DNA Modifications and Neurological Disorders

Mounting evidence has recently underscored the importance of DNA methylation in normal brain functions. DNA methylation machineries are responsible for dynamic regulation of methylation patterns in discrete brain regions. In addition to methylation of cytosines in genomic DNA (5-methylcytosine; 5mC), other forms of modified cytosines, such as 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxylcytosine, can potentially act as epigenetic marks that regulate gene expression. Importantly, epigenetic modifications require cognate binding proteins to read and translate information into gene expression regulation. Abnormal or incorrect interpretation of DNA methylation patterns can cause devastating consequences, including mental illnesses and neurological disorders. Although DNA methylation was generally considered to be a stable epigenetic mark in post-mitotic cells, recent studies have revealed dynamic DNA modifications in neurons. Such reversibility of 5mC sheds light on potential mechanisms underlying some neurological disorders and suggests a new route to correct aberrant methylation patterns associated with these disorders.     

Intestinal microbiota and its association with colon cancer and red/processed meat consumption

The human colon harbors a high number of microorganisms that were reported to play a crucial role in colorectal carcinogenesis. In the recent decade, molecular detection and metabolomic techniques have expanded our knowledge on the role of specific microbial species in promoting tumorigenesis. In this study, we reviewed the association between microbial dysbiosis and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Various microbial species and their association with colorectal tumorigenesis and red/processed meat consumption have been reviewed. The literature demonstrated a significant abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides fragilis in patients with adenoma or adenocarcinoma compared to healthy individuals. The mechanisms in which each organism was postulated to promote colon carcinogenesis were collated and summarized in this review. These include the microorganisms' ability to adhere to colon cells; modulate the inhibition of tumor suppressor genes, the activations of oncogenes, and genotoxicity; and activate downstream targets responsible for angiogenesis. The role of these microorganisms in conjugation with meat components including N‐nitroso compounds, heterocyclic amines, and heme was also evident in multiple studies. The outcome of this review supports the role of red meat consumption in modulating CRC progression and the possibility of gut microbiome influencing the relationship between CRC and diet. The study also demonstrates that microbiota analysis could potentially complement existing screening methods when detecting colonic lesions.     

Changes in nerve microcirculation following peripheral nerve compression

Following peripheral nerve compression, peripheral nerve microcirculation plays important roles in regulating the nerve microenvironment and neurotrophic substances, supplying blood and oxygen and maintaining neural conduction and axonal transport. This paper has retrospectively analyzed the articles published in the past 10 years that addressed the relationship between peripheral nerve compression and changes in intraneural microcirculation. In addition, we describe changes in different peripheral nerves, with the aim of providing help for further studies in peripheral nerve microcirculation and understanding its protective mechanism, and exploring new clinical methods for treating peripheral nerve compression from the perspective of neural microcirculation.     

Renal Transplantation: Relationship between Hospital/Surgeon Volume and Postoperative Severe Sepsis/Graft-Failure. A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Background and objects: We explored the relationship between hospital/surgeon volume and postoperative severe sepsis/graft-failure (including death).Methods: The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database claims data for all patients with end-stage renal disease patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2007, were reviewed. Surgeons and hospitals were categorized into two groups based on their patient volume. The two primary outcomes were severe sepsis and graft failure (including death). The logistical regressions were done to compute the Odds ratios (OR) of outcomes after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the cumulative survival rates of graft failure after kidney transplantation during follow-up (1999-2008).Results: The risk of developing severe sepsis in a hospital in which surgeons do little renal transplantation was significant (odds ratio [OR]; p = 0.0115): 1.65 times (95% CI: 1.12-2.42) higher than for a hospital in which surgeons do many. The same trend was true for hospitals with a low volume of renal transplantations (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.62-3.52; p < 0.0001). The likelihood of a graft failure (including death) within one year for the low-volume surgeon group was 3.1 times higher than for the high-volume surgeon group (p < 0.0001); the trend was similar for hospital volume. Female patients had a lower risk than did male patients, and patients ≥ 55 years old and those with a higher Charlson comorbidity index score, had a higher risk of severe sepsis.Conclusions: We conclude that the risk of severe sepsis and graft failure (including death) is higher for patients treated in hospitals and by surgeons with a low volume of renal transplantations. Therefore, the health authorities should consider exporting best practices through educational outreach and regulation and then providing transparent information for public best interest.     

多裂肌间隙入路与经皮入路联合伤椎置钉治疗无神经损伤的胸腰段椎体骨折的对比研究

目的 探讨多裂肌间隙入路和经皮入路分别联合伤椎置钉治疗无神经损伤胸腰段椎体骨折的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析苏州大学附属第一医院2015年1月-2018年1月采用多裂肌间隙入路和经皮入路分别联合伤椎置钉治疗无神经损伤的胸腰段椎体骨折的52例患者的临床资料。经多裂肌间隙入路患者25例(A组),男19例、女6例,年龄35~67 (49.84±9.11)岁;经皮入路患者27例(B组),男20例、女7例,年龄21~66(48.44±11.02)岁。比较两组患者一般资料,以及手术出血量、手术时间、术后镇痛药物使用率、术后下地时间及术后住院时间;手术前后不同时间点的腰背部疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS);比较两组手术前、术后下地前及术后12个月时伤椎前缘高度比值和矢状位Cobb角变化。结果 两组患者一般资料比较差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。均顺利完成手术,术后随访12个月。A组的手术时间、术后下地时间分别为120(90,136)min、2(1,3)d,均短于B组的144(110,220)min、4(2,5)d,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.05);A组术后使用镇痛药物例数(2例)少于B组(15例),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组患者手术出血量、术后住院时间差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。两组患者术后VAS评分均较术前有明显改善,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.01);A、B组间术前、术后12个月VAS评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05),但术后第3天VAS评分比较,A组低于B组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。两组患者术后下地前及术后12个月伤椎前缘高度比值、矢状面Cobb角较术前改善明显,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.05),但两组间同时间点伤椎前缘高度比值和矢状面Cobb角比较差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。结论 多裂肌间隙入路和经皮入路分别联合伤椎置钉治疗无神经损伤的胸腰段椎体骨折均取得良好疗效,在改善骨折畸形及远期腰背部疼痛上无明显差异,但经皮入路手术时间更长、术后短期腰背部疼痛更严重、下地时间更晚,相较于多裂肌间隙入路手术并不具有明显优势。     

Fe-Ga合金磁特性测试装置的设计与实验

设计了一种新型Fe-Ga合金磁特性测试装置。建立了该测试装置磁路部分三维有限元磁场分析模型，在该模型基础上通过调整结构和元件尺寸优化了磁路结构，并制作了样机。搭建了磁特性测试装置的实验平台，进行了Fe-Ga合金磁特性测试。实验结果表明，该装置可对Fe-Ga合金磁致伸缩棒材磁致伸缩效应和逆磁致伸缩效应进行静态、准静态和动态测量，测量结果与国外报道的结果一致。设计的磁特性测试装置具有稳定可靠、精度高、操作简单、自动记录等优点。该装置还适用于Fe-Ni、Fe-Co等饱和磁场低的磁致伸缩材料的磁特性测量。     

HE4 as a predictor of adjuvant chemotherapy resistance and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and HE4 tissue protein expression to predict tumor resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy, progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Consecutive inclusion of 198 patients diagnosed with EOC was conducted. Blood samples were collected prior to surgery and tissue samples during surgery. Patient data were registered prospectively in the Danish Gynecologic Cancer Database. The association between serum HE4 and HE4 tissue protein expression, resistance to adjuvant chemotherapy, PFS, and overall survival were analyzed in univariate analyses and in multivariate analyses adjusted for age, performance score, surgical outcome, stage, grade, and histological subtype. Serum HE4 levels predicted chemotherapy resistance, PFS, and overall survival correlated significantly (p < 0.001) in the univariate analyses; but after adjustment in a multivariate model, serum HE4 was insignificant, except in a subgroup analysis of postmenopausal women, where serum HE4 significantly predicted resistance to chemotherapy and progression‐free survival. HE4 tissue protein expression predicted PFS (p = 0.022) and overall survival (p = 0.047) in the univariate analysis, while HE4 tissue protein expression failed to predict these outcomes in the adjusted multivariate analyses. Serum HE4 or HE4 tissue protein expression are not independent factors of chemotherapy resistance or survival in patients with EOC, but serum HE4 might predict chemotherapy resistance and PFS in postmenopausal women.