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Obesity is generally considered an undesirable risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, obese subjects with heart failure paradoxically can have better outcomes than their lean counterparts. This study aimed to investigate this characteristic in an elderly Chinese population. Elderly participants (N = 414, age 77 ± 11 years, 211 males) were recruited from a Chinese community‐dwelling elderly population. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI ≤ 25, normal; 25‐28, overweight; and ≥28, obese). Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the atherosclerosis status was evaluated with the ankle brachial index (ABI). Brachial systolic blood pressure (BSBP) was significantly higher as BMI increased (135 ± 18.4, 138 ± 18.3, 147 ± 17.6 mm Hg; P = .003) adjusted for age, sex, and heart rate. However, baPWV was significantly lower as BMI increased (baPWV 1830 ± 18, 1793 ± 25, 1704 ± 36 cm/s; P = .008) in the three groups, even with additional adjustment for BSBP. BMI showed a significant negative correlation with baPWV (r = −.170, P = .001) after adjusting for confounding factors. Using multiple linear regression, BMI was negatively and independently associated with baPWV (β = −.190, P

It is highly desirable to develop biodegradable UV-shielding materials from the renewable resources as the ever-increasing demand for the sustainable environment. In this work, TiO2 decorated lignin particles (TiO2@lignin) were synthesized successfully by hydrothermal method in aqueous solution to improve the UV shielding performance of lignin particles. The poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) composite films (thickness of ~23 μm) with different contents of TiO2@lignin were prepared via a blade-casting method. Morphological analysis showed that the TiO2@lignin dispersed uniformly in the PPC matrix with a good miscibility. UV–vis transmission spectra results revealed that the PPC composite film containing 5 wt% TiO2@lignin could absorb about 90% of UV light in the full UV band (200–400 nm), indicating the TiO2@lignin had a good UV-shielding property. Moreover, the presence of TiO2@lignin could significantly improve the thermal stability of the PPC/TiO2@lignin composite films. The DMA results showed that the introduction of TiO2@lignin could enhance the storage modulus and glass transition temperature simultaneously.

The PD1/PDL1 status of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) reflects immune function. However, the previously reported methods for evaluating this status are complex and may not be widely used in clinical practice. In addition, these studies did not introduce healthy controls to designate the cut-off when evaluating the prognostic value of the status. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the PD1/PDL1 status in TILs of 24 DLBCL tissue samples and normal immune cells in 61 demographically matched healthy controls (tissue samples from patients with reactive hyperplasia [RH]) by flow cytometry. We investigated the prognostic value of the PD1/PDL1 status in TILs by precisely determining the cut-off value and assessing the reliability of flow cytometry. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of PD1 in TIL-T-cells (TIL-Ts; median, 110) and CD8+TIL-Ts (median, 64) was significantly higher than that of CD3+T-cells (median, 64) and CD8+ T-cells (median, 34) in RH. The cut-off values of PD1/PDL1 status for analyzing prognostic values were defined considering the PD1/PDL1 status of samples from both patients with DLBCL and healthy controls. High MFI of PD1 in TIL-Ts (MFI >108, P = 0.022), high proportion of PD1+CD4+TIL-Ts (>1.1% of CD4+TIL-Ts, P = 0.049), high proportion of PD1+CD8+TIL-Ts (>2% of CD8+TIL-Ts, P = 0.025), and high MFI of PDL1 in TIL-Ts (MFI >83, P = 0.023) were risk factors for inferior prognosis of DLBCL. Our results indicate that flow cytometry is a reliable and convenient method for evaluating the immune-checkpoint status of TILs, which probably holds major implications in clinical practice.

Background The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) breeds across the high plains and plateau of Central Asia and winters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Indian sub-continent. Of the two recognized discrete flyways of the Bar-headed Goose, the Eastern Tibetan Flyway (ETF) is the larger, comprising at least six migration routes. However, we remain ignorant about their migratory connectivity, habitat use and effectiveness of site-safeguard mechanisms set in place for the species. Methods We tracked 30 ETF Bar-headed Geese from Chinese and Mongolian breeding areas to their wintering grounds using GPS/GSM transmitters, to determine their migration routes and stopover staging patterns within the QTP, overlaying these upon GIS layers of protected area status and habitat type, to model their habitat selection. Results In total, 14 tagged Bar-headed Geese provided information on their entire autumn migration and 4 geese on their entire spring migration. Qinghai Lake marked birds overwintered in the QTP (n = 2), geese tagged in Mongolia wintered either in the QTP (n = 3) or in India/Bangladesh (n = 9), representing three of the migration routes within the ETF. In total, tagged birds staged at 79 different stopover sites within QTP in autumn and 23 in spring, of which 65% (autumn) and 59% (spring) of all fixes fell within the boundaries of either National Nature Reserves (NNRs) or Important Birds Areas (IBAs) in the QTP. Bar-headed Geese predominantly occurred on four land-cover types: grassland (mostly by day), water bodies (at night), wetlands and bare substrates (salt flats, dry lake/river substrates and plough) with little change in proportion. Generalized linear mixed models comparing presence with pseudo-absence data suggested geese strongly selected for wetlands as staging habitat, avoiding bare substrates in spring. Conclusions Based on our limited observations of these tagged geese, this study is the first to show that the current designated National Nature Reserves in place in the staging areas within the QTP appear adequate to protect this increasing population. In addition, Hala Lake in Qinghai Province and adjacent areas used as initial QTP staging during autumn migration (currently outside of designated as NNRs/IBAs) are recommended for protection, based on their use by tagged birds from this study. Habitat modelling confirmed the importance of natural wetlands as feeding areas and safe areas of open water as roosting places.

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) account for a large proportion of tumour microenvironment (TME) in angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL), and at present the significance of TIL in TME of AITL remains unclear. Overall, 50 de novo AITL patients undergoing lymph node flow cytometry from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively analysed to assess the relationship between TILs and AITL prognosis. We found that high TIL-Bs (≥ 42.4%, p = 0.004) and high CD4:CD8 (≥ 0.85, p = 0.024) were independent favourable prognostic factors for de novo AITL in univariate or multivariate analyses. New TIL-related risk stratification was established based on TIL-Bs and CD4:CD8 factors. Patients in the low-risk group (TIL-Bs ≥ 42.4% and CD4:CD8 ≥ 0.85) had significantly better overall survival than the high-risk (TIL-Bs

NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and the NOX4-related redox signaling are implicated in cardiac hypertrophy. NOX4 is interrelated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Spliced X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1s) is a key mediator of ERS while its role in cardiac hypertrophy is still poorly understood. Recently, receptor interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1) has been increasingly reported to be associated with ERS. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that Xbp1s mediates NOX4-triggered cardiac hypertrophy via RIPK1 signaling. In the heart tissue of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) rats and in primary cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes(NCMs) treated with angiotensinII(AngII) or isoproterenol (ISO), NOX4 expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and expression of Xbp1s as well as RIPK1-related phosphorylation of P65 subunit of NF-κB were elevated. Gene silencing of NOX4 by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly blocked the upregulation of NOX4, generation of ROS, splicing of Xbp1 and activation of the RIPK1-related NF-κB signaling, meanwhile attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In addition, ROS scavenger (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC) and NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831 reduced ROS generation and alleviated activation of Xbp1 and RIPK1-related NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, splicing of Xbp1 was responsible for the increase in RIPK1 expression in AngII or ISO-treated NCMs. Upregulated RIPK1 in turn activates NF-κB signaling in a kinase activity-independent manner. These findings suggest that Xbp1s plays an important role in NOX4-triggered cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via activating its downstream effector RIPK1, which may prove significant for the development of future therapeutic strategies.

Background: To clarify the definite incidence of isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) and its prognostic significance in rectal cancer patients after laparoscopic late...

Background Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL-N) is an aggressive lymphoma typically diagnosed by examining small biopsy specimens. Flow cytometry is very valuable for the diagnosis and classification of several kinds of hematolymphoid neoplasms but has not been widely used for diagnosing ENKTL-N. Methods We systematically investigated the flow cytometry characteristics of 26 solid tissue biopsy specimens of ENKTL-N at initial diagnosis and compared the results with those from reactive NK-cells in the nasal/nasopharyngeal region and peripheral blood. Results Our study revealed seven flow cytometry (FCM)-based characteristics for distinguishing between the neoplastic cells and reactive NK-cells, including (1) the proportion of NK-cells among total lymphocytes >10%; (2) forward scatter >105 ; (3) mean fluorescence intensity of CD56 > 5,000; (4) aberrant antigen expression or loss; (5) skewed killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor repertoire; (6) homogenously positive for CD38; and (7) positive for CD30 or CD336. FCM-based immunophenotyping is a potentially feasible and convenient approach for discriminating cellular lineages, evaluating the activation status of NK-cells, and selecting potential therapy targets of ENKTL-N. Conclusions Flow cytometry is very valuable for facilitating routine diagnosis, confirming clonality, predicting the cellular lineage, and guiding individual treatment for ENKTL-N. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society.

The prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL-Ts) has been demonstrated in many solid tumours but remained unclear in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We conducted a retrospective cohort study reviewing the TIL-Ts proportion and CD4:CD8 of 66 de novo DLBCL by flow cytometry to construct a risk stratification based on TIL-Ts-related prognostic factors. In univariate analysis, low TIL-Ts ( 14%) was significantly related to shorter survival (HR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.11-5.99, p = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, low TIL-Ts (HR = 6.48, 95% CI 2.16-19.46, p = 0.001) and high CD4:CD8 ( 1.2) (HR = 4.22, 95% CI 1.43-12.35, p = 0.009) were independent risk factors. For the risk stratification, three groups were defined based on TIL-Ts-related risk factors: low-risk group (high TIL-Ts and low CD4:CD8), intermediate risk group (low TIL-Ts, low CD4:CD8 or high TIL-Ts, high CD4:CD8) and high-risk group (low TIL-Ts and high CD4:CD8). The patients in high-risk group have significantly shorter survival than that in intermediate risk group (p = 0.025) and low-risk group (p = 0.002). This new risk stratification which is independent of performance status and age of the patients could hint the prognosis and may guide treatment of DLBCL.