Coordinated dynamics of aquaculture ponds and water eutrophication owing to policy: A case of Jiangsu province, China

Aquaculture ponds (APs) are rapidly expanding globally and are considered crucial for guaranteeing the supply of food, population growth, and economic development. However, the rapid expansion of aquaculture not only brought benefits but also a series of eco-environmental issues, such as water eutrophication. To achieve sustainable development, it is essential to gain a profound understanding of the spatiotemporal evolution of APs, the drivers behind their dynamics, and their relationship with the aquatic environment. Jiangsu Province (JS) in China, a historically significant aquaculture region, encompasses two prominent river basins: the Huai River Basin (HRB) and the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). In light of the construction of an ecological civilization, JS serves as a demonstration and pioneering area for basin protection and development. Therefore, this study focuses on JS, aiming to elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of APs, the corresponding relationship with basin management policies, and the impact on water eutrophication. The results revealed that: (1) in 2022, APs in JS were unevenly distributed, with a total area of 3278.78 km2, of which 79 % was located in the HRB. (2) During 2016-2022, APs exhibited an initial growth trend before 2019, followed by a decrease. (3) Due to policy interventions, AP changes within different basins showed opposite trends, and the corresponding water eutrophic state aligned with AP dynamics. The findings of this study can serve as a typical case to provide scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of policies to improve the water environment in eutrophic basins.

Targeting METTL3 reprograms the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapy

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a heterogeneous ecosystem containing cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, cytokines, and chemokines which together govern tumor progression and response to immunotherapies. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), a core catalytic subunit for RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological and pathological processes. Whether and how METTL3 regulates the TME and anti-tumor immunity in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain poorly understood. Here, we report that METTL3 elevates expression of pro-tumorigenic chemokines including CXCL1, CXCL5, and CCL20, and destabilizes PD-L1 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner, thereby shaping a non-inflamed TME. Thus, inhibiting METTL3 reprograms a more inflamed TME that renders anti-PD-1 therapy more effective in several murine lung tumor models. Clinically, NSCLC patients who exhibit low-METTL3 expression have a better prognosis when receiving anti-PD-1 therapy. Collectively, our study highlights targeting METTL3 as a promising strategy to improve immunotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Prognostic Model Construction of Disulfidptosis-Related Genes and Targeted Anticancer Drug Research in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer stands as one of the most lethal malignancies, characterized by delayed diagnosis, high mortality rates, limited treatment efficacy, and poor prognosis. Disulfidptosis, a recently unveiled modality of cell demise induced by disulfide stress, has emerged as a critical player intricately associated with the onset and progression of various cancer types. It has emerged as a promising candidate biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and treatment strategies. In this study, we have effectively established a prognostic risk model for pancreatic cancer by incorporating multiple differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) closely linked to disulfide-driven cell death. Our investigation delved into the nuanced relationship between the DElncRNA-based predictive model for disulfide-driven cell death and the therapeutic responses to anticancer agents. Our findings illuminate that the high-risk subgroup exhibits heightened susceptibility to the small molecule compound AZD1208, positioning it as a prospective therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer. Finally, we have elucidated the underlying mechanistic potential of AZD1208 in ameliorating pancreatic cancer through its targeted inhibition of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARG) protein, employing an array of comprehensive analytical methods, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This study explores disulfidptosis-related genes, paving the way for the development of targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer and emphasizing their significance in the field of oncology. Furthermore, through computational biology approaches, the drug AZD1208 was identified as a potential treatment targeting the PPARG protein for pancreatic cancer. This discovery opens new avenues for exploring targets and screening drugs for pancreatic cancer.

The value of T2-weighted MRI contrast ratio combined with DWI in evaluating the pathological grade of solid lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

To assess the predictive value of T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for determining the pathological grading of solid lung adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical and imaging data from 153 cases of solid lung adenocarcinoma (82 men, 71 women, mean age 63.2 years) confirmed at histopathology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2017 to May 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Adenocarcinomas were classified into low-grade (G1 and G2) and high-grade (G3) groups following the 2020 pathological grading system proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. The T2-weighted contrast ratio (T2CR), calculated as the T2 signal intensity of the lung mass/nodule divided by the T2 signal intensity of the right rhomboid muscle was utilised. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the MRI images independently, measured the T2CR, and obtained apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare general characteristics (sex, age, maximum diameter), T2CR, and ADC values between the low-grade and high-grade groups. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test determined differences in T2CR and ADC values among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes. Receiver characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, along with area under the curve (AUC) calculation, assessed the effectiveness of each parameter in distinguishing the pathological grade of lung adenocarcinoma. A Z-test was used to compare the AUC values.

RESULTS

Among the 153 patients with adenocarcinoma, 103 had low-grade adenocarcinoma, and 50 had high-grade adenocarcinoma. The agreement between T2CR and ADC observers was good (0.948 and 0.929, respectively). None of the parameters followed a normal distribution (p<0.05). The ADC value was lower in the high-grade adenocarcinoma group compared to the low-grade adenocarcinoma group (p=0.004), while the T2CR value was higher in the high-grade group (p=0.011). Statistically significant differences were observed in maximum diameter and gender between the two groups (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively), while no significant differences were noted in age (p=0.980). Among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes, only the lepidic and micropapillary subtypes displayed statistical differences in ADC values (p=0.047), with the remaining subtypes showing no statistical differences (p>0.05). The AUC values for distinguishing high-grade adenocarcinoma from low-grade adenocarcinoma were 0.645 for ADC and 0.627 for T2CR. Combining T2CR, ADC, sex, and maximum diameter resulted in an AUC of 0.778, sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 75%. This combination significantly improved diagnostic efficiency compared to T2CR and ADC alone (p=0.008, z = 2.624; p=0.007, z = 2.679).

CONCLUSION

The MRI quantitative parameters are useful for distinguishing the pathological grades of solid lung adenocarcinoma, offering valuable insights for precise lung cancer treatment.

Characterization of a novel 3-quinuclidinone reductase possessing remarkable thermostability

The 3-quinuclidinone reductase plays an irreplaceable role in the biopreparation of (R)-3-quinuclidinol, an intermediate vital for synthesis of various pharmaceuticals. Thermal robustness is a critical factor for enzymatic synthesis in industrial applications. This study characterized a new 3-quinuclidinone reductase, named SaQR, with significant thermal stability. The SaQR was overexpressed in a GST-fused state, and substrate and cofactor screening were conducted. Additionally, three-dimensional structure prediction using AlphaFold and analysis were performed, along with relevant thermostability tests, and the evaluation of factors influencing enzyme activity. The findings highlight the remarkable thermostability of SaQR, retaining over 90% of its activity after 72 h at 50°C, with an optimal operational temperature of 85°C. SaQR showed typical structural traits of the SDR superfamily, with its cofactor-determining residue being aspartic acid, conferring nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(H)) preference. Moreover, K+ and Na+, at a concentration of 400 mM, could significantly enhance the activity, while Mg2+ and Mn2+ only display inhibitory effects within the tested concentration range. The findings of molecular dynamics simulations suggest that high temperatures may disrupt the binding of enzyme to substrate by increasing the flexibility of residues 205-215. In conclusion, this study reports a novel 3-quinuclidinone reductase with remarkable thermostability.

A novel strategy for estimating biomass of submerged aquatic vegetation in lake integrating UAV and Sentinel data

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) plays a fundamental ecological role in mediating carbon cycling within lakes, and its biomass is essential to assess the carbon sequestration potential of lake ecosystems. Remote sensing (RS) offers a powerful tool for large-scale SAV biomass retrieval. Given the underwater location of SAV, the spectral signal in RS data often exhibits weakness, capturing primarily horizontal structure rather than volumetric information crucial for biomass assessment. Fortunately, easily-measured SAV coverage can serve as an intermediary variable for difficultly-quantified SAV biomass inversion. Nevertheless, obtaining enough SAV coverage samples matching satellite image pixels for robust model development remains problematic. To overcome this challenge, we employed a UAV to acquire high-precision data, thereby replacing manual SAV coverage sample collection. In this study, we proposed an innovative strategy integrating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite data to invert large-scale SAV coverage, and subsequently estimate the biomass of the dominant SAV population (Potamogeton pectinatus) in Ulansuhai Lake. Firstly, a coverage-biomass model (R2 = 0.93, RMSE = 0.8 kg/m2) depicting the relationship between SAV coverage and biomass was developed. Secondly, in a designed experimental area, a high-precision multispectral image was captured by a UAV. Based on the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), the UAV-based image was classified into non-vegetated and vegetated areas, thereby generating an SAV distribution map. Leveraging spatial correspondence between satellite pixels and the UAV-based SAV distribution map, the proportion of SAV within each satellite pixel, referred to as SAV coverage, was computed, and a coverage sample set matched with satellite pixels was obtained. Subsequently, based on the sample set, a satellite-scale SAV coverage estimation model (R2 = 0.78, RMSE = 14.05 %) was constructed with features from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data by XGBoost algorithm. Finally, integrating the coverage-biomass model with the obtained coverage inversion results, fresh biomass of SAV in Ulansuhai Lake was successfully estimated to be approximately 574,600 tons.

Mapping particulate organic carbon in lakes across China using OLCI/Sentinel-3 imagery

Remote sensing monitoring of particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration is essential for understanding phytoplankton productivity, carbon storage, and water quality in global lakes. Some algorithms have been proposed, but only for regional eutrophic lakes. Based on in-situ data (N = 1269) in 49 lakes across China, we developed a blended POC algorithm by distinguishing Type-I and Type-II waters. Compared to Type-I, Type-II waters had higher reflectance peak around 560 nm (>0.0125 sr-1) and mean POC (4.65 ± 4.11 vs. 2.66 ± 3.37 mg/L). Furthermore, because POC was highly related to algal production (r = 0.85), a three-band index (R2 = 0.65) and the phytoplankton fluorescence peak height (R2 = 0.63) were adopted to estimate POC in Type-I and Type-II waters, respectively. The novel algorithm got a mean absolute percent difference (MAPD) of 35.93 % and outperformed three state-of-the-art formulas with MAPD values of 40.56-76.42 %. Then, the novel algorithm was applied to OLCI/Sentinel-3 imagery, and we first obtained a national map of POC in 450 Chinese lakes (> 20 km2), which presented an apparent spatial pattern of "low in the west and high in the east". In brief, water classification should be considered when remotely monitoring lake POC concentration over a large area. Moreover, a process-oriented method is required when calculating water column POC storage from satellite-derived POC concentrations in type-II waters. Our results contribute substantially to advancing the dynamic observation of the lake carbon cycle using satellite data.

Longitudinal evaluation of cervical length and shear wave elastography in women with spontaneous preterm birth

OBJECTIVES

To compare longitudinal changes in cervical length (CL) and mean cervical shear wave elastography (CSWE) scores between women with singleton and twin pregnancies who experience spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and those who have term births (TB).

METHODS

This was a prospective longitudinal study of 1264 unselected women with singleton (n=1143) and twin (n=121) pregnancy attending a dedicated research clinic for screening of sPTB at 4 timepoints during pregnancy including 11-15+6 (visit 1), 16-20+6 (visit 2), 21-24+6 (visit 3) and 28-32+6 (visit 4) weeks of gestation. At each visit, a transvaginal ultrasound scan was conducted to measure the CL and the CSWE scores from six regions of interest (ROI) (inner, middle, and external parts of anterior and posterior lips) in the cervix. The mean of CSWE scores from the six ROIs were calculated for data analysis. Log10 transformation was applied to make the data Gaussian prior to statistical analysis. A multilevel mixed-effects analysis was performed to compare CL and CSWE longitudinally between sPTB and TB groups.

RESULTS

A total of 57 (4.99%) singleton pregnancies and 33 (27.27%) twin pregnancies were complicated with sPTB. Women with sPTB had shorter CL across gestation when controlling for history of cervical surgery, number of fetuses, gestational age at cervical assessment (GA), and the interaction between GA and sPTB. CL in the sPTB group was significantly lower than that of the TB group at 21-24+6 weeks (p=0.039) and 28-32+6 weeks (p<0.001). Twin pregnancies had significantly longer CL throughout pregnancy, compared to singleton pregnancies (coefficient=0.01864, p<0.001). Furthermore, after adjusting for maternal age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and GA, CSWE scores in sPTB group were significantly lower in the sPTB group across gestation, compared to the TB group (1.28265 vs 1.32832; p=0.013). However, in the individual visit analysis, CSWE scores in the sPTB group were significantly lower than that of the TB group only at 11-15+6 weeks (p=0.013). There was no difference in CSWE scores between singleton and twin pregnancies throughout pregnancy (coefficient=-0.00128, p=0.937).

CONCLUSION

Women with sPTB have shorter CL and softer cervix across gestation when compared to those with TB. In the individual visit analysis, the reduction in CL in the sPTB group occurs from late second trimester onwards, while the reduction in cervical stiffness in the sPTB group is observed primarily in the first trimester. Additionally, our study has found that CL is significantly shorter in singleton pregnancies compared to twin pregnancies, while cervical stiffness does not differ between the two types of pregnancy. Our findings indicate that the cervix tends to undergo a softening process prior to shortening in the sPTB cases This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification unveil glycyrrhizin from glycyrrhiza glabra alleviates acute pancreatitis via modulation of MAPK and STAT3 signaling pathways

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with increasing mortality and morbidity. Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as Liquorice, is a widely used plant containing bioactive compounds like Glycyrrhizin, which possesses diverse medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer activities. The objective of this study is to investigate the active components, relevant targets, and underlying mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicine Glycyrrhiza glabra in the treatment of AP. Utilizing various computational biology methods, we explored the potential targets and molecular mechanisms through Glycyrrhizin supplementation. Computational results indicated that Glycyrrhizin shows promising pharmacological potential, particularly with mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) protein (degree: 70), forming stable complexes with Glycyrrhizin through ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions, with a binding free energy (ΔGbind) of -33.01 ± 0.08 kcal/mol. Through in vitro experiments, we validated that Glycyrrhizin improves primary pancreatic acinar cell injury by inhibiting the MAPK/STAT3/AKT signaling pathway. Overall, MAPK3 emerges as a reliable target for Glycyrrhizin's therapeutic effects in AP treatment. This study provides novel insights into the active components and potential targets and molecular mechanisms of natural products.

Molecular subgroup establishment and signature creation of lncRNAs associated with acetylation in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as pivotal mediators of histone acetylation and their influential role in predicting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been increasingly recognized. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the potential utility of acetylation-related lncRNAs (ARLs) in prognosticating the overall survival (OS) of LUAD specimens.

METHODS

The RNA-Seq and clinical information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Through the differential analysis, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), Pearson correlation test and univariate Cox regression, we found out the prognosis associated ARLs and divided LUAD specimens into two molecular subclasses. The ARLs were employed to construct a unique signature through the implementation of the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm. Subsequently, the predictive performance was evaluated using ROC analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. Finally, ARL expression in LUAD was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

We triumphantly built a ARLs prognostic model with excellent predictive accuracy for LUAD. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis illustrated that risk model served as an independent predictor for influencing the overall survival OS of LUAD. Furthermore, a nomogram exhibited strong prognostic validity. Additionally, variations were observed among subgroups in the field of immunity, biological functions, drug sensitivity and gene mutations within the field.

CONCLUSIONS

Nine ARLs were identified as promising indicators of personalized prognosis and drug selection for people suffering with LUAD.

Salinity is an important factor in carbon emissions from an inland lake in arid region

Saline lakes, serving as the ultimate destination for most hydrological systems, accumulate substantial amounts of nutrients and organic matter from basins, and act as vast carbon reservoirs. These lakes exhibit exceptionally active biogeochemical cycling processes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), and constitute integral components of the global carbon cycle. However, understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from saline lakes remains unclear mostly due to scarce data. In this study, we obtained CO2 and CH4 diffusive fluxes and biogeochemical parameters during ice-free period of 2021 at Bosten Lake, which is a representative inland saline lake located in China's arid region. Results revealed that Bosten Lake was a significant source of atmospheric gas carbon emissions, with average diffusion emissions of 12.645 ± 3.475 mmol m-2 d-1 for CO2 and 0.279 ± 0.069 mmol m-2 d-1 for CH4. Temporally, field measurements found a positive correlation between conductivity (Spc, a proxy of salinity) and CO2 emissions (R2 = 0.50, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the CH4 diffusive fluxes increased with the trophic state index (TSI, R2 = 0.31, p < 0.01). Spatially, exogenous inputs led to the spatial heterogeneity of carbon emissions. Our results highlighted that temporal variations in salinity constitute a crucial factor influencing CO2 emissions, and the saline lake has greater global warming potential compared to freshwater. The study provides an in-depth analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and driving factors in saline lakes of arid regions, and supports a further understanding of the carbon cycle in different types of lakes.

Microcystins risk assessment in lakes from space: Implications for SDG 6.1 evaluation

Cyanobacterial blooms release a large number of algal toxins (e.g., Microcystins, MCs) and seriously threaten the safety of drinking water sources what the SDG 6.1 pursues (to provide universal access to safe drinking water by 2030, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal). Nevertheless, algal toxins in lake water have not been routinely monitored and evaluated well and frequently so far. In this study, a total of 100 large lakes (>25 km2) in densely populated eastern China were studied, and a remote sensing scheme of human health risks from MCs based on Sentinel-3 OLCI data was developed. The spatial and temporal dynamics of MCs risk in eastern China lakes since OLCI satellite observation data (2016-2021) were first mapped. The results showed that most of the large lakes in eastern China (80 out of 100) were detected with the occurrence of a high risk of more than 1 pixel (300×300 m) at least once. Fortunately, in terms of lake areas, the frequency of high human health risks in most waters (70.93% of total lake areas) was as less as 1%. This indicates that drinking water intakes can be set in most waters from the perspective of MCs, yet the management departments are required to reduce cyanobacterial blooms. This study highlights the potential of satellite in monitoring and assessing the risk of algal toxins and ensuring drinking water safety. It is also an important reference for SDG 6.1 reporting for lakes that lack routine monitoring.

Management actions mitigate the risk of carbon dioxide emissions from urban lakes

Lakes are recognized as important sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which vary greatly across land use type. However, CO2 emissions from lakes in urban landscapes are generally overlooked despite their daily connections to human activity. Furthermore, the role of management actions in CO2 emissions remained unclear mostly because of the lack of long-term observations. Here, the CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) from two urban lakes (Lake Wuli and Lake Donghu) in eastern China were investigated based on 16-year (2002-2017) field measurements. This long-term measurements showed the annual mean pCO2 were 1150 ± 612 μatm for Lake Wuli and 1143 ± 887 μatm for Lake Donghu, with corresponding estimated flux of 21.12 ± 19.60 mmol m-2 d-1 and 16.42 ± 20.39 mmol m-2 d-1, respectively. This indicates significant CO2 evasion into the atmosphere. Strong links between CO2 and human-derived nutrients (e.g., ammonium) and dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and trophic state index were found. Although pCO2 was relatively uniform across sites and seasons in each lake, substantial inter-annual variability with significant decreasing trends were found. The decrease in annual CO2 can be partly explained by the reduction of pollutant loadings with management actions, which held the hypotheses that management actions mitigated the CO2 emission risks. Overall, management actions (e.g., ecological restoration and municipal engineering) should be considered for better understanding the roles of anthropogenic aquatic ecosystems in carbon cycle.

Recent advances in the management of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia

Non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia is a benign disease without significant somatic genetic changes. Postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia have a significant risk of progression to endometrial cancer and persistent endometrial hyperplasia. Most cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal women are treated surgically, including hysterectomy. At present, the treatment of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia is still controversial. Correct and timely diagnosis and treatment are of great significance to prevent progression of the lesion. This study mainly provides an updated synthesis of the literature that investigates the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia. As of December 2022, a literature search related to postmenopausal non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia was conducted on the PubMed database. For most postmenopausal patients with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia, regular re-examination should be performed during conservative treatment. For postmenopausal patients with endometrial cancer risk factors, persistent non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia or progesterone contraindications, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be the first choice.

Eutrophication and salinization elevate the dissolved organic matter content in arid lakes

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an essential role in the global lake carbon cycle. Understanding DOM composition and monitoring its spatiotemporal dynamics are of great significance for understanding the lake carbon cycle, controlling water pollution, and protecting water resources. However, previous studies have focused mainly on eutrophic freshwater lakes, with limited attention given to saline lakes. Based on in situ data collected in ten lakes in northwestern China, this study reported the changes in DOM components in different lake types. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was used to analyze the three-dimensional excitation emission matrix (EEMs) to obtain the DOM fluorescence components. The contributions of different environmental factors to the changes in DOM components were quantified by the generalized linear model (GLM). The results showed that the eutrophication index was significantly positively related to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.01) and colored DOM (CDOM) (R2 = 0.96, p < 0.01) concentrations. Terrestrial humic-like and tryptophan-like components, which are highly correlated with human activities, explained 62% and 64% of the variations in DOC and CDOM, respectively. In sum, the contributions of human activities to the DOC and CDOM variations were 61% and 57%, respectively. Salinity also showed significant positive correlations with both DOC (R2 = 0.88, p < 0.01) and CDOM (R2 = 0.87, p < 0.01). Lake salinization led to increases in DOM concentration, and salinity contributed 20% and 16% to the DOC and CDOM variations, respectively. Therefore, human activities and salinity codetermined the DOM concentration and its composition in the western arid lakes. Based on these findings, this study proposed a feasible flowchart for remotely estimating DOM in saline lakes using satellite data. This study is significant for the long-term monitoring of the carbon cycle and the effective protection of lake water resources in saline lakes.

Quantification of Diffusive Methane Emissions from a Large Eutrophic Lake with Satellite Imagery

Lakes are major emitters of methane (CH4); however, a longstanding challenge with quantifying the magnitude of emissions remains as a result of large spatial and temporal variability. This study was designed to address the issue using satellite remote sensing with the advantages of spatial coverage and temporal resolution. Using Aqua/MODIS imagery (2003-2020) and in situ measured data (2011-2017) in eutrophic Lake Taihu, we compared the performance of eight machine learning models to predict diffusive CH4 emissions and found that the random forest (RF) model achieved the best fitting accuracy (R2 = 0.65 and mean relative error = 21%). On the basis of input satellite variables (chlorophyll a, water surface temperature, diffuse attenuation coefficient, and photosynthetically active radiation), we assessed how and why they help predict the CH4 emissions with the RF model. Overall, these variables mechanistically controlled the emissions, leading to the model capturing well the variability of diffusive CH4 emissions from the lake. Additionally, we found climate warming and associated algal blooms boosted the long-term increase in the emissions via reconstructing historical (2003-2020) daily time series of CH4 emissions. This study demonstrates the great potential of satellites to map lake CH4 emissions by providing spatiotemporal continuous data, with new and timely insights into accurately understanding the magnitude of aquatic greenhouse gas emissions.

A multicenter, single-arm, open study of neoadjuvant or conversion atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy in resectable small cell lung cancer (Cohort Study)

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prospects of using chemotherapy in combination with atezolizumab in the neoadjuvant or conversion treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODS

Prior to surgery, untreated patients with limited-stage SCLC received three cycles of neoadjuvant or conversion atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy of etoposide and platinum. The primary endpoint of the trial was pathological complete response (pCR) in the per-protocol (PP) cohort. In addition, safety was assessed based on treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Overall, 13 of 17 patients (including 14 males and 3 females) underwent surgery. In the PP cohort, pCR and major pathological response were observed in 8 (8/13, 61.5%) and 12 (12/13, 92.3%) patients, respectively. According to the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the pCR and major pathological response in the ITT cohort were 47.1% (8/17) and 70.6% (12/17), respectively. In addition, an overall response rate of 100% was recorded in the PP cohort. Moreover, 15 (15/17, 88.2%) patients and 1 (1/17, 5.9%) in the ITT cohort attained partial remission (PR), and complete remission, respectively, with an overall response rate of 94.1%. The median overall survival of the patients of pCR and the median event-free survival of the patients on surgery had not achieved. However, the median overall survival of the patients of non-pCR was 18.2 months and the median event-free survival of the nonsurgical patients was 9.5 months. During the neoadjuvant treatment, the incidence of grade 3 or higher AEs was 58.8% (10/17). Additionally, three patients (17.6%) developed immune-related adverse event (grades 1-2).

CONCLUSION

In patients with SCLC, neoadjuvant or conversion atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy significantly improved pCR with manageable AEs. Therefore, this regimen may be considered a safe and effective treatment for SCLC.

Increasing global oceanic wind speed partly counteracted water clarity management effectiveness: A case study of Hainan Island coastal waters

A sustainable coastal "blue economy" is one of the most significant opportunities and challenges in the new era. However, the management and conservation of marine ecosystems must recognize the interdependence in the coupled human and natural systems. In this study, we employed satellite remote sensing to map the spatial and temporal distribution of Secchi disk depth (SDD) in Hainan coastal waters, China for the first time, and quantitatively revealed the impacts of environmental investments on the coastal water environment in the context of global climate change. Based on the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) in situ concurrent matchups (N = 123), a simple green band (555 nm)-based quadratic algorithm was first developed to estimate the SDD for the coastal waters of Hainan Island in China (R² = 0.70, root mean square error (RMSE) = 1.74 m). The long time-series SDD dataset (2001-2021) for Hainan coastal waters was reconstructed from MODIS observations. Spatially, SDD showed a pattern of high water clarity in eastern and southern coastal waters and low water clarity in the western and northern coastal areas. This pattern is attributed to unbalanced distributions of bathymetry and pollution from seagoing rivers. Seasonally, the humid tropical monsoon climate drove the SDD into a general pattern of high in the wet season and low in the dry season. Annually, the SDD in Hainan coastal waters improved significantly (p < 0.1), benefiting from environmental investments over the last 20 years. However, the increasing global oceanic wind speed in recent years has exacerbated sediment resuspension and deep ocean mixing, counteracting approximately 14.14% of the remedial management's effectiveness in protecting and restoring the coastal ecosystem. This study offers ways to improve the ecological and environmental regulations under global changes and to strengthen the public service capacity for aquatic management authorities with methods that support the sustainable development of coastal areas.

Computational biology-based study of the molecular mechanism of spermidine amelioration of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, the mortality and morbility of which has been on the increase in the past years. Spermidine, a natural polyamine, has a wide range of pharmacological effects including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-aging, and anti-tumorigenic. This study aimed to investigate the reliable targets and molecular mechanisms of spermidine in treating AP. By employing computational biology methods including network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we explored the potential targets of spermidine in improving AP with dietary supplementation. The computational biology results revealed that spermidine had high degrees (degree: 18, betweenness: 38.91; degree: 18, betweenness: 206.41) and stable binding free energy (ΔG_bind: - 12.81 ± 0.55 kcal/mol, - 15.00 ± 1.00 kcal/mol) with acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Experimental validation demonstrates that spermidine treatment could reduce the necrosis and AchE activity in pancreatic acinar cells. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) results revealed that spermidine could bind to and stabilize the 5-HTT protein in acinar cells. Moreover, spermidine treatment impeded the rise of the expression of 5-HTT in pancreatic tissues of caerulein induced acute pancreatitis mice. In conclusion, serotonin transporter might be a reliable target of spermidine in treating AP. This study provides new idea for the exploration of potential targets of natural compounds.

[Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton immunotherapy for cervical high-risk HPV persistent infection]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (Nr-CWS) in the treatment of persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A randomized, double blind, multi-center trial was conducted. A total of 688 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed HR-HPV infection of the cervix diagnosed in 13 hispital nationwide were recruited and divided into: (1) patients with simple HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (2) patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅰ and HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (3) patients with the same HR-HPV subtype with no CINⅡ and more lesions after treatment with CINⅡ or CIN Ⅲ (CINⅡ/CIN Ⅲ). All participants were randomly divided into the test group and the control group at a ratio of 2∶1. The test group was locally treated with Nr-CWS freeze-dried powder and the control group was treated with freeze-dried powder without Nr-CWS. The efficacy and negative conversion rate of various subtypes of HR-HPV were evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment. The safety indicators of initial diagnosis and treatment were observed. Results: (1) This study included 555 patients with HR-HPV infection in the cervix (included 368 in the test group and 187 in the control group), with an age of (44.1±10.0) years. The baseline characteristics of the two groups of subjects, including age, proportion of Han people, weight, composition of HR-HPV subtypes, and proportion of each subgroup, were compared with no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). (2) After 12 months of treatment, the effective rates of the test group and the control group were 91.0% (335/368) and 44.9% (84/187), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=142.520, P<0.001). After 12 months of treatment, the negative conversion rates of HPV 16, 18, 52, and 58 infection in the test group were 79.2% (84/106), 73.3% (22/30), 83.1% (54/65), and 77.4% (48/62), respectively. The control group were 21.6% (11/51), 1/9, 35.1% (13/37), and 20.0% (8/40), respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). (3) There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs (body weight, body temperature, respiration, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, etc.) and laboratory routine indicators (blood cell analysis, urine routine examination) between the test group and the control group before treatment and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment (all P>0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions related to the investigational drug between the two groups of subjects [8.7% (32/368) vs 8.0% (15/187), respectively; χ²=0.073, P=0.787]. Conclusion: External use of Nr-CWS has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of high-risk HPV persistent infection in the cervix.

Unbalanced impacts of nature and nurture factors on the phenology, area and intensity of algal blooms in global large lakes: MODIS observations

Under the influence of climate warming and human activities, many large lakes have experienced an increase in eutrophication and algal blooms. Although these trends have been identified using low temporal resolution (~16 days) satellites such as those of the Landsat missions, the opportunity to compare high-frequency spatiotemporal variations of algal bloom characteristics between lakes has not been explored. In the present study, we explore daily satellite observations by developing a universal, practical, and robust algorithm to identify the spatiotemporal distribution of algal bloom dynamics in large lakes (>500 km²) across the globe. Data from 161 lakes, taken from 2000 to 2020 showed an average accuracy of 79.9 %. Algal blooms were detected in 44 % of all lakes, with a higher incidence in temperate lakes (67 % of all temperate lakes), followed by tropical lakes (59 %) compared to lakes in arid climates (23 %). We found positive trends in bloom area and frequency (p < 0.05), as well as an earlier bloom time (p < 0.05). Climate factors were found to be linked to changes in annual initial bloom time (44 %); while an increase in human activities was associated to bloom duration (49 %), area (max percent: 53 %, mean percent: 45 %), and frequency (46 %). The study shows the evolution of daily algal blooms and their phenology in global large lakes for the first time. Such information enhances our understanding of algal bloom dynamics and their drivers, with important considerations to improve the management of large lake ecosystems.

Development and validation of a MUC16 mutation-associated immune prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma

Mucin 16 (MUC16) mutation ranks third among all common mutations in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and it has a certain effect on LUAD development and prognostic outcome. This research aimed to analyze the effects of MUC16 mutation on LUAD immunophenotype regulation and determine the prognostic outcome using an immune prognostic model (IPM) built with immune-related genes. The MUC16 mutation status and mRNA expression profiles were analyzed using diverse platforms and among several LUAD patients (n = 691). An IPM was then constructed using differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) in MUC16MUT LUAD cases, and the data were compared with those of MUC16WT LUAD cases. The IPM's performance in distinguishing high-risk cases from low-risk ones among 691 LUAD cases was verified. Additionally, a nomogram was built and applied in the clinical setting. Furthermore, a comprehensive IPM-based analysis of how MUC16 mutation affected the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of LUAD was performed. MUC16 mutation decreased the immune response in LUAD. As revealed by functional annotation, the DEIRGs in the IPM were most significantly enriched in the humoral immune response function and the immune system disease pathway. Moreover, high-risk cases were associated with increased proportions of immature dendritic cells, neutrophils, and B-cells; enhanced type I interferon T-cell response; and increased expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG3 when compared with low-risk cases. MUC16 mutation shows potent association with TIME of LUAD. The as-constructed IPM displays high sensitivity to MUC16 mutation status and can be applied to discriminate high-risk LUAD cases from low-risk ones.

An improved nomogram including elastography for the prediction of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 sentinel lymph node metastases

Background

The rate of breast-conserving surgery is very low in China, compared with that in developed countries; most breast cancer patients receive mastectomy. It is great important to explore the possibility of omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in China. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram based on elastography for the prediction of the risk of non-SLN (NSLN) metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs.

Methods

A total of 601 breast cancer patients were initially recruited. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 118 early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs were finally enrolled and were assigned to the training cohort (n=82) and the validation cohort (n=36), respectively. In the training cohort, the independent predictors were screened by logistic regression analysis and then were used to conducted the nomogram for the prediction of NSLN metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs. The calibration curves, concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and Decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to verified the performance of the nomogram.

Results

The multivariable analysis showed that the enrolled patients with positive HER2 expression (OR=6.179, P=0.013), Ki67≥14% (OR=8.976, P=0.015), larger lesion size (OR=1.038, P=0.045), and higher Emean (OR=2.237, P=0.006) were observed to be the independent factors of NSLN metastasis. Based on the above four independent predictors, a nomogram was conducted to predict the risk of the NSLN metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 positive SLNs. The nomogram showed good discrimination in the prediction of NSLN metastasis, with bias-corrected C-index of 0.855 (95% CI, 0.754-0.956) and 0.853 (95% CI, 0.724-0.983) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC was 0.877 (95%CI: 0.776- 0.978) and 0.861 (95%CI: 0.732-0.991), respectively, indicating a good performance of the nomogram. The calibration curve suggested a satisfactory agreement between the predictive and actual risk in both the training (χ2 = 11.484, P=0.176, HL test) and validation (χ2 = 6.247, p = 0.620, HL test) cohorts, and the obvious clinical nets were revealed by DCA.

Conclusions

We conducted a satisfactory nomogram model to evaluate the risk of NSLN metastasis in early-stage breast cancer patients with 1 or 2 SLN metastases. This model could be considered as an ancillary tool to help such patients to be selectively exempted from ALND.

[Development and validation of prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma]

Objective: To development the prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Two hundred and ten patients pathologically confirmed as MPM were enrolled in this retrospective study from 2007 to 2020 in the People's Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the First and Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and divided into training (n=112) and test (n=98) sets according to the admission time. The observation factors included demography, symptoms, history, clinical score and stage, blood cell and biochemistry, tumor markers, pathology and treatment. The Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of 112 patients in the training set. According to the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis, the prognostic prediction nomogram was established. C-Index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model's discrimination and consistency in raining and test sets, respectively. Patients were stratified according to the median risk score of nomogram in the training set. Log rank test was performed to compare the survival differences between the high and low risk groups in the two sets. Results: The median overall survival (OS) of 210 MPM patients was 384 days (IQR=472 days), and the 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 75.7%, 52.6%, 19.7%, and 13.0%, respectively. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that residence (HR=2.127, 95% CI: 1.154-3.920), serum albumin (HR=1.583, 95% CI: 1.017-2.464), clinical stage (stage Ⅳ: HR=3.073, 95% CI: 1.366-6.910) and the chemotherapy (HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.292-0.777) were independent prognostic factors for MPM patients. The C-index of the nomogram established based on the results of Cox multivariate regression analysis in the training and test sets were 0.662 and 0.613, respectively. Calibration curves for both the training and test sets showed moderate consistency between the predicted and actual survival probabilities of MPM patients at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The low-risk group had better outcomes than the high-risk group in both training (P=0.001) and test (P=0.003) sets. Conclusion: The survival prediction nomogram established based on routine clinical indicators of MPM patients provides a reliable tool for prognostic prediction and risk stratification.

Can the establishment of a protected area improve the lacustrine environment? A case study of Lake Chaohu, China

Eutrophication of lacustrine environments with frequent cyanobacterial blooms has become a serious problem. Overpopulation and runoff into groundwater and lakes from fertilizers with too much nitrogen and phosphorous have caused most of the problems. Here, we first devised a land use and cover classification system based on the local characteristics of the first-level protected area of Lake Chaohu (FPALC). Lake Chaohu is the fifth largest freshwater lake in China. The land use and cover change (LUCC) products were produced using sub-meter resolution satellite data from 2019 to 2021 in the FPALC. This study presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of the established protected areas. The results show the most impactful type was the reduction in cropland with an area that declined from 7446.4 hm² to 6433.3 hm² from 2019 to 2021. Most of the reduced cropland was converted into wetlands, with 460.2 hm² and 152.0 hm² of cropland restored to wetlands from 2019 to 2020 and 2020-2021, respectively. The area of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Chaohu showed a downward trend, and the lacustrine environment was greatly improved after the establishment of the FPALC. These quantified data can inform decision-making related to Lake Chaohu conservation and provide a reference for managing the aquatic environment in other watersheds.

Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Gleditsiae Spina acting on pancreatic cancer via network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors and also has a low survival rate. The dried spines of Gleditsia sinensis Lam are known as "Gleditsiae Spina" and they mostly contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, steroids, and other chemical components. In this study, the potential active components and molecular mechanisms of Gleditsiae Spina for treating pancreatic cancer were systematically revealed by network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (MDs). RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL6) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were common targets of Gleditsiae Spina, human cytomegalovirus infection signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and MAPK signaling pathway were critical pathways of fisetin, eriodyctiol, kaempferol and quercetin in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) results showed that eriodyctiol and kaempferol have long-term stable hydrogen bonds and high binding free energy for TP53 (-23.64 ± 0.03 kcal mol-1 and -30.54 ± 0.02 kcal mol-1, respectively). Collectively, our findings identify active components and potential targets in Gleditsiae Spina for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, which may help to explore leading compounds and potential drugs for pancreatic cancer.

Identification of the pyroptosis-related gene signature and risk score model for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) still has a dismal prognostic outcome. However, the current approaches are unable to evaluate patient survival. Pyroptosis represents a novel programmed cell death type which widely investigated in various disorders and can influence tumor growth, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, few existing studies have used pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) to construct a model for predicting ESCC survival. Therefore, the present study utilized bioinformatics approaches for analyzing ESCC patient data obtained from the TCGA database to construct the prognostic risk model and applied it to the GSE53625 dataset for validation. There were 12 differentially expressed PRGs in healthy and ESCC tissue samples, among which eight were selected through univariate and LASSO cox regression for constructing the prognostic risk model. According to K-M and ROC curve analyses, our eight-gene model might be useful in predicting ESCC prognostic outcomes. Based on the cell validation analysis, C2, CD14, RTP4, FCER3A, and SLC7A7 were expressed higher in KYSE410 and KYSE510 than in normal cells (HET-1A). Hence, ESCC patient prognostic outcomes can be assessed by our PRGs-based risk model. Further, these PRGs may also serve as therapeutic targets.

[Comparative analysis of clinical diagnosis application of two intrauterine adhesion scoring criteria]

Objective: To explore the similarities and differences of China Society of Gynecology Endoscopy (CSGE) and American Fertility Society (AFS) intrauterine adhesion (IUA) scoring criteria on IUA grading and their predictive value of reproductive prognosis. Methods: From January 2016 to January 2019, a total of 1 249 patients were diagnosed with IUA by hysteroscopy at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Totally, 378 patients with complete clinical data were enrolled, and the results diagnosed by CSGT and AFS scoring criteria were compared and analyzed.And follow-up for 2 years, the pregnancy rate and live birth rate were statistical analysis. Results: (1) The grade of IUA according to AFS and CSGE scoring criteria was less consistent (κ=0.295, P<0.001). Compared with AFS, the proportion of severe IUA cases diagnosed by CSGE was significantly lower [45.8% (173/378) vs 15.1% (57/378); RR=0.22, 95%CI: 0.15-0.30, P<0.01); the proportions of both mild and moderate IUA cases were significantly higher (RR=4.16, 95%CI: 2.38-7.14; RR=2.38, 95%CI: 1.75-3.23; both P<0.01). (2) The pregnancy rates of mild, moderate and severe IUA diagnosed according to CSGE were 11/13, 64.5% (147/228), 31.8% (7/22), live birth rates were 11/13, 54.8% (125/228) and 22.7% (5/22), respectively; there were statistically significant differences between the groups (all P<0.01). The pregnancy rates of mild, moderate and severe IUA diagnosed based on AFS were 3/3, 66.9% (97/145) and 56.5% (65/115), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (P>0.05). (3) IUA grades based on both CSGE and AFS criteria were significantly negatively correlated with pregnancy rates and live birth rates (CSGE: r=-0.210, r=-0.226; AFS: r=-0.130, r=-0.147; all P<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that CSGE had higher OR for both pregnancy rates and live birth rates compared to AFS (3.889 vs 1.657, 3.983 vs 1.554, respectrvely). Conclusions: Compared with AFS, the IUA grade based on CSGE is better related with reproductive prognosis, suggesting that the CSGE standard might be more objective and comprehensive and has better predictive value for reproductive prognosis, thus avoiding overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

In vivo single-molecule RNA structural profiling

Cellular RNAs exhibit substantial heterogeneity in structure and function. Recently, Yang et al. developed an in vivo single-molecule RNA structure profiling methodology and revealed that individual isoforms of noncoding transcripts adopt multiple diverse and functionally relevant structural conformations, which change in abundance and structure in response to temperature conditions.

Deep learning-based multifeature integration robustly predicts central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Few highly accurate tests can diagnose central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Genetic sequencing of tumor tissue has allowed the targeting of certain genetic variants for personalized cancer therapy development.

METHODS

This study included 488 patients diagnosed with PTC by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, collected clinicopathological data, analyzed the correlation between CLNM and clinicopathological features using univariate analysis and binary logistic regression, and constructed prediction models.

RESULTS

Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, maximum diameter of thyroid nodules, capsular invasion, and BRAF V600E gene mutation were independent risk factors for CLNM, and statistically significant indicators were included to construct a nomogram prediction model, which had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.778. A convolutional neural network (CNN) prediction model built with an artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning algorithm achieved AUCs of 0.89 in the training set and 0.78 in the test set, which indicated a high prediction efficacy for CLNM. In addition, the prediction models were validated in the subclinical metastasis and clinical metastasis groups with high sensitivity and specificity, suggesting the broad applicability of the models. Furthermore, CNN prediction models were constructed for patients with nodule diameters less than 1 cm. The AUCs in the training set and test set were 0.87 and 0.76, respectively, indicating high prediction efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

The deep learning-based multifeature integration prediction model provides a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PTC.

The mitosis-related gene OIP5 is a potential biomarker in pan-cancer

Background

OIP5 is found at the centromere and plays an important role in recruiting centromere protein-A (CENP-A) through interacting with Holliday junction recognition protein during cell mitosis. OIP5 is considered to be a cancer-testis specific gene, but its function in tumor development remains unclear. Increased expression of OIP5 has been reported in testis as well as in different cancers; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure.

Methods

Data were collected from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project, the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to analyze the effect of OIP5 in many common cancers. Analyses of the differential expression of OIP5 and its relationships with prognosis, the tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, immune regulation, neoantigen production, and genomic stability in various cancers were performed using R software.

Results

Expression of OIP5 was significantly increased in 34 common tumor types compared with matched healthy samples; however, no significant increases were observed in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma or kidney chromophobe. Elevated OIP5 expression predicted dismal overall survival in 14 tumors. The function of OIP5 in tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIC) was analyzed, and OIP5 might inhibit TIIC infiltration in the tumor microenvironment; a positive correlation was found in thymoma, while a negative correlation was observed in lung squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. High OIP5 expression was related to immune regulation and neoantigen production, particularly in terms of the levels of immune regulatory molecules and the number of neoantigens produced in lung adenocarcinoma, uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, breast cancer, stomach adenocarcinoma, low-grade glioma, and prostate adenocarcinoma. It was also associated with increased cell genome instability in lung adenocarcinoma. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed potential critical effects of OIP5 on the cell cycle, base excision repair, homologous recombination, DNA replication, the p53 signaling pathway, and mismatch repair pathways.

Conclusions

High expression of OIP5 is found in many common tumors and predicts a dismal prognostic outcome. The gene is an important recruitment factor for CENP-A and may promote tumor progression by affecting the tumor immune microenvironment and genomic stability. Therefore, OIP5 can serve as a potential candidate factor to predict cancer prognosis and guide the use of therapeutics.

DNA methylation and waist-to-hip ratio: an epigenome-wide association study in Chinese monozygotic twins

PURPOSE

Epigenetic signatures such as DNA methylation may be associated with specific obesity traits. We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) by combining with the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)-discordant monozygotic (MZ) twin design in an attempt to identify genetically independent DNA methylation marks associated with abdominal obesity in Northern Han Chinese and to determine the causation underlying.

METHODS

A total of 60 WHR discordant MZ twin pairs were selected from the Qingdao Twin Registry, China. Generalized estimated equation (GEE) model was used to regress the methylation level of CpG sites on WHR. The Inference about Causation through Examination of FAmiliaL CONfounding (ICE FALCON) was used to assess the temporal relationship between methylation and WHR. Gene expression analysis was conducted to validate the results of differentially methylated analyses.

RESULTS

EWAS identified 92 CpG sites with the level of P < 10^- 4 which were annotated to 32 genes, especially CADPS2, TUSC5, ZCCHC14, CORO7, COL23A1, CACNA1C, CYP26B1, and BCAT1. ICE FALCON showed significant causality between DNA methylation of several genes and WHR (P < 0.05). In region-based analysis, 14 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) located at 15 genes (slk-corrected P < 0.05) were detected. The gene expression analysis identified the significant correlation between expression levels of 5 differentially methylated genes and WHR (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies the associations between specific epigenetic variations and WHR in Northern Han Chinese. These DNA methylation signatures may have value as diagnostic biomarkers and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis.

P11.75.B Survival benefit of radiotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer brain metastases with poor prognosis factors

Background

Radiotherapy and surgery are the standard treatments for lung cancer brain metastases (BMs). However, limitted studies focused on the treatments for patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of radiotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors, providing reference for clinical strategies.

Material and Methods

We analyzed retrospectively 714 patients with lung cancer BMs. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance potential confounders. Analyses of overall survival (OS) and risk factors for OS were assessed by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

Age ≥65 years, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score ≤70, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma kinase (ALK)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild type, extracranial metastases, non-surgery and non-radiotherapy led to poor prognosis. Patients were stratified according to these factors. Radiotherapy and surgery showed no survival benefit in patients with aged ≥65 years or pretreatment KPS score ≤70 before and after PSM. Before PSM, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or extracranial metastases. WBRT also predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with extracranial metastases or non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS also predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type. Surgery improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-radiotherapy. After PSM, SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery. WBRT plus SRS improved the OS and predicted good prognosis in patients with non-surgery or extracranial metastases. WBRT plus SRS also predicted good prognosis in patients with ALK/EGFR wild type. Surgery improved the OS of patients with non-radiotherapy. We defined that the treatment would provide significant survival benefit if it both prolonged the OS and predicted good prognosis. Meanwhile, the results after PSM were more convincing than the results before PSM.

Conclusion

Radiotherapy has significant survival benefit in patients with lung cancer BMs with poor prognosis factors, including patients with ALK/EGFR wild type or extracranial metastases or non-surgery. Surgery only has significant survival benefit in patients with non-radiotherapy.

Melatonin may suppress lung adenocarcinoma progression via regulation of the circular noncoding RNA hsa_circ_0017109/miR-135b-3p/TOX3 axis

Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in the pineal gland and has widespread physiological and pharmacological functions. Moreover, it can activate protective receptor-dependent processes. These processes can prevent tissue carcinogenesis and inhibit malignant tumor progression and metastasis. Therefore, we investigated the regulatory effects of melatonin on dysregulated circular RNAs in human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. In this study, we treated LUAD cells with melatonin and measured the expression of hsa_circ_0017109, miR-135b-3p, and TOX3 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Colony formation and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to determine cell proliferation. The wound-healing assay and Transwell experiment were carried out to evaluate the migration potential and invasive capacity of LUAD cells. Also, cell apoptosis was detected using a cell apoptosis kit, and protein production was identified by Western blot. It was suggested that melatonin could inhibit LUAD progression in vivo and in vitro, and the role of TOX3 in this process was explored. Additionally, hsa_circ_0017109 was found to sponge miR-135b-3p, a downstream factor of circ_0017109, which was demonstrated to target TOX3 in LUAD cells and could promote the Hippo pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway. To summarize, we demonstrated that melatonin decreases the expression of circ_0017109 and suppresses the non-small-cell lung cancer cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through decreasing TOX3 expression via direct activation of miR-135b-3p.

Characterization and validation of a ferroptosis-related LncRNA signature as a novel prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma in tumor microenvironment

Ferroptosis is a more relatively recently identified type of programmed cell death, which is associated with tumor progression. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of ferroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains elusive. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the role of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in LUAD and to develop a prognostic model. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients and the gene sequencing data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, while the ferroptosis-associated mRNAs were downloaded from the FerrDb database. A ferroptosis-related lncRNA signature was established with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, the risk scores of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs were calculated and LUAD patients were then assigned to high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. The prognostic model was established by K-M plotters and nomograms. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to evaluate the association between immune responses and ferroptosis-related lncRNAs. A total of 10 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs were identified as independent predictors of LUAD outcome, namely RP11-386M24.3, LINC00592, FENDRR, AC104699.1, AC091132.1, LANCL1-AS1, LINC-PINT, IFNG-AS1, LINC00968 and AC006129.2. The area under the curve verified that the established signatures could determine LUAD prognosis. The nomogram model was used to assess the predictive accuracy of the established signatures. Additionally, GSEA revealed that the 10 ferroptosis-related lncRNAs could be involved in immune responses in LUAD. Overall, the results of the current study may provide novel insights into the development of novel therapies or diagnostic strategies for LUAD.

Alkaloids from Dendrobium and their biosynthetic pathway, biological activity and total synthesis

BACKGROUND

Dendrobium Sw. has been used for thousands of years in China as a precious traditional Chinese medicine. It is derived from stems of various Dendrobium plants and has the functions of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, activating water and nourishing the stomach, moistening the lung and relieving cough. Modern phytochemical studies show that the main components of Dendrobium include alkaloids, polysaccharides, terpenoids, diphenylbenzene, and phenanthrene. Alkaloids are natural products with obvious biological activity and are important effective components of the medicinal activity or toxicity of plants. At present, dozens of alkaloids with various structures have been isolated from Dendrobium plants, and the alkaloid contents in Dendrobium plants of different species are quite different. From the perspective of food safety, the type, molecular structure, content and potential physiological activity or toxicity of alkaloids are important bases for evaluating the safety of edible plants. Studies have shown that the alkaloids isolated from Dendrobium have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, showing that these alkaloids with potential medicinal activity are important sources of lead compounds in innovative drug development.

PURPOSE

To summarize the research progress on alkaloids in Dendrobium and provide a reference for research on the food safety and medicinal development of Dendrobium.

METHOD

Information about alkaloids from Dendrobium was collected from the scientific databases Web of Science, PubChem and PubMed. We discuss the biosynthetic pathway, biological activities and total synthesis of alkaloids from Dendrobium from 1964 to 2020 and summarize the knowledge of alkaloids from Dendrobium, the biosynthetic pathway, biological activities and total synthesis. We chose publications on their chemistry, drug effects, pharmacology, metabolism and biosynthesis, physiology and toxicity. Alkaloids, Dendrobium, biosynthetic pathway and biological activities were used as keywords to extract the relevant literature.

CONCLUSION

In this paper, the structural classification, biological activity, target and toxicology and synthesis of the alkaloids in Dendrobium were systematically reviewed, which will provide a reference for the safety, development and application of Dendrobium.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in surgically resectable esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) has developed rapidly in recent years. The efficacy and safety outcomes may change the recommended neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens for patients with EC.

METHODS

Systematic screening for articles focusing on the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in locally advanced and surgically resectable EC was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and international tumor congresses. Meta-analysis of non-comparative binary outcomes was carried out to combine the main results. The pooled results were compared with the traditional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) and chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) using direct comparative analysis. The results were expressed as the risk ratio (RR).

RESULTS

A total of 20 articles with 621 patients were included in the present study. The pooled pathological complete response and major pathological response rates were 33.8% (95% CI: 29.6%-37.9%) and 53.5% (95% CI: 47.9%-59%), respectively, in the neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (nICT) group and 39.8% (95% CI: 27%-53.9%) and 88.8% (95% CI: 64.8%-97.2%) in the neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy (nICRT) group, respectively. In addition, the pooled grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) rate was 19.4% (95% CI: 11.5%-31.5%) in the nICT group. The results of direct comparison showed that compared with nCRT and nICRT, nICT could improve safety while achieving comparable efficacy. The results of subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated that the above findings were stable and reliable.

CONCLUSION

The current meta-analysis revealed that neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with locally advanced EC was safe and effective and nICT could be used as the recommended neoadjuvant therapeutic option for patients with EC. However, additional studies are urgently needed to reveal the long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

MRI-based radiomics analysis in differentiating solid non-small-cell from small-cell lung carcinoma: a pilot study

AIM

To investigate the ability of a T2-weighted (W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics signature to differentiate solid non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) from small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present retrospective study enrolled 152 eligible patients (NSCLC = 125, SCLC = 27). All patients underwent MRI using a 3 T scanner and radiomics features were extracted from T2W MRI. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model was used to identify the optimal radiomics features for the construction of a radiomics model to differentiate solid NSCLC from SCLC. Threefold cross validation repeated 10 times was used for model training and evaluation. The conventional MRI morphology features of the lesions were also evaluated. The performance of the conventional MRI morphological features, and the radiomics signature model and nomogram model (combining radiomics signature with conventional MRI morphological features) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Five optimal features were chosen to build a radiomics signature. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and the largest diameter. The radiomics signature and conventional MRI morphological features (only pleural indentation and lymph node enlargement) were independent predictive factors for differentiating solid NSCLC from SCLC. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) for MRI morphological features, and the radiomics model, and nomogram model was 0.69, 0.85, and 0.90 (ROC), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The T2W MRI-based radiomics signature is a potential non-invasive approach for distinguishing solid NSCLC from SCLC.

Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy in Resectable Esophageal Cancer: An Open-Label, Single-Arm Study (PEN-ICE)

Background

In this single-arm study, the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy were evaluated in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

This study included patients with ESCC of clinical stages II–IVA who underwent surgery within 4 to 6 weeks after completing treatment with pembrolizumab (200 mg) combined with a conventional chemotherapy regimen (3 cycles). The safety and efficacy of this combination treatment were evaluated as primary endpoints of the study.

Results

From April 2019 to August 2020, a total of 18 patients (including 14 men) were enrolled, of whom 13 patients progressed to surgery. Postoperative pathology revealed a major pathological response (MPR) in 9 cases (9/13, 69.2%) and a pathological complete response (pCR) in 6 cases (6/13, 46.2%). Five patients (5/18, 27.8%) experienced serious treatment-related adverse events (AEs) of grades 3–4. At the time of data cutoff (Mar 25, 2022), the shortest duration of follow-up was 17.8 months. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in pretreatment specimens was not significantly associated with the percentage of residual viable tumor (RVT) (r=−0.55, P=0.08). Changes in counts of CD68⁺ macrophage between pre- and post-treatment specimens were weakly correlated with RVT (r=0.71; P=0.07), while a positive correlation was observed between postoperative forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3)⁺T cells/CD4⁺Tcells ratios and RVT (r=0.84, P=0.03).

Conclusions

The combination of neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemotherapy for ESCC is associated with a high pathological response and immunologic effects in the tumor microenvironment (TME). It has acceptable toxicity and great efficacy, suggesting a strong rationale for its further evaluation in randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Trial Registration

ChiCTR2100048917.

Neoadjuvant attelizumab combined chemotherapy in limited-stage and resectable small cell lung cancer: A multicentric, single-arm and open study

e20615

Background: Combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy have become the first-line treatment program for extensive small cell lung cancer. The aim of this study is to explore the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer. Methods: Treatment-naïve patients were enrolled and the patients received the 2-3 cycles of neoadjuvent chemotherapy and atezolizumab (1200mg, D1). surgery was performed within 4-6 weeks after the last treatment. The primary endpoint was surgery patients pathological complete response (PCR). Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs) and postoperative complications. This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: (ChiCTR2100042367). Results: Recruitment started in May 2020. We reported 9 patients with neoadjuvent immunochemotherapy who have completed surgical treatment. Baseline characteristics: 7 males, with an average age of 52.1 years old, all ECOG PS 0-1; 6 current smokers; clinical stages IIB / IIIA / IIIB n = 6 / 1 / 2. There were 1 atezolizumab treatment-related Gr1 AEs (rush) and 4 treatment-related Gr 3-4 AEs. According to Recist 1.1, all patients achieved partial response. 9 patients completed surgery, 3 patients received bilobectomy, and 3 patients underwent pneumonectomy. Surgical methods included robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) /video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (3, 33.3%) and thoracotomy (6, 66.7%). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 100% of patients (9/9). The mean operation time was 136 min; the mean bleeding volume was 194.4ml, and the mean hospital stay was 8.9 days. The postoperative pathology results showed a PCR (66.7%) in 6 patients and a MPR (88.9%) in 8 patients. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and atezolizumab therapy significantly improves PCR in small cell lung cancer without unknown AE events and no surgical delay, so this protocol is safe and feasible. Whether the survival benefit is still unknown. Keywords: neoadjuvant therapy, Small cell lung cancer, immunotherapy, surgery, PCR. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2100042367. [Table: see text]

Tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for surgically resectable esophageal cancer: A prospective, single-arm, phase II study (TD-NICE)

BACKGROUND

Clinical benefit of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). remains unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with resectable ESCC.

METHODS

Treatment-naïve patients were enrolled and eligible patients received 3 cycles of neoadjuvant therapy with tislelizumab, carboplatin, and nab-paclitaxel. The primary endpoint was surgery patients major pathological response (MPR). Subgroup analysis was stratified by tumor downstaging, circumferential resection margin (CRM), PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and tumor mutation burden (TMB). Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs) and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Between September 2020 and March 2021, 45 patients were enrolled. Thirty-six (80.0%) of 45 patients underwent surgery, and 29 (80.5%) underwent successful R0 resection. MPR and pathological complete response (pCR) for surgery patients were 72.0% and 50.0%, respectively. Intention to treatment (ITT) patients MPR and PCR were 57.5% and 40%. Downgrading occurred in 75% of 36 patients. MPR and pCR were identified to be associated with tumor downstaging and CRM but not PD-L1 expression or TMB. TPS levels in MPR and pCR group were significantly higher than that in Non-MPR and Non-pCR group, respectively. Treatment-related AEs of grade 3-4 and immune-related AEs occurred in 42.2% and 22.2% of 45 patients, respectively, and postoperative complications occurred in 77.8% of 36 patients. No treatment-related surgical delay or death occurred. No associations between gene mutation and pathological efficacy were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy demonstrates promising antitumor activity for resectable ESCC with high rates of MPR, pCR, and R0 resection, as well as acceptable tolerability.

The value of WNT5A as prognostic and immunological biomarker in pan-cancer

Background

Finding new immune-related biomarkers is one of the promising research directions for tumor immunotherapy. The WNT5A gene could stimulate the WNT pathway and regulate the progression of various tumors. Recent studies have partially revealed the relationship between WNT5A and tumor immunity, but the correlation and underlying mechanisms in pan-cancer remain obscure. Thus, we conducted this study aiming to characterize the prognostic value and immunological portrait of WNT5A in cancer.

Methods

The data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases was utilized to analyze WNT5A expression levels by Kruskal-Wallis test and correlation to prognosis by Cox regression test and Kaplan-Meier test, while the data was also used to study the association between WNT5A expression and immune microenvironment, immune neoantigens, immune checkpoints, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) in pan-cancer. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to clarify the relevant signaling pathways. The R package was used for data analysis and to create the plots.

Results

The pan-cancer analysis revealed that the expression level of WNT5A is generally elevated in most tumors (19/34, 55.88%), and high WNT5A expression was correlated with poor prognosis in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA, P<0.05), low-grade glioma (LGG, P<0.01), adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC, P<0.01), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD, P<0.01), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC, P<0.05). In addition, WNT5A expression was positively associated with immune infiltration, stromal score, and immune checkpoints in most cancers, and correlated to immune neoantigens, TMB, and MSI. Finally, GSEA indicated that WNT5A is implicated in the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), Notch, and Hedgehog signaling pathways, which may be related to tumor immunity.

Conclusions

The expression of WNT5A is elevated in most tumors and associated with tumor prognosis. Furthermore, WNT5A is associated with tumor immunity and may be an immunological biomarker in cancer.