Maxent modeling for predicting the global potential distribution of talaromycosis marneffei / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To predict the potential distribution of talaromycosis marneffei (TSM) and analyze its driving factors, so as to provide evidence for the surveillance and prevention of this disease. Methods　The data of all laboratory-confirmed, non-duplicating TSM published in the English and Chinese literature from the first case in January 1964 to December 2018 was collected. A Maxent ecology model using environmental variables, Rhizomys distribution and HIV/AIDS epidemic was developed to forecast ecological niche of TSM worldwide, as well as identify the driving factors. Results　A total of 705 articles (477 in Chinese and 228 in English) were obtained during the study period. After excluding imported cases, a total of 100 foci information were included in the model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the model was 0.997 for the training set and 0.991 for the test set. Maxent model revealed that Rhizomys distribution, mean temperature of warmest quarter, precipitation of wettest month, HIV/AIDS epidemic and mean temperature of driest quarter were the top 5 important variables affecting TSM distribution. In addition to identifying traditional TSM endemic areas (South of the Yangtze River in China, Southeast Asian, North and Northeast India), other potential endemic areas were also identified, including parts of the North of the Yangtze River, Central America, West Coast of Africa, East Coast of South America, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Conclusion　Our finding has discovered hidden high-risk areas and provided insights about driving factors of TSM distribution, which will help inform surveillance strategies and improve the effectiveness of public health interventions against TM infections.

An epidemiological survey of malignant tumors among fluoride-exposed workers in aluminum industry / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence of malignant tumors among fluoride-exposed workers in aluminum industry.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sampling points were set in the working positions at different radii around an workshop for treating the waste gas from aluminum electrolysis, and the concentrations of fluoride ions, aluminum, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in air were measured by electrode method, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The incidence of tumors among the workers in the aluminum plant from 1995 to 2009 was investigated by questionnaires and medical records and then statistically analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a negative correlation between the concentrations of fluoride and aluminum and the radius around the fluoride source at each sampling point. B[a]P was not detected at each sampling point. The crude incidence rate of tumors among factory workers was 117.95/100 000 (standardized rate = 58.81/100 000); the standardized incidence rate of tumors was higher in female workers than in male workers (male-to-female ratio = 1:2.64). The peak age of onset of tumors was 40 ∼ 49 years. The most and second most common tumors were liver cancer and lung cancer in male workers and breast cancer and lung cancer in female workers. Compared with the unexposed population in the city where the aluminum plant was located, the female fluoride-exposed workers had an increased tumor incidence, 2.14 times that of the city's average level, and the fluoride-exposed workers had a younger age of onset of tumors and approximately the same types of tumors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fluoride exposure may lead to an increasing trend in tumor incidence among female workers in aluminum industry.</p>

Wnt3a promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and proliferation of lens epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is caused mainly by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, and migration of human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. wingless (Wnt) signaling has been implicated in the fibrotic process by inducing EMT and increasing the proliferation of epithelial cells. This study investigated the role of Wnt3a in PCO formation. METHODS: Wnt3a was overexpressed in the HLE B-3 cell line by transfected Wnt3a-pcDNA3 plasmid. The expressions of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling component proteins, including ß-catenin, E-cadherin, fibronectin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1, were detected by western blot analysis and immunocytofluorescence to confirm the efficiency of transfection efficiency and analyze the effects of overexpression. HLE migration ability was evaluated by transwell migration and wound healing assays, whereas HLE proliferation was analyzed by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Overexpression of Wnt3a resulted in upregulated expression of ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Expression of the lens epithelial marker E-cadherin was down-regulated in Wnt3a-overexpressing HLE B-3 cells, whereas that of the mesenchymal marker fibronectin was upregulated. In addition, the morphology of HLE B-3 cells changed from the classic spindle shape to an irregular form. Overexpression of Wnt3a could enhance the ability of migration as determined by transwell migration and wound healing assays as well as promoted the proliferation of HLE B-3 cells by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Wnt3a can induce EMT, migration, and proliferation of HLE cells and may be a valuable therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of PCO.

[Clinicopathological significance of expression of IGF-1R in uveal melanoma and its association with expression of p-AKT Thr308].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological significance of expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and its association with the expression of p-AKT Thr308 in uveal melanoma. METHODS: Experimental study. Twenty-four patients with uveal melanoma were included from January 2000 to December 2008. The levels of IGF-1R and p-AKT Thr308 were detected by immunohistochemical methods, and their association with clinicopathological parameters including localization of tumor, tumor size, largest tumor diameters, cell type, necrosis, degree of pigmentation, lymphocyte infiltration, mitosis rate, scleral invasion and liver metastasis were statistically analyzed. The relationship of expression of IGF-1R with clinicopathological parameters or with the expression of p-AKT Thr308 was analyzed by chi-square test. RESULTS: The positive rate of expression of IGF-1R in 24 cases of uveal melanoma was 75%. The expression of IGF-1R were associated with the largest tumor diameters, degree of pigmentation, liver metastasis and lymphocyte infiltration (χ(2) = 15.569, P = 0.016; χ(2) = 11.348, P = 0.010; χ(2) = 8.738, P = 0.033; χ(2) = 8.362, P = 0.039). The positive rate of expression of p-AKT Thr308 was 58%. The expression of IGF-1R and p-AKT Thr308 was positively correlated (χ(2) = 17.108, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: IGF-1R plays a role in the development of uveal melanoma which may be induced by activation in PI3K/AKT pathway.

[Wnt3a induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Wnt3a on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human lens epithelial cells and its molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Experimental research. The Wnt3a expression vector was designed and transiently transfected into SRA0104 cells and the PcDNA-HA expression vector was transfected into the controls. The expression of Wnt3a was detected by western blot analysis. The expression of ß-catenin was detected by western blot analysis and the location of ß-catenin was detected by immunofluorescence assay. The expression of E-cadherin protein as epithelial biomarker and fibronectin protein as mesenchymal biomarker was detected by Western blot analysis. The mobility of SRA0104 cells was assessed by scratch assay and transwell assay in vitro. Statistical significance was determined by Student's t-test. RESULTS: The Wnt3a/SRA/01/04 cells were obtained by transfection of wnt3a cDNA expression vector in SRA01/04 cells and the pcDNA3-HA/SRA01/04 cells were used as the controls. The Wnt3a cDNA expression vector triggered ß-catenin as a transcriptional activator accumulated and translocated into the nucleus, which induced the decreasing expression of E-cadherin proteins and increasing expression of fibronectin protein, and resulted in EMT in lens epithelial cells. Wound healing assay in vitro showed that the migration distance of Wnt3a/SRA01/04 cells was (0.36 ± 0.02) mm at 24 hours after scratch, significantly increased as compared to the control cells (t = 21.98, P < 0.01). After 48 hours of incubation in transwell migration assay, the number of migratory cells across polycarbonate membrane in Wnt3a/SRA01/04 cells was 92.25 ± 10.34, which was much more than the control cells (t = 10.40, P < 0.01). The mobility and migration of Wnt3a/SRA01/04 cells was increased. CONCLUSION: Wnt3a activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, induces EMT in lens epithelial cells and then increases mobility and migration of lens epithelial cells.