Background Mercury, as a global heavy metal pollutant, poses a serious threat to human health. The toxicity of mercury depends on its chemical form. Distinguishing the forms of mercury in the environment is of great significance for mercury management and reducing human mercury exposure risks. Objective To establish a non-targeted metallomics method based on synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) spectroscopy combined with machine learning to screen inorganic mercury (IHg) or methylmercury (MeHg) exposed rice plants. Methods Rice seeds were exposed to ultra-pure water (control group), 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ IHg (IHg group) or MeHg (MeHg group) solutions, respectively. After germination, the seedlings were cultured for 21 d, and rice leaves were collected, dried, weighed, and pressed. The content of metallome in rice leaves was determined by SRXRF. Machine learning models including soft independent modeling cluster analysis (SIMCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and logistic regression (LR) were used to classify the SRXRF full spectra of different groups and find the best model to distinguish rice exposed to IHg or MeHg. Besides, characteristic elements were selected as input parameters to optimize the model by improving computing speed and reducing model calculation. Results The SRXRF spectral intensities of the control group, IHg group, and MeHg group were different, indicating that exposure to IHg and MeHg can interfere the homeostasis of metallome in rice leaves. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) of SRXRF spectra showed that the control group could be well distinguished from the mercury exposed groups, but the IHg group and the MeHg group were mostly overlapped. The accuracy rates of the three models (PLS-DA, SIMCA, and LR) were higher than 98% for the training set, higher than 95% for the validation set, and higher than 94% for the cross-validation set. Besides, the accuracy of the LR model was higher than that of the PLS-DA model and the SIMCA model. Furthermore, the accuracy was 92.05% when using characteristic elements K, Ca, Mn, Fe, and Zn selected by LR to distinguish the IHg group and the MeHg group. Compared with the full spectra model, although the prediction accuracy of the characteristic spectral model decreased, the input parameters of the model decreased by 99.51%, and precision, recall, and F1 score were above 84.48%, indicating that the model could distinguish rice exposed to different mercury forms. Conclusion Non-targeted metallomics method based on SRXRF and machine learning can be applied for high-throughput screening of rice exposed to different forms of mercury and thus decrease the risks of people being exposed to mercury.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with clinically suspected 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase deficiency (MCCD). METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the proband and her parents. Whole exome sequencing was used to screen pathogenic variant in the proband. Suspected variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Impact of the variant on the structure and function of protein product was analyzed by using bioinformatic software. RESULTS: Sanger sequencing showed that the proband has carried homozygous missense c.1342G>A (p.Gly448Ala) variant of the MCCC2 gene, for which her mother was a heterozygous carrier. The same variant was not detected in her father. The variant was predicted to be pathogenic by PolyPhen-2 and Mutation Taster software, and the site was highly conserved among various species. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines, the c.1342G>A (p.Gly448Ala) variant of MCCC2 gene was predicted to be likely pathogenic(PM2+PP2-PP5). CONCLUSION The homozygous missense variant of the MCCC2 gene c.1342G>A (p.Gly448Ala) probably underlay the molecular pathogenesis of the proband. Genetic testing has confirmed the clinical diagnosis.
Carbon-Carbon Ligases/genetics* ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation, Missense/genetics* ; Pedigree ; Urea Cycle Disorders, Inborn/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the carrier rate of deafness-related genetic variants among 53 873 newborns from Zhengzhou. METHODS: Heel blood samples of the newborns were collected with informed consent from the parents, and 15 loci of 4 genes related to congenital deafness were detected by microarray. RESULTS: In total 2770 newborns were found to carry deafness-related variants, with a carrier rate of 5.142%. 1325 newborns (2.459%) were found to carry heterozygous variants of the GJB2 gene, 1071 (1.988%) were found with SLC26A4 gene variants, 205 were found with GJB3 gene variants (0.381%), and 120 were found with 12S rRNA variants (0.223%). Five newborns have carried homozygous GJB2 variants, two have carried homozygous SLC26A4 variants, five have carried compound heterozygous GJB2 variants, and four have carried compound heterozygous SLC26A4 variants. 33 neonates have carried heterozygous variants of two genes at the same time. CONCLUSION The carrier rate of deafness-related variants in Zhengzhou, in a declining order, is for GJB2, SLC26A4, GJB3 and 12S rRNA. The common variants included GJB2 235delC and SLC26A4 IVS7-2A>G, which are similar to other regions in China. To carry out genetic screening of neonatal deafness can help to identify congenital, delayed and drug-induced deafness, and initiate treatment and follow-up as early as possible.

Objective To identify risk factors for seroma formation and to explore the related prevention and treatment methods.Methods We collected clinical and pathological data of 92 breast cancer patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy in Hu'nan Provincial People's Hospital,from January to September 2016.Seroma formation was studied in relation to age,tumor size,nodal involvement,the number of lymph nodes removed,flap fixation and external compression dressing.Count date were evaluated by the frequency and percentage,comparison between the groups was analyzed by the chi-square test.Multivariate analysis was performed using Logistic regression analysis.Results Seroma occurred in 45.7％ of patients.Age,tumor size,nodal involvement,the number of lymph nodes removed,flap fixation were risk factors of modified radical mastectomy postoperative seroma.In multivariate logistic regression analysis an association of postoperative seroma formation was noted with the number of lymph nodes removed(OR =1.123,95％ CI:1.036-1.218,P ＜ 0.01),age(OR =1.060,95％ CI:1.006-1.116,P＜0.05),flap fixation(OR=0.363,95％CI:0.135-0.977,P ＜0.05).Conclusion The findings suggest that older patients,with extensive lymph node dissection may more likely to form postoperative seroma,flap fixation can reduce the incidence of seroma.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been identified as an effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but is much less effective against solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the search for ways to enhance its therapeutic efficacy against solid tumors, we have examined its use in combination with a novel derivative of β-elemene, N-(β-elemene-13-yl)tryptophan methyl ester (ETME). Here we report the effects of the combination on cell viability, apoptosis, the cell cycle and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) in HCC SMMC-7721 cells. We found that the two compounds acted synergistically to enhance antiproliferative activity and apoptosis. The combination also decreased the MMP, down-regulated Bcl-2 and pro-proteins of the caspase family, and up-regulated Bax and BID, all of which were reversed by the p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α. In addition, the combination induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and reduced tumor volume and weight in an xenograft model of nude mice. Overall, the results suggest that ETME in combination with ATO may be useful in the treatment of HCC patients particularly those unresponsive to ATO alone.

This study is to examine the effects of NNIspm-mediated cellular senescence of HepG2 cells and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. Cellular senescence was detected with senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining. Cell cycle distribution, intracellular fluorescence intensity and accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by high content screening (HCS). Protein expression was detected by Western blotting. Polyamines content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrated that NNIspm significantly induced HepG2 cells senescence. This effect was due to the decrease of intracellular polyamines, the arrest at G0/G1 phase and an increase of ROS level. The molecular senescence marker p21 increased significantly after NNIspm treatment. In contrast, the protein expressions of Cyclin E and CDK2 were obvious down-regulation. The results indicated that cellular senescence induced by NNIspm was one of its antitumor mechanisms.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship among 25-hydroxyvitamin D,serum calcium,calcium-sensing receptor,and breast cancer. Methods The expressions of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in primary breast cancer,breast benign tumors,and normal breast tissue beside tumors were determined by immunohistochemistry S-P method as well as the concentration of serum 25 (OH) D and serum calcium in breast cancer and breast benign tumors by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),Tribromoarsenazo Ⅲ method.ResultsSerum 25 (OH) D level of breast cancer was significantly lower than the breast benign tumors [ (34.13 ± 14.14) nmol/L vs (50.29 ± 25.65 ) nmol/L,t =2.870,P =0.001 ].Serum level of 25 ( OH ) D in lymph node metastasis positive patient was lower than that in negative group [ (30.8 ± 9.71 ) nmol/L vs (43.7 ± 23.59) nmol/L,t =2.467,P =0.021 ].The positive expression of CaSR in breast cancer(88.9％ )was higher than breast benign tumors(60％,x2 =6.717,P ＜ 0.01 ) and normal breast tissue beside tumors (60％,x2 =5.628,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsConcentration of serum 25 (OH)D and expression of calcium-sensing receptor in the tissues may be associated with occurrence,development and prognosis of breast cancer.

Powdery mildew (Pm) caused by the infection of Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici (Bgt) is a worldwide crop disease resulting in significant loss of wheat yield.To profile the genes and pathways responding to the Bgt infection,here,using Affymetrix wheat microarrays,we compared the leaf transcriptomes before and after Bgt inoculation in two wheat genotypes,a Pm-susceptible cultivar Jingdong 8 (S) and its near-isogenic line (R) carrying a single Pm resistant gene Pm30.Our analysis showed that the original gene expression status in the S and R genotypes of wheat was almost identical before Bgt inoculation,since only 60 genes exhibited differential expression by P =0.01 cutoff.However,12 h after Bgt inoculation,3014 and 2800 genes in the S and R genotype,respectively,responded to infection.A wide range of pathways were involved,including cell wall fortification,flavonoid biosynthesis and metabolic processes.Furthermore,for the first time,we show that sense-antisense pair genes might be participants in wheat-powdery mildew interaction.In addition,the results of qRT-PCR analysis on several candidate genes were consistent with the microarray data in their expression patterns.In summary,this study reveals leaf transcriptome changes before and after powdery mildew infection in wheat near-isogenic lines,suggesting that powdery mildew resistance is a highly complex systematic response involving a large amount of gene regulation.

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of ANISpm, a novel polyamine naphthalimide conjugate, with acetylsalicylic acid against hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo and in vitro and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. The proliferation inhibition was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis, intracellular fluorescence intensity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by high content screening (HCS) analysis. Polyamines content was analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography Protein expression levels were quantified by Western blotting assay. The combination treatment strongly inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis in HepG2 cells and H22 hepatoma cells, which was mediated by enhanced ANISpm uptake via up-regulation of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) and depression of intracellular polyamine. Furthermore, this synergistic apoptosis was involved in mitochondria and death-receptor signal pathway. All these findings demonstrated that the combination treatment with acetylsalicylic acid and ANISpm resulted in synergistic antitumor effects on hepatoma cells. Thus, combination therapy with these agents may be useful as a potential template for the development of better chemotherapeutic strategy against hepatoma.

Objective To explore the effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in intestinal tumor development and the relationship between VDR and β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods The interaction of vitamin D receptor and β-catenin were detected by co-immunoprecipitation assay after human colonic carcinoma cells SW480 were treated with vitamin D in vitro for 4 hours. The expression of E-cadherin protein was detected by Western blot after treated for 24 hours. To compare APCmin/+VDR-/- and APCmin/+ mice in vivo, the expression of VDR,β-catenin and BrdU proteins in intestinal tumor were determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of β-catenin protein in tumor and adjacency intestinal was further determined by Western blot. Results After SW480 cells were treated with vitamin D, vitamin D receptor and β-catenin protein showed binding, the expression of E-cadherin protein further increased (Gray value the control group 145.57±4.21,Gray value of the experimental group 109.35±3.56,t＝32.63,P＜0.05). Immunostaining and Western blot detection（Gray value 166.47±2.36） showed a marked increase of β-catenin level(Gray value 140.51±2.57) in APCmin/+VDR-/- tumor compared to APCmin/+ tumor(145.41±3.62,182.35±3.24,t＝2.65,4.36,P＜0.05). Conclusions The role of vitamin D suppressing intestinal tumor may be achieved through VDR affectingβ-catenin signaling pathway.