P834Secondary prevention medications of cardiovascular diseases in China: findings from China PEACE million persons project

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is the leading cause of death in China. Secondary prevention medications can improve the prognosis of CVD, yet little is known about the current use, variation and associated factors of these therapies in China.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe the current use of secondary prevention medications among patients with established CVD in the community setting in China, assess variations across population subgroups, and identify the individual characteristics associated with these therapies.

Methods

We studied 2.6 million participants aged 35–75 years from all 31 provinces in the China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (PEACE) Million Persons Project, a government-funded public health program conducted from 2014 to 2018. Participants self-reported their history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) or ischemic stroke (IS) and medication use in an interview. Among participants with IHD and/or IS, we assessed the reported use of secondary prevention medications (anti-platelet drugs and statins) in the overall population and in 1,530,408 population subgroups, defined by all possible combinations of 16 factors (age, sex, urbanity, geographic region, ethnicity, occupation, annual household income, education, marital status, medical insurance, current smoker, current drinker, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, body mass index and years since diagnosis). Multivariable mixed models with a logit link function and community-specific random intercepts were fitted to assess the associations of demographic, socioeconomic and health behavior factors with the reported use of secondary prevention mediations.

Results

Among 2,613,035 screened participants, 2.9% (74,830) had history of IHD and/or IS (1.2% for IHD, 2.4% for IS). Overall, the reported use rate either anti-platelet drugs or statins was 21.9% (18.3% anti-platelet drugs, 11.0% statins, and 7.4% both). Among the 1,530,408 population subgroups, the use of secondary prevention medications varied substantially (3.4% to 52.0%). Multivariable analyses found that that younger people, women, those living in rural areas, current smokers, current drinkers, people without hypertension or diabetes, and those with established CVD for more than 2 years were less likely to take anti-platelet drugs or statins (Figure).

Forest plot of multivariable mixed model

Conclusions

The current use of secondary prevention drugs is suboptimal and varies substantially across population subgroups in China. Our study identifies target populations for interventions to improve secondary prevention of CVD.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Finance of China and National Health Commission of China

The complete mitochondrial genome of an Asian longicorn beetle Glenea cantor (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)

The complete mitogenome sequence of an Asian longicorn beetle Glenea cantor, was sequenced. The 15,514 bp long genome has the standard metazoan complement of 38 genes. These genes contain 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region. The nucleotide composition of the G. cantor mitogenome was A: 39.4%, T: 37.7%, G: 8.9%, C: 14.0%. The A + T content is 77.1%, showing strong AT skew. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that G. cantor have sister relationship with Thyestilla gebleri.

Effects of bisphenol A exposure on DNA integrity and protamination of mouse spermatozoa

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A is widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and has caused increasing concern over its potential adverse impacts on spermatogenesis. However, the effect of bisphenol A on spermiogenesis is yet to be explored.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether bisphenol A has adverse effects on DNA integrity and protamination of spermatogenic cell.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Newborn male mice were subcutaneously injected with bisphenol A (0.1, 5 mg/kg body weight, n = 15) or coin oil (control group, n = 20) daily from post-natal day 1 until 35. At post-natal day 70, epididymis caudal spermatozoa and testes were collected. Sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology were analyzed. The sperm chromatin structure assay was performed to examine the sperm DNA fragmentation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to assess apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. The ultrastructural features of testicular sections were examined under a transmission electron microscope. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of transition protein (Tnp) 1 and Tnp2, protamine (Prm) 1 and Prm2 protein, and mRNA in mice testes.

RESULTS

Bisphenol A significantly reduced sperm counts, impaired sperm motility, and increased the percentage of malformed spermatozoa. Poor sperm chromatin integrity and increased TUNEL-positive spermatogenic cells were also observed in mice exposed to bisphenol A. Ultrastructural analysis of testes showed that bisphenol A exposure caused incomplete chromatin condensation, retention of residual cytoplasm, and abnormal acrosome formation. In addition, the relative expression levels of Tnp2 and Prm2 in mice testes decreased significantly in bisphenol A groups.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our findings identified that neonatal bisphenol A exposure may negatively contribute to the sperm quality in adult mice. Mechanistically, we showed that bisphenol A reduced sperm chromatin integrity along with increased DNA damage, which may be due to poor protamination of spermatozoa.

Discovery of potential biomarkers for osteoporosis using LC-MS/MS metabolomic methods

Our study focused on the associations of metabolites with BMD and osteoporosis, finding that several metabolites are associated with BMD, and metabolites combined with bone turnover markers tend to be more sensitive in distinguishing osteoporosis in both males and postmenopausal females, which might be meaningful for the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION

Our study aimed to evaluate the association of metabolites with bone, trying to find new metabolic markers that are distinguishing for low bone mineral density (BMD).

METHODS

Our study recruited 320 participants, including 138 males and 182 postmenopausal females from the Shanghai area. Bone turnover markers (BTMs), including osteocalcin, PINP and β-CTX, and other biochemical traits were tested. BMD values of the lumber spine (L1-4), femoral neck and total hip were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and the serum metabolome profiles including 221 metabolites from five groups (acylcarnitines, amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and hexose) were assessed by mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

No visual separation in the metabolic profiles between different BMD groups was observed in principal component analysis (PCA) or partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models. We compared metabolites in three groups with different BMD levels in males and postmenopausal females separately and further filtering these metabolites via random forest-based feature selection, a commonly applied machine learning algorithm which could select the features with the greatest impact on osteoporosis, then metabolites with the highest importance (≥ 5%) (5 in males and 9 in postmenopausal females) were selected to construct better models for osteoporosis classification. After adding these selected metabolites to the model, the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves increased significantly (BTMs: AUC 0.729, 95% CI 0.647-0.802, p < 0.0001, model 1: AUC = 0.828, 95% CI 0.754-0.888, p < 0.0001; model 1 versus model of BTMs: p = 0.0158) compared to the AUC of the BTM-only model in males. Similar results were also observed in postmenopausal females (BTMs: AUC = 0.638, 95% CI 0.562-0.708, p = 0.0025; model 2: AUC = 0.741, 95% CI 0.669-0.803, p < 0.0001; model 1 versus model of BTMs: p = 0.0182).

CONCLUSION

Metabolites combined with traditional BTMs tend to better markers for distinguishing osteoporosis in both males and postmenopausal females than BTMs alone.

Can we perform esophagectomy for esophageal cancer patients with concomitant liver cirrhosis? A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

Liver cirrhosis is sometimes encountered in esophageal cancer patients intended for surgery. However, the impact of liver cirrhosis on patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted the first meta-analysis focusing on current topic. We comprehensively searched relevant studies in Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science on September 3, 2018. Data for analysis included both short-term (including morbidity and mortality rates) and long-term (5-year survival rate) outcomes. Our meta-analysis was conducted by using the STATA 12.0 package. We finally included a total of six cohort studies involving a total of 1426 patients (161 cirrhotic patients and 1265 noncirrhotic patients). Meta-analysis showed that cirrhotic patients had a significantly higher morbidity rate (risk ratio (RR) = 1.226; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = [1.043, 1.442]; P = 0.014) than noncirrhotic patients. For specific complications, cirrhotic patients had a significantly higher rate of pulmonary complications (RR = 2.354; 95%CI = [1.376, 4.026]; P = 0.002) and pleural effusion (RR = 2.414; 95%CI = [1.482, 3.613]; P < 0.001) than noncirrhotic patients and there was a trend toward a higher rate of anastomotic leak (RR = 1.759; 95%CI = [0.945, 3.274]; P = 0.075) in cirrhotic patients. Moreover, cirrhotic patients also had a significantly higher mortality rate (RR = 2.529; 95%CI = [1.480, 4.324]; P = 0.001) than noncirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients tended to yield a lower 5-year survival rate than those noncirrhotic patients after surgical resection of esophageal cancer (RR = 0.715; 95%CI = [0.492, 1.039]; P = 0.079). In conclusion, liver cirrhosis was significantly correlated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, there was no sufficient evidence of unfavorable survival in cirrhotic patients. Esophagectomy can be performed for certain esophageal cancer patients with concomitant liver cirrhosis with acceptable operative risks, providing that careful preoperative evaluation and patient selection have been achieved.

Effective Dimensionality Reduction for Visualizing Neural Dynamics by Laplacian Eigenmaps

With the development of neural recording technology, it has become possible to collect activities from hundreds or even thousands of neurons simultaneously. Visualization of neural population dynamics can help neuroscientists analyze large-scale neural activities efficiently. In this letter, Laplacian eigenmaps is applied to this task for the first time, and the experimental results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms the commonly used methods. This finding was confirmed by the systematic evaluation using nonhuman primate data, which contained the complex dynamics well suited for testing. According to our results, Laplacian eigenmaps is better than the other methods in various ways and can clearly visualize interesting biological phenomena related to neural dynamics.

Direct Observation of Proton-Neutron Short-Range Correlation Dominance in Heavy Nuclei

We measured the triple coincidence A(e,e^{'}np) and A(e,e^{'}pp) reactions on carbon, aluminum, iron, and lead targets at Q^{2}>1.5  (GeV/c)^{2}, x_{B}>1.1 and missing momentum >400  MeV/c. This was the first direct measurement of both proton-proton (pp) and neutron-proton (np) short-range correlated (SRC) pair knockout from heavy asymmetric nuclei. For all measured nuclei, the average proton-proton (pp) to neutron-proton (np) reduced cross-section ratio is about 6%, in agreement with previous indirect measurements. Correcting for single-charge exchange effects decreased the SRC pairs ratio to ∼3%, which is lower than previous results. Comparisons to theoretical generalized contact formalism (GCF) cross-section calculations show good agreement using both phenomenological and chiral nucleon-nucleon potentials, favoring a lower pp to np pair ratio. The ability of the GCF calculation to describe the experimental data using either phenomenological or chiral potentials suggests possible reduction of scale and scheme dependence in cross-section ratios. Our results also support the high-resolution description of high-momentum states being predominantly due to nucleons in SRC pairs.

Sequential "electrochemical peroxidation - Electro-Fenton" process for anaerobic sludge treatment

In this study, we present a sequential electrochemical process for integral treatment of anaerobic sludge, combining for the first time electrochemical peroxidation (ECP) and electro-Fenton (EF). In the first step, ECP (consisting of H₂O₂-assisted electrocoagulation with Fe electrodes) was applied as a conditioning and stabilizing method, whose synergistic electrocoagulation/Fenton oxidation effects considerably reduced the COD, TOC and total suspended solids (TSS) by 89.3%, 75.4% and 85.6%, respectively, under optimized conditions (initial pH of 5, [H₂O₂]/[Fe²⁺] dose ratio of 5, 15.38 mA cm^-2 and 2 h treatment). Furthermore, total coliforms were completely killed within the first hour of treatment. In the second step, EF was successfully applied to mineralize the remaining organic fraction in the liquid effluent after dewatering, achieving 91.6% and 87.2% of COD and TOC removal, respectively, after 4 h of treatment under optimal conditions (pH 3 and 25 mA cm^-2), while almost total COD and TOC removal was attained in 8 h. The Fe sludge generated at the end of the ECP treatment was easily dewatered by filtration and 20.9 g of nutrient-rich dry sludge were produced. The overall cost of the ECP-EF treatment was S$ 0.05 L^-1 sludge. The combined effects of coagulation and Fenton oxidation during ECP revealed that the treatment efficiency is strongly dependent on the rheological properties of the sludge sample.

Diversity, Daily Activity Patterns, and Pollination Effectiveness of the Insects Visiting Camellia osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera in South China

Camellia spp., which are self-incompatible plants, are some of the most important woody species producing edible oil in Southeast Asian countries. However, the demand for camellia oil currently exceeds the supply due to low product yields that have resulted from a decrease in pollination services. Although Camellia osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera are cultivated in South China, little is known about the correspondence between pollinator abundance and pollinator services for this plant genus. In this study, the diversity, daily activity patterns, and pollination effectiveness of insects visiting C. osmantha, C. vietnamensis and C. oleifera were investigated. A total of 24 species, belonging to four orders and 11 families, of visiting insects were identified. Apis cerana cerana Fabricius, Vespa bicolor Fabricius, V. velutina Lepeletier, V. ducalis Smith, and Phytomia zonata Fabricius were the dominant pollinators. The daily activity peaks of the five visiting insects were between 10:00 and 14:00, which may have been related to the pattern of floral resource production (particularly nectar). Cross-pollination by insects significantly increased the fruit production rates of C. osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera. Therefore, the wild bees and flies that pollinate wild and cultivated Camellia plants should be protected in South China.

Optical quantum weak measurement coupled with UV spectrophotometry for sensitively and non-separatedly detecting enantiopurity

Based on the theories of quantum weak measurement, we built a set of linear common-path optical weak measurement systems in frequency domain for detecting chiral molecules. The polarization resolution with this system to detect the optical rotation of chirality molecules is nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional polarizers. Combined with ultraviolet spectroscopy, the purity of the proline enantiomers mixture was detected. The purity resolution can reach to 0.14%, which is comparable to the liquid chromatography. Weak measurement combined with ultraviolet spectroscopy to non-separatedly detect the purity of chiral enantiomers has great application potential in the pharmaceutical industry.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy may serve as a presurgical predictor of somatostatin analog therapy response in patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary macroadenomas

PURPOSE

Somatostatin analogs (SSAs) are considered one of the most effective medical treatments for patients with growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas (GH-PAs). The postoperative electron microscopy (EM) pathological subtype and SSTR2 expression in the tumor are the most established predictors of patient response to SSA therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate how will magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measurements before surgery predict the EM pathological subtypes and SSTR2 expression of tumors, and thereby serve as an indicator for the therapeutic sensitivity to SSAs of patients with GH-PAs.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with GH pituitary macroadenomas who underwent transsphenoidal surgery were included in this retrospective study. The preoperative MRS data and T2 signal intensity were obtained from patients by 1.5 T MR spectroscopy of the sellar mass. The EM pathological subtypes of tumors were determined after surgery through examination of cell granulations. The expressions of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), SSTR5, P21, P27, and Ki-67 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The MRS parameters that were found to significantly predict the EM pathological subtypes of tumors, as calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, were the choline (Ch) value at 3140.5 MR units (sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 100%) and the choline/creatine (Ch/Cr) ratio at 1.27 (sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 100%). Further, the Ch/Cr ratio, but not other MRS data, was shown to negatively correlate with the expression of SSTR2 (P = 0.02). The Ch/Cr ratio was also found to positively correlate with the Ki-67 value (P < 0.05) and T2 signal (P < 0.05), but not with other factors that were examined in this study. Moreover, the Ch/Cr ratio could predict the EM pathological subtypes of tumors with an accuracy of 83.3% (5/6) for patients with an isointense T2 signal.

CONCLUSION

The Ch/Cr ratio by MRS could effectively predict the tumor subtype and was significantly correlated with the expression of SSTR2, which was consistent with other predictors. It was also able to distinguish the patients with isointense T2 signals. Our results provide a potentially new and non-invasive method to predict the response to SSAs in patients with GH pituitary macroadenomas.

Abstract P6-20-12: FGFR1β is a driver isoform of FGFR1 alternative splicing in breast cancer cells

Background:Abnormal FGFR1 alternative splicing is correlated with tumorigenicity and poor prognosis in several tumor types. We sought to determine the roles of FGFR1α and FGFR1β variants in breast cancer. Methods: TCGA breast cancer samples and cell lines were analyzed for FGFR1α and FGFR1β expression. MCF-10A cells were used to overexpress these variants. Cell growth was assessed by SRB and colony formation assays. Cell transformation was assessed by 3D-Matrigel, soft agar, cell motility assays. Cell survival assay was used to determine drug IC50. Results: In the TCGA, compared to FGFR1 non-amplified samples, FGFR1-amplified samples had significantly higher FGFR1α, but not FGR1β levels. FGFR1β expression levels and FGFR1β/FGFR1α ratio were higher in basal subtype samples than in luminal samples in both the TCGA and in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Both FGFR1α and FGFR1b induced transformation of MCF-10A cells. However, only FGFR1β-expressing cells, not FGFR1α, enhanced cell growth, cell motility, and FGFR signaling. Cells with higher FGFR1β levels and FGFR1β/FGFR1α ratio were more sensitive to FGFR inhibitor BGJ-398. Interestingly, in ER-negative cells, BGJ-398 decreased FGFR1β levels, likely by increasing expression of splicing repressor PTBP1. In ER-positive cells, estrogen treatment increased FGFR1β levels by decreasing PTBP1 expression, which was blocked by 4-OHT. Lastly, combination treatment with BGJ-398 and 4-OHT synergistically inhibited cell survival. Conclusions: These findings suggest that FGFR1 alternative splicing plays an important role in breast cancer, where FGFR1β functions as a driver isoform. Further work is needed to assess FGFR1β prognostic and predictive role.

Citation Format: Zhao M, Zhuo M-L, Zheng X, Su X, Meric-Bernstam F. FGFR1β is a driver isoform of FGFR1 alternative splicing in breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-20-12.

[Magnetic resonance imaging study of endolymphatic hydrops based on 3D-FLAIR sequence after single-dose intravenous gadolinium injection]

Objective: To investigate the visualization of endolymph in patients with otogenic vertigo by intravenous administration of single dose of gadolinium contrast agents and magnetic resonance three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence (3D-FLAIR MRI), and further assess the extent of endolymphatic hydrops. Methods: From Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University between October 2017 and June 2018, 30 patients (16 males, 14 females) with unilateral otogenic vertigo were involved in this study, with the age of 30 to 68 years, mean age of (53±10) years. Eight hours after intravenous administration of single dose (0.1 mmol/kg, body weight) of gadopentetate (Gd-DTPA), 3D-FLAIR sequence was performed in 30 patients. The location of endolymphatic hydrops was observed and then the degree of hydrops was quantitatively elevated by two radiologists. The consistency test was used to analyze the location and degree of endolymphatic hydrops in the two radiologists and the paired t-test was used to compare the difference between the affected and healthy side of endolymphatic spaces of the patients with otogenic vertigo. Results: In 30 patients, the gadolinium distributed in all parts of the perilymph inside the inner ear, and can accurately outline the boundaries of the peri-and endolymph. Twenty-six patients (26/30, 86.7%) were found to have unilateral endolymphatic hydrops, including 18 mild hydrops, 8 significant hydrops. The two radiologists had a very good agreement on the assessment of endolymphatic hydrops(kappa=0.864, ICC=0.959). In the 3D-FLAIR MR images of 26 patients with endolymphatic hydrops, the saccule (26/26, 100%) had a higher rate of hydrops than the cochlea and utricle(16/26, 61.5%; 14/26, 53.8%), and two radiologists had a very good agreement on the location of endolymphatic hydrops(kappa=0.820). Moreover, there was a significantly statistical difference between the affected and healthy area of the endolymphatic space in this study (P<0.01). Conclusion: The technique of 3D-FLAIR MR imaging through single dose intravenous gadolinium injection is feasible, which can estimate endolymphatic hydrops in patients with otogenic vertigo, and accurately classify the degree of hydrops.

1 Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of bovine gametes and invivo-produced pre-implantation embryos

Dynamic changes in DNA methylation are crucial in the epigenetic regulation of mammalian embryogenesis. Global DNA methylation studies in the bovine, however, remain mostly at the immunostaining level. We adopted the single-cell whole-genome bisulfite sequencing method to characterise stage-specific genome-wide DNA methylation in bovine sperm, individual oocytes derived invivo and invitro, and invivo-developed embryos at the 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-cell stages. This method allowed us to theoretically cover all CpG sites in the genome using a limited number of cells from single embryos. Pools of 20 sperm were selected from a bull with proven fertility. Single oocytes (n=6) and embryos (n=4 per stage) were collected from Holstein cows (n=10). Single-cell whole-genome bisulfite sequencing libraries were prepared and sequenced using the Illumina HiSEqn 4000 platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Sequencing reads were filtered and aligned to the bovine reference genome (UMD 3.1.1) using Bismark (Krueger and Andrews 2011Bioinformatics27, 1571-1572, DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btr167).A 300-bp tile-based method was applied to bin the genome into consecutive windows to facilitate comparison across samples. The DNA methylation level was calculated as the fraction of read counts of the total number of cytosines (methylated) in the total read counts of reported cytosines and thymines (methylated and unmethylated), only if more than 3 CpG sites were covered in this tile. Gamete-specific differentially methylated regions were identified when DNA methylation levels were greater than 75% in one type of gamete and less than 25% in the other with false discovery rate-corrected Fisher’s exact test P-values of less than 0.05. The major wave of genome-wide DNA demethylation was complete at the 8-cell stage when de novo methylation became prominent. Sperm and oocytes had numerous differentially methylated regions that were enriched in intergenic regions. Differentially methylated regions were also identified between invivo- and invitro-matured oocytes. Moreover, X chromosome methylation followed the global dynamic patterns. Virtually no (less than 1.5%) DNA methylation was found in mitochondrial DNA. Finally, using our RNA sequencing data generated from the same developmental stages (Jiang et al. 2014 BMC Genomics 15, 756; DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-756), we revealed an inverse correlation between gene expression and promoter methylation. Our study provides the first fully comprehensive analysis of the global dynamics of DNA methylation in bovine gametes and single early embryos using single-cell whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. These data provide insights into the critical features of the methylome of bovine embryos and serve as an important reference for embryos produced by assisted reproduction, such as IVF and cloning, and a model for human early embryo epigenetic regulation.

Association of serum galectin-3 with risks of death and vascular events in acute ischaemic stroke patients: the role of hyperglycemia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Whether the association between galectin-3 and stroke outcome is modified by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is unknown. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic effect of galectin-3 amongst ischaemic stroke patients stratified by FPG.

METHODS

In all, 3082 ischaemic stroke patients were included in this study and serum galectin-3 was tested at baseline. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of death and vascular events, and secondary outcomes were death, stroke recurrence and vascular events within 1 year after stroke.

RESULTS

Increased galectin-3 was significantly associated with the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events in the patients with hyperglycemia but not in those with normoglycemia (P for interaction < 0.05 for all). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.72 (1.05-2.84), 2.64 (1.14-6.12) and 2.68 (1.33-5.38) for the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events, respectively. A linear association between galectin-3 and the primary outcome was observed in hyperglycemic patients (P for linearity = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Increased galectin-3 was associated with the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events within 1 year after stroke in the patients with hyperglycemia, suggesting that galectin-3 may be an important prognostic factor for ischaemic stroke patients with hyperglycemia.

CO2 concentration affects in vitro pig embryo developmental capacity

Culture gas atmosphere is one of the most important factors affecting embryo development in vitro. The main objective of this study was to compare the effects of CO concentration on the subsequent pre-implantation developmental capacity of pig embryos in vitro, including embryos obtained via parthenogenesis, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Pig embryos were developed in four different CO2 concentrations in air: 3%, 5%, 10%, or 15%. The cleavage rate of pig parthenogenetic, IVF, or ICSI embryos developed in CO2 concen- trations under 5% was the highest. There were no significant differences in the oocyte cleavage rate in ICSI embryos in CO2 concentrations under 3% and 5% (p>0.05). However, as CO2 levels increased (up to 15%) the blastocyst output on day 7, from parthenogenetic, IVF, and ICSI em- bryos, decreased to 0%. These findings demonstrate that CO2 positively affects the developmen- tal capacity of pig embryos. However, high or low CO2 levels do not significantly improve the developmental capacity of pig embryos. The best results were obtained for all of the pig embryos at a 5% CO2 concentration.

Integrated analysis of long noncoding RNA and mRNA expression profiles reveals the potential role of long noncoding RNA in different bovine lactation stages

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) play a critical role in mammary development and breast cancer biology. Despite their important role in the mammary gland, little is known of the roles of lncRNA in bovine lactation, particularly regarding the molecular processes underlying it. To characterize the role of lncRNA in bovine lactation, 4 samples of Holstein cow mammary gland tissue at peak and late lactation stages were examined after biopsy. We then profiled the transcriptome of the mammary gland using RNA sequencing technology. Further, functional lncRNA-mRNA coexpression pairs were constructed to infer the function of lncRNA using a generalized linear model, followed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. More than 1,000 putative lncRNA were identified, 117 of which were differentially expressed between peak and late lactation stages. Bovine lncRNA were shorter, with fewer exon numbers, and expressed at significantly lower levels than protein-coding genes. Seventy-two differentially expressed (DE) lncRNA were coexpressed with 340 different protein-coding genes. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that target mRNA for DE lncRNA were mainly related to lipid and glucose metabolism, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Further bioinformatics and integrative analyses revealed that 12 DE lncRNA potentially played important roles in bovine lactation. Our findings provide a valuable resource for future bovine transcriptome studies, facilitate the understanding of bovine lactation biology, and offer functional information for cattle lactation.

Berberine Ameliorates Periodontal Bone Loss by Regulating Gut Microbiota

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is a risk factor for periodontitis, and current therapeutics against PMO prevent the aggravated alveolar bone loss of periodontitis in estrogen-deficient women. Gut microbiota is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for PMO. Berberine extracted from Chinese medicinal plants has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes via regulating gut microbiota. Here, we hypothesize that berberine ameliorates periodontal bone loss by improving the intestinal barriers by regulating gut microbiota under an estrogen-deficient condition. Experimental periodontitis was established in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and the OVX-periodontitis rats were treated with berberine for 7 wk before sacrifice for analyses. Micro–computed tomography and histologic analyses showed that berberine treatment significantly reduced alveolar bone loss and improved bone metabolism of OVX-periodontitis rats as compared with the vehicle-treated OVX-periodontitis rats. In parallel, berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats harbored a higher abundance of butyrate-producing gut microbiota with elevated butyrate generation, as demonstrated by 16S rRNA sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats consistently showed improved intestinal barrier integrity and decreased intestinal paracellular permeability with a lower level of serum endotoxin. In parallel, IL-17A-related immune responses were attenuated in berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats with a lower serum level of proinflammatory cytokines and reduced IL-17A+ cells in alveolar bone as compared with vehicle-treated OVX-periodontitis rats. Our data indicate that gut microbiota is a potential target for the treatment of estrogen deficiency–aggravated periodontal bone loss, and berberine represents a promising adjuvant therapeutic by modulating gut microbiota.

MLCK-mediated intestinal permeability promotes immune activation and visceral hypersensitivity in PI-IBS mice

BACKGROUND

Alterations in intestinal permeability regulated by tight junctions (TJs) are associated with immune activation and visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is an important mediator of epithelial TJ. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of MLCK in the pathogenesis of IBS using a post infectious IBS (PI-IBS) mouse model.

METHODS

Trichinella spiralis-infected PI-IBS mouse model was used. Urine lactulose/mannitol ratio was measured to assess intestinal epithelial permeability. Western blotting was used to evaluate intestinal TJ protein (zonula occludens-1) and MLCK-associated protein expressions. Immune profile was assessed by measuring Th (T helper) 1/Th2 cytokine expression. Visceral sensitivity was determined by abdominal withdrawal reflex in response to colorectal distension.

RESULTS

Eight weeks after inoculation with T. spiralis, PI-IBS mice developed decreased pain and volume thresholds during colorectal distention, increased urine lactulose/mannitol ratio, elevated colonic Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, and decreased zonula occludens-1 expression compared to the control mice. MLCK expression was dramatically elevated in the colonic mucosa of PI-IBS mice compared to the control mice, alongside increased pMLC/MLC and decreased MLCP expression. Administration of MLCK inhibitor and TJ blocker both reversed the increased intestinal permeability, visceral hypersensitivity, and Th1-dominant immune profile in PI-IBS mice.

CONCLUSION

MLCK is a pivotal step in inducing increased intestinal permeability promoting low-grade intestinal immune activation and visceral hypersensitivity in PI-IBS mice. MLCK inhibitor may provide a potential therapeutic option in the treatment of IBS.

Rehabilitation service utilisation among adults with intellectual disabilities: Trends and socioeconomic disparities in China

BACKGROUND

Intellectual disabilities (IDs) have become a public health concern worldwide, but few studies on rehabilitation service utilisation in this population were conducted in developing countries. We aimed to examine trends and socioeconomic disparities in the utilisation of rehabilitation services among adults with IDs in China.

METHODS

We obtained data from a population-based survey by using a multistage, randomised, cluster sampling process to ascertain adults with IDs in 2006 and a selected subsample for follow-up surveys during 2007-2013. Psychiatrists ascertained individuals with IDs ascertained by intelligence quotient score under 70, deficits in two or more adaptive behaviours and age of onset under 18 years.

RESULTS

Overall, the utilisation rate of rehabilitation services significantly increased from 10.1% in 2007 to 33.7% in 2013, with an annual average percentage growth of 34.3% when adjusting for multiple confounders. The mounting trends remained significant in all socioeconomic groups. The growth rates among lower socioeconomic participants were much higher than those among higher socioeconomic participants, and the strength in the association between socioeconomic position (education and region) and rehabilitation service utilisation declined in 2007-2013.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found an upward trend in rehabilitation service utilisation in Chinese adults with IDs during 2007-2013, and socioeconomic disparities in rehabilitation service use in this population showed a downward trend over time.

Center of Mass Motion of Short-Range Correlated Nucleon Pairs studied via the A(e,e^{'}pp) Reaction

Short-range correlated (SRC) nucleon pairs are a vital part of the nucleus, accounting for almost all nucleons with momentum greater than the Fermi momentum (k_{F}). A fundamental characteristic of SRC pairs is having large relative momenta as compared to k_{F}, and smaller center of mass (c.m.) which indicates a small separation distance between the nucleons in the pair. Determining the c.m. momentum distribution of SRC pairs is essential for understanding their formation process. We report here on the extraction of the c.m. motion of proton-proton (pp) SRC pairs in carbon and, for the first time in heavier and ansymetric nuclei: aluminum, iron, and lead, from measurements of the A(e,e^{'}pp) reaction. We find that the pair c.m. motion for these nuclei can be described by a three-dimensional Gaussian with a narrow width ranging from 140 to 170  MeV/c, approximately consistent with the sum of two mean-field nucleon momenta. Comparison with calculations appears to show that the SRC pairs are formed from mean-field nucleons in specific quantum states.