[Effects of canagliflozin on amino acid metabolism in atherosclerotic mice]

Objective: To explore the possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin. Methods: ApoE-/-mice fed on Western diet were randomly assigned into the model group (n=10) and the canagliflozin group (n=10). C57BL/6J mice fed on normal diet were chosen as the control group (n=10). Mice in the canagliflozin group were gavaged with canagliflozin for 14 weeks. The presence and severity of atherosclerosis were evaluated with HE and oil red O stainings in aortic root section slices. PCR assay was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of nitric oxide synthase. Hepatic transcriptome analysis and hepatic amino acid detection were conducted using RNA-seq and targeted LC-MS, respectively. Results: HE staining and oil red O staining of the aortic root showed that AS models were successfully established in ApoE-/-mice fed on Western diet for 14 weeks. Canagliflozin alleviated the severity of atherosclerosis in pathology. Hepatic transcriptome analysis indicated that canagliflozin impacted on amino acid metabolism, especially arginine synthesis in ApoE-/-mice. Targeted metabolomics analysis of amino acids showed that canagliflozin reduced hepatic levels of L-serine, L-aspartic acid, tyrosine, L-hydroxyproline, and L-citrulline, but raised the hepatic level of L-arginine. Compared to the model group, the canagliflozin group exhibited higher serum arginine and nitric oxide levels as well as elevated nitric oxide mRNA expression in aortic tissues (P<0.05). Conclusion: Canagliflozin regulated the amino acid metabolism, reduced the levels of glucogenic amino acids,and promoted the synthesis of arginine in atherosclerotic mice.

[Report content and prenatal diagnosis of non-invasive prenatal testing for sex chromosome aneuploidy]

Objective: To analyze the report content, the methods and results of prenatal diagnosis of high risk of sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Methods: A total of 227 single pregnancy pregnant women who received genetic counseling and invasive prenatal diagnosis at Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to the Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2015 to April 2022 due to the high risk of SCA suggested by NIPT were collected. The methods and results of prenatal diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed, and the results of chromosome karyotype analysis and chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) were compared. The relationship between NIPT screening and invasive prenatal diagnosis was analyzed. Results: (1) Prenatal diagnosis methods for 277 SCA high risk pregnant women included 73 cases of karyotyping, 41 cases of CMA and 163 cases of karyotyping combined with CMA, of which one case conducted amniocentesis secondly for further fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing. Results of invasive prenatal diagnosis were normal in 166 cases (59.9%, 166/277), and the abnormal results including one case of 45,X (0.4%, 1/277), 18 cases of 47,XXX (6.5%, 18/277), 36 cases of 47,XXY (13.0%, 36/277), 20 cases of 47,XYY (7.2%, 20/277), 1 case of 48,XXXX (0.4%, 1/277), 20 cases of mosaic SCA (7.2%, 20/277), 5 cases of sex chromosome structural abnormality or large segment abnormality (1.8%, 5/277), and 10 cases of other abnormalities [3.6%, 10/277; including 9 cases of copy number variation (CNV) and 1 case of balanced translocation]. Positive predictive value (PPV) for SCA screening by NIPT was 34.7% (96/277). (2) Among the 163 cases tested by karyotyping combined with CMA, 11 cases (6.7%, 11/163) showed inconsistent results by both methods, including 5 cases of mosaic SCA, 1 case of additional balanced translocation detected by karyotyping and 5 cases of additional CNV detected by CMA. (3) NIPT screening reports included 149 cases of "sex chromosome aneuploidy"(53.8%, 149/277), 54 cases of "number of sex chromosome increased" (19.5%, 54/277), and 74 cases of "number of sex chromosome or X chromosome decreased" (26.7%, 74/277). The PPV of "number of sex chromosome increased" and "number of sex chromosome or X chromosome decreased" were 72.2% (39/54) and 18.9% (14/74), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=34.56, P<0.01). Conclusions: NIPT could be served as an important prenatal screening technique of SCA, especially for trisomy and mosaicism, but the PPV is comparatively low. More information of NIPT such as the specific SCA or maternal SCA might help improving the confidence of genetic counseling and thus guide clinic management. Multi technology platforms including karyotyping, CMA and FISH could be considered in the diagnosis of high risk of SCA by NIPT.

Impaired function of skeletal stem cells derived from growth plates in ovariectomized mice

INTRODUCTION

Mouse skeletal stem cells (mSSCs, CD45^-Ter119^-Tie2^-CD51⁺Thy^-6C3^-CD105^-CD200⁺population) are identified in growth plates (GP) and play important roles in bone regeneration. However, the role of mSSCs in osteoporosis remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The GP were stained by HE staining, and the mSSC lineage was analyzed by flow cytometry at postnatal of 14 days and 30 days in wild-type mice. The mice (8 weeks) were either sham operated or ovariectomy (OVX) and then sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8 w. The GP were stained by Movat staining, and mSSC lineage was analyzed. Then, mSSCs were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS); the clonal ability, chondrogenic differentiation and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated, and the changed genes were analyzed by RNA-seq.

RESULTS

The percentage of mSSCs were decreased with the narrow GP. Heights of GP were decreased significantly in 8w-ovx mice compared with 8w-sham mice. We found the percentage of mSSCs were decreased in mice at 2w after ovx, but the cell numbers were not changed. Further, the percentage and cell numbers of mSSCs were not changed at 4w and 8w after ovx. Importantly, the clonal ability, chondrogenic differentiation and osteogenic differentiation of mSSCs were impaired at 8w after ovx. We found 114 genes were down-regulated in mSSCs, including skeletal developmental genes such as Col10a1, Col2a1, Mef2c, Sparc, Matn1, Scube2 and Dlx5. On the contrary, 526 genes were up-regulated, including pro-inflammatory genes such as Csf1, Nfkbla, Nfatc2, Nfkb1 and Nfkb2.

CONCLUSION

Function of mSSCs was impaired by up-regulating pro-inflammatory genes in ovx-induced osteoporosis.

Bacterial droplet-based single-cell RNA-seq reveals antibiotic-associated heterogeneous cellular states

We introduce BacDrop, a highly scalable technology for bacterial single-cell RNA sequencing that has overcome many challenges hindering the development of scRNA-seq in bacteria. BacDrop can be applied to thousands to millions of cells from both gram-negative and gram-positive species. It features universal ribosomal RNA depletion and combinatorial barcodes that enable multiplexing and massively parallel sequencing. We applied BacDrop to study Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates and to elucidate their heterogeneous responses to antibiotic stress. In an unperturbed population presumed to be homogeneous, we found within-population heterogeneity largely driven by the expression of mobile genetic elements that promote the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Under antibiotic perturbation, BacDrop revealed transcriptionally distinct subpopulations associated with different phenotypic outcomes including antibiotic persistence. BacDrop thus can capture cellular states that cannot be detected by bulk RNA-seq, which will unlock new microbiological insights into bacterial responses to perturbations and larger bacterial communities such as the microbiome.

Inter-species geographic signatures for tracing horizontal gene transfer and long-term persistence of carbapenem resistance

BACKGROUND

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an urgent global health threat. Inferring the dynamics of local CRE dissemination is currently limited by our inability to confidently trace the spread of resistance determinants to unrelated bacterial hosts. Whole-genome sequence comparison is useful for identifying CRE clonal transmission and outbreaks, but high-frequency horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of carbapenem resistance genes and subsequent genome rearrangement complicate tracing the local persistence and mobilization of these genes across organisms.

METHODS

To overcome this limitation, we developed a new approach to identify recent HGT of large, near-identical plasmid segments across species boundaries, which also allowed us to overcome technical challenges with genome assembly. We applied this to complete and near-complete genome assemblies to examine the local spread of CRE in a systematic, prospective collection of all CRE, as well as time- and species-matched carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacterales, isolated from patients from four US hospitals over nearly 5 years.

RESULTS

Our CRE collection comprised a diverse range of species, lineages, and carbapenem resistance mechanisms, many of which were encoded on a variety of promiscuous plasmid types. We found and quantified rearrangement, persistence, and repeated transfer of plasmid segments, including those harboring carbapenemases, between organisms over multiple years. Some plasmid segments were found to be strongly associated with specific locales, thus representing geographic signatures that make it possible to trace recent and localized HGT events. Functional analysis of these signatures revealed genes commonly found in plasmids of nosocomial pathogens, such as functions required for plasmid retention and spread, as well survival against a variety of antibiotic and antiseptics common to the hospital environment.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, the framework we developed provides a clearer, high-resolution picture of the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance importation, spread, and persistence in patients and healthcare networks.

Genetic determinants facilitating the evolution of resistance to carbapenem antibiotics

In this era of rising antibiotic resistance, in contrast to our increasing understanding of mechanisms that cause resistance, our understanding of mechanisms that influence the propensity to evolve resistance remains limited. Here, we identified genetic factors that facilitate the evolution of resistance to carbapenems, the antibiotic of 'last resort', in Klebsiella pneumoniae, the major carbapenem-resistant species. In clinical isolates, we found that high-level transposon insertional mutagenesis plays an important role in contributing to high-level resistance frequencies in several major and emerging carbapenem-resistant lineages. A broader spectrum of resistance-conferring mutations for select carbapenems such as ertapenem also enables higher resistance frequencies and, importantly, creates stepping-stones to achieve high-level resistance to all carbapenems. These mutational mechanisms can contribute to the evolution of resistance, in conjunction with the loss of systems that restrict horizontal resistance gene uptake, such as the CRISPR-Cas system. Given the need for greater antibiotic stewardship, these findings argue that in addition to considering the current efficacy of an antibiotic for a clinical isolate in antibiotic selection, considerations of future efficacy are also important. The genetic background of a clinical isolate and the exact antibiotic identity can and should also be considered as they are determinants of a strain's propensity to become resistant. Together, these findings thus provide a molecular framework for understanding acquisition of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae with important implications for diagnosing and treating this important class of pathogens.

Mechanism of threshold size assessment: Metamorphosis is triggered by the TGF-beta/Activin ligand Myoglianin

Although the mechanisms that control growth are now well understood, the mechanism by which animals assess their body size remains one of the great puzzles in biology. The final larval instar of holometabolous insects, after which growth stops and metamorphosis begins, is specified by a threshold size. We investigated the mechanism of threshold size assessment in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The threshold size was found to change depending on the amount of exposure to poor nutrient conditions whereas hypoxia treatment consistently led to a lower threshold size. Under these various conditions, the mass of the muscles plus integuments was correlated with the threshold size. Furthermore, the expression of myoglianin (myo) increased at the threshold size in both M. sexta and Tribolium castaneum. Knockdown of myo in T. castaneum led to larvae that underwent supernumerary larval molts and stayed in the larval stage permanently even after passing the threshold size. We propose that increasing levels of Myo produced by the growing tissues allow larvae to assess their body size and trigger metamorphosis at the threshold size.

Attenuation of a virulent swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus strain via cell culture passage

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) is a newly identified enteric alphacoronavirus that causes fatal diarrhea in newborn piglets in China. Here, we propagated a virulent strain SADS-CoV/CN/GDWT/2017 in Vero cells for up to 83 passages. Four strains of SADS-CoV/GDWT-P7, -P18, -P48 and -P83 were isolated and characterized. Sequence alignments showed that these four novel strains exhibited 16 nucleotide mutations and resultant 10 amino acid substitutions in open reading frame 1a/1b, spike, NS3a, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid proteins. Furthermore, a 58-bp deletion in NS7a/7b was found in P48 and P83 strains, which led to the loss of NS7b and 38 amino acid changes of NS7a. Pig infection studies showed that the P7 strain caused typical watery diarrhea, while the P83 strain induced none-to-mild, delayed and transient diarrhea. This is the first report on cell adaption of a virulent SADS-CoV strain, which gives information on the potential virulence determinants of SADS-CoV.

Simultaneous detection of genotype and phenotype enables rapid and accurate antibiotic susceptibility determination

Multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) are a serious threat to human health^1,2. Fast, accurate antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is a critical need in addressing escalating antibiotic resistance, since delays in identifying MDROs increase mortality^3,4 and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, further selecting for resistant organisms. Yet current growth-based AST assays, such as broth microdilution⁵, require several days before informing key clinical decisions. Rapid AST would transform the care of infected patients while ensuring that our antibiotic arsenal is deployed as efficiently as possible. Growth-based assays are fundamentally constrained in speed by doubling time of the pathogen, and genotypic assays are limited by the ever-growing diversity and complexity of bacterial antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Here, we describe a rapid assay for combined Genotypic and Phenotypic AST through RNA detection, GoPhAST-R, that classifies strains with 94–99% accuracy by coupling machine learning analysis of early antibiotic-induced transcriptional changes with simultaneous detection of key genetic resistance determinants to increase accuracy of resistance detection, facilitate molecular epidemiology, and enable early detection of emerging resistance mechanisms. This two-pronged approach provides phenotypic AST 24–36 hours faster than standard workflows, with <4 hour assay time on a pilot instrument for hybridization-based multiplexed RNA detection implemented directly from positive blood cultures.

12 novel atypical porcine pestivirus genomes from neonatal piglets with congenital tremors: A newly emerging branch and high prevalence in China

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV), a newly discovered member of the genus Pestivirus, is considered to be associated with congenital tremors (CT) in piglets. From June 2016 to January 2018, 440 serum and tissue samples from CT-affected piglets in Anhui, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces were collected to detect APPV. The results showed a high level of 63.4% preference for APPV in 27 swine farms and complicated co-infection cases between APPV and other 12 swine viruses. Meanwhile, 12 novel APPV genomes were screened and identified. Results showed that complete genomes, N^pro and NS5A genes of these novel 12 APPV sequences revealed 80.5%-99.8%, 78%-100% and 76.9%-99.8% nucleotide identities, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of full-length genomes, N^pro and NS5A genes of APPV indicated three well-defined clades including a newly emerging branch in China. This study provides novel epidemiological information of APPV in China.

[An analysis of influencing factors for brucellosis in major occupational groups in Bayannur, China]

Objective: To investigate the current status of brucella infection in major occupational groups in Bayannur, China, and to analyze the risk factors for brucellosis. Methods: From January to March, 2015, a questionnaire survey and the serological testing were performed to investigate the current status of brucella infection in 649 workers in 13 slaughter and breeding plants in 7 counties in Bayannur, China. The items in the questionnaire survey included general information, related occupational information, living habits, medical history, and awareness of related knowledge. Results: A total of 112 workers (17.26%) had brucella infection. Brucella infection was associated with sex, age, years of exposure to hazardous substances, job, educational background, usage of protective equipment, the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site, and whether to smoke during the work clearance (P<0.05) . The multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for brucellosis were meat processing work (OR=1.812) , >5 years of exposure to hazardous substances (OR=1.363) , improper use or nonuse of protective equipment (OR=1.957) , smoke during work (OR=2.027) , and the presence of a woundat the exposure site (OR= 1.231) ; the protective factors for brucellosis were high school and college education and above (OR=0.521) and high rate of awareness of brucella-related knowledge (OR=0.648) . Conclusion: The brucella infection rate is high in the major occupational groups in Bayannur, China. The main influencing factors for brucellosis are job, years of exposure to hazardous substances, usage of protective equipment, whether to smoke during work, and the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site.

[Comparison and analysis of minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma patients detected by 4-color and 8-color fluorescence antibody panels]

目的

探讨与比较4色和8色荧光抗体组合检测多发性骨髓瘤（MM）患者治疗后微小残留病（MRD）的灵敏度。

方法

建立一组以CD38/CD138对浆细胞进行设门，同时检测胞膜抗原CD45、CD19、CD56、CD117及胞质轻链cKappa、cLambda的8色抗体组合；6组4色抗体组合中，4组以CD38/CD138设门，分别分析CD45/CD19、CD56/CD117、CD19/CD56胞膜抗原（M1-3）和胞质轻链（C组）表达；MC1-2组分别以CD38/SSC和CD138/SSC设门，同时检测CD19或CD45胞膜抗原和胞质轻链。采用以上组合对20名健康志愿者和73例完全缓解后MM患者标本进行检测并进行比较分析。

结果

8色组合识别异常浆细胞（aPCs）和克隆性浆细胞（cPCs）的阳性率均为82.19%，一致率为89.04%（65/73）；cPCs中位比例为0.105%，均显示明显的单克隆轻链；敏感度为0.004%。CD38/SSC设门的浆细胞比例明显高于CD38/CD138（P<0.001）和CD138/SSC（P=0.001）设门。4色组合中C-_胞质组MRD阳性率最低，仅为65.75%，明显低于8色组合的82.19%（P=0.024）；M2-_56/117组检测的aPCs比例最低，为0.095%，与其他组相比差异有统计学意义（P=0.014）；MC1-_CD38和MC2-_CD138组，以cPCs作为判断标准时MRD阳性率均高于以aPCs为判断标准（P<0.05），结果一致率分别为68.49%（50/73）和79.45%（58/73）。与8色组合相比，4色组合中MC2-_CD138组敏感性、准确性和阴性预测值最高，阳性预测值和特异性也较高；其次是M1-_45/19组。

结论

CD38/CD138设门更准确，反映克隆性的胞质轻链检测较胞膜抗原更敏感，胞膜抗原异常表达并不完全代表为cPCs，建议胞膜抗原和胞质轻链同时检测。有条件者建议选用8色组合，4色组合中建议同时采用M1-_45/19和MC2-_CD138组合。

[Clinical trial of simplified drilling method for dental implant site preparation]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of simplified drilling method and conventional drilling method in implants. Methods: A total of 46 patients (62 implants) were enrolled in this study that with dentition defect from May 2015 to May 2016 in the Implant department of Xi'an Jiao Tong University. The experimental group and the control group were randomly assigned according to the random number method, 23 cases in each group. The experimental group used the simplified drilling method (guided drill+ final drill), the control group using the conventional drilling method (step by step drill). The operation time, implant stability, marginal bone resorption rate and implant retention rate were compared between the two drilling methods. Results: The retention of the experiment group was 97% (31/32), the the control group was 100% (30/30). The operative time in the experiment group [(4.9±0.5) min] was significantly lower from the control group [(8.9±2.0) min] (P=0.000). There was no significant difference between the two methods in bone resorption (P=0.197), implant stability (P>0.05) and implant survival rate (P=0.492). Conclusions: The simplified drilling method can significantly reduce the operation time without compromising the clinical outcomes, and the osseointegration is well. The simplified drilling method should be used when sufficient bone mass, careful use in class II bone, forbidden in class I bone.

BLCA-4 and UBC combined detection for early diagnosis of bladder cancer

The objective of the present study was to report the clinical significance of bladder cancer specific nuclear matrix protein 4 (BLCA-4) and urinary bladder cancer (UBC) on early diagnosis of bladder cancers. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect BLCA-4 and UBC of 56 bladder cancer patients and 26 patients with urinary tract benign diseases, serving as controls. Urine exfoliated cell test was performed, and then the significance of BLCA-4 and UBC on the diagnosis of bladder cancers was analyzed. The sensitivity of BLCA-4 and UBC of the bladder cancer patients was significantly higher than that of the urine exfoliated cell test (P less than 0.05). The difference of BLCA-4 and UBC was not significant (P >0.05). The difference of BLCA-4 and UBC in the tumors with different gradings and stagings was not significant (P >0.05). Combined detection of BLCA-4 and UBC could improve the diagnosis sensitivity and specificity of bladder cancers with the advantages of high maneuverability, repeatability and objective results.

Aurora-A is a determinant of tamoxifen sensitivity through phosphorylation of ERα in breast cancer

Despite the clinical success of tamoxifen, its resistance remains a major challenge in breast cancer. Here we show that Aurora-A determines tamoxifen sensitivity by regulation of oestrogen receptor (ER)α. Ectopic expression of Aurora-A decreases and depletion of Aurora-A enhances tamoxifen sensitivity in ERα-positive breast cancer. Elevated Aurora-A was significantly associated with the recurrence of ERα-positive tumours. Notably, Aurora-A inhibitor MLN8237, which is currently in clinical trial, synergizes with tamoxifen and overcomes tamoxifen resistance. Furthermore, Aurora-A interacts with and phosphorylates ERα on serine-167 and -305, leading to increase in ERα DNA-binding and transcriptional activity. Elevated levels of Aurora-A are significantly associated with disease-free survival in ERα-positive but not ERα-negative breast cancers. These data suggest that Aurora-A has a pivotal role in tamoxifen resistance and ERα is a bona fide substrate of Aurora-A. Thus, Aurora-A represents a prognostic marker in ERα-positive tumour and a critical therapeutic target in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, and Aurora-A inhibitor could be used as either an independent or concurrent agent in tamoxifen-resistant tumour.

Direct coating adherent diamond films on Fe-based alloy substrate: the roles of Al, Cr in enhancing interfacial adhesion and promoting diamond growth

Direct CVD deposition of dense, continuous, and adherent diamond films on conventional Fe-based alloys has long been considered impossible. The current study demonstrates that such a deposition can be realized on Al, Cr-modified Fe-based alloy substrate (FeAl or FeCrAl). To clarify the fundamental mechanism of Al, Cr in promoting diamond growth and enhancing interfacial adhesion, fine structure and chemical analysis around the diamond film-substrate interface have been comprehensively characterized by transmission electron microscopy. An intermediate graphite layer forms on those Al-free substrates such as pure Fe and FeCr, which significantly deteriorates the interfacial adhesion of diamond. In contrast, such a graphite layer is absent on the FeAl and FeCrAl substrates, whereas a very thin Al-rich amorphous oxide sublayer is always identified between the diamond film and substrate interface. These comparative results indicate that the Al-rich interfacial oxide layer acts as an effective barrier to prevent the formation of graphite phase and consequently enhance diamond growth and adhesion. The adhesion of diamond film formed on FeCrAl is especially superior to that formed on FeAl substrate. This can be further attributed to a synergetic effect including the reduced fraction of Al and the decreased substrate thermal-expansion coefficient on FeCrAl in comparison with FeAl, and a mechanical interlocking effect due to the formation of interfacial chromium carbides. Accordingly, a mechanism model is proposed to account for the different interfacial adhesion of diamond grown on the various Fe-based substrates.

Comparison of re-treatment outcomes of lamivudine plus adefovir or entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients with viral relapse after cessation of adefovir

BACKGROUND

Either combination treatment or monotherapy using agents with a high genetic barrier are recommended for the retreatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. In search of reasonable treatment, we compared the efficacy and safety of lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir (ADV) and entecavir (ETV) alone for retreatment of patients with viral relapse after cessation of ADV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a prospective controlled study, and CHB patients with HBV DNA levels more than 4 log copies/mL were enrolled. All patients were treated with either LAM plus ADV (n=30) or ETV (n=25) for 48 weeks.

RESULTS

After 12-months treatment, the biochemical response (BR) rates were 96.7% and 84.0%, the virological response (VR) rates were 96.7% and 68% in the LAM plus ADV and ETV groups respectively. Between two groups, the difference in BR was not significant, but in VR was statistically significant (p = 0.097 for BR, and p = 0.003 for VR). Eleven patients receiving LAM plus ADV had HBeAg seroconversion, as compared with 1 in patients receiving ETV alone (36.7% versus 4%, p = 0.003). During 12-months retreatment, 1 patients receiving ETV alone had virological breakthrough and detected ETV-resistance strains, while no LAM- or ADV-associated resistance strains were detected in patients receiving LAM plus ADV. All patients receiving LAM plus ADV were well tolerated, and no serious side effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

LAM plus ADV combination therapy is effective in retreatment of CHB patients with viral relapse after cessation of ADV, but further studies are needed to obtain long term results.  

Soybean isoflavone alleviates β-amyloid 1-42 induced inflammatory response to improve learning and memory ability by down regulation of Toll-like receptor 4 expression and nuclear factor-κB activity in rats

β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42)-induced learning and memory impairment in rats is believed to be associated with inflammation. Cytokine production is a key pathologic event in the progression of inflammatory processes. In this rat study, soybean isoflavones (SIF) was used to investigate it's protective effects on inflammation caused by β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42), which is associated with learning and memory impairment in Alzheimer disease. We characterized the learning and memory ability. cytokine profiles of circulating interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum and the expression of Toll like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) mRNA and protein in the brain tissue following intracerebroventricular administration of Aβ1-42 by miniosmotic pump for 14 days. The results showed that functional deficits of learning and memory in SIF treatment groups were significantly improved compared to the control group without SIF treatment in water maze test. The serum IL-1β and TNF-α level were significantly increased, and the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein in the brain were up-regulated, indicating inflammation response was initiated following administration of Aβ1-42. After intragastric pre-treatment with SIF, inflammatory cytokines was significantly reduced and also SIF reversed the Aβ1-42 induced up-regulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein expression in the brain and expression of NF-κB p65 in nuclei. These results suggested that SIF reduced the cytokine cascade and inflammatory response induced by Aβ1-42 which could result in the improvement of spatial learning and memory ability impairment in the rats.

Simultaneous determination of Gastrodin and Ligustrazine hydrochloride in dog plasma by gradient high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel reversed-phase HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Gastrodin (Gas) and Ligustrazine hydrochloride (LZH) in dog plasma after oral administration of the preparation 'Tianxiong Capsule'. The assay involves deproteinization, extraction and subsequent detection with a gradient solvent system at two different wavelengths. Retention times were 10.6 and 18.9 min for Gas and LZH, respectively. Linear responses were observed over a wide range (0.40-200.0 microg/ml for Gas and 0.0999-39.96 microg/ml for LZH) in plasma. The mean intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients were 2.7 and 3.4% for Gas and 3.4 and 4.2% for LZH, respectively. The average extract recoveries were 76.77% for Gas and 75.8% for LZH. This assay has been successfully used to provide pharmacokinetic data for Gastrodin with oral administration of Tianxiong capsules.

HRTEM analysis of nanocrystallization during uniaxial compression of a bulk metallic glass at room temperature

Nanocrystallization during deformation of metallic glass at room temperature has significant implications to understand its deformation mechanism. We present here direct high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations of nanocrystallization in a Zr(55)AI(10)Ni(5)Cu(30) bulk metallic glass (BMG) fractured by uniaxial compression at room temperature. The formed nanocrystallites are Zr(2)Cu, with the average diameter of less than 10nm, and are distributed within the round-like regions of localized plastic deformation. We also show direct evidence of atomic neighbor distance increases associated with the shrinkage and broadening of diffused ring pattern from local deformed areas, which may enhance atomic mobility so that nanocrystallization occurred. Our results demonstrate that the origin of the room-temperature deformation of BMG can be attributed to the local atomic spacing increases induced by localization of plastic flow under uniaxial compression test.

Reversible structural transition in epitaxial manganite film

A reversible structural transition of an epitaxial La(2/3)Sr(1/3)MnO3 film deposited on a LaAlO3 substrate has been investigated by means of in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, combined with image and diffraction calculations. We observe that the crystallographic symmetry of the film can be lowered via electron beam irradiation, leading to a rhombohedral-monoclinic transition. This transition can be attributed to the cooperating effect of the mismatch stress and the irradiation-induced thermal stress.

Structural evolution in boron nitrides during the hexagonal-cubic phase transition under high pressure at high temperature

Structural evolution during the phase transition from h (hexagonal)- to c (cubic)-boron nitrides (BN) under high pressure (6.5-7.7 GPa) at high temperature (1,700-2,150 degrees C) was examined by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). At the initial stage of the evolution, some starting h-BN plates were strongly folded, while others were slightly bent. As a result, a strong texture was formed. HRTEM revealed that the interplanar distance between sp2 sheets became slightly shortened and they were slightly sheared to each other during the folding and bending. As a result, m (monoclinic)-BN was formed near the folding plane with lattice parameters; a = 0.433 nm, b = 0.250 nm, c = 0.32-0.33 nm, and beta = 90-92 degrees. In a succeeding stage, the value of beta increased to 92-95 degrees. c-BN grains appeared with nano-scale twins and sometimes partly included wurtzite-type BN. They started to grow with secondary twins at higher temperature. EELS analysis revealed that the band structure of sp2 sheets changed during the transition from h-BN to m-BN; the density of state for the pi* bond became prominently high in m-BN as compared to that in h-BN.