Application of the PGT-M strategy using single sperm and/or affected embryos as probands for linkage analysis in males with hereditary tumor syndromes without family history

Hereditary tumor syndromes have garnered substantial attention due to their adverse effects on both the physical and psychological health of patients, as well as the elevated risk of transmission to subsequent generations. This has prompted a growing interest in exploring preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) as a treatment option to mitigate and eliminate these impacts. Several studies have demonstrated that de novo variants have become a great cause of many hereditary tumor syndromes, which introduce certain difficulties to PGT. In the absence of adequate genetic linkage information (parents and offspring), haplotype construction seems unrealizable. In the study, researchers used single sperm or affected embryos as proband to perform single-nucleotide polymorphism linkage analysis for cases with de novo variants. For complicated variants, the strategy that sperm combined with embryo detection will increase accuracy while avoiding the limitations and potential failures of using a single detection material. The study recruited 11 couples with male de novo carriers, including 3 tumor types and 4 genes. To date, 4 couples have been clinically confirmed as pregnant and three healthy babies have been born. The results of amniocentesis or umbilical cord blood verification were consistent with the results of PGT-M. The study aims to introduce the application of the PGT-M strategy in hereditary tumor syndromes.

Clinical practice and outcomes of preimplantation genetic testing for CMT1A using a novel direct detection method

Background

Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A), the most frequent type of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, is mainly caused by a 1.4-Mb duplication containing the PMP22 gene. There is no effective treatment other than general supportive care and symptomatic treatment. Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic defects (PGT-M) is an alternative approach for obtaining healthy babies.

Methods

A new technology and analysis method based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) was developed to detect duplication mutations directly. Simultaneously, aneuploidy and linkage analyses were performed to achieve a comprehensive and accurate embryo diagnosis.

Results

Eight couples were recruited in this study; PMP22 duplication was validated in seven couples, and PMP22 splicing mutation was found in one. Forty-five embryos from 12 PGT cycles were successfully detected using this novel method. The direct detection results for all embryos were consistent with the linkage analyses, suggesting a 100 % accuracy rate, and the aneuploidy rate of the biopsied blastocysts was 33.3 %. Eventually, 18 of the 45 diagnosed embryos were deemed suitable for transfer. Four healthy babies from three families were delivered and their genetic status confirmed by amniocentesis. Additionally, there were no adverse effects of anesthesia or increased pregnancy complications during PGT-M in female patients with CMT1A.

Conclusions

This study provided a simple, reliable, and efficient method that can directly detect PMP22 mutations based on NGS data and does not require positive family members. A clinical workflow for CMT1A interruption in the offspring before embryo implantation is also summarized.

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL)-Triggered Double-Lock Probe for Spatiotemporal Lipoprotein Oxidation and Atherosclerotic Plaque Imaging

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), especially oxidative modified LDL (Ox-LDL), is the key risk factor for plaque accumulation and the development of cardiovascular disease. Herein, a highly specific Ox-LDL-triggered fluorogenic-colorimetric probe Pro-P1 is developed for visualizing the oxidation and aggregation progress of lipoproteins and plaque. A series of green fluorescent protein chromophores with modified donor-acceptor structures, containing carbazole as an electron donor and various substituents including pyridine-vinyl (P1), phenol-vinyl (P2), N, N-dimethylaniline-vinyl (P3), and thiophene-vinyl (P4), have been synthesized and evaluated. Emission spectroscopy and theoretical calculations of P1-P4 indicate that P1 shows enhanced green fluorescence (λem = 560 nm) by inhibiting its twisted intramolecular charge transfer in the presence of Ox-LDL. This feature allows the selection of P1 as a sensitive probe to directly visualize ferroptosis and Cu2+ -mediated LDL oxidative aggregation via in situ formation of fluorophore-bound Ox-LDL in living cells. The red-emissive probe Pro-P1 (λem = 660 nm) is prepared via borate protection of P1, which can be cleaved into P1 under high expression of HOCl and Ox-LDL condition at the lesion site, resulting in enhanced green emission. The plaque area and size with clear boundaries can be delineated by colorimetric fluorescence imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging with precise differentiation.

Electrochemical chiral sensor for levofloxacin detection base on Cu/Fe-BTC amplification

The key to developing sensors for chiral drug determination is to exclude interference from enantiomers. In this study, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) were introduced to prepare a chiral sensor for levofloxacin detection. The MIP was electropolymerised on the surface of the Cu/Fe-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate MOF (Cu/Fe-BTC)-modified Au electrode using levofloxacin as a template molecule. After eluting the levofloxacin, a chiral sensor with recognition sites for levofloxacin was obtained. With this site as a switch, a novel method for detecting levofloxacin was established. Because of the enhanced recognition effect, the sensor can effectively exclude the enantiomeric interference of d-ofloxacin. Moreover, Cu/Fe-BTC can effectively amplify the current response signal and improve the sensitivity of the sensor. The linear range of the sensor was 5 to 4000 × 10-11 mol L-1, and the detection limit was 2.07 × 10-11 mol L-1. When applied to detecting levofloxacin in actual samples, the sensor showed a 92.7-109.8% recovery.

Molecular Engineering of Corrole Radicals by Polycyclic Aromatic Fusion: Towards Open-Shell Near-Infrared Materials for Efficient Photothermal Therapy

Open-shell radicals are promising near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agents (PTAs) owing to their easily accessible narrow band gaps, but their stabilization and functionalization remain challenging. Herein, highly stable π-extended nickel corrole radicals with [4n+1] π systems are synthesized and used to prepare NIR-absorbing PTAs for efficient phototheranostics. The light-harvesting ability of corrole radicals gradually improves as the number of fused benzene rings on β-pyrrolic locations increases radially, with naphthalene- and anthracene-fused radicals and their one-electron oxidized [4n] π cations exhibiting panchromatic visible-to-NIR absorption. The extremely low doublet excited states of corrole radicals promote heat generation via nonradiative decay. By encapsulating naphthocorrole radicals with amphiphilic polymer, water-soluble nanoparticles Na-NPs are produced, which exhibit outstanding photostability and high photothermal conversion efficiency of 71.8 %. In vivo anti-tumor therapy results indicate that Na-NPs enable photoacoustic imaging of tumors and act as biocompatible PTAs for tumor ablation when triggered by 808 nm laser light. The "aromatic-ring fusion" strategy for energy-gap tuning of corrole radicals opens a new platform for developing robust NIR-absorbing photothermal materials.

Gut microbiota contribute to Methamphetamine-induced cardiotoxicity in mouse model

Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychotropic drug known to cause cardiotoxicity. The gut-heart axis is emerging as an important pathway linking gut microbiota to cardiovascular disease, but the precise association between METH-induced cardiotoxicity and gut microbiota has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we established an escalating dose-multiple METH administration model in male BALB/c mice, examined cardiac injury and gut microbiota, and investigated the contribution of gut microbiota to cardiotoxicity induced by METH. Additionally, we treated mice with antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to assess the impact of gut microbiota on cardiotoxicity. Our results showed that METH exposure altered the p53 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and modulated the apoptosis pathway in heart tissue, accompanied by elevated levels of Bax/BCL-2 expression and cleaved caspase-3 proteins. METH exposure increased the diversity and richness of gut microbiota, and significantly changed the microbial community composition, accompanied by elevated abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and decreased abundance of Bacteroides, norank_f_Muribaculaceae and Alistipes. Eliminating gut microbiota by antibiotics treatment alleviated METH-induced cardiotoxicity, while FMT treatment transferred similar cardiac injury manifestations from METH-exposed mice to healthy recipient mice. Our study unveils the crucial involvement of gut microbiota in the development of cardiotoxicity induced by METH and provides potential strategies for treating cardiac complications caused by METH.

Construction of a red emission fluorescent probe for selectively detection of cysteine in living cells

Cysteine (Cys) is a vital amino acid in the body, and its abnormal expression level is associated with many diseases. In this study, a novel fluorescent probe ACHB was synthesized, showing high selectivity, anti-interference ability and achieving accurate detection of cysteine. Different from most previous off-on probes, ACHB showed an on-off fluorescence response to Cys. Acrylic ester was used as a recognizer while green fluorescence protein (GFP) chromophore derivative 4-hydroxybenzylidene-imidazolinone (HBI) was used as the fluorophore. The addition of Cys leads to the hydrolysis of the red-emitting probe (613 nm), releasing a precursor with a lower fluorescent signal and showing an on-off spectral signal, which was ideal for obtaining sensitive detection with high specificity. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of cysteine (Cys) in living cells and biological sample (mouse serum). In conclusion, probe ACHB is a promising tool to display the intracellular cysteine concentration level, providing a good visualization method for clinical diagnosis and scientific basic research.

RNF126-Mediated MRE11 Ubiquitination Activates the DNA Damage Response and Confers Resistance of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to Radiotherapy

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has higher molecular heterogeneity and metastatic potential and the poorest prognosis. Because of limited therapeutics against TNBC, irradiation (IR) therapy is still a common treatment option for patients with lymph nodes or brain metastasis. Thus, it is urgent to develop strategies to enhance the sensitivity of TNBC tumors to low-dose IR. Here, the authors report that E3 ubiquitin ligase Ring finger protein 126 (RNF126) is important for IR-induced ATR-CHK1 pathway activation to enhance DNA damage repair (DDR). Mechanistically, RNF126 physically associates with the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex and ubiquitinates MRE11 at K339 and K480 to increase its DNA exonuclease activity, subsequent RPA binding, and ATR phosphorylation, promoting sustained DDR in a homologous recombination repair-prone manner. Accordingly, depletion of RNF126 leads to increased genomic instability and radiation sensitivity in both TNBC cells and mice. Furthermore, it is found that RNF126 expression is induced by IR activating the HER2-AKT-NF-κB pathway and targeting RNF126 expression with dihydroartemisinin significantly improves the sensitivity of TNBC tumors in the brain to IR treatment in vivo. Together, these results reveal that RNF126-mediated MRE11 ubiquitination is a critical regulator of the DDR, which provides a promising target for improving the sensitivity of TNBC to radiotherapy.

The impact of vaccination on patients with COVID-19 during the wave of Omicron in Shanghai

Background

The global health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic persistently, of which Omicron is currently the predominant variant. However, the impact of vaccination on Omicron remained uncertain.

Objective

This study sought to explore the effect of vaccination on patients infected with Omicron.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort was conducted in the largest Fangcang shelter hospital in Shanghai from April 1 to May 30, 2022. The demographics, length of hospital stay, clinical symptoms, the comorbidities and vaccination status were recorded. Clinical outcomes of the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups were compared and analyzed.

Results

Of the 3,119 patients who fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the study, 2,226 (71.4%) patients had received nCoV-19 vaccine while 893 (28.6%) patients had not received it before admission. Patients in the vaccinated group had significantly shorter length of hospital stay than those in the unvaccinated group (15.48 ± 2.708 vs. 15.85 ± 3.102, p < 0.001). More asymptomatic patients were observed in the vaccinated group than the non-vaccinated (70.4 vs. 64.5%, p < 0.001). Further subgroup analysis demonstrated that the older the age, the more significant the difference was (p < 0.005).

Conclusions

Vaccination was associated with a significant reduction in the severity of Omicron infection compared with no vaccination. Vaccination appears to make Omicron-infected people with milder symptoms than unvaccinated people. This suggests the potential effectiveness of current vaccines against Omicron.

Identification of risk genes in Chinese nonobstructive azoospermia patients based on whole-exome sequencing

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe condition in infertile men, and increasing numbers of causative genes have been identified during the last few decades. Although certain causative genes can explain the presence of NOA in some patients, a proportion of NOA patients remain to be addressed. This study aimed to investigate potential high-risk genes associated with spermatogenesis in idiopathic NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 46 male patients diagnosed with NOA. First, screening was performed for 119 genes known to be related to male infertility. Next, further screening was performed to determine potential high-risk causative genes for NOA by comparisons with 68 healthy male controls. Finally, risk genes with high/specific expression in the testes were selected and their expression fluctuations during spermatogenesis were graphed. The frequency of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene pathogenic variant carriers was higher in the NOA patients compared with the healthy controls. Potential risk genes that may be causes of NOA were identified, including seven genes that were highly/specifically expressed in the testes. Four risk genes previously reported to be involved in spermatogenesis (MutS homolog 5 [MSH5], cilia- and flagella-associated protein 54 [CFAP54], MAP7 domain containing 3 [MAP7D3], and coiled-coil domain containing 33 [CCDC33]) and three novel risk genes (coiled-coil domain containing 168 [CCDC168], chromosome 16 open reading frame 96 [C16orf96], and serine protease 48 [PRSS48]) were identified to be highly or specifically expressed in the testes and significantly different in the 46 NOA patients compared with 68 healthy controls. This study on clinical NOA patients provides further evidence for the four previously reported risk genes. The present findings pave the way for further functional investigations and provide candidate risk genes for genetic diagnosis of NOA.

Genetic screening of Chinese patients with hydatidiform mole by whole-exome sequencing and comprehensive analysis

PURPOSE

We aim to explore if there are any other candidate genetic variants in patients with a history of at least one hydatidiform mole (HM) besides the well-known variants in NLRP7 and KHDC3L.

METHODS

The diagnosis of HM type was based on histopathology, and available HM tissues were collected for short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping to verify the diagnosis. DNA extracted from blood samples or decidual tissues of the 78 patients was subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES).

RESULTS

We identified five novel variants in NLRP7, two novel variants in KHDC3L, and a chromosome abnormality covering the KHDC3L locus among patients with HM. We found that patients with HM who carried heterozygous variants in KHDC3L had a chance of normal pregnancy. We also detected four novel genetic variants in candidate genes that may be associated with HM.

CONCLUSION

Our study enriched the spectrum of variants in NLRP7 and KHDC3L in Chinese HM patients and provided a new outlook on the effects of heterozygous variants in KHDC3L. The novel candidate genetic variants associated with HMs reported in this study will also contribute to further research on HMs.

Highly Stable Neutral Corrole Radical: Amphoteric Aromatic-Antiaromatic Switching and Efficient Photothermal Conversion

The preparation of novel stable radical systems that survive and may be manipulated under harsh conditions is essential for their practical applications, such as energy storage and conversion materials. Here, we present a facile synthesis of an electrically neutral benzo-fused nickel corrole radical that shows remarkable photo- and thermal stability. The carbon-based organic radical character was confirmed using electron spin resonance and spin population analyses. This radical may be reversibly converted to its aromatic or antiaromatic ion via a one-electron redox process, as indicated by nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts and theoretical calculations. Notably, the antiaromatic state is stable, showing intense ring currents with complex pathways. The spectroscopic characteristics and calculated molecular orbitals of the corrole radical exhibit a combination of aromatic and antiaromatic features. On the basis of the aromatic light-harvesting property and antiaromatic emission-free character, the corrole radical exhibits highly robust, efficient photothermal energy conversion in water after encapsulation within nanoparticles, with the unpaired spin simultaneously retained. These results provide a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the (anti)aromaticity and photophysical properties of a porphyrinoid radical and a promising platform for the design of radical-based functional materials.

Application of next-generation sequencing to preimplantation genetic testing for recurrent hydatidiform mole patients

PURPOSE

To study the application of next-generation sequencing on preimplantation genetic testing for recurrent hydatidiform mole patients.

METHODS

A total of ten recurrent hydatidiform mole patients aged 27-34 years with a history of at least twice hydatidiform moles and no normal pregnancy were collected from 2019 to 2020. The diagnosis of hydatidiform mole type was clarified using short tandem repeat genotyping on products of conception, and whole-exome sequencing was applied for all patients and their partners. Seven recurrent hydatidiform mole patients with complete hydatidiform mole/partial hydatidiform mole type among previous hydatidiform mole tissues and no Pathogenetic/Likely pathogenetic/Uncertain significance variants in NLRP7/KHDC3L/MEI1/C11orf80 underwent a procedure of preimplantation genetic testing. Next-generation sequencing for analyzing the copy number variants and the numbers of heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism was adopted to clarify the ploidy and parental origin of the embryo chromosomes in vitro. Embryos with biparental diploidy were selected for transfer.

RESULTS

Seven patients have undergone the procedure of preimplantation genetic testing, and twenty-three embryos were obtained, among which 82.6% (n = 19) were identified transferrable and 17.4% (n = 4) were identified aneuploid. Two patients have delivered healthy babies and another is currently in the second trimester after transfer.

CONCLUSION

Analyzing the copy number variants and the numbers of heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism on the basis of next-generation sequencing can be utilized in the procedure of preimplantation genetic testing among part of recurrent hydatidiform mole patients. The current study is effective to reduce the occurrence of hydatidiform mole with improved clinical strategy, the advanced testing technology and analysis methods, as three of seven patients have conceived or delivered successfully.

Dwarf mice as models for reproductive ageing research

Dwarf mice are characterized by extremely long lifespan, delayed ovarian ageing, altered metabolism, lower age-related oxidative damage and cancer incidence rate. Snell dwarf, Ames dwarf and growth hormone receptor knockout mice are three commonly used models. Despite studies focusing on ageing and metabolism, the reproductive features of female dwarf mice have also attracted interest over the last decade. Female Snell and Ames dwarf mice have regular oestrous cycles and ovulation rates, as in normal mice, but with a larger ovarian reserve and delayed ovarian ageing. The primordial follicle reserve in dwarf mice is greater than in normal littermates. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration is seven times higher in Ames dwarf mice than in their normal siblings, and ovarian transcriptomic profiling showed distinctive patterns in older Ames dwarf mice, especially enriched in inflammatory and immune response-related pathways. In addition, microRNA profiles also showed distinctive differences in Ames dwarf mice compared with normal control littermates. This review aims to summarize research progress on dwarf mice as models in the reproductive ageing field. Investigations focusing on the mechanisms of their reserved reproductive ability are much needed and are expected to provide additional molecular biological bases for the clinical practice of reproductive medicine in women.

A generalized l 2,p-norm regression based feature selection algorithm

Feature selection is an important data dimension reduction method, and it has been used widely in applications involving high-dimensional data such as genetic data analysis and image processing. In order to achieve robust feature selection, the latest works apply the l 2 , 1 or l 2 , p -norm of matrix to the loss function and regularization terms in regression, and have achieved encouraging results. However, these existing works rigidly set the matrix norms used in the loss function and the regularization terms to the same l 2 , 1 or l 2 , p -norm, which limit their applications. In addition, the algorithms for solutions they present either have high computational complexity and are not suitable for large data sets, or cannot provide satisfying performance due to the approximate calculation. To address these problems, we present a generalized l 2 , p -norm regression based feature selection ( l 2 , p -RFS) method based on a new optimization criterion. The criterion extends the optimization criterion of ( l 2 , p -RFS) when the loss function and the regularization terms in regression use different matrix norms. We cast the new optimization criterion in a regression framework without regularization. In this framework, the new optimization criterion can be solved using an iterative re-weighted least squares (IRLS) procedure in which the least squares problem can be solved efficiently by using the least square QR decomposition (LSQR) algorithm. We have conducted extensive experiments to evaluate the proposed algorithm on various well-known data sets of both gene expression and image data sets, and compare it with other related feature selection methods.

[SHOX2 promotes migration, invasion and stemness of bladder cancer cells in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of human short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) in regulating the migration, invasion and stemness of human bladder cancer cells.

METHODS

We analyzed SHOX2 gene expression in bladder cancer and adjacent tissues based on TCGA database. Univariate survival analysis of SHOX2 gene expression in TCGA-BLCA data was performed using GEPIA. The probable function of SHOX2 was predicted using GSEA. Human bladder cancer T24 cell models of SHOX2 knockdown or overexpression were assessed for changes in migration and invasion abilities using wound healing assay and Transwell assay, and their cancer stem cell-like characteristics were evaluated using tumorsphere formation assay and colony formation assay. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers Ecadherin and vimentin and the TGF-β signaling network component TβR-I in the cells.

RESULTS

SHOX2 expression was significantly higher in bladder cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P < 0.05), especially in paired tissue specimens (P < 0.01), and was negatively correlated with the overall survival of the patients (P < 0.05). SHOX2 gene expression was correlated positively with EMT-related (P < 0.05) and stemness-related gene signatures (P < 0.01). In T24 cells, SHOX2 knockdown significantly suppressed cell migration and invasion, which was significantly enhanced by SHOX2 overexpression (P < 0.01). The cancer stem cell-like characteristics of T24 cells was repressed by SHOX2 knockdown but significantly enhanced by SHOX2 overexpression (P < 0.01). SHOX2 knockdown induced morphological changes of the cells into epithelioid cells, whereas SHOX2 overexpression induced a mesenchymal morphology of the cells. SHOX2 knockdown increased E-cadherin expression and decreased vimentin and TβR-I expression, while SHOX2 overexpression increased the expressions of vimentin and TβR-I in the cells.

CONCLUSION

SHOX2 promotes the migration, invasion and stemness of human bladder cancer cells possibly by regulating EMT via the TGF-β signaling pathway.

Advances in Genetic Diagnosis of Kallmann Syndrome and Genetic Interruption

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare hereditary disease with high phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hyposmia/anosmia are the two major characterized phenotypes of KS. Besides, mirror movements, dental agenesis, digital bone abnormalities, unilateral renal agenesis, midline facial defects, hearing loss, and eye movement abnormalities can also be observed in KS patients. Because of the phenotypic heterogeneity, genetic diagnosis become increasingly valuable to distinguish KS from other disorders including normosmic congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, constitutional delay of growth and puberty, CHARGE syndrome, and functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Application of next-generation sequencing has promoted the discovery of novel pathogenic genes in KS pedigrees. Prenatal diagnosis is an effective method in clinical settings to decrease birth defects and block transmission of genetic disorders. However, pregnant women may suffer from physical and psychological distress when fetuses are diagnosed with congenital defects. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a prospective approach during the in vitro fertilization process that helps to interrupt transmission of hereditary diseases to offspring at an early stage. Thus, genetic testing and counseling are recommended to KS patients with family histories, prenatal diagnosis and PGT are considered to be useful options.

A comprehensive PGT-M strategy for ADPKD patients with de novo PKD1 mutations using affected embryo or gametes as proband

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease characterized by the development of renal cysts and progression to renal failure. Preimplantation genetic testing-monogenic disease (PGT-M) is an alternative option to obtain healthy babies. However, de novo PKD1 mutation of one of the spouses or the absence of a positive family history poses a serious challenge to PGT-M. Here, we described a comprehensive strategy which includes preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) study and monogenic diagnosis study for ADPKD patients bearing de novo mutations. The innovation of our strategy is to use the gamete (polar body or single sperm) as proband for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linkage analysis to detect an embryo's carrier status. Nine ADPKD couples with either de novo mutation or without a positive family history were recruited and a total of 34 embryos from 13 PGT-M cycles were examined. Within these nine couples, two successfully delivered healthy babies had their genetic status confirmed by amniocentesis. This study provides a creative approach for embryo diagnosis of patients with de novo mutations or patients who lack essential family members for linkage analysis.

Global patent statistical analysis for drug testing technology

BACKGROUND:

In recent decades, illicit drug testing has become a high priority area in law enforcement and forensic analysis.

OBJECTIVE:

Since patents are the largest source of technical information in the world, patent database analysis for illicit drug testing is extremely important to effectively promote the development and protection of the related intellectual property rights.

METHODS:

In the present study, we first retrieve a database of 1732 drug detection patents using keywords and logical expressions related to the title, abstract, and claims, and subsequently discuss the current global patent statistics in detail.

RESULTS:

The relevant patent information is presented, including patent application quantity, filing country, ownership, and technical field.

CONCLUSIONS:

Finally, we summarize the current development trend in drug testing and propose several suggestions focused on the bottleneck of analytical techniques.

Isochromanoindolenines suppress triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation partially via inhibiting Akt activation

As the most malignant subtype of breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks effective targeted therapeutics clinically to date. In this study, one lead compound FZU-0025-065 with isochromanoindolenine scaffold was identified by a cell-based screening. Among nine breast cancer cell lines tested, TNBC are the most sensitive cell lines to FZU-0025-065. FZU-0025-065 inhibits TNBC cell growth in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. FZU-0025-065 suppresses the expression of cell cycle dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Cyclin D1 and Cyclin B1; meanwhile, elevates the expression of cell cycle dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and p27. Importantly, we found that FZU-0025-065 suppresses AKT activation in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. Over-expression of constitutive active AKT partially rescues FZU-0025-065 induced cell growth inhibition in MDA-MB-468 cells, indicating FZU-0025-065 suppresses TNBC cell growth partially via inhibiting AKT activation. Finally, FZU-0025-065 suppresses TNBC cell growth in a xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our findings suggested that isochromanoindolenine derivative FZU-0025-065 inhibits TNBC via suppressing the AKT signaling and that FZU-0025-065 may be useful for TNBC treatment.

Escalating dose-multiple binge methamphetamine treatment elicits neurotoxicity, altering gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in mice

Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive and illegal psychostimulant drug that can cause multiple organ dysfunction, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Gut microbiota have been implicated in development of various CNS-related diseases, via the gut-brain axis (GBA). However, effect of METH in the alteration of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites is unclear, whereas the relationship with METH-induced neurotoxicity remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated effect of METH on neurotoxicity in striatum and colonic damage by exposing BALB/c mice to an escalating dose-multiple binge regimen, and then analyzed protein expression using Western blot analysis. We further detected and sequenced the 16 S rRNA gene in fecal samples, and performed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS)-based metabolomics to analyze gut microbes and fecal metabolites. Exposure to METH significantly downregulated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) proteins, but upregulated MAOA, Beclin1, Atg5, and LC3-Ⅱ. METH up-regulated inflammation-related factors, such as caspase1, TNF-α and IL-18, by activating the toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd88)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway and reduced occludin protein expression. In addition, METH exposure changed α and β diversities of gut microbiota. Specifically, METH exposure elevated relative abundances of pathogenic bacteria, but reduced those of probiotics. Metabolomics, combined with enrichment analyses revealed that METH exposure altered fecal metabolites. Our findings suggest that METH exposure induced autophagy in the CNS, elevated intestinal autophagy flora, leading to accumulation of fecal metabolites in the autophagy pathway, and causing enteritis. Moreover, METH promoted intestinal inflammation by increasing the relative abundance of the pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract, and reduced intestinal TJ protein expression.

Dual catalytic cascaded nanoplatform for photo/chemodynamic/starvation synergistic therapy

In this study, manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was attached to prussian blue (PB) by a one-pot method to prepare PBMO. Then, the GOD was loaded onto PBMO through the electrostatic interaction of hyaluronic acid (HA) to form tumor-targeted nanoplatform (PBMO-GH). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and gluconic acid were produced through the GOD-catalyzed enzymatic reaction. Meanwhile, PB could not only catalyze H₂O₂ for oxygen generation to further promote glucose consumption but also possess the property of photothermal conversion. As a result, glucose was continuously consumed to achieve the starvation therapy (ST), and the photothermal therapy (PTT) could be realized under near-infrared (NIR) light. Besides, the Mn²⁺ generated by the reaction of MnO₂ with glutathione (GSH) could exert Fenton-like reaction to produce highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) from H₂O₂, which thereby realized self-reinforcing chemodynamic therapy (CDT). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that PBMO-GH could effectively inhibit the growth of tumor cells via ST/CDT/PTT synergistic effect. Therefore, the as-prepared nanoplatform for multi-modal therapy will provide a promising paradigm for overcoming cancer.

Effect of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels on sperm quality and assisted reproductive technology outcomes for men of infertile Chinese couples

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is highly prevalent in China, but its effect on sperm quality and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in men from infertile couples is not clear. This study aimed to explore the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and semen parameters, as well as ART outcomes for men from infertile couples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study recruited 1308 men from infertile couples who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital for first time from February to August 2019 (NCT03804294). Reproductive hormones levels, semen parameters, and clinical outcomes of ART were compared between vitamin D-deficient group (serum 25OHD ≤ 10 ng/mL), insufficient group (serum 25OHD 10-20 ng/mL), and sufficient group (serum 25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL).

RESULTS

We found 27.7% of participants were vitamin D sufficient, suggesting high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in China. Reproductive hormone levels were similar between the three groups. The total number of morphologically normal spermatozoa was significantly different between the three groups in all participants, impaired semen quality subgroup, and normozoospermia subgroup (P < .05) with the adjustment of confounders (age, BMI, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and physical exercise). The percentage of normal sperm morphology significantly increased with elevated serum 25OHD levels in all participants and the participants with impaired semen quality (P < .05), and the total sperm count showed significant difference in participants with impaired semen quality (P = .026). For routine in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, there were no differences in fertilization rate, top-quality embryo rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, and clinical pregnancy rate between serum 25OHD < 20 ng/mL and serum 25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Males of infertile couples with higher serum 25OHD levels exhibit better results in sperm morphology, and serum 25OHD levels may contribute to total sperm number in participants with impaired semen quality, but show no effects on the ART outcomes.

Roles of Vitamin D in Reproductive Systems and Assisted Reproductive Technology

Vitamin D, an essential steroid hormone in the human body, plays an important role in not only the regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, but also in various physiological processes, such as cell differentiation and apoptosis, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Vitamin D receptors are widely distributed in male and female reproductive systems, suggesting that vitamin D is essential for fertility. Because vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent around the world, this review aims to discuss the potential functions of vitamin D in male and female reproductive systems and the associations between vitamin D and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. Vitamin D is involved in many physiological reproductive processes, including steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and acrosome reaction. It is correlated with sperm quality, ovarian reserve, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis, among others. Controversial clinical findings on vitamin D levels and ART outcomes were revealed in this review, and demonstrations of efficacy for human fertility in randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation are notably lacking. Thus, further studies are highly required involving molecular mechanisms among different species and human populations, as well as randomized controlled trials.

A novel carbazolyl GFP chromophore analogue: synthesis strategy and acidic pH-activatable lysosomal probe for tracing endogenous viscosity changes

A novel, acidic pH-activatable carbazolyl GFP chromophore analogue was designed for tracing lysosomal viscosity changes.

Mifepristone Derivative FZU-00,003 Suppresses Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cell Growth partially via miR-153-KLF5 axis

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most malignant breast cancers lacking targeted therapeutics currently. We recently reported that mifepristone (MIF), a drug regularly used for abortion, suppresses TNBC cell growth by inhibiting KLF5 expression via inducing miR-153. However, its anticancer efficacy is only modest at high dose. In order to enhance the anticancer activities, a focused compound library containing 17 compounds by altering the sensitive metabolic region of mifepristone has been designed and synthesized. We first tested the cell growth inhibitory effects of these compounds in TNBC cell lines. Among them, FZU-00,003 displayed the most potent efficiency. FZU-00,003 suppresses TNBC cell growth, cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis more effectively than MIF does. Consistently, FZU-00,003 induces miR-153 expression and suppressed KLF5 expression at much lower dosages than MIF does. Furthermore, FZU-00,003 inhibits tumor growth more potently than MIF does. Taken together, the MIF derivative, FZU-00,003 may serve as a better therapeutic compound for TNBC than MIF.

Trio-whole-exome sequencing and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for unexplained recurrent fetal malformations

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is widely used to detect genetic mutations that cause Mendelian diseases, and has been successfully applied in combination with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to avoid the transmission of genetic defects. We investigated 40 nonconsanguineous families with unexplained, recurrent fetal malformations (two or more malformed fetuses) from May 2016 to December 2018. Using Trio-WES, we identified 32 disease-associated variants in 40 families (80% positive rate), which were subsequently verified. Known Mendelian diseases were identified in 12 families (30%), highly suspected Mendelian diseases in 12 families (30%), variants with uncertain significance in 8 families (20%), and no noticeable variants for 8 families (20%). Further analysis showed variants in 22 genes may cause fetal malformations. Four gene variants were detected in fetuses for the first time, which expanded the spectrum of the disease phenotype. Two novel candidate genes may be related to fetal malformations. Of 26 couples receiving PGD on disease-associated genes, 3 healthy newborns were delivered, and 4 couples are undergoing pregnancies. We reported the fetal data and developed an optimized genetic testing strategy. Our finding strongly suggests the presence of single gene Mendelian disorders in 60% of those families, and PGD services for couples to have healthy babies.

Decreased Expression of TIM-3 on Th17 Cells Associated with Ophthalmopathy in Patients with Graves' Disease

Purpose:

Thyroid-associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO) is one of the most common orbital immunological diseases in adults. CD4+ helper T (Th) cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of TAO. But the mechanisms regulating CD4+ T cell activity is unclear. This study examines T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) expression in helper T cell type 1 (Th1), Th17, and regulatory T cells in sufferers of TAO.

Methods:

Participants were divided into 3 groups: patients with TAO, patients with Graves’ disease but without orbitopathy (GD), and healthy control patients (HC). Peripheral blood samples were collected for each patient in the designated group. Flow cytometry methods assessed the frequency of Th1 (CD4+IFN-γ+), Th17 (CD4+IL-17+), regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25hiCD127lo), and TIM-3 protein expression. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) measured the magnitude of TIM-3 expression and the percentage of TIM-3+ cells for each patient.

Results:

Compared to the GD group, TAO patients possessed higher frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells in peripheral blood samples. The percentage of TIM-3+ Th1 and Th17 cells was significantly lower in the TAO patients than the GD group. Across all patients sampled, TIM-3+ cell percentage negatively correlated with Th1 cell frequency. Th1 and Th17 cells exhibited significantly decreased expression of TIM-3 in TAO patients compared to healthy controls. Regulatory T cells showed little TIM-3 expression and we observed no significant differences in frequency between groups.

Conclusion:

These results suggest a role for TIM-3 in the regulation of Th1 and Th17 cells and the pathogenesis of Graves’ ophthalmopathy.

Modelling invasive group A streptococcal disease using bioluminescence

BACKGROUND

The development of vaccines and evaluation of novel treatment strategies for invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease requires suitable models of human infection that can be monitored longitudinally and are preferably non-invasive. Bio-photonic imaging provides an opportunity to reduce use of animals in infection modelling and refine the information that can be obtained, however the range of bioluminescent GAS strains available is limited. In this study we set out to develop bioluminescent iGAS strains for use in in vivo pneumonia and soft tissue disease models.

RESULTS

Using clinical emm1, emm3, and emm89 GAS strains that were transformed with constructs carrying the luxABCDE operon, growth and bioluminescence of transformed strains were characterised in vitro and in vivo. Emm3 and emm89 strains expressed detectable bioluminescence when transformed with a replicating plasmid and light production correlated with viable bacterial counts in vitro, however plasmid instability precluded use in the absence of antimicrobial pressure. Emm89 GAS transformed with an integrating construct demonstrated stable bioluminescence that was maintained in the absence of antibiotics. Bioluminescence of the emm89 strain correlated with viable bacterial counts both in vitro and immediately following infection in vivo. Although bioluminescence conferred a detectable fitness burden to the emm89 strain during soft tissue infection in vivo, it did not prevent dissemination to distant tissues.

CONCLUSION

Development of stably bioluminescent GAS for use in vitro and in vivo models of infection should facilitate development of novel therapeutics and vaccines while also increasing our understanding of infection progression and transmission routes.

Quality of meta-analyses in major leading orthopedics journals: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Meta-Analyses are the basis of professional and healthcare agencies recommendations and have a growing importance. Quality of meta-analyses has been investigated in some medical fields but to our best knowledge this issue remains under investigated in orthopedics. Therefore, we performed a systematic analysis to: 1) after the introduction of PRISMA statement as a comprehensive guideline and the use of the AMSTAR tool as the standard for sufficient review methodology, has the quality of MAs improved because of that? 2) have some general characteristics influenced the quality of MAs (country, funding source, number of authors)?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We systematically searched the meta-analyses in the top four journals with the impact factor (2015) as following: JBJS, Osteoarthritis Cartilage Arthroscopy and Clin Orthop Relat Res from 2005 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2015. Likewise from 2012-2015, we also analyzed the meta-analyses from OTSR. Characteristics were extracted based on the PRISMA statement and the AMSTAR tool. Country, number of authors, funding source were also extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 154 meta-analyses were included in the present study. Score with PRISMA statement and the AMSTAR checklist were 20.86±3.04 out of a maximum of 27 and 7.86±1.55 out of a maximum of 11. The best journal was OTSR according to the PRISMA (23.06±1.92) and AMSTAR (9.13±0.87) scores. And the worst journal was Clin Orthop Relat Res according to the PRISMA score (19.4±2.70) and JBJS according to the AMSTAR score (6.78±1.65). Twelve items showed significant difference in the PRISMA statement, and five items in the AMSTAR checklist. Integral score of PRISMA statement and AMSTAR checklist has a significant difference between 2005-2008 and 2012-2015. The MAs reported from U.S. (56, 36.4%) were more than any other region in the world. And the MAs published by Asia/Oceania increased remarkably between these two period times [from (4, 10.8%) to (45, 38.5%)].

CONCLUSION

This study showed that methodological reporting quality of meta-analyses in the major orthopedics journals has improved after the publication of the PRISMA statement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Geographical and ethnic distribution of MTHFR gene polymorphisms and their associations with diseases among Chinese population

Numerous studies have investigated the distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and their associations with diseases in China. In this study we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of these studies (715 eligible studies in total).Results revealed that the frequencies of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms varied markedly in different areas and ethnicities, and even showed geographical gradients. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism was significantly associated with 42 clinical disorders (p < 0.05), mostly relating to the diseases of circulatory system, birth defects and cancers. The association of the A1298C polymorphism with three diseases (coronary heart disease, breast cancer and neural tube defects fathers) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, according to the Venice criteria, only the associations of the C677T polymorphism with breast and ovarian cancers were assessed as having strong epidemiological credibility. This is the first study to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status and gaps in genetic epidemiological study of the two polymorphisms in China, and its findings may be useful for medical and public health practices. Future studies are warranted to focus on the interactions of MTHFR genes with environmental exposure and with other genes, and to improve their methodological quality and reporting of findings.

Orthopedics research output from China, USA, UK, Japan, Germany and France: A 10-year survey of the literature

BACKGROUND

In the past decade, researchers have made great progress in the field of Orthopedics. However, the research status of different countries is unclear. To summarize the number of published articles, we assessed the cumulative impact factors in top orthopedic journals. The aims of the study were to measure: 1) the quality and quantity of publications in orthopedics-related journals from China and other five counties, 2) the trend of the number of publications in orthopedics-related journals.

METHODS

The related journals were selected based on the 2014 scientific citation index (SCI) and articles were searched based on the PubMed database. To assess the quantity and quality of research output, the number of publications including clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, case reports, reviews, citations, impact factors, number of articles in the top 10 journals and most popular journals were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 143,138 orthopedics articles were published from 2005 to 2014. The USA accounts for 24.9% (35,763/143,138) of the publications, followed by UK (7878/143,138 (5.5%)), Japan (7133/143,138 (5.0%)), Germany (5942/143,138 (4.2%)), China (4143/143,138 (2.9%)) and France (2748/143,138 (1.9%)). The ranking for accumulated impact factors as follows: USA, UK, Japan, Germany, France and China. The mean impact factor's order is USA, China, Germany, Japan, France, UK, and interestingly the mean impact factors in Japan is similar to the Germany in 2005-2014. The USA had the highest percentage of articles in the top 10 journals, while China owns the least. The USA had the highest number of average citations, while Japan had lowest number of average citations.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study, we can conclude that the USA has had been leading the orthopedics research in the past 10 years. Although China still falls behind, it has made considerable progress in the orthopedics research, not only in quantity but also quality.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.