AB0727 WORK OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS PATIENTS IN CHINA

Background:

Poorer work productivity due to pain and functional impairment is commonly seen in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, which may contribute to huge social economic burden. However, data about work outcomes and associated factors in Chinese AS patients were barely reported.

Objectives:

To assess work outcomes and identify factors associated with poor work productivity in patients with AS in China.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in China. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) fulfilled the 1984 New York modified criteria of AS were enrolled from rheumatology center from Jan 2017 to Aug 2017. All participants completed questionnaires about socio-demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, quality of life and the Work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in AS (WPAI:SpA) to accesses the impact of chronic health conditions on job performance and productivity. Factors associated with work outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

A total of 91 patients with AS were included: 87.8% males, 78.02% employed, mean age and disease duration of 30 and 10 years respectively. The mean (SD) activity impairment of all patients was 48.57% (22.02%). For patients with employed work, mean (SD) absenteeism, presenteeism and work productivity loss were 10.22% (19.44%), 43.86% (22.48%) and 47.92% (25.81%) respectively. In multivariable analysis, activity impairment was associated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (P<0.01) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) (P<0.01). Absenteeism was associated with disease duration (P=0.03). Presenteeism was associated with disease duration (P=0.04), BASFI (P<0.01) and ASQoL (P<0.01). Work productivity loss was associated with BASFI (P<0.01) and ASQoL (P<0.01).

Conclusion:

Longer disease duration, reduced physical function and poorer quality of life are associated with reduced work productivity in Chinese AS patients.

References:

[1]Boonen A, van der Heijde D, Landewe R, Spoorenberg A, Schouten H, Rutten-van Molken M, et al. Work status and productivity costs due to ankylosing spondylitis: comparison of three European countries. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2002;61(5):429-37.

[2]Martindale J, Shukla R, Goodacre J. The impact of ankylosing spondylitis/axial spondyloarthritis on work productivity. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015;29(3):512-23.

[3]Castillo-Ortiz JD, Ramiro S, Landewe R, van der Heijde D, Dougados M, van den Bosch F, et al. Work Outcome in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From a 12-Year Followup of an International Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(4):544-52.

[4]Sag S, Nas K, Sag MS, Tekeoglu I, Kamanli A. Relationship of work disability between the disease activity, depression and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018;31(3):499-505.

[5]Goh Y, Kwan YH, Leung YY, Fong W, Cheung PP. A cross-sectional study on factors associated with poor work outcomes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in Singapore. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):2001-8.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance in a Long-Baseline Muon Antineutrino Beam

Electron antineutrino appearance is measured by the T2K experiment in an accelerator-produced antineutrino beam, using additional neutrino beam operation to constrain parameters of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) mixing matrix. T2K observes 15 candidate electron antineutrino events with a background expectation of 9.3 events. Including information from the kinematic distribution of observed events, the hypothesis of no electron antineutrino appearance is disfavored with a significance of 2.40σ and no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions is found. A complementary analysis that introduces an additional free parameter which allows non-PMNS values of electron neutrino and antineutrino appearance also finds no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions.

Relationship of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin and IGF-1 in cow's venous blood and venous cord blood with calf birth weight

The Intrauterine fetal development process is complicated and affected by many regulating factors such as maternal nutritional status, transcription factors and adipokines. Adipokines are kinds of active substances secreted by adipose tissue, including more than 50 kinds of molecules. To explore the correlation between calf birth weights and adipokines including adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and IGF-1 in cows venous and venous cord blood. Fifty-four healthy multiparous Chinese Holstein cows were used; in which, cows with a calf weight less than 40 kg were included in group A (n=9); those with a calf weight between 40 kg~45 kg were included in group B (n=25) and ≥45 kg were included in group C (n=20), venous blood and cord venous blood was collected. An ELISA kit was used to evaluate the concentration of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and IGF-1, correlations between index-index and index-calf birth weight were analysed. In both cows venous and cord venous blood, adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with each other (p⟨0.01), and levels of these adipokines in venous blood were significantly higher than cord venous blood (p⟨0.01). Adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and IGF-1 in venous cord blood were positively correlated with calf birth weights, and significantly correlated with calf birth weights respectively (p⟨0.01). Our study showed that adiponectin, leptin, and IGF-1 were found in venous blood and cord venous blood, and adiponectin, leptin, and IGF-1 in venous and cord venous blood potentially inter-regulated each other; adiponectin, leptin, and IGF-1 in venous blood were not significantly correlated with calf birth weights, while adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and IGF-1 in venous cord blood were significantly correlated with calf birth weights, respectively.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment of myoepithelial carcinoma of head and neck]

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of myoepithelial carcinoma of the head and neck. Method:The clinical data of 59 patients with head and neck myoepithelial carcinoma admitted from January 2012 to October 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The data was analyzed with SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Result:The follow-up period was 6 to 131 months. The mean follow-up time was 36 months. One patient（1.7%） was lost to follow-up, 17 patients（28.8%） had postoperative local recurrence, 8 patients（13.6%） had distant metastasis, and 5 patients（8.5%） had cervical lymph node metastasis; 14 patients（23.7%） died. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 92%, 73%, and 62%, respectively. Survival rate curves of different treatment methods were significantly different by Gehan method（P<0.05）. Compared between the two groups, there was significant difference between surgery alone and surgery plus radiotherapy than radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy alone（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference between the other two treatment methods. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor location, clinical stage and survival status and local recurrence rate were significantly correlated（P<0.05）, but gender, age and survival status and local recurrence rate were not significantly correlated（P>0.05）. Conclusion:The incidence of myoepithelial carcinoma is low, and the clinical manifestations and imaging studies lack specificity. The tumor is prone to local recurrence, invasive, and has a high incidence of distant metastasis. It is a highly malignant tumor. Surgical treatment is preferred and the requirements for first surgery are high, and major salivary glands and advanced tumors（stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ） are risk factors for survival and local recurrence. Early diagnosis and early treatment can significantly improve the survival rate of patients, reduce the local recurrence rate of tumors, and improve the prognosis of patients.

Shock-Induced Damage and Dynamic Fracture in Cylindrical Bodies Submerged in Liquid

Understanding the response of solid materials to shock loading is important for mitigating shock-induced damages and failures, as well as advancing the beneficial use of shock waves for material modifications. In this paper, we consider a representative brittle material, BegoStone, in the form of cylindrical bodies and submerged in water. We present a computational study on the causal relationship between the prescribed shock load and the resulting elastic waves and damage in the solid material. A recently developed three-dimensional computational framework, FIVER, is employed, which couples a finite volume compressible fluid solver with a finite element structural dynamics solver through the construction and solution of local, one-dimensional fluid-solid Riemann problems. The material damage and fracture are modeled and simulated using a continuum damage mechanics model and an element erosion method. The computational model is validated in the context of shock wave lithotripsy and the results are compared with experimental data. We first show that after calibrating the growth rate of microscopic damage and the threshold for macroscopic fracture, the computational framework is capable of capturing the location and shape of the shock-induced fracture observed in a laboratory experiment. Next, we introduce a new phenomenological model of shock waveform, and present a numerical parametric study on the effects of a single shock load, in which the shock waveform, magnitude, and the size of the target material are varied. In particular, we vary the waveform gradually from one that features non-monotonic decay with a tensile phase to one that exhibits monotonic decay without a tensile phase. The result suggests that when the length of the shock pulse is comparable to that of the target material, the former waveform may induce much more significant damage than the latter one, even if the two share the same magnitude, duration, and acoustic energy.

The relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and MTHFR gene variation, age, and sex in Northeast China

Background

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is the risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the impacts on the genetic variation of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) on plasma homocysteine levels in the Northeast Chinese population have not been studied. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the relationship between HHcy and MTHFR gene variation, and whether it was influenced by age and sex of the population in Northeast China.

Materials and Methods

A total of 466 subjects were randomly enrolled in this study. According to the homocysteine levels (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/L) of the subjects, they were divided into hyperhomocysteine (HHcy = 206) and normal homocysteine (Hcy = 260). Polymerase chain reaction/high-resolution dissolution curve and homocysteine determination kit methods were used for genotype testing and homocysteine detection, respectively.

Results

High plasma homocysteine levels are associated with MTHFR 677T and 1298A [P < 0.00, odds ratio (confidence interval) = 1.842 (1.418-2.394) >1], which is related to increasing age (P_range = 0.0005-0.0161), with the homocysteine levels of males higher than females (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

High plasma homocysteine levels were linked to the MTHFR gene mutation. In addition, plasma homocysteine levels increased significantly with age with male's homocysteine levels higher than that of females.

Elevated aspartate aminotransferase and monocyte counts predict unfavorable prognosis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Limited biomarkers predicting prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have been identified. The present study aims to assess potential laboratory prognostic factors of MPM. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 105 patients with MPM. The overall survival and prognostic factors were assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off values. The mean age of the 105 patients (62 men, 43 women) was 56.0 years. The major clinical presentations were dyspnea, cough and chest pain. The most common laboratory abnormalities were thrombocytosis and elevated monocyte count. Significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis were performance status (PS), serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), monocyte, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and treatment strategy. Multivariate analysis showed PS, AST, monocyte, and treatment strategy were statistically significant (p<0.05). Higher AST level and monocyte count were both related to the presence of anemia (p=0.001 and 0.010, respectively) and higher ALP level (p=0.049 and 0.001, respectively). A higher AST level was also associated with higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and LDH level (p<0.05). A higher monocyte count was also correlated with male patients, higher white blood cell (WBC), platelet, neutrophil counts, lower red blood cell (RBC) and LMR counts (p<0.05). In conclusion, our data show that PS<2, normal AST level, lower monocyte count, and multimodality treatment are independent positive prognostic factors of MPM. The elevated AST and monocyte levels represent unfavorable prognostic biomarkers of MPM.

Generation of pulse-width controllable dissipative solitons and bound solitons by using an all fiber saturable absorber

A passively mode-locked fiber laser with controllable pulse width is demonstrated by use of an all-fiber saturable absorber based on a hybrid no-core fiber (NCF)-graded index multimode fiber (GIMF) structure incorporated into an Er-doped fiber ring cavity. Such a hybrid NCF-GIMF structure has a tunable intracavity filtering effect. As a result, the mode-locking operation is achieved with controllable pulse width and spectral bandwidth in the normal dispersion regime by only stretching the fiber device. Soliton pulses with the pulse width of 7.7-23 ps are generated, and bound solitons with variable widths are also experimentally demonstrated. The results obtained reveal the versatility and flexibility of the NCF-GIMF structured device in controlling the pulse dynamics for different experimental requirements.

Effect of Methylprednisolone on Liver Injury and Endotoxin Levels Following Brain Death in Rats

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Brain death impairs liver function in potential donors and is associated with inflammatory activation. Methylprednisolone treatment after brain death has been shown to reduce inflammatory activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of methylprednisolone on liver injury and endotoxin levels in brain-dead rats.

METHODS

Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a sham-operation group (Sham group), a brain death with methylprednisolone treatment group (Methy group), a brain death with saline treatment group (Saline group), and a brain death group (BD group). The rats were anesthetized and induced by gradually increasing the intra-cranial pressure using a Fogarty catheter balloon for brain death. All of the animals were observed and ventilated for 6 h prior to being euthanized. Hepatic pathologic histology (Knodell histology activity index), liver inflammatory cytokine levels, liver function and endotoxin levels were assessed.

RESULTS

After brain death, methylprednisolone markedly alleviated the Knodell histology activity index of liver injury (P < .05). Additionally, significant reductions in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 were observed in the Methy group compared to those in the Saline and BD groups (P < .01), whereas no significant differences were found between the Saline and BD groups (P > .05). Interestingly, although the rate of liver injury after brain death in the methylprednisolone treatment group improved, the endotoxin level did not decline in the Methy group compared to the levels in the Saline and BD groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The present study verified that methylprednisolone was protective for liver injury in rats subjected to brain death. This protection appeared to be due to reduced inflammatory activity with no influence on the endotoxin level.

Prevalence of the cardiovascular health status in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The American Heart Association has outlined seven cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, including smoking, body mass index, physical activity, dietary pattern, total cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose, to define and monitor CVH status. Our study was to evaluate the global CVH in adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and reference lists of relevant articles for studies published between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2018. Included studies should report the proportions of ideal status for the seven CVH metrics and/or provide the prevalence of overall poor (having 0-2 ideal metrics) or ideal (having 5-7 ideal metrics) CVH status in adults. 88 articles were identified: 75 for the prevalence of ideal CVH metrics, 58 for the proportion of overall poor CVH status, and 55 for the proportion of overall ideal CVH status. Smoking had the highest prevalence of ideal status (69.1%) while dietary pattern has the lowest (12.1%). 32.2% and 19.6% of participants had overall poor and ideal CVH, respectively. Females and young adults had better CVH status when compared to males and older adults. There existed regional variations in ideal CVH metrics and overall CVH status. The overall CVH status had improved over study time.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of ideal status was low for some metrics, such as dietary pattern, and the overall CVH status was still unsatisfactory. We should continue to measure the CVH status and carry out lifestyle interventions to improve the CVH status in the whole population.

Search for CP Violation in Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations by the T2K Experiment with 2.2×10^{21} Protons on Target

The T2K experiment measures muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance in accelerator-produced neutrino and antineutrino beams. With an exposure of 14.7(7.6)×10^{20} protons on target in the neutrino (antineutrino) mode, 89 ν_{e} candidates and seven anti-ν_{e} candidates are observed, while 67.5 and 9.0 are expected for δ_{CP}=0 and normal mass ordering. The obtained 2σ confidence interval for the CP-violating phase, δ_{CP}, does not include the CP-conserving cases (δ_{CP}=0, π). The best-fit values of other parameters are sin^{2}θ_{23}=0.526_{-0.036}^{+0.032} and Δm_{32}^{2}=2.463_{-0.070}^{+0.071}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4}.

Linking seed germination and plant height: a case study of a wetland community on the eastern Tibet Plateau

Seed germination is the earliest trait expressed in a plant's life history, and it can directly affect the expression of post-germination traits. Plant height is central to plant ecological strategies, because it is a major determinant of the ability of a species to compete for light. Thus, linking seed germination and plant height at the community level is very important to understanding plant fitness and community structure. Here, we tested storage condition and temperature requirements for germination of 31 species from a wetland plant community on the eastern Tibet Plateau and analysed correlation of germination traits with plant height in relation to storage condition. Germination percentage was positively related to plant height, and this relationship disappeared when seeds were incubated at a low temperature (i.e. 5 °C) or after they were stored under wet-cold conditions. The response of seeds to dry+wet-cold storage was negatively related to plant height. Based on the scores of each species on the first two principal components derived from PCA, species were classified into two categories by hierarchical clustering, and there was a significant difference between germination and plant height of species in these two categories. These results suggest that the requirements for seed germination together with seasonal change in environmental conditions determine the window for germination and, in turn, plant growth season and resource utilisation and ultimately plant height.

Search for Boosted Dark Matter Interacting with Electrons in Super-Kamiokande

A search for boosted dark matter using 161.9 kt yr of Super-Kamiokande IV data is presented. We search for an excess of elastically scattered electrons above the atmospheric neutrino background, with a visible energy between 100 MeV and 1 TeV, pointing back to the Galactic center or the Sun. No such excess is observed. Limits on boosted dark matter event rates in multiple angular cones around the Galactic center and Sun are calculated. Limits are also calculated for a baseline model of boosted dark matter produced from cold dark matter annihilation or decay. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter from the Galactic center or the Sun interacting in a terrestrial detector.

Genetic variants of DNA repair-related genes predict efficacy of TAS-102 in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

Background

Tri-phosphorylated trifluridine (FTD) incorporation into DNA is TAS-102's main anti-tumor action. We tested whether genetic polymorphisms in homologous recombination (HR) and cell cycle checkpoint pathway for DNA repair is associated with outcomes in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with TAS-102.

Patients and methods

We analyzed genomic DNA extracted from 233 samples of three cohorts: an evaluation cohort of 52 patients receiving TAS-102, a validation cohort of 129 patients receiving TAS-102 and a control cohort of 52 patients receiving regorafenib. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes involved in HR (ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, XRCC3, FANCD2, H2AX, RAD51) and cell cycle checkpoint (ATR, CHEK1, CHEK2, CDKN1A, TP53, CHE1, PIN1, PCNA) were analyzed by PCR-based direct sequencing.

Results

In univariate analysis for the evaluation cohort, patients with any G allele in ATM rs609429 had longer overall survival (OS) than those with the C/C variant (8.7 vs. 4.4 months, HR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14-0.99, P = 0.022). Patients carrying any A allele in XRCC3 rs861539 had significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) (3.8 vs. 2.3 months, HR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21-0.92, P = 0.024) and OS (15.6 vs. 6.3 months, HR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.79, P = 0.012) than those with the G/G variant. In multivariable analysis, ATM rs609429 remained significant for OS (P = 0.020). In the validation cohort, patients having ATM rs609429 with any G allele showed longer OS and PFS; the G/A variant in XRCC3 rs861539 showed longer OS, though without statistical significance.

Conclusion

Genetic variants in the HR pathway may predict clinical outcome in mCRC patients receiving TAS-102.

Impact of genetic variations in the MAPK signaling pathway on outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with first-line FOLFIRI and bevacizumab: data from FIRE-3 and TRIBE trials

BACKGROUND

The MAPK-interacting kinase 1 (MKNK1) is localized downstream of the RAS/RAF/ERK and the MAP3K1/MKK/p38 signaling pathway. Through phosphorylation MKNK1 regulates the function of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E, a key player in translational control, whose expression is often upregulated in metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC). Preclinical data suggest that MKNK1 increases angiogenesis by upregulating angiogenic factors. We therefore hypothesize that variations in the MKNK1 gene predict outcome in mCRC patients treated with first-line FOLFIRI and bevacizumab (bev).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 567 patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC in the randomized phase III FIRE-3 and TRIBE trials treated with first-line FOLFIRI/bev (discovery and validation cohorts) or FOLFIRI and cetuximab (cet) (control cohort) were included in this study. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the MAPK signaling pathway were analyzed.

RESULTS

AA genotype carriers of the MKNK1 rs8602 single-nucleotide polymorphism treated with FOLFIRI/bev in the discovery cohort (FIRE-3) had a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) than those harboring any C (7.9 versus 10.3 months, Hazard ratio (HR) 1.73, P = 0.038). This association could be confirmed in the validation cohort (TRIBE) in multivariable analysis (PFS 9.0 versus 11.0 months, HR 3.04, P = 0.029). Furthermore, AA carriers in the validation cohort had a decreased overall response rate (25% versus 66%, P = 0.049). Conversely, AA genotype carriers in the control group receiving FOLFIRI/cet did not show a shorter PFS. By combining both FOLFIRI/bev cohorts the worse outcome among AA carriers became more significant (PFS 9.0 versus 10.5 months) in univariable (HR 1.74, P = 0.015) and multivariable analysis (HR 1.76, P = 0.022). Accordingly, AA carriers did also exhibit an inferior overall response rate compared with those harboring any C (36% versus 65%, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

MKNK1 polymorphism rs8602 might serve as a predictive marker in KRAS wild-type mCRC patients treated with FOLFIRI/bev in the first-line setting. Additionally, MKNK1 might be a promising target for drug development.

Fragmentation studies of sartans by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Sartans and related analogues with 5-oxo-l, 2, 4-oxadiazole ring and tetrazole ring are investigated in detail using collision-induced dissociation (CID) method in positive ion mode by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSⁿ ). It is found that the protonated sartans and related analogues tend to form the N-substituted-3-substituted phenanthridin-6-amine ion which has a large conjugative structure. The possible fragmentation pathways were proposed for the first time, and the key structure of product ions was confirmed by high resolution tandem mass spectrometry and theoretical calculation. It is very helpful for understanding the intriguing roles of sartans analogues in fragmentation reactions and enriching the knowledge of the gas-phase chemistry of the oxadiazole and tetrazole ring. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Combined Analysis of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations at T2K

T2K reports its first results in the search for CP violation in neutrino oscillations using appearance and disappearance channels for neutrino- and antineutrino-mode beams. The data include all runs from January 2010 to May 2016 and comprise 7.482×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, which yielded in the far detector 32 e-like and 135  μ-like events, and 7.471×10^{20} protons on target in antineutrino mode, which yielded 4 e-like and 66  μ-like events. Reactor measurements of sin^{2}2θ_{13} have been used as an additional constraint. The one-dimensional confidence interval at 90% for the phase δ_{CP} spans the range (-3.13, -0.39) for normal mass ordering. The CP conservation hypothesis (δ_{CP}=0, π) is excluded at 90% C.L.

Magnitude of and gender differences in cardiovascular risk profiles among community residents in Shenzhen, China

OBJECTIVES

Understanding the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has an impact on the public policy for initiating CVD prevention. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of current smoking, overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia among Shenzhen residents and to investigate gender differences in CVD risk profiles to identify the subgroups at higher risk.

STUDY DESIGN

A large cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2015.

METHODS

Using multistage cluster random sampling methods, a total of 1784 residents finished the face-toface interview survey. Physical examinations and blood tests were performed by qualified professionals.

RESULTS

The prevalence of current smoking, overweight/obesity, hypertension, DM, and dyslipidemia were 21.8%, 40.6%, 17.6%, 4.8%, and 35.7%, respectively. Clustering of two or more or three or more of CVD risk factors was noted in 35.7% and 14.1% of participants. The prevalence of current smoking (45.0% vs 1.1%, P < 0.001), overweight/obesity (48.5% vs 33.4%, P < 0.001), hypertension (19.7% vs 15.7%, P < 0.05), and dyslipidemia (46.5% vs 20.5%, P < 0.001) was found higher among male than among female participants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to the evidence suggesting high prevalence rates of CVD risk factors and composite measures among Shenzhen residents. The higher level of CVD risk factors in male than in female residents is suggested. Effective population-based intervention programs such as smoking cessation, early detection, management, and treatment of hypertension, DM, and dyslipidemia should be initiated and enhanced especially among the males.

Prognostic impact of FOXF1 polymorphisms in gastric cancer patients

A recent genome-wide association study identified seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in region 16q24, near the Forkhead box-F1 (FOXF1) gene, which confer susceptibility to esophageal adenocarcinoma. We examined whether these SNPs are associated with clinical outcomes in gastric cancer (GC) patients in Japan and the United States. A total of 362 patients were included in this study: 151 Japanese GC patients treated with first-line S1 plus CDDP (training cohort) and 211 GC patients from Los Angeles County (LAC; validation cohort). Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood or tumor tissue and analyzed by PCR-based direct DNA sequencing. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to assess relationships between FOXF1 SNPs and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). FOXF1 rs3950627 was significantly associated with survival in both the training and validation cohorts. Japanese patients with the C/C genotype had a longer PFS (median 8.2 vs 5.3 months, hazard ratio (HR) 1.44, P=0.037) and OS (median 16.4 vs 12.2 months, HR 1.44, P=0.043) compared to patients with any A allele. Similarly, LAC patients with the C/C genotype had improved OS (3.9 vs 2.3 years, HR 1.5, P=0.022). Subgroup analyses showed these associations were specific to male patients and primary tumor subsite. Our findings suggest that FOXF1 rs3950627 might be a promising prognostic marker in GC patients.

Malignant pericardial mesothelioma : A systematic review of current practice

BACKGROUND

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive tumor, with a high misdiagnosis rate and overall bleak prognosis. In 0.7% of all cases, the origin is the pericardium.

METHODS

The present study is a review of the literature published in recent decades focusing on the advances in clinical manifestations, radiological findings, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of malignant pericardial mesothelioma (MPM).

RESULTS

No clear relationship has been established between the etiologies and the development of MPM. Clinical symptoms and signs are nonspecific when present. The main presentations are chest pain and dyspnea. Imaging plays an important role in the detection, characterization, staging, and posttreatment follow-up. The definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of pathological findings. Chest radiography and echocardiography are common techniques used initially, but their roles are limited. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have an advantage in depicting the thickened pericardium, mediastinal lymph node, tumor, and the extension of adjacent structures. Surgery is the most important treatment modality and remains palliative in most cases, while the roles of chemo- and radiotherapy are unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSION

Clinical trials of malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma remain important for MPM management. Multimodality treatment of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is expected to have a role in the treatment of MPM.

Amino acid transporter SLC6A14 is a novel and effective drug target for pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer is a solid tumour that is often fatal. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new drug targets for this disease. Highly proliferating cancer cells have an increased demand for nutrients and, therefore, need to up-regulate selective amino acid transporters. Here, we investigated which amino acid transporters are up-regulated in pancreatic cancer and whether any of these transporters has potential as a drug target for this fatal disease.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The expression of amino acid transporters in pancreatic cancer was analysed using publicly available microarray datasets, and the findings with the transporter SLC6A14 were validated by mRNA and protein analysis. The potential of SLC6A14 as a drug target was evaluated using a pharmacological blocker in vitro and in vivo.

KEY RESULTS

SLC6A14 was up-regulated several fold in patient-derived xenografts, primary tumour tissues and pancreatic cancer cells lines compared to normal pancreatic tissue or normal pancreatic epithelial cells. The magnitude of the up-regulation of SLC6A14 was the highest among the amino acid transporters examined. A pharmacological blocker of SLC6A14, α-methyltryptophan, induced amino acid starvation in pancreatic cancer cells and reduced the growth and proliferation of these cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The salient features of this study are that SLC6A14 is markedly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer and that pharmacological blockade of this transporter interferes with amino acid nutrition and reduces growth and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. These findings identify SLC6A14 as a novel druggable target for pancreatic cancer.

The mechanism of light emission from a scanning tunnelling microscope operating in air

The scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) may be used as a low-energy, electrical nanosource of surface plasmon polaritons and light. In this article, we demonstrate that the optimum mode of operation of the STM for maximum photon emission is completely different in air than in vacuum. To this end, we investigate the emission of photons, the variation in the relative tip-sample distance and the measured current as a function of time for an STM operating in air. Contrary to the case of an STM operating in vacuum, the measured current between the tip and sample for an STM in air is very unstable (rapidly fluctuating in time) when the applied voltage between the tip and sample is in the ∼1.5-3 V range (i.e., in the energy range of visible photons). The photon emission occurs in short (50 μs) bursts when the STM tip is closest to the sample. The current instabilities are shown to be a key ingredient for producing intense light emission from an STM operating in air (photon emission rate several orders of magnitude higher than for stable current). These results are explained in terms of the interplay between the tunnel current and the electrochemical current in the ubiquitous thin water layer that exists when working in air.