Genetic diversity analysis of Capparis spinosa L. populations by using ISSR markers

Capparis spinosa L. is an important medicinal species in the Xinjiang Province of China. Ten natural populations of C. spinosa from 3 locations in North, Central, and South Xinjiang were studied using morphological trait inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers to assess the genetic diversity and population structure. In this study, the 10 ISSR primers produced 313 amplified DNA fragments, with 52% of fragments being polymorphic. Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis indicated that 10 C. spinosa populations were clustered into 3 geographically distinct groups. The Nei gene of C. spinosa populations in different regions had Diversity and Shannon's information index ranges of 0.1312-0.2001 and 0.1004-0.1875, respectively. The 362 markers were used to construct the dendrogram based on the UPGMA cluster analysis. The dendrogram indicated that 10 populations of C. spinosa were clustered into 3 geographically distinct groups. The results showed these genotypes have high genetic diversity, and can be used for an alternative breeding program.

PDK1/Akt/PDE4D axis identified as a target for asthma remedy synergistic with β2 AR agonists by a natural agent arctigenin

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a heterogenetic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation with variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness. As the most potent and popular bronchodilators, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2 AR) agonists bind to the β2 ARs that are coupled via a stimulatory G protein to adenylyl cyclase, thereby improving cAMP accumulation and resulting in airway smooth muscle relaxation. We previously demonstrated arctigenin had a synergistic function with the β2 AR agonist, but the target for this remained elusive.

METHOD

Chemical proteomics capturing was used to enrich and uncover the target of arctigenin in human bronchial smooth muscle cells, and reverse docking and molecular dynamic stimulation were performed to evaluate the binding of arctigenin and its target. In vitro enzyme activities and protein levels were demonstrated with special kits and Western blotting. Finally, guinea pig tracheal muscle segregation and ex vivo function were analysed.

RESULTS

Arctigenin bound to PDK1 with an ideal binding free energy -25.45 kcal/mol and inhibited PDK1 kinase activity without changing its protein level. Additionally, arctigenin reduced PKB/Akt-induced phosphorylation of PDE4D, which was first identified in this study. Attenuation of PDE4D resulted in cAMP accumulation in human bronchial smooth muscle. The inhibition of PDK1 showed a synergistic function with β2 AR agonists and relaxed the constriction of segregated guinea pig tracheal muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDK1/Akt/PDE4D axis serves as a novel asthma target, which may benefit airflow obstruction.

Diagnostic accuracy of adenosine deaminase for tuberculous pericarditis: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Many studies suggest that adenosine deaminase is a marker for tuberculous pericarditis, while controversy exists as to its diagnostic utility. This study aims to summarize the overall diagnostic performance of adenosine deaminase for tuberculous pericarditis through a meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literatures published before May 2015 were searched in PubMed and EMBASE. The data were retrieved and the sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative likelihood ratio (PLR/NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of adenosine deaminase for diagnosing tuberculous pericarditis were pooled, and the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were used to examine the overall performance of adenosine deaminase.

RESULTS

In total, 11 studies with 938 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The summary estimates of adenosine deaminase for diagnosing tuberculous pericarditis were listed as follows: sensitivity of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86-0.93), specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.89), PLR of 5.90 (95% CI: 4.46-7.82), NLR of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.09-0.26), and DOR of 42.55 (95% CI: 21.51-84.18). The area under the SROC curve was 0.92, and the Q value was 0.85. No publication bias was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenosine deaminase is a valuable marker with both high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis. Nevertheless, the results of adenosine deaminase assays should be interpreted in combination with other test results and clinical characteristics of patients.

ANTONIA perfusion and stroke. A software tool for the multi-purpose analysis of MR perfusion-weighted datasets and quantitative ischemic stroke assessment

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this work is to present the software tool ANTONIA, which has been developed to facilitate a quantitative analysis of perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI) datasets in general as well as the subsequent multi-parametric analysis of additional datasets for the specific purpose of acute ischemic stroke patient dataset evaluation.

METHODS

Three different methods for the analysis of DSC or DCE PWI datasets are currently implemented in ANTONIA, which can be case-specifically selected based on the study protocol. These methods comprise a curve fitting method as well as a deconvolution-based and deconvolution-free method integrating a previously defined arterial input function. The perfusion analysis is extended for the purpose of acute ischemic stroke analysis by additional methods that enable an automatic atlas-based selection of the arterial input function, an analysis of the perfusion-diffusion and DWI-FLAIR mismatch as well as segmentation-based volumetric analyses.

RESULTS

For reliability evaluation, the described software tool was used by two observers for quantitative analysis of 15 datasets from acute ischemic stroke patients to extract the acute lesion core volume, FLAIR ratio, perfusion-diffusion mismatch volume with manually as well as automatically selected arterial input functions, and follow-up lesion volume. The results of this evaluation revealed that the described software tool leads to highly reproducible results for all parameters if the automatic arterial input function selection method is used.

CONCLUSION

Due to the broad selection of processing methods that are available in the software tool, ANTONIA is especially helpful to support image-based perfusion and acute ischemic stroke research projects.

Differential expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in healthy and diseased human gingiva

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated signaling in host cells involves Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) accessory molecules, including LPS-binding protein (LBP), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) and lymphocyte antigen 96 (MD-2). However, expression of these innate defense molecules in various compartments of the human periodontium is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of TLR4 in human gingiva.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Human gingival biopsies were collected from healthy gingival or chronic periodontitis tissue. Primary gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts were cultured. Immunohistochemical analysis for TLR4 was performed. Transcripts of TLR4, MD-2, CD14 and LBP, and their protein products, were examined using RT-PCR, immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. The interactions between these molecules in keratinocytes and fibroblasts were investigated by co-immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

TLR4 immunoreactivity was found in healthy gingival epithelium and periodontitis tissue, and appeared to be lower in junctional epithelium ( p ≤ 0.01). Fibroblasts and inflammatory cells stained more strongly for TLR4 in diseased periodontal tissues (p < 0.001). Three TLR4 splicing variants, two MD-2 splicing variants and one CD14 mRNA were expressed by gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Expression of TLR4, CD14 and MD-2 proteins was detected in keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. TLR4 protein from gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts could be co-immunoprecipitated with CD14 or MD-2, suggesting an association between the related molecules in vivo. LBP transcript was detected in gingival biopsies, but not in primary cultures of gingival keratinocytes or fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

TLR4, CD14 and MD-2, but not LBP, are expressed in human gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The TLR4 expression level in the junctional epithelium appeared to be lowest within the periodontal epithelial barrier.

Chronic urticaria in Chinese population: a hospital-based multicenter epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

The epidemiologic profiles of chronic urticaria (CU) vary considerably among regions, and few such data are available from China.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter open questionnaire investigation about the clinical and laboratory features of CU, defined as recurrent wheals with/without angioedema lasting for ≥6 weeks, among 3027 patients.

RESULTS

Female preponderance was observed (female/male ratio, 1.46 : 1). The mean age at diagnosis was 34.7 ± 13.8 years, and the mean disease duration was 18.5 ± 46.1 months (range, 1.5-127 months). Patients were classified as having chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU, 61.0% of patients), physical urticaria (PU, 26.2%), or other urticaria types (OU, 2.3%). Nocturnal attacks were reported by 60% of cases. The Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) in patients with CSU was 3.8 ± 1.4. The mean Dermatology Life Quality Index was 7.3 ± 3.4 (range 0-30). Induction or exacerbation of wheals with alcohol drinking was reported by 55.7% of patients. Chronic hepatitis B was less prevalent in our CU patients compared with the general Chinese population (2.7% vs 7%). Positive autologous serum skin tests (ASSTs) were observed in 66.9% of patients. Patients with positive ASST had higher UAS, greater angioedema frequencies, longer disease durations, and poorer QoL compared with patients with negative ASST (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this Chinese population, CU usually affected youth, and CSU was the most common subtype. Autoreactivity and alcohol consumption were the top two triggers for CU, whereas latent infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases were not as common as in previous reports.

Identified differently expressed genes in renal cell carcinoma by using multiple microarray datasets running head: differently expressed genes in renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes and analysis biological processes related to renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed using the Rank Product package of Gene Expression Omnibus datasets of renal cell carcinoma. Then Gene Ontology enrichment analyses and pathway analysis were performed based on Gene Ontology website and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Protein-protein interaction network was constructed used Cytoscape software.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 1992 differentially expressed genes Rank Product package of renal cell carcinoma, 840 of them were not involved in individual DEGs. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses showed that those 840 genes enriched in terms such as response to hormone stimulus, endogenous stimulus, biological adhesion, and cell proliferation. Pathway analysis showed that significant pathways included pyruvate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, complement and coagulation cascades and so on. Protein-protein interaction network indicated that MT2A, MYC, CENPF and NEK2 has high degree which participated many interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study displayed genes that were consistently differentially expressed in renal cell carcinoma, and the biological pathways, protein-protein interaction network associated with those genes.

TSG-6 mediates the effect of tendon derived stem cells for rotator cuff healing

BACKGROUND

Bone marrow stem cells (MSCs) were able to reduce fibrovascular tissues formation via TNF alpha-stimulated gene/protein 6 (6TSG-6) in various animal models. At the same time, tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) were able to promote rotator cuff healing; however, the mechanism is still unknown.

AIM

To investigate the role of TSG-6 in the treatment of rotator cuff healing with TDSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

45 rats underwent unilateral detachment and repair of the supraspinatus tendon. 15 animals received TDSCs in a fibrin glue carrier(Group A), 15 received TSG-6 silenced TDSCs (Group B), and 15 received fibrin glue for control (Group C). Animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and evaluated for the biomechanical testing. Statistical analysis was performed with an independent t test with significance set at p = 0.05.

RESULTS

The ultimate stress was greater in the TDSCs group (4.91 ± 1.41 N/mm(2)) as compared with the Control group (2.99 ± 1.04 N/mm(2)) (p < 0.05). However, when silent the expression of TSG-6, the TSG-6 silenced group (3.36 ± 0.96 N/mm(2)) showed no benefit over the control group (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS

TSG-6 mediates the function of TDSCs to improve the structure and the attachment strength of the healing tendon-bone interface.

Interaction relationships of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis related genes

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA), also referred to as degenerative joint disease or wear-and-tear arthritis, is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. RA is also classified as a kind of autoimmune disease.

AIM

To find the important genes in RA and OA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Comprehensively compared 3 datasets of RA with 2 datasets of OA, 98 genes were sifted. We explored protein-protein associations processed for the 98 genes by mining famous gene/protein interaction/association database.

RESULTS

We found most of those genes appear to play a key role in the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research would play a useful role in the diagnosis and treatment of OA and RA.

Dental Findings and Identification of Undiagnosed Hyperglycemia

A change in the American Diabetes Association guidelines added hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to the assays for diabetes diagnosis, but evidence suggests that glucose vs. HbA1c criteria may identify different segments of the affected population. We previously demonstrated that oral findings offer an opportunity for the detection of undiagnosed abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) among dental patients who present with diabetes risk factors. In this new cross-sectional study, we sought to extend these observations. The first goal, using data from 591 new participants, was to assess our previously identified hyperglycemia detection models when HbA1c is used for case definition. The second goal, using data from our total cohort of 1,097 participants, was to evaluate the models’ performance regardless of whether an FPG or an HbA1c is used for diagnosis. The presence of ≥ 26% teeth with deep pockets or ≥ 4 missing teeth correctly identified 72% of pre-diabetes or diabetes cases in the HbA1c sample and 75% in the total population. The addition of a point-of-care HbA1c ≥ 5.7% increased correct identification to 87% and 90%, respectively. These results demonstrate the validity of our prediction models regardless of the test used for diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis in the clinical setting and underscore the contribution dentists can make.

Comparison of 10 TTP and Tmax estimation techniques for MR perfusion-diffusion mismatch quantification in acute stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The mismatch between lesions identified in perfusion- and diffusion-weighted MR imaging is typically used to identify tissue at risk of infarction in acute stroke. The purpose of this study was to analyze the variability of mismatch volumes resulting from different time-to-peak or time-to-maximum estimation techniques used for hypoperfused tissue definition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of 50 patients with middle cerebral artery stroke and intracranial vessel occlusion imaged within 6 hours of symptom onset were analyzed. Therefore, 10 different TTP/Tmax techniques and delay thresholds between +2 and +12 seconds were used for calculation of perfusion lesions. Diffusion lesions were semiautomatically segmented and used for mismatch quantification after registration.

RESULTS

Mean volumetric differences up to 40 and 100 mL in individual patients were found between the mismatch volumes calculated by the 10 TTP/Tmax estimation techniques for typically used delay thresholds. The application of typical criteria for the identification of patients with a clinically relevant mismatch volume resulted in different mismatch classifications in ≤24% of all cases, depending on the TTP/Tmax estimation method used.

CONCLUSIONS

High variations of tissue-at-risk volumes have to be expected when using different TTP/Tmax estimation techniques. An adaption of different techniques by using correction formulas may enable more comparable study results until a standard has been established by agreement.

Diastematomyelia: a retrospective review of 138 patients

Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital abnormality of the spinal cord. This paper summarises more than 30 years' experience of treating this condition. Data were collected retrospectively on 138 patients with diastematomyelia (34 males, 104 females) who were treated at our hospital from May 1978 to April 2010. A total of 106 patients had double dural tubes (type 1 diastematomyelia), and 32 patients had single dural tubes (type 2 diastematomyelia). Radiographs, CT myelography, and MRI showed characteristic kyphoscoliosis, widening of the interpedicle distance, and bony, cartilaginous, and fibrous septum. The incidences of symptoms including characteristic changes of the dorsal skin, neurological disorders, and congenital spinal or foot deformity were significantly higher in type 1 than in type 2. Surgery is more effective for patients with type 1 diastematomyelia; patients without surgery showed no improvement.

Suppressed miR-424 expression via upregulation of target gene Chk1 contributes to the progression of cervical cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as important gene regulators in human genomes and their aberrant expression links to many malignancies. We previously identified a different characteristic miRNA expression profile in cervical cancer from that in cervical normal tissues, including the downregulated miR-424. However, the role and mechanism of miR-424 in cervical cancer still remain unknown. Here, we focused on identifying the tumor-suppressive function and clinical significance of miR-424 and exploring the mechanistic relevance by characterizing its target. We showed a significantly decreased expression of miR-424 in 147 cervical cancer tissues versus 74 cervical normal tissues by performing quantitative RT-PCR. In 147 cervical cancer tissue samples, low-level expression of miR-424 was positively correlated with poor tumor differentiation, advanced clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and other poor prognostic clinicopathological parameters. Further in vitro observations showed that enforced expression of miR-424 inhibited cell growth by both enhancing apoptosis and blocking G1/S transition, and suppressed cell migration and invasion in two human cervical cancer cell lines, SiHa and CaSki, implying that miR-424 functions as a tumor suppressor in the progression of cervical cancer. Interestingly, overexpression of miR-424 inhibited the expression of protein checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) and phosphorylated Chk1 (p-Chk1) at residues Ser345 and decreased the activity of luciferase-reporter containing the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of Chk1 with predicted miR-424-binding site. Moreover, miR-424 expression levels were inversely correlated with Chk1 and p-Chk1 protein levels in both cervical cancer and normal tissues. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated knockdown of Chk1 decreased matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression and phenocopied the tumor suppressive effects of miR-424 in cell models. Taken together, our results identify a crucial tumor suppressive role of miR-424 in the progression of cervical cancer at least partly via upreglating the expression of Chk1 and p-Chk1, and suggest that miR-424 might be a candidate of prognostic predictor or an anticancer therapeutic target for cervical cancer patients.

Evaluating acute medical admissions through emergency departments in Hong Kong: can one adjust for case-mix variation?

BACKGROUND

Healthcare systems are under pressure to efficiently and safely reduce acute care admissions to hospital. There is a need to develop a standardised system for assessing emergency department performance which takes into account case-mix variation. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a standardised tool for assessing variations in medical admissions through emergency departments in Hong Kong.

METHODS

Retrospective study of patients attending emergency departments of 14 acute hospitals in Hong Kong. Data were retrieved from a centralised administrative database.

RESULTS

Of 2,531,225 patients who attended emergency departments between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2003, 780,444 (30.8%) were admitted to medical wards. A model derived from 2001 data shows well-calibrated admission probabilities, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for probability of admission of 90.3 (95% CI ±0.11). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for 2002 and 2003 validation sets were 89.9 (95% CI ±0.11) and 89.0 (95% CI ±0.12), respectively. With an averaged benchmark, reductions in medical admissions of up to 19% could be achieved, while under the most optimistic assumption, reductions of up 36% could be achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

A tool for benchmarking hospital medical admissions and minimising case-mix variation has been derived and validated in Hong Kong, but it requires further validation in other healthcare systems given the wide variations in admission thresholds internationally. This may be used as one potential method to evaluate the performance of emergency departments against a common standard.