[Research progress in methylation modification in tooth root development]

Methylation modification is one of the most common epigenetic modification regulation in eukaryotes, including histone methylation, DNA methylation, RNA methylation, etc., which plays an important regulatory role in physiological processes and pathologic occurrence and development. Tooth root development is carried out by both epithelial and mesenchymal cells and involves a variety of cell-molecular interactions. In recent years, a large number of studies have found that methylation plays a key role in the regulation of tooth root development and expands the mechanism network of tooth root development. In this paper, we review the role and mechanism of methylation modification during root development.

Measurements of All-Particle Energy Spectrum and Mean Logarithmic Mass of Cosmic Rays from 0.3 to 30 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A

We present the measurements of all-particle energy spectrum and mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays in the energy range of 0.3-30 PeV using data collected from LHAASO-KM2A between September 2021 and December 2022, which is based on a nearly composition-independent energy reconstruction method, achieving unprecedented accuracy. Our analysis reveals the position of the knee at 3.67±0.05±0.15  PeV. Below the knee, the spectral index is found to be -2.7413±0.0004±0.0050, while above the knee, it is -3.128±0.005±0.027, with the sharpness of the transition measured with a statistical error of 2%. The mean logarithmic mass of cosmic rays is almost heavier than helium in the whole measured energy range. It decreases from 1.7 at 0.3 PeV to 1.3 at 3 PeV, representing a 24% decline following a power law with an index of -0.1200±0.0003±0.0341. This is equivalent to an increase in abundance of light components. Above the knee, the mean logarithmic mass exhibits a power law trend towards heavier components, which is reversal to the behavior observed in the all-particle energy spectrum. Additionally, the knee position and the change in power-law index are approximately the same. These findings suggest that the knee observed in the all-particle spectrum corresponds to the knee of the light component, rather than the medium-heavy components.

[Comparative study of percutaneous transfacet screw and pedicle screw in oblique lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of single-level lumbar spinal stenosis]

Objective: To conduct a comparative study of radiological and clinical outcomes between percutaneous transfacet screw (TFS) and pedicle screw (BPS) in oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent OLIF with TFS or BPS for the treatment of single-level lumbar spinal stenosis at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Radiological parameters and clinical indicators were compared between the two groups. Radiological parameters included preoperative, immediate postoperative (within 5 days), and 1-year postoperative measurements of disc height and segmental lordosis angle, as well as interbody fusion status at 1 year postoperatively. Clinical indicators included operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, complications, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back pain, and leg pain before and 1 year after surgery. Results: Four male and 10 female patients with an average age of (61.0±11.2) years underwent OLIF with TFS, while 9 male and 12 female patients underwent OLIF with BPS, with a mean age of (60.9±6.7) years. There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative disc height between the TFS and BPS groups (P>0.05). The immediate postoperative disc height was (12.9±2.1) mm and it was (10.4±1.7) mm at 1-year follow-up in the TFS group; in the BPS group, it was (12.9±2.1) mm immediately postoperatively and (11.9±2.1) mm at 1-year follow-up; there was statistically significant difference between the two groups at 1-year follow-up (P=0.037). The segmental lordosis angle showed no significant differences within each group or between the two groups at preoperative, immediate postoperative, or 1-year postoperative follow-up (all P>0.05). At 1-year postoperative follow-up, the fusion rates was 92.9%(13/14) in the TFS group and 95.2%(20/21) in the BPS group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The TFS group had a significantly shorter operative time and less blood loss compared to the BPS group [(164.3±33.9) minutes vs (191.7±31.8) minutes and (74.3±46.9) ml vs (124.8±54.0) ml, respectively] (both P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in ODI and VAS scores at 1 year postoperatively compared to those preoperatively, but with no statistically significant difference was found between the groups (both P>0.05). Conclusions: OLIF with TFS fixation can effectively restore disc height and alleviate back and leg pain in patients with single-level lumbar spinal stenosis. Compared to the OLIF with BPS procedure, OLIF with TFS has shorter operative time and less blood loss.

Relationships among sporophytic and gametophytic traits of 27 subtropical montane moss species

PREMISE

Moss sporophytes differ strongly in size and biomass partitioning, potentially reflecting reproductive and dispersal strategies. Understanding how sporophyte traits are coordinated is essential for understanding moss functioning and evolution. This study aimed to answer: (1) how the size and proportions of the sporophyte differ between moss species with and without a prominent central strand in the seta, (2) how anatomical and morphological traits of the seta are related, and (3) how sporophytic biomass relates to gametophytic biomass and nutrient concentrations.

METHODS

We studied the relationships between seta anatomical and morphological traits, the biomass of seta, capsule, and gametophyte, and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations of 27 subtropical montane moss species.

RESULTS

(1) Moss species with a prominent central strand in the seta had larger setae and heavier capsules than those without a prominent strand. (2) With increasing seta length, setae became thicker and more rounded for both groups, while in species with a prominent central strand, the ratio of transport-cell area to epidermal area decreased. (3) In both groups, mosses with greater gametophytic biomass tended to have heavier sporophytes, but nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the gametophyte were unrelated to sporophytic traits.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights that the central strand in the seta may have an important functional role and affect the allometry of moss sporophytes. The coordinated variations in sporophyte morphological and anatomical traits follow basic biomechanical principles of cylinder-like structures, and these traits relate only weakly to the gametophytic nutrient concentrations. Research on moss sporophyte functional traits and their relationships to gametophytes is still in its infancy but could provide important insights into their adaptative strategies.

Measurement of Ultra-High-Energy Diffuse Gamma-Ray Emission of the Galactic Plane from 10 TeV to 1 PeV with LHAASO-KM2A

The diffuse Galactic γ-ray emission, mainly produced via interactions between cosmic rays and the interstellar medium and/or radiation field, is a very important probe of the distribution, propagation, and interaction of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. In this Letter, we report the measurements of diffuse γ rays from the Galactic plane between 10 TeV and 1 PeV energies, with the square kilometer array of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). Diffuse emissions from the inner (15°10  TeV). The energy spectrum in the inner Galaxy regions can be described by a power-law function with an index of -2.99±0.04, which is different from the curved spectrum as expected from hadronic interactions between locally measured cosmic rays and the line-of-sight integrated gas content. Furthermore, the measured flux is higher by a factor of ∼3 than the prediction. A similar spectrum with an index of -2.99±0.07 is found in the outer Galaxy region, and the absolute flux for 10≲E≲60  TeV is again higher than the prediction for hadronic cosmic ray interactions. The latitude distributions of the diffuse emission are consistent with the gas distribution, while the longitude distributions show clear deviation from the gas distribution. The LHAASO measurements imply that either additional emission sources exist or cosmic ray intensities have spatial variations.

Serum human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 extracellular domain, carcinoma embryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 combined detection in early diagnosis of breast cancer

The multi-markers combined detection can make up for the deficiency of single marker detection and significantly increase the positive detection rates of tumors. This study aimed to assess the performance of serum HER-2 extracellular domain (HER-2/neu ECD), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) in early screening and auxiliary diagnosis of breast cancer. The HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 serum levels were measured in 164 healthy volunteers, 111 patients with benign nodules (BN), 123 with early breast cancer (EBC), and 25 with advanced breast cancer. In distinguishing health and EBC, the sensitivity and specificity of joint detection of HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 were 96.75% and 96.95%, respectively; the accuracy was up to 96.19%, and the AUC was 0.994. In the cohort for distinguishing BN from EBC, serum HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 sensitivities were 77.03%, 75.27%, and 48.65%, respectively. Combined with three markers, the sensitivity was increased to 84.46%, the AUC was 0.834. All in all, through the combined detection of serum HER-2, CEA and CA15-3 levels in healthy volunteers, BN and EBC, our study found that this method can significantly improve the diagnosis level of breast cancer, suggesting that the three markers panel can be used as an effective tool to improve the early screening level, early diagnosis, and clinical intervention of breast cancer.

[Prognostic significance and immune cell infiltration analysis of differentially expressed genes in malignant pleural mesothelioma]

Objective: To explore and analyze differential expressed genes in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by bioinformatics method, and to study their prognostic value in MPM and their potential role in immunotherapy. Methods: In January 2022, the dataset GSE51024 was downloaded from the GEO database, and MPM (55 cases) and normal tissue (41 cases) samples were obtained. Using R software and HMDD and miRNet database, MPM-related differential genes were screened and co-expressed genes were identified. Co-expressed genes were enriched and functionally annotated, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed and key genes were identified using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. TRRUST and GEPIA databases were used to predict transcription factors of key genes and to analyze prognosis and survival. The correlation between key genes and the degree of infiltration of immune cells was analyzed using TIMER. Results: A total of 435 co-expressed genes were obtained, which were mainly concentrated in the extracellular matrix tissue and the signaling pathways of cell adhesion molecules. Combined with PPI and TRRUST database, seven key MPM prognostic genes were identified. Among them, cyclin 20 (CDC20) , cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1) , enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) , ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) , topoisomerase 2A (TOP2A) , ubiquitin like plant homeodomain and ring finger domain 1 (UHRF1) were significantly up-regulated in MPM, while cyclin A1 (CCNA1) was significantly down-regulated. The expressions of CCNA1, CDC20, CHEK1, EZH2, RRM2, TOP2A and UHRF1 genes were significantly associated with MPM overall survival (P<0.05) . The expressions of CDC20, CHEK1, EZH2, RRM2 and TOP2A genes were positively correlated with B cells and dendritic cells (P<0.05) , and negatively correlated with neutrophils (P<0.05) . Conclusion: CCNA1, CDC20, CHEK1, EZH2, RRM2, TOP2A and UHRF1 may be potential prognostic markers in MPM patients, and their expressions may be related to MPM tumor immunity.

A tera-electron volt afterglow from a narrow jet in an extremely bright gamma-ray burst

Some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have a tera-electron volt (TeV) afterglow, but the early onset of this has not been observed. We report observations with the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory of the bright GRB 221009A, which serendipitously occurred within the instrument field of view. More than 64,000 photons >0.2 TeV were detected within the first 3000 seconds. The TeV flux began several minutes after the GRB trigger, then rose to a peak about 10 seconds later. This was followed by a decay phase, which became more rapid ~650 seconds after the peak. We interpret the emission using a model of a relativistic jet with half-opening angle ~0.8°. This is consistent with the core of a structured jet and could explain the high isotropic energy of this GRB.

Mass Measurement of Upper fp-Shell N=Z-2 and N=Z-1 Nuclei and the Importance of Three-Nucleon Force along the N=Z Line

Using a novel method of isochronous mass spectrometry, the masses of ^{62}Ge, ^{64}As, ^{66}Se, and ^{70}Kr are measured for the first time, and the masses of ^{58}Zn, ^{61}Ga, ^{63}Ge, ^{65}As, ^{67}Se, ^{71}Kr, and ^{75}Sr are redetermined with improved accuracy. The new masses allow us to derive residual proton-neutron interactions (δV_{pn}) in the N=Z nuclei, which are found to decrease (increase) with increasing mass A for even-even (odd-odd) nuclei beyond Z=28. This bifurcation of δV_{pn} cannot be reproduced by the available mass models, nor is it consistent with expectations of a pseudo-SU(4) symmetry restoration in the fp shell. We performed ab initio calculations with a chiral three-nucleon force (3NF) included, which indicate the enhancement of the T=1 pn pairing over the T=0 pn pairing in this mass region, leading to the opposite evolving trends of δV_{pn} in even-even and odd-odd nuclei.

Identification of novel characteristic biomarkers and immune infiltration profile for the anaplastic thyroid cancer via machine learning algorithms

PURPOSE

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and lethal malignant cancer. In recent years, the application of molecular-driven targeted therapy and immunotherapy has markedly improved the prognosis of ATC. This study aimed to identify characteristic genes for ATC diagnosis and revealed the role of ATC characteristic genes in drug sensitivity and immune cell infiltration.

METHODS

We downloaded ATC RNA-sequencing data from the GEO database. Following the combination and normalization of the dataset, we first divided the combined datasets into the training cohort and the validation cohort. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ATC by differential expression analysis in the training cohort. We used two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) to identify ATC characteristic genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm was performed to calculate the abundance of various immune cells in ATC. Finally, we validated the expression of ATC characteristic genes by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in ATC cell lines and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 425 DEGs were identified in the training cohort, including 240 upregulated genes and 185 downregulated genes. Four ATC characteristic genes (ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3) were identified, and their diagnostic value was validated in the validation cohort (AUC in ROC analysis > 0.75). We established a practical gene expression-based nomogram to accurately predict the probability of ATC. We also found that ATC characteristic biomarkers are associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3 might serve as potential ATC diagnostic biomarkers and may be helpful for ATC molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

[Study on the related factors of antiviral treatment in previously reported hepatitis C patients based on the Andersen model]

Objective: To understand the basic characteristics of previously reported patients with hepatitis C and analyze the related factors affecting their antiviral treatment. Methods: A convenient sampling method was adopted. Patients who had been previously diagnosed with hepatitis C in the Wenshan Prefecture of Yunnan Province and Xuzhou City of Jiangsu Province were contacted by telephone for an interview study. The Andersen health service utilization behavior model and related literature were used to design the research framework for antiviral treatment in previously reported hepatitis C patients. A step-by-step multivariate regression analysis was used in previously reported hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral therapy. Results: A total of 483 hepatitis C patients, aged 51.73 ± 12.06 years, were investigated. The proportion of male, agricultural occupants who were registered permanent residents, farmers and migrant workers was 65.24%, 67.49%, and 58.18%, respectively. Han ethnicity (70.81%), married (77.02%), and junior high school and below educational level (82.61%) were the main ones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that married patients with hepatitis C (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.93-5.25, compared with unmarried, divorced, and widowed patients) with high school education or above (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.54-4.20, compared with patients with junior high school education or below) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment in the predisposition module. Patients with severe self-perceived hepatitis C in the need factor module (compared with patients with mild self-perceived disease, OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 2.09-5.40) were more likely to receive treatment. In the competency module, the family's per capita monthly income was more than 1,000 yuan (compared with patients with per capita monthly income below 1,000 yuan, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47), and the patients had a high level of awareness of hepatitis C knowledge (compared with patients with a low level of knowledge, OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.35), and the family members who knew the patient's infection status (compared with patients with an unknown infection status, OR = 4.59, 95% CI: 2.24-9.39) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment. Conclusion: Different income, educational, and marital statuses are related to antiviral treatment behavior in hepatitis C patients. Family support of hepatitis C patients receiving hepatitis C-related knowledge and their families knowing the infection status is more important in promoting the antiviral treatment of patients, suggesting that in the future, we should further strengthen the hepatitis C knowledge of hepatitis C patients, especially the family support of hepatitis C patients' families in treatment.

Constraints on Heavy Decaying Dark Matter from 570 Days of LHAASO Observations

The kilometer square array (KM2A) of the large high altitude air shower observatory (LHAASO) aims at surveying the northern γ-ray sky at energies above 10 TeV with unprecedented sensitivity. γ-ray observations have long been one of the most powerful tools for dark matter searches, as, e.g., high-energy γ rays could be produced by the decays of heavy dark matter particles. In this Letter, we present the first dark matter analysis with LHAASO-KM2A, using the first 340 days of data from 1/2-KM2A and 230 days of data from 3/4-KM2A. Several regions of interest are used to search for a signal and account for the residual cosmic-ray background after γ/hadron separation. We find no excess of dark matter signals, and thus place some of the strongest γ-ray constraints on the lifetime of heavy dark matter particles with mass between 10^{5} and 10^{9}  GeV. Our results with LHAASO are robust, and have important implications for dark matter interpretations of the diffuse astrophysical high-energy neutrino emission.

[A multicenter study on childhood Hodgkin lymphoma treated with HL-2013 regimen in China]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)-2013 regimen in the treatment of children with HL, and to investigate the prognostic factors of childhood HL. Methods: Clinical data of 145 children (aged ≤18 years) with newly diagnosed HL, treated with HL-2013 regimen in 8 tertiary referral centers for childhood cancer from August 2011 to April 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All the diagnosis were confirmed by histopathological morphology and immunohistochemical examination. The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were summarized, and the patients were divided into different groups according to clinical characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the comparison of survival rates between groups was performed with Log-rank test. Results: Of the 145 cases, there were 115 males and 30 females, the age at diagnosis was 7.9 (5.8, 10.6) years. Cervical lymph node enlargement (114 cases, 78.6%) was the common symptom of the disease, and 57 patients (39.3%) were accompanied by large masses. The most common pathological classification was mixed cell type (93 cases, 64.1%). According to the Ann Arbor staging system, there were 9 cases of stage Ⅰ, 62 cases of stage Ⅱ, 45 cases of stage Ⅲ, 29 cases of stage Ⅳ. According to the risk stratification: there were 14 cases of low-risk group, 76 cases of medium-risk group and 55 cases of high-risk group. Of all patients, 68 cases (46.9%) achieved an early complete remission (CR) after 2 courses of chemotherapy, and the CR rate was 93.8% (136/145) after first-line treatment. Disease recurrence or progression occurred in 22 cases (15.2%). Of all patients, 125 cases survived, 6 cases died and 14 cases were lost to follow-up. Among the survived cases, 123 cases were continuously at CR state,and the follow-up time was 55 (40, 76) months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) rates were (95.3±1.9)% and (84.2±3.0)% for the entire group, respectively. 5-year OS and EFS rates for patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ were both lower than those for patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ (χ²=6.28 and 7.58, both P<0.05), the 5-year OS and EFS rates for patients in high-risk group were both lower than those for patients in low-risk and medium-risk group (χ²=10.93, 7.79, both P<0.05). The 5-year OS rates for the patient with early CR and without early CR were 100.0% and (90.9±3.6)% (χ²=5.77, P=0.016). EFS rates for the patient with early CR (68 cases) and without early CR (77 cases) were (93.8±3.0)% and (75.8±5.0)% (χ²=8.78, P=0.003). Conclusions: HL-2013 regimen is significantly effective in the treatment of pediatric HL. However, the patients in high-risk group and those without early CR are prone to disease recurrence or progression. Stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ and without early CR were associated with worse prognosis.

[Accuracy and retention of denture bases fabricated by injection molding, milling, and three-dimensional printing]

Objective: To compare the accuracy and retention of denture bases fabricated by injection molding, milling, and three-dimensional (3D) printing fabricating, in order to provide some references for clinical practice. Methods: A maxillary edentulous jaw model made was used to duplicated 10 working casts. The casts were numbered and scanned. The wax pattern was designed by digital ways and conventional methods and then the denture bases were fabricated by injection molding, milling, and 3D printing. The tissue surface of experimental denture base was obtained using a dental laboratory scanner. The deviation between the tissue surface of the fabricated denture bases and the working model was evaluated. A digital force gauge was used to measure the traction force. Results: The milling group [(0.076±0.026) mm] was more accurate than the 3D printing group [(0.117±0.041) mm] (P<0.05) and the injection group [(0.120± 0.025) mm] (P<0.05). The accuracy of 3D printing group and that of injection group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The milling group [(9.55±2.44) N] demonstrated greater retentive force than 3D printing group [(5.19±0.06) N] and injection molding group [(1.52±0.52) N] (P<0.05). Conclusions: The denture base fabricated by milling was more accurate and showed the greatest retentive force than the other groups. And 3D printing group showed better retentive force than the injection molding group. Both digital manufacturing methods can meet the requirements of clinical application.

Safety and tolerance of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei N1115 in caesarean-born young children: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

The administration of probiotics may help to improve dysbiosis and related health problems in children delivered by caesarean section. However, the effects are strain specific, and safety combined tolerance are considered a priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei N1115 in caesarean-born children aged 6-24 months via a randomised, placebo-controlled intervention study. In total, 101 children were included and randomised to receive either a sachet of L. paracasei N1115 (2×1010 cfu/g, 2 g/day) or placebo (maltodextrin, 2 g/day) per day for 12 weeks. Anthropometric parameters were measured by trained nurses, and defecation characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms, (serious) adverse events ((s)AEs), crying patterns and lifestyle behaviours were recorded by parents or guardians. Neurocognitive development was assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-3 (ASQ-3) before and after the intervention. The only difference between groups regarding defecation characteristics was a significant treatment × time effect on stool frequency (P=0.007), as the number of defecations was significantly higher in the probiotic group (around 1.2-1.3 times/day) than in the placebo group (around 1.0 times/day) in the later intervention period (P=0.035 at week 9; P=0.048 at week 10; P=0.026 at week 12). The use of L. paracasei N1115 also reduced the incidence rate of constipation (Incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.120; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.015, 0.967; P=0.046) and abdominal pain (IRR: 0.562; 95% CI: 0.358, 0.882; P=0.012). Changes in anthropometric parameters, including weight, height and head circumference, did not differ significantly between groups, nor did measures of crying, sleep, outdoor activity, temper, appetite or the ASQ-3 scores. No adverse events associated with consumption of the probiotic were reported. Thus, the administration of L. paracasei N1115 is safe and well-tolerated in caesarean-born children aged 6-24 months. Furthermore, it may ameliorate gastrointestinal function to some extent.

Retraction Note: The carcinogenic complex lncRNA FOXP4-AS1/EZH2/LSD1 accelerates proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer

The article "The carcinogenic complex lncRNA FOXP4-AS1/EZH2/LSD1 accelerates proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer, by R.-Y. Chen, Q. Ju, L.-M. Feng, Q. Yuan, L. Zhang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (19): 8371-8376-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201910_19148-PMID: 31646567" has been retracted by the authors. After publication, the authors raised concerns about the reliability of the data used to conduct the study by stating that some data cannot be repeated by further research. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19148.

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Atlas of Gingival Mucosa in Type 2 Diabetes

The oral gingival barrier is a constantly stimulated and dynamic environment where homeostasis is often disrupted, resulting in inflammatory periodontal diseases. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been reported to be associated with gingival barrier dysfunction, but the effect and underlying mechanism are inconclusive. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of gingiva from leptin receptor-deficient mice (db/db) to examine the gingival heterogeneity in the context of T2D. Periodontal health of control mice is characterized by populations of Krt14⁺-expressing epithelial cells and Col1a1⁺-fibroblasts mediating immune homeostasis primarily through the enrichment of innate lymphoid cells. The db/db gingiva exhibited decreased epithelial/stromal ratio and dysfunctional barrier. We further observed stromal, particularly fibroblast immune hyperresponsiveness, linked to the recruitment of myeloid-derived cells at the db/db gingiva. Both scRNA-seq and histological analysis suggested the inflammatory signaling between fibroblasts and neutrophils as a potential driver of diabetes-induced periodontal damage. Notably, the "immune-like" stromal cells were wired toward the induction of gingival γδ T hyperresponsiveness in db/db mice. Our work reveals that the "immune-like" fibroblasts with transcriptional diversity are involved in the innate immune homeostasis at the diabetic gingiva. It highlights a potentially significant role of these cell types in its pathogenesis.

Percutaneous CT-Guided Microwave Ablation Combined with Vertebral Augmentation for Treatment of Painful Spinal Metastases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Percutaneous thermal ablation followed by vertebral augmentation is an emerging minimally invasive therapeutic alternative for the management of spinal metastases. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of microwave ablation combined with vertebral augmentation for the treatment of painful vertebral metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Overall, 91 patients with 140 metastatic vertebrae who experienced refractory moderate-to-severe pain were treated with CT-guided microwave ablation and vertebral augmentation. Procedural effectiveness was determined using the visual analog scale, daily morphine consumption, and the Oswestry Disability Index preprocedurally and during follow-up. Local tumor control was assessed at follow-up imaging.

RESULTS

The procedure was technically successful in all patients. The median visual analog scale score and mean morphine dose were 6 (range, 4-10) and 77.8 (SD, 31.5) mg (range, 15-143 mg), preprocedurally; 5 (range 3-8) and 34.5 (SD, 23.8) mg (range, 0-88 mg) at 3 days; 4 (range, 2-7) and 28.7 (SD, 16.4) mg (range, 0-73 mg) at 1 week; 3 (range, 1-6) and 24.6 (SD, 13.2) mg (range, 0-70 mg) at 1 month; 3 (range, 1-6) and 21.70 (SD, 10.0) mg (range, 0-42 mg) at 3 months; and 3 (range, 1-8) and 21.0 (SD, 9.9) mg (range, 0-46 mg) at 6 months postprocedurally (all P < .05). A decrease in the Oswestry Disability Index score was also observed (P < .01). Local control was achieved in 94.8% of the treated metastatic vertebrae during the 6-month follow-up period. Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 42 (30%) treated vertebrae. A grade 3 neural injury was observed in 1 patient (1.1%). The patient's neurologic function returned to normal following treatment with mannitol, glucocorticoids, and radiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that percutaneous CT-guided microwave ablation combined with vertebral augmentation is a safe and effective minimally invasive intervention for the treatment of painful spinal metastases.

Gnas Loss Causes Chondrocyte Fate Conversion in Cranial Suture Formation

Calvaria development is distinct from limb formation. Craniosynostosis is a skull deformity characterized by premature cranial suture fusion due to the loss of the GNAS gene and, consequently, its encoded protein Gαs. This birth defect requires surgery, with potential lethal consequences. So far, hardly any early-stage nonsurgical interventions for GNAS loss-related craniosynostosis are available. Here, we investigated the role of the Gnas gene in mice in guarding the distinctiveness of intramembranous ossification and how loss of Gnas triggered endochondral-like ossification within the cranial sutures. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of normal neonatal mice cranial suture chondrocytes showed a Hedgehog (Hh) inactivation pattern, which was associated with Gαs signaling activation. Loss of Gnas evoked chondrocyte-to-osteoblast fate conversion and resulted in cartilage heterotopic ossification (HO) within cranial sutures and fontanels of the mouse model, leading to a skull deformity resembling craniosynostosis in patients with loss of GNAS. Activation of ectopic Hh signaling within cranial chondrocytes stimulated the conversion of cell identity through a hypertrophy-like stage, which shared features of endochondral ossification in vivo. Reduction of Gli transcription activity by crossing with a loss-of-function Gli2 allele or injecting GLI1/2 antagonist hindered the progression of cartilage HO in neonatal stage mice. Our study uncovered the role of Gαs in maintaining cranial chondrocyte identity during neonatal calvaria development in mice and how reduction of Hh signaling could be a nonsurgical intervention to reduce skull deformity in craniosynostosis due to loss of GNAS.

Exploring Lorentz Invariance Violation from Ultrahigh-Energy γ Rays Observed by LHAASO

Recently, the LHAASO Collaboration published the detection of 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources above 100 TeV, with the highest energy photon reaching 1.4 PeV. The first detection of PeV γ rays from astrophysical sources may provide a very sensitive probe of the effect of the Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), which results in decay of high-energy γ rays in the superluminal scenario and hence a sharp cutoff of the energy spectrum. Two highest energy sources are studied in this work. No signature of the existence of the LIV is found in their energy spectra, and the lower limits on the LIV energy scale are derived. Our results show that the first-order LIV energy scale should be higher than about 10^{5} times the Planck scale M_{Pl} and that the second-order LIV scale is >10^{-3}M_{Pl}. Both limits improve by at least one order of magnitude the previous results.

[Clinical analysis of 60 children with anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a single center]

Objective: To summarize the clinical features, treatment outcome and prognostic factors of childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Methods: Clinical data of 60 newly diagnosed and biopsy-proven ALCL pediatric patients (≤18 years of age) at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2010 to December 2018 were collected. All patients were treated with the Chinese Children Cancer Group-B cell-non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 2010 (CCCG-BNHL-2010) regimen. Overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS) and progression free survival (PFS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed with Log-Rank test to find factors of poor prognosis. Results: Among 60 ALCL patients included in the current study, 39 were males and 21 females, the age of onset was 7.9 (1.2-16.7) years. Among all cases, 43 (72%) had B syndrome (any of the following: fever, drenching, weight loss). Forty-nine (82%) cases had lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels<2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and 11 (18%) cases had LDH levels 2-<4 times ULN. The distribution of stages was stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ, and Ⅳ in 2% (1/60), 5% (3/60), 92% (55/60), and 2% (1/60) of patients, respectively. Of 58 cases who had results of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) immunohistochemical staining, 53 (91%, 53/58) cases were positive. Visceral involvement was observed in 12 patients (20%). The 4-year OS and EFS rates were (88±4)% and (76±6)% for the entire group, respectively. Univariate analysis for gender, B symptoms, LDH level, ALK expression, clinical stage and visceral involvement showed that only LDH level correlated with an inferior OS rate (χ²=6.571, P=0.010) while not correlated with EFS rate. No independent risk factor for disease progression or recurrence was found by Logistic regression. Up to the last follow-up, 44 cases were continuously at complete remission state, and their follow-up time was 50 (13-119) months. Of 13 (23%) cases experienced disease progression or relapse, 3 cases abandoned treatment, 2 cases progressed to death, 8 cases received second line or salvage treatment (6 survived at last follow-up). For post progression or relapse cases, the 2-year OS and PFS rates were (60±16)% and (16±14)%, respectively. The treatment related death occurred in 3 cases (5%) and all of them were due to severe infection during the chemotherapy. Conclusions: The efficacy of CCCG-BNHL-2010 regimen in the treatment of children with ALCL was good. However, the safety needs to be improved as the treatment-related mortality in the present study was slightly higher. Efficient second line or salvage treatment can achieve cure in pediatric patients post progression or recurrence. LDH ≥2 times ULN was associated with worse prognosis.

[Investigation of contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in imported frozen seafood from a foreign cargo ship and risk factors for infection in stevedores in Qingdao]

Objective: To investigate the contamination status of SARS-CoV-2 in imported frozen seafood from a Russia cargo ship in Qingdao and to analyze the risk factors for infection in local stevedores. Methods: The method of "two-stage, full coverage and mixed sampling" was used to collect the seafood packaging samples for the nucleic acid detection of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. A unified questionnaire was designed to investigate 71 stevedores in two shifts through telephone interview. The stevedores were divided into two groups, with 23 in the shit with two infections was group A and 48 in the shift without infection was group B. Software Epi Info7.2 was used to identify the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infections in the stevedores. Results: In the frozen seafood from a Russia cargo ship, the total positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in the frozen seafood was 11.53% (106/919). The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in the frozen seafood unloaded by group A (14.29%,70/490) was significantly higher than that in the frozen seafood unloaded by group B (8.39%,36/429)(χ²=7.79,P=0.01) and the viral loads detected in the frozen seafood unloaded by group A were higher than those detected in the frozen seafood unloaded by group B. The scores of personal protection and behaviors in the stevedores in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05), and toilet use, smoking and improper hand washing before meals were the risk factors for the infection. Conclusions: The imported frozen seafood was contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 and the contamination distribution was uneven. Supervision and management of personal occupational protection and behaviors of workers engaged in imported frozen food transportation should be strengthened. It is suggested that a closed-loop monitoring and management system for the whole process of "fishing-transport- loading/unloading" should be established by marine fishery authority.

CBD Promotes Oral Ulcer Healing via Inhibiting CMPK2-Mediated Inflammasome

Oral ulcer is a common oral inflammatory lesion accompanied by severe pain but with few effective treatments. Cannabidiol (CBD) is recently emerging for its therapeutic potential in a range of diseases, including inflammatory conditions and cancers. Here we show that CBD oral spray on acid- or trauma-induced oral ulcers on mice tongue inhibits inflammation, relieves pain, and accelerates lesion closure. Notably, the enrichment of genes associated with the NOD, LRR, and NLRP3 pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway is downregulated after CBD treatment. The expression of cleaved-gasdermin D (GSDMD) and the percentage of pyroptotic cells are reduced as well. In addition, CBD decreases the expression of cytidine/uridine monophosphate kinase 2 (CMPK2), which subsequently inhibits the generation of oxidized mitochondria DNA and suppresses inflammasome activation. These immunomodulating effects of CBD are mostly blocked by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) antagonist and partially antagonized by CB₁ receptor antagonist. Our results demonstrate that CBD accelerates oral ulcer healing by inhibiting CMPK2-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, which are mediated mostly by PPARγ in the nucleus and partially by CB₁ in the plasma membrane.

Peta-electron volt gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is a bright source of gamma rays powered by the Crab Pulsar's rotational energy through the formation and termination of a relativistic electron-positron wind. We report the detection of gamma rays from this source with energies from 5 × 10^-4 to 1.1 peta-electron volts with a spectrum showing gradual steepening over three energy decades. The ultrahigh-energy photons imply the presence of a peta-electron volt electron accelerator (a pevatron) in the nebula, with an acceleration rate exceeding 15% of the theoretical limit. We constrain the pevatron's size between 0.025 and 0.1 parsecs and the magnetic field to ≈110 microgauss. The production rate of peta-electron volt electrons, 2.5 × 10³⁶ ergs per second, constitutes 0.5% of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, although we cannot exclude a contribution of peta-electron volt protons to the production of the highest-energy gamma rays.

Extended Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Surrounding PSR J0622+3749 Observed by LHAASO-KM2A

We report the discovery of an extended very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray source around the location of the middle-aged (207.8 kyr) pulsar PSR J0622+3749 with the Large High-Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). The source is detected with a significance of 8.2σ for E>25  TeV assuming a Gaussian template. The best-fit location is (right ascension, declination) =(95.47°±0.11°,37.92°±0.09°), and the extension is 0.40°±0.07°. The energy spectrum can be described by a power-law spectrum with an index of -2.92±0.17_{stat}±0.02_{sys}. No clear extended multiwavelength counterpart of the LHAASO source has been found from the radio to sub-TeV bands. The LHAASO observations are consistent with the scenario that VHE electrons escaped from the pulsar, diffused in the interstellar medium, and scattered the interstellar radiation field. If interpreted as the pulsar halo scenario, the diffusion coefficient, inferred for electrons with median energies of ∼160  TeV, is consistent with those obtained from the extended halos around Geminga and Monogem and much smaller than that derived from cosmic ray secondaries. The LHAASO discovery of this source thus likely enriches the class of so-called pulsar halos and confirms that high-energy particles generally diffuse very slowly in the disturbed medium around pulsars.

[Effectiveness of the "14 plus 7 day quarantine" and "nucleic acid plus total antibody testing" strategy for screening imported patients with COVID-19 in Xiamen]

Objective: To analysis effectiveness of the "14 plus 7 day quarantine" and "nucleic acid plus total antibody testing" strategy (combined screening strategy) for screenin the imported patients with COVID-19 in Xiamen. Methods: The study populations were overseas travelers arriving in Xiamen from March 17 to December 31, 2020, and overseas travelers who had quarantine outside Xiamen for less than 21 days from July 18 to December 31, 2020. Data were collected and analyzed on the timing of detection, pathways, and test results of the imported patients with COVID-19 after implementing combined screening strategy. Results: A total of 304 imported patients with COVID-19 were found from 174 628 overseas travelers and 943 overseas travelers from other cities. A total of 163 cases (53.6%) were diagnosed by multitime, multisite intensive nucleic acid testing after positive finding in total antibody testing. Among them, 27 (8.9%) were first positive for nucleic acid in 14 plus 7 day quarantine and 136 were first positive for nucleic acid in 14-day quarantine. Only 8 of these individuals were tested positive for nucleic acid after positive total antibody testing. The other 128 individuals were tested positive for nucleic acid after being negative for average 2.3 times (maximum of 6 times). Aditional 155 cases might be detected by using the combined "14 plus 7 day quarantine" and " nucleic acid plus total antibody testing" strategy compared with "14-day quarantine and nucleic acid testing" strategy, accounting for 51.0% of the total inbound infections. So the combined screening strategy doubled the detection rate for imported patients with COVID-19. No second-generation case caused by overseas travelers had been reported in Xiamen as of February 26, 2021. Conclusions: Xiamen's combined screening strategy can effectively screen the imported patients with COVID-19 who were first positive for nucleic acid after 14 day quarantine. Compared with "14 day quarantine and nucleic acid testing", the combined screening strategy improved detection rate and further reduced the risk of the secondary transmission caused by the imported patients with COVID-19.

[Advances in application of tissue clearing technique in hard tissues]

Tissue clearing is a novel technique developed within recent years, which could make the tissue optical transparency using physical or chemical methods by refractive index matching. Combined with fluorescence imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction technology, it could achieve three-dimensional observing and analyze the tissue structure at the cellular resolution. The tissue clearing technique is mainly applied to soft tissues, as less to hard tissues. In recent years, many researchers have modified tissue clearing methods and made them suitable for hard tissues, such as bone and teeth. The present paper reviews the recent application of tissue clearing techniques in hard tissues.

Ultrahigh-energy photons up to 1.4 petaelectronvolts from 12 γ-ray Galactic sources

The extension of the cosmic-ray spectrum beyond 1 petaelectronvolt (PeV; 10¹⁵ electronvolts) indicates the existence of the so-called PeVatrons-cosmic-ray factories that accelerate particles to PeV energies. We need to locate and identify such objects to find the origin of Galactic cosmic rays¹. The principal signature of both electron and proton PeVatrons is ultrahigh-energy (exceeding 100 TeV) γ radiation. Evidence of the presence of a proton PeVatron has been found in the Galactic Centre, according to the detection of a hard-spectrum radiation extending to 0.04 PeV (ref. ²). Although γ-rays with energies slightly higher than 0.1 PeV have been reported from a few objects in the Galactic plane^3-6, unbiased identification and in-depth exploration of PeVatrons requires detection of γ-rays with energies well above 0.1 PeV. Here we report the detection of more than 530 photons at energies above 100 teraelectronvolts and up to 1.4 PeV from 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources with a statistical significance greater than seven standard deviations. Despite having several potential counterparts in their proximity, including pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants and star-forming regions, the PeVatrons responsible for the ultrahigh-energy γ-rays have not yet been firmly localized and identified (except for the Crab Nebula), leaving open the origin of these extreme accelerators.

Deep learning analysis of the primary tumour and the prediction of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) in gastric cancer is a prognostic factor and has implications for the extent of lymph node dissection. The lymphatic drainage of the stomach involves multiple nodal stations with different risks of metastases. The aim of this study was to develop a deep learning system for predicting LNMs in multiple nodal stations based on preoperative CT images in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

Preoperative CT images from patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymph node dissection at two medical centres were analysed retrospectively. Using a discovery patient cohort, a system of deep convolutional neural networks was developed to predict pathologically confirmed LNMs at 11 regional nodal stations. To gain understanding about the networks' prediction ability, gradient-weighted class activation mapping for visualization was assessed. The performance was tested in an external cohort of patients by analysis of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC), sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

The discovery and external cohorts included 1172 and 527 patients respectively. The deep learning system demonstrated excellent prediction accuracy in the external validation cohort, with a median AUC of 0·876 (range 0·856-0·893), sensitivity of 0·743 (0·551-0·859) and specificity of 0·936 (0·672-0·966) for 11 nodal stations. The imaging models substantially outperformed clinicopathological variables for predicting LNMs (median AUC 0·652, range 0·571-0·763). By visualizing nearly 19 000 subnetworks, imaging features related to intratumoral heterogeneity and the invasive front were found to be most useful for predicting LNMs.

CONCLUSION

A deep learning system for the prediction of LNMs was developed based on preoperative CT images of gastric cancer. The models require further validation but may be used to inform prognosis and guide individualized surgical treatment.

Measurement of the Cosmic Ray Helium Energy Spectrum from 70 GeV to 80 TeV with the DAMPE Space Mission

The measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic ray helium nuclei from 70 GeV to 80 TeV using 4.5 years of data recorded by the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is reported in this work. A hardening of the spectrum is observed at an energy of about 1.3 TeV, similar to previous observations. In addition, a spectral softening at about 34 TeV is revealed for the first time with large statistics and well controlled systematic uncertainties, with an overall significance of 4.3σ. The DAMPE spectral measurements of both cosmic protons and helium nuclei suggest a particle charge dependent softening energy, although with current uncertainties a dependence on the number of nucleons cannot be ruled out.

[The suppressive effects of microRNA-139-5p on proliferation and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the role of microRNA-139-5p (miR-139-5p) in the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its effects on cell proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells and its molecular mechanisms. Methods: Seventy-five cases of ESCC tissues and paired normal tissues were obtained from thoracic surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2017 to March 2018. Experiment was divided into two group: ESCC (n=75) and normal esophageal tissues (n=75).GEO datasets and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the expression of miR-139-5p in ESCC tissues and cells. miR-139-5p inhibitor, miR-139-5p mimic, negative control, control siRNA, T-box transcliption factor 1(TBX1) siRNA, pcDNA3.1 and pcDNA3.1-TBX1 were transfected into ESCC Eca109 and TE1 cells. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of miR-139-5p and TBX1 in transfected ESCC cells. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and Transwell chamber were employed to detect cell proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells, respectively. Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay was used to analyze the interaction between miR-139-5p with TBX1. qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were utilized to detect the expression of TBX1 in ESCC tissues. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin after transfection. Results: The level of miR-139-5p in ESCC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal tissues (1.17±0.43 vs 5.16±3.62,P<0.001). Log-rank test showed that the survival rate of ESCC patients with high miR-139-5p level (n = 43) was significantly higher than that with low miR-139-5p level (n=32) (67.44% vs 25.00%, P = 0.005). The expression level of miR-139-5p in ESCC cells was significantly lower than that of normal esophageal epithelial cell Het-1A (all P<0.001). The proliferation and invasion ability of ECA109 and TE1 cells with high expression of miR-139-5p were significantly lower than those transfected with negative control (NC) (all P<0.05). Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay showed that miR-139-5p could bind to the 3'-untranslated region of TBX1. miR-139-5p mimic or inhibitor suppressed or promoted the expression of TBX1 protein in Eca109 and TE1 cells, respectively (all P<0.05). Downregulation of TBX1 significantly suppressed proliferation and invasion of ECA109 and TE1 cells, while overexpression of TBX1 significantly promoted proliferation and invasion of ECA109 and TE1 cells (all P<0.05). In addition, pcDNA3.1-TBX1 partially reversed the inhibition of miR-139-5p-mediated invasion ability (all P<0.05), while TBX1 siRNA partially reversed the enhancement of miR-139-5p inhibitor-mediated invasion ability (all P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-139-5p suppressed ESCC cell proliferation and invasion by targeting TBX1.

MiR-449b-5p inhibits human glioblastoma cell proliferation by inactivating WNT2B/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

As the most common primary brain cancer in adults, glioblastoma shows an extremely poor prognosis. Glioblastoma-associated deaths account for approximately 3%-4% of all malignancy-associated deaths. Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the occurrence and progression of solid tumors. Herein, identifying functional miRNAs and the central molecular mechanisms would provide novel proofs for the development of targeted cancer therapies. In this study, we described the role of miR-449b-5p in restraining ontogenesis and progression of glioblastoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Human glioblastoma tissues were provided by our hospital. Human U251 glioblastoma cells were infected with lentivirus induced miR-449b-5p mimics or miR-449b-5p siRNA. Real-time qPCR was carried out to determine miRNA expression. Tumor spheres formation, MTT assay, and BrdU cell proliferation assay were used to evaluate the growth ability of U251 cells. Western blot assay was performed to measure protein expression. ChIP was used to detect the capacity of β-catenin to recruit its downstream genes. Dual-Luciferase assay was conducted to detect the ability of miR-449b-5p to regulate the 3'UTR (untranslated regions) of WNT2B. TOP/FOP ratio was used to evaluate the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

RESULTS

Down-regulation of miR-449b-5p expression was found in both human glioblastoma tissues and cell lines, which was negatively associated with the clinical stages. Up-regulation of miR-449b-5p inhibited tumor spheres formation, cell viability and proliferation ability of glioblastoma cells. The expression levels of WNT2B and nuclear β-catenin were negatively associated with miR-449b-5p levels in glioblastoma cells. MiR-449b-5p inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling by targeting WNT2B.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-449b-5p acts as a tumor suppressor and retards the oncogenesis of glioblastoma, which is achieved via inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by directly targeting WNT2B.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout Reaction Reveals a Small s-Orbital Component in the Borromean Nucleus ^{17}B

A kinematically complete quasifree (p,pn) experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus ^{17}B, which had long been considered to have a neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for 1s_{1/2} and 0d_{5/2} orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)% was determined for 1s_{1/2}. Our finding of such a small 1s_{1/2} component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in ^{17}B. The present work gives the smallest s- or p-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features and implies that the dominant occupation of s or p orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of a neutron halo.

Senescent thyroid tumor cells promote their migration by inducing the polarization of M2-like macrophages

PURPOSE

An in-depth understanding of the mechanism of thyroid cancer progression will help identify patients with thyroid cancer with a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Although studies have pointed out that the senescence of thyroid tumor cells may stimulate TAMs and cause a series of changes. However, the role of TAMs in aging thyroid cancer cells is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of TAMs in aging thyroid cancer cells.

METHODS

We conducted in vitro model studies based on the K1 cell line to induce tumor cell senescence and study its effect on the differentiation of macrophages, flow cytometry was used to confirm polarization of macrophages, transwell assay was used to confirm changes of invasion and migration of tumor cells.

RESULT

Our data indicate that aging thyroid tumor cell lines trigger the polarization of M2-like macrophages, accompanied by increased expression of CCL17, CCL18, IL-18, and TGFβ1. This event is caused by the activation of the NFκB pathway upregulation of CXCL2 and CXCL3 is related. Further studies have shown that differentiated M2-like macrophages promote tumor cell migration (but have no effect on cell proliferation).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicating that the interaction between tumor and TAMs also occurs in the advanced stages of thyroid tumors and will lead to faster tumors progress.

The carcinogenic complex lncRNA FOXP4-AS1/EZH2/LSD1 accelerates proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the role of lncRNA FOX4-AS1 in the progression of gastric cancer (GC) via interacting with EZH2/LSD1.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Relative level of FOXP4-AS1 in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The potential influences of FOXP4-AS1 on cellular behaviors of GC cells were evaluated via a series of functional experiments. Bioinformatics prediction, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and Western blot were conducted to verify the potential of EZH2/LSD1 as a target of FOXP4-AS1.

RESULTS

FOXP4-AS1 was upregulated in GC tissues relative to controls. Its level was higher in GC patients with stage III-IV than those with stage I-II. The survival rate was lower in GC patients presenting the high expression of FOXP4-AS1 compared with those presenting low expression. Transfection of sh-FOXP4-AS1 1# or sh-FOXP4-AS1 2# attenuated proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of AGS and BGC7901 cells. FOXP4-AS1 could bind to LSD1 and EZH2, and positively regulated their expression levels. Transfection of sh-LSD1 or sh-EZH2 reduced the proliferative ability of GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

FOXP4-AS1 binds to EZH2/LSD1 to form a carcinogenic complex, thus accelerating GC cells to proliferate, migrate and invade.

[Efficacy and safety of hepatitis B re-vaccination in children after completion of chemotherapy and(or) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To assess the anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titers in children after completion of chemotherapy and (or) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), evaluate the efficacy and safety of the current hepatitis B re-vaccination schedule. Methods: A total of 239 children who completed their chemotherapy and (or) HSCT and visited the vaccination clinic of Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 2017 to July 2019 were enrolled in this study. According to the previous diseases, patients were divided into leukemia group (85 cases), lymphoma group (30 cases), solid tumor group (49 cases) and non-malignant hematological disease group (75 cases). According to the treatment of previous diseases, the patients were divided into chemotherapy group (126 cases), HSCT group (89 cases) and chemotherapy plus HSCT group (24 cases). HBsAb titers were assessed both at the time of diagnosis and after completion of treatment and some children who were HBsAb seronegative were re-vaccinated with 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, the vaccine-related adverse reactions were monitored. HBsAb titers were measured again one month after the completion of inoculation. HBsAb titers were defined as negative at levels <10 U/L and positive at ≥ 10 U/L. Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was used to compare the difference of negative conversion rate of hepatitis B antibody between groups, and Logistic regression was used to explore the risk factors of hepatitis B antibody negative conversion. Results: Among 239 patients, there were 143 males and 96 females. At the time of diagnosis, 179 patients (74.9%) were HBsAb seropositive and 60 patients (25.1%) were HBsAb seronegative. After completion of chemotherapy and (or) HSCT, 133 of 179 children with HBsAb seropositive (74.3%) at diagnosis became HBsAb seronegative. Univariate analysis showed significant differences at the negative conversion rates of HBsAb between different disease groups (χ²=10.211，P=0.015), different treatments groups (χ²=14.899，P<0.01) and different HBsAb titers groups before treatment (χ²=32.117，P<0.01). Logistic regression showed that HSCT (chemotherapy group as the reference, odds ratio (OR）=2.999, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.276-7.050，P=0.012) and HBsAb titers<328.2 U/L before treatment (HBsAb titers≥328.2 U/L group as the reference, OR=6.397， 95% CI3.159-12.954，P<0.01) were risk factors for negative conversion of HBsAb. Among 48 patients whose HBsAb was seronegative after completion of chemotherapy and (or) HSCT and re-vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, 47 (97.9%) cases became HBsAb seropositivie. No serious adverse effects or complications were reported among these patients. Conclusions: After completion of chemotherapy and (or) HSCT, most children completely lose their protective humoral immunity against hepatitis B. Hepatitis B re-vaccination schedule can be efficiently and safely applied in those patients.

Identification of novel monoclonal antibodies targeting the outer membrane protein C and lipopolysaccharides for Escherichia coli O157:H7 detection

AIMS

To identify and evaluate the application of two novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2G12 against outer membrane protein (Omp) C and mAb 12B1 targeting the O chain of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of these two antibodies were evaluated with eight ECO157 strains and 68 untargeted strains. mAb 2G12 and 12B1 had no detectable binding with any of the non-O157 strains at 6·0 log₁₀ CFU per ml, while its high specificity and affinity remained with all ECO157 strains. When a higher level (8·0 log₁₀ CFU per ml) was tested, 2G12 and 12B1 did not react with 82·35 and 97·06% of the non-O157 strains respectively. Based on the pair of two antibodies, the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected 100% (8/8) of ECO157 strains and none of the non-ECO157 strains. The detection limit of ECO157 strains in pure culture were 4·2 ± 0·2 log₁₀ CFU per ml. When the developed test was applied to artificially inoculated beef samples, the detection limit was 6·0 log₁₀ CFU per gram without enrichment and 1·0 log₁₀ CFU per gram after 12 h of enrichment.

CONCLUSIONS

The two novel antibodies identified in this study served as great candidates for the recovery, and detection of ECO157 from different environmental and food samples.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

ECO157-specific detection was improved by a combination of the novel OmpC mAb and LPS mAb with defined target antigen and good specificity.

LepR-Expressing Stem Cells Are Essential for Alveolar Bone Regeneration

Stem cells play a critical role in bone regeneration. Multiple populations of skeletal stem cells have been identified in long bone, while their identity and functions in alveolar bone remain unclear. Here, we identified a quiescent leptin receptor–expressing (LepR+) cell population that contributed to intramembranous bone formation. Interestingly, these LepR+ cells became activated in response to tooth extraction and generated the majority of the newly formed bone in extraction sockets. In addition, genetic ablation of LepR+ cells attenuated extraction socket healing. The parabiosis experiments revealed that the LepR+ cells in the healing sockets were derived from resident tissue rather than peripheral blood circulation. Further studies on the mechanism suggested that these LepR+ cells were responsive to parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH/PTH1R) signaling. Collectively, we demonstrate that LepR+ cells, a postnatal skeletal stem cell population, are essential for alveolar bone regeneration of extraction sockets.

Role of PTH1R Signaling in Prx1+ Mesenchymal Progenitors during Eruption

Tooth eruption is a complex process requiring precise interaction between teeth and adjacent tissues. Molecular analysis demonstrates that bone remodeling plays an essential role during eruption, suggesting that a parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) gene mutation is associated with disturbances in bone remodeling and results in primary failure of eruption (PFE). Recent research reveals the function of PTH1R signaling in mesenchymal progenitors, whereas the function of PTH1R in mesenchymal stem cells during tooth eruption remains incompletely understood. We investigated the specific role of PTH1R in Prx1⁺ progenitor expression during eruption. We found that Prx1⁺-progenitors occur in mesenchymal stem cells residing in alveolar bone marrow surrounding incisors, at the base of molars and in the dental follicle and pulp of incisors. Mice with conditional deletion of PTH1R using the Prx1 promoter exhibited arrested mandibular incisor eruption and delayed molar eruption. Micro-computed tomography, histomorphometry, and molecular analyses revealed that mutant mice had significantly reduced alveolar bone formation concomitant with downregulated gene expression of key regulators of osteogenesis in PTH1R-deficient cells. Moreover, culturing orofacial bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (OMSCs) from Prx1Cre;PTH1R^fl/fl mice or from transfecting Cre recombinase adenovirus in OMSCs from PTH1R^fl/fl mice suggested that lack of Pth1r expression inhibited osteogenic differentiation in vitro. However, bone resorption was not affected by PTH1R ablation, indicating the observed reduced alveolar bone volume was mainly due to impaired bone formation. Furthermore, we found irregular periodontal ligaments and reduced Periostin expression in mutant incisors, implying loss of PTH1R results in aberrant differentiation of periodontal ligament cells. Collectively, these data suggest that PTH1R signaling in Prx1⁺ progenitors plays a critical role in alveolar bone formation and periodontal ligament development during eruption. These findings have implications for our understanding of the physiologic and pathologic function of PTH1R signaling in tooth eruption and the progression of PFE.

Discriminating between bronchiolar adenoma, adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung with CT

PURPOSE

To identify computed tomography (CT) features that may help distinguish bronchiolar adenoma (BA) from lung adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA) among lung lesions presenting as ground-glass nodules (GGNs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 140 patients with GGNs confirmed by surgery and pathology, were reviewed retrospectively. There were 68 men and 72 women with a mean age of 64.3±8.9 (SD) years (range: 31 - 85 years). The CT features of BA, AIS, and MIA were analyzed and compared. CT features, including percentage of solid component, maximum diameter of solid component, lesion density, location, margin, shape, pseudo-cavitation, calcification, ill-defined peripheral opacity, and air bronchogram, were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

There were 11/140 (7.9%) patients with BA (mean age, 67.7±7.5 [SD]; range 45 - 77 years), 63/140 (45.0%) patients with AIS (mean age, 62.5±8.6 [SD]; range 36 - 69 years) and 66/140 (47.1%) patients with MIA (mean age, 63.5±7.9 [SD]; range 35 - 72 years). By comparison with AIS and MIA, significantly different CT features of BA included tumor size, solid component diameters, low CT attenuation of the ground-glass component, irregular shape, ill-defined peripheral opacity, pseudo-cavitation, and abnormal pulmonary vein. Ill-defined peripheral opacity (odds ratio, 1.060; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.020 - 1.380) and pseudo-cavitation (odds ratio, 1.236; 95% CI: 1.070 - 1.565) were variables independently associated with the diagnosis of BA.

CONCLUSION

CT provides morphological features that allow differentiating between BA and AIS-MIA among lung lesions presenting as GGNs.

Noninvasive imaging evaluation of tumor immune microenvironment to predict outcomes in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The tumor immune microenvironment can provide prognostic and predictive information. A previously validated ImmunoScore of Gastric Cancer (IS_GC) evaluates both lymphoid and myeloid cells in the tumor core and invasive margin with immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens. We aimed to develop a noninvasive radiomics-based predictor of IS_GC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study including four independent cohorts of 1778 patients, we extracted 584 quantitative features from the intratumoral and peritumoral regions on contrast-enhanced computed tomography images. A radiomic signature [radiomics ImmunoScore (RIS)] was constructed to predict IS_GC using regularized logistic regression. We further evaluated its association with prognosis and chemotherapy response.

RESULTS

A 13-feature radiomic signature for IS_GC was developed and validated in three independent cohorts (area under the curve = 0.786, 0.745, and 0.766). The RIS signature was significantly associated with both disease-free and overall survival in the training and all validation cohorts [hazard ratio (HR) range: 0.296-0.487, all P < 0.001]. In multivariable analysis, the RIS remained an independent prognostic factor adjusting for clinicopathologic variables (adjusted HR range: 0.339-0.605, all P < 0.003). For stage II and stage III disease, patients with a high RIS derived survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy {HR = 0.436 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.253-0.753], P = 0.002; HR = 0.591 (95% CI 0.428-0.818), P < 0.001, respectively}, whereas those with a low RIS did not.

CONCLUSION

The RIS is a reliable tool for evaluation of immunoscore and retains the prognostic significance in gastric cancer. Future prospective studies are required to confirm its potential to predict treatment response and select patients who will benefit from chemotherapy.

Stability of fungal biomass continuously fed with tannic acid in a non-sterile moving-packed bed reactor

A number of bacteria and fungi are known to degrade tannins. In this study, the efficiency of the white-rot fungus, Bjerkandera adusta MUT 2295, was evaluated for the treatment of a synthetic solution prepared with tannic acid. Tests were performed in continuously fed, bench-scale, packed-bed reactors, operated under non-sterile conditions with biomass immobilized within PolyUrethane Foam cubes (PUFs). The main parameters monitored to evaluate the process efficiency were: soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (sCOD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal, and activities. of Tannase and Lignin Peroxidase. At the end of the process, additional parameters were evaluated, including the increase of fungal dry weight and the presence of ergosterol. The reactor was operative for 210 days, with maximum sCOD and TOC removal of 81% and 73%, respectively. The reduction of sCOD and TOC were positively correlated with the detection of Tannase and Lignin Peroxidase (LiP) activities. Increases in biomass within the PUF cubes was associated with increases in ergosterol concentrations. This study proved that the fungal-based system tested was efficient for the degradation of tannic acid over a period of time, and under non-sterile conditions.

Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 ¹/₂ years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.