Final results for the neutron -asymmetry parameter A0 from the UCNA experiment

The UCNA experiment was designed to measure the neutron β-asymmetry parameter A0 using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). UCN produced via downscattering in solid deuterium were polarized via transport through a 7 T magnetic field, and then directed to a 1 T solenoidal electron spectrometer, where the decay electrons were detected in electron detector packages located on the two ends of the spectrometer. A value for A0 was then extracted from the asymmetry in the numbers of counts in the two detector packages. We summarize all of the results from the UCNA experiment, obtained during run periods in 2007, 2008–2009, 2010, and 2011–2013, which ultimately culminated in a 0.67% precision result for A0.

Phosphorylation of nucleopolyhedrovirus 39K is essential for the regulation of viral gene transcription in silkworm cells

39K protein was proven to be the most notable hyperphosphorylated protein of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), since its amino acid 136 has the highest phosphorylation ratio (16.683) among all of BmNPV phosphorylated proteins (Shobahah et al., 2017). Therefore, we inserted positive (mimicking phosphorylation) and negative (mimicking dephosphorylation) mutants of the highest phosphorylated site of 39K and the wild type 39k into the 39k-ko-Bacmid using the Bac-to-Bac system. These three kinds of recombinant Bacmids along with wild type and knocked-out Bacmid were then transfected into the Bombyx mori cells (BmN) and further investigated by qPCR analysis. The results of the qPCR showed that 39K phosphorylation had no significant effect on viral genome replication, unlike the positive mutation that reduced the viral gene transcription drastically compared to the wild type. Thus, phosphorylation of BmNPV 39K protein does not appear to be the essential mechanism for viral genome replication, even though it has an important role in the viral gene transcription. Keywords: BmNPV; 39K; phosphorylation; virus replication; virus transcription.

Scarless neck endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breast approach: A preliminary report of 45 cases with total or near-total thyroidectomy plus central compartment dissection

BACKGROUND

There are various endoscopic techniques for thyroid carcinoma dissection but few reports regarding the scarless neck technique and central compartment dissection (CCD) via the breast approach, especially for bilateral CCD are available. In this study, we reported 45 cases with scarless neck endoscopic total or near-total thyroidectomy plus CCD via the breast approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-five female patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) were enrolled in the study, from January 2011 to March 2013. In brief, 5 mm ultrasonic coagulation device (Harmonic Scalpel, HS; Ethicon Endosurgery, USA) was used to perform thyroid vessel management and thyroidectomy. Twenty patients underwent total thyroidectomy and 25 underwent near-total thyroidectomy. CCD was performed in all 45 patients, including 13 with bilateral CCD and 32 with ipsilateral CCD.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful for all 45 patients. Sixteen patients (35.6%) had lymph node metastases in central compartments. Postoperative transient adverse events included voice changes (9 patients) and hypocalcemia (18 patients), including 7 (21.9%) in the unilateral group and 11 (84.6%) in bilateral group. There was no permanent hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy. None of the case were converted to open surgical procedure. All patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result of the scarless neck endoscopic thyroidectomy (SET). No evidence of residual or recurrent disease was found during a mean follow-up of 22.84 months (range, 12-34 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Experienced thyroid surgeons performed the scarless neck endoscopic total or near-total thyroidectomy plus unilateral or bilateral CCD via the breast approach for selected PTC patients. The procedure was safe and feasible with excellent cosmetic results.

[Problems and countermeasures of ocular trauma emergency management in China]

The emergency management of ocular trauma has direct effects on the final results of second-stage surgical treatment and prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to attach great importance to the emergency treatment of ocular trauma, and to adopt practical and effective methods. Based on our analysis the existing problems relevant to emergency management of ocular trauma in China, we put forward some measures, including further standardizing the ocular trauma emergency management, developing ocular trauma emergency management training, improving the relevant system and mechanism for the emergency management of ocular trauma, and strengthening the registration work of ocular trauma emergency and etc. The aim is to significantly improve the level of emergency management of ocular trauma in China. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 641-644).

InDels within caprine IGF2BP1 intron 2 and the 3'-untranslated regions are associated with goat growth traits

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is involved in the Hedgehog pathway and has been shown to regulate the RNA stability of several growth-related target genes. It is located in a quantitative trait locus showing a strong association with traits related to body size in ducks. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) also participates in Hedgehog signaling pathways and has been reported to be associated with organic growth and development. FGFR1-knockout mice have been shown to have severe postnatal growth defects, including an approximately 50% reduction in body weight and bone mass. Meanwhile, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor (SMG6) can maintain genomic stability, which is associated with organic growth and development. Therefore, we hypothesized that IGF2BP1, FGFR1 and SMG6 genes may play important roles in the growth traits of goats. In this study, the existence of two insertion/deletion (InDel) variants within IGF2BP1, one InDel within FGFR1 and two InDels within SMG6 was verified and their correlation with growth traits was analyzed in 2429 female Shaanbei white cashmere goats. Results showed both the 15 bp InDel in intron 2 and the 5 bp InDel in the 3' regulatory region within IGF2BP1 were significantly associated with growth traits (P < 0.05) and goats with the combinatorial homozygous insertion genotypes of these two loci had the highest body weight (P = 0.046). The other InDels within FGFR1 and SMG6 were not obviously associated with growth traits (P > 0.05). Therefore, the two InDels in IGF2BP1 were vital mutations affecting goat growth traits.

[Association between congenital heart disease and maternal disease in early pregnancy in women of childbearing age]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between maternal disease in early pregnancy of women of childbearing age and congenital heart disease of neonates. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study and stratified multistage random sampling method was used. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the childbearing-aged women during 2010-2013 in Shaanxi province. Propensity score (PS) matched (1∶1) analysis was used to match participants with diseases to those without disease in early pregnancy. Through the control of the confounders step by step, a logistic regression model was established to evaluate the ORs of congenital heart disease according to the independent variable of maternal disease. Results: A total of 28 680 pairs of mothers and infants were included in this study, the proportion of the women with disease in early pregnancy was 20.25% (5 807). After PS matching, 5 436 pairs were matched. After adjusting all confounding factors, the multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that maternal disease (OR=1.86, 95%CI: 1.23-2.81), especially cold (OR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.46-3.28), gynecological disease (OR=4.74, 95%CI: 2.03-11.09) and diabetes (OR=14.00, 95%CI: 1.64-119.21), in early pregnancy were the risk factors for congenital heart disease of neonate. Conclusion: In women of childbearing age, disease in early pregnancy, especially cold, gynecological disease and diabetes, can increase the risk of congenital heart disease in neonates.

[Cost-effectiveness of potential government fully-funded influenza vaccination in population with diabetes in China]

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of potential government fully-funded influenza vaccination for diabetics in our country. Methods: From the societal perspective, a decision tree model was developed to compare outcomes (including impact on the influenza-related outpatient consultation, hospitalization and excess mortality, and quality-adjusted life years (QALY), as well as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER)) of a national fully-funded vaccination programme in the population with diabetes and status quo (i.e., vaccinated with out-of-pocket payment, with a uptake rate of zero), using the published data with regarding to influenza related ILI (influenza-like illness) consultation rate, hospitalization rate and excess mortality rate, health-related quality of life and economic burden, diabetes prevalence, population size, health seeking behaviour, vaccine uptake rate, vaccine efficacy/effectiveness, etc. A time horizon of 1 year was used in the present analysis, and all costs were expressed in CNY in 2016 using the consumer price index. All results are presented in M (P(25), P(75)). Results: In the scenario of 40% vaccination coverage in the population with diabetes, government fully-funded vaccination programme was estimated to cost 1.71 (1.67, 1.75) billions CNY, and expected to prevent 110 000 (81 000, 143 000) influenza-related ILI consultations, 36 000 (28 000, 44 000) influenza-related SARI hospitalizations and 12 000 (9 000, 16 000) influenza-related deaths due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 108 000 (82 000, 142 000) QALY were estimated to be gained. The ICER was 10 088 (7 365, 14 046) CNY per QALY gained. The probability of cost-effectiveness of the fully-funded vaccination programme was 99.1% at a threshold of 53 680 CNY per QALY gained (GDP per capita in 2016). Conclusion: Government fully-funded influenza vaccination in population with diabetes is cost-effective, and thus is recommended as the key strategy of diabetes prevention and control.

106Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide is associated with culprit plaque characterization as assessed by optical coherence tomography in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Previous study have demonstrated that plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with vulnerable plaque characteristics as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the relation between TMAO and the culprit plaque characteristics as assessed by OCT in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) exhibiting plaque rupture at the site of the culprit stenosis is unknown.

Objective

To explore the relation between plasma TMAO and coronary culprit plaque characterization assessed by OCT in AMI patients exhibiting plaque rupture.

Method

We prospectively enrolled 90 AMI patients with plaque rupture identified by OCT and collected demographic data, risk factors, coronary angiography and OCT data, medical history and laboratory findings of all patients. Plasma TMAO levels were detected by stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Macrophage presence in coronary culprit plaque was quantified by normalized standard deviation (NSD).

Result

All patients were divided into two groups (high TMAO group and low TMAO group) according to the median plasma TMAO level (3.22uM). The culprit plaques in the high TMAO group exhibited a thinner fibrous cap thickness (60um [60–100um] versus 90um [70–110um], P=0.013]), higher frequency of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (15.6% versus 55.6%, P<0.001), microvessel (24.4% versus 4.4%, P=0.014) and macrophage infiltration (66.7% versus 26.7%, P<0.001) compared with the low TMAO group. Moreover, the level of TMAO was significantly positively associated with NSD (Pearson's correlation coefficient: r=0.766, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Plasma TMAO levels are associated with coronary plaque vulnerability and inflammation in patients with AMI exhibiting plaque rupture.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2016-I2M-1-009)

P819Post-procedural cholesterol and inflammatory risk in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective

This study sought to depict the combined association of post-procedural cholesterol and inflammatory risk with clinical outcomes among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and pick out patients with highest comprehensive risk.

Methods

A total of 4802 AMI-PCI patients were divided into quartiles according to post-procedural low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP) level respectively and in combinations for risk analysis. Univariate and adjusted multivariate analysis with Cox model were performed. Hazard ratio (HR) for short-term (90 days) and long-term (1 year) were compared for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.

Results

A significant change in the hazards of 90-day MACE was seen among patients in the highest quartile of post-procedural LDL-C [HR: 0.526 (0.291, 0.951), p=0.034] and highest quartile of CRP [HR: 2.119 (1.150, 3.920), p=0.016]. For 1-year outcomes, only a trend for increasing risk was seen in patients with higher post-procedural CRP (p-trend = 0.016). Combination analysis for cholesterol/inflammatory risk showed that patients lying simultaneously in the lowest quartile of LDL-C and highest quartile of CRP gained the highest risk in the 90-day [HR: 3.16 (1.124, 8.886), p=0.029] and 1-year [HR: 2.515 (1.153, 5.486), p=0.020] follow up.

Hazard ratios (HR) for short-term (90 days) and long-term (1 year) primary outcomes according to cholesterol and inflammatory risk 90 days 1 year Type of risk Unadjusted HR (95% CI) P value Adjusted HR (95% CI) P value P for trend Unadjusted HR (95% CI) P value Adjusted HR (95% CI) P value P for trend LDL, mmol/L   Quartile 2 0.742 (0.441, 1,248) 0.260 0.663 (0.390, 1.125) 0.128 0.033 0.722 (0.364, 1.125) 0.150 0.683 (0.435, 1.072) 0.097 0.251   Quartile 3 0.653 (0.381, 1.121) 0.122 0.597 (0.344, 1.038) 0.068 0.850 (0.557, 1.229) 0.453 0.850 (0.550, 1.312) 0.462   Quartile 4 0.517 (0.288, 0.928) 0.027 0.526 (0.291, 0.951) 0.034 0.673 (0.427, 1.061) 0.088 0.708 (0.444, 1.131) 0.149 CRP, mg/L   Quartile 2 1.365 (0.717, 2.599) 0.334 1.295 (0.654, 2.522) 0.448 0.007 1.063 (0.656, 1.722) 0.805 0.998 (0.608, 1.636) 0.992 0.016   Quartile 3 1.306 (0.681, 2.502) 0.442 1.279 (0.654, 2.499) 0.472 0.999 (0.612, 1.630) 0.996 0.968 (0.586, 1.597) 0.897   Quartile 4 2.354 (1.312, 4.221) 0.004 2.119 (1.150, 3.920) 0.016 1.657 (1.069, 2.570) 0.024 1.528 (0.967, 2.413) 0.069 Multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, sex and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Combined cholesterol/inflammatory risk

Conclusion

AMI-PCI patients with lower post-procedural LDL-C and higher CRP might encounter greater cardiovascular risk. Patients with the lowest LDL-C and highest CRP gained extremely high risk and required special attention.

Acetylene hydrochlorination over boron-doped Pd/HY zeolite catalysts

A novel boron-doped Pd/HY zeolite catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination was prepared and exhibited an outstanding catalytic performance (the acetylene conversion was maintained at >95% for about 30 h). The boron species can stabilize catalytically active Pd²⁺ species and weaken carbon deposition and Pd²⁺ reduction during the reaction, thus improving the catalytic stability.

B doping partly weakens carbon deposition and Pd²⁺ reduction, thus enhancing catalytic stabilities of Pd/HY catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination.

[Study on the association of dietary patterns of Shaanxi women of childbearing age during pregnancy with adverse pregnancy outcomes from 2010 to 2012]

Objective: To analyze the types of dietary patterns of women during pregnancy in Shaanxi and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional program named "The prevalence and risk factors of birth defects in Shaanxi Province" from July to November in 2013. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to extract 15 980 women of childbearing age who met the inclusion exclusion criteria from Shaanxi Province. The questionnaire obtained information such as the pregnancy outcome and the food intake of the study subjects during pregnancy. The dietary pattern was extracted by factor analysis, and the each dietary pattern of subjects were divided into T(1)-T(3) groups according to the factor score. The effects of each dietary pattern on major adverse pregnancy outcomes were estimated by unconditional logistic regression model. Results: Four dietary patterns were established:vegetarian pattern, balanced pattern, traditional pattern, and processing pattern. The multivariate logistic regression model results showed that compared with the vegetarian pattern T(2) group, the T(1) group had lower risk of low birth weight (OR=0.56, 95%CI: 0.41-0.83), and the T(3) group had higher risk of low birth weight in offspring (OR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.59-3.89); compared with the traditional pattern T(2) group, the T(3) group had higher risk of premature (OR=2.62, 95%CI: 1.58-5.01); compared with the balanced pattern T(2) group, the T(3) group had a lower risk of spontaneous abortion (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.36-0.89); compared with the processing pattern T(2) group, the T(3) group had a higher risk of spontaneous abortion (OR=1.97, 95%CI: 1.36-3.34) and higher risk of stillbirth (OR=2.96, 95%CI: 1.49-6.26), and the T(1) group had a lower risk of stillbirths in offspring (OR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.33-0.83). Conclusion: The women of childbearing age in Shaanxi have different dietary patterns, and there may be a correlation between dietary patterns and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Long-Chain Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) MT1JP Suppresses Biological Activities of Lung Cancer by Regulating miRNA-423-3p/Bim Axis

<strong>BACKGROUND</strong> This study aimed to explain the effects and mechanism of MT1JP in lung cancer development and treatment. <strong>MATERIAL AND METHODS</strong> Thirty non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (stages I-II, 17 cases; stages III-IV, 13 cases) and adjacent normal tissues were obtained. MT1JP and miRNA-423-3p levels were assessed by <i>in situ</i> hybridization and Bim protein expression by immunohistochemistry, and the correlations determined were analyzed. Cell proliferation was determined using MTT and colony formation assay, and cell apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. A549 cell invasion and migration were assessed by Transwell migration and scratch wound healing assays. Relative mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Correlations between miRNA-423-3p and Bim protein were investigated using luciferase activity assay, and Bim protein expression was evaluated using western blotting. <strong>RESULTS</strong> MT1JP, miRNA-423-3p, and Bim expressions in NSCLC cancer tissues and those in adjacent cancer tissues were significantly different (<i>P</i><0.01 or <i>P</i><0.001) with increasing stage. Compared with those in the normal control (NC) group, cell proliferation rates were significantly suppressed (<i>P</i><0.01 or <i>P</i><0.001) and cell apoptosis rates significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01 or <i>P</i><0.001) in the miRNA inhibitor and lncRNA+miRNA inhibitor groups. Invasion cell numbers and wound healing rates were also significantly inhibited in the miRNA inhibitor and lncRNA+miRNA inhibitor groups (<i>P</i><0.01 or <i>P</i><0.001) compared with those in the NC group. <strong>CONCLUSIONS</strong> The lncRNA MT1JP suppresses NSCLC biological activities by regulating the miRNA-423-3p/Bim axis.

Multimodal X-ray imaging of grain-level properties and performance in a polycrystalline solar cell

The factors limiting the performance of alternative polycrystalline solar cells as compared with their single-crystal counterparts are not fully understood, but are thought to originate from structural and chemical heterogeneities at various length scales. Here, it is demonstrated that multimodal focused nanobeam X-ray microscopy can be used to reveal multiple aspects of the problem in a single measurement by mapping chemical makeup, lattice structure and charge collection efficiency simultaneously in a working solar cell. This approach was applied to micrometre-sized individual grains in a Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ polycrystalline film packaged in a working device. It was found that, near grain boundaries, collection efficiency is increased, and that in these regions the lattice parameter of the material is expanded. These observations are discussed in terms of possible physical models and future experiments.

[Retrospective cohort study on the correlation between high value of lactic acid and risk of death in 127 patients with extensive burn during shock stage]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between serum lactic acid value and risk of death in patients with extensive burn during shock stage and the related influencing factors. Methods: Clinical data of 127 patients (111 males and 16 females) with extensive burn admitted to Institute of Burn Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2009 to December 2013 and Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018, who met the admission criteria, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients aged 21 to 62 years, with total burn area more than 50% total body surface area. All patients were treated with antishock therapy after admission. (1) According to the treatment outcome, the patients were divided into survival group (n=98) and death group (n=29). The gender, age, total burn area, partial-thickness burn area, full-thickness burn area, abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI), admission time after injury, number of patients with inhalation injury, number of patients with acute renal failure, and serum lactic acid values on admission and at post admission hour (PAH) 12, 24, 36, and 48 were recorded. (2) According to the optimal positive cut-off value of serum lactic acid 48 hours after admission, the patients were divided into high lactic acid group and normal lactic acid group. Age, gender, total burn area, indexes at PAH 48 including urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, white blood cell count, platelet count, lymphocyte count, prothrombin time (PT), hematocrit value, oxygenation index, respiratory index (RI), the alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference, mean arterial pressure (MAP) at PAH 48, the average urine volume within 48 hours after admission, the total volume of intravenous fluid infusion within 48 hours after admission, the volume of fluid infusion per kilogram of body mass within the first 24 hours after admission, the volume of fluid infusion per one percent of body surface area per kilogram of body mass within the first 24 hours after admission, the volume of urine per kilogram of body mass per hour within the first 24 hours after admission, and the percentage of hospital death were recorded. Data were processed with t test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact probability test. Cox regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of serum lactic acid value at PAH 48 of 127 patients was drawn to predict patients' death and determine the optimal positive cut-off value. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors causing increase of serum lactic acid. Results: (1) There were significantly statistical differences in total burn area, full-thickness burn area, and ABSI of patients between survival group and death group (t=6.257, 4.476, 5.727, P<0.01), while other indexes between the two groups were close. (2) The serum values of lactic acid of patients in death group on admission and at PAH 12, 24, 36, and 48 were (4.00±0.28), (4.50±0.26), (4.02±0.31), (3.48±0.22), (3.40±0.19) mmol/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in survival group [(3.30±0.21), (3.20±0.19), (2.33±0.17), (1.85±0.18), (1.50±0.09) mmol/L, t=14.552, 29.603, 38.133, 40.648, 74.973, P<0.05 or P<0.01]. (3) Cox regression analysis showed that the serum value of lactic acid at PAH 48 was the independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients, with risk ratio of 1.853 and 95% confidence interval of 1.342-2.559, P<0.01. (4) The total area under ROC of serum value of lactic acid at PAH 48 to predict death of 127 patients was 0.811, with 95% confidence interval of 0.699-0.924, P<0.01. The optimal positive cut-off value of serum value of lactic acid was 1.75 mmol/L, with sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 79.5% for predicting death. (5) There were significantly statistical differences in total burn area, ALT, AST, ALP, PT, total serum bilirubin, total volume of intravenous fluid infusion within 48 hours after admission, volume of fluid infusion per kilogram of body mass within the first 24 hours after admission, and percentage of hospital deaths of patients between high lactic acid group (n=34) and normal lactic acid group (n=93), t=3.592, 6.797, 10.367, 2.089, 2.880, 4.517, 2.984, 4.044, χ(2)=58.498, P<0.05 or P<0.01, while other indexes were close between the two groups. (6) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that AST and total serum bilirubin were independent risk factors for increase of serum lactic acid, with odds ratios of 1.021 and 1.064 and 95% confidence intervals of 1.001-1.040 and 1.001-1.132, P<0.05. Conclusions: Serum value of lactic acid at PAH 48 can independently predict the death of patients with extensive burns. Liver injury is an important risk factor causing hyperlacticemia during burn shock stage. Widespread increase of vascular permeability and large amount of fluid resuscitation are the core factors leading to aggravation of abdominal organ injury.

Systemic disruption of the homeostasis of transfer RNA isopentenyltransferase causes growth and development abnormalities in Bombyx mori

Isopentenylation at A37 (i⁶ A37) of some transfer RNAs (tRNAs) plays a vital role in regulating the efficiency and fidelity of protein synthesis. However, whether insects, which are well known for their highly efficient protein synthesis machinery, employ this regulatory mechanism remains uninvestigated. In the current study, a candidate tRNA isopentenyltransferase (IPT) gene with three alternative splicing isoforms (BmIPT1-BmIPT3) was identified in Bombyx mori (silkworm). Only BmIPT1 could complement a yeast mutant lacking tRNA IPT. Phylogenetic analysis showed that silkworm tRNA IPT is conserved in the Lepidoptera. BmIPT was expressed in all B. mori tissues and organs that were investigated, but was expressed at a significantly higher level in silk glands of the fourth instar compared to the first day of the fifth instar. Interestingly, BmIPT was expressed at a significantly higher level in the domesticated silkworm, B. mori, than in wild Bombyx mandarina in multiple tissues and organs. Knock-down of BmIPT by RNA interference caused severe abnormalities in silk spinning and metamorphosis. Constitutive overexpression of BmIPT1 using a cytoplasmic actin 4 promoter in B. mori raised its messenger RNA level more than sixfold compared with nontransgenic insects and led to significant decreases in the body weight and cocoon shell ratio. Together, these results confirm the first functional tRNA IPT in insects and show that a suitable expression level of tRNA IPT is vital for silk spinning, normal growth, and metamorphosis. Thus, i⁶ A modification at position A37 in tRNA probably plays an important role in B. mori protein synthesis.

[Association between family history and the risk of hypertension in rural districts of Hanzhong in Shaanxi province]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of hypertension and quantitative relationship between family history and the risk of hypertension among rural residents living in Hanzhong District, Shaanxi province. Methods: A multistage random sampling survey was conducted. Data on the characteristics related to hypertension were collected and physical examination was conducted. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between family history and hypertension. Results: A total number of 2 817 rural residents aged 18-80 with complete information were recruited. The crude prevalence of hypertension was 33.7%. Results from the logistic regression analysis showed that the OR was 2.06 (95% CI: 1.70-2.50) between family histories with or without hypertension. When the first-degree relatives were with the degrees of family history of hypertention as Ⅰ, Ⅱ or Ⅲ, the OR values of hypertension appeared as 1.83 (95% CI: 1.47-2.27), 2.94 (95% CI: 2.09-4.13) and 4.48 (95% CI: 2.17-9.27) respectively. Either father or mother having the positive family history of hypertension, the corresponding OR values appeared as 2.50 (95% CI: 1.84-3.40), 1.61(95% CI: 1.22-2.12) seen in mothers. However, when both father and mother having the family history of hypertention, the OR value was seen 2.82 (95%CI: 1.76-4.51) in the mothers. Conclusion: Family history appeared as a risk factor for hypertension. The number of first-degree relatives with positive family history showed a dose-response relationship to the occurrence of hypertension. Family history in both father or mother might further affect the incidence of hypertension.