Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic across Chinese mainland was gradually stabilized at a low level with sporadic outbreaks, before the emergence of Omicron variant. Apart from non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs), COVID-19 vaccine has also been implemented to prevent and control the pandemic since early 2021. Although many aspects have been focused, the change of the spatiotemporal distribution of COVID-19 epidemic across Chinese mainland responding to the change of prevention and control measures were less concerned. Here, we collected the confirmed case data (including domestic cases and overseas imported cases) across Chinese mainland during both 2020/04-2020/08 and 2021/04-2021/08, and then conducted a preliminary data comparison on the spatiotemporal distribution of confirmed cases during the identical period between the two years. Distribution patterns were evaluated both qualitatively by classification method and quantitatively through employing coefficient of variation. Results revealed significant differences in the homogeneity of spatiotemporal distributions of imported or domestic cases between the two years, indicating that the important effect of the adjustment of prevention and control measures on the epidemic evolution. The findings here enriched our practical experience of COVID-19 prevention and control. And, the collected data here might be helpful for improving or verifying spatiotemporally dynamic models of infectious diseases.
Project description:The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem stratified that varies along different sections of the gut. It comprises a wide array of metabolites originating from both food, host, and microbes. Microbially-derived metabolites, such as bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and indole derivatives, are of significant interest due to their direct interactions with host physiology and regulating function. Most current studies on the gut microbiome focus on fecal samples, which do not fully represent the upper parts of the gut due to its stratification. To collect microbiome samples from the proximal gut microbiome, endoscopic methods or new non-invasive medical devices can be used. To enable comprehensive profiling of the gut metabolome and analyze key metabolites, we developed a combined approach combining untargeted and semi-targeted metabolomics using a Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Initially, we selected 49 metabolites of interest for the gut metabolome based on four distinct criteria. We validated these metabolites through repeatability and linearity tests and created a compound database using the software TraceFinder (ThermoFisher Scientific). For untargeted metabolomics, we established a workflow for the annotation and discovery of molecules. Finally, 37 metabolites were validated for semi-targeted metabolomics, and we conducted a proof of concept on small intestinal and fecal samples form a clinical trial (NCT05477069). Our combined approach, facilitated by molecular networking, demonstrated the potential to discover new metabolites.
Project description:E-JOURNAL LINKED ABSTRACT URL http://www.current-oncology.com/index.php/oncology/article/view/840/ Pseudocirrhosis is a rare form of liver disease that causes clinical symptoms and shows radiographic signs of cirrhosis, but that has histologic features suggesting a distinct pathologic process. In the setting of cancer, hepatic metastases and systemic chemotherapy are suspected causes of pseudocirrhosis. We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with medullary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the liver who developed pseudocirrhosis. The patient was initially enrolled in a phase i clinical trial of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (folfox) in combination with sunitinib (NCT00599924). After this patient’s liver metastases regressed measurably, she was switched to sunitinib maintenance. After 4 months of combination therapy with folfox–sunitinib and 15 months of sunitinib maintenance, she developed abdominal bloating, early satiety, and right upper quadrant pain that increased with inspiration. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed cirrhotic morphology changes in the liver, including the appearance of a nodular surface and capsular retraction. The patient had no risk factors for cirrhosis and laboratory testing for causes of liver disease were normal or negative. Core-needle liver biopsy demonstrated sheets and nests of epithelioid and spindle cells resembling the primary tumor; septal fibrosis and regenerative nodules typical of cirrhosis were not observed. The background hepatic plate architecture was intact. Laboratory studies showed increased aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and international normalized ratio, and decreased albumin. Portal hypertension, esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and hepatic hydrothorax developed as a result of advanced liver disease. Because of disease progression, sunitinib was discontinued, and the patient was managed with sorafenib. Pseudocirrhosis has often been attributed to chemotherapeutic agents, particularly in the context of metastatic breast cancer. The toxicity profiles of folfox and sunitinib include hepatic steatosis and other forms of hepatotoxicity, but cirrhotic-like disease has not been reported. Considering the transformation of discrete hepatic metastases into a diffuse carcinomatous infiltrate and the unrelated toxicities of folfox and sunitinib, we diagnosed this patient with carcinomatous pseudocirrhosis secondary to metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. We discuss the diagnosis of pseudocirrhosis in this case and review the literature regarding pseudocirrhosis in cancer.
Project description:During the European Middle Ages, the opening of long-distance Asian trade routes introduced exotic goods, including ultramarine, a brilliant blue pigment produced from lapis lazuli stone mined only in Afghanistan. Rare and as expensive as gold, this pigment transformed the European color palette, but little is known about its early trade or use. Here, we report the discovery of lapis lazuli pigment preserved in the dental calculus of a religious woman in Germany radiocarbon-dated to the 11th or early 12th century. The early use of this pigment by a religious woman challenges widespread assumptions about its limited availability in medieval Europe and the gendered production of illuminated texts.
Project description:TXMS manuscript data
Title: Rapid determination of quaternary protein structures in complex biological samples
Under review in Nature Communications
Project description:Bone is the most frequent site of metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa) and patients with bone metastases are deemed incurable. Targeting prostate cancer cells that disseminated to the bone marrow (BM) prior to surgery and before metastatic outgrowth may therefore prevent lethal metastasis. This prompted us to directly analyse the transcriptome of disseminated cancer cells (DCC) isolated from non-metastatic (UICC stage M0) prostate cancer patients. We screened 105 BM samples of M0-stage prostate cancer patients and 18 BM samples of patients without malignancy for the presence of EpCAM+ single cells. In total we isolated 270 cells from both groups by micromanipulation and globally amplified their mRNA. We used targeted transcriptional profiling to unambiguously identify DCCs for subsequent in-depth analysis. Transcriptomes of all cells were examined for the expression of EPCAM, KRT8, KRT18, KRT19, KRT14, KRT6a, KRT5, KLK3 (PSA), MAGEA2, MAGEA4, PTPRC (CD45), CD33, CD34, CD19, GYPC, SCL4A1 (band 3), and HBA2. Using these transcripts we found it impossible to reliably identify true DCCs. We then applied combined genome and transcriptome analysis of single cells and found that EpCAM+ cells from controls expressed transcripts thought to be epithelial-specific, while true DCCs may express haematopoietic transcripts. These results point to an unexpected plasticity of epithelial cancer cells in bone marrow and question common transcriptional criteria to identify DCCs.