Fecal Signatures of Streptococcus anginosus and Streptococcus constellatus for Noninvasive Screening and Early Warning of Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Most patients with gastric cancer (GCa) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. We aimed to investigate novel fecal signatures for clinical application in early diagnosis of GCa. METHODS: This was an observational study that included 1043 patients from 10 hospitals in China. In the discovery cohort, 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis was performed in paired samples (tissues and feces) from patients with GCa and chronic gastritis (ChG) to determine differential abundant microbes. Their relative abundances were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to test them as bacterial candidates in the training cohort. Their diagnostic efficacy was validated in the validation cohort. RESULTS: Significant enrichments of Streptococcus anginosus (Sa) and Streptococcus constellatus (Sc) in GCa tumor tissues (P < .05) and feces (P < .0001) were observed in patients with intraepithelial neoplasia, early and advanced GCa. Either the signature parallel test Sa∪Sc or single signature Sa/Sc demonstrated superior sensitivity (Sa: 75.6% vs 72.1%, P < .05; Sc: 84.4% vs 64.0%, P < .001; and Sa∪Sc: 91.1% vs 81.4%, P < .01) in detecting early GCa compared with advanced GCa (specificity: Sa: 84.0% vs 83.9%, Sc: 70.4% vs 82.3%, and Sa∪Sc: 64.0% vs 73.4%). Fecal signature Sa∪Sc outperformed Sa∪CEA/Sc∪CEA in the discrimination of advanced GCa (sensitivity: 81.4% vs 74.2% and 81.4% vs 72.3%, P < .01; specificity: 73.4% vs 81.0 % and 73.4% vs 81.0%). The performance of Sa∪Sc in the diagnosis of both early and advanced GCa was verified in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: Fecal Sa and Sc are noninvasive, accurate, and sensitive signatures for early warning in GCa. (ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT04638959).

Atomic perspective revealing for combustion evolution of nitromethane/nano-aluminum hydride composite.

Adding aluminum hydride (AlH3) into energetic materials (EMs) can improve their combustion and energy performance effectively. However, the potential mechanism of AlH3 on EMs is still unclear. Based on the ReaxFF-lg method, the thermal decomposition of nitromethane/nano-aluminum hydride (NM/nano-AlH3) composites were studied. The addition of AlH3 reduces the energy barrier and increases the energy release during the decomposition of NM, accelerates the decomposition of NM. The main way of AlH3 oxidation involves the capture of O atoms from NM. The results show that AlH3 content and passivated layer affect the oxidation and hydrogen release of AlH3. The explosion of small particle size AlH3 leads to rapid oxidation and hydrogen release. The oxidation of large particle size AlH3 is dominated by the inward and outward diffusion of O and Al atoms. The products of NM/nano-AlH3 composites are H2O, CO2, N2 gases, and Al clusters. This work is expected to guide the application of AlH3 in EMs.

Reactive molecular dynamics simulation of thermal decomposition for nitromethane/nano-aluminum composites.

The thermal decomposition of pure nitromethane (NM) and NM/nano-aluminum (Al) composites was simulated by reactive molecular dynamics with ReaxFF-lg corrected force field parameters. The initial decomposition pathway of NM molecules in pure NM is C-N bond rupture. However, NM is decomposed early by the initial pathway of N-O bond rupture when it mixes with nano-Al because of the strong attraction of Al to O. The decomposition process of NM/nano-Al can be divided into three stages: adsorption, slow decomposition, and rapid decomposition. The addition of nano-Al particles decreases the energy barrier in decomposition, increases the released energy, and reduces the decomposition temperature of NM. Adding 3% Al to the explosive can make the detonation pressure 3.083% higher than that of pure system. Compared with pure NM, the energy barrier of 16% Al composite is 25.63 kcal/mol lower and the energy released is 22.99 kcal/mol more. There is an optimal amount of Al contents being added to the NM composite by which the largest total numbers of gaseous products (N2, H2O, and CO2) are released. The effect of Al additives on CO2 production is the most obvious. The maximum detonation pressure can be achieved by adding an appropriate amount of nano-Al, which is similar to the experimental results. Graphical abstract.

Standing-type magnetically guided capsule endoscopy versus gastroscopy for gastric examination: multicenter blinded comparative trial.

AIM: To compare feasibility and safety after gastrointestinal checkup by standing-type magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (SMCE) and conventional gastroscopy. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter, blinded study that compared SMCE with gastroscopy in patients from April 2018 to July 2018. All patients first underwent SMCE and then subsequently had gastroscopy with i.v. anesthesia. We calculated the compliance rates of gastric lesion detection by SMCE using gastroscopy as the standard. Capsule retention rate, incidence of adverse events, and patient satisfaction were documented throughout the study. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients who completed SMCE and gastroscopy were included in the analysis. Positive compliance rate among SMCE and gastroscopy was 92.0% (95% CI: 80.77%-97.78%). Negative compliance rate was 95.5% (89.80%, 98.52%). Moreover, overall compliance rate was 94.41% (89.65%, 97.41%). Sixty-four pathological outcomes were identified. Of these 64 outcomes, 50 were detected by both procedures. The gastroscopy method neglected seven findings (such as five erosions, one polyp, and one ulcer). Furthermore, SMCE also overlooked seven lesions (i.e. one erosion, two polyps, one atrophy, and three submucosal tumors). Capsule retention or related adverse events were not reported. CONCLUSION: Standing-type magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy provides equivalent agreement with gastroscopy and may be useful for screening of gastric illnesses without any anesthesia.

HvPAA1 Encodes a P-Type ATPase, a Novel Gene for Cadmium Accumulation and Tolerance in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

The identification of gene(s) that are involved in Cd accumulation/tolerance is vital in developing crop cultivars with low Cd accumulation. We developed a doubled haploid (DH) population that was derived from a cross of Suyinmai 2 (Cd-sensitive) × Weisuobuzhi (Cd-tolerant) to conduct quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping studies. We assessed chlorophyll content, traits that are associated with development, metal concentration, and antioxidative enzyme activity in DH population lines and parents under control and Cd stress conditions. A single QTL, designated as qShCd7H, was identified on chromosome 7H that was linked to shoot Cd concentration; qShCd7H explained 17% of the phenotypic variation. Comparative genomics, map-based cloning, and gene silencing were used in isolation, cloning, and functional characterization of the candidate gene. A novel gene HvPAA1, being related to shoot Cd concentration, was identified from qShCd7H. Sequence comparison indicated that HvPAA1 carried seven domains with an N-glycosylation motif. HvPAA1 is predominantly expressed in shoots. Subcellular localization verified that HvPAA1 is located in plasma membrane. The silencing of HvPAA1 resulted in growth inhibition, greater Cd accumulation, and a significant decrease in Cd tolerance. We conclude HvPAA1 is a novel plasma membrane-localized ATPase that contributes to Cd tolerance and accumulation in barley. The results provide us with new insights that may aid in the screening and development of Cd-tolerant and low-Cd-accumulation crops.