The quality of life in Chinese population with chronic non-communicable diseases according to EQ-5D-3L: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Over the past decade, a changing spectrum of disease has turned chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) into the leading cause of death worldwide. During the 2015 in China, there were more than 6.6 million deaths from NCDs, which was the highest rate around the world. In the present study, we performed a systematic review to analyze the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to EQ-5D-3L instrument in patients with different kinds of CNCDs in China.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, VIP, WanFang Data, and CNKI databases up to April 12, 2018, to identify all relevant studies that reported on HRQoL assessed by EQ-5D-3L instrument in Chinese patients with CNCDs. Expert consultation and hand-searching of reference lists from retrieved studies were employed to identify additional references. The variation of mean utility values, EQ-VAS score ranges, and responses for each EQ-5D dimension described in relevant studies were extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 5027 English-language articles and 618 Chinese-language articles were identified, among which 38 articles met full inclusion criteria. These 38 studies involved 18 kinds of CNCDs. In this review, the health utility for diabetes mellitus ranged from 0.79 to 0.94 (EQ-5D VAS scores from 61.5 to 78.6), hypertension from 0.78 to 0.93 (70.1-77.4), coronary heart disease from 0.75 to 0.90 (71.0-77.0), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from 0.64 to 0.80 (55.0-67.0), epilepsy from 0.83 to 0.87 (78.3-79.6), cerebral infarction from 0.51 to 0.75 (49.7-79.0), while children cerebral palsy was 0.44 (27.3).

CONCLUSIONS

EQ-5D-3L is widely used in studies of HRQoL associated with CNCDs in China. Our results suggest that many factors may influence the measurement results of health utilities, including age, gender, sample source, comorbidities, rural/urban, and EQ-5D-3L value sets.

Enabling liquid vapor analysis using synchrotron VUV single photon ionization mass spectrometry with a microfluidic interface

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionization mass spectrometry (SPI-MS) is a vacuum-based technique typically used for the analysis of gas phase and solid samples, but not for liquids due to the challenge in introducing volatile liquids in a vacuum. Here we present the first demonstration of in situ liquid analysis by integrating the System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI) microfluidic reactor into VUV SPI-MS. Four representative volatile organic compound (VOC) solutions were used to illustrate the feasibility of liquid analysis. Our results show the accurate mass identification of the VOC molecules and the reliable determination of appearance energy that is consistent with ionization energy for gaseous species in the literature as reported. This work validates that the vacuum-compatible SALVI microfluidic interface can be utilized at the synchrotron beamline and enable the in situ study of gas-phase molecules evaporating off the surface of a liquid, which holds importance in the study of condensed matter chemistry.

An Adaptive Seismocardiography (SCG)-ECG Multimodal Framework for Cardiac Gating Using Artificial Neural Networks

To more accurately trigger data acquisition and reduce radiation exposure of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a multimodal framework utilizing both electrocardiography (ECG) and seismocardiography (SCG) for CCTA prospective gating is presented. Relying upon a three-layer artificial neural network that adaptively fuses individual ECG- and SCG-based quiescence predictions on a beat-by-beat basis, this framework yields a personalized quiescence prediction for each cardiac cycle. This framework was tested on seven healthy subjects (age: 22-48; m/f: 4/3) and eleven cardiac patients (age: 31-78; m/f: 6/5). Seventeen out of 18 benefited from the fusion-based prediction as compared to the ECG-only-based prediction, the traditional prospective gating method. Only one patient whose SCG was compromised by noise was more suitable for ECG-only-based prediction. On average, our fused ECG-SCG-based method improves cardiac quiescence prediction by 47% over ECG-only-based method; with both compared against the gold standard, B-mode echocardiography. Fusion-based prediction is also more resistant to heart rate variability than ECG-only- or SCG-only-based prediction. To assess the clinical value, the diagnostic quality of the CCTA reconstructed volumes from the quiescence derived from ECG-, SCG- and fusion-based predictions were graded by a board-certified radiologist using a Likert response format. Grading results indicated the fusion-based prediction improved diagnostic quality. ECG may be a sub-optimal modality for quiescence prediction and can be enhanced by the multimodal framework. The combination of ECG and SCG signals for quiescence prediction bears promise for a more personalized and reliable approach than ECG-only-based method to predict cardiac quiescence for prospective CCTA gating.

Phase transitions in a programmable quantum spin glass simulator

Understanding magnetic phases in quantum mechanical systems is one of the essential goals in condensed matter physics, and the advent of prototype quantum simulation hardware has provided new tools for experimentally probing such systems. We report on the experimental realization of a quantum simulation of interacting Ising spins on three-dimensional cubic lattices up to dimensions 8 × 8 × 8 on a D-Wave processor (D-Wave Systems, Burnaby, Canada). The ability to control and read out the state of individual spins provides direct access to several order parameters, which we used to determine the lattice's magnetic phases as well as critical disorder and one of its universal exponents. By tuning the degree of disorder and effective transverse magnetic field, we observed phase transitions between a paramagnetic, an antiferromagnetic, and a spin-glass phase.

[Repairing the bone and skin defect of foot after improved toe-to-finger reconstruction utilizing periosteal perforator bone-skin flap of proximal anterior tibial artery]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of repairing donor site of foot after improved toe-to-finger reconstruction utilizing periosteal perforator bone-skin flap of proximal anterior tibial artery. Methods: Twelve patients of toe defect after reconstruction were repaired from March, 2015 to June, 2017 utilizing periosteal perforator bone-skin flap of proximal anterior tibial artery in the Department of Hand and Foot Microsurgery of Xin'an Hospital, Dongguan City.Of which, there were 7 cases of great toe defect with fibular side of phalanx ungual and skin, 5 cases of second toe defect with proximal interphalangeal joints and the partial bone accompanied the great toe defect.Double bone flaps of one pedicles were used to repair first and second phalanx defect in 5 cases.The skin injured area: 5.5 cm×2.5 cm to 6.5 cm×10.0 cm. Bone defect size of great and second toe were 1.5 cm×1.0 cm×0.8 cm to 1.7 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm and 2.5 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 4.0 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm, respectively.The flap size ranged from 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 6.5 cm×12.0 cm, and the bone flap size ranged from 1.5 cm×1.0 cm×0.8cm to 1.7 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm(great toe) and 2.0 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 3.5 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm(second toe). The wound of donor site of the leg was directly combined or local skin transfer sutured with 8 cases, skin-grafting in 4 cases. Results: All the bone-skin flaps survived.After 6-27 months of follow-up, the great toe flaps were found with normal color, good texture and moderate thickness, the two-point discrimination was 7-10 mm. The donor site of the leg showed little influence with normal function.No pain and discomfort in the foot were recorded, and the patients walked well.The healing time of bone flap was from 1.5 to 4 months, with an average of 2.5 months.Using the Maryland Foot Score, 5 cases of 7 feet got excellent and 2 cases of 2 feet got good result in the great toe group (7 cases of 9 feet), the good rate was 100%.Three cases got excellent and two cases got good result in the combined reconstruction group (5 cases), the good rate was 100%. Conclusion: Repairing donor site of foot after improved toe-to-finger reconstruction utilizing periosteal perforator bone-skin flap of proximal anterior tibial artery can also repair bone and skin defect of the great and the second toe, keep the great and the second toe, and restore the appearance and function of the first and the second toe at utmost.

[Clinicopathologic features of myxoid adrenocortical adenomas]

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics, immunophenotype, pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of myxoid adrenocortical adenomas. Methods: The clinical data, histological features and immunohistochemical results of 4 cases of myxoid adrenocortical adenomas were analyzed, which were collected from January 2014 to December 2016 at Guangdong General Hospital, with review of literature. Results: Four cases of myxoid adrenocortical adenomas were presented. The patients ages ranged from 26 to 45 years (mean =35 years). Microscopically, it showed a typical morphology, characterized by small-sized tumor cell cords or pseudo-glands embedded in an abundant extracellular myxoid matrix. Immunohistochemical staining showed tumor cells were strongly positive for Melan A, vimentin and focally for α-inhibin, one case showed strong and diffuse positivity for CAM5.2, and two cases showed diffuse positivity for synaptophysin, while negative for CgA, S-100 protein, epithelial antigen, CK7, CK20 and CKpan. Conclusions: Myxoid adrenocortical adenomas are extremely rare, which may cause confusion with metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours, sex cord-stromal tumoursor metanephric adenoma. Recognition of this entity would be beneficial for pathologists to avoid misdiagnosis, and unnecessary treatment.

Randomised clinical trial: Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang granules versus placebo for patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF) is a Chinese herbal formula for treating chronic diarrhoea accompanied by abdominal pain. The results were inconsistent in previous trials examining its effect.

AIM

To study the efficacy of TXYF granules for treating diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

METHODS

We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial and enrolled 160 participants with IBS-D. The participants had VAS scores ≥3 cm in IBS-D global symptoms and ≥2 days in a week with abdominal pain and loose stools (Bristol score 5, 6 or 7). They were randomly assigned to received TXYF or placebo during a treatment period of 4 weeks, and they were followed up for 8 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was adequate relief of IBS-D global symptoms for at least 2 of 4 weeks during weeks 1-4. Secondary outcomes included mean weekly VAS scores of IBS-D major symptoms, mean weekly stool frequency, mean weekly Bristol score, and adverse events.

RESULTS

155 of 160 patients completed the trial. We found a significantly higher rate of adequate relief of global symptoms in TXFY group during weeks 1 to 4 (57.5% vs 37.5%, χ² = 5.6391, P = 0.017); logistic regression analysis showed a similar result (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.4, P = 0.016). Most of the secondary outcomes showed superiority of TXYF over placebo in weekly assessment from week 3 to week 7. The adverse event rate was low in both groups (3.8% vs 3.8%, P = 1.000).

CONCLUSION

During a 4 week trial, TXFY granules were superior to placebo in controlling symptoms of IBS-D.

[Experience of wound treatment on extremely severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident]

Objective: To explore experience of wound treatment of extremely severe mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident. Methods: On August 2nd, 2014, 98 extremely severe burn mass patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident were admitted to 20 hospitals in China. The patients with complete medical record were enrolled in the study and divided into microskin graft group with 56 patients and Meek skin graft group with 42 patients. Split-thickness skin in area of residual skin were resected to repair wounds of patients in microskin graft group and Meek skin graft group by microskin grafting and Meek miniature skin grafting, respectively. The residual wound size on 28 days post injury and wound infection after skin grafting of patients in the two groups, and position of donor site of all patients were retrospectively analyzed. Data were processed with t test and chi-square test. Results: The size of residual wound of patients in Meek skin graft group on 28 days post injury was (59±13)% total body surface area (TBSA), which was obviously smaller than that in microskin graft group [(70±14)%TBSA, t=4.379, P<0.05]. Twenty-nine patients in microskin graft group and 11 patients in Meek skin graft group suffered from obvious wound infection after skin grafting. Wounds of patients in two groups were repaired with residual skin around wound in head, trunk, groin, armpit, and uncommon donor sites of scrotum (4 patients), vola (10 patients), and toe or finger web (8 patients). Conclusions: Meek skin graft is the first choice for wound repair of extremely severe burn mass patients, with faster wound healing, less wound infection. Uncommon donor sites of scrotum, vola, and toe or finger web can also be used for wound repair in case of lack of skin.

Bisphosphonate-Generated ATP-Analogs Inhibit Cell Signaling Pathways

Bisphosphonates are a major class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and cancer. They have been proposed to act by inhibiting one or more targets including protein prenylation, the epidermal growth factor receptor, or the adenine nucleotide translocase. Inhibition of the latter is due to formation in cells of analogs of ATP: the isopentenyl ester of ATP (ApppI) or an AppXp-type analog of ATP, such as AMP-clodronate (AppCCl2p). We screened both ApppI as well as AppCCl2p against a panel of 369 kinases finding potent inhibition of some tyrosine kinases by AppCCl2p, attributable to formation of a strong hydrogen bond between tyrosine and the terminal phosphonate. We then synthesized bisphosphonate preprodrugs that are converted in cells to other ATP-analogs, finding low nM kinase inhibitors that inhibited cell signaling pathways. These results help clarify our understanding of the mechanisms of action of bisphosphonates, potentially opening up new routes to the development of bone resorption, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory drug leads.

Neurons derived from patients with bipolar disorder divide into intrinsically different sub-populations of neurons, predicting the patients' responsiveness to lithium

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a progressive psychiatric disorder with more than 3% prevalence worldwide. Affected individuals experience recurrent episodes of depression and mania, disrupting normal life and increasing the risk of suicide greatly. The complexity and genetic heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders have challenged the development of animal and cellular models. We recently reported that hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived fibroblasts of BD patients are electrophysiologically hyperexcitable. Here we used iPSCs derived from Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B-lymphocytes to verify that the hyperexcitability of DG-like neurons is reproduced in this different cohort of patients and cells. Lymphocytes are readily available for research with a large number of banked lines with associated patient clinical description. We used whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of over 460 neurons to characterize neurons derived from control individuals and BD patients. Extensive functional analysis showed that intrinsic cell parameters are very different between the two groups of BD neurons, those derived from lithium (Li)-responsive (LR) patients and those derived from Li-non-responsive (NR) patients, which led us to partition our BD neurons into two sub-populations of cells and suggested two different subdisorders. Training a Naïve Bayes classifier with the electrophysiological features of patients whose responses to Li are known allows for accurate classification with more than 92% success rate for a new patient whose response to Li is unknown. Despite their very different functional profiles, both populations of neurons share a large, fast after-hyperpolarization (AHP). We therefore suggest that the large, fast AHP is a key feature of BD and a main contributor to the fast, sustained spiking abilities of BD neurons. Confirming our previous report with fibroblast-derived DG neurons, chronic Li treatment reduced the hyperexcitability in the lymphoblast-derived LR group but not in the NR group, strengthening the validity and utility of this new human cellular model of BD.

The molecular mechanism of serum microRNA124b induced coronary heart disease by inducing myocardial cell senescence

The article "The molecular mechanism of serum microRNA124b induced coronary heart disease by inducing myocardial cell senescence" by Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (7): 2070-2076 has been withdrawn.

[Multi-variated analysis of differential diagnosis in ultrasonography of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis and invasive ductal carcinoma]

Objective: To evaluate the differential diagnosis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) and invasive ductal carcinoma. Methods: The ultrasonographic data of 37 IGM patients and 50 cases of IDC were analyzed retrospectively. The shape, growth direction, margin, internal echo, posterior echo, calcification, Adler blood flow classification, PSV(peak sestolic velocity), RI (resistance index)and elasticity scores were analyzed by χ(2) test and independent sample t test. The optimal cutoff values of age, PSV and RI were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of ultrasonic variates in the diagnosis of both diseases. Results: There were no significant differences in the shape, margin, internal echo and blood flow grading between the two groups. The age, lesion growth direction, posterior echo, calcification, PSV, RI and elasticity were statistically different. The cut-of value of Age, PSV and RI were 38.5 years old, 13.20 cm/s, and 0.655. Logistic regression multi-variated analysis revealed that elastic score (OR=9.806) had the best value of the differential diagnosis, as well as calcification (OR=6.937), posterior echo decay (OR=4.613), RI (OR=3.257), lesion growth orientation (OR=3.198), and PSV (OR=1.202). Lesion shape, margin, internal echo, and Adler blood flow classification did not help in differential diagnosis. Conclusion: Ultrasound multi-parameter analysis has high value in IGM and IDC differential diagnosis.

Lateral orbital propeller flap technique for reconstruction of the lower eyelid defect

The lower eyelid, which has a unique anatomy and esthetic importance, is a common site of basal cell carcinoma. The reconstruction of the defect after the wide excision of the tumour is a special concern of many plastic surgeons. How to achieve the most satisfying effect through minimal invasive is important for patients. We successfully applied the lateral orbital propeller flap for one-stage reconstruction of a large lower eyelid defect after tumour resection. We consider that this flap can achieve better tissue mobilisation as it provides effective coverage of soft tissue defects and thus is especially useful for repairing facial defects.

[Clinical Observation of Gefitinib with Pericardial Perfusion for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important subtype of lung cancer. The incidence of malignant pericardial effusion (MPCE) in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients is high. However, there are few researches on the treatmentof this type of patients.

METHODS

We collected data on clinical characteristics and treatment of advanced NSCLC patients who harboring EGFR mutants and MPCE between January 2010 and December 2016. The treatments were divided into three groups: oral gefitinib combined with pericardial perfusion of hydroxycamptotheci (HCPT) group (gefitinib/HCPT); intravenous chemotherapy combined with pericardial perfusion of HCPT group (chemotherapy/HCPT) and gefitinib monotherapy group. And we retrospectively analyzed patients' outcomes in three groups.

RESULTS

In 273 advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, 29 cases had pericardial effusion, among which 6 patients with small amount of pericardial effusion were excluded, and 23 patients were analyzed. Median pericardium progression free survival (PFS) was 247 days. PFS for gefitinib/HCPT group (460 days) was superior to PFS for chemotherapy/HCPT group (94 days, P=0.008) and gefitinib monotherapy group (131 days, P=0.032). As for the efficacy of primary pulmonary lesions, the efficacy in gefitinib/ HCPT group was superior to chemotherapy/HCPT group [objective response rate (ORR): 33.3% vs 12.5%; disease control rate (DCR): 86.7% vs 62.5%]. There is no difference of ORR and DCR between gefitinib/HCPT group and gefitinib monotherapy group. No obvious adverse reaction was observed in all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

First-line gefitinib therapy combined with pericardial perfusion of HCPT can improve pericardium PFS for advanced NSCLC patients who harboring EGFR mutants andmalignantpericardial effusion. This finding should be confirmed further through multicenter, prospective clinical trials with large sample size.

[Diatom Detection Using Enzyme Combined with Strong Acid Digestion Method]

OBJECTIVES

To detect diatom in the organs of drowners by enzyme combined with strong acid digestion method, and evaluate its application value.

METHODS

A total of 40 cases which have been identified as drowning in local region were collected. Samples of the lung, liver, kidney, and the water of the scene were also gathered from each case. Strong acid digestion method, enzyme combined with strong acid digestion method, and enzymic digestion method were respectively performed to detect the diatom in the samples. The comparative analysis was made on digestion time, digestive power and detection rate of diatom, etc.

RESULTS

Enzyme combined with strong acid digestion method was significantly better than enzymic digestion method on digestion time and digestive power; enzyme combined with strong acid digestion method were obviously superior to strong acid digestion method on the detection rate of diatom.

CONCLUSIONS

Enzyme combined with strong acid digestion method combines the advantages of strong acid digestion method and enzymic digestion method. It has the characters of operation safety with little pollution to environment, which is worthy of further popularization and practice.

Relative ratios of collagen composition of periarticular tissue of joints of the upper limb

We investigated the relative ratios of collagen composition of periarticular tissue of the elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Periarticulat tissue, which we defined as the ligaments, palmar plate and capsule, was harvested from ten fresh-frozen cadaveric upper limbs, yielding 50 samples. The mean paired differences (95% confidence interval) of the relative ratios of collagen between the five different joints were estimated using mRNA expression of collagen in the periarticular tissue. We found that the relative collagen composition of the elbow was not significantly different to that of the proximal interphalangeal joint, nor between the proximal interphalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joint, whereas the differences in collagen composition between all the other paired comparisons of the joints had confidence intervals that did not include zero.

Anticancer Activity of Polyoxometalate-Bisphosphonate Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro and In Vivo Results

We synthesized a series of polyoxometalate-bisphosphonate complexes containing Mo^VIO₆ octahedra, zoledronate, or an N-alkyl (n-C₆ or n-C₈) zoledronate analogue, and in two cases, Mn as a heterometal. Mo₆L₂ (L = Zol, ZolC₆, ZolC₈) and Mo₄L₂Mn (L = Zol, ZolC₈) were characterized by using single-crystal X-ray crystallography and/or IR spectroscopy, elemental and energy dispersive X-ray analysis and ³¹P NMR. We found promising activity against human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NCI-H460) cells with IC₅₀ values for growth inhibition of ∼5 μM per bisphosphonate ligand. The effects of bisphosphonate complexation on IC₅₀ decreased with increasing bisphosphonate chain length: C₀ ≈ 6.1×, C₆ ≈ 3.4×, and C₈ ≈ 1.1×. We then determined the activity of one of the most potent compounds in the series, Mo₄Zol₂Mn(III), against SK-ES-1 sarcoma cells in a mouse xenograft system finding a ∼5× decrease in tumor volume than found with the parent compound zoledronate at the same compound dosing (5 μg/mouse). Overall, the results are of interest since we show for the first time that heteropolyoxomolybdate-bisphosphonate hybrids kill tumor cells in vitro and significantly decrease tumor growth, in vivo, opening up new possibilities for targeting both Ras as well as epidermal growth factor receptor driven cancers.

Circulating tumour cells as a biomarker for diagnosis and staging in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Current diagnosis and staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has important limitations and better biomarkers are needed to guide initial therapy. We investigated the performance of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as an adjunctive biomarker at the time of disease presentation.

METHODS

Venous blood (VB) was collected prospectively from 100 consecutive, pre-treatment patients with PDAC. Utilising the microfluidic NanoVelcro CTC chip, samples were evaluated for the presence and number of CTCs. KRAS mutation analysis was used to compare the CTCs with primary tumour tissue. CTC enumeration data was then evaluated as a diagnostic and staging biomarker in the setting of PDAC.

RESULTS

We found 100% concordance for KRAS mutation subtype between primary tumour and CTCs in all five patients tested. Evaluation of CTCs as a diagnostic revealed the presence of CTCs in 54/72 patients with confirmed PDAC (sensitivity=75.0%, specificity=96.4%, area under the curve (AUROC)=0.867, 95% CI=0.798-0.935, and P<0.001). Furthermore, a cut-off of ⩾3 CTCs in 4 ml VB was able to discriminate between local/regional and metastatic disease (AUROC=0.885; 95% CI=0.800-0.969; and P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

CTCs appear to function well as a biomarker for diagnosis and staging in PDAC.

Abstract P1-08-01: Regulation of estrogen receptor-α by NF1

Background. Although great strides have been made in targeting the ER pathway for treating ER+ breast cancer, relapse and death is common and is closely linked to resistance to ER-targeting agents. As a result, the majority of deaths from breast cancer still come from ER+ tumors. To discover drivers for endocrine resistance, we have sequenced tumor DNAs from a cohort of &gt;600 patients treated with 5-year tamoxifen (Tam) monotherapy with a median 10.4 years follow up. Our preliminary data show that the worst outcome mutations (Hazard Ratio of ∼3 for relapse) were mostly those of the Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene (encoding Neurofibromin), with nonsense/frame shift mutations creating early stop codons.

Germline NF1mutations cause neurofibromatosis type 1, a common inherited disorder that predisposes individuals to both benign and malignant tumors of the nervous system, as well as an increased risk for breast cancer. Analysis of DNA sequencing data has also shown that the NF1 gene is mutated in a wide range of common cancers (e.g., melanoma, lymphoma, and cancers of the lung, breast, and colon). Thus, NF1-deficiency underlies the formation and/or progression of a large number of cancers, so that the development of therapies targeted to NF1-deficient malignancies would have broad impact.

These observations support the hypothesis that NF1 gene inactivation is associated with aggressive tumor behaviors, such as endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer. The key focus of this study is to define how the NF1 protein neurofibromin, regulates endocrine therapy resistance. Although neurofibromin is best known as a negative regulator for Ras, our data show that it may have other functions.

Method. Our data suggest that many of the identified nonsense/frame shift create a NF1 null state; thus, we have used gene-silencing to recapitulate the effects of such NF1 mutations on the activities of ER+ breast cancer cells. NF1+ and NF1– ER+ breast cancer cells were grown in defined media to measure how estradiol (E2) and Tam impact their growth, transforming activities, and gene expression. The binding between neurofibromin and components of the ER transcriptional pathway was measured biochemically and using the mammalian two-hybrid system.

Results. Our data showed that NF1-silenced cells use Tam as an agonist and can grow with very little E2, and these activities are driven by enhanced recruitment of ER to the ERE, leading to efficient expression of many classic ER-responsive genes. Expressing the NF1-GAP domain does not restore normal responses to Tam and E2 in NF1-silenced cells, suggesting that neurofibromincan regulate ER activity in a Ras-independent manner. To investigate the possibility that neurofibromin can directly regulate ER, we found that it can bind ER; furthermore, neurofibromin was more strongly recruited to the ERE by Tam than by E2.

Conclusion. Our data support a model whereby neurofibromin acts like a co-repressor for ER. As such,NF1 loss may result in more aggressive tumor behaviors by activating, not only the Ras pathways, but also the ER transcriptional pathways. Simultaneous activation of two powerful oncogenic pathways by the loss of a single tumor suppressor may explain why neurofibromin is such a potent tumor suppressor lost in a wide range of cancers.

Citation Format: Zheng Z-Y, Cakar B, Lavere P, Cao J, Yao J, Singh P, Lei JT, Toonen JA, Haricharan S, Anurag M, Shah K, Kavuri M, Chan DW, Chen X, Gutmann DH, Foulds CE, Ellis MJ, Chang EC. Regulation of estrogen receptor-α by NF1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-08-01.

Lectin staining of cultured CNS microglia

Carbohydrate binding proteins, known as lectins, bind to specific sugar groups on most membranes. We used fluorescent and light microscopy to study the interaction of various lectins with the membranes of microglia cultured from neonatal rat or fetal mouse cerebral cortices. Microglia stained intensely with GS-1, RCA, WGA, and ConA and slightly with DBA, UEA, BPA, and SBA. No staining was seen with GS-2, MPA, or PNA. Staining was specific for microglia in the mixed glial cultures and was dose dependent. In addition, microglial lectin binding could be reduced or blocked by competitive inhibition using specific sugars. Treatment of the microglia with agents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interferon (IFN), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not eliminate lectin staining, although the degree of staining was altered. Positive staining of the microglia was also associated with a functional change for at least one lectin, i.e., ConA. Superoxide anion production by microglia was increased in the presence of ConA. Overall, binding of the lectins GS-1, RCA, WGA, and ConA can be used as an identifying tool for microglia in glial cultures, but intensity of staining varies depending on their functional state.

Linking genomic reorganization to tumor initiation via the giant cell cycle

To investigate the mechanisms underlying our recent paradoxical finding that mitotically incapacitated and genomically unstable polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are capable of tumor initiation, we labeled ovarian cancer cells with α-tubulin fused to green fluorescent protein, histone-2B fused to red fluorescent protein and FUCCI (fluorescent ubiquitination cell cycle indicator), and tracked the spatial and time-dependent change in spindle and chromosomal dynamics of PGCCs using live-cell fluorescence time-lapse recording. We found that single-dose (500 nm) treatment with paclitaxel paradoxically initiated endoreplication to form PGCCs after massive cell death. The resulting PGCCs continued self-renewal via endoreplication and further divided by nuclear budding or fragmentation; the small daughter nuclei then acquired cytoplasm, split off from the giant mother cells and acquired competency in mitosis. FUCCI showed that PGCCs divided via truncated endoreplication cell cycle (endocycle or endomitosis). Confocal microscopy showed that PGCCs had pronounced nuclear fragmentation and lacked expression of key mitotic proteins. PGCC-derived daughter cells were capable of long-term proliferation and acquired numerous new genome/chromosome alterations demonstrated by spectral karyotyping. These data prompt us to conceptualize a giant cell cycle composed of four distinct but overlapping phases, initiation, self-renewal, termination and stability. The giant cell cycle may represent a fundamental cellular mechanism to initiate genomic reorganization to generate new tumor-initiating cells in response to chemotherapy-induced stress and contributes to disease relapse.

Fentanyl induces autophagy via activation of the ROS/MAPK pathway and reduces the sensitivity of cisplatin in lung cancer cells

Cancer pain is the most common complication of lung carcinoma. Opioid agonist fentanyl is widely used for relieving pain in cancer patients, and cisplatin (DDP)‑based chemotherapy is commonly used for the treatment of advanced lung cancer; these two drugs are always used together in lung carcinoma patients. However, the mechanisms and related biological pathways by which fentanyl influences cisplatin sensitivity are relatively poorly reported. Here, we found that fentanyl reduces the sensitivity of cisplatin in human lung cancer cells and induces autophagy. Fentanyl induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and JNK activation. N-acetyl‑L‑cysteine is a ROS scavenger and antioxidant, and the inhibition of JNK with SP600125 prevented fentanyl‑induced autophagy. We also found that 3-methyladenine (3-MA; an autophagy inhibitor) increased the sensitivity of DDP and weakened the inhibition of fentanyl. In conclusion, fentanyl reduces the sensitivity of cisplatin in lung cancer cells through the ROS-JNK-autophagy pathway, whereas the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA may weaken this effect.

Effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in experimental biliary atresia mouse models

Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive bile duct disease occurring in newborn children within a few weeks after birth. In this study, the effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in experimental BA was explored by constructing BA mouse models via Rhesus rotavirus vaccine infection. miR-29c and miR-129-5p expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. EMT was established by induction with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. miR-29c and miR-129-5p were overexpressed and inhibited, respectively, by Lipofectamine transfection. EMT-related protein (formin-like 2, FMNL2; E-cadherin; vimentin; and cytokeratin-19, CK-19) expression was analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescent assay. The results indicated that miR-29c and miR-129-5p were downregulated and upregulated in BA mice. TGF-β1 induction caused a time-dependent decrease and increase in miR-29c and miR-129-5p, respectively. Additionally, TGF-β1 induced an increase in FMNL2 and vimentin expression and a decrease in E-cadherin and CK-19 expression (P < 0.05). Overexpression or suppression of miRNA-29c or miR-129-5p, respectively, induced the inhibition of FMNL2 and vimentin, and promotion of E-cadherin and CK-19 expression, in the test groups compared to the non-intervention group (P < 0.05). However, the FMNL2, vimentin, E-cadherin, and CK- 19 expression did not differ between the control and non-intervention groups (P > 0.05). Thus, miR-29c upregulation or miR-129-5p downregulation effectively prevented EMT in BA by regulating the expression of EMT pathway-related proteins. Therefore, miR-29c and miR-129-5p could be utilized as therapeutic targets for BA in the future.

A genome-wide association study of heat stress-associated SNPs in catfish

Heat tolerance is a complex and economically important trait for catfish genetic breeding programs. With global climate change, it is becoming an increasingly important trait. To better understand the molecular basis of heat stress, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out using the 250 K catfish SNP array with interspecific backcross progenies, which derived from crossing female channel catfish with male F1 hybrid catfish (female channel catfish × male blue catfish). Three significant associated SNPs were detected by performing an EMMAX approach for GWAS. The SNP located on linkage group 14 explained 12.1% of phenotypical variation. The other two SNPs, located on linkage group 16, explained 11.3 and 11.5% of phenotypical variation respectively. A total of 14 genes with heat stress related functions were detected within the significant associated regions. Among them, five genes-TRAF2, FBXW5, ANAPC2, UBR1 and KLHL29- have known functions in the protein degradation process through the ubiquitination pathway. Other genes related to heat stress include genes involved in protein biosynthesis (PRPF4 and SYNCRIP), protein folding (DNAJC25), molecule and iron transport (SLC25A46 and CLIC5), cytoskeletal reorganization (COL12A1) and energy metabolism (COX7A2, PLCB1 and PLCB4) processes. The results provide fundamental information about genes and pathways that is useful for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms of heat stress. The associated SNPs could be promising candidates for selecting heat-tolerant catfish lines after validating their effects on larger and various catfish populations.

Tumorigenic potential is restored during differentiation in fusion-reprogrammed cancer cells

Detailed understanding of the mechanistic steps underlying tumor initiation and malignant progression is critical for insights of potentially novel therapeutic modalities. Cellular reprogramming is an approach of particular interest because it can provide a means to reset the differentiation state of the cancer cells and to revert these cells to a state of non-malignancy. Here, we investigated the relationship between cellular differentiation and malignant progression by the fusion of four independent mouse cancer cell lines from different tissues, each with differing developmental potentials, to pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Fusion was accompanied by loss of differentiated properties of the four parental cancer cell lines and concomitant emergence of pluripotency, demonstrating the feasibility to reprogram the malignant and differentiative properties of cancer cells. However, the original malignant and differentiative phenotypes re-emerge upon withdrawal of the fused cells from the embryonic environment in which they were maintained. cDNA array analysis of the malignant hepatoma progression implicated a role for Foxa1, and silencing Foxa1 prevented the re-emergence of malignant and differentiation-associated gene expression. Our findings support the hypothesis that tumor progression results from deregulation of stem cells, and our approach provides a strategy to analyze possible mechanisms in the cancer initiation.

Leptin changes differentiation fate and induces senescence in chondrogenic progenitor cells

Body weight is a component of the mechanical theory of OA (osteoarthritis) pathogenesis. Obesity was also found to be a risk factor for digital OA involving non-weight-bearing joints, which suggested that metabolism influences the occurrence and progression of OA. The metabolic origin of OA has been partially attributed to the involvement of adipokines, such as leptin, the levels of which are significantly and positively correlated with cartilage degeneration in OA patients. However, the mechanisms by which leptin-induced cartilage degeneration occurs are poorly understood. The discovery of chondrogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) opened up new opportunities for investigation. Investigating the effects of leptin on differentiation and proliferation in CPCs would increase our understanding of the roles played by leptin in the aetiology and development of OA. Here, CPCs were harvested using single-cell sorting from rat cartilage tissues to obtain mesenchymal stem-like cells, which possess clonogenicity, proliferation and stemness. High doses of leptin decreased the ability of the CPCs to migrate, inhibited their chondrogenic potential and increased their osteogenic potential, suggesting that leptin changes differentiation fates in CPCs. High doses of leptin induced cell cycle arrest and senescence in CPCs by activating the p53/p21 pathway and inhibiting the Sirt1 pathway. Inhibiting the Sirt1 pathway accelerated cartilage senescence in knockout (KO) mice. Activating the leptin pathway induced higher Ob-Rb expression and was significantly correlated with cartilage degeneration (lower levels of Coll-2) and tissue senescence (higher levels of p53/p21 and lower levels of Sirt1) in OA patients, suggesting that leptin-induced CPCs senescence contributes to the development of OA. Taken together, our results reveal new links between obesity and cartilage damage that are induced by leptin-mediated effects on cell behaviour and senescence.

Identification of candidate genes for chicken early- and late-feathering

Previous studies suggest that prolactin receptor (Prlr) is a potential causative gene for chicken early- (EF) and late-feathering (LF) phenotypes. In this study, we evaluated candidate genes for this trait and determined the expression of 3 genes, including Prlr, sperm flagellar protein 2 (Spef2), and their fusion gene, in the skins of one-day-old EF and LF chicks using RT-qPCR. Data indicated that Prlr expression in the skin did not show significant difference between EF and LF chicks, suggesting Prlr may not be a suitable candidate gene. In contrast, Spef2 expression in the skin displayed a significant difference between EF and LF chicks (P < 0.01), suggesting that Spef2 may be a good candidate gene for chicken feathering. Moreover, dPrlr/dSpef2, the fusion gene, was also a good candidate gene as it was expressed only in LF chicks. However, the expression of the fusion gene was much lower than that of Prlr Additionally, using strand-specific primers, we found that the fusion gene was transcribed in 2 directions (one from dPrlr promoter, another from dSpef2 promoter), which could result in the formation of a double strand RNA. In conclusion, both Spef2 and the fusion gene are good candidate genes for chicken feathering, but Prlr is not. The research on the function and regulation of the candidate genes will help elucidate the molecular basis of the chicken feathering trait.

Development of three-dimensional integrated microchannel-electrode system to understand the particles' movement with electrokinetics

An optical transparent 3-D Integrated Microchannel-Electrode System (3-DIMES) has been developed to understand the particles' movement with electrokinetics in the microchannel. In this system, 40 multilayered electrodes are embedded at the 2 opposite sides along the 5 square cross-sections of the microchannel by using Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems technology in order to achieve the optical transparency at the other 2 opposite sides. The concept of the 3-DIMES is that the particles are driven by electrokinetic forces which are dielectrophoretic force, thermal buoyancy, electrothermal force, and electroosmotic force in a three-dimensional scope by selecting the excitation multilayered electrodes. As a first step to understand the particles' movement driven by electrokinetic forces in high conductive fluid (phosphate buffer saline (PBS)) with the 3-DIMES, the velocities of particles' movement with one pair of the electrodes are measured three dimensionally by Particle Image Velocimetry technique in PBS; meanwhile, low conductive fluid (deionized water) is used as a reference. Then, the particles' movement driven by the electrokinetic forces is discussed theoretically to estimate dominant forces exerting on the particles. Finally, from the theoretical estimation, the particles' movement mainly results from the dominant forces which are thermal buoyancy and electrothermal force, while the velocity vortex formed at the 2 edges of the electrodes is because of the electroosmotic force. The conclusions suggest that the 3-DIMES with PBS as high conductive fluid helps to understand the three-dimensional advantageous flow structures for cell manipulation in biomedical applications.