Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition Exon 14 Skipping Mutation and Amplification in 5,008 Patients With Lung Cancer

Background

Lung cancer is a major health concern worldwide because of its increasing incidence and mortality. This study aimed to clarify the association between mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) genomic alterations and clinical characteristics of lung cancer.

Method

We collected data from 5,008 patients with lung cancer diagnosed and treated between January 2017 and July 2021 at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. Genomic alterations in the MET gene, including the exon 14 skipping mutation and amplification, were detected using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (2,057 cases) and next-generation sequencing (2,951 cases). Clinical characteristics such as age, sex, tumor location, tumor stage, smoking, pleural invasion, and histology were statistically analyzed for MET exon 14 skipping mutation and amplification. The DNA splicing sites causing the MET exon 14 skipping mutation at the mRNA level were also investigated.

Results

The incidence of the MET exon 14 skipping mutation was 0.90% (41/4,564) in adenocarcinoma, 1.02% (3/294) in squamous cell carcinoma, and 8.33% (1/12) in sarcomatoid carcinoma specimens. It was more frequently observed in patients over 60 years of age than the MET exon 14 skipping mutation wildtype. The MET exon 14 skipping mutation co-occurred with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R, EGFR 19-Del, and BRAF V600E mutations. At the DNA level, single nucleotide mutation and small fragment deletion (1-38 base pairs) upstream and downstream of MET exon 14 led to MET exon 14 skipping mutation at the mRNA level. MET amplification occurred in 0.78% (21/2,676) adenocarcinoma and 1.07% (2/187) squamous cell carcinoma specimens and was significantly associated with advanced tumor stages (III + IV) compared to the MET amplification wildtype. MET amplification primarily co-occurred with the EGFR mutation.

Conclusions

Our study found that MET genomic alterations were statistically related to age and tumor stage and co-existed with mutations of other oncogenic driver genes, such as EGFR and BRAF. Moreover, various splicing site changes at the DNA level led to the exon 14 skipping mutation at the mRNA level. Further studies are required to clarify the association between MET genomic alterations and prognosis.

A Novel RNA-Binding Protein Signature to Predict Clinical Outcomes and Guide Clinical Therapy in Gastric Cancer

Objective: This study aimed to develop an RNA-binding protein (RBP)-based signature for risk stratification and guiding clinical therapy in gastric cancer. Methods: Based on survival-related RBPs, an RBP-based signature was established by LASSO regression analysis in TCGA dataset. Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn between high- and low-risk groups. The predictive efficacy of this signature was assessed via ROCs at 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Its generalizability was verified in an external dataset. Following adjustment with other clinicopathological characteristics, the independency of survival prediction was evaluated via multivariate Cox regression and subgroup analyses. GSEA was utilized in identifying activated pathways in two groups. Stromal score, immune score, tumor purity, and infiltration levels of 22 immune cells were determined in each sample via the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. The sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs was assessed through the GDSC database. Results: Data showed that patients with high risk exhibited unfavorable clinical outcomes than those with low risk. This signature possessed good performance in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival and can be independently predictive of patients' survival. Calcium, ECM receptor interaction, and focal adhesion were highly enriched in high-risk samples. High-risk samples presented increased stromal and immune scores and reduced tumor purity. Moreover, this signature presented close relationships with immune infiltrations. Low-risk specimens were more sensitive to sorafenib, gefitinib, vinorelbine, and gemcitabine than high-risk specimens. Conclusion: This RBP-based signature may be a promising tool for predicting clinical outcomes and guiding clinical therapy in gastric cancer.

Search for Sub-eV Sterile Neutrinos at RENO

We report a search result for a light sterile neutrino oscillation with roughly 2200 live days of data in the RENO experiment. The search is performed by electron antineutrino (ν[over ¯]_{e}) disappearance taking place between six 2.8 GW_{th} reactors and two identical detectors located at 294 m (near) and 1383 m (far) from the center of the reactor array. A spectral comparison between near and far detectors can explore reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} oscillations to a light sterile neutrino. An observed spectral difference is found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. This yields limits on sin^{2}2θ_{14} in the 10^{-4}≲|Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.5  eV^{2} region, free from reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} flux and spectrum uncertainties. The RENO result provides the most stringent limits on sterile neutrino mixing at |Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.002  eV^{2} using the ν[over ¯]_{e} disappearance channel.

Fuel-Composition Dependent Reactor Antineutrino Yield at RENO

We report a fuel-dependent reactor electron antineutrino (ν[over ¯]_{e}) yield using six 2.8 GW_{th} reactors in the Hanbit nuclear power plant complex, Yonggwang, Korea. The analysis uses 850 666 ν[over ¯]_{e} candidate events with a background fraction of 2.0% acquired through inverse beta decay (IBD) interactions in the near detector for 1807.9 live days from August 2011 to February 2018. Based on multiple fuel cycles, we observe a fuel ^{235}U dependent variation of measured IBD yields with a slope of (1.51±0.23)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission and measure a total average IBD yield of (5.84±0.13)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission. The hypothesis of no fuel-dependent IBD yield is ruled out at 6.6σ. The observed IBD yield variation over ^{235}U isotope fraction does not show significant deviation from the Huber-Mueller (HM) prediction at 1.3 σ. The measured fuel-dependent variation determines IBD yields of (6.15±0.19)×10^{-43} and (4.18±0.26)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission for two dominant fuel isotopes ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu, respectively. The measured IBD yield per ^{235}U fission shows the largest deficit relative to the HM prediction. Reevaluation of the ^{235}U IBD yield per fission may mostly solve the reactor antineutrino anomaly (RAA) while ^{239}Pu is not completely ruled out as a possible contributor to the anomaly. We also report a 2.9 σ correlation between the fractional change of the 5 MeV excess and the reactor fuel isotope fraction of ^{235}U.

Measurement of Reactor Antineutrino Oscillation Amplitude and Frequency at RENO

The RENO experiment reports more precisely measured values of θ_{13} and |Δm_{ee}^{2}| using ∼2200 live days of data. The amplitude and frequency of reactor electron antineutrino (ν[over ¯]_{e}) oscillation are measured by comparing the prompt signal spectra obtained from two identical near and far detectors. In the period between August 2011 and February 2018, the far (near) detector observed 103 212 (850 666) ν[over ¯]_{e} candidate events with a background fraction of 4.8% (2.0%). A clear energy and baseline dependent disappearance of reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} is observed in the deficit of the measured number of ν[over ¯]_{e}. Based on the measured far-to-near ratio of prompt spectra, we obtain sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0896±0.0048(stat)±0.0047(syst) and |Δm_{ee}^{2}|=[2.68±0.12(stat)±0.07(syst)]×10^{-3}  eV^{2}.

An Approach to Estimate Time-varying Casual Coherence Function

Objectives : This paper describes the development of a model-based approach to estimating both open-loop and causal time-varying coherence functions (TVCF). Theoretical derivations of the coherence bounds using the proposed approach are also provided.

Methods : A time-varying vector autoregressive (VAR) model was used to estimate both open-loop and causal TVCF. The time-varying optimal parameter search method was employed to identify the time-varying model coefficients as well as the model order of the VAR model.

Results : Simulation results revealed interesting observations, and they were corroborated using experimental renal blood pressure and flow data. Specifically, experimental data showed that in certain cases, the calculation of the open-loop TVCF might provide incorrect interpretation of the results when the system under investigation was a closed-loop system, which is consistent with theoretical derivations.

Conclusions : The use of the closed-loop TVCF not only provides quantitative assessment of the coupling between the two signals, but it also provides valuable insights into the composition of the physical structure of the system.

[Analyze the antibody level of enterovirus 71 about children cases of hand-foot-mouse disease outbreak]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the Enterovirus 71 infectious status about probably cases of hand-foot-mouse disease (HFMD).

METHODS

Collect the blood samples of HFDM children probably cases and test the IgG, IgM antibody by ELISA, analyzed the age and gender distribution.

RESULTS

We collected 159 blood samples of children probably cases who are 1 to 5 years old. The average EV71 IgG positive rate is 63.5%, which of IgM is 12.0%. The positive rate of EV71 IgG is decrease by aged. Male's EV71 IgM positive rate is higher than female's significantly.

CONCLUSION

The pathogen of this case of HFMD outbreak is EV71. Male's EV7l infectious and incidence are higher than female's. The result of this investigation could provide information to HFMD disease control.

An approach to estimate time-varying casual coherence function

OBJECTIVES

This paper describes the development of a model-based approach to estimating both open-loop and causal time-varying coherence functions (TVCF). Theoretical derivations of the coherence bounds using the proposed approach are also provided.

METHODS

A time-varying vector autoregressive (VAR) model was used to estimate both open-loop and causal TVCF. The time-varying optimal parameter search method was employed to identify the time-varying model coefficients as well as the model order of the VAR model.

RESULTS

Simulation results revealed interesting observations, and they were corroborated using experimental renal blood pressure and flow data. Specifically, experimental data showed that in certain cases, the calculation of the open-loop TVCF might provide incorrect interpretation of the results when the system under investigation was a closed-loop system, which is consistent with theoretical derivations.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the closed-loop TVCF not only provides quantitative assessment of the coupling between the two signals, but it also provides valuable insights into the composition of the physical structure of the system.

Separation of heart rate variability components of the autonomic nervous system by utilizing principal dynamic modes

This work introduces a modified Principal Dynamic Modes (PDM) methodology using eigenvalue/eigenvector analysis to separate individual components of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous contributions to heart rate variability. We have modified the PDM technique to be used with even a single output signal of heart rate variability data, whereas the original PDMs required both input and output data. This method specifically accounts for the inherent nonlinear dynamics of heart rate control, which the current method of power spectrum density (PSD) is unable to do. Propranolol and atropine were administered to normal human volunteers intravenously to inhibit the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, respectively. With separate applications of the respective drugs, we found a significant decrease in the amplitude of the waveforms that correspond to each nervous activity. Furthermore, we observed near complete elimination of these dynamics when both drugs were given to the subjects. Comparison of our method to the conventional low/high frequency ratio of PSD shows that PDM methodology provides much more accurate assessment of the autonomic nervous balance by separation of individual components of the autonomic nervous activities. The PDM methodology is expected to have an added benefit that diagnosis and prognostication of a patient's health can be determined simply via a non-invasive electrocardiogram.

Developmental changes in reactivity of small femoral arteries in the fetal and postnatal baboon

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated in vitro responsiveness of small arteries (internal diameter, 300 microm) from the femoral vascular bed of normal fetal (0.75-1.0 gestation) and neonatal (43-46 days) baboons to investigate whether the transition from fetal to neonatal life was associated with functional alterations in vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses.

STUDY DESIGN

The maximum response and sensitivity to potassium and to the constrictor agonists norepinephrine and U46619 (a thromboxane mimetic) were studied by in vitro myography. Vasodilator responses to the endothelium-dependent dilators acetylcholine and bradykinin were also investigated.

RESULTS

The maximum response to norepinephrine and U46619 and to potassium increased with gestational age, whereas the sensitivity to these vasoconstrictors was similar in all groups studied. In contrast, acetylcholine- and bradykinin-induced relaxation (median effective concentration and maximum response) did not change with age.

CONCLUSION

Receptor-mediated responses to a catecholamine, a prostanoid, and 2 endotheliumdependent vasodilators are similar in the fetal and neonatal baboon. The increase in maximal constriction with development, which is probably associated with growth or maturation of vascular smooth muscle, is likely to be a functionally important aspect in the development of cardiovascular function.

A new device for evaluating autonomic nervous activity of cardiovascular system

The purposes of present study are to evaluate a new measurement device with a piezo sensor to obtain fluctuation of finger blood pressure signal in comparison with the conventional tonometry system. We simultaneously measured continuous blood pressure by tonomery system and finger blood pressure using our device in 12 elderly subjects. Two time series of pulse interval variability (PIV) corresponded to RR interval were estimated respectively as the time between two successive upstrokes of these two devices and systolic blood pressure variability (SPV) was also estimated as the upstroke. In time domain the relative relation of PIV estimated by two systems was high, however, that of SPV was low. On the contrary, in frequency domain, we could estimate autonomic nervous activity of vasomotor activity from our new device. The developed device in our study may be a substitutable device for conventional method as limited to estimate the autonomic nervous activity of cardiovascular system.

Power spectral analysis of autonomic nervous activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We studied power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in control spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and tourmaline hydroxyl negative ion-treated SHR groups. The power spectrum of HRV in SHR groups was composed of two frequency components; low frequency (LF, 0.005 approximately 1.0 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 1.0 approximately 2.0 Hz) components. The low frequency power (LFP) of HRV spectrum, which indicates sympathetic nervous activity, in negative air ion-treated SHR group was significantly (p < 0.01) smaller than in control SHR group. And also we obtained that the high frequency power (HFP) showing parasympathetic nervous activity in negative air ion-treated SHR group was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in control SHR group. It could be concluded that hydroxyl negative air ions generated by tourmaline ionizer system decreased the elevated blood pressure, and control the sympathetic nervous activity and the parasympathetic nervous activity in SHR having the elevated blood pressure.

Fatigue evaluation of lumbar muscles during repeated dynamic trunk exercise

Muscle fatigue in the lumbar muscles for five normal subjects was investigated during repeated dynamic trunk exercise using a lumbar extension machine which is designed to isolated lumbar extension functions. The electromyogram (EMG) signal from erector spinae muscles at lumbar 1 (L1), lumbar 3 (L3) and lumbar 5 (L5) spinal level was detected by bipolar Ag-AgCl surface electrodes. Subjects were required to perform one set of variable resistance lumbar extensions through a 72 degrees range of motion (ROM) with a weight load (50% maximal voluntary contraction) that allowed 13 repetitions of fatigue contraction. Median frequency (MF) of EMG power spectrum was analyzed to compare the difference of fatigability between each lumbar muscle. The experimental results indicated: 1) each lumbar muscle has characteristic MF, especially at the beginning of the trunk exercise (i.e., L1 = 86 Hz, L3 = 96 Hz and L5 = 106 Hz); 2) Significant differences (P < 0.001) in MF between the beginning and the end of trunk exercise for all lumbar muscle sites; 3) Significant differences in the decreasing ratios of MF between L1, L3 and L5. Based on the theory that the decreasing ratio of MF is proportional to fatigability, L5 was more fatiguable than L1 and L3.