Associations of ambient temperature and total cloud cover during pregnancy with newborn vitamin D status

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to estimate the effects of temperature and total cloud cover before birth on newborn vitamin D status.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective birth cohort.

METHODS

This study included 2055 mother-newborn pairs in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The data of temperature and total cloud cover from 30 days before birth were collected, and cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were determined. Restricted cubic spline regression models, multiple linear regression models, and logistic regression models were applied to estimate the associations.

RESULTS

A "J" shaped curve was observed between temperature and vitamin D status, and an inverse "J" shaped curve was observed between total cloud cover and vitamin D status. Compared to the fourth quartile (75-100th percentile, Q4) of average temperature (30 days before birth), the odds ratio (OR) for Q1 (0-25th percentile) associated with the vitamin D deficiency occurrence (<20 ng/mL) was 3.63 (95% CI, 1.54, 8.65). Compared to Q1 of the average total cloud cover (30 days before birth), the OR associated with the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency was 2.38 (95% CI, 1.63, 3.50) for the Q4.

CONCLUSIONS

Low temperature and high cloud cover before delivery were significantly associated with an increased probability of vitamin D deficiency in newborns. The findings suggested that pregnancy women lacking sufficient sunlight exposure still need vitamin D supplement to overcome the potential vitamin D deficiency status.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice inhibits NF-κB and increases IL-2 to alleviates the Foxp3-mediated Tregs imbalance in the peripheral blood of arseniasis patients

Arsenic can cause immune inflammation, which is the basis of arsenic-induced damage to multiple organs and systems. Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-labelled CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in maintaining immune homeostasis. Nuclear factor-κb (NF-κB) and Interleukin-2 (IL-2) are critical regulators of Foxp3. Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is an edible medicinal plant with anti-inflammation effects. In this study, a control group (n = 41) and an arseniasis group (n = 209) were recruited, and screened subjects from the arseniasis patients for RRTJ (n = 46) or placebo (n = 43) to explore the possible mechanism by which RRT alleviates immune inflammation. The results indicated that RRTJ can inhibits NF-κB and increases IL-2, and alleviates the Foxp3-mediated Tregs imbalance in the peripheral blood of arseniasis patients. In summary, these findings suggest a novel intervention or therapeutic target for immune inflammation in arseniasis patients and provide new evidence that RRTJ inhibits immune inflammation.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01384-0.

Association of cord plasma metabolites with birth weight: results from metabolomic and lipidomic studies of discovery and validation cohorts

BACKGROUND

Birth weight is a good predictor of fetal intrauterine growth and long-term health. Although several studies have evaluated the relationship between metabolites and birth weight, no prior study has comprehensively investigated the metabolomic and lipidomic and further validated and quantified meaningful metabolites.

METHODS

Firstly, a pseudotargeted metabolomics approach was applied to detect 2418 metabolites in 504 cord blood samples in the discovery set enrolled from the Wuhan Healthy Baby Cohort (HBC), China. Metabolome-wide association scan (MWAS) analysis and pathway enrichment were applied to discover metabolites and metabolic pathways that were significantly associated with birth weight for gestational age (BWGA) z-score. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of metabolites in the most significantly associated pathways with small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW). Subsequently, 350 cord blood samples in a validation cohort were subjected to targeted analysis to validate the metabolites screened from the discovery cohort.

RESULTS

In the discovery set, 513 metabolites were significantly associated with BWGA z-score (PFDR <0.05), of which 298 KEGG-annotated metabolites were included in the pathway analysis. The primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway was the most relevant metabolic pathway associated with BWGA z-score in our study. Elevated cord plasma primary bile acids were associated with lower BWGA z-score and higher odds of SGA or LBW in the discovery and validation cohorts. In the validation set, a 2-fold increase in taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) and taurocholic acid (TCA) was associated with 0.10 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.20) and 0.18 (95 %CI: 0.04, 0.31) decrease in BWGA z-score, respectively, after adjusting for covariates. In addition, a 2-fold increase in cord plasma TCDCA and TCA was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.52 (1.00, 2.30) and 1.77 (1.05, 2.98) for SGA, respectively. The adjusted ORs for a 2-fold increase in TCDCA and TCA concentrations were 2.39 (95% CI 1.00, 5.71) and 3.21 (0.96, 10.74) for LBW, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate a significant association between primary bile acids and lower BWGA z-score, as well as higher risk of SGA and LBW. Abnormalities of primary bile acid metabolism may play an important role in restricted fetal development. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Association of FTH1-Expressing Circulating Tumor Cells With Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The association between different phenotypes and genotypes of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains uncertain. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of FTH1 gene-associated CTCs (F-CTC) with/without epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, or their dynamic changes with the efficacy of NAC in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study enrolled 120 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer who planned to undergo NAC. The FTH1 gene and EMT markers in CTCs were detected before NAC (T0), after 2 cycles of chemotherapy (T1), and before surgery (T2). The associations of these different types of CTCs with rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) were evaluated using the binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

F-CTC in peripheral blood ≥1 at T0 was an independent factor for pCR rate in patients with HER2-positive (odds ratio [OR]=0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.98, P = .048). The reduction in the number of F-CTC at T2 was an independent factor for BCS rate (OR = 4.54, 95% CI, 1.14-18.08, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of F-CTC prior to NAC was related to poor response to NAC. Monitoring of F-CTC may help clinicians formulate personalized NAC regimens and implement BCS for patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics model for predicting the degree of pathological differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer: a multicentre study

AIM

To explore the value of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model for predicting the degree of pathological differentiation in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical characteristics of 182 NSCLC patients from four centres were collected, and radiomics features were extracted from 18F-FDG PET/CT images. Three logistic regression prediction models were established: clinical model; radiomics model; and nomogram combining radiomics signatures and clinical features. The predictive ability of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.

RESULTS

Patients from centre 1 were assigned randomly to the training and internal validation cohorts (7:3 ratio); patients from centres 2-4 served as the external validation cohort. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the clinical model in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohort were 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-0.84), 0.64 (95% CI = 0.46-0.81), and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.60-0.88), respectively. In the training (AUC: 0.84 [95% CI = 0.77-0.92]), internal validation (AUC: 0.81 [95% CI = 0.67-0.95]), and external validation cohorts (AUC: 0.74 [95% CI = 0.58-0.89]), the radiomics model showed good predictive ability for differentiation. Compared to the clinical and radiomics models, the nomogram has relatively better diagnostic performance, and the AUC values for nomogram in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohort were 0.86 (95% CI = 0.78-0.93), 0.83 (95% CI = 0.70-0.96), and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.62-0.92), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The 18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics model showed good ability for predicting the degree of differentiation of NSCLC. The nomogram combining the radiomics signature and clinical features has relatively better diagnostic performance.

Abstracts of randomized controlled trials in pediatric dentistry: reporting quality and spin

BACKGROUND

Abstracts provide readers a concise and readily accessible information of the trials. However, poor reporting quality and spin (misrepresentation of research findings) can lead to an overestimation in trial validity. This methodological study aimed to assess the reporting quality and spin among randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts in pediatric dentistry.

METHODS

We hand-searched RCTs in five leading pediatric dental journals between 2015 and 2021. Reporting quality in each abstract was assessed using the original 16-item CONSORT for abstracts checklist. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with reporting quality. We evaluated the presence and characteristics of spin only in abstracts of parallel-group RCTs with nonsignificant primary outcomes according to pre-determined spin strategies.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-two abstracts were included in reporting quality evaluation. The mean overall quality score was 4.57 (SD, 0.103; 95% CI, 4.36-4.77; score range, 1-10). Only interventions, objective, and conclusions were adequately reported. Use of flow diagram (P < 0.001) was the only significant factor of higher reporting quality. Of the 51 RCT abstracts included for spin analysis, spin was identified in 40 abstracts (78.4%), among which 23 abstracts (45.1%) had spin in the Results section and 39 in the Conclusions Sect. (76.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The reporting quality of RCT abstracts in pediatric dentistry is suboptimal and the prevalence of spin is high. Joint efforts are needed to improve reporting quality and minimize spin.

[Topography-guided transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking by sequential ultraviolet A irradiation in different diameters for progressive keratoconus in adults]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of a novel customized topography-guided transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking (TG-CXL) procedure by sequential ultraviolet A irradiation in different diameters and conventional transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking (TE-CXL) in adult patients with progressive keratoconus. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Adult patients diagnosed with progressive keratoconus in the Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University were continuously recruited and randomly assigned to receive the TG-CXL or TE-CXL procedure from March 2020 to March 2021. Patients in the TE-CXL group were irradiated in the central 9-mm zone of the cornea (total energy, 7.2 J/cm2; irradiance, 45 mW/cm2), while patients in the TG-CXL group were first irradiated with the protocol used in the TE-CXL group, and further irradiated in the central 6-mm zone (total energy, 3.6 J/cm2; irradiance, 9 mW/cm2). The subjective symptom of pain and corneal fluorescein sodium staining were scored within postoperative 3 days. Slit lamp examination, measurements of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal topography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo corneal confocal microscopy, corneal endothelial cell count, and non-contact tonometry were performed before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: A total of 66 patients were enrolled (mean age, 23.0±3.3 years old), with 33 patients (33 eyes) in each group. No statistically significant differences were found in age, gender, and maximum keratometry (Kmax) between the two groups (P>0.05). On day 1 after surgery, the average pain score of the TG-CXL group (2.21±0.45) was significantly higher than that of the TE-CXL group (1.32±0.33) (P<0.05). The pain was rapidly alleviated in both groups on days 2 and 3. On days 1 and 2, the corneal fluorescein sodium staining scores in the TG-CXL group (4.15±0.83 and 2.21±0.60, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the TE-CXL group (1.76±0.56 and 0.85±0.51, respectively, P<0.001), while there was no significant difference between the two groups at day3 (P=0.184). The UCVA and BCVA of the TG-CXL group at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery were significantly improved when compared with the baseline. At 3, 6, and 12 months, the BCVA (LogMAR) of the TG-CXL group (0.21±0.15, 0.22±0.16, and 0.22±0.16, respectively) were significantly improved when compared with those of the TE-CXL group(0.32±0.15, 0.34±0.15, and 0.36±0.16, respectively, P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in UCVA between groups at any time point after surgery (P>0.05). The spherical and cylindrical power values of the TG-CXL group were improved when compared with the baseline (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in spherical power values was found between the two groups at any time point after surgery (P>0.05). Meanwhile, there were significant differences in cylindrical power values between the two groups at 6 and 12 months after surgery (P<0.05). The Kmax in the TG-CXL group was improved at all of the time points after surgery when compared with the baseline (P<0.001), while no significant difference in Kmax was found at any time point after surgery in the TE-CXL group when compared with the baseline (P>0.05). At 6 and 12 months after surgery, the Kmax values in the TG-CXL group were significantly lower than the TE-CXL group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in flat keratomety, steep keratometry, the minimal thickness of the cornea, endothelial cell density, and intraocular pressure between the two groups at any time point after surgery (P>0.05). Within one month after surgery, optical coherence tomography revealed the increased density in the anterior stroma in both groups. In most patients in the TG-CXL group, a demarcation line was visible in the central and para-central corneal stroma, representing a clear and continuous, high-signal arc-shaped linear structure, which was deeper in the central cornea than the para-central cornea. In contrast, a demarcation line, fuzzy and focally discontinuous, was visible only in a few patients in the TE-CXL group, with an almost uniform depth in the central and the para-central cornea. Confocal microscopy demonstrated an apparent mesh-like cross-linked collagen structure in the superficial and intermediate corneal stroma at all time points after surgery in the TG-CXL group, with thickening stromal collagen fibers and an increased number of interconnections. In contrast, the mesh-like structure and number of interconnections in the superficial corneal stroma were significantly reduced at 12 months after surgery in the TE-CXL group, with no cross-linking structure in the intermediate corneal stroma at any time point after surgery. No serious complications such as corneal infection, sterile corneal ulcer, and persistent epithelial defect were observed in both groups during the follow-up of 12 months. Conclusions: The TG-CXL procedure by sequential irradiation in two different diameters with ultraviolet A light was effective and safe in the management of progressive keratoconus in adults, achieving significant refractive improvement. This might be a good technical alternative for refractive corneal cross-linking surgery.

'Spin' among abstracts of randomised controlled trials in sleep medicine: A research-on-research study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

'Spin', using reporting strategies to distort study results, can mislead readers of medical research. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of 'spin' among randomised controlled trial (RCT) abstracts published in sleep medicine journals, and to identify factors associated with its presence and severity.

METHODS

The search for RCTs published between 2010 and 2020 were conducted in seven reputable journals of sleep medicine. Abstracts of RCTs with statistically nonsignificant primary outcomes were included and analysed for 'spin', according to pre-determined 'spin' strategies. Chi-square tests or logistic regression analyses were performed to detect the association between characteristics of included abstracts and the presence and severity of 'spin'.

RESULTS

A total of 114 RCT abstracts were included in this study, of which 89 (78.1%) were identified as having at least one type of 'spin' strategy. Sixty-six abstracts (57.9%) had 'spin' in the Results section, 82 (71.9%) abstracts presented with 'spin' in the Conclusions section. The presence of 'spin' varied significantly among RCTs based on the different categories of research area (P=0.047) and the statistician involvement (P=0.045). Furthermore, research area (P=0.019) and funding status (P=0.033) were significant factors associated with the severity of 'spin'.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of 'spin' is high among RCT abstracts in sleep medicine. This raise the need for researchers, editors and other stakeholders to be aware of the issue of 'spin' and make joint efforts to eliminate it in future publications.

Abstracts of randomized controlled trials in the field of dentofacial trauma: Reporting quality and spin

BACKGROUND/AIM

Abstracts of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide a summary of the entire trial report. Their transparent, detailed, and accurate reporting is essential for clinical decision-making and evidence-based dental practice. The aim of this study was to assess the reporting quality and prevalence of spin in abstracts of RCTs in the field of dentofacial trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed database was searched to identify RCT reports published between 2017 and 2021 in the field of dentofacial trauma. The reporting quality of abstracts was assessed according to the 16-item CONSORT for Abstracts checklist and measured with an overall quality score (OQS, range: 0-16). Linear regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with reporting quality. Among the included RCTs, parallel-group RCTs with non-significant primary outcomes were selected for spin assessment using predefined spin strategies.

RESULTS

One hundred and twelve eligible abstracts were identified and included. The mean OQS was 4.51 (SD, 1.35; 95% CI, 4.26-4.76). Abstracts with more than 250 words (p = .004) and a structured format (p = .032) had significantly better reporting quality. Of the 30 abstracts that were eligible for spin assessment, spin was identified in 23 (76.7%). Among these, spin was observed in the Conclusions sections of 22 abstracts (73.3%) and the Results sections of 9 abstracts (30.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Among RCT abstracts in the field of dentofacial trauma, the reporting quality was sub-optimal and the prevalence of spin was relatively high. Strict adherence to the CONSORT for Abstracts guidelines is needed to ensure complete and transparent reporting. Relevant stakeholders need to make concerted efforts to avoid spin.

RIB induced reactions: Studying astrophysical reactions with low-energy RI beam at CRIB

Astrophysical reactions involving radioactive isotopes (RI) often play an important role in high-temperature stellar environments. The experimental studies on the reaction rates for those are still limited mainly due to the technical difficulties in producing high-quality RI beams. A direct measurement of those reactions would be still challenging in many cases, however, we can make a reliable evaluation of the reaction rates by an indirect method or by studying the resonance prorerties. Here we ntroduce recent examples of experimental studies on such RI-involving astrophysical reactions, performed at Center for Nuclear Study, the University of Tokyo, using the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB. One is for the neutron-induced destruction reactions of 7Be in the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, and the other is the study on the 22Mg(α, p) reaction relevant in X-ray bursts, which was performed with the resonant scattering method from the inverse reaction channel.

Small Molecular Inhibitors Reverse Cancer Metastasis by Blockading Oncogenic PITPNM3

Most cancer-related deaths are a result of metastasis. The development of small molecular inhibitors reversing cancer metastasis represents a promising therapeutic opportunity for cancer patients. This pan-cancer analysis identifies oncogenic roles of membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol transfer protein 3 (PITPNM3), which is crucial for cancer metastasis. Small molecules targeting PITPNM3 must be explored further. Here, PITPNM3-selective small molecular inhibitors are reported. These compounds exhibit target-specific inhibition of PITPNM3 signaling, thereby reducing metastasis of breast cancer cells. Besides, by using nanoparticle-based delivery systems, these PITPNM3-selective compounds loaded nanoparticles significantly repress metastasis of breast cancer in mouse xenograft models and organoid models. Notably, the results establish an important metastatic-promoting role for PITPNM3 and offer PITPNM3 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in metastatic breast cancer.

Ginkgo biloba Extract Attenuates the Disruption of Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Balance of Peripheral Blood in Arsenism Patients by Decreasing Hypermethylation of the Foxp3 Promoter Region

Coal-burning type of arsenism, a chronic arsenism caused by environmental arsenic pollution, found firstly at Guizhou Province of China, manifested as the disruption of pro- and anti-inflammatory T cell balance and multiple organ damage, while no specific treatment for the arsenism patients. The effect of methylation of the forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) promoter region on arsenic-induced disruption of pro- and anti-inflammatory T cell balance was first evaluated in this study, between the control and arsenism groups. The results show that arsenic can induce the hypermethylation of 6 sites in the Foxp3 promoter by upregulating the expression of recombinant DNA Methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) mRNA, leading to the downregulation of Foxp3 mRNA, Tregs, and interleukin 10 (IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine) levels, and increased the levels of interleukin 17 (IL-17, pro-inflammatory cytokine) in the peripheral blood of patients with arsenic poisoning. Further randomized controlled double-blind experiments (including the placebo control groups and the Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) intervention groups) showed that compared to the placebo control group or before GBE intervention, the levels of Dnmt1 mRNA, Foxp3 methylation, and IL-17 in the peripheral blood of the GBE intervention group were significantly decreased after intervention (P < 0.05), but the levels of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Our study provides some limited evidence that GBE can attenuate the disruption of pro- and anti-inflammatory balance of peripheral blood in arsenism patients by decreasing hypermethylation of the Foxp3 promoter region. This study provides scientific basis for further understanding a possible natural medicinal plant, GBE, as a more effective measure to prevent and control the disruption of pro- and anti-inflammatory balance caused by coal-burning type of arsenism.

ROS-responsive resveratrol-loaded cyclodextrin nanomicelles reduce inflammatory osteolysis

Bone loss in inflammatory disorders such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and periodontitis is caused by excessive osteoclastic activity. Meanwhile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been identified as contributors to osteoclast differentiation, and the application of ROS scavengers has emerged as a promising strategy to protect against bone loss. Recently, resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic phytoalexin, has been demonstrated to inhibit osteoclastogenesis by scavenging ROS; however, the application of RSV as an antioxidant is limited by its low water solubility, structural instability, and short elimination half-life. In this study, we developed a PEGylated cyclodextrin (CD)-based nanoplatform (PCP) for local delivery of RSV as nanomicelles (RSV-NMs). In addition, polymer functionalization with phenylboronic acid ester in RSV-NMs successfully achieved ROS-responsive release of RSV. The RSV-NMs in a well-dispersed state possessed good biocompatibility as well as improved solubility and stability compared with RSV compound. In vitro, RSV-NMs significantly inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cells and suppressed F-actin (filamentous actin) ring formation. Additionally, the mRNA expressions of osteoclastic marker genes, including matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9), nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1), TRAP, and cathepsin K, were consequently downregulated in the presence of RSV-NMs. In vivo, RSV-NMs provided protection against LPS-induced bone destruction, as evidenced by a decreased number of osteoclasts, increased bone density, and reduced area of bone resorption. Taken together, these results indicate that our ROS-responsive RSV-NMs can be employed as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory osteolysis.

Deep Underground Laboratory Measurement of ^{13}C(α,n)^{16}O in the Gamow Windows of the s and i Processes

The ^{13}C(α,n)^{16}O reaction is the main neutron source for the slow-neutron-capture process in asymptotic giant branch stars and for the intermediate process. Direct measurements at astrophysical energies in above-ground laboratories are hindered by the extremely small cross sections and vast cosmic-ray-induced background. We performed the first consistent direct measurement in the range of E_{c.m.}=0.24 to 1.9 MeV using the accelerators at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory and Sichuan University. Our measurement covers almost the entire intermediate process Gamow window in which the large uncertainty of the previous experiments has been reduced from 60% down to 15%, eliminates the large systematic uncertainty in the extrapolation arising from the inconsistency of existing datasets, and provides a more reliable reaction rate for the studies of the slow-neutron-capture and intermediate processes along with the first direct determination of the alpha strength for the near-threshold state.

[Clinical validation of the 2020 diagnostic approach for pediatric autoimmune encephalitis in a single center]

Objective: To evaluate the value of the 2020 diagnostic criteria (Cellucci criteria) for pediatric autoimmune encephalitis (AE) in children with suspected AE in a single center. Methods: The clinical data of 121 children hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2019 to October 2021, with a diagnosis of suspected AE, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The children were divided into definite antibody-positive AE (dAPAE), probable antibody-negative AE (prANAE), possible AE (pAE) and non-AE groups according to the Chinese expert consensus and the Graus criteria. A new diagnosis was made according to the Cellucci criteria which was compared with the clinical diagnosis to evaluate the diagnostic value of the Cellucci criteria. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and χ² test were used to compare the differences among groups. The sensitivity and specificity were used to evaluate efficacy of the Cellucci criteria. Results: Among the 121 children, 72 were males and 49 were females, with an age of 10.3 (6.5, 14.0) years at disease onset. There were 99 cases diagnosed as AE according the clinical diagnosis (58 males and 41 females), of which 43 cases were diagnosed as dAPAE, 14 cases as prANAE and 42 cases as pAE, and the other 22 cases were not AE (14 males and 8 females). The top 2 initial symptoms in the 99 children with AE were seizures (53 cases, 53.5%) and abnormal mental behaviors (35 cases, 35.4%). And the most common symptoms during the course of the disease were abnormal mental behaviors (77 cases, 77.8%) and seizures (64 cases, 64.6%). There were statistically differences in the incidence of consciousness disorders, autonomic dysfunctions during the course of the disease and the length of hospitalization among the 4 groups (χ²=21.63, 13.74, H=22.60, all P<0.05). Ninety-six of the 121 children were tested for AE-related antibodies, of which 45 cases (46.9%) were antibody-positive. According to the Cellucci criteria, 42 cases were diagnosed as dAPAE, 34 cases as prANAE and 14 cases as pAE. Compared with the clinical diagnosis, the sensitivity of the Cellucci criteria for the diagnosis of the 3 types of AE were 93.02%, 92.86% and 87.88%, and the specificity were 96.23%, 74.39% and 86.36%, respectively. Conclusions: The Cellucci criteria has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of pAE and dAPAE in the clinical management of children with suspected AE, while a high sensitivity but low specificity for the diagnosis of prANAE. Therefore, it is recommended to apply the Cellucci criteria selectively in clinical practice according to the actual situation, especially in the diagnosis of prANAE.

Cooperative Training of Fast Thinking Initializer and Slow Thinking Solver for Conditional Learning

This paper studies the problem of learning the conditional distribution of a high-dimensional output given an input, where the output and input may belong to two different domains, e.g., the output is a photo image and the input is a sketch image. We solve this problem by cooperative training of a fast thinking initializer and slow thinking solver. The initializer generates the output directly by a non-linear transformation of the input as well as a noise vector that accounts for latent variability in the output. The slow thinking solver learns an objective function in the form of a conditional energy function, so that the output can be generated by optimizing the objective function, or more rigorously by sampling from the conditional energy-based model. We propose to learn the two models jointly, where the fast thinking initializer serves to initialize the sampling of the slow thinking solver, and the solver refines the initial output by an iterative algorithm. The solver learns from the difference between the refined output and the observed output, while the initializer learns from how the solver refines its initial output. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on various conditional learning tasks, e.g., class-to-image generation, image-to-image translation, and image recovery. The advantage of our method over GAN-based methods is that our method is equipped with a slow thinking process that refines the solution guided by a learned objective function.

Differences in tumor microenvironment between HER2-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer

e12562

Background: The tumor microenvironment of breast cancer is extremely complex, which containing different types of lymphocytes, macrophages, NK cells and other immune cell subtypes. At present, the relationship between immune cell subtypes and molecular subtypes of breast cancer is still unclear. Methods: Tumor tissue samples of 20 breast cancer patients were collected from January 2020. Then the density (number of positive cells/mm2) and ratio of immune cells in intratumoral area and stromal area were detected by multiple fluorescence immunohistochemistry (mIHC), the detection range was included CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,PD-1+CD8+T cells,Tregs,M1/M2 tumor associated macrophages (TAM), PD-L1+CD68+TAM,B cells,CD56bright NK cells and CD56dim NK cells and so on. The immune cell subtypes of all area were included both intratumoral area and stromal area. Graphpad prism (version 7.01) was used for t test and the statistical significance was set at p=0.05. Results: These 20 patients were divided into two groups, HER2 positive (n=8) and HER2 negative group (n=12). The density of CD3+T cells in all area (including intratumoral area and stromal area) of tumor tissue in HER2 positive breast cancer patients were significantly higher than that of HER2 negative breast cancer patients (median density, HER2 positive group vs. HER2 negative group=2998 vs. 1520/mm², p=0.031) as well as the CD8+T cells (median density, HER2 positive group vs. HER2 negative group=536 vs. 175/mm², p=0.015). Meanwhile, the density of Tregs in all area of tumor tissue in HER2 positive breast cancer patients was also significantly higher (median density, HER2 positive group vs. HER2 negative group=119 vs. 27/mm², p=0.022).However, there was no significant difference in the other subtypes of immune cells infiltrated in tumor tissue between HER2 positive and HER2 negative samples, such as CD4+T cells, M1/M2 macrophages, B cells and so on (p＞0.05). Conclusions: Our research indicates that the patterns of immune cell subtypes in different types of early breast cancer are different. Further exploration of the immune microenvironment in different molecular types of breast cancer may provide additional targets for immunotherapy.

The ratio of PD1+CD8+T cells in stromal area of tumor tissue is associated with the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2 negative breast cancer patients

e12626

Background: For patients diagnosed with early breast cancer, surgery remains the standard of care. Early patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy have been proved to be associated with improved survival. However, the accurate prediction of pCR in a clinical setting remains challenging. Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels have recently been identified as an independent predictor of pCR in breast cancer. However, due to extremely complex tumor microenvironment within tumor, the role of different immune cell subtypes in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the potentially predictive role and dynamic changes of immune cell subsets in patients with HER2 negative breast cancer receiving NAC. Methods: Since January 2020, tumor tissue samples of 12 HER2 negative breast cancer patients were collected at baseline and after NAC. Several kinds of immune cells including CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, PD-1+CD8+T cells, Tregs, M1/M2 tumor associated macrophages(TAM), PD-L1+CD68+TAM, B cells, CD56bright NK cells and CD56dim NK cells in the tumor tissue were evaluated by multiple fluorescence immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and counted in intratumoral and stromal area for density and ratio. T test was used for the comparison of immune cells and statistical significance was set at p = 0.05. Results: We examined immune cell subtypes and PD-L1/PD-1 expression of 12 HER2 negative breast cancer patients. According to achieving pCR or not, these 12 patients were divided into two groups, pCR (n = 3) and non-pCR group (n = 9). The results showed that the ratio of PD1+CD8+T cells in stromal area of baseline tumor tissue of pCR group was significantly higher than non-pCR group (median ratio, pCR group vs. non-pCR group = 17.3% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.029).In addition, the ratio of PD1+CD8+T cells in stromal area of pCR group was still significantly higher than that of non pCR patients after NAC (median ratio, pCR group vs. non-pCR group = 20.7% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Whether at baseline or after NAC, the ratio of PD1+CD8+T cells in stromal area is associated with the effect of NAC in HER2 negative breast cancer.

Predictive value of circulating tumor cells FTH1 gene on the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic breast cancer

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Background: Based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be classified into two main subtypes: epithelial CTCs(E-CTCs) and EMT-CTCs. CTCs with high expression of the FTH1 gene (HEF) may be related to poor efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The relation between the CTCs with HEF and pathological complete response (pCR) after NAC is unclear. Methods: 83 non-metastatic breast cancer patients who completed NAC and surgery were enrolled in this study, and each patient had at least one result of CTC test before surgery. Expression of the FTH1 gene on CTCs was achieved by multiplex RNA in situ hybridization. Mann-Whitney U tests was conducted to examine the differences between the non-pCR and pCR groups in the numbers of total CTCs, E-CTCs and EMT-CTCs with HEF. Predictive ability of total and subtypes of CTCs with HEF to pCR rate was compared by the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to select the variable and construct the predictive model. Results: Among 64 patients who underwent CTC test before NAC, CTCs were found in 52 patients, of which 20 patients achieved pCR. There was no significant difference in the numbers of total CTCs (9.9±10.9 vs 7.9±7.1, p=0.828) and E-CTCs with HEF (0.6±0.9 vs 0.3±0.7, p=0.256). Compared with the patients in the non-pCR group, those in pCR group had fewer EMT-CTCs with HEF (2.5±5.1 vs 1.0±2.5, p<0.01). 56 patients had CTC test after NAC, CTCs were detected in 53 patients, of which 18 patients gained pCR. There was no significantly difference in the numbers of total CTCs (11.7±13.8 vs 7.1±6.2, p=0.386), E-CTCs with HEF (0.5±1.0 vs 0.3±0.6, p=0.699) and EMT-CTCs with HEF (3.6±7.9 vs 1.3±3.1, p=0.323) between the two groups. In patients with CTC tests before NAC, EMT-CTCs with HEF have the highest predictive ability (AUC=0.718, 95%CI=0.567-0.869) than total CTCs (AUC=0.518, 95%CI=0.359-0.677) and E-CTCs with HEF (AUC=0.575, 95%CI=0.417-0.733). Univariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that HR status (OR=4.667, 95%CI= 1.177-18.506), HER2 status (OR=0.059, 95%CI=0.014-0.255) and EMT-CTCs with HEF status (<1 vs ≥1) (OR=8.800, 95%CI=2.336-33.152) were significantly related with the pCR rate. These variables remain significant in the multivariate logistic analysis. The AUC value of the pCR rate prediction model constructed based on the multivariate binary logistic regression results was significantly higher than the model combining HR status and HER2 status (AUC=0.930, 95%CI=0. 861-1.000 vs AUC=0.866, 95%CI=0.765-0.966; p<0.05), based on Delong test. Conclusions: EMT-CTCs with HEF before NAC has the predictive ability for the rate of pCR in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. This will help clinicians personalize the treatment strategy for patients to achieve better survival.

Spin in the Abstracts of Randomized Controlled Trials in Operative Dentistry: A Cross-sectional Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the presence and characteristics of spin in recently published RCT abstracts in operative dentistry and to investigate potential factors associated with the presence of spin.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The PubMed database was searched to identify parallel-group RCTs published between 2015 and 2019 in the field of operative dentistry, which compared two or more groups and had nonsignificant results for the primary outcome. Two authors evaluated independently the presence and characteristics of spin among these abstracts. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the presence of spin in the Results and the Conclusions sections, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 77 RCT abstracts were included, among which 58 (75.3%) showed at least one type of spin. Spin was identified in the Results and Conclusions sections of 32 (41.6%) and 45 (58.4%) abstracts, respectively. 19 RCTs (24.7%) presented spin in both the Results and the Conclusions section of abstracts. The presence of spin in the Results section of abstracts was significantly associated with source of funding (OR=8.10; p=0.025) and number of treatment arms was associated with the presence of spin in the Conclusions section of abstracts (OR=5.66; p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence rate of spin in the sample of operative dentistry RCTs abstracts is high.

The Drivers of the Martian Bow Shock Location: A Statistical Analysis of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN and Mars Express Observations

The Martian interaction with the solar wind leads to the formation of a bow shock upstream of the planet. The shock dynamics appear complex, due to the combined influence of external and internal drivers. The extreme ultraviolet fluxes and magnetosonic Mach number are known major drivers of the shock location, while the influence of other possible drivers is less constrained or unknown such as crustal magnetic fields, solar wind dynamic pressure, or the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) intensity, and orientation. In this study, we compare the influence of the main drivers of the Martian shock location, based on several methods and published datasets from Mars Express (MEX) and Mars Atmosphere Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) missions. We include here the influence of the crustal fields, extreme ultraviolet fluxes, solar wind dynamic pressure, as well as (for MAVEN, thanks to magnetic field measurements) magnetosonic Mach number and Interplanetary Magnetic Field parameters (intensity and orientation angles). The bias due to the cross-correlations among the possible drivers is investigated with a partial correlations analysis. Several model selection methods (Akaike Information Criterion and Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator regression) are also used to rank the relative importance of the physical parameters. We conclude that the major drivers of the shock location are extreme ultraviolet fluxes and magnetosonic Mach number, while crustal fields and solar wind dynamic pressure are secondary drivers at a similar level. The IMF orientation also plays a significant role, with larger distances for perpendicular shocks rather than parallel shocks.

Assessing the drinking water quality in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2018

The objective of this study was to understand the drinking water quality state in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2018 and to derive information that will provide a basis for improving the drinking water quality in the region. Monitoring data for drinking water from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for 2014 to 2018 were analyzed and the results were compared with GB 5749-2006, the Standard Test Method for Drinking Water, and GB 5749-2006, the Drinking Water Quality Standards. Data for a total of 30,613 water samples were assessed. Of the data for the microbiological index, sensory trait and general chemical index, and toxicological index, 89, 80, and 69% were qualified, respectively. For the toxicological index, the fluoride and nitrate nitrogen data were the least compliant. The water quality in all the cities was generally very suitable for drinking. However, there were marked differences in the qualified rates of drinking water in different areas and the qualified rates of the data for the three indexes were lower in rural areas than in urban areas. Given the varied issues with the drinking water quality, the relevant departments of League cities should implement appropriate and effective treatment measures to improve the drinking water quality and ensure it is safe for residents.

Discrete Aurora at Mars: Dependence on Upstream Solar Wind Conditions

Discrete aurora at Mars, characterized by their small spatial scale and tendency to form near strong crustal magnetic fields, are emissions produced by particle precipitation into the Martian upper atmosphere. Since 2014, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN's (MAVEN's) Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) has obtained a large collection of UV discrete aurora observations during its routine periapsis nightside limb scans. Initial analysis of these observations has shown that, near the strongest crustal magnetic fields in the southern hemisphere, the IUVS discrete aurora detection frequency is highly sensitive to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) clock angle. However, the role of other solar wind properties in controlling the discrete aurora detection frequency has not yet been determined. In this work, we use the IUVS discrete aurora observations, along with MAVEN observations of the upstream solar wind, to determine how the discrete aurora detection frequency varies with solar wind dynamic pressure, IMF strength, and IMF cone angle. We find that, outside of the strong crustal field region (SCFR) in the southern hemisphere, the aurora detection frequency is relatively insensitive to the IMF orientation, but significantly increases with solar wind dynamic pressure, and moderately increases with IMF strength. Interestingly however, although high solar wind dynamic pressures cause more aurora to form, they have little impact on the brightness of the auroral emissions. Alternatively, inside the SCFR, the detection frequency is only moderately dependent on the solar wind dynamic pressure, and is much more sensitive to the IMF clock and cone angles. In the SCFR, aurora are unlikely to occur when the IMF points near the radial or anti-radial directions when the cone angle (arccos(B x /|B|)) is less than 30° or between 120° and 150°. Together, these results provide the first comprehensive characterization of how upstream solar wind conditions affect the formation of discrete aurora at Mars.

First measurement of 25Al+p resonant scattering relevant to the astrophysical reaction 22Mg(α,p)25Al

Type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) are the most frequently observed thermonuclear explosions in nature. The 22Mg(α,p)25Al reaction plays a critical role in XRB models. However, experimental information is insufficient to deduce a precise 22Mg(α,p)25Al reaction rate for the respective XRB temperature range. A new measurement of 25Al+p resonant scattring was performed up to the astrophysically interested energy region of 22Mg(α,p)25Al. Several resonances were observed in the excitation functions, and their level properties have been determined based on an R-matrix analysis. In particular, proton widths and spin-parities of four natural-parity resonances above the α threshold of 26Si, which can contribute the reaction rate of 22Mg(α,p)25Al, were first experimentally determined.

Experimental studies on astrophysical reactions at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB

Experimental studies on astrophysical reactions involving radioactive isotopes (RI) often accompany technical challenges. Studies on such nuclear reactions have been conducted at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB, operated by Center for Nuclear Study, the University of Tokyo. We discuss two cases of astrophysical reaction studies at CRIB; one is for the 7Be+n reactions which may affect the primordial 7Li abundance in the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis, and the other is for the 22Mg(α, p) reaction relevantin X-raybursts.

circCDYL2 promotes trastuzumab resistance via sustaining HER2 downstream signaling in breast cancer

Background

Approximate 25% HER2-positive (HER2⁺) breast cancer (BC) patients treated with trastuzumab recurred rapidly. However, the mechanisms underlying trastuzumab resistance remained largely unclear.

Methods

Trastuzumab-resistant associated circRNAs were identified by circRNAs high-throughput screen and qRT-PCR in HER2⁺ breast cancer tissues with different trastuzumab response. The biological roles of trastuzumab-resistant associated circRNAs were detected by cell vitality assay, colony formation assay, Edu assay, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and orthotopic animal models. For mechanisms research, the co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and pull down assays confirmed the relevant mechanisms of circRNA and binding proteins.

Results

We identified a circRNA circCDYL2, which was overexpressed in trastuzumab-resistant patients, which conferred trastuzumab resistance in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, circCDYL2 stabilized GRB7 by preventing its ubiquitination degradation and enhanced its interaction with FAK, which thus sustained the activities of downstream AKT and ERK1/2. Trastuzumab-resistance of HER2⁺ BC cells with high circCDYL2 could be reversed by FAK or GRB7 inhibitor. Clinically, HER2⁺ BC patients with high levels of circCDYL2 developed rapid recurrence and had shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) following anti-HER2 therapy compared to those with low circCDYL2.

Conclusions

circCDYL2-GRB7-FAK complex plays a critical role in maintaining HER2 signaling, which contributes to trastuzumab resistance and circCDYL2 is a potential biomarker for trastuzumab-resistance in HER2⁺ BC patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-021-01476-7.

Sustained release of chlorogenic acid-loaded nanomicelles alleviates bone loss in mouse periodontitis

Abstract Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the periodontal supporting tissues, impinges on oral health, and is correlative with an increased risk of systemic disease. Currently, the...

Sequence Variant in the TRIM39-RPP21 Gene Readthrough is Shared Across a Cohort of Arabian Foals Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Epilepsy

Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) is a self-limiting neurological disorder with a suspected genetic predisposition affecting young Arabian foals of the Egyptian lineage. The condition is characterized by tonic-clonic seizures with intermittent post-ictal blindness, in which most incidents are sporadic and unrecognized. This study aimed to identify genetic components shared across a local cohort of Arabian foals diagnosed with JIE via a combined whole genome and targeted resequencing approach: Initial whole genome comparisons between a small cohort of nine diagnosed foals (cases) and 27 controls from other horse breeds identified variants uniquely shared amongst the case cohort. Further validation via targeted resequencing of these variants, that pertain to non-intergenic regions, on additional eleven case individuals revealed a single 19bp deletion coupled with a triple-C insertion (Δ19InsCCC) within the TRIM39-RPP21 gene readthrough that was uniquely shared across all case individuals, and absent from three additional Arabian controls. Furthermore, we have confirmed recent findings refuting potential linkage between JIE and other inherited diseases in the Arabian lineage, and refuted the potential linkage between JIE and genes predisposing a similar disorder in human newborns. This is the first study to report a genetic variant to be shared in a sub-population cohort of Arabian foals diagnosed with JIE. Further evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of the Δ19InsCCC allele within additional cohorts of the Arabian horse is warranted in order to validate its credibility as a marker for JIE, and to ascertain whether it has been introduced into other horse breeds by Arabian ancestry.

Association of Homocysteine and Risks of Long-Term Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Death among Older Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess whether raised baseline plasma tHcy concentrations increased the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause death outcomes in older patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

DESIGN

A multicenter, prospective, observational study.

SETTING

Beijing, Shandong Province, Gansu Province of China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1, 290 OSA patients aged 60 to 96 years from sleep centers of six hospitals in China consecutively recruited between January 2015 and October 2017.

MEASUREMENTS

Cox proportional models assessed the association between tHcy and the risk of new-onset all events among Chinese older OSA patients.

RESULTS

The final analysis (60.1% male; median age, 66 years) used data from 1, 100 subjects during a median follow-up of 42 months, a total of 105 (9.5%) patients developed MACE and 42 (3.8%) patients died. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed higher adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of MACE, myocardial infarction (MI), hospitalization for unstable angina, and composite of all events with tHcy levels in the 4th quartile (HR=5.93, 95% CI: 2.79-12.59; HR=4.72, 95% CI:1.36-4.61; HR=4.26, 95% CI:1.62-5.71; HR=4.17, 95% CI:2.23-7.81) and the 3rd quartile (HR=3.79, 95% CI:1.76-8.20; HR=3.65, 95% CI:1.04-2.98; HR=2.75, 95% CI:1.08-3.76; HR=2.51, 95% CI:1.31-4.83) compared to reference tHcy levels in quartile 1, respectively, while the aHRs (95% CIs) of all-cause death showed significantly higher only in the highest tHcy level quartile than in the lowest quartile (HR=3.20, 95% CI=1.16-8.84, P=0.025) with no significant differences in risks of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure among groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

tHcy, a marker of prognosis for older OSA patients, was significantly associated with the increased risk of MACE and all-cause death in this population independent of BMI, smoking status, and other potential risk factors, but not all clinical components events of MACE. New therapeutic approaches for older patients with OSA should mitigate tHcy-associated risks of MACE, and even all-cause death.

The hypermethylation of FOXP3 gene as an epigenetic marker for the identification of arsenic poisoning risk

Background and Purpose: Arsenic exposure can lead to skin lesions and multiple organ damage, which are not easily reversible and for which there is no effective therapeutics. Identification of reliable epigenetic markers is essential for early recognition of arsenic poisoning risk. Anomalous DNA methylation of immune homeostasis regulator FOXP3 is a critical mechanism for triggering arsenic poisoning. This study aims to explore the value of FOXP3 methylation in the identification of arsenic poisoning risk.Methods: 88 arsenic poisoning subjects and 41 references were recruited. Urinary arsenic contents and FOXP3 methylation in PBLCs was measured by ICP-MS and pyrosequencing, respectively.Results: The results showed that the elevated FOXP3 methylation in PBLCs were associated with the increased levels of urinary arsenic and were positively associated with the increased risk of arsenic poisoning and its progression. The result of mediation analysis revealed that 24.3% of the effect of arsenic exposure on the risk of arsenic poisoning was mediated by increased FOXP3 methylation. Additionally, we constructed a nomogram model with FOXP3 methylation as an epigenetic predictor to assess the probability of individual arsenic poisoning. The model showed a robust ability in the discrimination of arsenic poisoning risk, with an area under receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.897(0.845-0.949) and more than 70% accuracy. The calibration curves and the Harrell concordance index showed that the consistency rate between the probability predicted by the nomogram model and the actual probability is 89.7%.Conclusions: Taken together, we found the great potential of FOXP3 methylation for the identification of arsenic poisoning risk and provided a new approach to the application of epigenetic markers in accurately quantifying the risk of adverse outcomes.

Advancement of Photospheric Radius Expansion and Clocked Type-I X-Ray Burst Models with the New ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al Reaction Rate Determined at the Gamow Energy

We report the first (in)elastic scattering measurement of ^{25}Al+p with the capability to select and measure in a broad energy range the proton resonances in ^{26}Si contributing to the ^{22}Mg(α,p) reaction at type I x-ray burst energies. We measured spin-parities of four resonances above the α threshold of ^{26}Si that are found to strongly impact the ^{22}Mg(α,p) rate. The new rate advances a state-of-the-art model to remarkably reproduce light curves of the GS 1826-24 clocked burster with mean deviation <9% and permits us to discover a strong correlation between the He abundance in the accreting envelope of the photospheric radius expansion burster and the dominance of ^{22}Mg(α,p) branch.

Attenuation of PITPNM1 Signaling Cascade Can Inhibit Breast Cancer Progression

Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein membrane-associated 1 (PITPNM1) contains a highly conserved phosphatidylinositol transfer domain which is involved in phosphoinositide trafficking and signaling transduction under physiological conditions. However, the functional role of PITPNM1 in cancer progression remains unknown. Here, by integrating datasets of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer (METABRIC), we found that the expression of PITPNM1 is much higher in breast cancer tissues than in normal breast tissues, and a high expression of PITPNM1 predicts a poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Through gene set variation analysis (GSEA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis, we found PITPNM1 is mainly associated with carcinogenesis and cell-to-cell signaling ontology. Silencing of PITPNM1, in vitro, significantly abrogates proliferation and colony formation of breast cancer cells. Collectively, PITPNM1 is an important prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

The presence and characteristics of 'spin' among randomized controlled trial abstracts in orthodontics

OBJECTIVES

To identify the presence and characteristics of spin (using reporting strategies to distort study results and mislead readers) within randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts published in orthodontic journals, and to explore the association between spin and potentially related factors.

METHODS

A manual search was conducted to identify abstracts of RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes published in five leading orthodontic journals between 2015 and 2020. Spin in the Results and Conclusions sections of each included abstract was evaluated and categorized according to pre-determined spin strategies. Logistic regression analyses were employed to explore the association between spin and relevant factors.

RESULTS

A total of 111 RCT abstracts were included, of which 69 (62.2 per cent) were identified with spin. In the Results section, 47 (42.3 per cent) abstracts had spin, and 'focusing on significant within-group comparison for primary outcomes' was the most frequent spin strategy. In the Conclusions section, 57 (51.4 per cent) abstracts presented spin, with the most common strategy being 'claiming equivalence or non-inferiority for statistically nonsignificant results'. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, a significantly lower presence of spin was found in studies with international collaboration (odds ratio [OR]: 0.331, 95 per cent confidence interval [CI]: 0.120-0.912, P = 0.033) and trial registration (OR: 0.336, 95 per cent CI: 0.117-0.962, P = 0.042).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of spin is high among RCT abstracts in orthodontics. Clinicians need to be aware of the definition and presence of spin. Concerted efforts are needed from researchers and other stakeholders to address this issue.

Salvage mandibular reconstruction: multi-institutional analysis of 17 patients

Unsuccessful mandibular reconstruction occasionally occurs, leaving the patient with undesirable function and contours. In such cases, second- or third-time corrective operations are challenging. However, published studies on the complicated retreatment of such patients are scarce. A retrospective analysis covering the years 2015-2019 was conducted in three centers. All 17 patients included had undergone prior failed mandibular reconstructions in other institutions. Salvage secondary or tertiary reconstructive surgeries were attempted and the results are presented. Major factors for these failed reconstructions included exposed non-vascularized bone grafts (n = 7, 41.2%), flap loss (n = 4, 23.5%), exposed artificial joint (n = 3, 17.6%), skewed occlusion with deformity (n = 1, 5.9%), non-union (n = 1, 5.9%), and recurrence (n = 1, 5.9%). Fibula flaps were transferred in 15 patients, while iliac flaps were used in two patients for mandibular re-do reconstructions. Virtual surgical designs were conducted in nine (52.9%) patients, with navigation-guided approaches performed in three cases. Postoperative functions were relatively favorable in these complicated mandibular re-do reconstruction cases. Mandibular symmetry (mandibular length and height; P = 0.002) and condylar position (P < 0.001) were regained after these re-do attempts. Secondary or tertiary mandibular re-do reconstruction can still achieve good functional outcomes with appropriate preoperative selection and well-conceived designs, especially with the aid of virtual surgery and navigation.

Anti-PITPNM3 small molecular compounds reverse breast cancer metastasis by targeting PITPNM3

e15005

Background: Recent studies highlight the fundamental roles of PITPNM3 in breast cancer metastasis. PITPNM3 is identified as the functional receptor of CCL18 and promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis by binding with CCL18. Since anti-CCL18 neutralized antibodies shows medium binding affinity which restricts their clinical application, small molecular inhibitors targeting PITPNM3 are needed to be further investigated. Therefore, we identified several first in class small molecular inhibitors potentially targeting PITPNM3 and can inhibit breast cancer metastasis conducted by PITPNM3 activation. Methods: We performed computer-assisted drug design by constructing PITPNM3 homology model, characterizing potential binding pockets and docking preselected high diversity structured small molecule compounds into the static PITPNM3 model. Top 100 small molecules in silico scores were selected and screened through basic experiments. After screening, the anti-metastasis effects of selected compounds were tested through transwell migration and invasion assay. Immunofluorescence and qPCR were applied to confirm the expression of vimentin and CDH1. Western blot were used to clarify the inhibition effects of selected compounds on PITPNM3 signaling pathways. Results: By using homology remodeling, we successfully constructed the PITPNM3(680-920aa) protein model. The PITPNM3(680-920aa) domain is responsible for interacting with PYK2 and phosphorylating PYK2. The phosphorylation of PYK2 conducted by PITPNM3 signaling pathway will lead to metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells. We then characterized the potential binding pockets of this static model and a druggable site was founded. More than 50K molecules with high diversity were docked into this druggable site and scored through their docking performance. Finally, top 100 scored small molecules were selected. In addition, through 1 rounds of toxicity screening, 1 round of transwell migration assay screening and 1 round of transwell invasion assay screening, 4 small molecules with higher bioactivity is identified and 1 compound with the highest bioactivity as well as docking performance among 50K small molecules is chose. This compound can inhibit CCL18 treatment as well as tumor associated macrophage co-culture mediated migration and invasion. Besides, it can also inhibit the phophorylation of PYK2 and Src without inhibition the expression of PITPNM3. Conclusions: Our findings identify the first-in-class anti-PITPNM3 small molecule inhibitors. These compounds can inhibit PITPNM3 signaling pathway and reverse breast cancer metastasis.

CTNND1 to mediate bone metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer via regulating CXCR4

e13045

Background: Compared to lumial breast cancer, the proporation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with bone metastases (BMs) is relatively low and few data focusing on the mechanism of the BMs in TNBC are available, Here, we screened that CTNND1 was associated with BMs of TNBC by integrating high-throughput sequencing, and further investigated the role of CTNND1 in BMs of TNBC in vitro. Methods: TNBC tissue samples with only BMs (n = 6) and without any metastasis (n = 10) were tested using high-throughput sequencing and 11 differentially expressed relative genes were identified. We then quantified these 11 genes in normal breast tissue samples (n = 26), TNBC tissue samples with only BMs (n = 10), TNBC tissue samples without any metastasis (n = 88) as well as luminal tissue samples with BMs（n = 10）through qPCR and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). The effects of knocking down CTNND1 on the interaction between TNBC cells and osteoblasts were examined by cell adhesion, transwell migration and matrigel invasion assays. To explorethe role of CTNND1 in mediating bone metastasis in TNBC, we used RNA-sequencing to find out the relative downstream gene CXCR4 and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and verified it in vitro by Western Blotting. Results: Combining our high-throughput sequencing data, qPCR and IHC in clinical tissue samples, we verified that CTNND1 was decreased in TNBC patients with bone metastasis compared to normal tissue and luminal tissue with BMs. Knocking down of CTNND1 in TNBC cells including MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and BT549 weakened cells adhesion, but facilitated cells migration and invasion. Mechanically, knocking down of CTNND1 upregulated CXCR4 via activating PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in TNBC but not luminal and HER2- positive breast cancer cells lines. Conclusions: CTNND1 mediates bone metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer via regulating CXCR4.CTNND1 may serve as a potential predictor of bone metastasis for TNBC patients.

BRMS1L inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer cells through epigenetic silence of CXCR4

e13002

Background: We previously demonstrated that BRMS1L (breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 like) suppresses breast cancer metastasis through HDAC1 recruitment and histone H3K9 deacetylation at the promoter of FZD10, a receptor for Wnt signaling. It is still unclear whether BRMS1L regulates organ-specific metastases, such as bone metastasis, the most prevalent metastatic site of breast cancer. Methods: Examination of the expression of BRMS1L in primary tumors, bone metastatic and other metastatic tissues from breast cancer patients was implemented using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining. To investigate the mechanism by which BRMS1L drives breast cancer bone metastasis, we tested the mRNA expression by qRT-PCR of a set of potential bone related genes (BRGs) based on PubMed database in MDA-MB-231 cells over expressing BRMS1L and MCF-7 cells knocking-down BRMS1L, and detected the expression of CXCR4 in these established cells by western blot. Transwell assays were performed to assess the migration abilities of breast cancer cells towards osteoblasts. ChIP (Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation) were employed to test the interaction between BRMS1L and CXCR4. Results: At both mRNA and protein levels, the expression of BRMS1L was significantly lower in bone metastatic sites than that in primary cancer tissues and other metastatic sites of breast cancer patients. CXCR4 was screened out in a set of BRGs and negatively correlated with the expression of BRMS1L in breast cancer cell lines. BRMS1L inhibited the migration of breast cancer cells towards osteoblasts through CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. In the presence of TSA treatment, breast cancer cell lines showed an increased expression of CXCR4 in a TSA concentration-dependent manner. In addition, ChIP assays verified that BRMS1L directly bound to the promoter region of CXCR4 and inhibited its transcription through promoter histone deacetylation. Conclusions: BRMS1L mediates the migration abilities of breast cancer cells to bone microenvironment via targeting CXCR4 and contributes to bone metastasis of breast cancer cells. Thus, BRMS1L may be a potential biomarker for predicting bone metastasis in breast cancer.

Combined analysis of metagenomic data revealed consistent changes of gut microbiome structure and function in inflammatory bowel disease

AIMS

To reveal the consistency and discrepancy in the gut microbial structure and function in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from different regions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Gut microbes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors genes (VFGs) were analysed using metagenome data from three cohorts. The abundance of Escherichia coli extensively increased in IBD patients, whereas Subdoligranulum unclassified decreased dramatically in IBD patients from three countries. Escherichia coli showed a positive correlation with multiple ARGs and VFGs in cohorts from China and the United States, including multidrug-related resistance genes and Capsule and LOS-related virulence factors genes. Escherichia coli biofilm synthesis pathways significantly enriched in IBD patients from three different regions. Notably, Subdoligranulum unclassified and Eubacterium hallii were negatively related to ARGs and VFGs.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent changes of microbiome structure and function were observed in IBD patients from three different regions. As pathogenic bacteria, E. coli may accelerate IBD progression through encapsulation in biofilms by upregulating antibiotic resistance in Crohn's disease patients. Subdoligranulum unclassified and E. hallii may be beneficial for IBD patients and could serve as potential probiotics for IBD treatment.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This work dispels worries about the regional differences in gut microbial changes in IBD patients and provides useful guidance for more rational microbiome-based therapies.