Existence and features of the myodural bridge in Gallus domesticus: indication of its important physiological function

The myodural bridge (MDB) is a dense connective tissue that connects muscles with the cervical spinal dura mater via the posterior atlanto-occipital and atlato-axial interspaces. To date, the physiological function of the MDB has not been fully elucidated. Recent studies have identified the presence of the MDB in mammals, but very little information is available on the existence of the MDB in avifauna. We selected Gallus domesticus to explore the existence and the fiber property of the MDB in avifauna. We found that in this species, fibers originating from the ventral aspect of the rectus capitis dorsal minor are fused with the dorsal atlanto-occipital membrane and that numerous trabeculae connect the dorsal atlanto-occipital membrane with the cervical spinal dura mater. Furthermore, the occipital venous sinus is located between the trabeculae. The MDB is mainly composed of collagen type I fibers. Our results show that the MDB is present in G. domesticus and lead us to infer that the MDB is a highly conservative evolutionary structure which may play essential physiological roles.

An epidemiologic study of pelvic organ prolapse in postmenopausal women: a population-based sample in China

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in a representative sample of postmenopausal Chinese women.

METHODS

A total of 20,008 postmenopausal Chinese women were recruited to this cross-sectional study between February 2014 and March 2016. The prevalence of symptomatic POP, defined as any stage II or higher POP resulting in symptoms, was assessed using questionnaires and physical examinations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with symptomatic POP.

RESULTS

Among all women with natural menopause included in the study (mean age =61.98 ± 10.62 years), 2962 of 20,008 women (14.80%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 14.3-15.3%) had symptomatic POP. In the multivariate analysis, women were more likely to have symptomatic POP if aged 50-59 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.322, 95% CI 1.123-1.560), 60-69 years (AOR 1.603, 95% CI 1.352-1.907), or above 70 years (AOR 1.824, 95% CI 1.158-2.197), compared with women aged 40-49 years. Having delivered two times (AOR 1.145, 95% CI 1.105-1.292) or three or more times (AOR 1.384, 95% CI 1.214-1.578) was significantly associated with symptomatic POP. Compared with normal weight women, overweight women (AOR 1.365, 95% CI 1.247-1.494) and obese women (AOR 1.548, 95% CI 1.344-1.780) were more likely to have POP. Living in an urban area, smoking, alcohol consumption, cough, constipation, mental labor, physical disease, and gynecological diseases were also associated with symptomatic POP.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptomatic POP affects nearly 15% of postmenopausal women in China. The prevalence of symptomatic POP increases significantly with age, body mass index, and parity.

miRNA-31 over-expression improve synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and mechanism of miRNA-31 in synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA.

METHODS

The miRNA-31 gene expressions were extracted from synovial tissues of normal and RA patients by RT-PCR and H et E staining. The synovial cells of RA patients were isolated and randomly divided into Control, Blank and miRNA groups. The cell apoptosis of difference groups were measured by flow cytometry; the TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations of difference groups were measured by Elisa assay; TLR4 and NF-κB proteins expressions were measured by WB assay and the correlation between TLR4 and miRNA-31 were evaluated by double luciferase target experiment.

RESULTS

The miRNA-31 gene expression was significantly suppressed in RA tissues (p<0.001); Compared with control group, the cell apoptosis rate of miRNA group was significantly suppressed (p<0.001); TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations were significantly down-regulation in culture fluid (p<0.001, respectively) and TLR4 and NF-κB proteins expressions were significantly depressed (p<0.001, respectively) in miRNA group. By double luciferase target experiment, the TLR4 was a target gene of miRNA-31.

CONCLUSION

miRNA-31 is a key role in synovial cells apoptosis induced by RA (Fig. 7, Ref. 23).

A Clinical Prognostic Score to Predict Survival of Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Receiving First-Line Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND Although several complicated models have been built to evaluate the prognosis of NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy, simple economic models are still needed to give a preliminary survival assessment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study retrospectively assessed the clinical and biological parameters of 223 patients with advanced NSCLC. Univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for the parameters and the prognostic score were assessed. RESULTS Performance status (PS) score=1, smoking history, fibrinogenemia, thrombocytosis, increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and anemia were independent predictors of poor prognosis in the univariate analysis of OS and were assessed in multivariate analysis. There was a significant difference in PS=1 (HR=2.134, p<0.0001), increased LDH level (HR=1.508, p=0.014), thrombocytosis (HR=1.547, p=0.012), and smoking history (HR=1.491, p=0.008), based on which the patients were classified into 3 risk groups: low risk (0-1 points), moderate risk (2 points), and high risk (3-5 points). At p values of <0.0001, the median OS was 565, 340, and 273 days and the median progression-free survival was 250, 209, and 135 days, respectively in these 3 risk groups. CONCLUSIONS We established a new prognostic score model using PS, LDH level, PLT count, and smoking history to predict the survival of patients receiving first-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC, which might be useful in clinical practice.

Investigation of RNA-RNA Interactions Using the RISE Database

RNA-RNA interactions (RRIs) are essential to understanding the regulatory mechanisms of RNAs. Mapping RRIs in vivo in a transcriptome-wide manner remained challenging until the recent development of several sequencing-based technologies. However, RRIs generated from large-scale studies had not been systematically collected and analyzed before. This article introduces RISE, a database of the RNA Interactome from Sequencing Experiments. RISE provides a comprehensive collection of RRIs in human, mouse, and yeast, derived from transcriptome-wide sequencing experiments, as well as targeted sequencing studies and other public databases/datasets. To facilitate better understanding of the biological roles of these RRIs, RISE also offers rich functional annotations involving RNAs, and an interactive interface to explore the analysis results. Here, we provide a brief description of the RISE website and a step-by-step protocol for using RISE to study RRIs. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

[Determination of cadmium in human urine by colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay]

Objective: To establish the method of colloidal gold immunochrom atographic assay for detecting cadmium ions rapidly. Methods: The anti-cadmium ion monoclonal antibody-gold conjugate was labeled on the binding pad, cadmium ion hapten and goat anti-mouse IgG were coated on nitrocellulose membrane as the detection line (T line) and quality control line (C line) respectively. The sample pad, colloidal gold bonding pad, nitrocellulose membrane and absorption pad were orderly assembled on the PVC board to cut into a test paper strip. The qualitative results of the assay were visualized in color. Results: When detecting the human urine cadmium ions, the results were tested qualitativly within 15 minutes. The detection limit was 30 μg/L. No cross-reactivity with other heavy metal ions. The test paper strip could be stored at 4 ℃ for 3 months. Conclusion: The method has the advantages of low cost, strong specificity, good stability and reliable results, and is suitable for rapid screening of cadmium poisoning of enterprise and occupational health.

Gold-catalyzed post-Ugi alkyne hydroarylation for the synthesis of 2-quinolones

A series of propargylamides containing an electron-rich benzene ring was prepared through the Ugi reaction of 3,5-dimethoxyaniline with various propiolic acids, aldehydes and isocyanides. Subjecting these adducts to a gold-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne hydroarylation process allowed to efficiently construct the 2-quinolone core bearing a branched substituent on the nitrogen atom.

Purification and characterization of two cysteine proteinase inhibitors from silkworm, Bombyx mori

Cysteine proteinase inhibitors from silkworm are selective inhibitors with low molecular weight and regulate cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase activity, thus, affecting silkworm metamorphosis. In a previous study, two cysteine proteinase inhibitors, BCPI and BmCPI, were identified in the silkworm genome. To characterize these inhibitors, we expressed and purified them in an Escherichia coli system and analyzed their structure and inhibitory activity in vitro. Both inhibitors showed strong tolerance to high temperature. Their CD spectra revealed that their secondary structures could be recovered by a gradual decrease in temperature. Compared to BCPI, BmCPI exhibited weak inhibitory activity toward cathepsin L. BCPI activity was significantly decreased when its C-terminus was truncated, whereas BmCPI activity increased considerably when the C-terminus tail of BCPI was attached to BmCPI. Additionally, the inhibitory activity of BCPI was strongly reduced if R31 was mutated to A31. In summary, two cysteine proteinase inhibitors from silkworm were characterized in the present study, which facilitates an understanding of the interaction mechanism between cysteine proteinase and its inhibitors in the silkworm.

[Prognostic significance of combined TERT and IDH gene mutation analysis in diffusely infiltrating gliomas]

Objective: To investigate the status and prognostic significance of TERT and IDH1/2 genes mutations in diffusely infiltrating gliomas. Methods: Hot spot mutations of TERT and IDH1/2 genes were detected by DNA sequencing in 236 cases of gliomas at West China Hospital from 2012 to 2016, including pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade Ⅰ, 16 cases), diffuse astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma (WHO grade Ⅱ, 89 cases), anaplastic astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma (WHO grade Ⅲ, 72 cases) and glioblastoma (WHO grade Ⅳ, 59 cases). The prognostic significance of TERT and IDH1/2 hot spot mutations was evaluated. Results: No IDH or TERT mutations were detected in pilocytic gliomas. TERT promoter mutation frequency was higher in patients aged ≥40 years(60.8%, 93/153) than in patients aged <40 years (32.8%, 22/67; P<0.01). TERT promoter mutation rate was also significantly higher in oligodendroglioma (87.5% , 56/64) than that in astrocytoma(37.8%, 59/156; P<0.01). Young age (<40 years), oligodendroglioma and IDH1 mutation were favorable prognostic factors for diffusely infiltrating astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors. TERT mutation alone was not of prognostic significance. Diffusely infiltrating astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors were divided into four molecular subtypes according to TERT and IDH1 mutation status: IDH(+ )/TERT(+ ), IDH(+ )/TERT(-), IDH(-)/TERT(-) and IDH(-)/TERT(+ ). There was significant prognostic difference among the 4 subtypes. Conclusions: Combined IDH and TERT gene mutation analysis may be useful for prognostic subgrouping. Notably, IDH1 wild-type cases can be further subdivided into TERT(+ ) or (-) subgroups with significant prognostic difference.

Analysis of cysteine protease inhibitor gene (BmCPI) promoter activity in silkworms using bac-to-bac baculovirus systems

A cysteine protease inhibitor of Bombyx mori (BmCPI) plays an important role in pupation, molting, and dissociation of tissues. The present study identified and analyzed the BmCPI promoter region to better understand its functional regulatory mechanisms. Eight promoter fragments of different lengths were analyzed using an improved Bac-to-Bac expression system. Luciferase activities were investigated both in BmE cells and larval organisms after infection with the Bac-to-Bac system, and similar changes in activity were observed in both models. Strong activity was detected in the longest promoter (2005 bp, −1969 to +36), and activity changed significantly with truncation of promoter length. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the promoter region from −32 to +6 bp played a critical role in activating the downstream gene promoter element, where some potential elements were also predicted by informatics tools. The findings offer a basic reference for the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of BmCPI.

Immediate prophylactic vs endoscopic or symptomatic-driven azathioprine treatment to prevent surgical recurrence after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease

AIM

Azathioprine can prevent postoperative recurrences in Crohn's disease. We compared the efficacy of azathioprine in preventing surgical recurrence to explore whether immediate prophylaxis after surgery is better than azathioprine started after endoscopic or clinical recurrence.

METHOD

Data of patients with intestinal resection and ileocolic anastomosis for Crohn's disease between 2006 and 2015 were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were grouped according to the strategies of postoperative therapy with azathioprine. Univariate and multivariate proportional hazard Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictive factors for surgical recurrence.

RESULTS

Only age equal to or less than 16 years at diagnosis was an independent risk factor for surgical recurrence in all 166 patients (P = 0.005). In patients with high risk of recurrence (27 in the symptom-driven group, 39 in the endoscopy-driven group and 69 in the immediate prophylaxis group), both immediate and endoscopy-driven azathioprine delayed and reduced surgical recurrence compared with symptom-driven azathioprine (P = 0.035, 0.019). Their efficacy in reducing surgical recurrence was confirmed by Cox regression analyses (hazard ratio 0.465, P = 0.045; hazard ratio 0.352, P = 0.028). Surgical recurrence was similar between the immediate and endoscopy-driven groups. In addition, age ≤ 16 at diagnosis was still an independent risk factor for surgical recurrence in this subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with high risk of recurrence, both immediate prophylactic azathioprine after surgery and azathioprine started after endoscopic recurrence can delay and reduce surgical recurrence compared with azathioprine started after clinical recurrence. In addition, azathioprine started immediately after surgery was not superior to azathioprine started after discovery of endoscopic recurrence.

Effects of fatty acid glyceride product SILOhealth 104 on the growth performance and carcass composition of broiler chickens

Butyric acid is the primary energy source for colonocytes, and has shown potential as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics, due to its antimicrobial activity and positive effects on production performance traits of broiler chickens. SILOhealth 104 (SILO S.P.A., Florence, Italy) is a commercial product mainly containing mono- and di-glycerides of butyrate with a small portion of propionic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acid mono- and di-glycerides. Its effects on broiler performance and carcass composition have yet to be evaluated. Four-hundred-eighty day-old male Ross 308 birds were divided into different dietary treatment groups with equal starting weights and fed a diet containing 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 ppm of SILOhealth 104 for 35 days. There were no significant differences in overall average daily gain or feed: gain ratio with the addition of SILOhealth 104 to the diets (P > 0.05). At 5 wk of age, abdominal fat weight was reduced in birds supplemented with SILOhealth 104 in a dose-responsive manner (P < 0.05), while breast muscle weight increased with supplementation, with significant increases in 2,000 ppm and 3,000 ppm birds compared to controls (P < 0.05). A significant reduction in gene expression of both forkhead box protein O4 and myostatin, 2 factors that can inhibit protein synthesis, was found in the breast muscle of all SILOhealth 104 treated birds (P < 0.05). In addition, gene expression in the adipose tissue, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha and lipoprotein lipase, which are associated with lipid metabolism, was significantly decreased and increased, respectively, by the supplementation of SILOhealth 104 (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the components of SILOhealth 104 can positively affect the deposition of muscle, while reducing abdominal fat deposition in broiler chickens.