Achromobacter species (sp.) outbreak caused by hospital equipment containing contaminated water: risk factors for infection

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial outbreaks of urinary tract infections caused by Achromobacter spp. have been rare in recent decades.

AIM

To identify the origin of an Achromobacter sp. outbreak, conduct multi-modal infection control measures, and finally to stop the outbreak. To this end, an epidemiological outbreak investigation and risk factor analysis were performed.

METHODS

Achromobacter sp. was detected in 22 patients in our urology wards and six environmental cultures of specimens obtained from the operating rooms. Strains isolated were submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. An on-site epidemiological investigation, evaluation of patient medical records, and environmental sampling were performed to identify the source of the outbreak, and implementation of infection control intervention. A case-control study was performed to analyse the potential risk factors.

FINDINGS

Environmental sampling showed that the source of the infection for 22 patients was an ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer containing contaminated water. A case-control analysis showed that the risk factors for infection were: diagnosis of kidney/ureteral stones, surgery, placement of a double-J stent, and history of hospitalization in the past three months.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the outbreak occurred in patients who underwent internal lithotripsy and double-J stent placement, due to contact transmission with the contaminated sensor and connecting tubes of the ISA-IIIA-type medical pressurizer.

Transurethral surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia with detrusor underactivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with detrusor underactivity (DU) remains controversial.

METHODS

To summarize relevant evidence, three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched from database inception to May 1, 2023. Transurethral surgical treatment modalities include transurethral prostatectomy (TURP), photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), and transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP). The efficacy of the transurethral surgical treatment was assessed according to maximal flow rate on uroflowmetry (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), postvoid residual (PVR), quality of life (QoL), voided volume, bladder contractility index (BCI) and maximal detrusor pressure at maximal flow rate (PdetQmax). Pooled mean differences (MDs) were used as summary statistics for comparison. The quality of enrolled studies was evaluated by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Sensitivity analysis and funnel plots were applied to assess possible biases.

RESULTS

In this study, 10 studies with a total of 1142 patients enrolled. In BPH patients with DU, within half a year, significant improvements in Qmax (pooled MD, 4.79; 95% CI, 2.43-7.16; P < 0.05), IPSS(pooled MD, - 14.29; 95%CI, - 16.67-11.90; P < 0.05), QoL (pooled MD, - 1.57; 95% CI, - 2.37-0.78; P < 0.05), voided volume (pooled MD, 62.19; 95% CI, 17.91-106.48; P < 0.05), BCI (pooled MD, 23.59; 95% CI, 8.15-39.04; P < 0.05), and PdetQmax (pooled MD, 28.62; 95% CI, 6.72-50.52; P < 0.05) were observed after surgery. In addition, after more than 1 year, significant improvements were observed in Qmax (pooled MD, 6.75; 95%CI, 4.35-9.15; P < 0.05), IPSS(pooled MD, - 13.76; 95%CI, - 15.17-12.35; P < 0.05), PVR (pooled MD, - 179.78; 95%CI, - 185.12-174.44; P < 0.05), QoL (pooled MD, - 2.61; 95%CI, - 3.12-2.09; P < 0.05), and PdetQmax (pooled MD, 27.94; 95%CI, 11.70-44.19; P < 0.05). Compared with DU patients who did not receive surgery, DU patients who received surgery showed better improvement in PVR (pooled MD, 137.00; 95%CI, 6.90-267.10; P < 0.05) and PdetQmax (pooled MD, - 8.00; 95%CI, - 14.68-1.32; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis results showed that transurethral surgery can improve the symptoms of BPH patients with DU. Surgery also showed advantages over pharmacological treatment for BPH patients with DU.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42023415188.

A novel predictive model for noninvasively diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction in female patients based on clinical features and uroflowmetry parameters

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a simple prediction model to diagnose female bladder outlet obstruction (fBOO) because of the invasive nature of standard urodynamic studies (UDS) for diagnosing fBOO.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 728 women who underwent UDS at Tongji Hospital between 2011 and 2021. The definition of fBOO was Pdet.Qmax  - 2.2 × Qmax  > 5 (BOOIf > 5). Independent predictive factors of fBOO were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis. These predictive factors were incorporated into a predictive model to assess the risk of fBOO.

RESULTS

Of the 728 patients, 249 (34.2%) were identified as having fBOO and these women were randomly assigned to two groups, a model development group and a model validation group. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that age, Qmax , flow time, and voiding efficiency were independent risk factors for fBOO. The predictive model of fBOO showed a satisfactory performance, with area under the curve being 0.811 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.771-0.850, P < 0.001), which was confirmed to be 0.820 (95% CI 0.759-0.882, P < 0.001) with external validation. The calibration curve indicated that the predicted probability had an excellent correspondence to observed frequency. Decision curve analysis demonstrated a greater clinical net benefit compared with the strategies of treat all or treat none when the predicted risk was in a range of 3% and 75%.

CONCLUSION

A novel predictive model of fBOO was developed and validated based on clinical features and noninvasive test parameters in female patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. The model is a quick and easy-to-use tool to assess the risk of fBOO for urologists in their routine practice without an invasive UDS.

De novo aging-related NADPH diaphorase positive megaloneurites in the sacral spinal cord of aged dogs

We investigated aging-related changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in the spinal cord of aged dogs. At all levels of the spinal cord examined, NADPH-d activities were observed in neurons and fibers in the superficial dorsal horn (DH), dorsal gray commissure (DGC) and around the central canal (CC). A significant number of NADPH-d positive macro-diameter fibers, termed megaloneurites, were discovered in the sacral spinal cord (S1-S3) segments of aged dogs. The distribution of megaloneurites was characterized from the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) into the superficial dorsal horn, along the lateral collateral pathway (LCP) to the region of sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN), DGC and around the CC, but not in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments. Double staining of NADPH-d histochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that NADPH-d positive megaloneurites co-localized with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactivity. We believed that megaloneurites may in part represent visceral afferent projections to the SPN and/or DGC. The NADPH-d megaloneurites in the aged sacral spinal cord indicated some anomalous changes in the neurites, which might account for a disturbance in the aging pathway of the autonomic and sensory nerve in the pelvic visceral organs.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Roots from a Wild Eggplant Species Solanum sisymbriifolium in Defense Response to Verticillium dahliae Inoculation

Eggplant verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium spp., is a severe eggplant vascular disease. Solanum sisymbriifolium, a wild species of eggplant that is resistant to verticillium wilt, will be beneficial for genetically modifying eggplants. To better reveal the response of wild eggplant to verticillium wilt, proteomic analysis by iTRAQ technique was performed on roots of S. sisymbriifolium after exposure to Verticillium dahliae, and some selected proteins were also validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). After inoculation with V. dahliae, the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble protein (SP) of S. sisymbriifolium roots all exhibited an increase in activity or content compared with that of the mock-inoculated plants, especially at 12 and 24 h post-inoculation (hpi). A total of 4890 proteins (47.04% of the proteins were from S. tuberosum and 25.56% were from S. lycopersicum according to the species annotation) were identified through iTRAQ and LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 369 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (195 downregulated and 174 upregulated) were obtained by comparison of the control and treatment groups at 12 hpi, and 550 DEPs (466 downregulated and 84 upregulated) were obtained by comparison of the groups at 24 hpi. The most significant Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment terms at 12 hpi were regulation of translational initiation, oxidation-reduction, and single-organism metabolic process in the biological process group; cytoplasm and eukaryotic preinitiation complex in the cellular component group; and catalytic activity, oxidoreductase activity, and protein binding in the molecular function group. Small molecule metabolic, organophosphate metabolic, and coenzyme metabolic processes in the biological process group; the cytoplasm in the cellular component group; and catalytic activity and GTPase binding in the molecular function group were significant at 24 hpi. Then, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis was performed, and 82 and 99 pathways (15 and 17, p-value < 0.05) were found to be enriched at 12 and 24 hpi, respectively. Selenocompound metabolism, ubiquinone, and other terpenoid-quinone biosyntheses, fatty acid biosynthesis, lysine biosynthesis, and the citrate cycle were the top five significant pathways at 12 hpi. Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, linoleic acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and cyanoamino acid metabolism were the top five at 24 hpi. Some V. dahliae-resistance-related proteins, including phenylpropanoid-pathway-related proteins, stress and defense response proteins, plant-pathogen interaction pathway and pathogenesis-related proteins, cell wall organization and reinforcement-related proteins, phytohormones-signal-pathways-related proteins, and other defense-related proteins were identified. In conclusion, this is the first proteomic analysis of S. sisymbriifolium under V. dahliae stress.

Quantitative evaluation of the spinal cord compression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy using synthetic MRI

Objectives: This work aimed to investigate the feasibility and diagnostic value of synthetic MRI, including T1, T2 and PD values in determining the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: All subjects (51 CSM patients and 9 healthy controls) underwent synthetic MRI scan on a 3.0T GE MR scanner. The cervical canal stenosis degree of subjects was graded 0-III based on the method of a MRI grading system. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn at the maximal compression level (MCL) by covering the whole spinal cord to generate T1_MCL, T2_MCL, and PD_MCL values in grade I-III groups. Besides, anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (Trans) diameters of the spinal cord at MCL were measured in grade II and grade III groups, and relative values were calculated as follows: rAP = AP_MCL/AP_normal, rTrans = Trans_MCL/Trans_normal. rMIN = rAP/rTrans. Results: T1_MCL value showed a decreasing trend with severity of grades (from grade 0 to grade II, p < 0.05), while it increased dramatically at grade III. T2_MCL value showed no significant difference among grade groups (from grade 0 to grade II), while it increased dramatically at grade III compared to grade II (p < 0.05). PD_MCL value showed no statistical difference among all grade groups. rMIN of grade III was significantly lower than that of grade II (p < 0.05). T2_MCL value was negatively correlated with rMIN, whereas positively correlated with rTrans. Conclusion: Synthetic MRI can provide not only multiple contrast images but also quantitative mapping, which is showed promisingly to be a reliable and efficient method in the quantitative diagnosis of CSM.

Identification and validation of novel biomarkers affecting bladder cancer immunotherapy via machine learning and its association with M2 macrophages

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy has shown promising results in bladder cancer therapy options.

METHODS

Analysis of open-access data was conducted using the R software. Open-access data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and IMvigor210 databases. Immunofluorescence and co-culture systems were utilized to validate the effect of PTHLH on M2 macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

Here, through the combined (TCGA, GSE128959, GSE13507, and GSE83586) and IMvigor210 cohorts, we comprehensively investigated the biological and immune microenvironment differences in patients with diverse immunotherapy responses. Meanwhile, we found that M2 macrophage could affect bladder cancer immunotherapy sensibility. Moreover, based on the machine learning algorithm (LASSO logistics regression), PTHLH, BHMT2, and NGFR were identified, which all have good prediction abilities for patient immunotherapy. Then, a logistics regression model was established based on PTHLH, BHMT2, and NGFR, and each patient was assigned a logistics score. Subsequently, we investigated the difference in patients with high low logistics scores, including biological enrichment, immune microenvironment, and genomic characteristics. Meanwhile, data from the Human Protein Atlas database indicated a higher protein level of PTHLH in bladder cancer tissue. Immunofluorescence indicated that the knockdown of PTHLH in bladder cancer cells can significantly inhibit the M2 polarization of co-culture M0 macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study investigated the difference between bladder cancer immunotherapy responders and non-responders. Meanwhile, the PTHLH was identified as a novel biomarker for bladder cancer immunotherapy.

Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for intra-abdominal hypertension after giant ventral hernia repair: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a classical complication after giant ventral hernia surgery and may lead to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). Assessment of risk factors and prevention of IAH/ACS are essential for hernia surgeons.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study including 58 giant ventral hernia patients in our center between Jan 1, 2017, and Mar 1, 2022, we recorded age, gender, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypoproteinemia, body mass index (BMI), the ratio of hernia sac volume to abdominal cavity volume (HSV/ACV), defect width, tension reduction procedure (TRP), positive fluid balance (PFB) and IAH of these patients and analyzed the data using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to screen the risk factors for IAH after surgery.

RESULTS

The multivariate analysis showed that HSV/ACV ≥ 25%, hypoproteinemia, and PFB were independent risk factors for the occurrence of IAH after giant ventral hernia repair (P = 0.025, 0.016, 0.017, respectively). We did not find any correlation between postoperative IAH and the patient's age, gender, COPD, CHD, hypertension, T2DM, BMI, defect width, TRP, and PFB.

CONCLUSION

Identifying risk factors is of great significance for the early identification and prevention of IAH/ACS. We found that HSV/ACV ≥ 25%, hypoproteinemia, and PFB were independent risk factors for IAH after giant ventral hernia repair.

The diagnostic value of non-invasive methods for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: A meta-analysis

Purpose

We conducted the first meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic value of non-invasive methods for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods

We searched a range of databases for relevant publications up to June 2022, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Retrieved studies were then reviewed for eligibility and data were extracted. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. We then performed a formal meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of various non-invasive methods for diagnosing BOO in men.

Results

We identified 51 eligible studies including 7,897 patients for meta-analysis. The majority of the studies had a low overall RoB. Detrusor wall thickness (DWT) (pooled sensitivity (SSY): 71%; specificity (SPY): 88%; diagnostic odds ratio (DOR): 17.15; area under curve (AUC) 0.87) and the penile cuff test (PCT) (pooled SSY: 87%; SPY: 78%; DOR: 23.54; AUC: 0.88) showed high accuracy for diagnosing BOO. Furthermore, data suggested that DWT had the highest pooled SPY (0.89), DOR (32.58), and AUC (0.90), when using 2 mm as the cut-off.

Conclusion

Of the non-invasive tests tested, DWT and PCT had the highest levels of diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing BOO in men with LUTS. DWT, with a 2 mm cut-off, had the highest level of accuracy. These two methods represent good options as non-invasive tools for evaluating BOO in males.

Molecular mechanism of ferroptosis and its role in the occurrence and treatment of diabetes

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death, which is different from apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Specifically, under the action of divalent iron or ester oxygenase, unsaturated fatty acids that are highly expressed on the cell membrane are catalyzed to produce lipid peroxidation, which induces cell death. In addition, the expression of the antioxidant system [glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)] is decreased. Ferroptosis plays an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this article, we review the molecular mechanism of ferroptosis in the development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. We also summarize the emerging questions in this particular area of research, some of which remain unanswered. Overall, this is a comprehensive review focusing on ferroptosis-mediated diabetes and providing novel insights in the treatment of diabetes from the perspective of ferroptosis.

The complete chloroplast genome of Solanum sisymbriifolium (Solanaceae), the wild eggplant

Solanum sisymbriifolium is a critical wild eggplant resource with resistance to many serious diseases that affect eggplant production. In this study, the chloroplast genome of S. sisymbriifolium was successfully sequenced using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The length of the complete chloroplast genome is 155,771 bp, and its GC content is 37.76%. There is a large single-copy region (86,404 bp), a small single-copy region (18,525 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (25,421 bp) in the chloroplast genome. A total of 128 coding genes were annotated in the entire chloroplast genome, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes and eight ribosomal RNA genes. The phylogenetic tree of 17 complete chloroplast genomes shows that S. sisymbriifolium is closely related to Solanum wrightii.

Selection and Evaluation of Candidate Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR in Aboveground Tissues and Drought Conditions in Rhododendron Delavayi

There has been no systematic identification and screening of candidate reference genes for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results in Rhododendron delavayi to date. Therefore, the present study used GAPDH, Act, EF1, Tub-, Tub-5, UEC1, TATA, TATA-2, UEP, TIP41, and Ubiquitin to predict their stabilities on different aboveground tissues (matured leaves (ML), stem tips (STM), and flower buds (FB)) at different developmental stages (young and adult plants) using five statistical algorithms: Delta Ct method, BestKeeper, geNorm, Normfinder, and RefFinder. The findings were confirmed using ML obtained from plants that had been stressed by drought. By using RefFinder with ML samples collected under drought conditions, it was determined that the top five most stable reference genes were GAPDH > UEC1 > Actin > Tubulin- > Tubulin—5, whereas the least stable reference gene was Ubiquitin. In addition, under control conditions, UEC1, UEC2, Actin, and GAPDH were selected as the highest stable potential reference genes at the juvenile stage of R. delavayi with ML and STM. When ML and STM were combined with drought-stressed samples, TIP41, GAPDH, or their combination proved to be the most effective qRT-PCR primers. The findings will aid in the improvement of the precision and reliability of qRT-PCR data and laying the groundwork for future gene functional studies in R. delavayi.

Remediation of arsenic-contaminated paddy soil: Effects of elemental sulfur and gypsum fertilizer application

Heavy metal(loid) contamination represents an immense challenge in sustainable agriculture. Arsenic, in particular, poses a great risk to the quality of agricultural products (e.g., rice grain). The sulfur amendment is recommended as an effective practice to remediate heavy metal(loid)-polluted soil, given its function in enhancing crop production and alleviating heavy metal(loid) accumulation in the plant. This study aims to investigate the roles of sulfur fertilizer on arsenic accumulation in rice and to explore the key mechanisms. In this study, Elemental sulfur (ES) and gypsum sulfur (GS) were chosen as sulfur fertilizers, with different application rates (0, 0.15, and 0.30 g S kg^-1 soil). The results showed that ES and GS treatment significantly increased rice grain yield by 46.6-59.7% and significantly reduced the rice grain arsenic content by more than 39.1%. The sulfur treatment decreased soil pe + pH values. ES treatment increased the availability of arsenic in the bulk soil, whereas GS showed little effect. Sulfur application promoted the formation of iron and manganese plaques, which could suppress the migration of arsenic from soil to rice root. In addition, the sulfur treatment decreased the arsenic that migrating from rice roots to grains by 33.3-66.7%. This study indicates that sulfur application could increase arsenic availability in paddy soil; however, it can inhibit arsenic accumulation in rice grains via increasing the root plaques content and inhibiting the translocation of arsenic from roots to grains.

Evaluation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as an industrial crop: a review

Rising human population has increased the utilization of available resources for food, clothes, medicine, and living space, thus menacing natural environment and mounting the gap between available resources, and the skills to meet human desires is necessary. Humans are satisfying their desires by depleting available natural resources. Therefore, multifunctional plants can contribute towards the livelihoods of people, to execute their life requirements without degrading natural resources. Thus, research on multipurpose industrial crops should be of high interest among scientists. Hemp, or industrial hemp, is gaining research interest because of its fastest growth and utilization in commercial products including textile, paper, medicine, food, animal feed, paint, biofuel, biodegradable plastic, and construction material. High biomass production and ability to grow under versatile conditions make hemp, a good candidate species for remediation of polluted soils also. Present review highlights the morphology, adaptability, nutritional constituents, textile use, and medicinal significance of industrial hemp. Moreover, its usage in environmental conservation, building material, and biofuel production has also been discussed.

A Novel Algorithm for Distributed Data Stream Using Big Data Classification Model

In order to solve the problem of real-time detection of power grid equipment anomalies, this paper proposes a data flow classification model based on distributed processing. In order to realize distributed processing of power grid data flow, a local node mining method and a global mining mode based on uneven data flow classification are designed. A data stream classification model based on distributed processing is constructed, then the corresponding data sequence is selected and formatted abstractly, and the local node mining method and global mining mode under this model are designed. In the local node miner, the block-to-block mining strategy is implemented by acquiring the current data blocks. At the same time, the expression and real-time maintenance of local mining patterns are completed by combining the clustering algorithm, thus improving the transmission rate of information between each node and ensuring the timeliness of the overall classification algorithm.

Refractory lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with lumbar disc hernia relieved by non-surgical treatment

PURPOSE

Refractory lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) coexisting with lumbar disc hernia (LDH) have been shown to resolve following LDH surgery, implying that LDH causes these LUTS. The purpose of this study was to report outcomes in patients with refractory LUTS and LDH following non-surgical treatment targeting LDH.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using outpatient data collected at Tongji Hospital, China, between 2016 and 2018. This study included 131 adult patients with refractory LUTS and LDH. Patients were stratified into two groups. Group A underwent non-surgical treatment for LDH plus pharmacological treatment for LUTS. Group B underwent only pharmacological treatment for LUTS. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the IPSS quality of life (QoL) score, and uroflowmetry were used to evaluate outcomes.

RESULTS

In group A, following treatment, the maximum flow rate (Qmax) increased by 3.92 ml/s (p < 0.001), the IPSS reduced by 5.99 points (p < 0.001), and the QoL score decreased by 1.51 points (p < 0.001). In group B, the Qmax increased by 0.09 ml/s (p = 0.833), the IPSS reduced by 0.72 points (p = 0.163), and the QoL score decreased by 0.07 points (p = 0.784).

CONCLUSIONS

LUTS can be relieved by a combination of pharmacological treatment for LUTS and non-surgical treatment for LDH in some refractory LUTS patients with LDH. MRI is recommended for these patients.

Diagnostic Evaluation of 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Recurrent or Residual Urinary Bladder Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with the computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in the detection of recurrent or residual urinary bladder cancer with meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases through October 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the full articles. The imaging findings were confirmed by either histopathology or clinical follow-up. Sensitivity, specificity likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio were pooled with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Overall test performance was summarized by a summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The Meta-DiSc software (version 1.4) was used to perform the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 7 studies. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for the detection of recurrent or residual urinary bladder cancer was 94.0% (95% CI: 91.0%-96.0%) and 92.0% (95% CI: 88.0%- 95.0%), respectively. Positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio were 9.77 (95% CI: 4.91-19.41), 0.99(95% CI: 0.06-0.13) and 95.09 (95% CI: 47.96-188.53), respectively. When residual urinary bladder cancer was excluded, sensitivity changed slightly.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT was good in detecting recurrent or residual urinary bladder cancer.

De novo assembly and discovery of genes involved in the response of Solanum sisymbriifolium to Verticillium dahlia

Verticillium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, is a devastating disease of eggplant (Solanum spp.) and causes substantial losses worldwide. Although some genes or biological processes involved in the interaction between eggplant and V. dahliae have been identified in some studies, the underlying molecular mechanism is not yet clear. Here, we monitored the transcriptomic profiles of the roots of resistant S. sisymbriifolium plants challenged with V. dahliae. Based on the measurements of physiological indexes (T-SOD, POD and SSs), three time points were selected and subsequently divided into two stages (S_12 h vs. S_0 h and S_48 h vs. S_12 h). KEGG enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed several genes putatively involved in regulating plant-V. dahliae interactions, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes (MEKK1 and MAP2K1), WRKY genes (WRKY22 and WRKY33) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP73A/C4H, CYP98A/C3'H and CYP84A/F5H). In addition, a subset of genes that play an important role in activating V. dahliae defence responses, including Ve genes as well as genes encoding PR proteins and TFs, were screened and are discussed. These results will help to identify key resistance genes and will contribute to a further understanding of molecular mechanisms of the S. sisymbriifolium resistance response to V. dahliae.

Comparison of retroperitoneal laparoscopic versus open adrenalectomy for large pheochromocytoma: a single-center retrospective study

Background

It remains unclear whether retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) is safe and effective for the treatment of large pheochromocytoma (PHEO). This retrospective study aimed to identify the advantages and disadvantages of RLA compared to open adrenalectomy (OA).

Methods

This study included 147 patients who underwent RLA (n = 101) or OA (n = 46) for PHEO larger than 5 cm. Groups were balanced by propensity score matching (PSM) into 46 pairs. Perioperative variables and long-term follow-up results were compared between the two groups.

Results

After PSM, patients in the RLA group had a shorter operative time (218 vs. 245 min, P = 0.040), quicker bowel recovery (2 vs. 3 days, P = 0.046), and a shorter hospital stay (8 vs. 9 days, P = 0.010) compared to the OA group. The results of multiple linear regression analyses showed that the operative method (OA vs. RLA) had an influence on the above three postoperative variables (β = 31.84, P = 0.046; β = 0.76, P = 0.044; and β = 1.25, P = 0.025, respectively). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with improved blood pressure (82.61% vs. 69.57%, P = 0.143) between the two groups.

Conclusions

Both RLA and OA provide similar perioperative and long-term outcomes for the surgical management of large PHEO. RLA is an efficacious and safe surgical method for patients with PHEO larger than 5 cm in diameter.

Effect of elemental sulfur and gypsum application on the bioavailability and redistribution of cadmium during rice growth

Recently, concerns over heavy metal contamination of soil have grown. The application of sulfur has been recommended to enhance crop productivity and increase soil cadmium (Cd) immobilization. In this study, a pool experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two sulfur sources and multiple treatment levels on rice growth and Cd accumulation. The two sulfur forms were elemental sulfur (S⁰) and gypsum, both of which were applied at 0, 0.15, and 0.30 g S kg^-1 soil, for a total of five treatments. The results showed that both S⁰ and gypsum significantly increased rice biomass compared to the control (CK), and rice yield was increased 2.8-4.8 folds. The effect size was greater for gypsum than S⁰. The application of S⁰ reduced the rice grain Cd concentration from 0.61 mg kg^-1 (CK) to 0.41-0.46 mg kg^-1, while gypsum reduced the Cd concentration to 0.24-0.43 mg kg^-1. The lower gypsum application level achieved the greatest reduction in rice grain Cd accumulation. This study further demonstrated that the application of S⁰ and gypsum led to a decrease in the labile Cd percentage and an increase in the stable Cd percentage. In bulk soil, iron and manganese oxide-bound Cd increased by 6.4-7.3% and 0.7-2.0% for the S⁰ and gypsum treatments, respectively. In the rhizosphere, residual Cd increased by >0.6%. Furthermore, this study found that sulfur application reduced Cd transfer from root to shoot, and significantly decreased rice grain Cd accumulation. These findings indicate that sulfur application to paddy soils can promote rice productivity and effectively remediate soil Cd contamination, with a greater effect by gypsum than S⁰.

Reduced Serum Adiponectin Level and Risk of Poststroke Depression in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Decreased adiponectin (APN) level has been indicated to be associated with depression. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether serum APN could predict poststroke depression (PSD) at 3 months in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHOD

Patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and hospitalized within 24 hours of symptoms onset were enrolled prospectively during March 2017 to September 2017. Serum APN level was measured at admission by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neuropsychological evaluations were performed at the 3-month follow-up. PSD was diagnosed using the Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The association between APN level and predict PSD was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 255 acute ischemic stroke patients included, the median (interquartile range) APN level was 5.4 (3.0-7.5) μg/mL. PSD was observed in 69 patients, which accounted for 27.1% (95% confidence interval, 24.3%-29.9%) of the cohort. Patients with PSD showed lower level of APN (3.5 [2.5-6.3] μg/mL versus 6.2 [3.5-8.0] μg/mL, P = .001) at admission. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that patients with APN level in the first tertile compared with the third tertile were more likely to have PSD (odds ratio, 3.550; 95% confidence interval, 1.732-7.276; P = .008). The association remained significant even after multivariable adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that decreased APN level at admission might be associated with PSD in patients after acute ischemic stroke.

Linking seed germination and plant height: a case study of a wetland community on the eastern Tibet Plateau

Seed germination is the earliest trait expressed in a plant's life history, and it can directly affect the expression of post-germination traits. Plant height is central to plant ecological strategies, because it is a major determinant of the ability of a species to compete for light. Thus, linking seed germination and plant height at the community level is very important to understanding plant fitness and community structure. Here, we tested storage condition and temperature requirements for germination of 31 species from a wetland plant community on the eastern Tibet Plateau and analysed correlation of germination traits with plant height in relation to storage condition. Germination percentage was positively related to plant height, and this relationship disappeared when seeds were incubated at a low temperature (i.e. 5 °C) or after they were stored under wet-cold conditions. The response of seeds to dry+wet-cold storage was negatively related to plant height. Based on the scores of each species on the first two principal components derived from PCA, species were classified into two categories by hierarchical clustering, and there was a significant difference between germination and plant height of species in these two categories. These results suggest that the requirements for seed germination together with seasonal change in environmental conditions determine the window for germination and, in turn, plant growth season and resource utilisation and ultimately plant height.

Properties of oscillatory neuronal activity in the basal ganglia and thalamus in patients with Parkinson's disease

Background

The cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are bradykinesia, rigidity and rest tremor. Abnormal activity in the basal ganglia is predicted to underlie the mechanism of motor symptoms. This study aims to characterize properties of oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia and motor thalamus in patients with PD.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients with PD who underwent bilateral or unilateral electrode implantation for subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS (n = 11), unilateral pallidotomy (n = 9) and unilateral thalamotomy (n = 9) were studied. Microelectrode recordings in the STN, globus pallidus internus (GPi) and ventral oral posterior/ventral intermediate of thalamus (Vop/Vim) were performed. Electromyography of the contralateral limbs was recorded. Single unit characteristics including interspike intervals were analyzed. Spectral and coherence analyses were assessed. Mean spontaneous firing rate (MSFR) of neurons was calculated. Analysis of variance and X² test were performed.

Results

Of 76 STN neurons, 39.5% were 4–6 Hz band oscillatory neurons and 28.9% were β frequency band (βFB) oscillatory neurons. The MSFR was 44.2 ± 7.6 Hz. Of 62 GPi neurons, 37.1% were 4–6 Hz band oscillatory neurons and 27.4% were βFB neurons. The MSFR was 80.9 ± 9.6 Hz. Of 44 Vop neurons, 65.9% were 4–6 Hz band oscillatory neurons and 9% were βFB neurons. The MSFR was 24.4 ± 4.2 Hz. Of 30 Vim oscillatory neurons, 70% were 4–6 Hz band oscillatory neurons and 13.3% were βFB neurons. The MSFR was 30.3 ± 3.6 Hz. Further analysis indicated that proportion of βFB oscillatory neurons in STN and GPi was higher than that of similar neurons in the Vop and Vim (P < 0.05). Conversely, the proportion of 4–6 Hz band oscillatory neurons and tremor related neurons in the Vim and Vop was higher than that of STN and GPi (P < 0.05). The highest MSFR was for GPi oscillatory neurons whereas the lowest MSFR was for Vop oscillatory neurons (P < 0.005).

Conclusion

The alterations in neuronal activity in basal ganglia play a critical role in generation of parkinsonism. β oscillatory activity is more prominent in basal ganglia than in thalamus suggesting that the activity likely results from dopaminergic depletion. While both basal ganglia and thalamus have tremor activity, the thalamus appears to play a more important role in tremor production, and basal ganglia β oscillatory activity might be the trigger.

Leinal polypeptide promotes NK cells to suppress PCa survival in vitro

As an important component in the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells have been demonstrated to be clinically associated with prostate cancer (PCa) progression and castration resistance. Therefore, the development of novel agents that may enhance the cytotoxicity of NK cells possesses promising therapeutic applications. In the present study, leinal polypeptide (LP) solution was supplemented into a co-culture system of NK and PCa cells, as it was previously demonstrated that LP are able to activate NK cells, which kill PCa cells based on an MTT cell viability assay. Mechanistic dissection demonstrated that LP enhanced androgen receptor degradation, which resulted in an upregulation of MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) and MICB. In turn, the induced expression of MICA and MICB was able to further trigger NK cell activation, forming a positive loop between NK cells and PCa cells in the presence of LP solution.

Effects of curcumin plus Soy oligosaccharides on intestinal flora of rats with ulcerative colitis

To explore the therapeutic effect of curcumin (Cur) and soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS) on ulcerative colitis (UC) through testing the intestinal flora and ulcerative colitis (UC). 80 male SD rats were selected divided into four groups with 20 rats in each group: normal group, sulfasalazine (SASP) group, model group and group of curcumin plus soy oligosaccharide. All animals were treated for 4 weeks. In the fifth week rats were decapitated. Macroscopic damage scores of colonic mucosa were calculated. A 4mL blood sample was taken to detect the contents of serum tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) by the double antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Colonic tissues with the most obvious lesions were obtained using a surgical scissor. A routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method was used to stain pathological specimens and images of staining results were obtained. Histological injury scores of colonic mucosa were calculated. Ulcerative colitis model rats had the highest macroscopic damage scores and histological injury scores of colonic mucosa. After treatment the contents of TNF-α and IL-8 decreased significantly in the group of curcumin plus soy oligosaccharide compared with the model group with statistical significance (P <0.01) while the contents were close to those in the SASP group. There was no statistical significance (P> 0.05). The treatment could decrease TNF-α and IL- 8 expression and reduce colonic mucosa inflammation and tissue damage.

Combined Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Apparent Transverse Relaxation Rate Differentiate Parkinson Disease and Atypical Parkinsonism

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Both diffusion tensor imaging and the apparent transverse relaxation rate have shown promise in differentiating Parkinson disease from atypical parkinsonism (particularly multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy). The objective of the study was to assess the ability of DTI, the apparent transverse relaxation rate, and their combination for differentiating Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 106 subjects (36 controls, 35 patients with Parkinson disease, 16 with multiple system atrophy, and 19 with progressive supranuclear palsy) were included. DTI and the apparent transverse relaxation rate measures from the striatal, midbrain, limbic, and cerebellar regions were obtained and compared among groups. The discrimination performance of DTI and the apparent transverse relaxation rate among groups was assessed by using Elastic-Net machine learning and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, patients with Parkinson disease showed significant apparent transverse relaxation rate differences in the red nucleus. Compared to those with Parkinson disease, patients with both multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy showed more widespread changes, extending from the midbrain to striatal and cerebellar structures. The pattern of changes, however, was different between the 2 groups. For instance, patients with multiple system atrophy showed decreased fractional anisotropy and an increased apparent transverse relaxation rate in the subthalamic nucleus, whereas patients with progressive supranuclear palsy showed an increased mean diffusivity in the hippocampus. Combined, DTI and the apparent transverse relaxation rate were significantly better than DTI or the apparent transverse relaxation rate alone in separating controls from those with Parkinson disease/multiple system atrophy/progressive supranuclear palsy; controls from those with Parkinson disease; those with Parkinson disease from those with multiple system atrophy/progressive supranuclear palsy; and those with Parkinson disease from those with multiple system atrophy; but not those with Parkinson disease from those with progressive supranuclear palsy, or those with multiple system atrophy from those with progressive supranuclear palsy.

CONCLUSIONS

DTI and the apparent transverse relaxation rate provide different but complementary information for different parkinsonisms. Combined DTI and apparent transverse relaxation rate may be a superior marker for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonisms.

Influence of OATP1B1 Function on the Disposition of Sorafenib-β-D-Glucuronide

The oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib undergoes extensive UGT1A9-mediated formation of sorafenib-β-D-glucuronide (SG). Using transporter-deficient mouse models, it was previously established that SG can be extruded into bile by ABCC2 or follow a liver-to-blood shuttling loop via ABCC3-mediated efflux into the systemic circulation, and subsequent uptake in neighboring hepatocytes by OATP1B-type transporters. Here we evaluated the possibility that this unusual process, called hepatocyte hopping, is also operational in humans and can be modulated through pharmacological inhibition. We found that SG transport by OATP1B1 or murine Oatp1b2 was effectively inhibited by rifampin, and that this agent can significantly increase plasma levels of SG in wildtype mice, but not in Oatp1b2-deficient animals. In human subjects receiving sorafenib, rifampin acutely increased the systemic exposure to SG. Our study emphasizes the need to consider hepatic handling of xenobiotic glucuronides in the design of drug-drug interaction studies of agents that undergo extensive phase II conjugation.

Genetic associations with viral respiratory illnesses and asthma control in children

BACKGROUND

Viral respiratory infections can cause acute wheezing illnesses in children and exacerbations of asthma.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify variation in genes with known antiviral and pro-inflammatory functions to identify specific associations with more severe viral respiratory illnesses and the risk of virus-induced exacerbations during the peak fall season.

METHODS

The associations between genetic variation at 326 SNPs in 63 candidate genes and 10 phenotypes related to viral respiratory infection and asthma control were examined in 226 children enrolled in the RhinoGen study. Replication of asthma control phenotypes was performed in 2128 children in the Copenhagen Prospective Study on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC). Significant associations in RhinoGen were further validated using virus-induced wheezing illness and asthma phenotypes in an independent sample of 122 children enrolled in the Childhood Origins of Asthma (COAST) birth cohort study.

RESULTS

A significant excess of P values smaller than 0.05 was observed in the analysis of the 10 RhinoGen phenotypes. Polymorphisms in 12 genes were significantly associated with variation in the four phenotypes showing a significant enrichment of small P values. Six of those genes (STAT4, JAK2, MX1, VDR, DDX58, and EIF2AK2) also showed significant associations with asthma exacerbations in the COPSAC study or with asthma or virus-induced wheezing phenotypes in the COAST study.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified genetic factors contributing to individual differences in childhood viral respiratory illnesses and virus-induced exacerbations of asthma. Defining mechanisms of these associations may provide insight into the pathogenesis of viral respiratory infections and virus-induced exacerbations of asthma.

Transcriptome differences between fiber-type and seed-type Cannabis sativa variety exposed to salinity

The industrial hemp varieties 'Yunma 5' and 'Bamahuoma,' which demonstrate growth vigor and environmental adaptability, have been primarily cultivated in Yunnan and Guangxi, China, respectively, for fiber and seeds. The results of physiological measurements showed the phenotypic differences between the two varieties in response to salt stress. RNA-Seq analysis was first performed on leaves of both varieties sampled at four time intervals (0, 2, 4, 6 days) after treatment with salt (500 mM NaCl) We identified 220 co-up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two varieties, while 26 up-regulated DEGs and 24 down-regulated DEGs were identified exclusively in the single varieties after 2 days of salt stress. Among the 220 DEGs, we identified 22 transcription factors, including key transcription factors involved in salt stress, such as MYB, NAC, GATA, and HSF. We applied gene expression profile analysis and found that 'Yunma 5' and 'Bamahuoma' have variety-specific pathways for resisting salt stress. The DEGs of 'Yunma 5' were enriched in spliceosome and amino acid metabolism genes, while the DEGs of 'Bamahuoma' were enriched in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and endoplasmic reticulum protein processing pathway. Although there were common DEGs, such as genes encoding cysteine protease and alpha/beta-hydrolase superfamily, the two varieties' responses to salt stress impacted different metabolic pathways. The DEGs that were co-expressed in both varieties under stress may provide useful insights into the tolerance of cultivated hemp and other bast fiber crops to saline soil conditions. These transcriptomes also represent reference sequences for industrial hemp.

Structural Imaging and Parkinson's Disease: Moving Toward Quantitative Markers of Disease Progression

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Although the pathological hallmark of PD is dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra pars compacta, widespread neurodegenerative changes occur throughout the brain as disease progresses. Postmortem studies, for example, have demonstrated the presence of Lewy pathology, apoptosis, and loss of neurotransmitters and interneurons in both cortical and subcortical regions of PD patients. Many in vivo structural imaging studies have attempted to gauge PD-related pathology, particularly in gray matter, with the hope of identifying an imaging biomarker. Reports of brain atrophy in PD, however, have been inconsistent, most likely due to differences in the studied populations (i.e. different disease stages and/or clinical subtypes), experimental designs (i.e. cross-sectional vs. longitudinal), and image analysis methodologies (i.e. automatic vs. manual segmentation). This review attempts to summarize the current state of gray matter structural imaging research in PD in relationship to disease progression, reconciling some of the differences in reported results, and to identify challenges and future avenues.

Vitamin D prevents articular cartilage erosion by regulating collagen II turnover through TGF-β1 in ovariectomized rats

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of vitamin D on turnover of articular cartilage with ovariectomy (OVX) induced OA, and to investigate transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) as a possible underlying mechanism mediated by 1α,25(OH)2D3.

DESIGN

Sixty-six rats were randomly allocated into seven groups: sham plus control diet (SHAM+CTL), OVX+CTL diet, sham plus vitamin D-deficient (VDD) diet, OVX+VDD diet, and three groups of ovariectomized rats treated with different doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3. The cartilage erosion and the levels of serum 17β-estradiol, 1α,25(OH)2D3 and C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) were measured. TGF-β1, type II Collagen (CII), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9,-13 in articular cartilage were assessed by immunohistochemistry. TGF-β1 and CTX-II expression were measured in articular cartilage chondrocytes treated with/without tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), 1α,25(OH)2D3, and TGF-β receptor inhibitor (SB505124) in vitro.

RESULTS

Cartilage erosion due to OVX was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by 1α,25(OH)2D3 supplementation, and exacerbated by VDD. The expressions of TGF-β1 and CII in articular cartilage were suppressed by OVX and VDD, and rescued by 1α,25(OH)2D3 supplementation. The expression of MMP-9,-13 in articular cartilage increased with OVX and VDD, and decreased with 1α,25(OH)2D3 supplementation. In vitro experiments showed that 1α,25(OH)2D3 increased the TGF-β1 expression of TNF-α stimulated chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. 1α,25(OH)2D3 significantly counteracted the increased CTX-II release due to TNF-α stimulation, and this effect was significantly suppressed by SB505124.

CONCLUSION

VDD aggravated cartilage erosion, and 1α,25(OH)2D3 supplementation showed protective effects in OVX-induced OA partly through the TGF-β1 pathway.

A common variant in RAB27A gene is associated with fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels in adults

BACKGROUND

Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker for eosinophilic inflammation in the airways and for responsiveness to corticosteroids in asthmatics.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify in adults the genetic determinants of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and to assess whether environmental and disease-related factors influence these associations.

METHODS

We performed a genome-wide association study of FeNO through meta-analysis of two independent discovery samples of European ancestry: the outbred EGEA study (French Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma, N = 610 adults) and the Hutterites (N = 601 adults), a founder population living on communal farms. Replication of main findings was assessed in adults from an isolated village in Sardinia (Talana study, N = 450). We then investigated the influence of asthma, atopy and tobacco smoke exposure on these genetic associations, and whether they were also associated with FeNO values in children of the EAGLE (EArly Genetics & Lifecourse Epidemiology, N = 8858) consortium.

RESULTS

We detected a common variant in RAB27A (rs2444043) associated with FeNO that reached the genome-wide significant level (P = 1.6 × 10(-7) ) in the combined discovery and replication adult data sets. This SNP belongs to member of RAS oncogene family (RAB27A) and was associated with an expression quantitative trait locus for RAB27A in lymphoblastoid cell lines from asthmatics. A second suggestive locus (rs2194437, P = 8.9 × 10(-7) ) located nearby the sodium/calcium exchanger 1 (SLC8A1) was mainly detected in atopic subjects and influenced by inhaled corticosteroid use. These two loci were not associated with childhood FeNO values.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study identified a common variant located in RAB27A gene influencing FeNO levels specifically in adults and with a biological relevance to the regulation of FeNO levels. This study provides new insight into the biological mechanisms underlying FeNO levels in adults.

A Method for Recording Urethral Pressure Profiles in Female Rats

Aims

Urethral pressure profile (UPP) and leak-point pressure (LPP) measurements as well as external urethral sphincter (EUS) electromyography (EMG) and videourodynamic analyses are the primary methods for evaluating urethral function in humans. However, UPP recording in female rats, a widely used animal model, is challenging due to their small body sizes. This study reports a novel method for recording UPP in female rats.

Materials and Methods

Seventeen anesthetized female rats were studied. LPP data for 14 rats were included. The other 3 rats were excluded because of death or abnormal urogenital organs. UPP curves were recorded using a modified water-perfusion catheter system, with the lateral hole facing the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o’clock positions in a randomized sequence. LPP, functional urethral length (FUL) and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) were analyzed.

Results

The mean LPP was 64.39 ± 20.29 cm H₂O. The mean FUL and MUCP values at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o’clock positions were 12.90 ± 1.20, 16.70 ± 1.95, 13.90 ± 2.42, and 11.60 ± 0.97 mm, respectively, and 38.70 ± 11.85, 33.90 ± 11.82, 37.40 ± 11.95, and 71.90 ± 23.01 cm H₂O, respectively. The FUL at the 6-o’clock position and MUCP at the 12-o’clock position were significantly greater than those at the other 3 positions. The FUL and MUCP of repeated UPP recordings were not significantly different than those of the first recordings.

Conclusions

UPP recording using a modified method based on a water-perfusion catheter system is feasible and replicable in female rats. It produces UPP curves that sensitively and appreciably reflect detailed pressure changes at different points within the urethra and thus provides opportunity to evaluate urethral structures, especially the urethral sphincter, in detail. These results may enhance the utility of female rat models in research of urinary sphincter mechanisms.

Identifying hub genes and dysregulated pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify the hub genes and dysregulated pathways of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the molecular mechanism of the biological process associated with HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Microarray data were got from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The most significant top 100 up-regulated gene signatures and top 100 down-regulated gene signatures were identified by integrated analysis of the multiple microarray datasets using a novel model genome-wide relative significance (GWRS) and genome-wide global significance (GWGS). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and pathway analysis of those genes were performed based on Gene Ontology website and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using Cytoscape 2.1. In addition, we analysed the significantly dysregulated signaling pathways across the PPI network and KEGG pathway analysis.

RESULTS

We screened 2920 up-regulated and 2231 down-regulated gene signatures across multiple studies by GWRS and GWGS. The top 100 up-regulated and top 100 down-regulated gene signatures were selected for further research. GO enrichment analysis showed that these genes significantly enriched in terms of mitosis (p = 5.83×10-20), nuclear division (p = 5.83×10-20) and M phase of mitotic cell cycle (p = 9.39×10-20). The most significant terms of KEGG pathway included cell cycle (p = 1.33×10-8), oocyte meiosis (p = 1.41×10-4), drug metabolism (p = 2.15×10-4) and p53 signaling pathway (p = 3.57×10-4). PPI network suggested that BIRC5, CDC20, CCNB1, BUB1B, MAD2L1 and CDK1 were important significant genes which were considered as hub genes. Across the PPI and pathway, cell cycle, oocyte meiosis and p53 signaling pathway were the significantly dysregulated pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study displayed robust gene signatures in HCC. It showed that the dysregulations of cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, p53 signaling pathway and progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway were closely associated to the development and progression of HCC. Besides, genes BIRC5, CDC20, CCNB1, BUB1B, MAD2L1 and CDK1 as the hub genes might play important roles for diagnosing and therapy of HCC.

A 12-week subchronic intramuscular toxicity study of risperidone-loaded microspheres in rats

Long-acting injectable formulations of antipsychotics have been an important treatment option to increase the compliance of the patient with schizophrenia by monitoring drug administration and identifying medication noncompliance and to improve the long-term management of schizophrenia. Risperidone, a serotoninergic 5-HT2 and dopaminergic D2 receptor antagonist, was developed to be a long-acting sustained-release formulation for the treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, 12-week subchronic toxicity study of risperidone-loaded microspheres (RMs) in rats by intramuscular injection with an 8-week recovery phase was carried out to investigate the potential subchronic toxicity of a novel long-acting sustained-release formulation. The results indicated that the dosage of 10-90 mg/kg of RM for 2 weeks did not cause treatment-related mortality. The main drug-related findings were contributed to the dopamine D2 receptor and α1-adrenoceptor antagonism of risperidone such as elevation of serum and pituitary prolactin levels and ptosis and changes in reproductive system (uterus, ovary, vagina, mammary gland, testis, seminal vesicle, epididymis, and prostate). In addition, foreign body granuloma in muscle at injection sites caused by poly-lactide-co-glycolide was observed. At the end of the recovery phase, these changes mostly returned to normal. The results indicated that RM had a good safety profile in rats.

Qualitative analysis and enantiospecific determination of angular-type pyranocoumarins in Peucedani Radix using achiral and chiral liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Angular-type pyranocoumarins (APs), the derivatives of khellactone, are widely documented as the main active constituents in Peucedani Radix (Chinese name: Qian-hu). Owing to the natural occurrence of chiral centers, enantiomers of APs are extensively distributed in the original plant, and enantioselective performances have been definitely demonstrated for these enantiomers. In current study, the chemical characterization of the major and minor APs in Peucedani Radix was performed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and hybrid ion trap-orbitrap mass spectrometry. On the other hand, a heart-cut two-dimensional achiral-chiral liquid chromatography combining triple quadropole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry system (2D LC-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous enantiospecific quantification of eighteen coumarins, including seven pairs of enantiomers. Eleven APs (1-11) were recruited to propose UV absorption characteristics and electrospray ionization fragmentation patterns of APs. A total of 42 components were categorized into APs based on their UV spectral properties and identified according to the proposed mass fragmentation pathways, while two linear-type furanocoumarins (12-13) were unambiguously assigned by further purification. A Capcell core RP-C18 column was employed in the primary LC dimension to achieve efficient racemic separation for the main chemical constituents (1-9 and 12-13) in Peucedani Radix, while a Chiralpak AD-RH column was utilized in the secondary dimension to contribute enantioselective separation for seven enantiomerically enriched components (1, 3 and 5-9). Collectively, the results provided the chemical evidences for revealing the material basis of the therapeutic effects of Peucedani Radix, and the developed 2D LC-MS/MS system in the present study is expected to be an ideal tool for the quality control of Peucedani Radix as well as a reliable technique for complex matrices containing both achiral and chiral components.

Single-port laparoscopic extraperitoneal repair of pediatric inguinal hernias and hydroceles by using modified Kirschner pin: a novel technique

BACKGROUND

The development of laparoscopic processus vaginalis repair has provided an alternative approach to the management of inguinal hernia and hydroceles in children. Here we describe our new technique for laparoscopic extraperitoneal ligation of processus vaginalis with subumbilical single-port using a modified Kirschner pin.

METHODS

A 5-mm trocar for an operative laparoscope was placed through an infraumbilical incision. A Kirschner pin with a hole in one flat terminal was inserted at the point of the internal inguinal ring. The processus vaginalis was closed extracorporeally by a non-absorbable suture, which was introduced into the abdomen through the Kirschner pin performing dissection within the extraperitoneal space in a series of movements. When a contralateral patent processus vaginalis is present, laparoscopic-assisted extracorporeal ligation is performed during the same operation.

RESULTS

Between September 2010 and September 2012, 211 children (130 cases of inguinal hernia and 81 cases of hydrocele) underwent processus vaginalis repair using this novel technique. A contralateral patent processus vaginalis was present and thus simultaneously closed in 20 patients with unilateral inguinal hernias and 12 patients with unilateral hydroceles. The mean operative time was 18 min (8-35 min). The mean follow-up period is 12 months (range 5-24 months), and no recurrence and complications has been observed to date.

CONCLUSIONS

This article describes a unique technique of extracorporeal circuit ligation of processus vaginalis using a minimally invasive technique as afforded by a reused modified Kirschner pin. Single-port laparoscopic processus vaginalis repair using this instrument is feasible and seems to be safe.