Association of prenatal renal ultrasound abnormalities with pathogenic copy number variants in a large Chinese cohort

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical utility of prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses with abnormal renal sonographic findings, and to evaluate the association of pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variants (P/LP CNVs) with different types of renal abnormality.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of fetuses at 14-36 weeks screened routinely for renal and other structural abnormalities at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. We retrieved and analyzed data from fetuses with abnormal renal sonographic findings, examined between January 2013 and November 2019, which underwent CMA analysis using tissue obtained from chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis or cordocentesis. We evaluated the CMA findings according to type of renal ultrasound anomaly and according to whether renal anomalies were isolated or non-isolated.

RESULTS

Ten types of renal anomaly were reported on prenatal ultrasound screening, at a mean ± SD gestational age of 24.9 ± 4.8 weeks. The anomalies were diagnosed relatively late in this series, as 64% of cases with an isolated renal anomaly underwent cordocentesis rather than CVS. Fetal pyelectasis was the most common renal ultrasound finding, affecting around one-third (34.32%, 301/877) of fetuses with a renal anomaly, but only 3.65% (n = 11) of these harbored a P/LP CNV (comprising: isolated cases, 2.37% (4/169); non-isolated cases, 5.30% (7/132)). Hyperechogenic kidney was found in 5.47% (n = 48) of fetuses with a renal anomaly, of which 39.58% (n = 19) had a P/LP CNV finding (comprising: isolated cases, 44.44% (16/36); non-isolated cases, 25.00% (3/12)), the highest diagnostic yield among the different types of renal anomaly. Renal agenesis, which accounted for 9.92% (n = 87) of all abnormal renal cases, had a CMA diagnostic yield of 12.64% (n = 11) (comprising: isolated cases, 11.54% (9/78); non-isolated cases, 22.22% (2/9); unilateral cases, 11.39% (9/79); bilateral cases, 25.00% (2/8)), while multicystic dysplastic kidney (n = 110), renal cyst (n = 34), renal dysplasia (n = 27), crossed fused renal ectopia (n = 31), hydronephrosis (n = 98), renal duplication (n = 42) and ectopic kidney (n = 99) had overall diagnostic rates of 11.82%, 11.76%, 7.41%, 6.45%, 6.12%, 4.76% and 3.03%, respectively. Compared with the combined group of CMA-negative fetuses with any other type of renal anomaly, the rate of infant being alive and well at birth was significantly higher in CMA-negative fetuses with isolated fetal pyelectasis or ectopic kidney, whereas the rate was significantly lower in fetuses with isolated renal agenesis, multicystic dysplastic kidney or severe hydronephrosis. The most common pathogenic CNV was 17q12 deletion, which accounted for 30.14% (22/73) of all positive CMA findings, with a rate of 2.51% (22/877) among fetuses with an abnormal renal finding. Fetuses with 17q12 deletion exhibited a wide range of renal phenotypes. Other P/LP CNVs in the recurrent region that were associated with prenatal renal ultrasound abnormalities included 22q11.2, Xp21.1, Xp22.3, 2q13, 16p11.2 and 1q21, which, collectively, accounted for 2.17% (19/877) of the fetuses with prenatal renal anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective review of CMA findings in a large cohort of fetuses with different types of renal ultrasound abnormality, the P/LP CNV detection rate varied significantly (3.03-39.58%) among the different types of kidney anomaly. Our data may help in the decision regarding whether to perform prenatal genetic testing in fetuses with renal ultrasound findings. Specifically, prenatal CMA testing should be performed in cases of hyperechogenic kidney, regardless of whether or not the anomaly is isolated, while it should be performed postnatally rather than prenatally in cases of fetal pyelectasis. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma enrolled in the randomized KEYNOTE-181 trial in Asia

BACKGROUND

In the randomized phase III KEYNOTE-181 study, pembrolizumab prolonged overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy as second-line therapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥10. We report a post hoc subgroup analysis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) enrolled in KEYNOTE-181 in Asia, including patients from the KEYNOTE-181 China extension study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred and forty Asian patients with advanced/metastatic ESCC were enrolled in KEYNOTE-181, including the China cohort. Patients were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for ≤2 years or investigator's choice of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or irinotecan. OS, progression-free survival, response, and safety were analyzed without formal comparisons. OS was evaluated based on PD-L1 CPS expression level.

RESULTS

In Asian patients with ESCC, median OS was 10.0 months with pembrolizumab and 6.5 months with chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR), 0.63; 95% CI 0.50-0.80; nominal P < 0.0001]. Median progression-free survival was 2.3 months with pembrolizumab and 3.1 months with chemotherapy (HR, 0.79; 95% CI 0.63-0.99; nominal P = 0.020). Objective response rate was 17.1% with pembrolizumab and 7.1% with chemotherapy; median duration of response was 10.5 months and 7.7 months, respectively. In patients with PD-L1 CPS <1 tumors (pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy), the HR was 0.99 (95% CI 0.56-1.72); the HR (95% CI) for death was better for patients with PD-L1 CPS cut-offs >1 [CPS ≥1, 0.57 (0.44-0.75); CPS ≥5, 0.56 (0.41-0.76); CPS ≥10, 0.53 (0.37-0.75)]. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 71.8% of patients in the pembrolizumab group and 89.8% in the chemotherapy group; grade 3-5 events were reported in 20.0% and 44.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pembrolizumab monotherapy demonstrated promising efficacy in Asian patients with ESCC, with fewer treatment-related adverse events than chemotherapy. PD-L1 CPS ≥1 is an appropriate cut-off and a predictive marker of pembrolizumab efficacy in Asian patients with ESCC.

Maternal essential metals, thyroid hormones, and fetal growth: Association and mediation analyses in Chinese pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Essential metals play critical roles in fetal growth and development, but results from human studies are inconsistent. Additionally, whether maternal thyroid hormone (TH) levels mediate the associations between essential metals and fetal growth remains unknown.

METHODS

Data for analysis were extracted from the Information System of Guangdong Women and Children Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. Maternal levels of essential metals [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe)] and THs were measured at the second trimester. Multivariate linear models were introduced to evaluate the potential associations between maternal essential metals, thyroid functions, and fetal growth, and the possible mediation effects of thyroid functions were explored in the median analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 4186 mother-infant pairs were included in the present study. Maternal Fe levels were found to significantly increase birth weight in 272.91 g (95 % CI: 15.59, 530.22) among anemia group. Maternal Cu levels were positively associated with increased free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratio (FT3/FT4). Negative associations of Fe and Mg levels with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were observed, accompanied with the positive associations in relation to FT3, FT4 and FT3/FT4 ratio. Mediation analyses suggested that 72.01 % of the associations between Fe levels and birth length might be mediated by FT3 levels. Additionally, 25.85 % of the Cu-birth length association and 44.53 % of the Fe-birth length association could be explained by FT3/FT4 ratio.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that maternal Cu, Mg, and Fe levels can alter TH concentrations, and maternal FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio might be potential mediators on the developmental effects of Cu and Fe levels.

[The application of 99Tcm-DTPA orbital SPECT/CT in staging evaluation of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy]

Objective: To explore the application value of ⁹⁹Tc^m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) orbital single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in staging evaluation of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Methods: A case-control study. A total of 40 patients with binocular TAO were recruited from May 2019 to December 2019 in the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University. According to the clinical activity score (CAS) standard, 40 TAO patients were divided into the active group (15 cases) and the inactive group (25 cases), and 10 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group. All subjects underwent ⁹⁹Tc^m-DTPA orbital SPECT/CT examination, and each subject's CAS, reading results and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were recorded. The Kruskal-Walis H test was used for the CAS comparison among the three groups. The analysis of variance was used for the SUVmax comparison among the three groups. The comparison between CAS and SUVmax before and after treatment was performed by paired samples Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired-sample t test, and Spearman correlation analysis was performed between SUVmax and CAS. The Kappa test was used to check the consistency between the reading result and CAS's judgment of TAO activity. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of the reading results and SUVmax for TAO. Results: The age difference among the three groups was not statistically significant, and the gender difference was not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The difference in CAS among the three groups was statistically significant (H=39.894; P<0.01). Patients with active TAO showed abnormal concentration and enhancement of nuclides in the orbital tissue, and the uptake of radionuclides was significantly increased, while patients with inactive TAO had a slight increase, and healthy volunteers had no significant or only mild uptake. The SUVmax of the active group (2.24±0.47) was highest, and that of the inactive group (1.57±0.43) was higher than the healthy control group (0.67±0.22). After pairwise comparison, there were statistical differences between groups (all P<0.05). According to Spearman correlation analysis, the SUVmax of all TAO patients was linearly, positively correlated with their CAS (r=0.753; P<0.05). In assessing the clinical activity of TAO, the reading results were consistent with CAS (Kappa value=0.737; P<0.05). Taking the reading results as the standard, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of SUVmax was 0.992, and the threshold of SUVmax to distinguish between active and inactive periods was 1.850, with a sensitivity of 86.70% and a specificity of 76.00%. Taking CAS results as the standard, the AUC of SUVmax was 0.853, and the threshold of SUVmax to distinguish between active and inactive periods was 1.850, with a sensitivity of 100.00% and a specificity of 87.50%. Five patients had inconsistent SUVmax and CAS. The CAS was ≥3, but the orbits did not show any inflammatory lesions in two of them; the CAS was<3, but the orbits showed inflammatory lesions in three of them. Thirteen active TAO patients with ⁹⁹Tc^m-DTPA orbital SPECT/CT showing significant accumulation of nuclides were given hormone shock therapy 12 times. After treatment, the CAS 2.00 (2.00) was lower than the pre-treatment 3.00 (1.50) score, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.100, P<0.01). The SUVmax after treatment (1.60±0.20) was lower than the pre-treatment value (2.17±0.34), and the difference was statistically significant (t=10.197, P<0.01). Conclusion: ⁹⁹Tc^m-DTPA orbital SPECT/CT can relatively accurately determine the state of orbital inflammation in patients with TAO, and can be used as a useful supplement to evaluate the clinical activity of TAO, helping to guide clinical treatment. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 830-836).

[Determination of quinoxalines veterinary drug residues in food products of animal origin by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS)method for simultaneous determination of olaquindox, quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid, 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid in food products of animal origin.

METHODS

Samples were extracted with ethyl acetate-0.1 mol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate(1∶9, V/V) solution in water bath at 40 ℃, purified by solid phase extraction column(olaquindox uses HLB SPE cartridge, quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid and 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid use MAX SPE cartridge), evaporated by concentrator, and dissolved by mobile phase. The supernatant was separated on Agilent ZORBAX SB-C_(18) column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8 m), using 0.2% formic acid solution methanol solution as mobile phase, and then detected by HPLC-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) in positive ionization mode.

RESULTS

The linear range for olaquindox、quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid and 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid were 2.5-100 μg/L, r & gt; 0.9990.The average recoveries were 72.6%-90.5% and the precisions were 3.2%-13.1%(n=6). The detection limits for olaquindox、quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid and 3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid were 0.08 μg/kg.

CONCLUSION

The method is specific, sensitive, easy, fast and suitable for the confirmation and quantification of olaquindox、quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid、3-methyl-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid in food products of animal origin.

[Efficacy evaluation of vestibular rehabilitation based on mobile internet in patients with otogenic vertigo]

Twenty-five patients diagnosed with otogenic vertigo at the outpatient clinic of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital from January to June 2020 were selected. Among them, 8 cases were male and 17 cases were female, aged (48±13) years. All the patients underwent internet combined with offline follow-up vestibular rehabilitation for 12 weeks, which included vestibulo-ocular reflex exercises, proprioceptive exercises and static/dynamic balance exercises. Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores were compared before and after rehabilitation. The DHI score improved significantly after 12 weeks of vestibular rehabilitation (48.3±15.9 vs 26.7±17.9, t=5.319, P<0.001). Meanwhile, the sensory organization test (SOT) score was also improved (73.3±8.1 vs 76.1±6.6, t=2.066, P=0.050), while the difference of motor control test (MCT) latent stage score before and after rehabilitation was not statistically significant (140±13 vs 141±16, t=0.791, P=0.436). The current study demonstrates that vestibular rehabilitation based on mobile internet is convenient, economical and effective, and patients can benefit from it.

Two melatonin treatments improve the conception rate after fixed-time artificial insemination in beef heifers following synchronisation of oestrous cycles using the CoSynch-56 protocol

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effect of melatonin administration in combination with the CoSynch-56 protocol on the conception rate after artificial insemination (AI) in beef heifers.

METHODS

Eighty-six beef heifers were allocated to four treatments in combination with CoSynch-56 treatment. All heifers, excluding the control group (CTR = 25), were injected with melatonin on day 1. The melatonin (MT = 20) and MT + human chorionic gonadotropin (MT + hCG = 21) groups received no further treatment with melatonin. Each heifer was treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on day 4, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) on day 11, and GnRH and AI 56 h later. The fourth group (2MT = 20) was injected again with melatonin concurrent with AI, and the MT + hCG group received hCG on day 19. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed using transrectal ultrasonography 45 days after AI and blood samples were collected via caudal venipuncture on days 0-1, 14-15, 24 and 59. Concentrations of progesterone (P4) and the activities of oxidative stress-related enzymes were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The conception rate was greater in the 2MT group (75%) than in the other groups, while there was no significant difference among the CTR (44%), MT (45%) and MT + hCG (38.1%) groups. Treatment with melatonin increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased malondialdehyde concentrations but did not significantly affect the concentration of P4.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the administration of melatonin twice during the CoSynch-56 protocol may increase conception rates in beef heifers.

Inhibition of CACNA1H can alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress and reduce myocardial cell apoptosis caused by myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, coronary heart disease (CHD) has become a disease that cannot be ignored by residents of our country, because CHD will not only endanger people's quality of life, but also threaten their lives. Therefore, this research mainly explores the correlation between myocardial infarction (MI) with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, we constructed a model of myocardial ischemia and hypoxia (I/H) in vivo and in vitro, and examined the change of CACNA1H expression. At the same time, in order to research the role of CACNA1H, we chose CACNA1H-specific inhibitor ABT-639 to next research and detect changes in heart injury by detecting changes in creatine kinase (CK) content and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Next, we used TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence staining to detect changes in apoptosis and ER stress, and analyzed changes in ER stress and apoptotic pathway expression by Western blotting and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

At 28 days after MI, the cardiac function of the mice was significantly reduced, the myocardial cell apoptosis rate was dramatically increased, and CACNA1H expression was dramatically increased in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we treated the model group with the ABT-639, and found that ABT-639 can partially protect myocardial function and relieve myocardial cell apoptosis. At the same time, ABT-639 may reduce H9c2 injury after I/H by reducing the degree of ER stress, because we found that the use of ABT-639 can dramatically reduce ER stress-related factors expression, and can inhibit the expression of apoptosis-related factors Caspase-3 and Caspase-9.

CONCLUSIONS

The CACNA1H inhibitor ABT-639 can alleviate myocardial cell apoptosis caused by MI by reducing the ER stress response.

Pump-probe X-ray holographic imaging of laser-induced cavitation bubbles with femtosecond FEL pulses

Cavitation bubbles can be seeded from a plasma following optical breakdown, by focusing an intense laser in water. The fast dynamics are associated with extreme states of gas and liquid, especially in the nascent state. This offers a unique setting to probe water and water vapor far-from equilibrium. However, current optical techniques cannot quantify these early states due to contrast and resolution limitations. X-ray holography with single X-ray free-electron laser pulses has now enabled a quasi-instantaneous high resolution structural probe with contrast proportional to the electron density of the object. In this work, we demonstrate cone-beam holographic flash imaging of laser-induced cavitation bubbles in water with nanofocused X-ray free-electron laser pulses. We quantify the spatial and temporal pressure distribution of the shockwave surrounding the expanding cavitation bubble at time delays shortly after seeding and compare the results to numerical simulations.

AB0559 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RISANKIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AFTER INADEQUATE RESPONSE OR INTOLERANCE TO DMARDs: 24-WEEK RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND KEEPsAKE 1 TRIAL

Background:

Risankizumab (RZB) is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin 23 by binding to its p19 subunit. RZB is being investigated as a treatment for adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Objectives:

To compare the efficacy and safety of RZB vs placebo (PBO) for the treatment of active PsA in patients who have had inadequate response or intolerance to ≥ 1 conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD-IR).

Methods:

In KEEPsAKE 1 (NCT03675308), eligible adults (csDMARD-IR with ≥ 5 swollen joints [SJC] and ≥ 5 tender joints [TJC]) were randomized (1:1) to receive blinded subcutaneous RZB 150 mg or PBO at weeks 0, 4, and 16. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving 20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology score (ACR20) at week 24. Ranked secondary and other secondary endpoints are shown in the Table 1. Safety was assessed throughout the study. Results reported here are from the 24-week double-blind period; the open-label period with all patients receiving RZB is ongoing.

Results:

964 patients (RZB, N = 483; PBO, N = 481) were evaluated at week 24. Demographics and baseline characteristics were generally balanced between treatment groups (mean duration of PsA: 7.12 years; mean SJC: 12.2; mean TJC: 20.6; mean body surface area involved with psoriasis [BSA] in patients with BSA ≥ 3%: 16.7%). A significantly greater proportion of RZB- vs PBO-treated patients (57.3% and 33.5%, respectively) achieved the primary endpoint of ACR20 at week 24 (P < .001; Table 1). Significant differences were also observed for RZB vs PBO for the first 8 ranked secondary endpoints (P < .001 for all; Table 1). Serious adverse events were reported for 2.5% and 3.7% of RZB- and PBO-treated patients, respectively; serious infections were reported for 1.0% and 1.2%. There was 1 death in the RZB group.

Conclusion:

RZB resulted in significantly greater improvements in signs and symptoms of PsA compared with PBO and was well tolerated in patients who were csDMARD-IR.

Disclosure of Interests:

Lars Erik Kristensen Speakers bureau: LK has received honoraria or fees for serving as a speaker or consultant from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB., Consultant of: LK has received honoraria or fees for serving as a speaker or consultant from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB., MAURO KEISERMAN Speakers bureau: MK has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker or as a consultant, and grants as a principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB., Consultant of: MK has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker or as a consultant, and grants as a principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB., Grant/research support from: MK has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker or as a consultant, and grants as a principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB., Kim Papp Speakers bureau: KP has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker, and as a consultant, as well as grants as principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Bausch Health (Valeant), Baxalta, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Coherus, Dermira, EMD Serono, Forward Pharma, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Stiefel, Sun Pharma, Takeda, and UCB., Consultant of: KP has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker, and as a consultant, as well as grants as principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Bausch Health (Valeant), Baxalta, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Coherus, Dermira, EMD Serono, Forward Pharma, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Stiefel, Sun Pharma, Takeda, and UCB., Grant/research support from: KP has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker, and as a consultant, as well as grants as principal investigator from AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Bausch Health (Valeant), Baxalta, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Coherus, Dermira, EMD Serono, Forward Pharma, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, LEO Pharma, Lilly, MedImmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Stiefel, Sun Pharma, Takeda, and UCB., Leslie McCasland Speakers bureau: LM has received fees for serving on an advisory board from Lilly., Douglas White Speakers bureau: DW has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker, and as a consultant from AbbVie, Merck, Novartis, and Roche., Consultant of: DW has received honoraria or fees for serving on advisory boards, as a speaker, and as a consultant from AbbVie, Merck, Novartis, and Roche., Lisa Barcomb Shareholder of: LB is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Employee of: LB is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Wenjing Lu Shareholder of: WL is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Employee of: WL is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Zailong Wang Shareholder of: ZE is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Employee of: ZE is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Ahmed M. Soliman Shareholder of: AMS is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Employee of: AMS is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Ann Eldred Shareholder of: AE is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Employee of: AE is a full-time employee of AbbVie, and may hold AbbVie stock or stock options., Frank Behrens Speakers bureau: FB has received research grants, honoraria, or fees for serving as a consultant or speaker from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Chugai, Galapagos, Genzyme, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi., Consultant of: FB has received research grants, honoraria, or fees for serving as a consultant or speaker from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Chugai, Galapagos, Genzyme, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi., Grant/research support from: FB has received research grants, honoraria, or fees for serving as a consultant or speaker from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Chugai, Galapagos, Genzyme, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi.

Characterizing the air pollution of the cities in the closure of corona virus disease 2019 in China

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization in China, energy and vehicle consumption have continued to increase in recent years and air pollution has become serious. In early 2020, Corona Virus Disease 2019 broke out in Wuhan, China. From January 29, 2020, several sources of the air pollution almost all stopped working, including gasoline burning vehicles, dust producing building sites, coal-fired factories, etc. Five indicators of the atmospheric environmental quality were observed from December 19, 2019 to April 30, 2020 in nine cities and 1-h average concentrations, 24-h average concentrations and Air Quality Index were assessed. The 1-h average concentrations of the nitrogen dioxide, the ozone and the sulfur dioxide showed obvious difference though the closure did not change the sequence of the five pollutants' concentrations in the air at diverse sampling moments. The changing of the 24-h average concentrations of the five pollutants indicated the amount of pollutants in the air were greatly affected by human activities. The nitrogen dioxide, the sulfur dioxide and the particulate matters decreased obviously in the closure. The air in the metropolis and the south-east cities were relatively clean and the pollutants' concentrations decreased slightly during the closure period. The northern and the heavy industrial cities showed significant drop on air pollution indicators and the air quality of the two city groups could be greatly improved if some effective measures could be taken of environmental management and regional development.

Materials Imaging and Dynamics (MID) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility

The Materials Imaging and Dynamics (MID) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) facility is described. EuXFEL is the first hard X-ray free-electron laser operating in the MHz repetition range which provides novel science opportunities. The aim of MID is to enable studies of nano-structured materials, liquids, and soft- and hard-condensed matter using the bright X-ray beams generated by EuXFEL. Particular emphasis is on studies of structure and dynamics in materials by coherent scattering and imaging using hard X-rays. Commission of MID started at the end of 2018 and first experiments were performed in 2019.

Production of metallic ion beams by electron cyclotron resonance ion sources equipped with inductive heating ovens at the Institute of Modern Physics

A high-temperature oven based on the inductive heating technology was developed successfully at the Institute of Modern Physics in 2019. This oven features a durable operation temperature of over 2000 °C inside the tantalum susceptor. By carefully designing the oven structure, the material compatibility issue at high temperature has been successfully solved, which enables the production and routine operation of refractory metal ions with SECRAL-II (Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou No. 2). To further apply this type of oven to the room temperature ECR ion sources LECR4 and LECR5 (Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source No. 4 and 5), a mini-inductive heating oven has been fabricated and tested in 2020. By directly evaporating calcium oxide, some high charge state calcium beams have been produced successfully, such as 52 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁶⁺, 30 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁷⁺, and 12 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁸⁺. The detailed design and testing results will be presented and discussed.

Association between expression of AMPK pathway and adiponectin, leptin, and vascular endothelial function in rats with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and adiponectin (APN), leptin, and vascular endothelial function in rats with coronary heart disease (CHD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental rats were divided into three groups, including: control (Col) group, CHD model (CHD) group, and CHD+AMPK activator (CHD+AICAR) group. Except those in Col group, all rats were fed with high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injected with pituitrin to establish the CHD model. The levels of serum APN, leptin, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The content of serum nitric oxide (NO) was detected using the nitrate reductase method. Meanwhile, the expression of AMPK pathway-related protein AMPKα in vascular endothelial tissues was detected via Western blotting (WB). Aortic vascular endothelial cells (VECs) were cultured with AICAR or ET-1 in vitro. Subsequently, the expressions of AMPK pathway and protein kinase B (AKT) pathway-related proteins were determined through co-immunoprecipitation and WB. Moreover, the expression level of NO in VECs was determined using the DAF-FM DA fluorescence probe.

RESULTS

Compared with Col group, CHD group showed significantly decreased levels of serum APN and NO (p<0.05), significantly increased the levels of leptin and ET-1 (p<0.05), as well as remarkably decreased protein expression of p-AMPKα in vascular endothelial tissues (p<0.05). After injection of AMPK activator AICAR (200 mg/kg), the protein expression of p-AMPKα in CHD rats was significantly activated (p<0.05). The levels of serum APN and NO were remarkably upregulated (p<0.05), while the levels of leptin and ET-1 were significantly reduced (p<0.05). Besides, AICAR could evidently activate the activity of AMPK pathway in VECs in vitro, upregulate the protein levels of p-eNOS (Ser1177) and p-AMPKα, and promote the secretion of NO (p<0.05). In addition, AICAR remarkably inhibited ET-1-induced expression of AKT pathway (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Activating the AMPK pathway may play a positive role in the normal function of VECs and exert a certain curative effect on CHD in rats.

Using Diffuse Scattering to Observe X-Ray-Driven Nonthermal Melting

We present results from the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser facility, where we used a high intensity (∼10^{20}  W/cm^{2}) x-ray pump x-ray probe scheme to observe changes in the ionic structure of silicon induced by x-ray heating of the electrons. By avoiding Laue spots in the scattering signal from a single crystalline sample, we observe a rapid rise in diffuse scattering and a transition to a disordered, liquidlike state with a structure significantly different from liquid silicon. The disordering occurs within 100 fs of irradiation, a timescale that agrees well with first principles simulations, and is faster than that predicted by purely inertial behavior, suggesting that both the phase change and disordered state reached are dominated by Coulomb forces. This method is capable of observing liquid scattering without masking signal from the ambient solid, allowing the liquid structure to be measured throughout and beyond the phase change.

[Research on consistency of different measurement methods for saliva 1,5-anhydroglucitol]

Objective: To evaluate the consistency of different measurement methods of saliva 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) in different glucose metabolism populations. Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, 175 healthy volunteers (21-65 years, 58 males and 117 females) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 80 diabetic patients (18-70 years, 44 males and 36 females) were enrolled in Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital. Saliva was collected by saliva collection tube, and 1,5-AG was measured using both enzymatic and mass spectrometry methods. Serum 1,5-AG was determined by enzymatic method. Results: In NGT subjects, both serum and saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method were positively correlated with the saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (r=0.247 and 0.523, respectively, both P<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between saliva and serum 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method (r=-0.074, P=0.333). In diabetic patients, both serum and saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method were positively correlated with the saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (r=0.284 and 0.423, respectively, both P<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between saliva and serum 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method (r=-0.079, P=0.487). Conclusions: Both serum and saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method have a good consistency with saliva 1,5-AG levels detected by mass spectrometry method. The saliva and serum 1,5-AG levels detected by enzymatic method are not well correlated, and thus the enzymatic detection of saliva 1,5-AG needs further improvement in clinical practice.