[Prognostic values of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and lymphocyte-activation gene-3 in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma].

Objective: To analyze density of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTIL) and expression of lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3) protein in advanced gastric adenocarcinomas, and to investigate the correlation of sTIL and LAG-3 with the prognosis in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data of 260 patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma were collected at Fujian Cancer Hospital, from January 2011 to December 2014. The percentage of sTILs was reported semi-quantitatively using histological section evaluation, the LAG-3 protein was detected using immunohistochemistry, and the expression was correlated with the clinicopathological features and patient outcomes. Results: Among the 260 cases, high density of sTIL was detected in 173 cases (66.5%) while LAG-3 high expression was observed in 160 cases (61.5%). These cases were divided into four groups. Group Ⅰ: 48 cases (18.5%) were sTIL low/LAG-3 low; group Ⅱ: 52 cases (20.0%) were sTIL high/LAG-3 low; group Ⅲ: 39 cases (15.0%) were sTIL low/LAG-3 high; group Ⅳ: 121 cases (46.5%) were sTIL high/LAG-3 high. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that patient prognoses were related to age, tumor size, tumor location, Lauren classification, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, TNM staging, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and molecular classification (P<0.05). Meanwhile, higher densities of sTIL and higher expression of LAG-3 were associated with better prognosis. Multivariate survival analysis showed age, tumor size, Lauren classification and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for patient survival. The results showed a poor prognosis in low-sTIL/low-LAG-3 patients. Conclusions: Compared with low density of sTIL and low expression of LAG-3, high density of sTIL and high expression of LAG-3 are associated with better outcomes in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, respectively. Combined detecton of sTIL and LAG-3 may be more useful in gastric cancer than using either alone. Age, tumor size, Lauren classification and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors for patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.

[Long-term outcomes of 328 patients with of autism spectrum disorder after fecal microbiota transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted. Clinical data from ASD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and who underwent FMT in the Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University or Jinling Hospital between May 2012 to May 2021 were retrospectively collected. Scores derived from the autism behavior checklist (ABC), the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS), and the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) were analyzed at baseline and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th month after FMT. Records of any adverse reactions were collected. Generalized estimating equations were used for analysis of data on time points before and after FMT. Results: A total of 328 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Their mean age was 6.1±3.4 years old. The cohort included 271 boys and 57 girls. The percentage of patients remaining in the study for post-treatment follow-up at the 1st, 3rd, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th month were as follows: 303 (92.4%), 284 (86.7%), 213 (64.9%), 190 (57.9%), 143 (43.6%), 79 (24.1%), 46 (14.0%), 31 (9.5%). After FMT, the average ABC score was significantly improved in the first 36 months and remained improved at the 48th month. However, the average score was not significantly different from baseline by the 60th month (1st-36th month, P<0.001; 48th month, P=0.008; 60th month, P=0.108). The average CARS score improved significantly during the first 48 months and remained improved at the 60th month (1st-48th month, P<0.001; 60th month, P=0.010). The average BSFS score was also significantly improved in the first 36 months (with an accompanying stool morphology that resembled type 4). This improvement was maintained at the 48th month. However, the average score was similar to baseline at the 60th month (1st-36th month, P<0.001; 48th month, P=0.008; 60th month, P=0.109). The average GSRS score was significantly improved during the first 24 months, but not afterwards (1st-24th month, P<0.001; 36th month, P=0.209; 48th month, P=0.996; 60th month, P=0.668). The adverse events recorded during treatment included abdominal distension in 21 cases (6.4%), nausea in 14 cases (4.3%), vomiting in 9 cases (2.7%), abdominal pain in 15 cases (4.6%), diarrhea in 18 cases (5.5%), fever in 13 cases (4.0%), and excitement in 24 cases (7.3%). All adverse reactions were mild to moderate and improved immediately after suspension of FMT or on treatment of symptoms. No serious adverse reactions occurred. Conclusion: FMT has satisfactory long-term efficacy and safety for the treatment of ASD with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Honey combined with silver ion dressing in complicated chronic wound of the scalp: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Scalp wound healing is a complex process. Nonhealing wounds can become chronic wounds, which increase the trauma and economic burden on a patient and may even cause death in severe cases. Thus, it can be difficult to find an effective treatment for chronic wounds of the scalp. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 13-year-old female patient with a chronic wound caused by a scalp incision infection 3 months after two operations for craniotomy for arachnoid cyst resection and cystic lesion-cisterna magna drainage. After repeated dressing changes and two debridement operations, the incision had still not healed during the following year. The wound finally healed after 6 months of dressing changes by combining honey with silver ion dressings, and the incision had not re-ruptured after 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Honey combined with silver may be an effective method for the treatment of chronic scalp wounds.

Optimal reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR and the expression of sigma factors in Acidithiobacillus caldus under various conditions.

AIMS: Acidithiobacillus caldus is an important sulphur-oxidizing bacterium that plays crucial roles in the bioleaching industry. This study aims to analyse the optimal reference gene for real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) under different conditions and investigate the transcription levels of the sigma factor genes in the stress response. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected six housekeeping genes and analysed them via RT-qPCR using two energy resources, under four stress conditions. Three statistical approaches BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder were utilized to determine transcription stability of these reference genes. The gapdH gene was the best internal control gene using elemental sulphur as an energy resource and under heat stress, map was the best internal control gene under pH and osmotic stress, era was the best internal control gene for the K2 S4 O6 energy resource, and rpoC was the best internal control gene under Cu2+ stress. Furthermore, the expressional levels of 11 sigma factors were analysed by RT-qPCR in the stress response. CONCLUSIONS: Stable internal control genes for RT-qPCR analysis of A. caldus were determined, and the expression patterns of sigma factor genes of A. caldus were investigated. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The identification of the optimal reference gene and analysis of transcription levels of sigma factors in A. caldus can provide clues for reference gene selection and the study of sigma factor function.

Strong Superexchange in a d

The discovery of superconductivity in a d^{9-δ} nickelate has inspired disparate theoretical perspectives regarding the essential physics of this class of materials. A key issue is the magnitude of the magnetic superexchange, which relates to whether cuprate-like high-temperature nickelate superconductivity could be realized. We address this question using Ni L-edge and O K-edge spectroscopy of the reduced d^{9-1/3} trilayer nickelates R_{4}Ni_{3}O_{8} (where R=La, Pr) and associated theoretical modeling. A magnon energy scale of ∼80 meV resulting from a nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange of J=69(4) meV is observed, proving that d^{9-δ} nickelates can host a large superexchange. This value, along with that of the Ni-O hybridization estimated from our O K-edge data, implies that trilayer nickelates represent an intermediate case between the infinite-layer nickelates and the cuprates. Layered nickelates thus provide a route to testing the relevance of superexchange to nickelate superconductivity.

Strongly Correlated Charge Density Wave in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} Evidenced by Doping-Dependent Phonon Anomaly.

The discovery of charge-density-wave-related effects in the resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectra of cuprates holds the tantalizing promise of clarifying the interactions that stabilize the electronic order. Here, we report a comprehensive resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} finding that charge-density wave effects persist up to a remarkably high doping level of x=0.21 before disappearing at x=0.25. The inelastic excitation spectra remain essentially unchanged with doping despite crossing a topological transition in the Fermi surface. This indicates that the spectra contain little or no direct coupling to electronic excitations near the Fermi surface, rather they are dominated by the resonant cross section for phonons and charge-density-wave-induced phonon softening. We interpret our results in terms of a charge-density wave that is generated by strong correlations and a phonon response that is driven by the charge-density-wave-induced modification of the lattice.

Phononic Helical Nodal Lines with PT Protection in MoB_{2}.

While condensed matter systems host both fermionic and bosonic quasiparticles, reliably predicting and empirically verifying topological states is only mature for Fermionic electronic structures, leaving topological Bosonic excitations sporadically explored. This is unfortunate, as Bosonic systems such as phonons offer the opportunity to assess spinless band structures where nodal lines can be realized without invoking special additional symetries to protect against spin-orbit coupling. Here we combine first-principles calculations and meV-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering to demonstrate the first realization of parity-time reversal symmetry protected helical nodal lines in the phonon spectrum of MoB_{2}. This structure is unique to phononic systems as the spin-orbit coupling present in electronic systems tends to lift the degeneracy away from high-symmetry locations. Our study establishes a protocol to accurately identify topological Bosonic excitations, opening a new route to explore exotic topological states in crystalline materials.

Quantitative Characterization of the Nanoscale Local Lattice Strain Induced by Sr Dopants in La_{1.92}Sr_{0.08}CuO_{4}.

The nanometer scale lattice deformation brought about by the dopants in the high temperature superconducting cuprate La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} (x=0.08) was investigated by measuring the associated x-ray diffuse scattering around multiple Bragg peaks. A characteristic diffuse scattering pattern was observed, which can be well described by continuum elastic theory. With the fitted dipole force parameters, the acoustic-type lattice deformation pattern was reconstructed and found to be of similar size to lattice thermal vibration at 7 K. Our results address the long-term concern of dopant introduced local lattice inhomogeneity, and show that the associated nanometer scale lattice deformation is marginal and cannot, alone, be responsible for the patched variation in the spectral gaps observed with scanning tunneling microscopy in the cuprates.

[A preliminary observation of implanting a double-eyelet capsular tension ring in eyes with serious lens subluxation].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of an iris hook combined with a modified double-eyelet capsular tension ring (MCTR) in the treatment of serious lens subluxation. Methods: Retrospective case series. A total of 16 patients (20 eyes) with serious lens subluxation were enrolled in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from March 2016 to December 2016. All the patients had an iris hook inserted to support the capsule during the phacoemulsification. Then an MCTR was implanted and sutured onto the sclera. Both intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as posterior capsular opacification and macular edema, were recorded. The postoperative examinations included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, and Pentacam for evaluation of the positions of the capsule and the intraocular lens(IOL). The best corrected visual acuities before and after operation were compared with the matched t test. Results: There were 11 males(12 eyes) and 5 females (8 eyes) among the 16 patients (20 eyes) aged (36±16) years, including 5 cases of Marfan's syndrome (7 eyes), spontaneous ectopia lentis in 7 patients (9 eyes), and traumatic lens dislocation in 4 patients (4 eyes). All the MCTRs were successfully implanted into the capsule. The best corrected visual acuity ranged from 0.3 to 1.0, with 0.5 or higher accounting for 90% (18 eyes). It was 0.20±0.14 and 0.21±0.13, respectively, at 3 and 6 months, which was significantly better than the preoperative best corrected visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) (0.74±0.51;t=5.302, P<0.001; t=5.131;P<0.001). One eye had macular edema 3 months after surgery, and then was treated by conservative management. Two eyes(2 case) developed mild posterior capsular opacification 6 months after operation. No intraocular hypertension was persistently observed. All IOLs and capsular bags were in the expected position without an obvious tilt or displacement. Conclusion: The surgical strategy of iris hooks combined with MCTRs in the treatment of serious lens subluxation could maintain long-term stability of the capsule. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 343-348).

Antitumor Efficacy of Docetaxel-loaded Nanocarrier against Esophageal Cancer Cell Bearing Mice Model.

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most prevalent cancers with high rate of mortality worldwide. Intravenous and oral-based chemotherapeutic regimens were employed; however all the current treatment modalities are largely unsuccessful. Therefore the main aim of this work was to demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of docetaxel (DTX)-loaded trimethyl chitosan (TMC-DTX) against EC9701 esophageal squamous cancer cells. We showed a superior anti-proliferative activity for TMC-DTX against EC9701 cells upon incubation for 24, 48, and 72 h. Notably, nanoparticles effectively killed the cancer cells at longer incubation time which was consistent with the fact that much of the cells enter G2 and M phase at longer incubation at which DTX is most effective. Furthermore, Annexin V/PI based cell apoptosis study further confirmed the enhanced anticancer activity of DTX formulations. Cell-cycle analysis showed a substantial proportion of cells in subG0 and G2/M phase of cell arrest. Importantly, TMC-DTX showed a remarkable tumor regression profile in EC9701 tumor bearing mice. The intravenous administration significantly controlled/delayed the growth of tumor by comparison to free drug. Therefore TMC-DTX could a potential drug delivery system to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy in esophageal carcinoma.

[An efficient mutational method for photosynthetic bacteria].

The pigment and auxotrophic mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Y6 were obtained by treatment with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) followed by lithium chloride (LiCI). Treatment with 0.081 M EPS and subsequent treatment with 0.071 M LiCI resulted in 12% higher frequency of pigment mutations than application of 0.081 M EMS alone; the frequency of auxotrophic mutations increased 2.5-fold when treatment with lithium chloride was applied. A blue shift 10 nm was recorded in the absorption spectrum of carotenoids form YM5-3 green mutant; considerable accumulation of neurosporine was revealed by HPLC and mass spectrometry. The method is efficient for isolating mutants of photosynthetic bacteria.

[An EGFR antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and its phosphorothioate analogue inhibit the growth of human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7404 cells].

We have previously reported that the malignant phenotype of human liver carcinoma cell line BEL-7404 was reversed by antisense EGFR RNA. The aim of this paper is to explore the effects of an oligomer targeted to mRNA for EGFR and growth of BEL-7404 cells. A 21-mer oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) complementary to the 5' initiation region of mRNA for EGFR was synthesized and added to medium. The results showed that the growth of BEL-7404 cells was inhibited by ODNs at concentration of 3.2 mumol/L. Inhibition of DNA synthesis of BEL-7404 cells was dose-dependent and reached to 62.1% at 3.2 mumol/L as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation test. The inhibition of EGFR gene transcription of the cells was up to 10.5% and 14.3% respectively after incubation with ODNs by 5 and 24 hours as measured by densitometric scanning of dot (RNA) blots of EGFR. The EGFR protein (P 170) expression was also found to be blocked by 4 days' antisense oligomer treatment up to 37.4% as measured by densitometric scanning of specific band of Western blot. The oligonucleotide phosphorothioate (S-ODNs) complementary to the same region of the gene was also synthesized and its growth inhibition effects on BEL-7404 cells were compared with those of unmodified oligomers. ODNs attained their highest effect within 30 hours. The proliferation inhibition rate of the cells didn't increase when cells were cultured in serum free medium. In contrast, the S-ODNs induced inhibition reached comparable level after 96 hours treatment as measured by 3H-thymidine uptake and the effect lasted longer, 1 mumol/L S-ODNs showed a little effect on BEL-7404 cells' proliferation. We concluded that the antisense oligomers directed to mRNA for EG-FR could inhibit the BEL-7404 cells growth by blocking the EGFR gene expression in some degree and the phosphorothioate analogues were more stable than the unmodified ODNs in vitro.

[Retinoic acid induces differentiation of human T lymphocytic leukemia CCRF-CEM cells].

On the basis of early study on effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the differentiation of mouse lymphocytic leukemia-lymphoma cell strain (SACIIB 2), further research has been performed by studying the effects of retinoic acid on the human T lymphocytic leukemia cell line CCRF-CEM(CEM). The results showed that the growth of CEM cells was inhibited by RA at a concentration of 10 mumol/L. The activity of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and the percentage of CD3 positive cells rose after 10 days' RA treatment but the E rosette forming cells didn't increase. The activity of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) of the treated CEM cells increased significantly without change in activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA). The expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was also reduced to some degree. The analysis of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme showed that the activity of LDH3 increased after RA treatment but without LDH1 and LDH2 expression. The results indicate that RA can induce CEM cells to differentiate.