Accuracy of quantitative viral secondary standards: a re-examination

Interlaboratory agreement of viral load assays depends on the accuracy and uniformity of quantitative calibrators. Previous work demonstrated poor agreement of secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) standards with nominal values. This study re-evaluated this issue among commercially produced secondary standards for both BK virus (BKV) and CMV, using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to compare the materials from three different manufacturers. Overall, standards showed an improved agreement compared to prior work, against nominal values in both log10 copies/mL and log10 international unit (IU)/mL, with bias from manufacturer-assigned nominal values of 0.0-0.9 log10 units (either copies or IU)/mL. Standards normalized to IU and those values assigned by dPCR rather than by real-time PCR (qPCR) showed better agreement with nominal values. The latter reinforces prior conclusions regarding the utility of using such methods for quantitative value assignment in reference materials. Quantitative standards have improved over the last several years, and the remaining bias from nominal values might be further reduced by universal implementation of dPCR methods for value assignment, normalized to IU.

IMPORTANCE

Interlaboratory agreement of viral load assays depends on accuracy and uniformity of quantitative calibrators. Previous work, published in JCM several years ago, demonstrated poor agreement of secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) standards with nominal values. This study re-evaluated this issue among commercially produced secondary standards for both BK virus (BKV) and CMV, using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to compare the materials from three different manufacturers. Overall, standards showed an improved agreement compared to prior work, against nominal values, indicating a substantial improvement in the production of accurate secondary viral standards, while supporting the need for further work in this area and for the broad adaption of international unit (IU) as a reporting standard for quantitative viral load results.

Study of the self-assembly, drug encapsulating and delivering characteristics of short chain amylose-based type 3 resistant starch nanoparticles from Canna edulis

In developing type 3 resistant starch (RS3) from Canna edulis for use as functional food ingredients, we investigated the synthesis of C. edulis RS3 nanoparticles. Simultaneously, we explored the potential of C. edulis short-chain amylose (SCA)-based RS3 nanoparticles (RS3N) as a targeted delivery system, with a specific focus on colon targeting, yielding promising insights. Our study revealed that the degree of polymerization (DP) of C. edulis SCA, particularly the chains of DP 36- 100, exhibited a robust correlation with the particle size and physicochemical characteristics of C. edulis SCA-based RS3N. Additionally, recrystallization temperature variation (4, 25, and 45 °C) significantly influenced the self-assembly behavior of C. edulis SCA, with the preparation at 4 °C resulting in more uniform particle size distributions. In further expanding the scope of applications for C. edulis SCA-based RS3N, we harnessed the potential of Fe3O4 and curcumin (CUR) as guest molecules to assess drug encapsulation and colon-targeting capabilities. Incorporating Fe3O4 into the self-assembly system led to the production of magnetic RS3N, confirming the successful encapsulation of Fe3O4 within C. edulis SCA-based RS3N. Furthermore, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that CUR-RS3N was stable in the gastrointestinal tract and gradually released curcumin with fermentation in the colonic environment. Collectively, these findings provide invaluable insights into the intricate self-assembly behavior of C. edulis SCA with varying fine structures and recrystallization temperatures during RS3N formation. Moreover, they underscore the colon-targeted properties of C. edulis SCA-based RS3N, opening promising avenues for its application within the food industry, particularly in advanced controlled drug delivery systems.

Carboxymethyl chitosan and octadecylamine-coated liposome-containing WPTS: design, optimization, and evaluation

Liposomes (LPs) are a delivery system for stabilizing pharmaceuticals with limited use due to their propensity to congregate and fuse. A proposed method of addressing these problems is polymer coating. In this study, the potential of octadecylamine (ODA)-coated liposomes and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS/ODA-LPs) for enhancing Wacao pentacyclic triterpene saponin (WPTS) transport capacity was investigated. CMCS/ODA-LPs were produced by electrostatic adsorption and thin-film hydration. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to enhance the process and encapsulation efficiency (EE) for optimum drug encapsulation efficiency. The synthesized WPTS-CMCS/ODA-LPs were uniformly dispersed in a circular shape, and during 14 days of storage at 4 °C, the particle size and morphology did not significantly change. Vesicle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficiency (%) were 179.1 ± 7.31 nm, -29.6 ± 1.35 mV, 0.188 ± 0.052, and 75.62 ± 0.43, respectively. The hemolysis test revealed that WPTS-CMCS/ODA-LPs were sufficiently biocompatible. Compared to WPTS-LPs, WPTS-CMCS/ODA-LPs consistently showed a much more significant cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Early and WPTS-CMCS/ODA-LPs-induced apoptosis resulted in almost seven times more cell death than the control. Compared to physiological pH 7.3, the pH-sensitive CMCS coupled LPs increased drug release at acidic pH 6.5. These findings suggest the efficacy of pH-sensitive CMCS/ODA-LPs as a medication delivery method for WPTS.

Vegetation-fire feedbacks increase subtropical wildfire risk in scrubland and reduce it in forests

Climate dictates wildfire activity around the world. But East and Southeast Asia are an apparent exception as fire-activity variation there is unrelated to climatic variables. In subtropical China, fire activity decreased by 80% between 2003 and 2020 amid increased fire risks globally. Here, we assessed the fire regime, vegetation structure, fuel flammability and their interactions across subtropical Hubei, China. We show that tree basal area (TBA) and fuel flammability explained 60% of fire-frequency variance. Fire frequency and fuel flammability, in turn, explained 90% of TBA variance. These results reveal a novel system of scrubland-forest stabilized by vegetation-fire feedbacks. Frequent fires promote the persistence of derelict scrubland through positive vegetation-fire feedbacks; in forest, vegetation-fire feedbacks are negative and suppress fire. Thus, we attribute the decrease in wildfire activity to reforestation programs that concurrently increase forest coverage and foster negative vegetation-fire feedbacks that suppress wildfire.

[Spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody, and to examine the correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, so as to provide insights into advanced schistosomiais control in the province.

METHODS

The epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2020 were collected, including number of permanent residents in survey villages, number of advanced schistosomiasis patients, number of residents receiving serological tests and number of residents seropositive for anti-Schistosoma antibody, and the prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were descriptively analyzed. Village-based spatial distribution characteristics of prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were identified in Hunan Province in 2020, and the correlation between the revalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was examined using Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis was 0 to 2.72% and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was 0 to 20.25% in 1 153 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Hunan Province in 2020. Spatial clusters were identified in both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis (global Moran's I = 0.416, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (global Moran's I = 0.711, P < 0.01) in Hunan Province. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis identified 98 schistosomiasis-endemic villages with high-high clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis, 134 endemic villages with high-high clusters of the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody and 36 endemic villages with high-high clusters of both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province. In addition, spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (rs = 0.235, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There were spatial clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, which were predominantly located in areas neighboring the Dongting Lake. These clusters should be given a high priority in the schistosomiasis control programs.

Measurement of oesophageal hiatus surface area by multiplanar reconstruction of MDCT: relationship with lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and acid reflux

AIM

To evaluate the relationship between oesophageal hiatus surface area (OHSA) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent 24-h pH monitoring, oesophageal high-resolution manometry, and upper abdominal contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) during 2014-2021 were enrolled. Patients with a hiatus hernia (HH) on MDCT or who had a history of gastro-oesophageal surgery were excluded. Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) of the MDCT image was used for the measurement of OHSA. Correlations of OHSA with acid exposure time (AET) and lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure of all patients were analysed.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients were included in the study. OHSA was much less in the AET <4% group than in the AET >6% group (1.61 ± 0.42 versus 2.09 ± 0.55 cm2, p<0.001). Correlation analysis reveals that OHSA correlated positively with AET (correlation coefficient = 0.47, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis reveals that OHSA can significantly distinguish patients in different groups divided by AET (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-0.90). OHSA was not related to LOS pressure (correlation coefficient = -0.268, p=0.051). There was no difference in OHSA between the low LOS pressure group and the normal LOS pressure group (1.84 ± 0.61 versus 1.74 ± 0.50 cm2, p=0.52).

CONCLUSIONS

OHSA significantly correlated with AET but has no relationship with LOS pressure. It may be an independent risk factor of GERD.

Radiotherapy Shows Synergistic Anti-Tumor Efficacy with Treg Depletion by Reprogramming the Immune-Excluded Tumor Microenvironment

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Tumor-infiltrating Treg cells (TITR) negatively regulates anti-tumor immune response and promotes tumor progression. Increased levels of TITR cells have been associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancer indications which led to the development of immunotherapies that target tumor Tregs. CCR8 antibody is one of the best-in-class therapies in clinical development for depleting TITR cells. It has demonstrated potent efficacy in tumors that are responsive to checkpoint inhibitors but failed in cold tumors that lack immune infiltration and activation. Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to induce pro-inflammatory responses in tumors, but still failed to show consistent synergy with checkpoint inhibitors. Here we test the hypothesis that RT synergizes with Treg depletion to improve anti-tumor efficacy by reprogramming the immune-excluded tumor microenvironment.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The CCR8 + RT combination therapy was tested in syngeneic mouse tumor models: 4T1 breast, LL2 lung, and B16F10 melanoma, all of which present a cold tumor phenotype. Tumor-bearing mice (n = 10 per group) received a single dose of focal irradiation by SARRP, 4 doses of anti-CCR8 depleting antibody or a combination of the two. Tumor size was measured 3 times per week, survival was monitored until day 42, and tumor metastasis was evaluated at endpoint by necropsy. Mouse tumors, spleens, draining lymph nodes, and blood were collected 1 day after the last dose of CCR8 therapy and analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry and RNA-sequencing for pharmacodynamics and mechanism studies.

RESULTS

In the syngeneic mouse models, CCR8+RT combination therapy displayed significantly improved tumor growth inhibition, metastasis control, and prolonged survival compared with either treatment alone, without increase in toxicity. Flow cytometry showed reduced TITR population and increased infiltration and activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in the tumors of CCR8 + RT treated mice. Increased activation of CD8+ T cells was also observed in the blood and draining lymph nodes in mice treated with the combination therapy. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis identified up-regulation of pathways associated with TNF-α and IFN-γ response in the combination-treated tumors, suggesting the creation of a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment. Interestingly, these changes were only induced by the combination therapy, but not either treatment alone.

CONCLUSION

Immunotherapies targeting Treg/TITR cells have so far failed to show promise in clinical trials. Our data suggest that TITR depletion is not sufficient to treat tumors with minimal immune infiltration. Our animal data demonstrate that combining RT with CCR8 therapy significantly inhibited tumor growth and prevented metastasis by enriching the tumor microenvironment with pro-inflammatory cytokines and activated cytotoxic T cells. These findings have clinical relevance to apply TITR depletion therapy in combination with RT.

[Clinical and genotypic analysis of hereditary spherocytosis combined with cholestasis among pediatric patients]

Objective: To understand the clinical and genetic characteristics of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) combined with cholestasis among pediatric patients. Methods: 12 cases of HS children accompanied by cholestasis at Hunan Children's Hospital were selected as the research subjects between January 2013 and December 2022. Clinical data were collected. Whole-exome sequencing was performed by second-generation sequencing. Suspected pathogenic mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results: All pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital due to their yellow skin tone. Eight cases (66.67%) had a positive family history. The clinical manifestations were jaundice, splenomegaly (12/12), abdominal pain, anemia (4/12), and hepatomegaly (5/12). All pediatric patients had decreased hemoglobin, an increased reticulocyte ratio, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, a positive erythrocyte fragility test, and remarkable spherical erythrocytes in their peripheral blood. Seven cases had elevated aminotransferase; four cases had severely elevated aminotransferase and bilirubin; eight cases had biliary calculi; and two cases had a dilated biliary tract. Liver pathological examination showed mild damage to the liver cells (G1S1) in three pediatric cases. Five children had a total of six unreported mutations: SPTB gene c.2431_2450del, c.4974-2A > G, c.2575G > A, and exon 22-35 deletion; ANK1 gene: c.2379-2380delC; and c .6dupC. Children still had abnormal bilirubin levels following treatment. Two pediatric cases underwent splenectomy. Bilirubin and hemoglobin levels returned to normal after surgery. Conclusion: Children with HS may experience cholestasis, and those with poor treatment results may consider undergoing a splenectomy. Six new types of variants have expanded the HS gene mutation spectrum.

[Curative effects of bi-pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in repairing large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs]

Objective: To investigate the curative effects of bi-pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap in repairing large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From February 2016 to June 2020, 16 patients with large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs caused by trauma or after tumor/scar resection were admitted to the Department of Hand Surgery of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, including 9 males and 7 females, aged 25-58 years, with the area of soft tissue defects ranging from 14.0 cm×8.0 cm to 32.0 cm×18.0 cm. Using the abdomen as the donor site, the conjoined abdominal wall flap, i.e., the bi-pedicled DIEP flap (with an area ranging from 15.0 cm×9.0 cm to 32.0 cm×20.0 cm) carrying two sets of the trunk of the deep inferior epigastric artery was designed and resected to repair the wound. The donor site wound was sutured directly. The flap survival and wound healing in the donor and recipient areas were observed after operation. The curative effect was evaluated during the follow-up. At the last follow-up, the American Knee Society score and lower extremity functional scale were used to assess the functions of knee joint and lower limb, respectively. Results: The flaps of 15 patients survived after operation; the flap of one patient had partial infection at the edge after operation but healed after debridement and dressing change. The wounds in the donor and recipient areas of 16 patients all healed well. Follow-up of 16-28 months showed that the recipient area had a good shape and pliable texture, and there was no obvious swollen appearance, hyperpigmentation, or abnormal hair growth; the donor site had linear scar only, with no complications such as abdominal hernia or hyperplastic scar; the functions of knee joint and lower limb were well reconstructed, with no recurrence of tumor. At the last follow-up, among the 4 patients with knee joint injury, 3 cases were excellent and 1 case was good in the evaluation of knee joint function; among the 12 patients with lower limb injury, 9 cases were excellent and 3 cases were good in the evaluation of lower limb function. Conclusions: The donor site of bi-pedicled DIEP flap is concealed with abundant tissue and large area for resection, with which can be used to repair large soft tissue defects in the lower limbs, achieving good short-term results of appearance and function restoration.

[Prediction of potential suitable habitats of Haemphysalis concinna in Heilongjiang Province based on the maximum entropy model]

OBJECTIVE

To predict the potential suitable habitat of Haemaphysalis concinna in Heilongjiang Province under different climatic scenarios.

METHODS

The geographic locations of ticks in Heilongjiang Province from 1980 to 2022 were captured from literature review and field ticks monitoring data from Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Heilongjiang Province, and the tick distribution sites with spatial correlations were removed using the software ArcGIS 10.2. The environment data under historical climatic scenarios from 1970 to 2000 and the climatic shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) 126 scenario model from 2021 to 2040 and from 2041 to 2060 were downloaded from the WorldClim website, and the elevation (1 km, 2010), population (1 km grid population dataset of China, 2010) and annual vegetation index (1 km, 2010) data were downloaded from the Resource and Environmental Science and Data Center, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The contribution of environmental factors to H. concinna distribution was evaluated and environmental variables were screened using the software MaxEnt 3.4.1 and R package 4.1.0, and the areas of suitable habitats of H. concinna and changes in center of gravity were analyzed using the maximum entropy model in Heilongjiang Province under different climatic scenarios. In addition, the accuracy of the maximum entropy model for prediction of H. concinna distribution was assessed using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

A total of 79 H. concinna distribution sites and 24 environmental variables were collected, and 70 H. concinna distribution sites and 9 environmental factors that contributed to distribution of the potential suitable habitats of H. concinna in Heilongjiang Province were screened. The three most significant contributing factors included precipitation seasonality, annual precipitation, and mean temperature of the driest quarter, with cumulative contributions of 60.7%. The total area of suitable habitats of H. concinna was 29.05 × 10⁴ km² in Heilongjiang Province under historical climatic scenarios, with the center of gravity of suitable habitats located at (47.31° N, 129.16° E), while the total area of suitable habitats of H. concinna reduced by 0.97 × 10⁴ km² in Heilongjiang Province under the climatic SSP126 scenario from 2041 to 2060, with the center of gravity shifting to (47.70° N, 129.28° E).

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution of suitable habitats of H. concinna strongly correlates with temperature and humidity in Heilongjiang Province. The total area of potential suitable habitats of H. concinna may appear a tendency towards a decline with climatic changes in Heilongjiang Province, and high-, medium- and low-suitable habitats may shift.

[Analysis of the vaccination status of enterovirus type 71 inactivated vaccine in China from 2017 to 2021]

Objective: To understand the vaccination status of enterovirus type 71 (EV71) inactivated vaccines in China from 2017 to 2021 and provide evidence for making policy on immunization strategy against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods: Using the reported dose number of EV71 vaccination and birth cohort population data collected by the China immunizaiton program information system to estimate the cumulative coverage of EV71 vaccine by the end of 2021 among the birth cohorts since 2012 at national, provincial, and prefecture levels, and analyze the correlation between the vaccination coverage and the potential influencing factors. Results: As of 2021, the estimated cumulative vaccination coverage of the EV71 vaccine was 24.96% in birth cohorts since 2012. The cumulative vaccination coverage was between 3.09% and 56.59% in different provinces, between 0 and 88.17% in different prefectures. There was a statistically significant correlation between vaccination coverage in different regions and the region's previous HFMD prevalence and disposable income per capita. Conclusions: Since 2017, the EV71 vaccines have been widely used nationwide, but the coverage of EV71 vaccination varies greatly among regions. Vaccination coverage is higher in relatively developed regions, and the intensity of previous epidemic of HFMD may have a certain impact on the acceptance of the vaccine and the pattern of immunization service. The impact of EV71 vaccination on the epidemic of HFMD requires further studies.

[Trust in vaccination and its influencing factors among parents of children aged 0-6 years]

Objective: To analyze the trust in vaccination and its influencing factors in parents of children aged 0-6 years. Methods: In June 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the basic information of parents of children aged 0-6 years, including their trust in vaccination and their attitudes towards vaccination. The χ² test was used to compare the difference between different groups, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: A total of 10 916 parents of children aged 0-6 years were investigated in this study, and their trust in vaccine was 67.20%, of which safety (55.80%) was the key factor limiting the trust in vaccination. 37.94% (4 142/10 916) of the parents were willing to vaccinate more than two kinds of vaccines at the same time, and 85.07% (9 286/10 916) of the parents feared that abnormal reactions would occur after vaccination. The parents' age, education level and annual family income were the promoting factors of their trust in vaccination (P<0.05). Obtaining vaccine knowledge through vaccination APP or official account (OR=1.330, 95%CI: 1.188-1.489) and popular science leaflets distributed by vaccination clinics (OR=1.120, 95%CI: 1.020-1.228) were the promoting factors of parents' trust in vaccination. Young children and parents, high family income and education level were the promoting factors for parents to be willing to vaccinate at the same time (P<0.05), and young children and parents, low family income and education level were the inducing factors for fear of abnormal reaction after vaccination (P<0.05). Parents of children in the central region had a high acceptance of simultaneous vaccination for children, while parents of children in the western region had a low degree of concern about abnormal reactions after vaccination (P<0.05). Parents of children who read books and got vaccine knowledge online (OR=1.257, 95%CI: 1.153-1.371), urban residents (OR=1.173, 95%CI: 1.062-1.295) and with jobs (OR=1.109, 95%CI: 1.015-1.212) were more willing to vaccinate at the same time. The choice of imported vaccine was a promoting factor for parents to worry about abnormal reactions after vaccination (P<0.05). Conclusion: There is room for parents of children aged 0-6 years to further improve their trust in vaccination. At this stage, it is necessary to innovate the way of health education and health promotion, and pay attention to the publicity of vaccine safety knowledge, so as to improve parents' trust in vaccination.

[Evaluation considerations for using surrogate endpoints in anticancer clinical trials]

The prolongation of patient's overall survival is the accepted as gold standard to prove clinical values of anti-cancer drugs. However, if overall survival is taken as the primary endpoint in clinical trials for cancer types with a relatively good prognosis in the process of new anti-cancer drug research and development, the time to market the drugs will be prolonged due to the long follow-up time. In addition, overall survival is often interfered by confounding factors such as follow-up treatment. Therefore, regulatory agencies have established an accelerated review model using surrogate endpoints for the approval of new anti-cancer drugs, but there are still some problems in the use of surrogate endpoints in cancer clinical trials. From the perspective of new drug review, the authors expounds the key points of confirming and rationally using surrogate endpoints in clinical trials of anti-cancer drugs, which will improve the level of clinical trials of new anti-cancer drugs and accelerate the development of anti-tumor drugs.

[Quality of life and risk factors in patients with herpes zoster]

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life and influencing factors of patients with herpes zoster (HZ) seen in hospitals. Methods: Based on Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI) and Five-level EuroQol Five-dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the pain severity and quality of life of 332 HZ cases seen in 22 hospitals of Lu'an City (Anhui Province), Zibo City (Shandong Province) and Tongchuan City (Shaanxi Province) from October to December 2021. The censored least absolute deviations (CLAD) model was used to analyze the related factors affecting the changes of patients' health utility values. Results: The 45.5% of 332 HZ cases were male. The median (Q₁,Q₃) age was 59 (50, 68) years. 59.64% of them assessed by ZBPI had moderate to severe pain in the past 24 hours (worst pain score≥5), and that of PHN cases was 84.8%(39/46). 77.7% (258/332), 77.4% (257/332) and 74.1% (246/332) of all patients reported that pain interfered with sleep, mood and general activities, respectively. Aging [β_40-49y (95%CI)=-0.11 (-0.15, -0.08); β_50-59y (95%CI)=-0.03 (-0.05, 0.00); β_60-69y (95%CI)=-0.09 (-0.12, -0.06); β_70-90y(95%CI)=-0.16 (-0.19, -0.12)], working status (unemployed) [β_farmer (95%CI)=0.15 (0.13, 0.18); β_retirees(95%CI)=0.21 (0.18, 0.24); β_employee (95%CI)=0.13 (0.10, 0.16) ], complications[β_PHN (95%CI)=-0.08 (-0.13, -0.04); β_{other complications} (95%CI)=-0.12 (-0.15, -0.08)], within 30 days after onset [β(95%CI)=-0.01 (-0.03, 0.01)] and treatment [β_{other complications} (95%CI)=-0.09 (-0.11, -0.06)] were related factors for the decline of health utility value (all P values <0.05). Conclusions: More than half of the patients with HZ had moderate to severe pain in the past 24 hours, which had a serious negative impact on the physical and mental health of the patients. Elderly patients, acute patients and patients with complications had lower health utility values and worse health status. We suggest that eligible people be vaccinated with HZ vaccine as soon as possible.

[Transplantation of bilateral superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flap for breast reconstruction in a patient with unilateral breast cancer]

On May 14, 2020, a 37 year old female patient with unilateral breast cancer was admitted to Hunan Cancer Hospital. She underwent modified radical mastectomy for right breast cancer and free transplantation of bilateral superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (weighed 305 g) for breast reconstruction. During the operation, the right inferior epigastric vascular pedicle was anastomosed with the proximal end of the right internal mammary vessel, and the left inferior epigastric vascular pedicle was anastomosed with the distal end of the right internal mammary vessel; the blood flow of the flap was good; the wound in the donor site of the abdominal flap was closed directly. The operation lasted for 9 hours. In the first 48 hours post operation, the flap showed mild elevation in perfusion over drainage, but no obvious edema or blister was observed, flap temperature was consistent with the surrounding skin, and the drainage volume out of drainage tube was only 40 mL. The blood supply of the flap was completely restored to normal 3 days post operation, the flap survived well, the donor site incision had no obvious tension, and the healing was smooth. After 2 months of follow-up, the donor site incision of abdomen healed completely, only linear scar was left, and the reconstructed breast had a natural appearance; the patient planned to perform further nipple reconstruction and contralateral breast mastopexy. This case suggests that autologous breast reconstruction can be performed using bilateral superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps under certain circumstances to minimize donor site injury to the greatest extent.

Symptom burden, psychological distress, and symptom management status in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer: a multicenter study in China

BACKGROUND

The management of physical symptoms and psychological distress of cancer patients is an important component of cancer care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the symptom burden, psychological distress, and management status of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer in China and explore the potential influencing factors of undertreatment and non-treatment of symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 2930 hospitalized patients with advanced cancer (top six types of cancer in China) were recruited from 10 centers all over China. Patient-reported MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales and symptom management-related information were collected and linked with the patient's clinical data. The proportion of patients reporting moderate-to-severe (MS) symptoms and whether they were currently well managed were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the factors correlated to undertreatment and non-treatment of symptoms.

RESULTS

About 27% of patients reported over three MS symptoms, 16% reported over five, and 9% reported over seven. Regarding psychological distress, the prevalence of HADS-anxiety was 29% and that of PHQ-9 depression was 11%. Sixty-one percent of patients have at least one MS symptom without any treatment. Sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.238, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.502-3.336], Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG; OR = 0.404, 95% CI 0.241-0.676), and whether currently undergoing anticancer treatment (OR = 0.667, 95% CI 0.503-0.886) are the main factors correlated with the undertreatment of symptoms. Age (OR = 1.972, 95% CI 1.263-3.336), sex (OR = 0.626, 95% CI 0.414-0.948), ECOG (OR = 0.266, 95% CI 0.175-0.403), whether currently undergoing anticancer treatment (OR = 0.356, 95% CI 0.249-0.509), and comorbidity (OR = 0.713, 95% CI 0.526-0.966) are the main factors correlated with the non-treatment of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that hospitalized patients with advanced cancer had a variety of physical and psychological symptoms but lacked adequate management and suggests that a complete symptom screening and management system is needed to deal with this complex problem.

[Safety and feasibility of stereotactic radiation therapy on porcine ventricular septum: a preliminary study]

Objective: To explore the safety and feasibility of stereotactic radiation therapy (SBRT) strategy for irradiating porcine ventricular septum, see if can provide a preliminary experimental evidence for clinical SBRT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods: Five male pigs (39-49 kg, 6 months old) were used in this study. Pigs were irradiated at doses of 25 Gy (n=2) or 40 Gy (n=3). Delineation of the target volume was achieved under the guidance of 3-dimensional CT image reconstruction, and SBRT was then performed on defined target volume of porcine ventricular septum. Blood biomarkers, electrocardiogram and echocardiography parameters were monitored before and after SBRT. Pathological examination (HE staining, Masson staining) was performed on the target and non-target myocardium at 6 months post SBRT. Results: SBRT was successful and all animals survived to the designed study endpoint (6 months) after SBRT. Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level was significantly higher than the baseline level at 1 day post SBRT, and reduced at 1 week after SBRT, but was still higher than the baseline level(P<0.05). Serum N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was also significantly increased at 1 day post SBRT (P<0.05) and returned to baseline level at 1 week post SBRT. The serum NT-proBNP level was (249±78), (594±37) and (234±46) pg/ml, respectively, and the cTnT was (14±7), (240±40) and (46±34) pg/ml, respectively at baseline, 1 day and 1 week after SBRT in the 40 Gy dose group. The serum NT-proBNP level was (184±20), (451±49) and (209±36) pg/ml, respectively, the cTnT values ​​were (9±1), (176±29) and (89±27) pg/ml, respectively at baseline, 1 day and 1 week after SBRT in the 25 Gy dose group. Both NT-proBNP and cTnT values tended to be higher post SBRT in the 40 Gy dose group as compared with the 25 Gy dose group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter remained unchanged before and after SBRT (P>0.05). The interventricular septum thickness showed a decreasing trend at 6 months after SBRT, but the difference was not statistically significant ((9.54±0.24) mm vs. (9.82±8.00) mm, P>0.05). The flow velocity of the left ventricular outflow tract, and the valve function and morphology were not affected by SBRT. At 6 months after SBRT, HE staining revealed necrosis in the irradiated target area of ​​the myocardium in the 40 Gy dose group and the 25 Gy dose group, and the degree of necrosis in the irradiated interventricular septum was more obvious in the 40 Gy dose group as compared with the 25 Gy group. The combined histological analysis of the two groups showed that the necrotic area of ​​the irradiated target area accounted for (26±9)% of the entire interventricular septum area, which was higher than that of the non-irradiated area (0) (P<0.05). There was no damage or necrosis of myocardial tissue outside the target irradiation area in both groups. The results of Masson staining showed that the percentage area of myocardial fibrosis was significantly higher in the irradiated target area than non-irradiated area ((12.6±5.3)% vs. (2.5±0.8)%, P<0.05). Conclusion: SBRT is safe and feasible for irradiating porcine ventricular septum.

Matrix Matters: Assessment of Commutability among BK Virus Assays and Standards

Quantitative testing of BK virus (BKPyV) nucleic acid has become the standard of care in transplant patients. While the relationship between interassay harmonization and commutability has been well characterized for other transplant-related viruses, it has been less well studied for BKPyV, particularly regarding differences in commutability between matrices. Here, interassay agreement was evaluated among six real-time nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and one digital PCR (dPCR) BKPyV assay. Differences in the commutability of three quantitative standards was examined across all assays using a variety of statistical approaches. Panels, including 40 samples each of plasma and urine samples previously positive for BKPyV, together with one previously negative plasma sample and four previously negative urine samples, were tested using all assays, with each real-time NAAT utilizing its usual quantitative calibrators. Serial dilutions of WHO, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and commercially produced (Exact/Bio-Rad) reference materials were also run by each assay as unknowns. The agreement of the clinical sample values was assessed as a group and in a pairwise manner. The commutability was estimated using both relativistic and quantitative means. The quantitative agreement across assays in the urine samples was within a single log10 unit across all assays, while the results from the plasma samples varied by 2 to 3 log10 IU/mL. The commutability showed a similar disparity between the matrices. Recalibration using international standards diminished the resulting discrepancies in some but not all cases. Differences in the sample matrix can affect the commutability and interassay agreement of quantitative BKPyV assays. Differences in commutability between matrices may largely be due to factors other than those such as amplicon size, previously described as important in the case of cytomegalovirus. Continued efforts to standardize viral load measurements must address multiple sources of variability and account for differences in assay systems, quantitative standards, and sample matrices.

A case of linezolid-induced SIADH in elderly and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Linezolid is a synthetic oxazolidinone antimicrobial drug with a broad spectrum and a unique mechanism of inhibiting resistant pathogenic strains, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2000. Several different systemic side effects were reported after the use of this medication. In this article, we report a case in which a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was developed after linezolid treatment was started.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 79-year-old woman who developed severe hyponatremia during linezolid treatment (0.6 g i.v. q12 h) after undergoing hemiarthroplasty for left femoral neck fracture. The patient's baseline serum sodium upon admission (138 mmol/L) decreased to 118 mmol/L, urine sodium was 102 mmol/L, plasma osmolality was 248 mOsm/kg and urine osmolarity was 310 mOsm/kg at day 4, thus a diagnosis of SIADH was made. The patient was not taking any other medication known to cause SIADH, and she did not present a comorbidity that could explain her condition. Her serum sodium increased to 135 and 137 mmol/L, respectively, 11 and 12 days after cessation of linezolid, strongly suggesting that SIADH was the cause in this case.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the fourth case of linezolid-induced SIADH. A thorough workup was essential for the diagnosis to correctly differentiate between SIADH and other causes of hyponatremia, which helped us properly conducting follow-up treatments. SIADH is a rare but serious side effect of linezolid, and practicing physicians should be aware of this complication. It is necessary to periodically monitor the serum sodium.

O-133 Association between normal-range paternal serum free thyroxine concentrations and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies

Study question

Are paternal serum free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations within the reference range associated with outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART)?

Summary answer

Men of older reproductive age (≥ 35 years old) with low FT4 concentrations within the reference range are associated with a decreased live birth rate.

What is known already

The impact of maternal thyroid dysfunction on ART outcomes has been widely elucidated. However, few studies have investigated the impact of paternal thyroid dysfunction on ART outcomes. Our previous study showed a detrimental impact of paternal subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on the clinical outcomes of ART. Patients with SCH had relatively lower concentrations of FT4 compared to those with euthyroidism. Therefore, it remains to be determined whether the detrimental impacts of paternal SCH on ART outcomes arise from low concentrations of FT4.

Study design, size, duration

This retrospective cohort study included 4,066 couples who received 4,894 ART treatment cycles in our clinic between 1 April 2016 and 31 August 2021.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The differences in sperm parameters and ART outcomes across the paternal FT4 tertiles were compared using generalised linear models or generalised estimation equation models. The primary outcomes were the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR), and the secondary outcomes were sperm parameters, fertilisation rate, good-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, and implantation rate.

Main results and the role of chance

The mean ages of the males and their female partners were 33.0 and 31.0 years, respectively. No significant differences are observed in the sperm parameters and ART outcomes across the paternal FT4 tertiles in the overall population. However, stratified analysis of men aged ≥ 35 shows a non-significantly lower CPR in the lower paternal FT4 tertile (adjusted rate: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.27–0.45) relative to the middle (adjusted rate: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38–0.53) and upper (adjusted rate: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.36–0.51) tertiles. The adjusted LBR is 0.21 (95% CI: 0.15–0.30) for men aged ≥ 35 in the lower FT4 tertile (p = 0.024, with reference to the upper tertile), 0.27 (95% CI: 0.21–0.35) for those in the middle tertile and 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23–0.38) for those in the upper tertile. No differences in these outcomes are seen among men aged &lt; 35. The nonlinear smoothing curve obtained by using FT4 as a continuous variable further supports these findings.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Due to the retrospective design of the study, a causal relationship between paternal FT4 concentrations and ART outcomes could not be established. In addition, the study participants were patients who sought fertility treatment, which may have biased the results when we analysed the associations between FT4 concentrations and sperm parameters.

Wider implications of the findings

These results suggest that in older men, low paternal FT4 concentrations, although within the reference range, are associated with worse ART outcomes, especially LBR. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm the detrimental effects of low paternal FT4 concentrations on ART outcomes.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

[Rethinking the marketing strategy of anti-tumor drugs by single-arm trials supported]

Single-arm trial refers to a clinical trial design that does not set up parallel control group, adopts open design, and does not involve randomization and blind method. These features, on the one hand, speed up the process of clinical trials, significantly shorten the time to market and meet the needs of patients with advanced malignancies, but also lead to the uncertainty of single-arm clinical trials themselves. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration held a meeting of the oncologic drug advisory committee to discuss six tumor indications that have been accelerated approved, which once again triggered the discussion of single-arm trials. The basis of accelerated approval by single-arm trial is actually a compromise on the level of evidence-based medical evidence requirements after assessing the benefit risk. Therefore, the sponsor should strictly grasp the applicable conditions of single-arm trial in anti-tumor drugs and conduct single-arm trial scientifically. Post-marketing clinical trial should be implement as early as possible to ensure the benefit of patients. Based on the characteristics of single-arm trial, combined with two guidance relevant to single-arm trial issued by National Medical Products Administration recently, this article is supposed to propose and summarize the strategy of single-arm trial supporting the marketing of anti-tumor drugs.

Preoperative prediction of the degree of differentiation of lung adenocarcinoma presenting as sub-solid or solid nodules with a radiomics nomogram

AIM

To develop and validate a radiomics nomogram for prediction of degree of differentiation in lung adenocarcinoma presenting as sub-solid or solid nodules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 438 patients with histopathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma (248 non-poorly differentiated and 190 poorly differentiated) were divided into training cohort (n=235) and internal validation cohort (n=203) according to surgery sequence. Sixty patients form public TCIA dataset were selected for external validation. One thousand, two hundred and eighteen radiomics features were extracted from each volumetric region of interest and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was applied to select meaningful radiomic features for building a radiomics score (Rad-score) model. A nomogram model incorporating the Rad-score and type was established after multivariable logistic regression. The discrimination efficiency, calibration efficacy, and clinical utility value of the nomogram were evaluated.

RESULTS

The Rad-score model could predict the differentiation degree of lung adenocarcinoma with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.89) in the internal validation cohort. The AUC of the nomogram and radiographic model was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80-0.91), 0.78 (95% CI: 0.72-0.84) in the internal validation cohort respectively. The AUC of the nomogram in the external validation cohort was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.58-0.88). Delong's test showed that the nomogram performed better than radiographic features alone (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed radiomics nomogram has the potential to predict the differentiation degree of lung adenocarcinoma preoperatively.

POS1080 CHARACTERIZATION OF JOINT DISTRIBUTION AND DISEASE BURDEN IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY OLIGOARTICULAR PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: RESULTS FROM THE ONGOING FOREMOST STUDY

Background

Oligoarticular psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is commonly reported in early disease. Although fewer joints are involved, there may be significant impact on patients’ (pts) quality of life. The ongoing FOREMOST study (NCT03747939) is investigating the efficacy of apremilast vs placebo for treatment of early oligoarticular PsA (>1 but ≤4 tender and swollen joints involved).

Objectives

To characterize disease burden in pts with early oligoarticular PsA and disease phenotype including location and size of involved joints and presence of certain baseline clinical PsA manifestations in FOREMOST pts.

Methods

Baseline swollen and tender joint distribution was analyzed. Baseline disease burden was assessed in the overall group and a subgroup with small joint involvement only (for context) using clinical disease activity measures, pt-reported outcomes, and additional PsA manifestations.

Results

At data cut-off for analysis, 220 pts of 285 planned were enrolled. In the overall group, disease duration was <1 year and joint distribution for swollen or tender joints involved predominantly small joints, with ~48% of joint involvement observed in finger proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and <2% in temporomandibular and clavicular joints across swollen or tender joints (Figure 1). Mean Physician’s and Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PhGA and PtGA, respectively) scores were 43.9 and 51.3; mean pt pain assessment score was 50.7. Mean Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) functional assessment score was 1.0; 25.5% of pts had HAQ-DI ≤0.5. Pts reported an average PsA Impact of Disease (PsAID-12) domain score of 4.7. Additional manifestations of PsA at baseline included dactylitis (14.5%), enthesitis (32.7%), nail involvement (67.3%), and skin disease (47.7% with body surface area [BSA] ≥3%). Within the overall group, 59% had >1 joint size involved (small [metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, distal interphalangeal, PIP, hand carpometacarpal and mid-tarsal]; intermediate [wrist, elbow, ankle, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular]; large [shoulder, hip, knee]). Of those with only 1 joint size involved (41% of pts), the majority had small joint involvement predominantly in PIPs (n=84 for small joints; n=1 for intermediate joints; n=5 for large joints). The overall pattern of clinical and disease presentation indicated elevated burden for pts with early oligoarticular PsA, including those pts with only small joints involved (Table 1).

Table 1.CharacteristicsOverall Population (PBO + APR), N=220Small Joints Only (PBO + APR), N=84Age, mean, y49.651.3Men, n (%)98 (44.5)40 (47.6)Europe/Russia, n (%)47 (21.4)/66 (30.0)22 (26.2)/11 (13.1)Canada/United States, n (%)8 (3.6)/99 (45.0)1 (1.2)/50 (59.5)Body mass index, mean, kg/m230.429.3Duration of disease, mean, y0.690.71Previous cDMARD use, n (%)143 (65.0)48 (57.0)Tender joint count (0–68), mean3.23.1Swollen joint count (0–66), mean2.62.8PhGA (VAS 0–100)a, mean43.939.0PtGA (VAS 0–100)a, mean51.345.6Patient’s Assessment of Pain (VAS 0–100)a, mean50.746.3Dactylitis present, n (%)32 (14.5)14 (16.7)Enthesitis present, n (%)72 (32.7)21 (25.0)BSA ≥3%, n (%)105 (47.7)34 (40.5)Nail involvement present, n (%)148 (67.3)53 (63.1)HAQ-DI (0–3)a, mean1.020.84HAQ-DI ≤0.5, n (%)56 (25.5)31 (36.9)PsAID-12 (0–10)a, mean4.733.98

cDMARD, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; VAS, visual analog scale.

aHigher scores indicate greater burden/worse status. Early oligoarticular = ≤2 years in the initial protocol; ≤5 years in the current protocol for inclusion.

Figure 1.

FOREMOST population: baseline demographics and disease burden in the overall population and pts with involvement in small joints only

Conclusion

In FOREMOST, despite few joints involved, pts with early oligoarticular PsA experienced high disease burden and impaired quality of life. Small joint involvement, although less commonly expected in oligoarticular PsA, was the most frequently observed pattern.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the patients, their families, and all investigators involved in this study. This study was funded by Amgen Inc. Writing support was funded by Amgen Inc. and provided by Kristin Carlin, BSPharm, MBA, of Peloton Advantage, LLC, an OPEN Health company, and Cathryn M. Carter, MS, employee of and stockholder in Amgen Inc.

Disclosure of Interests

Dafna D Gladman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB – grant/research support or consulting fees, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB – grant/research support or consulting fees, Laura Coates Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Medac, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB –grant/research support, consulting fees, and/or speaker/honoraria, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Medac, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB –grant/research support, consulting fees, and/or speaker/honoraria, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Medac, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB –grant/research support, consulting fees, and/or speaker/honoraria, Laure Gossec Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi-Aventis, and UCB, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Galapagos, Lilly, Pfizer, and Sandoz, Jacob Aelion Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Regeneron – speakers bureau. AbbVie, Ardea Biosciences, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Centocor, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Janssen, Merck, Mesoblast, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Takeda, UCB, and Vertex, Jitendra Vasandani: None declared, Sue Cheng Shareholder of: Stock ownership in Amgen Inc., Employee of: Employment by Amgen Inc., Lihua Tang Shareholder of: Stock ownership in Amgen Inc., Employee of: Employment by Amgen Inc., Shauna Jardon Shareholder of: Stock ownership in Amgen Inc., Employee of: Employment by Amgen Inc., Sven Richter Shareholder of: Stock ownership in Amgen at time of study, Employee of: Employment by Amgen at time of study., Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun, and UCB – grant/research support and consultant; Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline – consultant, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun, and UCB

[Clinical characteristics of Wilson's disease with onset of acute liver failure in 19 children]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of Wilson's disease (WD) with onset of acute liver failure (ALF) in children. Methods: Clinical data of 19 children diagnosed with WD presented with ALF in Xi'an Children's Hospital from January 2016 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including general condition, clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, and gene detection. The children were divided into the death group and survival group according to the clinical outcome. The children who had hepatic WD with non-ALF onset during the same period were selected as the control. The general conditions and laboratory indexes were compared between death group and survival group, ALF group and non-ALF group. T-test, Mann Whitney U test or χ² test were used to compare the differences between the two groups. Results: Of the 19 WD children with ALF onset, 10 were females and 9 were males. The age of admission was (10.1±2.6) years and time to onset of first visit was 9 (4, 15) days. Among the WD children with ALF onset, 4 children were lost to follow-up, 5 cases death (death group) and 10 cases survived (survival group). The ceruloplasmin in the death group was higher than that in the survival group (0.078 (0.055, 0.105) vs. 0.033 (0.027, 0.058) g/L, Z=-2.33, P=0.020). There were 95 children who had hepatic WD with non-ALF onset. The WD patients with ALF onset were older at admission (9.9 (8.0, 11.1) vs. 5.4 (3.7, 6.9) years, Z=-5.25, P<0.001), had higher ceruloplasmin (0.060 (0.030, 0.078) vs. 0.024 (0.006, 0.060) g/L, Z=-3.11, P=0.002), 24 h urinary copper (674 (205, 1 803) vs. 149 (108, 206) μg, Z=-4.25, P<0.001), and positive rate of K-F ring [17/19 vs. 7%(7/95), χ²=50.17, P<0.001] while shorter onset time at initial visit (0.3 (0.1, 0.5) vs. 1.0 (0.7, 6.0) months, Z=-4.28, P<0.001). There was no gender difference between the two groups [9/19 vs. 61%(58/95), χ²=1.22, P=0.269]. Of the 19 WD children with ALF onset, 13 had the ATP7B gene tested, and 15 reported variants were detected. The main variations were c.2333G>T (p. Arg778Leu), c.2621C>T (p. Ala874Val) and c.2975C>T (p. Pro992Leu). The allele frequencies were 6/26(23%), 4/26(15%) and 3/26(12%), respectively. Conclusions: Children of WD onset with ALF are school-aged and above. They have an acute onset, a short course of the disease, and poor prognosis. The positive rate of K-F ring, ceruloplasmin and urinary copper are higher than those of the hepatic WD children with non-ALF onset.

New Measurements of the Beam-Normal Single Spin Asymmetry in Elastic Electron Scattering over a Range of Spin-0 Nuclei

We report precision determinations of the beam-normal single spin asymmetries (A_{n}) in the elastic scattering of 0.95 and 2.18 GeV electrons off ^{12}C, ^{40}Ca, ^{48}Ca, and ^{208}Pb at very forward angles where the most detailed theoretical calculations have been performed. The first measurements of A_{n} for ^{40}Ca and ^{48}Ca are found to be similar to that of ^{12}C, consistent with expectations and thus demonstrating the validity of theoretical calculations for nuclei with Z≤20. We also report A_{n} for ^{208}Pb at two new momentum transfers (Q^{2}) extending the previous measurement. Our new data confirm the surprising result previously reported, with all three data points showing significant disagreement with the results from the Z≤20 nuclei. These data confirm our basic understanding of the underlying dynamics that govern A_{n} for nuclei containing ≲50 nucleons, but point to the need for further investigation to understand the unusual A_{n} behavior discovered for scattering off ^{208}Pb.

Measurement of the Nucleon F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p} Structure Function Ratio by the Jefferson Lab MARATHON Tritium/Helium-3 Deep Inelastic Scattering Experiment

The ratio of the nucleon F_{2} structure functions, F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p}, is determined by the MARATHON experiment from measurements of deep inelastic scattering of electrons from ^{3}H and ^{3}He nuclei. The experiment was performed in the Hall A Facility of Jefferson Lab using two high-resolution spectrometers for electron detection, and a cryogenic target system which included a low-activity tritium cell. The data analysis used a novel technique exploiting the mirror symmetry of the two nuclei, which essentially eliminates many theoretical uncertainties in the extraction of the ratio. The results, which cover the Bjorken scaling variable range 0.19<x<0.83, represent a significant improvement compared to previous SLAC and Jefferson Lab measurements for the ratio. They are compared to recent theoretical calculations and empirical determinations of the F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p} ratio.

382 Compliance With Current Excision Margin Guidelines for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Do We Make the Cut?

Aim

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common malignancies worldwide, with basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) constituting an ever-growing clinical burden within Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. In this 3-cycle Quality Improvement (QI) initiative we sought to evaluate and improve our unit’s compliance with British Association of Dermatology (BAD) guidance on excision margins for NMSCs.

Method

Following results from two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, a third retrospective review of clinic letters, operative notes and histopathology reports was undertaken to identify NMSCs that were excised during May 2021 and assess compliance with recommended excision margins according to risk stratification.

Results

The dissemination of cycle 1 findings at departmental meetings, as well as the implementation of guideline posters and operative note templates conferred a significant improvement in both clinical documentation (12% to 100%) and local compliance with excision margin guidelines for BCCs (53% to 71%) and SCCs (50% to 79%). Following the adoption of new BAD guidelines on SSC margins in early 2021, a third cycle comprising 42 lesions demonstrated a sustained improvement in clinical documentation (100%) after a 7-month period and similar guideline compliance rates for both BCC (67%) and SCC (78%).

Conclusions

Adequate excision margins in cutaneous malignant pathology are vital to ensure complete removal, thus minimising the risk of recurrence. Although improvement across the PDSA cycles has been sustained despite the introduction of new SCC margin guidelines, we aim to introduce further interventions such as a knowledge and practice survey to continue improving excision margin compliance.

High accuracy spectroscopy of 3- and 4-body Λ hypernuclei at Jefferson Lab

JLab E12-19-002 Experiment is planned to measure the Λ-binding energies of 3ΛH [Jπ = 1/2+ or 3/2+(T = 0)] and 4ΛH (1+) at JLab Hall C. The expected accuracy for the binding-energy measurement is |ΔBtotal Λ | ≃ 70 keV. The accurate spectroscopy for these light hypernuclei would shed light on the puzzle of the small binding energy and short lifetime of 3ΛH, and the chargesymmetry breaking in the ΛN interaction. We aim to perform the experiment in 2025.

Study of Λn FSI with Λ quasi-free productions on the 3H(e, e′K+)X reaction at JLab

Abstract. An nnΛ is a neutral baryon system with no charge. The study of the pure Λ-neutron system such as nnΛ gives us information on the Λn interaction. The nnΛ search experiment (E12-17-003) was performed at JLab Hall A in 2018. In this article, the Λn FSI was investigated by a shape analysis of the 3H(e, e′K+)X missing mass spectrum, and a preliminary result for the Λn FSI study is given.

Cross-section measurement of virtual photoproduction of iso-triplet three-body hypernucleus, Λnn

Missing-mass spectroscopy with the 3H(e, e′K+) reaction was carried out at Jefferson Lab’s (JLab) Hall A in Oct–Nov, 2018. The differential cross section for the 3H(γ∗, K+)Λnn was deduced at ω = Ee − Ee′ = 2.102 GeV and at the forward K+-scattering angle (0° ≤ θγ∗K ≤ 5°) in the laboratory frame. Given typical predicted energies and decay widths, which are (BΛ, Γ) = (−0.25, 0.8) and (−0.55, 4.7) MeV, the cross sections were found to be 11.2 ± 4.8(stat.)+4.1−2.1(sys.) and 18.1 ± 6.8(stat.)+4.2−2.9(sys.) nb/sr, respectively. The obtained result would impose a constraint for interaction models particularly between Λ and neutron by comparing to theoretical calculations.

Dapansutrile ameliorated chondrocyte inflammation and osteoarthritis through suppression of MAPK signaling pathway

INTRODUCTION

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases in the elderly population. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), play an important role in the development and progression of OA. Dapansutrile is a specific inhibitor of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the protective effect and the underlying mechanism of dapansutrile on cartilage degeneration in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, chondrocytes were isolated from rats and then were treated with dapansutrile. After that, the expression of (Cox-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Mmp-3, Mmp-9, Mmp-13 and IL-10) were evaluated at RNA level, then the expression of (COX-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, SOX-9 and COL2) were evaluated at protein level. Subsequently, the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was tested using western blotting (WB). Additionally, the rat OA model was developed to evaluate the protective effects of dapansutrile in vivo.

RESULTS

The results showed that dapansutrile had no obvious cytotoxicity on rat chondrocytes at 24 h (0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 μM). Dapansutrile significantly decreased IL-1β-induced upregulation of COX2, iNOS, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), 9 (MMP9) and 13 (MMP13), and reversed IL-1β-induced the downregulation of IL-10, SOX9 and COL2. Dapansutrile also inhibited IL-1β-induced upregulation of the MAPK signaling pathway by downregulating the expression levels of phospho-ERK, and phospho-P38 in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, dapansutrile exhibited protective effects in rat OA model with lower Mankin's score and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that dapansutrile effectively inhibited chondrocyte inflammation by suppressing MAPK signaling pathway in vitro, and ameliorated cartilage degeneration in vivo, indicating an anti-inflammatory effect in OA treatment.

Study of the Λ/Σ0 electroproduction in the low-Q2 region at JLab

We performed an experiment using tritium and hydrogen cryogenic gas targets at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in 2018 (E12-17-003)[1, 2]. In this article, we discuss the Λ/Σ0 hyperon electroproduction from hydrogen target. Elementary Λ/Σ0 hyperon production processes are important not only for an absolute mass scale calibration in our experiment, but also for the study of the electroproduction mechanisms themselves. In this article, we reported the results of the differential cross section for the p(e, e’K+)Λ/Σ0 reaction at Q2 ∼ 0.5 (GeV/c)2.

Urinary complement proteins and risk of end-stage renal disease: quantitative urinary proteomics in patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between urinary complement proteins and renal outcome in biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODS

Untargeted proteomic and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analyses and targeted proteomic analysis using parallel reaction-monitoring (PRM)-mass spectrometry was performed to determine the abundance of urinary complement proteins in healthy controls, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN. The abundance of each urinary complement protein was individually included in Cox proportional hazards models for predicting progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

RESULTS

Untargeted proteomic and functional analysis using the KEGG showed that differentially expressed urinary proteins were primarily associated with the complement and coagulation cascades. Subsequent urinary complement proteins quantification using PRM showed that urinary abundances of C3, C9, and complement factor H (CFAH) correlated negatively with annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, while urinary abundances of C5, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and CD59 correlated positively with annual rate of eGFR decline. Furthermore, higher urinary abundance of CFAH and lower urinary abundance of DAF were independently associated with greater risk of progression to ESRD. Urinary abundance of CFAH and DAF had a larger area under the curve (AUC) than that of eGFR, proteinuria, or any pathological parameter. Moreover, the model that included CFAH or DAF had a larger AUC than that with only clinical or pathological parameters.

CONCLUSION

Urinary abundance of complement proteins was significantly associated with ESRD in patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN, indicating that therapeutically targeting the complement pathway may alleviate progression of DN.

Molecular dynamics simulation of metallic Al-Ce liquids using a neural network machine learning interatomic potential

Al-rich Al-Ce alloys have the possibility of replacing heavier steel and cast irons for use in high-temperature applications. Knowledge about the structures and properties of Al-Ce alloys at the liquid state is vital for optimizing the manufacture process to produce desired alloys. However, reliable molecular dynamics simulation of Al-Ce alloy systems remains a great challenge due to the lack of accurate Al-Ce interatomic potential. Here, an artificial neural network (ANN) deep machine learning (ML) method is used to develop a reliable interatomic potential for Al-Ce alloys. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation data on the Al-Ce liquid with a small unit cell (∼200 atoms) and on the known Al-Ce crystalline compounds are collected to train the interatomic potential using ANN-ML. The obtained ANN-ML model reproduces well the energies, forces, and atomic structure of the Al₉₀Ce₁₀ liquid and crystalline phases of Al-Ce compounds in comparison with the ab initio results. The developed ANN-ML potential is applied in molecular dynamics simulations to study the structures and properties of the metallic Al₉₀Ce₁₀ liquid, which would provide useful insight into the guiding experimental process to produce desired Al-Ce alloys.

Prognosis after neoadjuvant chemoradiation or chemotherapy for locally advanced gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Trials typically group cancers of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) with oesophageal or gastric cancer when studying neoadjuvant chemoradiation and perioperative chemotherapy, so the results may not be fully applicable to GOJ cancer. Because optimal neoadjuvant treatment for GOJ cancer remains controversial, outcomes with neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus chemotherapy for locally advanced GOJ adenocarcinoma were compared retrospectively.

METHODS

Data were collected from all patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery for adenocarcinoma located at the GOJ at a single high-volume institution between 2002 and 2017. Postoperative major complications and mortality were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by log rank test and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Cumulative incidence functions were used to estimate recurrence, and groups were compared using Gray's test.

RESULTS

Of 775 patients, 650 had neoadjuvant chemoradiation and 125 had chemotherapy. These groups were comparable in terms of clinical tumour and lymph node categories, although the chemoradiation group had greater proportions of white men, complete pathological response to chemotherapy, and smaller proportions of diffuse cancer, poor differentiation, and neurovascular invasion. Postoperative major complications (20.0 versus 17.6 per cent) and 30-day mortality (1.7 versus 1.6 per cent) were not significantly different between the chemoradiation and chemotherapy groups. After adjustment, type of therapy (chemoradiation versus chemotherapy) was not significantly associated with OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1.26, 95 per cent c.i. 0.96 to 1.67) or DFS (HR 1.27, 0.98 to 1.64). Type of recurrence (local, regional, or distant) did not differ after neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing surgical resection for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the GOJ, OS and DFS did not differ significantly between patients who had neoadjuvant chemoradiation compared with chemotherapy.