Advanced "turn-on" colorimetric uranium platform based on the enhanced nanozyme activity of a donor-acceptor structured covalent organic framework

BACKGROUND

The increasing uranium containing wastes generated during uranium mining and finishing pose a huge threat to the environment and human health, and thus robust strategies for on-site monitoring of uranium pollutant are of great significance for environmental protection around uranium tailings.

RESULTS

Herein, a facile "turn-on" colorimetric platform that can achieve uranium detection by spectrometry and naked eyes was developed based on the uranium-enhanced nanozyme activity of covalent organic framework (JUC-505). Thanks to the extended π-conjugated skeleton and donor-acceptor (D-A) structure, JUC-505 exhibited superior photo-activated nanozyme activity, which would be prohibited when the cyano group in JUC-505 skeleton was transformed to the amidoxime group. Further results elucidated that the coordination of uranium with amidoxime groups led to the electron transfer between uranium and the JUC-505-AO skeleton, and thus significantly restored the nanozymatic activity of JUC-505-AO with the subsequent remarkable color changes. Moreover, the uranium concentrations in uranium tailing wastewater detected by the present "turn-on" colorimetric method were well agreed with those by ICP-MS, demonstrating a high accuracy of the present method in real samples.

SIGNIFICANCE

The D-A structured JUC-505 with superior photocatalytic property and nanozymatic activity was applied to facilitate colorimetric detection of uranium, which displays the advantages of low detection limit, excellent selectivity, fast response and simple operation for uranium detection in real samples, and shows a great potential in on-site monitoring of uranium pollutant around uranium tailings as well as nuclear power plant.

Photosensitized covalent organic framework as a light-induced oxidase mimic for colorimetric detection of uric acid

As large numbers of people are suffering from gout, an accurate, rapid, and sensitive method for the detection of gout biomarker, uric acid, is important for its effective control, diagnosis, and therapy. Although colorimetric detection methods based on uricase have been considered, they still have limitations as they produce toxic H2O2 and are expensive and not stable. Here, a novel uricase-free colorimetric method was developed for the sensitive and selective detection of uric acid based on the light-induced oxidase-mimicking activity of a new photosensitized covalent organic framework (COF) (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile-4-[2-(4-formylphenyl)ethynyl]benzaldehyde COF [DCTP-EDA COF]). DCTP-EDA COF has a strong ability to harvest visible light, and it could catalyze the oxidation of 1,4-dioxane, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine under visible light irradiation to produce obvious color changes. With the addition of uric acid, however, the significant inhibition of the oxidase-mimicking activity of DCTP-EDA COF remarkably faded the color, and thus uric acid could be colorimetrically detected in the range of 2.0-150 μM with a limit of detection of 0.62 μM (3σ/K). Moreover, the present colorimetric method exhibited high selectivity; uric acid level in serum samples was successfully determined, and the recoveries ranged from 96.5% to 105.64%, suggesting the high accuracy of the present colorimetric method, which demonstrates great promise in clinical analysis.

[Clinicopathological features of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma and collision tumors of five cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) and its collision tumors. Methods: Five cases of IVLBCL were collected, including 2 cases of collision tumors, and 1 case complicated with liver cirrhosis. The morphology and immunophenotype were analyzed. The related literature was reviewed. Results: There were 2 females and 3 males, aged from 53 to 73 years, with a median age of 65 years. The tumors were located in the lower extremities, right cerebellar hemisphere, left kidney, bilateral nasal cavity, and liver, respectively. Cases 2 and 3 were incidentally found in meningioma and renal cell carcinoma tissues, respectively. Case 5 had a background of liver cirrhosis. Morphologically, atypical large lymphoid cells were located in small blood vessels and capillary lumen, with little cytoplasm, hyperchromasia, prominent nucleoli, and obvious mitotic figures. Immunohistochemically, the IVLBCL tumor cells expressed CD20 and PAX5; 2 cases were CD5 positive. One of the 5 cases was GCB phenotype, and 4 cases were non-GCB phenotype. All cases expressed C-MYC (positive rate was 10%-40%). PD-L1 was positive in 4 cases (positive rate was 60%-90%). Ki-67 proliferation index was 70%-90%. CKpan, CD3, TDT, and CD34 were negative. In case 2, meningioma cells were positive for PR, EMA, and vimentin, but negative for CKpan and PD-L1. In case 3, renal carcinoma cells were positive for CKpan, PAX8, EMA, vimentin, CAⅨ and CD10, while PD-L1 was negative. No EBER expression (by in situ hybridization) or C-MYC gene translocation (FISH, break-apart probe) was detected in any of the 5 cases. Three patients were followed up, and all died within 1-13 months. Conclusions: IVLBCL is a highly aggressive lymphoma, with occult clinical manifestations and poor prognosis. Collision tumors of IVLBCL are extremely rare. A better understanding of IVLBCL would help pathologists avoid misdiagnoses.

[Development and validation of risk prediction model for new-onset cardiovascular diseases among breast cancer patients: Based on regional medical data of Inner Mongolia]

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a three-year risk prediction model for new-onset cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among female patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Based on the data from Inner Mongolia Regional Healthcare Information Platform, female breast cancer patients over 18 years old who had received anti-tumor treatments were included. The candidate predictors were selected by Lasso regression after being included according to the results of the multivariate Fine & Gray model. Cox proportional hazard model, Logistic regression model, Fine & Gray model, random forest model, and XGBoost model were trained on the training set, and the model performance was evaluated on the testing set. The discrimination was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), and the calibration was evaluated by the calibration curve.

RESULTS

A total of 19 325 breast cancer patients were identified, with an average age of (52.76±10.44) years. The median follow-up was 1.18 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.71] years. In the study, 7 856 patients (40.65%) developed CVD within 3 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. The final selected variables included age at diagnosis of breast cancer, gross domestic product (GDP) of residence, tumor stage, history of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease, type of surgery, type of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In terms of model discrimination, when not considering survival time, the AUC of the XGBoost model was significantly higher than that of the random forest model [0.660 (95%CI: 0.644-0.675) vs. 0.608 (95%CI: 0.591-0.624), P < 0.001] and Logistic regression model [0.609 (95%CI: 0.593-0.625), P < 0.001]. The Logistic regression model and the XGBoost model showed better calibration. When considering survival time, Cox proportional hazard model and Fine & Gray model showed no significant difference for AUC [0.600 (95%CI: 0.584-0.616) vs. 0.615 (95%CI: 0.599-0.631), P=0.188], but Fine & Gray model showed better calibration.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to develop a risk prediction model for new-onset CVD of breast cancer based on regional medical data in China. When not considering survival time, the XGBoost model and the Logistic regression model both showed better performance; Fine & Gray model showed better performance in consideration of survival time.

[Summary of experience with patterning cropped and shaped mesh repair for perineal hernia after abdominoperineal excision in rectal cancer]

Objective: To examine the patterning cropped and shaped mesh repair for perineal hernia after abdominoperineal excision (APE) in rectal cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 8 patients with perineal hernia after APE who accepted surgical treatment in the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Hernia Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from March 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 3 males and 5 females, aged (67.6±7.2) years (range: 56 to 76 years). Eight patients developed a perineal mass at (11.3±2.9) months (range: 5 to 13 months) after APE. After surgical separation of adhesion and exposing the pelvic floor defect, a 15 cm×20 cm anti-adhesion mesh was fashioned as a three-dimensional pocket shape to fit the pelvic defect, then fixed to the promontory or sacrum and sutured to the pelvic sidewalls and the anterior peritoneum, while two side slender slings were tailored in front of the mesh and fixed on the pectineal ligament. Results: The repair of their perineal hernias went well, with an operating time of (240.6±48.8) minutes (range: 155 to 300 minutes). Five patients underwent laparotomy, 3 patients tried laparoscopic surgery first and then transferred to laparotomy combined with the perineal approach. Intraoperative bowel injury was observed in 3 patients. All patients did not have an intestinal fistula, bleeding occurred. No reoperation was performed and their preoperative symptoms improved significantly. The postoperative hospital stay was (13.5±2.9) days (range: 7 to 17 days) and two patients had postoperative ileus, which improved after conservative treatment. Two patients had a postoperative perineal hernia sac effusion, one of them underwent placement of a tube to puncture the hernia sac effusion due to infection, and continued irrigation and drainage. The postoperative follow-up was (34.8±14.0) months (range: 13 to 48 months), and 1 patient developed recurrence in the seventh postoperative month, no further surgery was performed. Conclusions: Surgical repair of the perineal hernia after APE can be preferred transabdominal approach, routine application of laparoscopy is not recommended, combined abdominoperineal approach can be considered if necessary. The perineal hernia after APE can be repaired safely and effectively using the described technique of patterning cropped and shaped mesh repair.

[Clinical features, risk factors and prognosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by ischemic stroke]

Objective: To analyze the clinical features, risk factors and prognosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) complicated with ischemic stroke (IS) (DCM-IS). Methods: The clinical data of patients with idiopathic DCM (n=613) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Liangxiang Hospital and Fuxing Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected, and among them, 123 cases were DCM-IS. Clinical features of patients with DCM-IS were summarized and multivariate logistic regression model was utilized to analyze the independent risk factors of DCM-IS. Furthermore, 1-year follow-up was conducted and Kaplan-Meier curve was adopted to analyze the prognosis of DCM, using all-cause death and heart transplantation as adverse outcomes. Results: Among the 70 patients with DCM-IS, 6 patients (8.6%, 6/70) were in accordance with the subtype of large artery atherosclerosis, and 47 patients (67.1%, 47/70) were in line with the subtype of cardiogenic embolism, and small artery occlusion subtype (ie, lacunar infarction) were detected in 17 cases (24.3%, 17/70). Hypertension [odds ratio (OR)=1.617, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.049-2.491, P=0.029], hyperlipidemia (OR=1.918, 95%CI: 1.198-3.073, P=0.007), atrial fibrillation (AF) (OR=1.617, 95%CI: 1.016-2.572, P=0.043), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR=0.986, 95%CI: 0.977-0.996, P=0.005) and a higher incidence of intracardiac thrombus (OR=6.127, 95%CI: 3.174-11.827, P<0.001) were risk factors for DCM-IS. The overall 1-year survival rate was lower in DCM-IS patients (70.7%) than DCM patients without stroke (83.6%, P=0.004), and the main causes of death included obstinate heart failure (3 cases of DCM-IS, and 5 cases of non-DCM-IS) and malignant arrhythmia (DCM-IS) (22 cases of DCM-IS, and 18 cases of non-DCM-IS). Conclusions: Among IS patients with idiopathic DCM, cardioembolism is the most common, followed by lacunar infarction, and the large-artery atherosclerotic subtype is the least common.Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, AF, lower eGFR value and higher incidence of intracardiac thrombus are risk factors for DCM-IS. DCM patients complicated with IS have poor short-term prognosis, and obstinate heart failure and malignant arrhythmia are their main causes of death.

[A call to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cardiogenic stroke: there is still a long way to go]

Cardiogenic stroke, manifested as a clinical syndrome in which emboli from the heart and aortic arch pass through the circulation and cause cerebral artery embolism and corresponding brain dysfunction, accounts for 20% to 30% of all ischemic strokes. Regarding the etiological classification, the boundary between cardiogenic stroke and cryptogenic stroke, especially embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), as well as aortic arch atheromas categorization remain uncertain. Concerning the diagnosis, the criteria need to be formulated and unified, and thus the author proposes new diagnostic criteria. With regard to the treatment, anticoagulation therapy should be started or restarted several days to several weeks after the onset of stroke (e.g., atrial fibrillation-related), and treatment during acute phase and for prevention of stroke recurrence should be initiated after multi-disciplinary consultation.

[Clinicopathological features of mixed cervical carcinoma with adenoid cystic pattern]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, immunophenotype, molecular characteristics, differential diagnosis, clinical treatment and prognosis of mixed carcinoma of cervix with adenoid cystic pattern. Methods: Three cases of mixed cervical carcinoma with adenoid cystic pattern were collected at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou University Medical School from 2018 to 2021.The clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were performed. The related literature was reviewed. Results: The three patients were postmenopausal women with a median age of 74.7 years. The clinical symptom was vaginal bleeding without obvious causes. One case was an endophytic tumor, and the others were exophytic. The median diameter of the three cases was 3.3 cm. Two patients underwent hysterectomy, the tumors infiltrated the external 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the cervix respectively. All the lymph nodes were negative. One patient had a previous biopsy. Microscopically, all three tumors were characterized by a cribriform structure, which were filled with basophilic myxoid substance and surrounded by tubules lined by two layers of cells. The tumor cells had scanty cytoplasm and showed the characteristics of cervical basal-like cells. All three cases were accompanied by high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and squamous cell carcinoma, and one also showed a non-specific spindle cell sarcomatoid component. Within the double-layered epithelial structure, the outer epithelium was positive for p63, CD117, p16^INK4a (clone E6H4) and MYB protein and negative for S-100 by IHC. The combined positive score of PD-L1 (clone 22C3) was less than 1 in all three cases. Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 were detected in one patient preoperatively, while high-risk HPV were positive in the other two patients by RNAscope ISH postoperatively. None of the three cases showed MYB gene rearrangement by FISH. The mean follow-up time was 23.3 months (36, 28 and 6 months, respectively). Two patients underwent hysterectomy and radiotherapy survived without disease. One patient survived with tumor just by radiotherapy and drug therapy. Conclusions: Mixed cervical carcinoma with adenoid cystic pattern is extremely rare. It is a high-grade malignancy with poor prognosis. The tumor is associated with high-risk HPV infection, without MYB gene rearrangement, and with low PD-L1 immunoreactivity. Radical surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment at present.

[ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma with EBV infection or cyclin D1 expression: a clinicopathological analysis of 3 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and misdiagnosis factors of ALK positive large B-cell lymphoma (ALK⁺LBCL). Methods: The clinicopathological data of 3 patients with ALK⁺LBCL in the Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from 2010 to 2021 were collected retrospectively. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used for immunophenotyping, in-situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) detection, in-situ fluorescence hybridization (FISH, break-apart probes) for ALK, MYC, and CCND1 translocations. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used for the detection of gene fusions and mutations. And clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results: Among the 3 ALK⁺LBCL patients, there were 2 males and 1 female, aged 42, 59, and 39 years, respectively, none of which presented with B symptoms. Case 1 showed systemic lymphadenopathy with elevated serum EBV DNA loading, while cases 2 and 3 presented with extranodal lesions in the nasal and hard palate, respectively. Bone marrow biopsies were performed in cases 1 and 3, and neither showed involvement. Case 1 was at clinical stage Ⅲ while both cases 2 and 3 were at stage Ⅰ, and IPI score ranged 0-1 in all cases. The morphology of these cases was similar. The architecture was effaced by sheets of cohesive large cells growing in extensive infiltration and intra-sinus growth pattern. The neoplastic cells showed immunoblastic or plasmablastic morphology, and large anaplastic cells were easily found. The tumor cells expressed ALK protein cytoplasmically in almost all cells, with ALK gene translocations detected by FISH. Common B-cell and T-cell markers, including CD20, PAX5, CD19, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD43, CD56, and bcl-2, were negative, while plasmacytic differentiation markers, including CD138, CD38, and MUM1, were positive; CD22, BOB1 and OCT2 were variably expressed. CD10 was strongly expressed only in case 3. All cases were negative for bcl-6 but positive for CD4, perforin, CD30 (partial cells), pSTAT3 (diffusely), and MYC (40%-50%). The Ki-67 index was ranged 60%-70%. MYC translocation was not detected in any case by FISH. In case 1, EBER was strongly positive in>90% of tumor cells. Case 3 was diffusely positive for cyclin D1 but negative for SOX11 expression and CCND1 translocation. All cases harbored ALK fusion genes detected by NGS. In case 1, the fusion partner was TFG, which had not been reported in DLBCL, while in the other 2 cases, ALK fused with the CTCL gene, which was commonly seen in ALK⁺LBCL. Cases 1 and 3 were treated with ECHOP-based chemotherapy for six cycles and were followed up for 70 and 27 months, respectively, and both achieved complete remission. Conclusions: ALK⁺LBCL cases with diffuse EBER-positivity reported in this study show TGF as a new fusion partner of ALK in DLBCL, together with cyclin D1 expression. These rare cases are easily confused with EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (EBV⁺DLBCL, NOS), cyclin D1 positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cyclin D1⁺DLBCL) and ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK⁺ALCL), resulting in misdiagnosis. Being aware of these rare phenotypes is essential for pathologists to diagnose ALK+LBCL and guide appropriate treatment accurately.

[Primary liver cancer complicated by hepatic cystic echinococcosis: a case report]

A primary liver cancer patient complicated by hepatic cystic echinococcosis was reported. The case was admitted to the hospital due to intermittent upper abdominal discomfort for more than half a month, and an auxiliary examination revealed primary liver cancer complicated by hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Then, hepatic artery infusion and chemoembolization was performed, and no treatment was given to cystic echinococcosis lesions. Following treatment, the patient had remarkable improvements in the liver functions.

[Cystic echinococcosis of the abdominal wall: a case report]

Cystic echinococcosis of the abdominal wall is relatively rare. Here, a 54-year-old patient with cystic echinococcosis of the abdominal wall was reported, who was admitted to hospital due to presence of abdominal mass for one year complicated by skin ulceration of the mass for 5 days. The case was initially diagnosed as cystic echinococcosis of the abdominal wall and given sub-abdominal echinococcosis cystectomy. Post-surgical pathological examinations revealed cystic echinococcosis (type of a single locule and multiple daughter cysts). This case report aimed to provide insights into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cystic echinococcosis of the abdominal wall.

[A study on the online medical consulting websites based on the personal computer side]

Online medical consulting, acting as the primary type of Internet medical market, has been developing dramatically in the past ten years and begins to take shape. This study collected available information to describe service content status and service provider for online medical consulting websites. The current online medical consulting sites are mainly comprehensive medical consultation websites. The most common consulting provision from is combining graphics and text, which might not meet users' primary demand. The registered physicians are mostly the ones with junior position and work in the eastern and south-central parts of China. Activities of the registered physicians vary across the departments, but with extremely low initiatives.

[Prevalence investigation of solitary plasmacytoma in China: A calculation based on national urban medical insurance in 2016]

目的

分析我国孤立性浆细胞瘤患者分布特征并测算2016年患病率。

方法

基于2016年1月1日至12月31日我国21个省城镇职工和城镇居民医疗保险数据开展研究。通过疾病诊断名称、疾病诊断编码识别孤立性浆细胞瘤患者。根据性别、地区和年龄进行亚组分析，并进行敏感性分析以考察结果的稳健性。基于我国2010年全国人口普查数据、欧洲2013年标准人口数据、美国2010年人口数据以及澳大利亚2011年人口数据计算按年龄调整的标化患病率。

结果

2016年我国孤立性浆细胞瘤患病率为1.18/10万（95%CI 1.06~1.31），其中男性患病率为1.26/10万（95%CI 1.10~1.43），女性患病率为1.10/10万（95%CI 0.93~1.29）。基于我国2010年全国人口普查数据所得标化患病率为0.85/10万（95%CI 0.82~0.88）。

结论

本研究利用全国城镇医疗保险数据测算我国孤立性浆细胞瘤的患病率，为孤立性浆细胞瘤相关医疗政策制定以及基础研究提供线索。

[Clinical analysis of young and middle-aged stroke patients with patent foramen ovale]

Objective: To investigate the pathogenesis of young and middle-aged stroke patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) by analyzing clinical characteristics. Methods: Data of 298 consecutive young and middle-aged patients diagnosed as stroke were retrospectively collected from Department of Neurology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2010 to January 2017.Patients were divided into cryptogenic stroke (CS) group and not-CS group.Risk factors, characteristics of PFO and infarct of imaging were analyzed between two groups. Results: PFO was confirmed in 88 patients among 298 young and middle-aged stroke patients.The prevalence of PFO was 29.6%. Forty-six patients were assigned into CS group and 42 patients were assigned into not-CS group.The ratio of atrial fibrillation and internal carotid artery stenosis in CS group was lower than that in not-CS group (0 vs 12, 4 vs 22, P<0.05). The concentration of homocysteine was lower in CS group than that in not-CS group [(10.4±1.1) mmol/L vs(14.6±2.4) mmol/L, P<0.05]. The difference of migraine and scores of scale of Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPE) in CS group were significantly higher than those in not-CS group [18 vs 4, (6.8±2.5)vs (5.5±1.4), P<0.05]. The prevalence of big PFO, constant right-to-left shunt and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) in CS group was higher than that in not-CS group (26 vs 6, 36 vs 18, 5 vs 0, P<0.05). Post-circulation location, single cortex infarction and multiple infarctions in multiple vascular areas are indicative of PFO (25 vs 18, 15 vs 7, 20 vs 8, P<0.05). Conclusion: Migraine, high scores of RoPE, big PFO, constant RLS and ASA are indicative of important role of PFO in cryptogenic stroke in young and middle-aged patients.The imaging characteristics of CS with PFO should be emphasized.

[Mediating effect of mental elasticity on occupational stress and depression in female nurses]

Objective: To investigate the interaction between mental elasticityand occupational stress and depressionin female nurses and the mediating effect of mental elasticity, as well as the functioning way of mental elasticity in occupational stress-depression. Methods: From August to October, 2015, cluster sampling was used to select 122 female nurses in a county-level medical institution as study subjects. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) , Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised Edition (OSI-R) , and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to collect the data on mental elasticity, occupational stress, and depression and analyze their correlation and mediating effect. Results: The 122 female nurses had a mean mental elasticity score of 62.4±15.1, which was significantly lower than the Chinese norm (65.4±13.9) (P<0.05) ; the mean depression score was 41.0±7.7, which was significantly higher than the Chinese norm (33.5±8.6) (P<0.01) , and the incidence rate of depression of 52.5%. Mental elasticity was negatively correlated with occupational stress and depression (r=-0.559 and -0.559, both P<0.01) . Occupational stress and the two subscales mental stress reaction and physical stress reaction were positively correlated with depression (r=0.774, 0.734, and 0.725, all P<0.01) . After adjustment for confounding factors, occupational stress had a positive predictive effect on depression (β=0.744, P<0.01) , and mental elasticity had a negative predictive effect on depression (β=-0.221, P<0.01) . The analysis of mediating effect showed a significant direct effect of occupational stress on depression and a significant mediating effect of mental elasticity (a=-0.527, b=-0.227, c=0.744, c'=0.627; all P<0.01) , and the mediating effect of mental elasticity accounted for 16.08% of the total effect. Conclusion: As a partial mediating variable, mental elasticity has an indirect effect on the relationship between occupational stress and depression and can alleviate the adverse effect of occupational stress and reduce the development of depression.

Impact of ACE2 gene polymorphism on antihypertensive efficacy of ACE inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a newly discovered member of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, counterbalances the actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The objective of our study was to assess the association between rs2106809 polymorphism in ACE2 gene and the blood pressure response to ACE inhibitors in untreated hypertensive patients. After a 2-week, double-blind placebo run-in period, either benazepril or imidapril was administered for 6 weeks to 497 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. The achieved changes in BP were analyzed for their association with genotypes at ACE2 gene loci. In female hypertensive patients, the genotype frequency of ACE2 rs2106809 was 36.7%, 45.2% and 18.1% for CC, CT and TT genotypes, respectively. After 6 weeks of treatment, the reductions in diastolic blood pressure were significantly greater in female patients carrying the CC or CT genotype compared with those carrying the TT genotype (9.62±6.83 or 10.2±7.2 versus 6.81±6.31 mm Hg, respectively; P=0.045, analysis of variance (ANOVA)). Moreover, the reductions in mean arterial pressure were significantly greater in female patients carrying the CC or CT genotype compared with those carrying the TT genotype (12.1±7.5 or 12.0±7.9 versus 8.38±6.83 mm Hg, respectively; P=0.035, ANOVA). In male hypertensive patients, the genotype frequency of ACE2 rs2106809 was 58.1% and 41.9% for C and T genotypes, respectively. However, no association could be observed in males. We conclude that ACE2 rs2106809 is an important predictive factor of the response to antihypertensive treatment with ACE inhibitors in Chinese female hypertensive patients.

First results from gamma ray diagnostics in EAST Tokamak

Gamma ray diagnostics has been developed in the EAST tokamak recently. Six BGO scintillator detectors are arranged on the down-half cross-section and pointed at the up-half cross-section of plasma, with space resolution about 15 cm and energy range from 0.3 MeV to 6 MeV. Three main gamma ray peaks in the energy spectra have been observed and are identified as the results of nuclear reactions ²⁰⁷Pb(n, n')^207mPb, H(n, γ) D, and D(p, γ)³He, respectively. Upgrading of the system is in progress by using LaBr3(Ce) scintillator, fast photo-multiplier tubes, and a fully digital data acquisition system based on high sample frequency digitizers with digital pulse processing algorithms.

Molecular cloning and expression of the porcine S14R gene in Escherichia coli

We amplified S14R protein gene cDNA of porcine, cloned it into a prokaryotic expression plasmid, and expressed it in Escherichia coli. A pair of primers was designed based on the cDNA sequence of the porcine S14R gene in GenBank. The target gene fragment from porcine liver tissue was amplified by RT-PCR. Confirmed by auto-sequencing, the target gene fragment was subcloned into an expression vector of pET28a. The pET28a-S14R construct was subsequently transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). This construct was verified by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing. Using isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction, a new recombinant protein with the expected relative molecular mass of 24 kDa appeared. The result was identified by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Porcine S14R includes 549bp (GenBank No. JN793537), with an open reading frame of 549 bp coding 182 amino acids.

Identification and expression analysis of components involved in rice Xa21-mediated disease resistance signalling

Rice Xa21 gene encodes a receptor-like kinase that confers broad-spectrum resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Recently, a number of genes involved in the Xa21-mediated disease resistance pathway have been identified. Based on our previous data and the literature, we chose 16 candidate proteins and made corresponding antibodies. Using Western blotting, we systematically investigated the expression profile of the proteins in Xa21-mediated disease resistance response. We found nine proteins with altered expression. We further compared their expression in resistance, susceptible and mock responses, and found that GST expression was up-regulated during the resistance process, indicating GST is a positive regulator in resistance responses. ATPsB expression was down-regulated during both the resistance and susceptible response processes, although it was higher in the resistance response than that in the susceptible response. The total amount of MYB, GAPDH, CatB, Trx and NB-ARC proteins was lower in the resistance than in the susceptible response, but their abundance per unit bacteria in the resistance response was still higher than in the susceptible response, suggesting that these proteins might be positive regulators in the resistance response. In addition, expression of another ERF was induced by inoculation with bacterial blight pathogen, and expression of Zf-LSD1 was activated by wounding stress alone. Interestingly, most proteins showed similar altered expression patterns in the resistance and susceptible responses, but differed to some extents, implying that both responses might share common molecular mechanisms. This study revealed evidence of resistance-related protein expression, providing a foundation for better understanding of their functions.

Ketamine-induced ventricular structural, sympathetic and electrophysiological remodelling: pathological consequences and protective effects of metoprolol

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Growing evidence suggests that long-term abuse of ketamine does harm the heart and increases the risk of sudden death. The present study was performed to explore the cardiotoxicity of ketamine and the protective effects of metoprolol.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Rats and rabbits were divided into control, ketamine, metoprolol alone and ketamine plus metoprolol groups. Ketamine (40 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1), i.p.) and metoprolol (20 mg·kg(-1) ·day(-1), p.o.) were administered continuously for 12 weeks in rats and 8 weeks in rabbits. Cardiac function, electrophysiological disturbances, cardiac collagen, cardiomyocte apoptosis and the remodelling-related proteins were evaluated.

KEY RESULTS

Rabbits treated with ketamine showed decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, slowed ventricular conduction velocity and increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia. Metoprolol prevented these pathophysiological alterations. In ketamine-treated rats, cardiac collagen volume fraction and apoptotic cell number were higher than those of control animals; these effects were prevented by co-administration of metoprolol. Consistently, the expressions of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases-1, apoptosis-inducing factor and NF-κB-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells were all increased after ketamine treatment and sharply reduced after metoprolol administration. Moreover, ketamine enhanced sympathetic sprouting, manifested as increased growth-associated protein 43 and tyrosine TH expression. These effects of ketamine were prevented by metoprolol.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Chronic treatment with ketamine caused significant ventricular myocardial apoptosis, fibrosis and sympathetic sprouting, which altered the electrophysiological properties of the heart and increased its susceptibility to malignant arrhythmia that may lead to sudden cardiac death. Metoprolol prevented the cardiotoxicity of ketamine, indicating a promising new therapeutic strategy.

Visible-blind, ultraviolet-sensitive photodetector based on SrTiO3 single crystal

High-sensitivity and visible-blind ultraviolet (UV) photoconductive detectors based on SrTiO(3) single crystal with interdigitated electrodes are reported. The responsivities of photovoltage and photocurrent can reach 2.13x10(5) V/W and 213 mA/W, respectively, at 330 nm at ambient temperature, and the corresponding quantum efficiency eta reaches 80.2%. The dark current is lower than 50 pA at 10 V bias, and the UV/visible contrast ratio is about four orders of magnitude with a sharp cutoff at 390 nm. The experimental results demonstrate that SrTiO(3) single crystal has potentially wide applications in UV detection.

Modification of 15-akylidene andrographolide derivatives as alpha-glucosidase inhibitor

15-Alkylidene andrographolide derivatives were specific alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Semi-synthetic studies of these derivatives led to new alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity was evaluated. Bioactivity results indicated that most of the derivatives were excellent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Among them, 6c displayed the best alpha-glucosidase inhibitory bioactivity with an <span lang="EN-US">IC(50) value of 8.3 </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Symbol;">m</span><span lang="EN-US">M.</span>

[Purification of soluble egg antigen (SEA) 38 kDa molecule of Schistosoma japonicum and preliminary evaluation of its immunodiagnostic efficacy]

OBJECTIVE

To study the applicability of soluble egg antigen (SEA) 38 kDa molecule of Schistosoma japonicum in the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis.

METHODS

The target immunodiagnositic antigen SEA 38 kDa molecule was separated and purified by SDS-PAGE and electroelution technique and evaluated by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. To compare their immunodiagnostic efficacy, the purified SEA 38 kDa and SEA were used to examine the sera from 182 cases including 31 acute schistosomiasis patients, 31 chronic schistosomiasis patients, 60 normal human controls, 30 paragonimiasis patients and 30 clonorchiasis patients.

RESULTS

The positive rates of purified SEA 38 kDa and SEA for acute schistosomiasis patients, chronic schistosomiasis patients, normal human controls, paragonimiasis patients and clonorchiasis patients were 90.3%, 90.3%, 1.7%, 0, 0 and 90.3%, 83.9%, 3.3%, 0, 0, respectively. The P/N ratio of purified SEA 38 kDa and SEA in immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis by ELISA had been compared by two-sample t-test. It was demonstrated that there existed significant differences between purified SEA 38 kDa and SEA in the three groups of acute and chronic schistosomiasis patients and normal persons(P < 0.001). The P/N ratio of SEA 38 kDa in detecting the sera from schistosomiasis patients was obviously higher than that of SEA, but when SEA 38 kDa was used to examine normal human sera, the result was converse.

CONCLUSION

The purified SEA 38 kDa has higher sensitivity and specificity and immunodiagnostic potential.

The effect of antihypertensive treatment on cardiovascular events--a meta-analysis of four clinical trials in China

OBJECTIVE

The pooled results of four large-scale clinical trials of antihypertensive treatments carried out in China were assessed, with an overall study population of 10,457 patients.

METHODS

The fixed effect model was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

A pooled analysis at the individual level showed that the average time of treatment was 3.4 years, after which an average reduction in blood pressure of 9/4 mmHg was found. The meta-analysis showed that stroke was reduced by 36% (95% CI 25%-46%, P < 0.001), cardiovascular death and total deaths were reduced by 22% and 20% respectively (P < 0.05) and total cardiovascular events were significantly reduced by 33% (P < 0.001). However, the reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD) was much smaller and was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), whereas the significant reduction in stroke was epidemiologically expected.

CONCLUSION

The benefit of antihypertensive treatment obtained was mostly due to a reduction in the incidence of stroke.

[A PC-based pulse oximetry monitor for four patients]

Pulse oximeters are used in many departments of a hospital. The pc-based pulse oximetry monitor for many patients has the features of simplicity, flexibility, large memory, powerful function, high ratio of performance to price, and it is easy to communicate with multimonitors. The principles of hardware system and the function of software block of the monitor are introduced too in this paper.

Nitric oxide mediates the change of proteoglycan synthesis in the human lumbar intervertebral disc in response to hydrostatic pressure

STUDY DESIGN

This in vitro study clarifies the role of nitric oxide (NO) in human lumbar intervertebral disc metabolism.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of NO on proteoglycan synthesis in human lumbar discs and to test the hypothesis that NO is a mediator of the changes in proteoglycan synthesis in response to hydrostatic pressure.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The authors have clarified that hydrostatic pressure has an apparent effect on proteoglycan synthesis as well as matrix metalloproteinase production in the intervertebral disc. The cellular mechanisms underlying the response of disc cells to hydrostatic pressure remain to be clarified. Herniated lumbar discs produce NO in response to interleukin (IL)-1 beta. In articular cartilage, NO mediates the change of proteoglycan synthesis by IL-1 or shear stress.

METHODS

Fifty-eight lumbar intervertebral disc specimens were obtained from patients who had undergone posterior discectomy. The specimens were chopped into 1-2-mm cubes and were incubated in a plastic syringe with 1 mL Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). The syringes were placed in a water-filled pressure vessel kept at 37 C. Hydrostatic pressures of 1 (control), 3, and 30 atmospheres (atm) were applied. Proteoglycan synthesis was determined from (35)S-sulfate incorporation rates. Nitrite (the stable oxidation product of NO) concentration in DMEM was determined by a spectrophotometric method based on the Griess reaction. As a competitive inhibitor of NO synthases, N(G)-methyl-l-arginine (l-NMA, 10-1000 micromol) and as an organic donor of NO, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, 1-200 micromol) were used.

RESULTS

Addition of l-NMA suppressed NO production and increased proteoglycan synthesis rates in the intervertebral disc specimens in a dose-dependent fashion. Addition of SNAP increased exogenous NO content in the medium significantly and suppressed proteoglycan synthesis rates in a dose-dependent fashion. Three-atmosphere hydrostatic pressure stimulated the proteoglycan synthesis rates. Rates were approximately 1.3-fold greater than at 1 atm, whereas 30-atm pressure inhibited proteoglycan synthesis rates. However, the hydrostaticpressure had inverse effect on NO production. At 3 atm, NO production decreased slightly relative to 1 atm, whereas at a pressure of 30 atm, NO production was increased and was approximately 1.32-fold greater than at 1 atm. L-NMA enhanced the 3-atm pressure-induced increase in proteoglycan synthesis and also relieved the suppression of proteoglycan synthesis at a pressure of 30 atm.

CONCLUSION

The current study confirmed the previous finding that human herniated lumbar disc cultures spontaneously produce NO. Endogenously generated and exogenously supplied NO inhibited proteoglycan synthesis in the intervertebral disc. Hydrostatic pressure influenced NO production by disc cells, and NO is one of the mediators that changes proteoglycan synthesis in response to hydrostatic pressure. These results may show that autocrine and paracrine mechanisms of NO play an important role in the regulation of disc cell metabolism under mechanical stress and in the pathophysiology of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Tripterygium wilfordii saponins and interleukin-10 prevent induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by dendritic cells

AIM

To study the roles of Tripterygium wilfordii saponins (TII) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) on dendritic cells (DC)-induced experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT).

METHODS

We used mice as autoimmune thyroiditis model animals and divided them into 4 groups, namely DC group, TII group, IL-10 group, and control group. The level of thyroglobulin (Tg) antibody was assayed by ELISA. TNF beta production in the cultured supernatants and nitric oxide (NO) in the serum were measured by biological activation assay and Griess reaction, respectively. Tg-stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes was detected with MTT incorporation assay. The histopathological analysis of thyroid was carried out.

RESULTS

Tg-pulsed DC were able to induce EAT with increase in the concentration of TgAb in serum and lymphocytes infiltration in thyroid. After treatment with TII or IL-10, DC could not induce EAT with lower levels of TgAb and no lymphocyte infiltration. The concentration of NO in serum, TNF beta activation, and the proliferation of lymphocytes in response to thyroglobulin in TII or IL-10 group were lower than those in DC group.

CONCLUSION

TII and IL-10 are able to strongly inhibit the ability of DC to induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.

[Studies on transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) plants transformed with beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase genes and its resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorium]

By Agrobacterium-mediated method, the cotyledonary petiole of good quality rape variety H165 was transformed with plant expression vector pBLGC which constitutively express beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase genes. We obtained some Kanamycin(Kan)-resistant regenerational green shoots, with these shoots, PCR identification was conducted. Results showed that 30% green shoots which grew in medium of Kan 15 mg/L and 53% green shoots in Kan 25 mg/L had positive reaction. We also made dot blot analysis with those green shoots, some of them gave positive signal, indicating that the foreign genes had integrated into rape genome. Fungal challenge of these transgenic plants showed that some plants were much more resistant to Sclerotinia sclerotiorium than non-transgenic control plants.

[Studies of transgenic tobacco plants expressing beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase genes and their potential for fungal resistance]

Plant bivalent expression vector pBLGC for basic tobacco beta-1, 3-glucanase and bean chitinase genes were constructed, and the tobacco tissue was transformed. Transgenic tobacco plants were carried out for analysis by PCR, PCR-Southern blot, Dot blot, Western blot, etc., and the results showed that some transgenic plants gave strong positive signal, it suggested that foreign genes have been integrated into tobacco genome, and expressed correctly. Fungal challenge with Alternaria alternata showed that transgenic plants were much more resistant to this pathogenic fungus.

Vascular dementia, with special reference to its vascular and immunological events

Vascular dementia (VaD) is an poorly defined entity; it relates to different vascular mechanisms and different changes in the brain and has different clinical manifestations with different etiologies. From the pathogenetic and therapeutic point of view, we tried to find some practical events that could help identify VaD. We combined critical review with our own clinical and laboratory experience and found that some vascular, nonvascular, and immunological components are involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of VaD. We concluded that although the definition, etiology, clinical manifestation, laboratory data, and treatment are still controversial, it is useful to find some common, key points in the pathogenesis and treatment of VaD.

Genetoxicity of water samples from the scenic Lijang river in the Guilin area, China, evaluated by Tradescantia bioassays

The Lijang river which passes through the Guilin mountains, and Guilin city is a world renowned scenic spot on the southwest border of China. The river and its tributaries receive water from the mountain tops and springs underground. The river water was clean two decades ago before the development of industrial establishments and extra heavy tourism. Deforestation over the mountain tops on the upper stream and its tributaries in the last decades has created serious erosion and increased sedimentation in the river. In the present study, the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) and Tradescantia stamen hair mutation (Trad-SHM) assays were used to evaluate the genetoxicity of water samples collected from 60 different sites along the river. Results indicate that most of the water samples from the tributaries were highly mutagenic, and that pollutants had accumulated in the main river in the Guilin city area from the industrial effluent and city sewage. Both the Trad-MCN and Trad-SHM assays were highly effective for the detection of mutagens in the water samples.

Baculovirus expression of the major surface antigen of Toxoplasma gondii and the immune response of mice injected with the recombinant P30

The major surface antigen (P30) of the Toxoplasma gondii was expressed by an insect cell culture system infected with recombinant baculovirus. About 750 microg of purified (95% purity) P30 was obtained from a culture of 10(8) insect Sf21 cells. The recombinant P30 was used to immunize mice to induce immune response. Mice injected with the recombinant protein produced specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Immunization with P30 also prolonged the period of survival of mice infected by Toxoplasma. The average survival time of control group is 13.25+/-1.16 days, but are 16.13+/-2.1 days, 19.50+/-3.21 days, 20.38+/-3.38 days in different immunized groups, respectively.

Protection by capsaicin against attenuated endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation due to lysophosphatidylcholine

Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a principal transmitter in sensory nerves, can protect the endothelial cell. We therefore evaluated whether in vivo capsaicin treatment prevents endothelial damage elicited by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in the rat aorta. Acute treatment or repeated pretreatment with capsaicin resulted in stimulation of neurotransmitter release from sensory nerves or depletion of their transmitter content respectively. Vasodilator responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were examined in the aorta of these animals. Acute application of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) increased the plasma concentration of CGRP-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) concomitantly with a reversal of the inhibition by LPC of endothelium-dependent ACh-induced relaxation in the isolated rat aorta. After repeated pretreatment with capsaicin to deplete sensory nerve neurotransmitter content the effects of capsaicin were absent as shown by the plasma CGRP-LI concentration and the vasodilator response to ACh. The results demonstrate that systemic capsaicin treatment, which evokes the release of CGRP from sensory nerves, protects the endothelial cell. The present study also suggests that CGRP may be an endogenous vascular protective substance.

Endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis and lipid peroxidation in hyperlipidemic rabbits

AIM

To examine whether the elevation of endogenous NG, NG-dimethylarginine (DMA) content is related to lipid peroxidation in the high lipid-fed rabbit.

METHODS

In high lipid diet-fed rabbits, concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, malondialdehyde (MDA), and DMA were measured, and endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was tested.

RESULTS

After 6-wk on a high lipid-diet, the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA, and DMA were increased vs those in control group (MDA was 2.88 +/- s 0.20 vs 1.54 +/- 0.13 nmol.L-1, P < 0.01 and DMA was 1.51 +/- 0.07 vs 0.75 +/- 0.13 mumol.L-1, P < 0.01), while the endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the isolated thoracic aorta was impaired (the maximal response to ACh was 45.59 +/- 3.10 vs 76.93 +/- 5.68%). Supplementation with vitamin E decreased MDA and DMA content and improved the endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in serum concentration of DMA may be secondary to the elevation of lipid peroxides in the hyperlipidemic rabbit.

[Functional and histological evidence of insulin resistance in spontaneously hypertensive rat]

In order to confirm the existence of insulin resistance in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), rich musculature glucose tolerance test (GTT) and histological method examination of the insulin receptor were carried out in SHR and the normotensives (WKY). The basal serum insulin level was higher and the area under insulin curve during GTT was also higher in SHR than those in WKY, while the basal serum glucose level and the area under glucose curve during GTT in SHR were similar to those in WKY. As compared with WKY, SHR displayed a significantly lower percentage of insulin sensitive slow-twitch fiber of plantaris and medial head of gastrocnemius (type I fiber). There were strong positive correlations between blood pressure (BP) and insulin as well as between BP and the area under insulin curve, but the correlation between insulin and percentage of type I fiber was negative. In conclusion, the present study provides both functional and structural evidence of insulin resistance in SHR.

Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on patients with renovascular hypertension

Previous studies have shown the effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on rats with renovascular hypertension (RVH). In the present study low dose alpha-hANF (0.025 microgram/kg/min) was administered intravenously for 60 minutes to seven RVH patients. Results demonstrated an inhibition of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), reduction of plasma catecholamine and arginine vasopressin(AVP), diuresis and natriuresis, increase of hematocrit and creatinine clearance, and slight decrease of blood pressure. These results showed that most factors involved in the establishment and maintenance of RVH are affected by ANF infusion.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the pathogenesis and treatment of hypertension

The present study demonstrated that the plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) concentration was lower but the CGRP content of abdominal aorta was higher in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in normotensive rats (WKY), using specific CGRP radioimmunoassay (P less than 0.01). In eighteen patients with essential hypertension, the concentration of plasma CGRP was also much lower than that of normal subjects, suggesting that a decreased release of arterial CGRP might be a part of the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. In SHR, a significant decrease in blood pressure was found following intravenous injection of 2.5 micrograms/kg of CGRP; similarly, in seven patients with essential hypertension intravenous injection of CGRP (50 micrograms) could induce a significant hypotensive effect. These data suggest that CGRP is a new potential drug for the treatment of essential hypertension.