Aberrant intrinsic brain activity and cognitive deficit in first-episode treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Given the important role of the default mode network (DMN) in cognitive function and the well-known neurocognitive deficit in schizophrenia, it is intriguing to examine systematically the relationship between neurocognitive dysfunction and aberrant intrinsic activities, and also functional connectivity, of the DMN in patients with schizophrenia. Method First-episode, treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia (FES) (n = 115) and healthy controls (n = 113) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans and neurocognitive tests. Intrinsic neural activities evaluated by using the fragment amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and the resting-state functional connectivity assessed by seed-based correlational analysis were compared between patients and controls. Aberrant intrinsic activities and DMN connectivity in patients were then correlated to neurocognitive performance and clinical symptoms.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients with FES showed decreased fALFF in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and increased fALFF in the bilateral putamen. Increased functional connectivity with the DMN was observed in the left insula and bilateral dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) in patients with FES. In patients, aberrant fALFF in the bilateral OFC were correlated with cognitive processing speed; fALFF in the left OFC and right putamen were correlated with the clinical factors excited/activation and disorganization; and increased DMN functional connectivity in the left insula was correlated with the clinical factors positive, excited/activation, disorganization and neurocognitive deficit in the domain of sustained attention.

CONCLUSIONS

These associations between neurocognitive dysfunction and aberrant intrinsic activities, and also functional connectivity, of the DMN in patients with schizophrenia may provide important insights into the neural mechanism of the disease.

Association between lncrna PCGEM1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1), a long noncoding RNA, has drawn increasing attention for its important role in PCa. However, the association between genetic variations in the PCGEM1 gene and risk of PCa has not been investigated yet.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of two tagging single-nucleotide polymorphism (tSNPs; rs6434568 and rs16834898) in PCGEM1 gene on PCa risk in the Chinese men. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association.

RESULTS

We found a significantly decreased risk of PCa for rs6434568 AC and AC/AA genotype (adjusted OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.60-0.97 for AC; adjusted OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.61-0.96 for AC/AA), as well as rs16834898 AC and AC/CC genotype (adjusted OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.59-0.97 for AC; adjusted OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.62-0.99 for AC/CC), compared with the CC and AA genotypes, respectively. When we evaluated these two tSNPs together based on the risk alleles (that is, rs6434568 C and rs16834898 A), we found that the combined genotypes with four risk alleles were associated with an increased risk of PCa compared with those carrying 0-3 risk alleles (1.53, 1.19-1.97), and this increased risk was more pronounced among subjects of≤70 years (1.80, 1.24-2.62), Gleason score≥7 (1.68, 1.28-2.22) and PSA level≥20 (1.64, 1.24-2.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that PCGEM1 polymorphisms may contribute to PCa risk in Chinese men. Additional functional analyses are required to detect the detailed mechanism underlying the observed association.

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of bulleyaconitine A in rats

This study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bulleyaconitine A (BLA) after oral gavage and intravenous administration of BLA at a single dose of 0.04, 0.12, 0.36 mg/kg (oral) or 0.02 mg/kg (i.v.) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma concentration profiles were analysed using a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic method. Following i.v. 0.02 mg/kg and oral administration 0.04, 0.12 or 0.36 mg/kg, the geometric mean Cmax values were 19.97, 2.11, 5.11 and 11.47 ng/ml, respectively; the corresponding geometric mean AUC(0-t) values were 10.50, 3.19, 9.59 and 18.10 ng x h/ml, respectively. The median Tmax values were 0.033, 0.167, 0.167 and 0.167 h, respectively. The terminal elimination half-lives (t1/2) were 1.23, 2.48, 1.93 and 2.17h, respectively. The results showed that Cmax and AUC(0-t) increased with increasing doses of BLA. The increase in exposure with increasing dose was lower than expected under conditions of strict proportionality.

Structure and immune expression analysis of hemoglobin genes from the blood clam Tegillarca granosa

Hemoglobin (Hb) is the major protein component of erythrocytes in animals with red blood, although it can serve additional functions beyond the transport of oxygen. The blood clam (Tegillarca granosa) is one of the few mollusks that has Hb, although the structure and function of molluskan Hbs remain unclear. We characterized two unique and highly compartmentalized blood clam hemoglobin genes, Tg-HbIIA and Tg-HbIIB, at the molecular level. The full-length cDNA of Tg-HbIIA was 731 bp with a 450-bp open reading frame encoding 150 amino acids; that of Tg-HbIIB was 698 bp, with a 456-bp open reading frame encoding 152 amino acids. Their intronic regions were amplified by PCR. The two genes showed the typical 2 intron/3 exon organization found in T. granosa. The 3-D structures of the three blood clam Tg-Hbs were predicted using the SWISS-MODEL Protein Modeling Server, and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted to investigate its evolution. As quantified by qRT-PCR, the expression levels of Tg-HbIIA and Tg-HbIIB were significantly upregulated upon challenge by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, lipopolysaccharides, and peptidoglycans. Three Hb isoforms, Tg-HbI, Tg-HbIIA, and Tg-HbIIB, were found. Specific structures and evolutionary features were found in these molluskan Hb genes. Challenge experiments indicated that Tg-Hbs are involved in immune defense responses against bacterial infection and bacterial pathogenic factors. As this is the first functional research on Hb genes in the blood clam, our findings provide new insight into the innate immune defense mechanisms of T. granosa.

Experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis does not alter the onset or severity of diabetes in mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Diabetes mellitus is believed to increase the risk and severity of periodontitis. However, less evidence is available on the converse effects of periodontitis on diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate to what degree experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis might influence the onset and severity of diabetes in different mouse models.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-eight male Tallyho/JngJ mice (type 2 diabetes), 20 male streptozotocin-induced diabetes C57BL/6J mice (type 1 diabetes) and 20 male C57BL/6J mice at 4 wks of age were evenly divided into two groups: periodontal infection and sham infection. Periodontitis was induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 (P. gingivalis) oral inoculation before the development of diabetes. Sham-infected mice received vehicle as control. P. gingivalis in the oral cavity were identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fasting glucose, body weight and food intake levels were monitored and glucose tolerance tests were performed to assess glucose homeostasis for the onset and progression of diabetes. The level of alveolar bone loss and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were determined in week 20 when mice were killed.

RESULTS

Mice in the infection groups developed more alveolar bone loss than those in sham-infection groups (Tallyho p = 0.021; C57-STZ p = 0.014; C57 p = 0.035). Hyperglycemic mice exhibited significantly more bone loss compared to those normal glucose mice (Tallyho vs. C57 p = 0.029; C57-STZ vs. C57 p = 0.024). The level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was consistent with that of periodontal bone loss and hyperglycemia. There was no significant effect of mouse species on the amount of bone loss at the same level of blood glucose. No statistically significant difference or trend in glucose metabolism was found between the infection and sham-infection group.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes enhanced the risk for periodontal disease induced by P. gingivalis. However, no converse impact was found between this periodontal infection and onset and severity of diabetes in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mice.

Observation of two new N* resonances in the decay ψ(3686)→ppπ0

Based on 106×10(6)ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII facility, a partial wave analysis of ψ(3686)→ppπ0 is performed. The branching fraction of this channel has been determined to be B(ψ(3686)→ppπ0)=(1.65±0.03±0.15)×10(-4). In this decay, 7 N* intermediate resonances are observed. Among these, two new resonances, N(2300) and N(2570) are significant, one 1/2+ resonance with a mass of 2300(-30-0)(+40+109)  MeV/c2 and width of 340(-30-58)(+30+110)  MeV/c2, and one 5/2- resonance with a mass of 2570(-10-10)(+19+34)  MeV/c2 and width of 250(-24-21)(+14+69)  MeV/c2. For the remaining 5 N* intermediate resonances [N(1440), N(1520), N(1535), N(1650) and N(1720)], the analysis yields mass and width values that are consistent with those from established resonances.

Gestational hypertension risk evaluation based on epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors

PURPOSE

Gestational hypertension (GH) is a serious health hazard for pregnant women and fetuses. The incidence of GH involves many epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors.

METHODS

The current study investigated the GH risk under the influence of epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors, and designed corresponding GH risk evaluation methods and apparatus.

RESULTS

The evaluation method has 74.15% sensitivity and 81.84% specificity. The ROC area under the curve is 0.841. The apparatus automatically imports epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors, and then expresses the GH risk as numbers, bar codes, and colors through logic array analysis.

CONCLUSION

The GH risk value can effectively give the risk level of GH. The GH risk barcode can improve the degree of automation of information storage, transmission, and identification in GH monitoring. The GH risk color can also improve the GH macro description.

Nonlocal dark solitons under competing cubic-quintic nonlinearities

We investigate properties of dark solitons under competing nonlocal cubic-local quintic nonlinearities. Analytical results, based on a variational approach and confirmed by direct numerical simulations, reveal the existence of a unique dark soliton solutions with their width being independent of the degree of nonlocality, due to the competing cubic-quintic nonlinearities.

Clinical evaluation with self-sequential longitudinal reference intervals: pregnancy outcome and neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone level associated with maternal thyroid diseases

OBJECTIVE

We attempted to evaluate maternal thyroid function in a new self-sequential longitudinal reference interval (SLRI) which we established recently. By this method, we analysed the correlation between pregnancy outcome, neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and maternal thyroid diseases.

METHODS

A total of 1744 pregnant women participated in the study and 1747 babies were born from those women (three bore twins). The levels of TSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) of mothers were quantified by electrochemistry immunoassay (ECL). The levels of neonatal blood TSH were detected by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA). All data were collected and statistically analysed by SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTS

With our new SLRI method, we found that 0.11%-3.84% pregnant women would get thyroid diseases. Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most common maternal thyroid disorder. Being positive for thyroid peroxidase antibodies was a significant risk factor of subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The median, P2.5-P97.5, and interquartile range (IQR) of neonatal TSH (N-TSH) of 1747 babies were 2.72 mIU/L, 0.10-8.01 mIU/L and 2.62 mIU/L, respectively; 28.6% of pregnant women with thyroid diseases developed pregnancy complications. The prevalence was significantly higher than in the normal thyroid function group (p < 0.001). The levels of N-TSH were low correlated with maternal TSH levels (p < 0.05), but there were no significant correlations between N-TSH and maternal FT4 and maternal TPO-Ab (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid disorders, especially subclinical hypothyroidism, are common in pregnant women. These disorders are associated with pregnancy and fetal outcome. Routine maternal thyroid function screening is important and should be recommended.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a glutathione S-transferase involved in both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin accumulation in Camelina sativa (Brassicaceae)

Recently, we found that the Arabidopsis TT19 protein, a glutathione S-transferase, has two functional domains that influence both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin accumulation. To further understand the function of this protein in the other species, we cloned a cDNA encoding a glutathione S-transferase (namely CMGSTF12) from Camelina sativa, an oil crop that has received renewed interest due to its biofuel value and high omega-3 levels. Southern blot analysis demonstrated one copy of CMGSTF12 in C. sativa. Transformation of the Arabidopsis loss-of-function tt19-1 mutant with CMGSTF12 cDNA complemented accumulation of anthocyanin in vegetative tissues and resulted in the wild-type level of proanthocyanidin (both extractable and unextractable) in seeds. No obvious flavonoid accumulation changes were detected in the transgenic seeds, indicating that CMGSTF12 may only involve the lower flavonoid pathway, further proving that the TT19 protein controls accumulation of unextractable proanthocyanidin.

Carcass and meat quality traits of four commercial pig crossbreeds in China

We evaluated carcass and meat quality traits of two Chinese native crossbreeds Landrace x Meishan (LM) and Duroc x (Landrace x Meishan) (DLM) and two foreign crossbreeds Duroc x (Landrace x Yorkshire) (DLY) and PIC (an imported five-way crossbreed). One hundred and twenty weaned pigs (half castrated males and half females) were reared and slaughtered at a predestinated slaughter age. The general carcass and meat quality traits were measured and analyzed. The DLY and PIC crosses had significantly heavier live weights (93.39 and 96.33 kg, P < 0.01), significantly higher dressing percentages (80.65 and 79.39%, P < 0.05), significantly bigger loin areas (42.69 and 43.91 cm(2), P < 0.001), and significantly more lean carcasses (65.78 and 66.40%, P < 0.001) than LM and DLM. On the other hand, LM had a significantly lower live weight (70.29 kg, P < 0.01), significantly thicker back fat (3.54 cm, P < 0.001), significantly less lean carcasses (46.82%, P < 0.001), and significantly less ham and breech (26.53%, P < 0.05) than the other crossbreeds. Among meat quality parameters, LM had the highest intramuscular fat content (5.02%, P < 0.001) and the smallest fiber area (3126.45 μm(2), P < 0.01). However, PIC showed the lowest pH(1) (5.82, P < 0.01) and pH(2) (5.63, P < 0.01), the highest drip loss (2.89%, P < 0.01), and the lowest intramuscular fat (1.35%, P < 0.001). We concluded that LM and DLM had good meat quality traits but poorer carcass traits than DLY and PIC; DLY had good carcass and meat quality traits; PIC had good carcass traits, but it had less intramuscular fat, lower pH and higher drip loss.