[The prevalence of blindness caused by primary angle closure glaucoma in middle-aged Chinese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis]

Objective: To evaluate the rate of blindness caused by primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in Chinese population of more than 40 years old, and to explore the effectiveness of a prevention and treatment system on PACG. Methods: We searched the databases of Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, CNKI and Wanfang Data and collected all the original studies of the prevalence and blindness of angle closure glaucoma in China. The population was limited to over 40 years old. The research site was limited to the community-based, while the published time was not limited. Two researchers completed the literature search, data extraction and methodological quality assessment independently, with same criteria. Meta analysis was performed using R software. Results: Five papers were included in this study finally. A total of 26 437 cases of natural population over the age of 40 were observed, and 306 cases of angle closure glaucoma were found, of which 113 cases had binocular or monocular blindness caused by PACG. The random effect model meta-analysis results showed that the overall blindness rate was 38.3% [95%CI (28.1%, 49.6%)]. In Beijing, where the prevention and treatment system was well established, the blindness rate was far lower than that in the areas where the system was poorly established. Compared with the past, the blindness rate caused by PACG in Beijing decreased sharply. Conclusions: The rate of blindness caused by PACG is still high in the mainland of China. The prevention and treatment system is effective and worth promoting. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 373-377).

Online measurement of conductivity/permittivity of fluid by a new contactless impedance sensor

By expanding the contactless conductivity detection (CCD) technique to contactless impedance detection technique, a new contactless impedance sensor is designed to implement the online measurement for both the conductivity of a conductive fluid and the permittivity of a non-conductive fluid. In the new contactless impedance sensor, a new simulated inductor is developed to overcome the unfavorable influences of the coupling capacitances by impedance elimination principle, and the digital phase-sensitive demodulation (DPSD) technique is adopted to realize the impedance measurement. To verify the effectiveness of the new contactless impedance sensor, simulation experiments (using different resistors, capacitors, and their combinations) and practical fluid experiments (using KCl solutions with different concentrations, eight organic solvents, and pure water) are carried out. The experimental results show that the development of the new contactless impedance sensor is successful and the conductivity/permittivity measurement performance of the new sensor is satisfactory. The maximum relative error of conductivity measurement is 3.1% and the maximum relative error of permittivity measurement is 5.5%. Compared with the conventional conductivity/permittivity sensors, the new sensor can implement the contactless online measurement of both the two electrical parameters of fluid. Meanwhile, the new contactless impedance sensor is suitable for industrial applications and has the advantages of simple construction and low cost.

[The observation of tacrolimus eye drops preventing the early immunological rejection after penetrating keratoplasty for fungal keratitis]

Objective: To observe the early immunological rejection prevention effect of tacrolimus eye drops combined with glucocorticoids on fungal keratitis patients who received penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: In a retrospective case series study, medical records of fungal keratitis patients who received PKP in Shandong Eye Institute from March 2013 to December 2015 were reviewed. Twenty-six patients (26 eyes) were given tacrolimus eye drops, and 24 patients (24 eyes) were given 1% cyclosporine A eye drops immediately after PKP. Two weeks after PKP, these patients were given low concentration of glucocorticoids if no fungal recurrence was found. Immune rejection, fungal recurrence, intraocular pressure, and drug irritation symptoms were monitored. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: The average follow-up was 7 months (range, 3 to 12 months) postoperatively. The rejection rate was 15.3% in the tacrolimus group and 47.8% in the cyclosporine A group (χ(2)=5.510, P<0.05). One patient in the tacrolimus group and two patients in the cyclosporine A group suffered fungal recurrence. Two patients in the tacrolimus group and four patients in the cyclosporine A group had secondary glaucoma. The intraocular pressure was controlled. Three patients receiving tacrolimus eye drops and 13 patients receiving cyclosporine A eye drops had mild irritation symptoms. Conclusions: Tacrolimus eye drops combined with low concentration of glucocorticoids can prevent the early immunological rejection after PKP for fungalkeratitis effectively and safely. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:305-310).

[Birth cohort studies in China: a review]

With longer than 100-year experience of development, methods used on birth cohort study have been viewed as having important roles in exploring the probable effects of health and environment exposure both prior to and during the pregnancy in the life circle as infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. However in China, birth cohort studies started late but with rapid development. Recently, some well-known methods on birth cohort studies were established in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan area. This paper presented an overall review on the progress about birth cohort studies and their prospects, in China.

[The protective effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-induced neural stem cells in the vitreous on the blood-retinal barrier in diabetic rats]

Objective: To investigate the effect of intravitreal injection of neural stem cells (NSC) induced from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, and to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of blood-retinal barrier damage due to diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Experimental study. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, DR group and NSC group. Diabetic rats were induced by injection of streptozotocin, and the control rats were injected with an equal volume of solvent. Three months after the establishment of diabetic models, the NSC group was injected with 2 μl of NSC in the right vitreous, and the DR group was injected with 2 μl of phosphate-buffered saline. One month later, all the rats were sacrificed. The retinal vessels and leakage were examined with flat-mounted retinas. Vascular permeability was quantified by analyzing albumin leakage using the Evans blue (EB) method. Retina was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Retinal blood vessels of the control rats were normal, with no EB leakage outside the vessels. The background fluorescence was enhanced and focal leakage and focal dilated vessels were detected in the DR group. In the NSC group, background fluorescence was enhanced slightly and EB leakage area decreased significantly compared with the DR group. The average EB in control group, DR group and NSC group were (9.91±1.53), (24.67±2.26) and (12.85±2.58)μg/g, The EB leakage in the NSC group decreased significantly compared with the DR group (q=9.748, P<0.05). Pathological hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the retinal layer structure was normal and clear in the control group, the retina was thin, the cell arrangement was in disorder and the nucleus was swelling in the DR group, the status of the NSC group was between the other two groups. Conclusions: Transferring human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-induced NSC in vitro to diabetic rat models by intravitreal injection could reduce leakage of blood vessels and attenuate blood-retinal barrier breakdown induced by diabetes. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 53-58).

[Comparison of gender specific structure profiles of immunoglobulin G N-glycans]

Objective: To analyze and compare the gender specific structure profiles of immunoglobulin G(IgG) N-glycans and provide evidence to understand the distribution of the structure of IgG N-glycans in general population. Methods: A cluster sampling was conducted to randomly select 669 participants from Beijing Xuanwu Hospital during January-June 2012. Venous blood sample (5 ml) was collected from each participant with vacuum negative pressure tube containing EDTA. Plasma IgG N-glycome was determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) on Waters BEH Glycan chromatography column and mass spectrometry after the separation, purification and labeling. Finally, we got 24 chromatographic peaks. Each peak represented a different carbohydrate structure. Independent sample t-test or nonparametric test were used to compare the gender specific difference, P<0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: A total of 669 healthy participants were included, including 235 men (35.13%) and 434 women (64.87%). The average age of the participants was (44.23±9.82) years. The core fucosylation level and the galactosylation level of females were higher than those of males [Fⁿ(Z=-2.192, P=0.028), G0ⁿ(Z=-7.898, P<0.001), G1ⁿ (Z=-2.343, P=0.019), G2ⁿ (Z=-8.414, P<0.001)], but F^totalS1/F^totalS2(Z=-5.049, P<0.001) and FS1/FS2 (Z=-3.336, P=0.001) of females were higher than those of males, indicating a higher saliva acidification level in males than in females. Conclusion: IgG N-glycosylation levels might be gender dependent.

Low miR-29c expression is a prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma

A previous study has revealed that miR-29c functions as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the clinical significance and prognostic value of miR-29c in HCC have not been investigated. Paired human HCC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues were obtained from 91 patients, between 2008 to 2014. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze miR-29c expression. Kaplan-Meier survival plots and log-rank tests were used to assess differences in the overall survival of different subgroups of HCC patients. It was observed that miR-29c expression was remarkably decreased in HCC tissues relative to that in normal hepatic tissues (P < 0.001). The low miR-29c level was significantly associated with histologic grade (P = 0.001), microvascular invasion (P = 0.005), and tumor stage (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that decreased miR-29c expression correlated with shorter overall survival (P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that decreased miR-29c expression (hazard ratio = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.361-6.779, P = 0.025) was independently associated with poor survival in HCC. Our findings demonstrate that miR-29c expression is significantly downregulated in HCC patients and that miR-29c can act as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome.

[Determination of perfluorosulfonate and perfluorocarboxylate precursors in eggs by ultra-highperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a method for the determination of 11 perfluorosulfonate and perfluorocarboxylate precursors in eggs using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadruple mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).

METHODS

The target compounds of egg were extracted with 100 mmol/L NaOH-acetonitrile /water(90∶10, V/V) by ultrasonic. Then the extract was purified by solid phase extraction (Waters Oasis(@) WAX 6cc) and then eluted with 9% NH4OH in methanol. The target compounds were separated on a Waters ACQUITY(TM) BEH (18)C column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) and detected by negative electrospray ionization (ESI(-)) mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). All compounds were quantified with internal standards. The accuracy, precision and the limits of detection and quantification of the method were evaluated. Then we detected 7 different egg samples from the market.

RESULTS

The average recoveries for the eleven precursors at 3 levels were 74.09%-116.82% and the relative standard deviations were 2.37%-13.62%. The limits of detection (LOD) of the method were in the range of 0.06-1.50 pg/g (wet weight) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.15-3.00 pg/g (wet weight). And 5 target compounds were detected in the 7 market samples. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) was detected in all of samples with the concentrations of 1.67-3.11 pg/g. 6:2 fluorotelomer unsaturated acid (FHUEA) and 6:2 disubstituted polyfluoroalkyl phosphate ester (6:2 diPAP) were detected in 6 samples and the concentrations were<LOD-5.11 pg/g and 3.78-9.16 pg/g, respectively. And the concentrations of 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (8:2 FTS) and N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (N-Me FOSAA) founded in the same sample were 105.78, and 4.95 pg/g, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This method was simple, rapid, and suitable for determination of perfluorosulfonate and perfluorocarboxylate precursors in eggs with high accuracy and sensitivity. It could also be applied to human burden studies of these precursors.

Magnetic Ground States of the Rare-Earth Tripod Kagome Lattice Mg_{2}RE_{3}Sb_{3}O_{14} (RE=Gd,Dy,Er)

We present the structural and magnetic properties of a new compound family, Mg_{2}RE_{3}Sb_{3}O_{14} (RE=Gd,Dy,Er), with a hitherto unstudied frustrating lattice, the "tripod kagome" structure. Susceptibility (ac, dc) and specific heat exhibit features that are understood within a simple Luttinger-Tisza-type theory. For RE=Gd, we found long-ranged order (LRO) at 1.65 K, which is consistent with a 120° structure, demonstrating the importance of diople interactions for this 2D Heisenberg system. For RE=Dy, LRO at 0.37 K is related to the "kagome spin ice" physics for a 2D system. This result shows that the tripod kagome structure accelerates the transition to LRO predicted for the related pyrochlore systems. For RE=Er, two transitions, at 80 mK and 2.1 K are observed, suggesting the importance of quantum fluctuations for this putative XY system.

[Impact of number of dissected lymph nodes on survival in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical resection]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of the number of dissected lymph nodes on survival of patients with stage T3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

The clinicopathlogical dada of 249 patients with stage T3N0M0 thoracic ESCC were analyzed retrospectively. The median age of the 249 patients (171 males and 78 females) was 60-year old. The primary lesions were located in the upper- in 40, middle- in 177, and lower-thoracic esophagus in 45 patients. The median length of the lesions was 5 cm (range 2-12 cm). As for the severity of adhesion after surgery, there were 35 with no adhesion, 90 with mild-, and 124 patients with severe adhesion. The median number of dissected lymph nodes (dissected LN) at surgery was 9 (range 1-27), among them, less than 6 dissected LNs in 55, 6-11 dissected LNs in 133, and 11 or more dissected LNs in 61 cases. There were 210 patients with moderately or highly, and 39 with poorly differentiated cancer. 98 patients were treated with surgery alone, and 151 with postoperative adjuvant treatment.

RESULTS

The follow-up deadline was July 2013. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90.0%, 68.7% and 55.2%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 85.5%, 63.6% and 39.1% in patients with <6 dissected LNs, 89.5%, 67.7% and 56.9% in patients with 6-11 dissected LNs, and 95.1%, 75.4% and 66.2% in patients with >11 dissected LNs, respectively (P=0.073). The survival was shorter in patients with <6 dissected LNs than patients with >11 dissected LNs (P=0.022). The subgroup analysis showed that in patients with middle-thoracic ESCC, the length of lesion ≤5 cm or mild adhesion after surgery and the number of dissected LNs were associated with survival after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with stage T3N0M0 thoracic ESCC after surgery, the number of dissected LNs is an important factor affecting the survival, and at least 6 or more lymph nodes should be dissected. If lymphadenectomy is not adequately performed, postoperative adjuvant therapy should be recommend.

ApoE and S-100 expression and its significance in the brain tissue of rats with focal contusion

This study explored the effect of focal cerebral contusion on the expression of ApoE and S-100, and its significance in determining the time of brain injury. Based on a rat model of cerebral contusion, immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expressions of S-100 and ApoE at different time points after injury. Thirty minutes following cerebral contusion, ApoE protein expression was significantly increased in cortex neurons (P < 0.01), and S-100 protein expression was significantly (P < 0.001) elevated 2 h after cerebral contusion. Over time, the number of ApoE and S-100 positively expressing cells gradually increased. Three days after injury, ApoE was widely distributed throughout the tissue and the number of ApoE-positive cells and staining intensity reached a peak. ApoE expression decreased after this time point. Five days after cerebral contusion, the number of S-100-positive cells reached a peak level of expression higher than that in the control group. Our data demonstrate that the expression of ApoE and S-100 correlated with the progression of focal cerebral contusion. This suggests that both proteins may serve as effective biomarkers of focal cerebral contusions.

Genetic variability of ERCC1 and ERCC2 influences treatment outcomes in gastric cancer

We performed a study to investigate the role of ERCC1 (rs11615, rs2298881, and rs3212986) and ERCC2 (rs13181, rs238406, and rs1799793) polymorphisms in the prognosis of gastric cancer. A total of 346 patients with gastric cancer were recruited between May 2009 and May 2012. Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The GA+AA genotype of ERCC2 rs1799793 showed significant and favorable response to chemotherapy than the wide-type GG genotype in multivariate analysis (OR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.13-2.81). In a Cox proportional hazard model, carriers of ERCC2 rs1799793 GA+AA genotype exhibited longer duration of survival than did those with the GG genotype (hazards ratio = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.35-0.92). In conclusion, our study suggests that ERCC2 rs1799793 polymorphic variation could be used as a predictor for the prognosis of gastric cancer.

Cloning and characterization of the SERK1 gene in triploid Pingyi Tiancha [Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd. var. pingyiensis Jiang] and a tetraploid hybrid strain

This study aims to explore the roles of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) in Malus hupehensis (Pingyi Tiancha). The full-length sequences of SERK1 in triploid Pingyi Tiancha (3n) and a tetraploid hybrid strain 33# (4n) were cloned, sequenced, and designated as MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1, respectively. Multiple alignments of amino acid sequences were conducted to identify similarity between MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 and SERK sequences in other species, and a neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed to elucidate their phylogenetic relations. Expression levels of MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 in different tissues and developmental stages were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR. The coding sequence lengths of MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 were 1899 bp (encoding 632 amino acids) and 1881 bp (encoding 626 amino acids), respectively. Sequence analysis demonstrated that MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 display high similarity to SERKs in other species, with a conserved intron/exon structure that is unique to members of the SERK family. Additionally, the phylogenetic tree showed that MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 clustered with orange CitSERK (93%). Furthermore, MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 were mainly expressed in the reproductive organs, in particular the ovary. Their expression levels were highest in young flowers and they differed among different tissues and organs. Our results suggest that MhSERK1 and MhdSERK1 are related to plant reproduction, and that MhSERK1 is related to apomixis in triploid Pingyi Tiancha.

Preparation of a specific bamboo based activated carbon and its application for ciprofloxacin removal

The studied bamboo based activated carbon (BbAC) with high specific surface area (SSA) and high micro pore volume was prepared from bamboo scraps by the combined activation of H3PO4 and K2CO3. The BbAC was characterized based on the N2 adsorption isotherm at 77K. The results showed that the SSA and pore volume of BbAC increased with increasing impregnation ratio and reached maxima at the impregnation ratio of 3:1 at 750°C. Under these optimal conditions, the BbAC obtained could have a maximum SSA of 2237 m(2)/g and a maximum total pore volume of 1.23 cm(3)/g with the micro pore ratio of more than 90%. The adsorption performance of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on the BbAC was determined at 298 K. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to describe the adsorption equilibrium and the kinetic data were fitted by pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order kinetic models. The results showed that the Langmuir model and the pseudo second-order kinetic model presented better fittings for the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics data, respectively. The maximum adsorption amount of CIP (613 mg/g) on the BbAC was much higher than the report in the literature. Conclusively, the BbAC could be a promising adsorption material for CIP removal from water.

Signature of Strong Spin-Orbital Coupling in the Large Nonsaturating Magnetoresistance Material WTe2

We report the detailed electronic structure of WTe2 by high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We resolved a rather complicated Fermi surface of WTe2. Specifically, there are in total nine Fermi pockets, including one hole pocket at the Brillouin zone center Γ, and two hole pockets and two electron pockets on each side of Γ along the Γ-X direction. Remarkably, we have observed circular dichroism in our photoemission spectra, which suggests that the orbital angular momentum exhibits a rich texture at various sections of the Fermi surface. This is further confirmed by our density-functional-theory calculations, where the spin texture is qualitatively reproduced as the conjugate consequence of spin-orbital coupling. Since the spin texture would forbid backscatterings that are directly involved in the resistivity, our data suggest that the spin-orbit coupling and the related spin and orbital angular momentum textures may play an important role in the anomalously large magnetoresistance of WTe2. Furthermore, the large differences among spin textures calculated for magnetic fields along the in-plane and out-of-plane directions also provide a natural explanation of the large field-direction dependence on the magnetoresistance.

Effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ATP-binding cassette B1 gene on the clinical outcome of traumatic brain injury

The critical role of ATP-binding cassette B1 (ABCB1) in the function of the blood-brain barrier led us to conducted this prospective study in order to investigate the clinical outcome of patients suffering from severe traumatic brain injury. A total of 182 patients with traumatic brain injury were included in our study. Genotyping of ABCB1 C3435T and G2677T/A was conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Using multivariate-logistic regression analysis, we found that patients carrying the CT+CC genotype of ABCB1 C3435T were more likely to have a better neurological outcome when compared with the TT genotype (odds ratio = 2.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-6.86). However, no significant association was found between the G2677T/A polymorphism and outcome of traumatic brain injury patients. Our study provides important information regarding the prognostic value of ABCB1 C3435T, and the ABCB1 C3435T polymorphism may be used as a predictive marker for the outcome of traumatic brain injury patients.

Effect of age on the immune system and pathology of mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease lupus nephritis

We investigated the effect of age on the expression of immune molecules [ANA, C4, double stranded DNA (dsDNA), CD16/32, CD19, CD3, and CD64], urine protein, and pathology in mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) lupus nephritis (LN), and their relationship with reactivity index score. Mouse models of cGVHD LN were established, and mice were randomly divided into four aged-based groups of nine mice each. Serum levels of ANA, C4, and dsDNA were determined, the urine protein levels were assessed, and expression levels of CD16/32, CD19, CD3, and CD64 were measured. Expression levels of CD16/32+CD19(T1), CD16/CD32+CD3(T2), and CD64+CD3 or CD19(T3) were defined in the thymus, in bone marrow they were defined as CD16/32+CD19(B1), CD16/32+CD3(B2), CD64+CD3 or CD19(B3), and in spleen they were defined as CD16/32+CD19(P1), CD16/32+CD3(P2), CD64+CD3 or CD19(P3), respectively. There were significant differences in the levels of dsDNA and urine protein among the four groups (P < 0.05), which were negatively correlated with age. B1, B2, S1, and S2 were significantly different among the four groups (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation with age for B1 and B2. There was no correlation of expression of ANA, C4, dsDNA, T1-T3, B1-B3, S2-S3 with reactivity index score; S1 was the exception (r = -0.440, P = 0.011). Age influenced levels of dsDNA and urine protein in the mouse cGVHD model of LN. S1 was associated with reactivity index score and might also affect pathological changes.

Charge and aggregation pattern govern the interaction of plasticins with LPS monolayers mimicking the external leaflet of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become today a major public health issue. In the development of new anti-infectious therapies, antimicrobial peptides appear as promising candidates. However, their mechanisms of action against bacterial membranes are still poorly understood. We describe for the first time the interaction and penetration of plasticins into lipid monolayers and bilayers modeling the two leaflets of the asymmetrical outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The lipid composition of these monolayers mimics that of each leaflet: mixtures of LPS Re 595 mutant and wild type S-form from Salmonella enterica for the external leaflet, and SOPE/SOPG/cardiolipin (80/15/5) for the inner one. The analysis of the interfacial behavior of native (PTCDA1) and modified (PTCDA1-KF) antimicrobial plasticins showed that PTCDA1-KF exhibited better surface properties than its unmodified counterpart. Both peptides could penetrate into the model monolayers at concentrations higher than 0.1 μM. The penetration was particularly enhanced for PTCDA1-KF into the mixed LPS monolayer, due to attractive electrostatic interactions. Grazing X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy studies revealed the changes in LPS monolayers organization upon peptide insertion. The interaction of plasticins with liposomes was also monitored by light scattering and circular dichroism techniques. Only the cationic plasticin achieved full disaggregation and structuration in α helices, whereas the native one remained aggregated and unstructured. The main steps of the penetration mechanism of the two plasticins into lipid models of the external leaflet of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria have been established.

Differentiation-inducing effects of betamethasone on human glioma cell line U251

We studied the differentiation-inducing effect of beta-methasone on human glioma cell line U251 cultured in vitro, and the underlying mechanism. U251 cells were divided into two groups: control group cells, cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum; and medication group cells, treated with 15 μM betamethasone. Morphological cell changes were observed by inverted microscope, cell cycle changes were ascertained by flow cytometry, and vimentin expression was checked by immunocytochemistry. The expression levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein ki-nase (ERK), phosphorylated ERK (pERK), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were assessed by western blot. Compared with the control group, U251 cell processes increased significantly, but declined 96 h after betamethasone took effect. After 48 h, the percentage of S-phase cells decreased significantly (28.77 to 20.42%; P = 0.014); the percent-age of strongly positive vimentin cells decreased significantly (91 to 51%; P = 0.0092); and the ratio of expression of GFAP protein to the internal control β-actin increased significantly (0.24 to 0.53; P = 0.1). The level of ERK protein did not change significantly 48 and 96 h after the action of betamethasone, and the pERK/ERK ratios were 0.37 and 0.23, respectively, which were significantly reduced compared with the control group (P = 0.028 and 0.006). Betamethasone has a significant effect on the induction and differentiation of U251 cells, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the abnormal activation of the ERK signal pathway.

TRANSPLANTATION OF HYPERTHERMIC PRECONDITIONING OLFACTORY ENSHEATHING CELLS COMBINED WITH NEURAL STEM CELLS IN THE TREATMENT OF CENTRAL NERVE INJURY

This study aims to observe the effect of the transplantation of hyperthermic preconditioning (HPC) olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) at 40°C combined with neural stem cells (NSCs) in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI), based on the OECs and NSCs taken from the olfactory bulbs and cerebral cortex of newborn rats. Forty-two female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into: control group, NSCs+OECs without HPC group and NSCs+HPC OECs group. Firstly, hemisected spinal cord injury model was established; the motor function recovery of the right lower limb of the rats was compared by Basso-Beatie-Bresnahan rating (BBB rating), climbing score and running time on a rotating platform during the whole experiment. At one day, two weeks and four weeks after transplantation, two rats were randomly selected from each group for section preparation. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on the sections to observe and analyze the pathological changes of the spinal cord tissue, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling was used to observe the distribution of transplanted cells. The results demonstrated that, BBB score of the rats that were treated by transplantation of NSCs combined with HPC OCEs was distinctly improved; a rapid increase of BBB score was found two weeks after transplantation, while BBB score had slightly increased six weeks later. BBB score of the control group and the NSCs+OECs without HPC group was found with a slight increase, especially in the control group. BBB score of NSCs+HPC OECs was significantly higher than in the control group and the NSCs+OECs without HPC group at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th week after treatment (P<0.05). Climbing tests and detection of running time after 4 weeks and 6 weeks demonstrated that, the recovery of limb function of the NSCs+HPC OECs group was better than the other groups (P<0.05). HE staining results of NSCs+HPC OECs indicated that, cells of the spinal cord were neatly arranged, close to normal. BrdU labeling results revealed that, transplanted cells were found in injury tissue, indicating that they were involved in the spinal cord repair. This study proves that, the effect of NSCs combined with HPC OECs in the treatment of SCI is better than NSCs combined with OECs without HPC, and the ratio of NSCs differentiating to neuron after inducing HPC OECs supernate is higher than that after inducing OECs supernate without HPC.

Abundance and diversity of methanogens: potential role in high arsenic groundwater in Hetao Plain of Inner Mongolia, China

To investigate the community diversity and abundance of methanogens and their potential role in high arsenic groundwater, 17 groundwater samples from Hetao Plain of Inner Mongolia were investigated with an integrated method including 16S rRNA gene clone library, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and geochemistry analyses. Total arsenic (AsTot) concentrations were 82.7-1088.7 μg/L and arsenite (AsIII) mostly dominated in these samples with percentages of 0.04-0.79. CH₄ concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 292 μg/L and distinctly elevated only when AsTot were relatively high and SO₄(2-) were distinctly low. Principal component analysis indicated that these samples were divided into three groups according to the variations of AsTot, CH₄ and SO₄(2-). AsTot concentrations were distinctly high in the group with high CH₄ and low SO₄(2-) comparing to the other two groups (one with high CH₄ and high SO₄(2-), the other with low CH₄ and SO₄(2-)). The mcrA gene (methyl coenzyme-M reductase gene) based phylogenetic analysis of methanogens population showed that methanogenic archaea was diverse but mainly composed of Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, Methanobacteria and unidentified groups, with Methanomicrobiales being distinctly dominant (50.6%). The mcrA gene abundance in high arsenic groundwater ranged from 3.01 × 10(3) to 3.80 × 10(6)copies/L and accounted for 0-30.2% of total archaeal 16S rRNA genes. The abundance of mcrA genes was positively correlated with the concentrations of AsTot (R=0.59), AsIII (R=0.57) and FeII (R=0.79), while it was negatively correlated with oxidation-reduction potential (R=-0.66) and SO₄(2-) concentration (R=-0.64). These results implied that methanogenic archaea might accelerate As release in groundwater aquifers in Hetao Plain.

Polymorphisms of uric transporter proteins in the pathogenesis of gout in a Chinese Han population

In this study, we analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in urate transporter genes to examine the pathogenesis of gout. We conducted a 1:1-matched case-control study that included 110 patients with acute gout attacks as the patient group and 110 healthy age- and gender-matched subjects as the control group. Clinical parameters were recorded and blood biochemistry tests were conducted for both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data. Hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were found to be the main risk factors for the onset of gout, with relative risks of 29.2 (P < 0.001), 25.5 (P = 0.003), and 11.2 (P < 0.001). For all detected SNP, rs2231142, located in ABCG2, showed the largest frequency differences for the G/G, G/T, and T/T genotypes between groups: the distribution of these genotypes in the case group was 22, 49, and 26 individuals, respectively, and was 54, 38, and 9 individuals, respectively, in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P < 0.001) and the odds ratio was 7.091 (95% confidence interval = 2.867-17.541). Other SNPs (rs1165196, rs1165205, rs1183201, rs17300741, rs2078267, rs2242206, rs3733591, and rs9358856) showed no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). The risk factors of gout were hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and the T/T genotype of the rs2231142 locus in the ABCG2 gene; expression of the G/G genotype may be a protective factor against gout development.

The long non-coding RNA HOTTIP promotes progression and gemcitabine resistance by regulating HOXA13 in pancreatic cancer

Background

The human genome encodes many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, their biological functions, molecular mechanisms, and the prognostic value associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain to be elucidated. Here, we identify a fundamental role for the lncRNA HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) in the progression and chemoresistance of PDAC.

Methods

High-throughput microarrays were performed to detect the expression profiles of lncRNAs and messenger RNAs in eight human PDAC tissues and four pancreatic tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the levels of HOTTIP and HOXA13 transcripts in PDAC cell lines and 90 PDAC samples from patients. HPDE6 cells (immortalized human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells) and corresponding adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were used as controls, respectively. The functions of HOTTIP and HOXA13 in cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were evaluated by targeted knockdown in vitro. CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, and xenografts in nude mice were used to investigate whether targeted silencing of HOTTIP could sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the relationship between HOXA13 expression and patient outcome.

Results

Microarray analyses revealed that HOTTIP was one of the most significantly upregulated lncRNAs in PDAC tissues compared with pancreatic tissues. Quantitative PCR further verified that HOTTIP levels were increased in PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared with controls. Functionally, HOTTIP silencing resulted in proliferation arrest by altering cell-cycle progression, and impaired cell invasion by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer. Additionally, inhibition of HOTTIP potentiated the antitumor effects of gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of HOXA13 by RNA interference (siHOXA13) revealed that HOTTIP promoted PDAC cell proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance, at least partly through regulating HOXA13. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that higher HOXA13 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis, poor histological differentiation, and decreased overall survival in PDAC patients.

Conclusions

As a crucial tumor promoter, HOTTIP promotes cell proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance by modulating HOXA13. Therefore, the HOTTIP/HOXA13 axis is a potential therapeutic target and molecular biomarker for PDAC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0442-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Agonist of farnesoid X receptor protects against bile acid induced damage and oxidative stress in mouse placenta--a study on maternal cholestasis model

INTRODUCTION

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific disorder, which is characterized by raised serum bile acid level and potential adverse fetal outcome. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), also known as a bile acid receptor, was found to be expressed in placenta with low level. Whether activation of FXR by specific agonists could regulate the pathogenesis of ICP is still unclear.

METHODS

A model of maternal cholestasis was induced by administration of 17α-ethynylestradiol (E2) in pregnant mice for 6 days. We explored the regulatory effect of WAY-362450 (W450), a highly selective and potent FXR agonist on placenta.

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that administration of E2 increased bile acid levels in mouse serum, liver and amniotic fluid. Bile acid levels were significantly decreased after W450 treatment. W450 protected against the impairment of placentas induced by E2, including severe intracellular edema and apoptosis of trophoblasts. Moreover, W450 significantly induced the expressions of FXR target bile acid transport gene ATP-binding cassette, sub-family B (MDR/TAP), member 11 (Abcb11;Bsep) in placenta. W450 could also attenuate placental oxidative stress and increase the expressions of antioxidant enzymes Prdx1 and Prdx3.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our data demonstrated that FXR agonist W450 modulated bile acid balance and protected against placental oxidative stress. Thus, our results support that potent FXR agonists might represent promising drugs for the treatment of ICP.

[Influence of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer on the physical and intellectual development of the children at pre-school age]

OBJECTIVE

To study whether the assisted reproductive technology [ in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)] has influence on the physical and intellectual development of the children at the preschool age.

METHODS

The study group included 50 IVF-ET children, and the control group was a match cohort of 48 children born after being naturally conceived. A matched retrospective cohort study was performed on physical and intellectual development of the two children groups. The control group was matched according to home economics situation, parents' educational level, etc.

RESULTS

In the adjusted analysis, the differences of the physical and the intellectual development between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In the language test, the scores of the IVF-ET group was 1.35, 1.05, 1.32, 1.32 higher than those of the control group in the subject of general knowledge, words, synonyms, understanding ability. The IVF-ET group was 1.21 lower than that of the control group in the subject of arithmetics, 1.91 lower than that of the control group in the language subject, 5.5 higher than that of the control group in the operation subject, and 0.40, 0.38 higher than those of the control group in the subject of the maze and geometry. The scores of the control group were 1.04, 0.54, and 0.68 higher than those of the IVF-ET group in the animal house, drawing of vacancy, and block pattern, respectively. The final results of the IVF-ET group and the control group was 115.8 and 114.6, respectively. The ratio of the above medium height of the IVF-ET group and the control group was 30% and 31%, respectively. The ratio of the above medium weight was 30% and 23%, respectively. The IVF-ET group was a little fatter. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the body development.

CONCLUSION

The assisted reproduction technology is not associated with poorer physical and intellectual development. The family pay more attention to the children may promote their development.

[Establishment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw model in rats and preliminary analysis of its etiological mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To establish bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) model in rats and to make preliminary analysis of its etiological mechanisms.

METHODS

A BRONJ model was established in rats using pamidronate, dexamethasone combined with alveolar bone trauma (tooth extraction) method, and the ratios of CD4+ and CD90+ lymphocytes in splenocytes were also analyzed by flow cytometry in each group. For in vitro studies, the effects of pamidronate and dexamethasone on the proliferation of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 and mouse pre-osteoclasts cell line Raw 264.7 were investigated using CCK-8 assay.

RESULTS

The rat BRONJ model was successfully established using the method described above. Flow cytometry results showed that the ratios of CD4+ and CD90+ lymphocytes in splenocytes were much lower in the pamidronate and dexamethasone-treated rats than those in either pamidronte alone- or dexamethasone alone-treated rats. CCK-8 assay results showed that pamidronate could inhibit the proliferation of both MG-63 and Raw 264.7 cell lines, while dexamethasone could enhance the inhibitory effect of pamidronate on Raw 264.7 cells.

CONCLUSION

This study successfully established the BRONJ model in rats and verified that dexamethasone could enhance the inhibitory effect of pamidronate on pre-osteoclasts in vitro. At least three factors including alveolar bone trauma, infection and immune response induced by dexamethasone could be involved in the process of BRONJ.

δ34S and δ18O of dissolved sulfate as biotic tracer of biogeochemical influences on arsenic mobilization in groundwater in the Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia, China

Environmental isotopology of sulfur and oxygen of dissolved sulfate in groundwater was conducted in the Hetao Plain, northwestern China, aiming to better understand the processes controlling arsenic mobilization in arsenic-rich aqueous systems. A total of 22 groundwater samples were collected from domestic wells in the Hetao Plain. Arsenic concentrations ranged from 11.0 to 388 μg/L. The δ(34)S-SO4 and δ(18)O-SO4 values of dissolved sulfate covered a range from +1.48 to +22.4‰ and +8.17‰ to +14.8‰ in groundwater, respectively. The wide range of δ(34)S-SO4 values reflected either an input of different sources of sulfate, such as gypsum dissolution and fertilizer application, or a modification from biogeochemical process of bacterial sulfate reduction. The positive correlation between δ(34)S-SO4 and arsenic concentrations suggested that bacteria mediated processes played an important role in the mobilization of arsenic. The δ(18)O-SO4 values correlated non-linearly with δ(34)S-SO4, but within a relatively narrow range (+8.17 to +14.8‰), implying that complexities inherent in the sulfate-oxygen (O-SO4(2-)) origins, for instance, water-derived oxygen (O-H2O), molecular oxygen (O-O2) and isotope exchanging with dissolved oxides, are accounted for oxygen isotope composition of dissolved sulfate in groundwater in the Hetao Plain.

Simultaneous determination and toxicological assessment of penicillins in different water matrices

A multi-residue analysis method was developed for the determination of penicillins in wastewater of WWTP, surface water and groundwater in Spain. The procedure involves a solid phase extraction (SPE) and the subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-QqQ-MS/MS). The SPE processes were optimized by test of cartridges, sample pH and elution solvents. ENV+ cartridge was chosen for the extraction of penicillins from different environmental samples. The best conditions for the extraction efficiency of the targets were observed at sample pH 6, by eluting solvents of methanol and acetonitrile respectively. The method has been validated by calibration curve, corresponding regression coefficient, limit of quantification and recoveries. The results showed that the recoveries of more than 90% were presented in all the compounds, except AMOX and AMPI, which had special amino-group in the molecular structure different with others. The matrix effect was also considered in the experiment and it was concluded that different matrix effect could be found between three kinds of waters, and the low retention of AMOX and AMPI on the cartridges was attributed to the matrices interference. The real sample detection showed that the penicillins degraded fast and only AMOX appeared in the studied environmental samples. The results of toxicology test on two compounds (AMOX and AMPI) showed that bacteria V. fischeri was proved to be relatively insensitive to both targets. The decreasing order of toxicity in three environmental waters for AMOX and AMPI was: wastewater > groundwater > surface water.

Effects of isobutyrate supplementation on ruminal microflora, rumen enzyme activities and methane emissions in Simmental steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of isobutyrate supplementation on rumen microflora, enzyme activities and methane emissions in Simmental steers consuming a corn stover-based diet. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. The treatments were control (without isobutyrate), low isobutyrate (LIB), moderate isobutyrate (MIB) and high isobutyrate (HIB) with 8.4, 16.8 and 25.2 g isobutyrate per steer per day respectively. Isobutyrate was hand-mixed into the concentrate portion. Diet consisted of 60% corn stover and 40% concentrate [dry matter (DM) basis]. Dry matter intake (averaged 9 kg/day) was restricted to a maximum of 90% of ad libitum intake. Population of total bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria and anaerobic fungi were linearly increased, whereas that of protozoa and total methanogens was linearly reduced with increasing isobutyrate supplementation. Real-time PCR quantification of population of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Fibrobacter succinogenes was linearly increased with increasing isobutyrate supplementation. Activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase and β-glucosidase were linearly increased, whereas that of protease was linearly reduced. Methane production was linearly decreased with increasing isobutyrate supplementation. Effective degradabilities of cellulose and hemicellulose of corn stover were linearly increased, whereas that of crude protein in diet was linearly decreased with increasing isobutyrate supplementation. The present results indicate that isobutyrate supplemented improved microflora, rumen enzyme activities and methane emissions in steers. It was suggested that the isobutyrate stimulated the digestive micro-organisms or enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. In the experimental conditions of this trial, the optimum isobutyrate dose was approximately 16.8 g isobutyrate per steer per day.

Survey and analysis on birth quality influence factors of 300 cases of newborns

PURPOSE

Little research has been conducted to specifically identify the correlations of birth quality influence factors of newborns and hemoglobin of gravidae and puerperal with birth weight of newborns. To investigate the correlations of birth quality influence factors of newborns and hemoglobin of gravidae and puerperal with birth weight of newborns in order to provide a scientific basis for promoting health ofgravidae and their newborns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred cases of gravidae and puerpera treated in the present hospital were randomly selected, and questionnaire survey method was used to survey their basic situations. Also, hemoglobin values in different pregnancy stages were detected. According to birth weight of newborns, gravidae were divided into several groups to compare antepartum hemoglobin levels of various groups of gravidae. In addition, logistic regression analysis was carried out for birth quality influence factors of newborns.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis result showed that birth quality influence factors of newborns included age, nutrition situation and pregnancy healthcare education of gravidae and puerpera. In addition, birth weight of newborns was positively related to antepartum hemoglobin level of gravidae (r = 0.746, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

It was feasible for promoting smooth delivery of gravidae and puerpera, reducing incidence rate of mother and baby complications and effectively enhancing health situations of newborns to strengthen health monitoring of gravidae and conduct health education intervention.

Regulation of selenoprotein P concentration and expression by different sources of selenium in broiler breeders and their offspring

An 8-wk experiment using 180 Lingnan Yellow broiler breeders was conducted to investigate the effect of different sources of Se on the concentration and gene expression of selenoprotein P (SEPP1) in broiler breeders and their offspring. After receiving a low-Se basal diet for 8 wk, broiler breeders were randomly allocated to 3 treatments (6 replicates per treatment) and fed corn-soy-based diets supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg of Se from sodium selenite (SS), Se-enriched yeast (SY), and selenomethionine (SM), respectively. Fertile eggs from different replicates were collected during the last week of the experiment and then incubated in different incubator trays in the same incubator. The concentrations and mRNA levels of SEPP1 were determined in liver and kidney of broiler breeders and their offspring, as well as the serum SEPP1 concentration. Compared with SS, both SY and SM significantly increased (P < 0.05) the concentration and mRNA level of SEPP1 in 1-d-old chicks. In broiler breeders, the serum and liver SEPP1 concentrations were notably increased by the use of organic Se (P < 0.05), whereas no differences were found in the kidney. Moreover, the SEPP1 mRNA level in the liver was remarkably elevated (P < 0.05) in organic Se treatments, but also no differences were observed in the kidney. Results of this study indicate that the use of organic Se (SY or SM) in maternal diets is very effective for increasing the concentration and mRNA level of SEPP1, especially in their offspring. No differences between SY and SM were observed.

A two-temperature model for selective photothermolysis laser treatment of port wine stains

Selective photothermolysis is the basic principle for laser treatment of vascular malformations such as port wine stain birthmarks (PWS). During cutaneous laser surgery, blood inside blood vessels is heated due to selective absorption of laser energy, while the surrounding normal tissue is spared. As a result, the blood and the surrounding tissue experience a local thermodynamic non-equilibrium condition. Traditionally, the PWS laser treatment process was simulated by a discrete-blood-vessel model that simplifies blood vessels into parallel cylinders buried in a multi-layer skin model. In this paper, PWS skin is treated as a porous medium made of tissue matrix and blood in the dermis. A two-temperature model is constructed following the local thermal non-equilibrium theory of porous media. Both transient and steady heat conduction problems are solved in a unit cell for the interfacial heat transfer between blood vessels and the surrounding tissue to close the present two-temperature model. The present two-temperature model is validated by good agreement with those from the discrete-blood-vessel model. The characteristics of the present two-temperature model are further illustrated through a comparison with the previously-used homogenous model, in which a local thermodynamic equilibrium assumption between the blood and the surrounding tissue is employed.

Methane distribution surrounding closed landfill sites in China

Methane as a green gas has been a concern for a long time. The emission of landfill gas and the release of dissolved methane in water in contaminated sites surrounding the landfills are two main sources of methane contributing to surface air. The distribution of methane in leachate, air and groundwater around the closed Erfei Shan landfill was investigated and the effects of redox species in leachate plume on methane distribution were also discussed in this paper. The result showed a high concentration of dissolved methane was determined in raw leachate (up to 46.07 mg L(-1)) and in the shallow groundwater (up to 27.95 mg L(-1)) near the landfill. Methane was depleted where elevated concentrations of sulfate were observed at 7-10 m under ground level. The average methane concentrations by volume in the surface air surrounding the landfill for SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4 were 55.09, 118.29, 14.01 and 87.22 mgL(-1), respectively. The surface methane concentrations were related to their emission sources and low levels of methane emissions can last a long time, even after the landfill is closed.

Expression of DNA methyltransferases in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy and susceptibility to dietary folate deficiency

We have characterized the uterine expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) during early pregnancy in mice and determined whether a folate-deficient diet (FDD) can affect DNMTs in this context. Within endometrial cells, expressions of DNMT (cytosine-5) 1 (Dnmt1), Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b were significantly elevated during the prereceptive phase of pregnancy but generally returned to baseline levels during receptive and postimplantation periods. As such, the transcription of DNMT genes is temporally regulated during early pregnancy. When comparisons were made between implantation sites (IS) and inter-IS on day 5 of pregnancy, lower levels of Dnmt3a were detected at IS. Comparisons between IS and inter-IS did not reveal significant expression differences for other DNMT genes. When tissue sections were examined, DNMT3A was specifically lower in the stroma of IS. Reduced DNMT1 and DNMT3B levels were also observed in the luminal and glandular epithelia of IS, whereas no obvious differences in the stroma were detected. In pseudo-pregnant mice subjected to a FDD, levels of Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a (but not Dnmt3b) were significantly upregulated in endometrial tissues, as compared with controls. When tissues from these folate-deficient mice were examined, DNMT1 levels were elevated in both the luminal and glandular epithelia, whereas DNMT3A was upregulated in the luminal epithelium and the stroma. A slight increase in DNMT3B levels was detected in the glandular epithelium. These results indicate that DNMTs may regulate the transcription of endometrial genes associated with embryo implantation and that levels of DNMTs are affected by dietary folate in mice.

Effect of selenium sources on the expression of cellular glutathione peroxidase and cytoplasmic thioredoxin reductase in the liver and kidney of broiler breeders and their offspring

In total, 180 Lingnan Yellow broiler breeders were used to investigate the effect of different sources of selenium (Se) on the expression of cellular glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) and cytoplasmic thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1) in the liver and kidney of broiler breeders and their offspring by quantitative real-time PCR. There were 6 replicates of 3 dietary treatments. Broiler breeders were fed corn-soy-based diets supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg of Se from sodium selenite, Se-enriched yeast (SY), or selenomethionine (SM). At the end of the feeding trial, liver and kidney mRNA levels of GPx1 and TrxR1 were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, as well as the activity of GPx1 and TrxR1 in liver and kidney of breeders and their offspring. The results showed that, compared with sodium selenite, SY or SM significantly increased (P < 0.05) the activity of TrxR1 in the liver and kidney of broiler breeders and their offspring but not the GPx1 activity. The liver GPx1 and TrxR1 mRNA levels in SY or SM groups were higher (P < 0.05) than that in the sodium selenite group. And the kidney TrxR1 mRNA levels were also significantly increased (P < 0.05) by using SY or SM, whereas there was no significant difference in the kidney GPx1 mRNA levels between the organic or inorganic sources of Se used.

Quantitative trait loci associated with body weight and abdominal fat traits on chicken chromosomes 3, 5 and 7

Body weight and abdominal fat traits in meat-type chickens are complex and economically important factors. Our objective was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for body weight and abdominal fat traits in broiler chickens. The Northeast Agricultural University Resource Population (NEAURP) is a cross between broiler sires and Baier layer dams. We measured body weight and abdominal fat traits in the F(2) population. A total of 362 F(2) individuals derived from four F(1) families and their parents and F(0) birds were genotyped using 29 fluorescent microsatellite markers located on chromosomes 3, 5 and 7. Linkage maps for the three chromosomes were constructed and interval mapping was performed to identify putative QTLs. Nine QTL for body weight were identified at the 5% genome-wide level, while 15 QTL were identified at the 5% chromosome-wide level. Phenotypic variance explained by these QTL varied from 2.95 to 6.03%. In particular, a QTL region spanning 31 cM, associated with body weight at 1 to 12 weeks of age and carcass weight at 12 weeks of age, was first identified on chromosome 5. Three QTLs for the abdominal fat traits were identified at the 5% chromosome-wide level. These QTLs explained 3.42 to 3.59% of the phenotypic variance. This information will help direct prospective fine mapping studies and can facilitate the identification of underlying genes and causal mutations for body weight and abdominal fat traits.

Coagulation factor III (tissue factor) is required for vascularization in zebrafish embryos

Tissue factor (coagulation factor III) is a cell surface receptor for coagulation factor VII/VIIa; it was initially recognized as an initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Recently, the zebrafish tissue factor gene (TF) has been cloned. Paralogs encode coagulation factors IIIa and IIIb; both show remarkable sequence identity to the human and mouse coagulation factor III gene. It has been reported that TF could have additional properties that are essential for normal embryonic development, since knockout of the murine coagulation factor III gene resulted in 90% embryonic lethality. We examined the role of coagulation factor IIIb (f3b) during zebrafish embryonic development. Expression analysis revealed that endogenous f3b was chronologically expressed in the pectoral fins and in the vicinity of the pharynx. Knockout of f3b by injection of an f3b morpholino at the one-to-two cell stage caused distinctive morphological defects in embryos, including edema in the fourth brain ventricle at early embryonic stages and occasional bleeding at later stages. Furthermore, f3b morphants displayed abnormal vascular patterning. We conclude that f3b is required for brain vascular development and for development of part of the somatic vasculature during embryogenesis in the zebrafish.

Downregulation of fibulin-3 gene by promoter methylation in colorectal cancer predicts adverse prognosis

Fibulin-3 gene has been identified as an antagonist of angiogenesis. We investigated the protein expression and promoter methylation status of fibulin-3 gene in colorectal cancer (CRC) and analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological factors. The study population enrolled 85 paired CRC specimens and adjacent normal tissues, as well as 32 cases of colorectal adenoma. Genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded samples using manual microdissection. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to determine the promoter methylation status and fibulin-3 gene expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that, downregulation or silence of fibulin-3 protein was found in 57.6% (49/85) of CRC tissues, which was significantly higher than that of adjacent normal tissues (28.2%, 24/85) and colorectal adenoma (34.4%, 11/32) (P<0.05). Furthermore, 33 out of 85 (38.8%) CRC specimens showed hypermethylation in fibulin-3 promoter region, and fibulin-3 methylation was closely correlated with its loss of expression. Also, downregulation of fibulin-3 was associated with advanced stage (P=0.008) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.013). Survival analyses and Cox proportional hazard models indicated that fibulin-3 downregulation was an independent factor related to adverse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of CRC. In conclusion, we found aberrant methylation caused fibulin-3 downregulation in CRC, and fibulin-3 downregulation was correlated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and poor survival, which maybe use as a potential prognostic factor for CRC.

Fine-mapping of quantitative trait loci for body weight and bone traits and positional cloning of the RB1 gene in chicken

Previously, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that affects body weight (BW) at 4-12 weeks of age and carcass weight at 12 weeks of age had been mapped on chicken chromosome 1. After including more markers and individuals, the confidence interval was narrowed down to approximately 5.5 Mbps and located this QTL near a microsatellite marker (ADL328). This QTL is the same as the QTL for 12 bone traits, including metatarsus length and metatarsus circumference at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age and keel length and metatarsus claw weight at 12 weeks of age, that was identified using the same population. In the current study, 1010 individuals from the Northeast Agricultural University F(2) resource population were used and 14 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) around ADL328 were developed to construct haplotypes, and an association analysis was performed to fine-map the QTL. The haplotypes were constructed on the basis of a sliding 'window', with three SNP markers included in each 'window'. The association analysis results indicated that the haplotypes in 'windows' 6-12 were significantly associated with BW and bone traits and suggested that the QTL for BW and bone traits was located between SNP8 and SNP14 or was in linkage disequilibrium with this region. The interval from SNP8 to SNP14 was approximately 400 kbps. This region contained five RefSeq genes (RB1, P2RY5, FNDC3A, MLNR and CAB39L) on the University of California Santa Cruz website. The RB1 gene was selected as a candidate gene and five SNPs were identified in the gene. The association results indicated that the RB1 gene was a major gene for BW and bone traits. The SNPs g.39692 G>A and g.77260 A>G in RB1 gene might be two quantitative trait nucleotides for BW and bone traits.

Effect of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism on serum lipid level before and after renal transplantation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism on lipid metabolism among renal transplant recipients before and after transplantation. No prisoners or organs from prisoners were used in this study.

METHODS

ApoE gene polymorphism was detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism; serum lipid levels were measured with biochemical methods.

RESULTS

Serum lipid levels in the recipients were increased significantly at 3 months after renal transplantation, and further elevated at 6 months and 1 year. The recipients with higher total serum cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels only accounted for 2.9% and 7.6%, respectively, before renal transplantation; but for 28.6% and 46.7%, respectively, at 3 months (P < .01); 40.0% and 59.0% at 6 months; and 42.9% and 62.9% at 12 months. ApoE gene polymorphism showed no statistical difference in ApoE allele or ApoE genotype between the control and the study groups. The effect of ApoE genotype on serum lipid levels was different between controls and recipients either before or after renal transplantation. The levels of serum TC, TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ApoB, ApoE were: (ε)2/2+(ε)2/3; (ε)3/3; (ε)3/4+(ε)4/4 from low to high in controls and recipients before transplantation, but the levels of TG and ApoE reversed among recipients after renal transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Renal transplant recipients are liable to develop hyperlipidemia, particularly hypertriglyceridemia among recipients with ApoE genotypes (ε)2/2 or (ε)2/3.

Stable isotope labelling and zinc distribution in grains studied by laser ablation ICP-MS in an ear culture system reveals zinc transport barriers during grain filling in wheat

Zinc (Zn) deficiency has been recognized as a potential risk for human health in many developing regions where staple food with low micronutrient density represents a major proportion of the diet. The success of strategies to increase Zn content in the edible part of crops requires better understanding of Zn transport to, and distribution within, the grains. The transfer of Zn from the growth medium to wheat (Triticum aestivum) grains in an ear culture system was investigated by using the stable Zn isotope (70) Zn, and the spatial distribution of Zn within the grains was studied by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Zinc was readily transported in the stem up to the rachis. More Zn accumulated in the stem when higher amounts of Zn were supplied to the medium. Once Zn was transported into the grain, Zn accumulated particularly in the crease vascular tissue. The gradient of (70) Zn concentration between crease vascular tissue, aleurone layer and endosperm demonstrates that Zn is distributed within grain through the crease phloem. These results suggest that two barriers of Zn transport into wheat grains may exist: between the stem tissue rachis and the grain, and the maternal and filial tissues in the grain.

Impact of ontogenetic changes in branchial morphology on gill function in Arapaima gigas

Soon after hatching, the osteoglossid fish Arapaima gigas undergoes a rapid transition from a water breather to an obligate air breather. This is followed by a gradual disappearance of gill lamellae, which leaves smooth filaments with a reduced branchial diffusion capacity due to loss of surface area, and a fourfold increase in diffusion distance. This study evaluated the effects these changes have on gill function by examining two size classes of fish that differ in gill morphology. In comparison to smaller fish (approximately 67.5 g), which still have lamellae, larger fish (approximately 724.2 g) without lamellae took up a slightly greater percentage of O2 across the gills (30.1% vs. 23.9%), which indicates that the morphological changes do not place limitations on O2 uptake in larger fish. Both size groups excreted similar percentages of CO2 across the gills (85%-90%). However, larger fish had higher blood PCO2 (26.51.9 vs. 16.51.5 mmHg) and HCO3(-) (40.2 +/- 2.9 vs. 33.6 +/- 4.5 mmol L(-1)) concentrations and lower blood pH (7.58 +/- 0.01 vs. 7.70 +/- 0.04) than did smaller fish, despite having lower mass-specific metabolisms, suggesting a possible diffusion limitation for CO2 excretion in larger fish. With regard to ion regulation, rates of diffusive Na+ loss were about 3.5 times higher in larger fish than they were in smaller fish, despite the lowered branchial diffusion capacity, and rates of Na+ uptake were higher by about the same amount despite 40% lower activity of branchial Na+/K+-ATPase. Kinetic analysis of Na uptake revealed an extremely low-affinity (K(m) = 587.9 +/- 169.5 micromol L(-1)), low-capacity (J(max) = 265.7 +/- 56.8 nmol g(-1) h(-1)) transport system. These data may reflect a general reduction in the role of the gills in ion balance. Renal Na+/K+-ATPase activity was 5-10 times higher than Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the gills, and urine: plasma ratios for Na+ and Cl(-) were very low (0.001-0.005) relative to that of other fish, which suggested an increased role for dietary salt intake and renal salt retention and which was representative of a more "terrestrial" mode of ion regulation. Such de-emphasis of branchial ion regulation confers greatly reduced sensitivity of diffusive ion loss to low water pH. Ammonia excretion also appeared to be impacted by gill changes. Rates of ammonia excretion in larger fish were one third less than that in smaller fish, despite larger fish having blood ammonia concentrations that were twice as high.

Organization of NMDA receptors at extrasynaptic locations

NMDA receptors are found in neurons both at synapses and in extrasynaptic locations. Extrasynaptic locations are poorly characterized. Here we used preembedding immunoperoxidase and postembedding immunogold electron microscopy and fluorescence light microscopy to characterize extrasynaptic NMDA receptor locations in dissociated hippocampal neurons in vitro and in the adult and postnatal hippocampus in vivo. We found that extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on neurons in vivo and in vitro were usually concentrated at points of contact with adjacent processes, which were mainly axons, axon terminals, or glia. Many of these contacts were shown to contain adhesion factors such as cadherin and catenin. We also found associations of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors with the membrane associated guanylate kinase (MAGUKs), postsynaptic density (PSD)-95 and SAP102. Developmental differences were also observed. At postnatal day 2 in vivo, extrasynaptic NMDA receptors could often be found at sites with distinct densities whereas dense material was seen only rarely at sites of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in the adult hippocampus in vivo. This difference probably indicates that many sites of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in early postnatal ages represent synapse formation or possibly sites for synapse elimination. At all ages, as suggested in both in vivo and in vitro studies, extrasynaptic NMDA receptors on dendrites or the sides of spines may form complexes with other proteins, in many cases, at stable associations with adjacent cell processes. These associations may facilitate unique functions for extrasynaptic NMDA receptors.

Modeling oil spill trajectory in coastal waters based on fractional Brownian motion

This paper proposes a numerical method to simulate oil spill trajectories, which are affected by the combination of advection, turbulent diffusion and mechanical spreading process, based on a particle tracking algorithm. Recent studies have shown that the trajectories of drifters on the ocean surface have a fractal structure that is far from being described using ordinary Brownian motion. Thus, in modeling the diffusion process, a discrete method has been employed for the generation of fractional Brownian motion (fBm) to illustrate superdiffusive transport. The algorithm is implemented to predict oil slick trajectories following the "Arteaga" oil spill accident that occurred near the Dalian coastal region in 2005. When compared with the observed data and the results of traditional diffusion modeling, the numerical results based on the fBm model are encouraging.

A numerical oil spill model based on a hybrid method

The purpose of this paper is the development of a hybrid particle tracking/Eulerian-Lagrangian approach for the simulation of spilled oil in coastal areas. Oil discharge from the source is modeled by the release of particles. When the oil slick thickness or the oil concentration reaches a critical value, particles are mapped on slick thickness or node concentrations, and the calculations proceed in the Eulerian-Lagrangian mode. To acquire accurate environment information, the model is coupled with the 3-D free-surface hydrodynamics model (POM) and the third-generation wave model (SWAN). By simulating the oil processes of spreading, advection, turbulent diffusion, evaporation, emulsification, dissolution and shoreline deposition, it has the ability to predict the horizontal movement of surface oil slick, the vertical distribution of oil particles, the concentration in the water column and the mass balance of spilled oil. An accidental oil release near Dalian coastal waters is simulated to validate the developed model. Compared with the satellite images of oil slicks on the surface, the numerical results indicate that the model has a reasonable accuracy.

Thermal effect on DWCNTs as rotational bearings

We have investigated the rotational motion and dynamic friction in a molecular bearing composed of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) using molecular dynamics simulations. The main study was on thermal effects due to the rotational friction. The diameters of the bearings varied between 6 and 16 Å for the inner shafts, and between 12 and 20 Å for the outer sleeves. The rotation velocity varied from 0.05 rotations ps(-1) to 0.25 rotations ps(-1). The simulations show that the energy dissipation, and hence the temperature of the system, increases linearly with rotation time. The value of energy dissipation is around 0.59 meV/atom per rotation at ω = 0.05 rotations ps(-1) for a (15, 0)@(23, 0) bearing. Correspondingly, the average friction force is around 1.75 × 10(-5) nN/atom. The dependence of the energy dissipation on the rotation velocity, the interwall distance, and the contact area of the DWCNT is also discussed. It was observed that the energy dissipation becomes lowest when the interwall distance of the DWCNT bearing reaches about 0.34 nm, the equilibrium distance of the Lennard-Jones (L-J) potential. This low energy dissipation suggests that the DWCNT can be a good candidate for a wearless rotational bearing, which supports the previous studies.

Characterisation of brain disorders and evaluation of therapy by functional and molecular magnetic resonance techniques

OBJECTIVES

To review advanced functional and molecular magnetic resonance techniques that are currently clinically useful or with potential clinical use in the near future.

DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION

Literature search of Medline to December 2007 was conducted. Key words search terms were: 'magnetic resonance imaging', 'magnetic resonance spectroscopy', 'brain', 'functional', 'perfusion', 'diffusion', 'diffusion tensor', 'magnetic transfer', 'molecular imaging', 'superparamagnetic iron oxide'. Relevant original papers and review articles were retrieved.

STUDY SELECTION

A total of 83 original papers and review articles were systematically analysed.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The introduction of modern neuroimaging modalities in recent years has revolutionised investigation of the normal and diseased brain. Among others, magnetic resonance has emerged as the pre-eminent imaging modality, which can produce both high-resolution anatomical images and maps that reflect a variety of physiological parameters relevant to functional assessment and tissue characterisation. Magnetic resonance imaging techniques are now capable of visualising physiological and diseased processes at cellular and molecular levels, including cerebral blood flow, capillary perfusion and permeability, blood oxygenation level-dependent neuronal activation, microscopical motion of water (water diffusion), integrity of axonal fibres, and the molecular transfer of magnetisation within tissues. Magnetic resonance cell trafficking can evaluate the macrophage activity in areas of brain inflammation. Magnetic resonance cell-labelling strategies can be used to monitor the seeding and migration of embryonic stem cells. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows the detection of various metabolites that pertain to different biochemical processes in brain tissues. Such metabolites/spectra include: N-acetyl aspartate used as a neuronal marker, choline as a cell membrane metabolism marker, myo-inositol as a glial marker in proton spectrum, and phosphorous whose spectrum provides an in-vivo assessment of the bio-energetic status of tissues. Besides characterisation of brain disorders, magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy can improve the planning and monitoring of therapy and contribute to the development of new therapies.

CONCLUSION

Advances in neuroimaging have made a great leap in the morphological, metabolic, and functional assessment of the neurological diseases, enabling better diagnosis and management of patients.