A Deep Learning Model for Automatically Quantifying the Anterior Segment in Ultrasound Biomicroscopy Images of Implantable Collamer Lens Candidates.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based model that could automatically measure anterior segment (AS) parameters on preoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) images of implantable Collamer lens (ICL) surgery candidates. METHODS: A total of 1164 panoramic UBM images were preoperatively obtained from 321 patients who received ICL surgery in the Eye Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (Wuhan, China) to develop an imaging database. First, the UNet++ network was utilized to segment AS tissues automatically, such as corneal lens and iris. In addition, image processing techniques and geometric localization algorithms were developed to automatically identify the anatomical landmarks (ALs) of pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle-to-angle distance (ATA), and sulcus-to-sulcus distance (STS). Based on the results of the latter two processes, PD, ACD, ATA, and STS can be measured. Meanwhile, an external dataset of 294 images from Huangshi Aier Eye Hospital was employed to further assess the model's performance in other center. Lastly, a subset of 100 random images from the external test set was chosen to compare the performance of the model with senior experts. RESULTS: Whether in the internal test dataset or external test dataset, using manual labeling as the reference standard, the models achieved a mean Dice coefficient exceeding 0.880. Additionally, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) of ALs' coordinates were all greater than 0.947, and the percentage of Euclidean distance distribution of ALs within 250 µm was over 95.24%.While the ICCs for PD, ACD, ATA, and STS were greater than 0.957, furthermore, the average relative error (ARE) of PD, ACD, ATA, and STS were below 2.41%. In terms of human versus machine performance, the ICCs between the measurements performed by the model and those by senior experts were all greater than 0.931. CONCLUSION: A deep learning-based model could measure AS parameters using UBM images of ICL candidates, and exhibited a performance similar to that of a senior ophthalmologist.

Phosphorus deficiency-induced cell wall pectin demethylesterification enhances cadmium accumulation in roots of Salix caprea.

Regions affected by heavy metal contamination frequently encounter phosphorus (P) deficiency. Numerous studies highlight crucial role of P in facilitating cadmium (Cd) accumulation in woody plants. However, the regulatory mechanism by which P affects Cd accumulation in roots remains ambiguous. This study aims to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency on Cd accumulation, Cd subcellular distribution, and cell wall components in the roots of Salix caprea under Cd stress. The results revealed that under P deficiency conditions, there was a 35.4% elevation in Cd content in roots, coupled with a 60.1% reduction in Cd content in shoots, compared to the P sufficiency conditions. Under deficient P conditions, the predominant response of roots to Cd exposure was the increased sequestration of Cd in root cell walls. The sequestration of Cd in root cell walls increased from 37.1% under sufficient P conditions to 66.7% under P deficiency, with pectin identified as the primary Cd binding site under both P conditions. Among cell wall components, P deficiency led to a significant 31.7% increase in Cd content within pectin compared to P sufficiency conditions, but did not change the pectin content. Notably, P deficiency significantly increased pectin methylesterase (PME) activity by regulating the expression of PME and PMEI genes, leading to a 10.4% reduction in the degree of pectin methylesterification. This may elucidate the absence of significant changes in pectin content under P deficiency conditions and the concurrent increase in Cd accumulation in pectin. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated an increase in carboxyl groups in the root cell walls under P deficiency compared to sufficient P treatment. The results provide deep insights into the mechanisms of higher Cd accumulation in root mediated by P deficiency.

Photocobilins integrate B12 and bilin photochemistry for enzyme control.

Photoreceptor proteins utilise chromophores to sense light and trigger a biological response. The discovery that adenosylcobalamin (or coenzyme B12) can act as a light-sensing chromophore heralded a new field of B12-photobiology. Although microbial genome analysis indicates that photoactive B12-binding domains form part of more complex protein architectures, regulating a range of molecular-cellular functions in response to light, experimental evidence is lacking. Here we identify and characterise a sub-family of multi-centre photoreceptors, termed photocobilins, that use B12 and biliverdin (BV) to sense light across the visible spectrum. Crystal structures reveal close juxtaposition of the B12 and BV chromophores, an arrangement that facilitates optical coupling. Light-triggered conversion of the B12 affects quaternary structure, in turn leading to light-activation of associated enzyme domains. The apparent widespread nature of photocobilins implies involvement in light regulation of a wider array of biochemical processes, and thus expands the scope for B12 photobiology. Their characterisation provides inspiration for the design of broad-spectrum optogenetic tools and next generation bio-photocatalysts.

Mechanistic implications of the ternary complex structural models for the photoenzyme protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase.

The photoenzyme protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR) is an important enzyme for understanding biological H-transfer mechanisms. It uses light to catalyse the reduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide, a key step in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Although a wealth of spectroscopic data have provided crucial mechanistic insight, a structural rationale for POR photocatalysis has proved challenging and remains hotly debated. Recent structural models of the ternary enzyme-substrate complex, derived from crystal and electron microscopy data, show differences in the orientation of the protochlorophyllide substrate and the architecture of the POR active site, with significant implications for the catalytic mechanism. Here, we use a combination of computational and experimental approaches to investigate the compatibility of each structural model with the hypothesised reaction mechanisms and propose an alternative structural model for the cyanobacterial POR ternary complex. We show that a strictly conserved tyrosine, previously proposed to act as the proton donor in POR photocatalysis, is unlikely to be involved in this step of the reaction but is crucial for Pchlide binding. Instead, an active site cysteine is important for both hydride and proton transfer reactions in POR and is proposed to act as the proton donor, either directly or through a water-mediated network. Moreover, a conserved glutamine is important for Pchlide binding and ensuring efficient photochemistry by tuning its electronic properties, likely by interacting with the central Mg atom of the substrate. This optimal 'binding pose' for the POR ternary enzyme-substrate complex illustrates how light energy can be harnessed to facilitate enzyme catalysis by this unique enzyme.

A novel L-shaped ortho-quinone analog as PLK1 inhibitor blocks prostate cancer cells in G2 phase.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor among men worldwide. Currently, the main treatments are radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. However, most of them are poorly effective and induce side effects. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) regulates cell cycle and mitosis. Its inhibitor BI2536 promotes the therapeutic effect of nilotinib in chronic myeloid leukemia, enhances the sensitivity of neural tube cell tumors to radiation therapy and PLK1 silencing enhances the sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma to cisplatin. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the PLK1 inhibitor L-shaped ortho-quinone analog TE6 on prostate cancer. In vitro on prostate cancer cells showed that TE6 inhibited PLK1 protein expression and consequently cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle at G2 phase. In vivo on a subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice confirmed that TE6 effectively inhibited tumor growth in nude mice, inhibited PLK1 expression and regulated the expression of cell cycle proteins such as p21, p53, CDK1, Cdc25C, and cyclinB1. Thus, PLK1 was identified as the target protein of TE6, these results reveal the critical role of PLK1 in the growth and survival of prostate cancer and point out the ability of TE6 on targeting PLK1, being a potential drug for prostate cancer therapy.

Effect of mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil on wound healing in patients undergoing glaucoma surgery: A meta-analysis.

Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) is a risk factor for glaucoma. One treatment option is trabeculectomy. Antimetabolic agents are used in the operation to decrease the post-operative scarring of the wound. The two most common medicines are Mitomycin C (MMC) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The aim of this research is to assess the effect of MMC on post-operation wound healing in comparison with 5-FU in addition to trabeculectomy. Well, we went through four common databases. Our language was limited to English during the study. The last time we looked at the e-databases was August 2023. Case control studies were performed where MMC resulted in better wound healing than 5-FU. Researchers selected a total of 1023 trials and eventually selected six trials for data analysis. Four hundred and ninety one cases of glaucoma were treated with trabeculectomy. Among them, 246 were given MMC and 245 were given 5-FU during operation. Six trials showed that there was no statistical difference between MMC and 5-FU in the incidence of post-operative wound leak in glaucoma patients who received trabeculectomy (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.63-2.30 p = 0.57); Five trials demonstrated that MMC was associated with a reduced risk of post-operative corneal damage compared to 5-FU injection (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06-0.56 p = 0.003); In both trials, the incidence of post-operative bleeding was not significantly different from that of 5-FU injected in the MMC group (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.05-2.16 p = 0.25). Our results indicate that MMC is superior to 5-FU in the reduction of post-operative corneal injury. Additional comparisons between MMC and 5-FU are required in order to increase the reliability and effectiveness of these findings.

[Effect of acupuncture at "Houxi" (SI3) and"Huantiao" (GB30) on high mobility group box 1 protein in spinal nerve trunk of rats with lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Houxi"(SI3) and "Huantiao"(GB30) on high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) protein and mRNA in spinal nerve trunk(SNT) of rats with lumbar disc herniation(LDH), so as to explore the mechanisms of acupuncture at this paired points on the treatment for LDH. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, conventional acupuncture(CA) and paired points(PP) groups (with 8 rats in each group). The LDH model was established by injection of autologous suspension made from rats' own nucleus pulsus into the epidural space. Rats in the CA group received acupuncture treatment at bilateral "Weizhong"(BL40), "Dachangshu"(BL25) and "Shenshu"(BL23), while rats in the PP group received acupuncture at bilateral SI3 and GB30, 30 min each time, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet of rats was detected by thermal pain stimulator. The contents of serum IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 of rats were detected by ELISA. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of HMGB1 protein in the lumbar(L)5 SNT of rats. The relative expression of HMGB1 mRNA in L5 SNT was determined by qPCR. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of L5 SNT. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet in the model group was decreased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet in the CA group and the PP group were increased (P<0.05). The expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in L5 SNT, and the contents of serum IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 of rats in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.000 1, P<0.001) in contrast to the sham operation group. The expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in L5 SNT, and the levels of serum IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.000 1, P<0.001, P<0.05) in the CA and PP group, in comparison with those of the model group. Compared with the CA group, the above indexes of rats in the PP group recovered more significantly (P<0.05,P<0.001, P<0.01,P<0.000 1). The histomorphological results showed scattered and various-sized nerve fibers, vacuolation, a large number of disintegrating myelin sheath and lysed Schwann cells in the model group. Myelin sheaths regeneration, regularly-arranged nerve fibers were seen in the CA group and the PP group, with more obvious histopathological recovery observed in the PP group than the CA group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention inhibites the expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in rats with LDH, and further reduces the production of IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8, which is beneficial to inflammatory response inhibition and pain alleviation. The therapeutic effect of the PP group is more obvious than that of the CA group.

A novel insight into the microwave induced catalytic reduction mechanism in aqueous Cr(VI) removal over ZnFe2O4 catalyst.

Aqueous Cr(VI) pollution is an emerging environmental issue. Herein, a sphere-like ZnFe2O4 catalyst with a size of ∼430 nm was prepared by a solvothermal method, by which the aqueous Cr(VI) in a 50 mL solution with concentration of 50 mg/L was completely removed after 10 min-microwave (MW) irradiation. "Surface temperature visualization" tests and COMSOL simulations showed that the surface temperature of the as-prepared ZnFe2O4 catalysts could be as high as > 1000 °C only after 300 s MW irradiation, and the work function calculations and scavenging experiments demonstrated that the excited electrons derived by the "hot spots" effect of the ZnFe2O4 catalysts reduced the Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Kinetic reaction process of the reduction of *Cr2O72- to *CrO3H3 over the ZnFe2O4 catalysts was clarified by using DFT calculation, and the results indicated that *Cr2O72- adsorbed on the Fe atoms was more easily to be reduced, and that Fe atoms played more significant roles than the Zn and O atoms in ZnFe2O4 catalysts. The present study not only proves that the MW induced ZnFe2O4 catalytic reduction was promising for ultrafast remediation of toxic Cr(VI), but also provides a new insight into the corresponding mechanism.

A Comparative Study on the Clinical Efficacy of Stereotaxic Catheter Drainage and Conservative Treatment for Small and Medium Amount Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Basal Ganglia.

The incidence rate and fatal disability rate of cerebral hemorrhage increase year by year. At present, most patients with a hematoma volume of ≤20 mL are treated conservatively by internal medicine. With the development of the stereotactic technique, it has been widely used for the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage in clinics. This study compared the clinical differences between stereotactic surgery and conservative treatment for small- and medium-sized cerebral hemorrhages. The results show that stereotactic hematoma evacuation is more effective than conservative treatment in the treatment of medium and small intracerebral hemorrhages in the basal ganglia. It can accelerate the resolution of hematoma and improve the neurological function and quality of life of patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

A robust air superhydrophilic/superoleophobic diatomite porous ceramic for high-performance continuous separation of oil-in-water emulsion.

Three-dimensional (3D) porous architecture has attracted considerable attention in remediation of oil/water emulsion. In present work, an air superhydrophilic/superoleophobic diatomite porous ceramic (AS-DC) was prepared, using SiO2 whiskers modified diatomite ceramic as the substrate and FS-50 as the modifier. The interconnected SiO2 whiskers intertwined on the skeleton of ceramic block forming a 3D network structure, which not only improved the wettability of AS-DC, but also reinforced its mechanical property (about 2.5 MPa of compressive strength). The as-prepared AS-DC with intrinsically superoleophobicity (154°) and superhydrophilicity (0°) exhibited an underwater oil contact angle of 161°, suggesting a multifunctional separation capability. By simply assembling AS-DC with pipes and a pump, it could not only separate the surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion in a permeation flux as high as 107.8 kg min-1 m-2 with a selectivity of >95%, but also collect the clean water from the floating oil/water mixture in a flux of 197.4 kg min-1 m-2 and a selectivity of ∼99%. In addition, the AS-DC was resistant to the salt/acid/alkaline corrosion and temperature fluctuation. The mechanical/chemical firmness of AS-DC renders it tremendous potential as a robust 3D architecture in real application for purification of oil/water mixture.

Circ_0005231 promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via sponging miR-383-5p and regulating KIAA0101.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as key regulators in human cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the role and mechanism of circ_0005231 in ESCC have not previously been reported. METHODS: RNA levels and protein levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assay, respectively. Cell proliferation was assessed by colony formation assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to assess cell migration and invasion, respectively. The intermolecular interaction was predicted by bioinformatic analysis and verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pulldown and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Xenograft tumor model was used for exploring the biological function of circ_0005231 in vivo. RESULTS: Circ_0005231 was upregulated in ESCC plasma, tissues and cells. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were significantly restrained by knockdown of circ_0005231 in ESCC cells. Circ_0005231 acted as a sponge of miR-383-5p, and circ_0005231 regulated ESCC cellular behavior by sponging miR-383-5p. Moreover, miR-383-5p directly targeted KIAA0101, and circ_0005231 positively regulated KIAA0101 expression by sponging miR-383-5p. Furthermore, circ_0005231 knockdown suppressed the malignant behavior of ESCC cells by downregulating KIAA0101. Importantly, knockdown of circ_0005231 blocked xenograft tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Circ_0005231 acted as a sponge of miR-383-5p to promote ESCC progression by upregulating KIAA0101, which provided a potential therapeutic strategy for ESCC treatment.

An unusual light-sensing function for coenzyme B12 in bacterial transcription regulator CarH.

Coenzyme B12 is one of the most complex cofactors found in nature and synthesized de novo by certain groups of bacteria. Although its use in various enzymatic reactions is well characterized, only recently an unusual light-sensing function has been ascribed to coenzyme B12. It has been reported that the coenzyme B12 binding protein CarH, found in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway of several thermostable bacteria, binds to the promoter region of DNA and suppresses transcription. To overcome the harmful effects of light-induced damage in the cells, CarH releases DNA in the presence of light and promotes transcription and synthesis of carotenoids, thereby working as a photoreceptor. CarH is able to achieve this by exploiting the photosensitive nature of the CoC bond between the adenosyl moiety and the cobalt atom in the coenzyme B12 molecule. Extensive structural and spectroscopy studies provided a mechanistic understanding of the molecular basis of this unique light-sensitive reaction. Most studies on CarH have used the ortholog from the thermostable bacterium Thermus thermophilus, due to the ease with which it can be expressed and purified in high quantities. In this chapter we give an overview of this intriguing class of photoreceptors and report a step-by-step protocol for expression, purification and spectroscopy experiments (both static and time-resolved techniques) employed in our laboratory to study CarH from T. thermophilus. We hope the contents of this chapter will be of interest to the wider coenzyme B12 community and apprise them of the potential and possibilities of using coenzyme B12 as a light-sensing probe in a protein scaffold.

Mutual Conversion of CO-CO2 on a Perovskite Fuel Electrode with Endogenous Alloy Nanoparticles for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells.

Reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) can efficiently render the mutual conversion between electricity and chemicals, for example, electrolyzing CO2 to CO under a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) mode and oxidizing CO to CO2 under a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode. Nevertheless, the development of RSOCs is still hindered, owing to the lack of catalytically active and carbon-tolerant fuel electrodes. For improving mutual CO-CO2 conversion kinetics in RSOCs, here, we demonstrate a high-performing and durable fuel electrode consisting of redox-stable Sr2(Fe, Mo)2O6-δ perovskite oxide and epitaxially endogenous NiFe alloy nanoparticles. The electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) and distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analyses reveal that surface/interface oxygen exchange kinetics and the CO/CO2 activation process are both greatly accelerated. The assembled single cell produces a maximum power density (MPD) of 443 mW cm-2 at 800 °C under the SOFC mode, with the corresponding CO oxidation rate of 5.524 mL min-1 cm-2. On the other hand, a current density of -0.877 A cm-2 is achieved at 1.46 V under the SOEC mode, equivalent to a CO2 reduction rate of 6.108 mL min cm-2. Furthermore, reliable reversible conversion of CO-CO2 is proven with no performance degradation in 20 cycles under SOEC (1.3 V) and SOFC (0.6 V) modes. Therefore, our work provides an alternative way for designing highly active and durable fuel electrodes for RSOC applications.

Enhanced Diffusion Kinetics of Li Ions in Double-Shell Hollow Carbon Fibers.

The rational design and preparation of hierarchical hollow structures have promising potential in electrochemical energy storage systems. In this paper, double-shell hollow carbon fibers (DSHCFs) with tunable thickness and shell spacing are prepared using hollow electrospun polystyrene fibers as the hard template and in situ coated polypyrrole as the carbon source. The as-prepared DSHCFs with an optimized structure exhibit a submicrometer shell spacing and a nanoscaled shell thickness, which guarantees sufficient contact area with the electrolyte and provides abundant electrochemical active sites for Li+ storage. Owing to the unique structural advantages, a DSHCF-based anode shows favorable transport kinetics for both Li+ ions and electrons during the lithiation/delithiation process, and a high reversible capacity of 348 mAh g-1 at 5.0 A g-1 is well maintained even after 500 cycles with no obvious capacity attenuation. Particular emphasis is given to kinetic Li+ storage mechanisms in DSHCFs that are discussed in detail, providing a new avenue for developing high-performance carbon materials for the practical application of energy storage devices.

Joule-heatable bird-nest-bioinspired/carbon nanotubes-modified sepiolite porous ceramics: An efficient, sturdy, and continuous strategy for oil recovery.

Oil-spill accident is a severe globally concerned environmental issue. In this work, a Joule-heatable bird-nest-bioinspired/carbon nanotubes-modified sepiolite porous ceramic (JBN/CM-SC) was developed, using inexpensive sepiolite porous ceramics as the substrate and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) derived from waste plastics as the modifier. The former exhibited outstanding mechanical property (1.7 MPa of compressive strength), gas permeability (9.1 × 10-11 m2), thermal conductivity (0.215 W·m-1·K-1) and thermal/chemical stability. As expected, the deposited CNTs not only conferred a hydrophobic surface, but also resulted in a Joule-heating ability of intrinsically non-conductive ceramics. As-prepared JBN/CM-SC demonstrated a separation rate as high as 120-200 kg·s-1·m-2 for oil recovery and a high selectivity of over 95%. The Joule heat generated by the heated JBN/CM-SC could in-situ reduce the oil-viscosity, remarkably increasing the oil-diffusion. The separation rate was enhanced by ~12 times with respect to that of the non-heated counterpart. In addition, the idea of modular design was proposed. By simply combining JBN/CM-SC components with pipes and a pump, a continuous in-situ collection of oil from an oil/water mixture was realized, providing an efficient, sturdy, and continuous approach to recover the spilled oil in an oil-spill accident.

Role of COL3A1 and POSTN on Pathologic Stages of Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a primary malignant tumor originating from the esophageal of the epithelium. Surgical resection is a potential treatment for EC, but this is only appropriate for patients who have locally resectable lesions suitable for surgery. However, most patients with EC are at a late stage when diagnosed. Therefore, there is an urgent need to further explore the pathogenesis of EC to enable early diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Our study downloaded 2 expression spectrum datasets (GSE92396 and GSE100942) in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GEO2 R was used to identify the Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the samples of EC and control. Using the DAVID tool to make the Functional enrichment analysis. Constructing A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Identifying the Hub genes. The impact of hub gene expression on overall survival and their expression based on immunohistochemistry were analyzed. Associated microRNAs were also predicted. RESULTS: There were 36 common DEGs identified. The analysis of GO and KEGG results shown that the variations were predominantly concentrated in the extracellular matrix (ECM), ECM organization, DNA binding, platelet activation, and ECM-receptor interactions. COL3A1 and POSTN had high expression in EC tissues which was compared with their expression in healthy tissues. Analysis of pathologic stages showed that when COL3A1 and POSTN were highly expressed, the stage of the pathologic of EC patients was relatively high (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: COL3A1 and POSTN may play an important role in the advancement and occurrence of EC. These genes could provide some novel ideas and basis for the diagnosis and targeted treatment of EC.

Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Predicts Postoperative Death of Infective Endocarditis.

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a rare disease with high mortality rate. Recently, red cell distribution width (RDW) has drawn special attention for predicting cardiovascular disease. This study aims to explore the relationship between RDW value and postoperative death of IE patients.Clinical records of patients with definite IE from Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital department of cardiovascular surgery were collected and analyzed. Clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical variables were evaluated along with RDW.Results: A total of 158 consecutive IE patients (mean age 47.0 ± 16.3 years, male 61.4%) were enrolled in this study. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal RDW cutoff value for predicting mortality was 15.45% (area under the curve 0.913, P < 0.001). A total of 28 patients (17.8%) died postoperatively; of these, 89.3% had RDW value >15.45%. Binary regression analysis showed that aging, multiple valvular involved, valvular vegetation formation, pulmonary hypertension, and high RDW are strong predictors of postoperative death. Multiple regression analysis revealed that high RDW value was independent predictors of postoperative mortality in patients with IE (ß: 3.704, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 2.729-604.692, P < 0.05).IE has a high inhospital mortality rate, and increased RDW is an independent predictor of postoperative death in these patients.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma contains multiple clonal T-cell populations derived from a common TET2 mutant progenitor cell.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a neoplastic proliferation of T follicular helper cells with clinical and histological presentations suggesting a role of antigenic drive in its development. Genetically, it is characterized by a stepwise acquisition of somatic mutations, with early mutations involving epigenetic regulators (TET2, DNMT3A) and occurring in haematopoietic stem cells, with subsequent changes involving signaling molecules (RHOA, VAV1, PLCG1, CD28) critical for T-cell biology. To search for evidence of potential oncogenic cooperation between genetic changes and intrinsic T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, we investigated somatic mutations and T-cell receptor ß (TRB) rearrangement in 119 AITL, 11 peripheral T-cell lymphomas with T follicular helper phenotype (PTCL-TFH), and 25 PTCL-NOS using Fluidigm polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Illumina MiSeq sequencing. We confirmed frequent TET2, DNMT3A, and RHOA mutations in AITL (72%, 34%, 61%) and PTCL-TFH (73%, 36%, 45%) and showed multiple TET2 mutations (2 or 3) in 57% of the involved AITL and PTCL-TFH. Clonal TRB rearrangement was seen in 76 cases with multiple functional rearrangements (2-4) in 18 cases (24%). In selected cases, we confirmed bi-clonal T-cell populations and further demonstrated that these independent T-cell populations harboured identical TET2 mutations by using BaseScope in situ hybridization, suggesting their derivation from a common TET2 mutant progenitor cell population. Furthermore, both T-cell populations expressed CD4. Finally, in comparison with tonsillar TFH cells, both AITL and PTCL-TFH showed a significant overrepresentation of several TRB variable family members, particularly TRBV19*01. Our findings suggest the presence of parallel neoplastic evolutions from a common TET2 mutant haematopoietic progenitor pool in AITL and PTCL-TFH, albeit to be confirmed in a large series of cases. The biased TRBV usage in these lymphomas suggests that antigenic stimulation may play an important role in predilection of T cells to clonal expansion and malignant transformation. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Polydopamine nanospheres loaded with l-cysteine-coated cadmium sulfide quantum dots as photoelectrochemical signal amplifier for PSA detection.

A sandwich-type photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was constructed for sensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA). It was based on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 (ERGO-TiO2) as photoelectrochemical platform to immobilize capture antibody (Ab1). Then, quinone-rich polydopamine nanospheres (PDANS) loaded detection antibody (Ab2) and photocurrent signal label, l-cysteine-coated cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdSQDs). ERGO-TiO2 displayed greatly improved photocurrent response to white light. CdSQDs conjugated with PDANS further amplified photocurrent signal because of the good conductivity of PDANS and ERGO. The increased photocurrent showed a linear correlation with PSA in the concentration range from 0.02 pg mL-1 to 200 ng mL-1 with the detection limit of 6.8 fg mL-1. It also revealed high selectivity and good stability.