LncRNA-mediated cell autophagy: An emerging field in bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

In recent years, research on the mechanism of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has remained in the initial stages, and the mechanism has not been fully elucidated to date. Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in RA bone destruction via autophagy, but the specific regulatory mechanism of lncRNA-mediated autophagy is unclear. Therefore, in this article, we review the mechanisms of lncRNA-mediated autophagy in fibroblast-like synoviocytes and chondrocytes in RA bone destruction. We explain that lncRNAs mediate autophagy and participate in many specific pathological processes of RA bone destruction by regulating signalling pathways and the expression of target genes. Specific lncRNAs can be used as markers for molecular diagnosis, mechanistic regulation, treatment and prognosis of RA.

[Plurihormonal PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: a clinicopathological study]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of plurihormonal PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. Methods: Forty-eight plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors were collected between January 2018 and April 2022 from the pathological database of Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University. The related clinical and imaging data were retrieved. H&E, immunohistochemical and special stains were performed. Results: Out of the 48 plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors included, 13 cases were mature PIT1-lineage tumors and 35 cases were immature PIT1-lineage tumors. There were some obvious clinicopathological differences between the two groups. Clinically, the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor mostly had endocrine symptoms due to increased hormone production, while a small number of immature PIT1-lineage tumors had endocrine symptoms accompanied by low-level increased serum pituitary hormone; patients with the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were younger than the mature PIT1-lineage tumors; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were larger in size and more likely invasive in imaging. Histopathologically, the mature PIT1-lineage tumors were composed of large eosinophilic cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors consisted of chromophobe cells with a relatively higher expression of prolactin; the mature PIT1-lineage tumors had consistently diffuse cytoplasmic positive staining for keratin, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors had various expression for keratin; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors showed more mitotic figures and higher Ki-67 proliferation index; in addition, 25.0% (12/48) of PIT1-positive plurihormonal tumors showed abnormal positive staining for gonadotropin hormones. There was no significant difference in the progression-free survival between the two groups (P=0.648) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusions: Plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor belongs to a rare type of PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, most of which are of immature lineage. Clinically increased symptoms owing to pituitary hormone secretion, histopathologically increased number of eosinophilic tumor cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, diffusely cytoplasmic keratin staining and low proliferative activity can help differentiate the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors from the immature PIT1-lineage tumors. The immature PIT1-lineage tumors have more complicated clinicopathological characteristics.

[Preliminary observation on the clinical application of rehabilitation support for lumbar disc herniation based on 3D printing technology]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the important effect of 3D printing personalized lumbar support on lumbar pain and lumbar function in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

METHODS

From October 2018 to May 2021, 60 patients initially diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 patients in each group. Among them, there were 18 males and 12 females in the observation group;the age ranged from 24 to 56 years old, with an average of (45.23±6.07) years old. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average of(6.25±0.82) months, and rehabilitation treatment was carried out by wearing 3D printed personalized lumbar support. There were 19 males and 11 females in the control group;the age ranged from 25 to 57 years old, with an average of (42.78±7.58) years old. The course of disease ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average of (6.72±1.36) months, and rehabilitation treatment is carried out by wearing traditional lumbar protective equipment. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, lumbar Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated and compared between the two groups before and 1 course after treatment (3 weeks).

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in JOA, ODI, and VAS between two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After one course of treatment (3 weeks), JOA scores of both groups was increased compared to before treatment (P<0.05), while ODI and VAS decreased compared to before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, JOA score of observation group was higher than that of control group (P<0.05), while ODI and VAS scores were lower than those of control group. No adverse events occurred in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The application of 3D printing personalized lumbar support can effectively alleviate the pain of patients with lumbar disc herniation and improve their lumbar function of patients.

[Urban-rural disparities of depression symptoms and its influencing factors among the elderly aged ≥65 years old in Anhui Province from 2019 to 2020]

Objective: To analyze the difference in depression symptoms and influencing factors between urban and rural elderly people aged ≥65 years old in Anhui Province. Methods: Based on the data from a survey of 68 communities in Anhui Province that implemented the National Elderly Psychological Care Project from 2019 to 2020, the current status of depression symptoms in the elderly was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The difference in the detection rate of depression symptoms between urban and rural elderly people with different characteristics was compared by using the χ2 test. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the relevant factors of depression symptoms in urban and rural elderly people. Results: A total of 15 532 elderly people aged≥65 years old were included in the survey. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 7.12%, which was higher in rural areas (9.08%) than in urban areas (6.48%). Logistic regression showed that chronic diseases were risk factors for depressive symptoms in elderly people from both urban and rural areas. Positive attitudes towards aging and good mental resilience were protective factors for depressive symptoms in elderly people. Having hobby (OR=0.64, 95%CI: 0.45-0.91), good relationship with children (OR=0.56, 95%CI: 0.41-0.76), good relationship with spouse (OR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.37-0.71), and having at least 6 friends (OR=0.48, 95%CI: 0.32-0.71) were the protective factors for depressive symptoms in urban elderly people. A good relationship with neighbors (OR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.41-0.82) and having 1-2 friends (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.25-0.64) were the protective factors for depressive symptoms in rural elderly people. Women (OR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.06-2.10) and higher education level (OR=1.81, 95%CI: 1.19-2.74, compared with illiterate/semi-illiterate in primary school; OR=2.94, 95%CI: 1.82-4.76, compared with illiterate/semi-illiterate in junior high school and above) were the risk factors for depressive symptoms in rural elderly people. Conclusion: There are differences between urban and rural areas in depressive symptoms among elderly people in Anhui Province. The detection rate of depression symptoms among rural elderly people is higher, and the influencing factors of depressive symptoms between urban and rural elderly people are also different, which should be treated specifically in the implementation of intervention measures.

[Heat-tonifying acupuncture relieves pain and synovial inflammatory injury by regulating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/ HO-1 signaling pathway in rabbits with cold syndrome type rheumatoid arthritis]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of heat-tonifying needling on Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/HO-1 signal transduction pathway in knee synovium in rabbits with cold syndrome type rheumatoid arthritis (RA), so as to explore its mechanisms underl-ying improvement of RA.

METHODS

New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal control, RA model, uniform reinforcing-reducing acupuncture, twisting reinforcing acupuncture and heat-tonifying acupuncture groups, with 6 rabbits in each group. The cold syndrome type RA model was established by subcutaneous injection of mixture fluid of ovalbumin and Freund's complete adjuvant at the shoulder-back as well as injection of mixture of ovalbumin and normal saline into knee-joint cavity combined with ice-compress freezing. Acupuncture stimulation (uniform reinforcing-reducing, or twisting reinforcing or heat-tonifying) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) for 1 min with the needle retained for 30 min, once a day for 7 consecutive days. The general conditions of rabbits in each group were recorded, the thermal pain threshold (TPT) and perimeter of knee joints was measured. Conditions of the synovium in the knee cavity, hydrops, blood flow signal, articular surface, and related muscles were observed by using a color Doppler ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and the blood flow signals inside the synovium (image scores) were divided into 0 (no signals), I (1 or 2 dot-like signal), II (less than half) ad III (more than half). After H.E. staining, the pathological changes (0-3 points) were assessed according to the state of inflammatory cell infiltration, and hyperplasia of synovial matrix and coating cells. The expression levels of Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1 and GSH-PX1 mRNAs in the knee synovium were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, and the expression of knee synovial HO-1 protein was measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

In comparison with the normal control group, the model group had a significant increase in the perimeter, pathological score, expression of Nrf2, HO-1 mRNAs and HO-1 protein (P<0.05), and an obvious decrease in the TPT, expression levels of Keap1 and GSH-PX1 mRNAs (P<0.05). Relevant to the model group, all the three acupuncture maneuvers reversed modeling-induced increase of perimeter and pathological score (P<0.05), decrease of TPT and expression of GSH-PX1 mRNA(P<0.05), further down-regulated expression of Keap1 mRNA (P<0.05), further up-regulated the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 mRNAs and HO-1 protein (P<0.05). The heat-reinforcing manipulation was significantly superior to uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing manipulations in up-regulating TPT, and expression of Nrf2 mRNA, GSH-PX1 mRNA, HO-1 mRNA and protein (P<0.05), and in down-regulating pathological score and Keap1 mRNA expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Heat-tonifying, uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing needling manipulations may relieve pain and improve pathological state in RA rabbits, which may be associated with their functions in raising the ability of anti-oxidative stress by regulating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE/ HO-1 signaling pathway, the therapeutic effect of heat-tonifying needling is superior to that of uniform reinforcing-reducing and twirling reinforcing needling.

Functional Characterization, Structural Basis, and Regio-Selectivity Control of a Promiscuous Flavonoid 7,4′-di-O-glycosyltransferase from Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa

A highly efficient and promiscuous 7,4′-di-O-glycosyltransferase ZjOGT3 was discovered from the medicinal plant Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. ZjOGT3 could sequentially catalyse 4′- and 7-O-glycosylation of flavones to produce 7,4′-di-O-glycosides with...

[A cross-sectional study of prevalence of chronic kidney disease and related factors in adults in Anhui province]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related factors in adults in Anhui province based on the data of Chinese Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance program (2018) in Anhui. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select participants aged ≥18 years. Moreover, questionnaire survey, body measurements and laboratory tests were conducted. The complex weighting method was used to estimate the prevalence of CKD in residents with different characteristics, and complex sampling data logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis to identify related risk factors. Results: A total of 7 181 participants were included. The overall prevalence of CKD was 11.06% in adults in Anhui, and the prevalence was 12.49% in women and 9.59% in men (P<0.05). The moderate, high and very high risk for CKD progression were 8.66%, 2.02% and 0.38%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR=1.03, 95%CI: 1.00-1.05), BMI (OR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), being woman (OR=1.38,95%CI: 1.22-1.55), hypertension (OR=2.50, 95%CI: 1.76-3.56), diabetes (OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.51-3.43), dyslipidemia (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.11-1.43) and hyperuricemia (OR=2.16, 95%CI: 1.68-2.78) were risk factors for CKD. Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD in adults in Anhui was relatively high and age, gender, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were found to be associated with the prevalence of CKD. To prevent CKD and its complications, attention should be paid to the management of related risk factors, including overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia.

China rheumatoid arthritis registry of patients with Chinese medicine (CERTAIN): Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the first 11,764 enrollees

BACKGROUND

Chinese medicine (CM) has become a popular interventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, limited knowledge about general characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes hampers the development of CM for RA.

PURPOSE

The main objectives of the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) were to describe the population of RA patients receiving CM treatment in multiple centers in China using different variables and compare these findings with internationally reported data.

STUDY DESIGN

The CERTAIN is a prospective, multicenter, observational disease registry.

METHODS

Adult RA patients who fulfilled the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for RA and received CM treatment were recruited into the CERTAIN by rheumatologists from 145 hospitals across 30 provinces in China. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, comorbidities, treatments, and adverse events, with a 2-year follow-up, were collected and documented using a predefined protocol.

RESULTS

In the 2 years since the study began in September 2019, 11,764 patients have been enrolled (enrolment is ongoing), and 13.10% of participants have completed the 6-month follow-up. We present the baseline characteristics of the first 11,764 enrollees.

CONCLUSIONS

The CERTAIN is the first nationwide registry to document comprehensive data on CM treatment in patients with RA. The development of the CERTAIN resource is a significant step forward for Chinese RA patients, herbal medicine users, and research communities and will deepen our understanding of CM for RA.

REGISTRATION

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05219214).

GuRhaGT, a highly specific saponin 2''-O-rhamnosyltransferase from Glycyrrhiza uralensis

A highly regio- and donor-specific 2''-O-rhamnosyltransferase GuRhaGT was characterised from the medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis. GuRhaGT could efficiently catalyse rhamnosylation at 2''-OH of the C-3 glycosyl moiety of triterpenoid saponins.

The investigation of the luminescent structure of thallium-doped cesium iodide (CsI:Tl) basing on the first-principles coupled with spectral analysis

The luminescent structure of thallium-doped cesium iodide (CsI:Tl) and the behavior of electrons during luminescence are studied at great length based on the conventional first-principles calculation combined with ordinary spectroscopic analysis befittingly in this work. The hybrid functionals based on a screened Coulomb potential (HSE) is used to visualize the energy band structure of the experimental sample's system, and the corresponding relationship between the transition behavior of CsI:Tl energy levels and the spectrum is studied more accurately. We show the complete energy conversion process clearly, which involves the crystal beginning to receive the energy of a photon until the moment of de-excitation. All the fluorescence process is completed by Tl⁺ions that replace Cs⁺ions. Our results verify and complement the previous theories and potentially provide important references for the adjustment and design of the detectors and imaging equipment in different fields.

A highly selective 2''-O-glycosyltransferase from Ziziphus jujuba and De novo biosynthesis of isovitexin 2''-O-glucoside

A novel and efficient 2''-O-glycosyltransferase ZjOGT38 was identified from Ziziphus jujuba. It could regio-selectively glycosylate 2-hydroxyflavanone C-glycosides. ZjOGT38 allowed de novo biosynthesis of isovitexin 2''-O-glucoside in E. coli.

GPNMB overexpression is associated with extensive bone metastasis and poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) promotes bone metastasis (BM) in various types of cancer. However, GPNMB expression and its function in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and BM is still unknown. Therefore, the clinical significance of GPNMB and its biological function in RCC with BM was investigated in the present study. A total of 31 patients with RCC and BM were retrospectively collected. The association between GPNMB protein expression level on the primary tumor and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to investigate the association between GPNMB expression and the prognosis of the patients. The effects of GPNMB inhibition on cell proliferation, migration and invasion in RCC cells were investigated using short hairpin (sh)RNA. High GPNMB expression level was significantly associated with the number (P=0.001) and the extent of BM (P=0.001), Fuhrman grade (P=0.037), and ERK expression level (P=0.003) of the primary tumor. In addition, GPNMB overexpression was significantly associated with poor prognosis with respect to overall survival time (P=0.001). Furthermore, a specific shRNA sequence targeting the GPNMB gene was constructed and transduced into the ACHN cell line, using a lentivirus vector to obtain a stable cell line with low mRNA expression level of GPNMB. Low GPNMB expression level inhibited RCC cell proliferation, which was measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Cell migration and invasion ability was significantly decreased in GPNMB knockdown RCC cells compared with that in cells transduced with the negative control shRNA. In addition, the protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK were lower in the GPNMB shRNA-transduced ACHN cells compared with those in the control cells. Therefore, these results suggested that GPNMB plays an important role in tumor progression in RCC with BM. Furthermore, it might serve as a predictive marker for BM and as a poor prognostic factor in RCC with BM. GPNMB downregulation suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of the RCC cells, which may be mediated through the inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway.

Functional Characterization and Protein Engineering of a Triterpene 3-/6-/2'-O-Glycosyltransferase Reveal a Conserved Residue Critical for the Regiospecificity

Engineering the function of triterpene glucosyltransferases (GTs) is challenging due to the large size of the sugar acceptors. In this work, we identified a multifunctional glycosyltransferase AmGT8 catalyzing triterpene 3-/6-/2'-O-glycosylation from the medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus. To engineer its regiospecificity, a small mutant library was built based on semi-rational design. Variants A394F, A394D, and T131V were found to catalyze specific 6-O, 3-O, and 2'-O glycosylation, respectively. The origin of regioselectivity of AmGT8 and its A394F variant was studied by molecular dynamics and hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Residue 394 is highly conserved as A/G and is critical for the regiospecificity of the C- and O-GTs TcCGT1 and GuGT10/14. Finally, astragalosides III and IV were synthesized by mutants A394F, T131V and P192E. This work reports biocatalysts for saponin synthesis and gives new insights into protein engineering of regioselectivity in plant GTs.

Clinical Efficacy of Cortex Daphnes (Zushima) Patch in Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multicenter Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is imposing substantial burdens on individuals and society with the aging population. Cortex Daphnes patch is widely used for symptomatic knee OA in China with a satisfying clinical efficacy; however, there is scant clinical evidence supporting its use. To evaluate its efficacy, we conducted a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized, parallel-group study comparing Cortex Daphnes patch with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with knee OA (NCT02770950).

Methods: A total of 264 symptomatic knee OA patients were treated with Cortex Daphnes or indomethacin cataplasms applied to affected sites once daily for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was improvement in knee pain on walking as assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). The non-inferiority margin based on the full analysis population was set as –5 mm on the pain VAS. The secondary outcomes were changes of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score, WOMAC scores for pain, function and stiffness, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and global assessment of knees by the patients. Responder rates for pain VAS, WOMAC total score, and WOMAC pain were also included in the secondary outcomes.

Results: The Cortex Daphnes patch was non-inferior to indomethacin cataplasms for the primary outcome with a group difference (Cortex Daphnes patch–indomethacin cataplasm) of 2.1 mm (95% confidence interval: 2.1–6.4); similar results were found in the per-protocol population. For all other outcomes, no significant differences were found in the full analysis set or in the per-protocol analysis set, except the responder rates for WOMAC pain was higher in the Cortex Daphnes patch group than in the indomethacin cataplasm group (78.4 vs. 64.7%, p = 0.022) in the per-protocol analysis set. Overall, 28.8% patients in the Cortex Daphnes patch group and 9.8% in the indomethacin cataplasm group reported treatment-related adverse events, the vast majority of which were mild-to-moderate skin irritation, resulting in only 3.8 and 0.8% of patients dropping out, respectively.

Conclusion: The Cortex Daphnes patch, which provides satisfactory analgesic efficacy and enhances the physical function of the knee, as well as improving quality of life, may be a promising alternative to knee OA.

Interaction Between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Polymorphisms and Environment with Susceptibility to Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Population

Aims:

To investigate the association of several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and additional gene–environment interaction with ischemic stroke (IS) risk.

Methods:

Testing for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in controls was conducted using SNPstats (online software: http://bioinfo.iconcologia.net/SNPstats). Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to screen the best interaction combination among four SNPs within MTHFR gene and smoking or alcohol drinking.

Results:

The frequency of the rs4846049-A allele was 28.6% in IS patients and 19.1% in normal controls, in addition, the frequency of the rs3737967-T allele was 27.9% in IS patients and 20.3% in normal controls, which was also indicating a statistically significant difference. The rs4846049-A and rs3737967-T were associated with an increased risk of IS risk; adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 1.76 (1.28–2.13) and 1.51 (1.13–1.97), respectively. GMDR model found significant gene–alcohol drinking interaction combination, but no significant gene–tobacco smoking interaction combinations. In order to obtain the odds ratios and 95% CI for the joint effects of gene–alcohol drinking on IS, we conducted stratified analysis for interaction effect using logistic regression. We found that alcohol drinkers with rs4846049-CA/AA genotype also have the highest IS risk, compared with never drinkers with rs4846049-CC genotype, OR (95% CI) = 3.12 (1.83–4.45), after adjustment for age, smoke, and smoking status.

Conclusions:

The rs4846049-A and rs3737967-T, gene–environment interaction between rs1764391 and rs918592, gene–environment interaction between rs4846049 and alcohol drinking were all associated with increased IS risk.

[Association between occupational stress and carotid atherosclerosis among the workers in a steel plant]

Objective: To investigate the association between occupational stress and carotid atherosclerosis among the workers in a steel plant. Methods: In October 2018, a total of 2947 workers from a steel plant, who underwent occupational health examination in the center for occupational health examination from March to May 2017, were selected as subjects. Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) were used to investigate the job content and the degree of occupational stress. According to the results of carotid artery examination, the subjects were divided into normal carotid artery group with 2013 workers, increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) group with 277 workers, stable plaque group with 236 workers, and unstable plaque group with 421 workers. A unified questionnaire was distributed to each group, and related physical and biochemical examinations were performed. A multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors for unstable plaque. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in sex, educational level, marital status, work in shifts, smoking, drinking, age, and working years (P<0.05) , while there was no significant difference in exercise between groups (P>0.05) . Based on the JCQ score, 761 (25.8%) had no stress, 959 (32.5%) had mild stress, 699 (23.7%) had moderate stress, and 528 (17.9%) had severe stress; based on the ERI score, 2526 (85.7%) had high effort and low reward and 421 (14.3%) did not have the high-effort and low-reward conditions. There was a significant difference in the composition of JCQ and ERI scores between groups (P<0.05) . Moderate stress (odds ratio [OR]=1.695) , severe stress (OR=5.443) , ERI (OR=7.391) , work in shift (OR=1.784) , old age (OR=1.009) , high systolic blood pressure (OR=1.105) , high fasting blood glucose (OR=1.212) , abnormal total cholesterol (OR=3.693) , abnormal apolipoprotein B (OR=39.215) , and abnormal high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR=1.632) were the risk factors for unstable plaque. Conclusion: Occupational stress may be involved in the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

Genetic Diversity of Colletotrichum spp. Causing Strawberry Anthracnose in Zhejiang, China

Anthracnose is a serious fungal disease that primarily infects strawberry roots and stolons during development. Here, 91 isolates from different areas of Zhejiang province, China, were collected. Morphological characteristics were analyzed, and a phylogenetic analysis based on multiple genes (actin, internal transcribed spacer, calmodulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and chitin synthase) was performed. We found that all of the Colletotrichum species causing strawberry anthracnose belonged to the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex. Among them, we identified 48 isolates of C. fructicola, 21 isolates of C. siamense, 13 isolates of C. gloeosporioides, and 9 isolates of C. aenigma. C. siamense was distributed in the central and eastern regions of Zhejiang province (Hangzhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing, Ningbo, and Taizhou). This is the first report of C. siamense causing strawberry anthracnose in Zhejiang province. C. fructicola was the most dominant species causing strawberry anthracnose in Zhejiang province. We identified the four species causing strawberry anthracnose in Zhejiang province, which will improve our understanding of the strawberry anthracnose epidemic and will benefit the development of future control measures.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma patients with bone metastases]

Objective: To determine the status of bone metastasis (BM) and prognosis factors of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in our center. Methods: The clinical and medical records of RCC patients with BM, who were admitted to the Department of Urology, Bone Oncology and Spine Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from August 2009 to August 2017 were collected. The gender, age, time of BM, location of BM, numbers of BM, presence or absence of visceral metastasis, pathological types of BM were investigated. The patients were followed up regularly, and the survival curves were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the prognostic factors. Results: A total of 51 RCC patients with bone metastasis were collected. The age of patients ranged from 38 to 76 (58.6±8.2) years old, including 39 males (76.5%) and 12 females (23.5%). The ratio of male to female was 3.25∶1. The patients were followed up for 8 to 109 months, with a median follow-up time of 30 months. The follow-up rate was 90.2%. Thirty-one (60.8%) patients died at the last follow-up, with a median overall survival (OS) time of 25 months. The median OS was 38 months and 20 months in the solitary BM group (26 cases, 51.0%) and BM ≥ 2 group (25 cases, 49.0%), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.021). The median OS was 30 months, 69 months and 17 months in the axis BM group (22 cases, 43.1%), appendicular BM group (19 cases, 37.3%) and both the axis and appendicular BM group (10 cases, 19.6%), respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P=0.012). The median OS was 22 months and 38 months in the patients with (15 cases, 29.4%) and without (36 cases, 70.6%) visceral metastases groups, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.007). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the numbers of BM (HR=3.130, 95%CI: 1.502-6.520, P=0.035) and visceral metastasis (HR=4.699, 95%CI: 1.810-9.545, P=0.001) were independent prognostic factors for RCC with BM. Conclusions: Solitary BM, no visceral metastasis are good prognostic factors for RCC with BM. For these patients, radical resection of BM is feasible to improve survival rate.

[Effects of the frequency and amount of drip irrigation on yield, tuber quality and water use efficiency of potato in sandy soil of Yulin, northern Shaanxi, China]

Reasonable irrigation is still lacking for potato production in the sandy areas of Yulin, northern Shaanxi Province. To solve this problem, field drip fertigation was conducted to examine the growth, yield and quality of potato during the whole growing season. We further analyzed the responses of these indices to different irrigation frequencies and amounts. There were three irrigation frequencies (d), i.e. 4 (D₁), 8 (D₂) and 10 (D₃), and three irrigation amounts, i.e. 60%ET_c (W₁), 80%ET_c(W₂) and 100%ET_c(W₃), where ET_c was the crop water requirement, resulting in a total of nine treatments. Under the same irrigation frequency, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter, tuber yield and economic benefits of W₃ were higher than those of W₁ and W₂. W₁ had the highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), while water use efficiency was not significantly affected by irrigation amount. The average tuber yield of W₃ was 43442 kg·hm^-2, which was 23.3% and 11.6% higher than that of W₁ and W₂, respectively. The net income of W₃ was 23492 yuan·hm^-2, which was 40.4% and 18.7% higher than that of W₁ and W₂, respectively. Tubers from W₃ had the highest starch and vitamin C contents but the lowest reducing sugar content, which were 14.4%, 18.54 mg·(100 g)^-1 FW and 0.7%, respectively. At the same irrigation amount, tuber yield, IWUE, starch and vitamin C contents of D₁ were the highest, but the reducing sugar content was the lowest at the low and medium irrigation amounts. At the high irrigation amount, D₂ had the highest tuber yield, IWUE, net income, starch and vitamin C contents but the lowest reducing sugar content, which were 46572 kg·hm^-2, 23.04 kg·m^-3, 26,622 yuan·hm^-2,14.6%, 19.53 mg·(100 g)^-1 FW and 0.7%, respectively. Based on the interacting effects of drip irrigation frequency and amount, both yield and quality of D₂W₃ reached the maximum. Results from the principal component analysis showed that D₂W₃ had the highest score. D₂W₃(8 d, 100%ET_c) had the greatest yield and quality and relatively higher water use efficiency, which was thus considered as the optimal combination of drip irrigation frequency and amount. The results could provide a scientific basis for the drip irrigation scheduling design for high-yield, high-efficiency and high-quality potato production in the sandy areas of Yulin, northern Shaanxi.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of needle-knife for dry mouth and eyes symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical efficacy of needle-knife and hydroxychloroquine sulfate in the treatment of dry mouth and eyes symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the observation group, needle-knife was used in the range of 2 cm and 2-3 cm below the occipital protuberance, the left and right lateral bone edges of the C₂ spinous process, between and within the range of 1.5-3 cm beside the C₃ and C₄ spinous processes, points between the left and right mandibular angle and the mastoid, the treatment was given 1 time a week for 8 times. The hydroxychloroquine sulfate was applied 0.2 g each time, 2 times daily, 4 weeks as a course and a total of 2 courses in the control group. The changes of salivary flow rate, tear volume, serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM contents and Chinese medicine symptom score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTS

The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7% (26/30), which was better than 70.0% (21/30) in the control group (P<0.05). The salivary flow rates, tear volume, serum IgG contents and Chinese medicine symptom scores in the two groups were significantly improved after treatment (all P<0.05), and the improvement degree in the observation group was better than the control group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in IgA and IgM between the two groups and before and after treatment (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Needle-knife is superior to hydroxychloroquine sulfate in improving dry mouth and eyes symptoms and reducing serum IgG content in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

[Single-stage repair of penile urethral stricture using combined dorsal onlay oral mucosa grafting with ventral onlay penile skin flap]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical effect of single-stage repair of penile urethral stricture using combined dorsal onlay oral mucosa grafting with ventral onlay penile skin flap.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical database of 22 male patients with penile urethral stricture who received single-stage repair using combined dorsal onlay oral mucosa grafting with ventral onlay penile skin flap from November 2015 to October 2018. All the cases had no complications, such as skin fistula. The causes of stricture included iatrogenic (14/22, 63.6%), inflammation (2/22, 9.1%) and idiopathic (6/22, 27.3%). A ventral urethrotomy was made in the segment of stricture and extended proximally and distally until the normal calibre urethra was encountered. The oral mucosa graft was secured to the corpus spongiosum in dorsal onlay fashion or underlying corpora cavernosum after resection of the severe scarred urethra. Then the prepared Orandi fasciocutaneous penile skin flap was secured to edges of corpus spongiosum or oral mucosa graft. A 16 F or 14 F Foley catheter was left in situ for a minimum of 3 weeks, at which time a urethrogram was performed to look for extravasation, and the urethroscopy was performed if necessary. Success was defined as an open urethra with Qmax≥15 mL/s and no need for further surgical intervention.

RESULTS

all the 22 patients with a mean age of 52.6 (18-73) years underwent the combined tissue-transfer technique. The mean length of the penile urethral stricture was 5.3 (2.5-10.0) cm and the mean preoperative Qmax was 6.7 mL/s. the mean length of oral mucosa grafts and fasciocutaneous skin flaps were 5.5 (3.2-10.5) cm and 6.0 (3.5-11.0) cm, respectively. The mean operation time was 225 (150-420) minutes and the mean evaluated blood loss was 53 (20.0-110.0) mL. The grafts included buccal mucosa (19/22, 86.4%) and lingual mucosa (3/22, 13.6%). The mean postoperative Q max was 21.2 (15-32) mL/s. A case of skin fistula and 2 cases of recurrent stricture were found, so the technique success rate was 81.8% (18/22) at a mean follow-up of 20.5 (5-51) months. The perioperative complications included 2 cases of infection and skin necrosis, which healed well after conservative treatment.

CONCLUSION

Single-stage repair of penile urethral stricture using combined dorsal onlay oral mucosa grafting with ventral onlay penile skin flap appears to be an excellent option to repair penile urethral stricture with unsalvageable urethral plate and the penile skin is available. The present clinical series showed a successful rate of 81.8% (18/22).

Removal of a broken acupuncture needle in retroperitoneum by laparoscopy: a case report

Background

Acupuncture is a famous traditional medicine in China, but the complications caused by broken acupuncture needles have been rarely reported. It seems easy to remove the foreign matters usually, but things become difficulty in special issues. Here, we reported a recently encountered case to provide an important teaching point of treating a chronically retained broken needle in retroperitoneum.

Case presentation

A 42-year-old man presented with a chronically retained broken needle in his body after acupuncture therapy two years ago. However, due to the discomfort at the left back recently and ordinary inconvenience such as security check, he came to our hospital for minimally invasive surgery. He was introduced to our department because the broken needle had migrated from subcutaneous to adipose tissue in retroperitoneum during the two years. Considering the position of the broken needle, the patient was performed by laparoscopy in general anesthesia. The operation time was about 31 min and there were only three 7 mm incisions in the left lateral abdominal wall. The X-ray exam was performed to confirm that the broken needle was removed integrally. The patients begun normal activity at 6 h after surgery and was discharged on the second day after surgery.

Conclusions

Acupuncture is widely used for pain treatment in China, but how to handle the complication of acupuncture needle broken in body are rarely reported. Laparoscopy will be the reasonable choice for treating needles broken in retroperitoneum.

Curcumin Inhibits Proliferation of Synovial Cells by Downregulating Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 in Osteoarthritis

Objective

To investigate the association between curcumin and the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in synovial tissues of osteoarthritis.

Methods

Microarray analysis was used to screen for the DEG in osteoarthritis synovial cells. Curcumin‐related genes were identified through the drug–gene interaction network STITCH (http://stitch.embl.de/cgi/input.pl). Expression levels of fibronectin 1 (FN1) and collagen III protein were measured by western blot. MTT assay was used to examine the effects of different concentrations of curcumin on cell viability. Western blot and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction were used to validate the different expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP3). Clone formation assay, flow cytometry, and the TUNEL method were conducted for detecting the cell proliferation and apoptosis rate.

Results

In the two chips of GSE1919 and GSE55235, the average expression of MMP3 in the osteoarthritis group was 63.7% and 12.9% higher than that of the healthy control, respectively. The results of western blot also showed that the average expression of MMP3 in 30 osteoarthritis patients was 132% higher than that of the healthy group, which confirmed that MMP3 was highly expressed in osteoarthritis group. The results of MTT showed that at 72 h, the cell viability of 40 μmol/L curcumin was the lowest and 79.6% lower than for the 0 μmol/L group, so the final curcumin concentration of 40 μmol/L was selected for subsequent experiments. Western blot results further showed that the expression of MMP3 was 44% lower in the untreated groups compared with the curcumin group, and the expressions of FN1 and collagen III were increased by 112% and 84%, respectively, which indicated that curcumin inhibited MMP3 expression and decreased osteoarthritis synovial cell activity. Cloning formation experiments showed that cell numbers increased by 75% and 20.5% in untreated and curcumin groups, and compared with the untreated group, the cells in the curcumin group decreased by 30.8%. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rate in the curcumin group increased by 85.1% compared with the untreated group, but for a single group, MMP3 decreased the apoptotic rate by 53.9% and 46.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

MMP3 was highly expressed in osteoarthritis synovial cells. Curcumin could reduce cell viability, inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell apoptosis, and eventually alleviate inflammation of osteoarthritis by inhibiting the expression of MMP3.

[Clinical significance of continuous transfixion suture for nasal septum in septoplasty]

Objective:To systemically evaluate the clinical significance of continuous transfixion suture for nasal septum in septoplasty. Method:Forty patients with nasal septum deviation were randomly assigned to the suture group including 20 patients who underwent endoscopic septoplasty followed by continuous transfixion suture for nasal septum, or the nasal packing group including 20 patients who underwent endoscopic septoplasty followed by nasal packing. Two groups were compared for the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for postoperative rhinalgia, headache, lacrimation, dysphagia and sleep disorder, changes in mucociliary transport time (MTT) before and after surgery, and postoperative capillary hemorrhage. Patients were followed up for 2 weeks to observe the short-term postoperative complications. Result:Mean VAS scores for rhinalgia, headache, lacrimation, dysphagia and sleep disorder were all higher in nasal packing group than those in suture group (P<0.05); compared to suture group, there was greater prolongation of MTT before and after surgery in packing group (P<0.05); there was significant difference between two groups in postoperative capillary hemorrhage volume (P<0.05); in the nasal packing group, nasal synechia, nasal dryness and hyposmia were observed in 1, 3 and 2 patients, respectively, within 2 weeks postoperatively, whereas no short-term complications were observed in the suture group. Conclusion:Use of continuous transfixion suture in place of nasal packing following septoplasty can significantly improve the postoperative symptoms, protect nasal mucociliary clearance, and reduce short-term postoperative complications.

[Value discussion of radical sinus surgery for difficult-to-treat rhinosinusitis]

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radical sinus surgery (RSS) on difficult-to-treat rhinosinusitis(DTRS) with nasal polyps. Method: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 26 patients with DTRS that treated with RSS and patients who were not treated with RSS in our hospital from August 2013 to June 2017.The effect of RSS were evaluated by comparing the CT Lund-Kennery score,endoscope Lund-Kennery score,global VAS score and dysosmia VAS score before operation and 6 months after operation. Result: RSS group had more severe Lund-Kennery score,global VAS score and dysosmia VAS score than non-RSS group,and also had more previous surgeries,higher ratio of olfactory region polyps,and higher ratio of co-existing asthma and allergic rhinitis. However RSS group had a lower ratio with pus anot than non-RSS group. The eosinophil count in periheral blood between two groups had no statistical significance. Six months after RSS,the score of endoscope Lund-Kennery,global VAS and dysosmia VAS dependence. 14 patients were successfully cured(53.8%), 12 patients showed improvement(46.2%), no invalid cases. Conclusion: The global symptoms and olfaction of DTRS patients can be improved by RSS combine individual perioperative drug therapy.

[Comprehensive evaluation on disease burden of injury and improvement of the related evidence system on injury prevention]

With rapid social and economic development in this country, injury has become one of the three major health issues with public concern. To reduce the burden of diseases as disability and medical treatment that caused by injury also became important in public health. Programs related to comprehensive evaluation on disease burden caused by injury and evidence-based strategies on injury-related prevention became substantially important. Our article- "The Disease Burden caused by Injury" , we involved a series of papers based on the systematic databases which focusing on the current status and the change of types of injuries in the Chinese population. Hopefully, it could provide key clues for the development of injury prevention and control programs in the future.

Let-7b regulates alpaca hair growth by downregulating ectodysplasin A

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), also known as anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, is characterized by the clinical manifestations of less sweat or no sweat, sparse or no hair, tooth agenesis and/or abnormal tooth morphology. The characteristics of alpaca ear hair differ from the back hair. The ectodysplasin A (EDA) signaling pathway has a regulatory effect on skin development and hair growth. The aim of the present study was to study the effects of EDA on alpaca hair growth by examining the mRNA and protein expression levels of EDA in alpaca ear and back skin by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. Results indicated that EDA expression was higher in the ear skin compared with the back skin. The expression levels of let‑7b in the skin of healthy alpacas varies; the difference between let‑7b expression levels of the ear and back have been reported to be >2‑fold, suggesting a role for let‑7b in the development of adult alpaca skin and hair follicles. A dual‑luciferase reporter vector was constructed to verify the targeting relationship between microRNA let‑7b and EDA, and the results revealed that EDA was a target gene of let‑7b. Alpaca skin fibroblasts were transfected with a let‑7b eukaryotic expression vector to investigate the regulatory relationship between let‑7b and EDA. The expression of EDA was decreased in the transfected group; immunocytochemical results demonstrated that the EDA protein was abundantly expressed in the fibroblast cytoplasm. EDA protein expression was weaker in the transfected cells than in the untransfected cells. These results suggested that EDA may serve a role in alpaca hair growth and is probably a target gene of let‑7b; let‑7b downregulated EDA mRNA and protein expressions, which suggested that let‑7b may regulate alpaca hair growth. These conclusions suggested that let‑7b may be associated with HED.

Retrospective review of the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary sequestration in 28 patients: surgery or endovascular techniques?

Background

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital pulmonary malformation. In this study, we aimed to retrospect and evaluate the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of PS in 28 patients at our institute.

Methods

The files of 28 patients with PS who were treated with surgery (21 cases) or endovascular intervention (7 cases) between May 2005 and June 2016 from a single institute were retrospectively reviewed. The following data of all patients were analyzed: age, sex, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, operative techniques, and treatment outcomes.

Results

Twenty-eight patients, 15 male and 13 female, with a median age of 42.5 underwent operative intervention for PS. Twenty-one patients showed preoperative symptoms including cough, expectoration, hemoptysis, chest and/or back pain, and fever. General chest computed tomography (CT) scanning; percutaneous needle biopsy, bronchoscopy, enhanced CT scanning, and CT angiography (CTA) were used as diagnostic methods. Twenty-one patients were diagnosed preoperatively by enhanced CT scanning and CTA; seven patients were confirmed by surgery. Twenty-one patients underwent surgery (15 cases via thoracotomy and 6 cases via video-assisted thoracic surgery), seven patients underwent interventional therapy (three cases via endovascular embolization and four cases via thoracic aortic endovascular stent-graft exclusion). Three patients had a complication in surgery group (intraoperative hemorrhage in two patients and postoperative hydropneumothorax in one patient) and two patients had post-embolization syndrome in interventional group (fever and pain at embolism site). During the follow-up period ranging from 6 to 84 months, no recurrences or further complications were observed in two groups.

Conclusions

Enhanced CT or CTA may be a potential approach for the diagnosis of PS. Surgical resection for PS is the major treatment approach. Endovascular embolization of PS could be considered when pulmonary lesion is small-sized. Endovascular exclusion could be used to treat combined arterial aneurysm and dissection of PS.

Rapid on-site evaluation of the development of resistance to quinone outside inhibitors in Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea, a typical "high-risk" pathogenic fungus that rapidly develops resistance to fungicides, affects more than 1,000 species of 586 plant genera native to most continents and causes great economic losses. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive assay of fungicide resistance development in B. cinerea populations is crucial for scientific management. In this study, we established a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) system for the monitoring and evaluation of the risk of development of B. cinerea resistance to QoI fungicides; the method uses two LAMP assays. The first assay detects G143A mutants of B. cinerea, which are highly resistance to QoI fungicides. BCbi143/144 introns in B. cinerea are then detected by the second assay. HNB acts as a visual LAMP reaction indicator. The optimum reaction conditions of the LAMP assays were 61 °C for 50 min, and the detection limit of the LAMP assays was 100 × 10-4 ng/μl. We directly pre-treated the field samples by using All-DNA-Fast-Out to extract DNA within ten minutes, then performed the LAMP assay to achieve one-step rapid detection. In conclusion, we established a rapid and sensitive LAMP assay system for resistance risk assessment and for monitoring QoI-resistance of B. cinerea in the field.

[Analysis on life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in China, 1990-2015]

Objective: To understand the life expectancy (LE) and health life expectancy (HALE) of Chinese during 1990-2015. Methods: Using the results of global burden of disease study 2015 (GBD 2015), we compared the Chinese LE and HALE in 2015 with those of other countries and analyzed the differences between LE and HALE in Chinese and the changes of LE and HALE during 1990-2015 at both national level and provincial level. Results: In 2015, the LE and the HALE of Chinese were 76.2 and 68.0 years, 4.4 and 5.2 years higher than the global averages, respectively. The LE and HALE were higher in women than in men. The high LE and HALE were observed in developed provinces or areas, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin and Guangdong, while the low LE and HALE were found in underdeveloped provinces, such as Tibet, Qinghai, Guizhou, Xinjiang and Yunnan. Between 1990 and 2015, the LE and HALE of Chinese increased substantially by 9.5 and 8.4 years, respectively. The increase of LE was greater than that of HALE at both national level and provincial level. Conclusion: LE and HALE of Chinese increased substantially from 1990 to 2015, but the differences among provinces were obvious.

[Water Quality Analysis of Beijing Segment of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project]

Water quality is the key problem that water management departments concern. Water quality of Beijing segment of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project is closely related to water security and social stability in Beijing. Since the connection of Beijing part in Middle Route of South-to-North Diversion Project, water quality data of Daning regulation and storage reservoir and Daning surge tank was collected, and water quality indexes including water temperature, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, chloride ion, sulfate, dissolved oxygen, permanganate index, pH, ammonia nitrogen, fluorine ion and total phosphorus, were monitored monthly. With variance analysis, water quality difference among different water sources of the South-to-North Water Diversion of Middle Route was analyzed. With factor analysis method, the water quality risk factors of Daning regulation and storage reservoir and Daning surge tank were identified. The results were as following, water from Hebei province had higher contents of nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, fluorine ion, chloride ion and sulfate than those of water from Danjiangkou reservoir, but the water quality was not as good as that from Danjiangkou reservoir. LSD difference test results showed that the dissolved oxygen, nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen of the water from Hebei province had significant differences (P<0.05) between flood season and non-flood season, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in pH of water from Danjiangkou reservoir between flood season and non-flood season, and the water quality of Danjiangkou reservoir was more stable than water from Heibei province. No matter in flood season or non-flood season, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) in pH, dissolved oxygen, permanganate index, total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen between the water from Danjiangkou reservoir and Heibei province, but there were significant differences (P<0.05) in nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, fluorine ion and sulfate ion and chloride ion. Contents of Nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, sulfate and chloride ion in 2015 (the mixture of water from Hebei province and Danjiangkou reservoir) in Daning regulation and storage reservoir were lower than those in 2012-2014 (water from Hebei province), and the water from Danjiangkou reservoir played a key role in dilution and adjustment of the water from Hebei province in Daning regulation and storage reservoir. The water quality differences test results between 2012-2014 and 2015 showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, fluorine ion, sulfate and chloride ion both in flood season and non-flood season, and the water quality of 2015 was better than that of 2012~2014 in non-flood season, but the differences of pH, dissolved oxygen, permanganate index, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen were not obvious (P<0.05). The difference test results between Daning regulation and storage reservoir and Daning surge tank showed that Permanganate index, total nitrogen, fluorine ion, sulfate and chloride ion had significant differences (P<0.05) both in flood season and non-flood season, and the contents of permanganate index, fluorine ion, sulfate and chloride ions in Daning regulation and storage reservoir were higher than those in Daning surge tank. The factor analysis results indicated that water quality potential risk factors both in Daning regulation and storage reservoir and Daning surge tank were mainly nitrogen, including ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen, and potential risk factors also included total phosphorus in Daning regulation and storage reservoir.

Alpaca fiber growth is mediated by microRNA let-7b via down-regulation of target gene FGF5

MicroRNAs are very small endogenous RNA molecules that play a crucial role in an array of biological processes, including regulation of skin morphogenesis. The microRNA let-7b is thought to modulate animal hair growth, by binding target genes that encode growth factors. Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) has been previously reported to be involved in the initiation of the catagen phase of hair growth. In this study, we combined previous reports with bioinformatic analysis techniques to identify and validate FGF5 and, using lucerifase assay, confirmed targeted binding of let-7b to FGF5. To investigate the interaction between let-7b and FGF5, alpaca skin fibroblasts were transfected with let-7b over-expression vectors, and then mRNA and protein expression levels of FGF5 and the gene encoding its receptor, FGFR1, were evaluated. Levels of FGF5 mRNA and protein were remarkably lower in transfected groups, as compared to controls. In summary, this study confirmed that let-7b acts as a regulator of skin morphogenesis, by directly targeting FGF5 and down-regulating its expression. It provides the evidence of hair growth regulated by miRNAs in animals and may have important applications in wool production.

Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify eligible studies. We included studies that compared cirrhotic patients who did or did not use PPIs. The primary outcome was SBP, and the secondary outcome was overall bacterial infection. Results were pooled using random-effect models. This process led to identification of 12 journal articles and 5 conference abstracts. The pooled data showed that PPI use in patients with cirrhosis and ascites was significantly associated with an increased risk of SBP [odds ratio (OR) = 2.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.46-3.23; P < 0.05; I2 = 85.6%] and overall risk of bacterial infection (OR = 1.98; 95%CI = 1.36-2.87; P < 0.05; I2 = 0). Subgroup analysis revealed that journal articles and studies reporting adjusted effect estimates demonstrated that PPI users had a significantly increased risk of SBP (OR = 2.13; 95%CI = 1.61-2.82; P < 0.05; I2 = 29.4%; and OR = 1.98; 95%CI = 1.42-2.77; P < 0.05; I2 = 67%, respectively). In conclusion, PPI use increased the risk of SBP and overall bacterial infection in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. PPIs should be administered after careful assessment of the indications in cirrhotic patients. Future well-designed prospective studies are warranted to clarify the dose relationships and to compare infection risks associated with different classes of PPIs.

Raman Measurement of Heat Transfer in Suspended Individual Carbon Nanotube

The excellent thermal performance of carbon nanotube (CNT) has been noticed long ago and attracted much attention. In the experiments, the electrical and thermal contact resistances remain the unsolved key problems causing undesirable measurement uncertainty. Recently, a micro-Raman spectroscopy technique has been applied to perform non-contact measurement for individual CNT, thus the contact resistances during the measurement process can be avoided. In this method, the temperature rise of CNT is a function of laser absorption probability and thermal properties, these parameters are coupled together. In this work, the thermal conductivity and optical absorption of the same CNT sample are decoupled and determined simultaneously. The thermal conductivity is obtained by measuring the temperature rise caused by a direct current heating, where the laser heating effect can be eliminated. Then the optical absorption is obtained by solving the heat transfer equation considering the thermal conductivity as a known parameter. The CNT sample is 24.8 µm in length and 3 nm in diameter. The measured thermal conductivity is 2630 Wm(-1)K(-1) and the optical absorption is 0.194%. The heat transfer coefficient is evaluated using a kinetic two-layer model, which has been proven by the previous experiment. Because the length of CNT is much larger than the size of the focused laser spot, the experimental result is insensitive to the contact resistances at the ends of CNT.

Conditional expression of the type 2 angiotensin II receptor in mesenchymal stem cells inhibits neointimal formation after arterial injury

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are an effective treatment for obstructive coronary artery diseases. However, the procedure's success is limited by remodeling and formation of neointima. In the present study, we engineered rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to express type 2 angiotensin II receptor (AT2R) using a tetracycline-regulated system that can strictly regulate AT2R expression. We tested the ability of the modified MSCs to reduce neointima formation following arterial injury. We subjected rats to balloon injury, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated no significant AT2R expression in normal rat arteries. Low expression of AT2R was observed at 28 days after balloon-induced injury. Interestingly, MSCs alone were unable to reduce neointimal hyperplasia after balloon-induced injury; after transplantation of modified MSCs, doxycycline treatment significantly upregulated neointimal AT2R expression and inhibited osteopontin mRNA expression, as well as neointimal formation. Taken together, these results suggest that transplantation of MSCs conditionally expressing AT2R could effectively suppress neointimal hyperplasia following balloon-induced injury. Therefore, MSCs with a doxycycline-controlled gene induction system may be useful for the management of arterial injury after PCI.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of novel cytochrome P450 cDNA fragments from Dastarcus helophoroides

The predatory beetle Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is a natural enemy of many longhorned beetles and is mainly distributed in both China and Japan. To date, no research on D. helophoroides P450 enzymes has been reported. In our study, for the better understanding of P450 enzymes in D. helophoroides, 100 novel cDNA fragments encoding cytochrome P450 were amplified from the total RNA of adult D. helophoroides abdomens using five pairs of degenerate primers designed according to the conserved amino acid sequences of the CYP6 family genes in insects through RT-PCR. The obtained nucleotide sequences were 250 bp, 270 bp, and 420 bp in length depending on different primers. Ninety-six fragments were determined to represent CYP6 genes, mainly from CYP6BK, CYP6BQ, and CYP6BR subfamilies, and four fragments were determined to represent CYP9 genes. Twenty-two fragments, submitted to GenBank, were selected for further homologous analysis, which revealed that some fragments of different sizes might be parts of the same P450 gene.

Comparative analysis of the composition of intestinal bacterial communities in Dastarcus helophoroides fed different diets

The diversity of the intestinal bacterial communities in Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) larvae and adults was assayed by PCR-DGGE to determine whether different artificial diets could influence these bacterial communities. Two diets were used for feeding the larvae and four for the adults. Escherichia, Desemzia, Staphylococcus, Asticcacaulis, Cellvibrio, Aurantimonas, and Planomicrobium were isolated from the gut of the adults, with Escherichia and Staphylococcus being the main bacterial communities, and the quantities of intestinal bacterial were different in the adults fed different diets. Specifically, the amount of intestinal bacteria from the adults fed different diets had the following ranking according to the major component of the diet: ant powder > darkling beetle pupa powder > cricket powder > silkworm pupa powder. Escherichia, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Kurthia, Planococcaceae, Ralstonia, Leptothrix, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas were isolated from the gut of the larvae. The quantity of intestinal bacteria from the larvae fed the darkling beetle pupae was greater than that from the larvae fed other artificial diets. This study, for the first time, investigated the effect of artificial diets on the bacterial community and the intestinal microbial diversity of D. helophoroides.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel P450 gene encoding CYP6BK18 from Dastarcus helophoroides (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae)

A novel cDNA clone encoding a cytochrome P450 gene, named CYP6BK18 (GenBank KC683905), was isolated by reverse transcription PCR from Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae), a natural enemy of beetles. The full-length cDNA sequence is 1,659 bp, containing a 1,533 bp open reading frame predicting a 510-amino acid protein possessing a transmembrane domain with a calculated molecular weight of 59.4 kDa and a theoretical pI of 8.94. The deduced amino acid sequence of CYP6BK18 showed a 59% identity with CYP6BK17 (GenBank XP_970481.1) from Tribolium castaneum. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CYP6BK18 was most closely related to CYP6BK17 and CYP6BK14 (GenBank EFA05731.1) from T. castaneum. Expression patterns of CYP6BK18 in different tissues (head, oviduct, midgut, fat bodies, and Malpighian tubules), developmental stages (first- to sixth-instar larvae and adult) and 10 age groups of adult were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The results showed that CYP6BK18 was highly expressed in adulthood. Also, RT-qPCR analysis among different age groups of adult showed that CYP6BK18 transcripts were abundant in the spawning period and peaked at the early stage of the adult development. Moreover, the tissue-specific expression levels of CYP6BK18 were in the order of midgut, Malpighian tubes and fatty body from high to low. These results suggest that cytochrome P450 CYP6BK18 may play a role in regulating the development and aging of D. helophoroides.

Comparative analysis of the composition of intestinal bacterial communities in Dastarcus helophoroides fed different diets

The diversity of the intestinal bacterial communities in Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) larvae and adults was assayed by PCR-DGGE to determine whether different artificial diets could influence these bacterial communities. Two diets were used for feeding the larvae and four for the adults. Escherichia, Desemzia, Staphylococcus, Asticcacaulis, Cellvibrio, Aurantimonas, and Planomicrobium were isolated from the gut of the adults, with Escherichia and Staphylococcus being the main bacterial communities, and the quantities of intestinal bacterial were different in the adults fed different diets. Specifically, the amount of intestinal bacteria from the adults fed different diets had the following ranking according to the major component of the diet: ant powder > darkling beetle pupa powder > cricket powder > silkworm pupa powder. Escherichia, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Kurthia, Planococcaceae, Ralstonia, Leptothrix, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas were isolated from the gut of the larvae. The quantity of intestinal bacteria from the larvae fed the darkling beetle pupae was greater than that from the larvae fed other artificial diets. This study, for the first time, investigated the effect of artificial diets on the bacterial community and the intestinal microbial diversity of D. helophoroides.

[Meta-analysis of needle-knife treatment on cervical spondylosis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of cervical spondylosis by needle-knife treatment according to the correlated literature of RCT,to compare advantages of needle-knife treatment.

METHODS

Randomized Controlled Trials about needle-knife treatment of cervical spondylosis were indexed from Chinese HowNet (CNKI) and Wanfang (WF) from 2000 to 2012, then were analyzed the efficacy by Review Manager 5.1 software.

RESULTS

A total of 13 RCT literatures and 1 419 patients were included. The methods of included studies were poor in quality evaluation because of large sample and multi-center RCT studies was lacked, randomization method was not accurate enough, diagnostic criteria and efficacy evaluation were various, only four studies described long-term efficacy, most of the literature didn't describe the adverse event and fall off,all studies did not use the blind method. The Meta analysis outcome showed overall efficiency of needle-knife therapy was better than acupuncture and traction. Needle-knife therapy compared with Acupuncture, the total RR = 0.19, 95% confidence interval was (0.15, 0.24), P < 0.000.01. Compared with traction therapy the total RR = 1.30, 95% confidence intervalwas (1.18,1.42), P < 0.00001.

CONCLUSION

Compared with acupuncture therapy,the overall effectiveness of needle-knife therapy is higher;compared with traction therapy, although,needle-knife therapy has a high overall effectiveness, but because of the loss of total sample size, the outcome RCT researches to confirm.

Optical absorptance measurement of an individual multiwall carbon nanotube using a T type thermal probe method

Optical absorptance is an important property of carbon nanotubes for practical applications but has rarely been accurately measured. We developed a T type thermal probe method to measure the optical absorptance of an individual multiwall carbon nanotube. In this method, one end of the carbon nanotube (CNT) is attached to the center of a platinum nanofilm in a T shape and the Pt nanofilm acts as a thermometer. A laser beam irradiates at the CNT and the absorbed laser power can be determined by measuring the average temperature rise of the Pt nanofilm based on the temperature dependence of the electric resistance. Experimental results showed that a 100-nm-diameter multiwall CNT could absorb 13.2% of the 514-nm-wavelength laser power with the laser spot diameter being 1 μm. This method is useful for determining the optical absorptance of CNTs and other one-dimensional nanostructures such as Si/Ge nanowires for various optical wavelengths in their photovoltaic, photoelectrolysis and other optical applications.

Decreased SARI expression predicts poor prognosis of Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer

SARI is associated with the risk for several cancers, and loss of SARI expression is frequently found in aggressive and metastatic cancer. Limited evidence shows that SARI is a tumor suppressor gene, but the role of SARI in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been previously reported. This study was to investigate the SARI expression profile in surgically resected lung cancer tissues of Chinese patients by immunohistochemistry and evaluate the relationship between SARI expression and prognosis of lung cancer patients. Furthermore, SARI gene was transfected into lung cancer cells (A549), and the growth curve and cell healing of lung cancer cells were determined, aiming to investigate the influence of SARI on the growth and migration of lung cancer cells in vitro. Results showed that 103 of 195 (52.82%) tissues were positive for SARI. When compared with normal tissues, SARI expression significantly reduced in 50.26% of NSCLC tissues. Patients with negative or reduced SARI expression were more likely to have advanced lung cancer and lymph node metastasis. In squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma patients, the SARI expression had no relation with the survival time; However in one-on-one analysis SARI expression in tumor cells and adjacent tissues, patients which tumor cells SARI express reduced than adjacent tissues, survival time was significantly shorter than those without reduction in SARI expression (Log Rank test, p = 0.001). After transfection by SARI gene, the proliferation and migration of A549 cells were obviously inhibited (p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that decreased SARI expression may predict a poor prognosis in NSCLC patients, and SARI may serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.

Immunolocalization of β-catenin and Lef-1 during postnatal hair follicle development in mice

It is well recognized that the Wnt pathway, in which β-catenin and Lef-1 are important factors, is associated with many physiological processes, including embryogenesis and postnatal development. The Wnt pathway also plays a critical role in the development of skin. It regulates the formation of the dorsal dermis and epidermal appendages in the skin and the activity of epithelial stem cells. In this study, we investigated the presence and localization of β-catenin and Lef-1 in murine hair follicles through the first postnatal month, which encompasses the first hair cycle in mice, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that β-catenin and Lef-1 are expressed during all stages in a hair cycle, most strongly in the anagen and weakly in the catagen and telogen phases. The results also suggest that the β-catenin-Lef-1 complex may regulate hair follicle cycling. This process will be of considerable interest to future studies.