Sub-nanosecond stimulated Brillouin scattering pulse compression using HT270 for kHz repetition rate operation

With mitigation of thermal effects in a generator cell based on a rotating off-centered lens, the effects of thermal blooming, self-defocusing, and thermal convection in the amplifier cell have experimentally proven to be the main factors limiting high-repetition-rate stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) pulse compression. To alleviate these effects, Galden HT270, which has a large viscosity coefficient, is used and compared experimentally. The operating repetition rate using HT270 was improved from 200 Hz to 1,000 Hz, comparable to the values in the literature. With a pump energy of 50 mJ at 1,000 Hz, the pump pulse was compressed down to 820 ps using HT270 with an energy efficiency of 52.2%. If the injection energy is further increased, the SBS energy efficiency can be increased beyond this value.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of a hevein-like gene into asparagus leads to stem wilt resistance

Asparagus stem wilt, is a significant and devastating disease, typically leading to extensive economic losses in the asparagus industry. To obtain transgenic plants resistant to stem wilt, the hevein-like gene, providing broad spectrum bacterial resistance was inserted into the asparagus genome through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The optimal genetic transformation system for asparagus was as follows: pre-culture of embryos for 2 days, inoculation using a bacterial titre of OD600 = 0.6, infection time 10 min and co-culturing for 4 days using an Acetosyringone concentration of 200 μmol/L. Highest transformation frequencies reached 21% and ten transgenic asparagus seedlings carrying the hevein-like gene were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, integration of the hevein-like gene in the T1 generation of transgenic plants was confirmed by southern blot hybridization. Analysis showed that resistance to stem wilt was enhanced significantly in the transgenic plants, in comparison to non- transgenic plants. The results provide additional data for genetic improvement and are of importance for the development of new disease-resistant asparagus varieties.

Monitoring and automatic tuning and stabilization of a 2×2 MZI optical switch for large-scale WDM switch networks

Large-scale optical switch networks employ wavelength division multiplexing to expand and facilitate multiple input and outputs. Such networks can be implemented with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) as the building block. A fully-loaded MZI switch, meaning one with two optical signals at its two inputs and one that is capable of simultaneously switching those inputs to its two outputs, reduces the number building blocks within the network, and as a result makes them more power and area efficient. However, for practical operation, such MZI switches need to be automatically controlled for overcoming fabrication and thermal variations. We present an interference-based monitoring method that enables automatically switching, tuning, and stabilizing of a fully-loaded 2×2 MZI optical switch and demonstrate a prototype on an SOI platform. Using the proposed device and off-the-shelf electronics, we demonstrate automatic tuning and stabilization of an MZI switch with 12.5 Gb/s and 25 Gb/s data rates and channel spacing as small as 1 nm.

An integrated respiratory microbial gene catalogue to better understand the microbial aetiology of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

BACKGROUND

The imbalanced respiratory microbiota observed in pneumonia causes high morbidity and mortality in childhood. Respiratory metagenomic analysis demands a comprehensive microbial gene catalogue, which will significantly advance our understanding of host-microorganism interactions.

RESULTS

We collected 334 respiratory microbial samples from 171 healthy children and 76 children with pneumonia. The respiratory microbial gene catalogue we established comprised 2.25 million non-redundant microbial genes, covering 90.52% of prevalent genes. The major oropharyngeal microbial species found in healthy children were Prevotella and Streptococcus. In children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), oropharyngeal microbial diversity and associated gene numbers decreased compared with those of healthy children. The concurrence network of oropharyngeal microorganisms in patients predominantly featured Staphylococcus spp. and M. pneumoniae. Functional orthologues, which are associated with the metabolism of various lipids, membrane transport, and signal transduction, accumulated in the oropharyngeal microbiome of children with pneumonia. Several antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factor genes were identified in the genomes of M. pneumoniae and 13 other microorganisms reconstructed via metagenomic data. Although the common macrolide/β-lactam resistance genes were not identified in the assembled M. pneumoniae genome, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (A2063G) related to macrolide resistance was identified in a 23S ribosomal RNA gene.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study will facilitate exploration of unknown microbial components and host-microorganism interactions in studies of the respiratory microbiome. They will also yield further insights into the microbial aetiology of MPP.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis: a case report

OBJECTIVE

IPF with CNPA is rare, and its clinical manifestations and radiologic features lack specificity compared with other types of pulmonary aspergillosis. This study aims to assess the clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA).

METHODS

One case of IPF with CNPA is reported and literature review is performed.

RESULTS

The patient had a history of intermittent hemoptysis without history of smoking and alcohol. CT scan of the chest showed bilateral ILD and nodules in the upper lobes of bilateral lungs and middle lobe of the right lung of the patient. CT-guided pulmonary puncture biopsy using microscopy revealed mold hyphae. Based on combined medical history and radiologic findings, the patient was diagnosed with CNPA.

CONCLUSION

A discriminating pathological feature favors the discovery of aspergillus hyphae in pulmonary tissues, which provides assistance for the early anti-fungal therapy.

Molecularly imprinted polydopamine modified with nickel nanoparticles wrapped with carbon: fabrication, characterization and electrochemical detection of uric acid

An electrochemical sensor is described for determination of uric acid (UA). Carbon-enwrapped nickel nanoparticles (Ni@BC) were coated with polydopamine (PDA) that was molecularly imprinted with UA. The biomass carbon (BC) was synthesized by one-step solid-state pyrolysis from leaves of Firmiana platanifolia. The imprinted polymer was obtained by electrodeposition of DA as the monomer. The amount of monomer, the scan cycles, pH value and adsorption time were optimized. Furthermore, the selectivity of the MIP for UA on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was evaluated by selectivity tests. The differential pulse voltammetric responses to UA with and without interferents were consistent. The modified GCE has a linear response in the 0.01-30 μM UA concentration range, and the limit of detection is 8 nM. The MIP electrode was applied to the analysis of UA in urine for which the initial concentrations were determined by the phosphotungstic acid kit. Recoveries ranged from 91.3 to 113.4%, with relative standard deviations between 1.3 and 9.7% (n = 3). Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of electrochemical detection of uric acid by molecularly imprinted polydopamine modified with nickel nanoparticles wrapped with carbon (Ni@BC-MIP).

Investigation of sub-phonon lifetime pulse amplification in active frequency matching stimulated Brillouin scattering

We demonstrate Brillouin amplification of sub-phonon lifetime Stokes pulses based on an active frequency matching method. The main purpose is to extend Brillouin amplification to further applications requiring shorter pulse widths and break the phonon lifetime limit. A combination of theoretical simulations and experiments is used to achieve this goal. As a result, the Brillouin transient gain is identified as the key parameter to achieve sub-phonon lifetime Brillouin amplification. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical simulation.

Prognostic factors in Asian and white American patients with cervical cancer, considering competing risks

Background

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common malignant tumour in women worldwide. Previous research studies have given little attention to its prognostic factors in the rapidly growing Asian American population. In the present study, we explored prognostic factors in Asian and white American patients with cervical cancer, considering competing risks.

Methods

The study included 58,780 patients with cervical cancer, of whom 54,827 were white and 3953 were Asian American, and for all of whom complete clinical information was available in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Death from cervical cancer was considered to be the event of interest, and deaths from other causes were defined as competing risks. The cumulative incidence function and the Fine-Gray method were applied for univariate and multivariate analysis respectively.

Results

We found that, for all patients (white and Asian American combined), the cumulative incidence function was associated with several factors, such as age at diagnosis, figo (Fédération internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique) stage, registry area, and lymph node metastasis. Similar results were found when considering white patients only. However, for Asian American patients, registry area was not associated with the cumulative incidence function, but the other factors (for example, figo stage) remained statistically significant. Similarly, in multivariate analyses, we found that age at diagnosis, figo stage, lymph node metastasis, tumour histology, treatment method, and race were all associated with prognosis.

Conclusions

Survival status differs for white and Asian American patients with cervical cancer. Our results could guide the treatment of, and facilitate prognostic judgments about, white and Asian American patients with cervical cancer.

Current driven spin oscillation in PMA/IMA composite nanowires-a novel spin torque based nano-oscillators

The spin dynamics in composite nanowires possessing both perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) regions are studied. It is found that, driven by proper currents, spin waves can be excited and propagate along the nanowires, leading to sustained oscillations of the magnetic moments. The frequency and amplitude strongly depend on the length of the longitudinal magnetized part (L _IMA), and can be effectively tuned by applied current. The assistance of an applied field may help to obtain large frequencies and amplitudes simultaneously. Considering their ease of manufacture, these kinds of composite nanowires hold great promise for nano-oscillator applications.

Transcriptome analysis of the endometrium from Chinese Erhualian sows that differ in calcium ion concentration and litter size

Embryonic survival rate, an important factor in the fecundity of sows, is affected by endometrium-secreting histotroph. A higher concentration of calcium ion has been observed in the uterus of highly prolific Erhualian sows (EH) compared with those of less prolific (EL) sows. This suggests that EH sows have better establishment and maintenance of pregnancies, thus increasing embryonic survival rate during the peri-implantation period. To understand the mechanisms of how the endometrium-secreting histotroph affects embryonic survival rate during the Erhualian peri-implantation period, the expression patterns of endometrial mRNA in the EH and EL sows on day 12 of gestation were analyzed using RNA sequencing technology. A total of 164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (P_adj  < 0.05, |log₂ (FC)| ≥ 1), including 46 upregulated and 118 downregulated genes in EH compared to EL. Gene Ontology enrichment indicated that a subset of DEGs was involved in calcium ion binding and cell adhesion. Solute carrier family 8 member A3 and solute carrier family 24 member 4, identified as upregulated genes (P_adj  < 0.05) in EH, were considered key candidate genes expressed in the endometrium affecting embryonic survival rate during the peri-implantation period. The results improve understanding of the genetic mechanism underlying the variation in litter size of Erhualian pigs during the peri-implantation period.

Ray sum image: its efficacy in renal tract calculus detection

AIM

To determine the efficacy of a ray sum image derived from computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (CT KUB) in detecting renal tract calculi and whether this can replace the baseline abdominal radiograph (AXR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study performed at a tertiary referral centre examining adult patients referred for urolithiasis who had undergone AXR within 24 hours of the diagnostic CT KUB. AXR and ray sum image for calculus visibility were reviewed blindly by two readers. Anteroposterior thickness of the patient, presence of excess gas/faecal material, calculus size, location, and mean attenuation were analysed to determine effect on the AXR and ray sum sensitivity.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-two calculi were examined with ray sum image sensitivity of 44% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36-52) and AXR 30% (95% CI: 22-38). Calculus size and mean attenuation significantly affected sensitivities of both ray sum and AXR. There was substantial agreement between the two techniques with κ(Kappa)=0.70 (95% CI: 0.58-0.81, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Ray sum image as a post-processed image derived from CT KUB dataset may be a viable alternative to the baseline AXR in patients with CT proven urolithiasis. This would reduce patient radiation dose and streamline workflow in busy radiology and emergency departments.

Bifunctional and highly sensitive electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose and hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on NiCo2O4 nanoflowers decorated 3D nitrogen doped holey graphene hydrogel

In this work, a simple strategy for fabricating a 3D nitrogen doped holey graphene hydrogel decorated with NiCo₂O₄ nanoflowers (NHGH/NiCo₂O₄) via a one-pot hydrothermal method with subsequent calcination is reported for the first time. The novel NHGH/NiCo₂O₄ nanocomposites featured high electrical conductivity, large and accessible surface areas, abundant active sites, and excellent electrocatalytic performance. Considering the excellent catalytic activity of NiCo₂O₄, a sensitive and bifunctional electrochemical non-enzymatic biosensor was established for the determination of glucose and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The obtained biosensor exhibited wide linear ranges (glucose: 0.005-10.95 mM; H₂O₂: 1-510 μM) and a low detection limits (glucose: 0.39 μM; H₂O₂: 0.136 μM) in alkaline solution (S/N = 3). Excellent electrocatalytic activity of this sensor was ascribed to the synergistic effects of the hybrid structure between the NiCo₂O₄ nanoflowers and NHGH. Furthermore, the sensitive biosensor also exhibited high selectivity and could be applied to determine glucose in real blood samples. Taken together, the results reveal that the proposed hybrid nanocomposite could be a promising electrochemical biosensor.

Imaging enhancement based on stimulated Brillouin amplification in optical fiber

The detection of weak optical signals embedded in strong background illumination has broad application prospects. We propose an imaging enhancement method based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a single-mode fiber, which is capable of amplifying the weak optical signal while neglecting the broadband background noise because of its narrow gain bandwidth. In experiment, a high gain of 60 dB was achieved. An imaging enhancement experiment was carried out, where a target which cannot be seen because of transmission loss could be clearly captured with the amplification of SBS in the fiber. Because of the employment of continuous pump rather than a pulsed pump, this system has wide application in the monitoring of non-cooperative targets.

Enzyme-free glucose sensor based on layer-by-layer electrodeposition of multilayer films of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and Cu-based metal framework modified glassy carbon electrode

A high-performance nonenzymatic glucose sensor was successfully prepared by a layer by layer strategy through electrodeposition assembling multilayer films of Cu-metal-organic frameworks/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Cu-MOF/MWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Different multilayer films of Cu-MOF/MWNTs modified GCE (Cu-MOF/MWNTs/GCE) were prepared by repeating the electrodeposition of MWNTs onto the GCE in an MWNTs solution (MWNTs/GCE) and electrodeposition of the Cu-MOF layer onto the MWNTs film surface to form a Cu-MOF/MWNTs composite layer in the crystallization solution of Cu-MOF. Results confirmed that this method to fabricate multilayer composite films on the GCE was fast and convenient, and that multilayer composite films were stable and unified. The electrode modified by the multilayer composite films could effectively increase the exposure of active sites and increase the surface area of reactive contact. The GCE modified by eight layers (four multilayers Cu-MOF/MWNTs films) showed the optimum catalytic performance in the oxidation of glucose. The novel glucose sensor exhibited a wider detection linear range of 0.5 μM-11.84 mM, with a detection limit of 0.4 μM and a sensitivity of 3878 μA cm^-2 mM^-1. Moreover, the electrochemical response of the sensor on glucose was fast (within 0.3 s) and stable, exhibited good selectivity and was free of interference.

Eimeria challenge adversely affected long bone attributes linked to increased resorption in 14-day-old broiler chickens

There is limited information on the effects of enteric pathogen on bone quality in rapidly growing broiler chicks. We examined tibia and femur attributes (length, diameter, relative weight of ash content [AC] to the BW, ash concentration [AP]) and serum bone-turnover markers including receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) for resorption, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for mineralization, and selected serum metabolites in 14-day-old broilers challenged with Eimeria. A total of 160 (80 males and 80 females) 1-day-old Ross × Ross 708 chicks were used. Based on BW, birds were placed within sex in cages (5 birds per cage) and fed chick starter diets to day 9 of age. On day 9, half of the cages were orally gavaged with 1 mL of Eimeria culture (100,000 oocysts of E. acervulina and 25,000 oocysts of E. maxima) and the other half (unchallenged control) received 1 mL 0.9% saline in distilled water. On day 14, 2 birds were randomly selected and necropsied for intestinal lesion score, blood, tibia, and femur samples. Data were analyzed in a 2 (challenged vs. unchallenged) × 2 (males vs. females) factorial arrangement. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between Eimeria and sex on any measurement. Whereas there were no intestinal lesions in unchallenged birds, Eimeria resulted in lesion score (0 to 4) of 3.35, 2.59 and 0.11 in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. Eimeria challenge decreased (P < 0.05) tibia AC and AP by 10 and 8.2%, respectively but had no (P > 0.10) effect on femur attributes. Generally, males showed (P < 0.05) longer and wider bones with more AC compared with the female. Circulating serum RANKL concentration increased (P = 0.017) in response to Eimeria challenge and was negatively correlated with tibia AC (-0.731; P = 0.021). Our findings showed that Eimeria damage to the intestinal physiology had adverse effects on long bone attributes linked to increased resorption.

Rotating off-centered lens in SBS phase conjugation mirror for high-repetition-rate operation

A new method using a rotating off-centered lens is proposed to reduce the heat accumulation at the focal spot of a stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugation mirror at high-repetition-rate operation. Theoretical simulation of the beam intensity pattern at the focal point indicates there is less coma-aberration using a rotating off-centered focusing lens than with a rotating wedge and a conventional lens. The resultant SBS output parameters using this new method are substantially improved comparable to those of a non-rotating conventional method for high-repetition-rate operation, while the former operates quite well for higher power and the latter operates only for lower input power. High reflected energy and a good beam pattern are demonstrated using the proposed method in the present experimental conditions of 50 mJ at 1 kHz.

Phenoloxidases are required for the pea aphid's defence against bacterial and fungal infection

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, has an incomplete immune system compared to those of other insect species; some conserved components and pathways in other species are missing in its genome. As a core component of the insect immune system, prophenoloxidase (PPO) genes are retained in the pea aphid. Early studies have also shown the presence of phenoloxidase activity in specific tissues or cells in the pea aphid and suggested its involvement in response to immune challenges. In this study, we knocked down the expression of PPO genes in the pea aphid using double-stranded RNA-based interference, and quantitative PCR analysis and an enzyme activity assay confirmed our success in the PPO gene knockdown. In bacterial and fungal infection experiments, we observed that the knockdown of PPO resulted in more live bacterial cells and fungal spores in the body of the aphids and higher mortality of the aphids after infection. Our study provides evidence supporting a critical role of PPO in the defence of the pea aphid.

[Effects of preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage on surgical treatment of type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage on surgical treatment of type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: Clinical data of 72 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma of the Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ treated at Department of General Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2010 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were divided into two groups based on whether PTBD was performed:a drained group and an undrained group.In the drained group,there were 31 patients,20 males and 11 females,aged (59.9±9.7)years (range: 39-73 years).Among them,14 patients underwent hepatectomy with half or more than half of the liver removed (extended hepatectomy)and 17 patients underwent non-anatomical hepatectomy in the hilar region (limited hepatectomy).In the undrained group,there were 41 patients, 26 males and 15 females, aged (60.8±7.8)years(range: 45-75 years).Among them, 17 patients underwent hepatectomy with half or more than half of the liver removed (extended hepatectomy)and 24 patients underwent non-anatomical hepatectomy in the hilar region (limited hepatectomy).Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD)was used in the drained group.Under the guidance of ultrasound,one or more hepatobiliary ducts could be sufficiently drained,which had good effect and was not restricted by the obstruction location of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The analysis of the measurement data was performed using t test,and the analysis of the count data was performed using χ(2) test,and the survival curve was plotted using Kaplan-meier method. Results: In total, 72 jaundiced patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent surgical treatment: 31 had PTBD prior to operation while 41 did not had PTBD.There were significant differences in ALT((93.2±21.4)U/L vs.(207.4±65.1)U/L),AST((87.6±18.1)U/L vs.(188.9±56.6)U/L)and total bilirubin((68.8±12.6)μmol/L vs.(227.5±87.7)μmol/L)between the patients after treatment and those before treatment(t=10.958, P=0.000; t=10.845, P=0.000; t=10.386, P=0.000).Compared with those in the undrained group, the operation time was shorter, the amount of intraoperative bleeding and the incidence of complications were lower in the drained group(t=-2.840, P=0.006; t=-3.698, P=0.000; χ(2)=4.108, P=0.043).There were no perioperative death cases in drained group and 2 perioperative death cases in undrained group.There was no significant difference in R0 resection rate between the two groups(χ(2)=0.778,P=0.378).The 1-,3-,5-year survival rate of patients in the drained group and the undrained group was 72.7%,34.2%, 13.7% and 72.8%, 31.5%, 11.8%, respectively.The difference was not statistically significant(all P>0.05). Conclusions: The preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma of Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ could effectively shorten operative time, reduce amount of intraoperative bleeding and incidence of postoperative complications,but have no significant effect on the R0 resection rate and survival rate.

The alleviative effects and related mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress

To investigate the alleviative effects and molecular mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress, 144 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d old) were randomly distributed to positive control (PC, 22°C, basal diet), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C, basal diet), or heat stress + taurine (HS + T, consistent 32°C, basal diet + 5.00 g/kg taurine) groups, with 6 cages per group and 8 birds per cage. Chronic heat stress significantly decreased body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, and increased cloacal temperature and feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05). Though taurine supplementation tended to decrease the FCR in the HS + T group compared with the HS group after 14 d of heat exposure (P = 0.071), there were no significant alleviative effects of taurine supplementation on the increased cloacal temperature and decreased growth performance in chronic heat-stressed broilers (P > 0.05). After 7 and 14 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased the proportion of breast muscle and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in the abdominal fat (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of muscle atrophy F-box protein (MAFbx) and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) in breast muscle compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). After 7 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1c (ACC) and muscular isoform of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (M-CPT1) compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA expressions of M-CPT1 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70 kDa (p70S6K) in the HS + T group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups after 14 d of heat exposure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, taurine supplementation can improve carcass characteristics of chronic heat-stressed broilers by facilitating lipolysis for energy, enhancing protein synthesis, and suppressing protein degradation of the breast muscles.

miR-130a-3p regulated TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition depends on SMAD4 in EC-1 cells

Metastasis and invasion are the primary causes of malignant progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial step of acquisition of "stemness" properties in tumor cells. However, the mechanism of esophageal cancer metastasis remains unclear. This research was designed to explore the role and mechanism of SMAD4 and miR‐130a‐3p in the progression of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β)‐induced EMT in vivo and in vitro. The expression of miR‐130a‐3p in ESCC cell line and normal esophageal epithelial cell was determined by RT‐qPCR. The protein expression levels of TGF‐β‐induced changes in EMT were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Dual‐luciferase report assays were used to validate the regulation of miR‐130a‐3p‐SMAD4 axis. The effect of miR‐130a‐3p and SMAD4 in TGF‐β‐induced migration, invasion in the ESCC cell line EC‐1 was investigated by wound healing assays and Transwell assays. Here we found that knocked down SMAD4 could partially reverse TGF‐β‐induced migration, invasion, and EMT progression in the ESCC cell line EC‐1. miR‐130a‐3p, which directly targets SMAD4, is down‐regulated in ESCC. miR‐130a‐3p inhibits the migration and invasion of EC‐1 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, miR‐130a‐3p inhibits TGF‐β‐induced EC‐1 cell migration, invasion, and EMT progression in a SMAD4‐dependent way. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the mechanism underlying ESCC metastasis. The TGF‐β/miR‐130a‐3p/SMAD4 pathway could be potential targets for clinical treatment of ESCC.

Prognostic value of inflammation-based markers in advanced or metastatic neuroendocrine tumours

Background

The role of systemic inflammation-based markers remains uncertain in advanced or metastatic neuroendocrine tumours (nets).

Methods

Systemic inflammatory factors, such as levels of circulating white blood cells and other blood components, were combined to yield inflammation-based prognostic scores [high-sensitivity inflammation-based Glasgow prognostic score (hsgps), neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (nlr), platelet:lymphocyte ratio (plr), high-sensitivity inflammation-based prognostic index (hspi), and prognostic nutritional index (pni)], whose individual values as prognostic markers were retrospectively determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the association of inflammatory markers with overall survival (os).

Results

The study included 135 patients. Univariate analysis revealed that elevated white blood cell count, elevated neutrophil count, low serum albumin, elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and elevated hspi, hsgps, and nlr scores were significantly associated with worse os. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that, apart from pathology grade and original site of the tumour, elevated hspi (p = 0.004) was an independent prognostic factor for worse os.

Conclusions

In the present study, elevated pretreatment hspi was observed to be an independent predictor of shorter os in patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic net. The hspi might thus provide additional guidance for therapeutic decision-making in such patients.

Minimizing cross sectional pulse width difference between central and edge parts of SBS compressed beam

For minimizing the spatial cross-sectional pulse width difference in the reflected SBS compressed beam, two new methods, blocking beam edge and parameter optimization, are proposed and compared experimentally. Results show that the sub-nanosecond compressed pulse width at the beam edge can be obtained by using both two methods in this paper. The pulse width difference between the beam center and the edge is minimized through selecting a proper medium and the optimized structural parameters in a single-cell SBS compressor. Its energy efficiency reaches up to 81.5% by using the medium HT110 and is two times higher than that of the blocking beam edge method. The compressed pulse width's stability improved greatly by using these two methods.

Low-noise and high-gain of stimulated Brillouin amplification via orbital angular momentum mode division filtering

We demonstrate a Brillouin amplifier scheme by using orbital angular momentum mode division filtering, which is able to amplify the weak optical signals with low noise and high gain. The system retains the advantages of a conventional collinear Brillouin amplifier structure, and employs a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator to generate distinguishable degree-of-freedom of beams. As we all know, the noise mainly derives from the unwanted coupling in stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) processes, which severely limits the amplifier's performances. The efficient SBS noise-filtering method is discussed, which could improve the output beam quality effectively. The experimental results show the proposed amplifier scheme can overcome this obstacle, providing the magnification (or called signal gain) of 71 dB for an input signal of 4.7×10^-12  J. In addition, the amplified signal is recognized from the amplifier spontaneous-emission (ASE)-like noise with a signal-to-noise ratio of 6.7 dB.

Lung Microbiota and Pulmonary Inflammatory Cytokines Expression Vary in Children With Tracheomalacia and Adenoviral or Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a worldwide infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or a combination of these infectious agents. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an atypical pneumonia pathogen that causes high morbidity and mortality in children, and adenovirus can lead to severe pneumonia. However, the etiology of different types of pneumonia is still unclear. In this study, we selected a total of 52 inpatients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) (n = 21), adenovirus pneumonia (AVP) (n = 16), or tracheomalacia (n = 15) to serve as a disease control. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples that had been obtained for clinical use were analyzed. We compared the differences in microbiota and the expression of 10 inflammatory cytokines in samples between MPP, AVP, and tracheomalacia. We found that the bacterial diversity in MPP was lower than that in AVP and tracheomalacia. Mycoplasma, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas were predominant in samples of MPP, AVP, and tracheomalacia, respectively. The expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were significantly higher in inpatients with AVP compared to children hospitalized with tracheomalacia or MPP. The lung microbiota in MPP was remarkably correlated with IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1α expressions, while this was not found in tracheomalacia and AVP. Microbiota analysis identified a high load of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the lung microbiota of several inpatients, which might be associated with the long hospitalization length and intra-group differences at the individual level. This study will help to understand the microbial etiology of tracheomalacia, AVP, and MPP and to identify effective therapies for these diseases.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic oesophageal cancer: a JSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, KSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of oesophageal cancer was published in 2016, and covered the management and treatment of local/locoregional disease, limited disease, locally advanced disease and the management of advanced/metastatic disease. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2017 it was decided by both ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special guidelines meeting immediately after the JSMO Annual Meeting in 2018. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2016 guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences associated with the treatment of metastatic oesophageal cancer in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with metastatic oesophageal cancer representing the oncological societies of Japan (JSMO), China (CSCO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence, and was independent of both the current treatment practices and the drug availability and reimbursement situations in the individual participating Asian countries.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic gastric cancer: a JSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, KSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of gastric cancer (GC) was published in 2016, and covered the management and treatment of local, locoregional, locally advanced and metastatic disease. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2017 it was decided by both ESMO and The Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special guidelines meeting immediately after the JSMO Annual Meeting in 2018. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2016 guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences associated with the treatment of metastatic GC in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with metastatic GC representing the oncological societies of Japan (JSMO), China (CSCO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of both the current treatment practices and the drug availability and reimbursement situations in the individual participating Asian countries.

Detection of novel mutations associated with independent resistance and cross-resistance to isoniazid and prothionamide in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates

OBJECTIVES

Prothionamide, a structural analogue of isoniazid, is used mainly for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Both drugs have a common target InhA, so prothionamide can be ineffective against isoniazid-resistant (INH^R) Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of mutations in katG, ethA, ndh, ethR, mshA, inhA and/or its promoter associated with independent resistance and cross-resistance to INH^R and/or prothionamide-resistant (PTO^R) M. tuberculosis isolates.

METHODS

We sequenced the above genes in 206 M. tuberculosis isolates with susceptibility testing against ten drugs.

RESULTS

Of the 173 INH^R PTO^R isolates, 170 (98.3%) harboured mutations in katG, 111 (64.2%) in ethA, 58 (33.5%) in inhA or its promoter, 5 (2.9%) in ndh, 3 (1.7 %) in ethR and 2 (1.2%) in mshA. Among the 18 INH^R PTO^S isolates, mutations in katG were found in all of them; one had a mutation in the inhA promoter and another in ndh. Of the five INH^S PTO^R isolates, four showed mutations in ethA and two in the inhA promoter. Notably, 55 novel non-synonymous mutations were found in them and 20.2% of the PTO^RM. tuberculosis isolates harboured no known mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report to investigate cross-resistance between INH^R and/or PTO^R isolates. Among INH^R (94.4% MDR-TB) M. tuberculosis isolates, the high diversity of mutations for independent resistance and cross-resistance with prothionamide highlight the importance of both phenotypic susceptibility and genotypic diagnosis when using it to treat patients with INH^R-TB. The high proportion (one-fifth) of PTO^RM. tuberculosis isolates showed no known mutation related to PTO^R genes, so uncovered resistance mechanism(s) of prothionamide exist.

Demonstration of 2.5 J, 10 Hz, nanosecond laser beam combination system based on non-collinear Brillouin amplification

We demonstrated a four-beam combined laser system based on Brillouin amplification with a nanosecond output of 2.5 J at a 10 Hz repetition rate. We used simulations and experiments to assess factors affecting the energy extraction efficiency of non-collinear Brillouin amplification. Our results indicate that higher efficiency can be achieved by adding pump beams to the Brillouin amplification process, which enhances optical field intensity and interaction strength. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a multi-beam combination system based on Brillouin amplification with an output of joule level energy, high peak power and nanosecond pulses in 10Hz repetitive operation.

Targeting NEDD8-activating enzyme is a new approach to treat canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common hematologic malignancy of dogs, is associated with poor overall survival. The lack of conventional chemotherapies with sustainable efficacy warrants investigation of novel therapies. Pevonedistat (MLN4924) is a potent and selective small molecule NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor. In human activated B-cell-like (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, pevonedistat induces lymphoma cell apoptosis, DNA damage and G1 cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Genomic and transcriptomic studies showed that the NF-κB pathway is deregulated in canine DLBCL. Our results showed that pevonedistat treatment significantly reduces the viability of canine DLBCL cells by inducing G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Pevonedistat treatment inhibits NF-κB pathway activation and downregulates NF-κB target genes in canine DLBCL. Moreover, administration of pevonedistat to mice bearing canine DLBCL xenograft tumours resulted in tumour regression. Our in vivo and in vitro studies provide justification for future clinical application of pevonedistat as a potential new anti-cancer therapy that may benefit both canine and human species.

Clinical application and effect of dexmedetomidine in combination with continuous positive airway pressure on one-lung ventilation in lung surgery of elder patients

In this study, 126 elder patients who underwent thoracic surgery under general anesthesia were divided into three groups randomly, i.e. dexmedetomidine group, positive ventilation group and combination group. All patients received varying strategies in addition to the one-lung ventilation, and changes in oxidative stress and indicators of inflammation at different time points were observed. In comparison to the dexmedetomidine group and the positive ventilation group, patients in the combination group at T2-3 had lower levels of malonaldehyde, cortisol, C-reaction protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α in serum (p<0.05); one day after surgery, the incidence of complications in lungs of patients in the combination group was significantly lower than those in the dexmedetomidine group and the positive ventilation group (p<0.05). Dexmedetomidine in combination with continuous positive airway pressure can alleviate the oxidative stress and inflammation of lung tissues in one-lung ventilation during the thoracic surgery of elder patients, thus, reducing the incidence of postoperative complications.

Optimized cultural conditions of functional yogurt for γ-aminobutyric acid augmentation using response surface methodology

Yogurt, a functional dairy food product, is an effective medium for delivering beneficial functional ingredients. One ingredient, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), has growing appeal in the development of functional foods for its potential in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and stress as a bioactive agent. However, the concentration of GABA in existing food products is remarkably low. We developed a functional yogurt rich in GABA using Streptococcus thermophilus fmb5. The GABA yield of yogurt was enhanced by optimization of culture conditions using single factor and response surface methods. The results showed that culture temperature, monosodium glutamate concentration, and culture time are the 3 main factors that affect GABA yield. The optimal culture conditions were determined as follows: 38.8°C for culture temperature, 20 g/L of monosodium glutamate, and 120 h of culture time. Under the above optimal conditions, the actual yield of GABA production was maximized at 9.66 g/L, which was 1.2 times or higher than that of from any single factor treatment. The GABA concentration, viable bacteria number, and water-holding capacity of GABA-rich yogurt were stable throughout the whole storage time. The results show that producing yogurt with Streptococcus thermophilus fmb5 and the optimized culture conditions will achieve high GABA concentrations that maximize health benefits to consumers.

Pulse compression to one-tenth of phonon lifetime using quasi-steady-state stimulated Brillouin scattering

A new stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) compression mechanism, quasi-steady-state SBS compression, in which the compression limit is one-tenth of the phonon lifetime with a high energy efficiency, is proposed and practically realized in this study. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated experimentally, in which a compression of 0.36τ_B with an energy efficiency of 65% is achieved in a 3M Fluorinert Electronic Liquid FC-3283 and a compression output of 0.12τ_B (near-compression-limited) with an energy efficiency above 40% is obtained in acetone when the phonon lifetime to leading-edge to ratio is greater than 10. This ratio is identified experimentally as the key parameter in quasi-steady-state SBS compression. This work provides a practical approach to reliably generating one-tenth-phonon-lifetime pulses by quasi-steady-state SBS compression.