Marked Correlation Research Articles

Modern pollen deposition in wetlands of Majuli Island and its implication to decipher palaeoflood episodes in northeast India

The present study is the first attempt from any Indian wetland, where palynological data is assessed to understand the flooding histories of the Sakali and Duboi wetlands in the Majuli River Island, a part of the Indo-Burma hotspot. Palynological analyses of surface soil samples from these wetlands were carried out in order to explore the flooding histories of this island. The presence of extra-local taxa such as Rhododendron, Tsuga and Castanopsis, in the Sakali wetland is strongly suggestive of river water transportation and flooding on the Majuli Island in the recent past. In contrast, dominance of local arboreal taxa and low abundance or absence of extra-local pollen taxa in the Duboi wetland does not indicate flooding. Correspondence analysis (CA) was applied on the present dataset to reveal possible correlations between the surface samples of the wetlands and the major group of palynotaxa. The CA successfully discriminated the samples from the two wetlands and also marked strong correlations between flood indicators extra-local taxa with the samples of the Sakali wetland and local arboreal elements with the Duboi samples. The present result will not only provide a baseline for future palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate reconstructions, but will also help in deciphering palaeoflood episodes from these wetlands.

Association of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio With Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Children With Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated inflammatory polyneuropathy of the peripheral nervous system. The authors aimed to investigate whether the neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) and platelet/lymphocyte (P/L) ratios are the parameters that associated with the drug treatment or severity of GBS. Twenty-seven children with GBS were retrospectively analyzed from the medical records of patients who attended to the Pediatric Neurology Department of the Gaziantep University Hospital. Biochemical and hematologic parameters were measured. Leukocytes, neutrophils counts and N/L ratio were significantly higher before the intravenous immunoglobulin treatment ( P < .001). However, there were no marked differences in platelet count and P/L ratio. In addition, marked correlation was observed between the N/L ratio after treatment and duration of weakness. The results of the study showed that N/L ratio is significantly higher in GBS patients, and reduces following with intravenous immunoglobulin treatment.

Increased myocardial expression of Toll-like receptors 2 and 9 as a marker of active myocarditis and a possible predictor of therapeutic effectiveness

to investigate the myocardial expression of some structural proteins and markers of cellular proliferation and innate immunity for assessing their possible diagnostic and prognostic role in patients with chronic myocarditis. The investigation enrolled 23 patients (16 men; mean age, 52.0±12.4 years (range, 27 to 73) with various forms of noncoronarogenic myocardial injury who underwent right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (n=4), intraoperative left ventricular biopsy (n=17) or autopsy (n=2). Prior to their morphological examination, the patients were divided into two groups: 1) 10 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and presumptive myocarditis; 2) 13 patients with valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myxoma, and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, presumptively without myocarditis. Along with myocardial histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations, the expression of vimentin, desmin, c-kit, Ki-67, and Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 9 was determined. Polymerase chain reaction was used to identify whether herpes viruses of and parvovirus B19 genomes were present in the blood and myocardial samples; indirect ELISA was applied to estimate the blood level of antibodies against various cardiac antigens. According to the histological findings, active/borderline lymphocytic myocarditis was diagnosed in all the patients (Group 1) and in 6 patients (Group 2) in conjunction with the underlying disease (only in 9 and 7 patients, respectively), viral genome was detected in the myocardium of 15 patients, including in 5 without morphological signs of myocarditis (parvovirus B19 (n=11), herpesvirus 6 (n=4), herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (n=1), Epstein-Barr virus (n=2), and cytomegalovirus (n=1)), and in the blood (n=4). A marked correlation was found between TLR2 and TLR9 expressions and the morphological pattern of active myocarditis in the absence of this correlation with the expression level of other studied markers. The expression level of TLR2 in patients with and without borderline myocarditis was 0 [0; 0,75] and in those with active myocarditis was 1.5 [1; 1,5] points; that of TLR9 was 2 [2; 2] and 4 [3; 4] points, respectively (p<0.001). The expression of TLR2 and TLR9 in patients with borderline myocarditis was lower than in those without myocarditis (0 [0; 0] versus 0 [0; 1] and 2 [1,5; 2] versus 2 [2; 3] points), which can reflect cardiomyocyte destruction/depletion at later stages of the disease. There was also a close correlation between the expression level of TLR2 and that of TLR9 (r=0.824; p<0.001) and with Ki-67 levels (r=-0.531 and r=-0.702; p<0.01). There was also a correlation of the expression of the studied markers with viral persistence (desmin), the degree of myocardial dysfunction and cardiosclerosis (c-kit), which calls for further investigations. Determination of the myocardial expression level of TLR2 and TLR9 may serve as an immunohistochemical marker for myocarditis and preservation of its activity, which is especially valuable in patients with borderline forms. The marked expression of these markers for innate immunity may reflect both one of the mechanisms of genetic predisposition to myocarditis and its severe course and their secondary activation in the pathogenesis of the disease and is a potential target of therapy.

贵州赤水常绿阔叶林不同层次树木空间分布格局和竞争的关系

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 贵州赤水常绿阔叶林不同层次树木空间分布格局和竞争的关系 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201709121640 作者: 作者单位: 南京林业大学，环境保护部南京环境科学研究所,南京林业大学，江苏省中国科学院植物研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中央级公益性科研院所基本科研业务专项（2015） Spatial patterns and competition among trees of different height classes in Guizhou, Chishui evergreen broadleaved forest Author: Affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences,Ministry of Environmental Protection of People''s Republic of China,nanjing forestry university Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:在贵州赤水桫椤国家级自然保护区的亚热带常绿阔叶林中设置0.96 hm2的固定样地进行调查，将2299株乔木按树高分级（林木下层、中层、上层），进行空间定位并记录胸径和冠幅等个体指标。采用基于个体间距离的对数相关函数（Pair-correlation functions，PCF）和基于个体胸径、冠幅的标记点格局分析（Marked correlation functions，MCF）空间统计方法检测不同高度层内和层间的空间分布格局和潜在的竞争，结果表明：（1）样地内上层树种呈现随机分布，中下层树种在0-6 m的小尺度内呈聚集分布，在层间关系上表现为0-1 m尺度下显著的正相关关系。（2）在群落内上层个体中没有检测到显著的层内竞争，也未发现其与中、下层树种存在层间竞争关系。（3）群落中、下层树种的层内和层间竞争对两者间空间分布格局和个体大小均产生了一定影响，其相邻个体的胸径和冠幅呈现显著负相关关系。这说明在贵州赤水地区常绿阔叶林中群落中不同层次个体处于不同演替阶段，群落内层内和层间竞争对个体较大的林木上层物种的影响已经非常微弱，而主要发生在中、下层树种内，导致了个体较小的中下层更新树种在层间和层内都出现了小尺度下聚集分布格局，这解释了研究地内不同高度级别树种间竞争关系与共存策略，也验证了标记点格局分析方法在检测植物群落竞争中的敏感性。 Abstract:A 0.96 hm2 plot was established in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve, Guizhou province. The 2299 individual trees were stem-mapped and classified into three height classes:lower, intermediate, and upper height class. Diameter at breast height (DBH) and crown width (CW) were recorded as additional measures of individual growth and performance. In this study, the spatial distribution patterns, spatial associations, and competition among different tree height classes were analyzed PCF (Pair-correlation functions) Analysis based on individual distances. MCF (Marked correlation functions) based on individual DBH and CW were used to detect spatial patterns and within and between different size classes. We found that:(1) The upper tree species showed random distributions at almost all scales. The middle and lower tree species clustered on the small scales of 0-6 m, which showed positive associations with each other within a 1 m scale. (2) No intra-class competition of individual trees within the upper height class was detected, nor was there a significant association with other classes. (3) Intra-and interclass competition in the lower and intermediate height classes had some negative influence on the growth and spatial distribution of individuals. This suggested that individuals among different height classes were at different succession stages in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Chishui. Intra-and interspecies competition had the least influence on the upper height classes, but significantly influenced the intermediate and lower size classes, resulting in an aggregated distribution of lower and intermediate height individuals at small scales. This study helps explain competition strategies and coexistence between different height classes. Additionally, it verified the high sensitivity of the marked correlation function analysis in the competition detection of a plant community. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

WYPOSAŻENIE W SIŁĘ POCIĄGOWĄ A WYDAJNOŚĆ PRACY W POLSKIM ROLNICTWIE

The paper presents an analysis of correlations between equipment with draft force and labour productivity in agriculture. Between 1950 and 2010 live and mechanical draft force resources in the Polish agriculture increased by 365.7%, of that the mechanical one 65 times. At the same time, the number of persons working in Polish agriculture decreased by more than 37%, while the value of agricultural product in fixed prices increased: for gross output by 98%, final output – by 156%, and market output – by 280%. Labour productivity in agriculture (value of production in fixed prices per capita working in agriculture) increased, in the case of adoption as a measure of this production: gross output – by 216%, final output – by 305%, and market output – by 506%. Strongly marked positive correlation between equipment with draft force and labour productivity in agriculture has been found. The strength of this correlation weakened along with increasing equipment of agriculture with draft force.

Smart D-π-A Type Near-Infrared Aβ Probes: Effects of a Marked π Bridge on Optical and Biological Properties.

To expand the scope of D-π-A based near-infrared (NIR) probes for detecting β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and to systematically explore the relationship among their structural characteristics, optical properties, and biological properties, three series of smart NIR probes with different aromatic rings and up to seven trans double bonds were synthesized and evaluated. Marked correlations between the conjugated π system and properties of these probes, such as optical data, binding ability, and brain uptake, were observed. One probe, PHC-4, displayed improved properties as a NIR probe for the in vivo detection of Aβ plaques.

Influences of HLA DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 on T-cell recognition of epitopes and of larger regions of the botulinum neurotoxin molecule

Previously, we have examined the proliferative responses of T-cells from 25 patients and 8 controls to 32 light chain (L1-L32) and 60 heavy chain peptides (N1-N29, C1-C31) representing the entire clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A)[OM1-OM3]. In the current work, these T-cell responses were analyzed in the context of the patients HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 variation. There were strong associations between the DQA1*01:02 and its derived haplotypes and cumulative T-cell proliferative responses. With or without HLA based differentiation the responses showed marked correlation. Inter-epitope correlation of responses demonstrably associated with particular regions (peptides N1-N29) peaking in the region covered by of N18-29. A second region of higher correlation was observed close to the carboxyl terminal of the heavy chain. Region N15 to N29 was found to have a significantly lower Stimulation Indices when DRB1*01:01-DQA1*01:01-DQB1*05:01 was present. This pattern was also evident in the HLA analysis where DQA1*01:02 associations were collectively most significant in the N1-N13 & C16-C31 region. Responses in these regions correlated well with one another. HLA-specific correlation analysis revealed that DQA1*01:01 bearing haplotype had the strongest inter-epitope correlations despite having a generally negative association with simulation indices. Structural and immunogenic implications of these findings are discussed.

Geochemical characteristics of modern river sediments in Myanmar and Thailand: Implications for provenance and weathering

The elemental composition of organic matter and the major and trace element compositions of stream sediments from Myanmar (Ayeyarwady and Sittaung rivers) and Thailand (Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers, and their tributaries) were determined to examine their distributions, provenance, and chemical weathering processes. Higher total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the finer grained sediments indicate hydrodynamic energy may control their distributions. TOC/TN ratios indicate inputs of both aquatic macrophyte and higher vascular plant material to the river sediments. The major element abundances of the sediments are characterized by predominance of SiO2 in coarser fractions and a marked negative correlation with Al2O3, representing primary grain size primarily control on SiO2 content. Marked depletion of most labile elements (Na2O, CaO, K2O, Ba and Sr) relative to UCC (upper continental crust), indicate destruction of feldspar during chemical weathering in the source area or during transport. However, enrichment of some high field strength elements (Zr, Th, Ce and Y) relative to UCC and higher Zr/Sc ratios indicate moderate concentration of resistant heavy minerals in finer-grained samples. Discriminant diagrams and immobile trace element characteristics indicate that the Mekong, and Chao Phraya river sediments were largely derived from felsic sources with compositions close to typical rhyolite, dacite/granodiorite, UCC, I- and S-type granites. Relative enrichment of ferromagnesian elements (e.g. MgO, Cr, Ni) and high Cr/V and low Y/Ni ratios in Ayeyarwady and Sittaung sediments indicate the presence of a mafic or ultramafic component in their sources. The ICV (Index of Compositional Variability), CIA (Chemical Index of Alteration), PIA (Plagioclase Index of Alteration), αAl, Rb/Sr and K2O/Rb ratios indicate that the Ayeyarwady and Sittaung sediments record low to moderate degrees of chemical weathering in their source, compared to moderate to intense chemical weathering in the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins. These results are compatible with existing major ion data for river waters collected at the same locations.

Hormonal changes over the spawning cycle in the female three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Female three-spined sticklebacks are batch spawners laying eggs in a nest built by the male. We sampled female sticklebacks at different time points, when they were ready to spawn and 6, 24, 48 and 72h post-spawning (hps) with a male. Following spawning, almost all females (15 out of 19) had ovulated eggs again at Day 3 post-spawning (72hps). At sampling, plasma, brain and pituitaries were collected, and the ovary and liver were weighed. Testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Moreover, the mRNA levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh-β) and luteinizing hormone (lh-β) in the pituitary, and of the gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs: gnrh2, gnrh3) and kisspeptin (kiss2) and its G protein-coupled receptor (gpr54) in the brain were measured by real-time qPCR.Ovarian weights peaked in “ready to spawn” females, dropped after spawning, before again progressively increasing from 6 to 72hps. Plasma T levels showed peaks at 24 and 48hps and decreased at 72hps, while E2 levels increased already at 6hps and remained at high levels up to 48hps. There was a strong positive correlation between T and E2 levels over the spawning cycle. Pituitary lh-β mRNA levels showed a peak at 48hps, while fsh-β did not change. The neuropeptides and gpr54 did not show any changes. The changes in T and E2 over the stickleback spawning cycle were largely consistent with those found in other multiple-spawning fishes whereas the marked correlation between T and E2 does not support T having other major roles over the cycle than being a precursor for E2.

Significant liver fibrosis assessed using liver transient elastography is independently associated with low bone mineral density in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BackgroundMetabolic bone disorders frequently occur in patients with chronic liver disease; however, the association between liver fibrosis and bone mineral density in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unclear.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis of 231 asymptomatic subjects (160 women, 61.6 years old) from a university hospital setting, between February 2012 and December 2014. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine, femur neck, and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Liver fibrosis and steatosis were assessed using transient elastography.ResultsAmong a total of 231 individuals, 129 subjects (55.8%) had NAFLD. BMDs at lumbar spine, femur neck, and total hip were significantly lower in patients having NAFLD with significant fibrosis, compared with patients having NAFLD without significant fibrosis (Ps<0.005). In patients with NAFLD, significant liver fibrosis revealed marked negative correlations with BMD at the lumber spine (r = –0.19, P = 0.032), femur neck (r = –0.19, P = 0.034), and total hip (r = –0.21, P = 0.016). A multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that significant liver fibrosis was independently correlated with low BMD at the femur neck (β = –0.18, P = 0.039) and total hip (β = –0.21, P = 0.005) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and liver steatosis among patients with NAFLD. Using multivariable logistic regression, significant liver fibrosis was independently associated with overall osteopenia and osteoporosis in subjects having NAFLD (OR = 4.10, 95% CI = 1.02–16.45).ConclusionThe presence of significant liver fibrosis assessed via TE was independently associated with low BMD in NAFLD subjects.

Evaluation of biogenic amines profile in opened wine bottles: Effect of storage conditions

Changes in biogenic amines profile during storage of opened wine bottles have been monitored. Three different wine types were selected (standard and high quality red wines and young white wine), and once opened, wine bottles were kept in different storage conditions (temperature and stopper kind). The total concentration of biogenic amines in just opened bottles ranged between 35.4–39.2mg/L in standard quality red wine; 18.5–22.8mg/L in high quality red wine; and 5.08mg/L in bulk young white wine. Both red wines showed higher amounts of histamine and putrescine, whilst the white wine contained tyramine, putrescine and histamine in a similar concentration. Cadaverine presented a similar concentration for all samples (0.25–0.42mg/L). Methylamine and spermine were not detected in any sample. The results from 36 samples showed that biogenic amines did not increase significantly in any case. Slight changes in the concentration of certain biogenic amines were detected as a result of the different storage conditions. A principal component analysis using biogenic amines as variables allowed to group the different kinds of wine. Linear Discriminant Analyses grouped the three wine types by storage time. Histamine and cadaverine showed a marked positive correlation in all wine types.

Potential occupational and environmental factors in SSc onset.

Introduction and objective. Systemic sclerosis [SSc; scleroderma] is a rare, connective tissue disorder affecting all organs and systems. The primary feature of this disease is a chronic, progressive fibrosis due to excessive production of collagen and other components. There are two subsets of systemic sclerosis: 1) diffused SSc (dSSc), 2) limited SSc (lSSc) and 3) scleroderma without sclerosis (SSSC). The presented review is an attempt to summarize recent data regarding environmental and occupational factors in SSc onset. There are many factors to be taken under consideration with SSc onset, although a strong correlation has been established for only a few. The most distinct factors are: crystalline silica and organic solvents (such as white spirit, aromatic, aliphatic-chain, chlorinated solvents, ketones, welding fumes). For other factors, which include abstestos, air pollution, other chemicals, silicone breast implants, tobacco smoking, drug reactions, diet influence and exposure to heavy metals, the jury is still out, and their position in SSc onset needs further studies. Conclusions. Although the pathogenesis of scleroderma remains unclear, there is a marked correlation between the onset of SSc and certain environmental or occupational factors.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration of whole blood influences the cellular composition of platelet-rich plasma obtained from centrifugation methods

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which reflects the sedimentation rate of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes in response to centrifugal force, may influence the cellular composition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained via centrifugation methods. However, no relevant studies have substantiated this. In the present study, blood was collected from 40 healthy volunteers and used to prepare PRP with two plasma-based preparation systems [YinPRP and Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (PRGF) systems] and two buffy coat-based systems (RegenPRP and WEGOPRP systems) in a single-donor model. Volumes of PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) that were removed in the preparation process were recorded. Analyses of ESR, haematocrit, C-reaction protein, coagulation, serum glucose and serum lipid of the whole blood used for PRP preparation were performed to evaluate the levels of ESR and the factors known to influence it. Whole blood analysis was performed to evaluate the cellular composition of PRP. Results demonstrated that there were marked positive correlations between the ESR of the whole blood used for PRP preparation and PPP removal efficiencies, platelet concentrations, platelet capture efficiencies and platelet enrichment factors of PRP formulations obtained from plasma-based systems, and PRP yield efficiency of RegenPRP and PPP removal efficiency of WEGOPRP. Furthermore, there were marked negative correlations between ESR and concentrations and enrichment factors of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes of RegenPRP. Fibrinogen concentration of the whole blood, which had a marked positive correlation with ESR, also influenced the cellular composition of PRP. These findings may increase the understanding of PRP preparation and provide substantial evidence for the individualised optimisation of PRP preparation systems used in clinical practice.

The impact of marriage and parenthood on male body mass index: Static and dynamic effects

RationaleNumerous cross-sectional studies investigated the link between marital status and BMI in the context of competing social science theories (marriage market, marriage selection, marriage protection and social obligation), frequently offering conflicting theoretical predictions and conflicting empirical findings. ObjectiveThis study analysed the effects of marriage, divorce, pregnancy, and parenthood on male BMI in a longitudinal setting, avoiding the estimation bias of cross-sectional studies and allowing for an analysis of BMI fluctuation over time and the dynamic effects of these events. MethodUsing the Panel Study of Income Dynamics 1999–2013 dataset (N = 8729), this study was the first to employ a dynamic panel-data estimation to examine the static and dynamic effects of marriage, divorce, and fatherhood on male BMI. ResultsThe study showed that married men have higher BMI, but marital status changes largely drove this static effect, namely, an increase in BMI in the period following marriage, and a decrease in BMI preceding and following divorce. ConclusionsThus, this study found marked evidence in support of the marriage market and social obligation theories' predictions about male BMI, and supports neither marriage protection theory nor marriage selection theory. Wives’ pregnancies had no significant effect on BMI; instead, men tend to have higher BMI in the periods following childbirth. Finally, analyses showed marked contemporaneous correlations between husband and wife BMI over the course of marriage.

Gyrokinetic modeling of impurity peaking in JET H-mode plasmas

Quantitative comparisons are presented between gyrokinetic simulations and experimental values of the carbon impurity peaking factor in a database of JET H-modes during the carbon wall era. These plasmas feature strong NBI heating and hence high values of toroidal rotation and corresponding gradient. Furthermore, the carbon profiles present particularly interesting shapes for fusion devices, i.e., hollow in the core and peaked near the edge. Dependencies of the experimental carbon peaking factor (R/LnC) on plasma parameters are investigated via multilinear regressions. A marked correlation between R/LnC and the normalised toroidal rotation gradient is observed in the core, which suggests an important role of the rotation in establishing hollow carbon profiles. The carbon peaking factor is then computed with the gyrokinetic code GKW, using a quasi-linear approach, supported by a few non-linear simulations. The comparison of the quasi-linear predictions to the experimental values at mid-radius reveals two main regimes. At low normalised collisionality, ν*, and Te/Ti&amp;lt;1, the gyrokinetic simulations quantitatively recover experimental carbon density profiles, provided that rotodiffusion is taken into account. In contrast, at higher ν* and Te/Ti&amp;gt;1, the very hollow experimental carbon density profiles are never predicted by the simulations and the carbon density peaking is systematically over estimated. This points to a possible missing ingredient in this regime.

The Exploration of an Objective Model for Roughness With Several Acoustic Markers

In voice assessment, the evaluation of voice quality is a major component in which roughness has received wide acceptance as a major subtype of abnormal voice quality. The aim of the present study was to develop a new multivariate acoustic model for the evaluation of roughness. In total, 970 participants with dysphonia and 88 participants with normal voice were included. Concatenated voice samples of continuous speech and sustained vowel [a:] were perceptually judged on roughness severity. Acoustic analyses were conducted on the voiced segments of the continuous speech sample plus sustained vowel as well. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was applied to construct an acoustic model of the best acoustic predictors. Concurrent validity, diagnostic accuracy, and cross-validation were verified on the basis of Spearman correlation coefficient (rs), several estimates of the receiver operating characteristics plus the likelihood ratio, and iterated internal cross-correlations. Six experts were included for perceptual analysis based on acceptable rater reliability. Stepwise multiple regression analysis yielded a 12-variable acoustic model. A marked correlation was identified between the model and the perceptual judgment (rs = 0.731, P = 0.000). The cross-correlations confirmed a high comparable degree of association. However, the receiver operating characteristics and likelihood ratio results showed the best diagnostic outcome at a threshold of 2.92, with a sensitivity of 51.9% and a specificity of 94.9%. Currently, the newly developed roughness model is not recommended for clinical practice. Further research is needed to detect the acoustic complexity of roughness (eg, multiplophonia, irregularity, chaotic structure, glottal fry, etc).

Association of T cell responses after vaccination with HPV16 long peptides for late stage cervical cancer with prolonged survival.

5525 Background: Therapeutic vaccination with HPV type 16 synthetic long peptides (HPV16-SLP) results in T cell–mediated regression of HPV16-induced premalignant lesions but fails to install effective immunity in patients with advanced HPV16-positive cervical cancer. We showed that HPV16-SLP vaccination in mice and in patients with advanced cervical cancer patients fosters robust HPV16-specific T cell responses, when combined with chemotherapy (Welters et al. Sci. Transl. Med., 2016). Methods: We have now completed a chemo-immunotherapy study in 70 patients with late stage HPV16+ cervical cancer (clinical trials.gov NCT02128126). Three HPV16-SLP vaccine doses were given 2 weeks after the second, third and fourth cycle of standard chemotherapy (carboplatin, AUC 6; paclitaxel 175 mg/ m2). Cohorts of 12 patients each were vaccinated with each of 4 dose levels (20, 40, 100 and 300 µg/ per peptide) of 13 overlapping HPV16 synthetic long peptides (HPV16-SLP) together covering the length of the 2 E6 and E7 proteins. Two additional cohorts of 6 patients each were vaccinated with the most promising doses of 40 and 100 µg/ peptide. Results: Robust vaccine-induced HPV16-specific T cell responses as assessed by interferon-γ Elispot were observed and were sustained until at least 30 days after the 6th cycle of chemotherapy. In addition the chemotherapy augmented recall responses to microbial antigens. Such robust T cell responses were not noted in previous trials when similar patients were vaccinated without timing of vaccination during chemotherapy. A marked and significant positive correlation was observed between the strength of the vaccine-induced immune response and overall survival. No such correlation was observed between the strength of the T cell response against common recall antigens and survival. In addition a remarkably high proportion of patients survived beyond 2 years after the start of therapy. Conclusions: The results suggest that survival duration is directly related to the strength of the vaccine-induced HPV16-specific T cell response and is not due to generally better immuno-competence. Clinical trial information: NCT 02128126.

SWIM: a computational tool to unveiling crucial nodes in complex biological networks

SWItchMiner (SWIM) is a wizard-like software implementation of a procedure, previously described, able to extract information contained in complex networks. Specifically, SWIM allows unearthing the existence of a new class of hubs, called “fight-club hubs”, characterized by a marked negative correlation with their first nearest neighbors. Among them, a special subset of genes, called “switch genes”, appears to be characterized by an unusual pattern of intra- and inter-module connections that confers them a crucial topological role, interestingly mirrored by the evidence of their clinic-biological relevance. Here, we applied SWIM to a large panel of cancer datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, in order to highlight switch genes that could be critically associated with the drastic changes in the physiological state of cells or tissues induced by the cancer development. We discovered that switch genes are found in all cancers we studied and they encompass protein coding genes and non-coding RNAs, recovering many known key cancer players but also many new potential biomarkers not yet characterized in cancer context. Furthermore, SWIM is amenable to detect switch genes in different organisms and cell conditions, with the potential to uncover important players in biologically relevant scenarios, including but not limited to human cancer.

MicroRNA-152 regulates immune response via targeting B7-H1 in gastric carcinoma.

MiR-152 has been reported may be involved in carcinogenesis in gastric cancer. However, its role has not been comprehensively investigated in gastric cancer. We found miR-152 in human gastric cancer tissues were significantly lower than that in matched adjacent normal tissues. Meanwhile, lower miR-152 was also found in gastric cancer cell lines. The stage, tumor size and lymph node metastasis rate were significant higher in low–miR-152 group in clinical patients. Furthermore, there was a marked correlation between the levels of miR-152 and B7-H1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues. Mechanistically, miR-152 directly bind to B7-H1 3′ untranslated region in gastric cancer cell and inhibited B7-H1 expression. Functional study demonstrated that elevation of miR-152 enhanced T cells proliferation and effector cytokines production via inhibiting B7-H1/PD-1 pathway. In conclusion, our work identified a novel mechanism by which immune response is increased by expression of miR-152 via targeting B7-H1. MiR-152 may be a potential therapeutic approach for gastric cancer.

Correlation between strength of T-cell response against HPV16 and survival after vaccination with HPV16 long peptides in combination with chemotherapy for late-stage cervical cancer.

140 Background: Therapeutic vaccination with HPV type 16 synthetic long peptides (HPV16-SLP) results in T cell–mediated regression of HPV16-induced premalignant lesions but fails to install effective immunity in patients with advanced HPV16-positive cervical cancer. We showed that HPV16-SLP vaccination in mice and in patients with advanced cervical cancer patients fosters robust HPV16-specific T cell responses, when combined with chemotherapy. In this study we noted that a single dose of vaccine 2 weeks into the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy was optimal, because at this time the immunosuppressive myeloid cells were down. Methods: We now completed a chemo-immunotherapy study in a larger number of patients with late stage HPV16+ cervical cancer. Three HPV16-SLP vaccine doses were given 2 weeks after the second, third, and fourth cycles of standard chemotherapy. Cohorts of 12 patients each were vaccinated with each of 4 dose levels (20, 40, 100, and 300 µg/ per peptide) of 13 overlapping HPV16 synthetic long peptides (HPV16-SLP) together covering the length of the 2 E6 and E7 proteins. Results: Robust vaccine-induced HPV16-specific T cell responses as assessed by interferon-g Elispot were observed and were sustained throughout the cycles of chemotherapy. These T cell responses were substantially increased in all patients who received HPV16-SLP . In addition, the chemotherapy augmented recall responses to microbial antigens. Such robust T cell responses were not noted in previous trials when similar patients were vaccinated without timing of vaccination during chemotherapy. A marked correlation was observed between the strength of the vaccine-induced immune response and longer-term clinical outcomes such as overall survival. No such correlation exists between the strength of the T cell response against common recall antigens and survival. In addition, a remarkably high proportion of patients survived beyond 20 months after the start of therapy. Conclusions: These results indicate that the survival advantage is specifically related to the strength of the vaccine-induced T cell response and is not due to generally better immuno-competence. Clinical trial information: NCT02128126.