Chinese calligraphic handwriting practice promotes positive affect in adolescents: Converging evidence from correlational and experimental designs

Chinese calligraphic handwriting (CCH) practice has proven to be beneficial to several aspects of psychological health and has been considered a complementary therapy for mental disorders. However, less is known about whether CCH practice benefits an individual's positive affect, a core component of affective well-being. Therefore, we examined this question in Chinese adolescents by combining correlational and experimental methods. In Study 1 (N = 1460), we found that high school students who practiced CCH had higher positive affect in their daily lives than those who did not practice CCH. In Study 2, a training experiment was conducted with college students, who were randomly assigned to receive either CCH training or no treatment. A six-day short-term CCH training led to a significant benefit in positive affect in the training group (N = 23) relative to the control group (N = 27). Together, our study provides converging evidence that CCH practice can promote positive affect in adolescents, further supporting the promotion of CCH in mental health practice.

Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone correlates to osteoporosis and fractures in euthyroid individuals

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence that thyroid function affects bone metabolism and even fractures risk. However, little is known about the relationship between thyroid sensitivity and osteoporosis and fractures. Therefore, we explored the relationship between thyroid sensitivity-related indices and bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures in euthyroid US adults.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 20,686 subjects from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were extracted and analyzed during 2007 to 2010. A total of 3403 men and postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older with available data on diagnosis of osteoporosis and/or fragility fractures, bone mineral density (BMD) and thyroid function, were eligible. TSH index (TSHI), thyrotrophin T4/T3 resistance index (TT4RI/TT3RI), Thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), Parametric TFQI (PTFQI), free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio (FT3/FT4), the secretory capacity of the thyroid gland (SPINA-GT) and the sum activity of peripheral deiodinases (SPINA-GD) were calculated.

RESULTS

FT3/FT4, SPINA-GD, FT4, TSHI, TT4RI, TFQI and PTFQIFT4 were significantly correlated with BMD (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that FT3/FT4 and SPINA-GD was significantly positively associated with BMD, while FT4, TSHI, TT4RI, TFQI and PTFQIFT4 were negatively associated with BMD (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for osteoporosis of TSHI, TFQI and PTFQIFT4 were 1.314(1.076, 1.605), 1.743(1.327, 2.288) and 1.827(1.359, 2.455) respectively, and were 0.746(0.620, 0.898) for FT3/FT4 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In elderly euthyroid individuals, impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormones correlates to osteoporosis and fractures, independent of other conventional risk factors.

[High-fat intake alleviates lung injury induced by Paragonimus proliferus infection in rats through up-regulating CYP 4A1 expression in lung tissues]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the improvements of high-fat intake on lung injury induced by Paragonimus proliferus infection in rats, and to preliminarily explore the mechanisms underlying the role of cytochrome P450 4A1 (CYP 4A1) in the improve ments.

METHODS

SD rats were randomly assigned into three groups, including the normal control group (n = 10), the infection and normal diet group (n = 12) and the infection and high-fat diet group (n = 12). Rats in the normal control group were fed with normal diet and without any other treatments, and animals in the infection and normal diet group were subcutaneously injected with 8 excysted metacercariae of P. proliferus via the abdominal wall, followed by feeding with normal diet, while rats in the infection and high-fat diet group were subcutaneously injected with 8 excysted metacercariae of P. proliferus via the abdominal wall, followed by feeding with high-fat diet. All rats were sacrificed 28 weeks post-infection, and serum samples and lung specimens were collected. Following hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of rat lung specimens, the rat lung injury was observed under an optical microscope, and alveolitis was evaluated using semi-quantitative scoring. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the cytochrome P450 4A1 (CYP 4A1) expression was quantified in rat lung specimens at transcriptional and translational levels using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting assays.

RESULTS

Alveolar wall thickening, edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were alleviated 28 weeks post-infection with P. proliferus in rats in the infection and high-fat diet group relative to the infection and normal diet group, and no alveolar consolidation was seen in the infection and high-fat diet group. The semi-quantitative score of alveolitis was significantly higher in the infection and normal diet group [(2.200 ± 0.289) points] than in the normal control group [(0.300 ± 0.083) points] and the infection and high-fat diet group [(1.300 ± 0.475) points] (both P values < 0.05), and higher serum IL-1β [(151.586 ± 20.492)] pg/mL and TNF-α levels [(180.207 ± 23.379) pg/mL] were detected in the infection and normal diet group than in the normal control group [IL-1β: (103.226 ± 3.366) pg/mL; TNF-α: (144.807 ± 1.348) pg/mL] and the infection and high-fat diet group [IL-1β: (110.131 ± 12.946) pg/mL; TNF-α: (131.764 ± 27.831) pg/mL] (all P values < 0.05). In addition, lower CYP 4A1 mRNA (3.00 ± 0.81) and protein expression (0.40 ± 0.02) was quantified in lung specimens in the infection and normal diet group than in the normal control group [(5.03 ± 2.05) and (0.84 ± 0.14)] and the infection and high-fat diet group [(11.19 ± 3.51) and (0.68 ± 0.18)] (all P values < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High-fat intake may alleviate lung injuries caused by P. proliferus infection in rats through up-regulating CYP 4A1 expression in lung tissues at both translational and transcriptional levels.

A hybrid boronate affinity probe for the selective detection of cis-diols containing compounds in tea beverages

UiO-66-NH₂ nanocomposite was post-modified with 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) by the method of in-situ hybridization reaction. The hybrid boronate affinity material UiO-NH₂ @P (TEPIC-co-MPBA) was characterized by Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fiurier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was applied as fluorescent probe for the detection of cis-diols containing compounds based on the boronate affinity mechanism, and exhibited high specific selectively. The proposed method exhibited good liearnity for the detection of catechol in the range of 0.50-8.00 μg·mL^-1 . The detection limit was 0.13 μg·mL^-1 . The tactic was successfully applied to analyze the total polyphenols in tea beverages for catechol, and relative recovery was in 98.86-106.00%. Therefore, this work provided a promising strategy for recognization of cis-diols containing compounds.

[Differential diagnosis between pulmonary artery sarcoma and central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism:a preliminary study on CT signs]

Objective: To improve the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary artery sarcoma, and to distinguish it from central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism using CT scans. Methods: In this retrospective study, two groups of pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS group) and central chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (central CPTE group) confirmed by pathology at our hospital between August 2009 and July 2019 were enrolled, clinical features and pre-operative CT pulmonary artery manifestation were collected, and the key points of differential diagnosis were summarized. Results: The study was composed of 13 cases in the PAS group including 10 males (76.9%), with an average age of (45.4±15.5) years. There were 19 patients in the central CPTE group including 14 males (73.7%), with an average age of (38.6±14.1) years. There were no significant differences in gender and age between the two groups. Deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities was significantly higher in the central CPTE group than in the PAS group (7/19 vs. 0/13, P=0.025), and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide value was higher in the central CPTE group than in the PAS group [674.50(261.70-1 977.70) vs. 66.00(28.10-505.50),P=0.001]. In CT pulmonary angiography, the involvement of the main pulmonary artery, and the proximal lesion showing an acute angle to the pulmonary artery wall were more common in the PAS group [11(84.6%) vs. 5(26.3%), P=0.003; 11(84.6%) vs. 2(10.5%), P<0.001, respectively]. The swelling index of the main pulmonary and the left/right main pulmonary arteries in the PAS group were significantly higher, as well as the dilatation in the lobar and segmental pulmonary arteries [1.19±0.17 vs. 0.99±0.19,P=0.006, 10(76.9%) vs. 2(10.5%), P<0.001, respectively]. The right ventricular transverse diameter/left ventricular transverse diameter (RVd/LVd) and pulmonary artery diameter/ascending aortic diameter ratio (Pad/Aod) were significantly lower in PAS group than those in the central CPTE group (0.97±0.19 vs. 1.23±0.35,P=0.020; 0.98±0.25 vs. 1.15±0.20,P=0.039). Conclusions: In CT pulmonary angiography, filling defects involving the main pulmonary artery and showing expansive growth were highly suggestive of pulmonary artery sarcoma. The history of deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities was helpful for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary embolism.

Plasma metabolomics in perioperative period of defect repair in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Background

The pathophysiological alterations in response to shunt correction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) is still not clear.

Purpose

To explore the dynamic plasma metabolite profiling and its relationship with clinical characteristics in patients with CHD-PAH during the perioperative period of defect repair.

Methods

Plasma samples from 13 patients with CHD-PAH were harvested at four time points: before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after anesthesia (Pre), immediately after CPB (T0), 24 h (T24), and 48 h (T48) after defect repair. The untargeted metabolomics strategy based on UPLC Q-TOF MS was used to detect the metabolites. Clinical measures were recorded at indicated time points.

Results

The sample distribution at four time points was well separated (Figure 1A, B). 193 metabolites were distinguished at different time points according to Variable Important in Projection (VIP) score (Figure 1C), enriched in pathways such as carnitine synthesis, phospholipid biosynthesis and oxidation of branched chain fatty acids (Figure 2A). 17 metabolites alterations were significantly correlated with gradients in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) at T48 versus Pre, indicative of the response to defect correction (Figure 2B). Intriguingly, 4 out of the 17 (23.5%) metabolites including propionylcarnitine, butenylcarnitine, isobutyryl-L-carnitine and hexanoylcarnitine were enriched in oxidation of branched chain fatty acids. They were increased at both T24 and T48 (all P&lt;0.05 except propionylcarnitine with P&lt;0.05 at T24) (Figure 2C).

Conclusions

This is the first study to show the altered metabolic profiles of CHD-PAH patients in perioperative period of defect repair. Metabolites that respond to shunt correction could be a suitable non-invasive marker and would be of great value in disease monitoring and evaluating future therapeutic interventions.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): 13th Five-Year Plan–Precise Medicine–Key Research and Development Program–Clinical Cohort of Rare Disease; National Natural Science Foundation of China Figure 1. Overall analysis of metabolitesFigure 2. Shunt correction associated metabolites

[Development of a quality of life questionnaire for adults with anisometropic amblyopia]

Objective: To develop and validate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire for adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 170 adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia, 100 adult patients with other eye diseases and 80 healthy adults with normal vision were recruited at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, and 20 healthy adults with normal vision were recruited at Qinhuai Medical District of Easter Theater General Hospital of PLA from December 2019 to February 2020. Individual interviews of 30 adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia generated 80 questionnaire items. For item reduction, 40 adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia were asked to complete the 80-item questionnaire and responses were analyzed. Then factor analyses were performed to identify prominent factors (subscales). The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by Cronbach's α coefficient. The overall and sub-scale scores were the average scores of all included items, ranging from 0 (worst HRQOL) to 100 (best HRQOL). The final 20-item questionnaire was administered to additional 100 adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia, 100 adult patients with other eye diseases and 100 visually normal adults. Mean overall and subscale scores were compared across groups using one-way analysis of variance. Results: The final adult anisometropic amblyopia questionnaire (AAAQ) consisted of a function subscale and a psychosocial subscale, each containing 10 items. The Cronbach's α coefficients of the overall, function subscale and psychosocial subscale were 0.88, 0.78 and 0.78. There were 55 males and 45 females in 100 adult anisometropic amblyopia patients, with a median age of 26 years (range, 18 to 43 years). The age and gender distribution were matched with 100 adult patients with other eye diseases and 100 healthy adults with normal vision (all P>0.05). The mean overall score (28.63±9.18), function subscale score (27.69±9.88) and psychosocial subscale score (29.53±9.90) for adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia were significantly lower compared to adult patients with other eye diseases (71.28±8.14, P<0.01; 65.56±7.81, P<0.01; 76.85±10.76, P<0.01) and visually normal adults (84.54±9.13, P<0.01; 81.70±9.27, P<0.01; 87.38±10.06, P<0.01). Conclusion: The AAAQ meets the requirements for validity and reliability of a HRQOL questionnaire, and can be used to assess the HRQOL of adult patients with anisometropic amblyopia. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 341-347).

True Grit in Learning Math: The Math Anxiety-Achievement Link Is Mediated by Math-Specific Grit

In this study, we tested a possible mechanism of the association between math anxiety and math achievement: the mediating role of math-specific grit (i.e., sustaining effort in the face of adversity when learning math). In Study 1, a sample of 10th grade students (N = 222) completed a battery of personality and attitude questionnaires, and math achievement was indexed by curriculum-based examination scores. Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit, but not domain-general grit, mediated the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the above findings with another sample of 11th grade students (N = 465). Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit and math-specific procrastination played sequential mediating roles in the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. That is, individuals with higher math anxiety were less gritty in math learning, possibly further leading them to be more procrastinated in performing math work, which may finally result in worse math achievement. In summary, the current study provides the first evidence that math-specific grit may mediate the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. Furthermore, it also demonstrated the value of math-specific grit over domain-general grit in predicting math success, which invites a broader investigation on subject-specific grit.

Upregulation of caspase-3 by high glucose in chondrocyte involves the cytoskeleton aggregation

OBJECTIVE

The hyperglycemic environment of diabetes promotes chondrocyte (CH) apoptosis and is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis (OA). This present study aimed to elucidate the relation between the cytoskeleton and the caspase-3 expression of human CHs in high glucose in vitro.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used different concentrations of glucose medium to test the effect of glucose on the CHs viability. Cytochalasin D and colchicine were used to prevent the aggregation of F-actin and β-tubulin. Besides, Z-DEVD-FMK (ZDF) or Apoptosis Activator 2 was used to inhibit or activate the caspase-3 expression. The intensity of F-actin and β-tubulin, cell viability, apoptosis, and caspase-3 expression were analyzed.

RESULTS

Three days of treatment of 30 mM or 40 mM glucose significantly decreased the CHs viability compared to the 10 mM but increased the caspase-3, apoptosis, collagen, and the aggregation of the F-actin and β-tubulin. However, the cytochalasin D and colchicine partly rejected the high-glucose induced caspase-3 upregulation, apoptosis, and CHs disability. Besides, these two anti-aggregation drugs also suppressed the Apoptosis Activator 2 induced caspase-3 upregulation and apoptosis. Furthermore, the application of ZDF could only prevent the F-actin aggregation, but not the β-tubulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term high glucose triggers the caspase-3 expression and leads to the CH apoptosis involving cytoskeleton aggregation. Inhibition of cytoskeleton aggregation through the F-actin or β-tubulin could alleviate the high glucose-induced caspase-3 upregulation.

Comparative assessment of gut microbial composition and function in patients with Graves' disease and Graves' orbitopathy

BACKGROUND

A previous study indicated that gut microbiota changed notably in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) patients as compared to controls. However, the characteristics of intestinal bacteria in Graves' disease (GD) and GO are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to identify specific intestinal bacteria of GD and GO, respectively.

METHODS

The gut microbial communities of the fecal samples of 30 GD patients without GO, 33 GO subjects, and 32 healthy subjects were analyzed and compared by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

At the phylum level, the proportion of Deinococcus-Thermus and Chloroflexi was decreased significantly in GO patients as compared to GD. At the genus level, the proportion of Subdoligranulum and Bilophila was increased while that of Blautia, Anaerostipes, Dorea, Butyricicoccus, Romboutsia, Fusicatenibacter, unidentified_ Lachnospiraceae, unidentified_Clostridiales, Collineslla, Intestinibacter, and Phascolarctobacterium was decreased in the GO group as compared to the GD group. Random forest analysis was used for the identification of specific intestinal microbiota, and Deinococcus-Thermus, Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi were ranked in the top ten according to their contributions to sample classification. Moreover, compared to the control, there were multiple gut bacterial enrichment metabolic pathways in GO and GD patients, including nucleotide metabolism, enzyme family, and energy metabolism. Compared to GO, the only enrichment metabolic pathway found in GD was the viral protein family.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlighted the significant differences in the intestinal microbiota and predictive functions of GD with GO, thereby providing new insights into the role of the gut bacteria that might contribute to the development of GO in GD patients.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a 13-year follow-up study

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can occur in families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), but it has not been well-characterized.

Purpose

This study sought to characterize the genetic defects, clinical and hemodynamic features, and outcomes of PAH patients in HHT families.

Methods

All HHT families with at least one case of PAH investigated in our center from January 2006 to December 2018 were enrolled in the study. We did whole-exome sequencing (WES) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to every proband and available family members. The clinical data, hemodynamic features and outcomes of PAH patients were reviewed.

Results

A total of 64 PAH patients in 57 families were enrolled. Only 7 (12.3%) families had more than one case of PAH. Activin-receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK-1) mutation and Endoglin (ENG) mutation were confirmed in 49 (86.0%) and 3 (5.3%) families and other 5 (8.8%) had no known mutation associated with HHT or PAH. The median age when PAH diagnosis was 22 [9–33] years and female was dominant (70.3%). Most patients (84.4%) had signs of HHT and anemia was recorded in 14 (21.9%) patients. Remarkably, these patients showed severely compromised hemodynamics with elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (62 [51, 77] mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (17.0 [11.2, 22.8] Wood units*m2). Also, impaired exercise capacity was recorded at diagnosis with decreased six-minute walking distance (410 [342–485] meters) and over half (54.7%) were in WHO functional class III or IV. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year transplantation-free survival for the overall PAH patients was 95.0%, 75.9%, 67.1% and 36.4%, respectively. Anemia (HR: 4.24 [1.32–13.65], p=0.016) and CI &lt;2.5 l/min/m2 (HR: 4.39 [1.20–16.09], p=0.026) were independent risk factors for mortality.

Conclusions

PAH in HHT families is a devastating condition characterized by a young age at PAH diagnosis, poor clinical status and outcomes mainly underlying ALK-1 mutation, which emphasizes the importance to pay attention to this group of patients.

Transplantation-free survival

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7181009), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0901502)

Resveratrol protects myocardial apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats with acute myocardial infarction via blocking P13K/Akt/e-NOS pathway

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the protective role of resveratrol (RSV) in myocardial apoptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to explore its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The AMI rat model was successfully established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured. Cells were divided into four groups, including: control group (no specific treatment), AMI group (acute ischemia-reperfusion treatment), AMI+RSV group (RSV pretreatment for 24 h before acute ischemia-reperfusion) and AMI+ RSV+LY group (RSV pretreatment combined with 40 μmol/L phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) pathway inhibitor LY294002 for 24 h before acute ischemia-reperfusion). Morphology of apoptotic cardiomyocytes in each group was observed by Hoechst staining. The proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle progression of cardiomyocytes were determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Finally, the protein levels of genes relative to PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Hoechst staining showed a large number of necrotic cells, cell retraction, enhanced refractive index and enlarged cell gap in AMI group. A small number of necrotic cells were found in AMI+RSV group, which was significantly fewer than that of AMI group. Meanwhile, remaining cells presented normal morphology. However, a great number of necrotic cells were observed in AMI+RSV+LY group, which was obviously more than that of AMI+RSV group. Compared with control group, cells in AMI group showed significantly decreased proliferative rate, increased early phase, late phase and total one of apoptosis. In AMI group, the ratio of G0/G1 phase was remarkably increased, whereas those of S and G2/M phases were decreased. Moreover, the expression levels of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated e-NOS (p-eNOS) were significantly downregulated in AMI group. In AMI+RSV group, cell apoptosis, cell cycle progression and levels of p-Akt and p-eNOS showed the opposite trends as those of AMI group. However, LY294002 pretreatment reversed the protective role of RSV in cellular behaviors of cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

RSV protects cardiomyocyte apoptosis from ischemia-reperfusion injury through regulating phosphorylation levels of proteins relative to PI3K/Akt/e-NOS pathway.

Self-protection of medical workers in ophthalmology clinic during COVID-19 epidemic

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has been observed that COVID-19 mainly spreads via respiratory tract, contact and digestive tract. Due to the particularity of profession, ophthalmic medical workers need to be in close contact with patients, so they have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this paper, therefore, the self-protection of medical workers in ophthalmology clinic during COVID-19 epidemic was summarized, so as to improve the occupational protection measures for medical workers in ophthalmology clinic, strengthen the self-protection awareness, and protect the safety of such a special group.

Linking vein properties to leaf biomechanics across 58 woody species from a subtropical forest

Leaf venations have elements with relatively lower elasticity than other leaf tissue components, which are thought to contribute to leaf biomechanics. A better mechanistic understanding of relationships between vein traits and leaf mechanical properties is essential for ecologically relevant interpretation of leaf structural variations. We investigated 13 major (first to third order) and minor (>third order) vein traits, six leaf mechanical properties and other structural traits across 58 woody species from a subtropical forest to elucidate how vein traits contribute to leaf biomechanics. Across species, vein dry mass density (ρ_v ), total vein dry mass per leaf area (VMA) and minor vein diameter (VD_min ), but not the lower-order vein density (VLA_1•2 ), were positively correlated with leaf force to punch (F_p ) and force to tear (F_t ). Structural equation models showed that ρ_v and VD_min not only contribute to leaf mechanical properties directly (direct pathway), but also had impacts on leaf biomechanics by influencing leaf thickness and leaf dry mass per area (indirect pathway). Our study demonstrated that vein dry mass density and minor vein diameter are the key vein properties for leaf biomechanics. We also suggest that the mechanical characteristics of venations are potential factors influencing leaf mechanical resistance, structure and leaf economics spectrum.

Alterations in the intestinal microbiota of patients with severe and active Graves' orbitopathy: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The intestinal microbiota was linked to autoimmune diseases. Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease that is usually associated with Graves' disease. However, information on the microbiome of GO patients is yet lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether GO patients differ from healthy controls in the fecal microbiota.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

33 patients with severe and active GO and 32 healthy controls of Han nationality were enrolled between March 2017 and March 2018.

METHODS

The Gut microbial communities of the fecal samples of GO patients and healthy controls were analyzed and compared by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Community diversity (Simpson and Shannon) was significantly reduced in fecal samples from patients with GO as compared to controls (p < 0.05). The similarity observed while assessing the community diversity (PCoA) proposed that the microbiota of patients with GO differ significantly from those of controls (p < 0.05). At the phyla levels, the proportion of Bacteroidetes increased significantly in patients with GO (p < 0.05), while at the genus and species levels, significant differences were observed in the bacterial profiles between the two groups (p < 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

Single-centered study design and limited fecal samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicated distinctive features of the gut microbiota in GO patients. The study provided evidence for further exploration in the field of intestinal microbiota with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of GO patients by modifying the microbiota profile.

Hydrological response of a large-scale mountainous watershed to rainstorm spatial patterns and reforestation in subtropical China

This paper aims to investigate the hydrological response of a large-scale (8973 km²) mountainous watershed to different rainstorm spatial patterns and reforestation. Based on 32 years of observations, measurements of 184 rainstorm events and 125 sediment-producing events with complete hydrographs were analyzed. The K-means clustering method was used to classify the spatial patterns of rainstorm events in accordance with their event-based spatial rainfall characteristics. The 184 rainstorm events were classified into four spatial patterns, among which the spatial features differ significantly: (I) Spatial Pattern I (SPI) includes rainstorms with a low amount of cumulative areal rainfall (27.4 mm), the highest spatial variability (0.986), and the highest frequency; (II) Spatial Pattern II (SPII) includes rainstorms of high spatial variability (0.759) and the largest amount of local maximum daily rainfall (106.8 mm); (III) Spatial Pattern III (SPIII) includes rainstorms with a medium amount of cumulative areal rainfall (58.7 mm) and low spatial variability (0.362); and (IV) Spatial Pattern IV (SPIV) includes rainstorms with the largest amount of cumulative areal rainfall (117.2 mm) and the lowest spatial variability (0.313). Vegetation cover in the upper Du watershed was significantly improved after the implementation of the Grain-for-Green project. The average area-specific sediment yields (SSY) for the four SPs were 15.4, 65.5, 55.8, and 286.2 t km^-2 before reforestation and decreased to 6.0, 59.3, 43.7 and 89.9 t km^-2, respectively, after reforestation. ANOVA (analysis of variance) indicated that reforestation resulted in a significant reduction in runoff coefficient under SPIII and SPIV and a significant reduction in SSY under SPI and SPIV. A hysteresis analysis suggested that the proportion of events with a clockwise loop increased from 64.9% before reforestation to 82.1% after reforestation and that complex loops became less common during 2000-2010 under SPIV, thereby implying a reduced sediment supply.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy is a curative resolution for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension associated with antiphospholipid syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare and life-threatening condition with poor prognosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the optimal surgical option for CTEPH.

Objectives

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and risk of PTE in patients with APS-associated CTEPH.

Methods

Consecutive patients with APS-associated CTEPH diagnosed between January 2012 and September 2017 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Demographics, clinical manifestations, antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) profiles, and pulmonary arterial hypertension–targeted medications were collected. Deterioration of cardiac function and death were chosen as the endpoints, in order to assess the effect of PTE on short-term and long-term prognoses (evaluated by the change of cardiac function after treatment and cardiac deterioration or death in the follow-up, respectively).

Results

A total of 20 patients with APS-associated CTEPH were enrolled, and eight patients underwent PTE. Chi-square test ( p = 0.01) and Kaplan–Meier curves (log rank test, p = 0.04) showed that there were statistically significant differences in both short-term and long-term prognoses between patients with and without PTE.

Conclusion

These results provide strong evidence that PTE is a curative resolution in patients with APS-associated CTEPH. Following a full specialized and multidisciplinary risk-benefit evaluation to limit the risk of thrombosis or bleeding and to manage possible thrombocytopenia, PTE is at least a temporal curative resolution for CTEPH complicated with APS.

Prokaryotic expression and identification of scavenger receptor B2

There is still no effective clinical antiviral drug against human enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, which causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children. Scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2) is an important receptor of EV71 as it plays a vital role in the early steps of viral infection. In this study, recombinant SCARB2 protein was expressed and purified in a prokaryotic expression system, and was identified by western blot with a monoclonal antibody and mass spectrometry analysis. Detection of the sera from mice immunized with the recombinant SCARB2 protein using ELISA and western blot showed good immunogenicity of the recombinant protein. Furthermore, in the neutralization test cytopathic effect was significantly decreased when EV71 was incubated with the immune sera before infection. In summary, the SCARB2 protein was expressed successfully, and the immune sera showed obvious antiviral effect against EV71. This study provides useful information about the interaction mechanism between SCARB2 and EV71, and is also helpful for further clinical treatment research of HFMD.

Association of a 4-Locus Gene Model Including IL13, IL4, FCER1B, and ADRB2 With the Asthma Predictive Index and Atopy in Chinese Han Children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease. We found gene-gene interactions between IL13 rs20541, IL4 rs2243250, ADRB2 rs1042713, and FCER1B rs569108 in asthmatic Chinese Han children. This 4-locus set constituted an optimal statistical interaction model. We examined associations between the 4-gene model (IL13, IL4, FCER1B, and ADRB2) and the Asthma Predictive Index (API) and atopy in Chinese Han children.

METHODS

Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 4 genes were genotyped in 385 preschool children with wheezing symptoms using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The t test and x2 tests were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were found between the 4-locus gene model and a stringent and loose API (both P<.0001). Additionally, a high-risk asthma genotype was a risk factor for a positive API (stringent API, OR=4.08; loose API, OR=2.36). We also found a statistically significant association between the 4-locus gene model and atopy (P<.01, OR=2.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that the 4-locus gene model consisting of L13 rs20541, IL4 rs2243250, ADRB2 rs1042713, and FCER1B rs569108 was associated with the API and atopy. These findings provide evidence that this gene model can be used to determine a high risk of developing asthma and atopy in Chinese Han children.

A genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in peripheral blood from patients identifies risk loci associated with Graves' orbitopathy

OBJECTIVE

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an inflammatory orbital disease of autoimmune origin with the potential to cause severe functional and psychosocial effects. The pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. We investigated whether DNA methylation was associated with GO incidence in Chinese patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six GO patients and six age-matched controls were recruited, and genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were analyzed in their peripheral blood. t tests were performed to determine differential methylated sites in genomic regions and the univariable logistic regression analyses was performed to evaluate their risk with GO incidence. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to determine the effects of the extracted differentially methylated sites.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-eight differentially methylated sites were identified, including CD14 (fold change = 4.31, p = 0.005), IL17RE (fold change = 2.128, p = 0.005), and DRD4 (fold change = 0.25, p = 0.004), and were supported by cluster and PCA analyses. Univariable logistic regression analyses showed that the methylation patterns at 12 loci were associated with GO incidence. The relative risk per 1% decrease in methylation at ZCCHC6 and GLI3 was 0.15 (95% CI 0.03-0.91; p = 0.039) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.42-0.98; p = 0.042), respectively. Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated that methylation levels at IL17RE were positively associated with Clinical Activity Score (CAS) (r = 0.967, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that differential methylation levels at analyzed sites (genes) may be risk markers of GO. DNA methylation analysis could provide new insights into understanding the disease and provide new treatment strategies for GO in Chinese patients.

Clinical research on one-third dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

OBJECTIVE

To observe the curative effect and safety of one-third dose Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 60 patients (68 eyes) treated in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2016 were selected in this study, and they were diagnosed with chronic CSC via fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Besides, patients were treated with one-third conventional dose Verteporfin PDT. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), superior, inferior, nasal and temporal choroidal thickness at 1.5 mm away from macula central fovea, central choroidal capillary layer thickness, photoreceptor layer thickness, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subretinal fluid absorption, FFA and ICGA manifestations and complications of patients were observed and recorded before treatment and at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTS

After PDT via one-third conventional dose of Verteporfin, patients were followed up for 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The SFCT of affected eyes was changed from (381.23 ± 83.29) μm before treatment to (385.31 ± 90.89) μm, (369.59 ± 75.60) μm and (374.08 ± 102.81) μm successively, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Central choroidal capillary layer thickness and superior, inferior, nasal and temporal choroidal thickness at 1.5 mm away from macula central fovea (SCT1.5mm, ICT1.5mm, NCT1.5mm and TCT1.5mm) were significantly decreased at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment compared with those before treatment (p < 0.001). With the passage of time after treatment, the photoreceptor layer thickness of affected eyes was increased gradually, and the difference was statistically significant (F = 268.8, p < 0.0001). After PDT, BCVA had a statistically significant difference compared with that before treatment (p = 36.16, p < 0.001); BCVA at 3 months after treatment had no statistically significant difference compared with that at 6 months after treatment (p > 0.05). At 6 months after treatment, the subretinal fluid in 63 eyes (92.6%) completely subsided, and a little subretinal fluid was retained in 5 eyes (7.4%). FFA and ICGA showed the choroidal vessel dilatation in affected eyes after treatment and significantly improved moderate-advanced high fluorescein leakage compared with that before treatment. There were no obvious complications in the body and fundus during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

One-third dose Verteporfin PDT can improve BCVA, stop or reduce the choroidal vasodilatation and leakage, accelerate the absorption of serous subretinal fluid, and help the recovery of photoreceptor layer of patients with chronic CSC, which is safe and reliable.

The effect of probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota on knee osteoarthritis: a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment is challenging due to inefficacy and adverse effects of current medications. Probiotic treatment has been shown to promote bone metabolism, reduce pain and inflammatory responses of age-related musculoskeletal disorders, including OA. We aimed to investigate the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on patients with knee OA. 537 patients with knee OA were enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, who were randomised to receive skimmed milk containing either LcS or placebo daily for 6 months. Primary outcome was defined as changes in WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and VAS (visual analog scale) scores. Secondary outcome was defined as changes in serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). After 6 months of treatment, both WOMAC and VAS scores were significantly improved in the LcS groups of patients compared to the placebo group. Serum levels of hs-CRP were also significantly lower in patients receiving LcS than placebo. Strong linear correlations were observed between serum hs-CRP levels and WOMAC and VAS scores. LcS consumption could serve as a novel therapeutic option in the clinical management of knee OA, improving treatment outcome likely through reducing serum hs-CRP levels.

[Detecting shared pathways linked to rheumatoid arthritis with other autoimmune diseases in a in silico analysis]

Pathway-based analysis approach has exploded in use during the last several years. It is successful in recognizing additional biological insight of disease and finding groupings of risk genes that represent disease developing processes. Therefore, shared pathways, with pleiotropic effects, are important for understanding similar pathogenesis and indicating the common genetic origin of certain diseases. Here, we present a pathway analysis to reveal the potential disease associations between RA and three potential RA-related autoimmune diseases: psoriasis, diabetes mellitus, type 1 (T1D) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). First, a comprehensive knowledge mining of public databases is performed to discover risk genes associated with RA, T1D, SLE and psoriasis; then by enrichment test of these genes, disease-related risk pathways are detected to recognize the pathways common for RA and three other diseases. Finally, the underlying disease associations are evaluated with the association rules mining method. In total, we identify multiple RA risk pathways with significant pleiotropic effects, the most unsurprising of which are the immunology related pathways. Meanwhile for the first time we highlight the involvement of the viral myocarditis pathway related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in autoimmune diseases such as RA, psoriasis, T1D and SLE. Further Association rule mining results validate the strong association between RA and T1D and RA and SLE. It is clear that pleiotropy is a common property of pathways associated with disease traits. We provide novel pathway associations among RA and three autoimmune diseases. These results ascertain that there are shared genetic risk profiles that predispose individuals to autoimmune diseases.

Micturating cystourethrogram as a tool for investigating UTI in children - An institutional audit

BACKGROUND

Micturating cystourethrograms (MCUG) are the gold standard for evaluating vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). There is a growing consensus for increasing the threshold for performing MCUGs following urinary tract infections (UTI) in children. There are several varying guidelines. It is important to detect high-grade reflux in the setting of an UTI because of potential long-term complications.

OBJECTIVE

This audit aimed to retrospectively: (1) identify the conformance rate of local guidelines at the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH); (2) assess predictors for an abnormal MCUG; and (3) compare local guidelines against the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH), National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for selectively detecting high-grade reflux.

METHOD

The number of MCUGs performed from 2008 to 2012 at the WCH radiology department was collected. Patients undergoing MCUG during the 2012 calendar year were identified. Only children having an initial MCUG as part of an UTI investigation with prerequisite imaging as per guidelines were included. Each child's age, sex, referral source, reason, renal ultrasound (RUS) prior to the MCUG, MCUG result and VUR grade were recorded. The WCH guidelines were applied to determine conformance, to evaluate predictors for an abnormal MCUG, and compared against other retrospectively applied guidelines (RCH, NICE, AAP).

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

There was complete data for 168 children who underwent MCUG as part of an UTI investigation (median age 0.79 years, range 0.12-8.74, male:female 67:101). There were 67/168 abnormal MCUGs (62 children with VUR, five bladder diverticulum), and 97 refluxing renal units (43 high-grade VUR units). No posterior urethral valves (PUV) were identified as part of the UTI investigation. A total of 143/168 patients had prior RUS (normal:abnormal 67:76). The WCH guidelines had 82% conformance. There was no statistically significant association between an abnormal MCUG and age, sex, referral source, reason, or prior RUS result. The WCH guidelines may have missed five children with high-grade VUR (four children had surgery), compared with RCH, APP and NICE, with 8, 15, and 17 children, respectively, having high-grade VUR (two, five, and five children had surgery, respectively) show in the Summary Table. The retrospective study had limitations and possible selection bias (children with UTI without a MCUG). There were no standard treatment approaches for VUR; hence establishing a MCUG guideline is difficult. An alternative is the top-down approach.

CONCLUSION

Current institutional guidelines for considering MCUG following UTI in children vary considerably. The MCUG guidelines at any institution must take into account the local management guidelines for high-grade VUR.

Detecting the potential cancer association or metastasis by multi-omics data analysis

Comprehensive multi-omics data analyses have become an important means for understanding cancer incidence and progression largely driven by the availability of high-throughput sequencing technologies for genomes, proteomes, and transcriptomes. However, how tumor cells from the site of origin of the cancer begin to grow in other sites of the body is very poorly understood. In order to examine potential connections between different cancers and to gain an insight into the metastatic process, we conducted a multi-omics data analysis using data deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. By combining somatic mutation data along with DNA methylation level and gene expression level data, we applied a Bayesian network analysis to detect the potential association among four distinct cancer types namely, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Hnsc), Lung adenocarcinoma (Luad), Lung squamous cell carcinoma (Lusc), and Skin cutaneous melanoma (Skcm). Further validation based on the 'identification of somatic signatures' and the 'association rules analysis' confirmed these associations. Previous investigations have suggested that common risk factors and molecular abnormalities in cell-cycle regulation and signal transduction predominate among these cancers. This evidence indicates that our study provides a rational analysis and hopefully will help shed light on the links between different cancers and metastasis as a whole.

Clinical evaluation of salivary carbohydrate antigen 125 and leptin in controls and parotid tumours

OBJECTIVES

We determined the correlation between saliva and serum for CA125 and leptin, and evaluated their clinical screening potential for parotid tumours.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Serum, acid-stimulated bilateral parotid saliva and chewing-stimulated whole saliva were collected and measured the levels of CA125 and leptin with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for healthy controls and patients with unilateral parotid tumour. Intra- and intergroup comparisons were made among them. Correlations and receiver operating curve analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

There was no correlation between salivary and serum CA125 (r = -0.157-0.265, P > 0.05), while significant correlation was found for leptin (r = 0.219-0.761, P < 0.05). Leptin levels in tumour parotid saliva and CA125 levels in whole saliva were elevated significantly (P < 0.001) and showed screening potential for parotid tumours. Salivary and serum leptin levels were significantly higher in women than in men (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Salivary CA125 might originate primarily from salivary gland and tumour rather than from blood, while salivary leptin might originate from both blood and salivary gland. Multiple sources might contribute to the significantly elevated CA125 in whole saliva. Whole saliva CA125 and parotid saliva leptin reflected the occurrence of parotid tumours, while serum CA125 and leptin did not. Salivary CA125 and leptin could not distinguish malignant parotid tumours. When detecting leptin level, the influence of subjects' sex must be considered.

Exploration of association between EPHX1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the basis of combined data mining

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important respiratory disease with high mortality. Although smoking is the major environmental risk factor for the development of COPD, only 10% of heavy smokers develop symptomatic disease, suggesting association between genetic susceptibilities and environmental influences. In recent years, as one of the most widely studied genes including tests for associations between a genetic variant and COPD, epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) was found to be involved in the metabolism of tobacco smoke, an important risk factor of COPD. However, genetic associations with COPD identified in studies on EPHX1 are controversial. To address this issue, except for performing the meta-analysis, which specially added our current study on two polymorphisms (T337C and A416G) of EPHX1, we performed combined data mining based on functional prediction algorithms of nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms and gene-based variable threshold testing. Genetic variations in EPHX1 did not affect COPD in Caucasian and Eastern Asian population, which is supported by recent evidence. We found no association between EPHX1 and COPD; however, a minor effect of EPHX1 on COPD risk was not completely excluded; further replication studies with large samples are needed to confirm our findings.

An immune regulatory CCT repeat containing oligodeoxynucleotide capable of causing hair loss in male mice

An oligodeoxynucleotide with CCT repeats (CCT ODN) has been found in our previous study to selectively downregulate Toll-like receptor 7/9 (TLR7/9)-mediated immune responses both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we unexpectedly found that CCT ODN induced severe patchy hair loss around the mouth in male F1 mice (female Balb/c × male C57BL/6) with lupus-like nephritis induced by injecting allogenic lymphocytes and also in male Balb/c mice, but not in female F1 mice and Balb/c mice and either gender of C57BL/6 mice. Increased infiltration of natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D⁺) cells in hair loss skin and upregulated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) messenger RNA expression in cultured splenocytes were observed in male Balb/c mice. The CCT ODN-conditioned supernatants of cultured mouse splenocytes caused catagen-like changes to hair follicles (HFs). We hypothesized that the CCT ODN could induce patchy hair loss in the male mice with certain genetic traits by mobilizing NKG2D⁺ cells to HFs and by inducing the production of IFN-γ from immune cells. Taken together these data indicated that a gender and genetic preference of immune-regulatory oligonucleotides is causing unexpected clinical situations such as hair loss.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms predisposing to asthma in children of Mauritian Indian and Chinese Han ethnicity

Our objective was to investigate the distributions of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) MS4A2 E237G, MS4A2 C-109T, ADRB2 R16G, IL4RA I75V, IL4 C-590T, and IL13 C1923T in Mauritian Indian and Chinese Han children with asthma. This case-control association study enrolled 382 unrelated Mauritian Indian children, 193 with asthma and 189 healthy controls, and 384 unrelated Chinese Han children, 192 with asthma and 192 healthy controls. The SNP loci were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism for the Chinese Han samples and TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR for the Mauritian Indian samples. In the Mauritian Indian children, there was a significant difference in the distribution of IL13 C1923T between the asthma and control groups (P=0.033). The frequency of IL13 C1923T T/T in the Mauritian Indian asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group [odds ratio (OR)=2.119, 95% confidence interval=1.048-4.285]. The Chinese Han children with asthma had significantly higher frequencies of MS4A2 C-109T T/T (OR=1.961, P=0.001) and ADRB2 R16G A/A (OR=2.575, P=0.000) than the control group. The IL13 C1923T locus predisposed to asthma in Mauritian Indian children, which represents an ethnic difference from the Chinese Han population. The MS4A2 C-109T T/T and ADRB2 R16G A/A genotypes were associated with asthma in the Chinese Han children.

Text prediction on structured data entry in healthcare: a two-group randomized usability study measuring the prediction impact on user performance

BACKGROUND

Structured data entry pervades computerized patient safety event reporting systems and serves as a key component in collecting patient-related information in electronic health records. Clinicians would spend more time being with patients and arrive at a high probability of proper diagnosis and treatment, if data entry can be completed efficiently and effectively. Historically it has been proven text prediction holds potential for human performance regarding data entry in a variety of research areas.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at examining a function of text prediction proposed for increasing efficiency and data quality in structured data entry.

METHODS

We employed a two-group randomized design with fifty-two nurses in this usability study. Each participant was assigned the task of reporting patient falls by answering multiple choice questions either with or without the text prediction function. t-test statistics and linear regression model were applied to analyzing the results of the two groups.

RESULTS

While both groups of participants exhibited a good capacity of accomplishing the assigned task, the results were an overall 13.0% time reduction and 3.9% increase of response accuracy for the group utilizing the prediction function.

CONCLUSION

As a primary attempt investigating the effectiveness of text prediction in healthcare, study findings validated the necessity of text prediction to structured date entry, and laid the ground for further research improving the effectiveness of text prediction in clinical settings.

A common variant associated with asthma, interleukin 13 R130Q, promotes the production of IgE

Interleukin (IL)-13 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. A polymorphic variant of human IL-13 R130Q, results in substitution of an arginine with a glutamine was shown to be associated with asthma in Chinese Han nationality. We examined the functional consequences of this variant in vitro to investigate whether this variant enhanced functional activity compared with wild type IL-13. The wild-type and mutant IL-13 genes were amplified from the plasmid of pET22b-hIL-13 by PCR and site-directed mutagenesis PCR. Both the PCR product and the vector pET28a(+) were digested by the NdeI and BamHI. Then the PCR product was cloned in the prokaryotic expression vector of pET28a(+). The plasmids were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). The positive clones were selected, and tested by sequencing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy participants were isolated and cultured with increasing concentrations of recombinant WT IL-13 and IL-13 R130Q. IgE was detected with ELISA kit in the supernatants. Recombinant WT IL-13 and IL-13 R130Q were successfully expressed into the prokaryotic expression system and their biological activity was consistent with standard protein. Our results show that IL-13 R130Q is more active than WT IL-13 in inducing hydrocortisone-dependent IgE synthesis. There were statistical significances between them. IgE induction by physiologic concentrations was obviously increased. IL-13 R130Q has increased activity compared with wild type IL-13 in vitro. And IL-13 R130Q may be used for new target of asthma for diagnosis and therapy in the future.

First-principles investigation of Ge doping effects on the structural, electronic and magnetic properties in antiperovskite Mn(3)CuN

We have investigated the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Mn(3)Cu(1 - x)Ge(x)N (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25) using first-principles density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U schemes. The crystal structure of the compounds is a tetragonal crystal for x = 0 while it is a cubic crystal for x = 0.125, 0.25. The unit cell volume increases as the Ge doping increases. Our GGA + U calculations give a metallic ground state from x = 0 to 0.25 in agreement with experiments. The magnetic structure for x = 0 is found to be the ferromagnetic state while for x = 0.125, 0.25 it is the Γ(5g)-type antiferromagnetic state. From the density of states (DOS), the coupling between Ge 4p and Mn 3d is the main reason for magnetic transition in Mn(3)Cu(1 - x)Ge(x)N.

First-principles investigation of the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of perovskite SrRu(1-x)Mn(x)O(3)

We have investigated the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of single-crystal SrRu(1-x)Mn(x)O(3), using first-principles density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA)+U schemes. The entire series of SrRu(1-x)Mn(x)O(3) (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1) is stabilized in the single-crystal perovskite structure which is in agreement with experimental findings. Our spin-polarized calculations give a metallic ground state for the x<0.5 regime and an insulator ground state for the x≥0.5 regime. The magnetic structure for x = 0 is found to be the ferromagnetic state while the magnetic structures for 0<x<0.5 are the ferrimagnetic state where any Mn ions are coupled antiparallel to the Ru at the near sites. The magnetic structures for x≥0.5 are found to be the antiferromagnetic states. The substitution of itinerant Ru ions by localized Mn ions enhances the p-d coupling between O and the transition metal. It also strongly drives the system from the ferromagnetic metal to the antiferromagnetic insulator.

The determination of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) in electronic and electrical components and products to comply with RoHS regulations

Toxicity of hexavalent chromium (Cr(6+)) was focused on with a publication of EU RoHS directive, a novel method to determine hexavalent chromium is developed. It is a combination of energy dispersion X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF), spot test, alkali digestion and UV-vis spectrophotometric analysis. First, by EDXRF screening, the presence or absence of element Cr was established. Spot test was followed to identify the valent state of chromium because Cr(6+) and Cr(3+) normally coexist. After alkali digestion, Cr(VI) was separated without an undersired Cr(VI)-Cr(III) interconversions. With a color reagent (DPC) to chelated with Cr(VI), the solution was finally detected by a UV-vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 540 nm which is the basis of analyzing Cr(VI) quantitatively. Some parameters affecting analyses were studied. It was found that when pH in the final solution was 2.0, the extraction time was 60 min, the extraction temperature was 90 degrees C, pH during the extraction process was 7.5-8.5, and a mixed buffer solution (0.5M K(2)HPO(4)/0.5M KH(2)PO(4)) was added up to 1 ml, colorimetric reagent was added to 2 ml, it is optimal for extraction. Under this condition, interferences from Fe(3+), Pb(2+), Ag(+), etc., were overcome. It was also found that the curves are rectilinear in the range of 0-500 microg l(-1), the correlation coefficient is up to 0.999924, and the recovery rates are more than 85%, the Cr(III)-DPCO complex can be kept stable for 24h with a relative humidity (RH) range of 60-90%, and a temperature range of 5-40 degrees C. So it can be concluded that the proposed method has a good sensitivity and high precision. It is a more convincing and reliable method due to its relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) <1% after six replicate determinations of Cr(VI) in an Fe-Ni alloy sample.

Five novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the prophet of PIT1 (<i>PROP1</i>) gene in bovine (Brief report)

Abstract. The prophet of Pit1 (PROP1) gene encodes a paired class homeodomain transcription factor of 226 amino acids and is organized of 3 exons. PROP1 is necessary for the specification, differentiation and proliferation of cells. Its function is essential for anterior pituitary organogenesis, and heritable mutations in this gene are associated with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) in human patients and animals (SAVAGE et al., 2003; CARVALHO et al., 2006). To date, no polymorphisms of the bovine PROP1 gene were described. In the present experiment, the 5' flanking region, the coding region and partial introns of bovine PROP1 were scanned for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in five cattle breeds of China.

Five novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ghrelin receptor (<i>GHSR</i>) gene in cattle (Brief report)

Abstract. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (ghrelin receptor, GHSR) gene plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. The GHSR gene lies on human chromosome 3q26 within a quantitative trait locus strongly linked to multiple phenotypes related to obesity and the metabolic syndrome (BAESSLER et al., 2005). In human, the 171T/C SNP mutation is a risk factor for bulimia nervosa (MIYASAKA et al., 2006). The 611 C/A transversion unveils the critical importance of the GHSR-associated constitutive activity, and discloses an unusual pathogenic mechanism of growth failure in humans (PANTEL et al., 2006). By now, no polymorphism of bovine GHSR gene is reported. In the present paper, partial 5’ untranslated region, coding region and partial 3’ untranslated region of GHSR were screened to detect the SNPs in Chinese cattle breeds.

Elevation of serum albumin levels in nagase analbuminemic rats by allogeneic bone marrow cell transplantation

We investigated the feasibility of correcting the congenital absence of albumin in Nagase analbuminemic rats (NARs) by allogeneic bone marrow cell transplantation (BMT). Seven-week-old male NARs were used as recipients, and 6- to 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used as allograft donors. NARs were divided into three groups: a BMT group (n=10) in which bone marrow cells were infused into the liver; a hepatocyte transplantation (HCT) group (n=8) in which hepatocytes were transplanted into the liver, and a control group (n=8) in which PBS was injected into the portal vein. Serum albumin levels were measured as an indicator of the function of the grafted cells, and the phenotypic characteristics of the engrafted cells in the recipient's liver were assessed with immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques. At 8 weeks after cell transplantation, the serum albumin levels of the BMT group and HCT group were significantly higher than in the control group. The hepatocyte-like cells derived from bone marrow cells expressed albumin in liver of the NARs. According to this result, bone marrow cells can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vivo. The results show that BMT is an effective treatment for congenital analbuminemia in a rat model and suggest that allogeneic BMT can be used as an efficient therapy for hereditary metabolic diseases.

Preparation, evaluation, and NMR characterization of vinpocetine microemulsion for transdermal delivery

A novel microemulsion was prepared to increase the solubility and the in vitro transdermal delivery of poorly water-soluble vinpocetine. The correlation between the transdermal permeation rate and structural characteristics of vinpocetine microemulsion was investigated by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR). For the microemulsions, oleic acid was chosen as oil phase, PEG-8 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (Labrasol) as surfactant (S), purified diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol P) as cosurfactant (CoS), and the double-distilled water as water phase. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to obtain the concentration range of each component for the microemulsion formation. The effects of various oils and different weight ratios of surfactant to cosurfactant (S/CoS) on the solubility and permeation rate of vinpocetine were investigated. Self-diffusion coefficients were determined by PFG-NMR in order to investigate the influence of microemulsion composition with the equal drug concentration on their transdermal delivery. Finally, the microemulsion containing 1% vinpocetine was optimized with 4% oleic acid, 20.5% Labrasol, 20.5% Transcutol P, and 55% double-distilled water (w/w), in which drug solubility was about 3160-fold higher compared to that in water and the apparent permeation rate across the excised rat skin was 36.4 +/- 2.1 microg/cm2/h. The physicochemical properties of the optimized microemulsion were examined for the pH, viscosity, refractive index, conductivity, and particle size distribution. The microemulsion was stable after storing more than 12 months at 25 degrees C. The irritation study showed that the optimized microemulsion was a nonirritant transdermal delivery system.