Prognostic factors and outcomes of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a retrospective hospital-based study

Objective

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) affects immunocompromised hosts and is associated with higher risks of respiratory failure and mortality. However, the clinical outcomes of different IPA types have not been identified.

Methods

Between September 2002 and May 2021, we retrospectively enrolled patients with IPA in Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Cases were classified as possible IPA, probable IPA, proven IPA, and putative IPA according to EORTC/MSGERC criteria and the AspICU algorithm. Risk factors of respiratory failure, kidney failure, and mortality were analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 3-year survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test for post-hoc comparisons.

Results

We included 125 IPA patients (50: possible IPA, 47: probable IPA, 11: proven IPA, and 17: putative IPA). Comorbidities of liver cirrhosis and solid organ malignancy were risk factors for respiratory failure; diabetes mellitus and post-liver or kidney transplantation were related to kidney failure. Higher galactomannan (GM) test optical density index (ODI) in either serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was associated with dismal outcomes. Probable IPA and putative IPA had lower 3-year respiratory failure-free survival compared to possible IPA. Probable IPA and putative IPA exhibited lower 3-year renal failure-free survival in comparison to possible IPA and proven IPA. Putative IPA had the lowest 3-year overall survival rates among the four IPA groups.

Conclusion

Patients with putative IPA had higher mortality rates than the possible, probable, or proven IPA groups. Therefore, a prompt diagnosis and timely treatment are warranted for patients with putative IPA.

[A phase I study of subcutaneous envafolimab (KN035) monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of envafolimab monotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: This open-label, multicenter phase I trial included dose escalation and dose expansion phases. In the dose escalation phase, patients received subcutaneous 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg envafolimab once weekly (QW) following a modified "3+ 3" design. The dose expansion phase was performed in the 2.5 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg (QW) dose cohorts. Results: At November 25, 2019, a total of 287 patients received envafolimab treatment. During the dose escalation phase, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) was observed. In all dose cohorts, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for all grades occurred in 75.3% of patients, and grade 3 or 4 occurred in 20.6% of patients. The incidence of immune-related adverse reactions (irAE) was 24.0% for all grades, the most common irAEs (≥2%) included hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, immune-associated hepatitis and rash. The incidence of injection site reactions was low (3.8%), all of which were grades 1-2. Among the 216 efficacy evaluable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 11.6% and 43.1%, respectively. Median duration of response was 49.1 weeks (95% CI: 24.0, 49.3). Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure to envafolimab is proportional to dose and median time to maximum plasma concentration is 72-120 hours based on the PK results from the dose escalation phase of the study. Conclusion: Subcutaneous envafolimab has a favorable safety and promising preliminary anti-tumor activity in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors.

Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy within One Year of Resection for Molecularly Defined Astrocytoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Treatments for diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG) are controversial. Level I evidence supports the use of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and PCV chemotherapy for histologic LGG, but integration of molecular biomarkers in recent WHO classification and the emergence of temozolomide chemotherapy for gliomas necessitates additional investigation of the optimal treatment and timing of postoperative interventions. We hypothesized molecularly-defined LGG (IDH-mutant astrocytoma (astro) and IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendroglioma (oligo)) may have different clinical outcomes following adjuvant RT (aRT) with chemotherapy (aRT+chemo) vs observation or chemo alone.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A retrospective analysis of consecutive adult patients diagnosed with WHO Grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma who underwent initial resection at a single institution from January 1998 to November 2017 was performed. Wilcoxon rank sum and Chi-squared tests were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Patients without clinical progression or death were censored at the date of last follow-up. Pre-operative and post-operative T2 FLAIR hyperintense tumor volumes were quantified using 3D Slicer to calculate extent of resection (EOR).

RESULTS

A total of 342 patients with molecularly-defined LGG (178 astro, 164 oligo) were identified with a median follow up of 9.1 yr. 171 (50%) patients received RT during their treatment course, of which 31 (18%) were treated with aRT within 1 year of diagnosis. The median aRT dose was 54 Gy (range: 40-60 Gy). aRT was more likely for astro (58%) vs oligo (41%, p = 0.001) and for patients who had resections with lower median EOR (88% vs 95%, p = 0.014). 53 patients (15%) were treated with chemo alone, and 136 patients (40%) were treated with aRT+chemo. Temozolomide was used for 161 patients (85%). For astro, aRT+chemo was associated with longer PFS (median 14.9 yr) compared to observation (4.8 yr, p = 0.05), aRT without chemo (5.2 yr, p = 0.01), or chemo alone (4.7 yr, p = 0.02). For oligo, aRT+chemo was associated with longer PFS (median not reached) compared to aRT without chemo (1.6 yr, p = 0.03), but not when compared to observation (median not reached, p = 0.47), or chemo alone (7.9 yr, p = 0.45). Multivariate analysis showed preoperative tumor volume, EOR, and aRT+chemo (but not aRT or chemo alone) were independently associated with astro PFS compared to observation. Propensity matching based on pre-operative tumor volume, EOR, and age demonstrated longer astro PFS after aRT+chemo (14.9 yr) compared to observation or chemo alone (4.5 yr, p = 0.015), without significant difference in OS (18.2 vs. 11.5 yr, p = 0.40).

CONCLUSION

Retrospective data from a single institution support the use of adjuvant radiotherapy with chemotherapy for patients with molecular astrocytomas, while the role of this approach for oligodendrogliomas is unclear in this cohort.

[Study of immunophenotypic characteristics, clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in gastric cancer microenvironment]

Objective: To explore the immunophenotypic characteristics of gastric cancer microenvironment and analyze its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of patients. Methods: The expression levels of leukocyte differentiation antigen (CD) 8, CD4, T lymphocyte immunoglobulin mucoprotein 3 (TIM3), human forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) and co-localized tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were detected in 92 cases of gastric cancer tissue [58 males and 34 females; aged M(Q1, Q3), 70(59, 77) years ] and 84 cases of paracancer tissue [57 males and 27 females, aged 70(59, 77) years] purchased from Shanghai Xinchao Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and the samples were from 28 hospitals in the sample bank. Gastric cancer and adjacent tissues were divided into high expression group and low expression group according to the optimal cut-off value of positive lymphocytepercentage. The expression of immunophenotypes in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to explore the prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients. Results: The optimal cut-off values of CD8, CD4, TIM3 and Foxp3 positive cells in gastric cancer were 12.73%, 1.39%, 10.77% and 2.44%, respectively. The expression of Foxp3 in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in paracancer tissues [M (Q1, Q3), 0.93 (0.45, 2.16) vs 0.31 (0.09, 0.86), P<0.001], and the expression of CD8 [4.92 (2.34, 8.80) vs 8.81 (6.61, 12.17), P<0.001], CD4 [4.79 (1.77, 11.36) vs 8.40 (4.84, 12.77), P=0.022] and TIM3 [5.68 (2.05, 11.58) vs 7.07 (3.13, 11.43), P=0.338] were lower than that in paracancer tissues. There were significant differences in TIM3 expression in gastric cancer patients with different lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate of patients with high CD4 expression, low TIM3 expression and low Foxp3 expression in gastric cancer tissues was poor, among which the high CD4 expression and low CD4 expression groups were 29.3% and 64.7%, respectively; The high and low TIM3 expression groups were 60.9% and 30.4%, respectively; The high and low Foxp3 expression groups were 64.3% and 33.3%, respectively (all P<0.05). The optimal cut-off values of CD8+TIM3+TILs, CD4+TIM3+TILs, CD8+Foxp3+TILs and CD4+Foxp3+TILs were 3.86%, 0.23%, 0.08% and 0.76%, respectively. Colocalization analysis showed that the expression of CD8+Foxp3+TILs in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues(all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high expression of CD4 (HR=3.079, 95%CI: 1.350-7.024,P=0.008), low expression of TIM3 (HR=0.428, 95%CI: 0.208-0.879, P=0.021) and low expression of Foxp3 (HR=0.288, 95%CI: 0.121-0.687, P=0.005) were the influencing factor for the 5-year survival rate of patients with gastric cancer after operation. Conclusions: Gastric cancer tissues have complex immune microenvironment characteristics. The expression of CD4, TIM3 and Foxp3 is closely related to the prognosis of patients.

[Diagnostic value of nasal nitric oxide for children with primary ciliary dyskinesia]

Objective: To evaluate the value of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement as a diagnostic tool for Chinese patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Methods: This study is a retrospective study. The patients were recruited from those who were admitted to the respiratory Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University from March 2018 to September 2022. Children with PCD were included as the PCD group, and children with situs inversus or ambiguus, cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis, chronic suppurative lung disease and asthma were included as the PCD symptom-similar group. Children who visited the Department of Child health Care and urology in the same hospital from December 2022 to January 2023 were selected as nNO normal control group. nNO was measured during plateau exhalation against resistance in three groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the nNO data. The receiver operating characteristic of nNO value for the diagnosis of PCD was plotted and, the area under the curve and Youden index was calculated to find the best cut-off value. Results: nNO was measured in 40 patients with PCD group, 75 PCD symptom-similar group (including 23 cases of situs inversus or ambiguus, 8 cases of CF, 26 cases of bronchiectasis or chronic suppurative lung disease, 18 cases of asthma), and 55 nNO normal controls group. The age of the three groups was respectively 9.7 (6.7,13.4), 9.3 (7.0,13.0) and 9.9 (7.3,13.0) years old. nNO values were significantly lower in children with PCD than in PCD symptom-similar group and nNO normal controls (12 (9,19) vs. 182 (121,222), 209 (165,261) nl/min, U=143.00, 2.00, both P<0.001). In the PCD symptom-similar group, situs inversus or ambiguus, CF, bronchiectasis or chronic suppurative lung disease and asthma were significantly higher than children with PCD (185 (123,218), 97 (52, 132), 154 (31, 202), 266 (202,414) vs. 12 (9,19) nl/min,U=1.00, 9.00, 133.00, 0, all P<0.001). A cut-off value of 84 nl/min could provide the best sensitivity (0.98) and specificity (0.92) with an area under the curve of 0.97 (95%CI 0.95-1.00, P<0.001). Conclusions: nNO value can draw a distinction between patients with PCD and others. A cut-off value of 84 nl/min is recommended for children with PCD.

[Research progress of metal micro-battery dressings in wound repair]

To develop the dressings that can both inhibit bacterial infection and actively promote healing is of great importance for wound repair and the development of medical technology. Electrical stimulation has multiple roles in wound healing, including hemostasis, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, guidance of cell migration, promotion of re-epithelialization, and proliferation of cells. Metal micro-battery can provide a stable source of electrical stimulation energy without an external power source. Thus, the integration of metal micro-battery with medical dressings opens up new opportunities for the wireless application of electrical stimulation in wound repair. In this review, the mechanism of the effect of electrical stimulation on wound healing is systematically presented, then recent advances in metal micro-battery dressings, including preparation methods, antibacterial performance, and healing properties are mainly introduced, and the current challenges and prospects of metal micro-battery dressings are also provided.

Comparison of two titration programmes for adding insulin detemir to oral antidiabetic drugs in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To explore the effect of active insulin titration versus usual titration on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus uncontrolled with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs).

METHODS

In a 24-week, prospective and randomized study, 172 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either active titration or usual titration. Efficacy and safety outcomes included changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose, percentage of individuals achieving HbA1c<53 mmol/mol, and hypoglycaemic events.

RESULTS

At Week 24, change in HbA1c was -1.08% ± 1.60% in the active titration group and -0.95% ± 1.34% in the usual titration group (P = 0.569). The percentages of individuals achieving HbA1c<53 mmol/mol were 29.4% and 16.1% in the active and usual titration groups, respectively (P = 0.037). There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoglycaemia between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that, with active titration, baseline HbA1c levels and postprandial glucose excursion were significantly associated with achieving HbA1c<53 mmol/mol.

CONCLUSION

Addition of basal insulin using active titration for 24 weeks provided a higher rate of HbA1c target achievement without significant hypoglycaemia compared to usual titration in individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Development and internal validation of the survival time risk score in patients treated for oesophageal cancer with palliative intent in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Most patients who present to South African state hospitals with advanced stage oesophageal squamous cell cancer (OSCC) disease receive palliative treatment. This study aimed to assess the factors that influence survival in patients with OSCC who received palliative management and to develop a prognostic score to aid clinicians in decisionmaking.

METHODS

Analysis of a prospectively collected database assessed factors influencing survival of patients diagnosed with OSCC receiving palliative treatment. Factors assessed included patient demographics, clinical and laboratory data and tumour factors. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess for significant factors associated with survival time and a prognostic score was developed and internally validated based on these factors.

RESULTS

There were 384 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The median survival of the cohort was 3.7 months. Factors that influenced survival on multivariate analysis included area of residence (aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.02-3.24), performance status (aOR 2.56, 95% CI 1.50-4.35), body mass index (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.14-3.06) and serum albumin (aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.46-6.42). The final prognostic score contained three of the four independent variables based on the regression coefficient for each variable. After internal validation, the risk score maintained fair discrimination and good calibration.

CONCLUSION

The prognostic scoring system based on patient performance status, body mass index and serum albumin, if validated on an independent cohort, would allow more objective decisions on whether to stage or not prior to embarking on palliative treatment, streamlining care and improving quality of life.

The accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of biliary atresia in preterm infants with cholestasis

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a useful and non-invasive method to diagnose biliary atresia (BA) in term infants, however few studies have investigated its use in preterm infants. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of MRCP in the diagnosis of BA in preterm infants with cholestasis.

METHODS

Infants aged less than 6 months who received MRCP for cholestasis at a tertiary medical center were enrolled from 2011 to 2020. Demographic and laboratory data were retrospectively obtained. One pediatric radiologist reviewed the MRCP images. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of MRCP to diagnose BA based on surgical proof or at least 6 months of follow-up were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 80 infants (36 preterm and 44 term) were analyzed. The mean post-chronological age was 1.8 months, and the female-to-male ratio was 0.78. Six (16.7%) preterm and 16 (36.4%) term infants were confirmed to have BA. BA was obscured by a choledochal cyst preoperatively in two term infants. In the preterm infants, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MRCP to diagnose BA were 100%, 77%, 46%, 100%, and 81%, respectively, compared to 81%, 86%, 76%, 89%, and 84% in the term infants. Using MRCP to differentiate BA from other cholestasis in the preterm infants had superior sensitivity (100% vs. 81%) and NPV (100% vs. 89%), and lower specificity (77% vs. 86%) and PPV (46% vs. 76%) than in the term infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Negative MRCP findings can be used to exclude BA in preterm infants with cholestasis based on a favorable NPV.

The Characteristics and Risk Factors of Asparaginase-Associated Pancreatitis in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics and the risk factors for asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) under the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG)-ALL regimen.

METHODS

The study was conducted by reviewing the chart records of 191 patients aged 1 to 18 years treated with TPOG-ALL (2002 and 2013) protocols at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, from 2002 to 2019. The disease incidence, clinical presentations, laboratory data, complications, and outcomes of AAP were investigated.

RESULTS

The incidence of AAP was 4.7%. The incidence was significantly higher in children treated with the TPOG-ALL-2013 (n = 62) than TPOG-ALL-2002 (n = 129) protocol (11.3% vs 1.6%, P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis identified using TPOG-ALL-2013 protocol was an independent risk factor for AAP. Pancreatic necrosis or pseudocysts developed in 7 patients (78%). Notably, 1 AAP case (11%) developed diabetes mellitus and 4 (44%) had chronic pancreatitis during a 1-year observational period. None were mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AAP was 4.7% in ALL patients treated with TPOG-ALL protocol. Although a higher cumulative dose of asparaginase in TPOG-ALL-2013 may attribute to the pancreatic toxicity, unidentified factors such as genetic predisposition or other drugs still need further study.

Topological hybrid semimetal phases and anomalous Hall effects in a three dimensional magnetic topological insulator

In this work, we propose a ferromagnetic Bi₂Se₃as a candidate to hold the coexistence of Weyl- and nodal-line semimetal phases, which breaks the time reversal symmetry. We demonstrate that the type-I Weyl semimetal phase, type-I-, type-II- and their hybrid nodal-line semimetal phases can arise by tuning the Zeeman exchange field strength and the Fermi velocity. Their topological responses under U(1) gauge field are also discussed. Our results raise a new way for realizing Weyl and nodal-line semimetals and will be helpful in understanding the topological transport phenomena in three-dimensional material systems.

A large beam high efficiency radio frequency neutron spin flipper

A design for a radio frequency (RF) neutron spin flipper obtained from magneto-static and neutron spin transport simulations is presented. The RF flipper constructed from this design provides a flipping probability of 0.999 or better for a beam size 6 cm wide and 15 cm high and a wavelength band between 0.4 and 0.6 nm. Three permanent magnet guide field sections with air gaps provide a linear field gradient along the beam propagation direction over a large cross-sectional area. An RF oscillator based on coupling the resonant coil of a Hartley oscillator to the excitation coil was developed, which provides a higher current and, thereby, a larger RF amplitude, as compared to a conventional RF power amplifier. Two opaque He3 neutron spin filters were employed to measure the flipping probability of the flipper with very high precision. A spatially uniform flipping probability of 0.9995(2) or higher was measured over the large cross-sectional area neutron guide. This RF neutron spin flipper will be employed in a polychromatic beam reflectometer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research. This design can be applied to other polarized neutron instruments or applications requiring a very high continuous flipping probability of the neutron spin for a large cross-sectional area beam.

TTAS: Trusted Token Authentication Service of Securing SCADA Network in Energy Management System for Industrial Internet of Things

The vigorous development of the Industrial Internet of Things brings the advanced connection function of the new generation of industrial automation and control systems. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network is converted into an open and highly interconnected network, where the equipment connections between industrial electronic devices are integrated with a SCADA system through a Modbus protocol. As SCADA and Modbus are easily used for control and monitoring, the interconnection and operational efficiency between systems are highly improved; however, such connectivity inevitably exposes the system to the open network environment. There are many network security threats and vulnerabilities in a SCADA network system. Especially in the era of the Industrial Internet of Things, any security vulnerability of an industrial system may cause serious property losses. Therefore, this paper proposes an encryption and verification mechanism based on the trusted token authentication service and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol to prevent attackers from physical attacks. Experimentally, this paper deployed and verified the system in an actual field of energy management system. According to the experimental results, the security defense architecture proposed in this paper can effectively improve security and is compatible with the actual field system.

Investigation of gamma secretase gene complex mutations in German population with Hidradenitis suppurativa designate a complex polygenic heritage

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting apocrine gland-bearing skin in the axilla, groin and under the breasts. Mutations of the gamma secretase gene complex, which is essential in the activation of Notch signalling pathways, were shown in some families with HS and in a few sporadic cases. Although an imbalance in Notch signalling is implicated in the pathogenesis, the exact mechanism of HS development is yet unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to investigate the genetic basis of HS by determining the presence of mutations of gamma secretase gene complex in a cohort of HS patients and by searching for a disease-causing pathogenic variant in a multi-generational HS family using parametric linkage analysis.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients clinically diagnosed with HS were included in this study. All exons and exon-intron boundaries of the genes encoding gamma secretase complex consisting of six genes: APH1A, APH1B, PSENEN, NCSTN, PSEN1 and PSEN2 were sequenced by Sanger technique. Genetic mapping with parametric linkage analysis for the patients in the family was performed with eight affected and four healthy individuals. The logarithm of odds was calculated.

RESULTS

In a sporadic patient with early-onset, severe lesions in axilla and groin, a novel single-nucleotide deletion causing frameshift in exon 1 of the NCSTN gene was identified ((NM_015331.3): c.38delG, p.(Gly13Glufs*15)). The LOD score of 1.5 was never exceeded in any region of the genome, pointing towards intricate multi-genic inheritance pattern within the affected family.

CONCLUSIONS

The gamma secretase gene complex mutations were rare in our cohort (3.2%). Besides, our analysis indicates a possible complex multi-genic inheritance in a seemingly autosomal dominantly inherited large HS family. Genetics of both familial and sporadic HS may be complicated in most cases, and the role of other potential genes such as autoinflammatory and modifier genes as well as environmental factors may influence the pathogenesis.

[Regulatory relationship between lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and miR-146a-3p in preeclampsia]

Objective: To observe the changes of the expression level of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) KCNQ1OT1 and microRNA (miR)-146a-3p in placenta tissues of preeclampsia (PE) patients, as well as their effect and mechanism on the biological functions of trophoblast cells. Methods: A total of 45 cases of hospitalized PE patients in Hainan General Hospital from July 2017 to July 2018 were selected as the PE group, 55 normal pregnant women during the same period were chosed as the control group. The expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA and miR-146a-3p in the placenta tissues between two groups were detected by using quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR. Pearson's test was furtherly analyzed the correlation between them. Human trophoblast cell line (HTR8/SVneo) were randomly divided into control and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) groups, and then LPS group were divide into four sub-groups,included LPS group, short hairpin RNA (sh)-KCNQ1OT1 (after silencing the expression of KCNQ1OT1), miR-146a-3p inhibitor and sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-146a-3p inhibitor. The targeting relationship between KCNQ1OT1 and miR-146a-3p were predicted by bioinformatics software and confirmed by luciferase assay. The cell proliferation and invasion capacities were respectively detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA and miR-146a-3p were detected by qRT-PCR and the protein expression level of CXC chemokine ligand 12 （CXCL12） and CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) were tested by western blot. Results: (1) The mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 in the placenta of PE group was lower than that of control group (0.23±0.03 vs 0.51±0.04, P<0.05), and the miR-146a-3p expression level was higher than that of the control group (0.49±0.03 vs 0.31±0.03, P<0.05), there were statistical significant differences between the two groups. (2) Luciferase assay showed that there was a targeting relationship between KCNQ1OT1 and mir-146a-3p. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 in the LPS group were significantly decreased (0.91±0.03 vs 0.35±0.03, P<0.05), and the expression level of miR-146a-3p were significantly increased (0.22±0.03 vs 0.63±0.04, P<0.05). The cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 significantly reduced in the LPS group compared with control group (all P<0.05). The mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 (0.23±0.03) in the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group were further decreased, the expression of miR-146a-3p (0.85±0.03) were further increased, and the cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were all further reduced compared with control group，there were significant difference between two groups (all P<0.05). Comparing the miR-146a-3p inhibitor group, and sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-146a-3p inhibitor group with the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group, respectively, the expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA (0.78±0.04 vs 0.50±0.03) increased, and the expression level of miR-146a-3p (0.42±0.03 vs 0.46±0.03) decreased, the cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were all increased ,there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusion: KCNQ1OT1 could target the regulation of miR-146a-3p through CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway in the proliferation, invasion an migration of HTR8/SVneo cells, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE.

Autonomic dysfunction as an independent risk factor for uncontrolled inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis following functional endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multi-factorial disorder that causes systemic symptoms beyond rhinologic symptoms alone. A possible association between autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and CRS has been identified; however, few studies have confirmed this observation. In this study, we prospectively measured changes in ANS dysfunction symptoms following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and explored the impact of ANS dysfunction on surgical outcomes of CRS.

METHODOLOGY

Patients diagnosed with CRS who consented to surgical intervention were included prospectively. All patients completed the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and the 31-item Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS 31) questionnaires before the operation and during the follow-up period. Clinical demographic data, Lund-Mackay, and modified Lund-Kennedy scores were recorded and measured.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were enrolled. The median SNOT-22 and COMPASS 31 scores significantly improved following FESS from 43.0 to 14.0 and 21.0 to 11.2 (all P less than 0.001), respectively. FESS led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of various ANS dysfunction symptoms. In multivariate analyses, revision surgeries (odds ratio [OR] 5.012, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52416.489; P=0.008), CRS with nasal polyps (OR 4.071, 95% CI 1.454-11.40; P=0.008), and higher Pre-FESS COMPASS 31 scores (OR 1.043, 95% CI 1.003-1.084; P=0.036) were independent risk factors for uncontrolled inflammation following FESS.

CONCLUSIONS

ANS dysfunction symptoms are prevalent in CRS and higher preoperative COMPASS 31 scores correspond with poor surgical outcomes. Following FESS, the majority of ANS dysfunction symptoms can be alleviated. Further investigations are required to explore the possible mechanism of how ANS is involved in the pathogenesis of CRS.

Spin Stripe Order in a Square Planar Trilayer Nickelate

Trilayer nickelates, which exhibit a high degree of orbital polarization combined with an electron count (d^{8.67}) corresponding to overdoped cuprates, have been identified as a promising candidate platform for achieving high-T_{c} superconductivity. One such material, La_{4}Ni_{3}O_{8}, undergoes a semiconductor-insulator transition at ∼105  K, which was recently shown to arise from the formation of charge stripes. However, an outstanding issue has been the origin of an anomaly in the magnetic susceptibility at the transition and whether it signifies the formation of spin stripes akin to single layer nickelates. Here we report single crystal neutron diffraction measurements (both polarized and unpolarized) that establish that the ground state is indeed magnetic. The ordering is modeled as antiferromagnetic spin stripes that are commensurate with the charge stripes, the magnetic ordering occurring in individual trilayers that are essentially uncorrelated along the crystallographic c axis. A comparison of the charge and spin stripe order parameters reveals that, in contrast to single-layer nickelates such as La_{2-x}Sr_{x}NiO_{4} as well as related quasi-2D oxides including manganites, cobaltates, and cuprates, these orders uniquely appear simultaneously, thus demonstrating a stronger coupling between spin and charge than in these related low-dimensional correlated oxides.

Preoperative MR Imaging to Differentiate Chordoid Meningiomas from Other Meningioma Histologic Subtypes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chordoid meningiomas are uncommon WHO grade II primary intracranial neoplasms that possess unique chordoid histology and follow an aggressive clinical course. Our aim was to assess the utility of qualitative MR imaging features and quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient values as distinguishing preoperative MR imaging metrics to identify and differentiate chordoid histology from other meningioma histologic subtypes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients with meningiomas with chordoid histology, which included both chordoid meningiomas (>50% chordoid histology) and meningiomas with focal chordoid histology (<50% chordoid histology) with available preoperative MR imaging examinations, including diffusion-weighted imaging, were identified. Qualitative imaging features and quantitative ADC values were compared between meningiomas with chordoid histology and 42 nonchordoid meningiomas (29 WHO grade I, eleven WHO grade II, and 2 WHO grade III).

RESULTS

The median ADC (10^-3mm²/s) of meningiomas with chordoid histology was significantly higher than nonchordoid meningiomas (1.16 versus 0.92, P < .001), as was the median normalized ADC (1.60 versus 1.19, P < .001). In subgroup analysis, the median and normalized ADC values of chordoid meningiomas (n = 11) were significantly higher than those in meningiomas with focal chordoid histology (n = 10, P < .001 and P < .001, respectively) or nonchordoid meningiomas (n = 42, P < .001 and <0.001, respectively). Median and normalized ADC values were not significantly different between the meningiomas with focal chordoid histology and nonchordoid meningiomas (P = .816 and .301, respectively). Among the qualitative imaging features, only DWI signal intensity was significantly associated with meningiomas with chordoid histology diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

ADC values are higher in chordoid compared with nonchordoid meningiomas and may be used to discriminate the degree of chordoid histology in meningiomas. While qualitative MR imaging features do not strongly discriminate chordoid from nonchordoid meningiomas, DWI may allow preoperative identification of chordoid meningiomas.

[Comparison of two serological methods in screening gastric cancer and its precancerous condition]

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value of the old "ABC" method [serum pepsinogen(PG) combined with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) IgG antibody] and the new "ABC" method [serum pepsinogen plus gastrin-17(G-17)] in screening gastric cancer and its precancerous condition. Methods: Serum PG, G-17 and Hp-IgG were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 278 subjects. Subjects were grouped according to the criteria of two methods. The gastroscopy and pathological biopsy were gold standard. Results: The positive rate of old "ABC" method was 74.46% (207/278), which was 54.68% of new "ABC" method (151/278). For the diagnosis of gastric cancer, the sensitivity and specificity of the old "ABC" method were 90.74% and 29.46% respectively, with diagnostic coincidence rate 41.37%. The sensitivity and specificity of the new "ABC" method were 92.59% and 54.46% respectively, with diagnostic coincidence rate 61.87%. As to the diagnosis of pre-cancerous state, the sensitivity and specificity of the old "ABC" method were 75.81% and 36.00%, with diagnostic coincidence rate 58.03%. The sensitivity and specificity of the new "ABC" method were 62.10% and 75.00%, with diagnostic coincidence rate 67.86%. Conclusions: Compared with the old "ABC" method, the new "ABC" method has higher sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic coincidence rate for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, yet higher specificity and lower sensitivity for the diagnosis of precancerous conditions.

[Clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy and the corresponding pharmacogenomics analysis]

Objective: To investigate the association between Thymidine phosphorylase(TYMP)genetic variation and clinical outcomes of postoperative gastric cancer (GC) patients received capecitabine based regimens. Methods: A total of 198 GC patients underwent surgical treatment and received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study. Peripheral blood and the postoperative tissue specimen of the GC patients were collected for the genotyping of polymorphism and TYMP mRNA expression, respectively. The correlation between polymorphism and clinical outcomes and safety of postoperative GC patients were analysed. Results: Located in the upstream, rs11479 was of clinical significance. The prevalence of rs11479 in TYMP among the GC patients were as follows: CC genotype 125 cases (63.13%), CT genotype 65 cases (32.83%), TT genotype 8 cases (4.04%), minor allele frequency of rs11479 is 0.20. The distribution of three genotypes were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (P=0.901). The analysis results of patients with different genotypes found that the 3-year disease free survival rate of the patients with CT/TT genotype and CC genotype were 73.97% and 65.60%, respectively, which was statistically significant (P=0.003). In terms of overall survival, the 3-year overall survival rate of the two genotypes were 83.56% and 72.80% (P=0.012), respectively. Adjusted in multivariate Cox regression analysis, CT/TT genotype was an independent favorable factor for disease free survival (OR=0.55, P=0.011). Safety analysis indicated that there was no significant association between genotypes and grade 2 adverse reaction. Additionally, of the 79 postoperative tissue specimens, the results showed that the expression of TYMP in cancer tissues of the patients with CT/TT genotypes were significantly higher than those of the wild type CC genotype patients (P<0.001). Conclusion: The polymorphism rs11479 of TYMP have favorable influence on the clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients received capecitabine based adjuvant chemotherapy treatment through changing the mRNA expression of TYMP.

[RET/PTC rearrangement affects multifocal formation of papillary thyroid carcinoma]

Objective:RET/PTC gene rearrangement can lead to aberrant activation of tyrosine kinase receptors, which is a common mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study focuses on the association of RET/PTC rearrangements with PTC clinical factors. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2013, a total of 114 patients with PTC were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathological parameters, lifestyle, and thyroid hormone levels were collected. RET/PTC rearrangements were detected by TaqMan PCR and verified by Sanger sequencing.Data were analyzed with SPSS software, including chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t-test, and Logistic regression. Results:RET/PTC rearrangements were not found in all paracancerous normal thyroid tissues, and were detected in 23.68% (27/114) of PTC. Further analysis revealed no correlation between RET/PTC rearrangement and thyroid function, clinicopathologic parameters, and lifestyle in the total PTC group or in the subgroup of patients with concomitant diseases (including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and nodular goiter). But in the subgroup of PTC without concomitant disease, RET/PTC rearrangement was associated with tumor multifocal (P=0.018), and RET/PTC-positive PTC patients had an increased risk of tumor multifocal (OR=5.57, 95% CI 1.39-22.33). It was also found that RET/PTC rearrangement was associated with an abnormal increase in TSH level of one month after surgery (P= 0.037). Conclusion: Nodular goiter and Hashimoto 's thyroiditis may be a confounding factor in PTC. RET/PTC rearrangement may play an important role in the occurrence of thyroid carcinoma multifocal after exclusion of this confounding factor.

Econazole induces increases in free intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in human osteosarcoma cells

Econazole is an antifungal drug with different in vitro effects. However, econazole's effect on osteoblast like cells is unknown. In human MG63 osteosarcoma cells, the effect of econazole on intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) was explored by using fura-2. At a concentration of 0.1 μM, econazole started to cause a rise in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. Econazole-induced [Ca2+]i rise was reduced by 74% by removal of extracellular Ca2+. The econazole-induced Ca2+ influx was mediated via a nimodipine-sensitive pathway. In Ca2+ free medium, thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, caused a [Ca2+]i rise, after which the increasing effect of econazole on [Ca2+]i was abolished. Pretreatment of cells with econazole to deplete Ca2+ stores totally prevented thapsigargin from releasing Ca2+. U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, abolished histamine (an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate dependent Ca2+ mobilizer)-induced, but not econazoleinduced, [Ca2+]i rise. Econazole inhibited 76% of thapsigargin-induced store-operated Ca2+ entry. These findings suggest that in MG63 osteosarcoma cells, econazole increases [Ca2+]i by stimulating Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum via a phospholipase C-independent manner. In contrast, econazole acts as a potent blocker of store-operated Ca2+ entry.

Activity of a selective inhibitor of nuclear export, selinexor (KPT-330), against AML-initiating cells engrafted into immunosuppressed NSG mice

Currently available combination chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often fails to result in long-term remissions, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. We reasoned that targeted inhibition of a prominent nuclear exporter, XPO1/CRM1, could eradicate self-renewing leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) whose survival depends on timely XPO1-mediated transport of specific protein and RNA cargoes. Using an immunosuppressed mouse model bearing primary patient-derived AML cells, we demonstrate that selinexor (KPT-330), an oral antagonist of XPO1 that is currently in clinical trials, has strong activity against primary AML cells while sparing normal stem and progenitor cells. Importantly, limiting dilution transplantation assays showed that this cytotoxic activity is not limited to the rapidly proliferating bulk population of leukemic cells but extends to the LICs, whose inherent drug resistance and unrestricted self-renewal capacity has been implicated in the difficulty of curing AML patients with conventional chemotherapy alone.

Comparisons of sarcopenia prevalence based on different diagnostic criteria in Chinese older adults

The study aimed to describe the prevalence of sarcopenia and discussed the applicability of different diagnostic criteria in Chinese older adults. 286 Chinese adults (136 men and 150 women) aged 60-88 were recruited. The prevalence of sarcopenia were calculated using different diagnostic criteria. Physical functioning was compared in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older adults. Compared with the standard of EWGSOP (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People), the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher when the IWGS (International Working Group on Sarcopenia) standard was applied (Men: 7.4% vs. 0.8%; Women: 4.7% vs. 0%). If the AWGS (Aisa Working Group on Sarcopenia) standard was applied, the prevalence was 5.9% in men and 0.7% in women. In conclusion, the prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese older adults ranged from 0% to around 10% when the diagnostic criteria of IGWS, EWGSOP and AGWS were applied. Further studies are still needed to investigate appropriate diagnostic criterion of sarcopenia for Chinese population.

Spin echo small angle neutron scattering using a continuously pumped (3)He neutron polarisation analyser

We present a new instrument for spin echo small angle neutron scattering (SESANS) developed at the Low Energy Neutron Source at Indiana University. A description of the various instrument components is given along with the performance of these components. At the heart of the instrument are a series of resistive coils to encode the neutron trajectory into the neutron polarisation. These are shown to work well over a broad range of neutron wavelengths. Neutron polarisation analysis is accomplished using a continuously operating neutron spin filter polarised by Rb spin-exchange optical pumping of (3)He. We describe the performance of the analyser along with a study of the (3)He polarisation stability and its implications for SESANS measurements. Scattering from silica Stöber particles is investigated and agrees with samples run on similar instruments.

Efficacy and safety of adding pioglitazone or sitagliptin to patients with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled with metformin and a sulfonylurea

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of add-on pioglitazone versus sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin and a sulfonylurea (SU).

METHODS

This 24-week, randomized, open-label study compared pioglitazone (30 mg daily, n = 59) and sitagliptin (100 mg daily, n = 60) in patients with inadequate glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥7.0% to <11.0%) while receiving a stable dose of metformin (≥1,500 mg daily) and an SU (≥half-maximal dose).

RESULTS

The mean changes in HbA1c from baseline was -0.94 ± 0.12% with pioglitazone and -0.71 ± 0.12% with sitagliptin, for a between-groups difference of -0.23 ± 0.16% (P = .16). The mean change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were -35.7 ± 4.0 mg/dL with pioglitazone and -22.8 ± 4.0 mg/dL with sitagliptin, for a between-groups difference of -12.9 ± 5.7 mg/dL (P = .02). Pioglitazone was associated with a significant decrease in high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), but sitagliptin did not. The mean weight gain was higher in the pioglitazone group, with a between-group difference of 1.6 kg (P<.01). Overall adverse events (AEs) were similar in both groups. However, the incidence of edema was higher with pioglitazone, and the incidence of gastrointestinal AEs was higher with sitagliptin.

CONCLUSION

Pioglitazone and sitagliptin achieved similar improvements in overall glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin and an SU. However there were some differences in terms of FPG, hs-CRP, lipids, body-weight change, and AEs.

Genetic factors influencing inhibitor development in a cohort of South African haemophilia A patients

A critical complication of factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy in Haemophilia A (HA) treatment is inhibitor development. Known genetic factors predisposing to inhibitor development include FVIII (F8) gene mutations, ethnicity, a family history of inhibitors and FVIII haplotype mismatch. The aim of this study was to characterize and correlate these genetic factors in a cohort of South African HA patients. This was a retrospective study that included 229 patients and involved the analysis of patient files, HA molecular and clinical databases and molecular analysis of the F8 gene haplotype. Of the 229 patients, 51% were of black ethnicity, 49% were white, 5% had mild HA, 4% were moderate and 91% were severe, 36% were int22 positive and 13% were inhibitor positive. Of the inhibitor positive patients, 72% were black patients. Inhibitors were reported in 27% of black int22 positive patients, 13% of black int22 negative patients, 9% of white int22 positive patients and 7% of white int22 negative. The H1 haplotype was more common in whites (75%) and H2 was more common in blacks (74%). H3 and H5 were only found in black patients and had a higher frequency of inhibitor development than H1 and H2. In this small HA cohort, black patients had a significantly higher frequency of inhibitor development and the results were indicative of an association between inhibitor development, ethnicity and haplotype.

Surveillance of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans and detection of the first imported human case in Taiwan, 3 April to 10 May 2013

On 3 April 2013, suspected and confirmed cases of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection became notifiable in the primary care sector in Taiwan, and detection of the virus became part of the surveillance of severe community-acquired pneumonia. On 24 April, the first imported case, reported through both surveillance systems, was confirmed in a man returning from China by sequencing from endotracheal aspirates after two negative throat swabs. Three of 139 contacts were ill and tested influenza A(H7N9)-negative.

Surveillance of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans and detection of the first imported human case in Taiwan, 3 April to 10 May 2013

On 3 April 2013, suspected and confirmed cases of influenza A(H7N9) virus infection became notifiable in the primary care sector in Taiwan, and detection of the virus became part of the surveillance of severe community-acquired pneumonia. On 24 April, the first imported case, reported through both surveillance systems, was confirmed in a man returning from China by sequencing from endotracheal aspirates after two negative throat swabs. Three of 139 contacts were ill and tested influenza A(H7N9)-negative.

Friedel-like oscillations from interstitial iron in superconducting Fe(1+y)Te0.62Se0.38

Using polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering, we show that interstitial Fe in superconducting Fe(1+y)Te(1-x)Se(x) induces a magnetic Friedel-like oscillation that diffracts at Q⊥=(1/2 0) and involves >50 neighboring Fe sites. The interstitial >2μ(B) moment is surrounded by compensating ferromagnetic four-spin clusters that may seed double stripe ordering in Fe(1+y)Te. A semimetallic five-band model with (1/2 1/2) Fermi surface nesting and fourfold symmetric superexchange between interstitial Fe and two in-plane nearest neighbors largely accounts for the observed diffraction.

Local weak ferromagnetism in single-crystalline ferroelectric BiFeO3

Polarized small-angle neutron scattering studies of single-crystalline multiferroic BiFeO(3) reveal a long-wavelength spin density wave generated by ∼1° spin canting of the spins out of the rotation plane of the antiferromagnetic cycloidal order. This signifies weak ferromagnetism within mesoscopic regions of dimension 0.03 microns along [110], to several microns along [111], confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The average local magnetization is 0.06 μ(B)/Fe. Our results provide an indication of the intrinsic macroscopic magnetization to be expected in ferroelectric BiFeO(3) thin films under strain, where the magnetic cycloid is suppressed.

The dissociation between the diabetes and both Child-Pugh score and in-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients due to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or alcoholic

BACKGROUND

Up to 30% of the cirrhotic patients may clinically be classified as having diabetes. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes, its association with the severity of cirrhosis, and subsequent implication on mortality in a broad population of cirrhotic patients in Taiwan.

METHODS

From January 2004 to October 2008, 4,127 cirrhotic patients were reviewed. The latest demographic data were gathered after the latest laboratory measurement in the outpatient or inpatient department. In all, 2,945 patients were included on the basis of the etiology of cirrhosis: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C co-infection, or alcoholics.

RESULTS

The observed cases of diabetes were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than general population. Neither the Child-Pugh score (odds ratio = 0.99, p = 0.527) nor the model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD) (odds ratio = 1.00, p = 0.352) was associated with diabetes. The presence of diabetes was dissociated with renal function by means of serum creatinine (β = -0.01, p = 0.604) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (β = -0.02, p = 0.233), or in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 1.08, p = 0.362).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of diabetes was higher in cirrhotic patients in Taiwan. The prevalence of diabetes was dissociated with Child-Pugh or MELD score. The diagnosis of diabetes did not affect the renal function or in-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients. Since the clinical outcomes of diabetes were different from cirrhotic patients to general population, it is unclear whether the treatment of diabetes and improved glycemic control will benefit cirrhotic patients.

Core-shell magnetic morphology of structurally uniform magnetite nanoparticles

A new development in small-angle neutron scattering with polarization analysis allows us to directly extract the average spatial distributions of magnetic moments and their correlations with three-dimensional directional sensitivity in any magnetic field. Applied to a collection of spherical magnetite nanoparticles 9.0 nm in diameter, this enhanced method reveals uniformly canted, magnetically active shells in a nominally saturating field of 1.2 T. The shell thickness depends on temperature, and it disappears altogether when the external field is removed, confirming that these canted nanoparticle shells are magnetic, rather than structural, in origin.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein is a conserved target of tumor suppressor HRPT2/CDC73

Parafibromin, a tumor suppressor protein encoded by HRPT2/CDC73 and implicated in parathyroid cancer and the hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) familial cancer syndrome, is part of the PAF1 transcriptional regulatory complex. Parafibromin has been implicated in apoptosis and growth arrest, but the mechanism by which its loss of function promotes neoplasia is poorly understood. In this study we report that a hypomorphic allele of hyrax (hyx), the Drosophila homolog of HRPT2/CDC73, rescues the loss-of-ventral-eye phenotype of lobe (Akt1s1). Such rescue is consistent with previous reports that hyx/parafibromin is required for the nuclear transduction of Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signals and that Wg signaling antagonizes lobe function. A screen using double hyx/lobe heterozygotes identified an additional interaction with orb and orb2, the homologs of mammalian cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB), a translational regulatory protein. Hyx and orb2 heterozygotes lived longer and were more resistant to starvation than controls. In mammalian cells, knockdown of parafibromin expression reduced levels of CPEB1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) showed occupancy of CPEB1 by endogenous parafibromin. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a significant overlap between human transcripts potentially regulated by parafibromin and CPEB. These results show that parafibromin may exert both transcriptional and, through CPEB, translational control over a subset of target genes and that loss of parafibromin (and CPEB) function may promote tumorigenesis in part by conferring resistance to nutritional stress.

Coupled magnetic and ferroelectric domains in multiferroic Ni3V2O8

Electric control of multiferroic domains is demonstrated through polarized magnetic neutron diffraction. Cooling to the cycloidal multiferroic phase of Ni3V2O8 in an electric field E causes the incommensurate Bragg reflections to become neutron spin polarizing, the sense of neutron polarization reversing with E. Quantitative analysis indicates the E-treated sample has a handedness that can be reversed by E. We further show a close association between cycloidal and ferroelectric domains through E-driven spin and electric polarization hysteresis. We suggest that a definite cycloidal handedness is achieved through magnetoelastically induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions.

Effect of thimerosal on Ca2+ movement and viability in human oral cancer cells

The effect of thimerosal on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i ) in human oral cancer cells (OC2) is unclear. This study explored whether thimerosal changed basal [Ca2+]i levels in suspended OC2 cells using fura-2. Thimerosal at concentrations between 1and 50 μM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The Ca2+ signal was reduced partly by removing extracellular Ca 2+. Thimerosal-induced Ca2+ influx was not blocked by L-type Ca2+ entry inhibitors and protein kinase C modulators (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate [PMA] and GF109203X). In Ca2+-free medium, 50 μM thimerosal failed to induce a [Ca2+]i rise after pretreatment with thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor). Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 did not change thimerosal-induced [Ca2+]i rises. At concentrations between 5 and 10 μM, thimerosal killed cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The cytotoxic effect of 8 μM thimerosal was potentiated by prechelating cytosolic Ca2+ with the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate/acetomethyl (BAPTA/ AM). Flow cytometry data suggested that 1—7 μM thimerosal-induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, in OC2 cells, thimerosal-induced [Ca2+]i rises by causing phospholipase C-independent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ influx through non—L-type Ca2+ channels. Thimerosal killed cells in a concentration-dependent manner through apoptosis.

Interaction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with anaerobic mixed bacterial cultures isolated from river sediment

The degradation of flame retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), including tetra-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-47), penta-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-99 and -100), and hexa-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-153 and -154), by anaerobic bacterial mixed cultures isolated from river sediment was investigated. The effects of PBDEs on changes of anaerobic bacterial community in sediment culture were also studied. Sediments were collected from Er-Jen River and Nan-Kan River basins, which were both heavily polluted rivers in Taiwan, and bacteria from the sediment samples were enriched before the experiment was conducted. Into the anaerobic bacterial mixed cultures, 0.1 microg/mL of PBDEs was added followed by incubation under 30 degrees C for 70 days. Residues of PBDE were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD), and the changes of bacterial community were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Less than 20% of PBDEs were degraded after 70 days of incubation in all samples except for BDE-47 from the Nan-Kan River sediment. In that culture, BDE-47 was found to have notably degraded. In particular, after 42 days of incubation; BDE-47 was degraded, suddenly and sharply, to a negligible level on Day 70, and the result was confirmed by a repeated experiment. An interesting result was that although BDE-47 was degraded fast in the Nan-Kan River sediment, the bacterial communities did not shift significantly as we had speculated at Day 70. From UPGMA dendrograms, PBDEs changed the composition of bacterial communities, and the extents varied with the variety of PBDE congeners. By the amendment with BDE-153 or -154, bacterial communities would be changed immediately and irreversibly throughout the rest of the incubation period. No significant difference in degradation of PBDEs was observed between sediment bacteria from Er-Jen River and Nan-Kan River. However, the results verified the persistence of PBDEs in the environment.

End-compensated magnetostatic cavity for polarized 3He neutron spin filters

We have expanded upon the "Magic Box" concept, a coil driven magnetic parallel plate capacitor constructed out of mu-metal, by introducing compensation sections at the ends of the box that are tuned to limit end-effects similar to those of short solenoids. This ability has reduced the length of the magic box design without sacrificing any loss in field homogeneity, making the device far more applicable to the often space limited neutron beam line. The appeal of the design beyond affording longer polarized 3He lifetimes is that it provides a vertical guide field, which facilitates neutron spin transport for typical polarized beam experiments. We have constructed two end-compensated magic boxes of dimensions 28.4 x 40 x 15 cm3 (length x width x height) with measured, normalized volume-averaged transverse field gradients ranging from 3.3 x 10(-4) to 6.3 x 10(-4) cm(-1) for cell sizes ranging from 8.1 x 6.0 to 12.0 x 7.9 cm2 (diameter x length), respectively.

Precision measurement of the n-3He incoherent scattering length using neutron interferometry

We report the first measurement of the low-energy neutron-(3)He incoherent scattering length using neutron interferometry: b_{i};{'} = (-2.512 +/- 0.012 stat +/- 0.014 syst) fm. This is in good agreement with a recent calculation using the AV18 + 3N potential. The neutron-(3)He scattering lengths are important for testing and developing nuclear potential models that include three-nucleon forces, effective field theories for few-body nuclear systems, and neutron scattering measurements of quantum excitations in liquid helium. This work demonstrates the first use of a polarized nuclear target in a neutron interferometer.