A location-based service scheme with attribute information privacy.

In location-based service (LBS), private information retrieval (PIR) is an efficient strategy used for preserving personal privacy. However, schemes with traditional strategy that constructed by information indexing are usually denounced by its processing time and ineffective in preserving the attribute privacy of the user. Thus, in order to cope with above two weaknesses, in this paper, based on the conception of ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE), a PIR scheme based on CP-ABE is proposed for preserving the personal privacy in LBS (location privacy preservation scheme with CP-ABE based PIR, short for LPPCAP). In this scheme, query and feedback are encrypted with security two-parties calculation by the user and the LBS server, so as not to violate any personal privacy and decrease the processing time in encrypting the retrieved information. In addition, this scheme can also preserve the attribute privacy of users such as the query frequency as well as the moving manner. At last, we analyzed the availability and the privacy of the proposed scheme, and then several groups of comparison experiment are given, so that the effectiveness and the usability of proposed scheme can be verified theoretically, practically, and the quality of service is also preserved.

RNA Methyltransferase FTSJ3 Regulates the Type I Interferon Pathway to Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immune Evasion.

Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade have achieved remarkable success in treating cancer. Unfortunately, response rates have been limited in multiple cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The critical function of epigenetics in tumor immune evasion and antitumor immunity supports harnessing epigenetic regulators as a potential strategy to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, we discovered a tumor-promoting function of FTSJ3, an RNA 2'-O-methyltransferase, in HCC by suppressing antitumor immune responses. FTSJ3 was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, and high FTSJ3 expression correlated with reduced patient survival. Deletion of FTSJ3 blocked HCC growth and induced robust antitumor immune responses. Mechanistically, FTSJ3 suppressed double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced IFNß signaling in a 2'-O-methyltransferase manner. Deletion of RNA sensors in HCC cells or systemic knockout of type I IFN receptor IFNAR in mice rescued the in vivo tumor growth defect caused by FTSJ3 deficiency, indicating that FTSJ3 deletion suppresses tumor growth by activating the RNA sensor-mediated type I IFN pathway. Furthermore, FTSJ3 deletion significantly enhanced the efficacy of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint blockade. The combination of FTSJ3 deficiency and anti-PD-1 antibody treatment effectively eradicated tumors and increased the survival time. In conclusion, this study reveals an epigenetic mechanism of tumor immune evasion and, importantly, suggests FTSJ3-targeting therapies as potential approach to overcome immunotherapy resistance in patients with HCC. SIGNIFICANCE: Hepatocellular carcinoma cells use 2'-O-methylation catalyzed by FTSJ3 for immune evasion by suppressing abnormal dsRNA-mediated type I IFN responses, providing a potential target to activate antitumor immunity and enhance immunotherapy efficacy.

A new method to determine the QRS axis-QRS axis determination.

BACKGROUND: The development of a perfect method for determining the mean QRS axis (ÂQRS) is still lacking. HYPOTHESIS: We proposed a new simple method, whether this method is accurate is unknown. METHODS: The axis perpendicular to the mean QRS axis (P-ÂQRS) divides six limb leads into two groups. All the leads that are in the range of 180° along the ÂQRS are positive, while all the leads in another 180° are negative, one lead is isodiphasic if it is on the P-ÂQRS. If no lead is isodiphasic, then the P-ÂQRS is located in the middle of two adjacent leads, which can help us determine the P-ÂQRS. The six limb leads that fall in the range of -30° to 120° are as follows: aVL (-30°), I (0°), -aVR (30°), II (60°), aVF (90°), and III (120°). We can check an external lead (aVL or III) first. For example, if lead III is isodiphasic and lead aVF is positive, the P-ÂQRS is 120°; if lead III is negative and lead aVF is positive, then the P-ÂQRS is 105°. If more than one lead is negative, all such leads can be checked individually until a positive or isodiphasic lead is found. The ÂQRS can be easily decided once we know the P-ÂQRS. In total, 200 recorded ECGs were investigated. We obtained the ÂQRS from our new method, computer interpretations, and a standard bipolar method. The Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis were performed. RESULTS: The mean and SDs were remarkably similar, the correlation coefficient between the P-ÂQRS method and the bipolar method was 0.976 (P < .001). Mean bias (Bland-Altman limits of agreement) between the two methods was 0.885 (-12.37 to 14.14). CONCLUSION: The new method is simple and is able to assess the mean QRS axis accurately.

The epidemiological characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) in Jingmen, Hubei, China.

There is currently a global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its epidemic characteristics in the areas where the outbreak has been successfully controlled are rarely reported.Describe the epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 in Jingmen, Hubei, introduce the local prevention and control experience, and observe the impact of various prevention and control measures on the number of new cases.All the COVID-19 patients diagnosed in the municipal districts of Jingmen from January 12 to February 29, 2020 were enrolled in this study. We described epidemiological data and observed the impact of control measures on the epidemic.Of the 219 cases (110 men and 109 women), 88 (40%) had exposure to Wuhan. The median age was 48 years (range, 2-88 years; IQR, 35-60). Thirty-three severe patients with a median age of 66 years (range, 33-82 years, IQR, 57-76) were treated in intensive care units; out of these patients, 66.7% (22) were men and 19 (57.5%) had chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, stroke, and renal insufficiency. Under the control measures, the number of new patients gradually decreased and nearly disappeared after 18 days. Wearing masks in all kinds of situations prevents most infections and is one of the most effective prevention and control measures.In conclusion, all people are susceptible to COVID-19, and older males and those with comorbid conditions are more likely to become severe cases. Even though COVID-19 is highly contagious, control measures have proven to be very effective, particularly wearing masks, which could prevent most infections.

ILK regulates MSCs survival and angiogenesis partially through AKT and mTOR signaling pathways.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert therapeutic effects on treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Angiogenesis in ischemic heart can promote the supply of oxygen and nutrients to both ischemic myocardium and transplanted stem cells. Focus is then given to the evolving strategies amied at angiogenesis. ILK has been reported to be an important factor regulating apoptosis and angiogenesis. This study examined the role and mechanism of ILK in MSCs survival and angiogenesis. In hypoxic condition, upregulation of ILK expression increased the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, resulting in markedly enchanced MSCs survival and VEGF expression; while significantly inhibited MSCs survival and VEGF expression was detected in MSCs with ILK kinase inactivation, which was associated with a reduction of phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. In addition, it also caused an inhibitory effects of ILK on MSCs survival and VEGF expression, which was abolished by Akt or mTOR inhibitor. Furthermore, it was observed that ILK-overexpressed MSCs increased MSCs survival at 4days and angiogenesis at 3 weeks after transplantation into infracted myocardium as compared with GFP-MSCs group and ILK-SiRNA-MSCs group. This enhanced response was associated with attenuated left ventricular (LV) chamber dilation, reduced LV fibrosis, decreased infarct size and improved LV function. These findings reveal ILK play a pivotal role in regulating MSCs survival and VEGF expression partially through Akt and mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, transplantation of ILK-overexpressed MSCs into infracted myocardium resulted in reduced fibrosis, improved cardiac function and remodeling, which mainly medicated through increased MSCs survival and angiogenesis.