Foliar application of nanoparticles mitigates the chilling effect on photosynthesis and photoprotection in sugarcane

Chilling is one of the main abiotic stresses that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane, in marginal tropical regions where chilling incidence occurs with seasonal changes. However, nanoparticles (NPs) have been tested as a mitigation strategy against diverse abiotic stresses. In this study, NPs such as silicon dioxide (nSiO₂; 5-15 nm), zinc oxide (nZnO; <100 nm), selenium (nSe; 100 mesh), graphene (graphene nanoribbons [GNRs] alkyl functionalized; 2-15 μm × 40-250 nm) were applied as foliar sprays on sugarcane leaves to understand the amelioration effect of NPs against negative impact of chilling stress on photosynthesis and photoprotection. To this end, seedlings of moderately chilling tolerant sugarcane variety Guitang 49 was used for current study and spilt plot was used as statistical design. The changes in the level chilling tolerance after the application of NPs on Guitang 49 were compared with tolerance level of chilling tolerant variety Guitang 28. NPs treatments reduced the adverse effects of chilling by maintaining the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), maximum photo-oxidizable PSI (P_m), and photosynthetic gas exchange. Furthermore, application of NPs increased the content of light harvesting pigments (chlorophylls and cartinoids) in NPs treated seedlings. Higher carotenoid accumulation in leaves of NPs treated seedlings enhanced the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of PSII. Among the NPs, nSiO₂ showed higher amelioration effects and it can be used alone or in combination with other NPs to mitigate chilling stress in sugarcane.

Direct Detection Constraints on Dark Photons with the CDEX-10 Experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We report constraints on the dark photon effective kinetic mixing parameter (κ) with data taken from two p-type point-contact germanium detectors of the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The 90% confidence level upper limits on κ of solar dark photon from 205.4 kg-day exposure are derived, probing new parameter space with masses (m_{V}) from 10 to 300  eV/c^{2} in direct detection experiments. Considering dark photon as the cosmological dark matter, limits at 90% confidence level with m_{V} from 0.1 to 4.0  keV/c^{2} are set from 449.6 kg-day data, with a minimum of κ=1.3×10^{-15} at m_{V}=200  eV/c^{2}.

[CD7 expression and its prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia patients with wild-type or mutant CEBPA]

目的

分析CD7在初治急性髓系白血病（AML）患者中的表达和预后价值，进一步探讨CD7表达情况与CEBPA突变的相关性，明确其在CEBPA野生型和突变型AML患者中与预后的关系。

方法

回顾性分析2010年1月至2016年12月收治的298例初治AML患者（除外M₃亚型）的临床资料，在全部患者以及CEBPA野生型和突变型组中，分别比较CD7阳性（CD7⁺）和CD7阴性（CD7⁻）患者的临床特征及预后差异，并联合CD7表达情况和CEBPA突变状态初步建立新的危险分层模型。

结果

在CD7⁺组中，CEBPA单位点和双位点突变的发生率分别为10.1%和33.9%，显著高于CD7⁻组（5.3%和4.2%），差异具有统计学意义（P=0.000）。在CEBPA野生型患者中，CD7⁺组患者相较CD7⁻组患者完全缓解率低（P=0.001）、复发率高（P=0.023），而两组总生存（OS）期和无病生存（DFS）期差异无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）；在CEBPA突变患者中，CD7⁺组显示有更长的OS期（P=0.019）和DFS期（P=0.010）。根据CD7表达和CEBPA突变与否将AML患者分为三个亚组：CD7⁺伴CEBPA突变组、CD7⁻组和CD7⁺伴CEBPA野生型组。三组患者的3年OS率分别为80.2%、48.0%和30.6%（P<0.001），3年的DFS率分别为74.1%、37.4%和22.2%（P<0.001）。

结论

CD7⁺组中CEBPA突变率显著高于CD7⁻组，CD7⁺在CEBPA野生型组和突变组AML中存在截然相反的预后意义。根据CD7表达情况和CEBPA突变与否建立新的危险分层模型，有助于指导临床个体化治疗。

[The expression and significance of chromobox protein homolog 2 in breast cancer]

Objective: To study the relationship between the expression of Chromobox protein homolog (CBX) mRNA and the clinicopathological prognosis of breast cancer, and to investigate the possibility of Chromobox protein homolog 2 as a therapeutic target for breast cancer. Methods: First, we analyzed the mRNA expression of 8 CBX family genes by METABRIC database, and investigated the relationship between the expression of CBX2 mRNA and the clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer. Then we explored its relationship with prognosis. CBX2 siRNA was used to treat breast cancer cell lines with high expression of CBX2(SUM159 and SUM1315). The effects of knockdown of CBX20 on mRNA and protein expression and cell proliferation were observed. Results: According to the analysis of METABRIC database, among the 8 CBX genes, the most obvious increase in mRNA expression was CBX2, and 22.47% (445/1 980) of the patients showed high mRNA expression. The high expression of CBX2 was closely related to tumor histological grade and the molecular type of breast cancer (P<0.001). Compared with the low-expression group of CBX2 mRNA, the proportion of HER2 breast cancer (28.1% vs 7.5%) and Basal-like (44.5% vs 8.5%) in the high-expression group were both higher. Patients with high CBX2 expression had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The knockdown of CBX2 by siRNA inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Conclusion: CBX2 is closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer and may be a target for breast cancer treatment.

SAP102 contributes to hyperalgesia formation in the cancer induced bone pain rat model by anchoring NMDA receptors

The pathogenesis of cancer induced bone pain (CIBP) is extremely complex, and glutamate receptor dysfunction plays an important role in the formation of CIBP. Synapse-associated protein 102 (SAP102) anchors glutamate receptors in the postsynaptic membrane. However, its effect on hyperalgesia formation in CIBP has not been clarified. This study investigated the role of SAP102 in the formation of hyperalgesia in rats with CIBP SAP102 is present in spinal dorsal horn neurons, but not in astrocytes or microglia. NMDAR-NR2B is localized with neurons. In addition, SAP102 and NMDAR-NR2B expression levels in spinal dorsal horn tissues were detected by Western blot and co-immunoprecipitation. Intrathecal injection of lentiviral vector of RNAi to knockdown SAP102 expression in the spinal dorsal horn significantly attenuated abnormal mechanic pain when compared to non-coding lentiviral vector. These findings indicate that SAP102 can anchor NMDA receptors to affect hyperalgesia formation in bone cancer pain.

Novel 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2-carbohydrazides as Prospective Agricultural Antifungal Agents Potentially Targeting Succinate Dehydrogenase

A novel simple 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-carbohydrazide was reported to discover low-cost and versatile antifungal agents. Bioassay results suggested that a majority of the designed compounds were extremely bioactive against four types of fungi and two kinds of oomycetes. This extreme bioactivity was highlighted by the applausive inhibitory effects of compounds 4b, 4h, 5c, 5g, 5h, 5i, 5m, 5p, 5t, and 5v against Gibberella zeae, affording EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.486 to 0.799 μg/mL, which were superior to that of fluopyram (2.96 μg/mL) and comparable to those of carbendazim (0.947 μg/mL) and prochloraz (0.570 μg/mL). Meanwhile, compounds 4g, 5f, 5i, and 5t showed significant actions against Fusarium oxysporum with EC₅₀ values of 0.652, 0.706, 0.813, and 0.925 μg/mL, respectively. Pharmacophore exploration suggested that the N'-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-carbohydrazide pattern is necessary for the bioactivity. Molecular docking of 5h with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) indicated that it can completely locate the inside of the binding pocket via hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, revealing that this novel framework might target SDH. This result was further verified by the significant inhibitory effect on SDH activity. In addition, scanning electron microscopy patterns were performed to elucidate the anti-G. zeae mechanism. Given these features, this type of framework is a suitable template for future exploration of alternative SDH inhibitors against plant microbial infections.

Search for Light Weakly-Interacting-Massive-Particle Dark Matter by Annual Modulation Analysis with a Point-Contact Germanium Detector at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We present results on light weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) searches with annual modulation (AM) analysis on data from a 1-kg mass p-type point-contact germanium detector of the CDEX-1B experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. Datasets with a total live time of 3.2 yr within a 4.2-yr span are analyzed with analysis threshold of 250 eVee. Limits on WIMP-nucleus (χ-N) spin-independent cross sections as function of WIMP mass (m_{χ}) at 90% confidence level (C.L.) are derived using the dark matter halo model. Within the context of the standard halo model, the 90% C.L. allowed regions implied by the DAMA/LIBRA and CoGeNT AM-based analysis are excluded at >99.99% and 98% C.L., respectively. These results correspond to the best sensitivity at m_{χ}<6  GeV/c^{2} among WIMP AM measurements to date.

Constraints on Spin-Independent Nucleus Scattering with sub-GeV Weakly Interacting Massive Particle Dark Matter from the CDEX-1B Experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

We report results on the searches of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with sub-GeV masses (m_{χ}) via WIMP-nucleus spin-independent scattering with Migdal effect incorporated. Analysis on time-integrated (TI) and annual modulation (AM) effects on CDEX-1B data are performed, with 737.1 kg day exposure and 160 eVee threshold for TI analysis, and 1107.5 kg day exposure and 250 eVee threshold for AM analysis. The sensitive windows in m_{χ} are expanded by an order of magnitude to lower DM masses with Migdal effect incorporated. New limits on σ_{χN}^{SI} at 90% confidence level are derived as 2×10^{-32}∼7×10^{-35}  cm^{2} for TI analysis at m_{χ}∼50-180  MeV/c^{2}, and 3×10^{-32}∼9×10^{-38}  cm^{2} for AM analysis at m_{χ}∼75  MeV/c^{2}-3.0  GeV/c^{2}.

Investigation of physicochemical composition and microbial communities in traditionally fermented vrum from Inner Mongolia

Mongolian traditionally fermented vrum is known for its functional characteristics, and indigenous microbial flora plays a critical role in its natural fermentation. However, studies of traditionally fermented vrum are still rare. In this study, we investigated the artisanal production of traditionally fermented vrum from Inner Mongolia. In general, its physicochemical composition was characterized by 34.5 ± 8% moisture, 44.9 ± 12.1% fat, 10.6 ± 3.2% protein, and 210 ± 102°T. The total lactic acid bacteria and yeast counts ranged from 50 to 2.8 × 10⁸ cfu/g and from 0 to 1.1 × 10⁶ cfu/g, respectively. We studied bacterial and fungal community structures in 9 fermented vrum; we identified 5 bacterial phyla represented by 11 genera (an average relative abundance >1%) and 8 species (>1%), and 3 fungal phyla represented by 8 genera (>1%) and 8 species (>1%). Relative abundance values showed that Lactococcus and Lactobacillus were the most common bacterial genera, and Dipodascus was the predominant fungal genus. This scientific investigation of the nutritional components, microbial counts, and community profiles in Mongolian traditionally fermented vrum could help to develop future functional biomaterials and probiotics.

[Effect of cultivation substrate on growth and active component contents of Anoectochilus roburghii from three different origins]

Three different origins of Anoectochilus roburghii were used as experimental materials to study the effect of three different substrate( peat soil-river sand-peanut shell) radio on survival rate,plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,root number,the longest root length,root diameter,and the contents of polysaccharide,flavonoids,and polyphenol. The results showed that when the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,the survival rate of A. roburghii from different origins was the highest,and the plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,the longest root length and root diameter were also the largest. The cultivation substrate had no significant effect on the polysaccharide content of A. roxburghii and A. formosanus. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶ 2 ∶ 2,the polysaccharide content of A.chapaensis was significantly lower than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶1,the flavonoid content of A. formosanus was higher than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,A. formosanus and A. chapaensis had higher polyphenol content.

Four-Subtest Index-based Short Form of WAIS-IV: Psychometric Properties and Clinical Utility

Short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is often needed to quickly estimate intelligence for time-saving or screening in clinical practice. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of Chinese version of the four-subtest index-based short form (SF4) of WAIS-IV (FS) and to confirm its clinical application. 1,757 adults from the WAIS-IV Chinese version standardization sample and 239 mixed clinical samples including patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (SCH), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mild or moderate intellectual disability (ID) were used. Demographic data were collected and intelligence was assessed with WAIS-IV. The SF4 split-half reliability, test-retest stability coefficients and corrected SF4-FS correlations were good to excellent. The result of the Bland-Altman plot showed that the difference fell within 2SD was 95% and indicated a random error. The sensitivity, specificity positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the stepwise screening were good. There was an interaction (p < .001) between the IQ level (≥111) and gender on the accuracy of SF4, SF4 might get underestimated on females with the IQ level (≥111) than on males. In conclusion, SF4 is a valid and reliable instrument for use in the clinic, and its clinical application, stepwise screening and influencing factors in clinical use are discussed herein.

Study of bacterial and fungal community structures in traditional koumiss from Inner Mongolia

Koumiss is notable for its nutritional functions, and microorganisms in koumiss determine its versatility. In this study, the bacterial and fungal community structures in traditional koumiss from Inner Mongolia, China, were investigated. Our results demonstrated that 6 bacterial phyla represented by 126 genera and 49 species and 3 fungal phyla represented by 59 genera and 57 species were detected in 11 samples of artisanal koumiss. Among them, Lactobacillus was the predominant genus of bacterium, and Kluyveromyces and Saccharomyces dominated at the fungal genus level. In addition, there were no differences in the bacterial and fungal richness and diversity of koumiss from 3 neighboring administrative divisions in Inner Mongolia, and the bacterial and fungal community structures (the varieties and relative abundance of bacterial and fungal genera and species) were clearly distinct in individual samples. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the bacterial and fungal population profiles and the predominant genus and species, which would be beneficial for screening, isolation, and culture of potential probiotics to simulate traditional fermentation of koumiss for industrial and standardized production in the future.

[Analysis of predictive effect of Androgen receptor on the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients]

Objective: To explore the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in the tissues as well as its association with the clinicopathological factors of primary breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and analyze the effect of AR in the prediction of pathologic complete response (PCR) rate. Method: A total of 668 breast cancer patients treated with NAC in Henan Cancer Hospital between March 2014 and June 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship of AR expression and clinicopathological characteristics was calculated using chi square test. Multivariate analysis using binary Logistic regression was used to analyze correlations of different factors with PCR. Result: All patients were female, with the age of 20-76 years old. AR was detected in 74.6% of tumors, and significantly correlated with hormone receptor (HR), human epidermalgrowth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), Ki-67, CK5/6, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and molecular subtypes (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that AR, HR and HER-2 were independent predictors for PCR (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The expressions of AR were more frequently in HR positive breast cancer tissues (86.7%), and lowest in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) group (23.2%). AR was independent predictor for PCR.

[Screening for hotspot mutations associated with genetic hearing impairment in pregnant women and subsequent prenatal diagnosis in high risk pregnancies]

Objective: To screen for hotspot gene mutations associated with genetic deafness in Chinese pregnant women, and to perform risk assessment and prenatal diagnosis in high-risk families. Methods: Between November 2012 and October 2017, 26 117 pregnant women were screened by molecular hybridization microarray for 9 hot-spot mutations in 4 hereditary deafness related genes (GJB2 c. 35 del G, c. 176_191 del 16 bp, c. 235 del G, c. 299_300 del AT, GJB3 c. 538 C>T, SLC26A4 c. 2168 A>G, IVS 7-2 A>G, mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA m. 1494 C>T, m. 1555 A>G). Genotype analysis was carried out in husbands of women carrying mutations, and prenatal diagnosis was carried out in the fetuses with high risk of deafness. Results: Among all women tested, 1 208(4.63%) were carriers of genetic deafness mutations, 7 with hearing impairment were affected by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations, 51 were mitochondrial gene mutation carriers, 103 were carriers of GJB3 c. 538 C>T heterozygous mutation, 1 026 were carriers of GJB2 or SLC26A4 heterozygous mutations, and 21 carried heterozygous mutations in two genes simultaneously. In 394 families, the husbands accepted gene sequence testing, and 27 in which were determined as carriers of mutations in identical genes as their wives. Among which, 18 families received prenatal diagnosis, and 5 fetuses were diagnosed as hereditary deafness. In 9 families who did not receive prenatal diagnosis, 1 neonate was diagnosed as compound heterozygote after delivery. Conclusion: In order to prevent birth defects with congenital hearing problems, it is effective to provide screening for hotspot mutations in pregnant women and to perform prenatal diagnosis on high risk pregnancies.

[The significance of different predictive equations for resting energy expenditure in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation]

To calculate resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and compare different predictive equations with indirect calorimetry(IC).A total of 60 patients in intensive care unit(ICU) were enrolled. Measure calculating daily REE in the first week included IC, Harris-Benedict formula, Penn State formula and Swinamer formula. Daily REE did not exhibit significant difference in the first week of mechanical ventilation by IC (all P>0.05).All patients' REE values by IC were higher than those by Harris-Benedict formula (all P<0.01). By Penn State formula, REE in day l, 2, and 5 were comparable (all P>0.05) with those by IC, whereas the consistency between the two methods was poor. Similarly, daily REE by Swinamer formula calculation in the first week did not show significant difference (all P>0.05), with acceptable consistency as IC. Resting energy expenditure in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation dose not significantly change during the first week. Swinamer formula is more accurate than other equations when IC is considered as the standard method.

[Meta analysis of the efficacy and safety of drainage after total hip arthroplasty]

Objective: To determine whether suction drainage is safe and effective compared with no-drainage in total hip arthroplasty. Methods: The research was based on PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Highwire, the Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WFSD.The data were analysed using RevMan 5.2.Twenty-seven randomised controlled trials involving 3 603 hips were included in the analysis. Results: The meta-analysis indicate that suction drainage increases the rate of homologous blood transfusion (OR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.49-2.64, P<0.000 01)and the length of stay (OR=0.66, 95%CI: -0.01-1.33, P=0.05) (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of infection(OR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.52-1.22, P=0.30), wound haematomas(OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.21-1.10, P=0.08), oozing (OR=0.93, 95%CI: 0.63-1.36, P=0.71) , deep venous thrombosis(OR=2.12, 95%CI: 0.68-6.56, P=0.19), VAS(OR=-0.06, 95%CI: -0.37-0.24, P=0.68) when the drainage group was compared with the no-drainage group. Conclusions: The comparison between suction drainage and no drainage in THA have indicated that no-drainage for easy total hip arthroplasty may be a better choice. However, orthopedic surgeon need to weigh the pros and cons of no-drainage in some complicated THAs.

Systemic mastocytosis identified in two women developing fragility fractures during lactation

Two women presenting with fragility fractures during lactation had bone mineral density (BMD) reduced more greatly than usually associated with lactation. The first woman was 29 years old with a BMD T-score of - 3.2 SD at the spine and- 2.0 SD at the femoral neck. The second woman was 35 years old with a BMD T-score of - 4.5 SD at the spine and - 2.8 SD at the femoral neck. Both women had increased cortical porosity and reduced trabecular density. Investigation identified an elevated serum tryptase, and marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of mastocytosis. Lactation causes bone loss, but the occurrence of fractures in the setting of severe deficits in BMD and microstructural deterioration signals the need to consider additional causes of bone loss.

Limits on Light Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from the First 102.8 kg×day Data of the CDEX-10 Experiment

We report the first results of a light weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) search from the CDEX-10 experiment with a 10 kg germanium detector array immersed in liquid nitrogen at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory with a physics data size of 102.8 kg day. At an analysis threshold of 160 eVee, improved limits of 8×10^{-42} and 3×10^{-36}  cm^{2} at a 90% confidence level on spin-independent and spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections, respectively, at a WIMP mass (m_{χ}) of 5  GeV/c^{2} are achieved. The lower reach of m_{χ} is extended to 2  GeV/c^{2}.

[The influence of lumpectomy on the axillary lymph node status of breast cancer patients]

Objective: To investigate the influence of lumpectomy on axillary lymph node status of breast cancer patients. Methods: The clinical data of 738 invasive breast cancer patients with non-palpable axillary lymph node and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy from November 2011 to August 2013 in Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 136 patients underwent preoperative lumpectomy (lumpectomy group) and 602 patients underwent puncture biopsy only (biopsy group). The difference of axillary lymph node status and positive ratio of SLN detected by color Doppler ultrasound were compared between these two groups. Results: Among the 738 breast cancer patients, the axillary lymph nodes of 444 (60.2%) cases could be detected by ultrasound. Among them, 92 cases belonged to lumpectomy group, significantly less than 352 cases of biopsy group (P=0.048). Among the patients with ultrasound-visible lymph nodes, the proportion of the biggest diameter of axillary lymph node >1 cm of lumpectomy group or biopsy group was 58.7% (54/92) or 52.8% (186/352), respectively, without significant difference (P=0.316). The proportion of patients with the ratio of long diameter to short diameter <2 of lumpectomy group or biopsy group was 37.0% (34/92) or 38.6% (136/352), respectively, with marginal difference (P=0.768). The positive rate of SLN of lumpectomy group or biopsy group was 23.5% (32/136) or 26.9% (162/602), respectively, without significant difference (P=0.419). The incidence rate of the ultrasound visible axillary lymph nodes of patients whose postoperative time ≤ 7 days or > 7days was 71.1% (64/90) or 60.9% (8/46), respectively, without significant difference (P=0.227). However, the positive rate of SLN of these two groups was 28.9% (26/90) and 13.0% (6/46), respectively, with significant difference (P=0.039). The number of ultrasound visible axillary lymph nodes, the biggest diameter of axillary lymph nodes and the ratio of the long diameter to short diameter <2 were substantially correlated with the positive rate of SLN (P<0.05). Conclusions: The incidence rate of ultrasound visible axillary lymph node in the patients with lumpectomy is higher than that of patients with puncture biopsy only. The positive rate of SLN of the patients with a long postoperative time is lower than that of patients with a short postoperative time, even though the axillary lymph nodes are ultrasound visible.

[Analysis of corneal and conjunctival sensitivities and its related factors of premature babies]

Objective: To analyse the corneal and conjunctival sensitivities of premature babies and to study the relevant influencing factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study. One hundred premature infants born at Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University between May 2015 and September 2015 were enrolled, among which 51 were male (51%) and 49 were female (49%), the mean gestational age was (30.93±1.75)w, the mean corrected gestational age was (33.65±1.53)w, the mean birth weight was (1 592±336)g. The thresholds of cornea and conjunctiva of infants' left or right eyes were measured with Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer at 8-10 o'clock every morning when they naturally woke up, the minimum length of nylon wire that induced three successive times of eye-blink responses was recorded. Paired sample t test was used to compare the corneal and conjunctival sensitivities, the ocular surface sensitivities of preterm infants of different gender were compared using independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation of corneal and conjuncitval sensitivities with gestational age, birth weight, age and corrected gestational age. Results: The mean corneal sensitivity was (44.85±5.53) mm and the mean conjunctival sensitivity was (23.50±5.48)mm in premature babies, corneal sensitivity was significantly higher than conjunctival sensitivity (t=25.620, P<0.001). No statistical significance was found between male and female preterm infants in corneal sensitivity [(44.80±5.83) mm vs. (44.90±5.25) mm, t=-0.085, P=0.933] and conjunctival sensitivity[(23.14±5.83) mm vs. (23.88±5.13) mm, t=-0.673, P=0.502]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that corneal sensitivity was significantly associated with conjunctival sensitivity in prematurity(r=0.676, P<0.001). There was significant correlation between corneal sensitivity and age, corrected gestational age (r=0.238, P=0.017; r=0.679, P<0.001), however no significant correlation was found between corneal sensitivity and gestational age, birth weight in preterm infants (r=0.067, P=0.510; r=-0.179, P=0.075). There was significant correlation between conjunctival sensitivity and corrected gestational age (r=0.490, P<0.001), however no significant correlation was found between conjunctival sensitivity and gestational age, birth weight and age in preterm infants (r=0.078, P=0.439; r=-0.096, P=0.344; r=0.151, P=0.133). Multiple linear regression revealed that corneal sensitivity(Y1) was positively correlated with corrected gestational age(X), the regression equation was Y1=2.45X-37.52, the conjunctical sensitivity(Y2) was also positively correlated with corrected gestational age(X), the regression equation was Y2=1.75X-35.41. Conclusions: The corneal sensitivity is higher than conjunctival sensitivity in premature babies.No statistical significance is found between male and female preterm infants in corneal sensitivity and conjunctival sensitivity. The corneal sensitivity and conjunctival sensitivity are correlated with corrected gestational age in preterm infants. The corneal and conjunctival sensitivities of premature babies tend to increase along with the increase of corrected gestational age. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 115-119).

Identification of stable fly attractant compounds in vinasse, a byproduct of sugarcane-ethanol distillation

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a worldwide pest of livestock. Recent outbreaks of stable flies in sugarcane fields in Brazil have become a serious problem for livestock producers. Larvae and pupae found inside sugarcane stems after harvesting may indicate that stable flies use these stems as potential oviposition or larval development sites. Field observations suggest that outbreaks of stable flies are associated with the vinasse and filter cake derived from biomass distillation in sugarcane ethanol production that are used as fertilizers in sugarcane fields. Adult stable flies are attracted to vinasse, which appears to present an ideal larval development site. The primary goal of the present study is to demonstrate the role of vinasse in influencing the sensory physiological and behavioural responses of stable flies, and to identify its associated volatile attractant compounds. Both laboratory and field studies showed that vinasse is extremely attractive to adult stable flies. Chemical analyses of volatiles collected revealed a wide range of carboxylic acids, alcohols, phenols and aldehydes as potential attractant compounds. These newly identified attractants could be used to develop a tool for the attractant-baited mass trapping of stable flies in order to reduce infestations.

Physical and Physiological Factors Influence Behavioral Responses of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to Synthetic Attractants

Volatile chemicals from waste artificial larval media as well as from bovine blood inoculated with bacteria isolated from screwworm-infested wounds attract gravid females of Cochliomyia hominivorax Coquerel and Cochliomyia macellaria (F.). Chemicals identified from volatiles are dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, phenol, p-cresol, and indole; a blend of these attracted females to oviposit. Present studies investigated the effectiveness of these compounds, either in a blend or individually as potential oviposition attractants. Tests were conducted to determine the effects of gender, ovarian age, and the color and type of substrates on attraction response and oviposition of C. macellaria adults. Results showed that substrates treated with dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) alone or the five-compound blend alone attracted significantly more gravid females than other chemicals. Black substrates treated with DMTS attracted more gravid flies than did the yellow substrates. Yellow substrates treated with indole attracted more males and nongravid females. In oviposition tests, females deposited significantly more eggs on meat-based substrates than those without meat. These findings suggest that several factors have to be considered for developing an effective oviposition attractant that should include effectiveness of individual chemicals used, the ratio of the chemicals in a blend, and their concentrations. Also, an effective trap design will need to consider using suitable color which will selectively attract gravid females.

Relationship between HER2 and JAK/STAT-SOCS3 signaling pathway and clinicopathological features and prognosis of ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to explore the relationship between expressions of HER2 and JAK/STAT3-SOCS3 signaling pathway and clinicopathological features and prognosis of ovarian cancer (OC).

METHODS

A total of 136 OC patients were collected. Immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expressions of STAT3, p-STAT3, SOCS3, HER2 and p-HER2 in the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of HER2, SOCS3 and STAT3 and western blotting was applied for protein expressions of HER2, p-HER2, SOCS3, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Flow cytometry was used for the cell apoptosis in the blank, afatinib (A), ruxolitinib (R) and afatinib + ruxolitinib (A + R) groups. Follow-up was performed to explore relationship of HER2, SOCS3, and STAT3 expressions with survival time of OC patients.

RESULTS

HER2, p-HER2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 expressions were higher while SOCS3 expression was lower in the tumor tissues. The positive expressions of STAT3, HER2, p-HER2 and p-STAT3 were lower while the positive expression of SOCS3 was higher in the adjacent normal tissues. The expressions of HER2, SOCS3, and p-STAT3 were associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (LNM), and STAT3 expression has correlation with histological grade and LNM. The mRNA and protein expressions of HER2, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in the tumor tissues were higher than those in the adjacent normal tissues, but SOCS3 expression was significantly decreased. The positive expressions of HER2, p-HER2 and STAT3, the negative expression of SOCS3 and pathological stages were important risk factors for the prognosis of patients with OC.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that the expressions of HER2, STAT3, and SOCS3 are associated with the progression of OC, and higher expressions of HER2 and STAT3 and lower expression of SOCS3 predict poor prognosis of OC.