Genetic determinants of micronucleus formation in vivo

Genomic instability arising from defective responses to DNA damage1 or mitotic chromosomal imbalances2 can lead to the sequestration of DNA in aberrant extranuclear structures called micronuclei (MN). Although MN are a hallmark of ageing and diseases associated with genomic instability, the catalogue of genetic players that regulate the generation of MN remains to be determined. Here we analyse 997 mouse mutant lines, revealing 145 genes whose loss significantly increases (n = 71) or decreases (n = 74) MN formation, including many genes whose orthologues are linked to human disease. We found that mice null for Dscc1, which showed the most significant increase in MN, also displayed a range of phenotypes characteristic of patients with cohesinopathy disorders. After validating the DSCC1-associated MN instability phenotype in human cells, we used genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening to define synthetic lethal and synthetic rescue interactors. We found that the loss of SIRT1 can rescue phenotypes associated with DSCC1 loss in a manner paralleling restoration of protein acetylation of SMC3. Our study reveals factors involved in maintaining genomic stability and shows how this information can be used to identify mechanisms that are relevant to human disease biology1.

Observation of geometric phase effect through backward angular oscillations in the H + HD → H2 + D reaction

Quantum interference between reaction pathways around a conical intersection (CI) is an ultrasensitive probe of detailed chemical reaction dynamics. Yet, for the hydrogen exchange reaction, the difference between contributions of the two reaction pathways increases substantially as the energy decreases, making the experimental observation of interference features at low energy exceedingly challenging. We report in this paper a combined experimental and theoretical study on the H + HD → H2 + D reaction at the collision energy of 1.72 eV. Although the roaming insertion pathway constitutes only a small fraction (0.088%) of the overall contribution, angular oscillatory patterns arising from the interference of reaction pathways were clearly observed in the backward scattering direction, providing direct evidence of the geometric phase effect at an energy of 0.81 eV below the CI. Furthermore, theoretical analysis reveals that the backward interference patterns are mainly contributed by two distinct groups of partial waves (J ~ 10 and J ~ 19). The well-separated partial waves and the geometric phase collectively influence the quantum reaction dynamics.

Roaming in highly excited states: The central atom elimination of triatomic molecule decomposition

Chemical reactions are generally assumed to proceed from reactants to products along the minimum energy path (MEP). However, straying from the MEP-roaming-has been recognized as an unconventional reaction mechanism and found to occur in both the ground and first excited states. Its existence in highly excited states is however not yet established. We report a dissociation channel to produce electronically excited fragments, S(1D)+O2(a1Δg), from SO2 photodissociation in highly excited states. The results revealed two dissociation pathways: One proceeds through the MEP to produce vibrationally colder O2(a1Δg) and the other yields vibrationally hotter O2(a1Δg) by means of a roaming pathway involving an intramolecular O abstraction during reorientation motion. Such roaming dynamics may well be the rule rather than the exception for molecular photodissociation through highly excited states.

Six-dimensional quantum dynamics study for the dissociative chemisorption of H2 on pure and alloyed AgAu surfaces

The 6D time-dependent wave packet calculations were performed to explore H2 dissociation on Ag, Au, and two AgAu alloy surfaces, using four newly fitted potential energy surfaces based on the neural network fitting to density functional theory energy points. The ligand effect resulting from the Ag-Au interaction causes a reduction in the barrier height for H2+Ag/Au(111) compared to H2+Ag(111). However, the scenario is reversed for H2+Au/Ag(111) and H2+Au(111). The 6D dissociation probabilities of H2 on Ag/Au(111) surfaces are significantly higher than those on the pure Ag(111) surface, but the corresponding results for H2 on Au/Ag(111) surfaces are substantially lower than those on the pure Au(111) surface. The reactivity of H2 on Au(111) is larger than that on Ag(111), despite Ag(111) having a slightly lower static barrier height. This can be attributed to the exceptionally small dissociation probabilities at the hcp and fcc regions, which are at least 100 times smaller compared to those at the bridge or top site for H2+Ag(111). Due to the late barrier being more pronounced, the vibrational excitation of H2 on Ag(111) is more effective in promoting the reaction than on Au(111). Moreover, a high degree of alignment dependence is detected for the four reactions, where the H2 dissociation has the highest probability at the helicopter alignment, as opposed to the cartwheel alignment.

Accurate fundamental invariant-neural network representation of ab initio potential energy surfaces

Highly accurate potential energy surfaces are critically important for chemical reaction dynamics. The large number of degrees of freedom and the intricate symmetry adaption pose a big challenge to accurately representing potential energy surfaces (PESs) for polyatomic reactions. Recently, our group has made substantial progress in this direction by developing the fundamental invariant-neural network (FI-NN) approach. Here, we review these advances, demonstrating that the FI-NN approach can represent highly accurate, global, full-dimensional PESs for reactive systems with even more than 10 atoms. These multi-channel reactions typically involve many intermediates, transition states, and products. The complexity and ruggedness of this potential energy landscape present even greater challenges for full-dimensional PES representation. These PESs exhibit a high level of complexity, molecular size, and accuracy of fit. Dynamics simulations based on these PESs have unveiled intriguing and novel reaction mechanisms, providing deep insights into the intricate dynamics involved in combustion, atmospheric, and organic chemistry.

Roaming Dynamics in Hydroxymethyl Hydroperoxide Decomposition Revealed by the Full-Dimensional Potential Energy Surface of the CH2OO + H2O Reaction

The CH2OO + H2O reaction is an important atmospheric process that leads to the formation of formic acid (HCOOH) and water via the intermediate hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HOCH2OOH, HMHP). We investigated the intricacies of this process by employing quasiclassical trajectory calculations on an accurate, full-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface (PES). In addition to the direct mechanism via the transition state (TS), an interesting roaming mechanism was found to play the predominant role in producing H2O and HCOOH. This roaming pathway is featured as the near direct dissociation of HMHP into OH and hydroxymethoxy radical, followed by the retraction of OH and abstraction of the H atom, culminating in the formation of H2O. Due to the longer interaction time of the roaming mechanism, less product translational energy was released, but more internal energies of HCOOH were obtained, as compared with the direct TS mechanism. The enhanced yield of H2O and formic acid achieved through roaming dynamics underscores the significance of dynamics simulations based on an accurate full-dimensional PES. This work provides new insights into the dynamics of the CH2OO + H2O reaction and its implications for atmospheric chemistry.

Charge-Transfer-Controlled Quantum Dynamics of HCl Dissociation on the Ag/Au(111) Bimetallic Alloy Surface

Understanding polar molecule dynamics on bimetallic surfaces, especially electropositivity and electronegativity, remains a challenge. Here, we report the reactivity of HCl on a strained Ag monolayer on Au(111) using six-dimensional quantum dynamics with a new machine-learning-based potential energy surface. Surprisingly, HCl reactivity is significantly suppressed by the Ag-Au interaction despite a lower HCl+Ag/Au(111) barrier than pure Ag(111). This arises from charge transfer between Ag and Au, where electronegative Au makes the top Ag layer on Ag/Au(111) electropositive, unlike that on pure Ag(111). Electropositive Ag in HCl+Ag/Au(111) attracts Cl, yielding an unfavorable H-Cl configuration and reduced reactivity. These findings deepen our understanding of polar molecule interactions on bimetallic surfaces, highlighting the role of charge transfer in dissociative chemisorption and the implications for catalyst design in heterogeneous catalysis.

Multiple Dissociation Pathways in HNCO Decomposition Governed by Potential Energy Surface Topography

The exquisite features of molecular photochemistry are key to any complete understanding of the chemical processes governed by potential energy surfaces (PESs). It is well established that multiple dissociation pathways relate to nonadiabatic transitions between multiple coupled PESs. However, little detail is known about how the single PES determines reaction outcomes. Here we perform detailed experiments on HNCO photodissociation, acquiring the state-specific correlations of the NH (a1Δ) and CO (X1Σ+) products. The experiments reveal a trimodal CO rotational distribution. Dynamics simulations based on a full-dimensional machine-learning-based PES of HNCO unveil three dissociation pathways exclusively occurring on the S1 excited electronic state. One pathway, following the minimum energy path (MEP) via the transition state, contributes to mild rotational excitation in CO, while the other two pathways deviating substantially from the MEP account for relatively cold and hot CO rotational state populations. These peculiar dynamics are unambiguously governed by the S1 state PES topography, i.e., a narrow acceptance cone in the vicinity of the transition state region. The dynamical picture shown in this work will serve as a textbook example illustrating the importance of the PES topography in molecular photochemistry.

Host response of Nicotiana benthamiana to the parasitism of five populations of root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, from China

In a recent survey of nematodes associated with tobacco in Shandong, China, the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus coffeae was identified using a combination of morphology and molecular techniques. This nematode species is a serious parasite that damages a variety of plant species. The model plant benthi, Nicotiana benthamiana, is frequently used to study plant-disease interactions. However, it is not known whether this plant species is a host of P. coffeae. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the parasitism and pathogenicity of five populations of the root-lesion nematode P. coffeae on N. benthamiana.N. benthamiana seedlings with the same growth status were chosen and inoculated with 1,000 nematodes per pot. At 60 days after inoculation, the reproductive factors (Rf = final population densities (Pf)/initial population densities (Pi)) for P. coffeae in the rhizosphere of N. benthamiana were all more than 1, suggesting that N. benthamiana was a good host plant for P. coffeae.Nicotiana. benthamiana infected by P. coffeae showed weak growth, decreased tillering, high root reduction, and noticeable brown spots on the roots. Thus, we determined that the model plant N. benthamiana can be used to study plant-P. coffeae interactions.

Vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation of sulfur dioxide and its implications for oxygen production in the early Earth's atmosphere

The emergence of molecular oxygen (O2) in the Earth's primitive atmosphere is an issue of major interest. Although the biological processes leading to its accumulation in the Earth's atmosphere are well understood, its abiotic source is still not fully established. Here, we report a new direct dissociation channel yielding S(1D) + O2(a1Δg/X3Σg-) products from vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation of SO2 in the wavelength range between 120 and 160 nm. Experimental results show O2 production to be an important channel from SO2 VUV photodissociation, with a branching ratio of 30 ± 5% at the H Lyman-α wavelength (121.6 nm). The relatively large amounts of SO2 emitted from volcanic eruptions in the Earth's late Archaean eon imply that VUV photodissociation of SO2 could have provided a crucial additional source term in the O2 budget in the Earth's primitive atmosphere. The results could also have implications for abiotic oxygen formation on other planets with atmospheres rich in volcanically outgassed SO2.

Mode specificity of water dissociating on Ni(100): An approximate full-dimensional quantum dynamics study

The mode-specific dynamics for the dissociative chemisorption of H2O on rigid Ni(100) is investigated by approximate nine-dimensional (9D) quantum dynamics calculations. The vibrational state-specific 9D dissociation probabilities are obtained by site-averaging the site-specific seven-dimensional results based on an accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface newly developed by neural network fitting to density functional theory energy points with the revised version of the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof functional. The mode specificity of H2O/Ni(100) is very different from that of H2O/Ni(111) or H2O/Cu(111) whose reactivity enhancement by vibrational excitations is quite efficient. For H2O/Ni(100), it is found that the excitation in the symmetric stretching mode is more efficacious than increasing the translational energy in promoting the reaction, while the excitations in the asymmetric stretching mode and bending mode are less efficacious than the translational energy at low collision energies. These interesting observations can be attributed to the near central-barrier reaction for H2O/Ni(100), as well as large discrepancies between the site-specific mode specificities at different impact sites. The mode-specific dynamics obtained in this study is different from that obtained with the reaction path Hamiltonian approach, indicating the importance of full-dimensional quantum dynamics for gas-surface reactions.

Full-dimensional neural network potential energy surface and dynamics of the CH2OO + H2O reaction

An accurate global full-dimensional machine learning-based potential energy surface (PES) of the simplest Criegee intermediate (CH₂OO) reaction with water monomer was developed based on the high level of extensive CCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations. This analytical global PES not only covers the regions of reactants to hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HMHP) intermediates, but also different end product channels, which facilities both the reliable and efficient kinetics and dynamics calculations. The rate coefficients calculated by the transition state theory with the interface to the full-dimensional PES agree well with the experimental results, indicating the accuracy of the current PES. Extensive quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations were performed both from the bimolecular reaction CH₂OO + H₂O and from HMHP intermediate on the new PES. The product branching ratios of hydroxymethoxy radical (HOCH₂O, HMO) + OH radical, formaldehyde (CH₂O) + H₂O₂ and formic acid (HCOOH) + H₂O were calculated. The reaction yields dominantly HMO + OH, because of the barrierless pathway from HMHP to this channel. The computed dynamical results for this product channel show the total available energy was deposited into the internal rovibrational excitation of HMO, and the energy release in OH and translational energy is limited. The large amount of OH radical found in the current study implies that the CH₂OO + H₂O reaction can provide crucially OH yield in Earth's atmosphere.

A highly accurate full-dimensional ab initio potential surface for the rearrangement of methylhydroxycarbene (H3C-C-OH)

We report here a full-dimensional machine learning global potential surface (PES) for the rearrangement of methylhydroxycarbene (H₃C-C-OH, 1t). The PES is trained with the fundamental invariant neural network (FI-NN) method on 91 564 ab initio energies calculated at the UCCSD(T)-F12a/cc-pVTZ level of theory, covering three possible product channels. FI-NN PES has the correct symmetry properties with respect to permutation of four identical hydrogen atoms and is suitable for dynamics studies of the 1t rearrangement. The averaged root mean square error (RMSE) is 11.4 meV. Six important reaction pathways, as well as the energies and vibrational frequencies at the stationary geometries on these pathways are accurately preproduced by our FI-NN PES. To demonstrate the capacity of the PES, we calculated the rate coefficient of hydrogen migration in -CH₃ (path A) and hydrogen migration of -OH (path B) with instanton theory on this PES. Our calculations predicted the half-life of 1t to be 95 min, which is excellent in agreement with experimental observations.

Full-dimensional quantum mechanical study of three-body recombination for cold $^{4}$He-$^4$He-$^{20}$Ne system

The increase of the number of the two-bodyrecombination channels strongly challenges the numerical calculation of the accurate rates for the three-body recombination (TBR) process and itsreverse process, collision-induced dissociation(CID), at ultracold temperatures. By taking the $^{4}$He-$^4$He-$^{20}$Ne collision system as anexample, we have obtained the rates for its TBR and CID processes involving all four recombination channels, including the two-body states $^4$He$_2$($l=0$) and $^4$He$^{20}$Ne ($l=0,1,2$) with $l$ the rotational quantum number. By using the adiabatic hyperspherical method, we have considered not only total angular momentum $J = 0$but also $J > 0$ in the ultracold collision energies($E=0.01 - 100$ $\mathrm{mK} \times\mathrm{k_{B}}$). It is found that $^4$He$_2$ ($l=0$)is the major product after the TBR process in theultracold limit ($E \leq 0.1$ $\mathrm{mK} \times\mathrm{k_{B}}$). The TBR rate into $^4$He$_2$($l=0$) is nearly one order of magnitude larger than the sum of the other three products, $^4$He$^{20}$Ne($l=0,1,2$). Moreover, the CID rates for the three$^4$He$^{20}$Ne ($l=0,1,2$) + $^4$He initial states are close to each other, and are smaller than thatfor the $^4$He$_2$ ($l=0$) + $^{20}$Ne initial state. Additionally, we have for the first time performed the channel-resolved scattering calculation which can explain the above findings quantitatively.

Prognostic Value of Four Preimplantation Malnutrition Estimation Tools in Predicting Heart Failure Hospitalization of the Older Diabetic Patients with Right Ventricular Pacing

OBJECTIVES

The prognostic value of preimplantation nutritional status is not yet known for older diabetic patients that received right ventricular pacing (RVP). The study aimed to investigate the clinical value of the four malnutrition screening tools for the prediction of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) in older diabetic patients that received RVP.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted between January 2017 and January 2018 at the Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China, and included older (age ≥ 65 years) diabetic patients that received RVP for the first time Measurements: The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), and the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score were used to estimate the preimplantation nutritional status of the patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between preimplantation malnutrition and HFH.

RESULTS

Overall, 231 older diabetic patients receiving RVP were included. The median follow-up period after RVP was 53 months. HFH was reported for 19.9% of the included patients. Our results showed preimplantation malnutrition for 18.2%, 15.2%, 86.6% and 66.2% of the included patients based on the PNI, GNRI, NPS, and CONUT score, respectively. The cumulative rate of HFH during follow-up period was significantly higher for patients in the preimplantation malnutrition group based on the PNI (log-rank = 13.0, P = 0.001), GNRI (log-rank = 8.5, P = 0.01), and NPS (log-rank = 15.7, P < 0.001) compared to the normal nutrition group, but was not statistically significant for those in the preimplantation malnutrition group based on the CONUT score (log-rank = 2.7, P = 0.3). As continuous variables, all the nutritional indices showed significant correlation with HFH (all P < 0.05). However, multivariate analysis showed that only GNRI was independently associated with HFH (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.937-0.997, P = 0.032). As categorical variables, PNI, GNRI, and NPS showed significant correlation with HFH. After adjustment of confounding factors, moderate-to-severe degree of malnutrition was an independent predictor of HFH based on the PNI (HR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.03-21.00, P = 0.045) and GNRI (HR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.02-9.00, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Preimplantation malnutrition was highly prevalent in older diabetic patients that received RVP. The malnutrition prediction tools, PNI and GNRI, showed significant prognostic value in accurately predicting HFH in older diabetic patients with RVP.

Quantum dynamics reveal different ligand effects by vibrational excitation in the dissociative chemisorption of HCl on the Au/Ag(111) surface

The reactivity and selectivity of bimetallic surfaces are of fundamental importance in industrial applications. Here, we report the first six-dimensional (6D) quantum dynamics study for the role of surface strain and ligand effects on the reactivity of HCl on a strained pseudomorphic monolayer of Au deposited onto a Ag(111) substrate, with the aid of accurate machine learning-based potential energy surfaces. The substitute of Au into Ag changes the location of the transition state; however, the static barrier height remains roughly the same as pure Au(111). The 6D quantum dynamics calculations reveal that the surface strain due to lattice expansion slightly enhances the reactivity. The ligand effect due to electronic structure interactions between Au and Ag substantially suppresses the reactivity of HCl in the ground vibrational state but promotes the reactivity via vibrational excitation at high kinetic energies. This finding can be attributed to more close interaction with Ag atoms at the transition state close to the fcc site, as well as the tight transition-state region, making the vibrational excitation highly efficient in enhancing the reactivity. Our study quantitatively unravels the dynamical origin of reactivity control by two metals, which will ultimately provide valuable insight into the selectivity of the catalyst.

Observation of Competitive Nonadiabatic Photodissociation Dynamics of H2S+ Cations

A comprehensive understanding of dissociation mechanisms is of fundamental importance in the photochemistry of small molecules. Here, we investigated the detailed photodissociation dynamics of H₂S⁺ near 337 nm by using the velocity map ion imaging technique together with the theoretical characterizations by developing global full-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs). Rotational state resolved images were acquired for the S⁺(⁴S) + H₂ product channel. Significant changes in product total kinetic energy release distributions and angular distributions have been observed within a small excitation photon energy range of 5 wavenumbers. Analysis based on the full-dimensional PESs reveals that two nonadiabatic pathways determined by the transition state connecting two minima on the 1²A' state are responsible for the dramatic variation of observed product distributions. The current study has directly witnessed the competitive photodissociation mechanisms controlled by a critical energy point on the PES, thereby providing in-depth insight into the nonadiabatic dynamics in photochemistry.

The Resolution Rate of Pulmonary Embolism on CT Pulmonary Angiography: a Prospective Study

PURPOSE

To prospectively assess the rate of clot resolution from CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 290 patients (136 men, 154 women; mean age, 51.9 years) with acute PE. All patients had a CTPA at the presentation and had at least one follow-up within 6 months (mean 72.7 days). Sixty-four percent of patients had follow-up scans for research purposes within a pre-determined period (between 28 and 184 days; mean, 78.27 days) and 36 % had (between 2 and 184 days; mean, 62.78 days) for a clinical indication. The volume of each clot was measured using a semi-automated quantification program. The resolution rate was evaluated by interval-censored analysis.

RESULTS

The overall estimated probability of complete resolution was 42 % at 7 days, 56 % at 10 days, and 71 % at 45 days. Achieving complete resolution was significantly faster in patients with peripheral clots (HR: 1.78; CI: 1.05-3.03, p = 0.032) but slower in patients with consolidation and history of venous thromboembolism (VTE), (HR: 0.37; CI: 0.18-0.79, p = 0.01 and HR: 0.57; CI: 0.35-0.91, p = 0.019, respectively). Although the patients with cancer showed a faster resolution rate (HR: 1.67; CI: 1.05-2.68, p = 0.032), the mortality rate was significantly higher than non-cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The resolution rate of clot burden in acute PE was associated with patients' clinical presentation variables and CTPA imaging biomarkers. This information may be incorporated into designing a prediction rule and determining the appropriate duration of anticoagulation therapy in patients with acute PE.

[The assistant effects of porcine fibrin sealant in improving stone clearance rate in flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy in ex vivo porcine kidney model]

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using a porcine fibrin sealant to wrap and remove kidney calculi fragments through an isolated porcine kidney model. Methods: In the isolated porcine kidney stone model (implanted with 100 mg, air dried, ≤1 mm human stone fragments, n=6;implanted with 100 mg, air dried, ≤3 mm human stone fragments, n=6), the ureteral soft mirror combined with the 12/14Fr UAS was used to test the effect of stone extraction using only two stone extraction methods: basket extraction (control group, ≤1 mm stone fragments, n=3; ≤3 mm stone fragments, n=3) and basket-sealant extraction (test group, ≤1 mm stone fragments, n=3; ≤3 mm stone fragments, n=3). Compare the stone removal rate and operation time of the two stone retrieval methods. The sealant was put into urine of normal human and observed. Results: Porcine Fibrin Sealant can form a gel in saline and urine and adhere and wrap stone fragments. The time of procedures of test (basket-sealant) and control (basket) group in kidneys implanted with ≤ 1 mm stone fragments were (14.0±4.2) and (29.0±0.7)min (P<0.05) stone clearance rates were (90.9±1.4)% and (48.4±15.7)% (P<0.05), respectively. In kidneys implanted with ≤ 3 mm fragments, time of procedures were (12.8±4.0) and (30.0±0)min (P<0.05) Stone clearance rates were (91.1±5.0)% and (20.7±8.0)% (P<0.05). The Sealant dissolves by itself in normal human urine and normal saline at 37 ℃ for 24 hours. Conclusion: The appropriate concentration of Porcine Fibrin Sealant assisted stone retrieval may become a new method for removing small stone fragments in retrograde intrarenal surgery.

Characterization of the source(s) of lipocalin-2 mediating dietary obesity-induced hypertension

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the grants from the General Research Funds (17117017 and 17121714) and Collaborative Research Funds (C7037-17W) of Research Grant Council, the Areas of Excellence Scheme (AoE/M-707/18) of University Grants Committee

Title: Characterization of the source(s) of lipocalin-2 mediating dietary obesity-induced hypertension.

Introduction

Obesity upregulates lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), a pro-inflammatory adipokine, which in turn induces vascular and metabolic abnormalities. In mice, deletion of the Lcn2 alleles has protective effects against obesity-induced vascular and metabolic dysfunctions.

Purpose

The present study investigated the sources of lipocalin-2 production as a mediator of dietary obesity-associated perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction and hypertension.

Methods

The wild type (WT) littermates or mice with whole body knockout (LKO), adipose tissue (Adn-Cre)-, kidney (Wt1-Cre)-, liver (Alb-Cre)-, and granuloid cells (Lys-Cre)-selective deletion of the Lcn2 alleles were implanted with radio-telemetry transmitters at eight-weeks of age. Blood pressure was recorded at least four 12/12 light-dark cycles every four weeks for mice fed either standard chow (STC) or high fat diet (HFD). Wire myography was performed to evaluate the functional properties of mesenteric arteries, in the presence or absence of surrounding perivascular adipose tissues. Quantitative PCR, Western blotting as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were also performed to measure Lcn2 expression in tissues and blood respectively.

Results

Compared to STC, HFD feeding increased systolic, diastolic, mean arterial and pulse pressure in WT mice. The amount of Lcn2 expressed in perivascular adipose tissues and present in blood were also higher in HFD-fed WT mice when compared to those fed with STC. Whole body deletion of Lcn2 alleles attenuated HFD- induced increase in blood pressure. Liver-selective deletion of Lcn2 alleles abolished the effect of HFD feeding on blood pressure, decreased Lcn2 expression in perivascular adipose tissues, and the concentration of Lcn2 in blood. Both whole body- and liver-specific deletion of Lcn2 alleles enhanced the anti-contractile activity of perivascular adipose tissues and abolished HFD-induced adipose tissue dysfunction. However, deletion of Lcn2 alleles selectively in adipose tissues, but not Wt1-Cre and Lys-Cre, partially mitigated the effects of HFD on perivascular adipose tissue function and blood pressure regulation.

Conclusion

Lcn2 derived from different tissues are distinctively implicated in dietary obesity-induced perivascular adipose tissue dysfunction and hypertension.

Dynamical Effects of SN2 Reactivity Suppression by Microsolvation: Dynamics Simulations of the F-(H2O) + CH3I Reaction on a 21-Dimensional Potential Energy Surface

A comparison of atomistic dynamics between microsolvated and unsolvated reactions can expose the precise role of solvent molecules and thus provide deep insight into how solvation influences chemical reactions. Here we developed the first full-dimensional analytical potential energy surface of the F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction, which facilitates the efficient dynamics simulations on a quantitatively accurate level. The computed SN2 reactivity suppression ratio of the monosolvated F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction relative to the unsolvated F- + CH3I reaction as a function of collision energy first increases and then decreases steadily, forming an inverted-V shape, due to the combined dynamical effects of interaction time, steric hindrance, and collision-induced dehydration. Moreover, further analysis reveals that the steric effect of the F-(H2O) + CH3I reaction resulting from the single water molecule is manifested mainly in dragging the F- anion away from the central C atom, rather than shielding F- from C. Our study shows there is great potential in rigorously studying the role of the solvent in more complicated reactions.

Dual Functions of MDP Monomer with De- and Remineralizing Ability

Methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) has been speculated to induce mineralization, but there has been no convincing evidence of its ability to induce intrafibrillar mineralization. Polymers play a critical role in biomimetic mineralization as stabilizers/inducers of amorphous precursors. Hence, MDP-induced biomimetic mineralization without polymer additives has not been fully verified or elucidated. By combining 3-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, surface zeta potentials, contact angle measurements, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with circular dichroism, we show that amphiphilic MDP can not only demineralize dentin by releasing protons as an acidic functional monomer but also infiltrate collagen fibrils (including dentin collagen), unwind the triple helical structure by breaking hydrogen bonds, and finally immobilize within collagen. MDP-bound collagen functions as a huge collagenous phosphoprotein (HCPP), in contrast to chemical phosphorylation modifications. HCPP can induce biomimetic mineralization itself without polymer additives by alternatively attracting calcium and phosphate through electrostatic attraction. Therefore, we herein propose the dual functions of amphiphilic MDP monomer with de- and remineralizing ability. MDP in the free state can demineralize dentin substrates by releasing protons, whereas MDP in the collagen-bound state as HCPP can induce intrafibrillar mineralization. The dual functions of MDP monomer with de- and remineralization properties might create a new epoch in adhesive dentistry and preventive dentistry.

69 Hot Saline Irrigation for Haemostasis in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence on the role of hot saline irrigation (HSI) in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and its impact on the visibility of the surgical field (VSF).

Method

A search of PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid (including Embase, Medline and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) databases as well as Google Scholar was performed.

Results

Three randomised control trials (RCT) were included. All three were pooled into meta-analysis which demonstrated a statistically significant better VSF (MD -0.51; 95% CI -0.84, -0.18; P = 0.003), a reduction in total blood loss (TBL) (MD -56.40ml; 95% CI -57.30. -55.51; P = &lt;0.0001) and a reduction in operating time (OT) (MD -7.01mins; 95% CI 9.02mins; 95% CI -11.76, -6.28; P = &lt;0.0001) during FESS in the HSI group compared with the room temperature irrigation control group. Further subgroup analysis of studies that did not use topical vasoconstrictors showed a significant reduction in TBL and OT. There were no reported adverse events related to HSI.

Conclusions

This is the first systematic review that addresses HSI for haemostasis in FESS. The results suggest that HSI in FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis may significantly improve VSF, reduce TBL by 20% and decrease OT by 9 minutes. HSI is cheap and a readily available intervention with a low risk of morbidity and adverse events. However, there are limitations of the study due to significant heterogeneity of methods, quality, and size of the studies.

Abnormalities of intrinsic brain activity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis of resting-state functional imaging

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affecting up to 11.5% of the general global population. The brain-gut axis has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS. Several studies confirmed that intrinsic brain abnormalities existed in patients with IBS. But, studies of abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) in IBS have reported inconsistent results. The objective of this protocol is to conduct a meta-analysis using the Seed-based d mapping software package to identify the most consistent and replicable findings of ReHo in IBS patients.

METHOD

We will search the following three electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science. The primary outcome will include the peak coordinates and effect sizes of differences in ReHo between patients with IBS and healthy controls from each dataset. The secondary outcomes will be the effects of age, illness severity, illness duration, and scanner field strength. The SDM approach was used to conduct voxel-wise meta-analysis. Whole-brain voxel-based jackknife sensitivity analysis was performed to conduct jackknife sensitivity analysis. A random effects model with Q statistics is used to conduct heterogeneity and publication bias between studies and meta-regression analyses were carried out to examine the effects of age, illness severity, illness duration, and scanner field strength.

RESULTS

The results of this paper will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CONCLUSION

This research will determine the consistent pattern of alterations in ReHo in IBS patients.

Double-Roaming Dynamics in the H + C2H2 → H2 + C2H Reaction: Acetylene-Facilitated Roaming and Vinylidene-Facilitated Roaming

We report two novel roaming pathways for the H + C₂H₂ → H₂ + C₂H reaction by performing extensive quasiclassical trajectory calculations on a new, global, high-level machine learning-based potential energy surface. One corresponds to the acetylene-facilitated roaming pathway, where the H atom turns back from the acetylene + H channel and abstracts another H atom from acetylene. The other is the vinylidene-facilitated roaming, where the H atom turns back from the vinylidene + H channel and abstracts another H from vinylidene. The "double-roaming" pathways account for roughly 95% of the total cross section of the H₂ + C₂H products at the collision energy of 70 kcal/mol. These computational results give valuable insights into the significance of the two isomers (acetylene and vinylidene) in chemical reaction dynamics and also the experimental search for roaming dynamics in this bimolecular reaction.

Long-term Clinical Performance of Composite Resin or Ceramic Inlays, Onlays, and Overlays: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Composite resin or ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays can achieve high long-term survival and success rates.

SUMMARY

Sirt1 suppresses MCP-1 production during the intervertebral disc degeneration by inactivating AP-1 subunits c-Fos/c-Jun

OBJECTIVE

The anti-inflammatory effect of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been widely confirmed. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) activation is the initiating inflammatory response associated with the IDD. However, whether Sirt1 suppresses MCP-1 in the intervertebral disc is unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The MCP-1 and Sirt1 protein expression in the degenerated and non-degenerated NP tissues were compared by immunohistochemistry (IHC). We induced nucleus pulposus (NP) cell degeneration by IL-1β and mediated cellular Sirt1 expression through the Sirt1 activator resveratrol (Res) or inhibitor Nicotinamide (Nico). In addition, the inhibitors of MCP-1 and Activator protein 1 (AP-1) were also used in cell culture. The function of NP cells was determined by the type II collagen and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. We assessed the Sirt1 and MCP-1 expression by the Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The AP-1 activity was valued by the phosphorylation of its components c-Fos, and c-Jun.

RESULTS

Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results indicated that MCP-1 was upregulated in the degenerated condition, which was opposite to Sirt1 expression. Res suppressed AP-1, the phosphorylation of c-Fos/c-Jun, and the MCP-1 expression. On the contrary, Sirt1 downregulation by Nico aggravated the phosphorylation of c-Fos/c-Jun and MCP-1 expression. However, the MCP-1 suppression did not affect the Sirt1 and AP-1 levels. The destruction of AP-1 activation also inhibited MCP-1 expression but not Sirt1. The upregulation of Sirt1 and suppression of MCP-1 improved the type II collagen expression and cell viability, which was injured by IL-1β.

CONCLUSIONS

Sirt1 suppresses the MCP-1 production in the degenerated NP cells by suppressing the phosphorylation of the AP-1 subunits c-Fos and c-Jun.

Supercollisions of fast H-atom with ethylene on an accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface

The collisions transferring large portions of energy are often called supercollisions. In the H + C₂H₂ reactive system, the rovibrationally cold C₂H₂ molecule can be activated with substantial internal excitations by its collision with a translationally hot H atom. It is interesting to investigate the mechanisms of collisional energy transfer in other important reactions of H with hydrocarbons. Here, an accurate, global, full-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) of H + C₂H₄ was constructed by the fundamental invariant neural network fitting based on roughly 100 000 UCCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ data points. Extensive quasi-classical trajectory calculations were carried out on the full-dimensional PES to investigate the energy transfer process in collisions of the translationally hot H atoms with C₂H₄ in a wide range of collision energies. The computed function of the energy-transfer probability is not a simple exponential decay function but exhibits large magnitudes in the region of a large amount of energy transfer, indicating the signature of supercollisions. The supercollisions among non-complex-forming nonreactive (prompt) trajectories are frustrated complex-forming processes in which the incoming H atom penetrates into C₂H₄ with a small C-H distance but promptly and directly leaves C₂H₄. The complex-forming supercollisions, in which either the attacking H atom leaves (complex-forming nonreactive collisions) or one of the original H atoms of C₂H₄ leaves (complex-forming reactive trajectories), dominate large energy transfer from the translational energy to internal excitation of molecule. The current work sheds valuable light on the energy transfer of this important reaction in the combustion and may motivate related experimental investigations.

A fundamental invariant-neural network representation of quasi-diabatic Hamiltonians for the two lowest states of H3

The FI-NN approach is capable of representing highly accurate diabatic PESs with particular and complicated symmetry problems.

MiRNA-206 suppresses the metastasis of osteosarcoma via targeting Notch3

To investigate the role of microRNA-206 (miRNA-206) in the malignant progression of osteosarcoma and the underlying mechanism, expression pattern of miRNA-206 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between miRNA-206 level and prognosis of osteosarcoma patients was analyzed. Regulatory effects of miRNA-206 on the proliferation and metastasis of U2OS and MG63 cells were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell and wound healing assay. Through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, the target gene of miRNA-206 was verified. A series of rescue experiments were conducted to explore the role of miRNA-206/Notch3 in regulating the malignant progression of osteosarcoma. MiRNA-206 was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, and its level was correlated to poor prognosis and distant metastasis of osteosarcoma patients. Overexpression of miRNA-206 attenuated the proliferative and metastatic abilities of osteosarcoma cells, and miRNA-206 knockdown obtained the opposite trends. Notch3 was verified to be the target gene of miRNA-206, which was upregulated in osteosarcoma and accelerated osteosarcoma cells to proliferate and metastasize. Finally, rescue experiments showed that Notch3 overexpression partially reversed the regulatory effects of miRNA-206 on cellular behaviors of osteosarcoma cells. MiRNA-206 is downregulated in osteosarcoma. Overexpression of miRNA-206 accelerates osteosarcoma cells to proliferate and metastasize by targeting Notch3, thus accelerating the malignant progression of osteosarcoma.

Modeling Water Quality in Watersheds: From Here to the Next Generation

In this synthesis, we assess present research and anticipate future development needs in modeling water quality in watersheds. We first discuss areas of potential improvement in the representation of freshwater systems pertaining to water quality, including representation of environmental interfaces, in-stream water quality and process interactions, soil health and land management, and (peri-)urban areas. In addition, we provide insights into the contemporary challenges in the practices of watershed water quality modeling, including quality control of monitoring data, model parameterization and calibration, uncertainty management, scale mismatches, and provisioning of modeling tools. Finally, we make three recommendations to provide a path forward for improving watershed water quality modeling science, infrastructure, and practices. These include building stronger collaborations between experimentalists and modelers, bridging gaps between modelers and stakeholders, and cultivating and applying procedural knowledge to better govern and support water quality modeling processes within organizations.

LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most ordinary malignant cancers. Recent researches have proved that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as an important role in cancers. Our study aims to explore the function of lncRNA CASC15 in the tumor metastasis of PC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect CASC15 expression in 50 PC patients. Besides, the wound healing assay and transwell assay were performed to identify the biological behavior changes of PC cells after CASC15 was silenced in PC cells. In addition, the potential mechanism was also explored using the luciferase assay.

RESULTS

CASC15 expression level was significantly higher in PC tissues and cell lines. Results of wound healing assay and transwell assay revealed that cell migrated ability and invaded ability were suppressed via silence of CASC15 in PC cells. Furthermore, the expression of miR-200a-3p was upregulated via silence of CASC15 in PC cells. Luciferase assay showed that miR-200a-3p was a direct target of CASC15 in PC. In addition, miR-200a-3p expression was negatively correlated with CASC15 expression in PC tissues. Rescue experiments also revealed that the inhibition of PC migration and invasion by silence of CASC15 could be reversed through knockdown of miR-200a-3p.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study uncovers that CASC15 could enhance cell migration and invasion of PC cells by sponging miR-200a-3p, which might be applied as a novel therapeutic target for PC patients.

Exclusive Neural Network Representation of the Quasi-Diabatic Hamiltonians Including Conical Intersections

We propose a numerically simple and straightforward, yet accurate and efficient neural networks-based fitting strategy to construct coupled potential energy surfaces (PESs) in a quasi-diabatic representation. The fundamental invariants are incorporated to account for the complete nuclear permutation inversion symmetry. Instead of derivative couplings or interstate couplings, a so-called modified derivative coupling term is fitted by neural networks, resulting in accurate description of near degeneracy points, such as the conical intersections. The adiabatic energies, energy gradients, and derivative couplings are well reproduced, and the vanishing of derivative couplings as well as the isotropic topography of adiabatic and diabatic energies in asymptotic regions are automatically satisfied. All of these features of the coupled global PESs are requisite for accurate dynamics simulations. Our approach is expected to be very useful in developing highly accurate coupled PESs in a quasi-diabatic representation in an efficient machine learning-based way.

Photodissociation Dynamics of OCS near 150 nm: The S(1SJ=0) and S(3PJ=2,1,0) Product Channels

Vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) was investigated by using the time-sliced velocity map ion imaging technique. Images of the S(¹S_J=0) and S(³P_J=2,1,0) photofragments formed in the OCS photodissociation were acquired at six photolysis wavelengths from 147.24 to 156.48 nm. Vibrational states of the CO coproducts were partially resolved and identified in the images. Two main dissociation product channels, namely, the spin-allowed S(¹S_J=0) + CO(X¹Σ_g⁺) and spin-forbidden S(³P_J=2,1,0) + CO(X¹Σ_g⁺), were observed. At each photolysis wavelength, the total kinetic energy releases, the relative population of different CO vibrational states, and the anisotropic parameters were derived. Variations of the relative population were noticed between different spin-orbit states of the S(³P_J) channel. It was found that the S(¹S_J=0) + CO(X¹Σ_g⁺) channel is dominated by the ¹Σ⁺ ← ¹Σ⁺ parallel transition of OCS. Interestingly, two types of anisotropic parameters are found at different photolysis wavelengths for the spin-forbidden S(³P_J=2,1,0) + CO(X¹Σ_g⁺) product channel. The anisotropic parameters at 147.24 and 150.70 nm are significantly smaller than at the other four photolysis wavelengths. This phenomenon indicates two different nonadiabatic pathways are responsible for the spin-forbidden channels, which is consistent with the barrier structure in the exit channel of one of the triplet states.

LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "LncRNA CASC15 promotes migration and invasion in prostate cancer via targeting miR-200a-3p, by C. Zhang, G.-X. Wang, B. Fu, X.-C. Zhou, Y. Li, Y.-Y. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (19): 8303-8309-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201910_19141-PMID: 31646560" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19141.

Fitting potential energy surfaces with fundamental invariant neural network. II. Generating fundamental invariants for molecular systems with up to ten atoms

Symmetry adaptation is crucial in representing a permutationally invariant potential energy surface (PES). Due to the rapid increase in computational time with respect to the molecular size, as well as the reliance on the algebra software, the previous neural network (NN) fitting with inputs of fundamental invariants (FIs) has practical limits. Here, we report an improved and efficient generation scheme of FIs based on the computational invariant theory and parallel program, which can be readily used as the input vector of NNs in fitting high-dimensional PESs with permutation symmetry. The newly developed method significantly reduces the evaluation time of FIs, thereby extending the FI-NN method for constructing highly accurate PESs to larger systems beyond five atoms. Because of the minimum size of invariants used in the inputs of the NN, the NN structure can be very flexible for FI-NN, which leads to small fitting errors. The resulting FI-NN PES is much faster on evaluating than the corresponding permutationally invariant polynomial-NN PES.

Increasing frequency and severity of odontogenic infection requiring hospital admission and surgical management

Odontogenic infections can become life-threatening if not managed in a timely manner, and they increase the physical cost of treatment to the patient and the financial cost to the public health system. We investigated the number of admissions to a Queensland tertiary hospital within a decade, and differences in the patients' characteristics, severity at presentation, and clinical outcomes. We compared patients with odontogenic infections who were taken to theatre at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (RBWH) between January 2003 and December 2004 with those treated between January 2013 and December 2014, a total of 292. Data on demographics, presentation, previous history, antimicrobial treatment, and admissions, were collated and analysed. There were no significant differences in demographics. In the 2013/2014 group there was a two-fold increase in infections related to lower third molars (p=0.001), a 50% increase in trismus (p=0.001), and a 20% increase in submandibular swelling (p=0.010). The percentage of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was three and a half times higher in the 2013/2014 group (p=0.001). The presentation of odontogenic infections has increased in the decade from 2003/2004 to 2013/2014. Measures of the severity of disease have increased, while the basic characteristics of the patients have remained constant. Improved primary preventative measures and early interventions are therefore needed to alleviate the burden that these infections place on the public health system.

Collision-induced and complex-mediated roaming dynamics in the H + C2H4 → H2 + C2H3 reaction

Roaming is a novel mechanism in reaction dynamics. It describes an unusual pathway, which can be quite different from the conventional minimum-energy path, leading to products. While roaming has been reported or suggested in a number of unimolecular reactions, it has been rarely reported for bimolecular reactions. Here, we report a high-level computational study of roaming dynamics in the important bimolecular combustion reaction H + C₂H₄ → H₂ + C₂H₃, using a new, high-level machine learning-based potential energy surface. In addition to the complex-mediated roaming mechanism, a non-complex forming roaming mechanism is found. It can be described as a direct inelastic collision where the departing H atom roams and then abstracts an H atom. We denoted this as “collision-induced” roaming. These two roaming mechanisms have different angular distributions; however, both produce highly internally excited C₂H₃. The roaming pathway leads to remarkably different dynamics as compared with the direct abstraction pathway. A clear signature of the roaming mechanism is highly internally excited C₂H₃, which could be observed experimentally.

Collision-induced and complex-mediated roaming mechanisms are revealed for an important bimolecular reaction in combustion.

Dynamics and kinetics of the OH + HO2 → H2O + O2 (1Δg) reaction on a global full-dimensional singlet-state potential energy surface

The reaction dynamics and kinetics of OH + HO₂ → H₂O + O₂ on the singlet state were revealed by theory, based on an accurate full-dimensional PES.

A global ab initio potential energy surface and dynamics of the proton-transfer reaction: OH− + D2 → HOD + D−

The reaction mechanisms of OH⁻ + D₂ → HOD + D⁻ were first revealed by theory, based on an accurate full-dimensional PES.

Oral cancer-associated tertiary lymphoid structures: gene expression profile and prognostic value

Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) provides a local and critical microenvironment for both cellular and humoral immunity and supports effective antigen presentation and lymphocyte activation. However, the gene expression profile and prognostic significance of TLS in oral cancer remain largely unrevealed. In this study, we found the presence of both intratumoral and peritumoral TLSs in a series of 65 patients with oral cancer treated by surgical resection, with positive detection rates of 33.8 and 75.4%, respectively. The presence of intratumoral TLSs, but not peritumoral TLSs, was significantly associated with decreased P53 and Ki67 scores (P = 0·027 and 0·047, respectively). The survival analyses revealed that oral cancer patients with higher grades of TLSs was associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0·037 and 0·031, respectively). Gene expression profiling analysis of the cytokines and chemokines responsible for lymph-node neogenesis identified a three-up-regulated-gene set, i.e. IL7, LTB and CXCL13, which was shown to be correlated with human oral cancer-associated TLSs. This study provides a framework for better understanding of oral cancer-associated TLSs and for delineating future innovative prognostic biomarkers and immune therapeutic strategies for oral cancer.