, liver, and breast. Additionally, we discuss the potential mechanisms of action of DOK2 and the downstream consequences via the Ras/MPAK/ERK or PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways.

Measuring the structure and equation of state of polyethylene terephthalate at megabar pressures

We present structure and equation of state (EOS) measurements of biaxially orientated polyethylene terephthalate (PET, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$({\hbox {C}}_{10} {\hbox {H}}_8 {\hbox {O}}_4)_n$$\end{document}(C10H8O4)n, also called mylar) shock-compressed to (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$155 \pm 20$$\end{document}155±20) GPa and (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$6000 \pm 1000$$\end{document}6000±1000) K using in situ X-ray diffraction, Doppler velocimetry, and optical pyrometry. Comparing to density functional theory molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) simulations, we find a highly correlated liquid at conditions differing from predictions by some equations of state tables, which underlines the influence of complex chemical interactions in this regime. EOS calculations from ab initio DFT-MD simulations and shock Hugoniot measurements of density, pressure and temperature confirm the discrepancy to these tables and present an experimentally benchmarked correction to the description of PET as an exemplary material to represent the mixture of light elements at planetary interior conditions.

Pyroptosis: the pathological process that dominates granulomatous lobular mastitis

The aim of this study is to explore the pathogenesis of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) via pathology and molecular biology. This single-center study included 28 female patients who received a diagnosis of pathologically confirmed GLM from January 2020 to September 2020 at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Tissue samples and serum were collected during radical surgery. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed to determine caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the ultrastructure of cells. Finally, the results were analyzed. The expression of activated GSDMD and caspase-1 were all increased in the lesion group (P < 0.05). The TEM results showed clear features of pyroptosis. We concluded that pyroptosis was important in the development of GLM and inhibitad apoptosis to some degree. The inhibition of pyroptosis response may help to discover new drugs for GLM.

SYBR Green-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of porcine parvovirus 6 in pigs

In this study, a SYBR Green-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed for rapid detection of porcine parvovirus (PPV) 6. Primer pairs targeting the conserved regions of PPV6 Capsid gene were designed. Sensitivity analyses revealed the lowest detection limit of the SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay to be 47.8 copies/μL, which indicated it was 1000 times higher than that found in the conventional PCR investigations. This assay was specific and showed no cross-species amplification with other six porcine viruses. The assay demonstrated high repeatability and reproducibility; the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 0.79% and 0.42%, respectively. The positive detection rates of 180 clinical samples with SYBR Green-based real-time PCR and conventional PCR were 12.22% (22/180) and 4.44% (8/180), respectively. Our method is sensitive, specific, and reproducible. The use of SYBR Green-based real-time PCR may be suitable for the clinical detection and epidemiological investigation of PPV6.

MiR-214 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of oral cancer cells through MAPK/ERK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To study the influences of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-214 on the proliferation and apoptosis of oral cancer cells through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this work, human oral cancer HB cell lines were cultured in vitro and then treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as Control group, with miR-214 mimics as miR-214 mimics group or with miR-214 mimics + ERK inhibitor U0126 as miR-214 mimics + U0126 group. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of miR-214 and ERK were determined using quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), ERK, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p21, and tubulin were measured via Western blotting (WB). Besides, the proliferation and apoptosis of cells in each group were evaluated via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and Hoechst staining, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with Control group, miR-214 mimics group exhibited increased expression of miR-214 in oral cancer cells (p<0.01), extremely raised expression levels of p-ERK and PCNA, but an extremely decreased protein expression level of p21 (p<0.01), whereas miR-214 mimics + U0126 group had remarkably lower levels of p-ERK and PCNA, and a considerably higher protein level of p21 than miR-214 mimics group (p<0.05). The qRT-PCR results showed no significant differences in the mRNA level of ERK among the three groups (p>0.05). In addition, the proliferation ability was enhanced successively in Control group, miR-214 mimics + U0126 group and miR-214 mimics group, and the increase was more notable in miR-214 mimics group, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Finally, it was found through the Hoechst apoptosis assay that compared with that in Control group, the cell apoptosis was notably inhibited in miR-214 mimics group, and it was greatly increased in miR-214 mimics + U0126 group.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-214 increases p-ERK level and p-ERK/ERK to activate the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, raise PCNA level, and decrease p21 level, thereby promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis.

The effects of psychological intervention on anxiety symptoms of COVID19-positive patients isolated in hospital wards

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to explore the effects of psychological intervention on alleviating anxiety in patients in novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) isolation wards.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 24th, 2020 and March 5th, 2020, 103 patients were studied. Among these, 32 were patients in the isolation ward of the Infectious Disease Department in Baoding Second Hospital with suspected 2019-nCoV, and 71 patients diagnosed with 2019-nCoV were in the Tangshan Infectious Disease Hospital. Of the 103 patients included, 97 cases were observed in isolation. Using a self-control study design, each patient's anxiety was scored on a self-rating anxiety scale before receiving the psychological intervention (on the 7th day of isolation) and after receiving the intervention (on the 14th day of isolation). The severity of anxiety was evaluated based on the anxiety score before receiving the intervention. The anxiety scores before and after receiving the intervention were then compared using the paired t-test, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

After receiving the psychological intervention once or twice a week, the anxiety of the patients improved significantly after one week.

CONCLUSIONS

The anxiety of patients with 2019-nCoV in isolation wards can be alleviated through psychological intervention. By alleviating patient anxiety, this intervention also helps patients maintain their psychological wellbeing, which promotes rehabilitation and helps with the control of 2019-nCoV.

[Operative efficacy of 13 malignant uterine tumors after Cf-252 intracavitary irradiation]

Objective: To investigate the surgical therapeutic efficacy of uterine tumors patients underwent Cf-252 neutron intra-cavity and external radiotherapy, and evaluate the application value of Cf-252 neutron radiotherapy. Methods: Thirteen cases of uterine tumor with local suspicious lesions or poor prognostic factors after CF-252 neutron intracavity and external radiotherapy were treated with surgery. Among them, 12 cases underwent extrafascial hysterectomy, 1 case underwent extensive hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The postoperative pathology and follow-up results were used to evaluate the efficacy. Results: Nine cases showed severe response to radiotherapy in postoperative cervical pathological tissues without residual tumor, and survived for more than 3-14 years, the median survival time was 8 years. All of 4 cases with residual tumor died within 1 year. Delayed healing of vaginal wounds occurred in 3 of the 12 cases. Conclusions: Cf-252 is a good brachytherapy source. The cervical tissue shows severe response to radiotherapy and prolonged healing time of vaginal wound is observed in some cases after CF-252 radiotherapy. To those uterine tumor patients with local suspicious lesions or poor prognostic factors after CF-252 neutron intracavity and external radiotherapy, extrafascial hysterectomy is a safe and feasible treatment method.

Efficacy of utidelone plus capecitabine versus capecitabine for heavily pretreated, anthracycline- and taxane-refractory metastatic breast cancer: final analysis of overall survival in a phase III randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Primary analysis of the phase III trial BG01-1323L demonstrated that utidelone plus capecitabine significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) versus capecitabine alone in heavily-pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Here, we report the final overall survival (OS) analysis and updates of other endpoints.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 405 patients were randomised 2:1 to receive utidelone (30 mg/m² IV daily, days 1-5, over 90 min) plus capecitabine (1000 mg/m² orally b.i.d., days 1-14) or capecitabine alone (1250 mg/m² orally b.i.d., days 1-14) every 21 days. The secondary endpoint, OS, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit approach at a two-sided alpha level of 0.05 after the prespecified 310 death events had been reached. Exploratory analyses of the primary endpoint, PFS, and the secondary endpoint, ORR, were also done. Safety was analysed in patients who had at least one dose of study drug.

RESULTS

At the final OS analysis, the median duration of follow-up was 19.6 months in the utidelone plus capecitabine group and 15.4 months in the capecitabine alone group. In the intention-to-treat population, 313 deaths had occurred at data cut-off, 203 of 270 patients in the combination group and 110 of 135 in the monotherapy group. Median OS in the combination group was 19.8 months compared with 16.0 months in the monotherapy group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59-0.94, P = 0.0142]. The updated analysis of PFS and ORR showed that the combination therapy remained superior to monotherapy. Safety results were similar to those previously reported with respect to incidence, severity and specificity. No late-emerging toxicities or new safety concerns occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

For heavily-pretreated, anthracycline- and taxane-resistant MBC patients, utidelone plus capecitabine significantly improved OS versus capecitabine alone. These results support the use of utidelone plus capecitabine as a novel therapeutic regimen for patients with MBC.

Synthesis and evaluation of [18F]FP-Lys-GE11 as a new radiolabeled peptide probe for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) imaging

INTRODUCTION

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has emerged as an attractive target in the treatment of various cancers. Radiolabeled small molecules, antibodies, and peptides that specifically target EGFR are promising probes for tumor imaging to guide personalized treatment with EGFR-targeted drugs. This study aimed to radiolabel GE11 (an EGFR-specific targeting peptide) with 18-fluorine to develop a new EGFR-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) probe, [¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11, for imaging tumors overexpressing EGFR.

METHODS

[¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11 was produced by radiolabeling a GE11 peptide with the prosthetic group 4-nitrophenyl-2-[¹⁸F]fluoropropionate ([¹⁸F]NFP). Stability in PBS and mice serum, affinity for A431 cell line, U87 and PC-3 cells uptake and blocking studies, and biodistribution of [¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11 were determined. 2 h dynamic and static PET scans of probe for tumor-bearing mice normal and inhibition uptake were performed.

RESULTS

[¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11 was stable in PBS and mice serum. The Kd and Bmax values of probe for A431 were 42.43 ± 3.75 nM and 3383 ± 81.73 CPM, respectively. In cell uptake and blocking experiments, a significant reduction in radioactivity accumulation (over 4-fold) was observed by blocking U87 and PC-3 cells with unlabeled peptide. PET imaging of U87 and PC-3 tumor-bearing mice revealed clear tumor imaging (tumor radioactivity accumulation was 3.48 ± 0.44 and 3.68 ± 0.76%ID/g respectively, tumor-to-muscle ratio was 3.45 ± 0.43 and 3.64 ± 0.76 respectively). Blocking imaging revealed that the U87 tumor uptake was significantly inhibited (2.21 ± 0.41%ID/g). The biodistribution and dynamic PET imaging showed that [¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11 was mainly excreted by the kidneys and the rest was excreted through the bile and intestines.

CONCLUSION

The current results showed that [¹⁸F]FP-Lys-GE11was a good radiolabeled peptide probe for EGFR overexpression tumor's imaging.

Effect of Lonicera japonica extract on lactation performance, antioxidant status, and endocrine and immune function in heat-stressed mid-lactation dairy cows

Here, we examined the effects of Lonicera japonica extract (LJE) on lactation performance, antioxidant status, and endocrine and immune function in heat-stressed mid-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four healthy Chinese Holstein mid-lactation dairy cows, all with similar milk yield (30.0 ± 1.0 kg/d), parity (2.5 ± 0.3), and days in milk (105 ± 5 d) were allocated to 4 groups using a randomized complete block design: a negative control group (without LJE supplementation; CON) and groups that received LJE at 14, 28, and 56 g/d. The experiment lasted 10 wk over a hot summer, with a pre-feeding period of 2 wk. Cows were exposed to heat stress, as the average temperature-humidity index was greater than 72. The results showed that LJE had no effect on respiration rate; however, it reduced the rectal temperature of dairy cows experiencing heat stress in both a linear and quadratic manner; the lowest (39.03°C) was recorded for the LJE-28 group, lower than the CON group. Supplementation with LJE did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, or milk composition. The majority of biochemical parameters in serum were unaffected by supplementation with different amounts of LJE; the exception was creatinine, which was reduced quadratically. Compared with the CON group, serum triiodothyronine concentrations increased significantly in the LJE-28 group. Addition of LJE to the diet increased thyroxine concentrations quadratically; values peaked at 18.62 ng/mL in the LJE-28 group. Furthermore, supplementation with increasing amounts of LJE quadratically increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity in serum but decreased concentration of malondialdehyde. Although we detected no differences in the concentrations of IgA, IgM, or cytokines, dairy cows in the LJE-28 group had higher IgG and IL-4 concentrations than did cows in the CON group. Supplementation with LJE increased concentrations of IgG and IL-4 in the serum quadratically but decreased that of IL-2. Finally, heat shock protein 72 concentrations in the serum tended to fall quadratically as the amount of LJE increased. In summary, LJE had no negative effects on lactation performance but helped to alleviate heat stress by improving antioxidant status and promoting endocrine and immune functions. Supplementation with LJE at 28 g/d is recommended for lactating dairy cows experiencing heat stress during hot summers.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01287 promotes breast cancer cells proliferation and metastasis by activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) frequently exhibited abnormal levels in numerous tumors and other diseases in current biological researches. LINC01287, a newly discovered lncRNA, has been found to act as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this research was to explore the expressions and functions of LINC01287 in breast cancer (BC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The relative expressions of LINC01287 in BC tissues and cells were determined using RT-PCR. The associations between the LINC01287 expression, the clinicopathological factors, and the overall survival of BC patients were statistically examined. The apoptosis and proliferation abilities of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells were analyzed by MTT and flow cytometry assay after LINC01287 knockdown. The effects of LINC01287 in migration and invasion were determined using wound-healing and transwell assays. The protein expressions of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway were determined using Western blot.

RESULTS

We showed that the levels of LINC01287 were significantly upregulated in BC tissues and BC cell lines, and the abnormal expressions of LINC01287 were correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. A distinct difference was observed and indicated that BC patients with higher LINC01287 expressions had significantly shorter overall survival than patients with lower LINC01287 expressions. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that LINC01287 expression was independently correlated with the overall survival. Si-LINC01287 transfection significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of BC cells, and further promoted apoptosis. Besides, the knockdown of LINC01287 suppressed Wnt/β-catenin activation and affected the expressions of β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-myc.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that the new lncRNA LINC01287 was correlated with poor clinical outcome and may function as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in the development of antineoplastic therapies for BC.

MiR-181b regulates atherosclerotic inflammation and vascular endothelial function through Notch1 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the influences of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-181b on the inflammation and vascular endothelial function in atherosclerosis (AS), and its specific molecular regulatory mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

44 apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- 7 weeks old male rats were randomly divided into normal diet group (NC group) and AS model group (high-fat diet feeding). Rat aorta was dissected and the serum sample was collected in both groups. The serum levels of inflammatory factors in both groups were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA levels of miR-18b and Notch1 were detected via Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, aortic endothelial cells were extracted from AS rats. The mir-18b binding target gene was analyzed via bioinformatics and further verified by the Luciferase reporter gene assay. The protein expressions of miR-18b and Notch1 in endothelial cells transfected with miR-181b mimic or inhibitor were detected. Influence of miR-181b on vascular endothelial indexes was also detected.

RESULTS

Compared with those in the NC group, the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-13 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the AS group significantly increased (p<0.05). The mRNA level of miR-18b in AS plaques was significantly lower than that in NC arterial tissues. Conversely, Notch1 level in AS plaques was markedly higher than that in the NC arterial tissues (p<0.05), with the mean difference of 2.12 and 2.82 folds (p<0.05). According to the Pearson correlation analysis, there was a significant negative correlation between mRNA levels of miR-181b and Notch1 in AS tissues (r=-0.65, p=0.014). The bioinformatics analysis showed that there were complementary binding sites between miR-181b and Notch1. The Luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the presence of direct binding sites between miR-181b and Notch1. Western blotting revealed that the overexpression of miR-181b downregulated Notch1 and hs-CRP, but upregulated BNP (p<0.05). Opposite trends were obtained by miR-181b knockdown (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The decline in the miR-181b expression may be an important factor in AS plaque formation and vascular endothelial injury by regulating Notch1.

Effects of MiR-21 on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in rats with atherosclerosis via the Akt/ERK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects and mechanism of action of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-21 on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) in atherosclerosis (AS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rats were fed with a high-fat diet, and the oil red staining was adopted to compare AS between Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and miR-21 knockdown rats. At the in-vitro level, primary rat VSM cells (VSMCs) were selected and divided into miR-NC blank control group [miR-normal control (NC) group] and miR-21 overexpression group (miR-21 group) for relevant experimental detection. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the effects of miR-21 on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Westernn blotting was applied to examine the changes in the levels of Cyclin D, a cell cycle-related protein, and the key factors of the Akt/ERK signaling pathway, such as phosphorylated-Akt (p-AKT), AKT, p-ERK1/2, and ERK1/2. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell activity assay kit was applied to determine the effects of miR-21 on the proliferation of VSMCs through regulating the Akt/ERK signaling pathway after the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor PD98059 and AKT inhibitor MK-2206 were given.

RESULTS

Compared with that in miR-NC group, the level of AS in miR-21 knockdown rats were decreased significantly (p < 0.05). In the cell-level experiment, the overexpression of miR-21 promoted abnormal proliferation of VSMCs and activated the Akt/ERK signaling pathway (p < 0.05). MTT assay results revealed that inhibiting the Akt/ERK pathway could reverse the effects of miR-21 promoting proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-21 promotes the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by activating the Akt/ERK pathway and aggravates AS. Knocking down miR-21 or inhibiting the Akt/ERK pathway can suppress the activation of VSMCs.

[Establishment and clinical testing of pancreatic cancer Faster R-CNN AI system based on fast regional convolutional neural network]

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of an enhanced CT automatic recognition system based on Faster R-CNN for pancreatic cancer and its clinical value. Methods: In this study, 4 024 enhanced CT imaging sequences of 315 patients with pancreatic cancer from January 2013 to May 2016 at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were collected retrospectively, and 2 614 imaging sequences were input into the faster R-CNN system as training dataset to create an automatic image recognition model, which was then validated by reading 1 410 enhanced CT images of 135 cases of pancreatic cancer.In order to identify its effectiveness, 3 750 CT images of 150 patients with pancreatic lesions were read and a followed-up was carried out.The accuracy and recall rate in detecting nodules were recorded and regression curves were generated.In addition, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of Faster R-CNN diagnosis were analyzed, the ROC curves were generated and the area under the curves were calculated. Results: Based on the enhanced CT images of 135 cases, the area under the ROC curve was 0.927 calculated by Faster R-CNN. The accuracy, specificity and sensitivity were 0.902, 0.913 and 0.801 respectively.After the data of 150 patients with pancreatic cancer were verified, 893 CT images showed positive and 2 857 negative.Ninety-eight patients with pancreatic cancer were diagnosed by Faster R-CNN.After the follow-up, it was found that 53 cases were post-operatively proved to be pancreatic ductal carcinoma, 21 cases of pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma, 12 cases of pancreatic cystadenoma, 5 cases of pancreatic cyst, and 7 cases were untreated.During 5 to 17 months after operation, 6 patients died of abdominal tumor infiltration, liver and lung metastasis.Of the 52 patients who were diagnosed negative by Faster R-CNN, 9 were post-operatively proved to be pancreatic ductal carcinoma. Conclusion: Faster R-CNN system has clinical value in helping imaging physicians to diagnose pancreatic cancer.

Demonstration of X-ray Thomson scattering as diagnostics for miscibility in warm dense matter

The gas and ice giants in our solar system can be seen as a natural laboratory for the physics of highly compressed matter at temperatures up to thousands of kelvins. In turn, our understanding of their structure and evolution depends critically on our ability to model such matter. One key aspect is the miscibility of the elements in their interiors. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of X-ray Thomson scattering to quantify the degree of species separation in a 1:1 carbon-hydrogen mixture at a pressure of ~150 GPa and a temperature of ~5000 K. Our measurements provide absolute values of the structure factor that encodes the microscopic arrangement of the particles. From these data, we find a lower limit of [Formula: see text]% of the carbon atoms forming isolated carbon clusters. In principle, this procedure can be employed for investigating the miscibility behaviour of any binary mixture at the high-pressure environment of planetary interiors, in particular, for non-crystalline samples where it is difficult to obtain conclusive results from X-ray diffraction. Moreover, this method will enable unprecedented measurements of mixing/demixing kinetics in dense plasma environments, e.g., induced by chemistry or hydrodynamic instabilities.

Investigation of dual-wavelength pump schemes for optically pumped rare gas lasers

Optically pumped rare gas lasers (OPRGLs) have shown great potential to generate high energy laser radiation with high beam quality. As an alternative to the diode-pumped alkali vapor lasers (DPALs), they have similar working principles and characteristics, but OPRGLs have the advantage that the gain medium is chemically inert and is appropriate for closed-cycle operation. One of the challenges OPRGLs are faced with is the bottleneck caused by the slow 1s₄-1s₅ collisional relaxations at room temperature. A 1s₄-2p₁₀ dual-wavelength pump method had been proposed to transfer the populations pooled on the 1s₄ level to the lasing cycle using a steady-state laser model. We explored this method further through 1s₄-2p₈ and 1s₄-2p₇ dual-wavelength pump schemes. The enhancement efficiencies at room temperature for a repetitively pulsed discharge, CW dual-wavelength pump system were examined using a dynamic model, and an experiment with a pulsed secondary pump was conducted for qualitative evaluations.

Effects of different types of zinc supplement on the growth, incidence of diarrhea, immune function, and rectal microbiota of newborn dairy calves

Neonatal diarrhea in dairy calves causes huge economic and productivity losses in the dairy industry. Zinc is an effective anti-diarrheal agent, but high doses may pose a threat to the environment. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low-dose zinc supplementation on the growth, incidence of diarrhea, immune function, and rectal microbiota of newborn Holstein dairy calves. Thirty newborn calves were allocated to either a control group (without extra zinc supplementation), or groups supplemented with either 104 mg of zinc oxide (ZnO, equivalent to 80 mg of zinc/d) or 457 mg of zinc methionine (Zn-Met, equivalent to 80 mg of zinc/d) and studied them for 14 d. The rectal contents were sampled on d 1, 3, 7, and 14, and blood samples were collected at the end of the study. Supplementation with ZnO reduced the incidence of diarrhea during the first 3 d of life, and increased serum IgG and IgM concentrations. The Zn-Met supplementation increased growth performance and reduced the incidence of diarrhea during the first 14 d after birth. The results of fecal microbiota analysis showed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla, and Escherichia and Bacteroides were the dominant genera in the recta of the calves. As the calves grew older, rectal microbial diversity and composition significantly evolved. In addition, dietary supplementation with ZnO reduced the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in 1-d-old calves, and increased that of Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium in 7-d-old calves, compared with the control group. Supplementation with Zn-Met increased the relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria and the genera Faecalibacterium and Collinsella on d 7, and that of the genus Ruminococcus after 2 wk, compared with the control group. Thus, the rectal microbial composition was not affected by zinc supplementation but significantly evolved during the calves' early life. Zinc supplementation reduced the incidence of diarrhea in young calves. In view of their differing effects, we recommend ZnO supplementation for dairy calves during their first 3 d of life and Zn-Met supplementation for the subsequent period. These findings suggest that zinc supplementation may be an alternative to antibacterial agents for the treatment of newborn calf diarrhea.

Study of EGCG induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in the apoptosis of H1299 lung cancer cells induced by epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

H1299 lung cancer cells were treated with EGCG at a dose of 10 µM, 20 µM, and 40 µM, respectively. Cell culture was performed for 72 h and then: 1, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay; 2, cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry; 3, expression of Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot; 4, expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, and p-Akt was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

The proliferation of H1299 cells was significantly inhibited 72 h after treatment with different doses of EGCG, and cell apoptosis rate was significantly increased (p<0.05). Compared with those in the control group, expression of PI3K and Akt in the lung cancer cells H1299 after EGCG treatment showed no significant differences (p>0.05), while expression levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt were significantly reduced (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

EGCG can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of H1299 lung cancer cells, and the effect is related to the inhibition of the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Analysis of EEG abnormalities of cognitive impairment and epileptic seizures in patients with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

We conducted this study to analyze the EEG abnormalities of cognitive impairment and epileptic seizures in patients with epilepsy, as well as to investigate the application value of EEG in the diagnosis of epilepsy with cognitive impairment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

62 cases of patients that were admitted to our hospital for the first diagnosis as status epilepticus were selected. Of those, 20 cases were accompanied by cognitive impairment. The America Biology Graphene type 24 leads channel video EEG was applied to monitor staging, index, frequency, and distribution range of epileptic discharge. The revised Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in China (WAIS-RC) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in China (WMS-RC) were adopted to test cognitive function.

RESULTS

The epileptic discharge index, discharge frequency and discharge distribution range of the conscious period, sleep I-II period and sleep III-IV period of epilepsy with the cognitive impairment group were evidently higher than those of epilepsy without cognitive impairment group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Memory Quotient (MQ) level of the cognitive impairment group were the lowest in sleep III-IV period, with the next being the sleep I-II period; the highest was the conscious period, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). With an increase of the epileptic discharge index, the discharge range, IQ and MQ level of cognitive impairment group decreased; differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Therefore, the discharge index, frequency, and distribution range of epileptic discharge of epilepsy with cognitive impairment in different periods differed from epilepsy patients without cognitive impairment. According to the extent of cognitive impairment in different stages, discharge index, frequency, and distribution range were also different.

CONCLUSIONS

The 24 h video EEG, which was used to monitor epileptic discharge characteristics, has a great application value for early identification of epilepsy with cognitive impairment.

MicroRNA-15b participates in diabetic retinopathy in rats through regulating IRS-1 via Wnt/β-catenin pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of microRNA-15b in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Diabetic retinopathy rat model was first constructed. Retinal endothelial cells (EC) and retinal pericytes (RP) in DR rats were extracted. The mRNA expression of microRNA-15b in EC and RP cells was detected by qRT-PCR (quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction). Protein expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) in EC and RP cells was detected by Western blot. After altering microRNA-15b expression by plasmid transfection, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8) assay. Furthermore, the target gene of microRNA-15b was predicted by TargetScan analysis and the binding condition was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, rescue experiments were carried out to explore the regulatory effect of microRNA-15b on IRS-1.

RESULTS

MicroRNA-15b was lowly expressed, whereas IRS-1 was highly expressed in EC and RP cells. After overexpression of microRNA-15b, viabilities of EC and RP cells were decreased and β-catenin expression was inhibited. TargetScan predicted that IRS-1 was the downstream gene of microRNA-15b, which was further verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. Rescue experiments indicated that microRNA-15b was capable of regulating IRS-1 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNA-15b participates in the development of diabetic retinopathy by targeting IRS-1 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Aβ1-42 regulates astrocytes through JNK/AP-1 pathway

OBJECTIVE

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), astrocytes are generally found in the surrounding of senile plaques participating in the production of phagocytosis and the removal of toxic compounds such as Aβ. This study aimed at investigating the effect of Aβ1-42 on astrocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cellular viability of primary cultured astrocytes was analyzed using CCK-8 assay. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of JNK and AP-1. The proteins of JNK/AP-1 pathway were investigated using Western blot.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that Aβ1-42 inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in astrocytes in primary culture. Additionally, Aβ1-42 increased the mRNA expression level of AP-1, but had no effect on the expression of JNK. Furthermore, Aβ1-42 increased the protein expression of p-JNK, p-c-jun and Fra-1 and the ratio of p-c-jun/c-jun and p-JNK/JNK.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that Aβ1-42 promoted cell apoptosis in astrocytes in primary culture. Furthermore, Aβ1-42 activated JNK/AP-1 pathway through promoting the phosphorylation of JNK, c-jun and Fra-1 expression, then inducing cell apoptosis.

MiR-378 promotes the cell proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting FOXG1

OBJECTIVE

To identify the functioning mode of miR-378 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and provide therapeutic targets for NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Expression levels of miR-378 in human NSCLC tissue samples and NSCLC-derived cell lines were measured by using quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cell proliferation capacity was assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were identified by flow cytometry. Downstream target gene was confirmed by using luciferase and Western blotting assays.

RESULTS

MiR-378 was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues when compared with para-carcinoma tissues (n=42). Decreased-miR-378 could attenuate cell proliferation capacity, as well as promoted cell apoptosis and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. FOXG1 was chosen as the target gene of miR-378 by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, restoration of miR-378 could impair the tumor suppression role of downregulated-miR-378 on NSCLC growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased-miR-378 exerted tumor-suppressive effects on NSCLC growth via targeting FOXG1 in vitro, which provided an innovative and candidate target for diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.