[Influence of gender, age and season on thyroid hormone reference interval]

Objective: Using clinical "big data" , to investigate the factors that affect the levels of thyroid hormones, and to explore the partitioning criteria for reference intervals (RI) of these hormones. Methods: An observation study was conducted. Information of 107 107 individuals undergoing routine physical examination in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 1(st,) 2013 to August 31(st,) 2016 was collected, thyroid hormone of these subjects were detected. To explore the test results distribution and differences of TSH, FT4 and FT3 by gender and age; according to the seasonal division standard of China Meteorological Administration, the study period was divided into four seasons, and the seasonal fluctuation on TSH was analyzed.To define the appropriate partition by gender, age and season according to significant difference analysis. Results: In male and female, the distributions of TSH were 1.779(0.578-4.758), 2.023(0.420-5.343)mU/L, respectively, and the level of TSH in female was higher than in male (Z=-37.600, P<0.001). The distributions of FT4 were 0.127(0.098-0.162), 0.117(0.091-0.151) μg/L, the distributions of FT3 were 3.33(2.47-3.74), 3.01(2.35-3.57)ng/L. And the level of FT4, FT3 in female were significantly lower than in male (Z=-94.000, -154.600, all P<0.001). Furthermore, males were divided into two groups by 65 years old and female were divided by 50 years old, respectively, and the distributions of TSH in male and female of older group were 1.818(0.528-5.240), 2.111(0.348-5.735)mU/L, in younger group were 1.778(0.582-4.696), 1.991(0.427-5.316)mU/L. The level of TSH in older group was significantly higher than in younger group (Z=-2.269, -10.400, all P<0.05), and the distribution of TSH in older group was much wider than in younger. The distribution of whole in spring, summer and autumn was 1.869( 0.510-5.042)mU/L, in winter was 1.978(0.527-5.250) mU/L, and the difference between them had statistical significance (Z=-15.000, P<0.001). Conclusions: Gender and age significantly affect the serum levels of TSH, FT4, and FT3, the distribution of TSH in female and elder group are wider than in male, and that of FT4, FT3 are lower.Seasons significantly affect the serum TSH level, the peak value is observed in winter. There are obviously differences between "rough" RIs and manufacture recommended RIs. Each laboratory should establish reference intervals for thyroid hormones on the premise of appropriate grouping.

[Identification and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium thermoresistibile and Mycobacterium elephantis isolated from a cow with mastitis]

Objective: To understand the etiological characteristics and drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium thermoresistibile and Mycobacterium elephantis isolated from a cow with mastitis and provide evidence for the prevention and control of infectious mastitis in cows. Methods: The milk sample was collected from a cow with mastitis, which was pretreated with 4% NaOH and inoculated with L-J medium for Mycobacterium isolation. The positive cultures were initially identified by acid-fast staining and multi-loci PCR, then Mycobacterium species was identified by the multiple loci sequence analysis (MLSA) with 16S rRNA, hsp65, ITS and SodA genes. The drug sensitivity of the isolates to 27 antibiotics was tested by alamar blue assay. Results: Two anti-acid stain positive strains were isolated from the milk of a cow with mastitis, which were identified as non-tuberculosis mycobacterium by multi-loci PCR, and multi-loci nucleic acid sequence analysis indicated that one strain was Mycobacterium thermoresistibile and another one was Mycobacterium elephantis. The results of the drug susceptibility test showed that the two strains were resistant to most antibiotics, including rifampicin and isoniazid, but they were sensitive to amikacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ethambutol, streptomycin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin and linezolid. Conclusions:Mycobacterium thermoresistibile and Mycobacterium elephantis were isolated in a cow with mastitis and the drug susceptibility spectrum of the pathogens were unique. The results of the study can be used as reference for the prevention and control the infection in cows.

Correlation of impulsivity with self-harm and suicidal attempt: a community study of adolescents in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate differences and similarities in risk factors for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicidal attempt (SA), and the role of impulsivity among a group of community adolescents.

SETTING

This is a cross-sectional study conducted at high schools in Northern Taiwan.

DATA AND PARTICIPANTS

We recruited grade 1 students from 14 high schools. A total of 5879 participants (mean age 16.02 years, female adolescents: 57.7%) completed the online assessment.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants completed online questionnaires about sociodemographic data, suicidality, history of DSH and SA, depressed mood, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11)) and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. A subsample was interviewed about lifetime SA, and the results were compared with those from the online questionnaires.

RESULTS

In our sample, 25% of the students had lifetime DSH and 3.5% had lifetime SA. Two hundred and seventy-two students received face-to-face interviews. The concordance between the online questionnaires and interviews in terms of ascertaining cases of SA was moderate (concordance rate 82.76%; kappa value 0.59). Similar risk factors for DSH/SA among the whole sample included female gender, lower academic performance, depression, substance use (tobacco and alcohol) and low self-esteem. The BIS-11 score was correlated with DSH. Factor 3 score of the BIS-11 (novelty seeking) was correlated with DSH in both boys and girls, whereas factor 2 score (lack of self-control) was correlated with SA in boys. Social support was a protective factor against SA among the female adolescents. Gender modulated the association of impulsivity and DSH/SA. Associations between impulsivity and DSH and SA were particularly strong among boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for DSH and SA were similar, but not identical. Early identification of those at risk and appropriate interventions may be helpful.

[Identification and evaluation of T cell epitopes of Rv0585c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis]

Objective: To investigate the human T cell epitopes of Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis Rv0585c protein antigen and their immunogenicity and provide evidence for the development of specific tuberculosis immune diagnostic techniques and tuberculosis vaccine. Methods: We synthesized peptides from M. tuberculosis Rv0585c protein antigen predicted by TE-predict and IEDB human T cell epitope prediction tool. The cellular immunoreactivity of the predicted peptides was evaluated through ELISpot assay with the peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMC) of clinical tuberculosis patients. In animal experiments, BALB/c mice were respectively immunized with high dose (100 μg/mice) and low dose (50 μg/mice) of the peptides of Rv0585c, at the same time, high dose (50 μg/mice) and low dose (20 μg/mice) of Ag85B protein were used in positive control group. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were tested with ELISA kit respectively. Results: By means of bioinformatics technique, 66 human T cell epitopes of Rv0585c were predicted, from which9 peptides concentrated epitopes were synthesized for the animal immune experiments. Peptides P10110, P10112 and P10117 were confirmed to be antigenic. The sensitivity and specificity of P10110, P10112 and P10117 were 14.00%, 12.00%, 6.00% and 100.00%, 100.00%, 97.96% respectively when they were used as diagnostic reagents of tuberculosis. The sensitivity and specificity were 22.00% and 97.96% when the epitopes were combined together. The results of animal immunity test showed that high levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were induced by high and low dose of P10110, and high levels of IFN-γ、IL-2 and IL-10 were induced by high and low dose of P10112, which were much higher than that in negative controls, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion: Rv0585c, including its human T cell epitopes, has good immunogenicity and immunoreactivity, stimulating the body to produce a stronger cellular immune response and has better potential application value in cellular diagnosis of tuberculosis and the development of new type of tuberculosis vaccine.

Relationship Between Predictors of Incident Deliberate Self-Harm and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents

PURPOSE

Data on the incidence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicide attempts (SAs) are lacking in non-Western adolescents, and no studies have investigated differences in incident DSH and SA worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the incidence rates and relationships between predictors in DSH and SA.

METHODS

The Taiwanese Adolescent Self-Harm Project was a longitudinal study of DSH among adolescents. We recruited 5,879 students from 14 senior high schools in northern Taiwan. Online questionnaires on sociodemographic data, suicidality, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity, and alcohol and tobacco use were assessed at baseline (T1) and at 1 year of follow-up (T2). Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of incident DSH and SA.

RESULTS

The mean age was 16.02 years, and 56.73% of the cohort was female. At T1, the lifetime prevalence rates of DSH and SA were 25.04% and 3.50%, respectively. At T2, 4,331 (73.67%) students had completed follow-up assessments. The 1-year incidence rates of DSH and SA were 4.04% and 1.53%, respectively. The predictors of incident DSH included perceived family discord and more depressive symptoms at T1. The predictors of incident SA were lifetime suicide ideation, more depressive symptoms, and tobacco use at T1.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rates of DSH and SA were similar to those reported in Western countries. The predictors of incident DSH and SA were similar but not identical. Our results highlight the risk factors which should be considered in terms of early identification and intervention among adolescents to prevent suicidality.

[EDA mutation screening and phenotype analysis in patients with tooth agenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To screen the ectodysplasin A (EDA) gene mutation in the patients with non-syndromic tooth agenesis and ectodermal dysplasia, and to analyze the phenotype of missing teeth pattern in these two groups of patients.

METHODS

In the study, 174 patients with tooth agenesis (143: non-syndromic, 31: ectodermal dysplasia) and 451 health control volunteers were enrolled from the clinic, and the genome DNA was extracted from either peripheral blood or oral mucosal swab. The coding region of EDA gene was then amplified by PCR, sequenced and blasted to online NCBI database. The missing teeth were recorded for all patients, and the missing teeth from patients with EDA mutation were compared among the different dentition sites.

RESULTS

33 patients were identified with EDA mutation. In the non-syndromic patients, 13/143(9.09%) were identified with EDA mutation, while in patients with ectodermal dysplasia, 20/31(64.52%) were found with EDA mutation. Ten novel EDA mutations were identified (c.769G>C[p.G257R ],c.936C>G[p.I312M],c.223G>A[p.E75K], .1166C>T[p.P389L],c.133G>C[p.G45R],c.1109G>A[p.E370K],c.914G>T[p.S305I], c.916C>T[p.Q306X],c.602G>T[p.G201V],c.88-89insG[p.A30GfsX69]). For each dentition site there was no statistic difference in the number of missing teeth between the left and right sides, so the number from both sides were combined later in the analysis. In the patients with EDA mutation, the non-syndromic patients had fewer missing teeth (15.9±6.4 missing teeth for each, 207/364 in total) than the patients with ectodermal dysplasia (23.9±4.3, 478/560). In the non-syndromic patients with EDA mutation, the maxillay central incisors and first molars were less affected, with the same missing rate as 19.2% (5/26). While the mandibular central incisors (with a missing rate of 76.9%, 20/26), the maxillary lateral incisors (the missing rate: 88.5%, 23/26), the mandibular lateral incisors (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26), and the maxillary first premolars (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26) were more likely to be missing. In the ectodermal dysplasia patients with EDA mutation, only maxillary central incisors (the missing rate: 60%, 24/40), maxillary canines (the missing rate: 70%, 28/40), mandibular canines (the missing rate: 67.5%, 27/40), maxillary first molars (the missing rate: 65%, 26/40) and mandibular first molars (the missing rate: 72.5%, 29/40) had higher possibility of persistence. Teeth at other dentition sites were more likely to be affected (the minimum missing rate: 87.5%, 35/40).

CONCLUSION

The findings would help to reveal the EDA gene and its function in ectodermal organogenesis.

[Analysis on the polymorphisms of human B cell epitopes of 5 specificity antigens in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China]

OBJECTIVE

To study the diversities of human B cell epitopes of five proteins (Mpt83, Mpt70, LpqH, PstS3, GroES) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from China.

METHODS

We selected 179 strains isolated from patients with tuberculosis in different regions of China, and cultured these strains by L-J medium. The gene sequences of these 5 proteins were amplified and sequenced by PCR. The variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP) of the DNA sequences were compared and analyzed according to the immune epitope database (IEDB). The synonymous mutation rate (dS), non-synonymous mutation rate (dN) and dN/dS values were calculated with MEGA6 software.

RESULTS

Among the 179 clinical MTBC isolates, 7 SNP mutations were found in the mpt83gene. The dN/dS value of the whole mpt83 gene was 0.88. One SNP mutation was found in the mpt70 gene. The dN/dS values of the whole pstS3 gene and non-B epitopes areas were 1.74 and 1.40 respectively. But no mutation was found in the groES gene.

CONCLUSION

The mpt83, lpqH and pstS3 genes of 179 MTBC strains contain gene SNPs and human B cell epitopes diversities, while the coding gene and human B cell epitopes of protein mpt70 and groES were conservative.

Self-harm and its association with internet addiction and internet exposure to suicidal thought in adolescents

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Self-harm (SH) is a risk factor for suicide. We aimed to determine whether internet addiction and internet exposure to confided suicidal ideation are associated with SH in adolescents.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey of students who self-completed a series of online questionnaires including a sociodemographic information questionnaire, questionnaire for suicidality and SH, Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), multi-dimensional support scale (MDSS), Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), and questionnaire for substance abuse.

RESULTS

A total of 2479 students completed the questionnaires (response rate = 62.1%). They had a mean age of 15.44 years (range 14-19 years; standard deviation 0.61), and were mostly female (n = 1494; 60.3%). The prevalence of SH within the previous year was 10.1% (n = 250). Among the participants, 17.1% had internet addiction (n = 425) and 3.3% had been exposed to suicidal content on the internet (n = 82). In the hierarchical logistic regression analysis, internet addiction and internet exposure to suicidal thoughts were both significantly related to an increased risk of SH, after controlling for gender, family factors, exposure to suicidal thoughts in the real life, depression, alcohol/tobacco use, concurrent suicidality, and perceived social support. However, the association between internet addiction and SH weakened after adjusting for the level of self-esteem, while internet exposure to suicidal thoughts remained significantly related to an increased risk of SH (odds ratio = 1.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.06-3.64).

CONCLUSION

Online experiences are associated with SH in adolescents. Preventive strategies may include education to increase social awareness, to identify the youths most at risk, and to provide prompt help.

[EDA mutation screening and phenotype analysis in patients with tooth agenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To screen the ectodysplasin A (EDA) gene mutation in the patients with non-syndromic tooth agenesis and ectodermal dysplasia, and to analyze the phenotype of missing teeth pattern in these two groups of patients.

METHODS

In the study, 174 patients with tooth agenesis (143: non-syndromic, 31: ectodermal dysplasia) and 451 health control volunteers were enrolled from the clinic, and the genome DNA was extracted from either peripheral blood or oral mucosal swab. The coding region of EDA gene was then amplified by PCR, sequenced and blasted to online NCBI database. The missing teeth were recorded for all patients, and the missing teeth from patients with EDA mutation were compared among the different dentition sites.

RESULTS

33 patients were identified with EDA mutation. In the non-syndromic patients, 13/143(9.09%) were identified with EDA mutation, while in patients with ectodermal dysplasia, 20/31(64.52%) were found with EDA mutation. Ten novel EDA mutations were identified (c.769G>C[p.G257R ],c.936C>G[p.I312M],c.223G>A[p.E75K], .1166C>T[p.P389L],c.133G>C[p.G45R],c.1109G>A[p.E370K],c.914G>T[p.S305I], c.916C>T[p.Q306X],c.602G>T[p.G201V],c.88-89insG[p.A30GfsX69]). For each dentition site there was no statistic difference in the number of missing teeth between the left and right sides, so the number from both sides were combined later in the analysis. In the patients with EDA mutation, the non-syndromic patients had fewer missing teeth (15.9±6.4 missing teeth for each, 207/364 in total) than the patients with ectodermal dysplasia (23.9±4.3, 478/560). In the non-syndromic patients with EDA mutation, the maxillay central incisors and first molars were less affected, with the same missing rate as 19.2% (5/26). While the mandibular central incisors (with a missing rate of 76.9%, 20/26), the maxillary lateral incisors (the missing rate: 88.5%, 23/26), the mandibular lateral incisors (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26), and the maxillary first premolars (the missing rate: 80.8%, 21/26) were more likely to be missing. In the ectodermal dysplasia patients with EDA mutation, only maxillary central incisors (the missing rate: 60%, 24/40), maxillary canines (the missing rate: 70%, 28/40), mandibular canines (the missing rate: 67.5%, 27/40), maxillary first molars (the missing rate: 65%, 26/40) and mandibular first molars (the missing rate: 72.5%, 29/40) had higher possibility of persistence. Teeth at other dentition sites were more likely to be affected (the minimum missing rate: 87.5%, 35/40).

CONCLUSION

The findings would help to reveal the EDA gene and its function in ectodermal organogenesis.

[Influence of implant restoration on traditional restoration idea]

Implant restoration affected the traditional restoration idea. Artificial implant restoration has a profound influence on the design of dental restoration. Implant supported prostheses have not only changed the method of oral rehabilitation, but also integrated revolutionary concept with the traditional treatment protocol. By using implants, posterior missing molars can be effectively restored and thus eliminating the disadvantages of traditional removable partial denture for Kennedy classification Ⅰ, Ⅱ partically edentulous dentition. Full edentulous arch can also be restored with implant fixed denture which provide much better oral health related quality of life compared with the traditional complete denture. It is useful to master the theory and skills of artificial implant restoration, and to provide a reference for the restoration of oral physiological function.

Applying the Back-Propagation Neural Network model and fuzzy classification to evaluate the trophic status of a reservoir system

The trophic state index, and in particular, the Carlson Trophic State Index (CTSI), is critical for evaluating reservoir water quality. Despite its common use in evaluating static water quality, the reliability of the CTSI may decrease when water turbidity is high. Therefore, this study examines the reliability of the CTSI and uses the Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) model to create a new trophic state index. Fuzzy theory, rather than binary logic, is implemented to classify the trophic status into its three grades. The results show that compared to the CTSI with traditional classification, the new index with fuzzy classification can improve trophic status evaluation with high water turbidity. A reliable trophic state index can correctly describe reservoir water quality and allow relevant agencies to address proper water quality management strategies for a reservoir system.

Effects of environmental temperature and dietary manganese on egg production performance, egg quality, and some plasma biochemical traits of broiler breeders

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of environmental temperature and dietary Mn on egg production performance, egg quality, and some plasma biochemical traits of broiler breeders. A completely randomized factorial design involved 2 environmental temperatures (a normal temperature, 21 ± 1°C, and a high temperature, 32 ± 1°C) × 3 dietary Mn treatments (a Mn-unsupplemented corn–soybean meal basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 120 mg of Mn/kg of diet as either MnSO4·H2O or manganese proteinate). There were 6 treatments with 6 replicates (4 birds per replicate). High temperature decreased egg weight (P < 0.0001), laying rate (P < 0.0001), egg yield (P < 0.0001), feed intake (P < 0.0001), egg:feed ratio (P < 0.0001), eggshell strength (P < 0.05) and thickness (P < 0.0001), plasma triiodothyronine level (P < 0.05), and alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.04) whereas it increased rectal temperature (P < 0.0001); plasma malondialdehyde level (P < 0.02); and activities (P < 0.002) of lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase. Broiler breeders fed the diets supplemented with Mn regardless of source had greater (P < 0.05) eggshell strength and lower (P ≤ 0.05) plasma triiodothyronine level and protein carbonyl content than those fed the control diet. The broiler breeders fed the diet supplemented with the organic Mn had greater (P < 0.01) eggshell thickness than those fed the control diet. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between environmental temperature and dietary Mn in laying rate, egg yield, feed intake, and egg:feed ratio. Under normal temperature, dietary Mn did not affect the above 4 parameters; however, under high temperature, broiler breeders fed the diet supplemented with the organic Mn showed greater (P < 0.03) improvements in these 4 parameters than those fed the control diet. The results from this study indicated that high temperature significantly impaired egg production performance and eggshell quality and induced lipid peroxidation and tissue damage whereas dietary supplementation of either organic or inorganic Mn improved eggshell strength and thermotolerance and reduced protein oxidation and that the organic Mn could alleviate the negative effect of high temperature on egg production performance of broiler breeders at the period of 32 to 45 wk of age.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie (h (2) = 0.07±0.03) and M (h (2) = 0.07±0.01), moderately low for Dm (h (2) = 0.13±0.02), of medium values for H (h (2) = 0.20±0.03) and F (h (2) = 0.23±0.03). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm (rg = 0.93), between F and H (rg = 0.97) and between Dm and H (rg = 0.90). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings' feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

Determination of thin hydrodynamic lubricating film thickness using dichromatic interferometry

This paper introduces the application of dichromatic interferometry for the study of hydrodynamic lubrication. In conventional methods, two beams with different colors are projected consecutively on a static object. By contrast, the current method deals with hydrodynamic lubricated contacts under running conditions and two lasers with different colors are projected simultaneously to form interference images. Dichromatic interferometry incorporates the advantages of monochromatic and chromatic interferometry, which are widely used in lubrication research. This new approach was evaluated statically and dynamically by measuring the inclination of static wedge films and the thickness of the hydrodynamic lubricating film under running conditions, respectively. Results show that dichromatic interferometry can facilitate real-time determination of lubricating film thickness and is well suited for the study of transient or dynamic lubricating problems.

Asp68His mutation in the A1 domain of human factor V causes impaired secretion and ineffective translocation

Congenital factor V (FV) deficiency is a rare inherited disorder. We determined the mechanism of a missense mutation, Asp68His, in the A1 domain of the FV protein, is associated with severe FV deficiency. We characterized the mutant FV-Asp68His protein using in vitro expression studies by using specific secretion and degradation pathway inhibitors and analysed the intracellular translocation of the mutant protein by immunofluorescence staining. The Asp68His mutation caused very low levels of FV protein in the conditioned media, with normal specific FV activity. Similar mRNA degradation rates between FV-wild-type (wt) and FV-Asp68His mRNA showed that the Asp68His mutation does not affect FV expression at the transcriptional level. A specific secretion pathway inhibitor, brefeldin A, was used to demonstrate that the lower efficiency of transport to the outside of the cell for FV-Asp68His mutant protein compared with that of the FV-wt protein. Furthermore, we showed that the Asp68His mutation resulted in increased intracellular degradation through a MG132-mediated proteasomal degradation pathway. In the transfected cell lysates, FV-wt protein had multiple posttranslational modified forms, but the FV-Asp68His protein was not completely glycosylated. We further observed that the FV-Asp68His protein was retrieved in the endoplasmic reticulum only and did not undergo transport to the Golgi apparatus, leading to impaired secretion. These results strongly suggest that the Asp68His mutation may result in intracellular defective trafficking and enhanced degradation, and impaired secretion of FV protein.

Association between rs11001553 of DKK1 and non-syndromic tooth agenesis in the Chinese Han population

Tooth agenesis is one of the most common anomalies of human dentition. Recent genetic studies have provided information regarding a number of genes related to both syndromic and non-syndromic forms of hypodontia. In a previous study, we found that polymorphism in rs11001553 of DKK1 was associated with hypodontia in the Chinese Han population. In this study, we extended this investigation to 89 individuals diagnosed with sporadic non-syndromic oligodontia (40 males and 49 females). These individuals were analyzed with 268 subjects (123 males and 145 females) diagnosed with non-syndromic hypodontia and 190 healthy control subjects (99 males and 91 females). DNA was obtained from whole blood or saliva samples and genotyping was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Significant differences were observed in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs11001553 of DKK1. These data demonstrated an association between rs11001553 of DKK1, a tooth development-associated gene, and non-syndromic tooth agenesis in Chinese Han individuals. This information may provide further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tooth agenesis. Furthermore, DKK1 can be regarded as a marker gene for the risk of tooth agenesis.

Patient health questionnaire for school-based depression screening among Chinese adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) and its 2 subscales (1 item and 2 items) for the screening of major depressive disorder (MDD) among adolescents in Taiwan.

METHODS

A total of 2257 adolescents were recruited from high schools in Taipei. The participants completed assessments including demographic information, the Chinese version of the PHQ-9, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and data on the number of physical illnesses and mental health service utilizations were recorded. Among them, 430 were retested using the PHQ-9 within 2 weeks. Child psychiatrists interviewed a subsample of the adolescents (n = 165) using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia Epidemiological Version as the criterion standard.

RESULTS

The PHQ-9 had good internal consistency (α = 0.84) and acceptable test-retest reliability (0.80). The participants with higher PHQ-9 scores were more likely to have MDD. Principal component factor analysis of the PHQ-9 yielded a 1-factor structure, which accounted for 45.3% of the variance. A PHQ-9 score ≥15 had a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.95 for recognizing MDD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.90. The screening accuracy of the 2 subscales was also satisfactory, with a Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item cutoff of ≥3 being 94.4% sensitive and 82.5% specific and a Patient Health Questionnaire-1 item cutoff of ≥2 being 61.1% sensitive and 87.7% specific.

CONCLUSIONS

The PHQ-9 and its 2 subscales appear to be reliable and valid for detecting MDD among ethnic Chinese adolescents in Taiwan.

Pharmacokinetics of niacin, simvastatin and their metabolites in healthy Chinese subjects after single and multiple doses of a fixed dose combination tablet of niacin extended release/simvastatin

OBJECTIVE

A fixed dose combination tablet of niacin extended release (ER)/simvastatin was recently developed in China. This study was designed to assess and compare the pharmacokinetics of niacin, simvastatin and their metabolites in healthy Chinese subjects after single and multiple doses administration.

METHODS

From day 1 to day 7, 12 Chinese subjects were given a tablet every day at approximately 10 p.m. Serial blood samples were collected. Niacin and nicotinuric acid (NUA) in plasma, niacin, NUA, N-methylnicotinamide (MNA) and N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY) in urine, simvastatin and simvastatin acid in plasma were determined by LC/MS/MS methods. Pharmacokinetic parameters on days 1 and 7 were compared.

RESULTS

The main pharmacokinetic parameters for the single and multiple doses were as -follows: Niacin: Tmax were 3.8±1.5 h and 3.9±2.0 h; Cmax were 2 091±1 315 ng/ml and 2 323±1 542 ng/ml; AUC0-t were 4 123.88±3 138.48 ng ∙ h/ml and 4 385.98±3 127.05 ng ∙ h/ml. NUA: Tmax were 4.7±1.7 h and 3.8±1.5 h; Cmax were 1 057±549 ng/ml and 1 087±470 ng/ml; AUC0-t were 4 012.49±2 168.68 ng ∙ h/ml and 4 040.45±1 886.57 ng ∙ h/ml. Simvastatin: Tmax were 1.8±1.0 h and 2.5±2.5 h; Cmax were 3.15±1.67 ng/ml and 4.87±4.11 ng/ml; AUC0-t were 9.03±5.10 ng ∙ h/ml and 17.63±13.93 ng ∙ h/ml. Simvastatin acid: Tmax were 5.8±1.7 h and 6.5±1.4 h; Cmax were 4.22±2.10 ng/ml and 9.30±8.09 ng/ml; AUC0-t were 34.65±16.89 ng ∙ h/ml and 61.62±46.41 ng ∙ h/ml. Urine Recovery rate of total niacin: (40.55±7.38)% and (62.87±12.04)%.

CONCLUSION

Compared with those after a single dose, pharmacokinetics of niacin and NUA was similar; total urine recovery of niacin was higher; exposure to simvastatin and simvastatin acid were higher following multiple doses.

Treatment effects of combining social skill training and parent training in Taiwanese children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have problems in social interactions. We investigated the social and behavioral effects of providing both social skill training and parent training to school-aged children with ADHD in Taiwan.

METHODS

Seven consecutive 8-week behavioral-based social skill training (SST) group sessions were held for 48 children with ADHD; parallel 8-week parent group sessions were provided simultaneously. Fifty-five children with ADHD were recruited as a control group. All children took medication as prescribed by their doctors. The effects were assessed using the teacher and parent version of the Chinese version of Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version IV scale (SNAP-IV), the Chinese version of the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL-C), child and teacher version of the modified Social Skill Rating System (SSRS-C and SSRS-T), at baseline, post-treatment, and 4 months from baseline. The doses of methylphenidate and drug compliance were controlled during the analysis.

RESULTS

The mixed-effects model demonstrated the main effect of group sessions on the Oppositional subscale of SNAP-P, the Anxious/Depressed subscale of CBCL-C, the Self Control subscale of SSRS-C, and the Active Participation subscale of SSRS-T, all in favor of the experimental group. However, the improvement on the Oppositional subscale of SNAP-P and the Self Control subscale of SSRS-C were noted only between baseline and post-treatment period and were not sustained at the end of the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that children with ADHD could benefit from this low intensity psychosocial program, although some improvements were not maintained at follow-up assessment.

Effects of various drug therapies on Kleine-Levin syndrome: a case report

Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare sleep disorder, predominantly affecting adolescent males, which presents as recurrent episodes of hypersomnia, behavioral and cognitive disturbances, hyperphagia and sometimes hypersexuality (Lisk, "Kleine-Levin syndrome." Pract Neurol 2009;9:42-45). Modafinil has been reported to show an effect in shortening the duration of symptomatic periods, but does not affect the recurrence rate (Huang et al., "Kleine-Levin syndrome: current status." Med Clin N Am 2010;94:557-562). However, no single drug therapy has been consistently successful, despite various psychotropic agents, including lithium, anticonvulsants and antidepressants, having been systematically tried (Arnulf et al., "Kleine-Levin syndrome: a systematic study of 108 patients." Ann Neurol 2008;63:482-492). This study reports a male adolescent with KLS who received several courses of drug therapy, providing a chance to compare differential drug effects over time.

QSAR studies on imidazopyrazine derivatives as Aurora A kinase inhibitors

Aurora kinases have emerged as attractive targets for the development of novel anti-cancer agents. A combined study of molecular docking, pharmacophore modelling and 3D-QSAR was performed on a series of imidazo [1, 2-a] pyrazines as novel Aurora kinase inhibitors to gain insights into the structural determinants and their structure-activity relationship. An ensemble of conformations based on molecular docking was used for PHASE pharmacophore studies. The developed best-fitted pharmacophore model was validated by diverse chemotypes of Aurora A kinase inhibitors and was consistent with the structural requirements for the docked binding mechanism. Subsequently, the pharmacophore-based alignment was used to develop PHASE and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) 3D-QSAR models. The best CoMSIA model showed good statistics (q (2 )= 0.567, r (2 )= 0.992), and the predictive ability of the model was validated using an external test set of 13 compounds giving a satisfactory prediction ([Formula: see text]). The 3D contour maps provided insight into the binding mechanism and highlighted key structural features that are essential to the inhibitory activity. Based on the PHASE and CoMSIA 3D-QSAR results, a set of novel Aurora A inhibitors were designed that showed excellent potencies.

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers operating up to ∼ 200 K with optimized oscillator strength and improved injection tunneling

A new temperature performance record of 199.5 K for terahertz quantum cascade lasers is achieved by optimizing the lasing transition oscillator strength of the resonant phonon based three-well design. The optimum oscillator strength of 0.58 was found to be larger than that of the previous record (0.41) by Kumar et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 131105 (2009)]. The choice of tunneling barrier thicknesses was determined with a simplified density matrix model, which converged towards higher tunneling coupling strengths than previously explored and nearly perfect alignment of the states across the injection and extraction barriers at the design electric field. At 8 K, the device showed a threshold current density of 1 kA/cm2, with a peak output power of ∼ 38 mW, and lasing frequency blue-shifting from 2.6 THz to 2.85 THz with increasing bias. The wavelength blue-shifted to 3.22 THz closer to the maximum operating temperature of 199.5 K, which corresponds to ∼ 1.28ħω/κB. The voltage dependence of laser frequency is related to the Stark effect of two intersubband transitions and is compared with the simulated gain spectra obtained by a Monte Carlo approach.

Naturalistic exploration of the effect of osmotic release oral system-methylphenidate on remission rate and functional improvement in Taiwanese children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder

AIM

To determine the differences in the remission rate, recovery rate, functional improvement, and treatment adherence related to treatment with short-acting immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) and long-acting osmotic-release oral system-methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) in a naturalistic setting among Taiwanese children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS

A total of 757 children with ADHD, aged 6-18 years, was evaluated using the following in order determine functional improvement and treatment adherence: the Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version IV scale (SNAP-IV-C), Clinical Global Impression-ADHD-Severity (CGI-S) to measure remission and recovery rates, the Chinese version of the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents (CSAICA), and caregiver's satisfaction rate, treatment adherence, and frequency of adverse effects.

RESULTS

According to the SNAP-IV-C scores, the remission rate was 30.72%, and the recovery rate was 16.38%. Compared to short-acting IR-MPH, OROS-MPH was associated with greater functional improvement and treatment adherence among children with ADHD.

CONCLUSION

OROS-MPH treatment at the adequate dosage can achieve higher remission and recovery rates, produce greater functional improvement, and result in better treatment adherence than IR-MPH treatment.