Identification of early and intermediate biomarkers for ARDS mortality by multi-omic approaches.

The lack of successful clinical trials in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has highlighted the unmet need for biomarkers predicting ARDS mortality and for novel therapeutics to reduce ARDS mortality. We utilized a systems biology multi-"omics" approach to identify predictive biomarkers for ARDS mortality. Integrating analyses were designed to differentiate ARDS non-survivors and survivors (568 subjects, 27% overall 28-day mortality) using datasets derived from multiple 'omics' studies in a multi-institution ARDS cohort (54% European descent, 40% African descent). 'Omics' data was available for each subject and included genome-wide association studies (GWAS, n = 297), RNA sequencing (n = 93), DNA methylation data (n = 61), and selective proteomic network analysis (n = 240). Integration of available "omic" data identified a 9-gene set (TNPO1, NUP214, HDAC1, HNRNPA1, GATAD2A, FOSB, DDX17, PHF20, CREBBP) that differentiated ARDS survivors/non-survivors, results that were validated utilizing a longitudinal transcription dataset. Pathway analysis identified TP53-, HDAC1-, TGF-ß-, and IL-6-signaling pathways to be associated with ARDS mortality. Predictive biomarker discovery identified transcription levels of the 9-gene set (AUC-0.83) and Day 7 angiopoietin 2 protein levels as potential candidate predictors of ARDS mortality (AUC-0.70). These results underscore the value of utilizing integrated "multi-omics" approaches in underpowered datasets from racially diverse ARDS subjects.

[Effect of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation on cognitive function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease].

Objective: To investigate the effect of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation on cognitive function in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD). Methods: Seventy-two patients with arteriosclerotic CSVD in the Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled in this study from August 2017 to July 2018. The patients undertook MRA(Magnetic Resonance Angiography)+SWI(Susceptibility weighted imaging), polysomnography, Montreal Cognitive Inventory (MoCA) and Concise Mental State Examination (MMSE). The patients were divided into study group (≥19) and control group (<19) according to the median number of arousal events (median=19) at night. Results: The sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep ratio and non-rapid eye movement-3 (NREM-3) sleep ratio of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the total MoCA score (18.2±4.3) , visual space score(1.9±1.4) and delayed recall score(1.4±0.9) of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (22.7±3.5, 2.9±1.2, 2.9±1.1, P<0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of non-breathing-related sleep fragmentation is high in CSVD patients and this kind of fragmentation is associated with cognitive impairment.

CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis promotes degradation of the ZNF322A oncoprotein to suppress lung cancer progression.

Overexpression of Cys2His2 zinc-finger 322A (ZNF322A) oncogenic transcription factor is associated with lung tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism of ZNF322A overexpression remains poorly understood. Here, we discover that protein stability of ZNF322A is regulated by coordinated phosphorylation and ubiquitination through the CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis. CK1δ and GSK3ß kinases sequentially phosphorylate ZNF322A at serine-396 and then serine-391. Moreover, the doubly phosphorylated ZNF322A protein creates a destruction motif for the ubiquitin ligase FBXW7α leading to ZNF322A protein destruction. Overexpression of FBXW7α induces ZNF322A protein degradation, thereby blocks ZNF322A transcription activity and suppresses ZNF322A-induced tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, overexpression of ZNF322A correlates with low FBXW7α or defective CK1δ/GSK3ß-mediated phosphorylation in lung cancer patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicates that patients with ZNF322A high/FBXW7 low expression profile can be used as an independent factor to predict the clinical outcome in lung cancer patients. Our results reveal a new mechanism of ZNF322A oncoprotein destruction regulated by the CK1δ/GSK3ß/FBXW7α axis. Deregulation of this signaling axis results in ZNF322A overexpression and promotes cancer progression.

Oncoprotein ZNF322A transcriptionally deregulates alpha-adducin, cyclin D1 and p53 to promote tumor growth and metastasis in lung cancer.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.296.

Oncoprotein ZNF322A transcriptionally deregulates alpha-adducin, cyclin D1 and p53 to promote tumor growth and metastasis in lung cancer.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.296.

Oncoprotein ZNF322A transcriptionally deregulates alpha-adducin, cyclin D1 and p53 to promote tumor growth and metastasis in lung cancer.

ZNF322A encoding a classical Cys2His2 zinc finger transcription factor was previously revealed as a potential oncogene in lung cancer patients. However, the oncogenic role of ZNF322A and its underlying mechanism in lung tumorigenesis remain elusive. Here we show ZNF322A protein overexpression in 123 Asian and 74 Caucasian lung cancer patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that ZNF322A was an independent risk factor for a poor outcome in lung cancer, corroborating the Kaplan-Meier results that patients with ZNF322A protein overexpression had significantly poorer overall survival than other patients. Overexpression of ZNF322A promoted cell proliferation and soft agar growth by prolonging cell cycle in S phase in multiple lung cell lines, including the immortalized lung cell BEAS-2B. In addition, ZNF322A overexpression enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of ZNF322A reduced cell growth, invasion and metastasis abilities in vitro and in vivo. Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed potential ZNF322A-regulated downstream targets, including alpha-adducin (ADD1), cyclin D1 (CCND1), and p53. Using luciferase promoter activity assay combined with site-directed mutagenesis and sequential chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR assay, we found that ZNF322A could form a complex with c-Jun and cooperatively activate ADD1 and CCND1 but repress p53 gene transcription by recruiting differential chromatin modifiers, such as histone deacetylase 3, in an AP-1 element dependent manner. Reconstitution experiments indicated that CCND1 and p53 were important to ZNF322A-mediated promotion of cell proliferation, whereas ADD1 was necessary for ZNF322A-mediated cell migration and invasion. Our results provide compelling evidence that ZNF322A overexpression transcriptionally dysregulates genes involved in cell growth and motility therefore contributes to lung tumorigenesis and poor prognosis.

[Transcriptome analysis of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB- 435 by RNA-seq].

The transcriptomic profiles of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 were investigated using the next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The DESeq package was used to screen the differentially expressed transcripts. A total of 229 genes with a significantly differential expression in MDA-MB-435 cells as compared with MCF-7 cells were obtained. Annotation of the biological functions of these genes through the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) v6.7 demonstrated that the 229 differentially expressed genes were mainly implicated in the biological functions related to cell adhesion and motion, antigen processing and presentation (via MHC class II), hormone response, extracellular structure organization, tissue remodeling, and cell proliferation regulation. Analysis of the individual genes demonstrated that MDA-MB-435 cells exhibited a higher tendency to metastasis and antigen processing and presentation, and lower ability to hormone response. Twenty most abundant transcripts in MDA-MB-435 cells, such as VIM, TNC, and CD74, represent its high potential for metastasis. Besides the genes previously reported to be involved in tumor metastasis and development, genes newly identified in this study could provide new clues for the diagnosis and prognosis of aggressive breast cancers.

Gate length scaling effect on high-electron mobility transistors devices using AlGaN/GaN and AlInN/AlN/GaN heterostructures.

Compared to AlGaN/GaN HEMT with 0.15 µm T-gate length, the AlInN/AlN/GaN one exhibits much higher current density and transconductance of 1558 mA/mm at Vd = 2 V and 330 mS/mm, respectively. The high extrinsic ft and fmax of 82 GHz and 70 GHz are extracted from AlInN/AlN/GaN HEMT. Besides, we find that the transconductance roll-off is significant in AlGaN/GaN, but largely improved in AlInN/AlN/GaN HEMT, suggesting that the high carrier density and lattice-matched epitaxial heterostructure is important to reach both large RF output power and high operation frequency, especially for an aggressively gate length scaling.

Identification of a novel human testicular interstitial gene, RNF148, and its expression regulated by histone deacetylases.

Multiple genes are restrictively expressed in mammalian testicular tissues, and they play important roles in the complex process of spermatogenesis. Investigation of these genes and their expression regulation mechanisms is valuable to elucidate the molecular process of spermatogenesis. In this study, we identified a novel human gene, ring finger protein 148 (RNF148) that is abundantly expressed in testes and slightly expressed in pancreas. In situ hybridization analysis showed that RNF148 messenger RNA was mainly present in the interstitial cells of human testicular tissues, and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed protein levels in that location. Treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A activated the expression of RNF148 messenger RNA in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in HEK293T and HeLa cells, neither of which normally express RNF148. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that trichostatin A treatment increased the binding of acetylated histone H3 to the RNF148 gene promoter. We identified a novel human testicular interstitial gene and observed that histone deacetylases regulate RNF148 expression.

Endocervical glandular neoplasia associated with lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia is HPV-independent and correlates with carbonic anhydrase-IX expression: a Gynaecological Oncology Group Study.

BACKGROUND: Lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH) is a rare lesion of the uterine cervix. It has been proposed that LEGH may represent a precursor lesion to a group of mucinous adenocarcinoma with gastric phenotype (GA) that is independent of high-risk human papillomavirus (H-HPV) infection. Carbonic anhydrase-IX (CA-IX) is highly expressed in conventional glandular lesions (CGLs). However, expression of CA-IX in LEGH or GA has not been studied. METHODS: In all, 12 CGLs, 7 LEGHs, 6 LEGHs with coexisting adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS, 3) and GA (3) were identified from Japanese women with a cytological diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance. Immunostaining was used to detect CA-IX and p16(INK)4(a) (hereafter termed p16) protein expression in the tissues and CA-IX protein expression in the Papanicolaou smears (PSs). Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect H-HPV DNA in liquid-based cytology. RESULTS: Out of 12 (83%) CGLs, 10 were positive with H-HPV and high levels of CA-IX expression were seen in all (100%) cases. P16 protein expression was observed in 11 out of 12 (92%) cases. None of the LEGHs, LEGHs with AIS or GA were positive for H-HPV and only 8 out of 13 (62%) showed focal weak (1+) p16 expression. In contrast, all cases (100%) exhibited strong CA-IX protein expression. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that there are different molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis resulting in CGLs vs LEGHs associated with AIS or GA. There is also a possible link between LEGHs and GAs. Furthermore, CA-IX expression may serve as a useful biomarker for the detection of GAs in the absence of H-HPV infection.

Spectral editing of two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR spectra for protein resonance assignment and structure determination.

Several techniques for spectral editing of 2D (13)C-(13)C correlation NMR of proteins are introduced. They greatly reduce the spectral overlap for five common amino acid types, thus simplifying spectral assignment and conformational analysis. The carboxyl (COO) signals of glutamate and aspartate are selected by suppressing the overlapping amide N-CO peaks through (13)C-(15)N dipolar dephasing. The sidechain methine (CH) signals of valine, lecuine, and isoleucine are separated from the overlapping methylene (CH(2)) signals of long-chain amino acids using a multiple-quantum dipolar transfer technique. Both the COO and CH selection methods take advantage of improved dipolar dephasing by asymmetric rotational-echo double resonance (REDOR), where every other π-pulse is shifted from the center of a rotor period t(r) by about 0.15 t(r). This asymmetry produces a deeper minimum in the REDOR dephasing curve and enables complete suppression of the undesired signals of immobile segments. Residual signals of mobile sidechains are positively identified by dynamics editing using recoupled (13)C-(1)H dipolar dephasing. In all three experiments, the signals of carbons within a three-bond distance from the selected carbons are detected in the second spectral dimension via (13)C spin exchange. The efficiencies of these spectral editing techniques range from 60 % for the COO and dynamic selection experiments to 25 % for the CH selection experiment, and are demonstrated on well-characterized model proteins GB1 and ubiquitin.

Changes in the incidence of candidaemia during 2000-2008 in a tertiary medical centre in northern Taiwan.

Candidaemia is associated with high mortality and high healthcare costs. The incidence of candidaemia in Taiwan rose markedly during the period 1980-2000. We conducted this hospital-based surveillance study in order to explore the secular trend in incidence of candidaemia during the period 2000 to 2008. In our study, Candida spp. were the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infections, with a 30-day crude mortality rate of 36.7%. Candida albicans was the most common species identified, although mortality rate did not differ significantly among species. The incidence of candidaemia began to decrease in 2004. Risk factors related to higher mortality included longer hospital stay before onset of candidaemia, liver cirrhosis, malignancy, end-stage renal disease requiring renal dialysis, dependence on mechanical ventilation and urinary catheterisation.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) and high-risk human papillomavirus (H-HPV) as diagnostic biomarkers of cervical dysplasia/neoplasia in Japanese women with a cytologic diagnosis of atypical glandular cells (AGC): a Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Study.

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomavirus (H-HPV) infection is linked to cervical neoplasia but its role in detecting cervical glandular lesions (GLs) is unclear. Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) is a hypoxic biomarker that is highly expressed in neoplastic cervical GLs. The diagnostic utility of these biomarkers was evaluated by the Gynecologic Oncology Group in Japanese women with a cytological diagnosis of atypical glandular cells. METHODS: Immunostaining was used to detect CA-IX in a conventional Pap smear. Immunoreactivity of CA-IX was interpreted by a panel of pathologists blinded to the histological diagnosis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect H-HPV in a liquid-based cytology specimen. RESULTS: Significant cervical lesions (SCLs), defined as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2, CIN3), adenocarcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma, were observed in 37/88 (42%) of women. CA-IX testing alone (n=88) had a sensitivity of 89, 100 or 73% for SCLs, GLs or significant squamous lesions (SLs), respectively, with a false negative rate (FNR) of 14%. Testing for H-HPV (n=84) had a sensitivity of 65, 53 or 80% for SCLs, GLs or SLs, respectively, with a FNR of 22%. The combination of CA-IX and H-HPV testing had a sensitivity of 97, 100 or 93% for SCLs, GLs or SLs, respectively, with a FNR of 5%. Among eight H-HPV-negative GLs, six (75%) had a diagnosis of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH). CONCLUSION: The combination of CA-IX and HPV testing improved the diagnostic accuracy. The low rate of H-HPV positivity in the GLs was associated with coexisting LEGH independent of H-HPV.

Detection of adulteration of anti-hypertension dietary supplements and traditional Chinese medicines with synthetic drugs using LC/MS.

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) method was developed for the analysis of 18 drugs used for the treatment of anti-hypertension, including diuretics, calcium antagonists, and angiogenesis-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as adulterants in dietary supplements and traditional Chinese medicines. Separation was accomplished on a Xtimate C18 reversed-phase column using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and 20 mM ammonium formate buffer (pH 3.2) as mobile phase. The method demonstrated linearity from 0.03 to 21.52 mg kg(-1). Limits of detection ranged from 6.5 to 86.0 microg kg(-1). The recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 71% to 109%. The procedure was successfully applied in routine inspection analysis.

Genetic variants in COMT and neurocognitive impairment in families of patients with schizophrenia.

This study examined the relations of genetic variants in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, including rs737865 in intron 1, rs4680 in exon 4 (Val158Met) and downstream rs165599, to schizophrenia and its related neurocognitive functions in families of patients with schizophrenia. Totally, 680 individuals from 166 simplex (166 affected members and 354 nonpsychotic first-degree relatives) and 46 multiplex families (85 affected members and 75 nonpsychotic first-degree relatives) were interviewed using Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies, administered Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT), and drawn for venous blood. Both categorical (dichotomizing families on affected members' neurocognitive performance) and quantitative approaches toward the WCST and CPT performance scores were employed using the family-based association test and the variance components framework, respectively. Both false discovery rate and permutations were used to adjust for multiple testing. The genotypes of rs4680 were associated with both the WCST and CPT performance scores in these families, but not with schizophrenia per se in either whole sample or subgroup analyses. Meanwhile, the other two single nucleotide polymorphisms were differentially associated with the two tasks. For WCST indexes, regardless of subgroup analyses or quantitative approach, only rs737865 exhibited moderate associations. For CPT indexes, rs737865 exhibited association for the subgroup with deficit on CPT reaction time, whereas rs165599 exhibited association for the subgroup with deficit on CPT d' as well as quantitative undegraded d'. Our results indicate that the genetic variants in COMT might be involved in modulation of neurocognitive functions and hence conferring increased risk to schizophrenia.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism, Helicobacter pylori infection and non-cardia gastric carcinoma in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma inhibits the growth and induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. A common polymorphism at codon 12 of this gene (Pro12Ala) has been shown to confer protection against diabetes and colorectal cancer. AIM: To study the association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene polymorphism, Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer in Chinese. METHODS: One hundred and four consecutive patients with non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma and 104 matched controls were examined. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma G (Ala12) allele was significantly higher among cancer patients (19.2%) than in control (8.7%; OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.8). While H. pylori infection was more prevalent in gastric cancer patients (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.6-5.7), the combination of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma G allele and H. pylori infection further increased the risk of gastric cancer (OR 12.8, 95% CI 3.2-50.5). The presence of the Ala12 did not increase the risk of gastric cancer in H. pylori-negative subjects. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the potential association between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma polymorphism and H. pylori infection in the development of non-cardia gastric cancer.

STRA13 expression and subcellular localisation in normal and tumour tissues: implications for use as a diagnostic and differentiation marker.

BACKGROUND: STRA13 is a bHLH transcription factor that plays a crucial role in cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and response to hypoxia. OBJECTIVE: To assess STRA13 involvement in carcinogenesis and evaluate its diagnostic value. METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was undertaken of the endogenous protein expression in 389 normal and corresponding malignant specimens, using newly generated polyclonal antibodies. RESULTS: STRA13 was commonly expressed in epithelial cells of normal and neoplastic tissues where it was confined mostly to the nucleus. Intense cytoplasmic STRA13 immunoreactivity was characteristic of myoepithelial and differentiated squamous epithelial cells of all organ sites and their neoplastic counterparts, suggesting application of STRA13 as a myoepithelial cell marker. A distinctive apical granular cytoplasmic staining pattern observed in the pancreas and large intestine was retained in corresponding metastatic carcinomas, providing for identification of the primary sites of these disseminating tumours. In less differentiated tumours there was a tendency to lose the cytoplasmic staining or to switch to nuclear STRA13 staining. Analysis of STRA13, HIF-1alpha, and CAIX expression patterns in a large set of various tumours substantiated the association of STRA13 with HIF-1alpha expression and hypoxia in vivo. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of STRA13 nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling suggested that STRA13 employs nuclear import/export that utilises the NLS/NES motifs situated within the N-terminus and in the middle of the protein. CONCLUSIONS: STRA13 may serve as a marker for myoepithelial cells, for the degree of tumour differentiation, and for identification of the primary site of certain metastatic tumours. In combination with CAIX and CAXII markers, it may lead to a more accurate classification of all renal carcinomas.

Approximation of flammability region for natural gas-air-diluent mixture.

The growing implementation of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in reducing NO(x) emissions of engine is of paramount motivation to perform a fundamental research on the flammability characteristics of fuel-air-diluent mixtures. In this work, the influences of EGR on the flammability region of natural gas-air-diluent flames were experimentally studied in a constant volume bomb. An assumption of critical burning velocity at flammability limit is proposed to approximately determine the flammability region of these mixtures. Based on this assumption, an estimation of the flammability map for natural gas-air-diluent mixtures was obtained by using the empirical formula of burning velocity data. The flammability regions of natural gas-air mixtures with EGR are plotted versus the EGR rate. From the comparison of estimated results and experimental measurements, it is suggested that the accuracy of prediction is largely dependent upon the formula of burning velocity used. Meanwhile, the influence of pressure on the critical burning velocity at flammability limit is also investigated. On the basis of the pressure dependence criterion, the estimation was performed for the circumstance of high temperature and pressure, and the prediction results still agree well with those of experiments.

Intratumoral oxygenation of invasive squamous cell carcimoma of the vulva is not correlated with regional lymph node metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Tumour hypoxia has been found to be associated with tumour aggressiveness. Our primary aim was to explore the relationship between pretreatment tumour oxygenation in primary vulvar carcinoma and nodal status. Our secondary objective was to assess if there was a relationship between the clinical and biological variables. METHODS: 20 women with ISCC of the vulva were assessed with pretreatment primary tumour oxygenation with an Eppendorf pO2 probe. Patients underwent standard surgical management. Pathological assessment of the primary and nodal tissues was then performed. Primary tumour specimens were also stained for microvessel density and carbonic anhydrase IX. The relationship between smoking, preoperative Hgb, tumour CAIX expression, MVD, and Eppendorf pO2 measurements vs nodal metastasis and between these clinical and biological variables was assessed. RESULTS: Seven patients had positive lymph nodes, 13 had negative nodes. While neither current smoking status, tumour size, tumour oxygen measurements, MVD and CAIX expression correlated with metastatic nodal disease, a low preoperative Hgb correlated with pathological nodal status (p < 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Although this analysis failed to demonstrate a strong correlation between various measures of tumour oxygenation with nodal metastasis, it may be due to the small number of patients. Only preoperative anaemia is correlated with nodal metastasis in early ISCC of the vulva.

Experimental study of flammability limits of natural gas-air mixture.

Flammability limits data are essential for a quantitative risk assessment of explosion hazard associated with the use of combustible gas. The present work is to obtain the fundamental flammability data for prevention of the hazards in the practical applications. Experiments have been conducted in a constant volume combustion bomb, and the fuel considered here is natural gas (NG). The pressure histories in the combustion bomb are recorded and a criterion of 7% pressure rise has been used to judge a flammable mixture. The effects of ethane on NG-air flammability limits have been investigated. By adding diluent (carbon dioxide, nitrogen or their mixture) into NG-air mixture, the dilution effects on the flammability limits have been explored as well, and the results are plotted as functions of diluent ratio.