A risk stratification system developed to predict contralateral incidental malignant foci in early papillary thyroid carcinoma preoperatively

BACKGROUND

In clinical practice, contralateral incidental malignant foci (CIMFs) can be found in some early (cT1N0M0) papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) on postoperative pathological examination. To screen out the patients with high risk of CIMF preoperatively would help in determining the extent of thyroid surgery.

METHODS

From October 2016 to February 2021, 332 patients diagnosed with early (cT1N0M0) PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy were included and randomly allocated into a training dataset (n = 233) and a test dataset (n = 99). Demographic and clinicopathological features were recorded and analyzed using logistic regression analysis. A coefficient-based nomogram was developed and validated.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analyses revealed that the predictive model including BRAF V600E mutation, multifocality and margin of the contralateral nodule achieved the best diagnostic performance. The nomogram showed good discrimination, with AUCs of 0.795 (95 % CI, 0.736-0.853) for the training set and 0.726 (95 % CI, 0.609-0.843) for the test set. The calibration curve of the nomogram presented good agreement.

CONCLUSION

The risk stratification system can be used to quantify the probability of CIMF and may assist in helping the patients choose total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy with early (cT1N0M0) PTC.

Heat-induced SUMOylation differentially affects bacterial effectors in plant cells

Bacterial pathogens deliver effectors into host cells to suppress immunity. How host cells target these effectors is critical in pathogen-host interactions. SUMOylation, an important type of posttranslational modification in eukaryotic cells, plays a critical role in immunity, but its effect on bacterial effectors remains unclear in plant cells. In this study, using bioinformatic and biochemical approaches, we found that at least 16 effectors from the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 are SUMOylated by the enzyme cascade from Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutation of SUMOylation sites on the effector HopB1 enhances its function in the induction of plant cell death via stability attenuation of a plant receptor kinase BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1)-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1. By contrast, SUMOylation is essential for the function of another effector, HopG1, in the inhibition of mitochondria activity and jasmonic acid signaling. SUMOylation of both HopB1 and HopG1 is increased by heat treatment, and this modification modulates the functions of these 2 effectors in different ways in the regulation of plant survival rates, gene expression, and bacterial infection under high temperatures. Therefore, the current work on the SUMOylation of effectors in plant cells improves our understanding of the function of dynamic protein modifications in plant-pathogen interactions in response to environmental conditions.

Somatic mutations in four novel genes contribute to homologous recombination deficiency in breast cancer: a real-world clinical tumor sequencing study

Breast cancers involving mutations in homologous recombination (HR) genes, most commonly BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2), respond well to PARP inhibitors and platinum-based chemotherapy. However, except for these specific HR genes, it is not clear which other mutations contribute to homologous recombination defects (HRD). Here, we performed next-generation sequencing of tumor tissues and matched blood samples from 119 breast cancer patients using the OncoScreen Plus panel. Genomic mutation characteristics and HRD scores were analyzed. In the HR genes, we found that BRCA1/2 and PLAB2 mutations were related to HRD. HRD was also detected in a subset of patients without germline or somatic mutations in BRCA1/2, PLAB2, or other HR-related genes. Notably, LRP1B, NOTCH3, GATA2, and CARD11 (abbreviated as LNGC) mutations were associated with high HRD scores in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, functional experiments demonstrated that silencing CARD11 and GATA2 impairs HR repair efficiency and enhances the sensitivity of tumor cells to olaparib treatment. In summary, in the absence of mutations in the HR genes, the sensitivity of tumor cells to PARP inhibitors and platinum-based chemotherapy may be enhanced in a subset of breast cancer patients with LNGC somatic mutations.

S-acylation of a non-secreted peptide controls plant immunity via secreted-peptide signal activation

Small peptides modulate multiple processes in plant cells, but their regulation by post-translational modification remains unclear. ROT4 (ROTUNDIFOLIA4) belongs to a family of Arabidopsis non-secreted small peptides, but knowledge on its molecular function and how it is regulated is limited. Here, we find that ROT4 is S-acylated in plant cells. S-acylation is an important form of protein lipidation, yet so far it has not been reported to regulate small peptides in plants. We show that this modification is essential for the plasma membrane association of ROT4. Overexpression of S-acylated ROT4 results in a dramatic increase in immune gene expression. S-acylation of ROT4 enhances its interaction with BSK5 (BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE 5) to block the association between BSK5 and PEPR1 (PEP RECEPTOR1), a receptor kinase for secreted plant elicitor peptides (PEPs), thereby activating immune signaling. Phenotype analysis indicates that S-acylation is necessary for ROT4 functions in pathogen resistance, PEP response, and the regulation of development. Collectively, our work reveals an important role for S-acylation in the cross-talk of non-secreted and secreted peptide signaling in plant immunity.

First Dark Matter Search Results from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment

The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment is a dark matter detector centered on a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota, USA. This Letter reports results from LUX-ZEPLIN's first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with an exposure of 60 live days using a fiducial mass of 5.5 t. A profile-likelihood ratio analysis shows the data to be consistent with a background-only hypothesis, setting new limits on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon, spin-dependent WIMP-neutron, and spin-dependent WIMP-proton cross sections for WIMP masses above 9  GeV/c^{2}. The most stringent limit is set for spin-independent scattering at 36  GeV/c^{2}, rejecting cross sections above 9.2×10^{-48}  cm at the 90% confidence level.

Predicting Drug Treatment Outcomes in Childrens with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-Related Epilepsy: A Clinical Radiomics Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Highly predictive markers of drug treatment outcomes of tuberous sclerosis complex-related epilepsy are a key unmet clinical need. The objective of this study was to identify meaningful clinical and radiomic predictors of outcomes of epilepsy drug treatment in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 105 children with tuberous sclerosis complex-related epilepsy were enrolled in this retrospective study. The pretreatment baseline predictors that were used to predict drug treatment outcomes included patient demographic and clinical information, gene data, electroencephalogram data, and radiomic features that were extracted from pretreatment MR imaging scans. The Spearman correlation coefficient and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were calculated to select the most relevant features for the drug treatment outcome to build a comprehensive model with radiomic and clinical features for clinical application.

RESULTS

Four MR imaging-based radiomic features and 5 key clinical features were selected to predict the drug treatment outcome. Good discriminative performances were achieved in testing cohorts (area under the curve = 0.85, accuracy = 80.0%, sensitivity = 0.75, and specificity = 0.83) for the epilepsy drug treatment outcome. The model of radiomic and clinical features resulted in favorable calibration curves in all cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that the radiomic and clinical features model may predict the epilepsy drug treatment outcome. Age of onset, infantile spasms, antiseizure medication numbers, epileptiform discharge in left parieto-occipital area of electroencephalography, and gene mutation type are the key clinical factors to predict the epilepsy drug treatment outcome. The texture and first-order statistic features are the most valuable radiomic features for predicting drug treatment outcomes.

Artificial intelligence-assisted ultrasound image analysis to discriminate early breast cancer in Chinese population: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study

Background

Early diagnosis of breast cancer has always been a difficult clinical challenge. We developed a deep-learning model EDL-BC to discriminate early breast cancer with ultrasound (US) benign findings. This study aimed to investigate how the EDL-BC model could help radiologists improve the detection rate of early breast cancer while reducing misdiagnosis.

Methods

In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we developed an ensemble deep learning model called EDL-BC based on deep convolutional neural networks. The EDL-BC model was trained and internally validated on B-mode and color Doppler US image of 7955 lesions from 6795 patients between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (SW), Chongqing, China. The model was assessed by internal and external validations, and outperformed radiologists. The model performance was validated in two independent external validation cohorts included 448 lesions from 391 patients between January 1 to December 31, 2021 in the Tangshan People's Hospital (TS), Chongqing, China, and 245 lesions from 235 patients between January 1 to December 31, 2021 in the Dazu People's Hospital (DZ), Chongqing, China. All lesions in the training and total validation cohort were US benign findings during screening and biopsy-confirmed malignant, benign, and benign with 3-year follow-up records. Six radiologists performed the clinical diagnostic performance of EDL-BC, and six radiologists independently reviewed the retrospective datasets on a web-based rating platform.

Findings

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the internal validation cohort and two independent external validation cohorts for EDL-BC was 0.950 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.909-0.969), 0.956 (95% [CI]: 0.939-0.971), and 0.907 (95% [CI]: 0.877-0.938), respectively. The sensitivity values were 94.4% (95% [CI]: 72.7%-99.9%), 100% (95% [CI]: 69.2%-100%), and 80% (95% [CI]: 28.4%-99.5%), respectively, at 0.76. The AUC for accurate diagnosis of EDL-BC (0.945 [95% [CI]: 0.933-0.965]) and radiologists with artificial intelligence (AI) assistance (0.899 [95% [CI]: 0.883-0.913]) was significantly higher than that of the radiologists without AI assistance (0.716 [95% [CI]: 0.693-0.738]; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the EDL-BC model and radiologists with AI assistance (p = 0.099).

Interpretation

EDL-BC can identify subtle but informative elements on US images of breast lesions and can significantly improve radiologists' diagnostic performance for identifying patients with early breast cancer and benefiting the clinical practice.

Funding

The National Key R&D Program of China.

Application of NGS molecular classification in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma: A supplement to traditional pathological diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to demonstrate the advantages of NGS molecular classification in EC diagnosis and to assess whether molecular classification could be performed on curettage specimens and its concordance with subsequent hysterectomy specimens.

METHODS

80 patients with hysterectomy specimens and 35/80 patients with paired curettage specimens were stratified as POLE mut, MSI-H, TP53 wt, or TP53 abn group by NGS panel. Histotype, tumor grade, IHC results, and other pathological details were taken from original pathological reports.

RESULTS

The correlation analysis of 80 patients with hysterectomy specimens between NGS molecular classification and clinicopathological characters displayed that the POLE mut group was associated with EEC (87.5%) and TP53 abn subtype was correlated to a later stage (Stage II-IV, 47.6%), G3 (76.2%), serous histology (61.9%) and myometrial invasion ≥50% (47.6%). A favorable concordance (31/32, 96.9%) was shown in MSI analysis and MMR IHC results, and the agreement rate of p53 IHC and TP53 mutation was 81.5% (53/65). Compared with the p53 IHC abnormal group, the TP53 mutation group had a higher correlation with high-risk factors. A high level of concordance (31/35, 88.0%) of NGS molecular classification was achieved between curettage specimens and hysterectomy specimens while grade and histotype (including unclassified group) from curettage specimens and hysterectomy specimens showed only moderate levels of agreement, 54.3% (19/35) and 68.6% (24/35), respectively.

CONCLUSION

NGS molecular classification achieved on curettage samples showed high concordance with the final hysterectomy specimens, demonstrating superior to the conventional pathological assessment of grade and histotype and potential utilization in clinical practice.

Pharmacokinetics of tenvermectin in swine, a novel antiparasitic drug candidate-comparison with ivermectin

Tenvermectin (TVM) is a novel 16-membered macrolide compound isolated and purified from the fermentation broth of genetically engineered Streptomyces avermitilis strain MHJ1011. TVM and ivermectin were administered at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight through a single subcutaneous injection route followed by plasma collectiom and analysis at different time intervals. Plasma concentrations of TVM and IVM were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. Pharmacokinetic analysis was completed using the non-compartmental method with WinNonlin™ 6.4 software. TVM is rapidly absorbed after administration with peak plasma concentrations (C_max , 9.78 ± 2.34 ng/ml) obtained within 6-22 h. AUC_0-last was 586.86 h·ng/ml ± 121.24 h·ng/ml. The mean elimination half-life of TVM (T_1/2λz ) was 97.99 h ± 46.41 h. The T_1/2λz of IVM was 146.59 h ± 22.26 h in the study. The present study showed that subcutaneous administration of TVM at 0.3 mg/kg body weight (BW) in swine is absorbed more rapidly than IVM in swine. Compared to the pharmacokinetic characteristics of IVM, there was little difference in the half-life of TVM among different individuals. The data will contribute to refining the formulation and dosage regime for TVM administration.

Integrated analysis of long non-coding RNAs and mRNA expression profiles identified potential interactions regulating melanogenesis in chicken skin

1. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in various physiological functions. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of lncRNAs in melanogenesis remain unclear. To determine the molecular mechanisms involved in skin melanogenesis, the present study depicted the expression profiles of lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in black- (B group) and white- (W group) skinned chickens using RNA sequencing.2. In total, 373 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs; 203 up-regulated and 170 down-regulated) and 253 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 152 up-regulated and 101 down-regulated) were identified between the B and W groups. A total of eight known melanogenesis-related genes were identified (KIT, TYRP1, DCT (TYRP2), SLC45A2, OCA2, EDNRB2, TRPM1 and RAB38).3. Functional annotation of the co-expressed DEGs and DELs was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The co-expressed DEGs were mainly involved in melanogenesis and the co-expressed genes of 117 and 108 DELs were significantly enriched in the melanogenesis and tyrosine metabolism pathways, respectively.4. The DEL-DEG interaction network revealed that three lncRNAs (XR_003072387.1, XR_003075112.1, and XR_003077033.1) and DCT genes may have key roles in regulating melanogenesis in chicken skin. This data provides the groundwork for studying the lncRNA regulatory mechanisms of skin melanogenesis and suggested a new perspective on the modulation of melanogenesis in chicken skin based on a lncRNA-mRNA causal regulatory network.

[Application of robot-assisted laparoscopic sentinel lymph node tracing in treating endometrial carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the value of robot-assisted laparoscopic indocyanine green sentinel lymph node (SLN) tracing in treating endometrial carcinoma. Methods: Thirty-two patients with early-staging endometrial carcinoma were operated with laparoscopic comprehensive staging laparotomy from January 2019 to December 2021. At the same time, the SLN detection was performed by near-infrared fluorescence imaging tracer technology, in which the tracer was indocyanine green. Sixteen cases were injected with indocyanine green before laparoscopic surgery, and 16 cases were injected with indocyanine green before robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The operation index, postoperative complications, prognosis, and lymph node dissection were compared between the two groups. Results: (1) The mean age of patients in the robot group was (54.7±8.1) years old, and was (54.9±8.8) years old in the laparoscopic group. There were no significant difference between the two groups (t=0.06, P=0.951). (2) Intraoperative blood loss [(131±40) vs (169±57) ml], hemoglobin difference before and after surgery [(11.2±5.4) vs (15.5±5.7) g/L], the length of stay after operation [(6.2±1.3) vs (8.6±1.4) days] between the robot group and the laparoscopic group were compared, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) SLNs were detected in all 16 patients in the robotic group, and a total of 41 SLNs were detected. SLNs were detected in 15 of the 16 patients in the laparoscopy group, and a total of 40 SLNs were detected. Compared with the laparoscopic group (15/16), the total detection rate of SLN in the robotic group (16/16), there were no statistical significance (χ²=1.03, P=0.310). Compared with the laparoscopic group (7/15), the SLN bilateral detection rate in the robotic group (10/16), there were also no significant difference (χ²=0.78, P=0.376). The number of lymph nodes detected in surgery group (16.6±4.1) were lower than those in the laparoscopy surgery group (21.0±7.1), while there were no statistically difference between the two groups (χ²=2.01, P=0.054). There was no tumor metastasis in the resected lymph nodes and SLN between the two groups. The false negative rate of SLN in diagnosing endometrial cancer postoperative lymph node metastasis was 0, and the negative predictive value was 100%. (4) The pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were divided into five regions, which were the left pelvis, the right pelvis, the presacral region, the deep inguinal region, and the abdominal aorta. The numbers of SLN of unilateral detection and bilateral pelvic detection between two groups showed no significant differences (all P>0.05). The left pelvis had the most SLN imaging in both groups, followed by the right pelvis, para-aortic, and deep groin. (5) There was one patient in both robotic group and laparoscopic group with postoperative complications, which were urinary retention and pelvic lymph node cyst respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications between the two groups (χ²=0.97, P=1.000). The median follow-up time after operation was 14 months (range 6-24 months). During the follow-up period, no local recurrence or distant metastasis was found between the two groups of endometrial cancer patients. Conclusions: Compared with the laparoscopic group, the robot group has less intraoperative blood loss and shorter postoperative hospital stay. The bilateral detection rate of SLN in the group was better than that of laparoscopy.

Upregulated YTHDF1 associates with tumor immune microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

The nature of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) is essential for the head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) initiation, prognosis, and response to immunotherapy. However, its gene regulatory network remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

To identify N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators that are involved in regulating the HNSCC TME, a computational screen was applied to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC patient samples. The effects of mutation, copy number variation (CNV), and transcriptional regulation on YTHDF1 expression were analyzed. We analyzed the TME infiltration, cancer-immunity cycle activities, and YTHDF1-related Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways.

RESULTS

Among the 24 m6A regulators, 3 factors (YTHDF1, ELAVL1, and METTL3) were highly correlated with TME infiltration. As the top candidate, YTHDF1 was up-regulated and amplified in HNSCC. YTHDF1 promoter gains active histone marks and high chromatin accessibility, which might be transcriptionally activated by SOX2 and TP63. Moreover, YTHDF1 expression significantly associates with tumor malignant phenotype in HNSCC, which has a positive correlation with CD4+ T cells and a negative correlation with CD8+ T cells infiltration. Specifically, YTHDF1 expression is negatively associated with the cancer-immunity cycle and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In terms of the underlying biological mechanisms, YTHDF1 may interact with YTHDF2/3 to regulate several vital immune-related pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

We identify YTHDF1 associated with TME and elucidate an underlying mechanism of immune escape in HNSCC, which might be used as a predictive marker in guiding immunotherapy.

Antimony release and volatilization from rice paddy soils: Field and microcosm study

The fate of antimony (Sb) in submerged soils and the impact of common agricultural practices (e.g., manuring) on Sb release and volatilization is understudied. We investigated porewater Sb release and volatilization in the field and laboratory for three rice paddy soils. In the field study, the porewater Sb concentration (up to 107.1 μg L^-1) was associated with iron (Fe) at two sites, and with pH, Fe, manganese (Mn), and sulfate (SO₄^2-) at one site. The surface water Sb concentrations (up to 495.3 ± 113.7 μg L^-1) were up to 99 times higher than the regulatory values indicating a potential risk to aquaculture and rice agriculture. For the first time, volatile Sb was detected in rice paddy fields using a validated quantitative method (18.1 ± 5.2 to 217.9 ± 160.7 mg ha^-1 y^-1). We also investigated the influence of two common rice agriculture practices (flooding and manuring) on Sb release and volatilization in a 56-day microcosm experiment using the same soils from the field campaign. Flooding induced an immediate, but temporary, Sb release into the porewater that declined with SO₄^2-, indicating that SO₄^2- reduction may reduce porewater Sb concentrations. A secondary Sb release, corresponding to Fe reduction in the porewater, was observed in some of the microcosms. Our results suggest flooding-induced Sb release into rice paddy porewaters is temporary but relevant. Manuring the soils did not impact the porewater Sb concentration but did enhance Sb volatilization. Volatile Sb (159.6 ± 108.4 to 2237.5 ± 679.7 ng kg^-1 y^-1) was detected in most of the treatments and was correlated with the surface water Sb concentration. Our study indicates that Sb volatilization could be occurring at the soil-water interface or directly in the surface water and highlights that future works should investigate this potentially relevant mechanism.

Gut Microbiota Modulates the Protective Role of Ginsenoside Compound K Against Sodium Valproate-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat

This study aimed to investigate the potential role of gut microbiota in the hepatotoxicity of sodium valproate (SVP) and the protective effect of ginsenoside compound K (G-CK) administration against SVP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Measurements of 16S rRNA showed that SVP supplementation led to a 140.749- and 248.900-fold increase in the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum (B. pseudolongum), respectively (p < 0.05). The increase in A. muciniphila was almost completely reversed by G-CK treatment. The relative abundance of A. muciniphila was strongly positively correlated with aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (r > 0.78, p < 0.05). The PICRUSt analysis showed that G-CK could inhibit the changes of seven pathways caused by SVP, of which four pathways, including the fatty acid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism, were found to be negatively correlated with AST and ALT levels (r ≥ 0.70, p < 0.01 or < 0.05). In addition, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and pyruvate metabolism were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of A. muciniphila (r > 0.65, p < 0.01 or < 0.05). This alteration of the gut microbiota composition that resulted in observed changes to the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and pyruvate metabolism may be involved in both the hepatotoxicity of SVP and the protective effect of G-CK administration against SVP-induced hepatotoxicity. Our study provides new evidence linking the gut microbiota with SVP-induced hepatotoxicity.

[Transcriptomic analysis of the ΔPaLoc mutant of Clostridioides difficile and verification of its toxicity]

Objective: Comparative analyses of wild-type Clostridioides difficile 630 (Cd630) strain and pathogenicity locus (PaLoc) knockout mutant (ΔPaLoc) by using RNA-seq technology. Analysis of differential expression of Cd630 wild-type strain and ΔPaLoc mutant strain and measurement of its cellular virulence changes. Lay the foundation for the construction of an toxin-attenuated vaccine strain against Clostridioides difficile. Methods: Analysis of Cd630 and ΔPaLoc mutant strains using high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq). Clustering differentially expressed genes and screening differentially expressed genes by DESeq software. Further analysis of differential genes using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Finally, cytotoxicity assays of ΔPaLoc and Cd630 strains were performed in the African monkey kidney epithelial cell (Vero) and the human colonic cell (Caco-2) lines. Results: The transcriptome data showed that the ΔPaLoc mutant toxin genes tcdA and tcdB were not transcribed. Compared to the wild-type strain, CD630_36010, CD630_020910,CD630_02080 and cel genes upregulated 17.92,11.40,8.93 and 7.55 fold, respectively. Whereas the hom2 (high serine dehydrogenase), the CD630_15810 (spore-forming protein), CD630_23230 (zinc-binding dehydrogenase) and CD630_23240 (galactitol 1-phosphate 5-dehydrogenase) genes were down-regulated by 0.06, 0.075, 0.133 and 0.183 fold, respectively. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the differentially transcribed genes in ΔPaLoc were enriched in the density-sensing system, ABC transport system, two-component system, phosphotransferase (PTS) system, and sugar metabolism pathway, as well as vancomycin resistance-related pathways. Cytotoxicity assays showed that the ΔPaLoc mutant strain lost its virulence to Vero and Caco-2 cells compared to the wild-type Cd630 strain. Conclusion: Transcriptional sequencing analysis of the Cd630 and ΔPaLoc mutant strains showed that the toxin genes were not transcribed. Those other differential genes could provide a reference for further studies on the physiological and biochemical properties of the ΔPaLoc mutant strain. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed that the ΔPaLoc mutant lost virulence to Vero and Caco-2 cells, thus laying the foundation for constructing an toxin-attenuated vaccine strain against C. difficile.

The NPC1L1 Gene Exerts a Notable Impact on the Reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Response to Hyzetimibe: A Factorial-Designed Clinical Trial

Background: Hyzetimibe is a novel inhibitor of cholesterol that specifically targets the NPC1L1 gene. Significant inter-individual variability suggests the existence of an abundance of poor responders and non-responders. In addition, the current literature is inconsistent and controversial regarding the potential impact of the Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) gene on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction. In light of these concerns, we performed a high-quality clinical trial to investigate the specific characteristics of NPC1L1 gene variation on LDL-C reduction.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial with a factorial design. Qualified patients were randomly assigned to one of six treatments: placebo, hyzetimibe (10 or 20 mg), atorvastatin, and atorvastatin plus hyzetimibe (10 or 20 mg). Fasting blood samples were collected and genotyped, and the concentrations of LDL-C and the targeted drug trough were determined to investigate the association between the NPC1L1 gene expression and the reduction of LDL-C.

Results: In total, 727 individuals were initially recruited; of these, 444 were eligible to begin the trial. We identified one SNP (g1679C > G) that exerted significantly different impacts on LDL-C levels. As monotherapy, CC carriers experienced significantly higher reductions in the mean LDL-C (−23.99%) than either the GG (−16.45%, p < 0.01) or GC (−13.02%, p < 0.01) carriers in the hyzetimibe (20 mg) group. In contrast, when co-administered with atorvastatin, GC carriers experienced greater LDL-C reduction than non-GC carriers (-52.23% vs. −45.03%) in the hyzetimibe (20 mg) plus atorvastatin group. Furthermore, the proportions of individuals experiencing a reduction in LDL-C by >50% increased as the dose of hyzetimibe increased from 16.1% to 65.4%.

Conclusion: The g1679C > G SNP in the NPC1L1 gene is critical and exerts a differential impact on the response to hyzetimibe treatment. Heterozygotic patients respond with poor efficacy when treated by monotherapy but show good responses in terms of LDL-C reduction when hyzetimibe was co-administered with atorvastatin. To treat hypercholesterolemia in a precise manner with hyzetimibe, it is necessary to identify genotype patients for the g1679C > G SNP. We also highlight the potential necessity for identifying the appropriate subjects to be treated with ezetimibe.

Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [CTR20150351]

Pam2 lipopeptides enhance the immunosuppressive activity of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells by STAT3 signal in chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation develops when the immune system is unable to clear a persistent insult. Unresolved chronic inflammation leads to immunosuppression to maintain the internal homeostatic conditions, which is mediated primarily by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) has an important role in chronic inflammation and can be activated by a vast number and diversity of TLR2 ligands, for example Pam2CSK4. However, the regulatory effect of TLR2 signaling on MDSCs in chronic inflammation remains controversial. This study demonstrated that heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis BCG-induced pathology-free chronic inflammation triggered suppressive monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) that expressed TLR2. Activation of TLR2 signaling by Pam2CSK4 treatment enhanced immunosuppression of M-MDSCs by upregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production partly through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. Thus, TLR2 has a fundamental role in promoting the MDSC-mediated immunosuppressive environment during chronic inflammation and might represent a potentially therapeutic target in chronic inflammation disease.

A Preoperative Nomogram for the Prediction of High-Volume Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Background

High-volume lymph node metastasis (HVLNM, equal to or more than 5 lymph nodes) is one of the adverse features indicating high recurrence risk in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and is recommended as one of the indications of completion thyroidectomy for patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy at first. In this study, we aim to develop a preoperative nomogram for the prediction of HVLNMs in the central compartment in PTC (cT1-2N0M0), where preoperative imaging techniques perform poor.

Methods

From October 2016 to April 2021, 423 patients were included, who were diagnosed as PTC (cT1-2N0M0) and underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central compartment neck dissection in our center. Demographic and clinicopathological features were recorded and analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was developed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among the included patients, 13.4% (57 cases) were found to have HVLNMs in the central compartment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (35 years), BRAF with V600E mutated, nodule diameter, and calcification independently predicted HVLNMs in the central compartment. The nomogram showed good discrimination with an AUC of 0.821 (95% CI, 0.768-0.875).

Conclusion

The preoperative nomogram can be used to quantify the probability of HVLNMs in the central compartment and may reduce the reoperation rate after thyroid lobectomy.

[Analysis on the imported Coronavirus Disease 2019 related cluster epidemic in rural areas of Chengdu]

An epidemiological investigation was carried out on a local cluster of outbreak caused by imported cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in rural areas of Chengdu in December 2020, to find out the source of infection and the chain of transmission. According to Prevention and Control Protocol for COVID-19 (Version 7), field epidemiological investigation was adopted, combined with big data technology, video image investigation, gene sequencing and other methods to carry out investigation into COVID-19 cases and infections source tracing, analyze the epidemiological association, and map the chain of transmission. From December 7 to 17, 2020, 13 local COVID-19 confirmed cases and 1 asymptomatic case were diagnosed in Chengdu, of which 12 cases (85.71%) had a history of residence and activity in the village courtyard of Taiping (TP), Pidu (P) District, Chengdu. From November 8, 2020 to November 28, 2020, a group of inbound people form Nepal were transferred to the designated entry personnel quarantine hotel of P District which was adjacent to the TP village. During quarantine, there were 5 cases who tested positive for COVID-19. Through gene sequencing alignment, genes of local cases and Nepalese imported cases from the same period are homologous, all belong to the lineage of L2.2.3 (B.1.36 according to Pangolin lineage typing method). According to the results of field epidemiological investigation and gene sequencing analysis, the index case was most likely infected by contact with household waste of quarantine site. Under the situation of normalization prevention and control of COVID-19, sentinel monitoring of fever clinics in primary medical institutions is the key to early detection of the epidemic. The multi-department joint epidemiological investigation and the application of gene technology are the core links of the investigation and traceability of modern infectious diseases. The allocation of public health resources in rural areas needs to be strengthened. We need to improve the capacity for early surveillance and early warning of the epidemic in rural areas.

CYP2C19 Genotyping May Provide a Better Treatment Strategy when Administering Escitalopram in Chinese Population

Depression disorder is one of the most serious mental illnesses in the world. Escitalopram is the essential first-line medication for depression disorder. It is the substrate of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme CYP2C19 with high polymorphism. The effect of CYP2C19 on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics on Caucasian population has been studied. The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium Guideline provides dosing recommendations for escitalopram on CYP2C19 genotypes on the basis of the studies on Caucasian population. However, the gene frequency of the alleles of CYP2C19 showed racial differences between Chinese and Caucasian populations. Representatively, the frequency of the *2 and *3 allele, which were considered as poor metabolizer, has been shown to be three times higher in Chinese than in Caucasians. In addition, the environments might also lead to different degrees of impacts on genotypes. Therefore, the guidelines based on the Caucasians may not be applicable to the Chinese, which induced the establishment of a guideline in China. It is necessary to provide the evidence of individual treatment of escitalopram in Chinese by studying the effect of CYP2C19 genotypes on the pharmacokinetics parameters and steady-state concentration on Chinese. In this study, single-center, randomized, open-label, two-period, two-treatment crossover studies were performed. Ninety healthy Chinese subjects finished the trials, and they were included in the statistical analysis. The pharmacokinetics characteristics of different genotypes in Chinese were obtained. The results indicate that the poor metabolizer had higher exposure, and increased half-life than the extensive metabolizer and intermediate metabolite. The prediction of steady-state concentration based on the single dose trial on escitalopram shows that the poor metabolizer might have a higher steady-state concentration than the extensive metabolizer and intermediate metabolite in Chinese. The results indicate that the genetic testing before medication and the adjustment of escitalopram in the poor metabolizer should be considered in the clinical treatments in Chinese. The results provide the evidence of individual treatment of escitalopram in Chinese, which will be beneficial for the safer and more effective application of escitalopram in the Chinese population. Clinical Trial Registration: identifier ChiCTR1900027226.

P–547 Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies molecular regulations associated with poor maturation performance on rescue in vitro matured oocytes

Study question

What is the transcriptome signature associated with rescuein vitro matured (rIVM) oocytes?

Summary answer

GATA–1/CREB1/WNT signaling axis was repressed in rIVM oocytes of poor quality.

What is known already

rIVM aims to produce mature oocytes (MII) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) through IVM of immature oocytes collected from stimulated ovaries. It is less popular due to limited success rate in infertility treatment. Genetic aberrations, cellular stress, and the absence of cumulus cell support in oocytes could account for the failure of rIVM.

Study design, size, duration

We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to capture the transcriptomes of human in vivo (IVO) oocytes (n = 10) from 7 donors and rIVM oocytes (n = 10) from 10 donors, followed by studying the maternal age effect and ovarian responses on rIVM oocyte transcriptomes.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Human oocytes were collected from donors aged 28–41 years with a body mass index of &lt; 30. RNA extraction, cDNA generation, library construction and sequencing were performed in one preparation. scRNA-seq data were then processed and analyzed. Selected genes in therIVM vs. IVO comparison were validated by quantitative real-time PCR.

Main results and the role of chance

The transcriptome profiles of rIVM/IVO showed distinctive differences. A total of 1559 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, genes with at least two-fold change and adjusted p &lt; 0.05) were found to be enriched in metabolic processes, biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation. Among these DEGs, we identified a repression of WNT/β-catenin signaling in rIVM when compared with IVO oocytes. We found that estradiol level exhibited a significant age-independent correlation with the IVO mature oocyte ratio (MII ratio). rIVM oocytes with higher MII ratio showed over-represented cellular processes such as anti-apoptosis. To further identify targets that contribute to the poor outcomes of rIVM, we compared oocytes collected from young donors with high MII ratio versus donors of advanced maternal age and revealed CREB1was an important regulator in rIVM. Our study identified GATA–1/CREB1/WNT signaling was repressed in both rIVM condition and rIVM oocytes of low-quality.

Limitations, reasons for caution

In the rIVM oocytes of high- and low-quality comparison, the number of samples was limited after data filtering with stringent selection criteria. For the oocyte stage identification, we were unable to predict the presence of oocyte spindle so polar body extrusion was the only indicator.

Wider implications of the findings: This study showed that GATA–1/CREB1/WNT signaling and antioxidant actions were repressed in rIVM condition and was further downregulated in rIVM oocytes of low-quality, providing us the foundation of subsequent follow-up research on human subjects.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies molecular targets associated with poor in vitro maturation performance of oocytes collected from ovarian stimulation

STUDY QUESTION

What is the transcriptome signature associated with poor performance of rescue IVM (rIVM) oocytes and how can we rejuvenate them?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling axis was repressed in rIVM oocytes, particularly those of poor quality; restoration of this axis may produce more usable rIVM oocytes.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

rIVM aims to produce mature oocytes (MII) for IVF through IVM of immature oocytes collected from stimulated ovaries. It is not popular due to limited success rate in infertility treatment. Genetic aberrations, cellular stress and the absence of cumulus cell support in oocytes could account for the failure of rIVM.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to capture the transcriptomes of human in vivo oocytes (IVO) (n = 10) from 7 donors and rIVM oocytes (n = 10) from 10 donors. The effects of maternal age and ovarian responses on rIVM oocyte transcriptomes were also studied. In parallel, we studied the effect of gallic acid on the maturation rate of mouse oocytes cultured in IVM medium with (n = 84) and without (n = 85) gallic acid.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Human oocytes were collected from donors aged 28-41 years with a body mass index of <30. RNA extraction, cDNA generation, library construction and sequencing were performed in one preparation. scRNA-seq data were then processed and analysed. Selected genes in the rIVM versus IVO comparison were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. For the gallic acid study, we collected immature oocytes from 5-month-old mice and studied the effect of 10-μM gallic acid on their maturation rate.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The transcriptome profiles of rIVM/IVO oocytes showed distinctive differences. A total of 1559 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, genes with at least 2-fold change and adjusted P < 0.05) were found to be enriched in metabolic processes, biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Among these DEGs, we identified a repression of WNT/β-catenin signalling in rIVM when compared with IVO oocytes. We found that oestradiol levels exhibited a significant age-independent correlation with the IVO mature oocyte ratio (MII ratio) for each donor. rIVM oocytes from women with a high MII ratio were found to have over-represented cellular processes such as anti-apoptosis. To further identify targets that contribute to the poor clinical outcomes of rIVM, we compared oocytes collected from young donors with a high MII ratio with oocytes from donors of advanced maternal age and lower MII ratio, and revealed that CREB1 is an important regulator. Thus, our study identified that GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling was repressed in both rIVM oocytes versus IVO oocytes and in rIVM oocytes of lower versus higher quality. Consequently we investigated gallic acid, as a potential antioxidant substrate in human rIVM medium, and found that it increased the mouse oocyte maturation rate by 31.1%.

LARGE SCALE DATA

Raw data from this study can be accessed through GSE158539.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

In the rIVM oocytes of the high- and low-quality comparison, the number of samples was limited after data filtering with stringent selection criteria. For the oocyte stage identification, we were unable to predict the presence of oocyte spindle, so polar body extrusion was the only indicator.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This study showed that GATA-1/CREB1/WNT signalling was repressed in rIVM oocytes compared with IVO oocytes and was further downregulated in low-quality rIVM oocytes, providing us the foundation of subsequent follow-up research on human oocytes and raising safety concerns about the clinical use of rescued oocytes.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was supported by the Collaborative Research Fund, Research Grants Council, C4054-16G, and Research Committee Funding (Research Sustainability of Major RGC Funding Schemes), The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Asymmetric expression patterns of B- and C-class MADS-box genes correspond to the asymmetrically specified androecial identities of Canna indica

Canna indica is a common ornamental plant with asymmetric flowers having colourful petaloid staminodes. The only fertile stamen comprises a one-theca anther and a petaloid appendage and represents the lowest stamen number in the order Zingiberales. The molecular mechanism for the asymmetric androecial petaloidy remains poorly understood. Here, we studied the identity specification in Canna stamen. We observed four types of abnormal flower in terms of androecium identity transformation and analysed the corresponding floral symmetry changes. We further tested the expression patterns of B- and C-class MADS-box genes using in situ hybridization in normal Canna stamen. Homeotic conversions in the androecium were accompanied by floral symmetry changes, and the asymmetric stamen is key in contributing to the floral asymmetry. Both B- and C-class genes exhibited higher expression levels in the anther primordium than in other androecial parts. This asymmetric expression pattern precisely corresponded to the asymmetric identities of the Canna androecium. We identified C. indica as a model species for studying androecial organ identity and floral symmetry synthetically in Zingiberales. We hypothesized that homeotic genes specify floral organ identity in a putative dose-dependent manner. The results add to the current understanding of organ identity-related floral symmetry.

Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral 14C-Radiolabeled Hyzetimibe, A New Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor

Background and objectives: Hyzetimibe is a candidate drug being investigated as the second-in-class cholesterol absorption inhibitor; it lowers plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by blocking the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein, a transporter mainly expressed in the intestine that allows dietary cholesterol to enter the body from the intestinal lumen. Previous studies on the metabolism of hyzetimibe in healthy volunteers were not enough to show the biotransformation and excretion pathway; in particular, whether hyzetimibe maintains pharmacological action for duration sufficient to pass through the hepatic-intestinal circulation remains unknown. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the differences between the chemical structures of ezetimibe and hyzetimibe would result in different pharmacokinetic characteristics. Given that the molecular target is in the intestine and the substantial hepatic-intestinal circulation is a metabolic characteristic of the drug, a study of hyzetimibe as an oral ¹⁴C-radiolabeled drug, compared with routinely metabolized drugs, would play an important role in uncovering pharmacokinetic details.

Methods: After an overnight fast and before taking medication, six healthy male volunteers swallowed an investigational product suspension containing 20 mg/∼100 μCi of ¹⁴C-labeled hyzetimibe as a single dose. Whole-blood, plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected, and hyzetimibe and its metabolites were measured. Pharmacokinetic variables of hyzetimibe and its metabolites were calculated and statistically analyzed according to obtained concentration data. Safety data were collected throughout the study.

Results: The major metabolite detected in plasma was hyzetimibe-glucuronide, which accounted for 97.2% of the total plasma radioactivity. The mean cumulative excretion of total radioactivity of the dose was 16.39% in urine and 76.90% in feces. Unchanged drug and hyzetimibe-glucuronide were identified as the major components in the feces and the urine, respectively. The main metabolic conversions of hyzetimibe were glucuronidation (M1), mono-oxidation (M4), and mono-oxidation with additional sulfonation (M7). Hyzetimibe was considered generally safe and well tolerated.

Conclusion: This study of ¹⁴C-radiolabeled hyzetimibe provides a full profile of the biotransformation and excretion routes of hyzetimibe to improve the understanding of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of hyzetimibe. The changed hydroxyl group in the hyzetimibe structure made it easier for that drug, compared with ezetimibe, to combine with glucuronic acid and subsequently increased the urinary excretion of hyzetimibe vs. ezetimibe. These differences highlight the need to investigate in more detail the different pharmacokinetic impacts on the efficacy and safety of hyzetimibe and ezetimibe.

[CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TEAD1 knockout induces phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction]

OBJECTIVE

To construct a corpus cavemosum smooth muscle cell (CCSMCs) line with TEAD1 knockout from diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction (ED) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and explore the role of TEAD1 in phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs in diabetic rats with ED.

OBJECTIVE

Models of diabetic ED were established in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. CCSMCs from the rat models were primarily cultured and identified with immunofluorescence assay. Three sgRNAs (sgRNA-1, sgRNA-2 and sgRNA-3) were transfected via lentiviral vectors into 293T cells to prepare the sgRNA-Cas9 lentivirus. CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED were infected by the lentivirus, and the cellular expression of TEAD1 protein was detected using Western blotting. In CCSMCs infected with the sgRNA-Cas9 lentivirus (CCSMCs-sgRNA-2), or the empty lentiviral vector (CCSMCs-sgRNA-NC) and the blank control cells (CCSMCs-CK), the expressions of cellular phenotypic markers SMMHC, calponin and PCNA at the mRNA and protein levels were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

OBJECTIVE

The primarily cultured CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED showed a high α-SMA-positive rate of over 95%. The recombinant lentivirus of TEAD1-sgRNA was successfully packaged, and stable TEAD1-deficient CCSMC lines derived from diabetic rat with ED were obtained. Western blotting confirmed that the protein expression of TEAD1 in TEAD1-sgRNA-2 group was the lowest (P < 0.05), and this cell line was used in subsequent experiment. The results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting showed significantly up-regulated expressions of SMMHC and calponin (all P < 0.05) and down-regulated expression of PCNA (all P < 0.05) at both the mRNA and protein levels in TEAD1-deficient CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED.

OBJECTIVE

We successfully constructed a stable CCSMCs line with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TEAD1 knockout from diabetic rats with ED. TEAD1 gene knockout can induce phenotype transformation of the CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED from the synthetic to the contractile type.

A functional mutation in the AMPD1 promoter region affects promoter activity and breast meat freshness in chicken

Freshness is an important index to determine the quality deterioration (protein degradation and changes in appearance) of chilled chicken meat and is a primary consideration of consumers. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) catalyzes the deamination of adenosine monophosphate to inosine monophosphate in skeletal muscle and is the rate-limiting step in the purine nucleotide cycle. Inosine monophosphate is regarded as an important indicator of meat freshness in chicken. This study investigated the association of polymorphisms in the chicken AMPD1 promoter region with meat freshness during freezing storage. An SNP (c. -905G>A) was found to be associated with the freshness (K-value) of chicken breast meat. Chickens with the AA genotype had significantly lower K-values than those with GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01). Individuals with the AA genotype also had higher breast meat AMPD1 mRNA levels than did those with the GG and AG genotypes (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). A luciferase assay revealed that genotype AA had greater transcriptional activity than genotype GG. Transcription factor binding site analysis identified distinct putative transcription factor binding sites in the two alleles of mutation site c. -905. In summary, we identified an SNP (c. -905G>A) in the promoter region of the AMPD1 gene that may modulate the binding affinity of different transcription factors to control AMPD1 expression and affect the freshness K-value of chicken meat.

Toward Efficient Block Replication Management in Distributed Storage

Distributed/parallel file systems commonly suffer from load imbalance and resource contention due to the bursty characteristic exhibited in scientific applications. This article presents an adaptive scheme supporting dynamic block data replication and an efficient replica placement policy to improve the I/O performance of a distributed file system. Our goal is not only to yield a balanced data replication among storage servers but also a high degree of data access parallelism for the applications. We first present mathematical cost models to formulate the cost of data block replication by considering both the overhead and reduced data access time to the replicated data. To verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed cost model, we implement our proposal in a prototype distributed file system and evaluate it using a set of representative database-relevant application benchmarks. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach can boost the usage efficiency of the data replicas with acceptable overhead of data replication management. Consequently, the overall data throughput of storage system can be noticeably improved. In summary, the proposed replication management scheme works well, especially for the database-relevant applications that exhibit an uneven access frequency and pattern to different parts of files.

Linc00261 suppresses growth and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer via repressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition

OBJECTIVE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to participate in the development and progression of various types of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the expression and function of linc00261 in NSCLC has not been studied yet. We aim to explore the role and potential of linc00261 in NSCLC tumorigenesis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression level of linc00261 in 71 paired of NSCLC tissues and matched normal tissues, was detected using quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Linc00261 expression in NSCLC cells was also measured. NSCLC cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1 or siRNA linc00261 to upregulate or downregulate linc00261 expression, respectively. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and colony formation assay were utilized for examining the proliferative ability of NSCLC cells. Wound-healing and transwell assays were performed for detecting the metastatic ability of NSCLC cells. Protein levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers were detected by Western blot. Furthermore, in vivo function of linc00261 was evaluated using the nude mice.

RESULTS

Linc00261 expressed significantly lower in NSCLC tissues and cell lines than that in the adjacent normal tissues or control cell line. Over-expression of linc00261 significantly inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of NSCLC cells. On the contrast, knockdown of linc00261 promoted cell growth and metastasis of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, linc00261 inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of NSCLC via downregulating Snail. Linc00261 could slow down the growth of xenograft of NSCLC in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that linc00261 was lowly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. It inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis by downregulating Snail expression via EMT. This might provide a novel sight for the biological treatment for NSCLC.

Identification of differentially expressed genes associated with egg production in black-boned chicken

1. Muchuan black-bone chicken is well known in China for its meat quality and medicinal properties; however, its egg-laying performance is not ideal. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of black-boned chicken egg-laying, high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed to compare differences in the pituitary transcriptome between three high-rate (group H) and three low-rate (group L) egg production chickens. 2. In total, 171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the two groups, of which 113 were upregulated and 58 were downregulated in group L. Some of these genes are known to be related to hormone secretion or the regulation of reproductive processes; these include prolactin-releasing hormone (PRLH), distal-less homeobox 6 (DLX6), interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), and cilia and flagella associated protein 69 (CFAP69). Notably, expression pattern analysis indicated that both PRLH and DLX6 may influence egg-laying performance. 3. The dataset provided a foundation for discovering important genes and pathways involved in the chicken egg-laying process, and may help to improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chicken reproduction.

Clinical and CT features of the COVID-19 infection: comparison among four different age groups

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the clinical and CT features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in four different age groups (children, young adults, middle age, and senior).

Findings

Seniors were found to have a higher incidence of the highest clinical classification (severe or critical), large/multiple ground-glass opacity, and involvement of four or five lung lobes in these four groups.

Message

Older patients of COVID-19 are more likely to be infected with a larger number of lung lobes and more severe manifestations as visualized by CT.

Purpose

To compare and analyze the clinical and CT features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among four different age groups.

Methods

97 patients (45 males, 52 females, mean age, 66.2 ± 5.0) with chest CT examination and positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) from January 17, 2020 to February 21, 2020 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into four age groups (children [0–17 years], young adults [18–44 years], middle age [45–59 years], and senior [≥ 60 years]) according to their age after the diagnosis was made based on PCR test and clinical symptoms.

Results

Comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease are more common in the senior group. Cluster onset (two or more confirmed cases in a small area) is more common in the children group and senior group. Older patients were found to have a higher incidence of the highest clinical classification (severe or critical) in these four groups. Senior patients have a higher incidence of large/multiple ground-glass opacity (GGO). Child patients are mostly negative for chest CT or with involvement of only one lobe of the lung; while in older patients, there was a higher incidence of involvement of four or five lung lobes. The frequency of lobe involvement was also found to have significant differences in the four age groups.

Conclusion

The clinical and imaging features of patients in different age groups were found to be significantly different. A better understanding of the age differences in comorbidities, cluster onset, highest clinical classification, large/multiple GGO, numbers of lobes affected, and frequency of lobe involvement can be useful in the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients of different ages.

Identification of key microRNAs affecting melanogenesis of breast muscle in Muchuan black-boned chickens by RNA sequencing

1. Melanin content is considered an important indicator of meat quality in black-boned chickens, which have a high market value. To understand the complex physiological processes underlying muscle melanogenesis in this chicken, differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were detected between black muscle (BM) and white muscle (WM) of chickens using high-throughput sequencing technology. Six small RNA libraries were constructed, and more than 16.75 million clean reads were obtained for each library. 2. A total of 582 known miRNAs and 65 novel miRNAs were identified from the six chicken sequence libraries. A total of 19 DEMs were identified between the two groups, of which nine were upregulated and 10 were downregulated. Furthermore, the DEMs were predicted to target 572 genes. 3. Certain DEMs (such as miR-204, miR-133b, and miR-12 229-3p) and their target genes may play an important role in muscle melanogenesis of chickens. These findings provide a foundation for clarifying the miRNA regulatory mechanisms involved in muscle pigmentation in avian species.

Long noncoding RNA DSCAM-AS1 functions as an oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting BCL11A

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted more attention for their role in tumor progression recently. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of DSCAM-AS1 in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to elucidate its possible underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

DSCAM-AS1 expression in both NSCLC cells and tissue samples was detected by Real Time quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Moreover, the association between the DSCAM-AS1 expression level and patients' overall survival rate was explored. Furthermore, wound healing assay and transwell assay were conducted. In addition, RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were used to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

DSCAM-AS1 expression level in NSCLC samples was significantly higher than that of the corresponding normal tissues. The expression level of DSCAM-AS1 was associated with an overall survival time of NSCLC patients. Besides, the migration and invasion abilities of NSCLC cells were remarkably promoted after DSCAM-AS1 overexpression in vitro. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression of BCL11A was significantly upregulated after the overexpression of DSCAM-AS1. Furthermore, the expression of BCL11A was positively correlated with DSCAM-AS1 expression in NSCLC tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that DSCAM-AS1 could enhance NSCLC cell migration and invasion via upregulating BCL11A. Furthermore, DSCAM-AS1 might be a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

0936 Cardiometabolic Disorders are Independently Associated with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Young Adults

Introduction

Cardiometabolic risk factors (CMR), including obesity, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, have been associated with sleep apnea and insufficient sleep, both of which can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). We hypothesized that CMR are associated with EDS in young adults independent of sleep apnea, sleep duration and mental health disorders (MHD).

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a population-based longitudinal sample of 700 children (8.7±1.7y), of whom 421 were followed-up 8.3 years later during adolescence (17.0±2.3y) and 425 another 7.0 years later during young adulthood (24.4±2.6y). Subjects underwent a 9-h in-lab polysomnography in childhood and adolescence and parent- or self-reported standardized surveys at all time points. Self-reports in young adulthood and in-lab measurements in childhood were used to ascertain CMR and sleep apnea. Parent-reports in childhood and self-reports in young adulthood were used to ascertain the presence of MHD and EDS. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, race, sex, snoring/observed apneas, insomnia symptoms, and sleep duration in young adulthood as well as mean arterial blood pressure, body mass index percentile and apnea/hypopnea index in childhood.

Results

CMR (OR=2.71, 95%CI=1.69-4.36) and MHD (OR=4.61, 95%CI=2.79-7.62) were associated with EDS in univariate models. After adjusting for covariates in childhood and young adulthood, CMR and MHD remained independently associated with EDS (OR=2.32, 95%CI=1.29-4.16 and OR=2.78, 95%CI=1.59-4.87, respectively).

Conclusion

EDS in young adults with CMR or MHD does not solely arise from sleep apnea, insufficient sleep or other sleep disturbances. EDS may be the result of central pathophysiologic mechanisms or the functional impairment associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health disorders. These data further support that youth with these disorders should be screened for EDS and appropriately managed.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0890 Sleep Disordered Breathing is Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis in Young Adults: Preliminary Longitudinal Findings in the Penn State Child Cohort

Introduction

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in middle-age is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, population-based studies supporting its cardiovascular contribution at earlier stages of development are lacking, particularly with long-term follow-ups.

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a population-based longitudinal sample of 700 children (8.7±1.7y), of whom 421 were followed-up 8.3 years later during adolescence (17.0±2.3y) with in-lab polysomnography (PSG). To date, 425 have been followed-up another 7.4 years later during young adulthood (24.4±2.6y) via a standardized survey and 136 of them (55.1% female, 21.3% racial/ethnic minority) have undergone a repeat of their PSG to ascertain apnea/hypopnea index. Subjects (n=121) also underwent Doppler ultrasounds to assess flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Linear regression models stratified by body mass index in young adulthood.

Results

SDB was cross-sectionally associated with lower FMD (β=-0.239, p=0.008) and greater CIMT (β=0.330, p&lt;0.001) in young adulthood. Longitudinally, childhood (n=121) and adolescence (n=90) SDB were significantly associated with CIMT (β=0.327, p&lt;0.001 and β=0.286, p=0.006, respectively), but not with FMD (β=-0.158, p=0.08 and β=-0.101, p=0.35, respectively). These associations, particularly longitudinal ones between childhood and adolescence SDB with CIMT in young adulthood, were stronger in overweight than normal weight subjects (e.g., β=0.310, p=0.030 and β =0.089, p=0.582, respectively).

Conclusion

SDB and obesity appear to be synergistically associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in young adults from the general population. These data suggest that a childhood exposure to chronic SDB is associated with long-term atherosclerosis, while endothelial dysfunction may be a short-term outcome. This ongoing 16-year longitudinal study will test whether the natural history of SDB from childhood through adolescence into young adulthood shows differential trajectories for cardiovascular morbidity.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)