Isorhamnetin: what is the in vitro evidence for its antitumor potential and beyond?

Isorhamnetin (ISO) is a phenolic compound belonging to flavonoid family, showcasing important in vitro pharmacological activities such as antitumor, anti-inflammation, and organ protection. ISO is predominantly extracted from Hippophae rhamnoides L. This plant is well-known in China and abroad because of its "medicinal and food homologous" characteristics. As a noteworthy natural drug candidate, ISO has received considerable attention in recent years owing to its low cost, wide availability, high efficacy, low toxicity, and minimal side effects. To comprehensively elucidate the multiple biological functions of ISO, particularly its antitumor activities and other pharmacological potentials, a literature search was conducted using electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. This review primarily focuses on ISO's ethnopharmacology. By synthesizing the advancements made in existing research, it is found that the general effects of ISO involve a series of in vitro potentials, such as antitumor, protection of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and more. This review illustrates ISO's antitumor and other pharmacological potentials, providing a theoretical basis for further research and new drug development of ISO.

[Comparison of the microbiota diversity between autogenous and anautogenous Culex pipiens pallens]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the microbiota composition and diversity between autogenous and anautogenous Culex pipiens pallens, so as to provide insights into unraveling the pathogenesis of autogeny in Cx. pipiens pallens.

METHODS

Autogenous and anautogenous adult Cx. pipiens pallens samples were collected at 25 ℃, and the hypervariable regions of the microbial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene was sequenced on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform. The microbiota abundance and diversity were evaluated using the alpha diversity index, and the difference in the microbiota structure was examined using the beta diversity index. The microbiota with significant differences in the abundance between autogenous and anautogenous adult Cx. pipiens pallens samples was identified using the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe).

RESULTS

The microbiota in autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples belonged to 18 phyla, 28 classes, 70 orders, 113 families, and 170 genera, and the dominant phyla included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and so on. At the genus level, Wolbachia was a common dominant genus, and the relative abundance was (77.6 ± 11.3)% in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples and (47.5 ± 8.5)% in anautogenous mosquito samples, while Faecalibaculum (0.4% ± 0.1%), Dubosiella (0.5% ± 0.0%) and Massilia (0.5% ± 0.1%) were specific species in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples. Alpha diversity analysis showed that higher Chao1 index and ACE index in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples than in anautogenous samples (both P values > 0.05), and lower Shannon index (P > 0.05) and Simpson index (P < 0.05) in autogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples than in anautogenous samples. LEfSe analysis showed a total of 48 significantly different taxa between autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens samples (all P values < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant difference in the microbiota diversity between autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens pallens.

Zeaxanthin impairs angiogenesis and tumor growth of glioblastoma: An in vitro and in vivo study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the therapeutic effects of Zeaxanthin (Zea), one of the oxidized xanthophyll carotenoids belonging to the isoprenoids, on inhibiting the angiogenesis and tumor growth of glioblastoma (GBM) via an in vitro and in vivo study.

METHODS

The effects of Zea on the proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of human GBM cell lines were detected by cell proliferation assay, cell adhesion assay and Transwell assay. The effect of Zea on angiogenesis was detected by rat aortic ring assay and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro tube formation assay. The effects of Zea on PARP, Caspase 3 and VEGFR2 phosphorylation as well as VEGFR2's downstream signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. The in vivo human GBM xenograft mouse model was employed to study the therapeutic efficacy of Zea.

RESULTS

Zea impaired the proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of U87 and U251 cells as well as HUVECs. Rat aortic ring experiments displayed Zea significantly inhibited angiogenesis during VEGF-induced microvascular germination. In vitro and in vivo vascular experiments verified that Zea inhibited VEGF-induced HUVEC proliferation and capillary-like tube formation. Additionally, Zea induced GBM cells apoptosis via increasing the expression of cleaved PARP and Caspase 3. In HUVECs and U251 GBM cells, Zea down-regulated VEGF-induced activation of the VEGFR2 kinase pathway. Meanwhile the expression of p-AKT, p-ERK, p-STAT3 and FAK were all attenuated in U251 cells. Moreover, the effects of Zea on GBM cells proliferation could be blocked by VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor SU5408. These results suggest that Zea may hinder GBM angiogenesis and tumor growth through down-regulating a cascade of oncogenic signaling pathways, both through the inhibition of angiogenesis and the anti-tumor mechanism of a direct cytotoxic effect. Besides, Zea inhibits GBM angiogenesis and tumor growth exemplified through a xenograft mouse model in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Zea impairs angiogenesis and tumor growth of GBM both in vitro and in vivo. It can be declared that Zea is a potential valuable anticancer candidate for the future treatment strategy of GBM.

The impact of air pollutants on spontaneous abortion: a case-control study in Tongchuan City

OBJECTIVES

Studies related to air pollutants and spontaneous abortion in urban northwestern China are scarce, and the main exposure windows of pollutants acting on pregnant women are unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study.

METHODS

Data were collected from pregnant women in Tongchuan City from 2018 to 2019. A total of 289 cases of spontaneous abortion and 1156 cases of full-term labor were included and analyzed using a case-control study. Logistic regression models were developed to explore the relationship between air pollutants and spontaneous abortion after Chi square analysis and Air pollutant description.

RESULTS

O3 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.028) is a risk factor for spontaneous abortion throughout pregnancy. PM2.5 (OR = 1.015), PM10 (OR = 1.010), SO2 (OR = 1.026), and NO2 (OR = 1.028) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 30 days before the last menstrual period. PM2.5 (OR = 1.015), PM10 (OR = 1.013), SO2 (OR = 1.036), and NO2 (OR = 1.033) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 30-60 days before the last menstrual period. PM2.5 (OR = 1.028), PM10 (OR = 1.013), SO2 (OR = 1.035), and NO2 (OR = 1.059) are risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the 60-90 days before the last menstrual period.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to high levels of air pollutants may be a cause of increased risk of spontaneous abortion, especially in the first trimester of the last menstrual period.

The "5Ts" screening tool: Enhancements and threshold values for effective TMD identification

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to enhance the quintessential "five temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms" (5Ts) screener by incorporating frequency options and distinguishing between TMJ and muscle pain. The diagnostic accuracy along with cut-off points for the effective identification of TMDs was also established.

METHODS

Participants, aged ≥18 years, were recruited from a university-based hospital. After completing surveys encompassing demographic data and the enhanced 5Ts (with frequency options [5Ts-F] and differentiation of TMJ/muscle pain [6Ts-F]), protocolized interviews and clinical examinations were performed following DC/TMD. The diagnostic accuracy and best cut-off points were determined with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs).

RESULTS

324 participants were recruited (mean age 30.0 ± 11.4 years). Among these, 86.4% had TMDs. 5Ts exhibited high diagnostic accuracy for detecting all TMDs (AUC = 0.92) with sensitivity/specificity values of 83.9%/88.6%. Both 5Ts-F and 6Ts-F had slightly better accuracy (AUCs = 0.95/0.96), comparable sensitivity, and superior specificity (97.7%) compared to 5Ts. The best cut-off points were 1.5 for 5Ts and 2.5 for 5Ts-F/6Ts-F.

CONCLUSIONS

Although all three TMD screeners presented high diagnostic accuracy, 5Ts-F/6Ts-F had notably improved specificity. 5Ts scores of >1.5 and 5Ts-F/6Ts-F scores of >2.5 are to be applied for screening the presence of TMDs.

Highly sensitive flexible heat flux sensor based on a microhole array for ultralow to high temperatures

With the growing demand for thermal management of electronic devices, cooling of high-precision instruments, and biological cryopreservation, heat flux measurement of complex surfaces and at ultralow temperatures has become highly imperative. However, current heat flux sensors (HFSs) are commonly used in high-temperature scenarios and have problems when applied in low-temperature conditions, such as low sensitivity and embrittlement. In this study, we developed a flexible and highly sensitive HFS that can operate at ultralow to high temperatures, ranging from -196 °C to 273 °C. The sensitivities of HFSs with thicknesses of 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm, which are efficiently manufactured by the screen-printing method, reach 11.21 μV/(W/m2) and 13.43 μV/(W/m2), respectively. The experimental results show that there is a less than 3% resistance change from bending to stretching. Additionally, the HFS can measure heat flux in both exothermic and absorptive cases and can measure heat flux up to 25 kW/m2. Additionally, we demonstrate the application of the HFS to the measurement of minuscule heat flux, such as heat dissipation of human skin and cold water. This technology is expected to be used in heat flux measurements at ultralow temperatures or on complex surfaces, which has great importance in the superconductor and cryobiology field.

Nrf2 signaling pathway: current status and potential therapeutic targetable role in human cancers

Cancer is a borderless global health challenge that continues to threaten human health. Studies have found that oxidative stress (OS) is often associated with the etiology of many diseases, especially the aging process and cancer. Involved in the OS reaction as a key transcription factor, Nrf2 is a pivotal regulator of cellular redox state and detoxification. Nrf2 can prevent oxidative damage by regulating gene expression with antioxidant response elements (ARE) to promote the antioxidant response process. OS is generated with an imbalance in the redox state and promotes the accumulation of mutations and genome instability, thus associated with the establishment and development of different cancers. Nrf2 activation regulates a plethora of processes inducing cellular proliferation, differentiation and death, and is strongly associated with OS-mediated cancer. What's more, Nrf2 activation is also involved in anti-inflammatory effects and metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and multidrug resistance. Nrf2 is highly expressed in multiple human body parts of digestive system, respiratory system, reproductive system and nervous system. In oncology research, Nrf2 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Therefore, certain natural compounds and drugs can exert anti-cancer effects through the Nrf2 signaling pathway, and blocking the Nrf2 signaling pathway can reduce some types of tumor recurrence rates and increase sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, Nrf2's dual role and controversial impact in cancer are inevitable consideration factors when treating Nrf2 as a therapeutic target. In this review, we summarized the current state of biological characteristics of Nrf2 and its dual role and development mechanism in different tumor cells, discussed Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and its downstream genes, elaborated the expression of related signaling pathways such as AMPK/mTOR and NF-κB. Besides, the main mechanism of Nrf2 as a cancer therapeutic target and the therapeutic strategies using Nrf2 inhibitors or activators, as well as the possible positive and negative effects of Nrf2 activation were also reviewed. It can be concluded that Nrf2 is related to OS and serves as an important factor in cancer formation and development, thus provides a basis for targeted therapy in human cancers.

Flexible thin film thermocouples: From structure, material, fabrication to application

Flexible thin-film thermocouples (TFTCs) have been garnering interest as temperature sensors due to the advantages of being flexible, ultrathin, and ultralight. Additionally, they have fast response times and enable detection of temperature. These properties have made them suitable for applications such as wearable electronics, healthcare, portable personal devices, and smart detection systems. This review presents the progress in the development of flexible TFTCs. The mechanism, structural design, materials, fabrication methods, and related applications of flexible TFTCs are also elaborated. Finally, future development directions of flexible TFTCs are discussed such as wide-range temperature measurement, multiple sensor integration, and achieving reliable cold-end compensation systems.

Detection of haemodynamic obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using the sub-aortic complex: a cardiac MRI and Doppler study

AIM

To investigate the "sub-aortic complex (SAC)", a new cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI)-derived parameter, for the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), compared with conventional CMRI parameters and Doppler echocardiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 157 consecutive patients with HCM were recruited retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, 87 with LVOT obstruction and 70 without obstruction. The SAC was defined as a specific anatomical SAC affecting the LVOT, which were measured on the LV three-chamber steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine image at the end-systolic phase. The relations between the existence and severity of obstruction and SAC index (SACi) were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The SACs were significantly different between the obstructive and non-obstructive groups. The ROC curves indicated that the SACi was able to discriminate obstructive and non-obstructive patients with the best predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.949, p<0.001). The SACi was an independent predictor of LVOT obstruction and there was a significant negative correlation between resting LVOT pressure gradient and SACi (r=0.72 p<0.001). In the subgroup of patients with or without severe basal septal hypertrophy, the SACi was still able to predict LVOT obstruction with excellent diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.944 and 0.948, p<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The SAC is a reliable and straightforward CMRI marker for assessing LVOT obstruction. It is more effective than CMRI two-dimensional flow in diagnosing the severity of obstruction in patients with HCM.

Inhibiting Hh Signaling in Gli1+ Osteogenic Progenitors Alleviates TMJOA

The increased prevalence of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) in children and adolescents has drawn considerable attention as it may interfere with mandibular condyle growth, resulting in dento-maxillofacial deformities. However, treatments for osteoarthritis have been ineffective at restoring the damaged bone and cartilage structures due to poor understanding of the underlying degenerative mechanism. In this study, we demonstrate that Gli1+ cells residing in the subchondral bone contribute to bone formation and homeostasis in the mandibular condyle, identifying them as osteogenic progenitors in vivo. Furthermore, we show that, in a TMJOA mouse model, derivatives of Gli1+ cells undergo excessive expansion along with increased but uneven distribution of osteogenic differentiation in the subchondral bone, which leads to abnormal subchondral bone remodeling via Hedgehog (Hh) signaling activation and to the development of TMJOA. The selective pharmacological inhibition and specific genetic inhibition of Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors result in improved subchondral bone microstructure, attenuated local immune inflammatory response in the subchondral bone, and reduced degeneration of the articular cartilage, providing in vivo functional evidence that targeting Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors can modulate bone homeostasis in osteoarthritis and provide a potential approach for treating TMJOA.

Supplementary education can improve the rate of adequate bowel preparation in outpatients: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials

Background

Colonoscopy is widely used for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of intestinal diseases. Adequate bowel preparation is a prerequisite for high-quality colonoscopy. However, the rate of adequate bowel preparation in outpatients is low. Several studies on supplementary education methods have been conducted to improve the rate of adequate bowel preparation in outpatients. However, the controversial results presented encourage us to perform this meta-analysis.

Method

According to the PRISMA statement (2020), the meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO. We searched all studies up to August 28, 2021, in the three major electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. The primary outcome was adequate bowel preparation rate, and the secondary outcomes included bowel preparation quality score, polyp detection rate, adenoma detection rate, cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, nonattendance rate and willingness to repeat rate. If there was obvious heterogeneity, the funnel plot combined with Egger’s test, meta-regression analysis, sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were used to detect the source of heterogeneity. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 17.0 software were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 2061 records were retrieved, and 21 full texts were ultimately included in the analysis. Our meta-analysis shows that supplementary education can increase the rate of adequate bowel preparation for outpatients (79.9% vs 72.9%, RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08–1.20, I² = 87%, p<0.00001). Supplementary education shortened the withdrawal time (MD: -0.80, 95% CI: -1.54 to -0.05, p = 0.04) of outpatients, increased the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (MD: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.44, p<0.00001), reduced the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (MD: -1.26, 95% CI: -1.66 to -0.86, p<0.00001) and increased the willingness to repeat (91.9% vs 81.4%, RR:1.14, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.25, p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Supplementary education for outpatients based on the standard of care can significantly improve the quality of bowel preparation.

Influences of RF Magnetron Sputtering Power and Gas Flow Rate on a High Conductivity and Low Drift Rate of Tungsten-Rhenium Thin-Film Thermocouples

Thin-Film Thermocouples (TFTCs) are characterized by their high spatial resolutions, low cost, high efficiency and low interference on the air flow. However, the thermal stability of TFTCs should be further improved for application since their accuracy is influenced by joule heat and temperature time drift. In this paper, 3D molecular dynamics and finite element analysis are used for structural design. The effects of RF magnetron sputtering power and gas flow rate on conductivity and temperature time drift rate (DT) of high thermal stability tungsten–rhenium (95% W/5% Re vs. 74% W/26% Re) TFTCs were analyzed. According to the experimental results, the average Seebeck coefficient reached 31.1 µV/°C at 900 °C temperature difference (hot junction 1040 °C) with a repeatability error at ±1.37% in 33 h. The conductivity is 17.1 S/m, which is approximately 15.2 times larger than the compared tungsten-rhenium sample we presented, and the DT is 0.92 °C/h (1040 °C for 5 h), which is 9.5% of the old type we presented and 4.5% of compared ITO sample. The lumped capacity method test shows that the response time is 11.5 ms at 300 °C. This indicated an important significance in real-time temperature measurement for narrow spaces, such as the aero-engine combustion chamber.

[Clinical effects of in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage in the treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites after burns]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage in the treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites after burns. Methods: A retrospective observational study was used. From June 2017 to June 2019, 33 patients (24 males and 9 females, aged 8-50 years) who met the inclusion criteria with hypertrophic scars in non-functional sites outside the face after burns were treated in General Hospital of TISCO (the Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University). All patients underwent scalp transplantation after perforation of retained split scar matrix in situ (with scar thinning area of 90-500 cm2), and then the vacuum sealing drainage was performed. The hematoma and infection of wounds were observed on the 7th day after operation. At the same time, the survival rate of skin grafting was observed and calculated. The flatness and thickness of the scar in the operative area were observed in 12 months after operation, and the itching and pain of the patients were recorded. Vancouver Scar Scale was used to score the scar of patients before operation and at 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. The healing time and hair growth of donor site were observed. Data were statistically analyzed with repeated analysis of variance, paired sample t test and bonferroni correction. Results: On the 7th day after operation, local subcutaneous hematoma appeared in the wound of 2 patients, which healed after dressing change; no infection occurred. On the 7th day after operation, the survival rate of skin grafting of patients was 94.6%-99.0%(96.8±1.2)%. Scar flatness was well, the thickness of scar was not significantly higher than that of normal skin in 12 months after operation, and the symptoms of itching pain of patients disappeared or significantly relieved. Vancouver Scar Scale scores of patients before operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were 12.1±2.8, 8.5±1.5, 7.6±1.6, 6.7±1.3, respectively, and the scores of 3, 6, and 12 months after operation were all significantly lower than that before operation (with t values of 4.48, 4.06, and 3.97, respectively, P<0.01). All the donor sites of the head healed well in 4-7 days after operation. By 3-6 months after operation, all patients had good hair growth in the donor site and achieved no scar healing. Conclusions: The treatment of hypertrophic scar in non-functional sites outside the face after burns by in situ perforation of preserved split scar matrix in combination with scalp transplantation and vacuum sealing drainage can effectively improve the appearance of hypertrophic scar in non-functional areas after burn and reduce its degree of hyperplasia, with scar-free donor site healing.

[Analysis of molecular and clinical characteristics of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in the intensive care unit]

To investigate the carbapenemases distribution of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in the intensive care unit, and the clinical characteristics between carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKP) and carbapenem-resistant non-hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-non-hvKP) were compared. A total of 53 non-repetitive CRKP strains isolated from 49 patients in the intensive care unit of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively studied. The carbapenemase inhibitor enhancement test was used for screening carbapenemase-producing strains, and the string test was carried out to screen the hypermucoviscosity phenotype. Using PCR to detect five main carbapenemase genes (bla_KPC-2, bla_NDM, bla_IMP , bla_VIM and bla_OXA-48-like), common serotype (K1 and K2) and virulence gene (rmpA and iutA). Treated the strains with both rmpA and iutA genes as hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonia (hvKP), and the whole genome sequencing of CR-hvKP was completed. At the same time, the clinical data of 49 patients were sorted out, and the differences in clinical characteristics of CR-hvKP and CR-non-hvKP infected patients were compared using the independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability test. CRKP isolated from the intensive care unit were extensively drug resistance and still had a good sensitivity to polymyxin B and tigecycline. Producing carbapenemases were the main resistance mechanism of CRKP (52/53, 98.1%). Of the 53 CRKP strains, except for 1strain that did not detect carbapenemase, at least one carbapenemase resistance gene was detected in the remaining 52 CRKP strains, of which 45 strains carried an enzyme, including 36 bla_KPC-2 (36/53, 67.9%), 8 bla_NDM (8/53, 15.1%), 1 bla_IMP (1/53, 1.9%), and 7 strains carried with both bla_KPC-2 and bla_NDM (7/53, 13.2%). String test and virulence gene showed that 7 CR-hvKP strains (13.2%) were detected in 53 CRKP strains, and two of which were hypermucoviscosity phenotype. Sequencing results revealed that CR-hvKP were mainly ST11 type. Almost all patients with CR-hvKP infection were over 60 years old (7/7), with invasive treatment (7/7), pulmonary infection with hypermucoviscosity phenotype (2/7) and high mortality (5/7); and the percentage of neutrophils in patients with CR-hvKP infection (86.44±4.70) % was higher than those patients with CR-non-hvKP infection (78.90±19.15) %, the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.225, P=0.032). The CR-hvKP strains in the intensive care unit mainly produced KPC-2 enzyme, with K2 capsular serotype and ST11 type. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring and control of the CR-hvKP strain to prevent the co-evolution of drug-resistant and hypervirulent strains.

Optimization on thermoelectric characteristics of indium tin oxide/indium oxide thin film thermocouples based on screen printing technology

In this work, indium tin oxide (ITO)/indium oxide (In₂O₃) thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) were prepared based on screen printing technology for high temperature measurement. With terpilenol as solvent, epoxy resin and polyether amine as binders and glass powders as additives, the ITO and In₂O₃ slurries were printed onto the Al₂O₃ substrate to form thermocouples. The effect on thermoelectric properties of the TFTCs with heat treatment and different contents of additives was investigated through microstructure observation and thermal cycle test. The static calibration experiment shows that the annealed TFTCs with 7.5 wt. % glass powders additives have the maximum Seebeck coefficient. The thermoelectric voltage output of the TFTCs can reach 126.5 mV at 1275 °C while the temperature difference is 1160 °C and the sensitivity of the TFTCs was 109.1 µV/°C. The drift rate of the TFTCs was 8.34 °C/h at a measuring time of 20 min at 1275 °C. The TFTCs prepared via screen printing technology with excellent thermoelectric properties and thermal stability are aimed to be a viable replacement for practical applications.

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 6 regulated by miR-27a-3p attenuates tumor proliferation in breast cancer

Purpose

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive molecule which participates in many physical and pathological processes. Although LPA receptor 6 (LPAR6), the last identified LPA receptor, has been reported to have diverse effects in multiple cancers, including breast cancer, its effects and functioning mechanisms are not fully known.

Methods

Multiple public databases were used to investigate the mRNA expression of LPAR6, its prognostic value, and potential mechanisms in breast cancer. Western blotting was performed to validate the differential expression of LPAR6 in breast cancer tissues and their adjacent tissues. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were used to explore the effects of LPAR6 on breast cancer. Additionally, TargetScan and miRWalk were used to identify potential upstream regulating miRNAs and validated the relationship between miR-27a-3p and LPAR6 via real-time polymerase chain reaction and an in vitro rescue assay.

Results

LPAR6 was significantly downregulated in breast cancer at transcriptional and translational levels. Decreased LPAR6 expression in breast cancer is significantly correlated with poor overall survival, disease-free survival, and distal metastasis-free survival, particularly for hormone receptor-positive patients, regardless of lymph node metastatic status. In vitro gain and loss-of-function assays indicated that LPAR6 attenuated breast cancer cell proliferation. The analyses of TCGA and METABRIC datasets revealed that LPAR6 may regulate the cell cycle signal pathway. Furthermore, the expression of LPAR6 could be positively regulated by miR-27a-3p. The knockdown of miR-27a-3p increased cell proliferation, and ectopic expression of LPAR6 could partly rescue this phenotype.

Conclusion

LPAR6 acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and is positively regulated by miR-27a-3p.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12094-021-02704-8.

Early Clinical Outcomes of Short versus Long Proximal Femoral Nail Anti-rotation (PFNA) in the Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fractures

INTRODUCTION

Both short and long PFNA are employed to treat intertrochanteric fractures. Controversy exists in the choice between the two nails as each implant has specific characteristics and theoretical advantages. This retrospective study seeks to examine the operative complication rates and clinical outcomes of short versus long (Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation) PFNA in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between July 2011 and February 2015, 155 patients underwent PFNA insertion. The decision on whether to use a short or long PFNA nail, locked or unlocked, was determined by the attending operating surgeon. Visual Analogue Pain Score (VAS) Harris Hip Scores (HHS), Short-form 36 Health Questionnaire (SF-36) and Parker Mobility Scores (PMS) were collected at six weeks, six months and one year post-operatively.

RESULTS

A total of 137 (88.4%) patients were successfully followed-up. Forty-two (30.7%) patients received a short PFNA. The patients were similar in baseline characteristics of age, gender, and comorbidities. Operative time was significantly longer in the short PFNA group (62 ±17 mins) versus the long PFNA group (56±17). While the patients in both groups achieved improvement in all outcome measures, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of HHS (61.0 ±16.0 vs 63.0 ±16.8, p=0.443), PMS (2.3±1.5 vs 2.7±2.1, p=0.545) and VAS (1.7±2.9 vs 1.8 ±2.2 p=0.454). There were 3 (7.1%) and 7 (7.4%) complications in the short versus long PFNA group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Both short and long PFNA had similar clinical outcomes and complication rates in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in an Asian population.

Disturbance compensation of a multiaperture imaging system based on a coupling rotating prism using an improved model compensation control

In this paper, a cascade double-loop control (DLC) combined with modeling compensation methods is proposed to improve the tracking precision of the multiaperture imaging system (MAIS). The application of the flexible thin-wall ring mechanism in the coupling rotating prism (CRP) system causes a series of tracking and pointing challenges. Disturbances such as friction, shaft deformation, and model perturbation significantly deteriorate the tracking and pointing accuracy of the CRP. Two different modeling compensation methods that are interfaced with classical DLC are proposed to guarantee the tracking precision of the MAIS. Moreover, the disturbance observation and compensation performance of two different modeling compensation methods are analyzed and compared. Finally, simulation and experiment results indicate that the proposed control methods, especially model compensation based on speed close-loop control, obtain the best performance for disturbance rejection in the MAIS.

[Construction and effect evaluation of tuberculosis information platform in Ningxia]

Objective: To explore the value of information technology in management of tuberculosis patients. Methods: The data comes from the case reports of Ningxia tuberculosis patients in the national tuberculosis special report system from March to December 2019 and the data of Ningxia tuberculosis information management platform. Using the computer Information and communication technologies and the Internet platform, unified data collection and data interface standards,Hospital Information System(HIS) of 18 (90%)TB specific Hospitals in Ningxia 22 counties are linked together, forming a closed loop management System, to realize Information interconnection, compare the patients' diagnostic rate before and after the application, and standardize treatment differences. Results: The system automatically collected and uploaded valid data for 2 918 times, and the consistency rate of uploaded data was 94.8%.The clinical diagnostic rate was 18.23% (1 154/6 332) before and 39.1% (914/2 335) after using the AI imaging screening subsystem (χ²=235.56, P<0.001).The regular medication rate of patients after system use was 86.89% (510/587), which was higher than that before [73.72% (544/738)] (χ²=3.94, P<0.05).The cure rate of etiologically positive tuberculosis patients (2019) was 86.03% (788/916), which was higher than that of 83.45% (1 008/1 208) before the use of the system (2018) (χ²=435.43, P<0.001). Conclusion: The tuberculosis information management platform in Ningxia has achieved tuberculosis information interconnection, significantly improving the standard diagnosis, treatment and management level of tuberculosis.

[Three-dimensional quantitative evaluation of condylar bone remodeling of temporomandibular joint based on cone-beam CT imaging]

Objective: To establish a three-dimensional （3D） quantitative measurement and evaluate the condylar bone remodeling of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: Pre-and post-treatment cone-beam CT (CBCT) data were obtained from 41 patients ［10 males, 31 females, mean age of (19.7±4.4) years (12-30 years old)］, who visited the Center for TMD and Orofacial Pain, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from November 2014 to August 2019, and diagnosed with acute disc displacement without reduction or disc displacement with reduction, with intermittent locking and treated by manual disc reduction followed by anterior repositioning splint. First, condylar bone remodeling was evaluated according to the number of "double contour image" and qualitatively classified as no remodeling (no double contour image), partial remodeling (1-4 double contour images) and remarkable remodeling (5-6 double contour images). Then, condylar bone remodeling was quantitatively evaluated by CBCT based 3D measurement: segmenting condylar images using a semi-automatic method of the manually preliminary mark combined with watershed algorithm, reconstructing the surface models, superimposing the pre-and post-treatment condylar images and finally calculating the volumetric differences of condyle and condylar head, respectively. Results: The Kappa values of two-dimensional (2D) qualitative evaluation were 0.66-0.87, and 3D quantitative measurements of condyle and condylar head volume were also reliable, with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of intra-observer 0.998/0.941 and inter-observer 0.999/0.942 respectively. The volumetric increment of the condyle and condylar head after treatment was (41.7±90.2) mm³ and (62.8±70.9) mm³, respectively. Eighty-two condyles were divided into three sub-groups: no remodeling (21), partial remodeling (20) and remarkable remodeling (41). Ranking of the volumetric increment of the condyle and condylar head after treatment was as follows: remarkable remodeling group>partial remodeling group>no remodeling group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The 3D quantitative measurement for evaluating condylar bone remodeling had excellent consistency and reliability, which was consistent with the qualitative classification for condylar bone remodeling. The condylar head as a region of interest was more sensitive to the volumetric changes.

[Reflections on the orientation of public health physicians]

Public health physician is one of the four statutory types of physicians in China, but there is no consensus on their connotation. The main problems are that public health physician is confused with those who perform public health tasks, the relationship between public health physician and clinician and the connotation of prescription right is not clear, and there is limitation in public health education and relevant laws and regulations. Public health physician is positioned as professionals who monitor, investigate, evaluate, and intervene in population health-related issues. It is suggested to retain the practicing qualification of public health physicians and highlight the attribute of public health physicians' prescribing the prescriptions for community health. Encourage public health physicians to obtain qualification for clinicians to individual prescription, Encourage clinicians to access to public health physician qualification. Improve public health school education, take the pilot of public health physician standardization training, cultivate "prevention and treatment combined" physician.

Cerebral Damage after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Longitudinal Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous DTI cross-sectional studies have showed the cerebral damage feature was different in the three clinical stages after carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is an advanced diffusion imaging model and considered to better provide microstructural contrast in comparison with DTI parameters. The primary aim of this study was to assess microstructural changes in gray and white matter with diffusional kurtosis imaging in the acute, delayed neuropsychiatric, and chronic phases after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The secondary aim was to relate diffusional kurtosis imaging measures to neuropsychiatric outcomes of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all, 17 patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Patients were scanned within 1 week, 3-8 weeks, and 6 months after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics including mean kurtosis, mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and kurtosis fractional anisotropy were measured in 11 ROIs and then further correlated with neuropsychiatric scores.

RESULTS

In WM, mean kurtosis tended to increase from the acute-to-delayed neuropsychiatric phases and then decrease in the chronic phase, while in GM mean kurtosis showed a constant decline. Contrary to mean kurtosis, mean diffusivity first decreased then tended to increase in WM, while in GM, from the acute to chronic phases, mean diffusivity showed a constant increase. In both WM and GM, the fractional anisotropy and kurtosis fractional anisotropy values progressively declined with time. Kurtosis fractional anisotropy showed the best diagnostic efficiency with an area under the curve of 0.812 (P = .000). Along with neuropsychiatric scores, kurtosis fractional anisotropy of the centrum semiovale and Digit Span Backward were most relevant (r = 0.476, P = .000).

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinally, microstructural changes were inconsistent in WM and GM with time after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Diffusional kurtosis imaging metrics provided important complementary information to quantify the damage to cognitive impairment.

Fast exact conformalization of the lasso using piecewise linear homotopy

Conformal prediction is a general method that converts almost any point predictor to a prediction set. The resulting set retains the good statistical properties of the original estimator under standard assumptions, and guarantees valid average coverage even when the model is mis-specified. A main challenge in applying conformal prediction in modern applications is efficient computation, as it generally requires an exhaustive search over the entire output space. In this paper we develop an exact and computationally efficient conformalization of the lasso and elastic net. The method makes use of a novel piecewise linear homotopy of the lasso solution under perturbation of a single input sample point. As a by-product, we provide a simpler and better-justified online lasso algorithm, which may be of independent interest. Our derivation also reveals an interesting accuracy-stability trade-off in conformal inference, which is analogous to the bias-variance trade-off in traditional parameter estimation. The practical performance of the new algorithm is demonstrated in both synthetic and real data examples.

Association between hypoplastic condyles and temporomandibular joint disc displacements: a cone beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging metrical analysis

This study investigated the association between hypoplastic condyles and disc displacements without reduction (DDw/oR). Consecutive patients with non-syndromic unilateral condylar hypoplasia were recruited and clinical, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired. Linear measurements including condylar head width, depth, height and condyle length were determined with CBCT while MRI was used to assess disc position, morphology and displacement. A total of 43 patients were enrolled of which 93.02% had a history of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and 83.72% presented with TMD signs and symptoms. Depth and height of the condylar head along with condyle length of hypoplastic joints (6.68±1.67mm, 4.97±1.25mm and 14.49±3.02mm, respectively) were significantly lesser than normal joints (7.77±1.26mm, 6.35±1.45mm and 18.20±3.18mm) (P<0.001). The prevalence of DDw/oR was significantly higher in hypoplastic joints (79.07% versus 13.95%) (P<0.001). Joints with hypoplastic condyles had shorter disc lengths (6.99 ± 2.16 mm vs, 8.45 ± 2.26 mm) (P=0.007). Furthermore, disc displacements were significantly more advanced (8.52 ± 2.84 mm) and severe (76.74% with severe translations) when compared to the contralateral side (4.77 ± 2.97 mm and 32.56%) (P<0.05). A significant association was observed between condylar hypoplasia and temporomandibular joint DDw/oR with hypoplastic joints exhibiting more severely displaced and deformed discs. DDw/oR coupled with repaired degenerative joint disease may mimic condylar hypoplasia radiographically.

[Characteristics of MRI and associated pathological features of the condylar cyst like lesions in temporomandibular joint]

Objective: To analyze the MRI characteristics and pathological features of the condylar cyst like lesions in temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on TMJ images from 14 patients (2 males, 12 females, aged 10-71) who underwent MRI examinations, from January 2015 to December 2017 at Center for TMD and Orofacial Pain, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology including 2 patients with pathological results. The signals of the lesion, condylar bone and disc-condyle relationship were evaluated. Results: Cyst like lesions of 15 condyles from 14 patients were analyzed. All of the lesions showed hypersignal on T2WI (12/12), while most of them showed hypersignal on T1WI (8/11) and PDWI (11/12). Mostly the lesions were surrounded by hyposignal linear margin (12/15), with normal condylar bone signal (13/15). Disk displacement with reduction was discovered in 3 joints, while disk displacement without reduction was discovered in 8 joints and 4 joints had normal disk-condyle relationships. The pathological components of cyst like lesions included cartilage, loose connective tissue, hemorrhage and bone tissue. Conclusions: Differed from those of large joints like hips or knees, MRI characteristics of cyst like lesions of condyle in TMJ exhibited hypersignal imaging in both T1WI and T2WI, indicating that the components of cyst like lesions included granulation tissue, not fluid.

Evaluating the risk of post-extraction inferior alveolar nerve injury through the relative position of the lower third molar root and inferior alveolar canal

The aim of this study was to introduce a method to evaluate the risk of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury following the extraction of impacted lower third molars. Two hundred impacted lower third molars adjacent to the IAN were evaluated. These were divided into four classification groups according to preoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) findings: AR, apical region; LT, lateral region of the tapered root; LE, lateral region of the enlarged root; AE, adjacent to the enlarged root. All teeth were dislocated along the long axis or arc of the root by tooth sectioning technique and extracted by a single surgeon. The primary outcome variable was postoperative neurosensory impairment of the IAN. The χ² test was used to evaluate differences in postoperative IAN injury between the classifications. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for postoperative IAN injury. The overall incidence of postoperative IAN injury was 7%. Specifically, most injuries involved classification AE (AE 36%, LE 8.6%, LT 3.6%, AR 0%), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Logistic regression showed that classification AE was the only risk factor for postoperative IAN injury (P< 0.001). According to preoperative CBCT, the risk of postoperative IAN injury is higher when the IAN is adjacent to the enlarged part of the root.

In vitro susceptibility of Candida spp. to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole and the correlation between triazoles susceptibility: Results from a five-year study

Candida spp. is a common cause of invasive fungal disease. The aim of this study was to examine the susceptibility of Candida spp. to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole and explore the correlation between triazoles susceptibility. The antifungal susceptibility in the present study was measured by ATB Fungus 3 method, and the potential relationship was examined by obtaining the correlation of measured minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Candida spp. isolates. A total of 2099 clinical isolates of Candida spp. from 1441 patients were analyzed. The organisms included 1435 isolates of Candida albicans, 207 isolates of Candida glabrata, 65 isolates of Candida parapsilosis, 31 isolates of Candida krusei, 268 isolates of Candida tropicalis. Voriconazole and itraconazole were more active than fluconazole and against Candida spp. in vitro. The fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole MIC₉₀ (MIC for 90% of the isolates) for all Candida spp. isolates was 4mg/L, 1mg/L and 0.25mg/L, respectively. There was a moderate correlation between the fluconazole MIC_s for Candida spp. isolates and this for voriconazole (R²=0.475; P<0.01) and itraconazole (R²=0.431; P<0.01). Voriconazole MICs for the Candida spp. isolates also correlated with those for itraconazole (R²=0.401; P<0.01). These observations suggest that the in vitro susceptibility of Candida spp. to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole exhibits a moderate correlation.

[Strategy for prevention and control of imported infectious disease]

The process of globalization increases the risk of global transmission of infectious diseases, resulting in pressure for country's prevention and control of imported infectious disease. Based on the risk assessment of disease importation and local transmission, a strategy that conducting importation prevention and routine prevention and control before the importation of disease and taking emergency control measures after the importation of disease was developed. In addition, it is important to take part in global infectious disease response action, aid the countries with outbreak or epidemic to actively decrease the risk of disease importation.

Clinical analysis of cervical lymph node metastasis risk factors in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

PURPOSE

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a vital prognosis factor in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The study tried to identify clinicopathological factors for LNM of PTMC.

METHODS

The clinicopathological data of 1031 patients with PTMC were extracted and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with cervical lymph node metastasis. ROC analysis was used to determine the ideal critical points of the sum of the maximum diameter of multifocal in a unilateral lobe.

RESULTS

The probability of LNM, central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and lateral lymph node metastasis(LLNM)of PTMC patients were 35.6, 33.7 and 5.6%, respectively. In addition, 1.9% PTMC had LLNM only. Male, age ≤ 40 years, tumor largest diameter ≥ 5 mm, multifocal, non-uniform echoic distribution, the sum of the maximum diameter of multifocal in a unilateral lobe ≥ 8.5 mm, tumors in the lower pole location were prone to CLNM. Ultrasound mix-echo, the sum of the maximum diameter of the multifocal ≥ 10.75 mm, tumors in the upper pole location were extremely prone to LLNM. T3 were prone to LLNM or skip LLNM.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the clinicopathological characteristics of PTMC, the cervical lymph nodes should be correctly evaluated to guide the surgical treatment.

Laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration: surgical indications and procedure strategies

BACKGROUND

LTCBDE combined with or without modified techniques is safe and efficacious for the management of gallstones and concomitant, even large, common bile duct (CBD) stones.

METHODS

To describe the surgical indications and procedure strategies of laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE), a retrospective analysis of 205 patients with concomitant gallstones and CBD stones treated using LTCBDE between June 2008 and June 2015 was performed. Clinical data on disease characteristics, methods for cystic duct incision and CBD stone extraction (with or without laser lithotripsy), and surgical outcomes were collected and reviewed.

RESULTS

CBD stones were successfully cleared in all patients. No patient was converted to choledochotomy or laparotomy. The cystic duct diameter ranged 3-8 mm, and 85 patients with cystic duct diameter ≥ 5 mm. The mean time for CBD stone extraction was 25.3 min, with the operative time ranged from 63 to 170 min. Lithotripsy was used in 74 (36.1%) patients among which 26 patients with cystic duct diameter ≥ 5 mm. Estimated blood loss during surgery was 10-120 ml per patient, and no intra-operative blood transfusions were needed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.1 (range 3-7) days, and postoperative complications developed in seven patients. No bile duct injury, stricture, remnant, recurrent stones, or other adverse events were observed during the mean follow-up of 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on preoperative MRCP and intra-operative IOC findings about cystic duct diameter, the diameter of CBD, CBD stone size, we summarized and proposed the surgical indications and suitable techniques and strategies during LTCBDE.

[Interventional effects of BAY11-7082 on lung inflammatory response at the early stage and acute lung injury of rats with severe burns]

Objective: To investigate the interventional effects of BAY11-7082 on lung inflammatory response at the early stage and acute lung injury of rats with severe burns. Methods: (1) Experiment 1. Twelve Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control (C) group and burn (B) group according to the random number table, with 3 rats in group C and 9 rats in group B. Rats in group C did not receive any special treatment. Rats in group B were inflicted with 30% total body surface area full-thickness burn on the back. Immediately after injury, rats in group B were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline in the dosage of 50 mL/kg. Abdominal aorta blood and lung tissue samples were collected from three rats in group B at post injury hour (PIH) 12, 24, and 48, respectively. The interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the IL-18 content of serum were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 in lung tissue were determined with real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sample collection and determination in rats of group C were performed as above. (2) Experiment 2. Eighteen SD rats were divided into control (C) group, simple burn (SB) group, and BAY11-7082 intervention (BI) group according to the random number table, with 6 rats in each group. Rats in group C did not receive any special treatment. Rats in groups SB and BI were inflicted with injury as in experiment 1. Immediately after injury, rats in group SB were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline in the dosage of 50 mL/kg, and those in group BI with 8 mg/mL (final mass concentration) BAY11-7082 solution in the dosage of 50 mL/kg. Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats with burns were collected at the optimal observation time point concluded from experiment 1. The morphology of lung tissue was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the pathological damage of lung tissue was graded. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) content of lung tissue and the total protein content of BALF were detected by microplate reader. The protein expressions of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor-3 (NLRP3) and cysteine-aspartic proteases 1 (caspase-1) in lung tissue were determined with Western-blotting. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in lung tissue were determined with real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. Sample collection and determination in rats of group C were performed as above. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD-t test. Results: (1) The IL-1β and IL-18 content of serum in rats of group B at PIH 12, 24, and 48 were significantly higher than those of group C (t=10.55, 22.05, 12.47, 10.60, 15.22, 11.94, P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 in rats of group B at PIH 12, 24, and 48 were significantly higher than those of group C (t=3.62, 7.19, 5.28, 3.20, 12.62, 7.31, P<0.05 or P<0.01). PIH 24 was the optimal observation time point for the following experiment. (2) At PIH 24, compared with those in group SB, the inflammatory cell infiltration and erythrocyte exudates of alveolar in group BI were obviously reduced, and the pulmonary interstitial edema obviously subsided. The pathological damage score of lung tissue in rats of group SB was (9.00±1.00) points, significantly higher than (1.10±0.26) points of group C (t=13.23, P<0.01). The pathological damage score of lung tissue in rats of group BI was (4.93±0.70) points, which was significantly lower than that of group SB (t=5.76, P<0.01) but still significantly higher than that of group C (t=8.84, P<0.01). At PIH 24, the MPO content of lung tissue and the total protein content of BALF in rats of group SB were (1.83±0.15) U/mg and (1.39±0.20) mg/mL, respectively, significantly higher than (0.51±0.10) U/mg and (0.44±0.05) mg/mL of group C (t=12.50, 7.86, P<0.01). The MPO content of lung tissue and the total protein content of BALF in rats of group BI were (0.91±0.12) U/mg and (0.60±0.10) mg/mL, respectively, significantly lower than those of group SB (t=8.36, 6.06, P<0.01). At PIH 24, the protein expressions of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissue of rats of group SB were 3.10±0.09 and 2.99±0.30, respectively, significantly higher than 1.00 and 1.00 of group C (t=9.06, 11.28, P<0.01). The protein expressions of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissue of rats of group BI were 1.13±0.08 and 1.81±0.11, respectively, significantly lower than those of group SB (t=7.24, 3.91, P<0.05 or P<0.01). At PIH 24, the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in lung tissue of rats in group SB were 5.0±0.4, 3.32±0.21, 3.54±0.42, and 6.3±1.0, respectively, significantly higher than 1.0, 1.00, 1.00, and 1.0 of group C (t=13.97, 14.14, 11.78, 7.13, P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in lung tissue of rats in group BI were 2.6±0.5, 2.00±0.28, 1.39±0.21, and 2.5±0.5, respectively, significantly lower than those of group SB (t=7.11, 5.80, 9.99, 4.65, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: Applying BAY11-7082 at the early stage of acute lung injury of rats with severe burn can reduce the expression of caspase-1, decrease the levels of IL-1β and IL-18, and decrease the MPO content of lung tissue and the total protein content of BALF through inhibiting NLRP3, thus alleviating the lung inflammatory response and lung injury.

Abstract GS2-02: Direct regulation of estrogen receptor-α (ER) transcriptional activity by NF1

Inactivating germline mutations in the NF1 gene (encoding neurofibromin) cause neurofibromatosis type 1. In addition to peripheral nervous system tumors, NF1 patients are at higher risk for other cancers, including breast cancer. Tumor exome-sequencing studies demonstrate that approximately 20% of all human cancers have somatic NF1 mutations. NF1 has been best known for its ability to inactivate Ras as a GAP (GTPase Activating Protein). However, this function is served by a small GAP domain in a very large protein. Recurrent missense mutations inactivating the GAP activity are infrequent. In contrast, it is common to detect frameshift (FS) and nonsense (NS) NF1 mutations, which can create an NF1-null state deleting not only GAP, but also, potentially, undefined NF1 functions whose loss could also drive tumorigenesis.

As we reported at SABCS previously, in 600+ patients treated by tamoxifen adjuvant monotherapy, we found that FS/NS NF1 mutations independently correlate with relapse risk (HR=2.6, p=0.03). To explore this finding, we silenced NF1 in preclinical models of ER+ breast cancer, which markedly enhanced ER transcriptional activities, causing estradiol (E2) hypersensitivity and converted tamoxifen into an agonist (in vitro and in vivo). Most important, these activities depend on ER, but not on NF1's GAP activity. These findings readily explain the poor patient outcomes associated with NS/FS NF1 mutations, and reveal a previously unrecognized function for NF1 in ER regulation.

In the presence of an agonist, liganded ER repels co-repressors and recruits co-activators, while the reverse is true with an antagonist such as tamoxifen. Many co-regulators contain leucine/isoleucine rich motifs, which bind directly to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) in ER. NF1 has several of these motifs that are much more highly conserved in species with a functional ER pathway, and some of these are mutated in cancers (e.g., in our patient cohort). Furthermore, we found that NF1 canbind directly to ER, and that this binding is mediated between the ER LBD and the NF1 leucine-rich regions. Like a classic co-repressor, wildtype NF1 (but not mutants lacking GAP activity or the Leu-rich motif) binds to ER, and is recruited by ER to the ERE in the presence of tamoxifen, but not E2.

Further preclinical treatment studies indicate that while NF1-deficient ER+ breast cancer should not be treated by tamoxifen or AIs, fulvestrant remains effective. Furthermore, when fulvestrant is combined with dabrafinib and trametinib to inhibit Ras effectors Raf and MEK, apoptosis is induced in vitro, and tumor regression is observed in vivo. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that NF1 is a dual negative regulator at the intersection of two potent oncogenic signaling pathways, Ras and ER, and that NF1-deficient ER+ breast cancer patients may be more effectively treated by co-targeting the Ras and ER signaling. These patients, up to 10% of those with advanced ER+ breast cancer, can be readily identified for treatment by ctDNA analysis. A clinical trial is under development.

Citation Format: Chang EC, Zheng Z, Philip L, Burcu C, Lei J, Singh P, Anurag M, Chan D, Li JD, Du XP, Shafaee MN, Banks K, Sacker S, Song W, Nguyen T, Cao J, Chen X, Haricharan S, Kavuri M, Kim B-J, Zhang B, Gutmann DH, Lanman RB, Foulds C, Ellis M. Direct regulation of estrogen receptor-α (ER) transcriptional activity by NF1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS2-02.

[The images of osteoarthrosis associated with anterior disc displacement without reduction detected by cone-beam CT]

Objective: To analyze the radiological characteristics of the condylar bone in patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction of temporomandibular joint using cone-beam CT (CBCT), and to further investigate the clinical factors possibly associated with the early-stage osteoarthritic changes. Methods: Two hundred and four individuals (≤30 years old) diagnosed as unilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction (disease duration≤1 year) were recruited. CBCT images of bilateral condyles were independently evaluated by two assessors and documented. Correlation between the early-stage osteoarthritic (OA) changes and gender, age, disease duration and mouth opening were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. Results: About sixty percent were presented with OA changes in the symptomatic joints, and most of them (47.1%) (96/204) were early-stage OA changes characterized by loss of continuity of articular cortex (Ⅰ) and/or surface erosion (Ⅱ). Logistics regression analyses indicated that disease duration (P =0.000) and mouth opening (P =0.002) were correlated significantly with early-stage OA changes. Conclusions: Disc displacement without reduction was closely related to OA occurrence. OA changes occurred in more than half of the patients after one month of the joint locked and more possibly in patients with increased mouth opening.

Regulatory B Cell-Dependent Islet Transplant Tolerance Is Also Natural Killer Cell Dependent

Immunologic tolerance to solid organ and islet cell grafts has been achieved in various rodent models by using antibodies directed at CD45RB and Tim-1. We have shown that this form of tolerance depends on regulatory B cells (Bregs). To elucidate further the mechanism by which Bregs induce tolerance, we investigated the requirement of natural killer (NK) and NKT cells in this model. To do so, hyperglycemic B6, μMT, Beige, or CD1d^-/- mice received BALB/c islet grafts and treatment with the tolerance-inducing regimen consisting of anti-CD45RB and anti-TIM1. B6 mice depleted of both NK and NKT cells by anti-NK1.1 antibody and mice deficient in NK activity (Beige) did not develop tolerance after dual-antibody treatment. In contrast, transplant tolerance induction was successful in CD1d^-/- recipients (deficient in NKT cells), indicating that NK, but not NKT, cells are essential in B cell-dependent tolerance. In addition, reconstitution of Beige host with NK cells restored the ability to induce transplant tolerance with dual-antibody treatment. Transfer of tolerance by B cells from tolerant mice was also dependent on host Nk1.1⁺ cells. In conclusion, these results show that regulatory function of B cells is dependent on NK cells in this model of transplantation tolerance.

Characterization of retroviral infectivity and superinfection resistance during retrovirus-mediated transduction of mammalian cells

Retroviral vectors including lentiviral vectors are commonly used tools to stably express transgenes or RNA molecules in mammalian cells. Their utilities are roughly divided into two categories, stable overexpression of transgenes and RNA molecules, which requires maximal transduction efficiency, or functional selection with retrovirus (RV)-based libraries, which takes advantage of retroviral superinfection resistance. However, the dynamic features of RV-mediated transduction are not well characterized. Here, we engineered two murine stem cell virus-based retroviral vectors expressing dual fluorescence proteins and antibiotic markers, and analyzed virion production efficiency and virion stability, dynamic infectivity and superinfection resistance in different cell types, and strategies to improve transduction efficiency. We found that the highest virion production occurred between 60 and 72 h after transfection. The stability of the collected virion supernatant decreased by >60% after 3 days in storage. We found that RV infectivity varied drastically in the tested human cancer lines, while low transduction efficiency was partially overcome with increased virus titer, prolonged infection duration and/or repeated infections. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RV receptors PIT1 and PIT2 were lowly expressed in the analyzed cells, and that PIT1 and/or PIT2 overexpression significantly improved transduction efficiency in certain cell lines. Thus, our findings provide resourceful information for the optimal conditions of retroviral-mediated gene delivery.