Efficient Spin-to-Charge Conversion via Altermagnetic Spin Splitting Effect in Antiferromagnet RuO_{2}.

The relativistic spin Hall effect and inverse spin Hall effect enable the efficient generation and detection of spin current. Recently, a nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin splitting effect (ASSE) has been theoretically and experimentally reported to generate time-reversal-odd spin current with controllable spin polarization in antiferromagnet RuO_{2}. The inverse effect, electrical detection of spin current via ASSE, still remains elusive. Here we show the spin-to-charge conversion stemming from ASSE in RuO_{2} by the spin Seebeck effect measurements. Unconventionally, the spin Seebeck voltage can be detected even when the injected spin current is polarized along the directions of either the voltage channel or the thermal gradient, indicating the successful conversion of x- and z-spin polarizations into the charge current. The crystal axes-dependent conversion efficiency further demonstrates that the nontrivial spin-to-charge conversion in RuO_{2} is ascribed to ASSE, which is distinct from the magnetic or antiferromagnetic inverse spin Hall effects. Our finding not only advances the emerging research landscape of altermagnetism, but also provides a promising pathway for the spin detection.

[Genetic characteristics and clinical outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with NUP98-NSD1 fusion gene].

Objective: To investigate the genetic characteristics and clinical outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients with NUP98-NSD1 fusion gene. Methods: A total of 80 pediatric AML patients were enrolled in this study, and bone marrow specimens were collected at initial diagnosis and relapse. NUP98-NSD1 was screened by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and PCR. Other laboratory test results and clinical outcomes were further analyzed for the NUP98-NSD1 positive cases. Results: A total of eight patients (10.0%) were positive for NUP98-NSD1, which were all fusions of NUP98 exon12 and NSD1 exon 6. There were two M2, three M4, and three M5 cases according to the French-American-British classification. Seven patients had karyotype results at the time of initial diagnosis, and none of them had complicated karyotype abnormalities. Among these patients, two cases had normal karyotype, three cases had trisomy 8, one case had trisomy 6, and two cases had anomalies involving 9q13 or 9q21. Additional karyotypic abnormalities and clonal evolutions were observed during disease progression or relapse, five cases had 9q13 or 9q32 abnormalities. Five cases (62.5%) were positive with FLT3-ITD mutation. Patients were treated with DAE/NAE/HAE/IA chemotherapy. Three cases did not achieve remission after several courses of chemotherapy, and five cases achieved remission but relapsed in 1 to 19 months. Five cases underwent salvage allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Among whom, four died in 40 days to 4 months after transplantation, and one survived 8.5 months till the last follow-up. Conclusions: NUP98-NSD1 is a recurrent genetic abnormality with significant clinical prognostic significance, and this group of disease has unique clinical and genetic characteristics. NUP98-NSD1 should be screened by FISH or PCR for children with AML who are newly diagnosed or refractory and relapsed to identify the high-risk genetic marker.

[Clinicopathologic features of atypical type A thymoma].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype and differential diagnosis of atypical type A thymoma. Methods: Clinicopathologic and follow-up data of three cases of atypical type A thymoma from 2004 to 2016 were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. Results: All three patients were male with average age of 59 years. Clinically, the lesions presented as anterior mediastinal masses. Grossly, the tumor ranged in size from 4 to 6 cm in greatest dimension and partially enclosed within fibrous capsule. The cut surface was homogenously fleshy, tan to brown in color, with multinodular and lobulated configurations. Cystic changes and necrosis were seen. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of plump spindle or oval-shaped cells arranged in storiform, microcystic, glandular, rosettes-like and hemangiopericytoma-like histological patterns. The tumor cells showed mild cytological atypia and mitotic activity ranged from 4 to 5/10HPF. Necrosis was present in all tumors. All tumors showed diffuse CK(AE1/AE3), CK19, p63 and vimentin expression. TdT, CK20, CD20, CD5 and CD117 were negative. The proliferative index, as measured with Ki-67, was 15.2% to 26.4%. None of the cases had recurrence or metastases during the follow-up period (9 to 27 months). Conclusions: Atypical type A thymoma presents atypical features including tumor necrosis and increased mitotic activity. However, the implications of such atypical features to the biological behavior of the tumor remain to be determined.

Potent antitumor activity of Oct4 and hypoxia dual-regulated oncolytic adenovirus against bladder cancer.

Most solid tumors undergo hypoxia, leading to rapid cell division, metastasis and expansion of a cell population with hallmarks of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Tumor-selective replication of oncolytic adenoviruses may be hindered by oxygen deprivation in tumors. It is desirable to develop a potent oncolytic adenovirus, retaining its antitumor activity even in a hypoxic environment. We have previously generated an Oct4-dependent oncolytic adenovirus, namely Ad9OC, driven by nine copies of the Oct4 response element (ORE) for specifically killing Oct4-overexpressing bladder tumors. Here, we developed a novel Oct4 and hypoxia dual-regulated oncolytic adenovirus, designated AdLCY, driven by both hypoxia response element (HRE) and ORE. We showed that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α and Oct4 were frequently overexpressed in hypoxic bladder cancer cells, and HIF-2α was involved in HRE-dependent and Oct4 transactivation. AdLCY exhibited higher cytolytic activities than Ad9OC against hypoxic bladder cancer cells, while sparing normal cells. AdLCY exerted potent antitumor effects in mice bearing human bladder tumor xenografts and syngeneic bladder tumors. It could target hypoxic CD44- and CD133-positive bladder tumor cells. Therefore, AdLCY may have therapeutic potential for targeting hypoxic bladder tumors and CSCs. As Oct4 is expressed in various cancers, AdLCY may be further explored as a broad-spectrum anticancer agent.

Decreased submandibular adiponectin is involved in the progression of autoimmune sialoadenitis in non-obese diabetic mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a possible role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune sialoadenitis in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1/2) was detected by PCR, immunoblotting, or immunofluorescence. The level of adiponectin was quantified by ELISA. Adiponectin-related signaling molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined by PCR or immunoblotting. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, and caspase 3 activation. RESULTS: Adiponectin and AdipoR1/2 mRNA and protein were expressed in submandibular glands. Adiponectin immunostaining was widely diffused in the cytoplasm of acinar and ductal cells. AdipoR1 was mainly distributed in acinar cytoplasm, while AdipoR2 was predominantly located at acinar cell membrane. Submandibular adiponectin levels were reduced during the progression of autoimmune sialoadenitis in 7-, 14-, and 21-week-old NOD mice, while AdipoR1/2 levels were unchanged. The levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase were decreased, while interferon (IFN)-γ and glandular apoptosis were temporally increased at all time points. Moreover, exogenous adiponectin supplement inhibited, whereas neutralizing endogenous adiponectin by its antibody promoted IFN-γ-induced apoptosis and caspase 3 activation in cultured submandibular acinar cells. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin plays a protective role on submandibular cells. Decreased adiponectin might promote glandular destruction in autoimmune sialoadenitis.

[An in vitro model study of the accuracy and operation time of oral surgery robot-assisted endodontic microsurgery].

Objective: To explore the operational accuracy and operative time of oral surgery robot-assisted endodontic microsurgery on a head-simulator for clinical reference. Methods: Three pairs of surgical simulation models were set up on head-simulator. Each model included 10 positions anteriorly and posteriorly, 20 teeth for each technique, for a total of 60 teeth. An attending physician with more than 3 years clinical experience in endodontic microsurgery completed fixed-point osteotomy and apicoectomy in three groups of endodontic microsurgery under freehand (FH), static navigation (SN), and surgery robot (SR). The duration of each operation was recorded. Cone-beam CT was taken before the operation and the surgical path was planned in the software; after surgery, a plug gauge (precision gauge for measuring hole dimensions) was inserted into the surgical path for intraoral scanning. Surgical accuracy (starting point, end point, and angular deviation) was assessed in all 3 groups, and surgery time was compared. Results: The deviation at the starting point and the end point, and angular deviation was (0.37±0.11), (0.37±0.10) mm, and 0.71°±0.17°in the SR group. The deviations in the SR group were significantly lower than those in the SN group [(0.59±0.14), (0.65±0.18) mm, and 2.64°±0.75°] (P<0.05), and both groups were significantly lower than the FH group [(1.37±0.31), (1.10±0.21) mm, and 9.84°±3.15°] (P<0.05). The operative time in the SN group [(1.20±0.03) min] was significantly less than that in the SR group [(2.18±0.03) min] (P<0.05), and both groups were significantly less than that in the FH group [(8.70±3.15) min] (P<0.05). Starting point deviation, end point deviation, and angular deviation [(1.09±0.10), (0.90±0.07) mm, 7.22°±1.13°] in anterior teeth using the FH was significantly lower than the starting deviation, endpoint deviation, and angular deviation [(1.65±0.14), (1.30±0.06) mm, 12.46°±2.10°] in the posterior teeth using FH (P<0.05), and the operative time in the anterior teeth using the FH [(5.75±0.57) min] was significantly less than that in the posterior teeth using [(11.65±1.14) min] (P<0.05). The difference in accuracy and operative time between using SN and SR on anterior and posterior teeth was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: Oral surgery robot-assisted endodontic microsurgery helps improving the accuracy of clinicians' operations and shorten the operation time.

Increased stroke risk in Bell's palsy patients without steroid treatment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the risk of stroke development following a diagnosis of Bell's palsy in a nationwide follow-up study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Information on Bell's palsy and other factors relevant for stroke was obtained for 433218 eligible subjects without previous stroke who had ambulatory visit in 2004. Of those, 897 patients with Bell's palsy were identified. Over a median 2.9 years of follow-up, 4581 incident strokes were identified. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals [CI] with Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, co-morbidities, and important risk factors. Standardized incidence ratio of stroke amongst patients with Bell's palsy was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with non-Bell's palsy patients, patients with Bell's palsy had a 2.02-times (95% CI, 1.42-2.86) higher risk of stroke. The adjusted HR of developing stroke for patients with Bell's palsy treated with and without systemic steroid were 1.67 (95% CI, 0.69-4) and 2.10 (95%, 1.40-3.07), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Bell's palsy carry a higher risk of stroke than the general population. Our data suggest that these patients might benefit from a more intensive stroke prevention therapy and regular follow-up after initial diagnosis.

Micronucleus scoring in liver fine needle aspiration cytology.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the role of the micronucleus (MN) in liver fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. METHODS: Histological features of 75 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), of which 25 were well differentiated, 37 moderately differentiated and 13 poorly differentiated, and 58 benign hepatic lesions (total, 133 cases) were correlated with MN expression observed in FNA smears reported as benign (n =40), atypical (n = 14), suspicious (n = 30) and malignant (n =49). RESULTS: Stepwise increases in the MN score (0.4 ± 0.6, 1.2 ± 1.3, 6.3 ± 4.2 and 14.8 ± 8.8) correlated with the degree of cytological abnormality: benign, atypia, suspicious and malignant, respectively. The mean MN scores for well-, moderately and poorly differentiated HCC were 5.4 ± 2.2, 11.5 ± 4.5 and 24.9 ± 9.1, respectively, which was significantly different between malignant and suspicious (P < 0.0001), between suspicious and atypical (P= 0.008) but not between atypical and benign. The MN scores differed significantly between all degrees of differentiation of HCC and between the HCC and benign hepatic lesions (P < 0.0001). High sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of liver FNA for diagnosing HCC (96%, 98%, and 96%, respectively) were obtained at a cutoff of three for the MN score. CONCLUSIONS: The MN score is an effective HCC biomarker and has a good potential use as an ancillary tool for diagnosing HCC using FNA cytology.

[Implant restoration and stomatognathic system rehabilitation].

Stomatognathic system rehabilitation (SSR) is an important component of dental implant therapy, involving multiple disciplines and factors. This article focuses on the importance of clinical issues, such as mandibular position, vertical distance, occlusion and temporomandibular joint in SSR, in order to provide reference for dentists in clinical diagnosis and treatment.