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Purpose: Haptoglobin (Hp) is a hemoglobin-binding protein that functions as an antioxidant in human plasma. It is reported that glycemic variability (GV) plays a key role in diabetes-related complications associated with impaired glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Here we aim to investigate whether the effect of GV on diabetic macroangiopathy depends on Hp genotype in type 2 diabetes. Methods: A number of 860 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes was genotyped and assigned to two Hp subgroups (Hp 2-2 and Hp 1 carriers). Glycemic variability (GV) was assessed by using a retrospective continuous glucose monitoring system for three consecutive days, and it was measured using the glucose coefficient of variation (%CV), which is calculated as the ratio of glucose standard deviation to glucose mean. Clinical features, history of cardiac surgery, and vascular imaging tests were utilized to diagnose macroangiopathy. We evaluated the interaction between Hp genotypes and %CV on diabetic macroangiopathy. Furthermore, serum concentration of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a biomarker of oxidative stress. Results: Serum 8-OHdG levels were positively correlated with %CV in Hp 1 carriers (r = 0.117; p= 0.021). Patients in the highest %CV tertile were associated with a higher prevalence of diabetic macroangiopathy than those in the lowest %CV tertile in Hp 1 carriers (OR = 2.461 [95% CI, 1.183–5.121], p= 0.016), but not in those with Hp 2-2 genotype (OR = 0.540 [95% CI, 0.245–1.191], p= 0.127). A significant interactive effect of Hp genotypes and %CV on diabetic macroangiopathy was found (pinteraction = 0.008). Conclusion: Hp genotype modifies the effect of GV on diabetic macroangiopathy among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

The use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) technology remains largely investigational in the hospital setting. The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rtCGM in inpatients with diabetes who were treated with short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).

We aim to investigate the relationship between serum somatostatin (SST) levels and glucose-lipid metabolism at various stages of glucose tolerance in the Jino ethnic minority (n=111) and Han population (n=113) of Yunnan Province, southwest China. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical traits were measured. Serum SST and plasma glucagon levels were tested. Participants were divided into three subgroups: isolated fasting hyperglycemia (IFH), isolated post challenge hyperglycemia (IPH) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT). SST levels were found lower while glucagon levels were significantly higher in the Jino ethnic with IPH (P=0.0026 and P=0.0069, respectively). Fasting glucose and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were higher (P=0.0055 and P=0.0021, respectively) and fasting insulin levels and homeostasis model assessments β-cell function were lower (P=0.0479 and P=0.0007, respectively) in the Jino population. After adjusting for confounding factors, the serum SST level was associated with glucagon (P<0.0001) in both populations. The SST level was correlated with fasting Cpeptide (P=0.0267) in Jino and HDL-C levels in Han (P=0.0079). Our findings suggest that serum SST levels and plasma glucagon levels may vary in subjects with IPH between two ethnics.

To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biomass has been increasingly developed as a renewable and clean alternative to fossil fuels because of its carbon-neutral characteristics. China has been investigating the rational development and use of bioenergy for developing its clean energy and achieving carbon neutrality. Substituting fossil fuels with multi-source and multi-approach utilized bioenergy and corresponding carbon reduction in China remain largely unexplored. Here, a comprehensive bioenergy accounting model with a multi-dimensional analysis was developed by combining spatial, life cycle, and multi-path analyses. Accordingly, the bioenergy production potential and GHG emission reduction for each distinct type of biomass feedstock through different conversion pathways were estimated. The sum of all available organic waste (21.55 EJ yr−1) and energy plants on marginal land (11.77 EJ yr−1) in China produced 23.30 EJ of bioenergy and reduced 2,535.32 Mt CO2-eq emissions, accounting for 19.48% and 25.61% of China’s total energy production and carbon emissions in 2020, respectively. When focusing on the carbon emission mitigation potential of substituting bioenergy for conventional counterparts, bioelectricity was the most effective, and its potential was 4.45 and 8.58 times higher than that of gaseous and liquid fuel alternatives, respectively. In this study, life cycle emission reductions were maximized by a mix of bioenergy end uses based on biomass properties, with an optimal 78.56% bioenergy allocation from biodiesel, densified solid biofuel, biohydrogen, and biochar. The main regional bioenergy GHG mitigation focused on the Jiangsu, Sichuan, Guangxi, Henan, and Guangdong provinces, contributing to 31.32% of the total GHG mitigation potential. This study provides valuable guidance on exploiting untapped biomass resources in China to secure carbon neutrality by 2060.

This paper examines how market microstructure variables can be used to forecast foreign exchange (FX) rates at frequencies of one to several minutes. We use a unique FX dataset of global inter‐dealer electronic transactions and applied the artificial neural network (ANN) as the predicting model. The immediately preceding bid and ask prices are significant factors in these predictions, which is in keeping with market microstructure theory. These microstructure factors have not been tested in an ANN model before. High‐frequency trading strategies based on the ANN model are shown to be profitable even when transaction costs are included. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A novel X-ray imaging system (NXRIS) and the design principles are given in this paper. Different from the existing digital X-ray imaging systems, the X-ray image intensifying system of NXRIS is a non-vacuum system composed of the intensifying screen and the brightness intensifier, and the brightness intensifier is named low light level image intensifier applied in military affairs. This structure makes NXRIS of big visual field (15 inch, even to larger) and low cost. When designing NXRIS, the spectral compatibility of the component devices and the relation between the visual field and the spatial resolution of the component devices are analyzed. The images produced by NXRIS are given and the image performance is good enough to be applied to security checking, non-destructive testing, and industry detection.

Relapse has been a major hurdle for the success of acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy, whereas leukemia stem cells (LSCs) have been considered to be responsible for relapse recently. Thus new drug targeting LSCs is urgently needed. Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide derived from Tripterygium wilfordii, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. Recently, it has been reported that TPL has the potential of depleting quiescent CD34+ primitive CML progenitor cells. Moreover, normal CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells are less sensitive than AML blasts to TPL, suggesting the seclectivity of TPL in targeting LSCs.

Relapse has been a major hurdle for the success of acute myeloid leukemia chemotherapy, whereas leukemia stem cells (LSCs) have been considered to be responsible for relapse recently. Thus new drug targeting LSCs is urgently needed. Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide derived from Tripterygium wilfordii, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. Recently, it has been reported that TPL has the potential of depleting quiescent CD34+ primitive CML progenitor cells. Moreover, normal CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells are less sensitive than AML blasts to TPL, suggesting the seclectivity of TPL in targeting LSCs.In this study, the ability of triptolide to induce apoptosis in leukemia stem and progenitor cells was investigated with the underlying mechanism being explored.Leukemia stem and progenitor cells were sorted from KG1a cells using flow cytometry with cell cycle being analyzed and then were subjected to different treatments and thereafter MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot or RT-PCR, intracellular ROS measurement colony forming assay were used to determine IC50, apoptotic status and expression of Nrf2, HIF-1α and their target genes, ROS level and colony forming ability.TPL is highly cytotoxic to leukemia stem and progenitor cells with IC20 of 5.0±0.81nM and IC50 of 20.48±1.6nM after 72h exposure. Leukemia stem and progenitor cells were also exposed to series concentrations of IDA with or without TPL(IC20F5.0nM). TPL significantly enhanced cytotoxicity of IDA to LSCs (IC50-IDA: 285.20±13.7 nM vs. IC50-IDA+TPL: 27.01±0.73 nM, P<0.001) Combination index was also analyzed. Results of combination index showed that synergism effect was observed over a wide range of IC50-IC90 concentrations of IDA and TPL in combination. Moreover, apoptotic ratio of cells treated by IDA with TPL was significantly increased compared to cells treated by IDA alone (24.85±1.70% vs. 76.87±8.34%, P<0.001). What’s more, TPL in combination with IDA significantly inhibited the clonogenicity of leukemia stem and progenitor cells (-VE: 2097.3±106.07/well; TPL: 1387.7±40.05/well; IDA: 1252±46.87/well; TPL+IDA: 211±93.18/well, P<0.001). Next, we explore the underlying mechanism of TPL-induced apoptosis in LSCs. The survival of LSCs are dependent of intrinsic factors (Nrf2 and ROS) and extrinsic factors(HIF-1α, VLA4). Induction of ROS while inhibition of protective factor Nrf2 could lead to the apoptosis of LSCs. ROS activation was concentration-dependent when IDA was combined with a constant concentration of TPL (IC20:5nM). The highest activity of intracellular ROS appeared in IDA 200nM+TPL5nM group. Down-regulation of Nrf2 as well as its target genes such as NQO1, GSR and HO-1 was also observed in our study. Moreover, extrinsic factors such as HIF-1α and its down-stream genes such as BNIP3, VEGF and CAIX were also down-regulated in TPL with IDA group. Important extrinsic factors affecting the adhesion of LSCs such as VLA4 and CXCR4 were also down-regulated in TPL with IDA group.Our findings indicate that the cytotoxicity of triptolide and the enhancing effect of triptolide on the cytotoxicity of idarubicin in leukemia stem and progenitor cells may be caused by affecting the intrinsic and extrinsic factors.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Relapse and treatment-related complication have been the hurdle for the cure of acute myeloid leukemia patients. Finding a new drug-sensitizer could significantly prolong the survival time of patients. Triptolide (TPL) has been shown to enhance the drug-sensitivity of a variety of cancer cells when used in a low-concentration. HL60/DOX is a kind of acute myeloid leukemia cell line which is resistant to a commonly used drug Doxorubicin. This kind of cell line is widely used in the study of drug-sensitization.This study aims to investigate whether low-dose TPL could enhance the drug-sensitivity of resistant acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL60/DOX to Doxorubicin and related mechanism.HL60/DOX cells were subjected to different treatments and thereafter MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot or RT-PCR were used to determine IC50, apoptotic status and expression of Nrf2, HIF-1α and their target genes.HL60/DOX cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of Doxorubicin with TPL at a constant IC20 concentration (14nM) for 48h. In comparison with anticancer agent alone, TPL enhanced the cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin (IC50:14.36±2.23 vs. 7.9±0.33μM, 1.82 fold; P=0.008) to HL60/DOX. Results of combination index showed that TPL and anti-cancer agents had synergistic effects when fraction affected was below 60%. Flow cytometry analysis also showed that apoptoticratio of cells treated by Doxorubicin together with TPL was significantly increased compared to cell streated by Doxorubicin alone (19.55±1.70%vs. 72.62±4.83%, P<0.01). Next, we explored the underlying mechanism. Hypoxia-inducible factor- 1α (HIF-1α) is the major mediator of hypoxic responses in malignant cells. High expression of it is correlated with bad clinical outcome in patients. It is also important for the survival of leukemia stem cells which are responsible for relapse. Nrf2 is an important protective factor which is correlated with chemo-resistance in cancer cells. When combined with TPL, Doxorubicin down-regulates Nrf2 and HIF-1α expression at protein and mRNA levels. Down-stream genes of Nrf2 e.g NQO1, GSR and HO-1 as well as target genes of HIF-1α e.g BNIP3, VEGF and CAIX are also down-regulated at mRNA level.Inconclusion, our study demonstrates that TPL could enhance drug-sensitivity of HL60/DOX in vitro through down-regulation of Nrf2 and HIF-1α, providing the experimental base for further study.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The emergence of Imatinib has brought a new era for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. However, resistant to Imatinib might lead to the treatment failure and death of patients. Thus, finding a drug which could enhance the Imatinib-induced apoptosis in vitro could provide the experimental base for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. K562 cell line is a common cell line used in the study of chronic myeloid leukemia while K562/G cell line which is resistant to Imatinib is derived from K562 cell line.This study aims to explore whether low-dose Triptolide(TPL) could enhance the Imatinib-induced apoptosis in K562/G cells and related mechanism.K562/G cells were subjected to different treatments and thereafter MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot or RT-PCR were used to determine IC50, apoptotic status and expression of Nrf2, HIF-1α and their target genes.Triptolide is highly cytotoxic to K562/G cells in a concentration-dependent manner. To determine the combination effect of TPL and anticancer agents, K562/G cells were exposed to Imatinib(50μM) with or without TPL (25nM) for 24h. The apoptotic cells were determined by PI/Annexin V staining and flow cytometric analysis. Apoptotic ratio of cells treated by Imatinib together with TPL is significantly increased compared to cells treated by Imatinib alone (24.78±1.12 vs. 77.52±7.75, P<0.01). Next, the underlying mechanism was investigated. High expression of Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been shown to be related with bad clinical outcome in patients while Nrf2 is responsible for chemo-resistanct in cancer cells. Imatinib in combination with TPL could decrease Nrf2 and HIF-1α expression at protein and mRNA levels. Down-stream genes of Nrf2 e.g NQO1, GSR and HO-1 as well as target genes of HIF-1α e.g BNIP3, VEGF and CAIX are also down-regulated at mRNA level.TPL could significantly increase the Imatinib-induced apoptotic ratio in K562/G cells through down-regulation of HIF-1α and Nrf2.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Disulfiram(DS), an old drug clinically used for alcoholism, was reported to have antitumor effects, recent studies have found that Copper(Cu) can significantly enhance the DS-induced cell death in vitro in a variety of tumor cells. Our previous studies also demonstrated that disulfiram/copper (DS/Cu) couldtarget human leukemia cell lines(like KG1α,Molt4) through the activation of JNK, in vitro. However, there is few report about the ability of DS/Cu in killing cancer cells in vivo.This study aims to explore the effect of DS/Cu on acute myeloid leukemia cell line KG1αin vivo and clarify the underlining mechanism.6-8 week old female NOD/SCID mice were sublethally irradiated with 2Gy X-ray the day before transplantation, followed by intravenous injection of KG1α cells (1×107 cells) suspended in 0.2 mL of PBS. 5 weeks after transplantation mice were randomly divided into three treatment groups: vehicle (0.9% saline), a combination of DS and Cu daily for 2 weeks, Ara-C alone twice before killing. Mice were sacrificed after 2 weeks treatment with tissues of spleen, liver, bone marrow being observed using histopathology method to detect the invasion of leukemia. The DS/Cu-induced p-c-jun activation was also examined by western blot using tissues of spleen, liver, bone marrow. Statistical analysis was carried out with one-way ANOVA to assess statistical significance (*p < 0.05).4 weeks after transplantation, mice were dispirited with low appetite, down-bent gait, wrinkled fur, slow move, just like suffered from leukemia. What’s more, immature blasts like morphology similar to KG1α were found in the peripheral blood of the mice(11%±3.41). All the mice were sacrificed after 2 weeks treatment, mice in control group were observed with slightly larger spleen and liver with the morphology of invasion of leukemia such as a granular appearance than the other two groups. Histopathology examination showed that leukemia cells infiltrate liver, spleen and bone marrow, and the immunohistochemistry examination found that the leukemia cells in spleen, liver and bone marrow expressed human specific antigen CD45 with the highest expression level in the control group. Moreover, solid tumor could be observed in the peritoneal cavity of two mice in the control group with expression of human specific antigen CD45detected by immunohistochemistry examination. Western blot in this study showed DS/Cu complex induced phosphorylation of c-Jun expression in the spleen, liver and bone marrow.DS/Cu complex could effectively target the acute myeloid leukemia cells in the acute leukemia NOD/SCID mice while inhibiting the invasion of leukemia to some extent, and the activation of JNK might play a functional role in DS/Cu mediated antileukemic effects.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Disulfiram(DS), an old drug clinically used for alcoholism, was reported to have antitumor effects, recent studies have found that Copper(Cu) can significantly enhance the DS-induced cell death in vitro in a variety of tumor cells. Our previous studies also demonstrated that disulfiram/copper (DS/Cu) couldtarget human leukemia cell lines(like KG1α,Molt4) through the activation of JNK, in vitro. However, there is few report about the ability of DS/Cu in killing cancer cells in vivo.

The emergence of Imatinib has brought a new era for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. However, resistant to Imatinib might lead to the treatment failure and death of patients. Thus, finding a drug which could enhance the Imatinib-induced apoptosis in vitro could provide the experimental base for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. K562 cell line is a common cell line used in the study of chronic myeloid leukemia while K562/G cell line which is resistant to Imatinib is derived from K562 cell line.

Relapse and treatment-related complication have been the hurdle for the cure of acute myeloid leukemia patients. Finding a new drug-sensitizer could significantly prolong the survival time of patients. Triptolide (TPL) has been shown to enhance the drug-sensitivity of a variety of cancer cells when used in a low-concentration. HL60/DOX is a kind of acute myeloid leukemia cell line which is resistant to a commonly used drug Doxorubicin. This kind of cell line is widely used in the study of drug-sensitization.

Abstract 4088

Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) is a hierarchical disease initiating from a rare population of cells known as leukemia stem cells (LSCs), which are typically enriched in CD34+CD38- cells and presumed responsible for the relapse and refractory of AML. Moreover, current regimens may not effectively discriminate between normal and malignant cells. For this reason, it is important to identify therapies that can specifically target the LSC population without affecting normal cells. Disulfiram (DS) is an anti-alcoholism drug that has recently been indicated to show cytotoxic to multiple cancers including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the antineoplastic activity was enhanced in the present of copper (Cu). In the present study, we investigated the effect of DS/Cu on LSCs and further explored its mechanism.CD34+CD38- leukemia stem cell (LSC) enriched subpopulations were sorted from both KG1a cell lines and primary AML bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (n=6) by fluoresce-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Using MTT cell proliferation assay and Annexin-V/PI staining assay, We demonstrated that DS/Cu inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in CD34+CD38−KG1a cells (IC50= 0.788± 0.451 μM at 24h). With the increasing concentrations of DS (DS=0.05, 0.5, 5, 50μM), the apoptotic proportion increased from 7.2% to 89.5% at 24h. Apoptosis was also observed in CD34+CD38- primary AML cells and the exposure to DS/Cu (DS=0.01, 0.1, 1μM;Cu=0.5μM clearly inhibited the growth of AML-colony-forming units (CFUs) for both CD34+CD38-LSC enriched subpopulations (AML-CFUs decreased from 34.2% to 0% in KG1a cells), but was relatively sparing to normal hematopoietic progenitors. Further more, using flow cytometric analysis, western blot and RT-PCR, we identified that the change in redox status and redox-dependent signaling events play a crucial role in DS/Cu-induced apoptosis. We showed that DS/Cu(DS= 0.625,1.25,2.5,5μM, Cu=1μM) increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activated its downstream apoptosis-related SAPK/JNK pathway in association with blockade translocation of Nrf2 and expression of Nrf2-regulated genes in CD34+CD38−KG1a cells. Notably, blockade of ROS by glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine (NAC)(10mM) strongly diminished DS/Cu mediated lethality and restored Nrf2 nuclear translocation and blocked JNK activation. Additionally, consistent with the ROS accumulation, we also seen that translocation of RelA/p65 and the expression of NF-κb-related gene, associated with abnormal apoptotic response of LSCs, were significantly inhibited by DS/Cu.Taken together, we concluded that DS/Cu might selectively eradicate LSCs by induction of oxidatibe stress and blockade the NF-κb pathway and offers a potential therapeutic option in AML.No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.