[The value of a nomogram for predicting the outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage based on clinical characteristics and diffusion-weighted imaging of hyperintense lesions]

Objective: To investigate the value of a nomogram predicting the outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) based on clinical characteristics and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of hyperintense lesions. Methods: A case-control study. Consecutive patients, aged 30-88(59±13) years old, with ICH were recruited at the Stroke Center of Zhengzhou People's Hospital from January 2018 to August 2021. Patients were divided into a group with DWI lesions and a group without DWI lesions depending on whether there were DWI hyperintense lesions distant from the hematoma. Prognosis was evaluated at 90 days via the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of a poor ICH outcome (mRS score≥4), and a nomogram model was developed. The performance of the nomogram was validated via the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and a calibration chart. Results: Of the 303 patients included in the study, 24.8% presented with DWI lesions; 17.5% with asymptomatic DWI lesions and 7.3% with symptomatic DWI lesions. Poor outcomes were significantly more frequent in the group with DWI lesions than in the group without DWI lesions (χ2=21.32, P<0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, age [odds ratio (OR)=1.032, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002-1.063, P=0.035], hematoma volume (OR=1.050, 95%CI 1.011-1.090, P=0.012), hematoma location (OR=3.839, 95%CI 1.248-11.805, P=0.019), DWI lesions (OR=3.955, 95%CI 1.906-8.206, P<0.001), and baseline NIHSS scores (OR=1.102, 95%CI 1.038-1.170, P=0.001) were independent predictors of a poor outcome. In subgroup analysis patients with asymptomatic DWI lesions had a 3-fold greater risk of a poor outcome compared to those without DWI lesions (OR=3.135, 95%CI 1.382-7.112, P=0.006), and patients with symptomatic DWI lesions had a 7-fold greater risk of a poor outcome compared to those without DWI lesions (OR=7.126, 95%CI 2.279-22.277, P=0.001). A nomogram model was established based on the independent predictors for a poor outcome. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.846 (95%CI 0.795-0.898), and a calibration chart indicated good consistency between values predicted by the nomogram and actual observed values. Conclusions: DWI lesions are an independent risk factor for a poor outcome in patients with ICH-particularly symptomatic DWI lesions. A nomogram model based on clinical characteristics and DWI lesions exhibited good efficacy when predicting the outcome of ICH.

Progress and Application of Entomological Evidence in Forensic Science

Abstract

Entomological evidence provides entry points and clues for cases detection, in terms of estimation of the postmortem interval （PMI）, and place and cause of death. In recent years, the feasibility of entomological evidence in practice has been proved by theories and cases. It especially plays an important role in the investigation of cases with unnatural death, no monitoring, and highly corrupt cadaver. However, there are still some key issues to be further studied and standardized before the application of entomological evidence to forensic practice, to improve the effect of entomological evidence in forensic investigation and trial. This paper retrospectively reviews key studies of the application of entomological evidence in forensic science, mainly including discussion of forensic entomology inspection standard, identification studies of sarcosaprophagous insect species, collection of sarcosaprophagous insect growth and succession data under different environments and forensic entomotoxicology. With the rapid development of information technology and biotechnology, applying artificial intelligence and whole genome sequencing technology in forensic entomology has become a new research direction, which can improve the application value and range of entomological evidence in forensic science.

Species Identification of Sarcosaprophagous Flies Based on Vein Digital Image Analysis

Objective To identify species of common sarcosaprophagous flies based on digital image analysis of veins, in order to provide new idea for fast and accurate species identification of sarcosaprophagous flies in forensic entomology. Methods Random trapping of 226 male and female sarcosaprophagous flies that comprised of 7 common species, including Sarcophaga peregrina, Parasarcophaga ruficornis, Sarcophaga dux, Seniorwhitea reciproca, Bercaea cruentata, Aldrichina grahami, and Synthesiomysia nudiseta with carrion in the field was conducted. The 17 landmarks on the right wing of each fly were digitally processed and the images were analyzed. The effects of allometry were evaluated using a permutation test. Wing shape variations among 7 sarcosaprophagous fly species and female species was analyzed using canonical variate analysis （CVA）. Additionally, cross-validation test was used to evaluate the reliability of classification. Results Among 7 sarcosaprophagous fly species and female species, the effect of allometry had statistical significance （P<0.05）. The CVA results showed that among 7 sarcosaprophagous fly species and female species, differences in the wing shape were significant, and the first two canonical variates accounted for 82.9% and 84.1% of the total variation of vein shape. Vein digital image analysis can be used to separate the 7 common sarcosaprophagous flies, with an overall species identification accuracy of 81.2%-100.0%, and with a species identification accuracy of 75.0%-100.0% to distinguish the female flies of the 7 sarcosaprophagous flies species. Conclusion Vein digital image analysis is a relatively convenient and reliable method for identification of insect species, which can be used for species identification of common sarcosaprophagous flies.

STAT3-induced long noncoding RNA LINC00668 promotes migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer via the miR-193a/KLF7 axis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to play significant roles in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Recently, a newly identified lncRNA, LncRNA LINC00668 (LINC00668), was reported to be involved in the regulation of progression of several tumors. However, the expression pattern and biological function of LINC00668 in NSCLC remains largely unclear. In this study, we found that LINC00668 expression was significantly up-regulated in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. we also showed that LINC00668 upregulation was induced by transcription factor STAT3. Clinical investigation demonstrated that high expression level of LINC00668 was associated with advanced TNM stage, histological grade and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, multivariate analysis confirmed LINC00668 expression level to be an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival of NSCLC patients. Functional assays indicated that knockdown of LINC00668 suppressed NSCLC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that LINC00668 is a direct target of miR-193a, leading to down-regulation in the expression of its target gene KLF7. Our findings suggested that STAT3-induced LINC00668 contributed to NSCLC progression through upregulating KLF7 expression by sponging miR-193a, and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential target for NSCLC.

Boettcherisca peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): A flesh fly species of medical and forensic importance

Boettcherisca peregrine, as a fly with the necrophagous habits found on human corpses and a vector of disease or parasitic, myiasis-producing agent, is a significant flesh fly species in forensic entomology and medical context. This study reviewed the various aspects of this fly species, including morphology, bionomics, molecular analysis, medical and forensic entomology involvement, such as morphological characteristics of larva, puparia and adult, developmental rate of larvae, the effects of heavy metal (such as Cd and Cu) on the growth and developmentin of larvae, and the impact of some specific stimulis on the labellar chemosensory hair of B. peregrina. Species identification, gene and functions, myiasis and forensic case of this species were also outlined. Therefore, the paper has an important implication for improving the role of B. peregrina in medicine and forensic science.

Quantitative proteomic study identified cathepsin B associated with doxorubicin-induced damage in H9c2 cardiomyocytes

The study was performed to analyze the proteomic profiling of doxorubicin-treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes in order to identify novel protein biomarkers associated with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. The protein profiling of H9c2 cells in response to doxorubicin at an apoptosis-induced concentration of 0.5 μM were compared using iTRAQ analysis. Western-blot analysis was used to confirm differentially expressed proteins identified in the proteomic study. A total of 22 differently expressed proteins were identified in doxorubicin-treated H9c2 cells including 15 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that 10 altered proteins were enriched in the process of apoptosis. We further validated the expression of cathepsin B and its possible regulator nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in H9c2 cells were increased during doxorubicin treatment using Western-blots. Differentially expressed proteins might provide clues to clarify novel mechanisms underlying doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. Our results also suggest that increased cathepsin B expression might be associated with NF-κB up-regulation, and the exact mechanisms need to be clarified.

[Assignments of 1HNMR fingerprint of the root bark of Celastrus angulatus]

AIM

To assign the 1HNMR finger-print of the root bark of Celastrus angulatus.

METHODS

Silica gel column chromatography was used to separate the chemical constituents of CGE A of the root bark of C. angulatus. The characteristic signals of the 1HNMR finger-print were assigned after determining the structures of the compounds isolated from CGE A.

RESULTS

1HNMR finger-prints of the samples of C. angulatus collected from different regions showed highly characteristic features and reproducibility. Three compounds predominant in CGE A were isolated and their structures were determined by spectral analysis as: angulatin A (1), angulatin B (2) and angulatin C (3).

CONCLUSION

Compound 3 is a new compound. Compound 2 was isolated from C. angulatus for the first time. The 1HNMR finger-print of CGE A of the root bark of C. angulatus showed mainly the characteristic signals of the above three compounds and might be utilized for the original authentication of this plant.