Factors driving the assembly of prokaryotic communities in bulk soil and rhizosphere of Torreya grandis along a 900-year age gradient.

Excessive nutrient inputs imperil the stability of forest ecosystems via modifying the interactions among soil properties, microbes, and plants, particularly in forests composed of cash crops that are under intensive disturbances of agricultural activities, such as Torreya grandis. Understanding the potential drivers of soil microbial community helps scientists develop effective strategies for balancing the protection and productivity of the ancient Torreya forest. Here, we assayed the link between plant and soil parameters and prokaryote communities in bulk soil and T. grandis rhizosphere in 900-year-old stands by detecting plant and soil properties in two independent sites in southeastern China. Our results showed no apparent influence of stand age on the compositions of prokaryote communities in bulk soil and T. grandis rhizosphere. In contrast, soil abiotic factors (i.e., soil pH) overwhelm plant characteristics (i.e., height, plant tissue carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content) and contribute most to the shift in prokaryote communities in bulk soil and T. grandis rhizosphere. Soil pH leads to an increase in microbiota alpha diversity in both compartments. With the help of a random forest, we found a critical transition point of pH (pH = 4.9) for the dominance of acidic and near-neutral bacterial groups. Co-occurrence network analysis further revealed a substantially simplified network in plots with a pH of <4.9 versus samples with a pH of ≥4.9, indicating that soil acidification induces biodiversity loss and disrupts potential interactions among soil microbes. Our findings provide empirical evidence that soil abiotic properties nearly completely offset the roles of host plants in the assembly and potential interactions of rhizosphere microorganisms. Hence, reduction in inorganic fertilization and proper liming protocols should be seriously considered by local farmers to protect ancient Torreya forests.

Differences in the dielectric properties of various benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

PURPOSE: This experiment was conducted to investigate the dielectric properties of different types of thyroid nodules. Our goal was to find a simple and fast method to detect thyroid diseases at different stages from the dielectric properties of thyroid nodules. METHODS: We used the open-ended coaxial line method to measure the dielectric permittivities of thyroid tissues from 155 patients at frequencies ranging from 1 to 4000 MHz. Tissues that were investigated included normal thyroid tissue and benign and malignant thyroid nodules (nodular goiter, follicular adenoma, papillary carcinoma, and follicular carcinoma), as determined from pathological reports. Differences in dielectric properties were measured between each nodule and the surrounding 1 cm of tissue. RESULTS: The analysis results revealed that the dielectric permittivity and conductivity values were positively correlated with the degree of malignancy of the nodule (normal < benign < malignant; all differences P < 0.05). This was more obvious at frequencies within 20~70 MHz, following the order normal tissue < nodular goiter < follicular adenoma < papillary carcinoma < follicular carcinoma. A significant difference (P < 0.05) in dielectric permittivity and conductivity was found when comparing these nodules with the surrounding 1 cm of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Normal, benign, and malignant nodules were successfully distinguished from one another, and dielectric permittivity was found to be a more sensitive parameter than conductivity. In particular, different disease types can be distinguished at a stimulation frequency of 20~70 MHz, which shows that dielectric properties have application prospects for the detection and diagnosis of cancer. At the same time, the dielectric parameter differences between the surrounding 1 cm of tissue and the diseased nodule can distinguish the tumor and its surrounding tissues in real time during surgery to determine the tumor boundary.

Comparison of the outcomes of cytoreductive surgery versus surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis: a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are effective treatment options for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). We compared the short-term outcomes of surgery plus HIPEC and CRS alone for PC. METHODS: We retrospectively examined patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC for PC at a single center from 2014 to 2019 using the Chinese CRS-HIPEC patient database at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups: surgery plus HIPEC (450) and surgery alone (200). A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed. The postoperative outcomes, mortality, and length of hospital stay were compared between the surgery plus HIPEC and CRS alone groups. RESULTS: Propensity scoring generated 162 pairs. There was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day mortality rate between the groups (0% vs 0%, P = 1.000), and the morbidity rates were similar in both groups (7.4% vs 8.0%, P = 0.835). The surgery plus HIPEC group had a longer operative time (247.81 ± 64.70 vs 184.55 ± 29.56, P ≤ 0.001) and a slightly longer postoperative hospital stay (14.64 ± 5.24 vs 12.59 ± 3.76, P ≤ 0.001). No other baseline characteristics were significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery plus HIPEC is feasible for select patients and is associated with prolonged surgery times and prolonged hospital stays, and there is no significant difference in mortality rates or postoperative outcomes.

Prognostic impact of preoperative prognostic nutritional index in resected advanced gastric cancer: A multicenter propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) causes debilitating malnutrition and leads to deterioration of the immune response. However, the concept of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is controversial when applied to patients with AGC. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the PNI after gastrectomy in patients with AGC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted using propensity score matching (PSM) in gastric adenocarcinoma patients who underwent resection via laparoscopic or open surgery between 2014 and 2017. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 matching using 5 covariates. RESULTS: The resection margins (P < 0.001) and LNM (P = 0.004) were significantly different between the two groups. In univariate analysis, poor tumor differentiation (P = 0.038) (R1+R2, P = 0.004), vascular and neural invasion (P < 0.001), and a PNI<50 (P < 0.001) were associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS). In multivariate analysis, a PNI<50 (hazard ratio (HR), 12.993; P < 0.001) was a risk factor for RFS. Univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that a PNI<50 (P < 0.001) (R1+R2,P = 0.006) and vascular and neural invasion (P < 0.001) were risk factors. In subsequent multivariate analysis, a PNI<50 (HR, 24.501; P < 0.001) was a significant risk factor for OS. Clinical assessments performed during a 12.34 (±5.050) month follow-up revealed that OS (P < 0.001) and RFS (P < 0.001) were worse in patients with a low PNI (<50) than in matched patients with a high PNI. CONCLUSION: A low PNI is a strong predictor of unfavorable RFS and OS in patients with AGC.

A conceptual study on the formulation of a permeable reactive pavement with activated carbon additives for controlling the fate of non-point source environmental organic contaminants.

To take advantage of the road pavement network where non-point source (NPS) pollution such as benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene (BTEX) from vehicle traffic exhaust via wet and dry atmospheric deposition occurs, the asphalt pavement may be used as a media to control the NPS pollution. An experiment to prepare an adsorptive porous reactive pavement (PRP) was initiated to explore the potential to reduce environmental NPS vehicle pollution. The PRP was prepared and studied as follows: various activated carbons (AC) were initially screened to determine if they were suitable as an additive in the porous asphalt mixture; various mixtures of a selected AC were incorporated with the design of porous asphalt concrete (PAC) to produce PRP, and the PRP formulations were tested to ensure that they comply with the required specifications; qualified specimens were subsequently tested to determine their adsorption capacity for BTEX in aqueous solution, as compared to conventional PAC. The PRP08 and PRP16 samples, named for the design formulations of 0.8% and 1.6% of AC (by wt. in the formulation), exhibited low asphalt drain-down and low abrasion loss and also met all regulated specifications. The BTEX adsorption capacity measurements of PRP08 and PRP16 were 33-46%, 36-51%, 20-22%, and 6-8% respectively, higher than those obtained from PACs. Based on the test results, PRPs showed good physical performance and adsorption and may be considered as a potential method for controlling the transport of NPS vehicle pollutants.

High Risk of Hepatitis B Reactivation among Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. However, the incidence and risk factors of HBV reactivation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are rarely investigated. METHODS: AML patients followed-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2006 and 2012 were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and laboratory data were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Four hundred and ninety patients comprising 265 men and 225 women were studied. The median age was 52 years (range, 18 - 94). Chronic HBV carriage was documented at the time of leukemia diagnosis in 57 (11.6%) patients. Forty-six (80.7%) of the 57 HBV carriers received prophylaxis with anti-HBV agents. Sixteen HBV carriers (28.1%) developed hepatitis B reactivation during or after chemotherapy, including 7 patients who had discontinued antiviral therapy. The incidence of hepatitis B reactivation among AML patients with HBV carriage was 9.5 per 100 person-years. Prophylaxis with anti-HBV agents significantly decreased the risk of hepatitis B reactivation among HBV carriers (13% vs. 61%, p<0.001). Four (2.8%) of 142 patients with initial positive anti-HBsAb and anti-HBcAb experienced hepatitis B reactivation and lost their protective anti-HBsAb. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (p=0.008, odds ratio (OR) = 2.841, 95% confident interval (CI): 0.985-8.193) and carriage of HBsAg (p<0.001, OR=36.878, 95% CI: 11.770-115.547) were independent risk factors for hepatitis B reactivation in AML patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B reactivation is not uncommon in the HBsAg positive AML patients. Prophylaxis with anti-HBV agent significantly decreased the risk of hepatitis B reactivation.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with candidaemia due to Candida parapsilosis sensu lato species at a medical centre in Taiwan, 2000-12.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult patients with Candida parapsilosis sensu lato candidaemia. METHODS: We evaluated data in the mycology database of the National Taiwan University Hospital and on patients diagnosed with candidaemia due to C. parapsilosis sensu lato species from 2000 to 2012. Isolates were identified to the species level by conventional identification methods, MALDI-TOF and gene sequencing analysis. RESULTS: A total of 323 adult patients with candidaemia caused by C. parapsilosis sensu lato species were evaluated, including 256 (79.3%) patients with C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 34 (10.5%) with Candida orthopsilosis and 33 (10.2%) with Candida metapsilosis. There were 222 men and 101 women and the median age was 60 years (range 18-103 years). Among them, 178 (55%) had an underlying diagnosis of cancer. The overall 30 day mortality rate was 25% (n = 80). Multivariate analysis revealed that shock (P < 0.001), antifungal therapy (P = 0.002), central catheter removal (P = 0.02) and abdominal surgery (P = 0.043) were independent prognostic factors for patients with candidaemia due to C. parapsilosis sensu lato species. There were no significant differences in 30 day mortality rate among patients with candidaemia caused by the three different species (P = 0.770). All isolates of C. metapsilosis, C. orthopsilosis and C. parapsilosis sensu stricto were susceptible to voriconazole. WT isolates were susceptible to itraconazole, posaconazole and amphotericin B. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in 30 day mortality among patients with candidaemia caused by C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. metapsilosis or C. orthopsilosis. The currently used antifungal agents exhibited good in vitro activities against C. parapsilosis sensu lato species isolates.

Hierarchical cluster analysis of immunophenotype classify AML patients with NPM1 gene mutation into two groups with distinct prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic implication of immunophenotyping in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with NPM1 mutation remains unclear. METHODS: Ninety-four of 543 AML patients diagnosed with NPM1 mutation between 1987 and 2007 were studied. The expression of surface antigens on leukemic cells was evaluated with respect to clinical manifestations and outcomes. In order to validate the prognostic effect of the immunophenotypic cluster, another 36 patients with NPM1 mutation diagnosed between 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients with NPM1 mutations and complete immunophenotyping data were enrolled for a hierarchical cluster analysis and the result was correlated with clinico-laboratory characteristics. Clustering analysis divided the patients with NPM1 mutations into the following two groups: group I, CD34(-)/CD7(-), but with variable expression of HLA-DR; and group II, HLA DR(+)/CD34(+)/CD7(+). With a median follow-up of 53 months, the group II patients had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS, median: 3 vs. 23 months, p = 0.006) and overall survival (OS, median: 11 vs. 40 months, p = 0.02) than group I patients. Multivariate analysis of variables, including clinico-laboratory data and other gene mutations revealed that the immunophenotypic cluster is an independent prognostic factor (RFS, p = 0.002; OS, p = 0.024). In order to confirm the prognostic effect of the immunophenotypic cluster, another 36 patients with NPM1 mutation diagnosed between 2008 and 2010 were validated. Hierarchical cluster analysis also showed two distinct clusters, group I patient showed significant better RFS (p = 0.021), and OS (p = 0.055). In total, we stratified 130 NPM1-mutant patients, by FLT3-ITD mutation and immunophenotypic cluster into distinct prognostic groups (RFS, p < 0.001 and OS, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Among NPM1-mutated AML, the antigen expression pattern of HLADR(+) CD34(+) CD7(+) is associated with a poor prognosis, independent to the FLT3-ITD mutation.

Chromosomal abnormalities by conventional cytogenetics and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization in chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Taiwan, an area with low incidence--clinical implication and comparison between the West and the East.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is much less prevalent in Taiwan than in the West, but we have recently addressed the distinctly increasing incidence of CLL in Taiwan. We sought to find out whether there is any difference in cytogenetic abnormalities (CA) of CLL between the West and the East. We analyze the CA, by conventional cytogenetics (CG) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and their clinical significance in 83 Taiwanese CLL patients and compared the data to those of Western countries. Thirty-five patients (42.2 %) possessed CG-CA and 58 (69.9 %) FISH-CA. By either CG or FISH, deletion of 17p or 11q was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (P<0.001 and P=0.008, respectively), whereas isolated 13q deletion was associated with better OS (P=0.050). Trisomy 3 by CG was found in five patients; all of them were in Binet A stage but had strikingly poor OS (P<0.001). This prognostic impact was independent from the other CA and Binet stages. We conclude that, though the disease incidence is much different, the CA of CLL in Taiwan are similar to those in the West. The combined CG and FISH analysis is able to predict the patients' prognosis. The clinical significance of trisomy 3 warrants further validation.

Nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor Ru(II)/Ru(III) electronic coupling in cyanide-bridged tetra-ruthenium square complexes.

Electrochemical properties of cyanide-bridged metal squares, [Ru(4)](4+) and [Rh(2)-Ru(2)](6+), clearly demonstrate the role of the nearest (NN) metal moiety in mediating the next-nearest neighbor (NNN) metal-to-metal electronic coupling. The differences in electrochemical potentials for successive oxidations of equivalent Ru(II) centers in [Ru(4)](4+) are ΔE(1/2) = 217 mV and 256 mV and are related to intense, dual metal-to-metal-charge-transfer (MMCT) absorption bands. This contrasts with a small value of ΔE(1/2) = 77 mV and no MMCT absorption bands observed to accompany the oxidations of [Rh(2)-Ru(2)](6+). These observations demonstrate NN-mediated superexchange mixing by the linker Ru of NNN Ru(II) and Ru(III) moieties and that this mixing results in a NNN contribution to the ground state stabilization energy of about 90 ± 20 meV. In contrast, the classical Hush model for mixed valence complexes with the observed MMCT absorption parameters predicts a NNN stabilization energy of about 6 meV. The observations also indicate that the amount of charge delocalization per Ru(II)/Ru(III) pair is about 4 times greater for the NN than the NNN couples in these CN-bridged complexes, which is consistent with DFT modeling. A simple fourth-order secular determinant model is used to describe the effects of donor/acceptor mixing in these complexes.

Tuning through-bond Fe(III)/Fe(II) coupling by solvent manipulation of a central ruthenium redox couple.

The relationships between the intervalence energy (E(IT)) and the free energy difference (DeltaG) that exists between the minima of redox isomers (Fe(II)-Ru(III)/Fe(III)-Ru(II)) for various heterobimetallic complexes [(R-Fcpy)Ru(NH(3))(5)](2+/3+) (R = H, ethyl, Br, actyl; Fcpy = (4-pyridyl)ferrocenyl; Ru(NH(3))(5) = pentaam(m)ineruthenium) were examined. The changes in DeltaG for the complexes in various solvents were due to the effects of both solvent donicity and the substituents. The intervalence energy versus DeltaG, DeltaG approximately FDeltaE(1/2) (DeltaE(1/2) = E(1/2)(Fe(III/II)) - E(1/2)(Ru(III/II))), plots for the complexes in various solvents suggest a nuclear reorganization energy (lambda) of approximately 6000 cm(-1) (Chen et al. Inorg. Chem. 2000, 39, 189). For [(R-Fcpy)Ru(NH(3))(5)](2+) and [(et-Fcpy)Ru(NH(3))(4)(py)](2+) (Ru(NH(3))(4) = trans-tetraam(m)ineruthenium; py = pyridine) in various solvents, the E(1/2)(Ru(III/II)) of rutheniumam(m)ine typically was less than the E(1/2)(Fe(III/II)) of the ferrocenyl moiety. However, the low-donicity solvents resulted in relatively large values of E(1/2)(Ru(III/II)) for [(et-Fcpy)Ru(NH(3))(4)(py)](2+/3+/4+). Under our unique solvent conditions, a dramatic end-to-end interaction was observed for the trimetal cation, [(et-Fcpy)(2)Ru(NH(3))(4)](4+), in which the [(et-Fcpy)(2)Ru(NH(3))(4)](4+) included a central trans-tetraam(m)ineruthenium(III) and a terminal Fe(II)/Fe(III) pair. In general, results of electrochemical studies of [(et-Fcpy)(2)Ru(NH(3))(4)](2+) indicated both solvent-tunable E(1/2)(Ru(III/II)) (1 e(-)) and solvent-insensitive E(1/2)(Fe(III/II)) (2 e(-)) redox centers. However, in nitriles, two E(1/2)(Fe(III/II)) peaks were found with DeltaE(1/2)(Fe(III/II) - Fe(III/II)) ranging between 83 and 108 mV at a terminal metal-to-metal distance of up to 15.6 A. Furthermore, the bridging dpi orbital of the ruthenium center mediated efficient end-to-end interaction between the combinations of the terminal Fe(II)-Fe(III)/Fe(III)-Fe(II) pair. To our knowledge, this is the first example of solvent-tunable end-to-end interactions in multimetal complexes.

Clinical characteristics and treatment response of Hodgkin's lymphoma in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is particularly rare in Asia, including Taiwan. The report concerning its clinical features and treatment outcomes in Asians is limited. An exploration of the characteristics of HL in this area is of importance for future studies. METHODS: In this study, 133 patients with HL diagnosed between January 1985 and December 2004 at National Taiwan University Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The age distribution revealed a young-adult peak at the age around 20 years. The nodular sclerosis type (NS-HL) was the most common histopathologic subtype (45%), followed by mixed cellularity (29%), lymphocyte predominant (13%), and lymphocyte depleted subtype (2%). The incidence of NS-HL was, however, lower compared with that in the West (around 70%). The male to female ratio was approximately 1:2 in patients with NS-HL, in contrast to the male predominance in patients with other subtypes. Induction therapy led to complete remission (CR) in 87% of patients. At a median follow-up of 78 months, the 10-year overall survival (OS) was 79% in all HL patients and was 90% in those who achieved first CR. In multivariate analysis, the achievement of CR was the only independent factor associated with good OS. CONCLUSION: The treatment response of HL in Taiwan is good and comparable to that in Western countries. The epidemiologic differences between Taiwan and the West mandate further studies.

Characterization of CEBPA mutations in acute myeloid leukemia: most patients with CEBPA mutations have biallelic mutations and show a distinct immunophenotype of the leukemic cells.

PURPOSE: The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, encoded by the CEBPA, is crucial for the differentiation of immature granulocytes. Mutation of the CEBPA may play an important role in leukemogenesis and prognosis. We sought to characterize the CEBPA mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to clarify if there is a distinct immunophenotype for leukemic cells with the mutation. EXPERIMENT DESIGN: One hundred and four patients with de novo AML were evaluated for the CEBPA mutation and immunophenotype of the leukemic cells. RESULTS: Twenty-two distinct mutations were identified in 16 (15%) of 104 AML patients. Fourteen patients had biallelic mutations, mostly involving both the NH(2)-terminal TAD1 region and the COOH-terminal basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP). The mutations in the bZIP region were always tandem duplications and were located at hot-spot regions for topoisomerase II sites. Sequential study of the CEBPA mutations showed that the mutations disappeared at complete remission but the same mutations reappeared at relapse. None of the patients developed novel mutations during the follow-up period. Patients with CEBPA mutations had significantly higher incidences of CD7 (73%), CD15 (100%), CD34 (93%), and HLA-DR (93%) expression on the leukemic cells. CONCLUSION: These data revealed that most AML with CEBPA mutations were associated with an immunophenotype of HLA-DR(+)CD7(+)CD13(+)CD14(-)CD15(+)CD33(+)CD34(+). The close relationship of CEBPA mutations with the leukemia status of the patients and the concordance of mutation in presenting and relapse samples implicate the CEBPA mutation as a potential marker for monitoring minimal residue disease.

SOCS1 methylation in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

The proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells depend on various cytokines. The suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) down-regulates Janus kinases/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway activity and inhibits the biological effects of cytokines. SOCS1 has been shown to have tumor-suppressor activity, and methylation of this gene, resulting in transcriptional silencing, has been found in 65% of hepatocellular carcinoma and has been suggested to play an important role in the development of the cancer. The methylation status of the SOCS1 gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been reported before. In this study, we analyzed SOCS1 methylation in 89 patients with newly diagnosed AML and correlated the result with immunophenotypes, cytogenetics, clinical features, and treatment outcome. SOCS1 methylation was found in the leukemic cells from 53 patients (60%). Thirteen (76%) of the 17 patients with t(15;17) had SOCS1 methylation, whereas this gene was methylated in only one (11%) of the nine patients with t(8;21). The frequencies of SOCS1 methylation among various cytogenetic subgroups differed significantly (P = 0.014). Other clinical and laboratory parameters and the disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between patients with and without SOCS1 methylation. In conclusion, SOCS1 methylation occurs in more than half of AML cases, correlates with cytogenetic abnormalities, and may play an important role in the development of subsets of AML.