Efficacy and Safety of Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization Device Coflex for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate evidence for the comparison of lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex (Surgalign, Deerfield, IL) with posterior lumbar fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis).

METHODS

Relational databases were searched to October 2022. The main outcome measures included operation time, Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA), visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), total complications, and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration).

RESULTS

A total of 26 studies were included. The main results of this meta-analysis showed lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex had shorter operation time (mean difference [MD] -50.77 min, 95% CI -57.24 to -44.30, P < 0.00001), less intraoperative blood loss (MD -122.21 mL, 95% CI -129.68 to -94.74, P < 0.00001), and shorter hospital stays (MD -3.21 days, 95% CI -4.04 to -2.37, P < 0.00001). What's more, the JOA score and ODI score were higher in the Coflex group during early follow-up. Yet, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with the extension of follow-up time. Moreover, the Coflex group had a lower VAS score than fusion treatment (P < 0.00001). Finally, the Coflex group had lower total complications rate (P = 0.03), lower ASD rate (P = 0.001), and higher range of motion (P < 0.00001), but there was no significant difference in reoperation rate and internal fixation problems rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex is superior to posterior lumbar fusion in early follow-up. However, considering that the dynamic stabilization device group also has its limitations, these findings need to be further verified by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample randomized controlled trials.

Efficacy and safety of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for distal humerus fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to summarize available evidence of anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for patients with distal humerus fractures.

Materials and Methods

The databases were searched from PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database up to June 2022. The clinical outcome included operation time, fracture healing time, hospital stays, elbow joint function, and ulnar neuritis rate. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration).

Results

A total of 17 studies were included (8 RCTs and 9 retrospective studies), and 1280 patients were analyzed. The results of this meta-analysis showed anterior transposition group had longer operation time (MD = 20.35 min, 95%CI: 12.56-28.14, P < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in fracture healing time (SMD = -0.50, 95%CI: -1.50-0.50, P = 0.33), hospital stays (MD = -1.23 days, 95%CI: -2.72--0.27, P = 0.11), blood loss (MD = 2.66 ml, 95%CI: -2.45-7.76, P = 0.31), and ulnar neuritis rate (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 0.63-2.42, P = 0.54) between two groups. Finally, elbow joint motion, elbow joint function, fracture nonunion, and post-operative infection (P > 0.05) between two groups were not significantly statistic difference.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis showed that anterior transposition group is not superior to non-transposition group for patients with distal humerus fractures without ulnar nerve injury. On the contrary, non-transposition group have shorter operation time than that of anterior transposition group. Non-transposition group did not increase the post-operative ulnar neuritis rate. Therefore, both anterior transposition group and non- transposition group are the treatment options for patients with distal humerus fractures without ulnar nerve injury. Besides, these findings need to be further verified by multi-center, double-blind, and large sample RCTs.

Urolithin A alleviates neuropathic pain and activates mitophagy

Neuropathic pain (NP) occurs frequently in the general population and has a negative impact on the quality of life. There is no effective therapy available yet owing to the complex pathophysiology of NP. In our previous study, we found that urolithin A (UA), a naturally occurring microflora-derived metabolite, could relieve NP in mice by inhibiting the activation of microglia and release of inflammation factors. Here in this study, we sought to investigate whether mitophagy would be activated when UA alleviated NP in mice. We showed that the autophagy flow was blocked in the spinal dorsal horn of the chronic constriction injury (CCI) mice when the most obvious pain behavior occurs. Intraperitoneal injection of UA markedly activated the mitophagy mediated by PTEN-induced kinase 1/Parkin, promoted mitobiogenesis in both neurons and microglia, and alleviated NP in the CCI mice. In summary, our data suggest that UA alleviates NP in mice and meanwhile induces mitophagy activation, which highlights a therapeutic potential of UA in the treatment of NP.

[Characteristics and significance of outer retinal thickness changes in reticular macular disease]

Objective: To study the characteristics and significance of changes in the thickness of the outer retinal layer (ORL) outside the macula in patients with reticular macular disease (RMD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The clinical data of patients who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from February to September 2019 were retrospectively collected. Thirty-one patients with at least one eye (54 eyes in total) diagnosed with early/mid-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were consecutively included in the AMD group, and 33 patients with at least one eye (64 eyes in total) showing subretinal wart-like deposits on optical coherence tomography images were consecutively included in the RMD group. Thirty-two volunteers aged between 50 to 90 years with a normal fundus in both eyes (64 eyes in total) were consecutively included in the healthy control (HC) group. Frequency domain optical coherence tomography was applied to examine and analyze the thickness features of the ORL, inner retinal layer and choroid at the macular fovea (F), 2 mm of the temporal edge (T), the nasal edge (N), the superior edge (S) and inferior edge (I) of the macular fovea in each group. The correlations of the thickness of ORL with the choroidal thickness and the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer in patients with RMD were also analyzed. Results: The thickness of ORL at the F, T, S and I sites in the RMD group was significantly thinner than that in the AMD and HC groups. The difference was most obvious at the F site [(90.27±8.93), (98.04±11.7) and (97.19±7.02)μm] in the RMD, AMD and HC groups, respectively; all P<0.01). In the logistic regression model with independent variables of the ORL thickness at the macular F site, gender and age, there was a significant association between the thickness of ORL at the F site and the incidence of RMD (odds ratio=0.926, P<0.05). The ORL and choroid in the eyes of patients with RMD were significantly thinner at the F site [(90.27±8.93) and (163.21±72.43) μm, respectively; both P<0.01] compared with the AMD [(98.04±11.7) and (235.34±64.15) μm, respectively] and HC [(97.19±7.02) and (240.08±62.27) μm, respectively] groups. However, the ORL and choroidal thickness did not show significant and strong linear correlations at multiple sites. In contrast, there was a significant linear correlation between the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer and the thickness of ORL at the F, T and S sites in patients with RMD (r=0.487, 0.722, 0.467, respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusions: The thickness of ORL outside the macula of eyes with RMD is thinner than that of healthy eyes and eyes with early/mid-stage AMD. The thinning of ORL outside the macula is related to the decrease in the blood flow density of the choriocapillaris layer in patients with RMD.

Correlation of synovial tissue protein abundance with menopause in osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common articular disorder. Epidemiologic surveys show a higher prevalence of OA in women than men and that morbidity is higher during menopause. We aimed to explore whether menopause influences the clinical recovery of a knee joint following OA and injury, and identify associated mechanisms by analyzing the proteomic profile of synovial tissue (ST) samples.

METHODS

Routine blood examination and hormone level tests were conducted before surgery. ST samples from eight participants were collected intraoperatively for proteomic analysis. One day before and one month after the surgery, we assessed various aspects of function in the affected knee including the with Visual Analog Score (VAS), Lysholm, The Western Ontario, and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. The relationships between proteomic data, estrogen levels, and affected knee function were compared and analyzed. This was a retrospective study.

RESULT

Menopause was associated with the clinical outcomes of knee OA and knee injuries. ST proteomic data identified that 80 proteins in premenopausal OA females were significantly different from menopausal OA females. In addition, 100 proteins were significantly different between premenopausal OA females and premenopausal injured females.

CONCLUSIONS

Age and menopause showed a positive correlation with the protein profile of ST from OA or knee injury female patients, indicating that the protein components might be affected by menopause. Postoperative clinical outcomes were affected by menopause. We conclude that menopause may, in part, regulate knee joint function by altering ST protein expression.

Demirjian method and Willems method to study the dental age of adolescents in Shanghai before and after 10 years

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to assess the validity of whether the difference in dental age between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 is affected by environmental factors such as environmental pollution, floating population, and dietary habits. Demirjian and Willems dental age estimation methods were conducted for a Han population of children aged 8 to 14 in Shanghai, China. A total of 1,259 digital panorama radiographs of children aged 8.00-14.99 was estimated. All digital panorama radiographs were estimated using the Demirjian and Willems methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both 2009 to 2011 and 2021 were statistically analyzed by paired t-tests. The results show that the Demirjian method overestimates 2009 to 2011 and underestimates 2021 than children's chronological age. According to the Willms method, males are overestimated and females are underestimated from 2009 to 2011, and both genders were underestimated in 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the difference in dental age between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 was statistically significant. Factors such as environment and dietary habits have been found to be affected by dental development. However, there are disputes among some researchers about the exact factors, so it is suggested to further study the effects of environmental factors on tooth development.

[Urinary retinol binding protein and β2-microglobulin were associated with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and renal function in hospitalized diabetic patients]

Objective: To explore the associations of urinary retinol binding protein (RBP) and β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and renal function in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 1 030 Chinese patients with T2DM were included in this study. The subjects were divided into the UACR normal group (<30 mg/g), microalbuminuria group (30-300 mg/g) and macroalbuminuria group (>300 mg/g). Patients with normal UACR were further divided into two groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): the eGFR low group (<90 ml·min^-1·1.73m^-2) and the normal eGFR group (≥90 ml·min^-1·1.73m^-2). Urine RBP and β₂-MG levels among the groups were compared. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to evaluate risk factors of urine RBP and β₂-MG. Results: In all patients (n=1 030), urine RBP and β₂-MG increased gradually with the increase of UACR across the three groups, the proportions of abnormal urine RBP (>0.7 mg/L) and β₂-MG (>370 μg/L) in these groups were 3.8%, 8.5%, 39.0% (P<0.001), and 12.9%, 26.7%, 46.8% (P<0.001), respectively. In the UACR normal group (n=788), 12.2% of the patients were with eGFR<90 ml·min^-1·1.73m^-2. The proportion of abnormal β₂-MG (>370 μg/L) was higher in the eGFR low group than that in the eGFR normal group (29.2% vs. 10.7%, P<0.001). Multivariate linear stepwise regression analyses were performed using natural logarithm of urine RBP or β₂-MG as dependent variable, and showed that urine RBP was independently associated with UACR (β=0.0005, P<0.001), serum creatinine (β=0.006, P<0.001) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (β=0.050, P=0.001), and β₂-MG was independently correlated with UACR (β=0.000 4, P<0.001), serum creatinine (β=0.011, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (β=0.005, P=0.031) and fasting blood-glucose (β=0.027, P=0.046). Conclusions: Urine RBP and β₂-MG are positively associated with high UACR and impaired renal function in T2DM patients, and these changes could occur before UACR and eGFR turned out to be abnormal. It is recommended that urine RBP and β₂-MG be detected as early as possible to identify diabetic kidney disease in patients with normal UACR and eGFR.

Thermo-Responsive Shape Memory Behavior of Methyl Vinyl Silicone Rubber/Olefin Block Copolymer Blends via Co-Crosslinking

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are developed by blending and cross-linking polymers which include crystalline domains and cross-linked networks. In this paper, we describe the morphology, thermal and shape memory behavior of methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVMQ)/olefin block copolymer (OBC) blends prepared by a melt-blending and chemical cross-linking method. MVMQ without crystalline domains could not hold its temporary shape. After introducing the OBC, the obtained blends exhibited excellent dual shape memory properties. The cross-linking networks of MVMQ acted as reversible domains, while crystalline regions of OBC worked as fixed domains. When the blending ratio of MVMQ/OBC was 50/ 50, the blend had both a high shape fixity ratio and shape recovery ratio.

Orbital competition of Mn3+ and V3+ ions in Mn1+x V2-x O4

The structural and magnetic properties of Mn1+x V2-x O4 (0 < x ⩽ 1) have been investigated by the heat capacity, magnetization, x-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction measurements, and a phase diagram of temperature versus composition was built up. For x ⩽ 0.3, a cubic-to-tetragonal (c > a) phase transition was observed. For x > 0.3, the system maintained the tetragonal lattice. Although the collinear and noncollinear magnetic transitions of V3+ ions were obtained in all compositions, the canting angles between the V3+ ions decreased with Mn3+-doping, and the ordering of the Mn3+ ions was only observed as x > 0.4. In order to study the dynamics of the ground state, the first principles simulation was applied to analyze not only the orbital effects of Mn2+, Mn3+, and V3+ ions, but also the related exchange energies.

Biology and applications of Clonostachys rosea

Clonostachys rosea is a promising saprophytic filamentous fungus that belongs to phylum Ascomycota. Clonostachys rosea is widespread around the world and exists in many kinds of habitats, with the highest frequency in soil. As an excellent mycoparasite, C. rosea exhibits strong biological control ability against numerous fungal plant pathogens, nematodes and insects. These behaviours are based on the activation of multiple mechanisms such as secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes, production of antifungal secondary metabolites and induction of plant defence systems. Besides having significant biocontrol activity, C. rosea also functions in the biodegradation of plastic waste, biotransformation of bioactive compounds, as a bioenergy sources and in fermentation. This mini review summarizes information about the biology and various applications of C. rosea and expands on its possible uses.

[Spectomycin B1 induces VEGFR2 de-SUMO modification to inhibit angiogenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Objective:To explore the new mechanism of spectomycin B1 in inhibiting angiogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to provide a theoretical basis for targeted gene therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Method:Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 cells were divided into two groups, the control group and spectomycin B1 group. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of small ubiquitin-related modified protein（SUMO） 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2（VEGFR2）. The angiogenesis assay was used to detect the angiogenic ability of CNE1 cells, and the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-bearing mice was established, spectomycin B1 was administered, tumor volume and weight were measured, and protein expression of CD31 was detected by immunohistochemistry and microvessel density was compared. Result:Spectomycin B1 could reduce deSUMOylation of VEGFR2 protein by 4.05 times, significantly reduce the angiogenic ability of CNE1 cells, and increase the apoptosis rate by 20.68%. In the tumor-bearing mouse model, spectomycin B1 treatment could inhibit subcutaneous tumor growth rate and weight, and the blood vessel density decreased by 40.04%. Conclusion:Spectomycin B1 can inhibit neovascularization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inducing deSUMOylation of VEGFR2 protein.

Chronic peripheral ghrelin injection exerts antifibrotic effects by increasing growth differentiation factor 15 in rat hearts with myocardial fibrosis induced by isoproterenol

This study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of ghrelin in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial fibrosis and the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to control, ISO, and ISO + ghrelin groups. ISO (2 mg/kg per day, subcutaneous) or vehicle was administered once daily for 7 days, then ghrelin (100 microg/kg per day, subcutaneous) was administered once daily for the next 3 weeks. Ghrelin treatment greatly improved the cardiac function of ISO-treated rats. Ghrelin also decreased plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and ratios of heart weight to body weight and left ventricular weight to body weight. Ghrelin significantly reduced myocardial collagen area and hydroxyproline content, accompanied by decreased mRNA levels of collagen type I and III. Furthermore, ghrelin increased plasma level of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and GDF15 mRNA and protein levels in heart tissues, which were significantly decreased with ISO alone. The phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 and GSK-3beta at Ser9 was decreased with ISO, and ghrelin significantly reversed the downregulation of p-Akt and p-GSK-3beta. Mediated by GDF15, ghrelin could attenuate ISO-induced myocardial fibrosis via Akt-GSK-3beta signaling.

Genetic determinates for conjugated linolenic acid production in Lactobacillus plantarum ZS2058

AIMS

To investigate the genetic determinates for conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) production in Lactobacillus plantarum ZS2058, a high CLNA producer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After culturing with α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the medium, the fatty acid compositions of supernatant fluid and cell pellets were analysed via GC-MS. cis9,trans11,cis15-CLNA was identified to be the predominant isomer. And during CLNA production, 10-hydroxy-cis12-cis15-octadecenoic acid (10-HOEA) and 10-oxo-cis12-cis15-octadecenoic acid (10-OXOA) were accumulated. The E. coli recombinants harbouring genes encoding myosin-cross-reactive antigen (MCRA), short-chain dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase (DH) and acetoacetate decarboxylase (DC), respectively, were analysed for their roles in CLNA production. The results indicated that MCRA converted ALA to 10-HOEA, following converted to 10-OXOA by DH. While with the combination of three recombinants, ALA could be transformed into CLNA plus 10-HOEA and 10-OXOA. When the three genes were deleted, none of the L. plantarum ZS2058 knockout mutants could produce any CLNA, after complementation, and all the complementary mutants recovered the CLNA-production ability at similar levels as the wild strain.

CONCLUSIONS

Lactobacillus plantarum ZS2058 produced CLNA from ALA with 10-HOEA and 10-OXOA as intermediates. The triple-component isomerase of MCRA, DH and DC was the unique genetic determinant for CLNA generation.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The current results firstly provided conclusive evidence that the triple-component isomerase complex was shared by both CLA and CLNA production in lactobacilli.

Identification and comparative profiling of gonadal microRNAs in the adult pigeon (Columba livia)

1. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that play crucial roles in gene expression. However, the comparative profiling of testicular and ovarian microRNAs in birds are rarely reported, particularly in pigeon.2. In this study, Illumina next-generation sequencing technology was used to sequence miRNA libraries of the gonads from six healthy adult utility pigeons. A total of 344 conserved known miRNAs and 32 novel putative miRNAs candidates were detected. Compared with those of ovaries, 130 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in the testes. Among them, 70 miRNAs showed down-regulation in the ovaries, while another 60 miRNAs were up-regulated.3. Combining the results of the expression of target gene measurements and pathway enrichment analyses, it was revealed that some DEmiRNAs from the gonad samples involved in sexual differentiation and development (such as cli-miR-210-3p and cli-miR-214-3p) could down-regulate AR (androgen receptor). Cli-miR-181b-5p, cli-miR-9622-3p and cli-miR-145-5p were highly expressed in both the ovaries and testes, which could co-target HOXC9, and were related to regulation of primary metabolic processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEmiRNAs may play biological and sex-related roles in pigeon gonads.4. The expression profiles of testicular and ovarian miRNA in adult pigeon gonads are presented for the first time, and the findings may contribute to a better understanding of gonadal expression in poultry.

[Hypoxia increases chemotherapy resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma via inducing CDK6 deSUMOylation]

Objective: To understand the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma under hypoxic conditions through the perspective of protein SUMOylation modification. Methods: Cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)) was used to establish the hypoxic model of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 cells. Then, the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression level of small ubiquitin-related modifier(SUMO) and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) proteins were detected by western blotting. MTT assay was used to determine the median lethal dose (IC(50)) of cancer cells against cisplatin, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. Results: The cell cycle of CNE1 induced by hypoxia was arrested in G0/G1 phase.The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression level of CDK6 in CNE1 cells was lower than that in the control group (0.83±0.25 vs. 0.43±0.21, t=14.67, P=0.003). The protein level of conjugated SUMO1 was significantly lower than that in the control group (2.69±0.48 vs. 1.38±0.31, t=17.22, P=0.001), while the level of free SUMO1 protein was significantly higher than that in the control group (2.01±0.43 vs. 2.60±0.59, t=15.45, P=0.002).The LC50 of CNE1 cells in the control group was significantly lower than that in the hypoxic group (29.44 μg/ml vs. 97.72 μg/ml, t=12.79, P=0.001). After CNE1 cells received 50 μg/ml cisplatin for 48 h, the LDH content in the supernatant of the control group was significantly higher than that in the hypoxic group ((541.49±64.59) ng/ml vs. (234.67±41.03) ng/ml, t=11.94, P=0.007)). The apoptosis rate of CNE1 cells in the control group was significantly higher than that in the hypoxic group ((76.64±5.37)% vs. (32.84±4.77) ng/ml, t=8.49, P=0.003)). Conclusion: Hypoxia can dissociate the covalent modification of CDK6 and SUMO1, inhibit cell cycle and increase the chemotherapy resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Optimization of Growth Temperature of β-Ga₂O₃ Thin Films for Solar-Blind Photodetectors

Monoclinic gallium oxide thin films were deposited on c-plane sapphire substrates at various substrate temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 700 °C by radio frequency magnetron sputtering technology. X-ray diffraction results showed that the deposited β-Ga2O3 films were oriented at ( 2 ¯ 01) direction. As the substrate temperature increased, the intensity of β-Ga2O3 peaks increased and bandgap decreased accordingly. Metal/semiconductor/metal structured solar-blind photodetectors based on β-Ga2O3 thin films growing at various substrate temperatures had been fabricated. The growth temperatures of thin films had no obvious influence on dark current and response to 365 nm light illuminations. The photoelectric properties such as responsivity and response speed of the thin films to 254 nm light illuminations were growth temperature dependent. At an applied bias of 50 V, the photodetectors prepared with 450 °C grown film had the highest responsivity of 2.18 A/W, and the photodetectors prepared with 700 °C grown film had the shortest rising time of 0.95 s under 254 nm light illuminations.

Effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release from polylactide-poly (ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PELA) microcapsule-based scaffolds on bone

Multiple growth factors can be administered to mimic the natural process of bone healing in bone tissue engineering. We investigated the effects of sequential release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from polylactide-poly (ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PELA) microcapsule-based scaffolds on bone regeneration. To improve the double emulsion/solvent evaporation technique, VEGF was encapsulated in PELA microcapsules, to which BMP-2 was attached. The scaffold (BMP-2/PELA/VEGF) was then fused to these microcapsules using the dichloromethane vapor method. The bioactivity of the released BMP-2 and VEGF was then quantified in rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs). Immunoblotting analysis showed that BMP-2/PELA/VEG promoted the differentiation of rMSCs into osteoblasts via the MAPK and Wnt pathways. Osteoblast differentiation was assessed through alkaline phosphatase expression. When compared with simple BMP-2 plus VEGF group and pure PELA group, osteoblast differentiation in BMP-2/PELA/VEGF group significantly increased. An MTT assay indicated that BMP-2-loaded PELA scaffolds had no adverse effects on cell activity. BMP-2/PELA/VEG promoted the differentiation of rMSCs into osteoblast via the ERK1/2 and Wnt pathways. Our findings indicate that the sequential release of BMP-2 and VEGF from PELA microcapsule-based scaffolds is a promising approach for the treatment of bone defects.

Altered expression of BDNF, BDNF pro-peptide and their precursor proBDNF in brain and liver tissues from psychiatric disorders: rethinking the brain-liver axis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The precursor proBDNF is converted to mature BDNF and BDNF pro-peptide, the N-terminal fragment of proBDNF; however, the precise function of these proteins in psychiatric disorders is unknown. We sought to determine whether expression of these proteins is altered in the brain and peripheral tissues from patients with psychiatric disorders. We measured protein expression of proBDNF, mature BDNF and BDNF pro-peptide in the parietal cortex, cerebellum, liver and spleen from control, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) groups. The levels of mature BDNF in the parietal cortex from MDD, SZ and BD groups were significantly lower than the control group, whereas the levels of BDNF pro-peptide in this area were significantly higher than controls. In contrast, the levels of proBDNF and BDNF pro-peptide in the cerebellum of MDD, SZ and BD groups were significantly lower than controls. Moreover, the levels of mature BDNF from the livers of MDD, SZ and BD groups were significantly higher than the control group. The levels of mature BDNF in the spleen did not differ among the four groups. Interestingly, there was a negative correlation between mature BDNF in the parietal cortex and mature BDNF in the liver in all the subjects. These findings suggest that abnormalities in the production of mature BDNF and BDNF pro-peptide in the brain and liver might have a role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, indicating a brain-liver axis in psychiatric disorders.

Multidisciplinary Cooperation in a Simultaneous Combined Liver and Kidney Transplantation Patient of Primary Hyperoxaluria 1

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 is an autosomal recessive hereditary glyoxylate metabolism disorder characterized by excessive production of oxalate, caused by the deficiency of liver specific peroxisomal enzyme: alanineglyoxylate aminotransferase. For patients with end-stage renal disease, combined liver and kidney transplantation was needed. This report describes one patient, with a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease and primary hyperoxaluria 1 confirmed by PCR and direct sequencing with genomic DNA, received the simultaneous combined liver and kidney transplantation after seven months' waiting. However, there were several complications observed post surgery, such as protracted bleeding, common bile duct anastomotic stenosis, biliary calculi and recurrence of urolithiasis. All these were well solved by relevant department, and finally a satisfactory outcome was achieved. Multidisciplinary cooperation plays an important role on the PH1 patient management, especially when multiple complications are encountered.

Current Status of Substance Abuse in East Asia and Therapeutic Prospects

The abuse of drugs, including opioids and stimulants, is a major public health problem worldwide, including in East Asia. Nonetheless, there are no pharmacological treatments for many psychiatric or neurological symptoms associated with that abuse. Abused drugs exert several detrimental effects on structural plasticity in brain regions associated with reward circuits. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie this structural plasticity in brain neurons will aid in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for substance abuse. In this review, we discuss recent topics in substance abuse in East Asia and the therapeutic drugs available. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic signalling pathways involved in long-term changes to structural plasticity in the brain after repeated administration of opioids and stimulants.

Multicentre study to evaluate the clinical effects of laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion in combination with myomectomy to treat symptomatic uterine leiomyomas

OBJECTIVE

Uterine artery occlusion is often used to treat symptomatic uterine myomas, as this is a minimally invasive approach. However, alternative methods for uterus-sparing therapy are in development. This study aimed to compare the clinical effects of laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion (LUAO) in combination with laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) with LM alone for the management of symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

STUDY DESIGN

This multicentre study was a retrospective controlled investigation. In total, 618 patients with symptomatic uterine myomas from six hospitals in Eastern China underwent LUAO+LM or LM alone between June 2011 and December 2012. Operative time, blood loss, transfusion, highest temperature, postoperative hospital stay, complications and follow-up results were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Complete clinical data were available for 504 patients. Among these, 324 patients underwent LUAO+LM and 180 patients underwent LM alone. Mean±standard deviation blood loss, transfusion, highest peri-operative temperature and duration of hospital stay were significantly lower in the LUAO+LM group compared with the LM group (83.61±53.70ml vs 109±58.43ml, 1.85% vs 6.11%, 37.6±0.40°C vs 37.9±0.45°C and 5.11±0.62 days vs 6.10±0.83 days, respectively). The mean duration of follow-up was 38.97±5.82 months in the LUAO+LM group and 37.30±2.25 months in the LM group (p>0.05). The relief of abnormal uterine bleeding, reduction of uterine volume and recurrence of myomas were more remarkable in the LUAO+LM group than the LM group (97.22% vs 83.75%, 62.42% vs 51.83% and 3.47% vs 10.63%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

LUAO in combination with LM was associated with higher surgical quality, greater relief of abnormal symptoms and less recurrence of myomas compared with LM alone. LUAO in combination with LM is recommended for women with symptomatic uterine myomas who wish to preserve their uterus.

Theranostic body fluid cleansing: rationally designed magnetic particles enable capturing and detection of bacterial pathogens

We show theoretical and experimental considerations on bacteria capturing and enrichment via magnetic separation enabling integrated diagnosis and treatment of blood stream infections.

Direct visualization of the novel pathogen, Spiroplasma eriocheiris, in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Spiroplasma eriocheiris is the first spiroplasma strain known to be pathogenic to freshwater crustaceans. It has caused considerable economic losses both in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and in some other crustaceans. The monitoring of the pathogen in crustacean populations and study of its behaviour in the laboratory require the development of reliable diagnostic tools. In this article, we improved microscopic identification of S. eriocheiris by combining in situ hybridization with specific fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes. The established fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allowed simultaneous visualization, identification and localization of S. eriocheiris in the tissues of diseased crayfish P. clarkii and exhibited low background autofluorescence and ideal signal-to-noise ratio. With the advantages of better tissue penetration, potentially more specific and stable, we designed three species-specific oligonucleotide probes utilizing the sequences of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions (ISRs) of S. eriocheiris. Positive hybridization signals were visualized in haemocytes and connective tissues of hepatopancreas, cardiac muscle and gill from diseased crayfish. This unique distribution pattern matched the pathological changes when diagnosed by H&E staining and indicated that S. eriocheiris probably spread throughout the tissues in P. clarkii by hemokinesis. This assay will facilitate our understanding of the pathogenesis of S. eriocheiris and enhance the early diagnosis of the novel pathogen.

Abstract P3-05-01: Accurate assessment of HER2 status in “triple-negative” breast cancer requires both IHC and FISH testing

Introduction: Triple-negative invasive breast carcinoma (TNBC) does not over-express estrogen, progesterone receptors and HER2/neu. Approximately 15% breast cancers are “triple negative” and have poor overall survival with no targeted therapeutic options. HER2 positive patients also have a poor prognosis which is markedly improved with anti-HER2 therapy. ASCO/CAP guidelines have made substantial improvement in biomarker assessment by standardizing pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic variables. Since 2009, we have performed HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis in addition to immunohistochemistry (IHC) on all triple negative patients in an effort to accurately assess HER2 status.

Materials and Methods: Pathology database at our institute was queried for triple negative breast cancer cases 2009-2012. 175 cases were identified with ER(SP1; Ventana)&lt; = 1%, PR(1E2; Ventana)&lt; = 1% and HER2 IHC (HercepTest® DAKO 2009-2011; 4B5-Ventana- 2012)&lt; = 1+. FISH for Her2 was also performed on these cases. HER2/CEP17&gt; = 2 was classified as HER2 positive. FISH for HER2 amplification was performed using the FDA-approved HER2 DNA Probe Kit (Vysis, Inc.). The hybridization results were recorded and analyzed by BioView Duet system (Allegro Plus Automated Scanner) with HER2 application software (BV-HER2-AF). Fisher's exact test was performed to correlate HER2 amplification with clinico-pathological parameters.

Results: 175 breast cancers were classified as “triple-negative” by IHC between 2009-2012. The patients’ age ranged from 25 to 93 years old (mean = 58); 109 were Caucasian (62%), 33 African American (19%), 9 Asian (5%) and 4 Hispanic (2%). The majority of the cases (152, 86%) were invasive ductal carcinoma. The rest include 9 cases of medullary carcinoma, 3 cases of metaplastic carcinoma, 3 cases of apocrine carcinoma, 2 cases of papillary carcinoma and 2 cases of invasive lobular carcinoma. 34 had regional lymph node (axillary) metastasis (19%) and 9 had distant metastasis (5%).

23 of the 175 “triple-negative” cases (13%) showed HER2 amplification by HER2 FISH analysis (HER2/CEP17&gt; = 2). 14.9% (20/134) TNBC cases were FISH positive 2009-11 (HercepTest®, DAKO) and 7.3% (3/41) cases were FISH positive in 2012 (4B5, Ventana). 14 of the 23 patients were Caucasian (61%), 4 African American (17%), 2 Asian and 1 Hispanic. 20 of the 23 cases (87%) had invasive ductal carcinoma, of which 18 (78%) were poorly differentiated. 8 of the 23 cases (35%) had lymph node metastasis and 1 case had distant metastasis. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the HER2 gene amplification and clinicopathological factors analyzed, including race (P = 1), age (P = 1), tumor size (P = 0.6), pathologic stage (P = 0.6), lymph node status (P = 0.08), and Ki-67 index (P = 0.8 with 20% cutoff; P = 0.1 with 70% cutoff).

Conclusion: In this cohort, 13% TNBC were re-classified as HER2 positive by performing HER2 FISH test in addition to immunohistochemistry analysis. Rate of FISH positivity in TNBC declined over the four year study period. No clinicopathological variables are correlated with HER2 FISH amplification. These data suggest that dual testing of HER2 should be considered routinely in TNBC for accurate classification to guide therapy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-05-01.

Rs290487 of TCF7L2 gene is not associated with type 2 diabetes in Chinese Han population: a case control study and meta-analysis

AIMS

rs290487 in TCF7L2 was originally identified to be associated with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan Chinese population. However, discrepancies were noted in subsequent replicated studies. So the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of rs290487 in TCF7L2 on genetic susceptibility of type 2 diabetes in a large sample of Chinese -population.

RESULTS

In meta analysis of 9 studies with 9 422 cases and 8 585 control subjects, no association was found between rs290487 and type 2 diabetes in China (OR=1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-1.17, p=0.19). In case control study, rs290487 was genotyped in 5 151 diabetic patients and 4 650 non-diabetic controls. After adjusting for sex, age and BMI, and using an additive genetic model, logistic regression analysis revealed no association between rs290487 and type 2 diabetes (OR=1.015, 95%CI 0.949-1.087, p=0.662). No association was found between rs290487 and type 2 diabetes in northern and southern Chinese population separately.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we have found no association between rs290487 and type 2 diabetes in Chinese population. This SNP is unlikely an influential genetic variant with type 2 diabetes in Chinese population.

Lower incidence and severity of tomato virus in elevated CO(2) is accompanied by modulated plant induced defence in tomato

Elevation in atmospheric CO(2) concentration broadly affects plant phenology and physiology, and these effects may alter the performance of plant viruses. The effects of elevated CO(2) on the susceptibility of tomato plants to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were examined for two successive years in open top chambers (OTC) in the field. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that elevated CO(2) would reduce the incidence and severity of TYLCV on tomato by altering plant defence strategies. Our results showed that elevated CO(2) decreased TYLCV disease incidence (by 14.6% in 2009 and 11.8% in 2010) and decreased disease severity (by 20.0% in 2009 and 10.4% in 2010). Elevated CO(2) also decreased the level of TYLCV coat protein in tomato leaves. Regardless of virus infection, elevated CO(2) increased plant height and aboveground biomass. Additionally, elevated CO(2) increased the leaf C:N ratio of tomato, but decreased soluble protein content in leaves. Notably, elevated CO(2) increased the salicylic acid (SA) level in uninfected and infected plants. In contrast, elevated CO(2) reduced jasmonic acid (JA) in uninfected plants while it increased JA and abscisic acid (ABA) in virus-infected plants. Furthermore, combined exogenous SA and JA application enhanced resistance to TYLCV more than application of either SA or JA alone. Our results suggest that the modulated antagonistic relationship between SA and JA under elevated CO(2) makes a great contribution to increased tomato resistance to TYLCV, and the predicted increases in tomato productivity may be enhanced by reduced plant virus susceptibility under projected rising CO(2) conditions.