Lipoprotein(a) is associated with recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease and prediabetes or diabetes

PURPOSE

Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and diabetes mellitus (DM) are both associated with adverse events in high-risk patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). Currently, the association between Lp(a) levels and recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events (CVEs) remained undetermined in patients with different glucose status. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of Lp(a) levels for recurrent CVEs in high-risk CAD patients who suffered from first CVEs according to different glycemic metabolism.

METHODS

We recruited 5257 consecutive patients with prior CVEs and followed up for recurrent CVEs, including CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and non-fatal stroke. Patients were assigned to low, medium, and high groups according to Lp(a) levels and further stratified by glucose status.

RESULTS

During a median 37-month follow-up, 225 (4.28%) recurrent CVEs occurred. High Lp(a) was independently associated with recurrent CVEs [adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR), 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.19; P = 0.008]. When participants were classified according to Lp(a) levels and glycemic status, high Lp(a) levels were associated with an increased risk of recurrent CVEs in pre-DM (adjusted HR, 2.96; 95% CI 1.24-7.05; P = 0.014). Meanwhile, medium and high Lp(a) levels were both associated with an increased risk for recurrent CVEs in DM (adjusted HR, 3.09; 95% CI 1.30-7.34; P = 0.010 and adjusted HR, 3.13, 95% CI 1.30-7.53; P = 0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that elevated Lp(a) levels were associated with an increased recurrent CVE risk in patients with CAD, particularly among those with pre-DM and DM, indicating that Lp(a) may provide incremental value in risk stratification in this population.

Highly pathogenic PRRSV upregulates IL-13 production through nonstructural protein 9-mediated inhibition of N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a highly infectious virus, causes severe losses in the swine industry by regulating the inflammatory response, inducing tissue damage, suppressing the innate immune response, and promoting persistent infection in hosts. Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a cytokine that plays a critical role in regulating immune responses and inflammation, particularly in immune-related disorders, certain types of cancer, and numerous bacterial and viral infections; however, the underlying mechanisms of IL-13 regulation during PRRSV infection are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that PRRSV infection elevates IL-13 levels in porcine alveolar macrophages. PRRSV enhances m6A-methylated RNA levels while reducing the expression of fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO, an m6A demethylase), thereby augmenting IL-13 production. PRRSV nonstructural protein 9 (nsp9) was a key factor for this modulation. Furthermore, we found that the residues Asp567, Tyr586, Leu593, and Asp595 were essential for nsp9 to induce IL-13 production via attenuation of FTO expression. These insights delineate PRRSV nsp9's role in FTO-mediated IL-13 release, advancing our understanding of PRRSV's impact on host immune and inflammatory responses.

Linc-smad7 is involved in the regulation of lipid synthesis in mouse mammary epithelial cells

Long intergenic non-coding RNA(lincRNA) is transcribed from the intermediate regions of coding genes and plays a pivotal role in the regulation of lipid synthesis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is widely prevalent in eukaryotic mRNAs and serves as a regulatory factor in diverse biological processes. This study aims to delineate the mechanism by which Linc-smad7 mediates m6A methylation to regulate milk fat synthesis. Tissue expression analysis in this study revealed a high expression of Linc-smad7 in breast tissue during pregnancy. Cell proliferation assays, including CCK8 and EdU assays, demonstrated that Linc-smad7 had no significant impact on the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. However, during mammary epithelial cell differentiation, the overexpression of Linc-smad7 led to reduced lipid formation, whereas interference with Linc-smad7 promoted lipogenesis. Mechanistically, Linc-smad7 was found to modulate RNA m6A levels, as evidenced by dot blot assays and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq). Subsequent validation through RT-qPCR corroborated these findings, aligning with the m6A sequencing outcomes. Furthermore, co-transfection experiments elucidated that Linc-smad7 regulates lipid synthesis in mammary epithelial cells by influencing the expression of METTL14. In summary, these findings underscore the regulatory role of Linc-smad7 in controlling METTL14 gene expression, thereby mediating m6A modifications to regulate lipid synthesis in mammary epithelial cells.

MiR-424-5p targets HSP90AA1 to facilitate proliferation and restrain differentiation in skeletal muscle development

MiR-424-5p was found to be a potential regulator in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of various cancer cells. However, the effects and functional mechanism of miR-424-5p in the process of myogenesis are still unclear. Previously, using microRNA (miRNA) sequencing and expression analysis, we discovered that miR-424-5p was expressed differentially in the different skeletal muscle growth periods of Xuhuai goats. We hypothesized that miR-424-5p might play an important role in skeletal muscle myogenesis. Then, we found that the proliferation ability of the mouse myoblast cell (C2C12 myoblast cell line) was significantly augmented, whereas the C2C12 differentiation was repressed after increasing the expression of miR-424-5p. Mechanistically, HSP90AA1 presented a close interrelation with miR-424-5p, which was predicted as a target gene in the progression of skeletal muscle myogenesis, using transcriptome sequencing, dual luciferase reporter gene detection, and qRT-PCR. The silencing of HSP90AA1 obviously increased C2C12 proliferation and diminished differentiation, which is consistent with the ability of miR-424-5p in C2C12. Altogether, our findings indicated the role of miR-424-5p as a novel potential regulator via HSP90AA1 during muscle myogenesis progression.

MiR-495-3p regulates myoblasts proliferation and differentiation through targeting cadherin 2

MircoRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in skeletal muscle development. Previous study had found that miR-495-3p was differentially expressed in fetal and adult goat skeletal muscle, but its function in myogenic proliferation and differentiation are unclear. Herein, we found the expression of miR-495-3p in C2C12 was downregulated during proliferation stage and upregulated during differentiation stage. Functionally, overexpression of miR-495-3p in C2C12 inhibited proliferation, and promoted myogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, the luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that cadherin 2 (CDH2) was a potential target gene of miR-495-3p. Importantly, overexpression of miR-495-3p inhibited CDH2 expression. Furthermore, knockdown of CDH2 in C2C12 inhibited proliferation and promoted myogenic differentiation. Together, the results showed that miR-495-3p inhibits C2C12 proliferation and promotes myogenic differentiation through targeting CDH2.

Nucleocapsid protein residues 35, 36, and 113 are critical sites in up-regulating the Interleukin-8 production via C/EBPα pathway by highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly infectious and pathogenic agent that causes considerable economic damage in the swine industry. It regulates the inflammatory response, triggers inflammation-induced tissue damage, suppresses the innate immune response, and leads to persistent infection. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine, plays a crucial role in inflammatory response during numerous bacteria and virus infections. However, the underlying mechanisms of IL-8 regulation during PRRSV infection are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that PRRSV-infected PAMs and Marc-145 cells release higher levels of IL-8. We screened the nucleocapsid protein, non-structural protein (nsp) 9, and nsp11 of PRRSV to enhance IL-8 promoter activity via the C/EBPα pathway. Furthermore, we identified that the amino acids Q35A, S36A, R113A, and I115A of the nucleocapsid protein play a crucial role in the induction of IL-8. Through reverse genetics, we generated two mutant viruses (rQ35-2A and rR113A), which showed lower induction of IL-8 in PAMs during infection. This finding uncovers a previously unrecognized role of the PRRSV nucleocapsid protein in modulating IL-8 production and provides insight into an additional mechanism by which PRRSV modulates immune responses and inflammation.

[Precise minimally invasive treatment of mandibular fracture in children assisted by digital surgery technology]

Objective: To explore the role of digital three-dimensional printing technology and multifunctional board in the treatment of mandibular fracture in children. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2022, 42 children with mandibular fracture were treated by Department of Stomatology, in The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, including 25 males and 17 females. The patients, aged from 4 to 12 years, with the median age was 10 years old, were divided into observation group (22 cases) and routine group (20 cases) according to the treatment methods. In the observation group, the multifunctional board was made before operation, and the CT data of the children were imported into Mimics software in".dicom"format, and the displaced mandible was virtually reset. The jaw reduction model was made by three-dimensional printing, and the surgical operation was simulated on the reduction model to determine the model and position of the internal fixation device and shape it. During the operation, the fracture was reduced and fixed according to the preoperative design; The conventional group was treated with open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fracture by traditional methods, and the clinical application value was compared and analyzed through the intraoperative situation, occlusal relationship, and follow-up of the two groups. Results: The total intraoperative bleeding volume [(30.25±4.02) ml] and surgical time [(64.3±9.2) min] in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group [(35.13±5.69) ml and (84.6±13.9) min, respectively] (F=6.18, P=0.003; F=1.32, P=0.001). The excellent and good rate of occlusal relationship in the observation group [96% (21/22)] was significantly higher than that in the conventional group [85% (17/20)] (F=4.27, P=0.039). The incidence of complications, the observation group, 1 case of poor occlusion, 1 case of postoperative infection; In the routine group, there were 3 cases with poor occlusion, 1 case with nerve injury, 1 case with root injury and 1 case with tooth germ injury. Conclusions: The application of digitization three-dimensional printing technology combined with multifunctional occlusal plate in children's mandibular fracture is minimally invasive, safe, efficient and accurate, and the clinical effect is good.

Composition and Bioactivity of Chlorogenic Acids in Vegetable and Conventional Sweet Potato Vine Tips

Sweet potato vine tips are abundant in chlorogenic acid (CGA). In this study, CGA was extracted from vegetable and conventional sweet potato vine tips using ethanol, followed by subsequent purification of the extract through a series of sequential steps. Over 4 g of the purified product was obtained from 100 g of sweet potato vine tip powder, producing more than 85% of purified CGA. The LC-MS analysis of all samples indicated that 4-CQA was the predominant isomer in both sweet potato cultivars. Significant variations of p-coumaroyl quinic acids, feruloyl quinic acids, dicaffeoyl quinic acids, and tricaffeoyl quinic acid were identified, whereas the mono-caffeoyl quinic acids did not vary when the two sweet potato varieties were compared. Compared to conventional sweet potatoes, vegetable sweet potatoes exhibit a high negative correlation between 4-CQA and 5-pCoQA, while showing a high positive correlation between 3,5-CQA and 3-pCoQA. A series of principal component analyses (PCA) using CGA isomers enables a clear differentiation between vine tips derived from vegetable and conventional sweet potatoes. The model of linear discriminant analysis, based on the characteristic CGA, achieved a 100% accuracy rate in distinguishing between vegetable and conventional sweet potatoes. The high purity of sweet potato CGA (SCGA) exhibited potent anti-breast cancer activity. The results demonstrated that SCGA significantly suppressed the clonogenicity of MB231 and MCF7 cells, and impeded the migratory, invasive, and lung metastatic potential of MB231 cells.

Chlorogenic Acid Modulates Autophagy by Inhibiting the Activity of ALKBH5 Demethylase, Thereby Ameliorating Hepatic Steatosis

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a naturally occurring plant component with the purpose of alleviating hepatic lipid deposition biological activities. However, the molecular mechanism behind this ability of CGA remains unelucidated. Consequently, we investigated the effect of CGA on hepatic lipid accumulation and elucidated its underlying mechanism. Our study used a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model in mice to investigate the impact of CGA on hepatic lipid accumulation. The results revealed that the oral administration of CGA can ameliorate HFD-induced hepatic lipid deposition, reduce the NAFLD activity score (NAS), enhance liver autophagy, mitigate liver cell structural damage, and inhibit the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, CGA treatment increased the LC3B:LC3B ratio and decreased P62 expression. Cell experiments demonstrated that autophagy contributes to the ability of CGA to alleviate lipid deposition. Further analysis revealed that CGA specifically binds to ALKBH5 and inhibits its m6A methylase activity. The inhibition of ALKBH5 activity significantly reduces AXL mRNA stability in liver cells. The AXL downregulation resulted in suppressing ERK signaling pathway activation. Overall, this study demonstrates that CGA can alleviate hepatic steatosis by regulating autophagy through the inhibition of ALKBH5 activity inhibition.

External Validation of the Graded Prognostic Assessment for Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases Using Molecular Markers (Lung-molGPA)

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastases represent a markedly heterogeneous population. The original diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment is a prognostic index based on data from patients diagnosed between 1985 and 2005 and includes patients age, performance status, extracranial disease, and number of brain metastases. An updated prognostic index (Lung-molGPA) that incorporates molecular features (EGFR and ALK alterations) was created in 2016 based on the North American retrospective database analysis of 2186 patients with NSCLC and newly diagnosed brain metastases between 2006 and 2014. The aim of this study is to validate the Lung-molGPA model in an independent Asian patient population.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Four hundred thirty-three patients (368 adenocarcinoma and 65 nonadenocarcinoma) with NSCLC with newly diagnosed brain metastasis between 2005 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively and scored using the Lung-molGPA model.

RESULTS

The overall median survival for the cohort in the present study was 14 months (16.5 months in the adenocarcinoma and 8.0 months in the nonadenocarcinoma, respectively; p = 0.003). For patients with adenocarcinoma, the median survival for patients with a Lung-molGPA score of 3.5 to 4.0 was 44.7 months, while the median survival was only 8.9 months in patients scoring 0-1.0, 17.0 months in patients scoring 1.5-2.0, and 30.2 months for scores of 2.5-3.0 (p <0.0001). For patients with nonadenocarcinoma, the median survival for scores 0-1.0, 1.5-2.0, and 2.5-3.0 were 6.7, 10.3, and 13.2 months, respectively (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Survival for patients with NSCLC and brain metastases varies widely. This study provides an independent validation of the 2016 Lung-molGPA in Asian patients.

Physical Properties and Clinical Performance of Short Fiber Reinforced Resin-based Composite in Posterior Dentition: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study compares the physical properties and clinical performance of short fiber reinforced composites (SFRC) to those of particulate-filled resin-based composites (PFRC) for class I and II direct restorations in permanent dentition.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCO) databases. The outcomes evaluated were physical properties including flexural strength, flexural modulus, elastic modulus, microhardness, shrinkage, fracture toughness, degree of conversion, and depth of cure. Clinical performance was evaluated with a systematic review.

RESULTS

The meta-analyses favored SFRC for flexural strength and fracture toughness compared to every PFRC subgroup, with a high quality of evidence. For all other properties, the meta-analyses favored SFRC to overall PFRC, with some non-significant differences with certain PFRC subgroups. The most recent clinical trial showed SFRC performed similarly to PFRC, however older studies suggest inferior surface texture and discoloration of SFRC compared to PFRC.

CONCLUSION

This study can aid dental professionals in clinical decision making, supporting that SFRC offers improved physical properties, especially fracture resistance and flexural strength, compared to PFRC.

Efficient Spin-to-Charge Conversion via Altermagnetic Spin Splitting Effect in Antiferromagnet RuO_{2}

The relativistic spin Hall effect and inverse spin Hall effect enable the efficient generation and detection of spin current. Recently, a nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin splitting effect (ASSE) has been theoretically and experimentally reported to generate time-reversal-odd spin current with controllable spin polarization in antiferromagnet RuO_{2}. The inverse effect, electrical detection of spin current via ASSE, still remains elusive. Here we show the spin-to-charge conversion stemming from ASSE in RuO_{2} by the spin Seebeck effect measurements. Unconventionally, the spin Seebeck voltage can be detected even when the injected spin current is polarized along the directions of either the voltage channel or the thermal gradient, indicating the successful conversion of x- and z-spin polarizations into the charge current. The crystal axes-dependent conversion efficiency further demonstrates that the nontrivial spin-to-charge conversion in RuO_{2} is ascribed to ASSE, which is distinct from the magnetic or antiferromagnetic inverse spin Hall effects. Our finding not only advances the emerging research landscape of altermagnetism, but also provides a promising pathway for the spin detection.

[Network meta-analysis comparing the clinical outcomes and safety of robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection for rectal cancer]

Objective: To methodically assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of robot-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (RTME), laparoscopic-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (laTME), and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection (taTME). Methods: A computer search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases to identify English-language reports published between January 2017 and January 2022 that compared the clinical efficacy of the three surgical procedures of RTME, laTME, and taTME. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the NOS and JADAD scales for retrospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, respectively. Direct meta-analysis and reticulated meta-analysis were performed using Review Manager software and R software, respectively. Results: Twenty-nine publications comprising 8,339 patients with rectal cancer were ultimately included. The direct meta-analysis indicated that the length of hospital stay was longer after RTME than after taTME, whereas according to the reticulated meta-analysis the length of hospital stay was shorter after taTME than after laTME (MD=-0.86, 95%CI: -1.70 to -0.096, P=0.036). Moreover, the incidence of anastomotic leak was lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.91, P=0.018). The incidence of intestinal obstruction was also lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.94, P=0.037). All of these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the three surgical procedures regarding the number of lymph nodes cleared, length of the inferior rectal margin, or rate of positive circumferential margins (all P>0.05). An inconsistency test using nodal analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the results of direct and indirect comparisons of the six outcome indicators (all P>0.05). Furthermore, we detected no significant overall inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence. Conclusion: taTME has advantages over RTME and laTME, in terms of radical and surgical short-term outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

5'-tRF-GlyGCC promotes breast cancer metastasis by increasing fat mass and obesity-associated protein demethylase activity

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a class of regulatory non-coding RNAs that play essential biological functions in cancer and stress-induced diseases. Several lines of evidence suggest that 5'-tRF-GlyGCC participates in tumor progression; however, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we explored the function of 5'-tRF-GlyGCC in breast cancer (BC) progression and studied the related potential molecular mechanisms. 5'-tRF-GlyGCC expression increased in human BC, and it promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. 5'-tRF-GlyGCC was found for the first time to bind directly to fat mass and obesity-associated proteins, and increase the activity of FTO demethylase, reducing eIF4G1 methylation, inhibiting autophagy, and promoting BC proliferation and metastasis. These findings suggest that 5'-tRF-GlyGCC might be a therapeutic target for treating BC.

[Infection of human papillomavirus and head and neck cancer]

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers consist of cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and head and neck cancer (HNC). Of these, the disease burden of HNC is second only to cervical cancer. HNC mostly originates from malignant lesions of squamous epithelial cells and mainly includes oral cavity cancer, pharyngeal cancer (including nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and hypopharyngeal cancer), and laryngeal cancer. Tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and HPV infection are three primary risk factors. Recently, there is an upward trend of HNC incidence globally, especially in high-income countries. In China, the disease burden and trends of HPV-related HNC are still not clear. A few small sample size and single-center studies suggest a high HPV prevalence and increasing trend in HNC. Methodological differences in HPV testing and regional variabilities still exist among these studies. Among the anatomic sites, oropharyngeal cancer has been shown to be caused by HPV infection, but the association of HPV with other sites is still under debate. In addition, there is a paucity of relevant studies. Here, this review narrates the association between HPV infection and HNC, compares the differences between global and Chinese studies, and then explores the importance of HPV infection in various anatomical sites. The main objective is to highlight the research on HPV-related HNC and promote relevant prevention and treatment programs.

Increased Sparc release from subchondral osteoblasts promotes articular chondrocyte degeneration under estrogen withdrawal

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) in menopausal women is significantly higher than in same-aged men. Investigating the role of subchondral osteoblasts in estrogen deficiency-induced OA may help elucidate the pathological mechanism, providing new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of menopausal OA.

METHODS

A classical ovariectomy-induced OA (OVX-OA) rat model was utilized to isolate primary articular chondrocytes and subchondral osteoblasts, which were identified and then cocultured in Transwell. The expression of chondrocyte anabolic and catabolic indicators was evaluated. The differentially expressed proteins in the conditioned medium (CM) of osteoblasts were identified by Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). Normal chondrocytes were treated with osteoblast CM, and then RNA sequencing was performed on the treated chondrocytes. KEGG was used to identify significant enrichment of signaling pathways, and Simple Western was used to verify the expression of related proteins in the signaling pathways.

RESULTS

Coculture of OVX-OA subchondral osteoblasts with chondrocytes significantly downregulated the expression of the anabolic indicators and upregulated the expression of the catabolic indicators in chondrocytes. 1,601 proteins were identified in both normal and OVX osteoblast culture supernatants. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that Sparc was one of the hub proteins. The AMPK/Foxo3a signaling pathway of chondrocytes was downregulated by OVX-OA osteoblasts CM. AICAR, the AMPK agonist, partially reversed the catabolic effect of OVX-OA osteoblasts on chondrocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Sparc secreted by OVX-OA subchondral osteoblasts can downregulate the AMPK/Foxo3a signaling pathway of chondrocytes, thereby promoting chondrocyte degeneration.

SNP discovery of PRKAB1 gene and their associations with growth traits in goats

AMPK plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of carbohydrate, lipid and protein in an organism, and is considered to be a key regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. In recent years, attention has been drawn to AMPK subunit polymorphisms and their association with economical traits of domestic animals and fowls. PRKAB1 encodes the β1 regulatory subunit of AMPK, and it has been reported that PRKAB1 may be applied in breeding programs of meat-type chicken. To date, the polymorphism of goat PRKAB1 gene and its associations remain unknown. In this paper, the polymorphism of PRKAB1 gene was detected in 316 goats of three breeds. A total of four novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PRKAB1 gene were revealed by sequence analysis. Among them, three were in the coding region (285 C > A, 297 C > A, 309 C > T), and they were all synonymous. One was in the intron (229 A > G). The associations between polymorphic loci and the growth traits of Xuhuai and Haimen goats were analyzed, and significant associations were found in body length index and trunk index (p < 0.05) for Xuhuai breed, while no significant associations in Haimen breed. Our results provide useful information for the improvement and breeding of Chinese native goats.

[Effects of pretreatment HIV drug resistance on the virological response of HIV-infected patients after 3-year antiretroviral therapy]

Objective: To investigate the impact of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) on virological effect among HIV-infected patients having received antiretroviral therapy (ART) after three years. Methods: The baseline survey of PDR among HIV-infected patients was conducted in 2018, with a three-year follow up study. The clinic data and virological laboratory test variables were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 2 433 participants, 41.6% (1 012/2 433) were aged between 18 and 34, 82.8% (2 015/2 433) were males, 46.9% (1 142/2 433) had education of high school or above, 22.4% (544/2 433) were farmers, 33.8% (823/2 433) were unmarried, 48.1% (1 169/2 433) were infected heterosexually and 41.3% (1 004/2 433) were with CRF07_BC. The prevalence of PDR was 4.5% (109/2 433). The prevalence of virological suppression failure (viral load ≥50 copies/ml) and drug resistance at three years follow up after ART was 8.1%(196/2 433) and 2.5%(60/2 433) respectively. The prevalence of virological suppression failure and drug resistance at three years follow up after ART were 18.3% (20/109) and 7.6% (176/2 324), and 4.6% (5/109) and 2.4% (55/2 324) among participants with PDR and non-PDR, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression model showed that illiteracy (aOR=3.26, 95%CI: 1.82-5.86), primary and junior high school education (aOR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.09-2.18), CD4⁺T lymphocyte count <200/μl (aOR=2.77, 95%CI: 1.75-4.37) and CD4⁺T lymphocyte count 200-499/μl (aOR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.10-2.18) at a three year follow up visit after ART, missed drugs in the past month (aOR=4.24, 95%CI: 2.92-6.17), and PDR (aOR=2.84, 95%CI: 1.67-4.85) were statistically significant with virological suppression failure on treatment. Conclusions: The prevalence of PDR in China at a low level currently, and the virological suppression failure rate is low after three years of ART. It is necessary to strengthen drug resistance monitoring of HIV-infected patients and pay attention to the influence of PDR on treatment effect.

[Auditory response patterns of mouse primary auditory cortex to sound stimuli]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the auditory response patterns of mouse primary auditory cortex (A1) neurons.

METHODS

In vivo cell-attached recordings and neural network modeling were performed to detect the changes in response patterns of A1 neurons of awake C57BL/6J mice to sound stimulation with varying lengths. A1 neuron signals were recorded for 216 neurons in 20 awake mice using a target sound stimulation sequence, and the classification and response characteristics of A1 neuron response patterns were examined using post-stimulus spike time histograms. To simulate the diversity of the A1 neuron response patterns, an A1 neuron model was established based on the Wilson-Cowan model and integral-firing model. The neuron connection weight parameters in the model were calculated by examining the micro loop structure of the pyramidal neurons, parvalbumin neurons, and somatostatin neurons in the A1 region, and the A1 neural network information coding model was constructed.

RESULTS

The Onset response neurons only had fast spike response within 10 to 40 ms after the beginning of noise stimulation (122 neurons). The Sustained response neurons had spike response continuously during the noise stimulation (26 neurons). The On-off response neurons had fast spike response after the beginning and the end of noise stimulation (40 neurons). The Offset response neurons only had fast spike response within 10 to 40 ms after the end of noise stimulation (22 neurons). In the neural network model, the Onset peak neural activities of A1 pyramidal neurons, parvalbumin neurons, and somatostatin neurons were 0.7483, 0.5236 and 0.9427, respectively, and their response half peak widths were 18.5 ms, 12 ms and 31 ms during the 100 ms noise stimulation, respectively. By changing the feedforward excitation and synaptic inhibition time constants in the model, the neurons generated numerous different types of spike train.

CONCLUSION

The auditory response of mouse A1 neurons to sound stimuli shows mainly the Onset, Sustained, On-off, and Offset response patterns.

CircNDST1 Regulates Bovine Myoblasts Proliferation and Differentiation via the miR-411a/Smad4 Axis

Circular RNA (circRNA) is endogenous noncoding RNA found throughout the eukaryotic genome. It regulates several biological activities at the transcription or post-transcription level. However, the underlying function of circRNA in bovine skeletal muscle development remains unknown. Here, we identified a novel circRNA, circNDST1, and investigated its function and mechanism on the proliferation and differentiation of bovine myoblasts. At the molecular and cellular levels, circNDST1 could promote bovine myoblasts proliferation and inhibit differentiation. Mechanistically, circNDST1 is expressed in the cytoplasmic of myoblast and was enriched by protein Ago2. circNDST1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA that sponges miR-411a and alleviates the inhibitory effect on its target gene, Smad4. miR-411a and Smad4 were also involved in regulating bovine myoblast proliferation and differentiation. These findings suggest that circNDST1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA and regulates bovine myoblast proliferation and differentiation through the miR-411a/Smad4 axis.

[Association between metabolic risk factors and the hepatitis B reactivation of inactive HBsAg carriers in Jiangsu province: a cohort study]

Objective: To analyze the impact of metabolic risk factors on the epidemiological characteristics of the reactivation of inactive HBsAg carriers (IHC) and provide effective intervention measures to standardize the management of chronic hepatitis B infections. Methods: Based on the chronic hepatitis B infection cohort established in 2010 in Jiangsu province, six follow-up visits from 2012 to 2020 were conducted to analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of the hepatitis B reactivation of IHC and the impact of metabolic risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and hyperglycemia. Results: From 2012 to 2020, 2 527 IHC and 17 730 person-years were observed during a median follow-up period of 7.0 person-years. Ninety-eight cases of hepatitis B reactivation, with a cumulative reaction rate, was 3.9%, and the incidence density was 5.53/1 000 person-years. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analysis showed that age and baseline HBV DNA were independent risk factors of HBV reactivation. Compared with the patients ≥60 years, 40-49 age group (aHR=2.16, 95%CI:1.20-3.90) and 20-29 age group (aHR=5.48, 95%CI:2.07-14.48) were significantly associated with hepatitis B reactivation. Compared with the HBV DNA negative patients at baseline, the risk of hepatitis B reactivation was higher in the group with low HBV DNA level 100-1 999 IU/ml (aHR=1.67, 95%CI:1.11-2.52). Stratification analysis results showed that compared with those without metabolic risk factors, in the ≥50 age group, patients with ≥2 metabolic risk factors showed adjusted HR of 2.73 (95%CI:1.08-6.96). Conclusions: The risk of hepatitis B being reactive is the persistent existence of IHC in communities in Jiangsu province, especially young adults, low-level HBV DNA carriers, and IHC with ≥2 metabolic risk factors. Follow-up for these IHC should be strengthened to reduce the risk of disease progression by antiviral treatment at the right time.

[Effects of gastrectomy on quality of life of patients with gastric cancer and its evaluation methods]

Surgery is the main curative treatment for gastric cancer. As surgical techniques continue to improve, the scope of radical resection and lymph node dissection has formed consensus and guidelines, so people's attention has gradually shifted to the quality of life (QOL) of patients after surgery. Postgastrectomy syndrome is a series of symptoms and signs caused by complications after gastrectomy, which can affect the quality of life of patients with gastric cancer after surgery. Gastrectomy and anastomosis are closely related to postgastrectomy syndrome. The selection of appropriate surgical methods is very important to the quality of life of patients after surgery. This article reviews the effects of gastrectomy procedures on postoperative quality of life of patients with gastric cancer and its evaluation methods.

AB0784 Symptoms compatible with Rome IV functional bowel disorder in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background

Clinical manifestations of gut problems except for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have not been well-established in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). One study investigated that 30% patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms meeting Rome III criteria.[1]

Objectives

To determine the frequency of symptoms meeting Rome IV functional bowel disorder (FBD) in patients with AS, investigate factors associated with FBD symptoms, and assess whether having FBD symptoms might influence AS disease activity.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively enrolled 153 AS patients without known colonic ulcer and 56 sex- and age-matched controls to evaluate FBD (or its subtypes) symptoms.[2] In AS group, logistic regression models were used to explore whether demographic data, disease activity, level of gut inflammation, drug use, and fibromyalgia [3] were associated with presence of gut symptoms. Finally, potential impacts of gut symptoms on AS disease status were assessed in linear regression models.

Results

Sixty (39.2%) of 153 AS patients had FBD symptoms, which was more prevalent than controls (23.2%). Besides, symptoms compatible with IBS and chronic diarrhea were detected in 18 and 43 AS patients respectively. For AS group, multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that symptoms of FBD, IBS, and chronic diarrhea were negatively associated with using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and positively associated with comorbid fibromyalgia, respectively. In exploration about effects of FBD (or its subtypes) symptoms on AS disease activity by multivariable linear regression analyses, FBD symptoms and chronic diarrhea had positive associations with assessments of AS respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with AS had frequent symptoms compatible with FBD, IBS, and chronic diarrhea, proportions of which were lower in those with NSAID-use. The improvement of FBD symptoms, especially chronic diarrhea, might be conducive to disease status of AS patients.

References

[1]Wallman JK, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79:159-61.

[2]Mearin F, et al. Gastroenterology. 2016;18:S0016-5085(16)00222-5.

[3]Wolfe F, et al. J Rheumatol. 2011;38:1113-22.

Figure 1.

Frequencies with symptoms meeting FBD criteria

Table 1.

Univariable and multivariable associations between gut symptoms and assessments of AS

Gut symptomsUnivariableMultivariableβpβpASDAS-CRPaFBD symptoms0.2340.1120.294< 0.001IBS symptoms0.0390.863Chronic diarrhea0.2170.1720.3010.002BASDAIbFBD symptoms0.747< 0.0010.764< 0.001IBS symptoms0.2020.560Chronic diarrhea0.7610.0020.845< 0.001BAS-GcFBD symptoms0.936< 0.0010.979< 0.001IBS symptoms0.0590.889Chronic diarrhea0.9030.0030.9490.001ASAS HIdFBD symptoms1.941< 0.0011.6730.003IBS symptoms2.2630.0081.7690.046Chronic diarrhea1.5000.0151.3430.030BASFIeFBD symptoms0.4330.0490.4280.048IBS symptoms0.2960.376Chronic diarrhea0.4480.0600.4250.069BASMIfFBD symptoms-0.3730.190-0.4930.075IBS symptoms-0.4420.304Chronic diarrhea-0.1790.564　　

Besides gut symptoms, other clinical variables (Block-1) being chosen into hierarchical multivariable models were as follows: aHLA-B27, lnCRP, and lnESR; bHLA-B27 and lnESR; cHLA-B27 and lnCRP; dsex and TNFi; eHLA-B27, lnESR, and TNFi; fage and lnESR. Missing data ranging from 1-7%.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Observation of Spin Splitting Torque in a Collinear Antiferromagnet RuO_{2}

Current-induced spin torques provide efficient data writing approaches for magnetic memories. Recently, the spin splitting torque (SST) was theoretically predicted, which combines advantages of conventional spin transfer torque (STT) and spin-orbit torque (SOT) as well as enables controllable spin polarization. Here we provide the experimental evidence of SST in collinear antiferromagnet RuO_{2} films. The spin current direction is found to be correlated to the crystal orientation of RuO_{2} and the spin polarization direction is dependent on (parallel to) the Néel vector. These features are quite characteristic for the predicted SST. Our finding not only presents a new member for the spin torques besides traditional STT and SOT, but also proposes a promising spin source RuO_{2} for spintronics.

Adjuvant Abemaciclib Combined with Endocrine Therapy for High Risk Early Breast Cancer: Safety and Patient-Reported Outcomes From the monarchE Study

BACKGROUND

In monarchE, abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) as adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor 2-negative, high risk, early breast cancer demonstrated a clinically meaningful improvement in invasive disease-free survival versus ET alone. Detailed safety analyses conducted at a median follow-up of 27 months and key patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are presented.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The safety population included all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment (n=5591). Safety analyses included incidence, management, and outcomes of common and clinically relevant adverse events (AEs). Patient-reported health-related quality-of-life, ET symptoms, fatigue, and side effect burden were assessed.

RESULTS

The addition of abemaciclib to ET resulted in higher incidence of Grade≥3 AEs (49.7% vs 16.3% with ET alone), predominantly laboratory cytopenias (e.g., neutropenia [19.6%]) without clinical complications. Abemaciclib-treated patients experienced more serious adverse events (SAEs; 13.3% vs 7.8%). Discontinuation of abemaciclib and/or ET due to AEs occurred in 18.5% of patients, mainly due to Grade1/2 AEs (66.8%). AEs were managed with comedications (e.g., antidiarrheals), abemaciclib dose holds (61.7%), and/or dose reductions (43.4%). Diarrhea was generally low grade (Grade1/2: 77%); Grade2/3 events were highest in the first month (20.5%), most short-lived (≤7 days) and did not recur. Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) were higher with abemaciclib+ET (2.5%) vs ET (0.6%); in the abemaciclib arm, increased VTE risk was observed with tamoxifen vs AIs (4.3% vs 1.8%). PROs were similar between arms, including being 'bothered by side effects of treatment', except for diarrhea. At ≥3 months, most patients reporting diarrhea reported "a little bit" or "somewhat".

CONCLUSION

In patients with high risk EBC, adjuvant abemaciclib+ET has an acceptable safety profile and tolerability is supported by PRO findings. Most AEs were reversible and manageable with comedications and/or dose modifications, consistent with the known abemaciclib toxicity profile.

Modification of PVC/CPE Blends with Coupling Agent and its Mechanism

In this thesis, the modification of PVC/CPE blends was investigated. Addition of aromatic diamines into PVC/CPE blends as a coupling agent, greatly increases the impact strength of the blends. At the same time, other mechanical properties such as the tensile and bending strength can be improved as well.

With the aid of solvent etching, the multiphase microstructure of the blends has been studied using a scanning electron microscope. The relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the blends has been discussed.

It was shown that there were coupling and crosslinking reactions in the blends with coupling agents. The concentration of the reacted coupling agent was related to the mechanical properties of the blends quantitatively.

Using probability methods, the concentration of the coupled molecules formed in the blends can be calculated. The influence of the ratio of PVC to CPE on the coupling effectiveness can be predicted.

Transcriptome analysis of miRNAs during myoblasts adipogenic differentiation

Intramuscular fat content is closely related to meat quality traits and has high heritability. miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA, which are highly conserved in animals and play important regulatory roles in adipogenesis. Therefore, they can be used as molecular markers for meat quality traits. Herein, we used in vitro model of myoblasts adipogenic differentiation to screen differential miRNAs by RNA-seq. A total of 71 differentially miRNAs were filtered, including 31 up-regulated miRNAs and 40 down-regulated miRNAs. Since, we selected 18 miRNAs for RT-qPCR validation, including some miRNAs likely miR-146a-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-199a, miR-224, and miR-214-3p that play important regulatory roles in adipogenesis. In addition, functional enrichment analysis results revealed that members of miRNA target genes were enriched into insulin signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, which are closely related to adipogenesis. Taken together, these data will contribute to further investigate the function of miRNAs in intramuscular fat deposition. These differentially miRNAs can be developed as biomarkers for animal breeding.

[C-reactive protein is associated with impaired working capacity in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis in paid employment: the real-world evidence from Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System]

To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and work impairment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on real-world evidence. Outpatients with confirmed AS at Chinese PLA General Hospital were recruited consecutively by Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System (SpAMS) from April 2016 to April 2018. The relationship between CRP and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (WPAI) were evaluated. Five hundred and fifty-one outpatients with AS in paid employment were recruited. The presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates increased by 1.4% (1.1%, 1.8%), 1.1% (0.5%, 1.6%), and 1.7% (1.3%, 2.1%), respectively, for every 10 mg/L increase in the CRP level (all P value<0.01). However, the CRP level was not associated with absenteeism after adjusting for covariates [0.5%(-0.4%, 1.0%),P>0.05]. There is a significant association between increased serum CRP levels at baseline and the previous 7-day work impairment in patients with AS. Higher CRP levels contribute to worse presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates, which suggests the necessity of monitoring CRP on treatment, and also indicates that anti-inflammatory therapy may be effective for improving work productivity.