Multiparameter spectral CT-based radiomics in predicting the expression of programmed death ligand 1 in non-small-cell lung cancer.

AIM: To explore the value of radiomics for predicting the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on multiparameter spectral computed tomography (CT) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 220 patients with NSCLC were enrolled retrospectively and divided into the training (n=176) and testing (n=44) cohorts. The radiomics features were extracted from the conventional CT images, mono-energy 40 keV images, iodine density (ID) maps, Z-effective maps, and electron density maps. The logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms were employed to build models based on radiomics signatures. The prediction abilities were qualified by the area under the curve (AUC) obtained from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Internal validation was performed on the independent testing dataset. RESULTS: The combined model for PD-L1 ≥1%, which consisted of the radiomics score (rad-score; p<0.0001), white blood cell (WBC; p=0.027) counts, and air bronchogram (p=0.003), reached the highest performance with the AUCs of 0.873 and 0.917 in the training and testing dataset, respectively, which was better than the radiomics model with the AUCs of 0.842 and 0.886. The combined model for PD-L1 ≥50%, which consisted of rad-score (p<0.0001) and WBC counts (p=0.027), achieved the highest performance in the training and testing dataset with AUCs of 0.932 and 0.903, respectively, which was better than the radiomics model with AUCs of 0.920 and 0.892, respectively. CONCLUSION: The radiomics model based on the multiparameter images of spectral CT can predict the expression level of PD-L1 in NSCLC. The combined model can obtain higher prediction efficiency and serves as a promising method for immunotherapy selection.

[Factors associated with malnutrition in infants with congenital heart disease within one year after surgery].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of malnutrition in infants with congenital heart disease within one year after surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study selected 502 infants with congenital heart disease who underwent surgical treatment in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from February 2018 to January 2019. Their basic information and clinical data were analyzed, and their nutrition status after the surgery was followed up by questionnaire survey. Weight-for-age Z score (WAZ)≤-2 one year after operation was defined as malnutrition group, and WAZ>-2 was non-malnutrition group. The perioperative indicators and complementary food advancement were compared between the two groups by chi-square test, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The risk factors of malnutrition were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results: A total of 502 infants were selected, including 301 males and 201 females, with the age of 4.1 (2.0, 6.8) months. There were 90 cases in malnutrition group and 412 cases in non-malnutrition group. The body length and weight at birth in the malnutrition group were lower than those in the non-malnutrition group ((47.8±3.8) vs. (49.3±2.5) cm, (2.7±0.6) vs.(3.0±0.5) kg, both P<0.001). The proportion of paternal high school education or above and the proportion of family per capita income of 5 000 yuan or above in the malnutrition group were lower than those in the non-malnutrition group ((18.9% (17/90) vs. 30.8% (127/412), 18.9% (17/90) vs. 33.7% (139/412), both P<0.05). Compared to the non-malnutrition group, the proportion of complex congenital heart disease in the malnutrition group was higher (62.2% (56/90) vs. 47.3% (195/412), P<0.05). The postoperative mechanical ventilation time, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, postoperative hospital stay, total length of ICU stay and total hospital stay in the malnutrition group were significantly longer than those in non-malnutrition group (all P<0.05). The proportion of egg and fish supplementation over 2 times/week within one year after the surgery was also lower in the malnutrition group (both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that mother's weight at delivery (OR=0.95,95%CI 0.91-0.99), the pre-operative WAZ≤-2 (OR=6.04, 95%CI 3.13-11.65), the complexity of the cardiac disease (OR=2.23, 95%CI 1.22-4.06), the hospital stay after the surgery over 14 days (OR=2.61, 95%CI 1.30-5.26), the types of complementary food<4 (OR=2.57, 95%CI 1.39-4.76), and the frequency of meat and fish<2 times/week (OR=2.11, 95%CI 1.13-3.93) were the risk factors associated with malnutrition within one year after the surgery. Conclusion: Mother's weight at delivery pre-operative nutritional status, complexity of cardiac disease, postoperative hospital stay, types of daily supplements and frequency of fish are risk factors associated with malnutrition within one year after surgery in children with congenital heart disease.

Influences of LncRNA SNHG20 on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells through regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE:   To investigate the influences of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells, and further explore the mechanism of SNHG20 in the incidence and development of glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 cases of glioma specimens and 80 cases of para-carcinoma specimens were collected, and the expression level of SNHG20 was detected via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The human glioma U118 and U251 cell lines with the stable knockout of SNHG20 were constructed using the small-interfering RNA (siRNA). The influence of SNHG20 on proliferation of human glioma cells was detected via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the protein expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), were also detected. The apoptosis level of glioma cells was detected in blank control group and SNHG20 siRNA group using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. At the same time, the expression levels of proteins related to the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PTEN/PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway were detected via Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression level of SNHG20 messenger RNA (mRNA) in glioma tissues was significantly higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues (p<0.05). After the inhibition of siRNA on SNHG20, the proliferation of U118 and U251 cells was significantly inhibited, and the expression of Bax was significantly up-regulated, while that of Bcl-2 was down-regulated. The TUNEL results showed that the number of apoptotic cells in SNHG20 siRNA group was about 12 times that in control group (p<0.05). After SNHG20 knockout, the protein expressions in the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were inhibited (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting the SNHG20 expression in glioma cells can increase the apoptosis of glioma cells, and the mechanism may be related to the SNHG20-mediated PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

[Multicenter investigation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application in pediatric intensive care unit in China].

Objective: To survey the conduction and evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in China mainland. Methods: In a questionnaire-based survey, we retrospectively reviewed the application of ECMO in children's hospital and general hospital in China mainland to summarize and analyze the categories of diseases and prognosis of children treated with ECMO therapy. Results: By December 31, 2017, a total of 23 hospitals using ECMO, including 22 tertiary referral hospitals and 1 secondary hospital, among which 16 were children's hospitals and 7 were general hospitals. Thirty-seven ECMO equipment was available. A total of 518 patients treated with ECMO, within whom 323 (62.4%) successfully weaned from ECMO and 262 (50.6%) survived to discharge. Among 375 pediatric patients, 233 (62.1%) were successfully weaned from ECMO and 186 (49.6%) survived to discharge. Among 143 newborn patients, 90 (62.9%) successfully weaned from ECMO, 76 (53.1%) survived to discharge. ECMO was applied in veno-arterial (VA) mode to 501 (96.7%) patients, veno-venous (VV) mode to 14 (2.7%) patients, and VV-VA conversion mode to 3 (0.6%) patients. Sixty-nine patients required extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), including 20 newborn patients (29.0%) and 38 pediatric patients (71.0%), who were all with cardiovascular disease. Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (26/61), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) (12/61), and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) (11/61) are the most common pulmonary diseases in newborn patients; among whom, infants with PPHN had highest survival rate (10/12), followed by MAS (9/11). Among newborn patients with cardiovascular diseases, those who admitted were after surgery for congenital cardiac disease were the most common (54/82), while those with septic shock had the highest survival rate (2/3). In pediatric pulmonary diseases, acute respiratory distress syndrome was the most common (42/93), while plastic bronchitis was with the highest survival rate (4/4), followed by viral pneumonia (13/16). Among pediatric cardiovascular diseases, congenital cardiac defect was the most common (124/282), while fulminant myocarditis had the highest survival rate (54/77). Conclusion: The application of ECMO as a rescue therapy for children with severe cardiopulmonary failure has dramatically developed in China mainland.

The solubility and conformational characteristics of porcine myosin as affected by the presence of L-lysine and L-histidine.

The influence of L-lys and L-his on the solubility, surface hydrophobicity, sulphydryl content and conformational characteristics of porcine myosin solubilised in high (0.6 M), physiological (0.15 M) and low (1 mM) ionic strength solutions were explored. The solubility of myosin was increased in the presence of L-his and/or L-lys in all ionic strength solutions used. The presence of L-his and L-lys caused increases in the surface hydrophobicity and reactive sulphydryl content (p<0.05). Circular dichroism revealed a significant decrease of α-helical content with an increase of random coils, ß-turns and ß-sheets in the presence of L-his and/or L-lys. These results demonstrate that the introduction of L-lys and L-his causes the unfolding of myosin, resulting in loss of α-helical structure, which is followed by increases in random coils, ß-turns and ß-sheets, which exposes buried hydrophobic and sulphydryl groups to the myosin surface, ultimately increasing the solubility of porcine myosin.

A side population of cells from a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line harbors cancer stem cell characteristics.

We used flow cytometry and a DNA-binding dye efflux assay to isolate a side population (SP) of cells with stem cell characteristics from the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, PANC-1. Non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mouse xenograft experiments showed that SP cells were enriched in tumor initiating capability compared with non-SP cells. Cultured SP cells were able to differentiate into daughter cells and non-SP cells, through asymmetric division. Our study demonstrated that SP cells had high drug-resistance, both in vivo and in vitro. SP cells also showed significantly higher levels of mRNA expression for CD133, ABCG2 and Notch1, when compared to non-SP cells. Furthermore, xenografted tumors derived from injected SP cells and treated with gemcitabine had more CD133+ cells than untreated ones. We therefore suggest that these SP cells from the PANC-1 cell line were enriched with cancer stem cells.

Evidence of ancient DNA reveals the first European lineage in Iron Age Central China.

Various studies on ancient DNA have attempted to reconstruct population movement in Asia, with much interest focused on determining the arrival of European lineages in ancient East Asia. Here, we discuss our analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of human remains excavated from the Yu Hong tomb in Taiyuan, China, dated 1400 years ago. The burial style of this tomb is characteristic of Central Asia at that time. Our analysis shows that Yu Hong belonged to the haplogroup U5, one of the oldest western Eurasian-specific haplogroups, while his wife can be classified as haplogroup G, the type prevalent in East Asia. Our findings show that this man with European lineage arrived in Taiyuan approximately 1400 years ago, and most probably married a local woman. Haplogroup U5 was the first west Eurasian-specific lineage to be found in the central part of ancient China, and Taiyuan may be the easternmost location of the discovered remains of European lineage in ancient China.

Detection of congenital cytomegalovirus infection by using chorionic villi of the early pregnancy and polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVE: To detect congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of chorionic villi in early pregnancy. METHODS: Extraction of DNA of chorionic villi and amplification of the gene of major immediate-early (MIE) antigen of CMV using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Sixty-eight specimens of chorionic villi and 16 specimens were positive for CMV infection by PCR. The incidence of congenital CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy was 23.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of transmission of CMV from mother to fetus in early pregnancy is very high and potential CMV carriers may transmit CMV to their fetus in early pregnancy.

Assessment of the mutagenic effect of maternal factors on human chorionic villi by micronucleus test.

PIP: Chromosome breakage can lead to teratology and neoplasia, although mutagenicity is not identical with carcinogenicity. The human chorionic villus micronucleus (CVMN) test was first developed in 1987 to study the mutagenicity of smoking, drinking, and contraceptives on offspring. 507 couples were studied, and human chorionic villi were taken from abortion material of women aged 18-43 with gestation of 10 weeks. None of these women drank; however, among their husbands there were 172 smokers (2-40 cigarettes/day for 2-20 years), 15 who drank (.5-3 liters of liquor/month for 2-20 years), 107 smoked and drank (1-40 cigarettes/day for 2-10 years and .5-3 liters of liquor/month for 2-15 years), and 115 nondrinking and nonsmoking controls. Micronuclei (MN) were scored according to Countryman's standard, and 2000 interphase was observed in each subject of CVMN frequency. 1,014,000 interphase cells were scored. There was no correlation between CVMN frequency and maternal age. The difference of the correlation coefficient between CVMN frequency and pregnancy was not statistically significant. 105 women had aborted before, 9 had had spontaneous abortion, and 113 had neither. There were no statistical differences between these women and no correlation with CVMN frequency. The gestation ranged from 32 days to 79 days; again, no correlation was found. The mean frequency of CVMN was significantly higher in those with smoking husbands than in nonsmokers and nondrinkers. The CVMN frequency of women with drinking husbands was also high but without statistical significance. The group with husbands who both smoked and drank had the highest CVMN frequency, but this did not differ significantly from controls. The mutagens and carcinogens of cigarettes linger in the smoke. In addition to effect on the function and MN frequency in the sperm of smokers, the ova and embryo of passive smokers may be affected as damage in the DNA and spindle apparatus of chorionic villi increases the frequency of MN.^ieng

[Assessment of the mutagenic effect of maternal factors on human chorionic villi by micronucleus test].

Rapid determination of DNA damage by micronucleus test is well accepted. Animal bone marrow cells or human peripheral lymphocytes used in most studies could not directly reflect the influence of the mutagenic effect on the offsprings by environmental factors. Human chorionic villi micronucleus test to detect directly the mutagenic effect of environmental factors has not been reported in the literature. Direct determination of human chorionic villi micronuclei (CVMN) was established in our laboratory, to study the mutagenic effect of mother's age, gravidity, gestation age, abortion history, contraception (condom, diaphragm, rhythm, oral contraceptives, spermicide or IUD), smoking and drinking on the offsprings. Cross investigation and micronucleus test were used in 507 couples undergoing artificial abortion. Micronuclei were scored according to Countryman's standard 2,000 interphases were observed in each subject for CVMN frequency (%). Arcsine transformation (arcsine [Sqr (P)]) was used in transforming CVMN frequency and the analysis of variance were used for statistics. No correlation between CVMN frequency and mother's age, gravidity, gestation age, abortion history, and contraception was found. Neither smoking nor drinking habit was found among the women of this study. The CVMN frequency of husband smoking was 0.7645 +/- 0.0561%, of husband non-smoking-drinking was 0.5522 +/- 0.0616%, of husband drinking was 0.5667 +/- 0.2004%, of husband smoking and drinking was 0.7944 +/- 0.0754%. There was a statistical difference in CVMN frequency between husband smoking and non-smoking (F = 2.78 DF = 408 P less than 0.05). No significant difference was found between husband drinking and non-drinking.

Chromosome abnormalities in early pregnancy analyzed by direct chromosome preparation of chorionic villi.

Chorionic villi chromosome analysis was performed on 1,186 cases of induced abortion between the 5th and 11th week of gestation. The total incidence of major chromosome abnormalities, including numerical and structural chromosomal changes as well as mosaics and polyploids, was 4.5% (53 cases). The most common abnormalities were trisomy 21 (5 cases), trisomy 16 (4 cases), and monosomy X (4 cases). The incidence of chromosome abnormalities increased with the advancing age of the mother.