Monitoring Circulating Tumor DNA in Untreated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been utilized to monitor the clinical course of patients of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who receive therapies targeting druggable mutations. However, despite providing valuable information on how NSCLC would naturally progress, the clinical utility of ctDNA for clinical-course monitoring and prediction of treatment-naïve NSCLC patients without druggable mutations remain unknown. We longitudinally followed a total of 12 treatment-naïve NSCLC patients, who did not harbor EGFR and ALK mutations, by collecting clinical information, radiological data, and plasma samples. Changes in ctDNA levels and tumor burden (TB) were compared with each other. New metastasis development, volume doubling time (VDT), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed regarding ctDNA detection at diagnosis. ctDNA was detected in the plasma of seven (58.3%) patients. Changes in ctDNA levels correlated with those in TB in a substantial fraction (57.1%) of patients and was also associated with brain metastasis, tumor necrosis, or pneumonia in other patients. All patients with ctDNA detection developed new metastasis during follow-ups in the organs that had been devoid of metastasis at diagnosis. The patients without ctDNA detection did not develop new metastasis (median duration of follow-ups: 9.8 months). In addition, patients with ctDNA detection had shorter VDT (p = 0.039) and worse OS (p = 0.019) than those without ctDNA detection. The natural course of NSCLC progression can be monitored by measuring ctDNA levels. Detection of ctDNA at diagnosis can predict development of new metastasis, rapid tumor growth and poor survival of NSCLC patients.     

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Patterns of the SWEET Gene Family in Bletilla striata and its Responses to Low Temperature and Oxidative Stress

SWEETs (sugars will eventually be exported transporters), a well-known class of sugar transporters, are involved in plant growth and development, sugar transport, biotic and abiotic stresses, etc. However, to date, there have been few investigations of SWEETs in Orchidaceae. In this study, 23 SWEET genes were identified in Bletilla striata for the first time, with an MtN3/saliva conserved domain, and were divided into four subgroups by phylogenetic tree. The same subfamily members had similar gene structures and motifs. Multiple cis-elements related to sugar and environmental stresses were found in the promoter region. Further, 21 genes were localized on 11 chromosomes and 2 paralogous pairs were found via intraspecific collinearity analysis. Expression profiling results showed that BsSWEETs were tissue-specific. It also revealed that BsSWEET10 and BsSWEET18 were responsive to low temperature and oxidative stresses. In addition, subcellular localization study indicated that BsSWEET15 and BsSWEET16 were localized in the cell membrane. This study provided important clues for the in-depth elucidation of the sugar transport mechanism of BsSWEET genes and their functional roles in response to abiotic stresses.     

Agrobacterium sp. ZX09 β-Glucan Attenuates Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-Induced Disruption of Intestinal Epithelium in Weaned Pigs

To explore the protective effect of dietary β-glucan (BGL) supplementation on intestinal epithelium exposure to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), thirty-two weaned pigs were assigned to four groups. Pigs were fed with a basal diet or basal diet containing 500 mg/kg BGL, and were orally infused with ETEC or culture medium. Results showed BGL supplementation had no influence on growth performance in weaned pigs. However, BGL supplementation increased the absorption of D-xylose, and significantly decreased the serum concentrations of D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) in the ETEC-challenged pigs (p < 0.05). Interestingly, BGL significantly increased the abundance of the zonula occludens-1-(ZO-1) in the jejunal epithelium upon ETEC challenge (p < 0.05). BGL supplementation also increased the number of S-phase cells and the number of sIgA-positive cells, but significantly decreased the number of total apoptotic cells in the jejunal epithelium upon ETEC challenge (p < 0.05). Moreover, BGL significantly increased the duodenal catalase (CAT) activity and the ileal total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in the ETEC-challenged pigs (p < 0.05). Importantly, BGL significantly decreased the expression levels of critical inflammation related proteins such as the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interlukin-6 (IL-6), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the jejunal and ileal mucosa upon ETEC challenge (p < 0.05). BGL also elevated the propanoic acid content and the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bacillus in the colon upon ETEC challenge (p < 0.05). These results suggested BGL could alleviate the ETEC-induced intestinal epithelium injury, which may be associated with suppressed inflammation and improved intestinal immunity and antioxidant capacity, as well as the improved intestinal macrobiotic.     

MC180295 Inhibited Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinoma Cell Growth by Suppressing DNA Repair and the Cell Cycle

DNA methylation of both viral and host DNA is one of the major mechanisms involved in the development of Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC); thus, epigenetic treatment using demethylating agents would seem to be promising. We have verified the effect of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295, which was discovered by screening for demethylating agents. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited cell growth of the EBVaGC cell lines YCCEL1 and SNU719 in a dose-dependent manner. In a cell cycle analysis, growth arrest and apoptosis were observed in both YCCEL1 and SNU719 cells treated with {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. MKN28 cells infected with EBV were sensitive to {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 and showed more significant inhibition of cell growth compared to controls without EBV infection. Serial analysis of gene expression analysis showed the expression of genes belonging to the role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response and cell cycle control chromosomal replication to be significantly reduced after {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 treatment. We confirmed with quantitative PCR that the expression levels of BRCA2, FANCM, RAD51, TOP2A, and CDC45 were significantly decreased by {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. LMP1 and BZLF1 are EBV genes with expression that is epigenetically regulated, and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 could up-regulate their expression. In conclusion, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited the growth of EBVaGC cells by suppressing DNA repair and the cell cycle.     

基于性能的钢框架结构失效模式识别及优化

该文定义了损伤和滞回耗能两个性能指标,以增量动力分析(IDA)方法为基础,提出基于性能的钢框架结构失效模式识别方法,并以性能指标为目标函数,以构件截面尺寸作为变量,建立钢框架结构失效模式多目标优化方法。在多条地震波作用下,对一个20层benchmark钢框架结构进行了失效模式识别与优化分析,结果表明,以损伤和滞回耗能作为评价指标的基于性能的钢框架结构失效模式识别方法,能有效识别最不利地震作用下的结构失效模式,基于性能的失效模式多目标优化方法能够显著提高结构整体的抗震性能。     

响应面法优化异硫链霉菌LMZM利用玉米芯粉产木聚糖酶发酵培养基的研究

本研究采用响应面法对异硫链霉菌LMZM产木聚糖酶的发酵培养基进行优化。首先利用Plackett-Burman实验设计筛选出影响产酶的4个显著性因素:玉米芯粉、大豆粉、酵母粉和MgSO——4。在此基础上,研究不显著因素的最低添加量来降低生产成本,然后运用最陡爬坡法逼近最大响应值区域,最后利用中心复合设计确定显著性因素之间的交互作用及最佳组成。结果表明,玉米芯粉27.85 g/L、大豆粉16.25 g/L、酵母粉3.46 g/L、MgSO₄1.18 g/L、K₂HPO₄0.60 g/L、Na₂HPO₄0.40 g/L,木聚糖酶最大理论酶活可达117.80 U/m L,经3次平行实验验证,实际酶活平均值为116.63 U/m L与预测酶活相近,且比优化之前的酶活提高了1.28倍。      

不同地区牦牛曲拉的品质分析

为了研究不同地区牦牛曲拉的品质特点,对各地区牦牛曲拉的品质进行了综合评价。采集我国曲拉主产区的牦牛曲拉,对其吸光度、色度、营养成分及抗氧化指标进行测定与分析。结果表明:不同地区牦牛曲拉在有色物质含量、营养成分及氧化褐变程度等方面存在差异。其中,四川、新疆和西藏曲拉的有色物质含量均较少,色泽较好,其中西藏曲拉a*值和b*值最小,分别为3.4和31.3;云南、新疆、青海及甘肃等地曲拉的蛋白质含量都达到70%以上,且脂肪含量较低,营养品质较好;四川、新疆及藏南曲拉的过氧化氢值(POV)和硫代苯巴比妥酸值(TBARS)相对其他地区较低,氧化褐变较弱。在甘肃3个地区中,夏河曲拉在色泽和营养品质方面较好,碌曲曲拉的POV值和TBARS值在3个地区中最低,分别为0.46meq/kg和1.42mg/kg,其脂质过氧化程度较其他两地区弱,氧化褐变较低。因此,综合分析,四川、新疆、合作及夏河等地曲拉色泽较优,西藏、云南、新疆、青海及夏河等地曲拉营养品质较好,藏南、碌曲曲拉脂肪氧化程度较低。      

湿度对煤尘浓度测量精度的影响实验及其补偿措施

为了探索环境湿度对煤尘浓度测量精度的影响,在分析激光散射法、β射线法和电荷感应法这3种主要测尘方法原理的基础上,在不同湿度条件下开展了煤尘浓度测量及其误差的实验分析,并指出了各自的补偿方法。煤尘浓度测量实验结果表明：当相对湿度为50%时,3种测尘方法的误差均小于7%;当相对湿度为60%~70%时,激光散射法的误差大于20%,β射线法和电荷感应法的最大误差都约为15%;当相对湿度大于70%时,3种测尘方法的误差都较大。通过对激光散射法和电荷感应法增加湿度检测系统,激光散射法根据湿度调整质量浓度转换系数,电荷感应法根据湿度调整算法的系数,β射线法则采用动态加热的补偿方法,以消除湿度的影响。