Performance evaluation of histone deacetylases in lungs of mice exposed to ovalbumin aerosols

This study was to investigate expression levels and functional activities of histone deacetylases (HDACs) with potential therapeutic targets selected in animal model of allergic asthma. Mice were sensitized and then challenged with saline (control) or ovalbumin (OVA) for 8 weeks. Airway resistance was determined by increasing concentrations of acetyl-β-methacholine chloride (0 - 50 mg/ml). The number of cells and cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by ELISA. Pathological changes of lung specimens were examined by histochemical staining methods under the light microscope. Expression and quantification of HDACs in lungs were measured using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis. HDAC activity was identified using colorimetric and fluorometric methods. The OVA-treated mice had a significant enhancement in airway resistance with a large number of cells and increased interleukin (IL)-4 and -5 levels in BALF. Morphologically, an infiltration of inflammatory cells into epithelial layer with mucus accumulation and subepithelial fibrosis were seen in the OVA-exposed lungs. The expression levels for HDAC1, HDAC5, HDAC6, and HDAC8 were significantly elevated with weak induction of HDAC 2-4, which was identical with their catalytic activities detected in the lungs. In contrast, HDAC1 and HDAC5 activities were higher than others in the lungs. Individual HDACs are differently regulated in expression levels and functional activities in animal model of allergic asthma. Selective targeting of HDAC1/5 offers an opportunity to improve therapeutic effects of the disease.

Effectiveness, treatment completion and safety of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir and paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir + dasabuvir in patients with chronic kidney disease: an ERCHIVES study

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was a relative contraindication to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in the interferon/ribavirin era.

AIM

To determine the efficacy, tolerability and safety of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) and paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir (PrOD) regimens in persons with CKD.

METHODS

We identified persons initiated on a SOF/LDV or PrOD regimen from October 30, 2014 to April 30, 2016. We excluded those with missing HCV genotype or eGFR values. We determined treatment completion and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, and proportion developing worsening renal function or grade 3/4 haematologic toxicity.

RESULTS

Among 13 663 persons on SOF/LDV±ribavirin, 14% and 1% persons had CKD Stage 3 and 4-5 respectively, 67.8% completed treatment, 98.2% achieved SVR. Treatment completion or SVR rates did not decline with advanced CKD or ribavirin administration. Among 3961 persons on PrOD±ribavirin, 9% and 3% persons had CKD Stage 3 and 4-5, respectively, 74.0% completed treatment and 98.2% achieved SVR. A decrease in treatment completion rates was seen in CKD stage 4-5 and those on ribavirin, but this did not impact SVR rates. A >10 mL/min/1.73 m² drop in eGFR from baseline was observed in 30%-38% of persons with baseline eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² , but in only 0%-6% with CKD4-5. Grade 3/4 anaemia was more frequent in persons with CKD4-5, but ribavirin co-administration did not appear to affect this.

CONCLUSIONS

SOF/LDV and PrOD achieved high SVR rates in CKD population. Treatment completion rates were lower than expected. A decline in eGFR and development of anaemia were observed in a substantial proportion of persons, but the clinical implications remain unclear.

[Constituent and workload of service providers engaged in cancer screening: findings and suggestions from a multi-center survey in China]

Objective: To understand the constituent and workload of service providers engaged in cancer screening in China and provide evidence for the assessment of the sustainability of national cancer screening project. Methods: Using either questionnaire or online approach, the survey was conducted in 16 provinces, where Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) was conducted, from 2014 to 2015. The medical institutes surveyed included hospitals [71.1% were class Ⅲ(A) hospitals], centers for disease control and prevention (CDCs) and community centers where cancer screening was undertaken during 2013-2015. The questionnaire survey was conducted among the staffs responsible for the overall coordination, management and implementation of the screening project to collect the information about the allocation, workload and compensation of the service providers from different specialties. Results: A total of 4 626 staffs were surveyed in this study, their average age was (37.7±9.5) years, and males accounted for 31.0%. Human resources allocated differed with province. The number of senior staff ranged from 6 (Chongqing) to 43 (Beijing) among the 8 comparable provinces. Among the staffs surveyed, 2 192 were from hospitals, 431 were from CDCs and 1 990 were from community centers, and the staffs who complained heavy workload accounted for 19.9%, 24.6% and 34.1% respectively (P<0.001). Among 227 staffs for overall coordination, 376 management staffs and 3 908 staffs for implementation, those who complained heavy workload accounted for 23.6%, 22.3% and 28.2% respectively (P<0.001). A total of 3 244 staffs (73.8%) got compensations for heavy workload. The compensation types were manly labor fee linked with workload (67.5%) and labor fee regardless workload (26.6%). Conclusion: The province specific differences in human resources allocation indicated the differences in screening project's organizing pattern and capability. It is suggested to conduct routine cancer screening (using specialized staffs), reduce the workload of the first line and community staffs and increase the compensation for the service providers for the sustainability of cancer screening project in China.

[The correlation between radiological classification and clinical audiometry in otosclerosis]

Objective:The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between radiological classification on HRCT and effects on surgery with hearing improvement in otosclerosis. Method:Thirty three patients (66 ears) with otosclerosis were enrolled to this study, who would be done operation using Fischs stapes surgery technique. All patients were classified according to axial HRCT preoperatively. All patients were evaluated by pure tone test preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Correlation between radiological classification and hearing effects were studied. Result:Six months after the surgeries, both of air conduction thresholds and bone conduction thresholds in 33 patients were significantly improved than those before the surgeries (P<0.01). Compared with mixed type otosclerosis, window type otosclerosis had significantly lower bone conduction threshold preoperatively and postoperatively. Conclusion:Fischs stapes surgery technique have perfect effects on improving otosclerosis air conduction threshold, as well as bone conduction threshold.

Dentinal mineralization is not limited in the mineralization front but occurs along with the entire odontoblast process

The mineralization-front theory is historically rooted in mineralization research fields for many decades. This theory is widely used to describe mineralization events in both osteogenesis and dentinogenesis. However, this model does not provide enough evidence to explain how minerals are propagated from the pulp-end dentin to dentin-enamel junction (DEJ). To address this issue, we modified the current research approaches by a) extending the mineral deposition windows of time from minutes to hours, instead of limiting the mineralization assay on days and weeks only; b) switching a regular fluorescent microscope to a more powerful confocal microscope; in which both mineral deposition rates and detail mineral labeling along with dentin tubules can be documented; and c) using reporter mice, including the Gli1-CreERT2 activated tomato and the 2.3 Col1-GFP to mark odontoblast processes combined with mineral dye injections. Our key findings are: 1) Odontoblast-processes, full of numerous mini-branches, evenly spread to entire dentin matrices with a high density of processes and a large diameter of the main process at the predentin-dentin junction; and 2) The minerals deposit along with entire odontoblast-processes and form many individual mineral collars surrounding odontoblast processes. As a result, these merged collars give rise to a single labeled line at the dentin-predentin junction, in which the dental tubules are wider in diameter and denser in odontoblast processes compared to other dentin areas. We therefore propose that it is the odontoblast-process that directly contributes to mineralization, which is not simply limited in the mineralization front at the edge of dentin and predentin, but occurs along with the entire odontoblast process. These new findings will shed new light on our understanding of dentin structure and function, as well as the mechanisms of mineralization.

[Effects of bimodal intervention on the development of auditory and speech ability in infants with unilateral cochlear implantation]

Objective: To explore the effects of bimodal intervention on the development of auditory and speech ability in the infants with unilateral cochlear implantation(CI). Methods: Total 35 bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss infants with unilateral CI, aged 0.7 to 2.8 years old, were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups: the group with unilateral CI(cochlear implant alone, n= 15), and the bimodal group with CI and contralateral fitting hearing aid(n= 20). Their auditory and speech abilities were estimated at the different time points after switch-on(the 0th, 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th month, respectively) using Infant Toddler-Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale(IT-MAIS), Meaningful Use of Speech Scale(MUSS), Categories of Auditory Performance(CAP), and Speech Intelligibility Rating(SIR) scores. Results: The IT-MAIS scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th month), the statistical significances were identified at the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th month, respectively(P<0.05). The CAP scores of bimodal group before CI operation and after switch-on(the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month)were higher than unilateral CI group, the statistical significances were seen at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month after switch-on(P<0.05). The MUSS scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month), the statistical significances were found at the 12th, 18th and 24th month, respectively(P<0.05). The SIR scores of bimodal group after switch-on were higher than unilateral CI group(the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month), and significant differences appeared at the 12th, 18th and 24th month after switch-on(P<0.05). Conclusion: Bimodal intervention could be helpful to the development of auditory and speech ability of infants.

Chronic kidney disease in Chinese postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the prevalence of CKD in postmenopausal women. This study was designed to investigate both CKD prevalence and related risk factors in a cohort of postmenopausal Chinese women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of female Chinese participants, including a total of 47,204 subjects, among whom were 8573 self-reported postmenopausal women. CKD was defined as either an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 body surface area or else the presence of albuminuria. All subjects completed a questionnaire that included items related to their lifestyles and medical histories. Data were collected on blood pressure, serum creatinine, urinary albumin, and urinary creatinine. Risk factors correlated with the presence of CKD were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Results showed that the adjusted prevalence of an eGFR of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 among this postmenopausal survey cohort was 5.3% (95% confidence interval: 4.7-6.1) and of albuminuria, 12.4% (11.7-13.1). The overall prevalence of CKD in this postmenopausal cohort was 16.6% (15.8-17.4). Factors associated with kidney pathology included nephrotoxic drug use, history of cardiovascular disease, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and diabetes (the lower limit of multivariable adjusted odds ratios > 1).

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed a high prevalence of CKD in Chinese postmenopausal women. These results provide baseline data for disease prevention and treatment.

How wildfire risk is related to urban planning and Fire Weather Index in SE France (1990-2013)

Wildfires burn >450,000ha of forest every year in Euro-Mediterranean countries. Many fires originate in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) where housing density and weather conditions affect fire occurrence. Housing density is determined by long term land use policies while weather conditions evolve quickly. The first objective was to quantify the impacts of land use policy on WUI characteristics and fire risk in SE France during 1990-2012. The second objective was to quantify how Fire Weather Index (FWI) is related to fire occurrence. WUI was mapped from 1990, 1999, and 2012 building layers and crossed with a NDVI derived vegetation layer. In all, 12 WUI categories were derived: 4 building density classes and 3 vegetation layers. The I87 FWI was based on daily temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and soil water content. Despite a 30% increase in the number of new buildings, WUI area increased by only 5% as new housing filled in open space in existing WUI area. This trend can be linked to national level urban planning legislation and forest fire protection laws. Major driver variables determining housing location were aspect, slope, and distance to city centers. Fire frequency and burned area were nonlinearly related to FWI: 73% of the 99 fires occurred during weeks with FWI values ≥90 even though these accounted for only 44% of all weeks. Burned area was even more sensitive to FWI since 97% of total burned area occurred during weeks with mean FWI values ≥90. All days with burned areas >100ha had FWI values >150. The study demonstrated that WUI legislation can be an efficient tool to limit WUI fire risk. FWI results suggest the predicted increase in extreme summer heat events with global warming could increase burned area as firefighting resources are stretched beyond capacity.

Associations between air pollution, climate factors and outpatient visits for eczema in West China Hospital, Chengdu, south-western China: a time series analysis

BACKGROUND

Eczema is one of the most common inflammatory dermatoses that can be provoked as a result of external and internal factors. With dense population and rapid economic development of China, air pollution is still a serious problem and the prevalence of eczema has been elevating.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association and lagged effects between environmental factors and the outpatient visits for eczema.

METHODS

Data of daily outpatient visits for eczema at the clinics of dermatology in West China Hospital within the last 5 years were collected. Data of environmental factors of Chengdu during the same period, including temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and air pollutants concentrations like sulphur dioxide (SO₂ ), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂ ) and particular matter (PM₁₀ ), were gathered. The distributed lag nonlinear model was used to statistically examine the relationship between eczema and environmental factors and their lagged effects.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed that eczema outpatient visits were positively correlated with the air pollutants and were negatively correlated with relative humidity. The barometric pressure and wind speed influenced the outpatient visits in association with air pollutants.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that environmental factors like relative humidity and multiple air pollutants influence the incidence and prevalence of eczema and have lagged effects.

Adjuvant radiotherapy for positive lymph nodes of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Can it earn promising benefits at long-term follow-up?

PURPOSE

The value of adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with positive lymph nodes after curative resection of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is controversial. This study aims to investigate its long-term benefits in a specific cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The charts between 1990 and 2003 from patients with positive lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed. Those subjects were divided into adjuvant radiotherapy and surgery alone groups, with two subgroups defined by radiation dose (cutoff value: 50Gy). Overall survival, disease-free survival and locoregional recurrence-free survival were compared between two groups, with predictive factors of overall survival analysed meanwhile.

RESULTS

In sum, 175 matched patients with 1:2 ratios for group balance were enrolled for final analysis. During the follow-up (median: 37.0 months), 143 (81.7%) deaths were recorded, with 70.6% of deaths from cancer progression. The median overall survival time (19.5, 4 to 172 months) was not significantly different between the two groups (18.9 vs. 20.0 months, P=0.179). However, the disease-free survival time was significantly shorter in the adjuvant radiotherapy group than that in the control group (median, 11.5 vs. 14.9 months; P=0.001), with the locoregional recurrence-free survival time impressively prolonged (median: 18.3 vs. 16.5 months; P=0.022). Age (P=0.030), number (P=0.005) and ratio (P=0.002) of positive lymph nodes were associated with overall survival, but radiation dose was not (P=0.204).

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant radiotherapy with low- or high-dose did not improve survival compared with surgery alone. However, radiotherapy was effective to control locoregional recurrence, and could be applied as salvage therapy when recurrence event occurred.

[Preference on screening frequency and willingness-to-pay for multiple-cancer packaging screening programs in urban populations in China]

Objective: From an actual cancer screening service demanders' perspective, we tried to understand the preference on screening frequency and willingness-to-pay for the packaging screening program on common cancers and to evaluate its long-term sustainability in urban populations in China. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, a multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted among the actual screening participants from 13 provinces covered by the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC). By face-to-face interview, information regarding to preference to screening frequency, willingness-to-pay for packaging screening program, maximum amount on payment and related reasons for unwillingness were investigated. Results: A total of 31 029 participants were included in this survey, with an average age as (55.2±7.5) years and median annual income per family as 25 000 Chinese Yuan. People's preference to screening frequency varied under different assumptions ( " totally free" and "self-paid" ). When the packaging screening was assumed totally free, 93.9% of residents would prefer to take the screening program every 1 to 3 years. However, the corresponding proportion dropped to 67.3% when assuming a self-paid pattern. 76.7% of the participants had the willingness-to-pay for the packaging screening, but only 11.2% of them would like to pay more than 500 Chinese Yuan (the expenditure of the particular packaging screening were about 1 500 Chinese Yuan). The remaining 23.3% of residents showed no willingness-to-pay, and the main reasons were unaffordable expenditure (71.7%) and feeling'no need'(40.4%). Conclusions: People who participated in the CanSPUC program generally tended to choose high-frequency packaging screening program, indicating the high potential acceptance for scale-up packaging screening, while it needs cautious assessments and rational guidance to the public. Although about seven in ten of the residents were willing to pay, the payment amount was limited, revealing the necessity of strengthening individual's awareness of his or her key role in health self-management, and a reasonable payment proportion should be considered when establishing co-compensation mechanism.

[Willingness and preferences of actual service suppliers regarding cancer screening programs: a multi-center survey in urban China]

Objective: From the perspective of actual service suppliers regarding cancer screening, this study aimed to assess the long-term sustainability of cancer screening programs in China. Methods: Based on a Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC), our survey focused on all the hospitals, centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and community service centers across 16 provinces in China which participated in the programs between 2013 and 2015. All the managers (institutional/department level) and professional staff involved in the program were interviewed using either paper-based questionnaire or online approach. Results: A total of 4 626 participants completed the interview. It showed that the main gains from providing screening service emphasized promotion in social value (63.6%), local reputation (35.9%), and professional skills (30.6%), whereas difficulties encountered included inadequate compensation (30.9%) and discordance among information systems (28.3%). When the service remuneration amounts to about 50 Chinese Yuan per screening item, those professional staff self-reported that they would like to work overtime. More than half (63.7%) of the staff expressed willingness to provide routine screening service, the main expectations were to promote their reputation to the local residents (48.7%) and to promote professional skills (43.1%). Those who were not willing to provide screening services were worried about the potential heavy workload (59.8%) or being interfered with their routine work (49.8%). Further detailed results regarding the different organization types and program roles were presented in the following detailed report. Conclusions: Findings of gains and difficulties showed that if cancer screening is expected to become a long-term running, incentive mechanism from the program, external promotion and advocacy as well as capacity building should be strengthened; furthermore, rewards to staff's screening services should be raised according to the local situations. Results regarding the "willingness to provide service" showed that management of the program should also be strengthened, including information system building and inter-agency and inter-department coordination at the government levels.

Lipocalin-2 protects the brain during inflammatory conditions

Sepsis is a prevalent health issue that can lead to central nervous system (CNS) inflammation with long-term behavioral and cognitive alterations. Using unbiased proteomic profiling of over 100 different cytokines, we found that Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) was the most substantially elevated protein in the CNS after peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To determine whether the high level of LCN2 in the CNS is protective or deleterious, we challenged Lcn2^-/- mice with peripheral LPS and determined effects on behavior and neuroinflammation. At a time corresponding to peak LCN2 induction in wild-type (WT) mice injected with LPS, Lcn2^-/- mice challenged with LPS had exacerbated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and exhibited significantly worsened behavioral phenotypes. To determine the extent of global inflammatory changes dependent upon LCN2, we performed an RNAseq transcriptomic analysis. Compared with WT mice injected with LPS, Lcn2^-/- mice injected with LPS had unique transcriptional profiles and significantly elevated levels of multiple pro-inflammatory molecules. Several LCN2-dependent pathways were revealed with this analysis including, cytokine and chemokine signaling, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling. These findings demonstrate that LCN2 serves as a potent protective factor in the CNS in response to systemic inflammation and may be a potential candidate for limiting sepsis-related CNS sequelae.

Establishment and characterization of a new cell line from koi brain (Cyprinus carpio L.)

A novel permanently growing brain cell line from koi (Cyprinus carpio L.) (KB cell line) was established, and its suitability for detection of koi herpesvirus (KHV) was demonstrated in this study. The KB cell line was optimally maintained at 27°C in Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS). It was subcultured more than 100 times, and chromosome analysis revealed that 51.54% of KB cells at passage 80 maintained the abnormal diploid chromosome number 2n = 96 while the modal chromosome number was 2n = 100. The cell line was cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C and was recovered from storage after 1 year with good cell viability and vitality. The results of virus isolation demonstrated that KB cells were susceptible to KHV, which was shown by the presence of an obvious cytopathic effect and abundant virus particles. The viral titres of KHV in KB reached 10^5.73 TCID₅₀ /0.1 ml within 7 days. Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays confirmed that KB replicated KHV. The newly established KB cell line will serve as a useful tool to elucidate KHV disease (KHVD) pathogenesis.

Efficient production of high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid with a two-stage fermentation

A two-stage fermentation process with a segmented control strategy provides high-level synthesis in both HA titer and molecular weight.

Structural responses of metallic glasses under neutron irradiation

Seeking nuclear materials that possess a high resistance to particle irradiation damage is a long-standing issue. Permanent defects, induced by irradiation, are primary structural changes, the accumulation of which will lead to structural damage and performance degradation in crystalline materials served in nuclear plants. In this work, structural responses of neutron irradiation in metallic glasses (MGs) have been investigated by making a series of experimental measurements, coupled with simulations in ZrCu amorphous alloys. It is found that, compared with crystalline alloys, MGs have some specific structural responses to neutron irradiation. Although neutron irradiation can induce transient vacancy-like defects in MGs, they are fully annihilated after structural relaxation by rearrangement of free volumes. In addition, the rearrangement of free volumes depends strongly on constituent elements. In particular, the change in free volumes occurs around the Zr atoms, rather than the Cu centers. This implies that there is a feasible strategy for identifying glassy materials with high structural stability against neutron irradiation by tailoring the microstructures, the systems, or the compositions in alloys. This work will shed light on the development of materials with high irradiation resistance.