Predicting the initial spread of novel Asian origin influenza A viruses in the continental USA by wild waterfowl

Using data on waterfowl band recoveries, we identified spatially explicit hotspots of concentrated waterfowl movement to predict occurrence and spatial spread of a novel influenza A virus (clade 2.3.4.4) introduced from Asia by waterfowl from an initial outbreak in North America in November 2014. In response to the outbreak, the hotspots of waterfowl movement were used to help guide sampling for clade 2.3.4.4 viruses in waterfowl as an early warning for the US poultry industry during the outbreak . After surveillance sampling of waterfowl, we tested whether there was greater detection of clade 2.3.4.4 viruses inside hotspots. We found that hotspots defined using kernel density estimates of waterfowl band recoveries worked well in predicting areas with higher prevalence of the viruses in waterfowl. This approach exemplifies the value of ecological knowledge in predicting risk to agricultural security.     

Long-term skeletal stability in the treatment of mandibular prognathism with a physiological positioning strategy

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term skeletal stability of the mandible in 21 patients after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning. The measurement points SNB, B point (X, Y), Pog (X, Y), and the angle of the ramus were measured on cephalometric photographs to assess skeletal stability preoperatively, immediately after operation, and one and two years postoperatively. In addition, we evaluated the clinical symptoms of disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The analysis of the cephalometric photographs showed that SNB, B point X, and Pog X showed no significant differences among the postoperative time points. On the other hand, B point Y and Pog Y showed no significant differences throughout the study period. We compared the angle of the ramus before operation and two years postoperatively, and no significant difference was found. In addition, no cases showed any pathological symptoms of disorders of the TMJ two years postoperatively. The long-term stability after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning was confirmed, and it seems to be a reliable orthognathic treatment in patients with mandibular prognathism.     

Influence of Prior Psychiatric Disorders on the Treatment Course of Gynaecological Cancer – A Nationwide Cohort Study

Aims

To examine the influence of pre-existing psychiatric disorder on the choice of treatment in patients with gynaecological cancer.

Neutrophil proteases degrade autoepitopes of NET-associated proteins

Neutrophils can form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to capture microbes and facilitate their clearance. NETs consist of decondensed chromatin decorated with anti-microbial proteins. Here, we describe the effect of neutrophil proteases on the protein content of NETs. We show that the neutrophil serine proteases degrade several neutrophil proteins associated with NETs. Interestingly, the anti-bacterial proteins associated with NETs, such as myeloperoxidase, calgranulin B and neutrophil elastase (NE), seem to be less susceptible to proteolytic degradation than other NET proteins, such as actin and MNDA. NETs have been proposed to play a role in autoimmune reactions. Our data demonstrate that a large number of the autoepitopes of NET proteins that are recognized by autoantibodies produced by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are also removed by the proteases. In conclusion, neutrophil serine proteases have a major impact on the NET proteome and the proteolytic changes of NET-associated proteins may counteract autoimmune reactions to NET components.     

Relationship between plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and prognosis of TACE for primary hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundOur study aims to investigate changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration and integrity in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) patients before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment and their influence on the evaluation of prognosis of the disease.MethodsA total of 84 PHC patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from December 2016 to December 2017 were included as the study group, while 55 healthy people served as the control group. Plasma cfDNA concentration and integrity were determined using qRT-PCR. The correlation between cfDNA concentration/integrity and clinical characteristics of PHC patients were analyzed. A ROC curve was used to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of cfDNA as detection indices. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze factors affecting recurrence in PHC patients and compare recurrence-free survival (RFS) of PHC patients with high cfDNA expression and low cfDNA expression.ResultsPlasma cfDNA concentration and integrity were significantly higher in PHC patients before TACE treatment than in healthy people and significantly lower after treatment than before (P<0.05). The cfDNA concentration was significantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and BCLC stage, while cfDNA integrity was significantly correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, and BCLC stage (P<0.05). ROC results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of cfDNA concentration was the largest, with an optimal cut-off of 10.51 ng/mL. Multivariate regression analysis for COX showed that the TNM stage, cfDNA concentration, and AFP were independent risk factors that affected PHC patients’ survival.ConclusionsPlasma cfDNA concentration in PHC patients is more sensitive and specific than any other tumor marker. It is an independent risk factor for PHC patients treated with TACE. Therefore, it is hypothesized cfDNA is a potential biomarker for prognostic evaluation of PHC patients treated with TACE.