The predictive accuracy of machine learning for the risk of death in HIV patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early prediction of mortality in individuals with HIV (PWH) has perpetually posed a formidable challenge. With the widespread integration of machine learning into clinical practice, some researchers endeavor to formulate models predicting the mortality risk for PWH. Nevertheless, the diverse timeframes of mortality among PWH and the potential multitude of modeling variables have cast doubt on the efficacy of the current predictive model for HIV-related deaths. To address this, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis, aiming to comprehensively assess the utilization of machine learning in the early prediction of HIV-related deaths and furnish evidence-based support for the advancement of artificial intelligence in this domain. METHODS: We systematically combed through the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases on November 25, 2023. To evaluate the bias risk in the original studies included, we employed the Predictive Model Bias Risk Assessment Tool (PROBAST). During the meta-analysis, we conducted subgroup analysis based on survival and non-survival models. Additionally, we utilized meta-regression to explore the influence of death time on the predictive value of the model for HIV-related deaths. RESULTS: After our comprehensive review, we analyzed a total of 24 pieces of literature, encompassing data from 401,389 individuals diagnosed with HIV. Within this dataset, 23 articles specifically delved into deaths during long-term follow-ups outside hospital settings. The machine learning models applied for predicting these deaths comprised survival models (COX regression) and other non-survival models. The outcomes of the meta-analysis unveiled that within the training set, the c-index for predicting deaths among people with HIV (PWH) using predictive models stands at 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75-0.91). In the validation set, the c-index is slightly lower at 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85). Notably, the meta-regression analysis demonstrated that neither follow-up time nor the occurrence of death events significantly impacted the performance of the machine learning models. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that machine learning is a viable approach for developing non-time-based predictions regarding HIV deaths. Nevertheless, the limited inclusion of original studies necessitates additional multicenter studies for thorough validation.

RNALocate v2.0: an updated resource for RNA subcellular localization with increased coverage and annotation.

Resolving the spatial distribution of the transcriptome at a subcellular level can increase our understanding of biology and diseases. To facilitate studies of biological functions and molecular mechanisms in the transcriptome, we updated RNALocate, a resource for RNA subcellular localization analysis that is freely accessible at http://www.rnalocate.org/ or http://www.rna-society.org/rnalocate/. Compared to RNALocate v1.0, the new features in version 2.0 include (i) expansion of the data sources and the coverage of species; (ii) incorporation and integration of RNA-seq datasets containing information about subcellular localization; (iii) addition and reorganization of RNA information (RNA subcellular localization conditions and descriptive figures for method, RNA homology information, RNA interaction and ncRNA disease information) and (iv) three additional prediction tools: DM3Loc, iLoc-lncRNA and iLoc-mRNA. Overall, RNALocate v2.0 provides a comprehensive RNA subcellular localization resource for researchers to deconvolute the highly complex architecture of the cell.

Total body water percentage and 3rd space water are novel risk factors for training-related lower extremity muscle injuries in young males.

PURPOSE: To identify the risk factors for training-related lower extremity muscle injuries in young males by a non-invasive method of body composition analysis. METHODS: A total of 282 healthy young male volunteers aged 18 - 20 years participated in this cohort study. Injury location, degree, and injury rate were adjusted by a questionnaire based on the overuse injury assessment methods used in epidemiological studies of sports injuries. The occurrence of training injuries is monitored and diagnosed by physicians and treated accordingly. The body composition was measured using the BodyStat QuadScan 4000 multifrequency Bio-impedance system at 5, 50, 100 and 200 kHz to obtain 4 impedance values. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check whether the data conformed to a normal distribution. Data of normal distribution were shown as mean ± SD and analyzed by t-test, while those of non-normal distribution were shown as median (Q1, Q3) and analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The receiver operator characteristic curve and logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate risk factors for developing training-related lower extremity injuries and accuracy. RESULTS: Among the 282 subjects, 78 (27.7%) developed training injuries. Lower extremity training injuries revealed the highest incidence, accounting for 23.4% (66 cases). These patients showed higher percentages of lean body mass (p = 0.001), total body water (TBW, p = 0.006), extracellular water (p = 0.020) and intracellular water (p = 0.010) as well as a larger ratio of basal metabolic rate/total weight (p = 0.006), compared with those without lower extremity muscle injuries. On the contrary, the percentage of body fat (p = 0.001) and body fat mass index (p = 0.002) were lower. Logistic regression analysis showed that TBW percentage > 65.35% (p = 0.050, odds ratio = 3.114) and 3rd space water > 0.95% (p = 0.045, odds ratio = 2.342) were independent risk factors for lower extremity muscle injuries. CONCLUSION: TBW percentage and 3rd space water measured with bio-impedance method are potential risk factors for predicting the incidence of lower extremity muscle injuries in young males following training.

Integrative pan cancer analysis reveals the importance of CFTR in lung adenocarcinoma prognosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations have been shown to be associated with the risk of a variety of cancers. However, the clinical significance of aberrant CFTR gene expression in human tumors remains unknown. The expression profiles and prognostic landscapes of CFTR in human cancers were identified from the PubMed, OVID, CNKI, TCGA, ONCOMINE, PrognoScan, and GEPIA databases. Over 11, 000 cancer samples from the literature, GEPIA database, and PrognoScan database were included in this study. In general, CFTR has various expression and prognostic profiles in cancers, but the results from cross-database and meta-analyses revealed that CFTR is a robust biomarker for LUAD prognosis. Collectively, this study suggests that CFTR is an important prognostic biomarker for LUAD survival, implying that it could be used as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD.

Record Chemical-Shift Temperature Sensitivity in a Series of Trinuclear Cobalt Complexes.

Designing spins that exhibit long-lived coherence and strong temperature sensitivity is central to designing effective molecular thermometers and a fundamental challenge in the chemistry/quantum-information space. Herein, we provide a new pathway to both properties in the same molecule by designing a nuclear spin, which possesses a robust spin coherence, to mimic the strong temperature sensitivity of an electronic spin. This design strategy is demonstrated in the group of trinuclear Co(III) spin-crossover compounds [(CpCo(OP(OR)2)3)2Co](SbCl6) where Cp = cyclopentadienyl and R = Me (1), Et (2), i-Pr (3), and t-Bu (4). Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the 59Co nuclear spins reveal 59Co chemical-shift temperature sensitivity (Δδ/ΔT) values that span from 101(1) ppm/°C in 1 to 149(1) ppm/°C in 2 and 150(2) ppm/°C in 4, where the latter two are record temperature sensitivities for any nuclear spin. Additionally, complexes 2 and 4 have T2* values of 74 and 78 µs in solution at ambient temperatures surpassing those from electron-spin-based complexes, which typically display long coherence times only at extremely low temperatures. Our results suggest that spin-crossover phenomena can enable electron-spin-like temperature sensitivities in nuclear spins while retaining robust coherence times at room temperature.

A phase III trial of neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

Although recent advances in systemic chemotherapy have improved the clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis, the peritoneum still represents a common site of treatment failure and disease recurrence. Neoadjuvant intraperitoneal-systemic chemotherapy has been acknowledged as a more aggressive treatment for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis. In this multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial, 238 patients will be randomly separated into two groups in a 2:1 ratio after laparoscopic exploration. The experimental arm will receive the proposed neoadjuvant intraperitoneal-systemic chemotherapy regimen, whereas the control group will receive a Paclitaxel + S-1 (PS) chemotherapy regimen. The endpoints for the study are overall survival, response rate, gastrectomy radicality rate, progression-free survival and adverse events.

Recent advances in technology have improved the outcomes of stomach cancer patients. However, there are still many patients who die of cancer that has spread from another part of the body. Neoadjuvant intraperitoneal­systemic chemotherapy has been acknowledged as a more aggressive treatment for stomach cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis (cancer that has spread to the very thin layer of tissue on the inside of the abdomen that covers the stomach and other organs). In this study, 238 patients will be randomly separated into two groups in a 2:1 ratio after evaluation. The experimental group will receive the proposed neoadjuvant intraperitoneal­systemic chemotherapy regimen, whereas the control group will receive a Paclitaxel + S-1 (PS) chemotherapy regimen. The endpoints for the study are how long patients live, number of patients who respond to treatment, number of patients who undergo surgery, how long patients live without their disease getting worse and problems caused by treatment. Trial registration number: ChiCTR-IIR-16009802.

A phase II study of perioperative treatment in gastric cancer with No.16a2/b1 lymph node metastasis: DRAGON-06 trial.

Although gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis is commonly regarded as unresectable, surgeons have explored the optimal treatment for patients with PAN metastases limited to No.16a2/b1 in the past few decades. Preoperative systemic therapy combined with D2 gastrectomy plus PAN dissection may improve the prognosis of these patients. In this multicenter phase II trial, 29 gastric cancer patients with PAN metastasis limited to No.16a2/b1 will receive preoperative treatment with nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, S-1 (nab-POS: nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, S-1) and sintilimab followed by D2 gastrectomy plus PAN dissection; and postoperative treatment with oral S-1, intravenous sintilimab and intraperitoneal paclitaxel. The end points for the study are 3-year overall survival, 3-year disease-free survival, pathological response rate, incidence of postoperative complications and adverse events.

Stomach cancer with metastases in the para-aortic lymph nodes is usually considered inoperable. Chemotherapy combined with resection of the stomach and more extensive lymph node dissection may prolong the life of these patients. In this multicenter study, 29 stomach cancer patients with para-aortic lymph node metastases will receive preoperative treatment with nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, S-1 and sintilimab, followed by resection of the stomach combined with para-aortic lymph node dissection and use of continued oral, intravenous and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The study's end points are 3-year overall survival, 3-year disease-free survival, pathological response rate, incidence of postoperative complications and adverse events. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2200061125 (ChiCTR.org.cn).

Rapamycin Alleviates 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis through Autophagy Induction and NF-κB Pathway Inhibition in Mice.

Background: Recent genetic studies indicated that variants of autophagy genes were associated with the predisposition of Crohn's disease (CD). The autophagy deficiency may affect the innate and adaptive immunity, which is related to persistent and excessive inflammation of the bowel. However, it remains unclear how autophagy modulates the expression of immune response regulator NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in CD. Aim: We aimed to investigate the role of rapamycin on the expression of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced mouse colitis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HT-29 cells. Methods: TNBS-induced colitis mice were treated with saline or rapamycin, and the disease activity index (DAI) and histological scores of colonic mucosa were evaluated. The expressions of p65, ATG16L1 and LC3 were detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. The monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy were developed to study the autophagy in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. Expression of TNF-α from colon tissue and HT-29 cells were detected by ELISA. The expressions of p65, ATG16L1 and LC3 in active CD patients were also investigated. Results: Significantly more autophagosomes were observed in rapamycin-treated cells than in controls. Rapamycin remarkably upregulated the expression of ATG16L1 and LC3II, inhibited p65 nucleus translocation and secretion of TNF-α both in vivo and in vitro. The expression of both ATG16L1 and LC3II increased in mild to moderate CD specimens, while no significant difference was noted between severe CD and normal controls. The expression of p65 increased notably in severe CD compared to those in mild to moderate patients. Conclusions: In LPS-treated HT-29 cells and TNBS-induced colitis, p65 is overexpressed, which results in exaggerated secretion of TNF-α and induce or worsen the inflammation in the bowel. Rapamycin protects against colitis through induction of autophagy, thus inhibiting the activation of NF-κB pathway and secretion of TNF-α.

ARL4C might serve as a prognostic factor and a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer: bioinformatics analyses and biological experiments.

The ADP-ribosylation factor-like proteins (ARLs) have been proved to regulate the malignant phenotypes of several cancers. However, the exact role of ARLs in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. In this study, we systematically investigate the expression status, interactive relations, potential pathways, genetic variations and clinical values of ARLs in GC. We find that ARLs are significantly dysregulated in GC and involved in various cancer-related pathways. Subsequently, machine learning models identify ARL4C as one of the two most significant clinical indicators among ARLs for GC. Furthermore, ARL4C silencing remarkably inhibits the growth and metastasis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, enrichment analysis indicates that ARL4C is highly correlated with TGF-ß1 signalling. Correspondingly, TGF-ß1 treatment dramatically increases ARL4C expression and ARL4C knockdown inhibits the phosphorylation level of Smads, downstream factors of TGF-ß1. Meanwhile, the coexpression of ARL4C and TGF-ß1 worsens the prognosis of GC patients. Our work comprehensively demonstrates the crucial role of ARLs in the carcinogenesis of GC and the specific mechanisms underlying the GC-promoting effects of TGF-ß1. More importantly, we uncover the great promise of ARL4C-targeted therapy in improving the efficacy of TGF-ß1 inhibitors for GC patients.

HDAC6/HNF4α loop mediated by miR-1 promotes bile acids-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia.

BACKGROUND: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is considered a precancerous lesion, and bile acids (BA) play a critical role in the induction of IM. Ectopic expression of HNF4α was observed in a BA-induced IM cell model. However, the mechanisms underlying the upregulation of the protein in IM cells remains to be elucidated. METHODS: The effects of HNF4α on gastric mucosal cells in vivo were identified by a transgenic mouse model and RNA-seq was used to screen downstream targets of deoxycholic acid (DCA). The expression of pivotal molecules and miR-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in normal, gastritis and IM tissue slides or microarrays. The transcriptional regulation of HDAC6 was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: The transgenic mouse model validated that HNF4α stimulated the HDAC6 expression and mucin secretion in gastric mucosa. Increased HDAC6 and HNF4α expression was also detected in the gastric IM cell model and patient specimens. HNF4α could bind to and activate HDAC6 promoter. In turn, HDAC6 enhanced the HNF4α protein level in GES-1 cells. Furthermore, miR-1 suppressed the expression of downstream intestinal markers by targeting HDAC6 and HNF4α. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the HDAC6/HNF4α loop regulated by miR-1 plays a critical role in gastric IM. Blocking the activation of this loop could be a potential approach to preventing BA-induced gastric IM or even gastric cancer (GC).

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate omentum-preserving gastrectomy for patients with T1-T3 gastric cancer.

Although complete omentectomy is traditionally performed in patients with gastric cancer as part of radical gastrectomy to ensure the elimination of micrometastases, the prognostic value of omentectomy during gastrectomy remains unclear. Retrospective studies have shown that the incidence of metastases in the greater omentum is very low in T1-T3 gastric cancer. Thus radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and preservation of the greater omentum may be a proper curative treatment for gastric cancer patients with T1-T3 tumors. The aim of this article is to describe the design and rationale for this prospective, randomized controlled DRAGON-05 trial, conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of omentum-preserving gastrectomy for patients with T1-T3 gastric cancer. Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2000040045 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Resveratrol inhibits bile acid-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia via the PI3K/AKT/p-FoxO4 signalling pathway.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is the essential pre-malignancy of gastric cancer. Chronic inflammation and bile acid reflux are major contributing factors. As an intestinal development transcription factor, caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2) is key in GIM. Resveratrol has potential chemopreventive and anti-tumour effects. The aim of the study is to probe the effect of resveratrol in bile acid-induced GIM. We demonstrated that resveratrol could reduce CDX2 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in gastric cell lines. A Cignal Finder 45-Pathway Reporter Array and TranSignal Protein/DNA Array Kit verified that resveratrol could increase Forkhead box O4 (FoxO4) activity and that Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could reduce FoxO4 activity. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis showed that FoxO4 could bind to the CDX2 promoter, and these conjectures were supported by chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Resveratrol can activate FoxO4 and decrease CDX2 expression by increasing phospho-FoxO4 nucleus trans-location. Resveratrol could increase FoxO4 phosphorylation through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Ectopic FoxO4 expression can up-regulate FoxO4 phosphorylation and suppress CDCA-induced GIM marker expression. Finally, we found a reverse correlation between p-FoxO4 and CDX2 in tissue arrays. This study validates that resveratrol could reduce bile acid-induced GIM through the PI3K/AKT/p-FoxO4 signalling pathway and has a potential reversing effect on GIM, especially that caused by bile acid reflux.

DKK1 is epigenetically downregulated by promoter methylation and inhibits bile acid-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia.

Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is essential to gastric cancer as an inhibitor of Wnt signaling. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is an important precancerous lesion of gastric cancer that can be activated by bile acid reflux and chronic inflammation. However, the exact mechanism of DKK1 in bile acid-induced GIM has not been completely elucidated. We aimed to explore the epigenetic alterations and biological functions of DKK1 in the development of GIM. In the present study, bile acid was found to induce the expression of intestinal markers in gastric epithelial cells, whereas DKK1 was downregulated in response to bile acid stimulation. The mRNA and protein expression levels of DKK1 were decreased in GIM tissues as evidenced by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. Surprisingly, the methylation of the DKK1 promoter increased in GIM tissues, and we discovered 28 differential methylation sites of the DKK1 promoter in GIM tissues. Bile acid was able to induce the partial methylation of the DKK1 promoter, while 5-aza could increase DKK1 expression as well as decrease intestinal markers expression in gastric epithelial cells. In conclusion, the promoter methylation and downregulation of DKK1 might play important roles in the development of GIM, especially bile acid-induced GIM.

Study protocol of a multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial investigating the efficiency of the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and neoadjuvant laparoscopic intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (NLHIPEC) followed by R0 gastrectomy with intraoperative HIPEC for advanced gastric cancer (AGC): dragon II trial.

BACKGROUND: Even though treatment modalities such as adjuvant systemic radio-chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) have individually have improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates in advanced Gastric Cancer (AGC), the peritoneum still presides as a common site of treatment failure and disease recurrence. The role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been acknowledged as prophylaxis for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in AGC patients and in this study, we aim at investigating the safety and efficacy of the combination of neoadjuvant laparoscopic HIPEC (NLHIPEC) with NAC in the neoadjuvant phase followed by surgery of curative intent with intraoperative HIPEC followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). METHODS: In this multicenter Phase III randomized controlled trial, 326 patients will be randomly separated into 2 groups into a 1:1 ratio after laparoscopic exploration. The experiment arm will receive the proposed comprehensive Dragon II regimen while the control group will undergo standard R0 D2 followed by 8 cycles of AC with oxaliplatin with S-1 (SOX) regimen. The Dragon II regimen comprises of 1 cycle of NLHIPEC for 60mins at 43 ± 0.5 °C with 80 mg/m2 of Paclitaxel followed by 3 cycles of NAC with SOX regimen and after assessment, standard R0 D2 gastrectomy with intraoperative HIPEC followed by 5 cycles of SOX regimen chemotherapy. The end-points for the study are 5 year PFS, 5 year OS, peritoneal metastasis rate (PMR) and morbidity rate. DISCUSSION: This study is one of the first to combine NLHIPEC with NAC in the preoperative phase which is speculated to provide local management of occult peritoneal carcinomatosis or peritoneal free cancer cells while NAC will promote tumor downsizing and down-staging. The addition of the intraoperative HIPEC is speculated to manage dissemination due to surgical trauma. Where the roles of intraoperative HIPEC and NAC have individually been investigated, this study provides innovative insight on a more comprehensive approach to management of AGC at high risk of peritoneal recurrence. It is expected that the combination of NLHIPEC with NAC and HIPEC will increase PFS by 15% and decrease PMR after gastrectomy of curative intent. TRIAL REGISTRATION: World Health Organization Clinical Trials - International Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP) with Registration ID ChiCTR1900024552, Registered Prospectively on the 16th July, 2019.

Pallidal deep brain stimulation modulates cortical excitability and plasticity.

OBJECTIVE: Internal globus pallidus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) relieves symptoms in dystonia patients. However, the physiological effects produced by GPi DBS are not fully understood. In particular, how a single-pulse GPi DBS changes cortical circuits has never been investigated. We studied the modulation of motor cortical excitability and plasticity with single-pulse GPi DBS in dystonia patients with bilateral implantation of GPi DBS. METHODS: The cortical evoked potentials from DBS were recorded with electroencephalography. Transcranial magnetic stimulation with a conditioning test paired-pulse paradigm was used to investigate the effect of GPi DBS on the primary motor cortex. How GPi DBS might modulate the motor cortical plasticity was tested using a paired associative stimulation paradigm with repetitive pairs of GPi DBS and motor cortical stimulation at specific time intervals. RESULTS: GPi stimulation produced 2 peaks of cortical evoked potentials with latencies of ∼10 and ∼25 milliseconds in the motor cortical area. Cortical facilitation was observed at ∼10 milliseconds after single-pulse GPi DBS, and cortical inhibition was observed after a ∼25-millisecond interval. Repetitive pairs of GPi stimulation with cortical stimulation at these 2 time intervals produced long-term potentiation-like effects in the motor cortex. INTERPRETATION: Single-pulse DBS modulates cortical excitability and plasticity at specific time intervals. These effects may be related to the mechanism of action of DBS. Combination of DBS with cortical stimulation with appropriate timing has therapeutic potential and could be explored in the future as a method to enhance the effects of neuromodulation for neurological and psychiatric diseases. Ann Neurol 2018;83:352-362.

SOX2 interferes with the function of CDX2 in bile acid-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a premalignant lesion associated with gastric cancer. Both animal and clinical studies have revealed that bile acid reflux and subsequent chronic inflammation are key causal factors of IM. Previous studies indicated that SOX2, the key transcription factor in gastric differentiation, was downregulated during IM development while CDX2, the pivotal intestine-specific transcription factor was upregulated significantly. However, it remains unclear whether the downregulation of SOX2 promotes gastric IM emergence or is merely a concomitant phenomenon. In addition, the underlying mechanisms of SOX2 downregulation during IM development are unclear. METHODS: Gastric cell lines were treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA) in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of CDX2 and miR-21 in gastric tissue microarray were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were performed to ascertain the interaction of SOX2 and CDX2. Luciferase reporter assays were used to detect the transcriptional activity of CDX2, and confirm miR-21 binding to SOX2 3'-UTR. The protein level of SOX2, CDX2 and downstream IM-specific genes were investigated using western blotting. mRNA level of miR-21, SOX2, CDX2 and downstream IM-specific genes were detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Bile acid treatment could suppress SOX2 expression and simultaneously induce expression of CDX2 in gastric cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SOX2 overexpression could significantly inhibit bile acid- and exogenous CDX2-induced IM-specific gene expression, including KLF4, cadherin 17 and HNF4α expression. In contrast, SOX2 knockdown had the opposite effect. A dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that SOX2 overexpression could significantly suppress CDX2 transcriptional activity in HEK293T cells. CDX2 and SOX2 could form protein complexes in the nucleus. In addition, bile acid induced the expression of miR-21. The inhibition of SOX2 in bile acid-treated gastric cell lines was rescued by miR-21 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that SOX2 can interfere with the transcriptional activity of CDX2 in bile acid-induced IM and that miR-21 might play a key role in this process, which shed new lights in the prevention of gastric cancer.

Cortical Plasticity Induction by Pairing Subthalamic Nucleus Deep-Brain Stimulation and Primary Motor Cortical Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

Noninvasive brain stimulation studies have shown abnormal motor cortical plasticity in Parkinson's disease (PD). These studies used peripheral nerve stimulation paired with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to primary motor cortex (M1) at specific intervals to induce plasticity. Induction of cortical plasticity through stimulation of the basal ganglia (BG)-M1 connections has not been studied. In the present study, we used a novel technique of plasticity induction by repeated pairing of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) of the BG with M1 stimulation using TMS. We hypothesize that repeated pairing of subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS and M1-TMS at specific time intervals will lead to plasticity in the M1. Ten PD human patients with STN-DBS were studied in the on-medication state with DBS set to 3 Hz. The interstimulus intervals (ISIs) between STN-DBS and TMS that produced cortical facilitation were determined individually for each patient. Three plasticity induction conditions with repeated pairings (180 times) at specific ISIs (∼ 3 and ∼ 23 ms) that produced cortical facilitation and a control ISI of 167 ms were tested in random order. Repeated pairing of STN-DBS and M1-TMS at short (∼ 3 ms) and medium (∼ 23 ms) latencies increased M1 excitability that lasted for at least 45 min, whereas the control condition (fixed ISI of 167 ms) had no effect. There were no specific changes in motor thresholds, intracortical circuits, or recruitment curves. Our results indicate that paired-associative cortical plasticity can be induced by repeated STN and M1 stimulation at specific intervals. These results show that STN-DBS can modulate cortical plasticity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We introduced a new experimental paradigm to test the hypothesis that pairing subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation (STN-DBS) with motor cortical transcranial magnetic stimulation (M1-TMS) at specific times can induce cortical plasticity in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We found that repeated pairing of STN-DBS with TMS at short (∼ 3 ms) and medium (∼ 23 ms) intervals increased cortical excitability that lasted for up to 45 min, whereas the control condition (fixed latency of 167 ms) had no effects on cortical excitability. This is the first demonstration of associative plasticity in the STN-M1 circuits in PD patients using this novel technique. The potential therapeutic effects of combining DBS and noninvasive cortical stimulation should be investigated further.

Heterosynaptic modulation of motor cortical plasticity in human.

Inductions of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) are modulated if they are preceded by a priming protocol, in a manner consistent with metaplasticity. Depotentiation refers to reversal of LTP by a subsequent protocol that has no effect by itself. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) at interstimulus interval of 25 ms (PAS25) and 10 ms (PAS10) produces spike timing-dependent LTP-like and LTD-like effects in human primary motor cortex. Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) with 600 pulses produces an LTD-like effect, whereas cTBS with 150 pulses (cTBS150) has no effect by itself. We investigated whether cortical plasticity induced by PAS can be modulated by heterosynaptic inputs of cTBS150. PAS25 and PAS10 primed and followed by cTBS150 were compared withPAS25 and PAS10 alone. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, recruitment curve, and intracortical circuits including short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), intracortical facilitation, and short-latency afferent inhibition were measured before and after the interventions. After PAS25 alone, MEP amplitude increased while intracortical circuits did not change. A priming cTBS150 enhanced the effects of PAS25 with further increase in MEP amplitude and led to reduction in SICI and LICI. PAS25 followed by cTBS150 led to reduced MEP amplitude and increased LICI and SICI. Both priming and following cTBS150 reversed the LTD-like effect produced by PAS10 with little change in intracortical circuits. We conclude that cortical plasticity induced by PAS and cTBS interacts in a heterosynaptic and bidirectional manner. The order of the interventions determines whether the underlying mechanisms are related to metaplasticity or depotentiation.

The influence of sensory afferent input on local motor cortical excitatory circuitry in humans.

In human, sensorimotor integration can be investigated by combining sensory input and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Short latency afferent inhibition (SAI) refers to motor cortical inhibition 20-25 ms after median nerve stimulation. We investigated the interaction between SAI and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF), an excitatory motor cortical circuit. Seven experiments were performed. Contrary to expectations, SICF was facilitated in the presence of SAI (SICF(SAI)). This effect is specific to SICF since there was no effect at SICF trough 1 when SICF was absent. Furthermore, the facilitatory SICF(SAI) interaction increased with stronger SICF or SAI. SAI and SICF correlated between individuals, and this relationship was maintained when SICF was delivered in the presence of SAI, suggesting an intrinsic relationship between SAI and SICF in sensorimotor integration. The interaction was present at rest and during muscle contraction, had a broad degree of somatotopic influence and was present in different interneuronal SICF circuits induced by posterior-anterior and anterior-posterior current directions. Our results are compatible with the finding that projections from sensory to motor cortex terminate in both superficial layers where late indirect (I-) waves are thought to originate, as well as deeper layers with more direct effect on pyramidal output. This interaction is likely to be relevant to sensorimotor integration and motor control.

Bandgap-opened bilayer graphene approached by asymmetrical intercalation of trilayer graphene.

A novel graphene structure formed by asymmetrical intercalation of FeCl3 molecules into a trilayer graphene is reported. The trilayer graphene is divided into a single layer and a bilayer graphene by the inserted FeCl3 layer. Theoretical calculation shows that such graphene bilayers with broken inversion symmetry present a prominent opened bandgap of ∼0.13 eV.