Polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups and charges have different impacts on type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Increasing attention is being paid to the environmental and health impacts of nanoplastics (NPs) pollution. Exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) with different charges and functional groups may have different adverse effects after ingestion by organisms, yet the potential ramifications on mammalian blood glucose levels, and the risk of diabetes remain unexplored.

RESULTS

Mice were exposed to PS-NPs/COOH/NH2 at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for nine weeks, either alone or in a T2DM model. The findings demonstrated that exposure to PS-NPs modified by different functional groups caused a notable rise in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance in a mouse model of T2DM. Exposure to PS-NPs-NH2 alone can also lead the above effects to a certain degree. PS-NPs exposure could induce glycogen accumulation and hepatocellular edema, as well as injury to the pancreas. Comparing the effect of different functional groups or charges on T2DM, the PS-NPs-NH2 group exhibited the most significant FBG elevation, glycogen accumulation, and insulin resistance. The phosphorylation of AKT and FoxO1 was found to be inhibited by PS-NPs exposure. Treatment with SC79, the selective AKT activator was shown to effectively rescue this process and attenuate T2DM like lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to PS-NPs with different functional groups (charges) induced T2DM-like lesions. Amino-modified PS-NPs cause more serious T2DM-like lesions than pristine PS-NPs or carboxyl functionalized PS-NPs. The underlying mechanisms involved the inhibition of P-AKT/P-FoxO1. This study highlights the potential risk of NPs pollution on T2DM, and provides a new perspective for evaluating the impact of plastics aging.

Neutron-gamma discrimination with broaden the lower limit of energy threshold using BP neural network

Neutron-gamma discrimination is a tough and significative in experimental neutrons measurements procedure, especially for low-energy neutrons signal discrimination. In this work, based on the Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) and Back-Propagation (BP) artificial neural networks, a neutron-gamma discrimination method is developed to broaden the lower limit of energy threshold with the hidden layer of 20 neurons. Compared with neutron-gamma discrimination method based on PSD only, the developed neutron-gamma discrimination method based on the PSD and BP-ANN can discriminate neutron and gamma-ray signals with low energy threshold, which can discriminate signals up to 99.93%. Moreover, this work can reduce the energy threshold from 350 keV to 70 keV, as well as the acquired data utilization increased from 60% to more than 99.9%, which overcome the hardware limitations and distinguish neutron and gamma-ray signals, effectively. The developed neutron-gamma discrimination method and the trained neural network can be directly used to other experimental neutrons measurements.

[Effect of HCMV infection on immune reconstitution of CD8+T cells in children with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for human cytomegalovirus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children and the impact of human cytomegalovirus infection on post-transplant immune reconstitution. Methods: A Retrospective Co-Hort study design was used to include 81 children treated with allo-HSCT from January 2020 to March 2022 at the Department of Hematology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China, and followed up for 1 year. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect positive detection of HCMV in children after allo-HSCT, multifactorial logistic regression modeling was used to analyze the risk factors leading to HCMV infection, and generalized estimating equation modeling was used to analyze the effect of HCMV infection on the T-cells of the children who received allo-HSCT. Results: The age M(Q1, Q3) of 81 children was 5.1 years (10 months, 13.8 years), and 50 (61.7%) were male. By the endpoint of follow-up, a total of 50 HCMV-positive cases were detected, with an HCMV detection rate of 61.7%; The results of multifactorial logistic regression modeling showed that children with grade 2-4 aGVHD had a higher risk of HCMV infection compared with grade 0-1 after transplantation [OR (95%CI) value: 2.735 (1.027-7.286)]. The results of generalized estimating equation modeling analysis showed that the number of CD3+T cells in HCMV-positive children after transplantation was higher than that in the HCMV-negative group [RR (95%CI) value: 1.34 (1.008-1.795)]; the ratio of CD4+T/CD8+T cells was smaller than that in the HCMV-negative group [RR (95%CI) value: 0.377 (0.202-0.704)]; the number of CD8+T cells was higher than that in the HCMV-negative group [RR (95%CI) value: 1.435 (1.025-2.061)]; the number of effector memory CD8+T cells was higher than that in the HCMV-negative group [RR (95%CI) value: 1.877 (1.089-3.236)]. Conclusion: Acute graft-versus-host disease may be a risk factor for HCMV infection in children after allo-HSCT; post-transplant HCMV infection promotes proliferation of memory CD8+T-cell populations and affects immune cell reconstitution.

Morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing heterophil extracellular traps, oxidative stress and inflammatory response

1. Fusarium tritici widely exists in a variety of grain feeds. The T-2 toxin is the main hazardous component produced by Fusarium tritici, making a serious hazard to poultry industry. Morin, belonging to the flavonoid family, can be extracted from mulberry plants and possesses anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, but whether morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning remains unclear. This experiment firstly established a chick model of T-2 toxin poisoning and then investigated the protective effects and mechanism of morin against T-2 toxin in chicks.2. The function of liver and kidney was measured by corresponding alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre) and uric acid (UA) kits. Histopathological changes were observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. The status of oxidative stress was measured by MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-PX kits. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Heterophil extracellular trap (HET) release was analysed by immunofluorescence and fluorescence microplate.3. The model with T-2 toxin poisoning in chicks was successfully established. Morin significantly decreased T-2 toxin-induced ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, Cre and UA, and improved T-2 toxin-induced liver cell rupture, liver cord disorder and kidney interstitial oedema. Oxidative stress analysis showed that morin ameliorated T-2 toxin-induced damage by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that morin reduced T-2 toxin-induced mRNA expressions of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11. Moreover, morin significantly reduced the release of T-2 toxin-induced HET in vitro and in vivo.4. Morin can protect chicks from T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing HETs, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which make it a useful compound against T-2 toxin poisoning in poultry feed.

Automated Contouring of Cervical Lymph Nodes and Clinical Target Volumes for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Deep Learning and Experience Constraints

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Application of artificial intelligence (AI) for automated contouring of tumor volumes and organs at risk (OARs) for radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) leads to improved contouring accuracy and efficiency. However, few studies have involved the automated contouring of gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVn) and clinical target volumes (CTVs). In this work, we proposed an AI automated contouring tool for GTVn and CTVs for radiotherapy of NPC on the plain scans of planning compute tomography (CT).

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this retrospective study, plain scan datasets of planning CT covering the nasopharynx and neck from 139 patients with NPC between March 2022 and December 2022 were collected and divided into training, validation, and testing cohorts of 95, 24, and 20 patients, respectively. Ground truth contours of primary gross tumor volume (GTVp), GTVn (divided into GTVn_L in left neck and GTVn_R in right neck), CTVs (including high risk CTV1 contains GTVp and low risk CTV2 contains GTVp and cervical nodal levels) and OARs were delineated and were defined by consensus of two experts. We first proposed a three-dimensional (3D) U-net using GTVp and OARs as experience constrains to guide the automated delineation of GTVn and CTVs. The average Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average surface distance (ASD) were used to quantify the performance of the AI tool. Next, five prospective patients were enrolled for clinical evaluation of our AI tool. DSC between automated contours and radiation oncologist-revised contours and time consuming of the revision were record.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics of 139 retrospective and 5 prospective patients are list in Table 1. In the independent testing set of 20 patients, our AI tool showed high performance in GTVn and CTVs contouring when compared with the ground truth contours. The mean DSC were 0.73 ± 0.07, 0.74 ± 0.05, 0.93 ± 0.03, and 0.88 ± 0.03, and the mean ASD were 1.01 ± 0.43 mm, 1.14 ± 0.61 mm, 0.51 ± 0.13 mm, 1.17 ± 0.43 mm for GTVn_L, GTVn_R, CTV1 and CTV2, respectively. In the five prospective patients, mean DSC were 0.74 ± 0.07, 0.74 ± 0.10, 0.95 ± 0.01 and 0.89 ± 0.04, respectively. The median time consuming for GTVn and CTVs revision was 2minutes and 10 seconds (range, 1 minutes to 3 minutes).

CONCLUSION

The proposed AI tool integrating clinical experience as constrains showed high accuracy for contouring GTVn and CTVs of NPC. With the assistance of AI contours, contouring efficiency could be probably increased, which is promising in online adaptive radiotherapy of NPC.

Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate aggravates allergic asthma through the TRPA1-p38 MAPK pathway

Increasing attention has been paid to the potential impact of microplastics (MPs) pollution on human health. MPs and phthalates coexist in the environment, however, the effects of exposure to MPs alone or to a combination of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and MPs on allergic asthma are unclear. This study investigates the effects of exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) or co-exposure with DEHP, on allergic asthma, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We established an allergic asthma model using ovalbumin, and mice were exposed to PS-MPs (5 mg/kg bw/day) alone, or combined with DEHP (0.5, 5 mg/kg bw/day), for 28 days. The results showed that in the presence of ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization, exposure to PS-MPs alone slightly affected airway inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness, while co-exposure to PS-MPs and DEHP caused more significant damage. Co-exposure also induced more oxidative stress and Th2 immune responses, and activation of the TRPA1 and p38 MAPK pathways. The aggravation of asthmatic symptoms induced by co-exposure to PS-MPs and DEHP were inhibited by blocking TRPA1 ion channel or p38 MAPK pathway. The results demonstrated that co-exposure to PS-MPs and DEHP exacerbates allergic asthma, by exacerbating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and activating the TRPA1-p38 MAPK pathway.

[Preventive effect of atropine premedication on vagal reflex in patients undergoing suspension laryngoscopy during anesthesia induction]

Objective: To evaluate the preventive effect of atropine premedication during anesthesia induction on vagal reflex in patients undergoing suspension laryngoscopy. Methods: A total of 342 patients (202 males and 140 females) scheduled for suspension laryngoscopy under general anesthesia in Beijing Tongren Hospital from October 2021 to March 2022 were prospectively enrolled, with a mean age of (48.1±11.9) years. The patients were randomly divided into two groups using the random number table method: the treatment group (n=171) and the control group (n=171). Patients in the treatment group were administrated with 0.5 mg atropine intravenously guttae (ivgtt) while patients in the control group were given equivalent volume of normal saline. For all patients, if heart rate (HR)<50 beats/min happened during the insertion of the suspension laryngoscope, the operation should be stopped and the laryngoscope should be removed. Patients without HR recovery after the removal of the laryngoscope should be given 0.5 mg atropine, and the operation should be continued after the HR recovered. The primary outcome was the incidence of HR fluctuation over 20% (ΔHR>20%) before and immediately after suspension laryngoscope fixation, and the secondary outcomes included HR, mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the two groups recorded before and after anesthesia induction, before and immediately after suspension laryngoscope fixation, and the incidences of sinus bradycardia, laryngoscope removal and atropine treatment during operation. Results: The incidences of ΔHR>20% and bradycardia immediately after the suspension laryngoscope fixation were 14.6% (25/171) and 12.9% (22/171) in the treatment group, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [28.1% (48/171) and 29.8% (51/171)] (both P<0.05). The HR immediately after the suspension laryngoscope fixation in the treatment group [(66.4±13.5) beats/min] and in the control group [(60.8±15.7) beats/min] was significantly lower than those before the suspension laryngoscope fixation [(74.7±11.1) beats/min and (67.6±12.8) beats/min, respectively] (both P<0.05). There were no significant differences in MAP between the two groups at each time point (all P>0.05). The incidence of laryngoscope removal once plus 0.5 mg atropine administration, laryngoscope removal twice plus 0.5 mg atropine administration and laryngoscope removal twice plus 1.0 mg atropine administration was 9.9% (17/171), 1.8% (3/171) and 0 (0) in the treatment group, respectively, which was significantly lower than those in the control group [24.0% (41/171), 5.8% (10/171) and 2.3% (4/171), respectively] (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Atropine premedication during anesthesia induction can effectively reduce the occurrence of vagal reflex in patients undergoing suspension laryngoscopy.

Insight into the purification of algael water by a novel flocculant with enhanced branched nanochitosan structure

For improving inadequate nanostructural stability and promote algal removal efficiency, a novel nanochitosan-grafted flocculant (PAD-g-MNC) with an enhanced branched nanostructure and high molecular weight (MW) was fabricated via maleic anhydride acylation polymerization. Characterization results verified the successful synthesis of the flocculant and the formation of an irregular particle nanostructure. PAD-g-MNC exhibited superior algal and extracellular organic matter (EOM) removal and obtained the turbidity and chlorophyll-a removal rates of 93.46%-95.39% and 95.10%-97.31%, respectively, at the dosage of 4-5 mg L^-1. The growth rate, strength factor, and recovery factor of algal flocs flocculated by PAD-g-MNC were 90.36, 0.63, and 0.27 (100 rpm), respectively, and were higher than other flocculants prepared through conventional methods. Results indicated that the high intrinsic viscosity and stability branched nanostructure promoted the formation of stable flocs and regeneration ability of flocs. MW distribution and three-dimensional fluorescence analyses revealed that the special structure of PAD-g-MNC was beneficial to the removal of tryptophan-like proteins in EOM. Strong adsorption-adhesion and bridging-netting effects of the nanostructure chain were the dominated mechanisms in the improvement of flocculation efficiency. This study provided theoretical and experimental guidance for the design of flocculants with superior performance and efficient algal water purification performance.

Robotic versus laparoscopic left colectomy with complete mesocolic excision for left-sided colon cancer: a multicentre study with propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Robotic surgery for right-sided colon and rectal cancer has rapidly increased; however, there is limited evidence in the literature of advantages of robotic left colectomy (RLC) for left-sided colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of RLC versus laparoscopic left colectomy (LLC) with complete mesocolic excision (CME) for left-sided colon cancer.

METHODS

Patients who had RLC or LLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer at 5 hospitals in China between January 2014 and April 2022 were included. A one-to-one propensity score matched analysis was performed to decrease confounding. The primary outcome was postoperative complications occurring within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes were disease-free survival, overall survival and the number of harvested lymph nodes.

RESULTS

A total of 292 patients (187 males; median age 61.0 [20.0-85.0] years) were eligible for this study, and propensity score matching yielded 102 patients in each group. The clinical-pathological characteristics were well-matched between groups. The two groups did not differ in estimated blood loss, conversion to open rate, time to first flatus, reoperation rate, or postoperative length of hospital stay (p > 0.05). RLC was associated with a longer operation time (192.9 ± 53.2 vs. 168.9 ± 52.8 minutes, p=0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ between the RLC and LLC groups (18.6% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.856). The total number of lymph nodes harvested in the RLC group was higher than that in the LLC group (15.7 ± 8.3 vs. 12.1 ± 5.9, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences in 3-year and 5-year overall survival or 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to laparoscopic surgery, RLC with CME for left-sided colon cancer was found to be associated with higher numbers of lymph nodes harvested and similar postoperative complications and long-term survival outcomes.

Formaldehyde causes an increase in blood pressure by activating ACE/AT1R axis

Previous studies suggest some link between formaldehyde exposure and harmful cardiovascular effects. But whether exposure to formaldehyde can cause blood pressure to rise, and if so, what the underlying mechanism is, remains unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 2.5 mg/m³ of gaseous formaldehyde for 4 h daily over a three-week period. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) of the mice were measured by tail-cuff plethysmography, and any histopathological changes in the target organs of hypertension were investigated. The results showed that exposure to formaldehyde did cause a significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and resulted in varying degrees of damage to the heart, aortic vessels and kidneys. To explore the underlying mechanism, a specific inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was used to block the ACE/AT1R axis. We observed the levels of ACE and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), as well as the bradykinin (BK) in cardiac cytoplasm. The data suggest that exposure to formaldehyde induced an increase in the expression of ACE and AT1R, and decreased the levels of BK. Strikingly, treatment with 5 mg/kg/d ACE inhibitor can attenuate the increase in blood pressure and the pathological changes caused by formaldehyde exposure. This result has improved our understanding of whether, and how, formaldehyde exposure affects the development of hypertension.

[Development of parenting behavior scale for caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years and analysis for its reliability and validity]

To develop a caregiver parenting behavior scale for children aged 2 to 6 years, and to verify its reliability and validity. This study recruited 1 350 caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years. The item discrimination analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyze the structure, dimensions and items of the scale. Homogeneity reliability, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability were used to analyze the reliability of the scale. Content validity and construct validity were used to analyze the validity of the scale. The results showed that the final scale contained 7 dimensions and 45 items. Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale was 0.945; the coefficient of split half was 0.899; the test-retest reliability analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the two tests were 0.893 (total score), 0.854 (social), 0.832 (language), 0.871 (gross motor), 0.893 (fine motor), 0.862 (cognitive), 0.832 (self-care), and 0.872 (sensory). The content validity analysis was carried out by two rounds of expert argumentation using Delphi expert consultation method. The Kendall coefficient of the items score in two rounds of Delphi expert consultation was 0.813 (P<0.01). The structure validity analysis showed that there were significant correlations between each dimension and the total scale, also between each dimension of the scale, and the extracted average variance values of each dimension was greater than the correlation coefficients between this dimension and other dimensions. In conclusion, the reliability and validity of the scale are qualified. It can be used as a tool to evaluate and guide the parenting behavior of caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years.

Exposure to dibutyl phthalate adsorbed to multi-walled carbon nanotubes causes neurotoxicity in mice by inducing the release of BDNF

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exist extensively in the environment, and they are easy to form compound pollution through π-π interactions in the environment. We investigate whether DBP, an environmental hormone disruptor, mediated by CNTs can more easily cross the blood-brain barrier, and whether DBP entering the brain has neurotoxic effects on the cells in the brain. Experimental subjects were 40 male Kunming (KM) mice randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group; the MWCNTs group; the DBP group; and the MWCNTs+DBP group. The mice were exposed via tail intravenous injection once every 3 days for 21 days, following which toxicology studies were carried out. The results of behavioral experiments showed that the mice in the combined exposure group (MWCNTs+DBP) exhibited spatial learning and memory impairment, and anxiety-like behavior. Staining of hippocampal sections of mouse brain tissue showed that, in the CA1, CA2, and DG areas, the number of neurons decreased, the nucleus was pyknotic, the cell body was atrophied, and levels of the microglia marker Iba-1 increased. By proteomic KEGG analysis, we found that the DEPs were mainly those related to neurodegenerative diseases. Immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus indicated that the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the DG region was significantly increased. RT-PCR results revealed that the expression levels of P53, caspase3, and Bax genes related to apoptosis were up-regulated. The experimental results demonstrated that the mechanism of the combined-exposure injury to neurons in the hippocampus of mice may be that MWCNTs with adsorbed DBP can induce the release of BDNF, accelerate the apoptosis of neurons, and reduce the number of nerve cells, which activates microglia, causing neuroinflammation and nervous system toxicity.

Semen parameters and sex hormones as affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review

Background

Impaired semen quality and reproductive hormone levels were observed in patients during and after recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which raised concerns about negative effects on male fertility. Therefore, this study systematically reviews available data on semen parameters and sex hormones in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Systematic search was performed on PubMed and Google Scholar until July 18th, 2022. We identified relevant articles that discussed the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on male fertility.

Results

A total number of 1,684 articles were identified by using a suitable keyword search strategy. After screening, 26 articles were considered eligible for inclusion in this study. These articles included a total of 1,960 controls and 2,106 patients. When all studies were considered, the results showed that the semen parameters and sex hormone levels of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited some significant differences compared with controls. Fortunately, these differences gradually disappear as patients recover from COVID-19.

Conclusion

While present data show the negative effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male fertility, this does not appear to be long-term. Semen quality and hormone levels will gradually increase to normal as patients recover.

Rapid Seismic Evaluation of Continuous Girder Bridges with Localized Plastic Hinges

In seismic assessment of continuous girder bridges, plastic hinges form in bridge piers to dissipate seismic energy through nonlinear restoring forces. Considering temporal and spatial variations of ground motions, seismic evaluation of the bridges involves nonlinear stochastic vibration and expensive computation. This paper presents an approach to significantly increase the efficiency of seismic evaluation for continuous girder bridges with plastic hinges. The proposed approach converts nonlinear motion equations into quasi-linear state equations, solves the equations using an explicit time-domain dimension-reduced iterative method, and incorporates a stochastic sampling method to statistically analyze the seismic response of bridges under earthquake excitation. Taking a 3 × 30 m continuous girder bridge as an example, fiber beam-column elements are used to simulate the elastic-plastic components of the continuous girder bridge, and the elastic-plastic time history analysis of the continuous girder bridge under non-uniform seismic excitation is carried out. Results show that the computation time is only 5% of the time of the nonlinear time history approach while retaining the accuracy. This study advances the capability of rapid seismic assessment and design for bridges with localized nonlinear behaviors such as plastic hinges.

[Effect of ultrasound-guided serratus plane block combined with pectoral nerve block I on postoperative analgesia after radical mastectomy]

Objective: To study the effect of ultrasonic-guided serratus plane block combined with pectoral nerve block Ⅰ on postoperative analgesia after radical mastectomy. Methods: A total of 30 patients, all female, aged [M (Q₁, Q₃)] 53 (43, 62) years old, who underwent radical mastectomy in Beijing Tongren Hospital from May to August 2021 were selected. The patients were divided into two groups (n=15 in each group) using a random number table: general anesthesia alone+patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) group (control group) and serratus plane block combined with pectoral nerve block Ⅰ before general anesthesia+PCIA group (combined group). Numerical rating scale (NRS) at rest in both groups were detected in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after operation. The time of first pain, the time of first pressing of the automatic analgesic device after the operation, the dosage of remifentanil during operation, cumulative dosages of sufentanil at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively, and the incidence of adverse effects were all recorded. Results: The NRS scores in combined group in the PACU and 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after surgery were (2.1±1.7), (1.7±1.5), (1.5±1.4), (1.5±1.3) and (1.7±1.3), respectively, while the NRS scores in control group at each time points were (4.5±2.0), (3.2±1.4), (2.7±0.9), (2.8±0.9) and (2.4±0.8), respectively, and the NRS scores in combined group were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.05). The NRS scores in combined group at 36 and 48 h after surgery were (1.8±1.6) and (1.6±1.2), while the NRS scores in control group were (2.2±0.9) and (2.1±0.8), and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The time of first pain and the time of the first pressing of the automatic analgesic device in combined group were (573±174) min and (962±313) min, which were significantly longer than those of control group [(13±6) min and (135±41) min] (both P<0.05). The dosage of remifentanil during operation and cumulative dosage of sufentanil at 24 h postoperatively in combined group were (410±129) μg and (14±4) μg, which were lower than those in control group [(580±225) μg and (21±11) μg] (both P<0.05). Cumulative dosage of sufentanil at 48 h postoperatively in combined group was (29±11) μg, while in control group was (36±14) μg, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.131). The incidence of postoperative dizziness in combined group was 6.7% (1/15), which was lower than that of control group [40.0% (6/15)] (P=0.031). The incidence of nausea and pruritus was 6.7% (1/15) and 0 in combined group, while 20.0% (3/15) and 6.7% (1/15) in control group, with no statistical significance (both P>0.05). Conclusion: Serratus plane block combined with pectoral nerve block Ⅰ can effectively relieve postoperative pain, decrease the need for opioids, and reduce the incidence of adverse effects.

[Comparison of the anesthetic effects of mivacurium and cisatracurium besylate in laser laryngeal microsurgery]

Objective: To compare the anesthetic effects of mivacurium and cisatracurium besylate in laser laryngeal microsurgery, and to provide clinical evidence and reference for further optimization of muscle relaxation application. Methods: From October 2021 to January 2022, fifty-six patients of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, scheduled for laser laryngeal microsurgery with general anesthesia, were enrolled. These patients, aged 18-65 years old, 25 males and 31 females, were divided into two groups (n=28) by random number table method. Cisatracurium besylate group (group C): cisatracurium besylate was injected at 0.1 mg/kg. Normal saline was continuously infused during operation. Mivacurium group (group M):Mivacurium was injected at 0.25 mg/kg and continuously infused at 0.3 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 during operation.The intubation time, the extubation time, recovery index, Cooper's score, Cormack-Lehane grade, surgical condition grade, postoperative residual neuromuscular block and allergic related adverse events were compared between the two groups. Results: The intubation time and the extubation time of group M were (3.7±1.1) and (16.2±5.0) min, which were statistically significant shorter than those of group C (4.9±0.7) and (26.4±8.6) min (all P<0.05). The recovery indexes of the patients in group M and group C were (4.5±3.4) and (6.2±5.0) min. The Cooper's scores of the two groups were both 9(9, 9). The Cormack-Lehane grades of the two groups were all grade Ⅰ. The number of cases with good/excellent surgical condition grades in group M and group C were 5/23 and 0/28. There were no significant differences in recovery index, Cooper's score, Cormack-Lehane grades and surgical condition grades between the two groups (all P>0.05). The TOF ratio of group M in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) was (95.7±2.6) %, which was significantly higher than (92.9±3.9) % of group C(P=0.015). There were no significant differences in MAP and HR between the two groups at different time points (all P>0.05). The incidence of skin flushing in group M and group C was 10.7% (3/28) and 0, and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.074). There were no cases of severe hypotension, significantly elevated airway pressure or airway spasm in both groups. Conclusion: In laser laryngeal microsurgery, compared with cisatracurium besylate, mivacurium has shorter intubation time and extubation time, stable hemodynamics, no significant increase in allergic related adverse events. mivacurium is safe and effective.

Lateral Vibration Control of Long-Span Small-Radius Curved Steel Box Girder Pedestrian Bridge with Distributed Multiple Tuned Mass Dampers

Curved pedestrian bridges are important urban infrastructure with the desired adaptability to the landscape constraints and with aesthetic benefits. Pedestrian bridges feature thin cross-sections, which provide sufficient load capacities but lead to low natural frequencies that make the bridges susceptible to vibration under pedestrian excitation. This study investigates the lateral vibration of a curved bridge with a small radius down to 20 m, proposes an approach to mitigate the lateral vibration of bridges with large curvatures using distributed multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMD), and conducts in-situ bridge tests to evaluate the vibration mitigation performance. The lateral vibration was investigated through in-situ tests and finite element analysis as well as the code requirements. The key parameters of the distributed MTMD system were improved by strategically selecting the mass ratio, bandwidth, center frequency ratio, and damper number. The results showed that the curved bridge was subjected to significant lateral vibration due to the coupling of torque and moment, and the recommended design parameters for the studied bridge were derived, i.e., the total mass ratio is 0.02, bandwidth is 0.15, center frequency ratio is 1.0, and damper number is 3. The proposed approach effectively improves the deployment of MTMD for lateral vibration control of the curved bridge. The field tests showed that the vibration was reduced by up to 82% by using the proposed approach.

[Effects of topical anesthesia with 1% tetracaine on hemodynamic responses in microlaryngosurgery]

Objective: To observe the effects of topical anesthesia with 1% tetracaine on hemodynamic responses in general anesthesia patients undergoing microlaryngosurgery. Methods: From October 2021 to December 2021, 92 patients (46 males and 46 females) in Beijing Tongren Hospital, with a median age [M (Q₁, Q₃)] of 51 (42, 57) years who scheduled for microlaryngosurgery under general anesthesia, were divided into two groups (n=46 in each group) using the random number table method. Group T received topical anesthesia with 1% tetracaine at the root of the tongue and epiglottis and glottis on the basis of general intravenous anesthesia induction, with 0.5 ml at each position, while the control group (group C) received equal volume of normal saline. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at the time of patients entering the operating room (baseline), after induction, after intubation, immediately after suspending laryngoscopy, 1 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 3 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 5 min after suspending laryngoscopy and immediately after extubation. The recovery profiles, including time to recover breathing, time to open eyes, time to extubation and adverse reactions were evaluated during recovery period. Results: The MAP of patients in group T at baseline, after induction, after intubation, immediately after suspending laryngoscopy, 1 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 3 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 5 min after suspending laryngoscopy and immediately after extubation were (99.4±12.9), (78.5±8.8), (79.2±10.2), (100.6±17.0), (101.9±14.7), (100.8±13.9), (97.4±12.1), (107.3±16.8) mmHg (1 mmH=0.133 kPa), respectively, while in group C were (99.5±11.6), (80.9±12.8), (90.5±16.0), (109.5±20.4), (108.0±18.9), (103.7±15.5), (100.1±13.3), (114.2±17.3) mmHg, respectively. The two critical time points of MAP after intubation and immediately suspending laryngoscopy in group C were significantly higher than group T (P<0.05).The HR of patients in group T at baseline, after induction, after intubation, immediately after suspending laryngoscopy, 1 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 3 min after suspending laryngoscopy, 5 min after suspending laryngoscopy and immediately after extubation was (71.3±10.6), (66.0±10.1), (69.5±11.4), (61.3±14.2), (69.8±9.8), (71.0±10.6), (70.6±11.0), (78.8±11.6) bmp, respectively, while in group C were (73.1±10.9), (67.8±9.9), (79.5±12.9), (57.1±18.1), (69.2±12.8), (71.4±11.7), (70.7±11.5), (85.3±13.0) bmp, respectively. The two critical time points of HR after intubation and after extubation in group C were significantly higher than that of group T (P<0.05). The time to recover breathing in the two groups was (11.8±3.5) min and (11.3±4.6) min, respectively. The time to open eyes was (12.0±3.3) min and (11.5±5.0) min, respectively. The time to extubation was (13.2±3.7) min and (12.6±4.9) min, respectively. There were no statistically significant difference in time to recovery between the two groups (P>0.05). Likewise, there were no toxic reactions to local anesthetics, respiratory depression, hypoxemia, laryngospasm and cough occurred in either group. Conclusion: Topical anesthesia with 1% tetracaine can effectively reduce the hemodynamic changes without influencing patient's recovery, and does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions.

AB0784 Symptoms compatible with Rome IV functional bowel disorder in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background

Clinical manifestations of gut problems except for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have not been well-established in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). One study investigated that 30% patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms meeting Rome III criteria.[1]

Objectives

To determine the frequency of symptoms meeting Rome IV functional bowel disorder (FBD) in patients with AS, investigate factors associated with FBD symptoms, and assess whether having FBD symptoms might influence AS disease activity.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively enrolled 153 AS patients without known colonic ulcer and 56 sex- and age-matched controls to evaluate FBD (or its subtypes) symptoms.[2] In AS group, logistic regression models were used to explore whether demographic data, disease activity, level of gut inflammation, drug use, and fibromyalgia [3] were associated with presence of gut symptoms. Finally, potential impacts of gut symptoms on AS disease status were assessed in linear regression models.

Results

Sixty (39.2%) of 153 AS patients had FBD symptoms, which was more prevalent than controls (23.2%). Besides, symptoms compatible with IBS and chronic diarrhea were detected in 18 and 43 AS patients respectively. For AS group, multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that symptoms of FBD, IBS, and chronic diarrhea were negatively associated with using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and positively associated with comorbid fibromyalgia, respectively. In exploration about effects of FBD (or its subtypes) symptoms on AS disease activity by multivariable linear regression analyses, FBD symptoms and chronic diarrhea had positive associations with assessments of AS respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with AS had frequent symptoms compatible with FBD, IBS, and chronic diarrhea, proportions of which were lower in those with NSAID-use. The improvement of FBD symptoms, especially chronic diarrhea, might be conducive to disease status of AS patients.

References

[1]Wallman JK, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79:159-61.

[2]Mearin F, et al. Gastroenterology. 2016;18:S0016-5085(16)00222-5.

[3]Wolfe F, et al. J Rheumatol. 2011;38:1113-22.

Figure 1.

Frequencies with symptoms meeting FBD criteria

Table 1.

Univariable and multivariable associations between gut symptoms and assessments of AS

Gut symptomsUnivariableMultivariableβpβpASDAS-CRPaFBD symptoms0.2340.1120.294< 0.001IBS symptoms0.0390.863Chronic diarrhea0.2170.1720.3010.002BASDAIbFBD symptoms0.747< 0.0010.764< 0.001IBS symptoms0.2020.560Chronic diarrhea0.7610.0020.845< 0.001BAS-GcFBD symptoms0.936< 0.0010.979< 0.001IBS symptoms0.0590.889Chronic diarrhea0.9030.0030.9490.001ASAS HIdFBD symptoms1.941< 0.0011.6730.003IBS symptoms2.2630.0081.7690.046Chronic diarrhea1.5000.0151.3430.030BASFIeFBD symptoms0.4330.0490.4280.048IBS symptoms0.2960.376Chronic diarrhea0.4480.0600.4250.069BASMIfFBD symptoms-0.3730.190-0.4930.075IBS symptoms-0.4420.304Chronic diarrhea-0.1790.564　　

Besides gut symptoms, other clinical variables (Block-1) being chosen into hierarchical multivariable models were as follows: aHLA-B27, lnCRP, and lnESR; bHLA-B27 and lnESR; cHLA-B27 and lnCRP; dsex and TNFi; eHLA-B27, lnESR, and TNFi; fage and lnESR. Missing data ranging from 1-7%.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

[A pedigree study of Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 4 with skeletal deformity related to a novel TGFβ2 mutation]

Objective: Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a rare type of hereditary connective tissue disease. This study was aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and gene mutations in a family of Loeys-Dietz syndrome with skeletal deformity. Methods: Clinical data of the proband and family members were collected and biochemical measurements and radiological examinations were conducted. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the family members. Whole-exome sequencing was performed to determine the mutation sites in the proband, and Sanger sequencing was applied to verify the candidate mutation in the other family members. Results: The proband is a 34-year-old man with deformities of lower extremities for more than 30 years. Physical examinations showed dolichostenomelia, pes planus, joint laxity and scoliosis. Echocardiography revealed the dilatation of aortic root at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva. A heterozygous missense mutation (c. 220A>C, p.Thr74Pro) in exon 1 of TGFβ2 gene was identified in the proband. The same mutation was detected in his sister and niece with similar clinical features such as deformities of lower extremities and pes planus. This novel mutation has not been reported in ExAC or 1000G and was predicted to be deleterious, supporting a diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 4. Conclusions: Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 4 is caused by TGFβ2 mutations. Skeletal deformity is one of the distinctive features. Genetic testing is helpful for the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis from other connective tissue diseases.

The reduction and fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in microbial fuel cell (MFC) during treatment of livestock wastewater

The fate and removal efficiency of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in livestock wastewater by microbial fuel cell (MFC) was evaluated by High-throughput quantitative PCR. The results showed that 137 ARGs and 9 MGEs were detected in untreated livestock wastewater. The ARG number of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin group B (MLSB), tetracycline and sulfonamide were relatively higher. Throughout the treatment process, the number and abundance of ARGs and MGEs significantly decreased. The relative abundance of tetracycline, sulfonamide and chloramphenicol resistance genes showed the most obvious decreasing trend, and the relative abundance of MGEs decreased by 75% (from 0.012 copies/16S rRNA copies to 0.003 copies/16S rRNA copies). However, the absolute abundance of beta-lactamase resistance genes slightly increased. The operation process of MFC produces selective pressure on microorganisms, and Actinobacteria were predominant and had the ability to decompose antibiotics. The COD removal rate and TN removal rate of livestock wastewater were 67.81% and 62.09%, and the maximum power density and coulomb efficiency (CE) reached 11.49% and 38.40% respectively. This study demonstrated that although the removal of COD and TN by MFC was limited, MFC was quite effective in reducing the risk of antibiotic toxicity and horizontal gene transfer.

Definition of large niche after Cesarean section based on prediction of postmenstrual spotting: Chinese cohort study in non-pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

A large niche after Cesarean section (CS) is associated with long-term complications, of which postmenstrual spotting is associated positively with the size of the niche. However, the diagnosis of a large niche in the literature is inconsistent and the definition is largely subjective. The aim of this study was to generate a definition for a large niche in non-pregnant women based on the presence of postmenstrual spotting.

METHODS

Women who had undergone CS in our hospital between January 2012 and June 2017 were selected randomly from our database, contacted by telephone and subsequently examined between January 2016 and June 2020. Eligible for inclusion were non-pregnant women who had their last CS more than 1 year earlier and agreed to undergo transvaginal sonography (TVS). All participants underwent examination of their CS scar by TVS (two-dimensional color Doppler) during the midfollicular phase. Niche depth, length, width, residual myometrial thickness (RMT), adjacent myometrial thickness (AMT) and ratio of niche depth/AMT were recorded. Women diagnosed with a niche, defined as an indentation at the site of the CS with a depth of at least 2 mm, were classified into two groups (symptomatic or asymptomatic) according to whether they experienced postmenstrual spotting. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the best cut-off values for the niche parameters to predict postmenstrual spotting. A new definition was generated based on the niche parameters with the highest area under the receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC) for the prediction of postmenstrual spotting.

RESULTS

A total of 727 women who had a CS > 1 year earlier underwent TVS examination, of whom 263 were diagnosed with a niche (prevalence of 36.2%). Of these, 160 women experienced postmenstrual spotting and 103 were asymptomatic. The three variables with the highest AUC for prediction of postmenstrual spotting were niche depth/AMT ratio (AUC, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.745-0.852), niche depth (AUC, 0.731; 95% CI, 0.668-0.795) and RMT (AUC, 0.683; 95% CI, 0.618-0.748). Based on the best cut-offs according to ROC-curve analysis, a large niche was defined as: niche depth ≥ 0.50 cm, RMT ≤ 0.21 cm or niche depth/AMT ratio ≥ 0.56. The prevalence of a large niche according to this definition was 22.4% (163/727). The new definition had a specificity of 61.17% (95% CI, 52.34-70.41%) and sensitivity of 76.87% (95% CI, 70.28-84.16%) for a large niche.

CONCLUSION

This study has provided a new definition for a large niche after CS. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Polystyrene microplastics affect learning and memory in mice by inducing oxidative stress and decreasing the level of acetylcholine

Microplastics pollution has become a growing environmental concern, but its potential neurotoxic effects remain unknown. In this study, we determined the effects of exposure to polystyrene microplastics (micro-PS) on learning and memory, and explored the underlying mechanisms. Kunming mice were orally exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/d micro-PS or saline for four weeks. Employing the Morris water maze test, we observed that exposure to micro-PS affected the learning and exploration abilities of mice, and impaired their learning and memory functions. After exposure to micro-PS, the nerve cells in the hippocampus became loose and disordered, and the number of Nissl bodies decreased. Increases in the levels of ROS and MDA, and a decrease in levels of glutathione were found in the brain tissue of the mice exposed to micro-PS. Exposure to micro-PS also induced a reduction in the level of acetylcholine, and inhibited the CREB/BDNF pathway. Importantly, after treatment with the antioxidant, Vitamin E, the learning and memory abilities of the mice were restored, and the release of neurotransmitters rebounded. These results show that micro-PS exposure can affect the learning and memory functions through inducing oxidative stress and decreasing the levels of acetylcholine.

Crizotinib in patients with tumors harboring ALK or ROS1 rearrangements in the NCI-MATCH trial

The NCI-MATCH was designed to characterize the efficacy of targeted therapies in histology-agnostic driver mutation-positive malignancies. Sub-protocols F and G were developed to evaluate the role of crizotinib in rare tumors that harbored either ALK or ROS1 rearrangements. Patients with malignancies that progressed following at least one prior systemic therapy were accrued to the NCI-MATCH for molecular profiling, and those with actionable ALK or ROS1 rearrangements were offered participation in sub-protocols F or G, respectively. There were five patients who enrolled on Arm F (ALK) and four patients on Arm G (ROS1). Few grade 3 or 4 toxicities were noted, including liver test abnormalities, and acute kidney injury. For sub-protocol F (ALK), the response rate was 50% (90% CI 9.8-90.2%) with one complete response among the 4 eligible patients. The median PFS was 3.8 months, and median OS was 4.3 months. For sub-protocol G (ROS1) the response rate was 25% (90% CI 1.3-75.1%). The median PFS was 4.3 months, and median OS 6.2 months. Data from 3 commercial vendors showed that the prevalence of ALK and ROS1 rearrangements in histologies other than non-small cell lung cancer and lymphoma was rare (0.1% and 0.4% respectively). We observed responses to crizotinib which met the primary endpoint for ALK fusions, albeit in a small number of patients. Despite the limited accrual, some of the patients with these oncogenic fusions can respond to crizotinib which may have a therapeutic role in this setting.

Development of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of novel chicken orthoreovirus

A novel avian orthoreovirus (N-ARV) variant characterized with obvious arthritis and synovial inflammation, was isolated from Shandong, China in May 2016. It caused chicken poor growth and enormous economic losses to the poultry industry of China. However, there are few effective methods for detecting the antibody levels of N-ARV. In this study, a viral structural protein σC was expressed using the prokaryotic expression vector pET32a (+). The target protein was obtained by inducing for 6 hours at an IPTG concentration of 0.6mM. The optimal dilution of the coating antigen and serum antibody were determined to be 1000 fold and 10 fold respectively. A specificity test showed that there was no positive reactivity between N-ARV and other pathogens, and when the positive serum was diluted 100 times detection results were still checkable. The repeatability of this method was determined by the inter assay and intra assay tests with variability ranging from 4.85% to 7.93%. In conclusion, this indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) will be useful for large-scale serological surveys and monitoring antibody levels in N-ARV infection.

Comparing the effects of polystyrene microplastics exposure on reproduction and fertility in male and female mice

Microplastics (MPs) may have an impact on the reproductive development of humans and mammals. However, any effects of MPs exposure on male and female reproductive systems and fertility are still ambiguous. In this study, male and female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to saline or 0.1 mg/d polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) for 30 days or 44 days to determine the effects of MPs on reproductive systems, following which some of the mice were caged for 10 days to mate to test fertility. Another group of mice were given fluorescent PS-MPs to determine the accumulation of MPs. The results show that PS-MPs exposure resulted in more significant accumulation and oxidative stress in the ovary than in the testis. In male mice, the number of viable epididymis sperm and spermatogenic cells in the testes after PS-MPs exposure was significantly reduced, and the rate of sperm deformity increased. In female mice, PS-MPs exposure induced a decrease in ovary size and number of follicles. After exposure to PS-MPs, the levels of Follicle stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone and testosterone were reduced, and the estradiol levels increased in the serum of male mice, while the changes in these hormone levels of female mice was the opposite. The mice exposed to PS-MPs had a reduced pregnancy rate and produced fewer embryos. These findings suggest that exposure to PS-MPs damaged the testes and ovaries, induced oxidative stress, altered the serum hormone levels, and induced changes in reproduction and fertility. Female mice appear to be more susceptible to MPs in reproduction and fertility than male mice.

The role and related microbial processes of Mn-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation in reducing methane emissions from constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) plays an important role in global carbon cycle and greenhouse gas emission reduction. In this study, an effective green technology to reduce methane emissions was proposed by introducing Mn-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (Mn-AOM) and microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology into constructed wetland (CW). The results indicate that the combination of biological methods and bioelectrochemical methods can more effectively control the methane emission from CW than the reported methods. The role of dissimilated metal reduction in methane control in CW and the biochemical process associated with Mn-AOM were also investigated. The results demonstrated that using Mn ore as the matrix and operating MFC effectively reduced methane emissions from CW, and higher COD removal rate was obtained in CW-MFC (Mn) during the 200 days of operation. Methane emission from CW-MFC (Mn) (53.76 mg/m²/h) was 55.61% lower than that of CW (121.12 mg/m²/h). The highest COD removal rate (99.85%) in CW-MFC (Mn) was obtained. As the dissimilative metal-reducing microorganisms, Geobacter (5.10%) was found enriched in CW-MFC (Mn). The results also showed that the presence of Mn ore was beneficial to the biodiversity of CW-MFCs and the growth of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) including Proteobacteria (35.32%), Actinobacteria (2.38%) and Acidobacteria (2.06%), while the growth of hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanobacterium was effectively inhibited. This study proposed an effective way to reduce methane from CW. It also provided reference for low carbon technology of wastewater treatment.

Phenanthrene induces autism-like behavior by promoting oxidative stress and mTOR pathway activation

Autism is thought to be associated with both environmental and genetic factors. Phenanthrene (Phe) makes up a relatively high proportion of the low-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the association between exposure to Phe and Autism remain unclear. In this study, the effect and mechanisms of phenanthrene exposure on autistic behavior were investigated. Three-week-old male Kunming mice were exposed to doses of 5, 50, or 500 μg/kg/d Phe for 22 days. Exposure to phenanthrene induced a marked decrease in the activity of the mice in the central area in the open field test, and caused a significant decrease in communication with unfamiliar mice in the three-chambered social test. The hippocampus of the mice exposed to high concentrations of Phe showed pathological changes. Exposure to phenanthrene induced an increase in the levels of ROS and a decrease in levels of glutathione, and caused a significant decrease in the expression of Shank3 and Beclin1. This also led to an increase in the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR. However, administering Rapamycin or vitamin E, inhibited the oxidative stress and activation of the mTOR pathway induced by Phe exposure, effectively alleviating the above-mentioned autistic-like anxious social behaviors. These results indicate that exposure to phenanthrene will lead to autism-like behavior. The underlying mechanism involves oxidative stress and the mTOR pathway.

Clinical characteristics, treatment strategies and oncologic outcomes of primary retroperitoneal tumours: a retrospective analysis in the Chinese population

INTRODUCTION

Primary retroperitoneal tumours (PRTs) are rare soft tissue tumours originating from the retroperitoneum. Although there has been considerable progress recently in diagnosis and treatment, the overall survival rate has not improved qualitatively. This study aimed to explore the clinical features, therapeutic strategies and prognosis of PRTs.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of clinical data for 121 PRT patients admitted to Peking University Shenzhen Hospital from April 2003 to February 2017.

RESULTS

A total of 113 patients underwent surgery and 8 chose nonsurgical palliative treatment. There were 53 males and 68 females (ratio, 1:1.3; average age, 40.75 years), and the average tumour diameter was 9.69(2-40)cm. A total of 104 patients (92.04%) underwent complete resection, 5 (4.42%) underwent palliative resection and 21 (18.58%) underwent combined visceral resection. The pathological diagnosis was benign in 88 cases (72.73%) and malignant in 33 cases (27.27%). A total of 101 patients (83.47%) were followed for an average of 5.82 years. At the end of follow up, the recurrence and survival rates were 2.63% and 93.42% for benign tumours, respectively, and 24.00% and 60.00% for malignant tumours (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Imaging plays important roles in localising and characterising tumours, guiding treatment strategies. Complete tumour resection is key to reducing postoperative recurrence and improving survival. According to the postsurgical pathological results, combinations including radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy are beneficial for improving prognosis.

[Comparison of the post-operative analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block combined with pectoral nerves block Ⅰ and thoracic paravertebral block in radical mastectomy]

Objective: To investigate the serratus anterior plane block combined with pectoral nerves block I can produce a non-inferior analgesic effect compared with thoracic paravertebral block for radical mastectomy. Methods: From October 2020 to February 2021, Sixty-four patients of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University scheduled for radical mastectomy with general anesthesia,were divided into two groups (n = 32 each) using a random number table method: thoracic paravertebral block group (TPVB group) and serratus anterior plane block combined with pectoral nerves block I group (S&P group). All patients received patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) postoperatively. The numerical rating scale (NRS) at post anesthesia care unit (PACU), 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 h after operation were compared between the two groups. Sufentanil cumulative dosage of PCIA in 24 h and 48 h, first press time after operation, total press times, the dosage of propofol, remifentanil and vasoactive drugs during operation, intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate, the operation time of block and adverse effects were all compared. Non-inferiority could be claimed if the difference of sufentanil cumulative dosage in 24 h between S&P group and TPVB group is higher than the negative value (-3.8) of the non-inferiority effect. Results: There was no significant difference in postoperative NRS at PACU, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 h after operation, first press time after operation, total press times, propofol and remifentanil dosage, sufentanil cumulative dosage of PCIA in 24 h and 48 h, and adverse effects (all P>0.05). The sufentanil cumulative dosage of PCIA in 24 h of S&P group and of TPVB group were (15.8±4.7) μg and (15.2±3.2) μg. The 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference between S&P group and of TPVB group was -1.478 to 2.694, and the lower limit was greater than non-inferiority margin -3.8. The mean arterial pressure of TPVB patients after induction and at the beginning of the operation were (63±7) mmHg and (70±7) mmHg, which were significantly lower than the (77±5) mmHg and (79±8) mmHg at the same time in the combination group (both P<0.05). The frequency of vasoactive drugs usage in TPVB group was 56.3%, which was statistically significant higher than the 18.8% in S&P group (P<0.01). Nerve block time in TPVB group was 10 (9, 11) min, which was significantly longer than 8 (6, 10) min in S&P group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The serratus anterior block combined with pectoral nerves block I can produce a non-inferior analgesic effect compared with thoracic paravertebral block for radical mastectomy, and the intraoperative hemodynamics is more stable and the block time is shorter than that of thoracic paravertebral block for radical mastectomy.

Welding fume nanoparticles from solid and flux-cored wires: Solubility, toxicity, and role of fluorides

Welding fume particles are hazardous. Their toxicity likely depends on their composition and reactivity. This study aimed at exploring the role of sodium or other fluorides (NaF), which are intentionally added to flux-cored wire electrodes for stainless steel welding, on the solubility (in phosphate buffered saline) and toxicity of the generated welding fume particles. A multi-analytical particle characterization approach along with in-vitro cell assays was undertaken. The release of Cr(VI) and Mn from the particles was tested as a function of fluoride solution concentration. The welding fume particles containing NaF released significantly higher amounts of Cr(VI) compared with solid wire reference fumes, which was associated with increased cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in-vitro. No crystalline Na or potassium (K) containing chromates were observed. Cr(VI) was incorporated in an amorphous mixed oxide. Solution-added fluorides did not increase the solubility of Cr(VI), but contributed to a reduced Mn release from both solid and flux-cored wire fume particles and the reduction of Cr(VI) release from solid wire fume particles. Chemical speciation modeling suggested that metal fluoride complexes were not formed. The presence of NaF in the welding electrodes did not have any direct, but possibly an indirect, role in the Cr(VI) solubility of welding fumes.

Wuyiencin produced by Streptomyces albulus CK-15 displays biocontrol activities against cucumber powdery mildew

AIMS

Wuyiencin is a nucleoside antibiotic produced by Streptomyces albulus CK-15. The aim of this study was to determine whether wuyiencin can be used, as a suitable alternative to chemical pesticides, to protect cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) from powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea. Further, the mechanisms underlying the control of cucumber powdery mildew by S. albulus CK-15 were preliminarily elucidated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wuyiencin solutions of different concentrations were used to treat infected cucumber plants under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that wuyiencin could significantly reduce powdery mildew disease incidence, with a maximum prevention efficacy of 94·38%. Further, scanning electron micrographs and enzyme assays showed that wuyiencin inhibited S. fuliginea spore growth and elicited the activity of plant systemic resistance-related enzymes. Additionally, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR suggested that wuyiencin can activate a salicylic acid-dependent plant defence response.

CONCLUSIONS

Wuyiencin produced by S. albulus CK-15 possessed antifungal effects and was able to mitigate cucumber powdery mildew disease via antagonistic action. Wuyiencin also induced defence responses in the plants.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These results reinforce the biotechnological potential of wuyiencin as both an antagonistic agent and an inducer of plant systemic resistance.

CIP2A silencing alleviates doxorubicin resistance in MCF7/ADR cells through activating PP2A and autophagy

Background

Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer. Here, we investigated whether manipulating CIP2A abundance could enhance the treatment effects of doxorubicin in MCF-7/ADR cells.

Methods

CIP2A silencing was achieved by specific siRNAs. Proliferation of breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADR under effective doxorubicin concentrations after CIP2A silencing was examined by MTT assay. Wound healing assay was performed to quantify cell migration and caspase-3/-7 activities were measured for assessing the extent of apoptosis.

Results

First, our data confirmed that MCF-7/ADR cell proliferation was suppressed by doxorubicin in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, knocking down of CIP2A could further decrease MCF-7 cell proliferation and migration, even in the presence of doxorubicin. Mechanistically, we have found that CIP2A silencing promoted cell apoptosis relative to doxorubicin alone or vehicle control groups. Lastly, phosphatase2A (PP2A) activity was potentiated and the autophagy markers, LC3B and Beclin1, were upregulated after knocking down CIP2A.

Conclusion

Our findings support the potential benefits of using CIP2A inhibitor as a therapeutic agent to treat doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12094-021-02616-7.

The fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) from livestock wastewater (dominated by quinolone antibiotics) treated by microbial fuel cell (MFC)

The removal characteristics of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements from livestock wastewater (dominated by quinolone antibiotics) treated with MFC were evaluated by High-throughput quantitative (HT-qPCR). The results showed that 144 ARGs and 8 MEGs were detected in the livestock wastewater. After MFC treatment, the number of AGRs decreased as a whole, and the relative abundance of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin group B (MLSB) and aminoglycosider decreased by 62.7% and 92.9%, respectively. MGEs decreased by 57.3% and multidrug genes decreased by 90%. After MFC treatment, the absolute abundance of tetracycline in raw sewage decreased by two orders of magnitude from 5.8 × 105 copies L-1 to 5.1.× 103 copies L-1. However, MFC was less efficient in the removal of vancomycin and beta-lactamase genes. It was also found that chloramphenicol resistance genes slightly increased. Illumina sequencing showed that Syntrophobacterales and Synergistales were predominant in MFCs. Desulfovibrio was resistant to high concentration of moxifloxacin hydrochloride. The removal efficiency of MFC for moxifloxacin hydrochloride at a concentration of 5 mg L-1 was 86.55%. The maximum power density and coulomb efficiency were 109.3 mV·cm-3 and 41.97%, respectively. With the increase of antibiotic concentration, the sewage treatment efficiency and electrical performance were inhibited. This study shows that untreated livestock wastewater had a great risk of gene horizontal transfer. Although MFC had limited treatment capacity for high-concentration quinolone wastewater, it is an effective method to reduce ARGs and the risk of horizontal gene transfer.

ORAOV1-B Promotes OSCC Metastasis via the NF-κB-TNFα Loop

Metastasis, a powerful prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is chiefly responsible for poor cancer outcomes. Despite an increasing number of studies examining the mechanisms underlying poor outcomes, the development of potent strategies is hindered by insufficient characterization of the crucial regulators. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been gaining interest as significant modulators of OSCC metastasis; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated OSCC metastasis remain relatively uncharacterized. Here, we identified a novel alternative splice variant of oral cancer overexpressed 1 (ORAOV1), named as ORAOV1-B, which was subsequently validated as an lncRNA and correlated with OSCC lymph node metastasis; significantly increased invasion and migration were observed in ORAOV1-B-overexpressing OSCC cells. RNA pulldown and mass spectrometry identified Hsp90 as a direct target of ORAOV1-B, and cDNA microarrays suggested TNFα as a potential downstream target of ORAOV1-B. ORAOV1-B was shown to directly bind to and stabilize Hsp90, which maintains the function of client proteins, receptor-interaction protein, and IκB kinase beta, thus activating the NF-κB pathway and inducing TNFα. Additionally, TNFα reciprocally enhanced p-NF-κB-p65 and the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition. ORAOV1-B effects were reversed by a TNFα inhibitor, demonstrating that TNFα is essential for ORAOV1-B-regulated metastatic ability. Consistent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the ORAOV1-B group was demonstrated via an orthotopic model. In the metastatic model, ORAOV1-B significantly contributed to OSCC-related lung metastasis. In summary, the novel splice variant ORAOV1-B is an lncRNA, which significantly potentiates OSCC invasion and metastasis by binding to Hsp90 and activating the NF-κB-TNFα loop. These findings demonstrate the versatile role of ORAOV1 family members and the significance of genes located within 11q13 in promoting OSCC. ORAOV1-B might serve as an attractive OSCC metastasis intervention target.

Tissue tracking MR to evaluate left ventricular global myocardial deformation in patients with cardiac amyloidosis of transmural late gadolinium enhancement

Purpose

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a major cause of mortality in patients with amyloidosis because it leads to heart failure and lethal arrhythmia. The present study was aimed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) global myocardial deformation in patients with CA of transmural late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) using tissue tracking MRI.

Materials and methods

Thirty-nine patients with CA, confirmed by cardiac MRI, and a biopsy of at least one involved organ were enrolled. According to LV ejection fraction (LVEF), they were divided into reduced LVEF (CArEF) and preserved EF (CApEF) groups. Thirty-nine normal controls were recruited (NC). Tissue tracking analysis was done based on cine MRI sequences. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global radial strain (GRS) were computed.

Results

GLS [CArEF vs. CApEF vs. NC: (−5.82±2.42) % vs. (−8.44±4.15) % vs. (−14.74±2.93)%], GCS [CArEF vs. CApEF vs. NC: (−9.47±2.96) % vs. (−15.01±1.81) % vs. (−19.86±2.30) %], and GRS [CArEF vs. CApEF vs. NC: (11.37±4.68) % vs. (20.61±6.27) % vs. (39.02±8.98) %] were all reduced in the CArEF and CApEF groups compared with healthy control subjects (all P&lt;0.01). GCS and GRS in the CArEF group were reduced compared with the CApEF group (P&lt;0.01). GLS, GCS, and GRS were also strongly correlated with LVEF (r=−0.77, −0.88, and 0.83, respectively; P&lt;0.01). Furthermore, the optimal cutoff values to predict LVEF reduction were −9.31% (sensitivity 88%, specificity 97%) for GLS, −14.13% (sensitivity 96%, specificity 97%) for GCS, and 20.11% (sensitivity 90%, specificity 97%) for GRS.

Conclusion

MRI-based LV global deformation parameters could be a useful method to assess LV myocardial systolic function and predict LVEF reduction in patients with CA of transmural enhancement on LGE. The differences of GCS and GRS between the CArEF and CApEF groups may also reflect preserved contractile function of the mid- or/and subepicardial myocardium.

Figure 1. LV deformation parameters

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Humidity sensor based on a graphene oxide-coated few-mode fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A relative humidity sensor based on a graphene oxide-coated few-mode fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is proposed in this paper. The MZI was made by splicing a segment of the few-mode fiber (FMF) between two segments of a no-core fiber (NCF) and two segments of a single mode fiber (SMF) located outside the two NCFs. The core and cladding of the FMF acted as interferometric arms, while the NCFs acted as couplers for splitting and recombining light due to mismatch of mode field diameter. The cladding of the FMF was corroded with hydrofluoric acid, and a layer of graphene oxide (GO) film was coated on the corroded cladding of FMF via the natural deposition method. The refractive index of GO varied upon absorption the water molecules. As a result, the phase difference of the MZI varied and the wavelength of the resonant dip shifted with a change in the ambient relative humidity (RH). High humidity sensitivity of 0.191 and 0.061 nm/%RH in the RH range of 30-55% and 55-95%, respectively, were achieved experimentally. The high sensitivity, compact size, and simple manufacturing of the proposed sensor could offer attractive applications in fields of chemical sensors and biochemical detection.