A Tiered Ecological Risk Assessment of Caffeine by Using Species Sensitivity Distribution Method in the Nansi Lake Basin

Caffeine has been reported toxic to aquatic organisms, and it frequently occurs at relatively high concentrations in most of surface waters. However, it is difficult to control caffeine pollution because of the lack of Water Quality Criteria (WQC). In this study, species sensitivity distribution method and Log-normal model were applied to derive caffeine WQC as 83.7 ng/L. Meanwhile, concentrations of caffeine in the Nansi Lake basin were detected in 29 sampling sites, with the mean of 99.3 ng/L. The levels of caffeine in tributaries were higher than those in the lakes. In addition, a tied ecological risk assessment method was applied to assess the adverse effect of caffeine on aquatic system. The joint probability curve indicated that ecological risk might exist 3.1% of surface water in the study area, while 5% threshold (HC₅) was set up to protect aquatic species. Generally, caffeine posted a low risk to aquatic organisms in the Nansi Lake basin.

[Clinical and genetic characteristics of young patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and genetic features of young Chinese patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anonymous questionnaires were distributed to patients with MPN patients nationwide. The respondents were divided into 3 groups based on their age at diagnosis: young (≤40 years) , middle-aged (41-60 years) , and elderly (>60 years) . We compared the clinical and genetic characteristics of three groups of MPN patients. Results: 1727 assessable questionnaires were collected. There were 453 (26.2%) young respondents with MPNs, including 274 with essential thrombocythemia (ET) , 80 with polycythemia vera (PV) , and 99 with myelofibrosis. Among the young group, 178 (39.3%) were male, and the median age was 31 (18-40) years. In comparison to middle-aged and elderly respondents, young respondents with MPN were more likely to present with a higher proportion of unmarried status (all P<0.001) , a higher education level (all P<0.001) , less comorbidity (ies) , fewer medications (all P<0.001) , and low-risk stratification (all P<0.001) . Younger respondents experienced headache (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.007; MF, P=0.001) at diagnosis, had splenomegaly at diagnosis (PV, P<0.001) , and survey (ET, P=0.052; PV, P=0.063) . Younger respondents had fewer thrombotic events at diagnosis (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.011) and during the survey (ET, P<0.001; PV, P=0.003) . JAK2 mutations were found in fewer young people (ET, P<0.001; PV, P<0.001; MF, P=0.013) ; however, CALR mutations were found in more young people (ET, P<0.001; MF, P=0.015) . Furthermore, mutations in non-driver genes (ET, P=0.042; PV, P=0.043; MF, P=0.004) and high-molecular risk mutations (ET, P=0.024; PV, P=0.023; MF, P=0.001) were found in fewer young respondents. Conclusion: Compared with middle-aged and elderly patients, young patients with MPN had unique clinical and genetic characteristics.

[Genome-wide identification and characterization of the WOX gene family in Brassica juncea]

The WUSCHEL related-homeobox (WOX) family is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families, playing important roles in plant growth and development. In this study, 51 WOX gene family members were identified from the genome data of Brassica juncea by searching and screening with HUMMER, Smart and other software. Their protein molecular weight, amino acids numbers, and isoelectric point were analyzed by using Expasy online software. Furthermore, bioinformatics software was used to systematically analyze the evolutionary relationship, conservative region, and gene structure of the WOX gene family. The mustard WOX gene family was divided into three subfamilies: ancient clade, intermediate clade, and WUS clade/modern clade. Structural analysis showed that the type, organization form and gene structure of the conservative domain of WOX transcription factor family members in the same subfamily were highly consistent, while there was a certain diversity among different subfamilies. 51 WOX genes are distributed unevenly on 18 chromosomes of mustard. Most of the promoters of these genes contain cis acting elements related to light, hormone and abiotic stress. Using transcriptome data and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, it was found that the expression of mustard WOX gene was spatio-temporal specific, among which BjuWOX25, BjuWOX33, and BjuWOX49 might play an important role in the development of silique, and BjuWOX10, BjuWOX32, and BjuWOX11, BjuWOX23 respectively might play an important role in the response to drought and high temperature stresses. The above results may facilitate the functional study of mustard WOX gene family.

Combined widely targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals differentially accumulated metabolites and the underlying molecular bases in fleshy taproots of distinct radish genotypes

Radish is an important taproot crop with medicinal and edible uses that is cultivated worldwide. However, the differences in metabolites and the underlying molecular bases among different radish types remain largely unknown. In the present study, a combined analysis of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and RNA-Seq data was conducted to uncover important differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) among radish accessions with green, white and red taproot flesh colours. A total of 657 metabolites were identified and 138 DAMs were commonly present in red vs. green and red vs. white accessions. Red accessions were rich in phenolic compounds, while green and white accessions had more amino acids. Additionally, 41 metabolites and 98 genes encoding 37 enzymes were enriched in the shikimate and phenolic biosynthesis pathways. CHS is the rate-limiting enzyme determining flavonoid differences among accessions. A total of 119 candidate genes might contribute to red accession-specific accumulated metabolites. Specifically, one gene cluster consisting of 16 genes, including one RsMYB1, RsMYBL2, RsTT8, RsDFR, RsANS, Rs4CL3, RsSCPL10, Rs3AT1 and RsSAP2 gene, two RsTT19 and RsWRKY44 genes and three RsUGT genes, might be involved in anthocyanin accumulation in red radish fleshy taproots. More importantly, an InDel marker was developed based on an RsMYB1 promoter mutation, and the accuracy reached 95.9% when it was used to select red-fleshed radishes. This study provides comprehensive insights into the metabolite differences and underlying molecular mechanisms in fleshy taproots among different radish genotypes and will be beneficial for the genetic improvement of radish nutritional quality.

Advanced treatment of secondary effluent from wastewater treatment plant by a newly isolated microalga Desmodesmus sp. SNN1

Secondary effluents contain considerable amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous, which if dumped untreated can cause eutrophication of the receiving water bodies. Microalgae can remove these nutrients and other pollutants from the wastewater effluents and play an effective role in the secondary effluent treatment. In this study, six microalgae strains (SNN1, SNN2, SNN3, SNN4, SNS1, and SNS2) were isolated and screened from the water and mud of Yingxue Lake of Shandong Jianzhu University, and their efficiencies for the removal of COD, NH₄ ⁺-N, TN, and TP in the secondary effluent were assessed. By comparing the growth performances and nutrient removal ability of algal strains in domestic sewage, we found that SNN1 (identified and named as Desmodesmus sp. SNN1) has the highest efficiency for biomass accumulation and sewage purification. Hence, the algal strain SNN1 was selected for further screening and optimization experiments. The strain showed higher biomass yield and better nutrient removal rate when the pH of secondary effluent was 9.0 and the initial inoculum concentration (optical density at 680 nm) of algal strain was 0.4. After 12 days of treatment, the concentrations of COD, NH₄ ⁺-N, TN, and TP in the secondary effluent were 31.79, 0.008, 8.631, and 0.069 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, SNN1 with the removal rates of 52.69% (COD), 99.99% (NH₄ ⁺-N), 89.09% (TN), and 94.64% (TP) displayed its high potential in nutrient removal. In addition, it also yielded 5.30 mg/L of chlorophyll a and 168.33 mg/L of lipids. These results demonstrated that this strain exhibited an effective treatment capacity for secondary effluent and microalgal oil production. This study is helpful to provide a strategy for the resource utilization of secondary effluent and the conservation of freshwater resources required by microalgae culture.

Synthesis of Crystalline Phosphine-Graphdiyne with Self-Adaptive p-π Conjugation

"Dynamic" behavior materials with high surface activity and the ability of chemical bond conversion are the frontier materials in the field of renewable energy. The outstanding feature of these materials is that they have adaptive electronic properties that external stimuli can adjust. An original discovery in a new crystalline two-dimensional phosphine-graphdiyne (P-GDY) material is described here. Although the p-π conjugation of most trivalent phosphorus π-systems is insignificant because of the pyramidal configuration, the lone pair electrons of phosphorus atoms participate strongly in the delocalization under the influence of the interlayer van der Waals forces in P-GDY. Due to the dynamically reversible nature of noncovalent interactions (p-π conjugation), P-GDY exhibits a specific adaptive behavior and realizes the responsive reversible transport of a lithium ion by regulating p-π interactions. Our findings would provide the potential to develop a new family of responsive materials with tunable structures.

Assessment of a compounded synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone product in 17 healthy dogs

OBJECTIVES

Synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone or tetracosactide is routinely used in the diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism and frequently in the diagnosis and treatment of hyperadrenocorticism. There have been repeated shortages of tetracosactide in recent years in Australia. This study investigated the agreement of serum cortisol after a compounded tetracosactide (Bova Aus), compared to commercial tetracosactide (Synacthen®) in healthy dogs.

METHODS

Prospective crossover study using 20 dogs. Ten dogs received 5 μg/kg Synacthen® on day 1 and 5 μg/kg compounded tetracosactide on Day 2. The other 10 dogs received the reverse order. Cortisol concentrations in each dog 1 h after injection were compared for agreement, which was defined as the limits of agreement of the Bland-Altman ratio to be within a range of 0.8-1.25. Passing-Bablok regression analysis examined for constant and proportional biases.

RESULTS

Three dogs were excluded with post-stimulation serum cortisol concentrations markedly outside reference interval. For the remaining 17 dogs, Bland-Altman ratio analysis of cortisol concentration (tetracosactide/Synacthen®) at 1 h found virtually no constant bias (mean of ratios 1.01;95% CI 0.97-1.05) and 95% limits of agreement were 0.88 (95% CI 0.78-0.90) and 1.17 (95% CI 1.13-1.25). This met our criteria for agreement between cortisol concentrations. Bias of the Bland-Altman difference was 2.8 nmol/L (95% CI -7.2 to 12.8); 95% limits of agreement -35.2 nmol/L (95% CI -57.0 to -26.1) and 40.8 nmol/L (95% CI 31.7-62.6). Passing-Bablok regression analysis did not identify bias.

CONCLUSION

In healthy dogs, cortisol concentrations were in agreement after compounded tetracosactide compared to commercial tetracosactide, Synacthen®.

Diversification of three TaSOS1 genes and their roles in sodium exclusion in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The ability to exclude sodium from the shoot is a crucial feature of salinity tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The plasma membrane sodium/proton exchanger salt-overly-sensitive 1 (SOS1) is a critical Na⁺. efflux protein in plants. Here, we cloned three homologues of the TaSOS1 gene in bread wheat, designated TaSOS1-A1, TaSOS1-B1 and TaSOS1-D1, respectively, according to the location on group 3 chromosomes 3A, 3B and 3D. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the TaSOS1 deduced protein-contained domains similar to the SOS1 protein, including 12 membrane-spanning regions, a long hydrophilic tail in the C-terminus, the cyclic nucleotidebinding domain, the putative auto-inhibitory domain and the phosphorylation motif. Phylogenetic analysis established the evolutionary relationships between the different copies of this gene in bread wheat and its diploid progenitors, as well as with SOS1 genes from Arabidopsis, rice and Brachypodium distachyon. Analysis of transient TaSOS1-A1::green fluorescent protein expression demonstrated that TaSOS1 was exclusively localized to the plasma membrane. The yeast and Arabidopsis complementary test supported the sodium extrusion function of TaSOS1-A1. Virus-induced gene silencing technology was used to further examine the function of TaSOS1-A1 in bread wheat.

Characterization and acceleration of genome shuffling and ploidy reduction in synthetic allopolyploids by genome sequencing and editing

Polyploidy and the subsequent ploidy reduction and genome shuffling are the major driving forces of genome evolution. Here, we revealed short-term allopolyploid genome evolution by sequencing a synthetic intergeneric hybrid (Raphanobrassica, RRCC). In this allotetraploid, the genome deletion was quick, while rearrangement was slow. The core and high-frequency genes tended to be retained while the specific and low-frequency genes tended to be deleted in the hybrid. The large-fragment deletions were enriched in the heterochromatin region and probably derived from chromosome breaks. The intergeneric translocations were primarily of short fragments dependent on homoeology, indicating a gene conversion origin. To accelerate genome shuffling, we developed an efficient genome editing platform for Raphanobrassica. By editing Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group M (FANCM) genes, homoeologous recombination, chromosome deletion and secondary meiosis with additional ploidy reduction were accelerated. FANCM was shown to be a checkpoint of meiosis and controller of ploidy stability. By simultaneously editing FLIP genes, gene conversion was precisely introduced, and mosaic genes were produced around the target site. This intergeneric hybrid and genome editing platform not only provides models that facilitate experimental evolution research by speeding up genome shuffling and conversion but also accelerates plant breeding by enhancing intergeneric genetic exchange and creating new genes.

Cu2+-imprinted optical fiber SPR sensor for intelligent recognition

An optical fiber surface plasma resonance (SPR) sensor with MMF-TCF-MMF structure was designed to realize intelligent recognition of copper ions (Cu²⁺), and the selective adsorption sensitization was achieved by plating a layer of Cu²⁺-imprinted film on the surface of gold film excitation layer. Combining the principle of optical fiber interference and SPR, the proposed sensor realized the detection of the copper ions concentration through measuring the refractive index changes caused by ions adsorption on imprinted film. The Cu²⁺-imprinted optical fiber SPR sensor can realize the intelligent recognition and detection of copper ions in the complex environment and exhibits a detection sensitivity of -10.05 pm/ppm. The proposed sensor has tremendous development potential in practical application, and provides new ideas for the field of metal ions detection.

Development and validation of a chromatin regulator prognostic signature in colon adenocarcinoma

Aberrant expression of chromatin regulators (CRs) could lead to the development of various diseases including cancer. However, the biological function and prognosis role of CRs in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains unclear. We performed the clustering analyses for expression profiling of COAD downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We developed a chromatin regulator prognostic model, which was validated in an independent cohort data. Time-intendent receiver operating characteristics curve was used to evaluate predict ability of model. Univariate and multivariate cox regression were used to assess independence of risk score. Nomogram was established to assess individual risk. Gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes, gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis were performed to explore the function of CRs. Immune infiltration and drug sensitivity were also performed to assess effect of CRs on treatment in COAD. COAD can be separated into two subtypes with different clinical characteristics and prognosis. The C2 had elevated immune infiltration levels and low tumor purity. Using 12 chromatin regulators, we developed and validated a prognostic model that can predict the overall survival of COAD patients. We built a risk score that can be an independent prognosis predictor of COAD. The nomogram score system achieved the best predict ability and were also confirmed by decision curve analysis. There were significantly different function and pathway enrichment, immune infiltration levels, and tumor mutation burden between high-risk and low-risk group. The external validation data also indicated that high-risk group had higher stable disease/progressive disease response rate and poorer prognosis than low-risk group. Besides, the signature genes included in the model could cause chemotherapy sensitivity to some small molecular compounds. Our integrative analyses for chromatin regulators could provide new insights for the risk management and individualized treatment in COAD.

TRIM16 promotes aerobic glycolysis and pancreatic cancer metastasis by modulating the NIK-SIX1 axis in a ligase-independent manner

Enhanced aerobic glycolysis contributes to the metastasis of pancreatic cancer metastasis, but the mechanism underlying the abnormal activation of glycolysis has not been fully elucidated. The E3 ligase tripartite motif 16 (TRIM16) is involved in the progression of many cancers. However, the role of and molecular mechanism by which TRIM16 acts in pancreatic cancer are unclear. In this study, we report that TRIM16 was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and high expression of TRIM16 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Multivariate analyses showed that TRIM16 was an independent predictor of poor outcomes among patients with pancreatic cancer. In addition, in vitro and in vivo evidence showed that TRIM16 promoted pancreatic cancer cell metastasis by enhancing glycolysis. Furthermore, we revealed that TRIM16 controlled glycolysis and pancreatic cancer cell's metastasis by regulating sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1), an important transcription factor that promotes glycolysis. TRIM16 upregulated SIX1 by inhibiting its ubiquitination and degradation, which was mediated by NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), an upstream regulator of SIX1. Hence, NIK inhibitor can suppress SIX1 expression, glycolysis and metastasis in TRIM16-overexpressing pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that TRIM16 competed with NIK's E3 ligase, TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), at the ISIIAQA sequence motif of NIK, and then stabilized NIK protein. Our study identified the TRIM16-NIK-SIX1 axis as a critical regulatory pathway in aerobic glycolysis and pancreatic cancer metastasis, indicating that this axis can be an excellent therapeutic target for curing pancreatic cancer.

Down-regulation of NCED leads to the accumulation of carotenoids in the flesh of F1 generation of peach hybrid

Flesh color is an important target trait in peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] breeding. In this study, two white-fleshed peach cultivars were crossed [Changsong Whitepeach (WP-1) × 'Xiacui'], and their hybrid F₁ generation showed color segregation of white flesh (BF1) and yellow flesh (HF1). Metabolome analysis revealed that the flesh color segregation in the hybrid F₁ generation was related to the carotenoid content. The decrease in β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin in BF1 flesh and increase in β-cryptoxanthin oleate, rubixanthin caprate, rubixanthin laurate and zeaxanthin dipalmitate in HF1 flesh contributed to their difference in carotenoid accumulation. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that compared with BF1, HF1 showed significant up-regulation and down-regulation of ZEP and CCD8 at the core-hardening stage, respectively, while significant down-regulation of NCED in the whole fruit development stage. The down-regulation of NCED might inhibit the breakdown of the violaxanthin and its upstream substances and further promote the accumulation of carotenoids, resulting in yellow flesh. Therefore, NCED may be a key gene controlling the fruit color traits of peach. In this study, targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to jointly explore the mechanism controlling the fruit color of peach, which may help to identify the key genes for the differences in carotenoid accumulation and provide a reference for the breeding of yellow-fleshed peach.

Joint metabolome and transcriptome analysis of the effects of exogenous GA3 on endogenous hormones in sweet cherry and mining of potential regulatory genes

Gibberellin (GA) is an important phytohormone that can participate in various developmental processes of plants. The study found that application of GA₃ can induce parthenocarpy fruit and improve fruit set. However, the use of GA₃ affects endogenous hormones in fruits, thereby affecting fruit quality. This study mainly investigates the effect of exogenous GA₃ on endogenous hormones in sweet cherries. The anabolic pathways of each hormone were analyzed by metabolome and transcriptome to identify key metabolites and genes that affect endogenous hormones in response to exogenous GA₃ application. Results showed that exogenous GA₃ led to a significant increase in the content of abscisic acid (ABA) and GA and affected jasmonic acid (JA) and auxin (IAA). At the same time, the key structural genes affecting the synthesis of various hormones were preliminarily determined. Combined with transcription factor family analysis, WRKY genes were found to be more sensitive to the use of exogenous GA₃, especially the genes belonging to Group III (PaWRKY16, PaWRKY21, PaWRKY38, PaWRKY52, and PaWRKY53). These transcription factors can combine with the promoters of NCED, YUCCA, and other genes to regulate the content of endogenous hormones. These findings lay the foundation for the preliminary determination of the mechanism of GA₃'s effect on endogenous hormones in sweet cherry and the biological function of WRKY transcription factors.

Past, present, and future perspectives of biodegradable films for soil: A 30-year systematic review

Based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, the academic works published in the past 30 years on biodegradable films for soil were analyzed. In order to ensure the rigor of this experiment, this paper is based on the mathematical double matrix model VOS Viewer software and CiteSpace software. This work shows that publications of biodegradable films for soil are increasing year by year; polymer science is the hottest subject in the field of biodegradable films for soil; China and the United States are the countries with the most significant number of publications in this field, has an important position; Washington State University is the most published institution. This study further identifies and reveals the essential characteristics, research strength, knowledge structure, main research fields, and research hotspots in the late stage of the field of biodegradable films for soil and introduces the Activity Index (AI) and the Attractive Index (AAI), thereby assessing trends and performance in different countries. The paper also further illustrates the importance of biodegradable films by presenting field trials using biodegradable films on different plants. The research in the field of biodegradable films for soil is divided into four categories: “The research field of degradation,” “The effect of biodegradable film on soil,” “Performance and mechanism of the biodegradable film,” and “Effects of biodegradable film on crop growth and development.”. The study can be seen as a microcosm of the development of biodegradable films for soils, which will help researchers quickly identify their general patterns. Readers can better understand the changes and development trends in this field in the past 30 years and provide references for future research.

Reperfusion strategy and late clinical outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the absence of standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs)

Introduction

There is growing evidence that patients presenting with STEMI in the absence of standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs; smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes) have poorer outcomes compared to those with atleast one SMuRF. It has been hypothesised that this may be in part due to decreased administration of pharmacotherapies in the post-infarct period due to perceived low risk. Long term outcomes of patients without SMuRFs based on reperfusion strategy received during the index admission have not been investigated.

Purpose

We sought to analyse late clinical outcomes of STEMI patients with and without SMuRFs based on reperfusion strategy received during the index admission.

Methods

All patients who underwent PCI between 2003 and 2014 were identified from a PCI centre STEMI database. Late clinical outcomes of patients with and without SMuRFs were analysed overall and based on reperfusion strategy [primary PCI (pPCI) vs pharmaco-invasive PCI (PI-PCI)]. Propensity matching was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics between the groups.

Results

Amongst 2,091 STEMI patients, 531 (25%) had no SMuRFs (51% pPCI, 49% PI-PCI) and 1560 (75%) had ≥1 SMuRF (52% pPCI, 48% PI-PCI). Unadjusted late mortality in SMuRF-less patients was 13.4% (18.8% pPCI, 7.7% PI-PCI) and for those with ≥1 SMuRF was 9.7% (11.0% pPCI, 8.4% PI-PCI). After propensity-matching clinical and angiographic characteristics, 5 year mortality rates were significantly higher for patients without SMuRFs compared to those with SMuRFs [HR 1.36, CI: 1.03–1.81, p=0.031]. This difference was attenuated for patients who underwent pPCI [HR 1.72, CI: 1.22–2.43, p=0.002]. Interestingly, this discrepancy was not observed amongst individuals who underwent pharmaco-invasive PCI [HR 1.13, CI: 0.53–1.48, p=0.638], as SMuRF-less patients had similar mortality rates to their counterparts. Long term rates of reinfarction, stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularisation were similar between the groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in rates of stroke and major bleeding amongst all 4 subgroups.

Conclusion

Patients presenting with STEMI in the absence of SMuRFs have increased overall late mortality compared to those with at least one SMuRF. However, this difference was not observed in patients who underwent a pharmaco-invasive strategy, whereby patients without SMuRFs had similar outcomes to those with SMuRFs after adjusting for confounders. Our findings suggest the use of a pharmaco-invasive strategy in appropriate SMuRF-less patients presenting with STEMI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and long-term bleeding in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: 5-year outcomes from a large cohort study

Aims

Recent research reported that lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with more in-hospital bleeding in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. However, the association between lower LDL-C levels and long-term bleeding in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 10724 patients treated with PCI enrolled in ourhospital from January 2013 to December 2013. The primary endpoint was the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding at 5 years. The secondary endpoint was intracranial hemorrhage. Taking the LDL-C value of 1.8 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) or 1.4 mmol/L (55 mg/dL) as cut-off points, patients were grouped to analyse, respectively.

Results

Among 9697 PCI patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy finally enrolled, a total of 411 BARC type 2, 3 or 5 bleedings and 42 intracranial hemorrhage were recorded during a follow-up of 5 years. With LDL-C value of 1.8 mmol/L as cut-off point, multivariate Cox regression showed that lower LDL-C level was not associated with the risk for bleeding [hazard ratio (HR): 1.166, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.879–1.549]. The result was consistent (HR: 1.185; 95% CI: 0.713–1.968) in a 1:4 propensity-score matching cohort (n=1285). For further study, we performed subgroup analysis which showed that lower LDL-C was not associated with the risk for bleeding in ACS (HR: 1.140; 95% CI: 0.846–1.535) or non-ACS patients (HR: 1.284; 95% CI: 0.909–1.813). With LDL-C value of 1.4 mmol/L as cut-off point, Cox regression showed that lower LDL-C level was not associated with the risk for bleeding in total population, ACS or non-ACS patients (P&gt;0.05). The result was consistent in a 1:4 propensity-score matching cohort (n=760) (P&gt;0.05). As for secondary endpoint, lower LDL-C level was not associated with the risk for intracranial hemorrhage whether the LDL-C value is 1.8 or 1.4 mmol/L as the cut-off point (P&gt;0.05).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, we firstly report lower LDL-C level (whether the LDL-C value is 1.8 or 1.4 mmol/L as the cut-off point) was not the independent risk factor of long-term bleeding in PCI population and ACS or non-ACS subgroup populations.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS); Young and middle-aged talents in the XPCC Science and Technology Project

Atomistic deformation mechanism of silicon under laser-driven shock compression

Silicon (Si) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, and it is the most widely used semiconductor. Despite extensive study, some properties of Si, such as its behaviour under dynamic compression, remain elusive. A detailed understanding of Si deformation is crucial for various fields, ranging from planetary science to materials design. Simulations suggest that in Si the shear stress generated during shock compression is released via a high-pressure phase transition, challenging the classical picture of relaxation via defect-mediated plasticity. However, direct evidence supporting either deformation mechanism remains elusive. Here, we use sub-picosecond, highly-monochromatic x-ray diffraction to study (100)-oriented single-crystal Si under laser-driven shock compression. We provide the first unambiguous, time-resolved picture of Si deformation at ultra-high strain rates, demonstrating the predicted shear release via phase transition. Our results resolve the longstanding controversy on silicon deformation and provide direct proof of strain rate-dependent deformation mechanisms in a non-metallic system.

Understanding the how silicon deforms under pressure is important for several fields, including planetary science and materials design. Laser-driven shock compression experiments now confirm that shear stress generated during compression is released via a high-pressure phase transition.

Research on Safety Interlock System Design and Control Experiment of Combined Support and Anchor Equipment

In view of the risk of collision with humans or equipment arising from a lack of protection in the operation process of combined support and anchor equipment on the heading face, this paper designs a safety interlock system for combined support and anchor equipment. Firstly, a mathematical model of hydraulic power system control and a valve control system based on feedforward-feedback optimization were established according to the power demand of the combined support and anchor equipment. Secondly, according to the reliability indexes of the safety interlock system, corresponding sensor, logic control and execution modules were designed. Ultrasonic sensor groups were arranged at the key positions of the combined support and anchor equipment to capture the position information in real time when the equipment was moving. Thus, the pump-valve hydraulic system was controlled through closed-loop feedback. The experimental results show that the safety interlock system of the combined support and anchor equipment can adjust the revolving speed of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) in real time according to the distance from the obstacle, so as to control the pump outlet flow, and then perform interlocking safety control of the hydraulic cylinder's movement speed. The system can effectively prevent damage to the surrounding equipment or personnel arising from equipment malfunction.

Antibacterial Activity of Aureonuclemycin Produced by Streptomyces aureus Strain SPRI-371

Actinomycetes play a vital role as one of the most important natural resources for both pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. The actinomycete strain SPRI-371, isolated from soil collected in Jiangsu province, China, was classified as Streptomyces aureus based on its morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular biological characteristics. Its bacterial activity metabolites were identified as aureonuclemycin (ANM), belonging to adenosine derivatives with the molecular formula C16H19N5O9 for ANM A and C10H13N5O3 for ANM B. Simultaneously, the industrial fermentation process of a mutated S. aureus strain SPRI-371 was optimized in a 20 m3 fermentation tank, featuring a rotation speed of 170 rpm, a pressure of 0.05 MPa, an inoculum age of 36−40 h and a dissolved oxygen level maintained at 1−30% within 40−80 h and at >60% in the later period, resulting in an ANM yield of >3700 mg/L. In the industrial separation of fermentation broth, the sulfuric acid solution was selected to adjust pH and 4# resin was used for adsorption. Then, it was resolved with 20% ethanol solution and concentrated in a vacuum (60−65 °C), with excellent results. Antibacterial experiments showed that ANM was less active or inactive against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola and most bacteria, yeast and fungi in vitro. However, in vivo experiments showed that ANM exhibited extremely significant protective and therapeutic activity against diseases caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzae and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola in rice and X. citri in oranges and lemons. In field trials, ANM A 150 gai/ha + ANM B 75 gai/ha exhibited excellent therapeutic activity against rice bacterial leaf blight, citrus canker and rice bacterial leaf streak. Furthermore, as the dosage and production cost of ANM are lower than those of commercial drugs, it has good application prospects.

E3 ubiquitin ligase RBX1 drives the metastasis of triple negative breast cancer through a FBXO45-TWIST1-dependent degradation mechanism

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients are at high risk of recurrence and metastasis in the early stages, although receiving standard treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of TNBC remains unclear. Here, the critical effect of E3 ubiquitin ligase RBX1 in the metastasis of TNBC was reported for the first time. We discovered that RBX1 expression was evidently raised in the tissues of TNBC. Our clinical research displayed that high RBX1 expression was markedly related to poor distant invasion and survival. Functional analysis exhibited that RBX1 facilitated metastasis of TNBC cells through increasing EMT. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RBX1 knockdown increased the levels of the Twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (TWIST1), is a significant regulator in the EMT process in some cancers. It can be observed an evident positive correlation between the TWIST1 and RBX1 levels, further confirming that EMT induced by RBX1 in TNBC cells is determined by TWIST1. Mechanistically, RBX1 modulates the expression of TWIST1 via modulating FBXO45, directly binding to FBXO45, and facilitating its degradation and ubiquitination. Briefly, our findings confirm that RBX1 is probably a new biomarker of TNBC carcinogenesis, thus suggesting that targeting the RBX1/FBXO45/TWIST1 axis may be an underlying strategy for TNBC treatment.

Global Trends in Natural Biopolymers in the 21st Century: A Scientometric Review

Since the 21st century, natural biopolymers have played an indispensable role in long-term global development strategies, and their research has shown a positive growth trend. However, these substantive scientific results are not conducive to our quick grasp of hotspots and insight into future directions and to understanding which local changes have occurred and which trend areas deserve more attention. Therefore, this study provides a new data-driven bibliometric analysis strategy and framework for mining the core content of massive bibliographic data, based on mathematical models VOS Viewer and CiteSpace software, aiming to understand the research prospects and opportunities of natural biopolymers. The United States is reported to be the most important contributor to research in this field, with numerous publications and active institutions; polymer science is the most popular subject category, but the further emphasis should be placed on interdisciplinary teamwork; mainstream research in this field is divided into five clusters of knowledge structures; since the explosion in the number of articles in 2018, researchers are mainly engaged in three fields: “medical field,” “biochemistry field,” and “food science fields.” Through an in-depth analysis of natural biopolymer research, this article provides a better understanding of trends emerging in the field over the past 22 years and can also serve as a reference for future research.

O-235 ACLY entry into the nucleus to bind with EP300 and regulate the genomic DNA and ribosomal DNA transcription during early embryonic development

Study question

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is one of the key enzymes to produce acetyl coenzyme A. What is its role in early embryonic development?

Summary answer

ACLY affected by activation of T447, S451 and S455 sites into nucleus and band with EP300 to affect genomic DNA and ribosomal DNA transcription.

What is known already

ACLY is one of the key enzymes to produce acetyl coenzyme A, which participates in fatty acid metabolism and regulates acetylation. Studies have found that ACLY knockout cells can survive, while the cell proliferation capacity will be weakened. ACLY is highly expressed in the cytoplasm of Hela cells colon cancer cells and other somatic cells. When AKT phosphorylates S455 site, ACLY enters the nucleus and participates in DNA damage repair. Its localization and role in embryos have not been studied. The only thing we know is homozygous mice could not be detected at E8.5 days after implantation.

Study design, size, duration

Twenty-four human day 6 developmentally arrested embryos were used to detect ACLY localization. Dozens of ACLY heterozygous female mice were used to test the time points of ACLY homozygous lethality after mating with heterozygous male mice. After zygotes were taken from wild-type C57BL6 mice, microinjection technology was used to explore the effects of knocking down ACLY, changing ACLY location or mutating ACLY. HeLa cells were used to explore at the molecular level.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

In this experiment, we used human abandoned or donated embryos, gene knockout mice, wild-type C57BL6 mice and Hela cell.

The experimental techniques used include in vitro embryo culture, EU staining, plasmid transfection, immunoprecipitation, western blot analysis, in vitro transcription, microinjection, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and RNA-seq.

Main results and the role of chance

Firstly, our study found its special nuclear localization in early embryos for the first time and proved that its localization was related to embryonic development potential.

Secondly, the specific period of ACLY homozygous death was identified by ACLY heterozygous mice. And by knocking down ACLY or adding inhibitor SB204990, It was found that ACLY played an important role in cell proliferation, blastocyst formation and lineage differentiation of early embryo development.

Thirdly, we proved that ACLY nucleation played an important role in the development of early embryos. and the activated form of T447, S451 and S455 three sites led to ACLY nucleation.

Finally, we found that ACLY affected the level of histone acetylation and UBF acetylation. And then genomic DNA and ribosomal DNA transcription level were decreased. We further explored how the acetyl group produced by ACLY regulated transcription. The interaction between ACLY and EP300 was confirmed by immunofluorescence and COIP experiments. After knocking down EP300 in embryos or inhibiting its function with inhibitor c646, the results are consistent with knocking down ACLY. The above experimental data prove that ACLY affects histone acetylation level and regulates gene opening through the interaction with EP300.

Limitations, reasons for caution

We need to further explore the factors that promote ACLY into the nucleus, so as to add it to in vitro culture to enhance the embryonic development potential.

Wider implications of the findings

The study provides a new mechanism for insulin or lysophosphatidic acid to promote embryo development, and helps to improve the quality of embryo development in the process of embryo culture in vitro.

Trial registration number

not applicable

[Gene expression signature analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with for high altitude pulmonary hypertension and value for potential drug selection]

Objective: To investigate the gene expression characteristics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with high altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) in Naxi residents living in Lijiang, Yunnan, and to explore the underlying pathogenesis and value for potential drug selection. Methods: This is a case-control study. Six patients with HPAH (HPAH group) and 4 normal subjects (control group) were selected from the Naxi residents who originally lived in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The general clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the related indexes of pulmonary artery pressure were collected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the subjects were collected for RNA sequencing. The differences on gene expression, regulatory network of transcription factors and drug similarity between the two groups were compared. The results were compared with the public data of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Biological processes and signal pathways were analyzed and compared between HPAH and IPAH patients. Results: The age of 6 patients with HAPH was (68.1±8.3) years old, and there were 2 males (2/6). The age of 4 subjects in the control group was (62.3±10.9) years old, and there were 2 males (2/4). Tricuspid regurgitation velocity, tricuspid pressure gradient and pulmonary systolic pressure in HAPH group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The results of RNA sequencing showed that compared with the control group, 174 genes were significantly upregulated and 169 genes were downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HAPH group. These differentially expressed genes were associated with 220 biological processes, 52 molecular functions and 23 cell components. A total of 21 biological processes and 2 signal pathways differed between HPAH and IPAH groups, most of which were related to inflammation and immune response. ZNF384, SP1 and STAT3 were selected as highly correlated transcription factors by transcription factor prediction analysis. Trichostatin A and vorinostat were screened out as potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH by drug similarity analysis. Conclusions: There are significant differences in gene expression in peripheral blood monocytes between HAPH patients and normal population, and inflammation and immune dysfunction are the main pathogenic factors. Trichostatin A and Vorinostat are potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH.

Isolation of Stable Borepin Radicals and Anions

Borepin, a 7‐membered boron‐containing heterocycle, has become an emerging molecular platform for the development of new materials and optoelectronics. While electron‐deficient borepins are well‐established, reduced electron‐rich species have remained elusive. Herein we report the first isolable, crystalline borepin radical (2 a, 2 b) and anion (3 a, 3 b) complexes, which have been synthesized by potassium graphite (KC₈) reduction of cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene‐dibenzo[b,d]borepin precursors. Borepin radicals and anions have been characterized by EPR or NMR, elemental analysis, X‐ray crystallography, and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the bonding features have been investigated computationally using density functional theory.

Whole-genome resequencing of the wheat A subgenome progenitor Triticum urartu provides insights into its demographic history and geographic adaptation

Triticum urartu is the progenitor of the A subgenome in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. Uncovering the landscape of genetic variations in T. urartu will help us understand the evolutionary and polyploid characteristics of wheat. Here, we investigated the population genomics of T. urartu by genome-wide sequencing of 59 representative accessions collected around the world. A total of 42.2 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 3 million insertions and deletions were obtained by mapping reads to the reference genome. The ancient T. urartu population experienced a significant reduction in effective population size (Ne) from ∼3 000 000 to ∼140 000 and subsequently split into eastern Mediterranean coastal and Mesopotamian-Transcaucasian populations during the Younger Dryas period. A map of allelic drift paths displayed splits and mixtures between different geographic groups, and a strong genetic drift towards hexaploid wheat was also observed, indicating that the direct donor of the A subgenome originated from northwestern Syria. Genetic changes were revealed between the eastern Mediterranean coastal and Mesopotamian-Transcaucasian populations in genes orthologous to those regulating plant development and stress responses. A genome-wide association study identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the exonic regions of the SEMI-DWARF 37 ortholog that corresponded to the different T. urartu ecotype groups. Our study provides novel insights into the origin and genetic legacy of the A subgenome in polyploid wheat and contributes a gene repertoire for genomics-enabled improvements in wheat breeding.

POS0397 SSD6453, A NOVEL AND HIGHLY SELECTIVE BTK/JAK3 DUAL INHIBITOR IS EFFICACIOUS IN MULTIPLE PRE-CLINICAL MODELS OF INFLAMMATION

Background

The mechanism of inflammatory diseases is complicated and dysfunction of multiple immune cells is thought to be directly related to the pathogenesis. Targeting either JAK-STAT or BCR signaling has been proved solid clinical efficacy in multiple inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). And the combination of BTK and JAK inhibitors demonstrated synergistic effects for the treatment of inflammation models in pre-clinic. JAK3 expression is largely restricted to leukocytes and involves functions in JAK1/JAK3 heterodimer in signal transduction, it might be a more effective and safer target. Meanwhile, both BTK and JAK3 possess a cysteine residue in their active site and this feature makes it possible to design a dual inhibitor. SSD6453 is a highly selective and irreversible JAK3/BTK dual inhibitor which may have synergistic effects for the treatment of RA and other inflammatory diseases such as MS.

Objectives

To develop a potent, oral, highly selective JAK3/BTK inhibitor for treatment of multiple inflammatory diseases.

Methods

ADP-GLO based biochemical assays were performed to determine the enzymatic inhibitory effect and selectivity for JAK family. The target engagement was evaluated by IgM induced pBTK and IL-2 induced pSTAT5 in human PBMCs. In vivo efficacy was evaluated by rat collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) model and mice experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models induced by MOG1-125 or MOG35-55, respectively. BTK occupancy in spleens post last dose 24h and IL-2 induced pSTAT5 in whole blood post last dose 0.5h were used to evaluate targets inhibitions. Osteoclast was stained by IHC in pathological section of rat paws.

Results

In biochemical assays, SSD6453 inhibited BTK and JAK3 with the IC50 values of 3.4 nM and 1.1 nM, respectively. Notably, SSD6453 displayed high selectivity against JAK1 (510 fold), JAK2 (75 fold) and TYK2 (525 fold). In cellular assays, SSD6453 inhibited anti-IgM induced pBTK and IL-2 induced pSTAT5 in human PBMCs with the IC50 values of 18.8 nM and 168.8 nM, respectively. SSD6453 demonstrated favorable PK properties in broad pre-clinical species. Single oral administration of SSD6453 in rat or mouse, resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of BTK and JAKs concurrently. In the rat CIA model in which disease development was accompanied by a robust T-cell and B-cell inflammation response to collagen, SSD6453 dose-dependently inhibited paw edema. And SSD6453 at 10mpk achieved complete (95%) BTK occupancy and JAK3 inhibition and superior efficacy in comparison of tofacitinib (JAK@10 mpk) or evobrutinib (BTK @30mpk) alone, suggesting that concurrent inhibition of JAK3 and BTK lead to synergistic anti-inflammation effects. In addition, ED-1+ osteoclast count decrease was observed in paws, suggesting the prevention of SSD6453 in joint destruction. In two EAE models either induced by MOG1-125 or MOG35-55, which represented T or B dominant inflammation model, respectively, SSD6453 robustly ameliorated disease in both two models. In comparison, BTK inhibitor is efficacious only in the MOG1-125 induced model.

Conclusion

SSD6453 is a novel and high selective BTK/JAK3 dual inhibitor, and demonstrated synergistic efficacy in multiple pre-clinic inflammation models. SSD6453 showed good pharmacokinetic characteristics and well-tolerant in multiple pre-clinical species, and is moving to IND in 2022.

Disclosure of Interests

Feng Zhou Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: The work is financially support by Simcere, Employee of: Simcere, Lei Jiang Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: The work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of Simcere, Yuxi Yan Grant/research support from: The work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of Simcere, Wenqing Yang Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: the work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of Simcere, Feng Tang Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: The work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of simcere, Ping Chen Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: The work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of Simcere, Renhong Tang Shareholder of: I own the shares of Simcere, Grant/research support from: The work is financially supported by Simcere, Employee of: I am employee of Simcere.

MiR-27a-3p targets USP46 to inhibit the cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Micro-RNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as potential therapeutic targets for HCC. In this study, we found that miR-27a-3p was highly expressed in HCC, which was associated with lower survival rates of HCC patients. In vivo and in vitro functional experiments confirmed that over-expression or knock-down miR-27a-3p could significantly affect the proliferation ability of HCCLM3 and Huh-7, two HCC cell lines. Ubiquitin-specific protease 46 (USP46) was confirmed as the key target gene of miR-27a-3p in HCC via RNA-seq, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and luciferase report. When knocking down USP46, the proliferation activity of HCC cells was significantly enhanced, while it was significantly inhibited after over-expressing USP4. Above results suggest that the abnormally over-expressed miR-27a-3p in liver promotes the proliferation of cancer cells and accelerates the development of HCC by targeting inhibition the expression of USP46. Targeting miR-27a-3p may be an effective strategy for prevention and treatment of HCC.

Protein and lipid mass concentration measurement in tissues by stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Cell mass and chemical composition are important aggregate cellular properties that are especially relevant to physiological processes, such as growth control and tissue homeostasis. Despite their importance, it has been difficult to measure these features quantitatively at the individual cell level in intact tissue. Here, we introduce normalized Raman imaging (NoRI), a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy method that provides the local concentrations of protein, lipid, and water from live or fixed tissue samples with high spatial resolution. Using NoRI, we demonstrate that protein, lipid, and water concentrations at the single cell are maintained in a tight range in cells under the same physiological conditions and are altered in different physiological states, such as cell cycle stages, attachment to substrates of different stiffness, or by entering senescence. In animal tissues, protein and lipid concentration varies with cell types, yet an unexpected cell-to-cell heterogeneity was found in cerebellar Purkinje cells. The protein and lipid concentration profile provides means to quantitatively compare disease-related pathology, as demonstrated using models of Alzheimer’s disease. This demonstration shows that NoRI is a broadly applicable technique for probing the biological regulation of protein mass, lipid mass, and water mass for studies of cellular and tissue growth, homeostasis, and disease.

Application of a nomogram to radiomics labels in the treatment prediction scheme for lumbar disc herniation

Objective

To investigate and verify the efficiency and effectiveness of a nomogram based on radiomics labels in predicting the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods

By reviewing medical records that were analysed over the past three years, clinical and imaging data of 200 lumbar disc patients at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were obtained. The collected cases were randomly divided into a training group (n = 140) and a testing group (n = 60) at a ratio of 7:3. Two radiologists with experience in reading orthopaedics images independently segmented the ROIs. The whole intervertebral disc with the most obvious protrusion in the sagittal plane T2WI lumbar MRI as a mask (ROI) is sketched. The LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage And Selection Operator) algorithm was used to filter the features after extracting the radiomics features. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to construct a quantitative imaging Rad‑Score for the selected features with nonzero coefficients. The radiomics labels and nomogram were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC). The calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency between the nomogram prediction and the actual treatment plan. The DCA decision curve was used to evaluate the clinical applicability of the nomogram.

Result

Following feature extraction, 11 radiomics features were used to construct the radiomics label for predicting the treatment plan of LDH. A nomogram was then constructed. The AUC was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90–0.97), with a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 92.7%, a negative predictive value of 89.4%, and an accuracy of 91%. The calibration curve showed that there was good consistency between the prediction and the actual observation. The DCA decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram of the imaging group has great potential for clinical application when the risk threshold is between 5 and 72%.

Conclusion

A nomogram based on radiomics labels has good predictive value for the treatment of LDH and can be used as a reference for clinical decision-making.

Vertical profile and assessment of soil pollution from a typical coking plant by suspect screening and non-target screening using GC/QTOF-MS

A comprehensive workflow for suspect screening and non-target screening with gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/QTOF-MS) was used to characterize the pollution characteristics of soil samples in a typical coking plant in China. Suspect screening confirmed 57 chemicals including PAHs, alkyl PAHs, and phthalates contained in high-resolution personal compound database and library (PCDL). Non-target screening detected 88 chemicals from soil samples in the NIST 17 library. A total of 122 chemicals were screened in soil samples, and many of them were of emerging concern. Their presence in the soil obtained from coking operations has been underestimated, such as the oxygenated PAHs (naphtho[2,1-b]furan and 9H-fluoren-9-one), and the alkyl biphenyls compounds (4,4'-dimethylbiphenyl, 3,3'-dimethylbiphenyl, 4-methyl-1,1'-biphenyl and 2,2',5,5'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biphenyl). Toxicity assays by luminescent bacteria proved that the extracts from soil samples at different depths showed varying toxicity to V. qinghaiensis sp.-Q67. Soil extracts from a depth of 20-40 cm exhibited the greatest toxicity to luminescent bacteria compared with the other six-layered soil samples, which was correlated with the number of detectable pollutants and total organic carbon content. This study provided a screening method for suspect and non-target contaminants in urban industrial soil sites, which was important in identifying localized contamination sources.

Characterization of Restenosis following Carotid Endarterectomy Using Contrast-Enhanced Vessel Wall MR Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Restenosis is an important determinant of the long-term efficacy of carotid endarterectomy. Our aim was to assess the role of high-resolution vessel wall MR imaging for characterizing restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent vessel wall MR imaging after carotid endarterectomy were included in this study. Restenotic lesions were classified as myointimal hyperplasia or recurrent atherosclerotic plaques based on MR imaging features of lesion compositions. Imaging characteristics of myointimal hyperplasia were compared with those of normal post-carotid endarterectomy and recurrent plaque groups. Recurrent plaques were matched with primary plaques by categories of stenosis, and differences in plaque features were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-two recurrent lesions from 18 patients (14 unilateral and 4 bilateral) were classified as myointimal hyperplasia or recurrent plaque. Myointimal hyperplasia showed no difference in enhancement compared with normal post-carotid endarterectomy vessels (5 unilateral) but showed stronger enhancement than recurrent plaques (80.10% [SD, 42.42%] versus 56.74% [SD, 46.54%], P = .042). A multivariate logistic regression model of plaque-feature detection in recurrent plaques compared with primary plaques adjusted for maximum wall thickness revealed that recurrent plaques were longer (OR, 4.27; 95% CI, 1.32-13.85; P = .015) and more likely to involve a flow divider and side walls (OR, 6.96; 95% CI, 1.37-35.28; P = .019). Recurrent plaques had a higher prevalence of intraplaque hemorrhage (61.5% versus 30.8%, P = .048) by a χ² test, but compositional differences were not significant in the multivariate model.

CONCLUSIONS

Vessel wall MR imaging can distinguish recurrent plaques from myointimal hyperplasia and reveal features that may differ between primary and recurrent plaques, highlighting its value for evaluating patients with carotid restenosis.

A Randomized, Single-Blind, Group Sequential, Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Clinical Efficacy and Safety of α-Lipoic Acid for Critically Ill Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

OBJECT

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of α-Lipoic acid (ALA) for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

A randomized, single-blind, group sequential, active-controlled trial was performed at JinYinTan Hospital, Wuhan, China. Between February 2020 and March 2020, 17 patients with critically ill COVID-19 were enrolled in our study. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ALA (1200 mg/d, intravenous infusion) once daily plus standard care or standard care plus equal volume saline infusion (placebo) for 7 days. All patients were monitored within the 7 days therapy and followed up to day 30 after therapy. The primary outcome of this study was the Sequential Organ Failure Estimate (SOFA) score, and the secondary outcome was the all-cause mortality within 30 days.

RESULT

Nine patients were randomized to placebo group and 8 patients were randomized to ALA group. SOFA score was similar at baseline, increased from 4.3 to 6.0 in the placebo group and increased from 3.8 to 4.0 in the ALA group (P = 0.36) after 7 days. The 30-day all-cause mortality tended to be lower in the ALA group (3/8, 37.5%) compared to that in the placebo group (7/9, 77.8%, P = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

In our study, ALA use is associated with lower SOFA score increase and lower 30-day all-cause mortality as compared with the placebo group. Although the mortality rate was two-folds higher in placebo group than in ALA group, only borderline statistical difference was evidenced due to the limited patient number. Future studies with larger patient cohort are warranted to validate the role of ALA in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=49534.