Spatial analysis of primary and secondary syphilis incidence in China, 2004-2010

China has recently experienced an increase in the incidence of syphilis. Effective spatial monitoring of syphilis incidence is important for successful implementation of control and prevention programmes. This study monitored county-level primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis incidence rates for all of mainland China by examining spatial patterns. Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods were used to characterize the spatial distribution pattern of syphilis cases. During the seven-year study period, the average annual P&S syphilis incidence was 8.82 cases per 100,000 people. Using Empirical Bayes smoothed rates, the local Moran test identified many areas of high syphilis risk (all P values ≤0.01). The number of high-risk counties increased from 73 counties in 2004 to 134 counties in 2010. An eastern coastal cluster of high-risk counties persisted throughout 2004-2010. ESDA methods can assist public health officials in identifying high-risk areas. Allocating more resources to high-risk areas could more effectively reduce syphilis incidence.

Regulation different network analysis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA)

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis that progresses to destruction of cartilage and bone.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to employ microarray analysis combined with bioinformatics techniques to evaluate differential gene expression in BM-derived mononuclear cells obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) to study the pathogenesis of this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gene expression profiles in BM-derived mononuclear cells from 9 RA and 10 OA patients were obtained from GEO.

RESULTS

The bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells showed 2581 up-regulated and 649 down-regulated genes in RA patients relative to the OA group: Our analysis indicated that several differentially expressed genes might play crucial roles in RA development, including SP1, RARA, ETS1, ETS2, FOS and ESR1.

CONCLUSIONS

Further analysis predicted these genes might be involved in RA through cancer related pathways and immunity related pathways. Furthermore, these genes may serve as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of RA.

Crystallization Behavior of Polypropylene-graft-cardanol Prepared by Reactive Extrusion

The polypropylene-graft-cardanol (CAPP) was prepared by reactive extrusion of polypropylene (PP), dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and cardanol. Differential scanning calorimeter, polarizing microscope and wide-angle X-ray diffraction were used to evaluate the effects of DCP and cardanol on the nucleation and crystallization of PP. Results indicated that DCP could work as crystallization nucleator for PP and cardanol could afford the impurity needed at the small angle kick pleat of lamellae during spherulite growth. For the effect of DCP on nucleation, it was found that the crystallization rate of PP was enhanced by 2 to 3 times by the addition of 0.2% DCP. For the effect of cardanol on spherulite growth, it was found that the growth rates of CAPP were increased from 10.9μm · min−1 to 13.5 μm · min−1 by the addition of 5% cardanol. Due to the nucleation effect of DCP, the total crystallization rates of degraded PP initiated by DCP at the process of reactive extrusion (dPP) and of CAPP were quicker than that of PP. Attributed to the promotion by cardanol, the spherulite grew more perfectly in CAPP than in PP, so Avrami exponents of PP increased from 2.1–2.5 to 3.1–3.5 by the addition of cardanol.

RSK promotes G2/M transition through activating phosphorylation of Cdc25A and Cdc25B

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in mammalian cell lines positively regulates the G2/M transition. The molecular mechanism underlying this biological phenomenon remains poorly understood. Ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) is a key downstream element of the MAPK cascade. Our previous studies established roles of RSK2 in Cdc25C activation during progesterone-induced meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes. In this study we demonstrate that both recombinant RSK and endogenous RSK in Xenopus egg extracts phosphorylate all three isoforms of human Cdc25 at a conserved motif near the catalytic domain. In human HEK293 and PC-3mm2 cell lines, RSK preferentially phosphorylates Cdc25A and Cdc25B in mitotic cells. Phosphorylation of the RSK sites in these Cdc25 isoforms increases their M-phase-inducing activities. Inhibition of RSK-mediated phosphorylation of Cdc25 inhibits G2/M transition. Moreover, RSK is likely to be more active in mitotic cells than in interphase cells, as evidenced by the phosphorylation status of T359/S363 in RSK. Together, these findings indicate that RSK promotes G2/M transition in mammalian cells through activating phosphorylation of Cdc25A and Cdc25B.

Chemical fingerprinting of petroleum biomarkers in Deepwater Horizon oil spill samples collected from Alabama shoreline

We compare the chromatographic signatures of petroleum biomarkers in Deepwater Horizon (DH) source oil, three other reference crude oils, DH emulsified mousse that arrived on Alabama's shoreline in June 2010, and seven tar balls collected from Alabama beaches from 2011 to 2012. Characteristic hopane and sterane fingerprints show that all the tar ball samples originated from DH oil. In addition, the diagnostic ratios of various hopanes indicate an excellent match. Quantitation data for C₃₀αβ-hopane concentration levels show that most of the weathering observed in DH-related tar balls found on Alabama's beaches is likely the result of natural evaporation and dissolution that occurred during transport across the Gulf of Mexico prior to beach deposition. Based on the physical and biomarker characterization data presented in this study we conclude that virtually all fragile, sticky, brownish tar balls currently found on Alabama shoreline originated from the DH oil spill.

Forty-eight-week retrospective study of telbivudine and lamivudine treatment in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine 600 mg/day compared with lamivudine 100 mg/day for 48 weeks of treatment in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. Data were reviewed retrospectively from 165 hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patients (55 compensated patients and 110 decompensated) who received antiviral therapy with telbivudine or lamivudine. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss and seroconversion, histological improvement and various adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. Baseline characteristics were comparable. ALT levels declined but showed no significant difference in treatment with telbivudine or lamivudine (P > 0.05). Reduction in serum HBV DNA levels was evident by week 4 in compensated HBV-related cirrhosis patients (telbivudine, 2.34 log10 copies/mL; lamivudine, 2.07 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.02) and persisted by week 8. Patients administrated with telbivudine had slightly greater HBeAg loss and seroconversion than patients with lamivudine, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Accumulative HBeAg loss was seen at week 48 (25.0% vs 25.0% and 13.3% vs 10.0% for telbivudine vs lamivudine in compensated and decompensated cirrhotic groups, respectively), as well as HBeAg seroconversion (15.0% vs 8.3% and 8.9% vs 6.7%). Mean Knodell Histologic Activity Index scores decreased in both compensated and decompensated cirrhotic patients (3.92 vs 3.64, 3.85 vs 3.73, for telbivudine vs lamivudine). Telbivudine and lamivudine were both well tolerated with minor AEs. The results of this study support telbivudine as an effective therapy for patients with both compensated and decompensated HBV-related cirrhosis.

Second hematopoietic SCT for leukemia relapsing after myeloablative T cell-depleted transplants does not prolong survival

Patients with leukemia relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) have a dismal prognosis. A second SCT offers a further opportunity for cure, but has a high rate of treatment failure. To determine the utility of this option, we analyzed 59 consecutive patients relapsing after a myeloablative HLA-matched sibling T cell depleted SCT. Twenty five patients (13 relapsing within 6 months and 12 relapsing between 6 – 170 months after the first SCT) received a T-replete second SCT. Thirty-eight patients relapsing early had a shorter survival than the 21 patients relapsing later (median 96 vs 298 days, p = 0.0002). In patients relapsing early, the second SCT did not improve overall survival compared to patients receiving non-SCT treatments (median survival 109 vs 80 days, p = 0.41). In patients relapsing late, despite an early trend in favor of second SCT, overall survival was comparable for patients receiving a second SCT compared with patients not retransplanted (median survival 363.5 vs 162 days, p = 0.49). Disappointingly our results do not demonstrate an important survival benefit for a second T-replete allogeneic SCT to treat relapse following a T cell depleted SCT.

Synthesis of New Family of Dialkylaryl Disulfonate Gemini Anionic Surfactant

A new family of dialkylaryl disulfonate Gemini-type anionic surfactant were synthesized based on the reaction of olefin sulfonic acid (C14AOS acid) with different aromatics. New synthesis route do not require the conventional alkylation unit and strong acid catalysts, and the resulting Gemini-type anionic surfactant differ from existing products by having the sulfonyl group attached to the alkyl chain rather than the aromatic ring. To optimizing reaction condition, a reliable double-wavelength spectrophotometric method and iodine value method were employed for measurement the conversion of the aromatics. The experimental has confirmed that the reaction time and temperature are mainly the factors of the effect of conversion. Under 150°C, C14AOS acid reacts with different aromatics for 4 or 5 hours to form dialkyaryl disulfonic acid, and dialkyaryl disulfonic acid was then neutralized to dialkyaryl disulfonate Gemini-type anionic surfactant. Some surface active property has been investigated too. The critical micelle concentration of ditetradecylbenzene disulfonate, ditetradecylnaphthalene disulfonate, ditetradecylmethylnaphthalene disulfonate, ditetradecylphenanthrene disulfonate, ditetradecyldiphenylether sulfonate, ditetradecyldiphenylmethane sulfonate and ditetradecylbenzophenone sulfonate were 1.7 × 10−4, 8.082 × 10−6, 2 × 10−5, 2.158 × 10−3, 5.0 × 10−6, 1.0 × 10−5 and 1.33 × 10−5 mol l−1. Above datum showed the aromatics of the surfactant may effect on surface active property obviously. Among these, some dialkylaryl disulfonate gemini anionic surfactant have very higher surface active than conventional dodecylbenzene sulfonate and may be widely used in industry and household.

86 EFFECT OF HDAC2 INTERFERENCES ON HISTONE MODIFICATIONS IN MOUSE EARLY EMBRYOS

One of the histone deacetylase members, HDAC2 plays an important role in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional repression. The present study was designed to improve histone acetylations by knocking down the expression of histone deacetylase with RNA interferences. According to the published mouse HDAC2 mRNA sequence (NM_008229.2, GI:87162463), as well as shRNA design principles, 3 interference fragments of 107 to 126 bps, 879 to 898 bps, and 1240 to 1259 bps and a negative control sequence were designed and synthesized, respectively. Four interference vectors expressing a red fluorescent protein were successfully constructed, which were named pCDsRed2-shRNA107, pCDsRed2-shRNA879, pCDsRed2-shRNA1240, and pCDsRed2-shRNAcontrol, respectively. These vectors were then transfected respectively to mouse fetal fibroblast cells. Real-time, quantitative PCR of the transgenic cells showed that the vectors mentioned above resulted in 0.81, 0.73, 0.16, and 0.80 times knockdown of hdac2 expression when compared with the nontransfected cells, which suggested that the piece of 1240 to 1259 bp was the most effective RNAi region. Immunofluorescent staining of the transgenic cells showed that the histone acetylations and methylations of H4K5ac, H3K9ac, H3K9me2, H3K27me3, and H3K4me3 were significantly higher in all of the interference vectors than they were in the negative control. Vector pCDsRed2-shRNA1240 was the most effective RNAi. After injection of pCDsRed2-shRNA1240 into zygote pronuclei, embryos developed to 2-cell, 8-cell embryos and blastocysts decreased to 96.6, 85.3 (P < 0.05), and 35.6 (P < 0.01) of the control group, respectively. High levels of H3K9ac, H4K5ac, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3 were observed in the RNAi embryos when compared with the controls. These results indicated that the knockdown of hdac2 by RNAi decreased the expression of HDAC2 and induced high expression of histone acetylations in both somatic cells and early embryos. This work was supported by the national basic research program of china (No. 2012CB22306).