Genetic diversity and structure of the threatened species Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying

Sinopodophyllum hexandrum is an important medicinal plant that has been listed as an endangered species, making the conservation of its genetic diversity a priority. Therefore, the genetic diversity and population structure of S. hexandrum was investigated through inter-simple sequence repeat analysis of eight natural populations. Eleven selected primers generated 141 discernible fragments. The percentage of polymorphic bands was 37.59% at the species level, and 7.66-24.32% at the population level. Genetic diversity of S. hexandrum was low within populations (average HE = 0.0366), but higher at the species level (HE = 0.0963). Clear structure and high genetic differentiation were detected between populations using unweighted pair groups mean arithmetic and principle coordinate analysis. Clustering approaches clustered the eight sampled populations into three major groups, and AMOVA confirmed there to be significant variation between populations (63.27%). Genetic differentiation may have arisen through limited gene flow (Nm = 0.3317) in this species. Isolation by distance among populations was determined by comparing genetic distance versus geographical distance using the Mantel test. The results revealed no correlation between spatial pattern and geographic location. Given the low within-population genetic diversity, high differentiation among populations, and the increasing anthropogenic pressure on this species, in situ conservation measures, in addition to sampling and ex situ preservation, are recommended to preserve S. hexandrum populations and to retain their genetic diversity.

Ethnic disparities in risk of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and all-cause mortality: a prospective study among Asian people with Type 2 diabetes

AIM

To study prospectively the ethnic-specific risks of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and all-cause mortality in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus among native Asian subpopulations.

METHODS

A total of 2337 subjects with Type 2 diabetes (70% Chinese, 17% Malay and 13% Asian Indian) were followed for a median of 4.0 years. Time-to-event analysis was used to study the association of ethnicity with adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

Age- and gender-adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease in ethnic Malay and Asian Indian subjects were 2.01 (1.40-2.88; P<0.0001) and 1.60 (1.07-2.41; P=0.022) as compared with Chinese subjects. Adjustment for conventional cardiovascular disease risk factors, including HbA1c , blood pressure and lipid profile, slightly attenuated the hazards in Malay (1.82, 1.23-2.71; P=0.003) and Asian Indian subjects (1.47, 0.95-2.30; P=0.086); However, further adjustment for baseline renal function (estimated GFR) and albuminuria weakened the cardiovascular disease risks in Malay (1.48, 0.98-2.26; P=0.065) but strengthened that in Asian Indian subjects (1.81, 1.14-2.87; P=0.012). Competing-risk regression showed that the age- and gender-adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio for end-stage renal disease was 1.87 (1.27-2.73; P=0.001) in Malay and 0.39 (0.18-0.83; P=0.015) in Asian Indian subjects. Notably, the difference in end-stage renal disease risk among the three ethnic groups was abolished after further adjustment for baseline estimated GFR and albuminuria. There was no significant difference in risk of all-cause mortality among the three ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Risks of cardiovascular and end-stage renal diseases in native Asian subjects with Type 2 diabetes vary substantially among different ethnic groups. Differences in prevalence of diabetic kidney disease may partially explain the ethnic disparities.

Wnt1-overexpressing skeletal myoblasts as an improved cell therapy for cardiac repair following myocardial infarction

AIM

Recent findings highlight the critical role of the Wnt signaling pathway in cardiac repair and stem cell regulation. Our previous study shows that lithium chloride (LiCl) optimizes skeletal myoblast (SkM) for transplantation by mimicking the Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities. In this study, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of SkMs genetically modified with Wnt1gene (Wnt1 SkMs) in a rat model with myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

We harvested neonatal SkMs using Wistar rats (1-3-day old) transfected with p-EGFP-C3-Wnt1 plasmid. RT-PCR and immunofluorescence showed a higher expression of Wnt1 in the Wnt1 SkMs. We observed that Wnt1 SkMs increased connexin 43 (Cx43) expression, reduced apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and decreased caspase-3 expression via the canonical Wnt signaling pathways compared to the empty vector transfected SkMs (control SkMs). For in vivo studies, the myocardial infarction model was developed in the Wistar rats. The rats were grouped to receive 100 μL basal DMEM without cells or containing 1.5×106SkMs and Wnt1 SkMs. Histological studies revealed improved survival of SkMs, reduced cardiomyocytes apoptosis, and upregulated expression of Cx43 in Wnt1 SkMs therapy group. Echocardiography monitored four weeks after therapy showed improvement of the left ventricular function in rats treated with Wnt1SkMs compared to other groups.

CONCLUSION

Transplantation of Wnt1 SkMs improves rat myocardial function and enhances anti apoptotic properties of both SkMs and cardiomyocytes and upregulation of tissue Cx43 after infarction via the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities.

Central adiposity, obesity during early adulthood, and pancreatic cancer mortality in a pooled analysis of cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Body mass index (BMI), a measure of obesity typically assessed in middle age or later, is known to be positively associated with pancreatic cancer. However, little evidence exists regarding the influence of central adiposity, a high BMI during early adulthood, and weight gain after early adulthood on pancreatic cancer risk.

DESIGN

We conducted a pooled analysis of individual-level data from 20 prospective cohort studies in the National Cancer Institute BMI and Mortality Cohort Consortium to examine the association of pancreatic cancer mortality with measures of central adiposity (e.g. waist circumference; n = 647 478; 1947 pancreatic cancer deaths), BMI during early adulthood (ages 18-21 years) and BMI change between early adulthood and cohort enrollment, mostly in middle age or later (n = 1 096 492; 3223 pancreatic cancer deaths). Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

Higher waist-to-hip ratio (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17 per 0.1 increment) and waist circumference (HR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.14 per 10 cm) were associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer mortality, even when adjusted for BMI at baseline. BMI during early adulthood was associated with increased pancreatic cancer mortality (HR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.11-1.25 per 5 kg/m(2)), with increased risk observed in both overweight and obese individuals (compared with BMI of 21.0 to <23 kg/m(2), HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.20-1.55 for BMI 25.0 < 27.5 kg/m(2), HR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.84 for BMI 27.5 to <30 kg/m(2), HR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.11-1.85 for BMI ≥30 kg/m(2)). BMI gain after early adulthood, adjusted for early adult BMI, was less strongly associated with pancreatic cancer mortality (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10 per 5 kg/m(2)).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support an association between pancreatic cancer mortality and central obesity, independent of BMI, and also suggest that being overweight or obese during early adulthood may be important in influencing pancreatic cancer mortality risk later in life.

Relationship of EGFR DNA methylation with the severity of non-small cell lung cancer

The aim of this study was to study the relationship of EGFR DNA methylation with the severity of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We enrolled 54 patients with NSCLC between March 2013 and June 2014 from Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in our hospital. The methylation levels in the promoter region of the EGFR gene in cancerous and pericarcinomatous tissue were tested by pyrosequencing. EGFR mRNA expression levels were detected by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The SPSS software was used for data analysis. We found that EGFR gene methylation levels showed no significant differences among patients of different gender, age, or smoking status. EGFR DNA methylation levels significantly increased (P < 0.05) following NSCLC malignancy upgrading, and showed negative correlation with mRNA expression (P = 0.041). DNA methylation levels of cancerous tissues were significantly higher compared to the corresponding pericarcinomatous tissues (P < 0.05) at stages I, II, and IIIA. The methylation levels at loci 3, 6, 9 among the detected CpG islands were higher in the cancer tissues at each stage (P < 0.05). In summary, our results suggest that the DNA methylation levels of EGFR can be used as an important indicator for the stage of cancer tissue malignancy.

Effect and mechanism of dihydroartemisinin on proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma represents an aggressive type of bone malignancy that poses a significant health threat. The objective of the current study was to analyze the effect and mechanism of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on the proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells. A gradient concentration of DHA (15, 25 and 35 μmol.L-1) was used to stimulate the cells, along with control and Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The phenotypic outcomes were characterized using MTT assay, clone formation assay, Hoechst 33258 staining assay, luciferase reporter plasmid assay, Western blot and wound healing assay. In addition, IBM SPSS Statistics 18.0 software was applied for statistical analysis and all experimental data were expressed as mean ± s.d. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to compare the differences among multiple groups. Our results demonstrated that DHA inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells and promoted the apoptosis in the cytomorphosis.

Correlation of EGFR gene amplification with invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer

The aim of this study was to explore epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification and its relationship with cancer invasion and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR amplification in 45 patients with NSCLC and 15 subjects with normal lung tissues was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The relationship between EGFR amplification and the clinicopathologic features of NSCLC was analyzed. EGFR gene amplifications were identified in 2 of 15 normal lung tissues (13.33%) and in 29 of 45 NSCLCs (64.44%). Patients <60 years had a 66.67% EGFR amplification rate, while patients ≥60 years had a rate of 62.50%. The EGFR amplification rates in male and female patients were 64.0% (16/25) and 65.0% (13/20), respectively. Pathologically, the EGFR amplification rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 56.52% (13/23), and with adenocarcinoma was 72.72% (16/22). The EGFR amplification rate in NSCLCs with well-moderate differentiation was lower than in those with poor differentiation; 48.0% (12/25) vs 85.0% (17/20), respectively. Patients with lymph node metastasis had nearly double the amplification rate than those without metastasis; 90.0% (18/20) vs 44.0% (11/25), respectively. The rate of EGFR amplification was significantly higher in NSCLC than in normal lung tissue (64.44 vs 13.33%, P < 0.05), and was not correlated with age or gender (P > 0.05), but increased with clinical stage in NSCLCs (P < 0.05). Overall, these studies found that the rate of EGFR gene amplification was increased significantly in NSCLC and was closely related to lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage.

Differential expression of luteinizing hormone receptor, androgen receptor and heat-shock protein 70 in the testis of long-distance transported mice

Spermatogenesis, is a complex process of precisely regulated intracellular events, where it is affected by many factors. Long-distance transport of animals is one of the stressors that may influence spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The present study chose luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), androgen receptor (AR), and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) as our target genes to investigate their mRNA and protein expression in the testes of long-distance transported (about 1000 km) mice. Histological analysis showed that there was a reduction in the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium in the transported mice, and a significant decrease in body weight and sperm count in the epididymis was also observed. mRNA expression was determined by QPCR in the testis of transported and control mice. The levels for AR decreased significantly in transported mice. LHR and HSP70 expression in the testes of the transported mice was slightly higher than that of control mice but did not reach a significant level. A similar tendency of protein expression was also observed by Western blot analysis. The levels of LHR and HSP70 increased slightly after transportation. However, none of the changes were statistically significant compared with the control mice. In conclusion, long-distance transport has an adverse effect on reproductive organs and spermatozoa in adult mice.

ISOLATION AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF McMenA, A GENE ENCODING A 1,4-DIHYDROXY-2-NAPHTHOATE OCTAPRENYLTRANSFERASE IN Mylabris cichorii

Cantharidin is a biomolecule with a role in host defense that can also be used as an anticancer drug. The in vivo biosynthetic pathway for cantharidin has been the subject of debate for several decades and the mechanism is not yet completely understood. To study the biosynthetic pathway of cantharidin in blister beetles, Mylabris cichori, a full-length MenA (McMenA) cDNA was cloned based on the partial sequence of the MenA gene from a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library of male and female adult M. cichorii. The cDNA was 1264 base pairs (bp) with an open reading frame of 1026 bp nucleotides encoding a 341 amino acid protein. Analysis of the McMenA amino acid sequence showed that the aspartate rich motif N/DDxxD represented binding sites for prenyl diphosphate via a Mg(2+) ion. Phylogenetic analysis showed that McMenA was most closely related to MenA of Tribolium castaneum, and the amino acid sequence similarity was 86%. The expression pattern of McMenA in adults was analyzed using RT-qPCR, and we found that the highest expression of McMenA occurred during 22-25 days in the sex-separate breeding males, while the lowest expression occurred in females at the same time. Injection with a specific double-strand RNA (dsRNA) of McMenA led to a significant reduction of McMenA mRNA levels after 24 h. Cantharidin and ATP concentrations dropped around the same time. Together, our data showed that the McMenA gene might be involved in cantharidin biosynthesis.

Phenotypic variation and diversity of Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. in native habitat

The population of Magnolia sprengeri individuals deceased drastically in the late 20th century because of the widespread harvest for traditional Chinese medicinal recipes. In this study, the levels of phenotypic variation and the genetic structure of 2 populations of M. sprengeri were estimated. The phenotypic variation of M. sprengeri characteristics was nonsynchronous, with a coefficient of variation for 37 characters from 9.55-35.87%. The variance stabilizing transformation value ranged from 0.034-52.344%. The variation contribution within the population was greater than the contribution among the population; the among-population rate was 2.864%, while the within-population rate was 15.849%; values of repeatability for among-population and within-population were 0.430 and 0.098, respectively. This indicates that more variation arose from within-population and that population repeatability was much greater than individual repeatability. Variation in the flower organ was greater than that in the leaf organ; this means that vegetative variation was more stable than reproductive variation. Variation in the southern population was greater than that in the northern population.

Nitrogen Oxide Atom-Transfer Redox Chemistry; Mechanism of NO(g) to Nitrite Conversion Utilizing μ-oxo Heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) Constructs

While nitric oxide (NO, nitrogen monoxide) is a critically important signaling agent, its cellular concentrations must be tightly controlled, generally through its oxidative conversion to nitrite (NO2(-)) where it is held in reserve to be reconverted as needed. In part, this reaction is mediated by the binuclear heme a3/CuB active site of cytochrome c oxidase. In this report, the oxidation of NO(g) to nitrite is shown to occur efficiently in new synthetic μ-oxo heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) constructs (L being a tridentate or tetradentate pyridyl/alkylamino ligand), and spectroscopic and kinetic investigations provide detailed mechanistic insights. Two new X-ray structures of μ-oxo complexes have been determined and compared to literature analogs. All μ-oxo complexes react with 2 mol equiv NO(g) to give 1:1 mixtures of discrete [(L)Cu(II)(NO2(-))](+) plus ferrous heme-nitrosyl compounds; when the first NO(g) equiv reduces the heme center and itself is oxidized to nitrite, the second equiv of NO(g) traps the ferrous heme thus formed. For one μ-oxo heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) compound, the reaction with NO(g) reveals an intermediate species ("intermediate"), formally a bis-NO adduct, [(NO)(porphyrinate)Fe(II)-(NO2(-))-Cu(II)(L)](+) (λmax = 433 nm), confirmed by cryo-spray ionization mass spectrometry and EPR spectroscopy, along with the observation that cooling a 1:1 mixture of [(L)Cu(II)(NO2(-))](+) and heme-Fe(II)(NO) to -125 °C leads to association and generation of the key 433 nm UV-vis feature. Kinetic-thermodynamic parameters obtained from low-temperature stopped-flow measurements are in excellent agreement with DFT calculations carried out which describe the sequential addition of NO(g) to the μ-oxo complex.

Amine oxidative N-dealkylation via cupric hydroperoxide Cu-OOH homolytic cleavage followed by site-specific fenton chemistry

Copper(II) hydroperoxide species are significant intermediates in processes such as fuel cells and (bio)chemical oxidations, all involving stepwise reduction of molecular oxygen. We previously reported a Cu(II)-OOH species that performs oxidative N-dealkylation on a dibenzylamino group that is appended to the 6-position of a pyridyl donor of a tripodal tetradentate ligand. To obtain insights into the mechanism of this process, reaction kinetics and products were determined employing ligand substrates with various para-substituent dibenzyl pairs (-H,-H; -H,-Cl; -H,-OMe, and -Cl,-OMe), or with partially or fully deuterated dibenzyl N-(CH2Ph)2 moieties. A series of ligand-copper(II) bis-perchlorate complexes were synthesized, characterized, and the X-ray structures of the -H,-OMe analogue were determined. The corresponding metastable Cu(II)-OOH species were generated by addition of H2O2/base in acetone at -90 °C. These convert (t1/2 ≈ 53 s) to oxidatively N-dealkylated products, producing para-substituted benzaldehydes. Based on the experimental observations and supporting DFT calculations, a reaction mechanism involving dibenzylamine H-atom abstraction or electron-transfer oxidation by the Cu(II)-OOH entity could be ruled out. It is concluded that the chemistry proceeds by rate limiting Cu-O homolytic cleavage of the Cu(II)-(OOH) species, followed by site-specific copper Fenton chemistry. As a process of broad interest in copper as well as iron oxidative (bio)chemistries, a detailed computational analysis was performed, indicating that a Cu(I)OOH species undergoes O-O homolytic cleavage to yield a hydroxyl radical and Cu(II)OH rather than heterolytic cleavage to yield water and a Cu(II)-O(•-) species.

Expression of the kynurenine pathway enzymes in the pancreatic islet cells. Activation by cytokines and glucolipotoxicity

The tryptophan/kynurenine pathway (TKP) is the main route of tryptophan degradation and generates several neuroactive and immunomodulatory metabolites. Experimental and clinical data have clearly established that besides fat, muscle and liver, pancreatic islet tissue itself is a site of inflammation during obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore it is conceivable that pancreatic islet exposure to increased levels of cytokines may induce upregulation of islet kynurenine metabolism in a way resembling that seen in the brain in many neurodegenerative disorders. Using normal rat islets and the INS-1 β-cell line, we have demonstrated for the first time that: 1/only some TKP genes are constitutively expressed, both in β-cells as well as non β-cells; 2/ the regulatory enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) is not constitutively expressed; 3/ IDO1 and kynurenine 3-monoxygenase (KMO) expression are potently activated by proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β) and glucolipotoxicity respectively, rather in β-cells than in non β-cells; 4/ Islet kynurenine/kynurenic acid production ratio is enhanced following IFN-γ and glucolipotoxicity; 5/ acute exposure to KYN potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion by normal islets; and 6/ oxidative stress or glucocorticoid modulates TKP genes only marginally. Pancreatic islets may represent a new target tissue for inflammation and glucolipotoxicity to activate the TKP. Since inflammation is now recognized as a crucial mechanism in the development of the metabolic syndrome and more specifically at the islet level, it is needed to evaluate the potential induction of the TKP in the endocrine pancreas during obesity and/or diabetes and its relationship to the islet cell functional alterations.

Acid sphingomyelinase, a novel negative biomarker of ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the main cause of death in women. However, the molecular mechanism for the cause of the ovarian cancer has not been fully elucidated. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), a lipid hydrolase, has been suggested for treating cancer and may affect the development of ovarian cancer. We want to find the function of ASM in the development of ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Human ovarian cancer cells HO 8910 (HOCC) and human primary ovarian cells (HPOC) were transfected with ASM gene and ASM RNAi. Real-time qPCR and western blot analysis was carried out to examine the level of ASM. The growth rate of transfected and non-transfected cells was measured. Ovarian biopsies were collected from 80 ovarian cancer patients and 20 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

The growth rate of HOCC and HPOC was decreased by 22% and 19% in the ASM-transfected group compared with non-transfected group. Inversely, the growth rate of HOCC and HPOC was increased by 16% and 35% in the ASM-RNAi-transfected group compared with non-transfected group. In the transfected and non-transfected cells, the change level of SAM was approved by Real-time qPCR and western blot analysis. The levels of SAM were reducing with the development of ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

SAM is higher expressed in normal cell than that in ovarian cancer, and can be a negative biomarker for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. SAM can be developed a new drug for the ovarian cancer therapy.

Reason and treatment of failure of proximal femoral nail antirotation internal fixation for femoral intertrochanteric fractures of senile patients

The cause of postoperative failure after the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) was analyzed, and the reoperative methods were examined. Nine failures of 308 femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients with PFNA were treated with femoral prosthesis total hip replacement (THR) and reoperative internal fixation. All nine patients were analyzed to determine the cause of failure. The causes of failed internal fixation in the intertrochanteric-fractured patients included perforation of the helical blade into the hip joint in three cases, cutting-out of the helical blade exit outside in two cases, and hip varus as a result of cutting-out the helical blade in two cases. Seven patients with failed internal fixation were treated with THR. Two patients who had femoral shaft fractures at the end of the nail were treated with longer PFNA. Faulty operative procedures, unsatisfactory reductions, serious osteoporosis, and incorrect positioning of the helical blade were the most important factors responsible for the failed internal fixation. Satisfactory results were achieved with THR and refixation relative to the causes of the failed internal fixation.

Autogenous radiocephalic hemodialysis access in patients with small caliber cephalic veins after expansion with a Fogarty catheter

Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the first choice for hemodialysis access in renal failure with uremia. However, AVF cannot be performed in some patients due to small and narrow veins in the forearm. In this study, a Fogarty catheter was used to establish autogenous radiocephalic hemodialysis access in patients with small caliber cephalic veins, and the patency rate and complications of this method were observed. Sixty-seven patients with uremia were divided into a treatment group (40 cases, caliber of cephalic veins<2.5 mm) and a control group (27 cases, caliber of cephalic veins≥2.5 mm). According to ultrasound results, the treatment group received AVF after expansion with a Fogarty catheter, and the control group received traditional AVF. The fistula patency rate and complications were observed during follow-up. All patients were followed up for an average period of 18 months (range=3-36 months). AVF was successfully used in 58 patients for hemodialysis, with primary access failure in 9 cases (5 cases in the treatment group and 4 cases in the control group) due to early thrombosis. The primary and secondary patency rates 12 months after surgery in the treatment group were 64 and 72%, respectively, and those in the control group were 60 and 76%, respectively. Patients with small caliber cephalic veins can be treated with radiocephalic fistula after the caliber of cephalic veins is expanded to more than 2.5 mm with a Fogarty catheter. The long-term patency rate awaits observation in a longer follow-up period.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis and unusual retinitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

In this report we discuss a case of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) infection presenting with encephalitis as well as necrotic and non-necrotic retinitis. The patient presented with typical clinical symptoms and radiologic abnormalities consistent with HSV-1 encephalitis and HSV-1 retinitis in patients with HIV infection, but lacked cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and had bilateral retinitis with poor visual acuity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in the literature.

The identification of a bacterial strain BGI-1 isolated from the intestinal flora of Blattella germanica, and its anti-entomopathogenic fungi activity

A bacterial strain BGI-1 was isolated from the gut of German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) and was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on 16S rDNA sequence and morphological, physiological, and biochemical characters. The strain BGI-1 inhibited the growth of Beauveria bassiana; the diameter of the inhibition zone exceeded 30 mm. Vesicles were observed in B. bassiana hyphae on the edge of the inhibition zone. Fermentation of BGI-1 reduced the conidial germination rate by 12%. Further studies demonstrated that B. bassiana infections in German cockroaches orally treated with the extracts of BGI-1 fermentation were significantly weakened. Cumulative mortality rate was 49.5% in the treatment group at the 20 d, while that of the control group was 62.3%. The study intends to understand the relationship between the intestinal flora and the cockroach. Those microbes with anti-entomopathogenic fungi activity might contribute to resisting the infection of pathogenic fungi.

One-carbon metabolism factors and endometrial cancer risk

Background:

This is the largest prospective cohort analysis to assess how dietary factors involved in one-carbon metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer incidence, using 26 years of follow-up data from the Nurses’ Health Study.

Methods:

The prospective cohort analysis of one-carbon metabolism dietary factors used the Cox proportional hazards model, and incorporated 788 incident endometrial cancer events from 1980 to 2006. Genotyping and unconditional logistic regression were performed on 572 endometrial cancer cases and their matched controls to examine 29 mostly non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms involved in one-carbon metabolism.

Results:

There were no significant dose–response relationships between intake of any of the one-carbon metabolism dietary factors and endometrial cancer incidence, but alcohol consumption of <1 drink a day was significantly protective (hazard ratio: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.94). Those with the MTHFR 677 TT or MTHFR 1298 CC genotype had more protective associations for many of the dietary factors and endometrial cancer, but statistical power was limited in this analysis.

Conclusion:

Dietary levels of folate, choline, methionine, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 do not appear to influence endometrial cancer incidence. Moderate alcohol intake may protect against developing endometrial cancer.

Prospective analysis of vitamin D and endometrial cancer risk

BACKGROUND

This is the first prospective cohort analysis on the association between vitamin D and endometrial cancer incorporating time-varying predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D].

METHODS

The prospective cohort analysis of predicted 25(OH)D and total dietary vitamin D intake used the Cox proportional hazards model, and involved 644 incident endometrial cancer events from 1986 to 2006 in the Nurses' Health Study. Genotyping and unconditional logistic regression were carried out on 572 endometrial cancer cases and their matched controls on 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vitamin D-related genes.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between predicted 25(OH)D and endometrial cancer incidence, with the hazard ratio for the highest (versus the lowest) quintile of predicted 25(OH)D as 1.00 (95% CI 0.73-1.36) (p-trend = 0.33). There was also no significant association involving total dietary vitamin D. No significant associations between any of the vitamin D-related SNPs and endometrial cancer were observed.

CONCLUSION

Both predicted 25(OH)D and total dietary vitamin D intake were not associated with endometrial cancer incidence. These results suggest that vitamin D may not protect against the development of endometrial cancer. However, the low and narrow vitamin D exposure range in the cohort may limit generalizability of the results.

Prospective analysis of vitamin D and endometrial cancer risk

BACKGROUND

This is the first prospective cohort analysis on the association between vitamin D and endometrial cancer incorporating time-varying predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D].

METHODS

The prospective cohort analysis of predicted 25(OH)D and total dietary vitamin D intake used the Cox proportional hazards model, and involved 644 incident endometrial cancer events from 1986 to 2006 in the Nurses' Health Study. Genotyping and unconditional logistic regression were carried out on 572 endometrial cancer cases and their matched controls on 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vitamin D-related genes.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between predicted 25(OH)D and endometrial cancer incidence, with the hazard ratio for the highest (versus the lowest) quintile of predicted 25(OH)D as 1.00 (95% CI 0.73-1.36) (p-trend = 0.33). There was also no significant association involving total dietary vitamin D. No significant associations between any of the vitamin D-related SNPs and endometrial cancer were observed.

CONCLUSION

Both predicted 25(OH)D and total dietary vitamin D intake were not associated with endometrial cancer incidence. These results suggest that vitamin D may not protect against the development of endometrial cancer. However, the low and narrow vitamin D exposure range in the cohort may limit generalizability of the results.

Single sevoflurane exposure decreases neuronal nitric oxide synthase levels in the hippocampus of developing rats

BACKGROUND

The use of general anaesthetics in young children and infants has raised concerns regarding the adverse effects of these drugs on brain development. Sevoflurane might have harmful effects on the developing brain; however, these effects have not been well investigated.

METHODS

Postnatal day 7 (P7) Sprague-Dawley rats were continuously exposed to 2.3% sevoflurane for 6 h. We used the Fox battery test and Morris water maze (MWM) to examine subsequent neurobehavioural performance. Cleaved caspase-3 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were quantified by immunoblotting, and the Nissl staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the hippocampus.

RESULTS

A single 6 h sevoflurane exposure at P7 rats resulted in increased cleaved caspase-3 expression and decreased nNOS levels in the hippocampus, and induced the loss of pyramidal neurones in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus at P7-8. These changes were accompanied by temporal retardation of sensorimotor reflexes. However, neither the Fox battery test at P1-21 nor the MWM test at P28-32 showed differences between the air- and sevoflurane-treated groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although early exposure to sevoflurane increases activated caspase-3 expression and neuronal loss and decreases nNOS in the neonatal hippocampus, it does not affect subsequent neurobehavioural performances in juvenile rats.

Menopause with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors among rural Chinese women in Beijing: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

This study was to explore the independent influence of menopause on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors in rural Chinese females.

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional population-based study enrolled 2245 premenopausal and 2498 postmenopausal women aged 40-59 years in Fangshan district, Beijing, China. Data was collected by face-to-face interview, physical examination and biochemical examination during 2009 and 2010. General liner models were employed to calculate age-adjusted means of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs). The comparisons of CVD and it risk factors according to menopausal status, and calculation of adjusted odds ratios/coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals for the associations of quartiles of elapsed time since menopause and age at menopause with CVD and its risk factors was performed by multivariate logistic/liner regression models separately.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age and other confounders, no statistically significant association of menopause with CVD was observed in our participants; however, dyslipidemia prevalence and levels of waist-to-hip ratio, triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were presented higher in postmenopausal group, compared to the premenopausal one (P<0.05). Compared to women who had been menopausal for less than1 year, those with the elapsed time since menopause of 2-3 years had higher CHD prevalence, higher triglycerides level and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Postmenopausal women in rural China had worse CRFs profile than the premenopausal ones, which implied menopause might aggravate the CRFs epidemic beyond effects of aging, and would increase the CVD burden during and after their middle ages.