The potential diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs for Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease that seriously affects cognitive ability and has become a key public health problem. Many studies have identified the possibility of peripheral blood microRNA as effective non-invasive biomarkers for AD diagnosis, but the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we carried out this meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs in the diagnosis of AD patients.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search of the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, updated to March 15, 2021. A random effects model was used to pool the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and Deeks' funnel plot was used to assess whether there was publication bias.

RESULTS

62 studies from 18 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85), specificity was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-0.83), PLR was 4. 1 (95% CI: 3.4-4.9), NLR was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.19-0.28), DOR was 18 (95% CI: 13-25) and AUC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.90). Subgroup analysis shows that the microRNA clusters of plasma type performed a better diagnostic accuracy of AD patients. In addition, publication bias was not found.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating microRNAs can be used as a promising non-invasive biomarker in AD diagnosis.

Sleep disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis in Spain

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the presence of sleep disturbances and their relationship with clinical and demographic variables in patients with MS, with a view to establishing correlations between the different variables and the frequency of sleep disturbances.

METHODS

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to detect sleep disorders. We contacted patients treated at the MS unit and distributed a questionnaire (PSQI) to 221 patients, receiving 142 usable questionnaires between 8 and 30 September 2019.

RESULTS

The prevalence of patients with sleep disturbances in our study was 74.7% (73.7% in women and 76.8% in men). Therefore, sleep disorders are pervasive in patients with MS, with 3 out of 4 patients experiencing them, a higher rate than that observed in the population without the disease. The frequency of sleep disorders gradually increased in line with age. In the 2 age groups analyzed, 44-54 years and 55-68 years, the proportion of moderate and severe sleep disorders was 42.8% and 53.9%, respectively. Moderate and severe sleep disturbances were observed in 27.5%, 44.7%, and 58.3% of patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores of 0-3, 3-6, and >6, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that sleep disorders are more common in patients with MS than in other populations. Patients with secondary progressive forms of MS more frequently present sleep disturbances, while patients with primary progressive forms report them less frequently. Age and degree of disability were positively correlated with the prevalence and severity of sleep disorders in MS patients.

Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in China and other Asian countries

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asian countries is thought to be lower than in Western countries, with Asian populations presenting 80% less risk of MS than white populations. Incidence and prevalence rates in Asian countries are therefore not well defined and their association with rates in neighboring countries, as well as with ethnic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, are not well understood. We performed a comprehensive literature review of epidemiological data from China and neighbouring countries to study the frequency of the disease, focusing on prevalence, and the progression over time and the influence of sex-related, environmental, dietary, and sociocultural factors. Prevalence rates in China range between 0.88 cases/100,000 population in 1986 and 5.2 cases/100,000 population in 2013, with a non-significant upwards trend (p = .08). The increase observed in Japan, where figures ranged between 8.1 and 18.6 cases/100,000 population was highly significant (p < .001). Prevalence rates in countries with predominantly white populations are considerably higher and have increased over time, reaching 115 cases/100,000 population in 2015 (r² = 0.79, p < .0001). In conclusion, the prevalence of MS in China appears to have risen in recent years, although Asian populations (including Chinese and Japanese populations, among others) appear to present less risk than other populations. Within Asia, geographical latitude appears not to be a determining factor for developing MS.

[Clinical analysis of 76 patients with severe aplastic anemia treated with haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of haploidentical donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia. Methods: The clinical data of 76 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients who underwent haplo-HSCT from December 2014 to October 2020 were selectively analyzed. There were 50 males and 26 females with a median age of 16 (3-52) years old. There were 49 SAA-Ⅰ patients, 18 SAA-Ⅱ patients, and 9 patients with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia. There were 15 cases of bone marrow put together with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and 61 cases of peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation. Conditioning regimens were Cyclophosphamide (CY) + Fludarabine (Flu) + ATG for 46 patients and Busulfan (Bu) + CY+Flu+ATG for 30 patients. Results: Three patients died during the myelosuppressive phase following transplantation, and 73 patients had a median time of neutrophil engraftment of 12 (9-21) days; in addition to 3 patients who died early, 8 patients did not obtain platelet reconstruction after transplantation, and 65 patients had platelet engraftment with a medium time of 14 (9-90) d. The incidence of primary graft failure was 10.9% and the incidence of secondary graft failure was 5.5%. The incidence of Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was 38.4%, the incidence of Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD was 16.4%, the incidence of chronic graft anti-host disease (cGVHD) was 35.8%, and the incidence of extensive cGVHD was 22.4%. The medium follow-up time was 19.5 (1-75) months, the prospective overall survival (OS) for 2 years was (78.6±5.0) %, the failure-free survival (FFS) was (75.9±5.1) %, and the transplant-related mortality was (20.2±4.9) %. Multi-factor analysis revealed that the patient older than 35 years old, Ⅲ/Ⅳ aGVHD, HCT-CI≥3, the pre-transplant ferritin ≥1 500 μg/L, the number of neutrophils >1×10(9)/L at the time of onset were risk factors affecting OS (P=0.008, 0.008, 0.014, 0.004, 0.027) . Patients with graft failure had lower OS and FFS than other patients (P<0.001) . Conclusion: Haplo-HSCT is an effective method for treating SAA in children, adolescents, and young patients, and the occurrence of severe aGVHD and severe infection, as well as graft failure, are the main causes of survival rate. The prevention and treatment of severe aGVHD and infection are essential to improve efficacy.

PHGDH promotes the proliferation and differentiation of primary chicken myoblasts

1. Chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs) are precursors that form muscle fibres. The proliferation and differentiation of CPMs is an essential stage in muscle development. Previous RNA-seq analysis showed that phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is a differentially expressed gene in chicken muscle tissue at different growth stages. Therefore, the following study explored the effect of PHGDH on the proliferation and differentiation of CPMs.2. The effect on the proliferation of CPMs by RT-qPCR, CCK-8, and EdU assays after the overexpression and knockdown of PHGDH was evaluated. RT-qPCR, western blotting, and indirect immunofluorescence were used to detect the effect of PHGDH on the differentiation of the CPMs. The expression was observed at different time points for differentiation induced by the CPMs.3. The results showed that PHGDH significantly promoted proliferation and differentiation in CPMs. The results showed that overexpression of PHGDH significantly upregulated CPM proliferation, while knockdown had the opposite effect. Marker genes showed that overexpression of PHGDH significantly upregulated the expression of P21, MYOG and MYOD genes, significantly downregulated the expression of the MSTN gene and promoted the expression of the MYHC protein. In contrast, PHGDH knockdown had the opposite effect.4. Desmin immunofluorescence analysis of myotube differentiation in primary myoblasts showed that overexpression of PHGDH significantly increased the area of myotube differentiation and promoted the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. Knockdown of PHGDH had the opposite effect.5. In summary, PHGDH was shown to play a positive role in regulating myoblast proliferation and differentiation. This provided a theoretical basis for further analysis of the regulatory mechanism of the PHGDH gene in chicken muscle development and for improving poultry production.

The potential diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs for prostate cancer: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This meta-analysis has been conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCA).

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed (updated to February 18, 2021) in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) to identify eligible studies. The pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under curve (AUC) of the summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve were calculated for both overall and subgroup analysis. The meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore heterogeneity and Deeks' funnel plot was used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

One hundred nineteen studies from 33 articles owned 8703 PCA patients and 4914 controls were included in our meta-analysis. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve were 0.79, 0.81, 4.1, 0.26, 16 and 0.87, respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve of miR-21 in diagnosis of PCA were 0.86, 0.90, 8.3, 0.16, 52 and 0.94, respectively. Subgroup analysis suggested that the upregulated miRNA of serum type with large sample size could carry out a better diagnostic accuracy of PCA patients. Moreover, publication bias was not found.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating microRNA, especially miR-21, can be used as a promising noninvasive biomarker in the early diagnosis of PCA.

[Evaluation of the efficacy of a new variable frequency stimulation sacral neuromodulation in the treatment of detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility]

A total of 16 detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility (DHIC) patients who received 12 weeks remote variable frequency stimulation (VFS) were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2020 to February 2021. The voiding diary, symptom score scales and incidence of complications were completed and recorded at baseline, constant frequency stimulation (CFS) and VFS phases. Compared with the CFS phase, voiding times, urge incontinence times and daily catheterization volume were reduced; average voiding amount and functional bladder capacity increased; and the quality of life score and mental health questionnaire assessment were improved in the VFS phase(all P<0.05). In the end, among all 16 patients, there were 14 whose symptoms had improved, and there were no new complications such as pain or infection at the implantation site, electrode displacement, and electric shock sensation in the stimulation area. VFS-SNM can not only improve the DHIC patients' lower urinary tract symptoms during storage and urination period, but also improve the patients' quality of life and satisfaction of the therapy.

The Potential Effect of Microbiota in Predicting The Freshness of Chilled Chicken

1. The goals of this study were to analyse the changes in microbiota composition of chilled chicken during storage and identify microbial biomarkers related to meat freshness.2. The study used 16S rDNA sequencing to track the microbiota shift in chilled chicken during storage. Associations between microbiota composition and storage time were analysed and microbial biomarkers were identified.3. The results showed that microbial diversity of chilled chicken decreased with the storage time. A total of 27 and 24 microbial biomarkers were identified by using orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) and the random forest regression approach, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the OPLS regression approach had better performance in identifying freshness-related biomarkers. The multiple stepwise regression analysis identified four key microbial biomarkers, including Streptococcus, Carnobacterium, Serratia and Photobacterium genera and constructed a predictive model.4. The study provided microbial biomarkers and a model related to the freshness of chilled chicken. These findings provide a basis for developing detection methods of the freshness of chilled chicken.

The potential diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs for Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease that seriously affects cognitive ability and has become a key public health problem. Many studies have identified the possibility of peripheral blood microRNA as effective non-invasive biomarkers for AD diagnosis, but the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we carried out this meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of circulating microRNAs in the diagnosis of AD patients.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search of the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, updated to March 15, 2021. A random effects model was used to pool the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity, and Deeks' funnel plot was used to assess whether there was publication bias.

RESULTS

62 studies from 18 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85), specificity was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-0.83), PLR was 4. 1 (95% CI: 3.4-4.9), NLR was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.19-0.28), DOR was 18 (95% CI: 13-25) and AUC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.90). Subgroup analysis shows that the microRNA clusters of plasma type performed a better diagnostic accuracy of AD patients. In addition, publication bias was not found.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating microRNAs can be used as a promising non-invasive biomarker in AD diagnosis.

[Diagnostic efficacy for predicting intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas with high grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma based on the surgery indications in different guidelines]

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the European Evidence-based Guidelines on Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms (EEGPCN)(2018) and International Association of Pancreatology(IAP) Guideline(Version 2017) in predicting high grade dysplasia/invasive carcinoma-intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(HGD/INV-IPMN). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 363 patients,who underwent surgical resection in Changhai Hospital affiliated to Navy Medical University from January 2012 to December 2018 and were pathologically identified as (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, IPMN),was performed. The patients,including 230 males and 133 females,aging (61.7±10.1) years(range:19 to 83 years). The proportion of HGD/INV-IPMN who met with the absolute indication(AI) of EEGPCN and high risk stigma(HRS) of IAP were compared. The binary Logistic regression analysis was used to find the independent risk factors of HGD/INV-IPMN.Eight combinations of risk factors derived from relative indication/worrisome feature or risk factors in this study,were made to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy. The area under curve(AUC) of receiver operating characteristics was used to evaluate the the cutoff value of risk factors(①CA19-9≥37 U/ml,②diameter of main pancreatic duct 5.0-9.9 mm,③enhancing mural nodule<5 mm,④(acute) pancreatiti,⑤^acyst diameter ≥40 mm,⑤^bcyst diameter ≥30 mm, ⑥thickened or enhancing cyst walls,⑦neutrophile granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio(NLR)≥2, ⑧cyst located in head, uncinate or neck,⑨carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) ≥5 μg/L) number for predicting HGD/INV-IPMN.The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,true positive,true negative,false positive,false negative,positive likelihood ratio,negative likelihood ratio,Youden index and F1 score were calculated. Results: Ninety-two patients(49.5%) of 186 ones who met AI and 85 patients(48.3%) of 176 ones who met HRS were respectively confirmed as HGD/INV-IPMN. In those patients who were not met AI,tumor location,thickened/enhancing cyst wall,CA19-9 elevated,NLR≥2 and CEA elevated were significantly (P<0.05) correlated with HGD/INV-IPMN. And tumor location(head/uncinate/neck vs. body/tail,OR=3.284,95%CI:1.268-8.503,P=0.014),thickened/enhancement cyst wall (with vs.without,OR=2.713,95%CI:1.177-6.252,P=0.019),CA19-9(≥37 U/L vs.<37 U/L, OR=5.086,95%CI:2.05-12.62,P<0.01) and NLR(≥2 vs.<2,OR=2.380,95%CI:1.043-5.434,P=0.039) were the independent risk factors of HGD/INV-IPMN. Patients with ≥4 risk factors of 9 in combination Ⅷ(①②③④⑤^b⑥⑦⑧⑨) were diagnosed as HGD/INV-IPMN with the moderate accuracy(71.0%),moderate sensitivity (62.0%) and moderate specificity (73.0%). Patients with ≥4 risk factors of 9 in Combination Ⅶ(①②③④⑤^a⑥⑦⑧⑨) were diagnosed as HGD/INV-IPMN with the highest specificity(83.0%) and patients with ≥3 risk factors of 8 in combination Ⅵ(①②③④⑤^b⑥⑧⑨) were diagnosed as HGD/INV-IPMN with the highest sensitivity(74.0%). The AUC for diagnosis of HGD/INV-IPMN in combination Ⅵ,Ⅶ and Ⅷ were 0.72,0.75 and 0.75,respectively. Older patients and younger patients could respectively refer to combination Ⅶ and combination Ⅵ to improve the management of IPMN. Conclusions: Patients who meet AI of EEGPCN should undertake resection, otherwise the method we explored is recommended. The method of improvement for diagnosis of HGD/INV-IPMN is relatively applicable and efficient for decision-making of surgery, especially for younger patients with decreasing of missed diagnosis and elder patients with decreasing of misdiagnosis.

Social and professional consequences of COVID-19 lockdown in patients with multiple sclerosis from two very different populations

The global lockdown measures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic have nearly always had negative consequences for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVE

We compared the social and professional effects of confinement on patients with MS in 2 very different populations, from Spain and China.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to a group of patients with MS who consulted at the MS unit of Vithas hospital (DINAC Foundation) in Seville, and patients with MS attended in several provinces of China in April 2020, with the aim of analysing the differences and similarities between populations in the social and professional effects of confinement. To this end, a database was created and subsequently analysed.

RESULTS

The Chinese population includes a higher proportion of younger patients and no differences were identified regarding sex. Most of the variables studied behaved in the same way in both patient populations. Spanish patients presented a lesser impact (30.7%) on their socio-economic situation than Chinese patients (44%) (P < .05). There were no significant differences between populations in the remaining variables. Social networks were widely used in the majority of patients from both populations.

CONCLUSIONS

The social and professional consequences of the pandemic were very similar in both groups; the use of social networks and family support was also similar. Spanish patients seem to present greater economic stability, perhaps due to the social support they receive.

Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in China and other Asian countries

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asian countries is thought to be lower than in Western countries, with Asian populations presenting 80% less risk of MS than white populations. Incidence and prevalence rates in Asian countries are therefore not well defined and their association with rates in neighboring countries, as well as with ethnic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, are not well understood. We performed a comprehensive literature review of epidemiological data from China and neighbouring countries to study the frequency of the disease, focusing on prevalence, and the progression over time and the influence of sex-related, environmental, dietary, and sociocultural factors. Prevalence rates in China range between 0.88 cases/100,000 population in 1986 and 5.2 cases/100,000 population in 2013, with a non-significant upwards trend (p = .08). The increase observed in Japan, where figures ranged between 8.1 and 18.6 cases/100,000 population was highly significant (p < .001). Prevalence rates in countries with predominantly white populations are considerably higher and have increased over time, reaching 115 cases/100,000 population in 2015 (r2 = 0.79, p < .0001). In conclusion, the prevalence of MS in China appears to have risen in recent years, although Asian populations (including Chinese and Japanese populations, among others) appear to present less risk than other populations. Within Asia, geographical latitude appears not to be a determining factor for developing MS.

[Autologous versus unrelated donor stem cell transplantation for adults with primary acute myeloid leukemia in first remission]

Objective: To compare differences of autologous and unrelated donor stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT and URD-HSCT) for adults with primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR(1)) from a single center and to investigate the appropriate patients for the 2 types of transplant. Methods: In this retrospective investigation, we studied adults with primary AML who received auto-HSCT and URD-HSCT from March 2008 to November 2018. Overall survival (OS) , leukemia-free survival (LFS) , relapse, transplant-related mortality (TRM) , and hematopoietic reconstitution were compared along with the prognostic value of cytogenetics. Results: A total of 147 adult patients were enrolled in this study (n=87 for auto-HSCT and n=60 for URD-HSCT) . Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. The accumulative neutrophil engraftment rate at +30 days was not statistically different between the 2 groups[92.6% (95% CI 86.9%-98.3%) vs 98.3% (95% CI 95.0%-100.0%) , P=0.270], whereas the accumulative platelet engraftment rate at +60 days was significantly lower in the auto-HSCT group[83.6% (95% CI 75.8%-91.4%) vs 93.3% (95% CI 87.0%-99.6%) , P<0.001]. In patients undergoing URD-HSCT, the accumulative incidences of acute GVHD (aGVHD) and grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD were 56.7% (95% CI 43.0%-68.2%) and 16.7% (95% CI 8.5%-27.2%) , and the incidences of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and extensive cGVHD were 33.3% (95% CI 21.7%-45.4%) and 15.0% (95% CI 7.3%-25.2%) , respectively. After a median follow-up of 53.8 (0.8-127.8) months, patients in the 2 groups demonstrated comparable OS and LFS at 5 years after transplant[71.7% (95% CI 61.7%-81.7%) vs 67.8% (95% CI 55.8%-79.8%) , P=0.556; 64.6% (95% CI 54.4%-74.8%) vs 68.1% (95% CI 56.3%-79.9%) , P=0.642]. Patients in the auto-HSCT group showed significantly higher incidence of relapse at 5 years after transplant[31.9% (95% CI 22.2%-42.1%) vs 15.1% (95% CI 7.4%-25.6%) , P=0.015] and significantly lower incidence of TRM[3.4% (95% CI 0.9%-8.9%) vs 16.7% (95% CI 8.5%-27.2%) , P=0.006] compared with the URD group. HLA mismatching had no effects on the incidences of hematopoietic reconstitution, GVHD, OS, LFS, relapse, and TRM. Patients of cytogenetically favorable and intermediate risk demonstrated comparable OS and LFS after auto-HSCT and URD-HSCT, while patients of poor risk had significantly higher relapse and lower LFS after auto-HSCT. Conclusions: In this study, adults with primary AML in CR(1) demonstrated relatively higher relapse but lower TRM after auto-HSCT, resulting in comparable survival to that of URD-HSCT. In the absence of matched sibling donors, patients of cytogenetically poor risk should receive URD-HSCT in order to achieve lower relapse and better survival.

[Outcomes of 138 myelodysplastic syndrome patients with HLA-matched sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

目的

评价人组织相容性抗原（HLA）匹配同胞供者外周血干细胞移植（MSD-PBSCT）治疗骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）的疗效。

方法

回顾性总结2005年9月至2017年12月接受MSD-PBSCT治疗的138例MDS患者临床资料，观察患者总生存（OS）率、无病生存（DFS）率、复发（RR）率及非复发死亡率（NRM），分析影响移植预后的危险因素。

结果

①中位随访1 050（4~4 988）d，3年OS率、DFS率分别为（66.6±4.1）%、（63.3±4.1）%，3年累积RR率、NRM分别为（13.9±0.1）%、（22.2±0.1）%。②单因素分析显示，发生Ⅲ~Ⅳ度急性移植物抗宿主病（aGVHD）、造血干细胞移植合并症指数（HCT-CI）≥2分组和修订的国际预后积分系统（IPSS-R）极高危组的OS率均显著降低[（42.9±13.2）%对（72.9±4.2）%，χ²=8.620，P=0.003；（53.3±7.6）%对（72.6±4.7）%，χ²=6.681，P=0.010；（53.8±6.8）%对（76.6±6.2）%、（73.3±7.7）%，χ²=6.337，P=0.042]。MDS伴有原始细胞过多-2（MDS-EB2）和MDS转化急性髓系白血病（MDS-AML）患者，移植前接收化疗或去甲基化治疗不改善OS[（60.4±7.8）%对（59.2±9.6）%，χ²=0.042，P=0.838]。③多因素分析显示，HCT-CI是影响移植后OS和DFS的独立危险因素（P=0.012，HR=2.108，95%CI 1.174~3.785；P=0.008，HR=2.128，95%CI 1.219~3.712）。

结论

HCT-CI评价MDS患者移植后预后优于IPSS-R预后分组；发生Ⅲ~Ⅳ度aGVHD是影响移植后OS的不良预后因素；MDS-EB2和MDS-AML患者可以不化疗直接行MSD-PBSCT。

[Suprapubic-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in nephroureterectomy A case series of 4 patients]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of suprapubic-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (SA-LESS) in nephroureterectomy using method of transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) (SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU). Methods: Four patients (three cases of renal pelvic carcinoma and one case of ureteral carcinoma) undergoing SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU were enrolled between April 2015 and January 2016. After general anesthesia, the patients were placed in the lithotomy position with the affected side elevated by 60°. Two trocars were inserted at the medial margin of umbilicus, and the third one was inserted into abdominal cavity at the superior margin of pubic symphysis. The operation was performed under a direct vision with a 5.4 mm 0° flexible-tip laparoscope. Firstly, the distal ureter was isolated completely and blocked by a Hem-O-lok clip. Then, the laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed according to the standard method. Finally, the bladder cuff excision was executed and the incision was sutured. The intact specimen was placed inside a homemade bag and removed through the incision at posterior vaginal fornix. Results: All the procedures were successfully performed. The median operative time was 150 (range: 120 to 210) minutes, and the median estimated blood loss was 180 (range: 80 to 350) ml. No major perioperative complications occurred. The mean visual analogue score (VAS) of 24 hours and 48 hours after operation were 3.25 (range: 2 to 5) and 2.25 (range: 2 to 3). All the patients resumed ambulation on postoperative day 1. Pelvic drainage tube was removed on postoperative day 2-4. On postoperative day 7, urethral catheter was removed. The patients were discharged on postoperative day 7-9. During the follow-up of 20-29 months, the patient recovered well with no case of incisional hernia and pelvic, abdominal infections. The vaginal fornix incision healed well, and the umbilical and suprapubic puncture scars were not obvious. All the patients completed the patient-assessed acromegaly symptom questionnaire PASQ. The average PSAQ score of 3 months after surgery was 34.5. Three of them restarted their sex lives, with an average female sexual function index score of 16.0, which was not significantly different with that of preoperation (15.6). There was no tumor recurrence, metastasis and implantation in all cases. Conclusion: SA-LESS+TV-NOSE NU is safe and feasible for upper tract urothelial carcinoma with faster postoperative recovery, less pain, shorter hospitalization time, better cosmetic results, and does not cause negative effect on the female sexual function.

[Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia: outcomes and prognostic factors]

目的

评价异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）治疗难治/复发急性髓系白血病（AML）的疗效，并对预后相关因素进行分析。

方法

回顾性分析allo-HSCT治疗99例难治/复发AML患者总体生存（OS）率、无病生存（DFS）率、移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）发生率、移植相关死亡率（TRM）及复发率，并分析影响预后的危险因素。

结果

全部99例患者中男59例，女40例，中位年龄为35（6~58）岁，均接受清髓性预处理。所有患者中性粒细胞均达植入标准，中位植活时间为14（9~25）d。移植后100 d Ⅱ~Ⅳ度急性GVHD累积发生率为27.3%（95% CI 18.9%~36.3%）；2年慢性GVHD累积发生率为33.9%（95%CI 24.6%~43.5%），其中广泛型慢性GVHD累积发生率为9.3%（95%CI 4.5%~16.1%）。移植后3年OS、DFS、TRM率分别为45.0%（95%CI 34.6%~55.4%）、45.0%（95%CI 34.8%~55.2%）、19.7%（95%CI 12.4%~28.3%），复发率为36.6%（95%CI 26.9%~46.4%）。多因素分析显示，影响OS的独立危险因素包括移植前未缓解[P=0.009，HR=2.21（95%CI 1.22~4.04）]、初诊WBC>50×10⁹/L[P=0.024，HR=2.11（95%CI 1.11~4.02）]、供者年龄>35岁[P=0.031，HR=1.96（95%CI 1.06~3.60）]、移植后未发生慢性GVHD[P=0.008，HR=0.38（95%CI 0.18~0.78）]。根据移植前危险因素（移植前未缓解、初诊WBC>50×10⁹/L、供者年龄>35岁）进行危险度分组，具有0、1、2~3个危险因素患者的3年OS率分别为75.0%、46.9%、15.4%（χ²=26.873，P<0.001）。

结论

allo-HSCT是挽救性治疗难治/复发AML的有效手段，复发是影响生存的主要原因。移植前缓解状态、发病时WBC水平、供者年龄及移植后是否发生慢性GVHD是难治/复发AML患者allo-HSCT预后的独立影响因素。

Dominance of Tensor Correlations in High-Momentum Nucleon Pairs Studied by (p,pd) Reaction

The isospin character of p-n pairs at large relative momentum has been observed for the first time in the ^{16}O ground state. A strong population of the J,T=1,0 state and a very weak population of the J,T=0,1 state were observed in the neutron pickup domain of ^{16}O(p,pd) at 392 MeV. This strong isospin dependence at large momentum transfer is not reproduced by the distorted-wave impulse approximation calculations with known spectroscopic amplitudes. The results indicate the presence of high-momentum protons and neutrons induced by the tensor interactions in the ground state of ^{16}O.

Protective effect of erythropoietin against lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation and mitochondrial damage in liver

Recent studies have shown that liver dysfunction is an early event in sepsis. Pre-existing liver dysfunction is a risk factor for progression of infection to sepsis. However, the mechanism of the liver immune response in promoting sepsis and the importance of liver function are not completely understood. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) against mitochondrial dysfunction in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis model, and examined the underlying signaling mechanisms. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis were used to evaluate the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and ROS. The effects of EPO on hepatic mitochondrial function were studied by detecting the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). To explore the mechanism of action of EPO in sepsis, protein expressions of IL-1β, caspase-1 and NLRP3 were assessed by Western blotting; liver histopathology and ultrastructure of liver mitochondria was examined by transmission electron microscopy. We found that LPS treatment increased serum IL-1β and ROS levels, the effect of which was attenuated by EPO. Moreover, LPS treatment also increased the mtDNA copy number and the protein expressions of IL-11β, caspase-1, and NLRP3, which were suppressed by EPO. Histological examination of liver showed LPS-induced cellular edema in hepatic lobules, lymphocytic infiltration and hepatocellular necrosis; these changes were also alleviated by EPO treatment. On electron microscopy, the size of hepatocellular mitochondria in the LPS group was smaller than that in the control group, and the changes were reversed by EPO in the LPS+EPO group. Our results suggest that EPO alleviated liver and mitochondrial damage induced by LPS, possibly via inhibition of NLRP3 signaling.

Selection of different reaction channels in 6Li induced fusion reaction by a powerful combination of a charged particle array and a high-resolution gamma spectrometer

Investigation of the breakup and transfer effect of weakly bound nuclei on the fusion process has been an interesting research topic in the past several years. In comparison with radioactive ion beam (RIB), the beam intensities of stable weakly bound nuclei such as 6,7Li and 9Be, which have significant breakup probability, are orders of magnitude higher. Precise fusion measurements induced by these nuclei have already been performed. However, the conclusion of reaction dynamics was not clear and has contradiction. In order to have a proper understanding of the influence of breakup and transfer of weakly bound projectiles on the fusion process, the 6Li+89Y experiment with incident energies of 22 MeV and 34 MeV was performed on Galileo array in combination with Si-ball EUCLIDES at Legnaro National Laboratory (LNL) in Italy. Using the coincidence by the charged particles and γ-rays, the different reaction channels can be clearly identified.

Polymorphisms of AluI and Hin1I loci of the IGF-1R gene and their genetic effects on growth traits in Bian chickens

Growth traits are important economic traits in broiler chicken production. AluI and Hin1I loci are two restriction sites, which are respectively located in exons 2 and 3 of the IGF-1R gene. These two loci are significantly related to the growth traits in Jinghai Yellow chickens. In this study, a correlation analysis was performed between these two loci and the growth traits of Bian chickens. The results showed a G376A mutation at the AluI site and a C919A mutation at the Hin1I site, which respectively resulted in three genotypes AA, AB, and BB in exon 2 and three genotypes CC, CD, and DD in exon 3. Correlation analysis showed that the female Bian chickens with the AA genotype of the AluI locus had higher body weights than those with the AB genotype (P < 0.05) at 8, 14, 16, and 18 weeks; individuals with CD genotype of Hin1I locus had higher body weights at 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 weeks compared to the CC genotype (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Combined genotypes analysis showed that at the age of 8, 14, 16, and 18 weeks, the body weight of AACC genotype combination was higher than that of the ABCC genotype combination (P < 0.05); at the age of 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, and 18 weeks, the AACD genotype combination had higher (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) body weight than that of the ABCC genotype.

[Expression characteristics of PTEN and NDRG1 in colorectal carcinoma and their prognostic value]

Objective: To study the expression status and clinical significance of PTEN and NDRG1 in colorectal carcinoma. Methods: Tissue samples of 91 colorectal cancers, 30 colorectal adenomas and 21 colorectal normal mucosa tissues were collected. Postoperative specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry for PTEN and NDRG1 expression. The expression of PTEN and NDRG1 was correlated with clinicopathological feature. Results: The expression of PTEN and NDRG1 in the studied cases was detected in 55.0%(50/91) and 76.9%(70/91), respectively. Their expression was significantly different from that of colorectal adenomas and normal colorectal mucosa tissues(P<0.05). Decreased expression of PTEN and over expression of NDRG1 were significantly related to the lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The expression of PTEN was negatively related to that of NDRG1 in colorectal carcinoma(r_s'=-0.251, P=0.016). The patients with negative expression of PTEN showed a lower disease free survival and overall survival(P<0.05). Conclusions: Loss of expression of PTEN protein may be an important molecular marker in predicting the occurrence and PTEN may be useful as a prognostic marker of colorectal carcinoma. NDRG1 plays a role in the development of colorectal carcinoma, although not a prognostic indicator.The ancillary study with combined detection of PTEN and NDRG1 may be useful in difficult cases.

Identification of 19 loci for reproductive traits in a local Chinese chicken by genome-wide study

Reproductive traits have long been studied and have an important influence on chicken breeding. To identify quantitative trait loci affecting reproductive traits, a genome-wide analysis of a Chinese chicken breed was performed to analyze age at first egg body weight at first egg, first egg weight, egg weight at the age of 300 days, egg weight at the age of 462 days, egg number at the age of 300 days, egg number between the ages of 300 and 462 days and egg number at the age of 462 days. Nineteen SNPs related to reproductive traits were presented (P < 1.80E-6). Nine of the 19 SNPs had a significant effect on BWF, six SNPs were significantly associated with egg weight, and four SNPs were significantly associated with egg number. These SNPs were located near to or in 17 genes including FAM184B, HTT, KCNH7, CDC42BPA, KCNIP4, GJA5, CBFB, and GPC6. The present results may be beneficial for reproductive research and may be used in marker-assisted selection in future studies. These results could potentially benefit further breeding programs, especially in Jinghai Yellow Chicken.

94 β-Decay Half-Lives of Neutron-Rich _{55}Cs to _{67}Ho: Experimental Feedback and Evaluation of the r-Process Rare-Earth Peak Formation

The β-decay half-lives of 94 neutron-rich nuclei ^{144-151}Cs, ^{146-154}Ba, ^{148-156}La, ^{150-158}Ce, ^{153-160}Pr, ^{156-162}Nd, ^{159-163}Pm, ^{160-166}Sm, ^{161-168}Eu, ^{165-170}Gd, ^{166-172}Tb, ^{169-173}Dy, ^{172-175}Ho, and two isomeric states ^{174m}Er, ^{172m}Dy were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory, providing a new experimental basis to test theoretical models. Strikingly large drops of β-decay half-lives are observed at neutron-number N=97 for _{58}Ce, _{59}Pr, _{60}Nd, and _{62}Sm, and N=105 for _{63}Eu, _{64}Gd, _{65}Tb, and _{66}Dy. Features in the data mirror the interplay between pairing effects and microscopic structure. r-process network calculations performed for a range of mass models and astrophysical conditions show that the 57 half-lives measured for the first time play an important role in shaping the abundance pattern of rare-earth elements in the solar system.

Effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and leukemia-inhibitory factor on the behavior of two calf testis germline stem cell colony types

Germline stem cells are the only such capable of transmitting genetic information in vivo. The isolation and culture of these cells in vitro provide a unique model to understand sperm differentiation and hence, spermatogenesis and male fertility. In this study, we isolated, purified, and cultured germline stem cells from the testes of newborn calves. Moreover, we investigated the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) on their proliferation. Male calf germline stem cells were found to be pluripotent, and able to form grape-like and embryonic stem cell (ES)-like colonies when cultured. GDNF promoted proliferation of the former, whereas LIF induced growth of the latter. The grape-like colonies retained their germline stem cell characteristics, whereas the ES-like colonies demonstrated more primitive attributes. This investigation established a male calf germline stem cell culture model that may serve as a foundation for further studies aiming to understand the properties of such cells.

Effect of miRNA-203 on cervical cancer cells and its underlying mechanism

miRNA-203 is involved in the development and progression of various types of cancer. However, its role in cervical cancer remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of miRNA-203 on the proliferation and migration of HeLa cervical cancer cells, as well as survivin expression in these cells. A miRNA-203 primer probe was designed according to a sequence obtained from NCBI. The expression of miRNA-203 in cervical epithelial cells and cervical cancer cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The miRNA-203 expression pattern was compared between these two cell lines. The cervical cancer cells were transfected with miRNA-203 mimic or inhibitor to determine their effects on proliferation and migration. The expression of the miRNA-203 target protein (survivin) was analyzed by western blot. Cervical cancer cells showed reduced miRNA-203 expression compared to cervical epithelial cells. Transfection of miRNA-203 mimic upregulated the expression of miRNA-203, suppressed cell proliferation and migration, and downregulated survivin expression (P < 0.05). However, downregulation of miRNA-203 expression did not affect proliferation, migration, and survivin expression in cervical cancer cells (P > 0.05). In conclusion, upregulation of miRNA-203 in cervical cancer cells inhibits the proliferative and migratory capacities of these cells by downregulating the expression of survivin.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with growth traits in Jinghai yellow chickens

Body weight is one of the most important economic traits in the poultry industry. In the present study, a custom SNP Beadchip was used to analyze the association between those 15 SNPs and 12 growth traits of Jinghai yellow chickens, and other important genetic parameters were also calculated and analyzed. The results indicated that nine of the 15 SNPs were associated with growth traits in Jinghai yellow chickens (P < 0.05), and the identified SNPs were also in linkage disequilibrium. Five of the nine identified SNPs were mainly associated with all of the growth traits, which indicated that those five SNPs might have significant influence on Jinghai yellow chicken growth traits. Polymorphism information content (PIC) analyses indicated that five of the nine SNPs exhibited moderate polymorphism (0.25 < PIC < 0.5), which reflected intermediate genetic diversity. Six candidate genes surrounding the significant SNPs were obtained and subjected to Gene Ontology annotation analyses and pathway analyses. The functions of six important candidate genes (SETDB2, ATP7B, INTS6, KPNA3, DLEU7, and FOXO1A) were discussed. The present study provided basic data for marker-assisted selection in Jinghai yellow chickens.

Genome-wide association study of growth traits in the Jinghai Yellow chicken

Growth is one of the most economically important traits in the poultry industry. In this study, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes associated with growth traits of the Jinghai Yellow chicken. Genome-wide association studies were conducted using the Illumina 60 K SNP Chicken array to genotype 400 Jinghai Yellow chickens. For each bird, the body weights at hatching and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, and 16 weeks were recorded. The SNPs that were significantly associated with the growth traits were identified using the general linear regression model. The results revealed a total of 18 SNPs that reached Bonferroni genome-wide significance (P < 1.80E-6). Three proximal genes (BTRC, NLK, and NF1) were found to participate in the Wnt-signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Haplotype analysis identified 19 significant haplotypes and identified a region 152.4-156.3M on GGA1 affecting 3 growth traits (BW4, BW14, and BW16). These results may help identify the exact locations of body weight quantitative trait loci on a genome level and indicate variants that can be used for subsequent investigations for Jinghai Yellow chicken.

Component spectra extraction from terahertz measurements of unknown mixtures

The aim of this work is to extract component spectra from unknown mixtures in the terahertz region. To that end, a method, hard modeling factor analysis (HMFA), was applied to resolve terahertz spectral matrices collected from the unknown mixtures. This method does not require any expertise of the user and allows the consideration of nonlinear effects such as peak variations or peak shifts. It describes the spectra using a peak-based nonlinear mathematic model and builds the component spectra automatically by recombination of the resolved peaks through correlation analysis. Meanwhile, modifications on the method were made to take the features of terahertz spectra into account and to deal with the artificial baseline problem that troubles the extraction process of some terahertz spectra. In order to validate the proposed method, simulated wideband terahertz spectra of binary and ternary systems and experimental terahertz absorption spectra of amino acids mixtures were tested. In each test, not only the number of pure components could be correctly predicted but also the identified pure spectra had a good similarity with the true spectra. Moreover, the proposed method associated the molecular motions with the component extraction, making the identification process more physically meaningful and interpretable compared to other methods. The results indicate that the HMFA method with the modifications can be a practical tool for identifying component terahertz spectra in completely unknown mixtures. This work reports the solution to this kind of problem in the terahertz region for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge, and represents a significant advance toward exploring physical or chemical mechanisms of unknown complex systems by terahertz spectroscopy.

Genome-wide association study on reproductive traits in Jinghai Yellow Chicken

To identify molecular markers and candidate genes associated with reproductive traits, a genome-wide analysis was performed in Jinghai Yellow Chickens to analyze body weight at first oviposition (BWF), age at first oviposition (AFE), weight of the egg at first oviposition (FEW), egg weight at the age of 300 days (EW300), number of eggs produced by 300 days of age (EN300), egg hatchability (HA) and multiple selection index for egg production (MSI). The results showed that seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with reproductive traits (P<1.80E-6, Bonferroni correction). The P-values of the seven SNPs were 5.62E-10, 3.45E-08, 9.76E-07, 8.90E-07, 1.12E-06, 1.42E-07 and 1.48E-07, respectively. These SNPs were located in close proximity to or within the sequence of the five candidate genes, including FAM184B, TTL, RGS1, FBLN5 and PCNX. An additional 46 SNPs that could be associated with reproductive traits were identified (P<3.59E-5, Bonferroni correction). Identification of the candidate genes as well as genome-wide SNPs that may be associated with reproductive traits will greatly advance the understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive traits and may have practical significance in breeding programs for the improvements of reproductive traits in the Jinghai Yellow Chicken.

Genome-wide association study of meat quality traits in chicken

Meat quality traits are very important in the poultry industry. To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes affecting meat quality traits, a genome-wide association study was performed using the Illumina chicken 60K SNP beadchip in Jinghai yellow chicken. Four meat quality traits were measured. Two SNPs reached 5% Bonferroni genome-wide significance (P < 1.8E-6) and 7 SNPs reached "suggestive" genome-wide significance (P < 3.59E-6) with meat quality. These SNPs were located nearby or in 7 candidate genes, including CBLN2, HPGDS, SETD2, and ANKRD46, among others. A total of 5650 haplotpyes were established and only 1 was found to be associated with fat content in leg muscle. These results indicate that the 9 SNPs and 7 genes are important candidate markers and may influence meat quality traits in chicken.

Analysis of meat flavor compounds in pedigree and two-strain Yangzhou geese

In this study, we evaluated the meat flavor compounds of Yangzhou geese, including one group of pedigree strain (AA group) and 4 groups of 2-strain crossbreds (KA, KB, CA, and SA). Each group consisted of 100 geese comprised of 5 replicates of 10 males and 10 females each. Inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), amino acid (AA), and fatty acid (FA) levels in breast and thigh muscle were determined. Results showed that AA group had the highest levels of total amino acid (TAA) and dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) in breast muscle and of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in thigh muscle (P<0.05). In SA group, the levels of C17:1, C22:0, C22:1, C20:4, and C24:1 in breast muscle were significantly higher in SA than in other groups (P<0.05). KB group had the lowest glycine levels in breast muscle (P<0.05) while MUFA levels were significantly higher in KB than in other groups (P<0.05). In KA, the levels of C18:3 in breast muscle in were higher than in CA and KB (P<0.05). CA had relevant higher IMPc levels in breast muscle than SA (P<0.05) and other groups (P>0.05); however, no significant differences were obtained in thigh muscle (P>0.05). In conclusion, Yangzhou AA goose has high levels of meat flavor compounds than its crossbreeds. Future efforts should focus on assessing meat flavor through measurement of sensory characteristics of Yangzhou geese.

Molecular cloning and characterization, and prokaryotic expression of the GnRH1 gene obtained from Jinghai yellow chicken

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) plays an important role in the control of reproductive functions. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of GnRH molecular variants in numerous species. In this study, the GnRH1 gene from Jinghai yellow chicken was cloned by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and transformed into BL21 (DE3) competent cells. The GnRH1 gene and amino acid sequences were subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The GnRH1 gene nucleotide sequence was discovered to be 352 bp long, containing a coding, promoter, and section of the 3'-regions. The GnRH1 gene shared 93, 81, 54, 58, 61, 76, 76, 59, 76, and 66% sequence identity with Meleagris gallopavo, Columba livia, Homo sapiens, Bos taurus, swines, Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Pantholops hodgsonii, Equus caballus, and Rattus norvegicus, respectively. The GnRH1 gene showed conserved domains. The GnRH1 protein was a secreted protein comprising 92 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 10205.6 Da and a theoretical pI of 5.67. Most of the amino acid residues were observed to be hydrophilic, indicating water solubility. The predicted secondary structures of proteins included α-helices (h; 23.08%), β-extensions (e; 10.92%), and random coils (c; 66.0%). The successful construction of prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-GnRH1 was confirmed by restriction and sequence analysis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the successful expression of recombinant plasmid in Escherichia coli BL21 (molecular weight = 25-28 kDa). Larger quantities of protein were expressed in supernatant, indicating greater expression in soluble form. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of the target protein.

Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities: the PILI 'Ohana Project

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders experience a high prevalence of overweight/obesity. The Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention (DPP-LI) was translated into a 3-month community-based intervention to benefit these populations. The weight loss and other clinical and behavioral outcomes of the translated DPP-LI and the socio-demographic, behavioral, and biological factors associated with the weight loss were examined. A total of 239 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults completed the translated DPP-LI through four community-based organizations (CBOs). Changes from pre- to post-intervention assessments in weight, blood pressure, physical functioning, exercise frequency, and fat in diet were measured. Significant improvements on all variables were found, with differences observed across the four CBOs. CBOs with predominately Native Hawaiian and ethnically homogenous intervention groups had greater weight loss. General linear modeling indicated that larger baseline weight and CBO predicted weight loss. The translated DPP-LI can be effective for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, especially when socio-cultural, socio-economic, and CBO-related contextual factors are taken into account.

Hydrogeo-chemical impacts of air sparging remediation on a semi-confined aquifer: evidences from field monitoring and modeling

Air sparging (AS) was explored for remediation of a petroleum contaminated semi-confined groundwater system in NE China. Physical, hydro-chemical and hydraulic behaviors in subsurface environment during AS were investigated with support of modeling to understand the hydrogeo-chemical impacts of AS on the aquifer. The responses of groundwater, dissolved oxygen and temperature indicated that the radius of influence of AS was up to 8-9 m, and a 3D boundary of the zone of influence (ZOI) was accordingly obtained with volume of 362 m(3). Water mounding unlike normal observations was featured by continuous up-lift and blocked dissipation. AS induced water displacement was calculated showing no obvious spreading of contaminant plume under this AS condition. Slug tests were employed before and after AS to reveal that the physical perturbation led to sharp increase in permeability and porosity. Modeling indicated that the regional groundwater flow field was not affected by AS except the physical perturbation in ZOI. Hydro-chemically increase of pH and Eh, and reduction of TDS, electrical conductivity and bicarbonate were observed in ZOI during AS. PHREEQC modeling inferred that these chemical phenomena were induced by the inorganic carbon transfer during air mixing.

Effect of an exon 1 mutation in the myostatin gene on the growth traits of the Bian chicken

Myostatin (MSTN), or growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily. This family functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and growth in mammals. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in exon 1 of the Bian chicken myostatin gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. A mutation (c.234G>A) in exon 1 was found. Female Bian chickens of genotypes AA and GA had significantly higher body weights than those of genotype GG (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) from 6 to 18 weeks of age. These results suggested that the mutation c.234G>A in exon 1 could be used as a genetic marker for Bian chicken growth traits.