The history of chromosomal instability in genome doubled tumors.

Tumors frequently display high chromosomal instability and contain multiple copies of genomic regions. Here, we describe GRITIC, a generic method for timing genomic gains leading to complex copy number states, using single-sample bulk whole-genome sequencing data. By applying GRITIC to 6,091 tumors, we found that non-parsimonious evolution is frequent in the formation of complex copy number states in genome-doubled tumors. We measured chromosomal instability before and after genome duplication in human tumors and found that late genome doubling was followed by an increase in the rate of copy number gain. Copy number gains often accumulate as punctuated bursts, commonly after genome doubling. We infer that genome duplications typically affect the landscape of copy number losses, while only minimally impacting copy number gains. In summary, GRITIC is a novel copy number gain timing framework that permits the analysis of copy number evolution in chromosomally unstable tumors.

Accumulation of ß-aminoisobutyric acid mediates hyperalgesia in ovariectomized mice through Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor D signaling.

Hyperalgesia is typified by reduced pain thresholds and heightened responses to painful stimuli, with a notable prevalence in menopausal women, but the underlying mechanisms are far from understood. ß-Aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), a product of valine and thymine catabolism, has been reported to be a novel ligand of the Mas-related G protein coupled receptor D (MrgprD), which mediates pain and hyperalgesia. Here, we established a hyperalgesia model in 8-week-old female mice through ovariectomy (OVX). A significant increase in BAIBA plasma level was observed and was associated with decline of mechanical withdrawal threshold, thermal and cold withdrawal latency in mice after 6 weeks of OVX surgery. Increased expression of MrgprD in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was shown in OVX mice compared to Sham mice. Interestingly, chronic loading with BAIBA not only exacerbated hyperalgesia in OVX mice, but also induced hyperalgesia in gonadally intact female mice. BAIBA supplementation also upregulated the MrgprD expression in DRG of both OVX and intact female mice, and enhanced the excitability of DRG neurons in vitro. Knockout of MrgprD markedly suppressed the effects of BAIBA on hyperalgesia and excitability of DRG neurons. Collectively, our data suggest the involvement of BAIBA in the development of hyperalgesia via MrgprD-dependent pathway, and illuminate the mechanisms underlying hyperalgesia in menopausal women.

Tumor- and circulating-free DNA methylation identifies clinically relevant small cell lung cancer subtypes.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy composed of distinct transcriptional subtypes, but implementing subtyping in the clinic has remained challenging, particularly due to limited tissue availability. Given the known epigenetic regulation of critical SCLC transcriptional programs, we hypothesized that subtype-specific patterns of DNA methylation could be detected in tumor or blood from SCLC patients. Using genomic-wide reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) in two cohorts totaling 179 SCLC patients and using machine learning approaches, we report a highly accurate DNA methylation-based classifier (SCLC-DMC) that can distinguish SCLC subtypes. We further adjust the classifier for circulating-free DNA (cfDNA) to subtype SCLC from plasma. Using the cfDNA classifier (cfDMC), we demonstrate that SCLC phenotypes can evolve during disease progression, highlighting the need for longitudinal tracking of SCLC during clinical treatment. These data establish that tumor and cfDNA methylation can be used to identify SCLC subtypes and might guide precision SCLC therapy.

Observation on the anesthesia effect of general anesthesia assisted by auricular-plaster therapy in gynecological surgery / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts on anesthetic dosage and postoperative pain under general anesthesia assisted by auricular-plaster therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomized into three groups, 40 cases in each one. In auricular point group A, the magnetic beads were stick on the auricular points which were Shenmen (TF4), Lung (fei, CO14), Spleen (pi,CO13), Stomach (wei, CO4), Large Intestine (dachang, CO7), Adrenal (shenshangxian, TG2 (P)), Endocrine (neifenmi, CO18), Uterus and Pelvic Cavity(penqiang, TF5) etc. In auricular point group B, the magnetic beads were stick on the preauricular points and the corresponding retroauricular points of the ears. In a placebo group, the plasters of the same appearance were stick on the corresponding auricular points of the ears. The anesthetic method was same in three groups and the anesthesia effect were assessed and compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In surgery, the dosage of sufentanil, the narcotic analgesic was (22.08 +/- 7.11) microg in auricular point group A and was (20.19 +/- 7.21) microg in auricular point group B, which were reduced as compared with (26.13 +/- 9.04) microg in the placebo group (both P < 0.05). The difference in the dosage of propofol, the anesthetic was not significant statistically among three groups (P > 0.05). On the 1st day after surgery, the score of pain visual analogue scale (VAS) was (1.77 +/- 1.65) in auricular point group A and was (1.80 +/- 1.96) in auricular point group B, which were reduced as compared with (2.62 +/- 1.46) in the placebo group (both P < 0.05). Before surgery, the serum beta-endorphin (beta-EP) was (198.8 +/- 124.1) pg/mL in auricular point group A and was (207.2 +/-102.7) pg/mL in auricular point group B, which were higher apparently as compared with (143.6 +/- 87.1) pg/mL in the placebo group (both P < 0.05). The differences in the above indices were not significant statistically between the two auricular point groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The auricular-plaster therapy reduces the dosage of anesthetic, alleviates postoperative pain and acts on tranquilization and analgesia. The effect is not intensified apparently in the treatment for the magnetic beads sticking on both preauricular points and the corresponding retroauricular points of the ears.</p>

Effect of assisted anesthesia of auricular point magnetic sticking on postoperative recovery of gynecological surgery / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore an optimum method on postoperative recovery of general-anesthesia gynecological laparoscopic surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided into three groups, 40 cases in each one. The sensitive points of bilateral Shenmen (TF4), Zigong (TF2), Wei (CO4), Dachang (CO7) and so on were selected in all three groups one night before the surgery. The sticking with magnetic beads was applied in the group A. The magnetic beads were in-pair stuck at front-back corresponding location of both ears in the group B. The same-appearance plaster was put at the corresponding acupoints in the group C. The intubation anesthesia was applied in all three groups and postoperative recovery of gynecological laparoscopic surgery was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) was (1.77 +/- 1.65) in the group A and (1.80 +/- 1.96) in the group B, which was both lower than (2.62 +/- 1.46) in the group C (both P < 0.01). The occurrence rate of nausea and vomiting was 25.0% (9/36) in the group A and 20.0% (8/40) in the group B, which was both lower than 50.0% (19/38) in the group C (both P < 0.01). The recovery of borborygmus on postoperative 1st and 3rd day in the group A and B was faster than that in the group C (both P < 0.05), while time of fart and defecation in the group A and B was earlier than that in the group C (both P < 0.05). The score of state-trait anxiety inventory in the group A and B was lower than that in the group C (both P < 0.05), but the differences of each item between the group A and B were not obvious (both P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The auricular point sticking could support analgesia of general-anesthesia gynecological laparoscopic surgery, which could relieve anxiety mood, reduce occurrence of nausea and vomiting and improve function of stomach and intestine to benefit postoperative recovery. However, the effect of in-pair sticking of auricular point with magnetic beads at front-back acupoints was not obviously strengthened.</p>