[A novel attention fusion network-based multiple instance learning framework to automate diagnosis of chronic gastritis with multiple indicators]

Objective: To explore the performance of the attention-multiple instance learning (MIL) framework, an attention fusion network-based MIL, in the automated diagnosis of chronic gastritis with multiple indicators. Methods: A total of 1 015 biopsy cases of gastritis diagnosed in Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China and 115 biopsy cases of gastritis diagnosed in Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai, China were collected from January 1st to December 31st in 2018. All pathological sections were digitally converted into whole slide imaging (WSI). The WSI label was based on the corresponding pathological report, including "activity" "atrophy" and "intestinal metaplasia". The WSI were divided into a training set, a single test set, a mixed test set and an independent test set. The accuracy of automated diagnosis for the Attention-MIL model was validated in three test sets. Results: The area under receive-operator curve (AUC) values of Attention-MIL model in single test sets of 240 WSI were: activity 0.98, atrophy 0.89, and intestinal metaplasia 0.98; the average accuracy of the three indicators was 94.2%. The AUC values in mixed test sets of 117 WSI were: activity 0.95, atrophy 0.86, and intestinal metaplasia 0.94; the average accuracy of the three indicators was 88.3%. The AUC values in independent test sets of 115 WSI were: activity 0.93, atrophy 0.84, and intestinal metaplasia 0.90; the average accuracy of the three indicators was 85.5%. Conclusions: To assist in pathological diagnosis of chronic gastritis, the diagnostic accuracy of Attention-MIL model is very close to that of pathologists. Thus, it is suitable for practical application of artificial intelligence technology.

Offspring production of ovarian organoids derived from spermatogonial stem cells by defined factors with chromatin reorganization

Introduction

Fate determination of germline stem cells remains poorly understood at the chromatin structure level.

Objectives

Our research hopes to develop successful offspring production of ovarian organoids derived from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) by defined factors.

Methods

The offspring production from oocytes transdifferentiated from mouse SSCs with tracking of transplanted SSCs in vivo, single cell whole exome sequencing, and in 3D cell culture reconstitution of the process of oogenesis derived from SSCs. The defined factors were screened with ovarian organoids. We uncovered extensive chromatin reorganization during SSC conversion into induced germline stem cells (iGSCs) using high throughput chromosome conformation.

Results

We demonstrate successful production of offspring from oocytes transdifferentiated from mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Furthermore, we demonstrate direct induction of germline stem cells (iGSCs) differentiated into functional oocytes by transduction of H19, Stella, and Zfp57 and inactivation of Plzf in SSCs after screening with ovarian organoids. We uncovered extensive chromatin reorganization during SSC conversion into iGSCs, which was highly similar to female germline stem cells. We observed that although topologically associating domains were stable during SSC conversion, chromatin interactions changed in a striking manner, altering 35% of inactive and active chromosomal compartments throughout the genome.

Conclusion

We demonstrate successful offspring production of ovarian organoids derived from SSCs by defined factors with chromatin reorganization. These findings have important implications in various areas including mammalian gametogenesis, genetic and epigenetic reprogramming, biotechnology, and medicine.

[Surveillance of malaria vector Anopheles in Guizhou Province from 2005 to 2019]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the density, populations and habitats of malaria vector Anopheles in Guizhou Province from 2005 to 2019, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the countermeasures to tackle the risk of local transmission of imported malaria in the province.

METHODS

The malaria vector Anopheles density and populations were monitored using human bait trapping and light trapping techniques in Guizhou Province from 2005 to 2019, and all captured Anopheles was morphologically identified and counted. In addition, the distribution of Anopheles habitats was investigated.

RESULTS

During the period from 2005 through 2019, the malaria vector Anopheles density increased from early June in Guizhou Province, peaked on early July and then declined, which appeared a single peak. The greatest Anopheles density was seen on early August, 2018 [57.34 mosquitoes/(person-night)], and the lowest density was found on late October, 2009 [1.29 mosquitoes/(person-night)]. The annual mean Anopheles density slowly reduced from 17.91 mosquitoes/(person-night) in 2005 to 12.34 mosquitoes/(person-night) in 2012, with a 38.02% reduction (χ²_trend = 115.04, P < 0.01), while the annual mean Anopheles density showed a tendency towards a rise from 2017 to 2019 (χ²_trend = 420.00, P < 0.01). The malaria vector Anopheles was captured during the period between 19 : 00 and 7 : 00 of the next day in Guizhou Province from 2017 to 2019, with the overall density appearing a tendency towards a rise followed by a decline, and the Anopheles activity was highly frequent during the period between 19 : 00 and 21 : 00. The malaria vector Anopheles was monitored for 938 times using the light trapping method in Guizhou Province from 2005 to 2019, and a total of 52 781 Anopheles mosquitoes were captured, including 49 705 An. sinensis, 804 An. minimus, 238 An. anthropophagus, and 2 034 other Anopheles mosquitoes, with a significant difference seen in the Anopheles composition (χ² = 165.68, P < 0.01). From 2017 to 2019, a total of 24 557 Anopheles mosquitoes were captured in human housings, outdoors and livestock housings in Guizhou Province, with 67.65% captured in livestock housings and 12.01% in human housings, and there was a significant difference in the number of Anopheles mosquitoes captured from the three types of habitats (χ² = 55.04, P < 0.01). An. sinensis, An. minimus and An. anthropophagus were captured form all three types of habitats, in which 98.07% was An. sinensis, and 0.09% was An. anthropophagus.

CONCLUSIONS

The population structure of malaria vector Anopheles has changed in historically malaria-endemic areas of Guizhou Province, and An. sinensis has replaced An. minimus and An. anthropophagus to become the predominant malaria vector. The malaria vector Anopheles density has shown a tendency towards a rise in Guizhou Province during the recent years, and there have been a rise in the type and number of Anopheles mosquitoes, leading to a potential risk of local transmission of imported malaria. Long-term, persistent and extensive surveillance of malaria vectors is recommended in Guizhou Province.

[Association analysis of famine exposure during early life and risk of hypertension in adulthood]

Objective: To explore the relationship between exposure to famine in early life and the risk of hypertension in adulthood. Methods: The medical data of Yichang Health Management Big Data Center from 2018 to 2019 were analyzed. A retrospective cohort study design was adopted, with hypertension as the study outcome, and different life periods exposed to the Great Famine in China were divided into groups. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between famine exposure in early life and hypertension in adulthood. At the same time, the interaction between gender and famine exposure was analyzed. Results: The age of 142 016 subjects was (60. 56±4.43). Among them, men accounted for 46.36% (65 845/142 016) and women accounted for 53.64% (76 171/142 016). There are 42 575(29.98%), 19 644(13.83%), 28 405(20.00%), 28 305(19.93%), 23 087 (19.93%) in non-famine exposure group, fetal famine exposure group, early childhood famine exposure group and late childhood famine exposure group, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 17.57% (24 947 cases). Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after adjusting for related confounding factors, compared with non-famine exposure group, the risk of hypertension in fetal, early childhood, middle childhood and late childhood famine exposure group was higher and the OR (95%CI) values were 1.16 (1.11-1.22), 1.27 (1.21-1.33), 1.54 (1.47-1.60) and 1.84 (1.76-1.92), respectively. There was an interaction between sex and famine exposure group (P<0.001). The above association is stronger among women than among men. Conclusion: Famine exposure in early life may increase the risk of hypertension in adulthood, and the risk of women is greater than that of men.

OP0201 DYNAMIC CHANGES IN O-GLCNACYLATION REGULATE OSTEOCLAST DIFFERENTIATION AND BONE LOSS IN ARTHRITIS

Background:

Bone remodeling is a constant process maintained by the balance between osteoclast-triggered bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation. In inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the pro-inflammatory environment favors osteoclast differentiation and skews the balance towards resorption, leading to progressive bone erosion and bone loss. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification, which transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine molecule to the serine or threonine of the target protein. The modification is accomplished by a single pair of enzymes, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Unlike other glycosylation, O-GlcNAcylation occurs in multiple cellular compartments, including the nucleus. Although O-GlcNAcylation is one of the most common modifications, its role in bone homeostasis is still poorly understood.

Objectives:

We aimed to investigate the role of O-GlcNAcylation in osteoclastogenesis under pro-inflammatory milieus. We also focused on dissecting the signaling pathways affected by O-GlcNAcylation during osteoclast differentiation.

Methods:

We examined the levels of O-GlcNAc during in vitro osteoclastogenesis by western blotting. The levels of O-GlcNAc in tissue from RA patients and experimental arthritis were detected by immunofluorescence. Pharmacological inhibition and genetic knockout were used to manipulate O-GlcNAcylaiton during osteoclastogenesis. RNA sequencing was performed to study O-GlcNAc-mediated pathways.

Results:

We demonstrate the dynamic changes in O-GlcNAcylation during osteoclastogenesis. The elevated O-GlcNAcylation was found in the early differentiation stages, whereas its downregulation was detected in the maturation process. TNFα elaborates the dynamic changes in O-GlcNAcylation, which further intensifies osteoclast differentiation.

Targeting OGT by selective inhibitor and genetic knockout restrain O-GlcNAcylation and hinder the expression of the early differentiation marker Nfatc1. Inhibition of OGA, which forces high levels of O-GlcNAcylation throughout the differentiation, reduces the formation of multinucleated mature osteoclasts. Consistent with our in vitro data, suppressing OGT and OGA both ameliorate bone loss in experimental arthritis. We detected a reduced number of TRAP-expressing precursors and mature osteoclasts in the mice subjected to OGT inhibition. While inhibiting OGA only lowers the number of TRAP+F4/80– mature osteoclasts without affecting the number of TRAP+F4/80+ precursors.

Transcriptome profiling reveals that O-GlcNAcylation regulates several biological processes. Increased O-GlcNAcylation promotes cytokine signaling and oxidative phosphorylation. The downregulation of O-GlcNAcylation is essential for cytoskeleton organization and cell fusion.

Conclusion:

We demonstrate that the dynamic changes of O-GlcNAcylation are essential for osteoclast differentiation. These findings reveal the therapeutic potential of targeting O-GlcNAcylation in pathologic bone resorption.

Disclosure of Interests:

Chih-Wei Chen: None declared, Yi-Nan Li: None declared, Thuong Trinh-Minh: None declared, ZHU Honglin: None declared, Alexandru-Emil Matei: None declared, Xiao Ding: None declared, Cuong Tran Manh: None declared, Xiaohan Xu: None declared, Christoph Liebel: None declared, Ruifang Liang: None declared, Min-Chuan Huang: None declared, Neng-Yu Lin: None declared, Andreas Ramming Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Janssen, Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Gilead, Pfizer, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Novartis, Georg Schett Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche and UCB, Jörg H.W. Distler Shareholder of: 4D Science, Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Paid instructor for: Boehringer Ingelheim, Consultant of: Actelion, Active Biotech, Anamar, ARXX, Bayer Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Galapagos, GSK, Inventiva, JB Therapeutics, Medac, Pfizer, RuiYi and UCB, Grant/research support from: Anamar, Active Biotech, Array Biopharma, aTyr, BMS, Bayer Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Galapagos, GSK, Inventiva, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, RedX, UCB, Employee of: FibroCure

MiR-21-5p in macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles affects podocyte pyroptosis in diabetic nephropathy by regulating A20

OBJECTIVES

Podocyte pyroptosis, characterized by inflammasome activation, plays an important role in inflammation-mediated diabetic nephropathy (DN). Our study aimed to investigate whether miR-21-5p in macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) could affect podocyte injury in DN.

METHODS

EVs were extracted after the treatment of RAW 264.7 (mouse macrophage line) with high glucose (HG). The podocyte pyroptosis was determined using the flow cytometry and the western blot. After the knockdown of miR-21-5p in HG-induced RAW264.7 cells, we injected the extracted EVs into DN model mice.

RESULTS

The level of miR-21-5p was higher in HG-stimulated macrophage-derived EVs than in normal glucose-cultured macrophage-derived EVs. The co-culture of EVs and podocytes promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and activation of inflammatory in MPC5 cells (mouse podocyte line). However, restraint of miR-21-5p in EVs reduced ROS production and inhibit inflammasome activation in MPC5 cells, thereby reducing podocytes injury. Meanwhile, we found that miR-21-5p inhibited the A20 expression through binding with its 3'-untranslated regions in MPC5 cells. Further studies showed that A20 was also involved in the regulation of miR-21-5p of RAW 264.7-derived EVs on MPC5 injury. At the same time, it was also proved in the DN model mice that miR-21-5p in macrophage-derived EVs could regulate podocyte injury.

CONCLUSION

MiR-21-5p in macrophage-derived EVs can regulate pyroptosis-mediated podocyte injury by A20 in DN.

Magnetization Process of Atacamite: A Case of Weakly Coupled S=1/2 Sawtooth Chains

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the mineral atacamite Cu_{2}Cl(OH)_{3}. Density-functional theory yields a Hamiltonian describing anisotropic sawtooth chains with weak 3D connections. Experimentally, we fully characterize the antiferromagnetically ordered state. Magnetic order shows a complex evolution with the magnetic field, while, starting at 31.5 T, we observe a plateaulike magnetization at about M_{sat}/2. Based on complementary theoretical approaches, we show that the latter is unrelated to the known magnetization plateau of a sawtooth chain. Instead, we provide evidence that the magnetization process in atacamite is a field-driven canting of a 3D network of weakly coupled sawtooth chains that form giant moments.

[Effects of RNA interference of CTHRC1 on proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid papillary cancer TCP-1 cells in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of CTHRC1 in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of papillary thyroid cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE

Papillary thyroid cancer TPC-1 cells were transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CTHRC1, with the cells transfected with a scrambled sequence as the negative control. The changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry with AV/PI double staining, respectively. The expression of c-caspase-3, c-PARP1 and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the cells were examined with Western blotting.

OBJECTIVE

Transfection with the siRNA sequence significantly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of CTHRC1 in TCP-1 cells (P < 0.05). Compared with blank and negative control cells, TCP-1 cells with RNA interference of CTHRC1 showed significantly lowered proliferative activity and enhanced cell apoptosis (P < 0.05) with significantly increased expressions of c-caspase-3 and c-PARP1 and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (P < 0.05).

OBJECTIVE

RNA interference of CTHRC1 promotes the proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of papillary thyroid cancer cells possibly by activating the ERK1/2 pathway.

Mental Component Score (MCS) from Health-Related Quality of Life Predicts Incidence of Dementia in U.S. Males

BACKGROUND

The Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) measures health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from the individual's point of view and is an indicator of overall health status.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether HRQoL shows differential changes over time prior to dementia onset and investigate whether HRQoL predicts incidence of dementia.

DESIGN

Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by Vitamin E and Selenium (PREADViSE) trial, which recruited 7,547 non-demented men between 2002 and 2009. A subset of 2,746 PREADViSE participants who completed up to five SF-36 assessments at annual visits was included in the current analysis.

SETTING

Secondary data analysis of PREADViSE data.

PARTICIPANTS

A subset of 2,746 PREADViSE participants who completed up to five SF-36 assessments at annual visits was included in the current analysis.

MEASUREMENTS

Two summary T scores were generated for analysis: physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS), each with a mean of 50 (standard deviation of 10); higher scores are better. Linear mixed models (LMM) were applied to determine if mean component scores varied over time or by eventual dementia status. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine if the baseline component scores were associated with dementia incidence, adjusting for baseline age, race, APOE-4 carrier status, sleep apnea, and self-reported memory complaint at baseline.

RESULTS

The mean baseline MCS score for participants who later developed dementia (mean± SD: 53.9±9.5) was significantly lower than for those participants who did not develop dementia during the study (mean±SD: 56.4±6.5; p = 0.005). Mean PCS scores at baseline (dementia: 49.3±7.9 vs. non-dementia: 49.8±7.8) were not significantly different (p = 0.5) but LMM analysis showed a significant time effect. For MCS, the indicator for eventual dementia diagnosis was significantly associated with poorer scores after adjusting for baseline age, race, and memory complaint. Adjusted for other baseline risk factors, the Cox model showed that a 10-unit increase in MCS was associated with a 44% decrease in the hazard of a future dementia diagnosis (95% CI: 32%-55%).

CONCLUSION

The SF-36 MCS summary score may serve as a predictor for future dementia and could be prognostic in longitudinal dementia research.

Differentially expressed proteins identified by TMT proteomics analysis in children with verrucous epidermal naevi

BACKGROUND

Verrucous epidermal naevi (VEN) are benign skin tumours, considered keratinocytic epidermal naevi, that appear at birth or early childhood. VEN may display a range of appearances, depending on patient age. Although the number of studies regarding VEN is increasing, the exact mechanism of VEN is still unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in the expression of protein factors in lesions of VEN children by TMT labelling-based quantitative proteomics.

METHODS

A total of 8 children with VEN (5 for experiment and 3 for validation) and 8 healthy children (5 for experiment and 3 for validation) presented to the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Boao Super Hospital, between January 2019 and November 2019. The lesions and lesion-adjacent tissues from children with VEN and naevus-adjacent normal skin tissues from children with pigmented naevi were defined as the VEN group, VENC group and C group, respectively. We performed a proteomics analysis to screen for differentially expressed proteins in the lesions of these individuals. We further performed Western blotting to validate the relative expression levels of nine targeted proteins in the validation group.

RESULTS

According to the proteomics results, a total of 4970 proteins were identified, and 4770 proteins were quantified. Among these proteins, 586 proteins were up- or downregulated at least 1.3-fold with a P-value < 0.05 (upregulated: 399, downregulated: 187) in lesions between the VEN group and the C group. These proteins played important roles in multiple biological functions, such as cornification, epidermal cell differentiation and neutrophil activation, and formed a complicated protein-protein interaction network. Of the 586 up- or downregulated proteins, nine were selected for further validation. According to Western blotting analysis results, the relative expression levels of Involucrin, NDUFA4, Loricrin, Keratin type II cytoskeletal 6A (Cytokeratin 6A), BRAF, Filaggrin, S100A7 and Desmocollin-3 were significantly upregulated in VEN children and may be associated with skin barrier dysfunction, epidermal cell overgrowth and differentiation, inflammation and immune and oxidative phosphorylation, which are involved in the pathogenesis of VEN.

CONCLUSIONS

According to TMT-based proteomics and Western blotting results, we identified eight noteworthy proteins, Involucrin, NDUFA4, Loricrin, Keratin type II cytoskeletal 6A, BRAF, Filaggrin, S100A7 and Desmocollin-3, that were upregulated in the lesions of VEN children and may be associated with the pathogenesis of VEN. Our findings provide new starting points for identifying precise pathogenic mechanisms or therapeutic targets for VEN.

Strategies to Identify Genetic Variants Causing Infertility

Genetic causes are thought to underlie about half of infertility cases, but understanding the genetic bases has been a major challenge. Modern genomics tools allow more sophisticated exploration of genetic causes of infertility through population, family-based, and individual studies. Nevertheless, potential therapies based on genetic diagnostics will be limited until there is certainty regarding the causality of genetic variants identified in an individual. Genome modulation and editing technologies have revolutionized our ability to functionally test such variants, and also provide a potential means for clinical correction of infertility variants. This review addresses strategies being used to identify causative variants of infertility.

Variants in RABL2A causing male infertility and ciliopathy

Approximately 7% of men worldwide suffer from infertility, with sperm abnormalities being the most common defect. Though genetic causes are thought to underlie a substantial fraction of idiopathic cases, the actual molecular bases are usually undetermined. Because the consequences of most genetic variants in populations are unknown, this complicates genetic diagnosis even after genome sequencing of patients. Some patients with ciliopathies, including primary ciliary dyskinesia and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, also suffer from infertility because cilia and sperm flagella share several characteristics. Here, we identified two deleterious alleles of RABL2A, a gene essential for normal function of cilia and flagella. Our in silico predictions and in vitro assays suggest that both alleles destabilize the protein. We constructed and analyzed mice homozygous for these two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, Rabl2L119F (rs80006029) and Rabl2V158F (rs200121688), and found that they exhibit ciliopathy-associated disorders including male infertility, early growth retardation, excessive weight gain in adulthood, heterotaxia, pre-axial polydactyly, neural tube defects and hydrocephalus. Our study provides a paradigm for triaging candidate infertility variants in the population for in vivo functional validation, using computational, in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Perfluorooctanoic acid induces cytotoxicity in spermatogonial GC-1 cells

Perfluorooctane acid (PFOA), a typical perfluorinated chemical, has been suggested to interfere with male reproductive function. In this study, mouse spermatogonial GC-1 cells were in vitro treated with PFOA (250, 500 or 750 μM) for 24 h to investigate the cytotoxicity of PFOA and its underlying mechanisms. Our results indicated that exposure to intermediate and high doses of PFOA suppressed the viability of GC-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, PFOA treatment markedly enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, with diminished activity of superoxide dismutase. Particularly, PFOA exposure evoked a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production. Furthermore, the apoptotic index and caspase-3 activity were significantly elevated after treatment with PFOA. In addition, PFOA incubation caused an increase in LC3B-II/LC3B-I ratio. Meanwhile, PFOA resulted in an excessive accumulation of autophagosomes in the cytoplasm. Taken together, exposure to PFOA can elicit cytotoxicity to spermatogonial GC-1 cells in vitro, which may be link to the mitochondrial oxidative damage and induction of apoptosis and autophagy.