Cooperation of MLL1 and Jun in controlling H3K4me3 on enhancers in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Enhancer dysregulation is one of the important features for cancer cells. Enhancers enriched with H3K4me3 have been implicated to play important roles in cancer. However, their detailed features and regulatory mechanisms have not been well characterized.

RESULTS

Here, we profile the landscape of H3K4me3-enriched enhancers (m3Es) in 43 pairs of colorectal cancer (CRC) samples. M3Es are widely distributed in CRC and averagely possess around 10% of total active enhancers. We identify 1322 gain variant m3Es and 367 lost variant m3Es in CRC. The target genes of the gain m3Es are enriched in immune response pathways. We experimentally prove that repression of CBX8 and RPS6KA5 m3Es inhibits target gene expression in CRC. Furthermore, we find histone methyltransferase MLL1 is responsible for depositing H3K4me3 on the identified Vm3Es. We demonstrate that the transcription factor AP1/JUN interacts with MLL1 and regulates m3E activity. Application of a small chemical inhibitor for MLL1 activity, OICR-9429, represses target gene expression of the identified Vm3Es, enhances anti-tumor immunity and inhibits CRC growth in an animal model.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our study illustrates the genome-wide landscape and the regulatory mechanisms of m3Es in CRC, and reveals potential novel strategies for cancer treatment.

[The correlation between burst suppression on electroencephalogram during laparoscopic surgery and emergence delirium in elderly patients]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between intraoperative electroencephalogram burst suppression (BS) and emergence delirium (ED) in elderly patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). Methods: From October 2017 to September 2019, a total of 358 elderly patients who underwent elective laparoscopic surgery under TIVA at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) assessment conducted before leaving the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU): the ED group [n=63, 46 males, 17 females, average age of (70.8±0.6) years] and the non-ED group [n=295, 220 males, 75 females, average age of (69.7±0.2) years]. Preoperative general information, intraoperative conditions, and intraoperative electroencephalogram BS status were collected. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify risk factors associated with ED. Results: In the ED group, the duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, the burst suppression ratio (BSR)>10% lasting for more than 1 minute were (224.4±9.6) min, (240.8±33.9) ml, 36.5% (23/63), respectively, which were higher than those of the non-ED group [(204.7±3.6) min, (150.5±9.2) ml, 21.7% (64/295), all P<0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a longer duration of education was a protective factor for ED (OR=0.904, 95%CI: 0.833-0.982,P=0.016), whereas increased intraoperative blood loss (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.000-1.003, P=0.013) and BSR>10% lasting for more than 1 minute (OR=2.131, 95%CI: 1.004-4.524,P=0.049) were identified as risk factors for ED. Conclusion: In elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under TIVA, intraoperative electroencephalogram BS may be a risk factor for ED.

[Analysis of factors associated with futile recanalization after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke with large vessels occlusion in anterior intracranial circulation]

Objective: To analyze the related factors of futile recanalization (FR) after emergency endovascular treatment of large artery occlusion in anterior circulation. Methods: Three studies on endovascular treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessels occlusion stroke were selected, and their data were merged for retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into the FR group and favorable prognosis group according to the functional prognosis. Risk factor analysis was conducted using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 1 581 patients were finally included, with 858 (48.9%) patients in favorable prognosis group and 926 (51.91%) patients in FR group. Among them, there were 939 males and 642 females, with a mean age of (65±12) years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR=1.089,95%CI:1.066-1.113), puncture to recanalization time (OR=0.756, 95%CI:0.586-0.971), age (OR=1.04,95%CI:1.029-1.051), serum glucose (OR=1.101,95%CI:1.062-1.143), systolic blood pressure (OR=1.005,95%CI:1.001-1.010), passes≥3(OR=1.941,95%CI:1.294-2.941)Alberta stroke program early CT (ASPECT) score (OR=0.919,95%CI:0.847-0.996), occlusion site (M1 segment of middle cerebral artery, OR=0.744,95%CI:0.565-0.980) and collateral circulation [(2 points, OR=0.757, 95%CI:0.581-0.985); (3-4 points, adjusted OR=0.640, 95%CI: 0.472-0.866)] were independent factors of FR. Conclusion: The incidence of FR in patients with large artery occlusion in anterior circulation who achieve satisfied reperfusion after endovascular treatment is high. Higher NIHSS score, longer puncture to recanalization time, older age, higher serum glucose and systolic blood pressure are risk factors, while lower ASPECTS, occlusion in cerebral middle M1 segment, better collateral circulation are protective factors.

Removal of epigenetic repressive mark on inflammatory genes in fat liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. The detailed epigenomic changes during fat accumulation in liver are not clear yet. Here, we performed ChIP-Seq analysis in the liver tissues of high-fat diet and regular chow diet mice and investigated the dynamic landscapes of H3K27ac and H3K9me3 marks on chromatin. We find that the activated typical enhancers marked with H3K27ac are enriched on lipid metabolic pathways in fat liver; however, super enhancers do not change much. The regions covered with H3K9me3 repressive mark seem to undergo great changes, and its peak number and intensity both decrease in fat liver. The enhancers located in lost H3K9me3 regions are enriched in lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways; and motif analysis shows that they are potential targets for transcription factors involved in metabolic and inflammatory processes. Our study has revealed that H3K9me3 may play an important role during the pathogenesis of NAFLD through regulating the accessibility of enhancers.

[Role and clinical significance of MUC4 gene mutations in thrombotic events in patients with classic paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role and clinical significance of MUC4 gene mutations in thrombotic events in patients with classic paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and gene sequencing results of 45 patients with classic PNH admitted to the Department of Hematology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, from June 2018 to February 2022. MUC4 gene mutations in patients with classic PNH were summarized, and the risk factors for thrombotic events in these patients were analyzed. Additionally, the effects of MUC4 gene mutations on the cumulative incidence and survival of thrombotic events in patients with classic PNH were determined. Results: The detection rate of MUC4 gene mutations in patients with classic PNH who experienced thrombotic events (thrombotic group) was 68.8% (11/16), which was significantly higher than that in the non-thrombotic group [10.3% (3/29) ] (P<0.001). All mutations occurred in exon 2. MUC4 mutation (OR=20.815, P=0.010) was identified as an independent risk factor for thrombotic events in patients with classic PNH. The cumulative incidence of thrombotic events was 78.6% (11/14) in the MUC4 gene mutation group (mutation group) and 16.1% (5/31) in the non-mutation group, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). Survival analysis showed a lower overall survival (OS) rate in the thrombotic group compared with that in the non-thrombotic group [ (34.4±25.2) % vs. (62.7±19.3) % ] (P=0.045). The OS rate of patients was (41.7±29.9) % in the mutation group and (59.1±18.3) % in the non-mutation group (P=0.487) . Conclusion: MUC4 gene mutations are associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events in classic PNH patients, highlighting their role as independent risk factors for thrombosis in this population. These mutations can be considered a novel predictive factor that aids in evaluating the risk of thrombosis in patients with classic PNH.

[Associations between indoor volatile organic compounds and nocturnal heart rate variability of young female adults: A panel study]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between short-term exposure to indoor total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) among young female adults.

METHODS

This panel study recruited 50 young females from one university in Beijing, China from December 2021 to April 2022. All the participants underwent two sequential visits. During each visit, real time indoor TVOC concentration was monitored using an indoor air quality detector. The real time levels of indoor temperature, relative humidity, noise, carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter were monitored using a temperature and humidity meter, a noise meter, a carbon dioxide meter and a particulate counter, respectively. HRV parameters were measured using a 12-lead Holter. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between the TVOC and HRV parameters and establish the exposure-response relationships, and two-pollutant models were applied to examine the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 50 female subjects was (22.5±2.3) years, and the mean body mass index was (20.4±1.9) kg/m². During this study, the median (interquartile range) of indoor TVOC concentrations was 0.069 (0.046) mg/m³, the median (interquartile range) of indoor temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, noise level and fine particulate matter concentration were 24.3 (2.7) ℃, 38.5% (15.0%), 0.1% (0.1%), 52.7 (5.8) dB(A) and 10.3 (21.5) μg/m³, respectively. Short-term exposure to indoor TVOC was associated with significant changes in time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters, and the exposure metric for most HRV parameters with the most significant changes was 1 h-moving average. Along with a 0.01 mg/m³ increment in 1 h-moving average concentration of indoor TVOC, this study observed decreases of 1.89% (95%CI: -2.28%, -1.50%) in standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), 1.92% (95%CI: -2.32%, -1.51%) in standard deviation of average normal to normal intervals (SDANN), 0.64% (95%CI: -1.13%, -0.14%) in percentage of adjacent NN intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50), 3.52% (95%CI: -4.30%, -2.74%) in total power (TP), 5.01% (95%CI: -6.21%, -3.79%) in very low frequency (VLF) power, and 4.36% (95%CI: -5.16%, -3.55%) in low frequency (LF) power. The exposure-response curves showed that indoor TVOC was negatively correlated with SDNN, SDANN, TP, and VLF when the concentration exceeded 0.1 mg/m³. The two-pollutant models indicated that the results were generally robust after controlling indoor noise and fine particulate matter.

CONCLUSION

Short-term exposure to indoor TVOC was associated with significant negative changes in nocturnal HRV of young women. This study provides an important scientific basis for relevant prevention and control measures.

[Efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in diabetic macular edema patients with and without prior vitrectomy: a retrospective cohort study]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients with and without prior vitrectomy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on DME patients who received IDI treatment at the Aier Eye Hospital, Beijing from March 2018 to August 2020. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had undergone vitrectomy or not. Clinical and follow-up data, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), central macular thickness (CMT), occurrence of ocular and systemic complications, and time to DME recurrence and retreatment, were collected before and after IDI injection at 15 days, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, χ² test or Fisher's exact test, and generalized estimating equations. Results: Thirty-six patients (41 eyes) were included, with 19 patients (21 eyes) in the vitrectomy group and 17 patients (20 eyes) in the non-vitrectomy group. Compared with baseline, BCVA of eyes in the vitrectomy group was significantly improved at 15 days after IDI injection, with values of 1.00 (0.52, 1.31) and 0.61 (0.30, 1.00), respectively (Z=-2.10, P=0.036); BCVA of eyes in the non-vitrectomy group was significantly improved at 1 month after IDI injection, with values of 0.76 (0.60, 1.35) and 0.52 (0.10, 0.70), respectively (Z=-2.24, P=0.025). Compared with baseline, CMT of eyes in both groups was significantly reduced at all follow-up time points after 15 days of IDI injection (all P<0.05). In the vitrectomy group, CMT before and 15 days after injection were 487 (438, 661) μm and 389 (340, 553) μm, respectively (Z=-3.45, P<0.001); in the non-vitrectomy group, CMT before and 15 days after injection were 486 (410, 641) μm and 323 (290, 396) μm, respectively (Z=-4.07, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in BCVA and CMT between the two groups at all follow-up time points (all P>0.05). The time to DME recurrence was 3.0 (3.0, 4.0) months in the vitrectomy group and 5.0 (4.0, 5.0) months in the non-vitrectomy group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.675). Four eyes (19.0%) in the vitrectomy group and three eyes (15.0%) in the non-vitrectomy group had high IOP, with no significant difference (P=0.529). No severe ocular or systemic complications were observed in any patients. Conclusions: IDI treatment is safe and effective in DME patients with and without prior vitrectomy, with similar efficacy, but with faster onset of action in patients with prior vitrectomy. There was no significant difference in DME recurrence within 6 months after IDI injection between the two groups.

Multifaceted regulation of enhancers in cancer

Enhancer is one kind of cis-elements regulating gene transcription, whose activity is tightly controlled by epigenetic enzymes and histone modifications. Active enhancers are classified into typical enhancers, super-enhancers and over-active enhancers, according to the enrichment and location of histone modifications. Epigenetic factors control the level of histone modifications on enhancers to determine their activity, such as histone methyltransferases and acetylases. Transcription factors, cofactors and mediators co-operate together and are required for enhancer functions. In turn, abnormalities in these trans-acting factors affect enhancer activity. Recent studies have revealed enhancer dysregulation as one of the important features for cancer. Variations in enhancer regions and mutations of enhancer regulatory genes are frequently observed in cancer cells, and altering the activity of onco-enhancers is able to repress oncogene expression, and suppress tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here we summarize the recent discoveries about enhancer regulation in cancer and discuss their potential application in diagnosis and treatment.

Inhibition of histone methyltransferase SETD8 represses DNA virus replication

Multiple diseases, such as cancer and neural degeneration diseases, are related with the latent infection of DNA viruses. However, it is still difficult to clean up the latent DNA viruses and new anti-viral strategies are critical for disease treatment. Here, we screen a pool of small chemical molecules and identify UNC0379, an inhibitor for histone H4K20 methyltransferase SETD8, as an effective inhibitor for multiple DNA viruses. UNC0379 not only enhances the expression of anti-viral genes in THP-1 cells, but also repress DNA virus replication in multiple cell lines with defects in cGAS pathway. We prove that SETD8 promotes DNA virus replication in a manner dependent on its enzyme activity. Our results further indicated that SETD8 is required for PCNA stability, one factor critical for viral DNA replication. Viral infection stimulates the interaction between SETD8 and PCNA and thus enhances PCNA stability and viral DNA replication. Taken together, our study reveals a new mechanism for regulating viral DNA replication and provides a potential strategy for treatment of diseases related with DNA viruses.

Genome-wide profiling in colorectal cancer identifies PHF19 and TBC1D16 as oncogenic super enhancers

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Although genomic mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms have been extensively studied, the epigenomic status in colorectal cancer patient tissues remains elusive. Here, together with genomic and transcriptomic analysis, we use ChIP-Seq to profile active enhancers at the genome wide level in colorectal cancer paired patient tissues (tumor and adjacent tissues from the same patients). In total, we sequence 73 pairs of colorectal cancer tissues and generate 147 H3K27ac ChIP-Seq, 144 RNA-Seq, 147 whole genome sequencing and 86 H3K4me3 ChIP-Seq samples. Our analysis identifies 5590 gain and 1100 lost variant enhancer loci in colorectal cancer, and 334 gain and 121 lost variant super enhancer loci. Multiple key transcription factors in colorectal cancer are predicted with motif analysis and core regulatory circuitry analysis. Further experiments verify the function of the super enhancers governing PHF19 and TBC1D16 in regulating colorectal cancer tumorigenesis, and KLF3 is identified as an oncogenic transcription factor in colorectal cancer. Taken together, our work provides an important epigenomic resource and functional factors for epigenetic studies in colorectal cancer.

[Clinicopathological features and prognostic impact of MELF pattern in 512 endometrioid adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the relationship of microcystic elongated fragmented (MELF) and clinicopathological features of patients with low grade endometrial endometrioid carcinoma, and to analyze its impact on prognosis. Methods: The clinical pathological data of 512 cases with low grade endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma were collected. The MELF invasive pattern in all of the sections were reappraised. The correlations between MELF pattern and clinicopathological features were analyzed by chi-square test, and the independent risk factor of lymph node metastasis were evaluated by Logistic multivariate regression analysis. Survival curves was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-rank test was used to compare progression free survival (PFS) between patients with or without MELF pattern. Disease progression-related multivariate analysis was carried out by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: MELF pattern was observed in 12.9% (66/512) low grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma. It was significantly associated with cervical stroma invasion, more than half of the depth of myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis and vessel invasion (P<0.05). In addition, MELF pattern was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The 5-year PFS of patients with and without MELF pattern were 95.0% and 96.0% respectively (P>0.05). Conclusions: The patients with MELF pattern are more likely accompany with cervical stroma and deeper myometrium invasion, vessel invasion, and lymph node metastasis, and it is an independent risk factor of lymph node metastasis. However, MELF pattern has no significant impact on prognosis of patients with endometrioid carcinoma.

Histone demethylase LSD1 promotes RIG-I poly-ubiquitination and anti-viral gene expression

Under RNA virus infection, retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) in host cells recognizes viral RNA and activates the expression of type I IFN. To investigate the roles of protein methyltransferases and demethylases in RIG-I antiviral signaling pathway, we screened all the known related enzymes with a siRNA library and identified LSD1 as a positive regulator for RIG-I signaling. Exogenous expression of LSD1 enhances RIG-I signaling activated by virus stimulation, whereas its deficiency restricts it. LSD1 interacts with RIG-I, promotes its K63-linked polyubiquitination and interaction with VISA/MAVS. Interestingly, LSD1 exerts its function in antiviral response not dependent on its demethylase activity but through enhancing the interaction between RIG-I with E3 ligases, especially TRIM25. Furthermore, we provide in vivo evidence that LSD1 increases antiviral gene expression and inhibits viral replication. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that LSD1 is a positive regulator of signaling pathway triggered by RNA-virus through mediating RIG-I polyubiquitination.

RIG-I signaling pathway is critical for human cells to defend from RNA virus infection, such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). LSD1 is a histone demethylase regulating transcription. The current study reveals a novel function of LSD1 in regulating the activation of RIG-I signaling pathway. LSD1 interacts with RIG-I and promotes RIG-I poly-ubiquitination independent of its demethylase activity. LSD1 facilitates the interaction between RIG-I and its ubiquitin E3 ligase TRIM25, which is crucial for recruitment of downstream proteins. The mice with LSD1 deficiency are susceptible to virus infection and have lower survival rate. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism for regulating the anti-viral RIG-I signaling pathway.

Genome-Wide Enhancer Analysis Reveals the Role of AP-1 Transcription Factor in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, but its epigenomic features have not been determined. Here, we studied the chromatin landscape of active enhancers of HNSCC head tumor tissues by performing H3K27ac and H3K4me1 ChIP-Seq with a Tgfbr1/Pten double conditional knockout HNSCC mouse model. We identified 1,248 gain variant enhancer loci (VELs) and 2,188 lost VELs, as well as 153 gain variant super enhancer loci (VSELs) and 234 lost VSELs. Potentially involved transcription factors were predicted with motif analysis, and we identified AP-1 as one of the critical oncogenic transcription factors in HNSCC and many other types of cancer. Combining transcriptomic and epigenomic data, our analysis also showed that AP-1 and histone modifications coordinately regulate target gene expression in HNSCC. In conclusion, our study provides important epigenomic information for enhancer studies in HNSCC and reveals new mechanism for AP-1 regulating HNSCC.

[Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for subretinal fluid after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair]

Objective: To identify factors associated with persistent subretinal fluid (SRF) after scleral buckling and to evaluate surgical outcomes of patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: Cross-sectional study and cohort study. This study included 104 patients (104 eyes) who underwent scleral buckling for repair of RRD between January 2016 and June 2017. Several statistically significant risk factors associated with SRF were screened out with univariate analysis. Then independent risk factors were determined with multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis. Examinations were taken preoperatively, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, and thereafter every six months. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of persistent SRF on optical coherence tomography at 1 month. Results: Persistent SRF occurred in 69.2% (72/104) of patients. In multivariate analysis, younger age (OR=32.860, 95%CI=3.636-296.986, P=0.002), high myopia (OR=7.229, 95%CI=1.217-42.94, P=0.03) and macula-involving retinal detachment (OR=357.397, 95%CI=29.761-4292.0, P=0.000) were associated with persistent SRF. Best corrected visual acuity in patients with SRF at 1 month (0.71±0.18 vs. 0.58±0.11; t=4.047, P<0.01) and 3 months (0.55±0.15 vs. 0.43±0.12; t=3.914, P<0.01) was worse than that in patients with absence of SRF. Best corrected visual acuity in patients with SRF was 0.44±0.16 at 6 months, 0.37±0.12 at 12 months and 0.36±0.10 at the last follow-up, with no significant difference from patients without SRF at the three time points (0.39±0.13, 0.38±0.12 and 0.35±0.09; t=1.643, -0.202, 0.464; P>0.05). Conclusions: RRD patients with younger age, high myopia and macular involvement were more likely to develop persistent SRF after scleral buckling. The presence of persistent SRF slowed visual recovery but did not influence the final visual outcomes. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 426-432).

STAT1 epigenetically regulates LCP2 and TNFAIP2 by recruiting EP300 to contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Background

The aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is related to genetics and epigenetics. Epigenetic regulation of the pathogenesis of IBD has not been well defined. Here, we investigated the role of H3K27ac events in the pathogenesis of IBD. Based on previous ChIP-seq and RNA-seq assays, we studied signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) as a transcription factor (TF) and investigated whether the STAT1–EP300–H3K27ac axis contributes to the development of IBD. We performed ChIP-PCR to investigate the interaction between STAT1 and H3K27ac, and co-IP assays were performed to investigate the crosstalk between STAT1 and EP300.

Results

Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2 (LCP2) and TNF-α‐inducible protein 2 (TNFAIP2) are target genes of STAT1. p-STAT1 binds to the enhancer loci of the two genes where H3K27ac is enriched, and EP300 subsequently binds to regulate their expression. In mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis, an EP300 inhibitor significantly inhibited colitis.

Conclusions

p-STAT1 and EP300 promote TNFAIP2 and LCP2 expression through an increase in H3K27ac enrichment on their enhancers and contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation.

Graphic abstract

Deficiency of Histone Methyltransferase SET Domain-Containing 2 in Liver Leads to Abnormal Lipid Metabolism and HCC

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Trimethylation of Lys36 on histone 3 (H3K36me3) catalyzed by histone methyltransferase SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) is one of the most conserved epigenetic marks from yeast to mammals. SETD2 is frequently mutated in multiple cancers and acts as a tumor suppressor.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Here, using a liver-specific Setd2 depletion model, we found that Setd2 deficiency is sufficient to trigger spontaneous HCC. Meanwhile, Setd2 depletion significantly increased tumor and tumor size of a diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC model. The mechanistic study showed that Setd2 suppresses HCC not only through modulating DNA damage response, but also by regulating lipid metabolism in the liver. Setd2 deficiency down-regulated H3K36me3 enrichment and expression of cholesterol efflux genes and caused lipid accumulation. High-fat diet enhanced lipid accumulation and promoted the development of HCC in Setd2-deficient mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis further revealed that Setd2 depletion induced c-Jun/activator protein 1 (AP-1) activation in the liver, which was trigged by accumulated lipid. c-Jun acts as an oncogene in HCC and functions through inhibiting p53 in Setd2-deficient cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We revealed the roles of Setd2 in HCC and the underlying mechanisms in regulating cholesterol homeostasis and c-Jun/AP-1 signaling.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on the hypertrophic scar formation via the NF-κB/IκB signaling pathway in rabbit ears

The anti-inflammatory effects of Rg3 on the hypertrophic scar (HS) formation remain relatively obscure. Hence, this study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of Rg3 on the HS formation using a rabbit ear model and we assessed the involvement of the NF-κ B/IκB signaling pathway in this process. We constructed the Newland white rabbit ear HS model and treated it with Rg3. Using histological analyses, we evaluated scar hypertrophy based on the hematoxylin and eosin staining. The degree of scarring was evaluated using the scar elevation index (SEI). In addition, collagen I and collagen III expression levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry, while fibroblast apoptosis was examined using TUNEL assays. While MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations were quantified using ELISA, NF-κB and p-IκB activities were respectively measured using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and western blots. SEI measurements and histological characteristics revealed that Rg3 could suppress the HS formation. Moreover, Rg3 could inhibit the HS formation by decreasing collagen I and collagen III synthesis and inducing fibroblast apoptosis. Besides, Rg3 treatment markedly inhibited the inflammatory cytokine production and ameliorated neutrophil infiltration. Notably, this study revealed that Rg3 inhibited NF-κB activation and the activity of p-IκB. Furthermore, this study suggested that the ability of Rg3 to decrease the scar formation might result from its ability to inhibit inflammation by modulating the NF-κB/IκB signaling. Overall, the findings of this study could support the use of Rg3 to prevent the HS formation.

Regulation of IL12B Expression in Human Macrophages by TALEN-mediated Epigenome Editing

Although the exact etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear, exaggerated immune response in genetically predisposed individuals has been reported. Th1 and Th17 cells mediate IBD development. Macrophages produce IL-12 and IL-23 that share p40 subunit encoded by IL12B gene as heteromer partner to drive Th1 and Th17 differentiation. The available animal and human data strongly support the pathogenic role of IL-12/IL-23 in IBD development and suggest that blocking p40 might be the potential strategy for IBD treatment. Furthermore, aberrant alteration of some cytokines expression via epigenetic mechanisms is involved in pathogenesis of IBD. In this study, we analyzed core promoter region of IL12B gene and investigated whether IL12B expression could be regulated through targeted epigenetic modification with gene editing technology. Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are widely used in the field of genome editing and can specifically target DNA sequence in the host genome. We synthesized the TALE DNA-binding domains that target the promoter of human IL12B gene and fused it with the functional catalytic domains of epigenetic enzymes. Transient expression of these engineered enzymes demonstrated that the TALE-DNMT3A targeted the selected IL12B promoter region, induced loci-specific DNA methylation, and down-regulated IL-12B expression in various human cell lines. Collectively, our data suggested that epigenetic editing of IL12B through methylating DNA on its promoter might be developed as a potential therapeutic strategy for IBD treatment.

Total glucosides of paeony (Paeonia lactiflora) alleviates blood-brain barrier disruption and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via suppressing inflammation and apoptosis

At present it remains uncertain as to whether total glucosides of paeony (TGP) are able to mediate neuroprotection in the context of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CIR) injury, and if so, what mechanisms underlie such protection. We employed a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, and then Evans blue (EB), hematoxylin and eosin, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, ELISAs and immunohistochemistry were used. We observed marked reductions in infarct volume, neurological deficits, and CIR-associated histopathological changes following TGP treatment. We further found that TGP was associated with restoration of the BBB integrity, a reduction in levels of cerebral IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and a decrease in overall neuronal apoptotic death that coincided with reduced Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax expression, and elevated Bcl-2. These results demonstrate that TGP treatment is capable of reducing neurons damage and associated BBB dysfunction via anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in a rodent model of CIR injury.

The epigenetic landscapes of histone modifications on HSV-1 genome in human THP-1 cells

Histone positioning and modifications on viral genomes are important factors regulating virus replication. To investigate the dynamics of modified histones on the viral genome and their potential roles in antiviral response, we studied the dynamic changes of histone modifications across the HSV-1 genome in THP-1 cells. Histone modifications were detected on the HSV-1 genome soon after infection, including H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H3K4me3 and H3K27ac. These modifications emerged on the viral genome soon after infection and changed rapidly along with virus life cycle progression. The transcription repression marks, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, decreased on the viral genome during the infection process; the transcription activation mark H3K27ac increased. Treatment with C646, an inhibitor of H3K27ac transferase p300, significantly repressed virus replication and viral gene expression. Our study reveals the relationship between histone modifications and viral gene expression and provides potential novel strategies for antiviral treatment.

Epigenetic plasticity of enhancers in cancer

Enhancers are cis-acting elements with many sites bound by transcription factors and activate transcription over long distance. Histone modifications are critical for enhancer activity and utilized as hallmarks for the identification of putative enhancers. Monomethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1) is the mark for enhancer priming; acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) for active enhancers and trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) for silent enhancers. Recent studies from multiple groups have provided evidence that enhancer reprogramming, especially gain of enhancer activity, is closely related to tumorigenesis and cancer development. In this review, we will summarize the recent discoveries about enhancer regulation and the mechanisms of enhancer reprogramming in tumorigenesis, and discuss the potential application of enhancer manipulation in precision medicine.

[The correlation between gastric bubble size and laryngopharyngeal reflux pattern in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between gastric bubble size and laryngopharyngeal reflux pattern in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease(LPRD). Methods: A total of 52 LPRD patients who underwent Dx-pH monitoring and anteroposterior chest radiography at the same time from February 2016 to November 2018 were retrospectively studied. Patients were devided into three position-related groups according to the Ryan score of upright and supine: isolated upright reflux(IUR), isolated supine reflux(ISR) and bipositional reflux(BR) groups. In addition, 13 healthy volunteers with negative pH monitoring were selected as the control group. Gastric bubble size and pH monitoring data among the four groups were compared. SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: In all the 52 patients, 35 cases (67.3%) were classified as IUR, 9 cases (17.3%) as ISR, and 8 cases (15.4%) as BR. The height of gastric bubbles in the four groups were: IUR (26±14) mm, ISR (9±8) mm, BR (20±13) mm, control (17±15) mm, and statistical difference was found among the four groups(P=0.004). Post Hoc Multiple Comparisons found that IUR group had statistical difference between ISR group and control group (P=0.001, P=0.034 respectively). There was no statistical difference of gastric bubble width and area among the four groups(P=0.340, P=0.186 respectively). The ROC curve of the gastric bubble height with isolated upright and supine reflux patterns was obtained, and the optimal cutoff value of the gastric bubble height was 11 mm. Accordingly, we divided the patiens into two groups with high and low gastric bubble. LPRD reflux pattern distribution was significantly different between the two groups(P<0.001). The comparison of reflux parameters in pH monitoring also showed that the supine reflux parameters in the lower group were significantly higher than those in the higher group, and the upright reflux parameters in the higher group were significantly higher than those in the lower group(P<0.001). Conclusions: The height of gastric bubble is significantly correlated with the reflux patterns in LPRD patients. The gastric bubble of patients with IUR is significantly higher than that of patients with ISR. Taking 11 mm as the cutoff value, patients with higher gastric bubble are more prone to upright laryngopharyngeal reflux, while those with lower gastric bubble are more prone to supine laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Histone demethylase KDM3A is required for enhancer activation of hippo target genes in colorectal cancer

Hippo pathway is involved in tumorigenesis, and its regulation in cytosol has been extensively studied, but its regulatory mechanisms in the nuclear are not clear. In the current study, using a FBS-inducing model following serum starvation, we identified KDM3A, a demethylase of histone H3K9me1/2, as a positive regulator for hippo target genes. KDM3A promotes gene expression through two mechanisms, one is to upregulate YAP1 expression, and the other is to facilitate H3K27ac on the enhancers of hippo target genes. H3K27ac upregulation is more relevant with gene activation, but not H3K4me3; and KDM3A depletion caused H3K9me2 upregulation mainly on TEAD1-binding enhancers rather than gene bodies, further resulting in H3K27ac decrease, less TEAD1 binding on enhancers and impaired transcription. Moreover, KDM3A is associated with p300 and required for p300 recruitment to enhancers. KDM3A deficiency delayed cancer cell growth and migration, which was rescued by YAP1 expression. KDM3A expression is correlated with YAP1 and hippo target genes in colorectal cancer patient tissues, and may serve as a potential prognosis mark. Taken together, our study reveals novel mechanisms for hippo signaling and enhancer activation, which is critical for tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer.

[Clinical-pathological analysis of 71 cases of dermatosis papulosa nigra of Han Chinese people]

Objective: To analyze and summarize the clinical-pathological features of dermatosis papulosa nigra of Han Chinese people. Methods: We collected 71 cases of dermatosis papulosa nigra in the Third people's Hospital of Hangzhou Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University of Department of Dermatology from January 2010 to January 2019 which were confirmed clinically and pathologically. The clinical and histopathological data of all patients were analyzed and summarized, and relevant literature were reviewed. Results: Among the 71 patients, 51 were female and 25 were male, their average age was (44±13) years, the average age of onset was (39±14) years, and the average time of diagnosis was (65±51) months. The lesions were multiple dark brown papules with smooth surface, and mostly distributed in the chest and abdomen, 46 cases (64.8%), followed by the back and neck. The mean diameter of the lesions was (1.76±0.99) mm. Meanwhile, the initial onset of pruritus was observed in 15 patients. The pathological features of all lesions were similar to seborrheic keratosis. According to pathological classification, there were 49 (69.0%) cases of the acanthotic type, 11(15.5%) cases of the hyperkeratotic type, 6 (8.5%) cases of spiroid type, 4 (5.6%) cases of irritated type, and 1 (1.4%) case of clonal type. Epidermal pigmentation and/or dermal papillary pigmented granules were observed in 56 cases (78.9%), of which 46 cases (64.8%) had basal layer pigmentation. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration was found in the superficial dermis of lesions of 10 patients (14.1%) with symptom of itching. Conclusion: Dermatosis papulosa nigra of Han Chinese people has some unique clinical and pathological features.

[Study on corneal biomechanical properties of suspicious keratoconus patients in corneal topography]

Objective: To explore the characteristics and significance of corneal biomechanics in patients with suspicious total deviation value in Belin/Ambrosio Enhanced Ectasia Display of Pentacam corneal topography. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 206 patients (325 eyes) with myopia or myopic astigmatism were collected from refractive surgery center of Tianjin Eye Hospital. Among them, 110 males(213 eyes) and 96 females (153 eyes) were aged (22.68±5.20) years. 57 patients (71 eyes) with a total deviation value of 1.6-3.0 in the Pentacam corneal topography were included in the suspicious group, and 149 patients (254 eyes) of<1.6 were included in the control group. The values of the first applanation time (A1-Time), first applanation length (A1-Length), first applanation velocity (A1-Velocity), second applanation time (A2-Time), second applanation length (A2-Length), second applanation velocity(A2-Velocity), highest concavity time (HC-time), highest concavity deformation amplitude (DA), highest concavity peak distance (PD), highest concavity radius (HC-Radius, RoC), intraocular pressure were measured using the corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology. The total deviation value in Belin/Ambrosio Enhanced Ectasia Display were measured with a Pentacam. The biomechanical parameters of the suspicious group were compared with the normal group by the two independent samples t test and the identity regression analyses. The data correlation was performed using Pearson linear correlation analysis. Results: Compared with the D normal group, the K1, K2 and Km of D suspicious group were significantly increased (P<0.001). A1-Velocity [(0.152±0.015) m/s] and DA[(1.050±0.090) mm] were significantly increased (t=4.348, 2.708; P<0.001, 0.007), while the CCT, A1-Length, A2-Length and RoC were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in suspicious group. In suspicious group, there was a significant correlation between A1-Time, A1-Length, A2-Length, A2-Velocity, IOP and CCT(r=0.305, 0.324, 0.238, 0.346, 0.316; P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between the anterior surface refractive power K1 and the A1-Length (r=-0.361, P=0.002), and there was a significant correlation between the A1-Length, RoC and anterior surface refractive power K2 (r=-0.369, -0.242; P=0.002, 0.043). There was a significant correlation between anterior surface refractive power Km and A1-Length (r=-0.373, P=0.001). After adjusting the confounding factors between two groups by the identity regression analyses, the A1-Length (P=0.003), A1-Velocity (P<0.001) and DA (P=0.002) were still significant differences. Conclusions: In total deviation value suspicious group, the corneal thickness was thinner, corneal curvature became steeper and the corneal biomechanical properties were weaker. It is important to screen keratoconus before corneal refractive surgery and choose a reasonable surgical procedure to reduce corneal dilatation after refractive surgery. (Chin J Ophthalmol,2019, 55: 442-447).

Molecular Typing of Cryptosporidium Species Identified in Fecal Samples of Yaks ( Bos grunniens) of Qinghai Province, China

The frequency of Cryptosporidium infection in yaks from Qinghai province, People's Republic of China, was determined from examination of 1,027 fecal samples collected from 979 adult yaks and 48 yak calves during 4 seasons from 7 geographic areas within the province. PCR amplification of extracted DNA was used to characterize the different species of Cryptosporidium oocysts isolated by fecal examination. Twenty-six (2.53%) positive samples were identified and successfully sequenced: 17 Cryptosporidium ryanae (65.38%), 8 Cryptosporidium bovis (30.77%), and 1 Cryptosporidium baileyi (3.85%). The results of the study indicate that autumn is the primary season for transmission of Cryptosporidium to susceptible yak calves given the favorable temperatures and higher altitude of Qinghai province. To our knowledge, C. baileyi, a species predominately associated with birds (avian hosts), is described for the first time in yaks.

The hyper-activation of transcriptional enhancers in breast cancer

Background

Activation of transcription enhancers, especially super-enhancers, is one of the critical epigenetic features of tumorigenesis. However, very few studies have systematically identified the enhancers specific in cancer tissues.

Methods

Here, we studied the change of histone modifications in MMTV-PyVT breast cancer model, combining mass spectrometry-based proteomics and ChIP-seq-based epigenomics approaches. Some of the proteomic results were confirmed with western blotting and IHC staining. An inhibitor of H3K27ac was applied to study its effect on cancer development.

Results

H3K27ac and H4K8ac are elevated in cancer, which was confirmed in patient tissue chips. ChIP-seq revealed that H4K8ac is co-localized with H3K27ac on chromatin, especially on distal enhancers. Epigenomic studies further identified a subgroup of super-enhancers marked by H3K4me3 peaks in the intergenic regions. The H3K4me3-enriched regions enhancers are associated with higher level of H3K27ac and H4K8ac compared with the average level of conventional super-enhancers and are associated with higher transcription level of their adjacent genes. We identified 148 H3K4me3-enriched super-enhancers with higher gene expression in tumor, which may be critical for breast cancer. One inhibitor for p300 and H3K27ac, C646, repressed tumor formation probably through inhibiting Vegfa and other genes.

Conclusions

Taken together, our work identifies novel regulators and provides important resource to the genome-wide enhancer studies in breast cancer and raises the possibility of cancer treatment through modulating enhancer activity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-019-0645-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Analysis of chromosome in 1 324 patients with oligozoospermia or azoosperm]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the incidience of chromosome abnormality of the patients with oligozoospermia or azoospermia and male infertility, to discuss the relationship between the quantitative and structural abnormality of chromosome and to lay the foundation for the clinical diagnosis and consultation.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted from January 1, 2015 to May 1, 2016, in the Center for Reproduction Medicine, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, with male reproductive abnormalities history excluded. In the study, 1 324 cases were included with 448 cases of azoospermia and 876 cases of oligozoospermia. All the patients through ultrasound examination, color Doppler ultrasonography, the seminal plasma Zn determination, their hormone level determination, chromosome karyotype (the perinatal blood samples were obtained from the 1 324 patients with oligozoospermia or azoospermia for lymphocyte culture, then chromosomal specimens were prepared, G-banding analyses combined with clinical data were used to statistically analyze the incidence of chromosomal abnormality), Y chromosome azoospermia factor [PCR technique was used to detect SY157 locus, SY254 locus, and SY255 locus in male Y chromosome azoospermia factor (AZF) gene of the patients with oligozoospermia or azoospermia]. The relationship between chromosome abnormalities and oligozoospermia or azoospermia were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the 876 cases of oligospermia patients, 78 cases were chromosome number abnormality and chromosomal structural abnormality, the abnormal number of sex chromosomes in 22 cases, and sex chromosomes and chromosome structural abnormalities in 56 cases; in the 448 cases of azoospermia patients, 91 cases were chromosomal structural abnormality and chromosome number abnormality, of them, 78 cases were of abnormal number of sex chromosomes, and 13 cases were of abnormal structure. In addition, 137 cases were of chromosome polymorphism in all the 1 324 patients, The incidence of Y chromosome abnormality in azoospermatism was higher than that of the 43 patients with Y chromosome AZF microdeletion. In addition, the asthenospermia and recurrent spontaneous abortion were closely related to Y chromosome abnormality and the chromosome translocations and inversions.

CONCLUSION

Oligozoospermia and azoospermia patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype have high incidence rate, and chromosome karyotype analyses were carried out on it, which is conducive to clinical diagnosis for the patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype. There is a close relationship between male infertility and abnormal karyotype. It is conducive to clinical diagnosis for the patients with infertility through chromosome karyotye analysis, which also provides evidence for genetic counseling.

Transport paths and vertical exchange characteristics of haze pollution in Southern China

Transport paths and vertical exchange characteristics are important factors for understanding the long-term transport, dispersion capability for haze prediction. Many previous studies revealed that the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, one of the major polluted areas in China, is largely affected by the long-range pollution transport. However, mostly of these studies focused on the source apportionment or horizontal transport path of pollutants by using short-term data, and the vertical exchange characteristics had been rarely analyzed. In this study, using HYSPLIT model, the transport paths and the vertical exchange characteristics of haze episodes over four sub-region of Guangdong (GD) Province in southern China of dry season and wet season were analyzed by using 10years data from 2005 to 2014. Three major transport paths can be statistically summarized based on the long-term data. The haze episodes in PRD and North-GD were distinguished by the characteristics of high frequency and long duration, while the West-GD and East-GD are relatively clean. The haze over North-GD and PRD were mainly influenced by the airflows from northern path, which could bring the pollution from Jiangxi, Anhui, and also influenced by the airflows from coastal path, which could bring the pollution of eastern coastal from Zhejiang and Fujian to Guangdong, while regional transport contributions from Guangdong province and adjacent areas can also be clearly observed. The haze pollution from the identified two major transport paths were mainly transported within the mixing layer (>80% trajectories, <500m), whereas the probability of haze trajectories across mixing layer was relatively low and generally associated with much longer transport distance and higher terrain height over Western China. Combing the vertical exchange analysis, results also show that Wuyi Mountains and Nanling Mountains played a role as barrier to obstruct the haze airflows from other regions of China to the Guangdong province.

Characterization of WDR20: A new regulator of the ERAD machinery

ERAD is an important process of protein quality control that eliminates misfolded or unassembled proteins from ER. Before undergoing proteasome degradation, the misfolded proteins are dislocated from ER membrane into cytosol, which requires the AAA ATPase p97/VCP and its cofactor, the NPL4-UFD1 dimer. Here, we performed a CRISPR-based screen and identify many candidates for ERAD regulation. We further confirmed four proteins, FBOX2, TRIM6, UFL1 and WDR20, are novel regulators for ERAD. Then the molecular mechanism for WDR20 in ERAD is further characterized. Depletion of WDR20 inhibits the degradation of TCRα, a typical ERAD substrate, while WDR20 overexpression reduces TCRα protein level. WDR20 associates with TCRα and central regulators of the ERAD system, p97, GP78 and HRD1. A portion of WDR20 localizes to the ER-containing microsomal membrane. WDR20 expression increases TCRα ubiquitination, and HRD1 E3 ligase is essential for the process. WDR20 seems to serve as an adaptor protein to mediate the interaction between p97 and TCRα. Our study provides novel candidates and reveals an unexpected role of WDR20 in ERAD regulation.

Polyketides with different post-modifications from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp

Three new polyketides 4,6,8-trihydroxy-5-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (2) and 1-(4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1,7-dimethyl-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl) ethyl acetate (3) together with seven known analogues (4-10) were isolated from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR data. The absolute configuration of (1-3) was established on the basis of CD experiments. The possible biosynthetic pathway of compounds (1-10) was suggested, which implied that these secondary metabolites might be originated from polyketide biosynthesis with different post-modification reactions. Compounds 2, and 5-8 were evaluated for bioactivities against plant pathogen A. solani, whereas none of them displayed any biological effects. In addition, compounds 1, 2 and 5-10 were also tested for cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2 cells, MCF-7 cells and Hela cells) without biological effects.

Ozonated autohemotherapy modulates the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in gouty patients

Objectives

Ozonated autohemotherapy (O3-AHT) has been used to effectively treat gout, but the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, as an initial effort to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of O3-AHT, we aim to examine the effect of O3-AHT on serum inflammatory cytokine levels in gouty patients.

Patients and methods

Three groups of patients and healthy subjects were recruited, including the gouty (n=10), hyperuricemia (n=10), and healthy control (n=11) groups. Cytometric bead array was applied to examine 12 cytokines before (T0), during (T1), and after (T2) therapies.

Results

Three cytokines, IL-8, IL-12, and MCP-1, were detectable in all participants. Before O3-AHT, the average serum levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 were higher in the gout group than in the hyperuricemia and healthy control groups, confirming the inflammation status in gouty patients. After the 5th course of O3-AHT (T1), IL-8 level was significantly increased compared to that at T0. IL-12 level was also raised at T1, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. After completing the therapy, both IL-8 and IL-12 levels decreased to levels lower than those at T0. MCP-1 level remained essentially unchanged during and after treatment.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that O3-AHT induces a significant change in serum cytokine levels, suggesting that modulating the inflammatory process is one of the therapeutic mechanisms underlying O3-AHT. In addition, the sensitive response of serum IL-8 and IL-12 levels to O3-AHT suggests that these cytokines may be developed as biomarkers to evaluate the therapeutic effect of O3-AHT in gouty patients.

Fluoroscopy-guided gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM): a more reliable and efficient method for treatment of refractory gastroparesis

INTRODUCTION

Prior studies show promising results of the gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) procedure for treatment of refractory gastroparesis. One major technical challenge involved in this procedure is identifying the pyloric muscular ring (PMR). The aim of this study is to establish a reliable method for identification of the PMR during G-POEM.

METHODS

Fluoroscopy-guided G-POEM was performed by placing an endoclip at the 9 to 11'o clock position at the pylorus for identification of PMR. Conventional G-POEM was performed by observation of blue colored mucosa at the pylorus area as an indirect marker for PMR. The degree of the PMR identification was graded into well identified, identified, and not identified based on the appearance of the PMR. Procedure times were accurately documented. Gastroparesis cardinal symptoms index and gastric emptying scintigraphy were evaluated before and after the procedure.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were studied, seven underwent fluoroscopy-guided G-POEM, and seven patients underwent conventional G-POEM. All procedures achieved technical success and no adverse events occurred. In the seven patients who underwent fluoroscopy-guided G-POEM, the PMR was well identified in four patients and identified in three patients. In the seven patients who underwent conventional G-POEM, the PMR was identified in four patients and not identified in three patients. The average time to complete the fluoroscopy-guided G-POEM was significantly shorter than that of the conventional G-POEM.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluoroscopy-guided G-POEM by placement of an endoclip at the pylorus was a reliable and safe method to direct the orientation of the submucosal tunnel, to facilitate the location of the PMR, and to shorten the procedure time.

[Clinical outcome and placenta characteristics of spontaneous twin anemia-polycythemia sequence]

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome and placental characteristics of spontaneous twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (sTAPS). Methods: Twelve cases with sTAPS delivered in Peking University Third Hospital from May 2013 to August 2016. The data of ultrasound characteristics, gestational age at delivery, and 1 minute Apgar score were analyzed, retrospectively. Placental superficial vascular anastomoses, placental territory discordance and the ratio of umbilical cords insertion distance to the longest placental diameter were also analyzed. Results: (1) Only 1 case of sTAPS was diagnosed prenatally, the others were diagnosed postnatally because the fetal middle cerebral artery(MCA) doppler was not measured regularly. Five cases were complicated with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR). The median gestational age at delivery was 32.8 weeks (31-37 weeks) . The pregnancies were terminated because 3 cases were sIUGR type Ⅰ, 1 case was sIUGR type Ⅱ, 1 case was sIUGR type Ⅲ, 2 cases were fetal distress, 2 cases were severe pre-eclampsia, 2 cases were premature rupture of membrane, 1 case was fetal hydrops with abnormal doppler waveforms of ductus venouses. (2) When 5 sIUGR cases were excluded, there was no difference between the twins in birth weight [1 797 g (940-2 620 g) , 1 648 g (980-2 500 g) ; P=0.688]. The hemoglobin (Hb) level in all donor was significantly lower than recipient (P=0.000) and the inter-twin Hb difference was 147.6 g/L (84.0-216.0 g/L). While the reticulocyte percentage in donor was significantly higher than recipient (P=0.013) and reticulocyte percentage ratio was 3.60 (1.04-7.50). Five donor newborns had neonatal asphyxia, including 1 severe asphyxia, while no asphyxia happened in the recipient twins. (3) Arterio-arterial (A-A) anastomoses, veno-venous (V-V) anastomoses, arterio-venous (A-V) anastomoses were found in 3, 1 and 11 placentas, respectively. The total number of anastomoses was 2 (1-5) and the total diameter was 1.1 mm (0.4-2.1 mm), including 0 (0-1) A-A anastomoses with 0.2 mm (0.0-0.9 mm) in diameter and 2 (0-5) A-V anastomoses with 0.7 mm (0.0-2.1 mm) in diameter. The placental territory discordance was 0.17 (0.02-0.40) and the ratio of umbilical cords insertion to the longest placental diameter was 0.82 (0.34-0.99). Conclusions: The pathogenesis of sTAPS might result from slow and chronic blood transfusion from donor to recipient through a few minuscule vascular anastomoses in the placenta. In all monochorionic twins, especially sIUGR cases, MCA doppler should be monitored closely in the second and third trimester, in order to diagnose and manage sTAPS in time.

[Effect of optical zone diameter on corneal biomechanical properties after small incision lenticule extraction]

Objective: To investigate the effect of optical zone diameter on corneal biomechanical properties after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods: In this prospective case-control study, 62 eyes of 42 patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism that had undergone SMILE procedure were divided into 2 groups according to the optical zone (OZ) diameter: group A, 31 eyes of 19 patients, OZ= 6.5 mm; group B, 31eyes of 23 patients, OZ=6.0 mm. These patients were examined for corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively; at the same time, the central corneal thickness-corrected indices of DifCH and DifCRF were calculated. Pearson correlation was applied to analyze the correlation between CH and CRF and central corneal thickness. Independent-samples t test was utilized to compare CH and CRF between the two groups. Repeated ANOVA was used to compare the difference of corneal biomechanical properties at different follow-up timepoints. Results: The preoperative mean CRF and CH values were (10.13±1.19) mmHg and (9.65±1.12) mmHg in group A and (10.34±0.89) mmHg and (10.04± 1.05) mmHg in group B, respectively, and no significant differences were found in CRF and CH between the two groups (CRF: t=-0.807, P=0.423. CH: t=-1.405, P=0.165). The mean CRF values in group A at postoperative 1 week and 3 months were (6.62 ± 1.09) mmHg and (6.83 ± 1.07) mmHg, respectively, which were significantly lower than the relevant mean CRF values in group B (t=-2.703, P=0.009. t=-3.733, P= 0.001). Meanwhile, the mean CH values at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively in group A were (7.31±1.06) mmHg, (7.37±0.96) mmHg and (7.82±0.97) mmHg, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in group B (t=-2.415, P=0.019. t=-2.113, P=0.039. t=-2.67, P=0.01). Moreover, the DifCRF and DifCH values in group A were significantly lower than those in group B at 3 months postoperatively (t=-3.409, P=0.001. t=-2.064, P=0.044). The CRF and CH values in both groups showed a significant reduction at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05). Conclusions: The size of optical zone has some effects on corneal biomechanical properties after SMILE. The smaller optical zone diameter has a relatively smaller effect. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:182-187).

TTLL12 Inhibits the Activation of Cellular Antiviral Signaling through Interaction with VISA/MAVS

Upon virus infection, host cells use retinoic-acid-inducible geneI I (RIG-I)-like receptors to recognize viral RNA and activate type I IFN expression. To investigate the role of protein methylation in the antiviral signaling pathway, we screened all the SET domain-containing proteins and identified TTLL12 as a negative regulator of RIG-I signaling. TTLL12 contains SET and TTL domains, which are predicted to have lysine methyltransferase and tubulin tyrosine ligase activities, respectively. Exogenous expression of TTLL12 represses IFN-β expression induced by Sendai virus. TTLL12 deficiency by RNA interference and CRISPR-gRNA techniques increases the induced IFN-β expression and inhibits virus replication in the cell. The global gene expression profiling indicated that TTLL12 specifically inhibits the expression of the downstream genes of innate immunity pathways. Cell fractionation and fluorescent staining indicated that TTLL12 is localized in the cytosol. The mutagenesis study suggested that TTLL12's ability to repress the RIG-I pathway is probably not dependent on protein modifications. Instead, TTLL12 directly interacts with virus-induced signaling adaptor (VISA), TBK1, and IKKε, and inhibits the interactions of VISA with other signaling molecules. Taken together, our findings demonstrate TTLL12 as a negative regulator of RNA-virus-induced type I IFN expression by inhibiting the interaction of VISA with other proteins.

[Advances of the treatments for thyroid carcinoma patients with laryngotracheal invasion]

Thyroid carcinoma is one of the most common cancer in the head and neck and its incidence shows an increasing tendency. Due to the special anatomical location of thyroid carcinoma, patients will have a bad prognosis outcome when cancer invades larynx and trachea. Surgical treatment is still a preferred therapy for thyroid carcinoma with laryngotracheal invasion, because it has the advantages such as high survival rate, low recurrence rate, relieving of airway obstruction, improving of postoperative quality of life. Other therapies including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, ¹³¹I and molecular targeted therapy can also be used for treatments of thyroid carcinoma. This article reviews the current treatments for thyroid carcinoma with laryngotracheal invasion.

Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) as a salvage therapy for refractory gastroparesis: a case series of different subtypes

BACKGROUND

Gastroparesis is a poorly understood, chronic, debilitating motility disorder with very limited medical therapeutic options. Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) is an emerging novel endoscopic technique as an incisionless pyloroplasty for refractory cases. Effective information of G-POEM on different types of gastroparesis is sparse.

METHODS

Cases of G-POEM using selective circular myotomy as a salvage therapy for refractory symptoms were retrospective studied. The G-POEM procedures were performed by a single expert endoscopist under a certain protocol. Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptoms Index (GCSI) and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) were evaluated before and after the procedure. Procedures related adverse event were also recorded.

KEY RESULTS

All procedures were successfully completed without complications. Each case in this series was different in demography and etiology of gastroparesis, namely postsurgical, postinfectious, and idiopathic gastroparesis in an elderly male and two young female adults. All cases were refractory to conventional treatment but demonstrated obvious success after G-POEM as a salvage therapy both clinically and on GES.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

G-POEM as a salvage therapy improves symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with different types of refractory gastroparesis. Our cases are also the firsts to show success of G-POEM in postinfectious gastroparesis and in elderly male patient. More data are needed to determine which subgroup of patients would benefit most from this novel procedure.

Screening and identification of quorum sensing degraders from live feed Artemia

Quorum sensing (QS) is bacterial cell-to-cell communication with small signal molecules such as acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) that control a number of phenotypes including the regulation of virulence determinants in pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, quorum sensing degrader has been suggested as one of the biocontrol strategies to fight bacterial infections. In the present study, different bacterial QS degrader strains were isolated from Artemia and screened using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 bioassay. The results showed that six bacterial strains (four Gram-positive and two Gram-negative) isolated from Artemia were able to degrade AHL in two different in vitro assays. All the strains were later identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Rhodococcus opacus, Strepsporangium roseum, Streptomyces alboniger, Enterobacter clocae and Bacillus litoralis. Highest bacterial AHL degrader, Bacillus litoralis BP-ART/6 fully degraded 10 ppm AHL in 9 hrs. The present study showed that bacterial strains isolated from Artemia can act as a QS degrader. ?

[Evaluation and analysis of the tibial coronal alignment after total knee replacement with the extramedullary tibial cutting guided by the tibial tubercle and anterior tibial tendon in Chinese patients]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficiency of the tibial coronal alignment after total knee arthroplasty with the extramedullary cutting system guided by the tibial tubercle and anterior tibial tendon, and to discuss the potential risk factors for the postoperative malalignment.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 212 primary unilateral TKA surgeries (in 188 patients) in our hospital between June to December in 2014 had been analysed. All the cases were performed by one surgical group. An extramedullary tibial cutting guide system had been used, with a landmark of one third inner-medial tibial tubercle as a proximal anatomy reference, and anterior tibial tendon as a distal marker. The mechanical axis of lower extremity in full-length X-ray was measured before surgery, and the tibial prosthetic coronal alignment was checked two weeks postoperation, evaluating the accuracy of this extramedullary cutting system guided by our method.

RESULTS

Since good alignment was defined as an angle within 3 degrees of the perpendicular to the mechanical axis, the tibial component positions were acceptable in 191 knees (90.1%), five knees were in valgus postoperative, and sixteen knees were in varus. There were seventeen(8.7%) in 179 knees with a preoperative varus presented malalignment after surgery, and four in 12 preoperative valgus kneess howed malalignment also, no statistical difference was found by Chi-square test(χ(2)=2.778,P=0.096), which cannot define the relationship between the varus or valgus deformity preoperation and the malalignmentposition in tibial prosthesis after surgery. Twenty-two knees suffered a severe preoperative deformity as a varus or valgus angle larger than 20 degrees with absolute value of mechanical axis before surgery and tibial prosthetic coronal alignment were 21.95 °(20.00°,26.90°)and 1.85°(0.10°, 7.10°), showed a significant difference (Z=2.11,P=0.035) compared with the data [10.65°(0.50°,19.80°)in preoperative mechanical axis and 1.10°(0.00°,4.60°)in the tibial prosthetic coronal alignment]of 190 knees who presented a mild deformity before surgery(less than 20 degrees), the result indicated the severe preoperative deformity might be a potential mal-alignment risk factor within this cutting system in TKA surgery.

CONCLUSION

The tibial coronal alignment after total knee arthroplasty could achieve good results with extramedullary cutting guide, by using one third inner-medial tibial tubercle and anterior tibial tendon as a proximal and distal anatomy marker. Postoperative varus might occur in this system, and tibial prosthetic malalignment appeared more often in the patients who suffered a severe deformity before surgery.

Isolation and analysis of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal peripheral blood in Chinese women

Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is used to detect the genetic material of the fetus by isolating the cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from maternal peripheral blood. In order to establish an isolation method for cffDNA from maternal peripheral blood in Chinese women, the cffDNA was acquired with a two-step centrifugation using a QlAamp DNA Blood mini kit. The SRY gene of plasma DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure the concentration of cffDNA in maternal peripheral blood in different pregnant women. The results of the SRY gene amplification of plasma DNA from pregnant women was the same as that of the amniocyte DNA. The average concentration of cffDNA in maternal peripheral blood of pregnant women in different gestational stages was 0.98 ng/mL (0.26-1.49 ng/mL), 1.43 ng/mL (0.46- 2.34 ng/mL), and 1.95 ng/mL (0.65-6.81 ng/mL) from early, middle, and late gestational stages, respectively. The mean of cffDNA from total DNA in plasma in different stages of gestation was 22.28% (9.86-27.81%). The lowest concentration of DNA amplified by nested-PCR in our research was 10-4-10-3 ng/μL. The isolation method for cffDNA from maternal peripheral blood was successfully established and further research into its applications will be conducted.

WDR82 Negatively Regulates Cellular Antiviral Response by Mediating TRAF3 Polyubiquitination in Multiple Cell Lines

Upon virus infection, retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptors in host cells recognize viral RNA and activate type I IFN expression. Previously, we identified WD repeat domain (WDR) 5 as one positive regulator for pathway activation. In this study, we report that WDR82, a homolog protein of WDR5, acts opposite to WDR5 and inhibits the activation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I signaling pathway. WDR82 overexpression inhibits virus-triggered pathway activation, whereas its knockdown enhances induced IFN-β expression. WDR82 is localized on the mitochondria, and its first N-terminal WD40 domain is critical for localization. WDR82 interacts with TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 3, and its overexpression promotes K48-linked, but not K63-linked, polyubiquitination on TRAF3. Furthermore, WDR82 knockdown inhibits viral replication in the cell, whereas its overexpression has the opposite effect. Interestingly, WDR82 regulates Sendai virus-induced IFNB1 expression in a cell type-specific manner. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that WDR82 is a negative regulator of virus-triggered type I IFNs pathway through mediating TRAF3 polyubiquitination status and stability on mitochondria.