[Philosophical basis of original thinking in Chinese medicine]

Chinese Medicine, being one of the most creative disciplines, with the superiority of its disciplinary theory and thinking pattern closely related to the studies of Sinology.Chinese Medicine has taken on its great aspect with good favorable prospects of timing, geographical and unity and coordination of human relationship, hence, the development of CM needs the recognition of its original advantage, making clear of its sources of original thought.The XIANG thought (iconic thinking) is the basic connotation and basic features of traditional Chinese thinking. The imported western culture depresses the XIANG (iconic) thinking of original thought, and, as a result, conceptual thinking of scientism and western medicine became the mainstream. Actually, conceptual thinking shouldn't be rejected, whereas the original thinking and original superiority characterized by our own nation should also be manifested. The knowledge, both oriental and occidental, are to be accepted simultaneously, while Chinese medicine and western medicine should be all mastered thoroughly and integrated as a whole so as to further proceed together.

[Study on HIV-1 subtype among elderly male clients and female sex workers of low-cost venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China]

Objective: To understand HIV-1 subtype characteristics and transmission clusters in elderly male clients and female sex workers (FSWs) of low-cost commercial sex venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in FSWs and elderly male clients (≥50 years) of low-cost commercial sex venues in 4 cities and 9 counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region by convenient sampling in 2012. The blood sample was collected from each case for HIV-1 antibody detection. The pol gene fragments were amplified and sequenced from viral RNA template extracted from plasma samples. The phylogenetic tree was constructed and the subtypes were identified. Results: A total of 4 048 elderly male clients and 784 FSWs were surveyed, and 116 HIV-1 infections were detected, the positive rate was 2.5% (103/4 048) in the clients and 1.7% (13/784) in FSWs. The gene amplification and sequencing of HIV-1 detected in 84 blood samples indicated that 53 pol gene sequences were successfully determined (48 blood samples from elderly male clients and 5 blood samples from FSWs). Among 53 pol sequences, 48(90.6% ), 4(7.5% ), and 1(1.9% ) sequences were identified as CRF01_AE, CRF08_BC, and CRF07_BC, respectively. Two transmission clusters were identified among CRF01_AE, including 4 sub-clusters. One transmission cluster was identified among CRF08_BC. The transmission cluster or sub-cluster were from the infected individuals at same low-cost commercial sex venue, or different low-cost commercial sex venues in the same town, or same place, or adjacent villages and towns. Conclusions: CRF01_AE was the predominant HIV-1 subtype among elderly male clients and FSWs of low-cost commercial sex venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, circulating in same venue or adjacent villages and towns. The HIV-1 positive male clients and FSWs might play an important role in the spread of the strains.

Effect of tetramethylpyrazine combined with cisplatin on VEGF, KLF4 and ADAMTS1 in Lewis lung cancer mice

OBJECTIVE

To further explore the function of combine use of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and cisplatin (DDP) in lung carcinoma.

METHODS

We used the combination drug to treat Lewis lung cancer mice, investigated the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1 (ADAMTS1) and to further explore the inhibitory effects and potential mechanism of TMP combined with DDP on tumor angiogenesis.

RESULTS

The tumor growth was suppressed in TMP group, DDP group and TMP combined with DDP group. Furthermore, the weights and volume of tumor, the expression level of VEGF, KLF4 and ADAMTS1 were found significantly changed between experiment group and control group. These findings suggest that TMP with DDP had additional or synergistic effects to inhibit the tumor growth effectively, might be achieved through reducing the expression of angiogenesis promoting factor VEGF and increasing expression of angiogenesis inhibitors KLF4 and ADAMTS1.

CONCLUSION

KLF4 and ADAMTS1 may be synergically involved in the angiogenesis in mouse Lewis lung cancer through the different signal ways.

[The correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and volume status in patients after cardiac surgery]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and volume status of patients after cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of consecutive 56 patients who were treated in Critical Care Unit in Peking Union Medical College Hospital after open heart surgery from January to August 2015 were screened in this study. Central venous pressure (CVP) and 72 h net fluid balance were monitored. ONSD and diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC) were measured by ultrasound. Results: A total of 44 patients were finally included in the study. The postoperative baseline ONSD was (5.31±1.96)mm, compared to (5.07±1.77)mm after 72 h treatment, with ΔONSD(0.22±0.21)mm. Baseline and post-treatment at 72 h CVP were (11.98±4.09)mmHg and (8.95±4.02)mmHg respectively. IVC dropped from (19.75±4.12)mm to (17.11±4.68)mm. ΔONSD and ΔCVP were significantly correlated (r=0.422, P<0.05), ΔONSD and net fluid balance (NFB) at 72 h were significantly correlated (r=-0.388, P<0.05). While ΔONSD were significantly correlated with ΔIVC (r=0.423, P<0.05), ΔCVP and ΔIVC were also significantly correlated (r=0.391, P<0.05). Conclusion: The change of ONSD in patients after cardiac surgery is related to the change of volume status. Therefore ONSD is helpful to estimate brain edema, not only could be a potential index to evaluate volume status, but also be used to guide improving prognosis after cardiac surgery.

Factors affecting genotyping success in giant panda fecal samples

Fecal samples play an important role in giant panda conservation studies. Optimal preservation conditions and choice of microsatellites for giant panda fecal samples have not been established. In this study, we evaluated the effect of four factors (namely, storage type (ethanol (EtOH), EtOH −20 °C, 2-step storage medium, DMSO/EDTA/Tris/salt buffer (DETs) and frozen at −20 °C), storage time (one, three and six months), fragment length, and repeat motif of microsatellite loci) on the success rate of microsatellite amplification, allelic dropout (ADO) and false allele (FA) rates from giant panda fecal samples. Amplification success and ADO rates differed between the storage types. Freezing was inferior to the other four storage methods based on the lowest average amplification success and the highest ADO rates (P < 0.05). The highest microsatellite amplification success was obtained from either EtOH or the 2-step storage medium at three storage time points. Storage time had a negative effect on the average amplification of microsatellites and samples stored in EtOH and the 2-step storage medium were more stable than the other three storage types. We only detected the effect of repeat motif on ADO and FA rates. The lower ADO and FA rates were obtained from tri- and tetra-nucleotide loci. We suggest that freezing should not be used for giant panda fecal preservation in microsatellite studies, and EtOH and the 2-step storage medium should be chosen on priority for long-term storage. We recommend candidate microsatellite loci with longer repeat motif to ensure greater genotyping success for giant panda fecal studies.

[Pathologic changes of spontaneous tumors in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats]

Objective: To investigate the spontaneous neoplastic lesions and their incidences in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar rats, and to accumulate background data for carcinogenicity studies. Methods: One hundred and eighty SD rats and 240 Wistar rats (4-week old) , half in each sex, were used in this study. The rats were housed routinely under specific pathogen-free environment and euthanized after 104 weeks. Histopathological examination was undertaken for all animals including deaths and scheduled euthanasia. The types and incidences of spontaneous tumors were gathered statistically. Results: Total 411 rats (176 SD rats and 235 Wistar rats) were examined in this study. The total tumor incidence of the 411 rats was 57.7%(237/411). The total tumor incidence in SD rats was 55.7%(98/176), benign tumor incidence was 48.9%(86/176) and malignant tumor incidence was 15.9%(28/176). The total tumor incidence in Wistar rats was 59.1%(139/235), benign tumor incidence was 51.5%(121/235) and malignant tumor incidence was 14.5%(34/235). The main benign tumors were pituitary adenoma (23.3% in SD rats, 12.3% in Wistar rats), breast fibroadenoma (21.3% in SD rats, 12.9% in Wistar rats) and breast adenoma (16.9% in SD rats, 9.5% in Wistar rats) in females; testis Leydig cell tumor (0 in SD rats, 14.3% in Wistar rats) in males. The main malignant tumors were breast carcinoma (10.1% in SD rats, 3.4% in Wistar rats) and uterine leiomyosarcoma (0 in SD rats, 2.6% in Wistar rats) in females; squamous cell carcinoma of skin (2.3% in SD rats, 0.9% in Wistar rats); subcutaneous fibrosarcoma (1.1% in SD rats, 2.1% in Wistar rats); brain malignant glioma (1.1% in SD rats, 1.7% in Wistar rats). Conclusions: In the study, a high incidence of spontaneous tumors is reported in both SD and Wistar rats housed for 2 years. The incidence of benign tumors is higher than that of malignant rumors. The benign tumors mainly are pituitary adenoma, breast fibroadenoma and breast adenoma in females, and testis Leydig cell tumor in males. The malignant tumors mainly are breast carcinoma and some soft tissue sarcomas. The results of the study enrich the data of spontaneous tumor in SD and Wisar rats and provide background data for carcinogenicity studies for new drugs.

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of thin PTCDI films on Ag/Si(111)-√3 × √3

3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic diimide molecules were evaporated onto a Ag/Si(111)-√3 × √3 surface and studied by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The growth mode was characterized as layer-by-layer growth with a single molecular unit cell in a short range order. The growth of the first two monolayers involves a molecule/substrate superstructure and a molecule/molecule superstructure. At higher coverages, the molecules in each layer were found to align so that unit cells are on top of each other. The experimentally obtained LEED pattern is described as a combination of patterns from the molecular unit cell and the molecule/substrate superstructure. The electronic structure was found to be strongly dependent on the film thickness for the first few layers: Several extra states are found at low coverages compared to higher coverages resulting in a very small pseudo gap of 0.9 eV for the first layer, which widens up to 4.0 eV for thicker films.

[Effect of stenting for the proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of stenting for proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis. Methods: A total of 204 proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis patients underwent stent implantation at Fuwai Hospital were enrolled consecutively between August 2007 and June 2014 prospectively. Medical records were collected and the clinical results were obtained through outpatient and telephone follow up. Results: (1) The patients were (64.1±7.9) years old, and 179 were male (87.7%). (2) Stent implantation was performed on 210 proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis lesions with 210 stents (156 on the left, 54 on the right), and 6 patients received both sides stent implantations. Technical success rate was 100%(210/210). The stenosis of the lesions was decreased from (85.1±6.4) % to (6.5±3.2) % after the stent implantation (P<0.01). (3) Three (1.5%) patients experienced transient ischemic attack during the procedure, and two (1.0%) patients suffered from minor posterior circulation ischemic strokes on the 2nd and 10th day after the procedure, respectively. (4)The median follow-up was 1.5 (0.8-2.5) years. Three(1.5%) patients died (two non-vacular deaths, and the other one due to sudden cardiac death). Three (1.5%) patients developed stroke (one case ipsilateral posterior circulation stroke, and two cases unrelated area stroke). Four (2.0%) patients experienced transient ischemic attack. One patient suffered nonfatal myocardial infraction. In-stent restenosis occurred in thirty nine (19.4%) patients, of which fourteen (35.9%) patients were totally occluded and four (10.3%) patients with symptomatic restenosis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the primary patency rate of the vertebral artery were 85.6%, 78.6%, 72.2% and 64.4% at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions: Stenting for proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis is safe and feasible, with a good middle to long-term patency rate. However, further trials are required to validate the effective results found in this patients cohort.

Analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2) gene in giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca

The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Ursidae), has a unique bamboo-based diet; however, this low-energy intake has been sufficient to maintain the metabolic processes of this species since the fourth ice age. As mitochondria are the main sites for energy metabolism in animals, the protein-coding genes involved in mitochondrial respiratory chains, particularly cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in electron transfer, could play an important role in giant panda metabolism. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate, sequence, and analyze the COX2 DNA from individuals kept at the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, China, and compare these sequences with those of the other Ursidae family members. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the COX2 gene had three point mutations that defined three haplotypes, with 60% of the sequences corresponding to haplotype I. The neutrality tests revealed that the COX2 gene was conserved throughout evolution, and the maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, using homologous sequences from other Ursidae species, showed clustering of the COX2 sequences of giant pandas, suggesting that this gene evolved differently in them.

[The echocardiographic evaluation and its predicted prognosis of acute left cardiac systolic dysfunction in critically ill patients]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of echocardiography for the prognosis of acute left cardiac dysfunction in critically ill patients.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted in patients with acute left cardiac dysfunction in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2013 to June 2014. Patients were divided into four groups according to the echocardiographic manifestation, including biventricular failure, left ventricular failure, coronary related segmental movement disorder, non-coronary related segmental movement disorder. All patients were treated with standard hemodynamic therapy. The duration of cardiotonic drug use, the period of mechanical ventilation, the length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality rate were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 132 patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The incidence of coronary heart disease in the coronary related segmental movement disorder group (88.0%, 22/25) was higher than that in the other three groups (P<0.001), while other general clinical information between groups at baseline was comparable (P>0.05). Sepsis or septic shock was the main cause of acute left cardiac systolic dysfunction. The 28-day mortality rate in biventricular failure group was 21.05%, 19.05% in left ventricular failure group, 20.00% in coronary related segmental movement disorder group, and 1/10 in non-coronary related segmental movement disorder group (P<0.001). However, the duration of cardiotonic drug use, the period of mechanical ventilation, and the length of ICU stay were similar in all groups (P>0.05) .In biventricular failure group, previous history of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction significantly worsened the 28-day mortality rate (5/7, P<0.001). while diastolic dysfunction did not affect cardiotonic drug use, the period of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The different echocardiographic features of acute left cardiac systolic dysfunction in critically ill patients predict the different prognosis. We need to setup an evaluation system including left cardiac systolic/diastolic function and right cardiac function, which may improve the process of workflow.

Up-down asymmetry measurement of tungsten distribution in large helical device using two extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometers

Two space-resolved extreme ultraviolet spectrometers working in wavelength ranges of 10-130 Å and 30-500 Å have been utilized to observe the full vertical profile of tungsten line emissions by simultaneously measuring upper- and lower-half plasmas of LHD, respectively. The radial profile of local emissivity is reconstructed from the measured vertical profile in the overlapped wavelength range of 30-130 Å and the up-down asymmetry is examined against the local emissivity profiles of WXXVIII in the unresolved transition array spectrum. The result shows a nearly symmetric profile, suggesting a good availability in the present diagnostic method for the impurity asymmetry study.

Expression and clinical implications of enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 and p53 protein in squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions in the cervix

We investigated the expression and clinical implications of enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and p53 protein in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and precancerous lesions. EZH2 and p53 expressions in SCC (168), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)-I (19), CIN-II (35), and normal tissues (30) were detected by streptavidin-peroxidase-conjugation. The correlation between co-expression of EZH2 and p53 protein and the clinic pathological features and prognosis of SCC were discussed. The positive expression rates of EZH2 and p53 were 6.7, 37.0, and 75.6%, and 3.3, 21.1, and 39.3% in normal cervical tissues, CIN, and SCC, respectively, which were significantly different (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of EZH2 and p53 protein in SCC patients with and without lymph node metastasis was 82.9 and 70.4% (EZH2) and 45.7 and 34.7% (p53), respectively, which was also a significant difference (P < 0.05). The progression-free survival (PFS) rates in followed-up patients (N = 143) who were EZH2- and p53-negative, EZH2- or p53-positive, and EZH2- and p53-positive were 71.3 ± 1.9, 66.1 ± 2.0, and 51.3 ± 3.8 months, respectively, which was a significant difference (P < 0.001); the overall survival among these groups was 72.9 ± 1.1, 68.6 ± 1.8, and 57.4 ± 3.4 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that EZH2 expression, lymph node metastasis, and tumor staging were independent prognostic factors of SCC. EZH2 and p53, which affect lymph node metastasis and prognosis of SCC, may play a key role in the occurrence and development of SCC.

Renin-angiotensin system and its role in hyperoxic acute lung injury

Oxygen is essential to sustain life, but at a high partial pressure oxygen may cause toxicity to the human body. These injuries to the lung are known as hyperoxic acute lung injury [HALI]). To date, numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the pathogenesis of HALI, for which some hypotheses have been proposed. Accumulating evidence indicates that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of some lung diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and HALI. In this review, we briefly introduce the classic RAS, local (tissue) RAS and intracellular RAS, and we summarize findings on the relationship between local/classic RAS and HALI. The importance--and ambiguity--of the results of these studies indicate a need for further investigations of the RAS and its role in the patho- genesis of HALI.

Association of the interleukin-10 gene -1082A/G genetic polymorphism with risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population

We investigated the possible association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL10 (-1082A/G and -592C/A) and susceptibility to ischemic stroke. In total, 335 patients with proven ischemic stroke and 335 control subjects were recruited from Xinxiang Central Hospital between March 2013 and May 2015. The IL10 -1082A/G and -529C/A polymorphisms were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When compared with the control subjects, patients with ischemic stroke were more likely to be male, have a habit of tobacco smoking, have higher BMI, have hypertension or diabetes mellitus, and have higher levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG. The multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the AA genotype of IL10 -1082A/G was significantly associated with development of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population compared with the GG genotype (OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.15-3.25). In the dominant model, the association between GA+AA genotype of IL10 -1082A/G and risk of ischemic stroke was also significant compared with the GG genotype, and the adjusted OR (95%CI) for the GA+AA genotype was 1.41 (1.02-1.94). Thus, our study suggests that IL10 gene polymorphisms contribute to the development of ischemic stroke.

STM study of PTCDA on Sn/Si(111)-2√3×2√3

The electronic structures of perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride on Sn/Si(111)-2√3×2√3 have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Individual molecules have been investigated at 0.15 ML, while at 0.3 ML molecules formed short rods. At 0.6 ML, the molecular rods interacted with each other, coupling with the substrate and forming a new 4√3×2√3 super structure. At 0.9 ML, the surface was further reconstructed and consisted of strips with two and three rods of molecules. We found that these surface structures are strongly modified by the molecule/substrate and the intermolecular interactions. As a result, the HOMO-LUMO gaps of these molecules change with respect to the phases and the thickness. For a single molecular layer of the 4√3×2√3 phase, the HOMO-LUMO levels were split with a gap of approximately 2.1 eV, which is caused by charge transfer from the substrate to the molecules.

[Impact of long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

This case control study was performed among 154 patients with moderate or severe OSAS between September 2009 and September 2014. Patients were divided into treatment group (n=66, 53 patients with hypertension) and control group (n=88, 67 patients with hypertension). The long-term efficacy of CPAP treatment on clinical events and blood pressure was evaluated.

RESULTS

The combined incidence of death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and stroke events was 1.5% (1/66) in treatment group and 11.4% (10/88) in control group (P<0.05). CPAP treatment also led to more significant reduction in systolic blood pressure ((12.24±18.06) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (4.24±16.63) mmHg, P<0.05) in the patients with hypertension in these two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CPAP treatment could reduce the risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular events for patients with moderate or severe OSAS.

Fabrication of Ag-Decorated CaTiO₃ Nanoparticles and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity for Dye Degradation

CaTiO₃nanoparticles of 30-40 nm in size were synthesized via a polyacrylamide gel route. Ag nanoparticles with size of 8-16 nm were deposited onto CaTiO₃particles by a photochemical reduction method to yield CaTiO₃@Ag composites. The photocatalytic activity of prepared samples was evaluated by degrading methyl orange under ultraviolet irradiation. It is demonstrated that Ag-decorated CaTiO₃ particles exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to bare CaTiO₃ particles. After 60 min of photocatalysis, the degradation percentage of MO increases from 54% for bare CaTiO₃particles to 72% for CaTiO₃@Ag composites. This can be explained by the fact that photogenerated electrons are captured by Ag nanoparticles and photogenerated holes are therefore increasingly available to react with OH⁻/H₂O to generate hydroxyl (·OH) radicals. ·OH radicals were detected by fluorimetry using terephthalic acid as a probe molecule, revealing an enhanced yield on the irradiated CaTiO₃@Ag composites. In addition, it is found that the addition of ethanol, which acts as an ·OH scavenger, leads to a quenching of ·OH radicals and simultaneous decrease in the photocatalytic efficiency. This suggests that ·OH radicals are the dominant active species responsible for the dye degradation.

Quantitative trait locus analysis for kernel width using maize recombinant inbred lines

Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel width is one of the most important traits that is related to yield and appearance. To understand its genetic mechanisms more clearly, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) segregation population consisting of 239 RILs was used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for kernel width. We found four QTLs on chromosomes 3 (one), 5 (two), and 10 (one). The QTLs were close to their adjacent markers, with a range of 0-23.8 cM, and explained 6.2-19.7% of the phenotypic variation. The three QTLs on chromosomes 3 and 5 had positive additive effects, and to a certain extent increased kernel width, whereas the one on chromosome 10 exhibited negative additive effects and decreased kernel width. These results can be used for gene cloning and marker-assisted selection in maize-breeding programs.

Methylation analysis of CXCR1 in mammary gland tissue of cows with mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus

Mastitis is the most important disease in the global dairy industry, and causes large economic losses. Staphylococcus aureus is one of most common pathogens that cause bovine mastitis. CXCR1 has been implicated as a prospective genetic marker for mastitis resistance in dairy cows; CXCR1 expression significantly increases when cows have mastitis. To investigate the mechanisms involved in its increased expression, bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the methylation status of CXCR1 CpG island, and quantitative fluorescence PCR was used to detect CXCR1 expression in bovine mammary tissue induced with S. aureus in three Chinese Holstein cows. No CpG island was found for bovine CXCR1 in the upstream 2-kb region, whereas one CpG island that contained 13 CpG sites was found in exon 1 of CXCR1. All of the CpG sites were under hypermethylation from 90 to 100% in the mammary tissues. When the mammary gland mRNA expression of CXCR1 was 12.10-fold higher in infected cow quarters than in uninfected quarters, the methylation levels of the CpG site at position 519 were significantly lower in the infected quarters than in the uninfected quarters. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the methylation level at position 519 was significantly negatively correlated with the CXCR1 mRNA expression level (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the methylation of the CpG site at position 519 may regulate CXCR1 expression in cows with mastitis induced by S. aureus, but further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved.

An expression profiling analysis of hybrid millet and its parents at grain filling stage

Heterosis has been widely used in crop breeding and production. However, a shortage of genes known to function in heterosis significantly limits our understanding of the molecular basis underlying heterosis. Here, we report 740 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaves of the hybrid millet Zhang No.5 and its parents at the grain filling stage determined using Solexa Illumina digital gene expression. Of the 740 DEGs, 546 were from the hybrid and its parents and most were up-regulated in the hybrid. Particularly, a large number of DEGs related to starch and carbohydrate metabolism and 2 DEGs encoding chlorophyll a/b binding proteins were up-regulated in hybrid millet. Moreover, all DEGs were enriched in the biological process and molecular function, and no DEGs were found to be enriched in the cellular component of GO terms. Pathway enrichment using KEGG showed that several DEGs were enriched in the circadian rhythm pathway. Further analysis revealed that the altered circadian rhythm, which mediates photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation, may play an important role in heterosis of the hybrid millet.

Changes in circulating endothelial progenitor cells predict responses of multiple myeloma patients to treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone

Four cycles of chemotherapy are required to assess responses of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We investigated whether circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) could be a biomarker for predicting patient response in the first cycle of chemotherapy with bortezomib and dexamethasone, so patients might avoid ineffective and costly treatments and reduce exposure to unwanted side effects. We measured cEPCs and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) in 46 MM patients in the first cycle of treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone, and investigated clinical relevance based on patient response after four 21-day cycles. The mononuclear cell fraction was analyzed for cEPC by FACS analysis, and SDF-1α was analyzed by ELISA. The study population was divided into 3 groups according to the response to chemotherapy: good responders (n=16), common responders (n=12), and non-responders (n=18). There were no significant differences among these groups at baseline day 1 (P>0.05). cEPC levels decreased slightly at day 21 (8.2±3.3 cEPCs/μL) vs day 1 (8.4±2.9 cEPCs/μL) in good responders (P>0.05). In contrast, cEPC levels increased significantly in the other two groups (P<0.05). SDF-1α changes were closely related to changes in cEPCs. These findings indicate that change in cEPCs at day 21 in the first cycle might be considered a noninvasive biomarker for predicting a later response, and extent of change could help decide whether to continue this costly chemotherapy. cEPCs and the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis are potential therapeutic targets for improved response and outcomes in MM patients.

Sonocatalytic degradation of RhB over LuFeO3 particles under ultrasonic irradiation

LuFeO3 particles with an average particle size of ∼200 nm were synthesized via a polyacrylamide gel route. The sonocatalytic activity of LuFeO3 particles was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under ultrasonic irradiation, revealing that they exhibit a good sonocatalytic activity. The effects of various experimental factors including ultrasonic frequency (f), reaction solution temperature (T), catalyst dosage (Ccatalyst), initial RhB concentration (CRhB), and pH value on the sonocatalysis efficiency were investigated. It is found that the former four factors have an important influence on the sonocatalytic degradation of RhB, where the best degradation conditions are obtained to be f=60 kHz, T=40 °C, Ccatalyst=4 g L(-1), and CRhB=5 mg L(-1). The pH value has a relatively small effect on the sonocatalytic degradation of RhB compared with other experimental factors. Hydroxyl (·OH) radicals were detected by fluorimetry using terephthalic acid as a probe molecule, revealing that they are produced over the ultrasonic-irradiated LuFeO3 particles. The addition of ethanol leads to a quenching of ·OH radicals and a simultaneous decrease in the RhB degradation. This indicates that ·OH radicals are the primary active species responsible for the dye degradation.

Influence of Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil on late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of Fasudil, a Rho inhibitor on the number and functions of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients with pulmonary artery hypertension.

BACKGROUND

It is not clear yet, whether Rho Kinase Inhibitor Fasudil can reduced pulmonary artery pressure through improving lung endothelial function.

METHODS

80 COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension were selected and divided into two groups: the treatment group and the control group, which had 40 patients, respectively. Changes in the number and function of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of the patients before and after the treatment were compared between the two groups. The changes on the pulmonary artery pressure were also compared.

RESULTS

The number of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of the treatment group increased and the function was enhanced. The pulmonary artery pressure was reduced. The difference before and after the treatment and with the control group was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Rho-kinase inhibitor Fasudil increased the number and enhanced the function of the late endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood of COPD patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 17).