Construction of algal-bacterial consortia using green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and As(III)-oxidizing bacteria: As tolerance and metabolomic profiling

Bioremediation became a promising technology to resolve arsenic (As) contamination in aquatic environment. Since monoculture such as microalgae or bacteria was sensitive to environmental disturbance and vulnerable to contamination, green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and arsenite (As(III)) - oxidizing bacteria Pseudomonas sp. SMS11 were co-cultured to construct algal-bacterial consortia in the current study. The effects of algae-bacteria (A:B) ratio and exposure As(III) concentration on algal growth, As speciation and metabolomic profile were investigated. Algal growth arrested when treated with 100 mg/L As(III) without the co-cultured bacteria. By contrast, co-cultured with strain SMS11 significantly enhanced As tolerance in C. vulgaris especially with A:B ratio of 1:10. All the As(III) in culture media of the consortia were oxidized into As(V) on day 7. Methylation of As was observed on day 14. Over 1% and 0.5% of total As were converted into dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) after 21 days cultivation when the initial concentrations of As(III) were 1 and 10 mg/L, respectively. Metabolomic analysis was further performed to reveal the response of consortia metabolites to external As(III). The enriched metabolomic pathways were associated with carbohydrate, amino acid and energy metabolisms. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism were upregulated under As stress due to their biological functions on alleviating oxidative stress and protecting cells. Both carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms provided precursors and potential substrates for energy production and cell protection under abiotic stress. Alterations of the pathways relevant to carbohydrate or amino acid metabolism were triggered by energy requirement.

Clinicopathological Analysis of Densely and Sparsely Granulated Somatotroph Tumors of Pituitary

OBJECTIVE

Somatotroph tumors are the second most common type of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, which can be further classified into 2 subtypes-densely granulated somatotroph tumors (DGSTs) and sparsely granulated somatotroph tumors (SGSTs). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the 2 subtypes in a retrospective analysis.

METHODS

From the database of the Ningbo Clinical Pathology Diagnosis Center, we collected patients diagnosed with pituitary somatotroph tumors. We then compiled pertinent clinical and radiological data and proceeded with histopathological examination involving hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining. Subsequent analysis compared the 2 subtypes using either χ2 test or Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

We analyzed 40 cases of somatotroph tumors, 18 cases DGSTs and 22 SGSTs. Male-to-female ratio was 5:4 for DGSTs and 4:7 for SGSTs. Mean age was 52.83 years for DGSTs and 47.18 years for SGSTs. Statistically significant differences were observed between the DGST and SGST groups in invasiveness (P = 0.0267) and postoperative remission (P = 0.007). Cells of both DGSTs and SGSTs exhibited coexpression of PIT1, growth hormone, and CAM5.2, although the patterns of CAM5.2 expression differed between the 2 subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of CAM5.2 staining in distinguishing between DGSTs and SGSTs was demonstrated. SGSTs, with their increased invasiveness and lower remission rate, are a high-risk subtype. The histological subtype of somatotroph tumors plays a crucial role in guiding treatment decisions and prognostic evaluation in affected patients.

Seedlings of Poncirus trifoliata exhibit tissue-specific detoxification in response to NH4 + toxicity

Ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N) is essential for fruit tree growth, but the impact of excess NH4 +-N from fertilizer on evergreen citrus trees is unclear. In a climate chamber, 8-month-old citrus plants were exposed to five different hydroponic NH4 +-N concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm) for 1 month to study effects of NH4 +-N on growth characteristics, N uptake, metabolism, antioxidant enzymes and osmotic regulatory substances. Application of 10 mm NH4 +-N adversely affected root plasma membrane integrity, root physiological functions, and plant biomass. MDA, CAT, POD, APX and SOD content were significantly correlated with leaf N metabolic enzyme activity (GOGAT, GDH, GS and NR). GDH was the primary enzyme involved in NH4 +-N assimilation in leaves, while the primary pathway involved in roots was GS-GOGAT. Under comparatively high NH4 + addition, roots were the main organs involved in NH4 + utilization in citrus seedlings. Our results demonstrated that variations in NH4 + concentration and enzyme activity in various organs are associated with more effective N metabolism in roots than in leaves to prevent NH4 + toxicity in evergreen woody citrus plants. These results provide insight into the N forms used by citrus plants that are important for N fertilizer management.

[Progress of researches on the antiparasitic activity of antimicrobial peptide LL-37]

Parasitic diseases caused by protozoan and helminth infections are still widespread across the world, notably in tropical and subtropical areas, which threaten the children and adult health. Long-term use of anti-parasitic drugs may result in reduced drug susceptibility and even drug resistance. Antimicrobial peptides have been demonstrated to inhibit parasite growth and development, which has potential antiparasitic values. LL-37, the only human antimicrobial peptide in the cathelicidin family, has been widely investigated. This paper reviews the progress of researches on the antiparasitic activity of LL-37, and discusses the prospects of LL-37 in the research of parasites.

[The application of full-length urethral preservation without anastomosis in single-port laparoscopic radical prostate cancer]

Objective: To preliminarily examine the feasibility and outcome of single-port laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with full-length urethral preservation (FLUP-SPRP). Method: This study was a prospective case series study. A total of 25 patients with prostate cancer who met the enrollment criteria and agreed to this surgical procedure from March 2022 to December 2022 were collected at the Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The age of the patients was (67.2±7.6) years (range: 61 to 76 years). This novel procedure was performed by an experienced surgeon who performed single hole radical prostatectomy skillfully. Patient urinary control, tumor control, and related surgical complications after surgery were regularly monitored. Postoperative urinary control was evaluated using the daily amount of urine pad, 0 to 1 piece of urine pad was to restore urinary control, and 0 to 1 piece of pad within 24 hours after catheter removal was immediate urinary control. Result: All prodecures were successfully completed without transit to open surgery. The surgical time was (128.4±22.4) minutes (range: 100 to 145 minutes), the intraoperative blood loss was (68.2±13.7) ml (range: 50 to 120 ml). The urethral injury occurred in 4 cases during surgery and was repaired by sutures. The urinary control recovery rates within 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 7 weeks after surgery were 80.0%, 84.0%, 92.0% and 100%, respectively. Postoperative large section pathology revealed 1 case with a positive basal margin of the prostate and negative margins of all prostate glands around the urethra. Postoperative complications included urinary tract infection in 3 cases, urodynia in 2 cases, and acute urinary retention in 1 case. MRI follow-up 3 months after surgery showed normal anatomy of the bladder and urethra. The follow-up values of prostate specific antigen at 3 and 6 months after surgery were less than 0.1 μg/L. Conclusions: The preliminary results of this study indicate that the FLUP-SPRP procedure is safe and feasible. The early results of postoperative urinary control and oncology are as expected.

[17-year study on the curative effect of treatment to prevent the recurrence of hepatitis B in different risk groups after liver transplantation]

Objective: To observe the recurrence condition of hepatitis B in different risk groups after liver transplantation in an attempt to provide useful information on whether to discontinue hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in the future at an early stage. Methods: The patient population was divided into high, low-risk, and special groups [especially primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] according to the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation. The recurrence condition and risk factors in this population were observed for hepatitis B. Measurement data were analyzed using a t-test and a rank-sum test. Count data were compared using a χ(2) test between groups. Results: This study finally included 532 hepatitis B-related liver transplant cases. A total of 35 cases had HBV recurrence after liver transplantation, including 34 cases that were HBsAg positive, one case that was HBsAg negative, and 10 cases that were hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positive. The overall HBV recurrence rate was 6.6%. The recurrence rate of HBV was 9.2% and 4.8% in the high- and low-risk HBV DNA positive and negative groups before surgery (P = 0.057). Among the 293 cases diagnosed with HCC before liver transplantation, 30 had hepatitis B recurrence after surgery, with a recurrence rate of 10.2%. The independent related factors for the recurrence of hepatitis B in patients with HCC after liver transplantation were HCC recurrence (HR =181.92, 95%CI 15.99~2 069.96, P < 0.001), a high postoperative dose of mycophenolate mofetil dispersible tablets (MMF) ( HR =5.190, 95%CI 1.289~20.889, P = 0.020), and a high dosage of HBIG (HR = 1.012, 95%CI 1.001~1.023, P = 0.035). Among the 239 cases who were non-HCC before liver transplantation, five cases (recurrence rate of 2.1%) arouse postoperative hepatitis B recurrence. Lamivudine was used in all cases, combined with on-demand HBIG prophylaxis after surgery. There was no hepatitis B recurrence in non-HCC patients who treated with entecavir combined with HBIG after surgery. Conclusion: High-barrier-to-resistance nucleotide analogues combined with long-term HBIG have a good effect on preventing the recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation. The discontinuation of HBIG may be considered at an early stage after administration of a high-barrier-to-resistance nucleotide analogue in low-risk patients. Domestically, the HBV infection rate is high, so further research is still required to explore the timing of HBIG discontinuation for high-risk patients, especially those with HCC.

Critical Values of Daily Sedentary Time and Its Longitudinal Association with Mild Cognitive Impairment Considering APOE ε4: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Long sedentary time and physical inactivity are negatively related to cognition, but the cut-off value remains unclear, and apolipoprotein E polymorphism ε4 (APOE ε4) is a known genetic risk factor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

OBJECTIVES

To explore longitudinal association of sedentary time and MCI, and to identify a cutoff value that increases the risk of developing MCI, taking into account APOE ε4 stratification and its interactions.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Population-based study.

PARTICIPANTS

We included 4932 older adults from Tianjin Elderly Nutrition and Cognition (TENC) cohort study recruited from March 2018 to June 2021 with 3.11 years of median follow-up time.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was newly diagnosed MCI, which was diagnosed by a modified version of the Petersen's criteria. The information of sedentary time (hours/day) and physical activity (MET-h/week) were obtained by questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard regression models and restricted spline curve were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 4932 participants were included (mean [SD] age, 67.85 [4.96] years; 2627 female [53.3%] and 2305 male [46.7%]), 740 newly onset MCI patients were identified. Longer sedentary time was associated with higher risk of MCI for all participants (HR:1.069, 95%CI: 1.034, 1.105), especially in APOE ε4 non-carriers (HR:1.083, 95%CI: 1.045, 1.123) whether adjusted potential confounders. Sedentary time had synergistic interactions with APOE ε4 (β:1.503, 95%CI: 1.163, 1.942) and physical activities (β: 1.495, 95%CI: 1.210, 1.846). Restricted spline curve showed a cut-off value of 3.03 hours/day.

CONCLUSIONS

Long sedentary time (≥3.03 hours/day) could increase MCI risk, especially in APOE ε4 non-carriers, people with higher PA, aged 65 and above.

Induction Chemotherapy and Toripalimab for Larynx Preservation in Resectable Locally Advanced Laryngeal/Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma: Preliminary Results of INSIGHT Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Previous studies have demonstrated excellent pathological response of induction PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. To our knowledge, there is scarce evidence on induction chemotherapy (ICT) and PD-1 inhibitor in organ preservation for patients (pts) with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of ICT and PD-1inhibitor (Toripalimab) followed by radiotherapy or surgery, for pts with resectable locally advanced laryngeal/hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This isa single-arm phase II study. Pts with histopathologic confirmed, resectable locally advanced laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and ECOG PS 0-1 were eligible. Three cycles of ICT (paclitaxel 175 mg/m d1, cisplatin 25 mg/m d1-3) combined with PD-1 inhibitor (Toripalimab 240 mg d0) were given. Response assessment (RECIST 1.1) was performed post-ICT. Patients with complete response (CR)/partial response (PR) of primary tumor received concurrent chemoradiation, followed by maintenance therapy of Toripalimab for eight cycles. Otherwise, patients were referred to surgery, followed by adjuvant radiation (RT)/chemoradiation (CRT), and then maintenance therapy of Toripalimab. The primary endpoint is larynx-preservation (LP) rate at 3 months post-RT. Forty-two patients were planned. Based on a two-stage Fleming design (one-sided α:10%, power: 80%), if at least 22 patients attained LP of the first 27 patients in stage I or at least thirty-two pts attained LP of the 42 patients at the end of stage II, the null hypothesis would be rejected. The cohort would enroll 15 more pts in stage II if 19-21 pts in stage I observed LP, and the study would be terminated if the number of pts with LP were less than 18 in stage I.

RESULTS

A total of 27 pts were enrolled. By the cut-off date Feb 8, 2023, all reached at least 3 months of follow-up post-RT. Median age was 63 (53-74) years with 92.6% male. Hypopharyngeal cancer accounted for 66.7%. There were 74.1% who were T3 to T4, and 77.7% were N2 to N3. Six cases had primary invasion of esophagus and five pts underwent pretreatment tracheostomy. ORR of ICT was 85.2%. Afterward, 21 pts were treated with concurrent CRT, while 6 pts received surgery of primary tumor. At 3 months post-RT, 23 pts attained organ preservation and the LP rate was 85.2%. With a median follow-up of 13.5 months, 1-year OS rate, PFS rate and LP survival rate was 83.1%, 79.5% and 79.4%, respectively. During ICT, 22.2% of pts experienced grade 3-4 treatment-related AEs (TRAEs). The most common grade 3-4 TRAEs were nausea and neutrophil count decreased.

CONCLUSION

The primary endpoint LP rate was met. In this cohort of extensive locally advanced laryngeal/hypopharyngeal carcinoma, ICT and Toripalimab followed by radiotherapy or surgery resulted in satisfactory short-term LP rate and encouraging survival.

Gene regulation and ionome homeostasis in rice plants in response to arsenite stress: potential connection between transcriptomics and ionomics

Ionomics and transcriptomics were applied to demonstrate response of rice to arsenite [As(III)] stress in the current study. Rice plants were cultured in nutrient solutions treated with 0, 100 and 500 μg/L As(III) coded as CK, As1 and As5, respectively. The rice ionomes exhibited discriminatory response to environmental disturbances. Solid evidence of the effects of As(III) stress on binding, transport or metabolism of P, K, Ca, Zn and Cu was obtained in this work. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the shoots were identified in three datasets: As1 vs CK, As5 vs CK and As5 vs As1. DEGs identified simultaneously in two or three datasets were selected for subsequent interaction and enrichment analyses. Upregulation of genes involved in protein kinase activity, phosphorus metabolic process and phosphorylation were detected in the rice treated with As(III), resulting in the maintenance of P homeostasis in the shoots. Zn and Ca binding genes were up-regulated since excess As inhibited the translocation of Zn and Ca from roots to shoots. Increased expression of responsive genes including HMA, WRKY, NAC and PUB genes conferred As tolerance in the rice plants to cope with external As(III) stress. The results suggested that As(III) stress could disturb the uptake and translocation of macro and essential elements by rice. Plants could regulate the expression of corresponding genes to maintain mineral nutrient homeostasis for essential metabolic processes.

The radiomic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer: 18F-FDG PET/CT characterisation of programmed death-ligand 1 status

AIM

To present an integrated 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) radiomic characterisation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 18F-FDG PET/CT images and clinical data of 394 eligible patients were divided into training (n=275) and test sets (n=119). Next, the corresponding nodule of interest was segmented manually on the axial CT images by radiologists. After which, the spatial position matching method was used to match the image positions of CT and PET, and radiomic features of the CT and PET images were extracted. Radiomic models were built using five different machine-learning classifiers and the performance of the radiomic models were further evaluated. Finally, a radiomic signature was established to predict the PD-L1 status in patients with NSCLC using the features in the best performing radiomic model.

RESULTS

The radiomic model based on the PET intranodular region determined using the logistic regression classifier preformed best, yielding an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.813 (95% CI: 0.812, 0.821) on the test set. The clinical features did not improve the test set AUC (0.806, 95% CI: 0.801, 0.810). The final radiomic signature for PD-L1 status was consisted of three PET radiomic features.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that an 18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomic signature could be used as a non-invasive biomarker to discriminate PD-L1-positive from PD-L1-negative in patients with NSCLC.

[Surveillance on dengue vector Aedes albopictus in Ningbo City in 2021]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the density, distribution and insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus in Ningbo City in 2021, so as to provide insights into formulation of dengue fever control strategies.

METHODS

Four administrative villages were randomly selected from each county (district) in Ningbo City from April to November, 2021, to investigate the indoor population density of Aedes larvae, and the Breteau index (BI) was calculated. The population density of adult mosquitoes was investigated in residential areas, parks/bamboo forests, waste tire stacking sites/waste stations/construction sites in each county (district). On June 2021, larvae of the natural strain A. albopictus were collected from epidemic sites of dengue fever in Ningbo City in 2018, and raised in laboratory. Then, larvae and female mosquitoes without blood feeding were selected for insecticide resistance bioassays, while insecticide-sensitive strains of A. albopictus served as controls. The resistance of A. albopictus larvae to deltamethrin, beta-cypermethrin, propoxur, temephos and dichlorvos using the impregnation method, and the medium lethal concentration (LC50) and resistance ratio (RR) were calculated. The resistance of adult A. albopictus to beta-cypermethrin, permethrin, deltamethrin, propoxur and malathion was determined using the tube bioassay, and the mosquito mortality was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 10 072 small water containers from 9 935 households were investigated in Ningbo City in 2021, and there were 1 276 containers with Aedes larvae detected, with an average BI of 12.89. Totally 1 422 mosquito nets were allocated and 954 female A. albopictus were captured, with an average net trapping index of 1.34 mosquitoes/(net·hour). Both larval and adult A. albopictus mosquitoes were found from April to November, and the density of larval A. albopictus peaked in September (BI = 21.21), while the density of adult A. albopictus peaked in August, with a net trapping index of 2.38 mosquitoes/(net·hour). The LC50 values of delta-methrin, beta-cypermethrin, propoxur, temephos and dichlorvos were 0.017 4, 0.000 9, 0.364 1, 0.038 1 mg/L and 0.001 6 mg/L against larvae of natural strains of A. albopicchus, with RRs of 49.66, 25.53, 9.65, 2.24 and 6.06, and the mortality rates of adult mosquitoes were 66.00% (66/100), 69.39% (68/98), 25.00% (25/100), 98.97% (96/97) and 100.00% (98/98) 24 hours post-treatment with 0.08% beta-cypermethrin, 0.03% deltamethrin, 0.4% permethrin, 0.05% propoxur, and 0.5% malathion for 24 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A. albopictus is widely distributed in Ningbo City, with a high population density and presents high-level resistance to common pyrethroid insecticides. The population density and insecticide resistance of A. albopictus requires to be reinforced.

[Mammary myofibroblastoma: a clinicopathological analysis of fifteen cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast myofibroblastoma. Methods: The clinicopathological data and prognostic information of 15 patients with breast myofibroblastoma diagnosed at the Department of Pathology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China from 2014 to 2022 were collected. Their clinical characteristics, histological subtypes, immunophenotypes and molecular characteristics were analyzed. Results: There were 12 female and 3 male patients, ranging in age from 18 to 78 years, with a median and average age of 52 years. There were 6 cases in the left breast and 9 cases in the right breast, including 12 cases in outer upper quadrant, 2 cases in inner upper quadrant and 1 case in outer lower quadrant. Most of the cases showed a well-defined nodule grossly, including pushing growth under the microscope in 13 cases, being completely separated from the surrounding breast tissue in 1 case, and infiltrating growth in 1 case. Among them, 12 cases were classic subtype and composed of occasional spindle cells with varying intervals of collagen fiber bundles; eight cases had a small amount of fat; one case had focal cartilage differentiation; one case was epithelioid subtype, in which epithelioid tumor cells were scattered in single filing or small clusters; one case was schwannoma-like subtype, and the tumor cells were arranged in a significant palisade shape, resembling schwannoma, and one case was invasive leiomyoma-like subtype, in which the tumor cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm and were arranged in bundles, and infiltrating into the surrounding mammary lobules like leiomyoma. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the tumor cells expressed desmin (14/15) and CD34 (14/15), as well as ER (15/15) and PR (15/15). Three cases with histologic subtypes of epithelioid subtype, schwannoma-like subtype and infiltrating leiomyoma-like subtype showed RB1 negative immunohistochemistry. Then FISH was performed to detect RB1/13q14 gene deletion, and identified RB1 gene deletion in all three cases. Fifteen cases were followed up for 2-100 months, and no recurrence was noted. Conclusions: Myofibroblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of the breast. In addition to the classic type, there are many histological variants, among which the epithelioid subtype is easily confused with invasive lobular carcinoma. The schwannoma-like subtype is similar to schwannoma, while the invasive subtype is easily misdiagnosed as fibromatosis-like or spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma. Therefore, it is important to recognize the various histological subtypes and clinicopathological features of the tumor for making correct pathological diagnosis and rational clinical treatment.

Effect of different doses of recombinant human growth hormone therapy on children with growth hormone deficiency: a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of different doses of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment on children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records of 174 GHD patients admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 136 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 70 received 0.1 U/ (kg·d) (low-dose group) and 66 received 0.2 U/ (kg·d) dose of rhGH treatment (high-dose group). Growth and development status [height, weight, height standard deviation (HtSDS), growth rate], bone age, bone density, speed of sound (SOS) as distal radius bone mass, biochemical indicators of growth and development [insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3)], growth hormone (GH) levels and incidence of adverse reactions were collected and compared between the two groups before and after one year of the treatment.

RESULTS

After the treatment, height, weight, HtSDS, and growth rate of the two groups increased compared to before the treatment and were significantly higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (p<0.05). After one year of treatment, the following observations were made: the bone age of the two groups increased compared to the baseline values and was higher in the high-dose group compared to the low-dose group (p<0.05). The SOS of the two groups decreased but was significantly higher in the high-dose group compared to the low-dose group (p<0.05). Serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and GH in both groups increased compared to the baseline values and were higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the high-dose group (8.6%) and the low-dose group (6.1%) (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose rhGH treatment for GHD is safe and can more effectively upregulate IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and GH, and promote the growth and development of children.

Measurement of Direct-Photon Cross Section and Double-Helicity Asymmetry at sqrt[s]=510 GeV in p[over →]+p[over →] Collisions

We present measurements of the cross section and double-helicity asymmetry A_{LL} of direct-photon production in p[over →]+p[over →] collisions at sqrt[s]=510  GeV. The measurements have been performed at midrapidity (|η|<0.25) with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. At relativistic energies, direct photons are dominantly produced from the initial quark-gluon hard scattering and do not interact via the strong force at leading order. Therefore, at sqrt[s]=510  GeV, where leading-order-effects dominate, these measurements provide clean and direct access to the gluon helicity in the polarized proton in the gluon-momentum-fraction range 0.02<x<0.08, with direct sensitivity to the sign of the gluon contribution.

Detoxification and removal of arsenite by Pseudomonas sp. SMS11: Oxidation, biosorption and bioaccumulation

Arsenite [As(III)] oxidizing bacteria have been widely studied for their detoxification ability through transforming As(III) into arsenate [As(V)]. However, few was focused on removal capacity of arsenic (As). In the current study, As(III) oxidation accompanied with removal of total As was observed in Pseudomonas sp. SMS11. The biosorption (unbinding and surface binding) and bioaccumulation (intracellular uptake) of As by the cells were investigated. Biosorption isotherm was defined adequately by Langmuir and Freundlich models. Biosorption kinetics was recommended by pseudo second-order model. For comparison, the bacteria were inoculated in pure water or culture media amended with different concentrations of As(III) to evaluate the remediation capacity without or with bacterial growth. After removing unbound As, surface bound and intracellular As were sequentially separated using EDTA elution and acidic extraction from bacterial cells. Without bacterial growth, oxidation of As(III) was retarded and the maximum values of surface bound and intracellular As were 4.8 and 10.5 mg/g, respectively. Efficient oxidation and high adsorption capacity were observed after bacterial growth. The surface bound and intracellular As achieved up to 555.0 and 2421.5 mg/g, respectively. Strain SMS11 exhibited great accumulation capacity of As in aqueous solutions, indicating potential application in detoxification and removal of As(III) contamination. The results also suggested that bioremediation via bacteria should be based on living cells and bacterial growth rate.

Mechanochemical remediation of fluoranthene contaminated soil and biotoxicity evaluation

A mechanochemical (MC) method was employed for the remediation of soil contaminated with fluoranthene (C₁₆H₁₀, FL) a four-ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) containing three benzene rings and a central five-membered heterocyclic ring, with the effects of soil inorganic components, milling conditions, and the degradation mechanism investigated. Results showed that the addition of SiO₂ and kaolin to soil resulted in a greater increase in the effectiveness of FL removal than other inorganic additives. After 3 hours of milling at 500 rpm, the FL removal rate from SiO₂ containing soil, reached 99.26%, with the removal efficiency increasing in accordance with an increase in milling duration and speed. The milled samples were characterized by FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, and GC-MS analysis, revealing the mechanism of FL degradation, including destruction of the aromatic skeleton structure and the formation of amorphous carbon and graphite. The MC remediation method was applied to FL contaminated soil, showing that FL was efficiently degraded in soil without any soil additives, resulting in a significant reduction in the biotoxicity of the remediated soil. The organic matter, moisture content and pH of the actual soil changed slightly after mechanical ball milling. Thus, the MC method has high potential in the remediation of PAH-contaminated soils.HIGHLIGHTSA mechanochemical (MC) method for the degradation of fluoranthene was assessed.The use of silica and kaolin as soil additives enhances fluoranthene remediation.Fluoranthene can be efficiently removed from contaminated soil by milling alone.The degradation mechanism was skeleton structure destruction and carbonization.The biotoxicity of soil was significantly reduced by milling.

Ionome profiling and arsenic speciation provide evidence of arsenite detoxification in rice by phosphate and arsenite-oxidizing bacteria

Arsenite (As(III)) as the most toxic and mobile form is the dominant arsenic (As) species in flooded paddy fields, resulting in higher accumulation of As in paddy rice than other terrestrial crops. Mitigation of As toxicity to rice plant is an important way to safeguard food production and safety. In the current study, As(III)-oxidizing bacteria Pseudomonas sp. strain SMS11 was inoculated with rice plants to accelerate conversion of As(III) into lower toxic arsenate (As(V)). Meanwhile, additional phosphate was supplemented to restrict As(V) uptake by the rice plants. Growth of rice plant was significantly inhibited under As(III) stress. The inhibition was alleviated by the introduction of additional P and SMS11. Arsenic speciation showed that additional P restricted As accumulation in the rice roots via competing common uptake pathways, while inoculation with SMS11 limited As translocation from root to shoot. Ionomic profiling revealed specific characteristics of the rice tissue samples from different treatment groups. Compared to the roots, ionomes of the rice shoots were more sensitive to environmental perturbations. Both extraneous P and As(III)-oxidizing bacteria SMS11 could alleviate As(III) stress to the rice plants through promoting growth and regulating ionome homeostasis.

[Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Decoction promotes neural stem cell self-renewal and activates Shh signaling in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Decoction (ZJJ) on Shh signaling and self-renewal of neural stem cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression.

METHODS

Diabetic rat models with depression were randomly divided into model group, positive drug (metformin + fluoxetine) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose ZJJ groups (n=16), with normal SD rats as the control group. The positive drugs and ZJJ were administered by gavage, and the rats in the control and model groups were given distilled water. After the treatment, blood glucose level was detected using test strips, and behavioral changes of the rats were assessed by forced swimming test and water maze test. ELISA was used to examine the serum level of leptin; The expressions of nestin and Brdu proteins in the dentate gyrus of the rats were detected using immunofluorescence assay, and the expressions of self-renewal marker proteins and Shh signaling proteins were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

The diabetic rats with depression showed significantly increased levels of blood glucose and leptin (P < 0.01) and prolonged immobility time in forced swimming test (P < 0.01) and increased stage climbing time with reduced stage seeking time and stage crossings in water maze test (P < 0.01). The expressions of nestin and Brdu in the dentate gyrus, the expressions of cyclin D1, SOX2, Shh, Ptch1, Smo in the hippocampus and the nuclear expression of Gli-1 were decreased (P < 0.01) while hippocampal Gli-3 expression was increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the rat models. Treatment of rat models with high-dose ZJJ significantly reduced the blood glucose (P < 0.01) and leptin level (P < 0.05) and improved their performance in behavioral tests (P < 0.01). The treatment also obviously increased the expressions of nestin, Brdu, cyclin D1, SOX2, Shh, Ptch1, and Smo and the nuclear expression of Gli-1 in the dentate gyrus (P < 0.01) and reduced hippocampal expression of Gli-3 (P < 0.05) in the rat models.

CONCLUSION

ZJJ can significantly improve the self-renewal ability of neural stem cells and activate Shh signaling in dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression.

[HSDL2 overexpression promotes rectal cancer progression by regulating cancer cell cycle and promoting cell proliferation]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the expression of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase like 2 (HSDL2) in rectal cancer tissues and the effect of changes in HSDL2 expression level on proliferation of rectal cancer cells.

METHODS

Clinical data and tissue samples of 90 patients with rectal cancer admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were collected from the prospective clinical database and biological specimen database. The expression level of HSDL2 in rectal cancer and adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and based on the median level of HSDL2 expression, the patients were divided into high expression group (n=45) and low expression group (n=45) for analysis the correlation between HSDL2 expression level and the clinicopathological parameters. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to explore the role of HSDL2 in rectal cancer progression. The effects of changes in HSDL2 expression levels on rectal cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle and protein expressions were investigated in SW480 cells with lentivirus-mediated HSDL2 silencing or HSDL2 overexpression using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

The expressions of HSDL2 and Ki67 were significantly higher in rectal cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the expression of HSDL2 protein was positively correlated with Ki67, CEA and CA19-9 expressions (P < 0.01). The rectal cancer patients with high HSDL2 expressions had significantly higher likelihood of having CEA ≥5 μg/L, CA19-9 ≥37 kU/L, T3-4 stage, and N2-3 stage than those with a low HSDL2 expression (P < 0.05). GO and KEGG analysis showed that HSDL2 was mainly enriched in DNA replication and cell cycle. In SW480 cells, HSDL2 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation, increased cell percentage in S phase, and enhanced the expression levels of CDK6 and cyclinD1 (P < 0.05), and HSDL2 silencing produced the opposite effects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The high expression of HSDL2 in rectal cancer participates in malignant progression of the tumor by promoting the proliferation and cell cycle progress of the cancer cells.

[Progress of researches on antimalarial peptides]

Malaria remains a major global public health concern, and nearly half of the global populations are still at risk of malaria infection. However, continuous emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria parasite strains lead to ineffectiveness of conventional antimalarials. Therefore, development of novel antimalarial agents is of urgent need for malaria elimination. As an important component of the host natural immune defense system, antibacterial peptides provide the first line of defense against pathogenic invasion, and the mechanism of preferentially attacking the cell membrane makes them difficult to develop drug resistance. Antimicrobial peptides are therefore considered as a promising candidate for novel antimalarial agents. This review summarizes the advances in researches on antimicrobial peptides with antimalarial actions and discusses the potential of antimalarial peptides as novel antimalarials.

[Fibroma of tendon sheath: a clinicopathological and genetic analysis of 134 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotypes and molecular genetics of fibroma of tendon sheath (FTS). Methods: One hundred and thirty-four cases of FTS or tenosynovial fibroma diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China from January 2008 to April 2019 were selected. The clinical and histologic features of these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed on the above cases. Results: There were a total of 134 cases of FTS, including 67 males and 67 females. The patients' median age was 38 years (ranged from 2 to 85 years). The median tumor size was 1.8 cm (ranged from 0.1 to 6.8 cm). The most common site was the upper extremity (76/134, 57%). Follow-up data was available in 28 cases and there was no detectable recurrence. Classic FTS (114 cases) were well-defined and hypocellular. A few spindle-shaped fibroblasts were scattered in the dense collagenous sclerotic stroma. Characteristically elongated slit-like spaces or thin-walled vessels were observed. Most of cellular FTSs (20 cases) were well-defined and the area with increased cellularity of the spindle cells coexisted with classic FTS. There were occasional mitotic figures, but no atypical mitotic figures. Immunohistochemistry was performed in 8 cases of classic FTS and most cases were positive for SMA (5/8). Immunohistochemistry was also performed in 13 cases of cellular FTS and showed 100% positive rate for SMA. FISH was conducted on 20 cases of cellular FTS and 32 cases of classical FTS. USP6 gene rearrangement was found in 11/20 of cellular FTS. Among 12 cases of CFTS with nodular fasciitis (NF)-like morphological feature, 7 cases showed USP6 gene rearrangement. The rearrangement proportion of USP6 gene in cellular FTS without NF-like morphological features was 4/8. By contrast, 3% (1/32) of the classic FTS showed USP6 gene rearrangement. RT-PCR was performed in those cases with detected USP6 gene rearrangement and sufficient tissue samples for RT-PCR. The MYH9-USP6 fusion gene was detected in 1 case (1/8) of the cellular FTSs, while no target fusion partner was detected in the classic FTS. Conclusions: FTS is a relatively rare benign fibroblastic or myofibroblastic tumor. Our study and recent literature find that some of the classic FTS also show USP6 gene rearrangements, suggesting that classical FTS and cellular FTS are likely to be at different stages of the same disease (spectrum). FISH for USP6 gene rearrangement may be used as an important auxiliary diagnostic tool in distinguishing FTS from other tumors.

Single-photon detection using high-temperature superconductors

The detection of individual quanta of light is important for quantum communication, fluorescence lifetime imaging, remote sensing and more. Due to their high detection efficiency, exceptional signal-to-noise ratio and fast recovery times, superconducting-nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have become a critical component in these applications. However, the operation of conventional SNSPDs requires costly cryocoolers. Here we report the fabrication of two types of high-temperature superconducting nanowires. We observe linear scaling of the photon count rate on the radiation power at the telecommunications wavelength of 1.5 μm and thereby reveal single-photon operation. SNSPDs made from thin flakes of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ exhibit a single-photon response up to 25 K, and for SNSPDs from La_1.55Sr_0.45CuO₄/La₂CuO₄ bilayer films, this response is observed up to 8 K. While the underlying detection mechanism is not fully understood yet, our work expands the family of materials for SNSPD technology beyond the liquid helium temperature limit and suggests that even higher operation temperatures may be reached using other high-temperature superconductors.

Circ_0002111/miR-134-5p/FSTL1 signal axis regulates tumor progression and glycolytic metabolism in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have essential roles in the malignant progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Circ_0002111 was reported to facilitate cell proliferation and invasion abilities in PTC. This study was performed to explore the regulatory mechanism of circ_0002111 in PTC progression.

METHODS

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used for the level detection of circ_0002111, microRNA-134-5p (miR-134-5p) and Follistatin Like 1 (FSTL1). Cell proliferation was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, EdU assay and colony formation assay. Cell migration ability was determined by transwell assay. Glycolysis was analyzed by extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), glucose consumption and lactate production. The protein quantification was performed through western blot. Xenograft tumor assay was used for the functional analysis of circ_0002111 in vivo. The target interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay.

RESULTS

The significant upregulation of circ_0002111 was detected in PTC samples and cells. PTC cell proliferation, migration and glycolytic metabolism were suppressed after circ_0002111 downregulation. PTC tumorigenesis in vivo was also inhibited by circ_0002111 knockdown. In addition, circ_0002111 could target miR-134-5p and si-circ_0002111#1-induced inhibition of PTC progression was relieved by miR-134-5p expression downregulation. Furthermore, FSTL1 was a target gene for miR-134-5p and miR-134-5p served as a tumor repressor in PTC by targeting FSTL1. Moreover, circ_0002111 could increase the FSTL1 level via sponging miR-134-5p.

CONCLUSION

All results indicated that circ_0002111 promoted the malignant behaviors of PTC cells partly by regulating the miR-134-5p/FSTL1 molecular network.

The feasibility of a novel computer-aided classification system for the characterisation and diagnosis of breast masses on ultrasound: a single-centre preliminary test study

AIM

To introduce a novel computer-aided classification (CAC) system and investigate the feasibility of characterising and diagnosing breast masses on ultrasound (US).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 246 breast masses were included. US features and the final assessment categories of the breast masses were analysed by a radiologist and the CAC system according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon. The CAC system evaluated the BI-RADS assessment from the fusion of multi-view and colour Doppler US images without (SmartBreast) or with combining clinical variables (m-CAC system). The diagnostic performance and agreement of US characteristics between the radiologist and the CAC system were compared.

RESULTS

The agreement between the radiologist and the CAC system was substantial for mass shape (κ = 0.673), orientation (κ = 0.682), margin (κ = 0.622), posterior features (κ = 0.629), calcifications in a mass (κ = 0.709) and vascularity (κ = 0.745), fair for echo pattern (κ = 0.379), and moderate for BI-RADS assessment (κ = 0.575). With BI-RADS 4a as the cut-off value, the specificity (52.5% versus 25%, p<0.0001) and accuracy (73.98% versus 62.6%, p=0.0002) of the m-CAC system were improved without significant loss of sensitivity (94.44% versus 98.41%, p=0.1250) compared with the SmartBreast. The m-CAC system showed similar specificity (52.5% versus 45.83%, p=0.2430) and accuracy (73.98% versus 73.58%, p=1.0000) as the radiologist, but a lower sensitivity (94.44% versus 100%, p=0.0156).

CONCLUSION

The CAC system showed an acceptable agreement with the radiologist for characterisation of breast lesions. It has the potential to mimic the decision-making behaviour of radiologists for the classification of breast lesions.

Effect of Collagen-Reactive Functional Monomer on Etch-and-Rinse Adhesives

In this study, we evaluated a novel functional monomer (4-formylphenyl acrylate [FA]) that can specifically and covalently bind to the dentin collagen matrix as a potential alternative hydrophobic diluent-like monomer for improving the durability of dentin bonding. Experimental adhesives with different FA contents (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) were evaluated as partial substituents for the hydrophilic monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, with the commercial adhesive One-Step (Bisco, Inc.) employed as the positive control. Their degree of conversion, viscosity, hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and water absorption/solubility were measured as the comprehensive characterization. In situ zymographic assays were performed to determine the extent to which FA inhibits the endogenous hydrolytic activity of dentin. Finally, the bonding performances of the novel adhesives were evaluated with microtensile strength tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the incorporation of FA significantly improved the mobility of experimental adhesives attributable to the dilution property of FA. In contrast to the possible compromised rate of polymerization by hydroxyethyl methacrylate, FA exhibited typical characteristics of favorable copolymerization with polymerizable monomers in adhesives and improved the degree of conversion of experimental adhesives. The rigidity and hydrophobic properties of the phenyl framework of the FA molecule conferred superior mechanical properties and hydrolysis resistance to the novel experimental adhesives. An inhibitory effect on gelatinolytic activities within the hybrid layer was also observed in the in situ zymographic assays, even at a low FA concentration (10%). In conjunction with the significantly improved infiltration found via scanning electron microscopy, the experimental adhesives containing FA possessed significantly better-maintained microtensile strength, even after aging. Thus, the incorporation of this novel monomer endowed the experimental adhesives with multiple enhanced functionalities. These remarkable advantages highlight the suitability of the monomer for further applications in clinical practice.

Regulation of the central amygdala on intestinal motility and behavior via the lateral hypothalamus in irritable bowel syndrome model mice

BACKGROUND

Impaired bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (CNS) is closely related to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Studies in patients with IBS have also shown significant activation of the hypothalamus and amygdala. However, how neural circuits of the CNS participate in and process the emotional and intestinal disorders of IBS remains unclear.

METHODS

The GABAergic neural pathway projecting from the central amygdala (CeA) to the lateral hypothalamus (LHA) in mice was investigated by retrograde tracking combined with fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Anxiety, depression-like behavior, and intestinal motility were observed in the water-immersion restraint stress group and the control group. Furthermore, the effects of the chemogenetic activation of the GABAergic neural pathway of CeA-LHA on behavior and intestinal motility, as well as the co-expression of orexin-A and c-Fos in the LHA, were explored.

KEY RESULTS

In our study, Fluoro-Gold retrograde tracking combined with fluorescence immunohistochemistry showed that GABAergic neurons in the CeA were projected to the LHA. The microinjection of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor antagonist into the LHA relieved anxiety, depression-like behavior, and intestinal motility disorder in the IBS mice. The chemogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons in the CeA-LHA pathway led to anxiety, depression-like behavior, and intestinal motility disorder. In addition, GABAergic neurons in the CeA-LHA pathway inhibited the expression of orexin-A in the LHA, and orexin-A was co-expressed with GABAA receptors.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The CeA-LHA GABAergic pathway might participate in the occurrence and development of IBS by regulating orexin-A neurons.

Mechanochemical remediation of the chlorinated compounds contaminated soil depending on the minerals inside-the most reasonable approach

This study explored a possible destruction of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as example of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as well as the dechlorination mechanism by directly using minerals in the soil, such as antigorite, talc and olivine. Compared with a stable quartz phase of SiO₂, all three Mg silicate minerals demonstrated certain degrading capacity for HCB with different efficiency order as: antigorite > talc > olivine > SiO₂ at 2 h of milling time. Interestingly, olivine exhibited a better performance than antigorite at 4 h of milling time, giving destruction percentage of 92.7% over 89.0% even at high concentrated HCB up to 5% added. Raman and ESR characterizations of the ball milled sample with olivine indicated the formation of amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon, and the occurrence of free radicals was observed to play an important role in dechlorination and carbonization of HCB. The first identified effectiveness of directly using Mg silicate minerals, allowed no addition of active chemicals during the ball milling, therefore avoided the concern over extrinsic contaminations on the soil. Olivine was further utilized to deal with actual contaminated soil and showed unique advantages on application prospects.

Exploration of 68Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 PET/CT parameters for identifying PBRM1 status in primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma

AIM

To investigate the predictive value of ⁶⁸Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11) integrated positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in PBRM1-deficient clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 41 patients with ccRCC, were enrolled retrospectively and underwent ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT preoperatively. Radiological parameters, including CT attenuation value and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), were derived. Immunohistochemical and multiple immunofluorescences staining were performed to evaluate the PBRM1 status and immune response. The predictive value of imaging factors was analysed using a receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between clinical and radiological variables and PBRM1 status.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients were included in this study, with 14 patients having PBRM1-deficient status. The tumour diameter on imaging and SUVmax differed significantly in patients with different PBRM1 expression statuses and no difference in CT attenuation was identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed SUVmax was an obvious predictor for identification of PBRM1-deficient tumours. In addition, PBRM1-deficient tumours tended to be accompanied by greater cytotoxic T-cell infiltration, although most of them were in an exhausted state.

CONCLUSIONS

⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT could be used to discriminate invasive PBRM1-deficient ccRCC.

[Cryptic COL1A1-PDGFB fusion in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a clinicopathological and genetic analysis]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological and cytogenetic features of cryptic COL1A1-PDGFB fusion dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (CC-DFSP). Methods: Three cases of CC-DFSP diagnosed in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China from January 2021 to September 2021 were studied. Immunohistochemistry for CD34 and other markers, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for PDGFB, COL1A1-PDGFB and COL1A1, next-generation sequencing (NGS), reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing were performed. Results: There were three cases of CC-DFSP, including two females and one male. The patients were 29, 44 and 32 years old, respectively. The sites were abdominal wall, caruncle and scapula. Microscopically, they were poorly circumscribed. The spindle cells of the tumors infiltrated into the whole dermis or subcutaneous tissues, typically arranging in a storiform pattern. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells exhibited diffuse CD34 expression, but were negative for S-100, SMA, and Myogenin. Loss of H3K27me3 was not observed in the tumor cells. The Ki-67 index was 10%-15%. The 3 cases were all negative for PDGFB rearrangement and COL1A1-PDGFB fusion, whereas showing unbalanced rearrangement for COL1A1. Case 1 showed a COL1A1 (exon 31)-PDGFB (exon 2) fusion using NGS, which was further validated through RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. All patients underwent extended surgical resection. Except for case 3 with recurrence 2 years after surgical resection, the other 2 cases showed no recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up. Conclusions: FISH has shown its validity for detecting PDGFB rearrangement and COL1A1-PDGFB fusion and widely applied in clinical detection. However, for cases with negative routine FISH screening that were highly suspicious for DFSPs, supplementary NGS or at least COL1A1 break-apart FISH screening could be helpful to identify cryptic COL1A1-PDGFB fusions or other variant fusions.

Associations of Household Solid Fuel Use With Falls and Fall-Related Injuries in Middle-Aged and Older Population in China: A Cohort Study

Objective: This study evaluated the associations of solid fuels with incidence of falls and fall-related injuries. Methods: Data were taken from wave 1∼4 of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including 15,651 participants aged 45 years and older. Modified Poisson regression was used to examine the associations of solid fuels with falls and fall-related injuries. Results: Modified Poisson regression analysis showed that solid fuels users for cooking had an increasing incidence of falls and fall-related injuries, with RR of 1.211 (95% CI: 1.124, 1.305) and 1.248 (95% CI: 1.107, 1.408); for heating had an incidence, with RR of 1.178 (95% CI: 1.062, 1.306) and 1.134 (95% CI: 0.963, 1.335); combined for cooking and heating, with RR of 1.247 (95% CI: 1.105, 1.408) and 1.185 (95% CI: 0.982, 1.431). Conclusion: Our study suggests that solid fuel use is associated with a higher incidence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults aged 45 years and older in China. It is necessary to restrict solid fuel use to reduce household air pollution and make stronger environmental protection policies to improve household environment.

Activation of Calcium-Sensing Receptor in the Area Postrema Inhibits Food Intake via Glutamatergic and GABAergic Signaling Pathways

SCOPE

A high-protein diet has become a popular way to lose weight. Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is activated by amino acids in addition to calcium ions. CaSR shows dense expression in the area postrema (AP), which participates in feeding regulation. The effect of CaSR in the AP on food intake and the potential mechanism involved is investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Male C57BL/6 mice are used to observe the effect of R568 (agonist of CaSR) on food intake. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, and chemogenetics are used to explore the neural signaling involved. CaSR activation in the AP inhibited acute feeding; R568 increases the content of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the AP, whereas only glutamatergic neurons mediate the effect of R568. GABA-A receptor and ionic glutamate receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor [NMDAR]) in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) are involved in the effect of R568. Promotion of oxytocin (OT) synthesis in the PVN also participates in the effect of R568, and this mechanism is mediated by NMDAR in the PVN.

CONCLUSION

CaSR activation in the AP suppresses feeding, and AP-PVN glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling pathways are involved.

Activity enhancement and the anammox mechanism under low temperature via PVA-SA and nano Fe2O3-PVA-SA entrapped beads

Anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AAOB) have a long growth time and low activity at low temperatures. In suspended systems, sludge is easily lost, which limits the mainstream application of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox).Entrapment provides effective ideas for solving these problems. In this study, polyvinyl‑sodium alginate (PVA-SA) and nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapment beads were prepared to discuss the effectiveness of entrapment enhanced anammox sludge at low temperatures. The differences in the entrapped beads and granules were compared to analyze the strengthening mechanism. The results show that the nitrogen removal performance of granules, PVA-SA and nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapped beads, first decreased and then increased during the cooling and low-temperature operation. Nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapped beads showed the smallest decline and the highest degree of recovery. Reaction metering ratio (△NO₂^--N/△NH₄⁺-N and △NO₃^--N/△NH₄⁺-N) showed that entrapment could realize Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) inhibition and improve the activity of denitrifying bacteria (DNB) to promote the removal of total nitrogen by providing a strict anaerobic environment. The results demonstrate that entrapment is beneficial for maintaining the content of heme c, specifically, nano Fe₂O₃ can stimulate its production, and is beneficial for alleviating the reduction of hydrazine dehydrogenase (HDH) enzyme activity. The extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content and analysis showed that entrapment does not change the composition of EPS, and can maintain the EPS content. Nano Fe₂O₃ can stimulate AAOB to secrete more EPS to maintain sludge stability. From a molecular perspective, entrapment can maintain the expression of functional genes, promote the enrichment of AAOB, thus improving the nitrogen removal performance from the dual perspectives of "quality" and "quantity".

O-GlcNAcylation and stablization of SIRT7 promote pancreatic cancer progression by blocking the SIRT7-REGγ interaction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers and its dismal prognosis indicates the urgent need to elucidate the potential oncogenic mechanisms. SIRT7 is a classic NAD+-dependent deacetylase that stabilizes the transformed state of cancer cells. However, its functional roles in PDAC are still unclear. Here, we found that SIRT7 expression is upregulated and predicts poor prognosis in PDAC. Then we screened the new interacting proteins of SIRT7 by mass spectrometry and the results showed that SIRT7 can interact with O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAcylation stabilizes the SIRT7 protein by inhibiting its interaction with REGγ to prevent degradation, and hyper-O-GlcNAcylation in pancreatic cancer cells leads to hypoacetylation of H3K18 via SIRT7, which promotes transcriptional repression of several tumour suppressor genes. In addition, SIRT7 O-GlcNAcylation at the serine 136 residue (S136) is required to maintain its protein stability and deacetylation ability. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that blocking SIRT7 O-GlcNAcylation at S136 attenuates tumour progression. Collectively, we demonstrate that O-GlcNAcylation is an important post-translational modification of SIRT7 in pancreatic cancer cells, and elucidating this mechanism of SIRT7 is expected to pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic methods in the future.