Effect of cold plasma on polyphenol oxidase inactivation in cloudy apple juice and on the quality parameters of the juice during storage

Direct cold plasma treatment has been investigated as an alternative non-thermal technology as a means of maintaining and improving quality of fresh cloudy apple juice. Process variables studied included type of plasma discharge, input voltage and treatment time on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inactivation. Spark discharge plasma at 10.5 kV for 5 min was the best treatment, with near total inactivation of PPO achieved, although good PPO inactivation was also recorded using shorter treatment times. Residual activity (RA) of PPO was 16 and 27.6% after 5 and 4 min of treatment respectively. This PPO inactivation was maintained throughout the storage trials, but decreased with samples treated for a shorter time. Plasma treatment improved key quality parameters of Golden delicious cloudy apple juice, with retention of critical quality parameters during extended storage trials. Color was the most noticeable change, which was enhanced with retention of a greener color. An increase of 69 and 64% was obtained in the total phenolic content after 4 and 5 min of treatment, respectively. Therefore, cold plasma was demonstrated to be a good alternative to traditional heat treatments for enhanced quality retention of fresh cloudy apple juice and over its storage.

LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 controls cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by sponging miR-326 to regulate c-Myc expression in acute myeloid leukemia

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in development and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the role of lncRNA potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) in AML progression and its mechanism remain largely unknown. The expressions of KCNQ1OT1, microRNA-326 (miR-326) and c-Myc were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was used for cell differentiation. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation were measured by MTT assay, flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, respectively. The interaction between miR-326 and KCNQ1OT1 or c-Myc was explored by luciferase activity, RNA immunoprecipitation or RNA pull-down assay. We found that the expression of KCNQ1OT1 was enhanced in AML samples compared with control. KCNQ1OT1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation but promoted apoptosis and cell differentiation. KCNQ1OT1 was a decoy of miR-326 and c-Myc was a target of miR-326. KCNQ1OT1 regulated AML cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation by sponging miR-326. Moreover, overexpression of miR-326 suppressed proliferation but promoted apoptosis and PMA-induced differentiation by targeting c-Myc in AML cells. Besides, c-Myc protein level was suppressed by KCNQ1OT1 interference and rescued by miR-326 abrogation. Our data showed that KCNQ1OT1 regulates proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in AML cells by acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-326 to regulate c-Myc, providing a novel avenue for AML treatment.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains and unfavourable treatment outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype was first described in 1995 and is now the predominant strain among patients with tuberculosis in many Asian countries. The rapid global spread of the Beijing genotype is receiving increasing attention because it can cause a higher risk of treatment failures. Our objective was to assess the association between the Beijing genotype and unfavourable treatment outcomes of tuberculosis.

METHODS

We searched for eligible studies through PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data. We included cohort studies that evaluated treatment outcomes and Beijing genotype strains. Participants were individuals with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The association between Beijing genotype and the risk of unfavourable treatment outcomes was assessed using the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In total, 7489 tuberculosis patients were involved in the analysis. Patients infected with the Beijing genotype were more likely to have unfavourable treatment outcomes, with the OR of 2.04 (95% CI 1.52-2.75). The pooled OR was 2.33 (95% CI 1.71-3.16) for recurrence, 2.36 (95% CI 1.69-3.30) for relapse and 2.62 (95% CI 1.90-3.61) for treatment failure, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that Beijing genotype was a significant risk factor for unfavourable treatment outcomes in Asians (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.82-2.86) or in drug-susceptible TB patients (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.31-3.39). No significant association was observed among non-Asian populations (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.73-1.86) or patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.48-1.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is associated with an increased risk of unfavourable treatment outcomes, including treatment failure and relapse.

[MicroRNA-133b suppresses cell proliferation and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via downregulating TAGLN2 expression]

Objective: To investigate the expression of microRNA-133b (miR-133b) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and explore its effect and the underlying molecular mechanisms on cell proliferation and invasion. Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to examine miR-133b expression in 63 ESCC tissues and paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues, several ESCC cells (Eca109, EC9706, EC1, TE1, KYSE70) and normal esophageal epithelial cell Het-1A. MiR-133b mimic, inhibitor and negative control (NC) were transfected into TE1 cells. The effect of miR-133b on cell proliferation and invasion were determined by CCK-8 and Transwell assays, respectively. Subsequently, the target gene of miR-133b was predicted by online tools TargetScan and miRDB, which was verified by dual luciferase reporter assays. Finally, Western blot was utilized to detect the effects of miR-133b overexpression on expression of target gene TAGLN2 as well as EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug and Vimentin. Results: Relative levels of miR-133b in ESCC tissues (0.295±0.040) were significantly lower than those in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (1.002±0.011, P<0.001). The expression of miR-133b was tightly associated with clinical staging, lymph node metastasis and prognosis. Moreover, relative levels of miR-133b in ESCC cells Eca109, EC9706, EC1, TE1 and KYSE70 (0.679±0.031, 0.391±0.008, 0.236±0.016, 0.031±0.005 and 0.099±0.020) were evidently lower than that in normal esophageal epithelial cell Het-1A (1.005±0.016, all P<0.001). In TE1 cells, miR-133b mimic significantly increased the level of miR-133b to 6.199±0.627, and suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, whereas miR-133b inhibitor obviously decreased its expression to 0.182±0.023, and promoted cell proliferation and invasion. Most notably, the relative luciferase activities of miR-133b-mimic group (0.320±0.018) in TE1 cells transfected with TAGLN-3'UTR-WT were markedly lower than that in NC group (1.010±0.036, P<0.001), whereas those in TAGLN-3'UTR-MUT transfection cells were 1.019±0.056 and 1.008±0.021, respectively, showing no significantly statistical difference (P>0.05). Furthermore, miR-133b overexpression markedly downregulated TAGLN2, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug and Vimentin levels, and increased E-cadherin expression. Conclusion: MiR-133b plays an important role in the proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells by regulating TAGLN2 expression, and it may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC patients.

Clinical and genetic features of Chinese patients with lichen and macular primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis

BACKGROUND

Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) is a chronic pruritic skin disorder. The genetic basis of familial (f)PLCA involves mutations in the oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) and interleukin-31 receptor A (IL31RA) genes, but the disease pathophysiology is not fully understood.

AIM

To investigate the OSMR mutation spectrum in patients with sporadic (s)PLCA/fPLCA, lichen/macular PLCA in mainland China.

METHODS

This study was carried out on 64 patients with sPLCA, along with 36 with fPLCA and 10 unaffected individuals collected from 23 unrelated Chinese families. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Mutation screening of 17 OSMR exons was performed by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

PLCA lesions are typically localized to the shins, forearm and back. Sequence analysis of OSMR exons demonstrated that the OSMR missense mutation rate in patients with fPLCA (63.89%) was significantly higher than that in patients with sPLCA (34.38%). The male/female ratio of patients carrying a homozygous OSMR mutation (0.29) was significantly lower than that of patients carrying a heterozygous OSMR mutation (1.08; P < 0.05) and of patients with wildtype OSMR (1.75; P < 0.01). Age of onset of PLCA with OSMR homozygous mutation (median age 20 years) was earlier than that of PLCA with OSMR heterozygous mutation (median age 32 years; P < 0.01) or PLCA with wildtype genotype (median age 32 years; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present data indicate OSMR mutations as not only the main cause of fPLCA, but also the potential source of the pathogenesis of sPLCA, although the exact molecular mechanism remains unknown.

Heat-induced protein oxidation of soybean meal impairs growth performance and antioxidant status of broilers

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oxidative modification on soybean meal (SBM) proteins after exposure to different heating times, and the effects of the oxidized SBM on the growth performance [average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed to gain ratio (F: G)], oxidative redox status [(reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl (PC)]. A total of 400 one-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups with 8 replicates of 10 birds each. Birds in the control group (CON) were fed diet containing non-heated SBM, and those in the treatment groups were fed SBM heated at 100°C for 1, 2, 4, and 8 h, for 42 d. Heated SBM (HSBM) showed a relatively higher PC content in vitro. The ADG decreased, whereas the F:G increased linearly with an increase in heating time during the starter (days 1 to 21), grower (days 22 to 42), and the overall growth phases (days 1 to 42; P < 0.05). However, the ADFI decreased linearly only during the grower phase (P < 0.05). The plasma, liver, and jejunum ROS levels, MDA concentrations, and PC contents increased linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed HSBM. Furthermore, the TAC in the plasma and jejunum, and the total SOD and GSH-Px activities in the plasma, liver, and jejunum decreased linearly (P < 0.05) in broilers when feeding HSBM. (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of Nrf2 in the liver and jejunum was lower (P < 0.05) in broilers fed diet containing the SBM after 8 h heat-treatment than in those fed the CON diet at days 42. This study suggested that heat-induced protein oxidation of SBM could decrease growth performance and impair antioxidant status of broilers.

2471. The State of Cost-Utility Analyses in Vaccines: A Systematic Review

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Disclosures

Initial beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic system on HL-2A tokamak

A beam emission spectroscopy system is being developed and deployed on the HL-2A tokamak to measure local low wavenumber (k _⊥ ρ _i < 1) density fluctuations by measuring the Doppler-shifted emission from a 50 kV deuterium heating neutral beam. High spatial resolution (Δr ≤ 1 cm, Δz ≤ 1.5 cm) measurements are achieved with customized in-vacuum optics. High frequency, high-gain preamplifiers sample the light intensity at a Nyquist frequency of 1 MHz and achieve a high S/N ratio via high optical throughput, low-noise preamplifiers, and high quantum efficiency photodiodes. A first set of 16 detector channels [configured in an 8 (radial) × 2 (poloidal) array] has been installed and tested at HL-2A, covering the radial range r/a = 0.8-1.1. The frequency and wavenumber spectra have been measured under different plasma conditions. Initial measurements have demonstrated the capability of measuring edge plasma density fluctuation spectra and the poloidal flow velocity fields with a high S/N ratio.

Analysis on Fourier characteristics of wavelength-scanned optical spectrum of low-finesse Fabry-Pérot acoustic sensor

In this work, we investigate the Fourier characteristics of wavelength-scanned optical spectrum of low-finesse Fabry-Pérot (FP) acoustic sensor both theoretically and experimentally. The wavelength scanning will transform the time-domain acoustic signal into phase modulation loaded on the FP sensor spectrum distributed along wavelength. Therefore the interference spectrum can be regarded as carrier signal in the wavelength domain. From this perspective, it is intelligible that the phase modulation loaded on the spectrum (carrier signal) will introduce sidebands in Fourier domain. The spatial frequency and phase of sideband components contain unique information of both acoustic signal and the corresponding sensor. These conclusions are experimentally proved by single sensor head as well as two parallel sensors. The Fourier characteristics of sideband components can be utilized to recognize and distinguish acoustic signals received by different sensors, indicating that it has potential applications in multiplexed FP sensor array and source localization, and so forth.

In vivo heterotopic culturing of prefabricated tendon grafts with mechanical stimulation in a sheep model

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study is to investigate the biomechanical and histological properties of in vivo heterotopically prefabricated cruciate ligament replacement grafts with and without mechanical stimulation. The clinical goal is to heterotopically prefabricate a bone-tendon-bone graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, which allows rapid ingrowth and early full weight bearing.

METHODS

In a sheep model, eight quadriceps tendon grafts were harvested and introduced into culture chambers at their proximal and distal ends. In group S, four tendon-chamber constructs were mechanically stimulated by direct attachment to the quadriceps tendon and patella. In group NS, the same constructs were cultured without proximal attachment. All sheep were sacrificed six weeks postoperatively and the constructs were examined biomechanically and histologically. The healthy contralateral ACL and quadriceps tendon were used as controls.

RESULTS

Macroscopically, no obvious ossification could be observed at the ends of the tendon-chamber constructs six weeks postoperatively. Histologically, the tendon tissue from the mechanically stimulated constructs revealed higher counts of cells and capillaries. However, there was less regular cell distribution and collagen fiber orientation compared to the control group. In addition, osteoblasts and osteogenesis were observed in the prefabricated constructs both with and without mechanical stimulation. Biomechanically, there were no significant differences in stiffness, elongation and ultimate failure load between the groups.

CONCLUSION

In vivo heterotopic culture of prefabricated tendon grafts may have the potential to stimulate osteoblasts and induce osteogenesis. Future studies with longer follow-up and modifications of the surgical technique and culture conditions are desirable.

[Association of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with vascular dementia after ischemic stroke]

Objective: To study the relationship of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) with vascular dementia (VD) after ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 226 ischemic stroke patients who visited the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June.2013 to Oct.2016 were included and divided into the VD group and the non-dementia group according to the degree of cognitive impairment.The non-dementia group were further divided into the normal cognition group and the vascular cognitive impairment no dementia(VCIND) group.The general information of all patients were collected and the serum Lp-PLA2, Hcy, hs-CRP and the blood lipid indexes were detected.The Logistic regression model was built to analyze the association of Lp-PLA2 with the VD, correlation analysis and ROC curve were conducted to analyze the correlation of Lp-PLA2 with the state of cognitive impairment and to generate the cutoff value respectively. Results: The serum Lp-PLA2 in VD group[(221±84) ng/ml] was significant higher than the non-dementia group[(133±60) ng/ml], the Lp-PLA2 in VCIND group[(148±65) ng/ml] was significant higher than the normal cognition group[(114±48) ng/ml](P<0.05). The result of Logistic regression showed that Lp-PLA2 was a significant risk factor of VD[(OR(95%CI)=1.015(1.010-1.021)], and its level was negatively correlated with the score of cognitive function.The cutoff value of Lp-PLA2 between the VD and non-dementia was 164.65 ng/ml and was 120.8 ng/ml between the normal cognition group and VCIND group. Conclusion: Lp-PLA2 is a significant risk factor of VD after ischemic stroke.

The protein oxidation of soybean meal induced by heating decreases its protein digestion in vitro and impairs growth performance and digestive function in broilers

1. The soybean meal (SBM) was heated at 100°C for 1, 2, 4 and 8 h, respectively, and their resultant oxidative status was evaluated. 2. A total of 400 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 8 replicates of 10 birds each, and fed with diets containing non-heated SBM (NHSBM) or 1 of 4 heated SBMs (HSBMs, SBMs heated at 100°C for 1, 2, 4 and 8 h, respectively) for 42 d. 3. The contents of carbonyl in the SBMs were both linearly and quadratically increased, whereas the nitrogen solubility index, and in vitro digestibility of crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) in the SBMs were both linearly and quadratically decreased as heating time increased (P < 0.05). The concentrations of sulfhydryl and total sulfhydryl in the SBMs were linearly decreased as heating time increased (P < 0.05). 4. The average daily gain was linearly decreased while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was linearly increased in broilers as heating time of dietary HSBMs increased during both d 22-42 and d 1-42 of study (P < 0.05), though FCR of broilers during d 22-42 study were unaffected when the heating time of dietary HSBMs was 1 h (P > 0.05). The serum glucose concentration and the activity of trypsin at d 42, and the apparent total digestibility of CP and DM were all linearly reduced in broilers when heating time of dietary HSBMs increased (P < 0.05). However, 1 h HSBM has a numerical higher CP and DM digestibility than NHSBM. The serum urea nitrogen contents were both linearly and quadratically increased at both d 21 and 42 (P < 0.05), and relative pancreas weight was linearly increased at d 42 in broilers as heating time of dietary HSBMs increased (P < 0.05).

Comparative study of ultra-lightweight pulp foams obtained from various fibers and reinforced by MFC

A range of cellulose-based, ultra-lightweight pulp foams with different morphologies were prepared and reinforced with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). By careful design of the pulp foam forming process, free-standing ultra-lightweight pulp foams were obtained through high velocity mixing and air/oven drying from cellulose fiber in the presence of surfactant, MFC, and retention aid. The effects of different types of fibers and surfactants on the air uptake volumes and mechanical properties of the foam were systematically investigated. The structures characterized using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the foam was composed of wood fibers into two- or three-dimensional microstructures within random orientations surrounding gas bubbles. The results indicated that in spite of the strength of the foam could be manipulated by varying the surfactants and processing parameters, the addition of MFC indeed improved strength of pulp foams further. The process developed in this work provides a cost effective approach to fabricate the strong and ultra-lightweight pulp foam, with a density lower than 0.02g/cm³, using a standard handsheet former.

Genetic analysis of HOXA11 gene in Chinese patients with cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital anomaly in male children. Its aetiology remains unknown in the majority of cases. Because HOXA11 plays a vital role in regulating testicular descent, genetic variants in HOXA11 genes may contribute to the risk of cryptorchidism. In this study, mutation analysis was performed on the HOXA11 gene in a cohort of 89 patients with cryptorchidism. Furthermore, an association analysis of the HOXA11 tag single nucleotide polymorphism rs6461992 was performed in 168 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and 193 controls. No pathogenic mutations were found. A significant difference in genotype and allele distribution was detected between cases and controls (p = .029 and .022 respectively). These results suggest that mutations in the coding sequence of HOXA11 might not be a common cause of cryptorchidism, while common polymorphisms in the HOXA11 gene might contribute to the risk of developing unilateral cryptorchidism.

HSP90 stabilizes B-cell receptor kinases in a multi-client interactome: PU-H71 induces CLL apoptosis in a cytoprotective microenvironment

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of B cells in the hematopoietic system and lymphoid tissues. Although inhibitors targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway have been successful in the treatment of the disease, the underlying mechanisms leading to BCR over-activity in CLL are not fully understood. In this study, we found that HSP90, a highly conserved molecular chaperone, is overexpressed in CLL compared with resting B cells. HSP90 overexpression is accompanied by the overexpression of several BCR kinases including LYN, spleen tyrosine kinase, Bruton tyrosine kinase and AKT. Chemical and immune-precipitation demonstrated that these BCR constituents are present in a multi-client chaperone complex with HSP90. Inhibition of HSP90 with PU-H71 destabilized the BCR kinases and caused apoptosis of CLL cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Further, PU-H71 induced apoptosis in the presence of stromal co-culture or cytoprotective survival signals. Finally, genetic knockdown of HSP90 and its client AKT, but not BTK, reduced CLL viability. Overall, our study suggests that the chaperone function of HSP90 contributes to the over-activity of the BCR signaling in CLL and inhibition of HSP90 has the potential to achieve a multi-targeting effect. Thus, HSP90 inhibition may be explored to prevent or overcome drug resistance to single targeting agents.

Loss of Dnmt3b accelerates MLL-AF9 leukemia progression

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic disorder with a poor prognosis. Abnormal DNA methylation is involved in the initiation and progression of AML. The de novo methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b are responsible for the generation of genomic methylation patterns. While DNMT3A is frequently mutated in hematological malignancies, DNMT3B is rarely mutated. Although it has been previously reported that Dnmt3b functions as a tumor suppressor in a mouse model of Myc-induced lymphomagenesis, its function in AML is yet to be determined. In this study, we demonstrated that deletion of Dnmt3b accelerated the progression of MLL-AF9 leukemia by increasing stemness and enhancing cell cycle progression. Gene profiling analysis revealed upregulation of the oncogenic gene set and downregulation of the cell differentiation gene set. Furthermore, loss of Dnmt3b was able to synergize with Dnmt3a deficiency in leukemia development. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Dnmt3b plays a tumor suppressive role in MLL-AF9 AML progression, thereby providing new insights into the roles of DNA methylation in leukemia development.

Emergence of a Novel Bluetongue Virus Serotype, China 2014

One hundred and twenty-six blood samples were collected from healthy sheep and goats in Xinjiang, China, during July 2014. Seventy-three samples (57.93%) were bluetongue virus (BTV) serology-positive, and 39 samples (30.95%) were BTV NS1 gene-positive. BTV strain XJ1407 was isolated from the blood of BTV NS1 gene-positive animals and sequenced. Analysis of its genome sequence suggests that XJ1407 is a novel BTV serotype.

Comparison of the safety and immunogenicity of live attenuated and inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in healthy Chinese children aged 18 months to 16 years: results from a randomized, parallel controlled, phase IV study

For large-scale immunization of children with hepatitis A (HA) vaccines in China, accurately designed studies comparing the safety and immunogenicity of the live attenuated HA vaccine (HA-L) and inactivated HA vaccine (HA-I) are necessary. A randomized, parallel controlled, phase IV clinical trial was conducted with 6000 healthy children aged 18 months to 16 years. HA-L or HA-I was administered at a ratio of 1: 1 to randomized selected participants. The safety and immunogenicity were evaluated. Both HA-L and HA-I were well tolerated by all participants. The immunogenicity results showed that the seroconversion rates (HA-L versus HA-I: 98.0% versus 100%, respectively, p >0.05), and geometric mean concentrations in participants negative for antibodies against HA virus IgG (anti-HAV IgG) before vaccination did not differ significantly between the two types of vaccines (HA-L versus HA-I first dose: 898.9 versus 886.2 mIU/mL, respectively, p >0.05). After administration of the booster dose of HA-I, the geometric mean concentrations of anti-HAV IgG (HA-I booster dose: 2591.2 mIU/mL) was higher than that after the first dose (p <0.05) and that reported in participants administered HA-L (p <0.05). Additionally, 12 (25%) of the 48 randomized selected participants who received HA-L tested positive for HA antigen in stool samples. Hence, both HA-L and HA-I could provide acceptable immunogenicity in children. The effects of long-term immunogenicity after natural exposure to wild-type HA virus and the possibility of mutational shifts of the live vaccine virus in the field need to be studied in more detail.

Leukemia cell infiltration causes defective erythropoiesis partially through MIP-1α/CCL3

Leukemia often results in severe anemia, which may significantly contribute to patient mortality and morbidity. However, the mechanisms underlying defective erythropoiesis in leukemia have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that insufficient erythropoiesis in an immunocompetent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) murine model was due to reduced proliferation of megakaryocyte erythroid progenitors and increased apoptosis of erythroblasts. Colony-forming cell assays indicated that the leukemic bone marrow (BM) plasma inhibited erythroid colony formation, whereas they had no inhibitory effect on other types of colonies. Cytokine array analysis demonstrated that the chemokine CCL3 was elevated in the plasma of AML mice and patients. CCL3 inhibited erythroid differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, common myeloid progenitors and especially megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors. Administration of the CCR1 antagonist partially recovered the yield of erythroid colonies in the presence of CCL3 or leukemic BM plasma. Mechanistically, we observed an increase of p38 phosphorylation and subsequent downregulation of GATA1 after CCL3 treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of CCL3 attenuated leukemic progression and alleviated anemia. Therefore, our results demonstrate that elevated CCL3 in the leukemic environment suppresses erythropoiesis via CCR1-p38 activation, suggesting a novel mechanism for the erythroid defects observed in leukemia.

Mutational analysis of HOXA10 gene in Chinese patients with cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is one of the most common congenital anomalies and affects 2-4% of full-term new born boys. Its aetiology is poorly understood at present. HOXA10 plays a pivotal role in regulation of testicular descent. Male mice mutant for Hoxa10 exhibit unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism as a result of impaired development of the gubernaculums. In this study, we performed mutation analysis of HOXA10 gene in a cohort of 98 cryptorchid patients. And we found a mutation (N27K) in a boy with unilateral cryptorchidism. The mutation was not detected in 106 healthy controls. Both in silico analyses and functional studies showed that the mutation affected the function of HOXA10. The results demonstrated that mutation in HOXA10 gene contributes to the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism, but may not be a common cause.

Synthesis of TiO2-loaded silicate-1 monoliths and their application for degradation rhodamine B

TiO₂-loaded silicate-1 monoliths, with TiO₂ (Degussa P25) nanoparticles loaded in silicate-1 crystal, were directly synthesized by combining sol–gel method and hydrothermal method.

Ultrastructure of medial rectus muscles in patients with intermittent exotropia

PURPOSE To study the ultrastructure of the medial rectus in patients with intermittent exotropia at different ages.PATIENTS AND METHODS The medial recti were harvested surgically from 20 patients with intermittent exotropia. Patients were divided into adolescent (age<18 years, n=10) and adult groups (age >18 years, n=10). The normal control group included five patients without strabismus and undergoing eye enucleation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to visualize the medial recti. Western blot was used to determine the levels of myosin and actin.RESULTS Varying fiber thickness, atrophy, and misalignment of the medial recti were visualized under optical microscope in patients with exotropia. Electron microscopy revealed sarcomere destruction, myofilament disintegration, unclear dark and light bands, collagen proliferation, and fibrosis. The adolescent group manifested significantly higher levels of myosin and actin than the adult group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION Younger patients with intermittent exotropia show stronger contraction of the medial recti compared with older patients. Our findings suggest that childhood was the appropriate time for surgery as the benefit of the intervention was better than in adulthood.