Population-based study of DNA image cytometry as screening method for esophageal cancer

AIM:To explore the DNA image cytometry (DNA-ICM) technique as a primary screening method for esopha-geal squamous precancerous lesions.METHODS:This study was designed as a population-based screening study.A total of 582 local residents aged 40 years-69 years were recruited from Linzhou in Henan and Feicheng in Shandong.However,only 452 subjects had results of liquid-based cytology,DNA-ICM and pathology.The sensitivity and specificity of DNA-ICM were calculated and compared with liquid-based cytology in moderate dysplasia or worse.RESULTS:Sensitivities of DNA-ICM ranging from at least 1 to 4 aneuploid cells were 90.91%,86.36%,79.55% and 77.27%,respectively,which were better than that of liquid-based cytology (75%).Specifici-ties of DNA-ICM were 70.83%,84.07%,92.65% and 96.81%,but the specificity of liquid-based cytology was 91.91%.The sensitivity and specificity of a combination of liquid-based cytology and DNA-ICM were 84.09% and 85.78%,respectively.CONCLUSION:It is possible to use DNA-ICM tech-nique as a primary screening method for esophageal squamous precancerous lesions.

Unconventional lattice dynamics in few-layer h-BN and indium iodide crystals

Unusual quadratic dispersion of flexural vibrational mode and red-shift of Raman shift of in-plane mode with increas- ing layer-number are quite common and interesting in low-dimensional materials, but their physical origins still remain open questions. Combining ab initio density functional theory calculations with the empirical force-constant model, we study the lattice dynamics of two typical two-dimensional （2D） systems, few-layer h-BN and indium iodide （InI）. We found that the unusual quadratic dispersion of flexural mode frequency on wave vector may be comprehended based on the com- petition between atomic interactions of different neighbors. Long-range interaction plays an essential role in determining the dynamic stability of the 2D systems. The frequency red-shift of in-plane Raman-active mode from monolayer to bulk arises mainly from the reduced long-range interaction due to the increasing screening effect.

High-throughput theoretical design of lithium battery materials

The rapid evolution of high-throughput theoretical design schemes to discover new lithium battery materials is re- viewed, including fiigh-capacity cathodes, low-strain cathodes, anodes, solid state eleclrolytes, and electrolyte additives. With tfie development of efficient theoretical methods and inexpensive computers, high-throughput theoretical calculations have played an increasingly important role in the discovery of new malerials. With the help of automatic simnlation flow, many types of materials can be screened, optimized and designed from a structural database according to specific search criteria. In advanced cell technology, new materials for next generation lithium batteries are of great significance to achieve perlbmmnce, and some representative criteria are： higher energy density, better safety, and faster charge/discharge speed.

Genome-Wide Linkage and Positional Association Analyses Identify Associations of Novel AFF3 and NTM Genes with Triglycerides:The GenSalt Study

We conducted a genome-wide linkage scan and positional association study to identify genes and variants influencing blood lipid levels among participants of the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt-Sensitivity （GenSalt） study. The GenSalt study was conducted among 1906 participants from 633 Han Chinese families. Lipids were measured from overnight fasting blood samples using standard methods. Multipoint quantitative trait genome-wide linkage scans were performed on the high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and log- transformed triglyceride phenotypes. Using dense panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs）, single-marker and gene-based association analyses were conducted to follow-up on promising linkage signals. Additive associations between each SNP and lipid phenotypes were tested using mixed linear regression models. Gene-based analyses were performed by combining P-values from single- marker analyses within each gene using the truncated product method （TPM）. Significant associations were assessed for replication among 777 Asian participants of the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis （MESA）. Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple testing. In the GenSalt study, suggestive linkage signals were identified at 2p11.2-2q12.1 [maximum multipoint LOD score （MML） = 2.18 at 2q11.2] and t lq24.3-11q25 （MML = 2.29 at 11q25） for the log-transformed triglyceride phenotype. Follow-up analyses of these two regions revealed gene-based associations of charged multivesicular body protein 3 （CHMP3）, ring finger protein 103 （RNF103）, AF4/FMR2 family, member 3 （AFF3）, and neurotrirnin （NTM） with triglycerides （P = 4 ×10^-4, 1.00 × 10^-5, 2.00 × 10^-5, and 1.00 × 10^-7, respectively）. Both the AFF3 and NTM triglyceride associations were replicated among MESA study participants（P = 1.00 × 10^-7 and 8.00× 10^-5, respectively）. Furthermore, NTM explained the linkage signal on chromosome 11, In conclusion, we identified novel genes associated with lipid phenotypes in linkage regions on chromosomes 2 and 11.