Proposing anti-counterfeiting pharmacopoeia quality markers for Shenlingbaizhu granule based on UHPLC-Q-orbitrap-MS identification

INTRODUCTION

Shenlingbaizhu granule, a Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription comprising Renshen, Gancao, and Shanyao, is widely consumed in China nowadays.

OBJECTIVE

The study tries to propose pharmacopoeia quality markers (Q-markers) to prevent counterfeiting involving Renshen, Gancao, and Shanyao.

METHODOLOGY

A novel strategy, that is, library-based ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry, was used to analyse the lyophilised aqueous powder of Shenlingbaizhu granule. Subsequently, quantum chemistry calculation and UV-vis spectra scanning were also performed through theoretical or experimental approaches.

RESULT

Thirty-two isomers have been strictly distinguished, especially positional isomeric isochlorogenic acid B versus isochlorogenic acid C, positional isomeric schaftoside versus isoschaftoside, positional isomeric ginsenoside Rg2 versus 20S-ginsenoside Rg3, and stereoisomeric 20S-ginsenoside Rg3 versus 20R-ginsenoside Rg3. Seventeen compounds were unexpectedly observed, particularly scoparone and pectolinarigenin, while a total of 76 bioactive compounds have been putatively identified in the study. The quantum chemistry calculation and UV-vis spectra scanning results revealed that glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, and diosgenin displayed different dipole moment values and maximum absorption wavelengths from each other.

CONCLUSION

The study recommends glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, and diosgenin as four anti-counterfeiting Q-markers for the pharmacopoeia. The anti-counterfeiting Q-markers can be detected using conventional HPLC. The observation of 17 unexpected compounds updates our knowledge regarding the bioactives of Shenlingbaizhu granule.

Quality Assurance of Protocol Compliance in a Multicenter Randomized Trial Investigating the Role of Hypofractionated Comprehensive Reginal Nodal Irradiation in Node-Positive Breast Cancer (HARVEST)

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The HARVEST trial (NCT03829553) is a phase III, multicenter, randomized clinical trial to explore efficacy and safety of hypofractionated irradiation (HFI) involving regional nodal irradiation (RNI, including internal mammary nodes, IMN) in N+ breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy or breast conserving surgery (BCS). Current study aims to analyze the dosimetric quality assurance so as to evaluate the compliance to the trial protocol.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive conventional fractionated irradiation (CFI: 50 Gy/25Fx) or HFI (40.05 Gy/15Fx), which is delivered to ipsilateral chest wall or whole breast (CW/WB) with tumor bed boost (HFI: 10.68 Gy/4Fx; CFI: 10 Gy/5Fx) and comprehensive RNI (supra/infraclavicular nodes and IMN in each patient, lower axilla if indicated) by using IMRT technique. The plan quality was evaluated based on dose distribution, dose volume histogram (DVH) and field parameters. The target coverage, including planning target volume of CW/WB (PTV1) and tumor bed (PTV2) and doses of the organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated. The LQ model was used to convert doses of OARs in HFI group using α/β = 3 Gy (EQD23) for comparison.

RESULTS

Between Feb 21, 2019 and Feb 14, 2022, 801 patients were enrolled at 8 centers with 401 and 400 in CFI and HFI group, respectively. There were 182 patients received BCS and 387 patients were with more than three positive lymph nodes. In the CFI group, the D90 and V45 of PTV1 reached the prescribed dose in 70.6% and 96.0% of the patients, respectively. In the HFI group, the D90 and V36 of PTV1 reached the prescribed dose in 87.8% and 95.5% of the patients, respectively. When the tumor bed was irradiated, the D90 of PTV2 reached the prescribed dose in 95.6% in the CFI group and 100% in the HFI group, respectively. The mean D90 of PTV1 and PTV2 were 50.09±0.65 Gy and 60.63±0.91 Gy in CFI group while 40.11±0.56 Gy and 50.79±2.03 Gy in HFI group. For OARs constraints, protocol compliance was all above 95% (heart: 95.3%; ipsilateral lung: 95.5%; contralateral lung: 97.1%; humeral head: 98.2% and spinal cord: 100%) with no significant difference between CFI and HFI groups. For patients with left-sided breast cancer, the Dmean of the heart was 5.10±1.75 Gy vs. 4.59±1.86 Gy (EQD23) in CFI and HFI groups (p = 0.51), respectively. No significant differences in Dmean of the heart (1.45±0.71 Gy vs. 1.33±0.77 Gy (EQD23), p = 0.40) was found either between two groups in right-sided patients. The differences were significant in the Dmean of the ipsilateral lung (13.37±1.99 Gy vs. 11.17±3.50 Gy (EQD23), p<0.01), contralateral lung (0.88±0.73 Gy vs. 0.74±0.61 Gy (EQD23), p<0.01) and the ipsilateral humeral head (15.27±7.62 Gy vs. 13.05±6.19 Gy (EQD23), p<0.01) and the Dmax of spinal cord (21.40±8.82 Gy vs. 19.47±7.99 Gy (EQD23), p = 0.05) between CFI and HFI groups.

CONCLUSION

A high degree of compliance with protocol dose constraints was found for treatment plans in the HARVEST trial and doses to the most of OARs decreased in HFI group.

Toripalimab Combined with Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: Early Results of Safety and Feasibility

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To assess the safety and efficacy of toripalimab combined with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Twenty-two locally advanced cervical cancer patients, regardless of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) status, received toripalimab treatment combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), includes cisplatin (40 mg/m2, once a week for 5 weeks), radiotherapy (45-50.4 Gy/25-28Fx, 5 fractions a week, followed by brachytherapy 24-30 Gy/3-5Fx) and toripalimab (240mg on day 1, 22 and 43). The primary endpoints were safety and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

The median age was 55 years old (42 to 72), with 2 patients in FIGO stage Ⅱ, 15 patients in stage ⅢC, and 5 patients in stage ⅣA. All patients completed CCRT successfully. Grade Ⅲ and higher adverse events (AEs) were observed in 11 patients (11/22, 50%), and no patient had a grade Ⅴ AE. The most frequent grade Ⅲ AE was leukopenia (8/22, 36.4%). The most common immunotherapy-related adverse event was hypothyroidism (2/22, 9.1%). The objective response rate (ORR) was 100%. At data cutoff (Sep 30, 2022), the median follow-up was 19.7 months (7.67 to 26.1 months). The LC and the PFS rate were 95.5% and 81.8%, and the OS rate was 90.9%. The patients with baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≤1.255 × 10^9/L had significant higher rates of metastasis than those with ALC >1.255 × 10^9/L (42.9% vs 0%, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Toripalimab combined with CCRT achieved good tolerance and demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Longer follow-up results and further phase Ⅱ/Ⅲ studies are expected. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number, ChiCTR2000032879.

Nodal Response to Neo-Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Predicts Prognosis of cN3c Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Multidisciplinary Therapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

cN3c breast cancer with ipsilateral supraclavicular (SCV) lymph nodal (SCLN) metastasis has a dismal prognosis. We investigated the survival outcomes, patterns and risks of recurrence in those patients after multidisciplinary therapy, as well as the predictors of candidates for SCV area boosting.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Consecutive cN3c breast cancer patients without distant metastases from January 2009 to December 2020 in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Based on nodal response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), patients were categorized into three groups: clinical complete response (cCR) not achieved in SCLN (Group A, n = 66), SCLN cCR but axillary node (ALN) did not achieve pathological complete response (pCR, Group B, n = 34), cCR in SCLN and pCR in ALN (Group C, n = 13).

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 32.7 months (range, 21.9-53.3months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 64.6% and 43.7% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed cumulative SCV dose and ypT stage, ALN response and SCV response to NAT were significantly associated with OS and RFS respectively. The 3-year for patients receiving the cumulative SCV dose of ≥60 Gy versus <60 Gy was 81.3% versus 69.0% (P = 0.042). Compared with Group A or B, Group C showed significantly improved RFS (3y-RFS: 53.8% vs 73.6% vs 100%, p = 0.003) and a numerically longer OS (3y-OS: 73.4% vs 86.7% vs 100%, p = 0.089). Meanwhile, Group C showed the lowest rate of DM as first failure (37.9 % vs 23.5% vs 0 in group A, B and C, respectively, p = 0.010). In patients of Group A, the 3-year OS rates for patients receiving the cumulative SCV dose of ≥60 Gy versus <60 Gy was 78.0% versus 57.3% (p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Nodal response to NAT is an independent prognostic factor for survival and pattern of failure. cN3c breast cancer patients with SCLN cCR and ALN pCR after NAT are potentially curable. A cumulative SCV dose of ≥60 Gy is positively associated with improved OS, especially in patients of SCLN without achieving cCR. Our data supports the perspective of optimizing radiotherapeutic strategy based on nodal response.

Database-aided UHPLC-Q-orbitrap MS/MS strategy putatively identifies 52 compounds from Wushicha Granule to propose anti-counterfeiting quality-markers for pharmacopoeia

Wushicha Granule, an over-the-counter-drug (OTC) prescription, consists of 19 traditional Chinese herbals medicines (CHMs), such as Chaihu, Hongcha, Chuanxiong, Houpo, and Gancao. The five however have not been effectively characterized by the quality-markers (Q-markers) system in current Pharmacopoeia. The study therefore established a novel database-aided ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-orbitrap MS/MS) strategy. The strategy has putatively identified 52 compounds from Wushicha Granule, mainly including flavonoids, saponins, alkaloid, lignins, and lactones. Especially, saponin "glycyrrhetinic acid" in the Granule was specifically identified as 18β-configuration (rather than 18α-configuration). Meanwhile, two pairs of isomers were fully discriminated, including vitexin vs isovitexin and daidzein vs 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone. 8β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, together with saponin saikosaponin A, alkaloid caffeine, lactone S-senkyunolide A, and lignin magnolol, were further studied using quantum chemical calculation, UV-vis spectra, and anti-counterfeiting validation experiment. In the validation experiment, they have successfully recognized 6 counterfeit Wushicha Granules, by means of a LC-MS equipped extraction software. Based on these results, 8β-glycyrrhetinic acid is recommended to replace the old Q-marker "glycyrrhetinic acid"; while saikosaponin A, caffeine, S-senkyunolide A, and magnolol are recommended as new Q-markers. These recommendations can not only recognize the counterfeits regarding Chaihu, Hongcha, Chuanxiong, Houpo, and Gancao, but also prevent the possible safety-incident. All these will greatly improve the efficiency and specificity of current Pharmacopoeia.

UHPLC-Quadrupole-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS/MS-based putative identification for Eucommiae Folium (Duzhongye) and its quality-marker candidate for pharmacopeia

Eucommiae Folium (Duzhongye) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use in China. However, its quality-marker (Q-marker) in Chinese Pharmacopoeia is poorly defined nowadays. The study therefore conducted an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Quadrupole-Exactive-Orbitrap MS/MS) analysis to obtain accurate data. The obtained data were then compared with authentic standards library using Xcalibur 4.1 software package and TraceFinder General Quan. Through the comparison, the study has putatively identified 26 bioactive compounds, which include 17 flavonoid derivatives (catechin, quercetin 3-gentiobioside, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucose-7-O-β-D-gentiobioside, taxifolin, myricetin 3-O-galactoside, myricitrin, hyperoside, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3-O-β-xylopyranoside, quercitrin, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, quercetin, kaempferol, S-eriodictyol, S-naringenin, and phloridzin), four caffeoylquinic acids (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid C), two alkaloids (vincamine and jervine), one lignan (pinoresinol), one xanthone (cowaxanthone B), and one steroid (cholesteryl acetate). Of these, flavonoid isoquercitrin is recommended as the new and additional pharmacopoeia Q-marker candidate, which can not only overcome the unreliability of old Q-marker but also recognize the possible counterfeit. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[Genomic epidemiology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from acute diarrheal patients in Shenzhen City from 2013 to 2021]

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and genomic epidemiology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from acute diarrheal patients in Shenzhen City from 2013 to 2021. Methods: Based on the Shenzhen Infectious Diarrhea Surveillance System, acute diarrheal patients were actively monitored in sentinel hospitals from 2013 to 2021. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates was performed, and the genomic population structure, serotypes, virulence genes and multilocus sequence typing were analyzed. Outbreak clusters from 2019 to 2021 were explored based on single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Results: A total of 48 623 acute diarrhea cases were monitored in 15 sentinel hospitals from 2013 to 2021, and 1 135 Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated, with a positive isolation rate of 2.3%. Qualified whole-genome sequencing data of 852 isolates were obtained. Eighty-nine serotypes, 21 known ST types and 5 new ST types were identified by sequence analysis, and 93.2% of strains were detected with toxin profile of tdh+trh-. 8 clonal groups (CGs) were captured, with CG3 as the absolute predominance, followed by CG189. The CG3 group was dominated by O3:K6 serotype and ST3 sequence type, while CG189 group was mainly O4:KUT, O4:K8 serotypes and ST189a and ST189 type. A total of 13 clusters were identified, containing 154 cases. About 30 outbreak clusters with 29 outbreak clusters caused by CG3 strains from 2019 to 2021. Conclusion: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major pathogen of acute infectious diarrhea in Shenzhen City, with diverse population structures. CG3 and CG189 have been prevalent and predominant in Shenzhen City for a long time. Scattered outbreaks and persistent sources of contamination ignored by traditional methods could be captured by WGS analysis. Tracing the source of epidemic clone groups and taking precise prevention and control measures are expected to significantly reduce the burden of diarrhea diseases caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in Shenzhen City.

Antioxidant mechanisms and products of four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids with different structural types

4',5,7-OHs are common substituents of natural flavonoids, a type of effective phenolic antioxidant. However, the antioxidant processes between 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids with different structural types have not been compared systematically, and the antioxidant products are challenging to determine. This study compared four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids, including apigenin, genistein, kaempferol, and naringenin. In quantum chemical analyses, the four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids showed different thermodynamic properties, and the C4'-OH (or C3-OH of kaempferol) possessed the strongest activity. Moreover, the reaction rate constants were larger when a hydrogen atom was transferred from C4'-OH (or C3-OH of kaempferol) than from C5-OH. When different atoms were linked to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH˙), the C3'-DPPH adducts showed the smallest energy. In experimental assays, the scavenging ability for neutral free radicals, radical cations, and radical anions was negatively correlated with the corresponding theoretical parameters. Finally, mass spectroscopy detected the apigenin-DPPH˙, genistein-DPPH˙, and naringenin-DPPH˙ adduct peaks. In conclusion, the structural type of 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids can affect the antioxidant ability, site, and speed, but not the mechanism. After hydrogen abstraction at C4'-OH, 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavones, 4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavones, and 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanones will produce antioxidant products via C3'-radical linking.

Assessment of risk factors of treatment discontinuation among patients on paliperidone palmitate and risperidone microspheres in france, germany and belgium – a retrospective database study

Introduction

Long-acting antipsychotics (e.g. 1-monthly (PP1M) / 3-monthly (PP3M) injection forms of paliperidone palmitate) have been developed to improve treatment continuation in schizophrenia patients.

Objectives

To assess risk factors of treatment discontinuation in patients on paliperidone palmitate and risperidone microsphere. Additionally, treatment continuation between patients with PP1M and PP3M was compared.

Methods

The IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription databases were used. Risk factors of treatment discontinuation were identified by a multilevel survival regression using Cox proportional hazards model. Kaplan Meier analyses were performed by identified significant risk factors.

Results

25,361 patients (France: 9,720; Germany: 14,461; Belgium: 1,180) were included. Over a one-year follow-up period, a significant higher treatment continuation was observed for patients newly initiated on paliperidone palmitate (46.2%) than those initiated on risperidone microspheres (14.6%). Additionally, a significantly higher treatment continuation was found for ‘stable’ PP3M patients (81.8%) than ‘stable’ PP1M patients (62.9%). Patients were more likely to discontinue when drugs prescribed by GP only (HR = 1.68, p < 0.001 vs. psychiatrist only) or being females (HR = 1.07, p < 0.001), whereas discontinuation rate decreased with age (31-50 years: HR = 0.95, p = 0.006 and > 50 years: HR = 0.91, p < 0.001 vs. 18-30 years).

Conclusions

Paliperidone palmitate was associated with a significantly higher treatment continuation than risperidone microspheres. Treatment continuation is likely to be improved by targeting young patients (18-30 years), empowering GPs with mental health knowledge and managing patients by a collaborative primary care-mental health model. Further research is needed to understand why females have more treatment discontinuation.

Disclosure

Rui Cai, Flore Decuypere and Pierre Chevalier are IQVIA employees and served as paid consultants to Janssen during the conduct of this study. Antonie Wimmer, Pascal Guillon, Stefan Pype, Annabelle Godet, Valeria Timtschenko are Janssen employees.

Treatment persistence in paediatric and adolescent patients with psoriasis followed into young adulthood. From topical to systemic treatment: a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study of 448 patients

Background

Although solely topical treatment often suffices, patients with psoriasis may require more intensive treatment (phototherapy and/or systemic treatments) to control their disease. However, in paediatric, adolescent and young adult patients, little is known about persistence of topical treatment and time until switch to systemic treatment.

Objectives

To determine the median time from psoriasis onset until (i) discontinuation of solely topical agents and (ii) switch to systemic treatment, and to identify patient characteristics associated with switching to systemic treatments.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Child‐CAPTURE registry, a prospective, observational cohort of patients with paediatric‐onset psoriasis followed into young adulthood from 2008 to 2018. Data prior to inclusion in the registry were collected retrospectively. Median times were determined through Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Cox regression analysis was used to identify patient characteristics associated with switch to systemic treatment.

Results

Of 448 patients, 62·3% stayed on solely topical treatment until data lock; 14·3% switched from topicals to phototherapy, but not to systemic treatment; and 23·4% switched to systemic treatment. The median time from psoriasis onset until discontinuation of solely topical treatment was 7·3 years, and until switch to systemics was 10·8 years. Higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and (Children’s) Dermatology Life Quality Index > 5 were independently associated with switching to systemic treatment.

Conclusions

In a population of paediatric and adolescent patients with mild‐to‐severe psoriasis, one‐third needed more intensive treatment than solely topical therapy to control their disease. We consider the median time until switching to systemics to be long.

What is already known about this topic?

Psoriasis in the majority of paediatric and adolescent patients can be adequately managed with solely topical treatment. However, some patients require a switch to more intensive treatment in order to control their disease.

Little is known about persistence of topical treatment and time until switch to systemic treatment.

What does this study add?

In 448 paediatric patients with mild‐to‐severe psoriasis, 62·3% persisted on solely topical treatment, 14·3% switched to phototherapy, but not to systemics, and 23·4% switched to systemic treatment at data lock (total median follow‐up 4·2 years, interquartile range 1·8–7·5).

The median time from psoriasis onset until discontinuation of solely topical treatment was 7·3 years, and until switch to systemic treatment 10·8 years.

Higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and (Children’s) Dermatology Life Quality Index > 5 at switch were independent characteristics associated with switching to systemic treatment.

Linked Comment: Salman. Br J Dermatol 2021; 184:387–388.

Plain language summary available online

High-Performance Natural Rubber/Graphene Composites from a Uniquely Designed Physical and Chemical Hybrid-Network

It is well-known that strength and stiffness are commonly inversely related with toughness and ductility for organic filler filled elastomer nanocomposites. These performances are governed by the dispersion of organic fillers and interface of elastomer nanocomposites. Herein, the designed physical and chemical hybrid-network based on tannic acid (TA) as interface regulator and cross-link agent can endow graphene/elastomer nanocomposites with reinforcement as well as toughness simultaneously. The results indicate the formation of a strong and stable network structure composed of elastomer chains and graphene, contrary to traditional graphene/elastomer nanocomposites. The present composites with a physical and chemical hybrid-network effectively improve the load transfer and show excellent mechanical properties.

Simultaneous Study of Anti-Ferroptosis and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Butein and (S)-Butin

To elucidate the mechanism of anti-ferroptosis and examine structural optimization in natural phenolics, cellular and chemical assays were performed with 2'-hydroxy chalcone butein and dihydroflavone (S)-butin. C11-BODIPY staining and flow cytometric assays suggest that butein more effectively inhibits ferroptosis in erastin-treated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells than (S)-butin. Butein also exhibited higher antioxidant percentages than (S)-butin in five antioxidant assays: linoleic acid emulsion assay, Fe3+-reducing antioxidant power assay, Cu2+-reducing antioxidant power assay, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide radical (PTIO•)-trapping assay, and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•)-trapping assay. Their reaction products with DPPH• were further analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Butein and (S)-butin produced a butein 5,5-dimer (m/z 542, 271, 253, 225, 135, and 91) and a (S)-butin 5',5'-dimer (m/z 542, 389, 269, 253, and 151), respectively. Interestingly, butein forms a cross dimer with (S)-butin (m/z 542, 523, 433, 419, 415, 406, and 375). Therefore, we conclude that butein and (S)-butin exert anti-ferroptotic action via an antioxidant pathway (especially the hydrogen atom transfer pathway). Following this pathway, butein and (S)-butin yield both self-dimers and cross dimers. Butein displays superior antioxidant or anti-ferroptosis action to (S)-butin. This can be attributed the decrease in π-π conjugation in butein due to saturation of its α,β-double bond and loss of its 2'-hydroxy group upon biocatalytical isomerization.

Applications of Ultrafine Limestone Sorbents for the Desulfurization Process in CFB Boilers

With the stringent emission regulation taking effect, it is difficult for the conventional desulfurization technology in circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers to meet the requirements of ultralow SO₂ emission. Therefore, in this paper, the application of natural ultrafine limestone, with a Sauter mean diameter of less than 20 μm, was tested by conducting bench-scale, pilot-scale, and commercial-scale experiments to realize highly efficient desulfurization in CFB furnaces. In the past, such small-size limestone was considered unsuitable for CFB boilers. However, as demonstrated by bench-scale results, the desulfurization performance was clearly superior to that of coarse limestone, especially at low SO₂ concentrations. In a 3 MW_th pilot-scale CFB boiler, the ultrafine limestone exhibited competent desulfurization efficiency to that of the coarse limestone but clearly less significant catalytic effects on NOx formation. As revealed by field tests in four commercial-scale CFB boilers, when high-efficiency cyclones were applied to CFB boilers, the mass inventory of ultrafine particles was significantly increased and the residence time would be extended accordingly; thus, the ultrafine limestone can be used to achieve high desulfurization efficiency and even ultralow SO₂ emission with a favorable Ca/S ratio. Furthermore, a technical roadmap was drawn for the cost-effective control of SO₂ emission.

Pretransplant Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance and Fasting Plasma Glucose Predict New-Onset Diabetes After Renal Transplant in Chinese Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The present study aims to determine if homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and plasma insulin (Ins) are able to predict development of new onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT) for kidney recipients.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective study of 123 nondiabetic patients receiving a first renal transplant. The NODAT was diagnosed between 1 month and 1 year post transplant. Both univariate and multivariable analyses, including logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model, were applied to dissect potential pretransplant risk factors of NODAT.

RESULTS

A total of 26.8% (33/123) of recipients developed NODAT in the first year post transplant. The NODAT patients showed higher HOMA-IR index and increased levels of FPG and Ins than non-NODAT. Interestingly, we consistently revealed that both FPG (logistic: odds ratio [OR], 3.17 [1.41-6.45]; P = .01; Cox: OR, 2.75 [1.26-4.56]; P = .02) and HOMA-IR index (logistic: OR, 1.73 [1.21-2.87]; P = .02; Cox: OR, 1.72 [1.21-2.46]; P = .002) robustly predicted the development of NODAT. However, these analyses showed that neither plasma Ins nor hemoglobin A_1c was associated with NODAT.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that pretransplant HOMA-IR and FPG are independent predictors for the development of NODAT in Chinese nondiabetic patients receiving a first renal transplant.

Abstract P2-10-01: Phase II study of antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib in combination with oral vinorelbine in heavily pretreated HER2-negative advanced breast cancer

Background: Metastatic breast cancer remains an incurable disease, and clinical benefit and progression-free survival are the main end points in advanced setting. Targeted therapies have shown promising potentials in HER2-positive breast cancer, but with uncertain effects in HER2-negative breast cancer, especially when the disease is progressing rapidly. The regimen of antiangiogenic therapy in combination with chemotherapy had been studied for years and gained improved efficacy. Apatinib is an oral, highly potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. PhaseIIclinical trials of Apatinib single agent had presented objective response and manageable toxicity in heavily pretreated, metastatic breast cancer. Oral vinorelbine represents a good choice for its toxicity and activity in anthracycline and taxane-pretreated breast cancer patients. This all-oral study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of the oral vinorelbine-apatinib combination in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer. Methods: This study enrolled patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, pretreated with anthracycline/taxanes, and who failed in the metastatic setting at least one prior chemotherapy or endocrine therapy when hormone receptor is positive. Patients were treated with apatinib 500mg/425mg daily plus oral vinorelbine 60mg/m2 day1,8,15 every 3 weeks/cycle. Patients eligible were evaluated by CT or MRI scan at baseline and every 2 cycles (6 weeks) there after until disease progressed. The primary endpoint wasPFS. The secondary endpoints were objective response rate, clinical benefit rate, OS, and safety. Results: 40 patients were enrolled with a median age of 55 (30-70) years. First 17 patients started apatinib at the dose of 500mg/day. Considering safety issues, a lower dose of apatinib 425mg/day was subsequently started as the initial dose after these 17 patients recruited. 26(65.0%) patients experienced treatment delay and 20(50.0%) patients experienced dose modification during treatment. Median follow-up time was 10.3 months. Of all 40 patients, median PFS was 5.4 months (95% CI, 3.4m–7.3m). Median OS was not reached. 32 patients were eligible for efficacy analysis. ORR was 15.6% (5/32). CBR was 46.9% (15/32). Patients with triple-negative breast cancer or who received combined therapy as second line treatment gained better ORR and longer median PFS. The most common adverse events of all grades included gastrointestinal reaction (70.0%), myelosuppression (67.5%), hypertension(62.5%), pain(60.0%), malaise(52.5%), anorexia(50.0%), elevated transaminase(47.5%), hand-foot reaction (47.5%), proteinuria (37.5%), and elevated bilirubin(32.5%). Proteinuria, treatment delay, and ECOG performance status were independent predictive factors for PFS.Conclusions: The all-oral therapy of antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib plus vinorelbine presented objective efficacy in advanced HER2-negative breast cancer who failed from first-line therapy, with acceptable and manageable toxicity.

Citation Format: Zhu A, Yuan P, Wang J, Fan Y, Luo Y, Cai R, Zhang P, Li Q, Ma F, Xu B. Phase II study of antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib in combination with oral vinorelbine in heavily pretreated HER2-negative advanced breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-10-01.

Abstract P1-13-13: The treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of trastuzumab in early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer in the real-world setting in China

Background:Several prospective interventional studies have proved the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab in adjuvant treatment in HER2positive breast cancer,while limited data existed to address the treatment patterns and real-world performance of trastuzumab in early HER2 positive breast cancer in China.

Methods:We retrospectively analyzed all the pts who were diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer,underwent surgery and received adjuvant treatment in National Cancer Center from 2000 to 2012.The treatment patterns and disease free survival (DFS),overall survival (OS) were analyzed respectively.

Results:A total of 1398 HER2 positive breast cancer pts were identified.The median follow-up time was 79.1 months.68.5% pts received chemotherapy alone,3.4% pts only received mono trastuzumab,28.2% pts received trastuzumab plus chemotherapy.Among 433 trastuzumab treated pts,64.7% received concurrent trastuzumab with chemotherpy,and 35.3% pts received sequential trastuzumab with chemotherapy

Baseline characteristics by Chemotherapy alone and Chemotherapy + Trastuzumab.No(%) of patients   characteristicTrastuzumab- (N=957)Trastuzumab+ (N=441)Total (N=1398)Age (years)   &lt;=3596 ( 10.0)44 ( 10.0)140 ( 10.0)36 - 50434 ( 45.4)244 ( 55.3)678 ( 48.5)&gt;50427 ( 44.6)153 ( 34.7)580 ( 41.5)Histologic grade   I15 ( 1.6)7 ( 1.6)22 ( 1.6)I-II,II480 ( 50.2)224 ( 50.8)704 ( 50.4)II-III,III285 ( 29.8)166 ( 37.6)451 ( 32.3)IDC148 ( 15.5)29 ( 6.6)177 ( 12.7)Other29 ( 3.0)15 ( 3.4)44 ( 3.1)Clinical stage   026 ( 2.7)16 ( 3.6)42 ( 3.0)I259 ( 27.1)108 ( 24.5)367 ( 26.3)II434 ( 45.4)196 ( 44.4)630 ( 45.1)III238 ( 24.9)121 ( 27.4)359 ( 25.7)Hormone receptor status   Positive635 ( 66.4)256 ( 58.0)891 ( 63.7)Negative322 ( 33.6)185 ( 42.0)507 ( 36.3)

.Trastuzumab plus chemo had significantly longer DFS compared with chemo alone.(85.03%vs72.15%,hazard ratios,HR=0.531,95% confidence interval,95%CI:0.406-0.696, p&lt;0.001).In addition,the concurrent trasuzumab showed the trend with longer DFS compared to the sequential regimen(86.07%vs82.35%,HR=0.843,95%CI:0.515-1.378, p=0.495).Age,tumor size, lymph node status,clinical stage were associated with DFS

Results of Cox regression hazard model with treatment groups and patient characteristics on DFSGroupHR95% CIP valueTreatment group   Concurrent Trastuzumab0.8430.515-1.3780.495Sequential Trastuzumab   Chemotherapy+Trastuzumab0.5310.406-0.696&lt;0.001Chemotherapy alone   Age group (years)  0.001&lt;=351.6501.198-2.2730.00236 - 500.8880.702-1.1220.319&gt;50   Histologic grade  &lt;0.001I0.5200.210-1.2880.158I-II,II0.5040.379-0.671&lt;0.001II-III,III0.5320.390-0.725&lt;0.001Other0.5140.264-0.9970.049IDC   Clinical stage  &lt;0.00100.2610.107-0.6370.003I0.2860.207-0.395&lt;0.001II0.4800.379-0.607&lt;0.001III   Hormone receptor status  0.022Positive0.7730.621-0.9620.021Negative   

.OS was also prolonged in trastuzumab plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone.(93.20%vs85.45%,HR=0.561,95%CI:0.377-0.835, p=0.004).

Conclusions:Our study revealed that,there were still more than half of HER2-positive breast cancer pts couldn't reach anti-HER2 therapy in China,the early stage HER2-positive breast cancer pts could significantly benefit from trastuzumab adjuvant therapy in real-world setting.

Citation Format: Guo J, Xu B, Li Q, Zhang P, Yuan P, Wang J, Ma F, Fan Y, Cai R, Luo Y, Li Q. The treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of trastuzumab in early human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer in the real-world setting in China [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-13-13.

Outcome of postmastectomy radiotherapy after primary systemic treatment in patients with clinical T1-2N1 breast cancer

PURPOSE

The role of postmastectomy radiotherapy following primary systemic treatment in patients with clinical T1-2N1 breast cancer remains a controversial issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of postmastectomy radiotherapy following primary systemic treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2005 and 2012, in two independent institutions, female patients with T1-2N1 breast cancer receiving primary systemic treatment followed by mastectomy and lymph node dissection because bad response, then treated with or without chest wall and regional lymph node irradiation have been studied retrospectively. The patients received normofractionated radiotherapy using 3D conformal photons or electron techniques. Locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival and disease-free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis of potential prognostic factors was performed using log-rank test.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients have been studied. Of them, 75 patients received postmastectomy radiotherapy. At surgery, 53 patients achieved ypN0. Median follow-up was 67 months. Postmastectomy radiotherapy significantly improved locoregional recurrence-free survival, with a 5-year rate of 96.9% versus 78.6% in the group that did not have postmastectomy radiotherapy. In the subgroup of 53 patients achieving ypN0, postmastectomy radiotherapy improved locoregional recurrence-free survival (a 5-year rate of 94.7% vs. 72.9%), distant metastasis-free survival (a 5-year rate of 92.8% vs. 75%) and disease-free survival (a 5-year rate of 92.9% vs. 62.5%). By univariate analysis, postmastectomy radiotherapy was the only significant prognostic factor affecting locoregional recurrence-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with clinical T1-2N1 disease, postmastectomy radiotherapy could significantly improve locoregional recurrence-free survival after primary systemic treatment and be even more therapeutic in the subgroup of patients with good response for primary systemic treatment by improving locoregional recurrence-free, distant metastasis-free and disease-free survival. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Cord blood NK cells engineered to express IL-15 and a CD19-targeted CAR show long-term persistence and potent antitumor activity

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have been used to redirect the specificity of autologous T cells against leukemia and lymphoma with promising clinical results. Extending this approach to allogeneic T cells is problematic as they carry a significant risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Natural killer (NK) cells are highly cytotoxic effectors, killing their targets in a non-antigen-specific manner without causing GVHD. Cord blood (CB) offers an attractive, allogeneic, off-the-self source of NK cells for immunotherapy. We transduced CB-derived NK cells with a retroviral vector incorporating the genes for CAR-CD19, IL-15 and inducible caspase-9-based suicide gene (iC9), and demonstrated efficient killing of CD19-expressing cell lines and primary leukemia cells in vitro, with marked prolongation of survival in a xenograft Raji lymphoma murine model. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) production by the transduced CB-NK cells critically improved their function. Moreover, iC9/CAR.19/IL-15 CB-NK cells were readily eliminated upon pharmacologic activation of the iC9 suicide gene. In conclusion, we have developed a novel approach to immunotherapy using engineered CB-derived NK cells, which are easy to produce, exhibit striking efficacy and incorporate safety measures to limit toxicity. This approach should greatly improve the logistics of delivering this therapy to large numbers of patients, a major limitation to current CAR-T-cell therapies.

Effects of blood lead and cadmium levels on homocysteine level in plasma

OBJECTIVE

We studied the effect of non-occupational exposure to lead and cadmium on homocysteine level in plasma. Homocysteine is a marker for plasma folate folic acid metabolism in urban populations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

159 individuals from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai with no history of close exposure to heavy metals and no history of metabolic diseases were enrolled to participate in this study. Blood lead and cadmium levels were detected using ICP-MS method and the level of homocysteine was also measured using enzyme method. Our results showed that blood lead and cadmium levels in males were significantly higher than those in females. Also, blood lead and cadmium levels in smokers were higher than those in non-smokers; homocysteine level was significantly higher in smokers as well. According to blood lead and cadmium levels, cases were divided into four groups.

RESULTS

Our results showed that a surge in blood lead and cadmium levels could result in an increase in homocysteine level. We concluded that in the Chinese population, smoking and gender might be the risk factors for elevated levels of lead and cadmium. Meanwhile, blood lead and cadmium levels may influence the homocysteine levels in the body.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to speculate that non-occupational exposure to lead and cadmium, by increasing the homocysteine levels, negatively affect the cardiovascular and nervous system.

Etiology and clinical features of 229 cases of bloodstream infection among Chinese HIV/AIDS patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS. The etiology varies in different regions and different periods. We aimed to survey the etiological and clinical features of BSIs in HIV patients in mainland China. We assessed all HIV patients with a positive blood culture in a Chinese teaching hospital from September 2009 through December 2014. We excluded those with specimens likely to have been contaminated. We used Pearson's chi-squared test to measure the differences in characteristics among subgroups of different pathogens. Among 2442 Chinese HIV-seropositive inpatients, 229 (9.38 %) experienced BSIs. The most common pathogens detected included Cryptococcus neoformans (22.7 %), Penicillium marneffei (18.8 %), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (15.3 %), and non-tuberculous mycobacterium (14.8 %). 30/229 (13.1 %) HIV patients with BSIs had a poor prognosis. BSIs are prevalent in hospitalized patients with HIV/AIDS in China. Fungi and mycobacteria are the predominant pathogens.

Predictive value of plasma β2-microglobulin on human body function and senescence

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation between plasma β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) as senescence factor with age, heart, liver and kidney function as well as the predictive value of β2-MG in human metabolism function and senescence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

387 cases of healthy people of different ages were selected and the automatic biochemical analyzer was used to test β2-MG in plasma based on immunoturbidimetry and also all biochemical indexes. The correlation between β2-MG and age, gender and all biochemical indexes was analyzed.

RESULTS

β2-MG was positively correlated to age, r = 0.373; and the difference was of statistical significance (p < 0.010). It was significantly negative correlated to HDL-C but positively correlated to LP (a), BUN, CREA, UA, CYS-C, LDH, CK-MB, HBDH, AST, GLB and HCY.

CONCLUSIONS

β2-MG was closely correlated to age, heart, kidney and liver biochemical indexes, which can be taken as an important biomarker for human body function and anti-senescence and have significant basic research and clinical guidance values.

A crucial role of SUMOylation in modulating Sirt6 deacetylation of H3 at lysine 56 and its tumor suppressive activity

Sirt6 is a histone deacetylase with NAD(+)-dependent activity. Sirt6 has been shown as a tumor suppressor partially via inhibiting the expression of c-Myc target genes and ribosome biogenesis. However, how to regulate Sirt6 activity is largely unknown. In this study, we identify that Sirt6 can be modified by small ubiquitin-like modifier. Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency specifically decreases its deacetylation of H3K56 but not H3K9 in vivo. Mechanistically, we find that SUMOylation deficiency decreases Sirt6 binding with c-Myc, decreasing Sirt6 occupancy on the locus of c-Myc target genes. Therefore, Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency reduces its deacetylation of H3k56 and its repression of c-Myc target genes. Moreover, Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency reduces its suppression of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Thus, these results reveal that SUMOylation has an important role in regulation of Sirt6 deacetylation on H3K56, as well as its tumor suppressive activity.

GABAergic inhibition shapes SAM responses in rat auditory thalamus

Auditory thalamus (medial geniculate body [MGB]) receives ascending inhibitory GABAergic inputs from inferior colliculus (IC) and descending GABAergic projections from the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) with both inputs postulated to play a role in shaping temporal responses. Previous studies suggested that enhanced processing of temporally rich stimuli occurs at the level of MGB, with our recent study demonstrating enhanced GABA sensitivity in MGB compared to IC. The present study used sinusoidal amplitude-modulated (SAM) stimuli to generate modulation transfer functions (MTFs), to examine the role of GABAergic inhibition in shaping the response properties of MGB single units in anesthetized rats. Rate MTFs (rMTFs) were parsed into "bandpass (BP)", "mixed (Mixed)", "highpass (HP)" or "atypical" response types, with most units showing the Mixed response type. GABAA receptor blockade with iontophoretic application of the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) antagonist gabazine (GBZ) selectively altered the response properties of most MGB neurons examined. Mixed and HP units showed significant GABAAR-mediated SAM-evoked rate response changes at higher modulation frequencies (fms), which were also altered by N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor blockade (2R)-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (AP5). BP units, and the lower arm of Mixed units responded to GABAAR blockade with increased responses to SAM stimuli at or near the rate best modulation frequency (rBMF). The ability of GABA circuits to shape responses at higher modulation frequencies is an emergent property of MGB units, not observed at lower levels of the auditory pathway and may reflect activation of MGB NMDA receptors (Rabang and Bartlett, 2011; Rabang et al., 2012). Together, GABAARs exert selective rate control over selected fms, generally without changing the units' response type. These results showed that coding of modulated stimuli at the level of auditory thalamus is at least, in part, strongly controlled by GABA neurotransmission, in delicate balance with glutamatergic neurotransmission.

Changes in hematological parameters in α-thalassemia individuals co-inherited with erythroid Krüppel-like factor mutations

Phenotypic variations in α-thalassemia mainly depend on the defective α-globin gene number. Genetic modifiers of the phenotype of Hemoglobin H (HbH) disease were poorly reported, apart from β-thalassemia allele that was identified ameliorating the severity of α-thalassemia. Because erythroid Krüppel-like factor (KLF1) mutations can modulate the red blood phenotype, we evaluated its effect on the α-thalassemia phenotype. Overall, we identified 72 subjects with five different KLF1 heterozygous mutations in 1468 individuals, including 65 out of 432 α-thalassemia carriers with fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels ≥1%, 0 out of 310 carriers with HbF levels <1% and 7 out of 726 HbH disease patients. We firstly established the link between KLF1 mutations and relatively elevated hemoglobin A2 (HbA2 ) and HbF levels, along with lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values in a group of α-thalassemia carriers. However, we concluded that KLF1 mutations were not significantly linked to HbH disease severity. On the basis of HBA or HBB genotype and gender, clinical severity of patients with HbH disease was correctly predicted in 73.3% cases. It may improve the screening and diagnostic assessment of α-thalassemia.

Prevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection among female sex workers in Shenzhen, China: an observational study (2009-2012)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate prevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection among female sex workers (FSWs) in Shenzhen, China.

METHODS

Observational study among (2009-2012) 1653 FSWs recruited by venue-based sampling using questionnaire-based interviews for socio-demographics, behaviours and syphilis testing results. Logistic regression was used to assess risk factors of syphilis infection.

RESULTS

The overall syphilis prevalence was 4.7%, showing a slightly decreasing trend. Factors significantly associated with syphilis infection were inconsistent condom use (OR = 1.87, P = 0.015), illicit drug use (OR = 5.45, P < 0.001) and older age in years (OR = 1.08, P < 0.001). Venues where FSWs were recruited and duration of commercial sex work were not significantly associated with syphilis infection (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Syphilis is still common among FSWs in Shenzhen, China. Current comprehensive prevention programmes (e.g. condom promotion and peer education) should be continued to maintain and increase safe sexual practices and to reduce illicit drug use among FSWs. Expanding point-of-care syphilis screening programmes may be an important strategy for early diagnosis. We recommend timely and effective treatment programmes to be linked to such screening programmes.

Stopped-flow spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide with hemoglobin as catalyst

A rapid and sensitive method was proposed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide based on the catalytic effect of hemoglobin using o-phenylenediamine as the substrate. Stopped-flow spectrophotometric method was used to study the kinetic behavior of the oxidation reaction. The catalytic effectiveness of hemoglobin was compared with other four kinds of catalysts. The initial rate of the formation of the reaction product 2,3-diaminophenazine at the wavelength of 425 nm was monitored, permitting a detection limit of 9.2x10(-9) mol/l H(2)O(2). A linear calibration graph was obtained over the H(2)O(2) concentration range 5.0x10(-8)-3.5x10(-6) mol/l, and the relative standard deviation at a H(2)O(2) concentration of 5.0x10(-7) mol/l was 2.08%. Satisfied results were obtained in the determination of H(2)O(2) in real samples by this method.

New pseudononapeptide bombesin antagonists with C-terminal leu-psi(ch2n)tac-nh2 show high binding-affinity to bombesin/grp receptors on cfpac-1 human pancreatic-cancer cells

It has been demonstrated that bombesin/GRP antagonist D-Tpi(6),Leu(13)psi(CH2NH) Leu(14)-BN(6-14) (RC-3095) inhibits effectively the growth of pancreatic cancer and other tumors in experimental animals and in cell cultures. In an attempt to develop antagonists with still greater antitumor activity, several new pseudononapeptide bombesin/GRP antagonists containing C-terminal Leu psi(CH2N)Tac-NH2 have been synthesized in our laboratory. In this study, we investigated the ability of four Leu(13)psi(CH2N)Tac(14)-BN(6-14) antagonists to inhibit the binding of bombesin to specific receptors for bombesin/GRP on CFPAC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Receptor binding assays were performed by incubating CFPAC-1 cells (5x10(4) cells/well) with 0.5 nM [I-125]-Tyr(4)-bombesin in the absence or presence of (1 pM to 10 mu M) unlabeled bombesin, GRP(14-27) and various antagonists for 2 h at 22 degrees C. Displacement assays showed that antagonist D-Tpi(6),Leu(13)psi(CH2N)Tac(14)-BN(6-14) (RC-3910-II) with a similar structure to RC-3095, but a different C-terminal, had a binding affinity to CFPAC-1 cells 15 times higher than RC-3095. Three other antagonists, RC-3925-II, RC-3940-II and RC-3950-II contained the same C-terminal Leu psi(CH2N)Tac-NH2 as RC-3910-II, but had different N-terminal residues: D-Cpa, Hca and D-Phe, respectively. Among them, Hca(6),Leu(13)psi(CH2N)Tac(14)-BN(6-14) (RC-3940-II) showed the highest binding affinity to the receptors on CFPAC-1 cells, which was 50 times higher than that of RC-3095 or 3 times greater than RC-3910-II. Our findings suggest the merit of further investigation of pseudononapeptide bombesin/GRP antagonist RC-3940-II ind related analogs for a possible development of a new hormonal therapy for pancreatic cancer.

First Report of Bacterial Spot of Peony Caused by a Xanthomonas sp. in the United States

In early May 2008 and 2009, peony samples (Paeonia spp.) with symptoms of leaf spot and blight were submitted to the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic. The 2008 peony was an unknown cultivar from a northern Virginia landscape. The three cultivars (Dr. Alexander Fleming, Felix Crousse, and Karl Rosenfield) submitted in 2009 were from a commercial nursery in southwestern Virginia that was reporting leaf spot progressing to severe blight, which rendered plants unsalable, on 75% of a 1,219 m² block during a 10-day period of heavy rainfall. Bacterial streaming from spots was observed. On the basis of phenotypic and biochemical tests, the isolates were determined to be xanthomonads. Two isolates (one recovered from the 2008 sample and one from the 2009 sample) were used in the following work. Isolates were characterized by multilocus sequencing (MLST) (4). PCR reactions were prepared and cycled using 2X ImmoMix (Bioline, Tauton, MA) according to manufacturer's recommendations with an annealing temperature of 58°C. Template DNA was added by touching a single colony with a 20-μl pipette tip and placing the tip into the reaction mix for 1 min. Four bands of the expected size were visualized on an electrophoresis gel and cleaned products were sequenced in forward and reverse directions at the University of Chicago, Cancer Research Center DNA Sequencing Facility. Corresponding gene fragments of each isolate were identical. A consensus sequence (PAMDB Isolate ID No. 936) for each of the four gene fragments was constructed and compared with sequences in NCBI ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/ ) and PAMDB ( http://genome.ppws.vt.edu/cgi-bin/MLST/home.pl ) (1) databases using Blastn (2). No perfect match was found. Genetic distances between the peony isolates and all strains in PAMDB were determined by MegAlign (Lasergene; DNAStar, Madison, WI). The Xanthomonas strain most similar to the isolates recovered from the peony samples was Xanthomonas hortorum pv. hederae ICMP 1661 with a genetic distance of 0.023; this strongly suggests that the peony isolates belong to X. hortorum. For Koch's postulates, six surface-disinfested young leaflets from Paeonia lactiflora 'Karl Rosenfield' were inoculated by forcefully spraying a phosphate-buffered saline suspension of each bacterial isolate (~4.3 × 10⁹ CFU/ml) into the underside of the leaf until leaf tissue appeared water soaked. Controls were inoculated similarly with phosphate-buffered saline solution. Moist chambers with inoculated leaves were incubated at ambient temperature under two 48W fluorescent grow lights with 12 h of light and dark. Circular spots were observed on leaves inoculated with the 2009 and 2008 isolates in 18 and 20 days, respectively. No symptoms were observed on controls. Bacterial streaming from leaf spots was observed by phase-contrast microscopy; bacteria were isolated and confirmed to be identical to the original isolates by the methods described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Xanthomonas sp. causing leaf spot and blight on peony. Although bacterial blight of peony has been attributed to a xanthomonad in recent years, the pathogen had not been further characterized (3). References: (1) N. F. Almeida et al. Phytopathology 100:208, 2010. (2) D. J. Altschul et al. J. Mol. Biol. 215:403, 1990. (3) M. L. Gleason et al. Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. 2009. (4) J. M. Young et al. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 31:366, 2008.

Emergency department visits involving nonmedical use of selected prescription drugs in the United States, 2004-2008

This report, adapted from the lead article in the June 10, 2010, issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, describes the alarming increase in overdose deaths involving prescription drugs. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone were the drugs most highly implicated. Data were derived from the federal Drug Abuse Warning Network (Dawn). Other drugs commonly used in managing pain patients, including benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants, also were implicated.