Hypomethylation of CTCFL promoters as a noninvasive biomarker in plasma from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest cancer in the world with high morbidity and poor prognosis. CTCFL (CCCTC-binding factor like) is a member of the cancer testis antigen (CTA) family with oncogenic properties. To demonstrate whether the hypomethylation of CTCFL promoters in plasma could be used as a noninvasive biomarker to predict poor prognosis of HCC, we extracted cell-free DNA from the plasma and detected the methylation status of CTCFL in 43 HCC, 5 liver cirrhosis and 6 benign lesion samples using methylation specific PCR (MSP). Our study indicated that the hypomethylation of CTCFL promoters in HCC plasma samples (60.4%) was significantly different from that in benign lesion plasma samples (16.7%) with a p-value of 0.043. Analysis of clinicopathological data showed that the methylation status of CTCFL promoters was significantly correlated with microvascular involvement (MVI) (p=0.001) and postoperative recurrence (p=0.031). Furthermore, clinical prognosis data of 347 HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database displayed that the hypomethylated group had worse overall survival than the hypermethylated group (p=0.0056). In conclusion, we provide evidence that the hypomethylation of CTCFL promoters in cell-free DNA is a biomarker for monitoring HCC patients, which can be used as a noninvasive prediction index for tumor recurrence and provide the individualized decision-making for clinicians.

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with high risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). Methods: Patients diagnosed as GERD and healthy controls without GERD related symptoms or endoscopic esophagitis were enrolled from October 2017 and December 2017. All subjects completed Berlin Questionaire to assess the risk of OSAS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to identify risk factors of OSAS. Results: A total of 177 subjects (97 GERD, 80 controls) were finally selected. Significantly more patients in GERD group had high risk OSAS than those in controls [36.1%(35/97) vs. 17.5%(14/80), P=0.005]. In GERD group, patients with erosive reflux diseases (ERD) had especially higher proportion of high risk OSAS compared with the non-ERD group and the healthy controls [53.3% (24/45) vs. 20.8% (10/48) and 17.5% (14/80), P=0.001]. On univariate analysis, male, aging and reflux esophagitis were identified as risk factors of OSAS (all P<0.01). On multivariate analysis, male (OR=12.156, 95%CI 1.382-106.905, P=0.024), aging (OR=1.132, 95%CI 1.051-1.220, P=0.001), acid regurgitation with reflux esophagitis (OR=5.157, 95%CI 1.327-20.034, P=0.018) were significant risk factors. Conclusions: More GERD patients are combined with high risk OSAS than controls, especially subjects with reflux esophagitis. Male and aging GERD patients with acid regurgitation and reflux esophagitis need further evaluation on OSAS screening.

Immediate radical therapy or conservative treatments when meeting the Milan criteria for advanced HCC patients after successful TACE

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Many advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases can be successfully downstaged into the Milan criteria; however, immediate radical therapy cannot be applied to all such patients for various reasons. Of the patients who are not eligible for immediate radical therapy, some accept repeated downstaging therapies and some undergo persistent observation. The aim of the present study was to compare long-term survival between these two groups of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between August 2003 and October 2008, 156 HCC patients successfully received downstaging therapy resulting in compliance with the Milan criteria. Of those, 98 cases accepted radical therapies, including liver transplantation (LT), resection, or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (group 1), and 58 cases underwent repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or persistent observation (group 2). The baseline characteristics, demographic data, downstaging protocol, and information on long-term outcomes were collected and compared.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in the patient demographic data, downstaging protocols, or tumor characteristics between the two groups. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 92.9, 82.7, and 78.6 %, respectively, in group 1, whereas these rates were 82.8, 65.5, and 48.3 %, respectively, in group 2 (P = 0.046). Among the 58 patients in group 2, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 92.3, 65.4, and 46.2 %, respectively, in the repeated TACE group, and 81.3, 65.6, and 50 %, respectively, in the persistent observation group (P = 0.783).

CONCLUSION

Immediate radical therapy should be the first choice for advanced HCC patients who undergo successful TACE, and repeated TACE is unnecessary.

Three new species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China

Three hitherto undescribed species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China are described and illustrated. Affinities of the species are discussed and Global Species Conservation Assessments presented. The new species are Pilea cavernicola A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Pilea scripta (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Wedd. and Pilea gracilis Handel-Mazzetti, Pilea shizongensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Endangered) which is most similar to Pilea aquarum Dunn and Pilea guizhouensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which resembles Pilea boniana Gagnep. and Pilea rubriflora C. Wright mostclosely.

Strong strain hardening in nanocrystalline nickel

Low strain hardening has hitherto been considered an intrinsic behavior for most nanocrystalline (NC) metals, due to their perceived inability to accumulate dislocations. In this Letter, we show strong strain hardening in NC nickel with a grain size of approximately 20 nm under large plastic strains. Contrary to common belief, we have observed significant dislocation accumulation in the grain interior. This is enabled primarily by Lomer-Cottrell locks, which pin the lock-forming dislocations and obstruct dislocation motion. These observations may help with developing strong and ductile NC metals and alloys.

Phosphorus doped Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O nanowire arrays

We demonstrate the growth of phosphorus doped Zn(1-x)Mg(x)O nanowire (NW) using pulsed laser deposition. For the first time, p-type Zn(0.92)Mg(0.08)O:P NWs are likely obtained in reference to atomic force microscopy based piezoelectric output measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the transport property between the NWs and a n-type ZnO film. A shallow acceptor level of approximately 140 meV is identified by temperature-dependent photoluminescence. A piezoelectric output of 60 mV on average has been received using the doped NWs. Besides a control on NW aspect ratio and density, band gap engineering has also been achieved by alloying with Mg to a content of x = 0.23. The alloyed NWs with controllable conductivity type have potential application in high-efficiency all-ZnO NWs based LED, high-output ZnO nanogenerator, and other optical or electrical devices.

Estimation of standard liver volume for liver transplantation in the Chinese population

INTRODUCTION

The accurate assessment of standard liver volume (SLV) is necessary for the safety of both the donor and the recipient in living donor liver transplantation. However, the accuracy of SLV formulas relates to cohorts or races. This study examined the accuracy of a simple linear formula versus previous formulas of SLV for Chinese adults.

METHODS

Among 112 patients with normal liver, we created a new formula for SLV with stepwise regression analysis using the following variables: age, gender, body weight, body height, body mass index, and body surface area. The agreement between the actual liver volume (LV) and calculated LV using various formulas was prospectively evaluated among 63 living donors by paired-sample student's t-test and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

A new formula was developed SLV (mL) = 949.7 x BSA (m(2)) - 48.3 x age - 247.4 where age was counted as 1 for those <40, 2 if 41-60, and 3 if >60 years old. The calculated LV using our formula showed no significant difference from the actual LV using the paired-samples student's t-test (P = .653). Lin's concordance correlation coefficient showed substantial agreement between estimated LV using our formula and actual LV. Furthermore, this study also observed an almost perfect agreement between our formula and the Yoshizumi et al formula.

CONCLUSION

Our formula, which accurately estimated LV among Chinese adults, may be applicable to adults of other ethnicitis.

Mesoscopic resistance fluctuations in cobalt nanoparticles

We present measurements of mesoscopic resistance fluctuations in cobalt nanoparticles and study how the fluctuations with bias voltage, bias fingerprints, respond to magnetization-reversal processes. Bias fingerprints rearrange when domains are nucleated or annihilated. The domain wall causes an electron wave function-phase shift of approximately equal to 5pi. The phase shift is not caused by the Aharonov-Bohm effect; we explain how it arises from the mistracking effect, where electron spins lag in orientation with respect to the moments inside the domain wall. Dephasing time in Co at 0.03 K is short, tau phi approximately 1 ps, which we attribute to the strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy.

[Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 5-amino-6, 8-difluoro-1-(5-fluoro-2-pyridyl)-7-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid and its analogues]

AIM

To design and synthesize 1-(5-fluoro-2-pyridyl) quinolone derivatives, and to study their in vitro antibacterial activities.

METHODS

Eight new compounds of 5-amino-6,8-difluoro-1-(5-fluoro-2-pyridyl)-7-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid and its analogues were synthesized from ethyl 6-nitro-2, 3, 4, 5-terafluorobenzoylacetate and ethyl 3-methoxy-2, 4, 5-trifluorobenzoylacetate through 5 or 6 steps.

RESULTS

Fifteen new compounds (1-15) were obtained including 8 desired compounds (8-15). The structures of the compounds were determined by 1HNMR, MS.

CONCLUSION

In vitro antibacterial activities of the compounds (8-15) against Staphylococcus aureus-16, Escherichia coli-26 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-17 were lower than control of ciprofloxacin.

Anticancer and antifertility agents. II. N,N'-hexamethylenebis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)

The centrosymmetric molecule N,N'-hexamethylenebis-(3-pyridinecarboxamide), C18H22N4O2, contains a crystallographic centre of inversion, with only half of the molecule constituting the asymmetric unit. There are intermolecular N-H...O = C hydrogen bonds [N...O 2.996(2) A] present in the structure.

Screening recombinant clones containing sequences homologous to Escherichia coli genes using single-stranded bacteriophage vector

Detection and isolation of Escherichia coli clones carrying vectors with foreign DNA sequences partially homologous to specific E. coli genes is difficult because denatured DNA in the host genome can hybridize with the probe. In this paper we present a procedure which simplifies this task by using bacteriophage M13 as the cloning vector. The procedure takes advantage of the secretory properties of the phage, as well as the property of nitrocellulose membrane to bind protein and single-stranded DNA but not double-stranded DNA. This procedure is shown to be effective in identifying E. coli clones containing sequences of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast DNA that are homologous to the rpoC gene of E. coli. We suggest that this procedure can be used generally for rapid isolation of DNA sequences that are homologous to E. coli genes.