Methyl 2-(1H-indole-3-carboxamido)­acetate

The title compound, C12H12N2O3, was synthesized by condensation of methyl amino­acetate with 3-trichloro­acetyl­indole. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains parallel to the b axis. The chains are further connected into a three-dimensional network by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the indole N atom. In the molecule, the indole skeleton is nearly planar [maximum deviation = 0.012 (1) Å] and the mean plane of the amido group is twisted from the mean plane of indole ring by 17.2 (1)°

Imaging Molecular Outflow in Massive Star-forming Regions with HNCO Lines

Protostellar outflows are considered a signpost of star formation. These outflows can cause shocks in the molecular gas and are typically traced by the line wings of certain molecules. HNCO (4--3) has been regarded as a shock tracer because of the high abundance in shocked regions. Here we present the first imaging results of HNCO (4--3) line wings toward nine sources in a sample of twenty three massive star-forming regions using the IRAM 30\,m telescope. We adopt the velocity range of the full width of HC$_{3}$N (10--9) and H$^{13}$CO$^+$ (1--0) emissions as the central emission values, beyond which the emission from HNCO (4--3) is considered to be from line wings. The spatial distributions of the red- and/or blue-lobes of HNCO (4--3) emission nicely associate with those lobes of HCO$^{+}$ (1--0) in most of the sources. High intensity ratios of HNCO (4--3) to HCO$^+$ (1--0) are obtained in the line wings. The derived column density ratios of HNCO to HCO$^+$ are consistent with those previously observed towards massive star-forming regions. These results provide direct evidence that HNCO could trace outflow in massive star-forming regions. This work also implies that the formation of some HNCO molecules is related to shock, either on the grain surface or within the shocked gas.Comment: 18 pages, 4 tables, 4 figures, and accepted for publication in Ap

A Two-Year Surveillance of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Guangzhou, China: From Pandemic to Seasonal Influenza?

In this two-years surveillance of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (pH1N1) in Guangzhou, China, we reported here that the scale and duration of pH1N1 outbreaks, severe disease and fatality rates of pH1N1 patients were significantly lower or shorter in the second epidemic year (May 2010-April 2011) than those in the first epidemic year (May 2009-April 2010) (P<0.05), but similar to those of seasonal influenza (P>0.05). Similar to seasonal influenza, pre-existing chronic pulmonary diseases was a risk factor associated with fatal cases of pH1N1 influenza. Different from seasonal influenza, which occurred in spring/summer seasons annually, pH1N1 influenza mainly occurred in autumn/winter seasons in the first epidemic year, but prolonged to winter/spring season in the second epidemic year. The information suggests a tendency that the epidemics of pH1N1 influenza may probably further shift to spring/summer seasons and become a predominant subtype of seasonal influenza in coming years in Guangzhou, China

Dense matter with eXTP

In this White Paper we present the potential of the Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry (eXTP) mission for determining the nature of dense matter; neutron star cores host an extreme density regime which cannot be replicated in a terrestrial laboratory. The tightest statistical constraints on the dense matter equation of state will come from pulse profile modelling of accretion-powered pulsars, burst oscillation sources, and rotation-powered pulsars. Additional constraints will derive from spin measurements, burst spectra, and properties of the accretion flows in the vicinity of the neutron star. Under development by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.Comment: Accepted for publication on Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. (2019

CDK5-dependent BAG3 degradation modulates synaptic protein turnover

阿尔茨海默病（AD）是严重威胁人类健康的重大神经系统疾病，AD的发生发展与衰老密切相关，目前临床治疗方法十分有限。因此迫切需要从AD致病早期入手，发现和鉴定导致AD神经功能紊乱的机制和靶点，为AD的早期防治提供基础。张杰教授及其团队从高通量磷酸化蛋白质组学入手，系统研究了CDK5在神经细胞中的磷酸化底物，鉴定出了在蛋白质量控制中发挥重要功能的BAG3蛋白是CDK5的全新底物。课题组从磷酸化蛋白质组学入手，发现和阐明了细胞周期蛋白激酶5（CDK5）通过调控BAG3在维持突触蛋白水平调控中的作用机制，及其在阿尔茨海默病（AD）发生发展中的机理。 该研究是多个团队历时8年合作完成的，香港中文大学的周熙文教授、美国匹兹堡大学的Karl Herrup教授、美国Sanford-Burnham研究所的许华曦教授、美国梅奥医学中心的卜国军教授，厦门大学医学院的文磊教授、张云武教授、赵颖俊教授、薛茂强教授，军事医学科学院的袁增强教授等都参与了该工作。 厦门大学医学院2012级博士生周杰超等为文章的第一作者，张杰教授为通讯作者。Background Synaptic protein dyshomeostasis and functional loss is an early invariant feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet the unifying etiological pathway remains largely unknown. Knowing that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) plays critical roles in synaptic formation and degeneration, its phosphorylation targets were re-examined in search for candidates with direct global impacts on synaptic protein dynamics, and the associated regulatory network was also analyzed. Methods Quantitative phospho-proteomics and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify top-ranked candidates. A series of biochemical assays were used to investigate the associated regulatory signaling networks. Histological, electrochemical and behavioral assays were performed in conditional knockout, shRNA-mediated knockdown and AD-related mice models to evaluate its relevance to synaptic homeostasis and functions. Results Among candidates with known implications in synaptic modulations, BCL2-associated athanogene-3 (BAG3) ranked the highest. CDK5-mediated phosphorylation on Ser297/Ser291 (Mouse/Human) destabilized BAG3. Loss of BAG3 unleashed the selective protein degradative function of the HSP70 machinery. In neurons, this resulted in enhanced degradation of a number of glutamatergic synaptic proteins. Conditional neuronal knockout of Bag3 in vivo led to impairment of learning and memory functions. In human AD and related-mouse models, aberrant CDK5-mediated loss of BAG3 yielded similar effects on synaptic homeostasis. Detrimental effects of BAG3 loss on learning and memory functions were confirmed in these mice, and such were reversed by ectopic BAG3 re-expression. Conclusions Our results highlight that neuronal CDK5-BAG3-HSP70 signaling axis plays a critical role in modulating synaptic homeostasis. Dysregulation of the signaling pathway directly contributes to synaptic dysfunction and AD pathogenesis.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation in China (Grant: 31571055, 81522016, 81271421 to J.Z.; 81801337 to L.L; 81774377 and 81373999 to L.W.); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China-Xiamen University (Grant: 20720150062, 20720180049 and 20720160075 to J.Z.); Fundamental Research Funds for Fujian Province University Leading Talents (Grant JAT170003 to L.L); Hong Kong Research Grants Council (HKUST12/CRF/13G, GRF660813, GRF16101315, AoE/M-05/12 to K.H.; GRF16103317, GRF16100718 and GRF16100219 to H.-M,C.); Offices of Provost, VPRG and Dean of Science, HKUST (VPRGO12SC02 to K.H.); Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Improvement on Competitiveness in Hiring New Faculty Funding Scheme (Ref. 133), CUHK Faculty Startup Fund and Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship (AARF-17-531566) to H.-M, C. 该研究受到了国家自然科学基金、厦门大学校长基金、福建省卫生教育联合攻关基金等的资助

Distinct distribution and prognostic significance of molecular subtypes of breast cancer in Chinese women: a population-based cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Molecular classification of breast cancer is an important prognostic factor. The distribution of molecular subtypes of breast cancer and their prognostic value has not been well documented in Asians.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 2,791 breast cancer patients recruited for a population-based cohort study were evaluated for molecular subtypes of breast cancer by immunohistochemical assays. Data on clinicopathological characteristics were confirmed by centralized pathology review. The average follow-up of the patients was 53.4 months. Overall and disease-free survival by molecular subtypes of breast cancer were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of the luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and triple-negative subtypes were 48.6%, 16.7%, 13.7%, and 12.9%, respectively. The luminal A subtype was more likely to be diagnosed in older women (P = 0.03) and had a stronger correlation with favorable clinicopathological factors (smaller tumor size, lower histologic grade, and earlier TNM stage) than the triple-negative or HER2 subtypes. Women with triple-negative breast cancer had a higher frequency of family history of breast cancer than women with other subtypes (P = 0.048). The 5-year overall/disease-free survival percentages for the luminal A, luminal B, HER2, and triple-negative subtypes were 92.9%/88.6%, 88.6%/85.1%, 83.2%/79.1%, and 80.7%/76.0%, respectively. A similar pattern was observed in multivariate analyses. Immunotherapy was associated with improved overall and disease-free survival for luminal A breast cancer, but reduced disease-free survival (HR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.09-4.48) for the HER2 subtype of breast cancer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The triple-negative and HER2 subtypes were associated with poorer outcomes compared with the luminal A subtype among these Chinese women. The HER2 subtype was more prevalent in this Chinese population compared with Western populations, suggesting the importance of standardized HER2 detection and anti-HER2 therapy to potentially benefit a high proportion of breast cancer patients in China.</p

Whole-Genome Sequencing Identifies a Novel Variation of WAS Gene Coordinating With Heterozygous Germline Mutation of APC to Enhance Hepatoblastoma Oncogenesis

Hepatoblastoma (HB), a leading primary hepatic malignancy in children, originates from primitive hepatic stem cells. This study aimed to uncover the genetic variants that are responsible for HB oncogenesis. One family, which includes the healthy parents, and two brothers affected by HB, was recruited. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of germline DNA from all the family members identified two maternal variants, located within APC gene and X-linked WAS gene, which were harbored by the two brothers. The mutation of APC (rs137854573, c.C1606T, p.R536X) could result in HB carcinogenesis by activating Wnt signaling. The WAS variant (c.G3T, p.M1-P5del) could promote HB cell proliferation and inhibit T-cell-based immunity by activating PLK1 signaling and inactivating TCR signaling. Further analysis reflected that WAS deficiency might affect the antitumor activity of natural killer and dendritic cells. In summary, the obtained results imply that an APC mutant together with an X-linked WAS mutant, could lead to HB tumorigenesis by activating Wnt and PLK1 signaling, inhibiting TCR signaling, and reducing the antitumor activity of natural killer and dendritic cells