Numerous studies have shown that RNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of diseases, and RNA-disease associations are not limited to noncoding RNAs in mammals but also exist for protein-coding RNAs. Furthermore, RNA-associated diseases are found across species including plants and nonmammals. To better analyze diseases at the RNA level and facilitate researchers in exploring the pathogenic mechanism of diseases, we decided to update and change MNDR v3.0 to RNADisease v4.0, a repository for RNA-disease association (http://www.rnadisease.org/ or http://www.rna-society.org/mndr/). Compared to the previous version, new features include: (i) expanded data sources and categories of species, RNA types, and diseases; (ii) the addition of a comprehensive analysis of RNAs from thousands of high-throughput sequencing data of cancer samples and normal samples; (iii) the addition of an RNA-disease enrichment tool and (iv) the addition of four RNA-disease prediction tools. In summary, RNADisease v4.0 provides a comprehensive and concise data resource of RNA-disease associations which contains a total of 3 428 058 RNA-disease entries covering 18 RNA types, 117 species and 4090 diseases to meet the needs of biological research and lay the foundation for future therapeutic applications of diseases.

The 2016 International Myeloma Working Group consensus recommendations emphasize high-sensitivity methods for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, treatment response assessment, and prognostication. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of IGH gene rearrangements is highly specific and sensitive, but its description in routine clinical practice and performance comparison with high-sensitivity flow cytometry (hsFC) remain limited. In this large, single-institution study including 438 samples from 251 patients, the use of NGS targeting the IGH and IGK genes for clonal characterization and monitoring, with comparison to hsFC, is described. The index clone characterization success rate was 93.6% (235/251), which depended on plasma cell (PC) cellularity, reaching 98% when PC ≥10% and below 80% when PC <5%. A total of 85% of cases were successfully characterized using leader and FR1 primer sets, and most clones showed high somatic hypermutation rates (median, 8.1%). Among monitoring samples from 124 patients, 78.6% (147/187) had detectable disease by NGS. Concordance with hsFC was 92.9% (170/183). Discordant cases encompassed 8 of 124 hsFC MRD+/NGS MRD− patients (6.5%) and 4 of 124 hsFC MRD−/NGS MRD+ patients (3.2%), all with low-level disease near detection limits for both assays. Among concordant hsFC MRD−/NGS MRD− cases, only 5 of 24 patients (20.8%) showed subsequent overt relapse at 3-year follow-up. HsFC and NGS showed similar operational sensitivity, and the choice of test may depend on practical, rather than test performance, considerations.

High-pressure chemistry is an interdisciplinary science which uses highpressure experiments and theories to study the interactions, reactions, and transformations among atoms or molecules. It has been extensively studied thus far and achieved rapid development over the past decades. However, what is next for high-pressure chemistry? In this Perspective, we mainly focus on the development of high-pressure experimental chemistry from our own viewpoint. An overview of the series of topics is as follows: (I) high pressure used as an effective tool to help resolve scientific disputes regarding phenomena observed under ambient conditions; (II) high-pressure reactions of interest to synthetic chemists; (III) utilizing chemical methods to quench the high-pressure phase; (IV) using high pressure to achieve what chemists want to do but could not do; (V) potential applications of in situ properties under high pressure. This Perspective is expected to offer future research opportunities for researchers to develop high-pressure chemistry and to inspire new endeavors in this area to promote the field of compression chemistry science.H igh-pressure chemistry is an interdisciplinary science which uses high-pressure experiments and theories to study the interactions, reactions, and transformations among atoms or molecules. In terms of high-pressure chemistry, understanding the chemical behavior of substances under extreme conditions contributes to comprehending chemical reactions, opening new pathways, and seeking new materials and novel designs.Pressure, as a greatly important thermodynamic parameter, independent of temperature and chemical composition, has attracted widespread attention in many science areas. 1,2 This is because pressure could effectively reduce interatomic distances and profoundly modify electronic orbitals and bonding patterns. Moreover, the change of lattice parameters is accompanied by increased electron density and enhanced repulsive potential within materials, resulting in numerous unexpected phenomena. 3−5 According to current reports, diamond stress versus density data can reach 800 GPa. 6 Extremely fascinating chemical structures with unusual qualities can arise. Reactions, which are impossible under normal conditions, can occur through the application of a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Na−Cl was thought to be an ultimately simple textbook system. However, Zhang et al. found that under high pressure the stability of compounds in the Na−Cl system changes, and new materials with different stoichiometries of Na 3 Cl, Na 2 Cl, Na 3 Cl 2 , NaCl 3 , and NaCl 7 emerge at high pressure. 7 Helium is generally understood to be chemically inert and very difficult to form thermodynamically stable compounds. Dong et al. discovered a thermodynamically stable compound of helium and sodium, Na 2 He, which has a fluorite-type structure and is stable at pressures >113 GPa. 8 Zhu et al. predicted a chemical reaction of Xe with Fe/Ni at high pressure, which solves the missing Xe paradox in earth's atmosphere. 9 In addition,...

Introduction. Acute exacerbation of asthma is a common condition managed at emergency departments (EDs) globally, and many patients recognize the ED as a major source for their relief. Objectives. This study was done to evaluate the current care delivery practice for asthma at an ED and proposes possible strategies for improvement. Method. A retrospective chart review of all treated and discharged patients who were diagnosed with asthma was conducted between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. Patients were excluded if they had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive cardiac failure or were admitted for further management. Results. A total of 1303 patients treated and discharged from the ED were included. The mean age of the study population was 36.2 ± 16.2 years; 52.3% were male and 47.7% were female. Forty-eight percent of the patients were treated and discharged with no follow-up. Of those who were given follow-up appointments, 220 (16.9%) were referred to polyclinics and 41 (3.1%) to general practitioners. Ninetysix (7.4%) patients had a relapse within 30 days of discharge from the ED. The median number of days to relapse was 9 days (interquartile range = 3-19 days). Three hundred twenty-three (24.7%) patients re-attended the ED within the 1-year follow-up period. Of these, 252 (19.3%) re-attended ≤2 times and 71 (5.4%) re-attended ≥3 times. Within the follow-up period, 113 (8.7%) patients required admission for further management. Conclusion. There is a need to address gaps in the system and possible strategies have been proposed to improve asthma care for patients seeking treatment at the ED.A cute exacerbation of asthma is a common condition managed at emergency departments (EDs) all around the world. Sun and colleagues reported that patients recognized the ED as a major source of relief from an exacerbation and that asthma is an independent risk factor of frequent ED use. 1 They also reported that most patients were well enough for discharge and a minority (6% to 13%) required admission for further management. On the contrary, patients who were treated and discharged were observed to have higher rates of asthma relapse compared with patients who were admitted. 2 Higher rates of asthma relapse have been attributed to inadequate long-term disease control and patient education, physiological changes, and social economic factors. 2-5 Dependence on the ED as a site for episodic, crisis-oriented asthma care reflects the underutilization of primary care services. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Guidelines stress that the goal of treatment should be to achieve and maintain asthma control for a prolonged period of time. 6 It is recommended that asthma patients receive regular follow-up with their primary care provider (PCP) and that an ED-PCP linkage is fostered for these patients.At an ED in a tertiary hospital in Singapore, there is currently no protocol in place to refer treated and discharged asthma patients to a government polyclinic, a private general practitioner, or t...

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