The impact of MEIS1 TALE homeodomain transcription factor knockdown on glioma stem cell growth

Myeloid ecotropic virus insertion site 1 (MEIS1) is a HOX co-factor necessary for organ development and normal hematopoiesis. Recently, MEIS1 has been linked to the development and progression of various cancers. However, its role in gliomagenesis particularly on glioma stem cells (GSCs) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that MEIS1 is highly upregulated in GSCs compared to normal, and glioma cells and to its differentiated counterparts. Inhibition of MEIS1 expression by shRNA significantly reduced GSC growth in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. On the other hand, integrated transcriptomics analyses of glioma datasets revealed that MEIS1 expression is correlated to cell cycle-related genes. Clinical data analysis revealed that MEIS1 expression is elevated in high-grade gliomas, and patients with high MEIS1 levels have poorer overall survival outcomes. The findings suggest that MEIS1 is a prognostic biomarker for glioma patients and a possible target for developing novel therapeutic strategies against GBM.

The CoREST repressor complex mediates phenotype switching and therapy resistance in melanoma

Virtually all patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma develop resistance to MAPK inhibitors largely through nonmutational events. Although the epigenetic landscape is shown to be altered in therapy-resistant melanomas and other cancers, a specific targetable epigenetic mechanism has not been validated. Here, we evaluated the corepressor for element 1-silencing transcription factor (CoREST) epigenetic repressor complex and the recently developed bivalent inhibitor corin within the context of melanoma phenotype plasticity and therapeutic resistance. We found that CoREST was a critical mediator of the major distinct melanoma phenotypes and that corin treatment of melanoma cells led to phenotype reprogramming. Global assessment of transcript and chromatin changes conferred by corin revealed specific effects on histone marks connected to epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated (EMT-associated) transcription factors and the dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs). Remarkably, treatment of BRAF inhibitor-resistant (BRAFi-R) melanomas with corin promoted resensitization to BRAFi therapy. DUSP1 was consistently downregulated in BRAFi-R melanomas, which was reversed by corin treatment and associated with inhibition of p38 MAPK activity and resensitization to BRAFi therapies. Moreover, this activity was recapitulated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor BIRB 796. These findings identify the CoREST repressor complex as a central mediator of melanoma phenotype plasticity and resistance to targeted therapy and suggest that CoREST inhibitors may prove beneficial for patients with BRAFi-resistant melanoma.

Fate of Quasiparticles at High Temperature in the Correlated Metal Sr_{2}RuO_{4}

We study the temperature evolution of quasiparticles in the correlated metal Sr_{2}RuO_{4}. Our angle resolved photoemission data show that quasiparticles persist up to temperatures above 200 K, far beyond the Fermi liquid regime. Extracting the quasiparticle self-energy, we demonstrate that the quasiparticle residue Z increases with increasing temperature. Quasiparticles eventually disappear on approaching the bad metal state of Sr_{2}RuO_{4} not by losing weight but via excessive broadening from super-Planckian scattering. We further show that the Fermi surface of Sr_{2}RuO_{4}-defined as the loci where the spectral function peaks-deflates with increasing temperature. These findings are in semiquantitative agreement with dynamical mean field theory calculations.

Suspected Primary Intracranial Melanoma with Widespread Distant Metastases in a Cat

An 8-year-old female Domestic Shorthair presented with signs of intracranial disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head showed an extra-axial space-occupying mass within the cranial vault with a similar intensity lesion within the overlying temporalis muscle. Postmortem examination found masses within the head, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney consistent with malignant melanoma. Intracranial melanoma is rarely reported in cats and is typically only seen as a metastatic lesion associated with an ocular mass. Melanomas can be readily recognised on MRI as they are one of the few lesions which are hyperintense on T1-weighted images.

Fecal microbiota transplanted from old mice promotes more colonic inflammation, proliferation, and tumor formation in azoxymethane-treated A/J mice than microbiota originating from young mice

Aging is a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). It is well established that gut microbial dysbiosis can play a role in the etiology of CRC. Although the composition of the gut microbial community changes with age and is reported to become more pro-inflammatory, it is unclear whether such changes are also pro-tumorigenic for the colon. To address this gap, we conducted fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from young (DY, ~6 wk) and old (DO, ~72 wk) donor mice into young (8 wk) recipient mice that were pre-treated with antibiotics. After initiating tumorigenesis with azoxymethane, recipients were maintained for 19 wk during which time they received monthly FMT boosters. Compared to recipients of young donors (RY), recipients of old donors (RO) had an approximately 3-fold higher prevalence of histologically confirmed colon tumors (15.8 vs 50%, Chi2 P = .03), approximately 2-fold higher proliferating colonocytes as well as significantly elevated colonic IL-6, IL-1β and Tnf-α. Transcriptomics analysis of the colonic mucosa revealed a striking upregulation of mitochondria-related genes in the RO mice, a finding corroborated by increased mitochondrial abundance. Amongst the differences in fecal microbiome observed between DY and DO mice, the genera Ruminoclostridium, Lachnoclostridium and Marvinbryantia were more abundant in DY mice while the genera Bacteroides and Akkermansia were more abundant in DO mice. Amongst recipients, Ruminoclostridium and Lachnoclostridium were higher in RY mice while Bacteroides was higher in RO mice. Differences in fecal microbiota were observed between young and old mice, some of which persisted upon transplant into recipient mice. Recipients of old donors displayed significantly higher colonic proliferation, inflammation and tumor abundance compared to recipients of young donors. These findings support an etiological role for altered gut microbial communities in the increased risk for CRC with increasing age and establishes that such risk can be transmitted between individuals.

Characterization of canine intestinal microRNA expression in inflammatory bowel disease and T-cell lymphoma

Differentiating between canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal T-cell lymphoma by histopathological examination of endoscopically-derived intestinal biopsies can be challenging and involves an invasive procedure requiring specialized equipment and training. A rapid, non-invasive method of diagnosis, such as blood or faecal analysis for a conserved and stable biomarker, would be a useful adjunct or replacement. Studies on dogs and humans with various types of lymphoma have shown altered microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns in blood, faeces and tissues indicating their potential use as biomarkers of disease. The present study used residual archived endoscopically-derived, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) duodenal tissue taken from pet dogs undergoing routine investigation of gastrointestinal disease. The dogs had previously been diagnosed with either normal/minimal intestinal inflammation, severe IBD or intestinal T-cell lymphoma. Next generation sequencing with qPCR validation was used to elucidate differentially expressed miRNAs between groups. Our results show that miRNA can be extracted from archived endoscopically-derived FFPE tissues from the canine duodenum and used to differentiate normal/minimally inflamed canine duodenal tissue from severe lymphoplasmacytic IBD and T-cell lymphoma.

Buried graphene heterostructures for electrostatic doping of low-dimensional materials

The fabrication and characterization of steep slope transistor devices based on low-dimensional materials requires precise electrostatic doping profiles with steep spatial gradients in order to maintain maximum control over the channel. In this proof-of-concept study we present a versatile graphene heterostructure platform with three buried individually addressable gate electrodes. The platform is based on a vertical stack of embedded titanium and graphene separated by an intermediate oxide to provide an almost planar surface. We demonstrate the functionality and advantages of the platform by exploring transfer and output characteristics at different temperatures of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors with different electrostatic doping configurations. Furthermore, we back up the concept with finite element simulations to investigate the surface potential. The presented heterostructure is an ideal platform for analysis of electrostatic doping of low-dimensional materials for novel low-power transistor devices.

Unloader bracing in osteoarthritis of the knee - Is there a direct effect on the damaged cartilage?

BACKGROUND

Unloading knee braces represent a conservative treatment option for non-pharmalogical management of unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. Though there is consensus on the clinical effectiveness of unloading, the effect mechanism of bracing remains part of a debate. Our study was designed to assess the effect of unloader bracing on damaged cartilage via MRI cartilage mappings.

METHODS

Fourteen patients (7 female, 7 male, mean age 43.1 ± 9.4 years) with unicompartmental cartilage wear in knees with varus or valgus malalignment were enrolled. Clinical scores, radiographs and MR-graphic properties (T2/T2* mapping, T1 Delayed Gadolinium Enhanced MRI of the cartilage (dGEMRIC) mapping, high-resolution PDw sequences) of knee cartilage were recorded before and three months after brace use.

RESULTS

Bracing the knees for a mean of 14.4 ± 2.0 weeks (range 11 to 18 weeks) resulted in significant pain reduction (VAS changed from 5.9 ± 2.0 to 2.0 ± 1.3, p < 0.001) and improvement in knee function (KOOS increased from 42.1 ± 22.7 to 64.8 ± 18.7, p < 0.001). In the affected cartilage regions T2 relaxation times significantly decreased from 56.1 ± 11.4 ms to 46.5 ± 11.2 ms (p < 0.05). No changes in T1-dGEMRIC and T2* relaxation times, thickness or the extent of the damaged cartilage area could be detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest, that unloader bracing improves the biochemical properties of the damaged cartilage by increasing collagen and proteoglycan concentration as well as decreasing the cartilage edema.

MISEXPRESSION OF GENES LACKING CPG ISLANDS IS A SHARED TRAIT OF MAMMALIAN AGING

Changes in the 3-D architecture of chromatin are observed in various diseases and are also a hallmark of aging. Disruption of the nuclear lamina and associated heterochromatin are commonly observed in various aging contexts, including premature aging diseases, cellular senescence, and normative aging. Although these conserved structural changes have been reported for over two decades, their impacts on transcription and contribution to age-related degenerative changes remain unknown. By performing a large-scale computational analysis and experimental validation, here we show that genes lacking CpG islands (CGI- genes), which form heterochromatin when transcriptionally silent, are globally misexpressed in aged nuclei with disrupted chromatin architectures. We demonstrate that CGI- gene misexpression is a common feature of mammalian aging and explains the molecular basis of various age-associated defects, ranging from loss of cellular identity and increased transcriptional noise to age-associated chronic inflammation. Our findings reveal that CGI- gene misexpression is directly associated with age-related physiological deterioration, thus providing a novel biomarker of aging.

Insulin expression in β cells is reduced within islets before islet loss in diabetic cats

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition that requires intensive treatment and markedly impacts the welfare of affected cats. The aim of this study was to identify diabetes mellitus-associated perturbations in the feline pancreatic islet microenvironment. The utility of "clear, unobstructed brain/body imaging cocktails and computational analysis" (CUBIC) for three-dimensional pancreatic analysis was investigated.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from cats with diabetes mellitus, or control cats without pancreatic pathology, were retrospectively identified. Immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin and ionised calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, and immunofluorescence for insulin and synaptophysin, were used to assess changes in islets. An image analysis pipeline was developed to analyse images acquired from two-dimensional immunofluorescence. CUBIC was used to optically clear selected pancreas samples before immunofluorescence and deep three-dimensional confocal microscopy.

RESULTS

Diabetic cats have a significant reduction in synaptophysin-positive islet area. Whilst islets from diabetic patients have similar numbers of β cells to islets from control cats, significantly lower intensity of insulin expression can be observed in the former. CUBIC facilitates clear visualisation of pancreatic islets in three dimensions.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The data presented support the theory that there is a decrease in function of β cells before their destruction, suggesting a potentially significant step in the pathogenesis of feline diabetes mellitus. In parallel, we demonstrate CUBIC as a valuable new tool to visualise the shape of feline pancreatic islets and to interrogate pathology occurring in the islets of diabetic pets.

Pan-cancer analysis of genomic scar patterns caused by homologous repair deficiency (HRD)

Homologous repair deficiency (HRD) is present in many cancer types at variable prevalence and can indicate response to platinum-based chemotherapy and PARP inhibition. We developed a tumor classification system based on the loss of function of genes in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway. To this end, somatic and germline alterations in BRCA1/2 and 140 other HRR genes were included and assessed for the impact on gene function. Additionally, information on the allelic hit type and on BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation was included. The HRDsum score including LOH, LST, and TAI was calculated for 8847 tumors of the TCGA cohort starting from genotyping data and for the subcohort of ovarian cancer also starting from WES data. Pan-cancer, deleterious BRCA1/2 alterations were detected in 4% of the tumors, while 18% of the tumors were HRD-positive (HRDsum ≥ 42). Across 33 cancer types, both BRCA1/2 alterations and HRD-positivity were most prevalent in ovarian cancer (20% and 69%). Pan-cancer, tumors with biallelic deleterious alterations in BRCA1/2 were separated strongly from tumors without relevant alterations (AUC = 0.89), while separation for tumors with monoallelic deleterious BRCA1/2 alterations was weak (AUC = 0.53). Tumors with biallelic deleterious alterations in other HHR genes were separated moderately from tumors without relevant alterations (AUC = 0.63), while separation for tumors with such monoallelic alterations was weaker (AUC = 0.57). In ovarian cancer, HRDsum scores calculated from WES data correlated strongly with HRDsum scores calculated from genotyping data (R = 0.87) and were slightly (4%) higher. We comprehensively analyzed HRD scores and their association with mutations in HRR genes in common cancer types. Our study identifies important parameters influencing HRD measurement and argues for an integration of HRDsum score with specific mutational profiles.

Misexpression of genes lacking CpG islands drives degenerative changes during aging

Cellular aging is characterized by disruption of the nuclear lamina and its associated heterochromatin. How these structural changes within the nucleus contribute to age-related degeneration of the organism is unclear. Genes lacking CpG islands (CGI− genes) generally associate with heterochromatin when they are inactive. Here, we show that the expression of these genes is globally activated in aged cells and tissues. This CGI− gene misexpression is a common feature of normal and pathological aging in mice and humans. We report evidence that CGI− gene up-regulation is directly responsible for age-related physiological deterioration, notably for increased secretion of inflammatory mediators.

In silico identification of anti-aging pharmaceutics from community knowledge

In this era of Big Data, the volume of biological data is growing exponentially. Systematic profiling and analysis of these data will provide a new insight into biology and human health. Among diverse types of biological data, gene expression data closely mirror both the static phenotypes and the dynamic changes in biological systems. Drug-to-drug or drug-to-disease comparison of gene expression signature allows repurposing/repositioning of existing pharmaceutics to treat additional diseases that, in turn, provides a rapid and cost-effective approach for drug discovery. Thanks to technological advances, gene expression profiling by mRNA-seq became a routine tool to address all aspects of the problem in modern biological research. Here, we present how drug repositioning using published mRNA-seq data can provide unbiased and applicable pharmaco-chemical intervention strategies to human diseases and aging. In specifics, we profiled over a half-million gene expression profiling data generated from various contexts, and using this, we screened conditions that can suppress age-associated gene expression changes. As a result, our analysis identified various previously validated aging intervention strategies as positive hits. Furthermore, our analysis also predicted a novel group of chemicals that has not been studied from an aging context, and this indeed significantly extended the life span in model animals. Taken together, our data demonstrate that our community knowledge-guided in silico drug-discovery pipeline provides a useful and effective tool to identify the novel aging intervention strategy.

Nuclear Architecture Disruption During Aging Causes Misexpression of Genes Lacking CpG Islands

Global disorganization of chromatin architecture, characterized by disrupted nuclear lamina and associated heterochromatin, is commonly observed in various aging contexts, including premature aging diseases, cellular senescence, and normative aging. Although these conserved structural changes have been reported for over two decades, their impact on transcription and contribution to age-related degenerative changes remain unclear. Here we show that genes not associated with CpG islands (CGI- genes), which form heterochromatin when transcriptionally silent, are globally misexpressed in aged nuclei with disrupted chromatin architectures. Our data also show that CGI- gene misexpression is a direct outcome of nuclear architecture disruption. Notably, CGI- gene misexpression explains the molecular basis of various defects observed during aging, including loss of cellular identity and increased noises in transcription. We also show that uncontrolled secretory phenotypes commonly observed during aging are largely attributable to CGI- gene misexpression, which drives disruption of intercellular communication and fuel chronic inflammation in aged tissues. Our large-scale meta-analysis further demonstrates that CGI- gene misexpression is a common feature of mammalian aging and age-associated diseases. Interestingly, CGI- gene misexpression can be suppressed by anti-aging interventions. Our study suggests that age-associated CGI- gene misexpression is a novel biomarker of physiological aging which offers an effective therapeutic target for delaying or ameliorating degenerative changes associated with aging.

Spinal ectopic choroid plexus papilloma in a cat

Case summary

A 10-year-old male neutered Russian Blue cat was presented with a 2-month history of progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis. Spinal MRI revealed a well-demarcated, compressive intradural extramedullary mass at the level of T1 vertebra. The mass had subtle hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, was isointense on T1-weighted images and had diffuse, marked enhancement following gadolinium administration. Neuroaxis MRI, including limited brain sequences, excluded other visible lesions. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs were unremarkable. The mass was resected via a dorsal C7–T2 laminectomy and durotomy. Histopathology revealed a neoplasm composed of columnar-to-polygonal cells forming bilayered palisading patterns with a few apical cilia. Three mitoses were noted in 10 high-power fields. This was consistent with an epithelial neoplasm and initially a metastatic adenocarcinoma was considered most likely. Full-body CT with contrast and including the brain found rhinitis but did not identify any additional neoplastic foci. Biopsies of the nasal cavity and fine-needle aspiration of the spleen and liver were unremarkable. On immunohistochemical evaluation, pan-cytokeratin and E-cadherin immunolabelling was observed; however, synaptophysin, thyroglobulin, chromogranin A and glial fibrillary acidic protein was not detected. This, along with the histological morphology and absence of a primary tumour, was compatible with an ectopic choroid plexus neoplasm. Follow-up performed at 3, 14 and 24 months postoperatively revealed neurological improvement without recurrence.

Relevance and novel information

We describe the presentation, histopathological and immunohistochemical features and outcome of a case of a rare ectopic choroid plexus neoplasm in the spinal cord of a cat.

The relationship between epigenetic age and myocardial infarction/acute coronary syndrome and in a population based nested case-control study

Background

The measure of “epigenetic age” (EA) derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) is considered as biomarker of ageing.

Objective

We investigated the relationship between EA and Myocardial Infarction (MI) /Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a nested case-control study of the elderly population.

Methods

A random population sample was examined at baseline (2003/05, n=9360, age 45–69, the Russian arm of the HAPIEE Project), re-examined in 2006/08, 2015/17, and followed up for an average 15 years for fatal and non-fatal events. Using a nested case-control study design, we selected participants with incident MI/ACS (cases) and age-and sex-stratified controls among those free from baseline CVD. We performed DNAm profiling of the whole blood samples (using Illumina EPIC arrays) collected at baseline. After quality control, 135 cases and 185 controls were included in the analysis. Baseline EA was calculated using Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge and Skin and Blood DNAm clocks; the differences between EA and chronological age (CA) were denoted as DAHr, DAHn, DAPh, DASB, respectively.

Results

DNAm ages calculated with Horvath's, Hannum's and Skin and Blood clocks were close to the CA; the corresponding median absolute differences (MAD) were 3.38, 3.64 and 2.79 years, and mean (SD) −0.85 (5.37), 1.96 (5.18) and 2.10 (3.94) for DAHr, DAHn and DASB respectively. As expected, PhenoAge's predictions were less precise with MAD=9.41 and DAPh mean (SD) 8.94 (6.38). The mean DAHr and DAHn were significantly higher in MI/ACS compared to controls (0.99 (5.38) vs. −1.55 (5.27), p=0.007, and 2.89 (6.37) vs. 1.28 (4.95), p=0.006 correspondingly), DASB was borderline higher in MI/ACS vs controls and DAPh was similar in cases and controls. After controlling for sex, the risk of MI/ACS was higher in DAHr terciles 2 and 3 vs. tercile 1 (OR=1.08 [95% CI 0.61–1.89], p=0.799 and OR=2.09 [1.19–3.66], p=0.010); the association was independent of smoking but it was largely explained (or mediated) by metabolic factors (blood pressure, body mass index, total and LDL-cholesterol). Similarly, the risk of MI/ACS was increased in terciles 2 and 3 of DAHn; compared with lowest tercile, the OR were 1.52 [0.86–2.71], p=0.152 and 2.41 [1.34–4.34], p=0.003), respectively; again, the association was largely explained by metabolic factors. There was no association found between baseline DAPh or DASB and the risk of MI/ACS.

Conclusion

In this case-control study nested in a prospective population-based cohort, we found an association between acceleration of epigenetic age and increased risk of MI/ACS independent of sex and smoking. The risk of MI/ACS was about 2-fold higher in the top tercile of difference between epigenetic and chronological age. The excess risk is appeared to be modulated by metabolic factors.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Russian Science Foundation; Russian Academy of Sciences, Sate Assignment

Multidisciplinary barriers to addressing tobacco cessation during an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization

Tobacco use and resultant health complications disproportionately impact individuals with psychiatric disorders. Inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations provide an opportunity to initiate tobacco treatment. In this study, electronic medical record review identified demographic and clinical information, smoking status, and tobacco cessation treatment offered for adults hospitalized on two acute, non-smoking psychiatric units in Massachusetts from January 2016 to March 2018. We additionally conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 inpatient nursing, psychiatry, psychology and social work providers regarding their tobacco cessation treatment practices and perceived facilitators and barriers to addressing tobacco use on psychiatric inpatient units. Chart review identified 1099 of 3140 (35%) people admitted reporting daily tobacco smoking. On discharge, 5 (0.005%) of inpatient smokers received a prescription for varenicline, 43 (0.04%) for dual-nicotine replacement therapy, 211 (19.2%) for nicotine patch, and 5 (0.005%) for bupropion. Barriers to inpatient smoking cessation treatment initiation identified in qualitative interviews included: 1) smoking cessation as low priority, 2) smoking cessation as the responsibility of outpatient providers, 3) lack of education about tobacco treatment, and 4) treatment discussions framed as preventing withdrawal. Given the potential to impact a large percentage of psychiatric tobacco users, future interventions should investigate provision of tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy in inpatient settings, with interventions that take into account the barriers and opportunities presented in this study.

Validation of a combined ELISA to detect IgG, IgA and IgM antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in mild or moderate non-hospitalised patients

BACKGROUND

Frequently SARS-CoV-2 results in mild or moderate disease with potentially lower concentrations of antibodies compared to those that are hospitalised. Here, we validated an ELISA using SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike glycoprotein, with targeted detection of IgG, IgA and IgM (IgGAM) using serum and dried blood spots (DBS) from adults with mild or moderate disease.

METHODS

Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike, a combined anti-IgG, IgA and IgM serology ELISA assay was developed using 62 PCR-confirmed non-hospitalised, mild or moderate COVID-19 samples, ≥14 days post symptom onset and 624 COVID-19 negative samples. The assay was validated using 73 PCR-confirmed non-hospitalised, mild or moderate COVID-19 samples, ≥14 days post symptom onset and 359 COVID-19 negative serum samples with an additional 81 DBSs. The assay was further validated in 226 PCR-confirmed non-hospitalised, mild or moderate COVID-19 samples, ≥14 days post symptom onset and 426 COVID-19 negative clinical samples.

RESULTS

A sensitivity and specificity of 98.6% (95% CI, 92.6-100.0), 98.3% (95% CI, 96.4-99.4), respectively, was observed following validation of the SARS-CoV-2 ELISA. No cross-reactivities with endemic coronaviruses or other human viruses were observed, and no change in results were recorded for interfering substances. The assay was stable at temperature extremes and components were stable for 15 days once opened. A matrix comparison showed DBS to correlate with serum results. Clinical validation of the assay reported a sensitivity of 94.7% (95% CI, 90.9-97.2%) and a specificity of 98.4% (95% CI, 96.6-99.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The human anti-IgGAM SARS-CoV-2 ELISA provides accurate and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in non-hospitalised adults with mild or moderate disease. The use of dried blood spots makes the assay accessible to the wider community.

Cytoplasmic expression of a model antigen with M Cell-Targeting moiety in lactic acid bacteria and implication of the mechanism as a mucosal vaccine via oral route

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been widely studied as mucosal vaccine delivery carriers against many infectious diseases for heterologous expression of protein antigens. There are three antigen expression strategies for LAB: cytoplasmic expression (CE), cell surface display (SD), and extracellular secretion (ES). Despite the generally higher protein expression level and many observations of antigen-specific immunogenicity in CE, its application as a mucosal vaccine has been overlooked relative to SD and ES because of the antigens enclosed by the LAB cell wall. We hypothesized that the antigens in CE could be released from the LAB into the intestinal lumen before host bacterial access to gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which could contribute to antigen-specific immune responses after oral administration. To elucidate this hypothesis, three recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) strains were constructed to produce a model antigen, BmpB, with or without an M cell-targeting moiety, and their immunogenicities were analyzed comparatively as oral vaccines in mouse model. The data indicated that the recombinant LPs producing BmpBs with different conformations could induce mucosal immunity differentially. This suggests that the cytoplasmic antigens in LAB could be released into the intestinal lumen, subsequently translocated through M cells, and stimulate the GALT to generate antigen-specific immune responses. Therefore, the CE strategy has great potential, especially in the application of oral LAB vaccines as well as SD and ES strategies. This research provides a better understanding of the mechanism for recombinant oral LAB vaccines and gives insight to the future design of LAB vaccines and oral delivery applications for useful therapeutic proteins.

Conserved dual-mode gene regulation programs in higher eukaryotes

Recent genomic data analyses have revealed important underlying logics in eukaryotic gene regulation, such as CpG islands (CGIs)-dependent dual-mode gene regulation. In mammals, genes lacking CGIs at their promoters are generally regulated by interconversion between euchromatin and heterochromatin, while genes associated with CGIs constitutively remain as euchromatin. Whether a similar mode of gene regulation exists in non-mammalian species has been unknown. Here, through comparative epigenomic analyses, we demonstrate that the dual-mode gene regulation program is common in various eukaryotes, even in the species lacking CGIs. In cases of vertebrates or plants, we find that genes associated with high methylation level promoters are inactivated by forming heterochromatin and expressed in a context-dependent manner. In contrast, the genes with low methylation level promoters are broadly expressed and remain as euchromatin even when repressed by Polycomb proteins. Furthermore, we show that invertebrate animals lacking DNA methylation, such as fruit flies and nematodes, also have divergence in gene types: some genes are regulated by Polycomb proteins, while others are regulated by heterochromatin formation. Altogether, our study establishes gene type divergence and the resulting dual-mode gene regulation as fundamental features shared in a broad range of higher eukaryotic species.

[Comparison between oral fluid samples and pooled serum samples for the detection of antibodies against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in weaning pig herds]

INTRODUCTION

Monitoring of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in pig farms is performed usually by testing for antibodies against PRRSV in serum samples. A new method is the detection of PRRSV antibodies in porcine saliva. In this study serum samples and saliva were collected in nine farms suspicious for PRRSV and tested for the presence of PRRSV antibodies. In total 220 serum and 41 saliva samples were taken from pigs at the age of 8 weeks (± 1 week). One saliva and one pooled serum sample (1:5) were tested from each pen. In total 11 (Cut-off 0.4/0.3) or 14 (Cut-off 0.2) serum samples and 23 saliva out of 41 pens were positive for PRRSV antibodies. Cohen`s Kappa testing showed a moderate agreement (κ = 0.446). Saliva samples compared to pooled serum samples were very sensitive, the specificity was 60 and 67, respectively.

Comparison between the Real-Time PCR and Crystal Diagnostic Xpress Immunoassay Methods for Detecting Salmonella and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in the Air of Beef Slaughter Establishments

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) molecular method and the Crystal Diagnostic Xpress (CDx) immunoassay for detecting Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in air samples collected from abattoirs in Texas. The 70 air samples were collected from two small and two large meat processing plants in the spring and summer with a wetted wall cyclone air sampler. The samples were divided equally into two parts: one part was used for the qPCR assay, and the other part was enriched for 18 and 36 h and evaluated with the CDx immunoassay. All samples for which positive results were obtained were confirmed by plating and by biochemical and serological tests as recommended by AOAC International to verify results of rapid methods. With the qPCR and CDx assays and 36 h of enrichment, 37.5 and 57.1% of the samples, respectively, were positive for Salmonella (P < 0.05) and 65.0 and 60.7%, respectively, were positive for STEC (P > 0.05). Air samples required longer enrichment for the CDx immunoassay than recommended by the manufacturer for food samples. Recovery of Salmonella and STEC increased 16 and 47%, respectively, when enrichment was extended from 18 to 36 h. The prevalence of Salmonella and STEC obtained with both methods was affected by the size of the processing plant and the processing stage. Detection rates for samples from larger plants were higher for both pathogens. Significantly higher prevalence was obtained for samples from the stunning and dehiding areas than for those from the fabrication rooms and chillers. Salmonella detection was higher with the CDx assay than with the qPCR assay, but no differences were found for the detection of STEC by the qPCR and CDx assays. These results highlight the importance of method adjustments when testing matrices other than foods. More research is needed to understand the dynamics of pathogen dispersal in aerosols and how this affects the effectiveness of current rapid detection methods.

HIGHLIGHTS

Spontaneous Regression of a Mandibular Plasmacytoma in a Juvenile Dog: A Case Report

A 4 mo old female Finnish lapphund presented for further investigation of a swelling of the right rostral mandible. A computed tomography scan showed the swelling to be an expansile and osteolytic mandibular lesion. Histopathology revealed a poorly differentiated, moderately well-demarcated, unencapsulated, highly infiltrative round cell neoplasm, and immunohistochemistry was supportive of a plasmacytoma. Performance of a rostral partial mandibulectomy was initially discussed with the owners, but the lesion improved spontaneously both clinically and on repeated computed tomography scanning before surgery could be performed. It subsequently almost completely resolved 6 mo after diagnosis. Hypotheses for spontaneous regression of the lesion are discussed and the human literature is briefly reviewed.

DISRUPTION OF CPG ISLAND-MEDIATED CHROMATIN ARCHITECTURE AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL HOMEOSTASIS DURING AGING

Aging causes the global disorganization of nuclear chromatin architecture. In a normal young nucleus, silent heterochromatin is associated with the nuclear lamina layer underlying nuclear envelope, thus spatially separated from euchromatin at the nuclear center. Notably, aging causes the disruption of nuclear lamina and the decondensation of associated heterochromatin. However, it is not clearly understood how these changes of chromatin architectures contribute to age-related diseases. Through large-scale computational analyses, we present that CpG islands (CGIs) give important clues to answering this question. CGIs are DNA elements with high Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine dinucleotide frequencies. In human, about 60% of total genes contain CGIs at their promoters (CGI+ genes) and are broadly expressed throughout the body. The other 40% of genes that do not have CGIs (CGI- genes) exhibit tissue-restricted expression patterns. Our results demonstrate that, in normal young nuclei, only CGI- genes can reside within lamina-associated heterochromatin when transcriptionally inactive, while CGI+ genes associate with nuclear central euchromatin even when they are repressed. In parallel, we show that age-associated heterochromatin decondensation can specifically de-repress tissue-specific CGI- genes leading to their uncontrolled expressions. Our results further demonstrate that global misregulation of CGI- genes increases the noise in gene transcription that, in turn, causes the loss of cellular identities during aging. Taken together, our study establishes critical implication of CGI-mediated chromatin architecture in age-associated degenerative changes and loss of tissue homeostasis.

Validation and Application of the AC2 Code COCOSYS

The GRS program package AC2 with its codes ATHLET/ATHLET-CD and COCOSYS aims for the reliable computational simulation of significant phenomena occurring during normal operation, design basis accidents, and severe accidents in the cooling circuit and containment of a nuclear power plant. To keep the modelling at the state-of-the-art, continuous development and validation is required. This is accomplished through participation in several national and international experimental research programs, where AC2 or one of its codes are assessed against both separate effect tests and integral tests. This paper exemplifies the status of validation and application of COCOSYS by means of calculations of iodine chemistry and molten corium/concrete interaction after reactor pressure vessel rupture. Further, calculations using the external 3D module CoPool coupled to COCOSYS on thermal stratification in large water pools are discussed. The examples given demonstrate the progress of the COCOSYS development and the capability to simulate phenomena in the containment during incidents and accidents with good results. Future applications comprise the entire spectrum of incidents and accidents for Generation III/III+ systems with just one program package.

[Apps in clinical use in orthopedics and trauma surgery : The status quo in Germany]

In the course of digitalization the smartphone is penetrating more and more areas of life giving the user mobile and almost ubiquitous access to the internet and other web applications. The advantages of mHealth are an integral part in some areas of patient care but in contrast to other disciplines, routine integration of mobile devices into orthopedics and trauma surgery is still in its infancy. A survey among German orthopedists and trauma surgeons revealed which kind of apps have become established in everyday clinical practice to date. Apps published by representative institutions such as the AO Foundation demonstrated the highest usage rates. In summary, the number of regularly used apps is low; however, the causes of this lack of acceptance have not yet been conclusively clarified. The authors of this study proclaim a significant increase in the use of mHealth and mobile devices in daily clinical practice in the future.

Implications of CpG islands on chromosomal architectures and modes of global gene regulation

CpG islands (CGIs) have long been implicated in the regulation of vertebrate gene expression. However, the involvement of CGIs in chromosomal architectures and associated gene expression regulations has not yet been thoroughly explored. By combining large-scale integrative data analyses and experimental validations, we show that CGIs clearly reconcile two competing models explaining nuclear gene localizations. We first identify CGI-containing (CGI+) and CGI-less (CGI-) genes are non-randomly clustered within the genome, which reflects CGI-dependent spatial gene segregation in the nucleus and corresponding gene regulatory modes. Regardless of their transcriptional activities, CGI+ genes are mainly located at the nuclear center and encounter frequent long-range chromosomal interactions. Meanwhile, nuclear peripheral CGI- genes forming heterochromatin are activated and internalized into the nuclear center by local enhancer-promoter interactions. Our findings demonstrate the crucial implications of CGIs on chromosomal architectures and gene positioning, linking the critical importance of CGIs in determining distinct mechanisms of global gene regulation in three-dimensional space in the nucleus.

A randomized controlled proof-of-concept trial of digoxin and furosemide in adults with cutaneous warts

Background

Topical ionic contraviral therapy (ICVT) with digoxin and furosemide inhibits the potassium influx on which DNA viruses rely for replication. Therefore, ICVT was hypothesized to be a potential novel treatment for cutaneous warts.

Objectives

To assess the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts. The secondary objective was to gain insight into the underlying working mechanism of ICVT.

Methods

Treatment with ICVT was assessed for efficacy, safety and tolerability in a single‐ centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase IIA trial. Eighty adult patients with at least two cutaneous warts (plantar or common) were randomized to one of four treatments: digoxin + furosemide (0·125%), digoxin (0·125%), furosemide (0·125%) or placebo. The gel was administered once daily for 42 consecutive days. Predefined statistical analysis was performed with a mixed‐model ancova. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT02333643.

Results

Wart size and human papillomavirus (HPV) load reduction was achieved in all active treatment groups. A statistically significant reduction in wart diameter of all treated warts was shown in the digoxin + furosemide treatment group vs. placebo (−3·0 mm, 95% confidence interval −4·9 to −1·1, P = 0·002). There was a statistically significant reduction in the HPV load of all treated warts in the digoxin + furosemide group vs. placebo (−94%, 95% confidence interval −100 to −19, P = 0·03). With wart size reduction, histologically and immunohistochemically defined viral characteristics disappeared from partial and total responding warts.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the proof of concept for the efficacy of topical ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts.

What's already known about this topic?

Cutaneous warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Ionic contraviral therapy (ICVT) might be a potential treatment for cutaneous warts.

A previous phase I/II open‐label study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ICVT.

What does this study add?

Proof of concept for the efficacy of topical ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts.

Topical ICVT demonstrates a favourable safety profile, with the effects most pronounced when it is combined in a formulation for common warts.

Wart size reduction was related to HPV load reduction measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in swabs.

qPCR is a valuable disease biomarker for drug development in cutaneous warts.

https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17803 available online

https://www.bjdonline.com/article/

Author Correction: ZSCAN10 expression corrects the genomic instability of iPSCs from aged donors

In the version of this Article originally published, Supplementary Fig. 6j showed incorrect values for the LS and AG4 glutathione samples, and Fig. 5c and Supplementary Fig. 6j did not include all n = 6 samples for the hESC, Y-hiPSC and AG4-ZSCAN10 groups as was stated in the legend. In addition, the bars for hESC, Y-hiPSC, AG4-ZCNAN10, AG4 and LS in Supplementary Fig. 6i and j have been reproduced from Fig. 5b and c, respectively. Fig. 6e was also reproduced in the lower panel of Supplementary Fig. 6h, to enable direct comparison of the data, however this was not explained in the original figure legends. The correct versions of these figures and their legends are shown below, and Supplementary Table 5 has been updated with the source data for all numerical data in the manuscript.

Aldosterone-producing adrenocortical carcinoma with myxoid differentiation in a cat

A 10-year-old male neutered Persian cat was presented with an abdominal mass and history of weakness. Blood smear examination found marked elliptocytosis, and serum biochemical analysis revealed hypokalemia, hypochloremia, increased creatine kinase activity, and a high aldosterone concentration. Cytologic examination of the mass revealed neoplastic endocrine cells with moderate criteria of malignancy, favoring adrenocortical neoplasia. The adrenal mass was surgically excised and histologically characterized by lobules of mildly pleomorphic, polygonal neoplastic cells with moderate to abundant, occasionally granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Lobules were separated by fine fibrovascular trabeculae, and numerous cystic cavities containing amorphous eosinophilic material that stained positive with Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff were seen. Neoplastic cells were multifocally positive for cytochrome P450 aldosterone synthase. Based on clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical findings the present case was diagnosed as an aldosterone-producing adrenocortical carcinoma with myxoid differentiation. While this entity has not been reported in cats, myxoid differentiation of adrenocortical carcinomas has been found in other species and can pose a major diagnostic challenge on microscopic examination.

Differences in Rate of Complete Excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma by Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and General Practitioners: A Large Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Due to the increasing incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and rising health care costs, health care insurance companies seek ways to shift skin surgery for BCC from secondary to primary care.

OBJECTIVES

To study the differences in complete excision of BCC by general practitioners (GPs), dermatologists, and plastic surgeons.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study of pathology records of 2,986 standard excisions of primary BCCs performed by a GP, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon in the area of Southwest Netherlands between 2008 and 2014. To compare the risk of an incomplete BCC excision between the specialties, the odds ratio (OR) was used adjusted for patient age, sex, tumor site, size, and histological subtype.

RESULTS

BCCs were completely excised by GPs in 70%, which was lower than the 93% by dermatologists and 83% by plastic surgeons (p < 0.001). Compared to the dermatologist, BCCs which were excised by a GP were 6 times higher at risk of an incomplete excision (adjusted OR 6, 95% CI 5-8) and 2 times higher at risk when excised by a plastic surgeon (adjusted OR 2, 95% CI 2-3).

CONCLUSION

BCCs were more often completely excised by dermatologists than by GPs and plastic surgeons. Dermatologists probably perform better because of their extensive training and high experience in BCC care. To minimize incomplete BCC excision, GPs should receive specific training before the shift of BCC care from secondary to primary care is justifiable.

Tumor penetrating peptides inhibiting MYC as a potent targeted therapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancers

Overexpression of MYC oncogene is highly prevalent in many malignancies such as aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) and it is associated with very poor outcome. Despite decades of research, attempts to effectively inhibit MYC, particularly with small molecules, still remain challenging due to the featureless nature of its protein structure. Herein, we describe the engineering of the dominant-negative MYC peptide (OmoMYC) linked to a functional penetrating 'Phylomer' peptide (FPPa) as a therapeutic strategy to inhibit MYC in TNBC. We found FPPa-OmoMYC to be a potent inducer of apoptosis (with IC₅₀ from 1-2 µM) in TNBC cells with negligible effects in non-tumorigenic cells. Transcriptome analysis of FPPa-OmoMYC-treated cells indicated that the fusion protein inhibited MYC-dependent networks, inducing dynamic changes in transcriptional, metabolic, and apoptotic processes. We demonstrated the efficacy of FPPa-OmoMYC in inhibiting breast cancer growth when injected orthotopically in TNBC allografts. Lastly, we identified strong pharmacological synergisms between FPPa-OmoMYC and chemotherapeutic agents. This study highlights a novel therapeutic approach to target highly aggressive and chemoresistant MYC-activated cancers.

How the Start into the Clinical Elective Year Could be Improved: Qualitative Results and Recommendations from Student Interviews

Background: Entering the Clinical Elective Year (CEY) is a challenging transition phase for undergraduate medical students. Students become members of a professional team, thereby taking over certain tasks, which are executed more or less independently. Factors which facilitate (or impede) this transition in the perception of students are not well described. We therefore wanted to explore, what students perceived to be helpful during the first phase of the CEY and possibly derive respective recommendations. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 5th year medical students after they had completed the first two months of their CEY. Students were asked which problems they had faced and how they felt prepared for the CEY. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: From 34 interviews, we included 28 into analysis. Overall, 24 students were satisfied or very satisfied with their start into the CEY. Satisfaction was expressed with respect to workplace experiences, learning progress, responsibilities and team integration. Especially, students appreciated if they were integrated as active members of the team, were given responsibility for certain units of work, and received well-structured formal teaching and supervision. Students had divergent opinions about the quality of teaching and supervision, about their own achievements, and the recognition they received. Students recommended improvements in respect to formal teaching and supervision by clinical supervisors, preparation of the CEY by university, and supporting structures in the hosting institution. Conclusion: Students in this study were generally satisfied with the first two months of their CEY. Facilitating factors were active and responsible involvement into routine patient care, and high quality formal teaching and supervision. Findings may inform universities, teaching hospitals, and students how to better shape the first phase of the CEY.

Fosl1 overexpression directly activates trophoblast-specific gene expression programs in embryonic stem cells

During early development in placental mammals, proper trophoblast lineage development is essential for implantation and placentation. Defects in this lineage can cause early pregnancy failures and other pregnancy disorders. However, transcription factors controlling trophoblast development remain poorly understood. Here, we utilize Fosl1, previously implicated in trophoblast giant cell development as a member of the AP-1 complex, to trans-differentiate embryonic stem (ES) cells to trophoblast lineage-like cells. We first show that the ectopic expression of Fosl1 is sufficient to induce trophoblast-specific gene expression programs in ES cells. Surprisingly, we find that this transcriptional reprogramming occurs independently of changes in levels of ES cell core factors during the cell fate change. This suggests that Fosl1 acts in a novel way to orchestrate the ES to trophoblast cell fate conversion compared to previously known reprogramming factors. Mapping of Fosl1 targets reveals that Fosl1 directly activates TE lineage-specific genes as a pioneer factor. Our work suggests Fosl1 may be used to reprogram ES cells into differentiated cell types in trophoblast lineage, which not only enhances our knowledge of global trophoblast gene regulation but also may provide a future therapeutic tool for generating induced trophoblast cells from patient-derived pluripotent stem cells.

Validation of international consensus equation for acute serum total tryptase in mast cell activation: A perioperative perspective

There is no standardized method for assessing serum total mast cell tryptase (MCT) in anaphylaxis. The consensus equation (peak MCT should be>1.2× baseline tryptase+2 mg/L) has been proposed to interpret acute MCT in mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). To validate consensus equation in a perioperative setting analyses of cases of suspected perioperative anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia (GA) were performed. Anaphylaxis was defined as per World Allergy Organisation (WAO) criteria. Timed serial MCT measurements were mapped against the consensus equation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves produced. A total of 82 patients (60 females, mean age 56.5 years±SD17.2) underwent investigation. Sixty (73%) patients fulfilled WAO criteria for anaphylaxis, and 22 patients did not. Aetiology included 59% IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, 2% non-IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, 12% anaphylaxis of unknown cause and 27% deemed non-anaphylaxis. IgE-mediated anaphylaxis included the following: NMBA (35%), antibiotics (46%), chlorhexidine (8%), patent blue dye (8%) and others (8%). An acute MCT with a comparable baseline was available in 71 of 82 (87%) patients (60 anaphylaxis and 11 controls). The median interquartile range (IQR) time from reaction to peak MCT was 1.34 (0.82-2.51) hours. Analyses confirmed that a rise in acute MCT greater than that defined by the equation had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative (N) PV of 78%, 91%, 98% and 44%, respectively. The magnitude of increase in acute MCT above the threshold predicted by consensus equation was higher in the anaphylaxis group compared to controls (P=.0001). This equation has a high specificity, PPV with a moderate NPV and sensitivity in perioperative anaphylaxis.

Mechanisms of transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming of mouse embryonic stem cells to trophoblast stem-like cells

Direct reprogramming can be achieved by forced expression of master transcription factors. Yet how such factors mediate repression of initial cell-type-specific genes while activating target cell-type-specific genes is unclear. Through embryonic stem (ES) to trophoblast stem (TS)-like cell reprogramming by introducing individual TS cell-specific ‘CAG’ factors (Cdx2, Arid3a and Gata3), we interrogate their chromosomal target occupancies, modulation of global transcription and chromatin accessibility at the initial stage of reprogramming. From the studies, we uncover a sequential, two-step mechanism of cellular reprogramming in which repression of pre-existing ES cell-associated gene expression program is followed by activation of TS cell-specific genes by CAG factors. Therefore, we reveal that CAG factors function as both decommission and pioneer factors during ES to TS-like cell fate conversion.