[The effect of deep neuromuscular block combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal surgery]

Objective: To investigate the effect of deep neuromuscular blockade (DNMB) combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and twenty patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups by random number table method. Moderate neuromuscular blockade [train of four stimulations count (TOFC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the control group (group C, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 15 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). DNMB [post-tonic stimulation count (PTC)=1-2] was maintained in patients of the DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressuregroup (group D, n=60) and pneumoperitoneum pressure level was set at 10 mmHg. The primary measurement was incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1 h after surgery. The secondary measurements the included incidence of moderate to severe pain at 1, 2, 3, 5 d and 3 months after surgery, the incidence of rescue analgesic drug use, the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, surgical rating scale (SRS) score, the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular block, postoperative recovery [evaluated with length of post anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery and length of hospital stay] and postoperative inflammation conditions [evaluated with serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 at 1 d and 3 d after surgery]. Results: The incidence of moderate to severe pain in group D 1 h after surgery was 13.3% (8/60), lower than 30.0% (18/60) of group C (P<0.05). The incidence of rescue analgesia in group D at 1 h and 1 d after surgery were 13.3% (8/60) and 4.2% (5/120), respectively, lower than 30.0% (18/60) and 12.5% (15/120) of group C (both P<0.05). The IL-1β level in group D was (4.1±1.8)ng/L at 1 d after surgery, which was lower than (4.9±2.6) ng/L of group C (P=0.048). The IL-6 level in group D was (2.0±0.7)ng/L at 3 d after surgery, which was lower than (2.4±1.1) ng/L of group C (P=0.018). There was no significant difference in the doses of sufentanil in analgesic pumps, intraoperative SRS score, incidence of neuromuscular block residue, time spent in PACU, time of first exhaust and defecation after surgery, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and length of hospitalization between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: DNMB combined with low pneumoperitoneum pressure anesthesia strategy alleviates the early-stage pain in patients after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Discovery of five new species of Allacta from Yunnan and Hainan, China (Blattodea, Pseudophyllodromiidae)

We examined new Allacta materials from Yunnan and Hainan Province, China, and discovered new species using both morphological and molecular species delimitation (ABGD) methods. Five new species are described: A.bifolium Li & Wang, sp. nov., A.hemiptera Li & Wang, sp. nov., A.lunulara Li & Wang, sp. nov., A.redacta Li & Wang, sp. nov., and A.unicaudata Li & Wang, sp. nov. All five species are placed under the hamifera species group. An updated key and checklist of Allacta species from China are provided.

[Effect of a novel pH-responsive tertiary amine monomer dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate modified resin adhesive on biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei in vitro]

Objective: To explore the application prospect of a new pH-responsive tertiary amine monomer dodecylmethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEM) modified resin adhesive (DMAEM@RA) in the prevention and treatment of secondary caries. Methods: Five percents DMAEM was added to the resin adhesive to synthesize DMAEM@RA for modifying. Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Lactobacillus casei (Lc) biofilms were cultured on resin adhesive and DMAEM@RA, respectively. The culture systems were set up at pH=7.4, 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0. The antimicrobial activity of DMAEM@RA was evaluated by quantitative PCR. The effects of DMAEM@RA on biofilm thickness, bacterial amount, and extracellular polysaccharides were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and extracellular polysaccharide staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to study the effect of DMAEM@RA on the expression levels of cariogenic genes in Sm. Results: DMAEM@RA could significantly reduce the amount of Sm and Lc under acidic conditions, especially Lc. At pH=5.0, the logarithm value of co-cultured Sm bacteria [lg (CFU/ml)] in DMAEM@RA group (7.58±0.01) was significantly lower than that in control group (7.87±0.03) (t=14.32, P<0.001), and the logarithm value of Lc bacteria [lg (CFU/ml)] (7.29±0.04) was also significantly lower than that in control group (7.93±0.15) (t=6.93, P=0.002). SEM observed that the bacteria decreased and the cell fragments appeared in DMAEM@RA group. In addition, DMAEM@RA significantly reduced the biomass of extracellular polysaccharides in the dual-species biofilm under acidic conditions. At pH=5.0, the biomass of extracellular polysaccharides in DMAEM@RA group [(25.13±3.14) mm3/mm2] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(42.66±7.46) mm3/mm2] (t=3.75, P=0.020). DMAEM@RA could significantly up-regulate the expressions of gtfB and gtfC genes in Sm under acidic conditions. At pH=5.0, gtfB and gtfC genes were significantly up-regulated by (14.64± 0.44) times and (2.99±0.20) times, respectively (t=-42.74, P<0.001; t=-13.55, P<0.001). Conclusions: The DMAEM@RA has a good antibacterial effect under acidic conditions, demonstrating that it has a good potential to prevent the occurrence and development of secondary caries.

Phylogenetic analysis of Blaberoidea reveals non-monophyly of taxa and supports the creation of multiple new subfamilies

The superfamily Blaberoidea is a highly species-rich group of cockroaches. High-level blaberoidean phylogenetics are still under debate owing to variable taxon sampling and incongruence between mitochondrial and nuclear evolution, as well as different methods used in various phylogenetic studies. We here present a phylogenetic analysis of Blaberoidea based on a dataset combining the mitochondrial genome with two nuclear markers from representatives of all recognized families within the superfamily. Our results support the monophyly of Blaberiodea, which includes Ectobiidae s.s. (=Ectobiinae), Pseudophyllodromiidae, Nyctiboridae, Blattellidae s.s. (=Blattellinae) and Blaberidae. Ectobiidae s.s. was recovered as sister to the remaining Blaberoidea in all inferences. Pseudophyllodromiidae was paraphyletic with respect to Anaplectoidea + Malaccina. Blattellidae s.s. excluding Anaplectoidea + Malaccina formed a monophyletic group that was sister to Blaberidae. Based on our results, we propose a revised classification for Blaberoidea: Anaplectoidinae subfam.nov. and Episorineuchora gen.nov., and two new combinations at species level within Pseudophyllodromiidae; Rhabdoblattellinae subfam.nov., Calolamprodinae subfam.nov., Acutirhabdoblatta gen.nov., as well as new combinations for three species within Blaberidae. Ancestral state reconstructions based on four morphological characters allow us to infer that the common ancestor of blaberoid cockroaches is likely to be a species with characteristics similar to those found in Ectobiidae, that is, front femur Type B, arolium present, abdomen with a visible gland and male genital hook on the left side.

[Analysis of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder carcinoma]

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of 197 gallbladder carcinoma patients admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and September 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 86 males and 111 females,with age of (64.4±9.8)years(range:35 to 89 years). Patients were divided into laparoscopic group(n=53) and open group(n=144) according to different surgical methods. The general information of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and the clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were analyzed using χ2 test or Fisher's exact test,as appropriate. Continuous variables with and without normal distribution were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test,respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves with Log-rank test were used to analyze the cumulative survival rates. Results: Forty-eight pairs of patients were matched successfully. There was no difference in general information,cholecystolithiasis,partial hepatectomy,and tumor stage between two groups(all P>0.05). The laparoscopic group had shorter operation time(t=-3.987,P<0.01),less bleeding(Z=-4.862,P<0.01),shorter total(Z=-5.009,P<0.01) and postoperative(Z=-5.412,P<0.01) hospital stay. Seventeen patients had postoperative complications. According to the Clavien-Dindo system,there were 4,11,1,and 1 patient with grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,and Ⅲb,respectively. All complications were improved after active treatment. After a median follow-up of 24(36) months(range:3 to 130 months),56 patients(58.3%) survived without tumor,7 patients(7.3%) survived with tumor,and 33 patients(34.4%) died. According to the Kaplan-Meier curves,there was no significant difference between laparoscopic and open groups in disease free(χ2=0.399,P=0.528) and overall(χ2=0.672,P=0.412) survival rates. Conclusions: The laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in selected patients with gallbladder carcinoma. It can reduce surgical trauma and enhance patient recovery without increasing complication. Its prognosis is similar to that of open surgery.

[Double-edged sword of opioids in the treatment of cancer pain: hyperalgesia]

Hyperalgesia is an occult complication during the treatment of cancer pain, not only related to opioids, but also pertaining to the tumor itself and cancer therapeutic drugs. Yet it is often ignored by clinicians. Patients with cancer pain who were treated with opioids often have sensory abnormalities presented with reduced pain threshold and increased sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli. This phenomenon is clinically called opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). However, due to the complexity of pathogenesis and the lack of clinical diagnostic criteria, the pain management of cancer patients is still facing great challenges. Therefore, this article focuses on the clinical diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of hyperalgesia related to cancer pain treatment, in order to provide a basis for optimal use of opioids in the future.

[Application of enhanced recovery after surgery in perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 69 males(42.1%) and 95 females(57.9%),with age of (64.0±10.3) years(range:37 to 89 years). Patients were divided into ERAS group(n=53) and normal group(n=111) according to whether they were treated with ERAS measures during the perioperative period.The basic characteristics of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and then the perioperative information was compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were presented as absolute numbers or frequencies. Differences between study groups were analyzed using χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, or Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate. Results: Each group had 45 patients after propensity score matching with well-balanced basic characteristics. There was no difference in basic characteristics, operation time,bleeding,complication,and hospitalization expenses between two groups(all P>0.05). Compared with the normal group,time of ambulation (M(IQR)) (1(1) day vs. 2(2) days;Z=-3.839,P<0.01),postoperative anal exhaust time (2(1) days vs. 3(1) days;Z=-3.013,P=0.003),feeding time(2(1) days vs. 2(1) days;Z=-3.647,P<0.01),postoperative (5(2) days vs. 7(4) days;Z=-3.984,P<0.01) and total(8(4) days vs. 13(6) days;Z=-3.605,P<0.01) hospitalization time were shorter in ERAS group. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification,6,4,and 2 patients were classified as grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲa,respectively. Conclusion: The ERAS measures is safe and effective for perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma, enhancing patient recovery and shortening hospitalization time without increasing complication or hospitalization cost.

[Safety and efficacy of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement with LuX-Valve in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation]

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LuX-Valve on the treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods: This is a prospective observational study. From September 2018 to March 2019, 12 patients with severe TR, who were not suitable for surgery, received LuX-Valve implantation in Changhai Hospital. LuX-Valve was implanted under general anesthesia and the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and X-ray fluoroscopy. Access to the tricuspid valve was achieved via a minimally invasive thoracotomy and transatrial approach. Main endpoints were surgery success and device success. Surgery success was defined as successful implanting the device and withdrawing the delivery system, positioning the valve correctly and stably without severe or life-threatening adverse events. Device success was defined as satisfied valve function (TR severity reduction ≥ 2 grades, tricuspid gradient ≤ 6 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)), absence of malposition, valve failure and reintervention, major adverse events including device related mortality, embolization, conduction system disturbances and new onset shunt across ventricular septum at day 30 post implantation. Results: A total of 12 patients with severe to torrential TR were included in this study. The age was (68.5±6.9) years and 7 were female. All patients had typical right heart failure symptoms. Procedural success was achieved in all cases, there was no intraprocedural mortality or transfer to open surgery. TR significantly improved after LuX-Valve implantation (none/trivial in 8 patients, mild in 3 patients and moderate in 1 patient). The average device time was (9.2±4.2) minutes. Intensive care unit duration was 3.0 (2.0, 4.8) days. One patient died at postoperative day 18 due to non-surgery and device reasons. Transthoracic echocardiography at 30 days after operation showed that TR was significantly reduced (none/trivial in 8 patients, mild in 2 patients and moderate in 1 patient) and device success was achieved in 11 cases. All survived patients experienced a significant improvement in life quality with significantly improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification (Ⅰ and Ⅱ: 6/11 post operation vs. 0/11 before operation, P=0.012) and there were no device related complications in this patient cohort. Conclusions: LuX-Valve implantation is feasible, safe and effective for the treatment of patients with severe TR.

[Progress in gastric cancer with positive peritoneal cytology]

Gastric cancer with positive peritoneal cytology is a hotspot in the study of gastric cancer, and its prognosis is poor. Intraperitoneal free cancer cells may be associated with cancer cells migration, invasion and metastasis. Tumor T stage, peritoneal metastasis, lymph node metastasis, low histological differentiation, linitis plastica, adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, and operation are the clinicopathological risk factors of gastric cancer with positive peritoneal cytology. Currently, the acquisition of free cancer cells is mainly through diagnostic laparoscopy combined with peritoneal lavage, and cytopathological examination is gold standard for diagnosis. Its treatment strategies are not in consensus, including preoperative chemotherapy combined with radical resection, postoperative chemotherapy and peritoneal local treatment, which can prolong the survival of patients. At present, postoperative chemotherapy is often used in China, and the best treatment strategies remain to be further studied.

[A new strategy for non-invasive diagnosis of liver diseases: DSA-FACE technology based-glycomics method]

Chronic liver disease has gradually become a serious health problem worldwide. Liver biopsy is the current gold standard to assess liver lesions; however, it is an invasive procedure that may cause severe complications. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an economical and rapid non-invasive detection method that can be used in clinic for diagnosis. In the past decade, protein glycosylation has become a research hotspot, and the concept of changes in serum proteoglycans structure has gradually been accepted by many researchers as an indication of liver injury. At the same time, N-linked glycans via DNA sequencing equipment-Fluorophore Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis (DSA-FACE) has also brought high sensitivity and specificity diagnostic models (GlycoHepatoTest) for various chronic liver diseases, which is a new strategy for non-invasive diagnosis of liver diseases.

[Analysis of key genes and signal pathways of human papilloma virus-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To explore differentially expressed genes (DEG) and pathways between human papilloma virus (HPV) positive and negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to search gene targets for diagnosis and treatment of HPV-related HNSCC. Methods: HPV-related HNSCC expression profile chips of GSE3292 (including 8 HPV-positive and 28 HPV-negative HNSCC tissues, of which 15 collected from oral cavity cancer, 9 from oropharyngeal cancer, 9 from laryngeal cancer and 3 from hypopharyngeal cancer) were selected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database of National Center for Biotechnology Information and DEG were screened out using Gene-Cloud of Biotechnology Informs (GCBI). Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed using DAVID and protein-to-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING. Hub genes were identified by Cytoscape and then performed pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, expression differences of hub genes in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database were checked using UALCAN. Results: Five hundred and seventy-three DEG were screened out from more than 25 000 genes detected in the chips including 539 up-regulated genes and 34 down regulated ones. Twenty-seven hub genes including cyclin-dependent kinases 1(CDK1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCM) family (MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 and MCM7), replication factor C subunit 4 (RFC4) and kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) were identified after two rounds of Cytoscape screening. Gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that DEG were mainly distributed in chromosome, nucleoplasm, nuclear lumen and membrane-enclosed lumen and participated in biological processes such as DNA replication, DNA metabolism, cell cycle and cell division, and also 6 major signaling pathways centered on p53 signaling pathway （P<0.01）. All hub genes were expressed differently between HPV-positive and negative HNSCC in TCGA database（P<0.01）. Conclusions: Hub genes including CDK1, PCNA, MCM family (MCM2, MCM3, MCM6 and MCM7) act as an important part on HPV-induced HNSCC and the p53 pathway is the key of this process and plays different regulatory roles between two subtypes of HNSCC. CDK1, MCM7 and RFC4 are expected to be potential treatment targets for HPV-positive HNSCC while MCM2, MCM3, PCNA and KIF11 may be employed as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Bioconversion of Hg0 into HA-Hg for simultaneous removal of Hg0 and NO in a denitrifying membrane biofilm reactor

Bacterial mercury oxidation coupled to denitrification offers great potential for simultaneous removal of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) and nitric oxide (NO) in a denitrifying membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). Four potentially contributory mechanisms tested separately, namely, membrane gas separation, medium absorption, biosorption and biotransformation, which contributed 4.9%/7.2%, 8.1%/8.9%, 38.8%/9.5% and 48.2%/84.9% of overall Hg⁰/NO removal in MBfR. Herein, Hg⁰ bio-oxidation, oxidative Hg⁰ biosorption and denitrification played leading roles in simultaneous removal of Hg⁰ and NO. Living microbes performed simultaneous Hg⁰ bio-oxidation and denitrification, in which Hg⁰ as electron donor was biologically oxidized to oxidized mercury (Hg²⁺), while NO as the terminal electron acceptor was denitrified to N₂. The Hg²⁺ further complexed with humic acids in extracellular polymeric substances via functional groups (-SH, -OH, -NH^- and -COO^-) and formed humic acids bound mercury (HA-Hg). Non-living microbial matrix performed oxidative Hg⁰ biosorption, in which Hg⁰ may be physically adsorbed by cellular matrix, then non-metabolically oxidized to Hg²⁺ via oxidative complexation with -SH in humic acids and finally cleavage of S-H bond and surface charge transfer led to formation of HA-Hg. Therefore, bioconversion of Hg⁰ to HA-Hg by Hg⁰ bio-oxidation and oxidative Hg⁰ biosorption coupled with NO denitrification to N₂ dynamically cooperated to accomplish simultaneous removal of Hg⁰ and NO in MBfR.

Photocatalytic membrane combined with biodegradation for toluene oxidation

Photocatalytic membrane coupled to biodegradation offers potential for degrading volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in photocatalytic membrane biofilm reactor. An intimately coupled photocatalysis and biodegradation reactor was operated in continuous operation for 500 days to treat simulated waste gas containing toluene. Toluene removal efficiency obtained 99%, with the elimination capacity of 550 g m^-3·h^-1. Membrane photocatalysis coupled to biodegradation was created to improve toluene removal from 11 to 20%. The dominant genera were Lysinibacillus, Hydrogenophaga, Pseudomonas at 30 d, Rudaea, Dongia, Litorilinea at 230 d xyl, Tod, Tcb, Bed, Tmo, Tbu, Tou, Dmp, Cat were functional genes of toluene metabolism, as shown by16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing. Photocatalysis destroyed part of the toluene into biodegradable intermediates that were immediately mineralized by microorganisms in biofilm, some toluene was directly degraded by toluene degrading bacterial community into carbon dioxide and water. The novel hybrid photocatalytic membrane biofilm reactor is a cost-effective and robust alternative to VOCs treatment.

[Paying attention to the diagnosis and treatment of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis]

IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is characterized by biliary strictures and obstructive jaundice.Elevated levels of serum IgG4 and a multifocal IgG4-rich lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of affected organs are also the characteristics of IgG4-SC. Prednisone is recommended in the initial treatment of IgG4-SC. The differential diagnosis between IgG4-SC and cholangiocarcinoma is not easy. Comprehensively collection of medical history, paying attention to other organs involvement, and getting the pathologic diagnosis are important for diagnosis of this disease. In order to prevent misdiagnosis we should learn more about IgG4-SC. On the other hand, if we can not differentiate IgG4-SC and cholangiocarcinoma, operation may be recommended.

Simultaneous mercury oxidation and NO reduction in a membrane biofilm reactor

This work demonstrates bacterial oxidation of mercury (Hg⁰) coupled to nitric oxide (NO) reduction in a denitrifying membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). In 93 days' operation, Hg⁰ and NO removal efficiency attained 90.7% and 74.1%, respectively. Thauera, Pseudomonas, Paracoccus and Pannonibacter played dual roles as Hg⁰ oxidizers and denitrifiers simultaneously. Denitrifying bacteria and the potential mercury resistant bacteria dominated the bacterial community. Denitrification-related genes (norB, norC, norD, norE, norQ and norV) and enzymatic Hg⁰ oxidation-related genes (katG, katE) were responsible for bacterial oxidation of Hg⁰ and NO reduction, as shown by metagenomic sequencing. XPS, HPLC-ICP-MS and SEM-EDS indicated the formation of a stable mercuric species (Hg²⁺) reasulting from Hg⁰ oxidation in the biofilm. Bacterial oxidation of Hg⁰ was coupled to NO reduction in which Hg⁰ served as the initial electron donor while NO served as the terminal electron acceptor and thereby redox between Hg⁰ and NO was formed. MBfR was capable of both Hg⁰ bio-oxidation and denitrifying NO reduction. This research opens up new possibilities for application of MBfR to simultaneous flue gas demercuration and denitration.

Biosorption of lead(II) from aqueous solution by lactic acid bacteria

The biosorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus brevis, was studied. The effects of initial pH, contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, bacterial concentration, rotation speed and temperature of biosorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions were investigated. The optimal condition for Pb²⁺ ions adsorption was observed at pH 6, with the rotational speed of 120 rpm.min^-1, bacterial concentration of 3 g.L^-1, temperature of 40 °C and contact time of 12 h. The correlation regression coefficients showed that the biosorption process can be well fitted with the Redlich-Peterson, Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The equilibrium adsorption capacity reached 53.632 mg.g^-1. Binding energy value was 0.264 kJ/mol, which indicated that the adsorption process seemed to involve chemisorption and physisorption. Kinetics of adsorption was found to fit well with the pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic equations. Thermodynamic parameters revealed the feasibility, spontaneity and endothermic nature of adsorption.

[Analysis of the related factors of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and allergic rhinitis in children]

Objective:To investigate the association between symptom of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergic rhinitis (AR) in children with AR at different sexes and different ages. Method:A total of 439 AR children aged 6 to 12 years were enrolled in this study. Basic information (age, gender, medical history, family history and comorbidities) of children with AR was collected. Results of prick tests on children skin were recorded. (TNSS) and Chinese version of the SNAP-Ⅳ scale, children under the guidance of independent completion of children's quality of life of children with nasal conjunctivitis scale (PRQLQ). According to the results of SNAP-Ⅳ, children were divided into AR with ADHD group ［attention deficit and hyperactivity symptom score (IHS) >1.25］ and AR without ADHD group (IHS≤1.25). The differences between the two groups of children were analyzed using group t-test and χ² test, and the relationship between each parameter and IHS >1.25 was analyzed by binary logistic regression. Result:Using SPSS 22.0 software, among all the included AR children, IHS >1.25 children accounted for 26.4%, IHS >1.25 group AR symptom scores were significantly higher than HIS ≤1.25 groups. Univariate analysis showed that children with age, gender, duration of AR symptoms, skin index and PRQLQ subscales had a correlation with IHS >1.25. After controlling for age and gender, duration of AR symptoms and skin index correlated with IHS >1.25 The estimated OR values are 1.807 (95%CI: 1.350-2.419) and 1.912 (95%CI: 1.320-2.772), respectively. The estimated OR values of PRQLQ subscale and IHS >1.25 were 1.657 (nasal symptom score), 1.324 (eye symptom score), 2.48 (non-eye-nasal symptom score), 1.418 (Behavior problem score) and 2.045 (activity and sleep score). The correlation between IHS>1.25 and the skin index and PRQLQ subscales was mainly found in males with stratification of age and gender, and the association between duration of AR symptoms and HIS >1.25 was statistically significant among all groups reflected. Conclusion:The association between attention deficits and hyperactivity symptoms in AR children was correlated with the severity of AR symptoms, duration, and skin index, and this association was more pronounced in males. In children with AR and ADHD, early management of AR symptoms may improve their ADHD symptoms.

[The outcome of trial of labor after cesarean section]

Objective: To explore the outcome of trial of labor after cesarean section(TOLAC). Methods: Totally 614 TOLAC were conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from July 2013 to June 2016. Among them, 586 cases of singleton pregnancy with one prior cesarean section(gestational age≥28 weeks)were studied retrospectively. The maternal and neonatal outcomes among the vaginal birth after cesarean(VBAC)group(481 cases), failed TOLAC group(105 cases)and the elective repeat cesarean section(ERCS)group(1 145 cases)were compared. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of admission to neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Results: (1)The TOLAC rate was 29.62%(614/2 073)from July 2013 to June 2016, and the VBAC rate was 82.6%(507/614). The cesarean section rate was reduced by VBAC by 3.147%(507/16 112).(2)The comparison of adverse maternal outcomes: in the VBAC group, the postpartum hemorrhage volume was(431±299)ml, the rate of postpartum fever was 6.4%(31/481), the birth weight of the neonates was(3 085± 561)g, and the rate of large for gestational age was 2.9%(14/481). All were significantly lower than those in the failed TOLAC group and the ERCS group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other adverse maternal outcomes[the uterine rupture rate(0.2% ,1/481), the bladder injury rate(0), the proportion of postpartum hemorrhage volume≥1 500 ml(1.0%, 5/481), the blood transfusion rate(3.7%, 18/481)]and adverse perinatal outcomes[the rate of neonatal 5-minute Apgar score<7(0.4%, 21/481), the rate of umbilical arterial pH<7.0(0.6% , 3/481), the rate of the NICU admission and the perinatal mortality rate(12.3%, 59/481)]among the 3 groups(P>0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed no association between VBAC and admission to the NICU(OR=0.84, 95%CI: 0.58-1.21). The isolated risk factors for admission to the NICU were preterm birth(OR=16.71, 95% CI: 11.44-24.40), hypertensive disorder complicating pregnamcy(OR=3.89, 95% CI: 2.39-6.35), meconium stained amniotic fluid(OR=2.48, 95% CI: 1.62-3.80), small for gestational age(OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.19-3.36)and diabetes mellitus(OR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.14-2.50). Conclusions: VBAC reduces cesarean section rate, with good outcomes in both mother and neonate. It is a safe and feasible way of labor in women with only one cesarean section history.

Efficacy and safety of fosaprepitant in the prevention of nausea and vomiting following highly emetogenic chemotherapy in Chinese people: A randomized, double-blind, phase III study

The prevention of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting was one of the most challenging supportive care issues in oncology, especially to highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). A total of 645 patients were randomized into fosaprepitant group (fosaprepitant/placebo 150 mg d1 in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone) or aprepitant group (aprepitant/placebo 125 mg d1; 80 mg d2‐d3 plus granisetron and dexamethasone).The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who had a complete response (CR) over the entire treatment course (0–120 hr, overall phase [OP]). It was assessed by using a non‐inferiority model, with a non‐inferiority margin of 10%. The difference of the CR rate was compared between two groups with chi‐square analysis. Six hundred and twenty‐six patients were included in the per protocol analysis. The percentage of patients with a CR in the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that in the aprepitant group (90.85% versus 94.17%, p = .1302) during OP. Whether the cisplatin‐based chemotherapy or not, the CR rate of the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that of the aprepitant group. Both regimens were well tolerated. The most common adverse event was constipation. Fosaprepitant provided effective and well‐tolerated control of nausea and vomiting associated with HEC in Chinese patients.

Exogenous Catalase and Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Improve Survival and Regeneration and Affect Oxidative Stress in Cryopreserved Dendrobium nobile Protocorm-like Bodies

BACKGROUND

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage is responsible for viability loss in plant tissues following cryopreservation. Antioxidants may improve viability by preventing or repairing the injury.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed at studying the effect of catalase (CAT) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), which are involved in ROS metabolism and are differentially expressed during pollen cryopreservation, for cryopreservation of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. 'Hamana Lake Dream' protocorm-like bodies (PLBs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Different concentrations of exogenous CAT or PDH were added at the loading, PVS2 treatment, unloading steps during vitrification-cryopreservation of PLBs. Their survival and regeneration were evaluated and correlated with physiological oxidative indexes.

RESULTS

PLB survival increased significantly when CAT and PDH were added separately to the unloading solution at a suitable concentration. CAT at 400 U·ml^-1 increased PLB survival and regeneration by 33.5 and 14.6 percent respectively. It had no impact on the production of superoxide anion radical (·O2-) and on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but it reduced the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and enhanced ascorbic acid (AsA) and endogenous CAT levels compared to PLBs cryopreserved using the standard vitrification protocol (CK1). PDH at 0.1 U·ml^-1 significantly improved PLB survival (by 2.5 percent), but it had no marked effect on regeneration compared to the CK1 group. It induced the same variations in ·O2-, AsA and endogenous CAT levels that were observed following CAT addition. However, PDH did not affect the H₂O₂ and MDA content but significantly increased SOD activity.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the addition of 400 U·ml^-1 CAT and 0.1 U·ml^-1 PDH at the unloading step increased survival of cryopreserved PLBs and that this improvement was associated with scavenging of H₂O₂ and the repair of oxidative damage. Exogenous CAT also significantly improved PLB regeneration after cryopreservation, while PDH had no obvious effect. The effect of exogenous CAT on PLB survival and regeneration was stronger than that of PDH, which may be due to the increased SOD activity by PDH addition.

[Effect of mitochondrial apoptosis on pulmonary fibrosis in rats with severe scald injury]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of mitochondrial apoptosis on pulmonary fibrosis in rats with severe scald injury.

METHODS

According to the random digital table, a total number of 32 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: sham burn (group A), burn group (group B), 12-week post burn recovery group (group C), and 12-week post burn recovery plus a second burn injury group (group D). In group A and group B, lung tissues were harvested on post burn day 4. After received first burn injury 12 weeks, the group C and group D received separately a second sham burn injury and burn injury. Lung tissues were harvested on post burn day 4 after the second burn injury. All tissues were examined for cells apoptosis by Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl Transferase Mediated Nick End Labeling (TUNEL). Pulmonary fibrosis was assessed by Masson trichrome staining and Sirius red staining. The protein expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 were assessed by Western blot.

RESULTS

Both Masson trichrome staining and Sirius red staining showed obvious pulmonary fibrosis in group C and group D. The apoptosis rates of group B, C and D were significantly higher than that in group A ((15.50±3.30)%, (7.88±3.10)%, (15.88±3.23)% vs (2.10±1.07)%, all P<0.05). Compared to group A, cleaved Caspase-3 levels were significantly higher in group B, C and D ((0.59±0.11), (0.33±0.08), (0.73±0.13) vs (0.16±0.05), all P<0.05). The ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in group B, C and D also increased significantly ((2.08±0.30), (0.83±0.09), (1.54±0.12) vs (0.64±0.05), all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Severe burn injury can induce pulmonary fibrosis and mitochondrial apoptosis may play an important role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

[Comparative proteomics study on lung tissue in early stage of burn-blast combined injury in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To explore changes in the proteomics of lung tissue in early stage of burn-blast combined injury in rats.

METHODS

According to a random digital table, a total number of 18 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into burn-blast combined injury group (n=9) and blast injury group (n=9). Lung protein samples were collected at 6 h post injury. 2-DE was performed to separate proteins. After silver staining, the protein of differential expression were analyzed by PQ Quest and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of fight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The features of the changes of proteomics of rat lung after burn-blast combined injury were studied by biological spectrometry, protein bank and reference article analysis technique. At same time, pathologic changes of the lung were monitored after injury.

RESULTS

After removing death drain during the experiment, each group contained 8 rats and the results were analyzed statistically. Well focused and distinct 2-DE maps with good reproducibility were obtained, means of 736±47 and 782±30 protein spots were detected from the blast injury group and burn-blast combined injury group and the matching rates were 91%. From the two groups, 14 differential protein spots expressions were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS, of which 10 proteins were up-regulated and 4 proteins were down-regulated in burn-blast combined injury group. 12 different expression proteins were identified in the lung through 2-DE, mass spectrometry and protein date base, including heat shock 27 protein 1, heat shock 70 protein 1, carbonic anhydrase 2, cytochrome c oxidase, ATP synthase subunit alpha, Ca(2+) -transporting ATPase et al, which took part in stress reaction, metabolism, immune response and cytoskeleton.

CONCLUSIONS

Burn-blast combined injury could induce dramatically changes of proteomics in lung tissue at early stage. The mechanism probably involves several proteins associated with oxidative stress, energy metabolism, immune response and cytoskeleton.

Hydroxycamptothecin shows antitumor efficacy on HeLa cells via autophagy activation mediated apoptosis in cervical cancer

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect and the mechanism of anti-tumor agent hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) on HeLa cells in cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Autophagy and apoptosis were detected by western blotting and the transfection of GFP-LC3 shRNA as well as Hoechst staining.

RESULTS

The authors found that the expression of the regulators of Beclin-1, p62, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) upregulated and then triggered the occurrence of cell autophagy. On the other hand, HCPT could induce to the formation of autophagy and resulted in cell apoptosis after autophagy.

CONCLUSION

HCPT can alter cell autophagy and then trigger cell apoptosis to achieve antitumor effects.

In vitro wear testing of a contemporary design of reverse shoulder prosthesis

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is an increasingly common surgical intervention. However there are concerns and known limitations in relation to such joint replacement, while novel designs of reverse shoulder prostheses continue to appear on the market. Many claim to offer improvements over older designs but such assertions are difficult to validate when there is no consensus as to how such implants should be tested in vitro or even if such testing is necessary. In order to permit appropriate in vitro testing of reverse shoulder prostheses a unique, multi-station test rig was designed which was capable of applying motion in three axes to test prostheses. The shoulder simulator can apply up to 110° of motion in the flexion-extension and abduction-adduction axes and up to 90° in the internal-external rotation axis. Dynamic loading of up to 1500 N can be provided. The simulator is computer controlled so that the motions and loading associated with particular activities of daily living can be applied. A 4.5 million cycle wear test of commercially available reverse shoulder prostheses was undertaken using a 'mug to mouth' activity of daily living. Gravimetric analysis was used to characterise wear. After 4.5 million cycles of 'mug to mouth', the average wear rate of the test components was 14.3mm(3)/million cycles. Polyethylene test components showed a reduction in roughness and the median wear particle diameter was 167 nm. A three axis shoulder simulator has been designed and used to successfully test multiple samples of a commercially available reverse shoulder prosthesis.

Early third trimester maternal response to glucose challenge and pregnancy outcome in Chinese women-relationship between upper distribution level and recommended diagnostic criteria

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between upper distribution levels of glucose values in the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and recommended diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

The distribution of the OGTT 2-h values of 13,501 pregnant women, which were below the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold for overt diabetes mellitus (DM), and managed in one teaching hospital in China, was reviewed and related to maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

For the entire group, the 90th and 95th percentile values of the OGTT 2-h glucose level, respectively, were close to the diagnostic cutoff values of the WHO and International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. For adverse maternal outcomes, glucose level above the 90th percentile value was associated with increased hypertensive disorders, whereas no difference was seen with cutoff using the 95th percentile value. For perinatal outcomes, the 90th percentile was associated with increased neonatal intensive care unit admission and hypoglycemia, whereas the 95th percentile showed in addition association with phototherapy for jaundice and 5th-minute Apgar score <7. Although no differences in the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes were found using the different cutoffs, the >95th percentile cutoff value would have missed out 33.3-56.7% of the cases of adverse outcomes that would otherwise have been attributed to GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are warranted to clarify which diagnostic criterion is most appropriate universally to identify adverse pregnancy outcomes attributed to GDM, and which could be mitigated with treatment specific for GDM.

p21-activated kinase 4 regulation of endometrial cancer cell migration and invasion involves the ERK1/2 pathway mediated MMP-2 secretion

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Patients with metastatic disease have a poor prognosis. So far, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of EC metastasis are largely unknown. P21-activated kinase 4 (Pak4) is important in cell motility and oncogenesis. Here we investigated a role of Pak4 in EC cell migration and invasion. Pak4 overexpression was observed in multiple human EC cell lines. In clinical samples, expression of total and phosphorylated Pak4 (Pak4 and p-Pak4, respectively) increased significantly with progression of EC from normal tissue to lymph node metastasis; both were positively correlated with depth of myometrial and vascular space invasion, lymph nodes metastasis, and poor histological differentiation. In two human EC cell lines, Pak4 overexpression promoted cell migration and invasion in vitro. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated stable knockdown of Pak4 inhibited the metastatic potential of EC in an ERK1/2-MMP-2-dependent manner. These results suggest that Pak4 is an important regulator of EC cell migration and invasion. Therefore, Pak4 may be a promising target for the treatment of metastatic EC.

A coupled oscillatory model mimicking avian circadian regulatory systems

Much evidence indicates that the pineal gland and thesuprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are the primary pacemakers in the housesparrow, Passer domesticus. The interactions between the pineal andSCN predicted by the neuroendocrine loop model indicates that uncouplingwould cause the two oscillators to damp out in constant darkness. Basedupon the original neuroendocrine loop model, a mathematical frameworkof the house sparrow circadian regulatory organization that incorporatesdamping and co-inhibitory coupling has been formulated. The proposedmodel clearly indicates that two coupled oscillators must be 180(°)out of the phase for sustaining oscillations. From damping coefficients,which can be determined from experimental data, other parameters suchas external stimuli (interaction coefficient) and characteristicfrequencies can then be computed. Based upon earlier studies and simulations,we conclude that the sparrow pineal gland dampens more rapidly than does theSCN, suggesting that the SCN are probably more important in sparrowsthan previously thought. The model also provides the explanations ofendogenous circadian period (tau) alteration. Finally, we extend this modelto other avian and to mammalian circadian systems. We suggest that avianand mammalian circadian systems may differ in damping coefficients ofpineal glands and the degree of SCN dominance.

Changes in total soluble proteins and Ca2+ upon cryopreservation of Prunus mume pollen

Mei Flowers (Prunus mume) are traditional Chinese ornamental plants. Fifty-one Mei cultivars have been conserved in a pollen cryobank since 2003. We used two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) of total soluble proteins and flow cytometric detection of Ca2+ fluorescence to probe changes in pollen grains before and after cryopreservation. Results indicated that: (1) electrophoresis maps of total soluble proteins before and after cryostorage of pollen from three cultivars were different, even though 70 percent of the protein spots among these three cultivars were matched after cryopreservation. We found some protein spots that changed in all three cultivars; their molecular weights and pI were between 12.6-72.8 kDa and 5.6-7.3, respectively; (2): the geometric mean of Ca2+ fluorescence intensity (GMFI) value of cryopreserved pollen was significantly higher compared with that of fresh pollen in cultivar 'Beijing Yudie'. GMFI increased during pollen germination in our studied cultivars, especially after 0.5 and 1.0 h of culturing. In addition, no positive correlation was found between pollen germination rate and GMFI in the present study.

[The impact of the high dose-refuge strategy on the Bt-crop yield. Mathematical simulations]

A mathematical model is presented, which describes interactions between Bt-plants and pests in terms of the plant growth rate, plant annual reseeding, consumption of plant biomass by pests, the action of Bt toxins, and the emergence of Bt-resistant insects. It has been shown that the migration of Bt-susceptible insects affects the Bt-crop yield dynamics and provides the exclusion of Bt-resistant pests if the migration exceeds the threshold value.

Study on the relationship between meteorological conditions and acid rain in mid-eastern Fujian

Based on the acid rain observation data and the contemporaneous historical synoptic charts of Mid-Eastern Fujian during the period of 1991 to 2003, we analyzed the distribution characteristics of acid rain in different seasons, weather types, precipitation grades and wind directions. The results showed that the acid pollution in Mid-Eastern Fujian was still serious. In winter, the precipitation pH value was 4.79, and the acid rain frequency was 60.62% which was twice higher than that in summer. The pH value of warm shear-type precipitation at 850 hPa was 4.79. Nearly half of these precipitations had the problems of acid rain pollution. The acid rain frequency of the inverted trough type was only 26.11% which was the lowest one in all types. There was no marked difference of the acid rain distribution characteristics between ahead-of-trough and behind-the-trough. The precipitation pH values of the five grades were lower than 5.30 and the acid rain frequency changed as an inverted U shape with the increasing of the rainfall. The pH values of precipitations in the eight wind directions were generally below 5.20, and the acid rain frequencies were about 40%.

Maternal human leukocyte antigen-G polymorphism is not associated with pre-eclampsia in a Chinese Han population

Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder of pregnancy and remains the leading cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in many countries. Despite extensive studies, the underlying mechanisms still remain unknown. Besides its restricted expression in the tissues of placenta and its function in regulating immune suppression and in ensuring successful invasion of placental tissues into maternal deciduas, it has been postulated that HLA-G may play a role in modulation of immune tolerance at the fetal-maternal interface. Aberrant HLA-G expression may result in pregnancy disorders that are associated with poor invasion of extravillous cytotrophoblast into maternal spiral arteries, such as pre-eclampsia. Studies have shown that pre-eclampsia is largely under genetic control, but genetic mechanisms underlying the disorder have yet to be determined. In the current study, we focus on the potential role of HLA-G polymorphism in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Samples were obtained from Chinese Han primiparous women with pre-eclampsia and irrelative normal women, and case-matched placentas were genotyped for the HLA-G polymorphism in the exons 2, 3, and 4, and the 14-base-pair (bp) insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of exon 8 was analyzed separately. The frequency of HLA-G polymorphism in these samples was not significantly different from those of normal controls, indicating that maternal HLA-G polymorphism is not associated with the risk for pre-eclampsia in this Chinese Han population. However, the maternal 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism is ethnically different.

[A conceptual model of the dynamics of the Syamozero lake community]

We have developed a conceptual mathematical model of the dynamics of a spatially heterogeneous population system, the prototype of which is the Syamozero lake fish community. Based on the analysis of solutions of the model, we show that interrelations between prey and predator populations in two neighboring habitats (pelagic and offshore zones) can lead to both undamped oscillations and stationary values of the population size. The population density was found to be close to the values oblained in the course of long-term observations of the biota of the Syamozero lake. Besides, we showed that the transition to the stationary states can be accompanied by long-term (dozens and hundreds of years) damped oscillations of the prey and predator population size. In natural waters, long-term transition periods can prevent the attainment of stationary regimes of fish community functioning.

[Effect of the rate of phytoplankton growth on the spaced-time dynamics of plankton communities in an homogeneous environment]

We use a conceptual mathematical reaction-diffusion model to investigate the mechanisms of spatial structure formation and complex temporal dynamics of plankton in a heterogeneous environment. We take into account basic trophic interactions, namely, "prey-predator" interactions between phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish in upper layers of natural waters. We consider plankton as a passive contaminant in turbulent waters. We show that plankton structure formation can result from the difference in phytoplankton growth rate in neighboring habitats. Phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass is shown to undergo both regular and chaotic oscillations. The fish predation rate substantially affects the spatial and temporal dynamics of plankton in a heterogeneous environment.

[Interdependence of plankton spatial distribution and plancton biomass temporal oscillations: mathematical simulation]

The dynamics of aquatic biological communities in a patchy environment is of great interest in respect to interrelations between phenomena at various spatial and time scales. To study the complex plankton dynamics in relation to variations of such a biologically essential parameter as the fish predation rate, we use a simple reaction-diffusion model of trophic interactions between phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish. We suggest that plankton is distributed between two habitats one of which is fish-free due to hydrological inhomogeneity, while the other is fish-populated. We show that temporal variations in the fish predation rate do not violate the strong correspondence between the character of spatial distribution of plankton and changes of plankton biomass in time: regular temporal oscillations of plankton biomass correspond to large-scale plankton patches, while chaotic oscillations correspond to small-scale plankton patterns. As in the case of the constant fish predation rate, the chaotic plankton dynamics is characterized by coexistence of the chaotic attractor and limit cycle.

Direct cloning of the unknown flanking DNA fragments from a large insert without restriction mapping

A simple technique for direct cloning of the target DNA fragments from a large insert according to its adjacent known sequence is described here. In this new subcloning method, a large DNA insert is digested and ligated with a linearized plasmid vector to construct a subclone library that is subjected to screening. The bacterial clones in this library are individually picked, grown in a 96-well plate, and then pooled across the rows or columns. Target clones are obtained from the ordered separate pools by PCR-screening with a set of primers, one specific for the adjacent known sequence and the other serving as "anchor primer" specific for the vector sequence. This direct subcloning procedure was efficiently demonstrated by cloning a specific DNA region from a large insert within 2 days without mapping the starting DNA or isolating the digested DNA fragment.

Enhanced activity of osteoblast differentiation factor (PEBP2alphaA2/CBFa1) in affected sutural osteoblasts from patients with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis

OBJECTIVE

Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is characterized by premature closure of one or more cranial sutures in infants. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate cellular and molecular events that lead to pathogenesis of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

DESIGN

This study utilized discarded samples of normal and affected cranial sutures from 12 patients (7 boys, 5 girls) with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

RESULTS

Histological evaluation of affected sutures revealed complete osseous obliteration instead of a zone of connective tissue and osteogenic cells as seen in normal sutures. Although proliferation of normal and affected osteoblasts did not vary substantially, elevated osteocalcin production and increased in vitro bone nodule formation indicated that the differentiation and the bone-forming potential of affected osteoblasts was significantly higher than that of normal cells. We therefore investigated the levels and activity of Cbfa1, a transcription factor that plays an integral role in osteoblast differentiation. Northern blot analysis of messenger RNA from both normal and affected sutural osteoblasts revealed a twofold increase in the expression of Cbfa1 in affected cells. This increase in the level of Cbfa1 transcript correlated with an increase in its transcriptional activity on the osteocalcin gene promoter, as assessed using gene transfer methods.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that osteoblasts from synostosed sutures exhibit an increased potential for differentiation and bone formation. The increased level and activity of Cbfa1 could play a vital role in the aberrant function of these affected osteoblasts and may explain their altered behavior compared to the normal cells.

Nasal administration of Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen-cholera B subunit conjugate suppresses hepatic granuloma formation and reduces mortality in S. mansoni-infected mice

Granulomatous inflammation in schistosomiasis is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction mediated by CD4+ T cells specific for parasite egg antigens (Ags). In an attempt to control T-cell responses leading to excessive harmful inflammation and granuloma formation, especially in the liver, BALB/c mice were intranasally (i.n.) treated with soluble Schistosoma mansoni egg Ags (SEA) conjugated to cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), a mucosa-binding protein with demonstrated capacity to suppress inflammatory T-cell functions after mucosal administration. Treatment with CTB-SEA significantly conjugate a reduced liver granuloma formation in infected mice associated with decreased SEA specific Th1- and Th2-type immune responses by liver leukocytes. Importantly, treatment with CTB-SEA conjugate also significantly reduced the mortality in chronically infected mice. In S. mansoni-infected large-granuloma forming CBA mice, i.n. treatment with purified Sm-p40, the major egg antigen, conjugated to CTB likewise significantly inhibited hepatic egg granuloma formation. A reduction of SEA-driven lymphoproliferation and of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production, together with an increase in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 production, were observed in splenic cells from CTB-Sm-p40-treated SEA-sensitized mice, as well as in liver leukocytes from CTB-Sm-p40-treated schistosome-infected mice. These results indicate that mucosal administration of SEA or purified Sm-p40 antigen in conjunction with CTB is highly effective in curtailing immunopathologic manifestations of schistosomiasis in vivo in infected hosts.

Increased coupling between subpopulations in a spatially structured environment can lead to population outbreaks

Destruction and fragmentation of habitats is widely considered as a major threat to biological diversity. A theoretical framework aimed at understanding and predicting species responses to these destructive processes is still lacking, however. In this paper, the species dynamics in a spatially structured, two-habitat, patchy environment is considered subject to changes in individual migration intensity, i.e. coupling between the habitats. The subpopulation dynamics inside each habitat is assumed to be bistable but with different parameter values. By using space-discrete/continuous metapopulation dynamic models and computer simulations, we show that there can be two principally different regimes of metapopulation dynamics. With increasing intensity in the interplay between subpopulations, the total abundance can either gradually decrease or experience a sudden burst-like increase. This result is shown to be robust to the choice of mathematical models (discrete or continuous). Particularly, both the "self-excitation" and "self-inhibition" regimes of the metapopulation system are robust to variation in habitat size; however, when one of the habitats is much smaller than the other, the "self-excitation" regime can give way to the "self-inhibition" regime and vice versa.

Patchy environment as a factor of complex plankton dynamics

We study the role of the diffusive interaction in plankton dynamics in a patchy environment. We use a minimal reaction-diffusion model of the nutrient-plankton-fish food chain to simulate the diffusive interaction between fish-populated and fish-free habitats. We show that such interaction can give rise to spatiotemporal plankton patterns. The plankton dynamics depend on the fish predation rate and can exhibit both regular and chaotic behavior. We show that limit cycle and chaotic attractor coexist in the system. The entire basin of attraction of the limit cycles is found to be riddled with "holes" leading to the competitive chaotic attractors. The chaotic dynamics is typical of a wide range of the fish predation rates.

Synergistic transcriptional activation of human Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransterase-1 gene by interferon-gamma and all-trans-retinoic acid THP-1 cells

Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) is an intracellular enzyme involved in cellular cholesterol homeostasis and in atherosclerotic foam cell formation. Human ACAT-1 gene contains two promoters (P1 and P7), each located in a different chromosome (1 and 7) (Li, B. L., Li, X. L., Duan, Z. J., Lee, O., Lin, S., Ma, Z. M., Chang, C. C., Yang, X. Y., Park, J. P., Mohandas, T. K., Noll, W., Chan, L., and Chang, T. Y. (1999) J. Biol Chem. 274, 11060-11071). Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a cytokine that exerts many pro-atherosclerotic effects in vivo, causes up-regulation of ACAT-1 mRNA in human blood monocyte-derived macrophages and macrophage-like cells but not in other cell types. To examine the molecular nature of this observation, we identified within the ACAT-1 P1 promoter a 159-base pair core region. This region contains 4 Sp1 elements and an IFN-gamma activated sequence (GAS) that overlaps with the second Sp1 element. In the monocytic cell line THP-1 cell, the combination of IFN-gamma and all-trans-retinoic acid (a known differentiation agent) enhances the ACAT-1 P1 promoter but not the P7 promoter. Additional experiments showed that all-trans-retinoic acid causes large induction of the transcription factor STAT1, while IFN-gamma causes activation of STAT1 such that it binds to the GAS/Sp1 site in the ACAT-1 P1 promoter. Our work provides a molecular mechanism to account for the effect of IFN-gamma in causing transcriptional activation of ACAT-1 in macrophage-like cells.

Roles of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 and -2

Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) is an intracellular enzyme that produces cholesteryl esters in various tissues. In mammals, two ACAT genes (ACAT1 and ACAT2) have been identified. Together, these two enzymes are involved in storing cholesteryl esters as lipid droplets, in macrophage foam-cell formation, in absorbing dietary cholesterol, and in supplying cholesteryl esters as part of the core lipid for lipoprotein synthesis and assembly. The key difference in tissue distribution of ACAT1 and ACAT2 between humans, mice and monkeys is that, in adult human liver (including hepatocytes and bile duct cells), the major enzyme is ACAT1, rather than ACAT2. There is compelling evidence implicating a role for ACAT1 in macrophage foam-cell formation, and for ACAT2 in intestinal cholesterol absorption. However, further studies at the biochemical and cell biological levels are needed in order to clarify the functional roles of ACAT1 and ACAT2 in the VLDL or chylomicron synthesis/assembly process.

[Diagnosis and treatment of one hundred and eighty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the experience of the diagnosis and therapy of chronic pancreatitis (CP).

METHODS

189 patients with chronic pancreatitis confirmed surgically from 1983 to Aug 1999 admitted in our hospital were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Of all 189 patients, the average age was forty-eight years old. The ratio of male to female is 2.1:1. The proportion of confirmed diagnosis to CP is 51.3% within one year and 80.4% within the first five years. The positive rate for diagnosis was 71.9% by CT and 76.9% by ERCP respectively. The positive rate of PABA was 69.7%. While 136(72%) patients received operations, the rate of complication was low. One patient died of infection after pancreatic fistula at the seventh day after surgery, and 97.8% of patients suffered less pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The early diagnosis of CP is difficult. As a delicate operation program set at appropriate time is of vital importance for modifying the course of the disease and improving patients' life quality.

Organization of human ACAT-2 gene and its cell-type-specific promoter activity

Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) plays important roles in cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Two ACAT genes exist in mammals. We report here the genomic organization of human ACAT-2 gene and analysis of its promoter activity in various cell lines. The human ACAT-2 gene spans over 18 kb and contains 15 exons. Three transcription start sites and one poly(A) site are identified by the 5'/3'-RACE. In addition, the human ACAT-2 gene is linked to the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP-6) gene in a head-to-tail manner with a small intergenic region of about 1.2 kb. The 5'-flanking region of human ACAT-2 gene contains many potential cis-acting elements for multiple transcriptional regulatory factors but lacks TATA and CCAAT boxes. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrate the transcriptional activity of ACAT-2 gene promoter is high in Caco-2 cells, especially after these cells become postconfluent and behave as intestinal enterocytes.

Enhanced immunological tolerance against allograft rejection by oral administration of allogeneic antigen linked to cholera toxin B subunit

A single oral intragastric administration of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) conjugated to allogeneic thymocytes (ATC, 4 x 10(7) cells) under conditions allowing the CTB to bind the complex to GM1 ganglioside receptors was shown to be efficacious in inducing peripheral T cell tolerance associated with significant suppression of both primary and secondary accelerated rejection of heart allografts when tested in mice. Allogeneic in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), in vitro cytotoxicity responses, and mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) by T cells from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), popliteal lymph nodes (PLN), and spleen were significantly reduced in mice treated with the CTB-ATC conjugate, as were also the numbers of cells in these organs producing IL-2, IFN-gamma, or IL-4. In contrast, a marked increase in the production of IL-4 in Peyer's patches (PP) and of TGF-beta(1) in PLN was observed. The suppressive potential of T cells from PP and/or MLN after oral treatment with CTB-ATC was further evident by intraperitoneal transfer of such cells from CTB-ATC-treated animals to primed recipients, which led to marked suppression of both allogen-specific DTH and MLR responses. A critical role for PP in inducing peripheral tolerance after oral CTB-ATC treatment was indicated by the absence of tolerance induction in animals whose PP had been destroyed before treatment with CTB-ATC. The results indicate that the protection against allograft rejection by oral treatment with CTB-ATC is mediated by T cells and associated with a strong induction of IL-4 production at mucosal sites and TGF-beta(1) at the effector sites.

Oral administration of cholera toxin B subunit conjugated to myelin basic protein protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing transforming growth factor-beta-secreting cells and suppressing chemokine expression

The efficacy and mechanism of immunosuppression against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by oral low-dose administration of myelin basic protein (MBP) conjugated to cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) were investigated in Lewis rats immunized with MBP together with complete Freund's adjuvant 4 days before the start of treatment. Oral treatment with CTB-MBP conjugate gave almost complete protection against disease, an effect that was totally abrogated by including a low dose of cholera holotoxin (CT). The protection by CTB-MBP was associated with a dramatic reduction in the number of leukocytes staining for CD4, CD8, IL-2R or MHC class II in the spinal cord as examined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expressions of T(h)1 cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, as well as of chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and RANTES in the spinal cord were also reduced by 76-94%, as assessed by in situ hybridization. In contrast, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta mRNA-expressing cells were strongly increased in the spinal cord from animals treated orally with the CTB-MBP conjugate. In the draining peripheral lymph nodes, the number of MBP-specific TGF-beta mRNA-expressing cells was also increased, whereas there was a decrease in cells expressing T(h)1 or T(h)2 cytokine mRNA. Protection against EAE could be transferred by injection of cells from the mesenteric lymph nodes of animals fed with CTB-MBP into naive animals exposed to encephalitogenic T cells. The results indicate that the protective anti-inflammatory effect by oral treatment with CTB-MBP conjugate is, to a large extent, due to the induction of TGF-beta-secreting suppressive-regulatory T cells and to local down-regulation of MCP-1 and RANTES in the spinal cord.

[The role of carnivorous zooplankton in dynamics of trophic interaction of fish and plankton]

A conceptual (minimal) model of the aquatic community is proposed, which includes phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and fish larvae. It is shown that carnivorous zooplankton increases the system stability when the fish predation changes. As a result, the system collapse followed by algal bloom becomes less probable.