We present improved germanium-based constraints on sub-GeV dark matter via dark matter-electron (χ-e) scattering using the 205.4 kg·day dataset from the CDEX-10 experiment. Using a novel calculation ...technique, we attain predicted χ-e scattering spectra observable in high-purity germanium detectors. In the heavy mediator scenario, our results achieve 3 orders of magnitude of improvement for m_{χ} larger than 80 MeV/c^{2} compared to previous germanium-based χ-e results. We also present the most stringent χ-e cross-section limit to date among experiments using solid-state detectors for m_{χ} larger than 90 MeV/c^{2} with heavy mediators and m_{χ} larger than 100 MeV/c^{2} with electric dipole coupling. The result proves the feasibility and demonstrates the vast potential of a new χ-e detection method with high-purity germanium detectors in ultralow radioactive background.
The Omicron variant is rapidly becoming the dominant SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating globally. It is important to define reductions in virus neutralizing activity in the serum of convalescent or ...vaccinated individuals to understand potential loss of protection against infection by Omicron. We previously established that a 50% plaque reduction neutralization antibody titer (PRNT
) ≥25.6 in our live virus assay corresponded to the threshold for 50% protection from infection against wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2. Here we show markedly reduced serum antibody titers against the Omicron variant (geometric mean titer (GMT) < 10) compared to WT virus 3-5 weeks after two doses of BNT162b2 (GMT = 218.8) or CoronaVac vaccine (GMT = 32.5). A BNT162b2 booster dose elicited Omicron PRNT
titers ≥25.6 in 88% of individuals (22 of 25) who previously received 2 doses of BNT162b2 and 80% of individuals (24 of 30) who previously received CoronaVac. However, few (3%) previously infected individuals (1 of 30) or those vaccinated with three doses of CoronaVac (1 of 30) met this threshold. Our findings suggest that countries primarily using CoronaVac vaccines should consider messenger RNA vaccine boosters in response to the spread of Omicron. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of different vaccines against the Omicron variant are urgently needed.
Trans‐4‐Hydroxy‐l‐proline (trans‐Hyp) is a valuable chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Bioconversion of l‐proline using recombinant strain with ...proline‐4‐hydroxylase (P4H) is a preferred biocatalytic process in the economical production of trans‐Hyp. In this study, a recombinant E. coli overexpressing hydroxylase (P4H), γ‐glutamyl kinase and glutamate‐semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ProBA) genes were constructed by knocking out the key genes in the metabolism. These key genes contained putA encoding proline dehydrogenase (PutA) in the l‐proline metabolism and other catalytic enzyme genes, sucAB encoding α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (SucAB), aceAK encoding isocitratelyase (AceA) and isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase (AceK) in the TCA cycle. This recombinant strain coupled the synthetic pathway of trans‐Hyp with TCA cycle of the host strain. It inhibited the consumption of l‐proline completely and promoted the accumulation of 2‐oxoglutarate (2‐OG) as a co‐substrate, which realized the highest conversion of glucose to trans‐Hyp. A fed‐batch strategy was designed, capable of producing 31·0 g l−1 trans‐Hyp from glucose. It provided a theoretical basis for commercial conversion of glucose to trans‐Hyp.
Significance and Impact of the Study:Trans‐4‐Hydroxy‐l‐proline (trans‐Hyp) is a valuable chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Unsatisfactory microbial bioconversion resulted in a low yield of trans‐Hyp. In this study, we blocked the unwanted blunting pathways of host strain and make the cell growth couple with the trans‐Hyp synthesis from glucose. Finally, a recombinant Escherichia coli with short‐cut and efficient trans‐Hyp biosynthetic pathway was obtained. It provided a theoretical basis for commercial production of trans‐Hyp.
Significance and Impact of the Study:Trans‐4‐Hydroxy‐l‐proline (trans‐Hyp) is a valuable chiral building block for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Unsatisfactory microbial bioconversion resulted in a low yield of trans‐Hyp. In this study, we blocked the unwanted blunting pathways of host strain and make the cell growth couple with the trans‐Hyp synthesis from glucose. Finally, a recombinant Escherichia coli with short‐cut and efficient trans‐Hyp biosynthetic pathway was obtained. It provided a theoretical basis for commercial production of trans‐Hyp.
The optical design and performance of the recently opened 13A biological small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) beamline at the 3.0 GeV Taiwan Photon Source of the National Synchrotron Radiation ...Research Center are reported. The beamline is designed for studies of biological structures and kinetics in a wide range of length and time scales, from angstrom to micrometre and from microsecond to minutes. A 4 m IU24 undulator of the beamline provides high‐flux X‐rays in the energy range 4.0–23.0 keV. MoB4C double‐multilayer and Si(111) double‐crystal monochromators (DMM/DCM) are combined on the same rotating platform for a smooth rotation transition from a high‐flux beam of ∼4 × 1014 photons s−1 to a high‐energy‐resolution beam of ΔE/E ≃ 1.5 × 10−4; both modes share a constant beam exit. With a set of Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) mirrors, the X‐ray beam is focused to the farthest SAXS detector position, 52 m from the source. A downstream four‐bounce crystal collimator, comprising two sets of Si(311) double crystals arranged in a dispersive configuration, optionally collimate the DCM (vertically diffracted) beam in the horizontal direction for ultra‐SAXS with a minimum scattering vector q down to 0.0004 Å−1, which allows resolving ordered d‐spacing up to 1 µm. A microbeam, of 10–50 µm beam size, is tailored by a combined set of high‐heat‐load slits followed by micrometre‐precision slits situated at the front‐end 15.5 m position. The second set of KB mirrors then focus the beam to the 40 m sample position, with a demagnification ratio of ∼1.5. A detecting system comprising two in‐vacuum X‐ray pixel detectors is installed to perform synchronized small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering data collections. The observed beamline performance proves the feasibility of having compound features of high flux, microbeam and ultra‐SAXS in one beamline.
The optical design and performance of the BioSAXS beamline at the Taiwan Photon Source are reported
Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with resectable gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (G‐NECs) or mixed ...adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (G‐MANECs).
Methods
The study included patients with G‐NECs or G‐MANECs who underwent surgery in one of 21 centres in China between 2004 and 2016. Propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce selection bias, and overall survival (OS) in different treatment groups was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method.
Results
In total, 804 patients with resectable G‐NECs or G‐MANECs were included, of whom 490 (60·9 per cent) received adjuvant chemotherapy. After propensity score matching, OS in the chemotherapy group was similar to that in the no‐chemotherapy group. Among patients with G‐NECs, survival in the fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐based chemotherapy group and the non‐5‐FU‐based chemotherapy group was similar to that in the no‐chemotherapy group. Similarly, etoposide plus cisplatin or irinotecan plus cisplatin was not associated with better OS in patients with G‐NECs. Among patients with G‐MANECs, OS in the non‐5‐FU‐based chemotherapy group was worse than that in the no‐chemotherapy group. Patients with G‐MANECs did not have better OS when platinum‐based chemotherapy was
used.
Conclusion
There was no survival benefit in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy for G‐NECs or G‐MANECs.
Antecedentes
El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si la quimioterapia adyuvante mejoraba la supervivencia en pacientes con carcinomas gástricos resecables neuroendocrinos (gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas, G‐NECs) y carcinomas adenoneuroendocrinos mixtos (mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas, G‐MANECs).
Métodos
Se incluyeron pacientes con G‐NECs y G‐MANECs tratados quirúrgicamente en 21 centros en China entre 2004 y 2016. Se utilizó un análisis de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión para reducir el sesgo de selección y el método de Kaplan‐Meier para estimar la supervivencia global (overall survival, OS) de los pacientes en los diferentes grupos de tratamiento.
Resultados
En total, se incluyeron en el estudio 804 pacientes con G‐NECs y G‐MANECs resecables y 490 pacientes (60,9%) recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante. Después del emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión, la OS del grupo con quimioterapia fue similar a la del grupo sin quimioterapia. En los pacientes con G‐NECs, la supervivencia en los grupos con quimioterapia basada en 5‐FU (fluorouracilo) y de quimioterapia sin 5‐FU fue similar a la del grupo sin quimioterapia. Asimismo, la combinación de etopósido y cisplatino o de irinotecán y cisplatino no se asoció con una mejor OS en pacientes con G‐NECs. En pacientes con G‐MANECs, la OS del grupo con quimioterapia sin 5‐FU fue peor que la del grupo sin quimioterapia. Los pacientes con G‐MANECs no presentaron una mejor OS cuando se administró quimioterapia basada en platinos.
Conclusión
La administración de quimioterapia adyuvante en pacientes con G‐NECs y G‐MANECs no mejoró la supervivencia.
This multicentre study enrolled 804 patients with resectable gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas and gastric mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas. In propensity score matching analysis, there were no associations between the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and improved overall survival. Similar results were obtained in stratified analysis according to different chemotherapy regimens.
No benefit
BACKGROUND: Selenium is an essential trace element with antioxidant property. Decreased serum selenium concentration with aging had been found in previous report. In this study, we aim to investigate ...the association between serum selenium and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in the elderly living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 336 subjects aged 65 years and older (range of age: 65–101 years) were recruited from eight long-term care facilities in 2002–2003. Baseline characteristics, anthropometric indices, and biochemical data were obtained. Selenium deficiency was defined as serum selenium concentration < 80 μg/L. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between selenium deficiency and interleukin-6 (divided into quartiles). RESULTS: The prevalence of selenium deficiency was 35.6% in men and 43.2% in women, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders using multiple logistic regression analysis, interleukin-6 quartiles were significantly associated with selenium deficiency. Compared to the interleukin-6 quartile I, the adjusted odds ratios of having selenium deficiency for interleukin-6 quartile II, III, IV were 1.00(0.50∼2.01), 1.24 (0.62∼2.50), and 2.35(1.15‖4.83), respectively. The increasing odds ratios for selenium deficiency in higher interleukin-6 quartiles revealed dose-response effects (p < 0.05). Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum selenium was significantly inversely associated with interleukin-6 after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Serum selenium was inversely associated with inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 among elderly living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Monitoring serum selenium should be considered in these institutionalized elderly.
A number of patient-specific and leukemia-associated factors are related to the poor outcome in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, comprehensive studies regarding the impact ...of genetic alterations in this group of patients are limited. In this study, we compared relevant mutations in 21 genes between AML patients aged 60 years or older and those younger and exposed their prognostic implications. Compared with the younger patients, the elderly had significantly higher incidences of PTPN11, NPM1, RUNX1, ASXL1, TET2, DNMT3A and TP53 mutations but a lower frequency of WT1 mutations. The older patients more frequently harbored one or more adverse genetic alterations. Multivariate analysis showed that DNMT3A and TP53 mutations were independent poor prognostic factors among the elderly, while NPM1 mutation in the absence of FLT3/ITD was an independent favorable prognostic factor. Furthermore, the status of mutations could well stratify older patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics into three risk groups. In conclusion, older AML patients showed distinct genetic alterations from the younger group. Integration of cytogenetics and molecular mutations can better risk-stratify older AML patients. Development of novel therapies is needed to improve the outcome of older patients with poor prognosis under current treatment modalities.
Background and purpose
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is an underestimated movement disorder in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Several clinical and laboratory factors were inconsistently ...reported to associate with RLS. We aim to perform a large‐scale multicenter study to investigate the possible associated risk factors of RLS in patients with ESRD in Taiwan, a country with the highest incidence of uremia in the world.
Methods
From October 2009 to October 2011, we constitutively recruited 1130 patients with ESRD from 17 hemodialysis centers. Demographic, laboratory data, presence and severity of RLS were collected. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by logistic regression models.
Results
We found the prevalence of RLS to be 25.3% in patients with ESRD. Having type 2 diabetes OR = 3.61 (2.27–5.77), P < 0.01, low serum transferrin saturation OR = 1.42 (1.01–2.03), P < 0.05 and duration of dialysis OR = 1.09 (1.03–1.14), P < 0.01 were associated with RLS. In contrast, high serum hemoglobin level was inversely associated with RLS OR = 0.61 (0.40–0.89), P < 0.05. RLS has a significant impact on sleep quality in dialysis patients. Among patients with RLS, history of type 2 diabetes OR = 4.04 (1.65–10.79), P < 0.05, low serum hemoglobin level OR = 5.41 (2.43–13.12), P < 0.01 and duration of dialysis OR = 1.01 (1.01–1.02), P < 0.01 were associated with increased severity of RLS.
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrated that RLS is common in Taiwanese dialysis patients. Clinicians should have a high suspicion for the presence of RLS symptoms in patients with ESRD, especially those with type 2 diabetes, anemia, low serum iron status and long duration of dialysis.
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