Identification and characterization of the sex-determiner transformer-2 homologue in Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis

The transformer-2 gene, encoding a protein (Tra-2) which directs sex-specifically alternative splicing of doublesex (dsx) pre-mRNA in combination with the transformer (Tra) protein, has been proved to play important roles on sex differentiation and sex development in Drosophila melanogaster. In the present study, a tra-2 homologue (FcTra-2) was cloned and characterized in the Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis. A FcTra-2 genomic DNA sequence with a length of 8,871 bp was obtained and verified to consist of 7 exons and 6 introns. Three alternatively spliced mRNA transcripts, designated as FcTra-2a, FcTra-2b and FcTra-2c, were isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis showed that FcTra-2 included a RNA recognition motif and a linker region, which shared high sequence identities with Tra-2 from other species and 2 arginine/serine rich regions. Further studies were performed on the isoform FcTra-2c, since it exhibited a significantly higher expression level in ovary than in other tissues. In early developmental stages of the shrimp, FcTra-2c was detected to suddenly increase its expression level at the mysis stage. In juvenile stage, FcTra-2c displayed a significantly higher expression level in female Chinese shrimp than in males. These data indicated that FcTra-2 might be involved in female sex determination in Chinese shrimp.

CD40L demethylation in CD4(+) T cells from women with rheumatoid arthritis

We have previously demonstrated that DNA demethylation of CD40L on the X chromosome is responsible for female susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is unknown whether aberrant methylation of the CD40L gene also contributes to the higher incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in females. In this study, we used real-time RT-PCR and flow cytometry to compare CD40L expression levels, and bisulfite sequencing to assess the methylation status of the CD40L promoter region. The results show that CD40L is upregrulated in CD4(+) T cells of female patients with RA. In addition, the CD40L promoter region in CD4(+) T cells from female RA patients was found to be demethylated, which corresponded with increased CD40L mRNA expression. These findings suggest that DNA demethylation contributes to CD40L expression in RA CD4(+) T cells and may in part explain the female preponderance of this disease.

One-hour upright posture is an ideal position for serum aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity measuring on primary aldosteronism screening

The serum aldosterone concentration (SAC) to plasma renin activity (PRA) ratio (ARR) is considered a useful screening test in the differential diagnosis of essential hypertension (EH) and primary aldosteronism (PA). The purpose of this study is to investigate the variation of ARR and compare the screening efficiency of it under different postures.37 patients with PA and 92 patients with EH were recruited in this study. Blood was sampled for measuring SAC and PRA under conditions of overnight recumbency, keeping upright posture for 1 h, 2 h and 4 h. The variation and screening efficiency of ARR under these conditions were compared according to repeated measured ANOVA and ROC curve analysis.In the EH group, ARR measured under recumbency posture was higher than those measured under keeping upright posture for 1 h and 2 h. In the PA group, there is no statistical difference for ARR between any 2 postures. AUCs of ARR measured under 4 conditions were 0.976, 0.995, 0.988, and 0.974 respectively. Cutoff values were ranging from 24.75 ng/dl per ng/ml/h under keeping upright for 2 h to 69.19 ng/dl per ng/ml/h under overnight recumbercy. ARR measured under keeping upright posture for 1 h produced the best characteristic of screening efficiency.Keeping upright posture for 1 h was the ideal position for ARR measuring and using a cutoff value of 35.90 ng/dl per ng/ml/h will have a sensitivity and specificity of 100.00% and 92.30% respectively.

Measurements of the mass and width of the η(c) using the decay ψ(3686)→γη(c)

The mass and width of the lowest-lying S-wave spin singlet charmonium state, the η(c), are measured using a data sample of 1.06×10(8) ψ(3686) decays collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring. We use a model that incorporates full interference between the signal reaction, ψ(3686)→γη(c), and a nonresonant radiative background to describe the line shape of the η(c) successfully. We measure the η(c) mass to be 2984.3±0.6±0.6 MeV/c(2) and the total width to be 32.0±1.2±1.0 MeV, where the first errors are statistical and the second are systematic.

Mechanical bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery: updated systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) for elective colorectal surgery has been practiced as a clinical routine for many decades. However, earlier randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses suggest that MBP should be abandoned before colorectal surgery because of the futility in reducing postoperative complications and motility. The new published results from three RCTs comparing MBP with no MBP in colorectal surgery in 2010 make the updating of systemic review and meta-analysis necessary. The aim of this study was to estimate efficacy of MBP in prevention of postoperative complications for elective colorectal surgery.

METHOD

A literature search was performed mainly in electronic database including Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. The inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing MBP with no MBP before colorectal surgery. Septic complications, reoperation, and death were recorded as primary and secondary outcomes. The meta-analysis was conducted according to the QUOROM statement.

RESULTS

Fourteen RCTs were included in our analysis with a total number of 5,373 patients: 2,682 with MBP and 2,691 without. Comparing with no MBP for elective colorectal surgery, our study showed that MBP had not reduce any postoperative complications when concerning anastomotic leak [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08 (0.82-1.43); P = 0.56]; overall SSI [OR 95% CI, 1.26 (0.94-1.68); P = 0.12]; extra-abdominal septic complications [OR 95% CI, 0.98 (0.81-1.18); P = 0.81]; wound infections [OR 95% CI, 1.21 (1.00-1.46); P = 0.05]; reoperation or second intervention rate [OR 95% CI, 1.11 (0.86-1.45); P = 0.42]; and death [OR 95% CI, 0.97(0.63-1.48); P = 0.88].

CONCLUSION

No evidence was noted supporting the use of MBP in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. MBP should be omitted in routine clinical practice.

TIM3 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: impact on disease susceptibility and hepatocellular carcinoma traits

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with the development of acute and chronic liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3), which negatively regulates T-cell response and mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, has been implicated in HBV infection and cancers. This study explored the polymorphisms of TIM3 gene in 535 patients with HBV-related liver diseases including 213 chronic hepatitis, 178 cirrhosis and 144 HCC, 72 HBV infection resolvers and 182 healthy controls and analyzed the effects of these polymorphisms on the disease susceptibility and HCC traits. TIM3-1541C/T, -1516G/T, -882C/T, -574G/T and +4259T/G polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Of the five polymorphisms genotyped, the allele T-containing genotypes (GT + TT), allele T and allele T-containing haplotype (CTCGT) of -1516G/T polymorphism were more frequent in HBV patients than in controls [P = 0.005, odds ratio (OR) = 2.300, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.294-4.088; P = 0.004, OR = 2.266, 95% CI: 1.297-3.962; and P = 0.005, OR = 2.203, 95% CI: 1.260-3.854, respectively]. The allele T-containing genotypes and allele T of -1516G/T were associated with HCC tumor grade (P = 0.023 and P = 0.017, respectively) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.024 and P = 0.017, respectively). These findings suggest that -1516G/T polymorphism in the promoter region of TIM3 gene may affect the disease susceptibility and HCC traits associated with HBV infection, potentially supporting the role of Tim-3 in T-cell dysfunction and exhaustion involved in persistent HBV infection and HCC development.

First observation of η(1405) decays into f(0)(980)π0

The decays J/ψ → γ π+ π- π0 and J/ψ → γ π0 π0 π0 are analyzed using a sample of 225×10(6) J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay of η(1405) → f(0)(980)π0 with a large isospin violation is observed for the first time. The width of the f(0)(980) observed in the dipion mass spectra is anomalously narrower than the world average. Decay rates for three-pion decays of the η' are also measured precisely.

Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle θ(13) with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GWth-day live-time exposure in 55 days, 10,416 (80,376) electron-antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is R=0.940±0.011(stat.)±0.004(syst.). A rate-only analysis finds sin(2)2θ(13)=0.092±0.016(stat.)±0.005(syst.) in a three-neutrino framework.

A de novo transcriptome assembly of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with predicted alternative splices, single nucleotide polymorphisms and transcript expression estimates

The blow fly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Meigen) is a nonmodel organism with no reference genome that is associated with numerous areas of research spanning the ecological, evolutionary, medical, veterinary and forensic sciences. To facilitate scientific discovery in this species, the transcriptome was assembled from more than six billion bases of Illumina and twenty-one million bases of 454 sequence derived from embryonic, larval, pupal, adult and larval salivary gland libraries. The assembly was carried out in a manner that enabled identification of putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and alternative splices, and that provided expression estimates for various life history stages and for salivary tissue. The assembled transcriptome was also used to identify transcribed transposable elements in L. sericata. The results of this study will enable blow fly biologists, dipterists and comparative genomicists to more rapidly develop and test molecular and genetic hypotheses, especially those regarding blow fly development and salivary gland biology.

Identification of a novel de novo STK11 mutation in a Chinese child with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and mucocutaneous pigmentation. PJS patients have an increased risk of cancer in multiple locations. Germ-line mutations in the STK11 gene have been found to be responsible for most PJS cases. DNA samples were obtained from a Chinese child with PJS, his clinically unaffected parents and 50 unrelated normal individuals, and the exons and flanking intronic sequences of the STK11 gene were analysed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. A novel de novo mutation (c.698_699insG; F234LfsX3) was identified in exon 5 of STK11, that resulted in a translational frameshift leading to termination at codon 236. This mutation was not found in the parents or unrelated individuals. These results enlarge the genotypic spectrum of STK11, particularly with regard to early onset, as observed in the present sporadic PJS case. This study may have important future implications for precise genotype-phenotype correlation research.

Spin-parity analysis of pp¯ mass threshold structure in J/ψ and ψ(3686) radiative decays

A partial wave analysis of the pp¯ mass-threshold enhancement in the reaction J/ψ→γpp¯ is used to determine its J(PC) quantum numbers to be 0(-+), its peak mass to be below threshold at M=1832(-5)(+19)(stat)(-17)(+18)(syst)±19(model) MeV/c(2), and its total width to be Γ<76 MeV/c(2) at the 90% C.L. The product of branching ratios is measured to be BR[J/ψ→γX(pp¯)]BR[X(pp¯)→pp¯]=[9.0(-1.1)(+0.4)(stat)(-5.0)(+1.5)(syst)±2.3(model)]×10(-5). A similar analysis performed on ψ(3686)→γpp¯ decays shows, for the first time, the presence of a corresponding enhancement with a production rate relative to that for J/ψ decays of R=[5.08(-0.45)(+0.71)(stat)(-3.58)(+0.67)(syst)±0.12(model)]%.

Manipulation of monoubiquitin improves salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco

Ubiquitin (Ub) is regarded as a stress protein involved in many stress responses. In this paper, sense and antisense transgenic tobacco plants, as well as the wild type and vector control, were used to study the role of Ub in salt tolerance of plants. In sense Ta-Ub2 transgenic tobacco plants, there was higher expression of Ub protein conjugates than in the wild type and vector control, but the reverse trend was observed in antisense Nt-Ub1 transgenic plants. The germination rate of tobacco seed, growth status and photosynthesis of the tobacco plants suggested that over-expressing Ub promoted the growth of transgenic tobacco plants and enhanced their salt tolerance, but the opposite effect was seen in plants with repressed Ub expression. Changes in antioxidant capacity may be one of the mechanisms underlying Ub-regulated salt tolerance. Furthermore, improved tolerance to a combination of stresses was also observed in the sense transgenic tobacco plants. These findings imply that Ub is involved in the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress.

Octreotide for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: clinical effects and an in vitro study on its therapeutic mechanism

Increased serum growth hormone (GH), together with high expression of growth hormone receptor on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), correlates with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity, suggesting that modulation of GH signaling may affect SLE activity. We explored the effects of octreotide (OCT), an analog of somatostatin that suppresses the release of GH, in SLE. The objectives of the study were to investigate effects of OCT on the proliferative capacity and cytokine expression of PBMCs from patients with SLE and to investigate therapeutic effects of OCT in patients with SLE. PBMCs from 13 active/inactive SLE patients and 11 controls were pretreated with or without GH and cultured with OCT. The proliferation of PBMCs was assessed by MTT assay and cytokines were quantified by ELISA. We compared the clinical response of 12 patients with SLE treated with OCT (100 µg twice daily) with 12 patients treated with prednisone over three months. OCT inhibited PBMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Patients treated with OCT demonstrated improvements in SLEDAI, dsDNA titer, complement levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). OCT inhibited PBMC proliferation and PBMC secretion of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ stimulated by GH. Treatment of patients with OCT resulted in clinical improvement in SLE.

Tailor-made ultrathin manganese oxide nanostripes: 'magic widths' on Pd(1 1 N) terraces

The growth of ultrathin two-dimensional manganese oxide nanostripes on vicinal Pd(1 1 N) surfaces leads to particular stable configurations for certain combinations of oxide stripe and substrate terrace widths. Scanning tunneling microscopy and high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction measurements reveal highly ordered nanostructured surfaces with excellent local and long-range order. Density functional theory calculations provide the physical origin of the stabilization mechanism of 'magic width' stripes in terms of a finite-size effect, caused by the significant relaxations observed at the stripe boundaries.

A facile preparation of novel multifunctional vectors by non-covalent bonds for co-delivery of doxorubicin and gene

In this study, novel multifunctional ternary complexes of biotinylated transferrin-avidin-biotin-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-glutamate acid)/poly(2-(2-aminoethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)/doxorubicin-poly(L-aspartic acid)/pDNA (TAB/PIC-D/pDNA complexes) were prepared based on polyion complex micelles (PIC) and the avidin-biotin system, which aimed to target co-delivery of anti-cancer doxorubicin and gene. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that PIC-D could have anti-tumor effect on HeLa cells and HepG2 cells; TAB coating could increase the biocompatibility of PIC-D/pDNA complexes and the targeting delivery efficiency of doxorubicin. TAB/PIC-D/pDNA complexes possessed higher transfection efficiency than the unmodified complexes in serum, and transferrin could enhance luciferase expression in HeLa cells and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that doxorubicin and gene could be delivered into HepG2 cells simultaneously by TAB/PIC-D/pDNA complexes. The formation of the ternary complexes provides a facile approach to constructing a multifunctional delivery system for targeted co-delivery of anticancer drugs and gene.

Prolonged exclusive breastfeeding, autumn birth and increased gestational age are associated with lower risk of fever in children with hand, foot, and mouth disease

Epidemics of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) have been emerging and reemerging in recent years. This study aims to investigate whether breastfeeding and other factors may affect the profile of fever and disease course in children with HFMD. Three hundred seventy-two preschool children with HFMD were included. The demographics, environmental factors, and delivery- and feeding-associated factors in the children were obtained and their effects on the profile of fever and disease course were analyzed. Of the 372 children, 139 (37.37%) had fever during the disease course. Gender, breastfeeding pattern, birth season and gestational age were significantly different between the children with and without fever (p = 0.034, p < 0.0001, p = 0.035 and p = 0.013, respectively). After multivariate-adjusted analysis, prolonged exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.001, OR 0.401, 95% CI 0.229-0.704), autumn birth (p = 0.007, OR 0.409, 95% CI 0.214-0.784) and higher gestational age (p = 0.029, OR 0.089, 95% CI 0.010-0.781) were protective factors for the incidence of fever.

Microarray profiling analysis uncovers common molecular mechanisms of rubella virus, human cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections in ECV304 cells

To study the common molecular mechanisms of various viruses infections that might result in congential cardiovascular diseases in perinatal period, changes in mRNA expression levels of ECV304 cells infected by rubella virus (RUBV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) were analyzed using a microarray system representing 18,716 human genes. 99 genes were found to exhibit differential expression (80 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated). Biological process analysis showed that 33 signaling pathways including 22 genes were relevant significantly to RV, HCMV and HSV-II infections. Of these 33 biological processes, 28 belong to one-gene biological processes and 5 belong to multiple-gene biological processes. Gene annotation indicated that the 5 multiple-gene biological processes including regulation of cell growth, collagen fibril organization, mRNA transport, cell adhesion and regulation of cell shape, and seven down- or up-regulated genes [CRIM1 (cysteine rich transmembrane BMP regulator 1), WISP2 (WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2), COL12A1 (collagen, type XII, alpha 1), COL11A2 (collagen, type XI, alpha 2), CNTN5 (contactin 5), DDR1 (discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor precursor)], are significantly correlated to RUBV, HCMV and HSV-2 infections in ECV304 cells. The results obtained in this study suggested the common molecular mechanisms of viruses infections that might result in congential cardiovascular diseases.

Tuberculosis infection control in a high drug-resistance setting in rural South Africa: information, motivation, and behavioral skills

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted in resource-limited facilities where TB infection control (IC) is poorly implemented. Theory-based behavioral models can potentially improve IC practices.

METHODS

The present study used an anonymous questionnaire to assess healthcare worker (HCW) TB IC information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) and implementation in two resource-limited rural South African hospitals with prevalent drug-resistant TB.

RESULTS

Between June and August 2010, 198 surveys were completed. Although the respondents demonstrated information proficiency and positive motivation, 22.8% did not consider TB IC to be worthwhile. Most tasks were rated as easy by survey participants, but responding HCWs highlighted challenges in discrete behavioral skills. The majority of responding HCWs reported that they always wore respirators (54.3%), instructed patients on cough hygiene (63.0%), and ensured natural ventilation (67.4%) in high-risk areas. Most respondents (74.0%) knew their HIV status. Social support items correlated with the implementation of the first three aforementioned practices but not with the respondents' knowledge of their HIV status. In most cases, motivation and behavioral skills, but not information, were associated with implementation.

CONCLUSION

HCWs in rural South African hospitals with high drug-resistance demonstrated moderate IMB and implementation of TB IC. Improvement efforts should emphasize the development of HCW motivation and behavioral skills as well as social support from colleagues and supervisors. Such interventions should be informed by baseline IMB assessments. In the present study, a trimmed/modified IMB model helped characterize TB IC implementation.