[Expression and Clinical Significance of Helper T Cells 9 and Its Sytokines Interleukin 9 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of T helper cell 9 (Th9) and its cytokine interleukin 9(IL-9) in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL). METHODS: A total of 43 newly diagnosed patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the case group. The patients were divided into Binet A group (13 cases), Binet B group (20 cases) and Binet C group (10 cases) by Binet staging system, and 20 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinationin in our hospital in the same period served as control group. The proportion of Th9 cells in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry, the expression level of Th9 specific transcription factors PU.1 and IRF4 was detected by Western blot, and the expression level of serum cytokine IL-9 was detected by ELISA. The proportion of Th9, the expression of PU.1, IRF4 and IL-9 in each group were compared, and the correlation between the proportion of Th9, IL-9 and clinicopathological indexes of CLL patients was analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of Th9, the expression of PU.1, IRF4 and IL-9 in CLL group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), the proportion of Th9 and the expression of IL-9 in Binet B and C group were higher than those in Binet A group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the proportion of Th9 cells between Binet B group and C group (P>0.05). The expression of IL-9 in Binet C group was significantly higher than that in Binet B group (P<0.05) . The proportion of Th9 cells and IL-9 were highly expression in patients with ß2 microglobulin abnormality, IGHV unmutation, P53 abnormality and hepatosplenic lymph node enlargement(P<0.05), but not related to age and sex (P>0.05). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the proportion of Th9 in patients with CLL was negatively correlated with the lymphocytic account and lymphocyte proportion(rs=-0.32，rs=-0.34). The proportion of Th9 and IL-9 were positively correlated with Binet stage, Rai stage and CLL-IPI Scoring (rs=0.79，rs=0.54，rs=0.58； rs=0.72，rs=0.63，rs=0.45), but not with WBC, CD4+ T cells and CD8+T cells (P>0.05). The proportion of Th9 was positively correlated with IL-9 (rs=0.53). CONCLUSION: Th9 cells and IL-9 are abnormally highly expressed in CLL, which is related to the poor prognosis of CLL.

Changes in the structure and hydration properties of high-temperature peanut protein induced by cold plasma oxidation.

To improve the hydration properties of high-temperature pressed peanut protein isolate (HPPI), we investigated the effect of cold plasma (CP) oxidation on functional and structural properties. Compared to HPPI, the hydrated molecules number and the surface contact angle were significantly decreased at 70 W, from 77.2 × 109 to 17.7 × 109 and from 85.74° to 57.81°, respectively. The reduction of the sulfhydryl content and the increase of the disulfide bond and di-tyrosine content indicated that the structural transformation was affected by the oxidation effect. In terms of structural changes, a stretched tertiary structure, ordered secondary structure, and rough apparent structure were observed after CP treatment. Additionally, the enhancement of surface free energy and group content such as -COOH, -CO and -OH on the surface of HPPI contributed to the formation of hydrated crystal structures. In general, the oxidation effect of CP effectively improved the hydration properties of HPPI and broaden its application field.

Which is More Important, Proposer Identity or Allocation Motive? Event-Related Potential in Economic Decision-Making.

Purpose: Most studies have supported the view that individuals prefer to reward the in-group and discriminate against the out-group in response to unfair offers in the Ultimatum Game. However, the current study advanced a different view, that is, the "black sheep effect", in which in-group members were punished more severely compared with out-group members. This study aimed to incorporate proposer identity and allocation motive as possible explanations for offer rejection. Methods: In the current study, the in-group and out-group identities were distinguished by their health condition, and the allocation motive was defined according to its benefit maximization. With a total of 89 healthy college student participants, a mixed design of 2 (proposer identity: out-group vs in-group) × 2 (allocation motive: selfish vs random) × 2 (offer type: unfair vs fair) was used in the Ultimatum Game. Event-related potential (ERP) technology was used, and ERPs were recorded while participants processed the task. Results: The behavioral result showed that the "black sheep effect" was found on the fair offer when a random allocation motive was used. Our ERP result suggested that feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P300 were modulated by proposer identity but not by allocation motive. However, the allocation motive interacted with proposer identity affecting FRN and P300 when the fair offer was proposed. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the "black sheep effect" was related to the experience of the out-group member, such as disadvantage or distress, but it was also modulated by allocation motive. Meanwhile, the out-group (depressed college students) captured more attention because they violated individual expectations, according to the P300. This finding plays an integral role in understanding the mechanism of response to the "black sheep effect".

SEVERE BURN-INDUCED MITOCHONDRIAL RECRUITMENT OF CALPAIN CAUSES ABERRANT MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS AND HEART DYSFUNCTION.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial damage is an important cause of heart dysfunction after severe burn injury. However, the pathophysiological process remains unclear. This study aims to examine the mitochondrial dynamics in the heart and the role of µ-calpain, a cysteine protease, in this scenario. Rats were subjected to severe burn injury treatment, and the calpain inhibitor MDL28170 was administered intravenously 1 h before or after burn injury. Rats in the burn group displayed weakened heart performance and decreased mean arterial pressure, which was accompanied by a diminishment of mitochondrial function. The animals also exhibited higher levels of calpain in mitochondria, as reflected by immunofluorescence staining and activity tests. In contrast, treatment with MDL28170 before any severe burn diminished these responses to a severe burn. Burn injury decreased the abundance of mitochondria and resulted in a lower percentage of small mitochondria and a higher percentage of large mitochondria. Furthermore, burn injury caused an increase in the fission protein DRP1 in the mitochondria and a decrease in the inner membrane fusion protein OPA1. Similarly, these alterations were also blocked by MDL28170. Of note, inhibition of calpain yielded the emergence of more elongated mitochondria along with membrane invagination in the middle of the longitude, which is an indicator of the fission process. Finally, MDL28170, administered 1 h after burn injury, preserved mitochondrial function and heart performance, and increased the survival rate. Overall, these results provided the first evidence that mitochondrial recruitment of calpain confers heart dysfunction after severe burn injury, which involves aberrant mitochondrial dynamics.

Choline and trimethylamine N-oxide supplementation in normal chow diet and western diet promotes the development of atherosclerosis in Apoe -/- mice through different mechanisms.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite, has been shown to aggravate cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms of TMAO in the setting of cardiovascular disease progress remain unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the effects of TMAO on atherosclerosis (AS) development and the underlying mechanisms. Apoe -/- mice received choline or TMAO supplementation in a normal diet and a western diet for 12 weeks. Choline or TMAO supplementation in both normal diet and western diet significantly promoted plaque progression in Apoe-/- mice. Besides, serum lipids levels and inflammation response in the aortic root were enhanced by choline or TMAO supplementation. In particular, choline or TMAO supplementation in the western diet changed intestinal microbiota composition and bile acid metabolism. Therefore, choline or TMAO supplementation may promote AS by modulating gut microbiota in mice fed with a western diet and by other mechanisms in mice given a normal diet, even choline or TMAO supplementation in a normal diet can promote AS.

Event-related potential response to drivers' facial expressions in an online car-hailing scene.

Recognizing facial expressions is crucial for adaptive social interaction. Prior empirical research on facial expression processing has primarily focused on isolated faces; however, facial expressions appear embedded in surrounding scenes in everyday life. In this study, we attempted to demonstrate how the online car-hailing scene affects the processing of facial expression. This study examined the processing of drivers' facial expressions in scenes by recording event-related potentials, in which neutral or happy faces embedded in online car-hailing orders were constructed (with type of vehicle, driver rating, driver surname, and level of reputation controlled). A total of 35 female volunteers participated in this experiment and were asked to judge which facial expressions that emerged in scenes of online car-hailing were more trustworthy. The results revealed an interaction between facial expression scenes, brain areas, and electrode sites in the late positive potential, which indicated that happy faces elicited larger amplitudes than did neutral ones in the parietal areas and that scenes with happy facial expressions had shorter latencies than did those with neutral ones. As expected, the late positive potential evoked by happy facial expressions in a scene was larger than that evoked by neutral ones, which reflected motivated attention and motivational response processes. This study highlights the importance of scenes as context in the study of facial expression processing.

Coexistence of multiple anti-neuronal antibodies in autoimmune encephalitis in China: A multi-center study.

Background: Given that the combination of multiple antibodies in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is rare and its clinical significance is unclear, this study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and significance of overlapping multiple anti-neuronal antibodies in patients with AE. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognostic details of 22 patients with multiple coexisting antibodies from multiple clinical centers in China. Results: Among the 276 patients who were AE antibody-positive, 22 (7.97%) had two or more antibodies. Among the 22 patients with coexisting AE-related antibodies, 14 patients (63.63%) were combined of cell surface and intracellular antibody, and the remaining 8 patients (36.36%) were detected to be cell surface antibody positive only. The main symptoms of the 22 patients in this cohort included fever, seizures, memory impairment, cognitive decline, and sleep disorders. Five (22.73%) patients had tumors, among whom four had small-cell lung cancers, and one had mediastinal tumors. A total of 20 patients were treated with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, and 18 showed varying degrees of symptomatic improvement after first-line immunotherapy. Three patients died of tumor progression or chemotherapy complications. Conclusion: The coexistence of multiple anti-neuronal antibodies in patients with AE may cause a superimposition and diversification of clinical manifestations. Combined paraneoplastic antibody positivity may be suggestive of an underlying malignancy.

Synthesis of polyaspartic acid-capped 2-aminoethylamino acid as a green water treatment agent and study of its inhibition performance and mechanism for calcium scales.

Polyaspartic acid (PASP), a well-known green scale inhibitor for industrial water treatment, might be decomposed with prolonged duration, and its anti-scaling performance against CaCO3 and CaSO4 is diminished at a low concentration (<10 mg L-1) and a high temperature. With semi-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tetrasodium salt as the mimicking model, novel phosphorus-free PASP-capped 2-aminoethylamino acid (PASP-ED2A) containing side chains bearing multi-functional groups is rationally designed and successfully prepared via the ring-opening reaction of cheap poly(succinimide) under mild reaction conditions with the assistance of readily available 2-aminoethyl amino acid. The static scale inhibition method is used to evaluate the scale inhibition performance of the as-synthesized PASP derivative. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are utilized to monitor the crystallization process of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate scales, and density functional theory calculations are conducted to shed light on the relationship between the molecular structure and scale inhibition mechanism of PASP-ED2A. Results show that the as-prepared PASP-ED2A shows better scale inhibition performance for CaCO3 and CaSO4 than PASP with a low concentration, a high temperature, and an extended duration. Particularly, PASP-ED2A with a concentration of 10 mg L-1 exhibits the best scale inhibition performance for CaCO3; its scale inhibition capacity is about two times as much as that of PASP. The reason lies in that the coordination atoms in the molecular structure of PASP-ED2A can chelate with Ca2+ to inhibit the combination of Ca2+ with anions and prevent the generation of CaCO3 and CaSO4 scales. The PASP-ED2A derivative can more efficiently retard the formation and growth of CaCO3 and CaSO4 crystal nuclei and exerts better inhibition performance against CaCO3 and CaSO4 scales than PASP.

Role of Increased Syncytin-1 Expression in Pathogenesis of Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis.

Purpose: Syncytin-1 may play a role in several neuropsychiatric disorders, but its function in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible mechanism of action of syncytin-1 in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and eight controls were recruited. The protein levels of syncytin-1 in serum were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the transcript levels of syncytin-1 were determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Flow cytometry was used for peripheral blood lymphocyte subset detection. Further, the relationship between syncytin-1 levels and clinical features of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets was analyzed. Results: Compared with those in controls, higher syncytin-1 levels and percentage of B cells (CD3-CD19+) were observed in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Among anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients, the level of syncytin-1 positively correlated with the proportion of B cells and modified Rankin scale score at onset and after immunotherapy and negatively correlated with the proportion of CD3+ T cells. Conclusion: An increased expression of Syncytin-1 is associated with the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, providing evidence for elucidating the pathogenesis of the disease and suggesting novel therapeutic targets. Further, this study clarifies the role of syncytin-1 in neuroimmune disorders.

Thyroid Function and Low Free Triiodothyronine in Chinese Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Background and Objectives: Low free triiodothyronine (FT3) is usually associated with worse functional outcome in critical illness; however, the information on thyroid dysfunction and autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is limited. This study aims to evaluate the clinical prognostic value of thyroid function and low-T3 syndrome in patients with multiple subtypes of AE. Methods: In this retrospective study, we identified the hospital records of 319 candidate patients with AE admitted between January 2016 and December 2020. We then extracted the clinical features and outcomes. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores were used to evaluate the patients' neurological function. The serum levels of FT3, free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured upon admission. Normal thyroid stimulating hormone level with FT3 below the lower limit of the reference interval (2.63 nmol/L) was defined as low-T3 syndrome. Results: A total of 237 AE cases remained after screening. Among these, 57.81% (137/237) were men and the average age at onset was 41 y (interquartile range, 12-61 y). We found that 83.54% (198/237) of the patients had a good prognosis, and 16.46% (39/237) had a poor prognosis. Abnormal thyroid function was observed in 30.80% of these patients, with a relatively greater prevalence in the group with a poor prognosis (p < 0.001). The serum FT3 levels in the poor-prognosis group were significantly lower than those in the good-prognosis group (p < 0.001). Low-T3 syndrome occurred in 15.19% of AE cases and was more frequent in patients with poor prognosis (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Abnormal thyroid function in AE is frequent, and serum FT3 levels in patients with poor prognosis are significantly lower than in those with good prognosis. Low-T3 syndrome could be a potential candidate for predicting the prognosis of AE following future research.

Heterozygous missense mutation of the RELN gene is one of the causes of epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: Genetic factors play an important role in the onset of epilepsy, and the involvement of the RELN gene was recently discovered. This paper reports a family with a history of epilepsy caused by a heterozygous missense mutation in the RELN gene. METHODS: After a clear diagnosis was made in the proband with a family history of epilepsy, gene sequencing was performed on the proband and his family members. RESULTS: The proband was a 19-year-old male who presented with general convulsions during sleep lasting for about 1 min and was relieved spontaneously. His father and grandmother also experienced seizures. The gene sequencing results of the proband, his mother, and his grandmother showed that both the proband and his grandmother carried the same heterozygous missense mutation in the RELN gene (c.7909 C > T), unlike the proband's mother. DISCUSSION: Mutations in the RELN gene can lead to the occurrence of benign epilepsy, though the specific type of seizures that it can cause is still unclear, and may increase the susceptibility to epilepsy. In addition, it may have potential anticancer effects.

Attitudes to Being Vaccinated Against COVID-19: A Survey of People With Epilepsy in China.

Objective: We conducted a survey to assess vaccination coverage, vaccination willingness, and variables associated with vaccination hesitancy to provide evidence on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination strategies. Methods: This anonymous questionnaire study conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional survey of outpatients and inpatients with epilepsy (PWE) registered in epilepsy clinics, in 2021, in 10 hospitals in seven cities of Shandong Province. Results: A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed, and 557 valid questionnaires were returned. A total of 130 people were vaccinated against COVID-19. Among 427 unvaccinated participants, 69.32% (296/427) were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the future, and the remaining 30.68% (131/427) were unwilling to receive vaccination. Most (89.9%) of the participants believed that the role of vaccination was crucial in response to the spread of COVID-19. A significant association was found between willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the following variables: age, marital status, level of education, occupation, residence, seizure type, and seizure control after antiepileptic drug therapy. It is noteworthy that education level, living in urban areas, and seizure freedom were significantly related to willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: Vaccination is a key measure for the prevention and control of COVID-19, and most PWE are willing to be vaccinated. Vaccine safety, effectiveness, and accessibility are essential in combatting vaccine hesitation and increasing vaccination rates.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Autoimmune Encephalitis in the East of China: A Multi-Center Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, and long-term outcomes of patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) in the east of China. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2019, 226 potential AE patients were recruited from five clinical centers, and a total of 185 patients who met the diagnostic criteria were included in the study. We retrospectively reviewed clinical features, auxiliary examinations, details of treatments, and outcomes of AE, and identified risk factors of poor prognosis. Modified Rankin Scale scores were used to evaluate neurological function, and scores of 3-6 indicated a poor-prognosis. Results: Patients with five main subtypes of AE were enrolled in the study, as follows: anti-NMDAR (79), anti-LGI1 (55), anti-CASPR2 (30), anti-GABABR (16), and anti-AMPAR (5). Among 185 patients, 58.38% (108/185) were male and 41.62% (77/185) were female. The median age at disease onset was 41 years (interquartile range, 17-62). The most common clinical manifestations of AE were seizures (146, 78.92%) and memory deficit (123, 66.49%). A total of 95 (51.35%) patients had abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging results. Electroencephalographic findings were abnormal in 131 (70.81%) patients, and 168 (90.81%) and 26 (14.05%) patients were treated with first- and second-line immunotherapies, respectively. All surviving patients were followed-up for at least 1 year (range 12-36 months). Good clinical outcomes were achieved in 117 (63.24%), while 68 (36.76%) patients had a poor prognosis. Further, 33 (17.84%) patients relapsed and 10 (5.41%) died within 1 year post-discharge. Older patients tended to have a poorer prognosis, and the occurrence of mental behavioral disorders, movement disorders, disturbance of consciousness, central hypoventilation, and tumors were overrepresented in the poor-prognosis group. Conclusions: AE is a treatable disease, and most patients have a good prognosis. There are differences in the clinical manifestations of patients with different AE subtypes. Some with AE will relapse, and long-term follow-up is of great significance for further research.

Clinical Review and Prognostic Analysis of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazole Propionate Receptor-Associated Encephalitis.

Purpose: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a heterogeneous neurological autoimmune disorder associated with cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. It can be divided into several subtypes based on autoantibodies. Anti-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor encephalitis (AMPAR-E) is one of the recently discovered AE subtypes, usually manifesting limbic encephalitis and with a good prognosis. Considering AMPAR-E has been described for the first time, only a few cases with similar antibodies have been reported clinically. We aimed to clarify the clinical course and prognosis of the disease in the light of previous reports. Patients and Methods: We collected data on the diagnosis and treatment of six cases of AMPAR-E, diagnosed at the Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in the past 5 years. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of the patients and performed a follow-up of the disease. Results: The patients often presented with limbic encephalitis, which sometimes coexisted with tumors. In addition, immunotherapy had a significant effect on the disease. The clinical outcome was related to factors such as the age of onset, timing of treatment, and presence of tumors. Conclusion: In conclusion, specific antibody tests should be performed as early as possible in suspected cases. Clinicians should actively administer immunotherapy and the management of the co-tumor. In addition, repeat antibody tests and image examinations following discharge from the hospital guide the maintenance protocol of immunotherapy.

Lepipyrrolins A-B, two new dimeric pyrrole 2-carbaldehyde alkaloids from the tubers of Lepidium meyenii.

Nine new pyrrole alkaloids, including two undescribed dimeric pyrrole 2­carbaldehyde alkaloids, lepipyrrolins A-B (1-2), seven pyrrole-alkaloid derivatives, macapyrrolins D-J (3-9), along with three known ones (10-12) were isolated from the rhizomes of Lepidium meyenii. Their structures and absolute configurations were demonstrated by extensive spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR, HRESIMS), and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiment. Compounds 1, 3-12 were tested for their nitric oxide inhibitory effects. Furthermore, compound 1 was evaluated for its cytotoxic activity against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7221, A549, MCF-7, and SW480) in vitro, and displayed selective cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 with IC50 value of 16.78 ± 0.49 µM.

[Clinical features and prognosis of childhood acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and prognosis of childhood acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 14 children who were diagnosed with AML-MRC from June 2014 to March 2020, including clinical features, laboratory examination results, and prognosis. RESULTS: Among the 14 children with AML-MRC, there were 9 boys and 5 girls, with a median age of 11 years (range: 1-17 years), a median leukocyte count of 8.3×109/L [range: (2.0-191.0)×109/L], a median hemoglobin level of 73 g/L (range: 44-86 g/L), and a median platelet count of 75×109/L [range: (4-213)×109/L] at diagnosis. According to the FAB classification, the children with AML-M5 accounted for 71% (10/14). Among the 14 children, 4 had multi-lineage dysplasia (MLD), 2 had a history of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 5 had MDS-related cytogenetic changes, 2 had MLD with MDS-related cytogenetic changes, and 1 had a history of MDS with MLD. The median follow-up time was 10.6 months (range: 0.4-54.4 months) for 14 children, among whom 2 gave up treatment immediately after diagnosis and 12 had an evaluable treatment outcome. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 50%±15%, and the 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 33%±13%. Of the 12 children, 7 underwent haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), among whom 5 achieved DFS and 2 died, with a 2-year OS rate of 71%±17% and a 2-year DFS rate of 43%±19%; 5 children underwent chemotherapy alone, among whom 1 achieved DFS, 3 died, and 1 was lost to follow-up, with a 2-year OS rate of 40%±30% and a 2-year DFS rate of 30%±24%. There was no significant difference in the survival condition between the transplantation and chemotherapy groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood AML-MRC is often observed in boys, and AML-M5 is the most common type based on FAB classification. Such children tend to have a poor prognosis. HSCT is expected to improve the poor prognosis of children with AML-MRC. However due to the small number of cases, it is necessary to increase the number of cases for further observation.

Clinical Features and Long-Term Outcomes of Anti-Leucine-Rich Glioma-Inactivated 1 Encephalitis: A Multi-Center Study.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical manifestation, immunotherapy, and long-term outcomes of anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) encephalitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 117 patients with a diagnosis of anti-LGI1 encephalitis identified from the databases of multiple clinical centers between September 2014 and December 2019. The clinical features, ancillary test results, and details of long-term outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 117 patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis, 69.2% (81/117) were male and 30.8% (36/117) were female. The median age of all patients at the onset of the disease was 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 52-67). The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 8.7 weeks (IQR, 4.2-25). The main clinical features identified were seizures, cognitive impairment, and mental and behavioral abnormalities. Of the 117 patients, 109 were treated with immunotherapy. Symptoms including memory, mental ability, and behavior improved in all 109 patients after 3-5 days of treatment. The median time of follow-up for the treated patients was 33 months (IQR, 17-42). Of the treated patients, 16.2% (19/117) experienced a relapse, with a median delay of 5 months (IQR, 2.1-17) between onset and the first relapse. There were no mortalities over the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The long-term outcome of patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis was mostly favorable, although some patients continued to experience cognitive dysfunction. Early recognition is important for prompt initiation of immunotherapy that can improve clinical symptoms of anti-LGI1 encephalitis.

High-Fidelity Drug-Induced Liver Injury Screen Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Organoids.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Preclinical identification of compounds at risk of causing drug induced liver injury (DILI) remains a significant challenge in drug development, highlighting a need for a predictive human system to study complicated DILI mechanism and susceptibility to individual drug. Here, we established a human liver organoid (HLO)-based screening model for analyzing DILI pathology at organoid resolution. METHODS: We first developed a reproducible method to generate HLO from storable foregut progenitors from pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines with reproducible bile transport function. The qRT-PCR and single cell RNA-seq determined hepatocyte transcriptomic state in cells of HLO relative to primary hepatocytes. Histological and ultrastructural analyses were performed to evaluate micro-anatomical architecture. HLO based drug-induced liver injury assays were transformed into a 384 well based high-speed live imaging platform. RESULTS: HLO, generated from 10 different pluripotent stem cell lines, contain polarized immature hepatocytes with bile canaliculi-like architecture, establishing the unidirectional bile acid transport pathway. Single cell RNA-seq profiling identified diverse and zonal hepatocytic populations that in part emulate primary adult hepatocytes. The accumulation of fluorescent bile acid into organoid was impaired by CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing and transporter inhibitor treatment with BSEP. Furthermore, we successfully developed an organoid based assay with multiplexed readouts measuring viability, cholestatic and/or mitochondrial toxicity with high predictive values for 238 marketed drugs at 4 different concentrations (Sensitivity: 88.7%, Specificity: 88.9%). LoT positively predicts genomic predisposition (CYP2C9∗2) for Bosentan-induced cholestasis. CONCLUSIONS: Liver organoid-based Toxicity screen (LoT) is a potential assay system for liver toxicology studies, facilitating compound optimization, mechanistic study, and precision medicine as well as drug screening applications.

Rufibacter latericius sp. nov., isolated from Baiyang Lake.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, brick red-pigmented bacterium, designated R-22-1 c-1T, was isolated from water from Baiyang Lake, Hebei Province, PR China. The strain was able to grow at 20-30 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6-7 (optimum, pH 6) in Reasoner's 2A medium. 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses of R-22-1 c-1T revealed closest relationships to Rufibacter immobilis MCC P1T (97.8 %), Rufibacter sediminis H-1T (97.9 %) and Rufibacter glacialis MDT1-10-3T (97.0 %), with other species of the genus Rufibacter showing less than 97.0 % sequence similarity. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids and three unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 1 ω6c, C17 : 1 ω6c, anteiso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1B). The respiratory quinone was MK-7. The draft genome of R-22-1 c-1T was 5.6 Mbp in size, with a G+C content of 50.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain R-22-1 c-1T and related type strains were R. immobilis MCC P1T (77.2 and 21.8 %), R. sediminis H-1T (81.6 and 21.4 %) and R. tibetensis 1351T (78.5 and 22.9 %). Based on these phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results, strain R-22-1 c-1T represents a novel species in the genus Rufibacter, for which the name Rufibacter latericius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R-22-1 c-1T (=CGMCC 1.13570T=KCTC 62781T).

4-Hydroxyphenyl Retinamide Preferentially Targets FLT3 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia via ROS Induction and NF-κB Inhibition.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation is strongly associated with poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Though many FLT3 inhibitors have been developed for clinical application with 34%-56% complete remission rate, patients would develop resistance sooner or later after initial response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as gilteritinib. And increasing studies have shown that several resistance related mutations of FLT3 emerged during the AML progression. Thus, further investigation is warranted for these FLT3mut AML patients to achieve a better treatment outcome. 4-Hydroxyphenyl retinamide (4-HPR) has been investigated extensively in animal models and clinical trials as an anticancer/chemopreventive agent and is currently used for protection against cancer development/recurrence, with minimal side effects. In this study, we performed gene-set enrichment analysis and found that down-regulated genes induced by 4-HPR were associated with FLT3-ITD gene sets. CD34+ AML stem/progenitor cells separated from 32 AML samples were treated with 4-HPR. Correlation analysis showed that AML cells with FLT3-ITD genetic alteration were more sensitive to 4-HPR treatment than those without FLT3-ITD. Next, we treated 22 primary AML cells with 4-HPR and found that 4-HPR was more toxic to AML cells with FLT3-ITD. These results indicated that 4-HPR was preferentially cytotoxic to all FLT3-ITD AML+ cells irrespective of stem/progenitor cells or blast cells. 4-HPR-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NF-κB inhibition might be the reason of 4-HPR selectivity on FLT3 mutated AML cells.