[Associations between adverse childhood experiences and adulthood substance use among lesbians]

Objective: To investigate the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and substance use behaviors among lesbians to provide a scientific basis for high-risk population identification and formulation of targeted intervention measures. Methods: Lesbians who participated in routine AIDS voluntary counseling, testing services, activities, and peer recommendations were recruited from July to December 2018, with the help of LesPark in Beijing. Convenient sampling method was used. Demographic characteristics, ACE, and substance use behaviors of subjects were investigated using an online platform powered by www.wjx.cn. Subsequently, the associations between ACE and adulthood substance use behaviors were evaluated using the logistic regression model. The SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 294 lesbians were recruited in the study, 81.3% (239/294) of them were lesbians, and 18.7% (55/294) were bisexuals. Besides, 55.8% (164/294) of subjects reported they had had ACE, with proportions of lesbians experiencing abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction as 33.3% (98/294), 24.5% (72/294), and 32.7% (96/294), respectively. 55.1% (162/294) of the lesbians reported they had smoked in the past 30 days, 11.2% (33/294) reported having drug-use behavior in the past three months, and 22.8% (67/294) claimed drinking alcohol weekly. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lesbians with ACE were at high risks to smoke (OR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.13-3.08), drink (OR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.18-3.84), and use drugs (OR=3.33, 95%CI: 1.29-8.61) in adulthood. Moreover, lesbians with childhood family dysfunction were at higher risk of smoking cigarettes (OR=2.60, 95%CI: 1.46-4.62) and drinking alcohol (OR=2.65, 95%CI: 1.44-4.87). At the same time, those with abuse experience were at higher risk of drug use (OR=3.17, 95%CI: 1.26-7.96). Conclusions: Substance use behaviors, including cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and drugs use, were common among lesbians. Positive associations were found between ACE and adulthood substance use behaviors.

Does Confucian Culture Promote Innovation? An Empirical Investigation of a Leading Organization in the Field

Based on their growing innovation capabilities, Chinese companies have become important players in the global innovation arena. Among the factors influencing these firms’ innovation, cultural values have increasingly attracted scholars’ attention. However, research on the relationship between one of the key elements of traditional Chinese culture, Confucianism, and innovation remains scarce. By focusing on two core elements of Confucianism, we extend the innovation contingency literature in examining whether Confucianism is associated with management and product innovation at the firm level in China. Through an empirical examination of a highly innovative private company in China’s premium kitchen appliance market, we find that Confucianism, as reflected in innovative management practices, can foster product innovation. Specifically, benevolence as a Confucian virtue can trigger innovation by forcing a user-centred focus and widening managers’ perspectives of stakeholder interests. Another Confucian principle, the Doctrine of the Mean, can also boost innovation by yielding harmony with surrounding elements, such as users, space, and nature, and defining the employee-management relationship.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of NAC Transcription Factor Family in Two Diploid Wild Relatives of Cultivated Sweet Potato Uncovers Potential NAC Genes Related to Drought Tolerance

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins play a pivotal role in modulating plant development and offer protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Until now, no systematic knowledge of NAC family genes is available for the food security crop, sweet potato. Here, a comprehensive genome-wide survey of NAC domain-containing proteins identified 130 ItbNAC and 144 ItfNAC genes with full length sequences in the genomes of two diploid wild relatives of cultivated sweet potato, Ipomoea triloba and Ipomoea trifida, respectively. These genes were physically mapped onto 15 I. triloba and 16 I. trifida chromosomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis divided all 274 NAC proteins into 20 subgroups together with NAC transcription factors (TFs) from Arabidopsis. There were 9 and 15 tandem duplication events in the I. triloba and I. trifida genomes, respectively, indicating an important role of tandem duplication in sweet potato gene expansion and evolution. Moreover, synteny analysis suggested that most NAC genes in the two diploid sweet potato species had a similar origin and evolutionary process. Gene expression patterns based on RNA-Seq data in different tissues and in response to various hormone, biotic or abiotic treatments revealed their possible involvement in organ development and response to various biotic/abiotic stresses. The expression of 36 NAC TFs, which were upregulated in the five tissues and in response to mannitol treatment, was also determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in hexaploid cultivated sweet potato exposed to drought stress. Those results largely corroborated the expression profile of mannitol treatment uncovered by the RNA-Seq data. Some significantly up-regulated genes related to drought stress, such as ItbNAC110, ItbNAC114, ItfNAC15, ItfNAC28, and especially ItfNAC62, which had a conservative spatial conformation with a closely related paralogous gene, ANAC019, may be potential candidate genes for a sweet potato drought tolerance breeding program. This analysis provides comprehensive and systematic information about NAC family genes in two diploid wild relatives of cultivated sweet potato, and will provide a blueprint for their functional characterization and exploitation to improve the tolerance of sweet potato to abiotic stresses.

Treatment patterns and long-term persistence with osteoporosis therapies in women with Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) coverage

Osteoporosis, a chronic disease, requires long-term therapy. In Medicare-insured women, denosumab persistence was higher than oral bisphosphonate persistence over up to 3 years of follow-up. Longer-term persistence was higher among women who persisted in the first year of therapy.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis, a chronic, progressive disease, requires long-term therapy; this study assessed long-term persistence with anti-resorptive therapies in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used administrative claims for women with data in the 100% Medicare osteoporosis sample who initiated (index date) denosumab, oral/intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate, or raloxifene between 2011 and 2014 and who had ≥ 1 year (zoledronic acid: 14 months) of pre-initiation medical/pharmacy coverage (baseline). Persistence was assessed from index date through end of continuous coverage, post-index evidence of censoring events (e.g., incident cancer), death, or end of study (December 31, 2015).

RESULTS

The study included 318,419 oral bisphosphonate users (78% alendronate), 145,056 denosumab users, 48,066 IV bisphosphonate users, and 31,400 raloxifene users; mean age ranged from 75.5 years (raloxifene) to 78.5 years (denosumab). In women with at least 36 months of follow-up (denosumab N = 25,107; oral bisphosphonates N = 79,710), more denosumab than oral bisphosphonate initiators were persistent at 1 year (73% vs. 39%), 2 years (50% vs. 25%), and 3 years (38% vs. 17%). Persistence decreased over time for all treatment groups, with denosumab users having the highest persistence in every follow-up time interval at or after 18 months. Women using denosumab, oral bisphosphonates, or raloxifene who persisted in a given year were more likely to remain persistent through the subsequent year.

CONCLUSIONS

Denosumab users persisted longer with therapy than women using other anti-resorptive medications, including oral bisphosphonates. Early persistence may predict long-term persistence. Overall persistence with osteoporosis medications is suboptimal and may impact fracture risk. Efforts to improve first year persistence are needed.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of NAC Transcription Factor Family in Two Diploid Wild Relatives of Cultivated Sweet Potato Uncovers Potential NAC Genes Related to Drought Tolerance

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins play a pivotal role in modulating plant development and offer protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Until now, no systematic knowledge of NAC family genes is available for the food security crop, sweet potato. Here, a comprehensive genome-wide survey of NAC domain-containing proteins identified 130 ItbNAC and 144 ItfNAC genes with full length sequences in the genomes of two diploid wild relatives of cultivated sweet potato, Ipomoea triloba and Ipomoea trifida, respectively. These genes were physically mapped onto 15 I. triloba and 16 I. trifida chromosomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis divided all 274 NAC proteins into 20 subgroups together with NAC transcription factors (TFs) from Arabidopsis. There were 9 and 15 tandem duplication events in the I. triloba and I. trifida genomes, respectively, indicating an important role of tandem duplication in sweet potato gene expansion and evolution. Moreover, synteny analysis suggested that most NAC genes in the two diploid sweet potato species had a similar origin and evolutionary process. Gene expression patterns based on RNA-Seq data in different tissues and in response to various hormone, biotic or abiotic treatments revealed their possible involvement in organ development and response to various biotic/abiotic stresses. The expression of 36 NAC TFs, which were upregulated in the five tissues and in response to mannitol treatment, was also determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in hexaploid cultivated sweet potato exposed to drought stress. Those results largely corroborated the expression profile of mannitol treatment uncovered by the RNA-Seq data. Some significantly up-regulated genes related to drought stress, such as ItbNAC110, ItbNAC114, ItfNAC15, ItfNAC28, and especially ItfNAC62, which had a conservative spatial conformation with a closely related paralogous gene, ANAC019, may be potential candidate genes for a sweet potato drought tolerance breeding program. This analysis provides comprehensive and systematic information about NAC family genes in two diploid wild relatives of cultivated sweet potato, and will provide a blueprint for their functional characterization and exploitation to improve the tolerance of sweet potato to abiotic stresses.

[A design of anti-reflux gastric lavage tube with built-in airbag]

At present, the gastric lavage tube used in clinical practice only has a few liquid orifices at the distal end of the lumen, and its structure has defects such as residual liquid reflux and aspiration in clinical practice. This article aims to solve the shortcomings of the existing technology and design a gastric lavage tube with built-in airbag with reasonable structure and high safety, in order to optimize the design and apply it to the actual clinical work, and further reduce the complications caused by the gastric lavage tube.

Nomogram to predict survival of patients with advanced and metastatic pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

Nomograms are rarely employed to estimate the survival of patients with advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC). Herein, we developed a comprehensive approach to using a nomogram to predict survival probability in patients with advanced and metastatic PC.

METHODS

A total of 323 patients with advanced and metastatic PC were identified from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital. A baseline nomogram was constructed using baseline variables of 323 patients. Additionally, 233 patients, whose tumors showed initial responses to first-line chemotherapy, were enrolled in the chemotherapy response-based model. 128 patients and 108 patients with advanced and metastatic PC from January 2019 to April 2021 were selected for external validating baseline model and chemotherapy response-based model. The 1-year and 2-year survival probability was evaluated using multivariate COX regression models. The discrimination and calibration capacity of the nomograms were assessed using C-statistic and calibration plots. The predictive accuracy and net benefit of the nomograms were evaluated using ROC curve and DCA, respectively.

RESULTS

In the baseline model, six variables (gender, KPS, baseline TB, baseline N, baseline WBC and baseline CA19-9) were used in the final model. In the chemotherapy response-based model, nine variables (KPS, gender, ascites, baseline N, baseline CA 19-9, baseline CEA, change in CA 19-9 level at week, change in CEA level at week and initial response to chemotherapy) were included in the final model. The C-statistics of the baseline nomogram and the chemotherapy response-based nomogram were 0.67 (95% CI, 0.62-0.71) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.69-0.77), respectively.

CONCLUSION

These nomograms were constructed to predict the survival probability of patients of advanced and metastatic PC. The baseline model and chemotherapy response-based model performed well in survival prediction.

[Etiology and clinical characteristics of acquired ptosis]

Objective: To evaluate the demographics, etiology composition, clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of acquired ptosis patients. Methods: Retrospective case-series study. The clinical records of 176 consecutive patients (312 eyes) with acquired ptosis were reviewed from January 2009 to December 2018 in the Ophthalmology Department of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. The demographics, etiology composition, clinical characteristics, surgical strategies and outcomes were analyzed. Results: There were 59 male (33.5%) and 117 female (66.5%) patients suffering acquired ptosis, with an average age of (64±7) years. The disease was bilateral in 136 cases and unilateral in 40 cases. There were four etiological components of acquired ptosis: 145 cases (82.4%) of aponeurotic ptosis, 17 cases (9.6%) of neurogenic ptosis, 10 cases (5.7%) of myogenic ptosis and 4 cases (2.3%) of traumatic ptosis. The clinical characteristics of acquired ptosis varied significantly depending on etiology. Ptosis surgeries were performed on 152 cases (279 eyes), and the success rate was 92.1% (140/152). Surgical procedures included levator aponeurosis surgeries on 148 cases (275 eyes), frontal muscle suspensions on 2 cases (2 eyes) and conjunctival-Müller's ectomies on 2 cases (2 eyes). Conclusions: Acquired ptosis is more likely to occur in senile and female populations with bilateral eyelids involved mostly. Aponeurotic ptosis is the predominant type of acquired ptosis. The treatment is performed according to the clear etiological diagnosis based on clinical features, and operations are efficient for most patients with acquired ptosis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 844-849).

[Metabolism of New Psychoactive Substances 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA in Zebrafish]

Abstract

Objective To study the metabolic transformation pathways of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA in vivo by establishing zebrafish models. Methods Six adult zebrafish were randomly divided into blank control group and experimental group, with three fish in each group. After the zebrafish in the experimental group were exposed to 1 μg/mL 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA for 24 h, they were transferred to clean water and cleaned three times, then pretreated for instrumental analysis. The zebrafish in blank control group were not exposed to 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA. Mass spectrometry and structural analysis of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA and its metabolites were conducted by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and Mass Frontier software. Results A total of twenty-six metabolites of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA were identified in zebrafish, including eighteen phase Ⅰ metabolites and eight phase Ⅱ metabolites. The main metabolic pathways of phase Ⅰ metabolites of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA in zebrafish were ester hydrolysis, N-dealkylation, oxidative defluorination and hydroxylation, while the main metabolic pathway of phase Ⅱ metabolites was glucuronidation. Conclusion Metabolite Md24 （ester hydrolysis） and Md25 （ester hydrolysis combined with dehydrogenation） would be recommended to be potentially good biomarkers for abuse of 4F-MDMB-BUTINACA.

[Research Progress on Metabolite Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoid New Psychoactive Substances]

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids are currently a class of new psychoactive substances with the largest variety and most abused. Metabolite identification research can provide basic data for monitoring synthetic cannabinoids abuse, which is the current research hotspot. The main trend of structural modification of synthetic cannabinoid is to replace the fluorine atom on pentyl indole or indazole cyclopentyl with hydrogen atom, which greatly improves the biological activity of the compound. The main metabolic reactions include hydroxylation, fluoropentyl oxidative, ester hydrolyze, amide hydrolysis. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry has become the preferred choice for the structural identification of metabolites. This review mainly summarizes research on metabolism software prediction and human hepatocyte model, human liver microsomes model, rat in vivo model, zebrafish model and fungus C. elegans model in metabolite identification based on the structure and classification of synthetic cannabinoids.

Prevalence and impact of metabolic syndrome in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome

Background

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in patients initially free from these diseases. However, its prognostic value in patients with established coronary artery diseases remains controversial.

Purpose

Therefore, we aimed to illustrate the prevalence and investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome.

Methods

We conducted a large registry of consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome referred to primary percutaneous coronary intervention and those with multivessel diseases were eligible for this analysis. Metabolic syndrome was defined using modified criteria based on the Adult Treatment Panel III definition from the National Cholesterol Education Program. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

Results

A total of 2532 patients were included in current analysis and 993 (39.2%) of them had metabolic syndrome while 1539 (60.8%) did not. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased over the study period (p for trend = 0.005). There was a significant decline of metabolic syndrome prevalence in patients over 60 years old (p for trend = 0.002) and females had a higher prevalence than their male counterparts (61.5% verse 32.9%, p<0.001). Over a median follow-up of 2.3 years, metabolic syndrome was not significantly associated with MACE (adjusted 95% CI 0.92 to 1.54). In addition, there was no significant difference observed between two groups in other individual outcomes, namely all-cause death, cardiac death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and any revascularization.

Conclusions

Metabolic syndrome was frequently observed in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome were more likely to be young and female. However, it was not an independent predictor for MACE after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in those patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences Metabolic syndrome distribution in MVDOutcome according to metabolic syndrome

Effect of xylanase and live yeast supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiome diversity of pigs

Effect of xylanase (Xyl) and live yeast (LY) supplementation on gut microbiome composition, growth performance, and nutrient digestibility of weanling pigs was determined. A total of 180 weanling pigs were assigned to five treatments from weaning to market. Treatments were designated based on whether Xyl, LY, or their combination were fed in the first 2 wk postweaning or thereafter until finishing at day 141 postweaning. Treatments were (days 1–15; days 15–141): control–control, control–Xyl, Xyl–Xyl, LY–Xyl, Xyl + LY–Xyl. Xylanase was added at 16 000 BXU·kg−1 and LY at 1 kg·t−1. Pigs fed with LY and LY + Xyl from days 0–15 had greater body weight and average daily gain at day 15 compared with control (P < 0.05). Glucose transporter 2 mRNA was higher in LY and LY + Xyl groups on day 15 compared with control (P < 0.05). Xylanase supplementation from week 2 postweaning increased apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of gross energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus on day 43. Live yeast with or without Xyl improved growth performance in the first 2 wk after weaning; Xyl + LY–Xyl and control–Xyl groups had improved overall feed efficiency. In conclusion, LY and Xyl supplementation improved performance of weanling pigs in the first 2 wk after weaning with no effects on long-term growth performance.

Treatment delay and reperfusion management of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: analysis of the China STEMI Care Project Phase 1

BACKGROUND

The China ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) Care Project (CSCAP) was launched in 2011 to address the problems of insufficient reperfusion and long treatment delay in STEMI care in China.

AIM

To describe the baseline status of STEMI emergency care in Tertiary PCI Hospitals using Phase 1 (CSCAP-1) data.

DESIGN

CSCAP-1 is a prospective multi-center STEMI registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 4191 patients with symptom onset within 12 or 12-36 h requiring primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), were enrolled from 53 tertiary PCI hospitals in 14 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of China in CSCAP-1. Among them, 49.0% were self-transported to the hospital, 26.5% were transferred to the hospital by calling the emergency medical services directly, and 24.5% were transferred from other hospitals. In patients with symptom onset within 12 h, 83.2% received primary PCI, 5.9% received thrombolysis and 10.9% received conservative medications. The median door-to-balloon time was 115 (85-170) min and the median door-to-needle time for in-hospital thrombolysis was 80 (50-135) min. The overall in-hospital all-cause mortality was 2.4%, while it was 5.3% in the non-reperfusion group and 2.1% in the reperfusion group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although a long treatment delay and a high proportion of patients transporting themselves to the hospital were observed, trends were positive with greater adoption of primary PCI and lower in-hospital mortality in tertiary hospitals in China. Our results provided important information for further integrated STEMI network construction in China.

A Comparative Multimodal Meta-analysis of Anisotropy and Volume Abnormalities in White Matter in People Suffering From Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share some similarities in terms of genetic-risk genes and abnormalities of gray-matter structure in the brain, but white matter (WM) abnormalities have not been studied in depth. We undertook a comparative multimodal meta-analysis to identify common and disorder-specific abnormalities in WM structure between SZ and BD. Anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping software was used to conduct a comparative meta-analysis of 68 diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and 34 voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies comparing fractional anisotropy (FA) and white matter volume (WMV), respectively, between patients with SZ (DTI: N = 1543; VBM: N = 1068) and BD (DTI: N = 983; VBM: N = 518) and healthy controls (HCs). The bilateral corpus callosum (extending to the anterior and superior corona radiata) showed shared decreased WMV and FA in SZ and BD. Compared with BD patients, SZ patients showed remarkable disorder-specific WM abnormalities: decreased FA and increased WMV in the left cingulum, and increased FA plus decreased WMV in the right anterior limb of the internal capsule. SZ patients showed more extensive alterations in WM than BD cases, which may be the pathophysiological basis for the clinical continuity of both disorders. The disorder-specific regions in the left cingulum and right anterior limb of the internal capsule provided novel insights into both disorders. Our study adds value to further understanding of the pathophysiology, classification, and differential diagnosis of SZ and BD.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis of quadrivalent influenza vaccination for older adults aged 60 and above in mainland China]

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of government fully-funded quadrivalent influenza vaccination (QIV) program for older adults aged 60 and above in mainland China. Methods: Based on decision tree model in the previous research on the cost-effectiveness analysis of TIV immunization, we extended the structure of model and updated the key parameters such as influenza patients' healthcare seeking behavior, vaccine cost, vaccine coverage and vaccine efficacy/effectiveness to estimate influenza-associated outpatient consultations, hospitalizations, respiratory disease excess mortality and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) between the QIV and no vaccination or TIV program. And incremental cost and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were evaluated between the QIV and no vaccination or TIV program from the societal perspective. The time frame of the study is one year. All costs were adjusted to 2019 using the consumer price index. Results: Comparing the fully-funded QIV and no vaccination or TIV for older adults aged 60 and above is separately expected to prevent 45 070 or 2 718 influenza-associated influenza-like illness (ILI) outpatients, 21 451 or 1 294 influenza-associated severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) hospitalizations, 19 346 or 1 167 influenza-associated respiratory excess deaths and avoid 155 234 or 9 363 QALY loss each year. Compared with no vaccination, introducing QIV into National Immunization Program (NIP) is expected to increase the cost of 11.71 billion yuan from the societal perspective. The incremental cost per QALY gained between QIV and no vaccination was 75 325 yuan per QALY, which is higher than willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold (one-fold gross domestic product per capita is considered as WTP: 70 892 yuan) and means no cost effective. Introducing QIV rather than TIV into NIP will cost 7.98 billion yuan from the societal perspective and the ICER was 852.54 thousand yuan per QALY which is much higher than WTP and means no cost effective as well. The threshold of vaccination cost between QIV and no vaccination or TIV should no more than 113.41 or 6.83 yuan when the two comparators' scenarios above are all cost effective. Conclusion: Under the condition of current vaccine effectiveness and vaccine cost, comparing fully-funded QIV with no or TIV vaccination program is not cost effective for people aged 60 years or older.

Biodegradation potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Taihu Lake sediments

ABSTRACTTo assess the biodegradation potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments, sediment microcosms were constructed with sediments collected from six lake zones with different trophic statuses in Taihu Lake. The presence and concentration of PAH-degrading bacteria (PDB) were estimated by the most probable number (MPN) method. After 85 d of aerobic and anaerobic incubation, spiked PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene) were partially degraded by indigenous sediment microorganisms. Large differences in PAH degradation were observed depending on the molecular size of the PAHs. The PAH removal efficiency in sediments under aerobic conditions was higher than that under anaerobic conditions. MPN analyses showed a higher abundance of degrading microflora in the high PAH-contaminated sites than in the low PAH-contaminated sites. Moreover, the anaerobic PDB populations in the sediments from the six different sites were much higher than those of aerobic PDB. The PAH biodegradation capability in sediments was associated with the geochemical conditions and bacterial populations. PDB showed a broad spatial distribution, thereby implying that they played an important role in the natural attenuation and cycling of PAHs in Taihu Lake. This work indicates that PAHs remain a concern in Taihu Lake sediments and can provide useful information for further bioremediation of PAH-contaminated sediments.

MicroRNA-203a-3p affects the biological characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-C

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a high incidence in Southeast Asia and China. This study aims to investigate the effect of miR-203a-3p and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) on nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, we investigate the transfection of miR-203a-3p mimics and the ability of miR-203a-3p to inhibit in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line 5-8F and C666-1, the expression levels of protein AKT, p-AKT in VEGF-C and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal pathway by plate clone formation experiment, flow cytometer PI staining method, transwell cell experiment, vasculogenic mimicry experiment, and Western blot. The results showed that miR-203a-3p in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line significantly decreased, while VEGF-C in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and cell lines significantly increased. Furthermore, miR-203a-3p inhibited the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and blocked the cell cycle of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the G⁰/G¹ phase, reduced the vasculogenic phenomena and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, and effectively inhibited the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in vivo. The low expression of VEGF-C can inhibit the proliferation, vasculogenic mimicry, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. We found that miR-203a-3p was expressed to a low degree in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Furthermore, miR-203a-3p regulated the PI3K/AKT signal pathway by downregulating the expression of VEGF-C, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, migration, invasion, vasculogenic mimicry, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and other malignant biological characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Expression of IFN-λ1 from Congjiang pigs and its effect on anti-PRRSV proliferation

An eukaryotic expression system of Congjiang pigs IFN-λ1 was constructed to obtain its expression in CHO-K1 cells and the inhibition effect of Congjiang pig IFN-λ1 on PRRSV proliferation was verified. The eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-PoIFN-λ1 was constructed from the pig IFN-λ1 gene fragment and transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Expression was detected by fluorescence microscopy and Western blotting. The influence on the proliferation of PRRSV was assessed. The results of the study showed that the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-PoIFN-λ1 was constructed correctly. After transfection, green fluorescent signal was detected in CHO-K1 cells by fluorescence microscopy. Western blot analysis revealed that in cells at different time periods after transfection, porcine IFN-λ1 was expressed, with the highest expression observed 36 h after transfection. The antiviral activity of the supernatant after 36 h of transfection was determined by the micro cytopathic inhibition method, and the biological activity was 2.1×103 U/mL. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the proliferation of PRRSV, and the results showed that Congjiang pigs IFN-λ1 significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of PRRSV and viral proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This study established a Congjiang pig IFN-λ1 eukaryotic expression system, and the quantitative PCR method showed that it has a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of PRRSV, which lays a foundation for the future production of antiviral drugs and clinical application.

[Value of combined detection of ITGA4 and SFRP2 gene methylation in stool DNA in diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of colorectal tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of quantitative detection of ITGA4 and SFRP2 gene methylation in stool DNA for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of colorectal tumors.

OBJECTIVE

Real-time PCR was used for quantitative assessment of ITGA4 and SFRP2 gene methylation levels in stool samples of 85 patients with colorectal cancer, 65 patients with colorectal adenoma and 40 healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE

The 3 groups were comparable for age and gender composition. Methylated ITGA4 and SFRP2 promoters were detected in 48.2% and 62.4% of patients with colorectal cancer, respectively, with a combined positivity of 81.2%. ITGA4 and SFRP2 promoter methylation was detected in 23.1% and 43.1% of patients with colorectal adenoma, respectively, with a combined positivity of 69.2%. The positivity rates of ITGA4 and SFRP2 methylation were significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in those with colorectal adenoma (P < 0.001; P= 0.001) and healthy subjects (P < 0.001; P < 0.001). In colorectal cancer group, ITGA4 and SFRP2 promoter methylation levels were correlated with postoperative tumor recurrence in colorectal cancer group, and the relapse-free survival rate was significantly lower in positive patients for ITGA4 and SFRP2 promoter methylation than in the negative patients (P=0.0002; P=0.007). Multivariate analysis with the COX proportional hazard regression model showed that methylation of ITGA4 and SFRP2 gene promoters (P=0.01) and the degree of tumor differentiation (P=0.03) were associated with the recurrence of colorectal cancer, and were independent risk factors for the recurrence of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Combined detection of ITGA4 and SFRP2 gene methylation levels in stool DNA can improve the early diagnosis rate of colorectal tumor. ITGA4 and SFRP2 promoter methylation and the degree of tumor differentiation are independent risk factors for colorectal cancer recurrence.

[Capsule polishing during cataract surgery: techniques and its role in preventing posterior capsular opacification]

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common complication that leads to vision loss after cataract surgery. It is classically divided into fibrotic type and regenerative type according to clinical manifestations or pathological mechanisms. The widely used technique for preventing PCO is to mechanically polish anterior and posterior capsules after an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. However, the efficacy of polishing anterior capsules on prevention of PCO is debatable. It has been found that polishing anterior capsules has an inhibitory or no effect on fibrotic PCO, but a stimulating effect on regenerative PCO. Therefore, whether to polish anterior capsules is dependent on the condition of individual patients and the type of intraocular lenses. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 492-494).