Improvement of Efficiency in Kesterite Solar Cells by Intentionally Inserting a Thin MoS2 Layer into the Back Interface

A Mo(S,Se)2 interfacial layer is formed inevitably and uncontrollably between the Mo electrode and Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) absorber during the selenization process, which significantly influences the performance of CZTSSe solar cells. In this work, an ultrathin MoS2 layer is intentionally inserted into Mo/CZTSSe to reduce the recombination and thus optimize the interface quality. It is revealed that the absorber exhibits a continuous and compact morphology with bigger grains and remarkably without pinholes across the surface or cross-sectional regions after MoS2 modification. Benefitting from this, the shunt resistance (RSh) of the device increased evidently from ∼395 to ∼634 Ω·cm2, and simultaneously, the reverse saturation current density (J0) realized an effective depression. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the MoS2-modified device reaches 9.64% via the optimization of the thickness of the MoS2 layer, indicating performance improvements with respect to the MoS2-free case. Furthermore, the main contribution to the performance improvement is derived and analyzed in detail from the increased RSh, decreased J0, and diode ideality factor. Our results suggest that the Mo/CZTSSe interface quality and performance of CZTSSe solar cells can be modulated and improved by appropriately designing and optimizing the thickness of the inserted MoS2 layer.

[Comparison between laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery for left colorectal cancer: 5-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled study]

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) colectomy using Cai tube for treating left-sided colorectal cancer. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were as follows: preoperative pathological diagnosis of left-sided colorectal adenocarcinoma (rectal, sigmoid colon, descending colon, or left transverse colon cancer with the caudad margin ≥8 cm from the anal margin); preoperative abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (or magnetic resonance imaging) showing maximum tumor diameter <4.5 cm; and BMI <30 kg/m2. Patients with synchronous multiple primary cancers or recurrent cancers, a history of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, preoperative evidence of significant local infiltration, distant metastasis, or complications such as intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation, or who were not otherwise considered suitable for laparoscopic surgery were excluded. A random number table was used to randomize sequential patients to NOSES surgery using Cai tube (non-assisted incision anal sleeve: patent number ZL201410168748.2) (NOSES group) or traditional laparoscopic-assisted surgery (CLS group). Relevant clinical data of the two groups of patients were analyzed, the main outcomes being disease-free survival, overall survival, overall recurrence rate, and local recurrence rate 5 years after surgery. Results: Patients in both study groups completed the surgery successfully with no requirement for additional surgery. After mean 70 (7-83) months postoperative follow-up, the 5-year overall postoperative survival in the NOSES and CLS groups was 90.0% and 83.3%, respectively (P=0.455); disease free survival was 90.0% and 83.3%, respectively (P=0.455); overall recurrence rate 6.6% and 10.0%, respectively (P=0.625); and local recurrence rate both were 3.3% (P=0.990), respectively. None of these differences was statistically significant. Conclusions: NOSES and CLS have similar long-term efficacy, and NOSES deserves to be used in clinical practice.

[Specimen extraction through natural orifices with Cai tubes in gastrointestinal surgery: a single-institute series of 234 cases]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of Cai tube-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This was a descriptive case-series study. Inclusion criteria: (1) colorectal or gastric cancer diagnosed by preoperative pathological examination or redundant sigmoid or transverse colon detected by barium enema; (2) indications for laparoscopic surgery; (3) body mass index <30 kg/m² (transanal surgery) and 35 kg/m² (transvaginal surgery); (4) no vaginal stenosis or adhesions in female patients undergoing transvaginal specimen extraction; and (5) patients with redundant colon aged 18-70 years and a history of intractable constipation for more than 10 years. Exclusion criteria: (1) colorectal cancer with intestinal perforation or obstruction, or gastric cancer with gastric perforation, gastric hemorrhage, or pyloric obstruction; (2) simultaneous resection of lung, bone, or liver metastases ; (3) history of major abdominal surgery or intestinal adhesions; and (4) incomplete clinical data. From January 2014 to October 2022, 209 patients with gastrointestinal tumors and 25 with redundant colons who met the above criteria were treated by NOSES utilizing a Cai tube (China invention patent number:ZL201410168748.2) in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University. The procedures included eversion and pull-out NOSES radical resection in 14 patients with middle and low rectal cancer, NOSES radical left hemicolectomy in 171 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer, NOSES radical right hemicolectomy in 12 patients with right-sided colon cancer, NOSES systematic mesogastric resection in 12 patients with gastric cancer, and NOSES subtotal colectomy in 25 patients with redundant colons. All specimens were collected by using an in-house-made anal cannula (Cai tube) with no auxiliary incisions. The primary outcomes included 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and postoperative complications. Results: Among 234 patients, 116 were male and 118 were female. The mean age was (56.6±10.9) years. NOSES was successfully completed in all patients without conversion to open surgery or procedure-related death. The negative rate of circumferential resection margin was 98.8% (169/171) with both two positive cases having left-sided colorectal cancer. Postoperative complications occurred in 37 patients (15.8%), including 11 cases (4.7%) of anastomotic leakage, 3 cases(1.3%) of anastomotic bleeding, 2 cases (0.9%) of intraperitoneal bleeding, 4 cases (1.7%) of abdominal infection, and 8 cases (3.4%) of pulmonary infection. Reoperations were required in 7 patients (3.0%), all of whom consented to creation of an ileostomy after anastomotic leakage. The total readmission rate within 30 days after surgery was 0.9% (2/234). After a follow-up of (18.3±3.6) months, the 1-year RFS was 94.7%. Five of 209 patients (2.4%) with gastrointestinal tumors had local recurrence, all of which was anastomotic recurrence. Sixteen patients (7.7%) developed distant metastases, including liver metastases(n=8), lung metastases(n=6), and bone metastases (n=2). Conclusion: NOSES assisted by Cai tube is feasible and safe in radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors and subtotal colectomy for redundant colon.

Alpha-fetoprotein-producing hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the lung responsive to sorafenib after multiline treatment: A case report

BACKGROUND

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the lung (HAL) is an extremely rare malignant tumor, and many patients with HAL exhibit high levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression. Currently, there is no standardized treatment strategy for advanced HAL and its prognosis is poor.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 55-year-old man with unresectable AFP-related HAL. The largest cross-sectional area of the mass in the upper lobe of the left lung at the beginning of treatment was 8.46 cm × 6.53 cm. The patient’s serum AFP level was 9283 ng/mL. The mass increased in size to 8.86 cm × 8.21 cm after two courses of platinum-based combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and serum AFP reached its highest level (71232.2 ng/mL). The patient was treated with sorafenib (400 mg twice daily, per os). Forty days later, the mass was reduced to 5.63 cm × 5.29 cm and serum AFP level dropped to 786.8 ng/mL. The patient achieved partial remission for > 9 mo with sorafenib and an excellent biomarker response, as well as survival > 13 mo, which is among the longest reported for unresectable stage IV HAL.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report to document successful treatment of unresectable AFP-related HAL with single-agent sorafenib after multiline therapy.

[Comparison between laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery for left colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled study with 3-year follow-up results]

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) colectomy using the Cai tube in the treatment of left colorectal cancer. Methods: A prospective randomized control trial (China Clinical Trials Registration Number: ChiCTR-OOR-15007060) was performed. Sixty patients with left colorectal cancer at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital from September 2015 to August 2017 were prospectively enrolled. Case inclusion criteria: (1) left colorectal adenocarcinoma (rectal cancer with distance ≥ 8 cm from tumor low margin to anal edge, sigmoid colon cancer, descending colon cancer and left transverse colon cancer) confirmed by preoperative pathology; (2) satisfactory conditions of conventional laparoscopic surgery; (3) maximum diameter of the tumor < 4.5 cm confirmed by preoperative abdominal and pelvic CT or MRI; (4) BMI < 30 kg/m². Case exclusion criteria: (1) benign lesions, mucinous adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and other special pathological types of tumors confirmed by preoperative pathological examination; (2) multiple or recurrent cancers; (3) with a history of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; (4) obvious regional infiltration or distant metastasis indicated by preoperative imaging examination; (5) intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, etc. Participants were randomly assigned to NOSES group (using the Cai tube) and conventional laparoscopy (CL) group by random number table method. Clinical data between two groups were compared and analyzed, including perioperative conditions, tumor exfoliation cell detection and bacterial culture results of intraperitoneal lavage fluid, postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grading), postoperative pain [visual simulation scoring (VAS) assessment], anal function (Kirwan anal function grading assessment), and postoperative 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), overall recurrence rate, and local recurrence rate. Results: A total of 60 patients were enrolled, with 30 in the NOSES group and 30 in the CL group. All the patients in the NOSES group successfully completed operation with Cai tube. Baseline data between the two groups were not significantly different (all P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in conversion rate to open surgery, number of lymph node harivested, proximal and distal resection margin of tumor, negative rate of circumferential margin, operation time, blood loss, inflammatory indexes, postoperative anal function, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost, morbidity of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade II or above) (all P>0.05). Compared to the CL group, the NOSES group had lower maximum postoperative VAS score (2.5±0.3 vs. 5.1±0.4, t=3.187, P<0.01), and fewer use of additional postoperative analgesia [6.7% (2/30) vs. 33.3% (10/30),χ²=6.670, P=0.02]. The postoperative time to gas passage was shorter in the NOSES group [(2.2±1.4) days vs. (3.1±1.2) days,P=0.026]. No tumor cells and bacterial contamination were found in abdominal lavage fluid before and after operation in either group. The anal function at postoperative 3-month of all the patients in the NOSES group was Kirwan grade I to II, while in the CL group, anal function of 2 cases (6.7%) was Kirwan grade III, and of 28 cases was also Kirwan grade I to II, whose difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In the NOSES group and the CL group, 3-year DFS was 96.7% and 83.3% (P=0.090), OS was 100% and 90% (P=0.096), overall recurrence rate was 3.3% and 10.0% (P=0.166), and local recurrence rate was 3.3% and 3.3% (P=0.999), respectively, whose differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions: In the treatment of left colorectal cancer, compared with conventional laparoscopic colectomy, NOSES colectomy using Cai tube exhibits less scar, less postoperative pain, shorter recovery of gastrointestinal function, and similar mid-term outcomes. Given proper surgical indications, the surgical procedure is safe and feasible.

Developing a near-infrared spectroscopy and microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography-based dual-modality imaging system

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques can provide noninvasive in vivo hemoglobin oxygenation information but suffer from relatively low resolution in biological tissue imaging. Microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) can produce high-resolution images of the biological tissue anatomy but offer limited physiological information of samples because of the single species of the chromophore it maps. To overcome these drawbacks and take advantage of the merits of the two independent techniques, we built a dual-modality system by combining a NIRS system and a TAT system to image biological tissues. A series of phantom trials were carried out to demonstrate the performance of the new system. The spatial resolution is about 1 mm, with a penetration depth of at least 17.5 mm in the human subject. A cohort of five healthy subjects was recruited to conduct real-time forearm venous and arterial cuff occlusion experiments. Numerous results showed that this dual-modality system could measure oxygen metabolism and simultaneously provide anatomical structure changes of biological tissues. We also found that although the hemoglobin concentration varied consistently with many other published papers, the TAT signal intensity of veins showed an opposite variation tendency in the venous occlusion stage compared with other existing work. A detailed explanation is given to account for the discrepancy, thus, providing another possibility for the forearm experiments using TAT. Furthermore, based on the multiple types of information afforded by this dual-modality system, a pilot clinical application for the diagnosis of anemia is discussed.

Leg-Length Change After Unilateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in Varus Knee and Its Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND

To explore the magnitude of leg-length change after the unilateral index unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in varus knee and its influence on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral UKA from June 2015 to June 2017 were included and followed up for at least 2 years. The leg length and hip-knee angle were measured on full-length standing films before and after the surgery. Flexion contracture was evaluated using a goniometer with the patient in the standing position preoperatively and postoperatively. Hospital for Special Surgery scores, perceived leg-length discrepancy (pLLD), the occurrence, and the time interval of subsequent contralateral knee arthroplasty were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

The average leg length increased after UKA was 9.39 ± 11.24 mm (range -21.00 to 33.79 mm), and 90 (78.9%) patients showed an increase in the leg length. 35 patients had LLD (defined as ≥10 mm), and 25 presented pLLD preoperatively; 25 patients had LLD, and 45 were suspected with pLLD postoperatively. At the last follow-up, 26 patients underwent subsequent contralateral knee arthroplasty. Postoperative LLD and pLLD were not associated with Hospital for Special Surgery scores of UKA but associated with subsequent contralateral knee arthroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

LLD and pLLD were common in patients both before and after UKA. Most patients showed leg lengthening after UKA. Postoperative LLD and pLLD were not associated with functional scores but associated with a subsequent contralateral knee arthroplasty.

[Decolorization of skin and hair-derived melanin by three ligninolytic enzymes]

Objective: To compare the decolorization efficiency of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase on eumelanin and pheomelanin, and to investigate the effect of topical administration of LiP solution on hyperpigmented guinea pigs skin induced by 308 nm excimer light. Methods: Pheomelanin-enriched specimens were prepared from human hair and cutaneous melanoma tissue using alkaline lysis method.Synthetic eumelanin was purchased from a commercial supplier.The same amount (0.02%) of melanin was incubated with the equal enzyme activity (0.2 U/ml) of ligninolytic enzymes for 3 h respectively.The absorbance at 475 nm (A(475)) in the enzyme-catalyzed solution was measured using ELISA microplate reader.The experimental hyperpigmentation model was established in the dorsal skin of brownish guinea pigs using 308 nm excimer light radiation.LiP and heat-inactivated LiP solution were topically applied at each site.Meanwhile, 3% hydroquinone and vehicle cream were used as control.The skin color (L value) was recorded using a CR-10 Minolta chromameter.Corneocytes were collected using adhesive taping method.The amount and distribution of melanin in the corneocytes and skin tissues was visualized by Fontana-Masson staining. Results: All three ligninolytic enzymes showed various degree of eumelanin and pheomelanin decolorization activity.The decolorization activity of LiP, MnP and laccase was 40%-70%, 22%-42% and 9%-21%, respectively.The similar lightening was shown in the skin treated with LiP solution and 3% hydroquinone.The amount of melanin granules in the corneocytes was 199±11 by LiP, which was less than that in untreated control (923±12) and heat-inactive control (989±13). The amount of melanin was decreased in the whole epidermis treated with hydroquinone, the epidermis thickness was increased as well. In contrast, melanin of LiP group was decreased only in the superficial epidermis, the epidermis thickness seemed to be normal. Conclusion: LiP exerts a potent decolorization activity for hair- or skin-derived pheomelanin as well as eumelanin.It remains to be further investigated whether LiP serves as a substitute for hydroquinone in skin lightening products.

Transcriptome analysis and anthocyanin-related genes in red leaf lettuce

This study aimed to analyze the transcriptome profile of red lettuce and identify the genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation. Red leaf lettuce is a popular vegetable and popular due to its high anthocyanin content. However, there is limited information available about the genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in this species. In this study, transcriptomes of 15-day-old seedlings and 40-day-old red lettuce leaves were analyzed using an Illuminia HiseqTM 2500 platform. A total of 10.6 GB clean data were obtained and de novo assembled into 83,333 unigenes with an N50 of 1067. After annotation against public databases, 51,850 unigene sequences were identified, among which 46,087 were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant protein database, and 41,752 were annotated in the Swiss-Prot database. A total of 9125 unigenes were mapped into 163 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. Thirty-four structural genes were found to cover the main steps of the anthocyanin pathway, including chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase, flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and anthocyanidin synthase. Seven MYB, three bHLH, and two WD40 genes, considered anthocyanin regulatory genes, were also identified. In addition, 3607 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were identified from 2916 unigenes. This research uncovered the transcriptomic characteristics of red leaf lettuce seedlings and mature plants. The identified candidate genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and the detected SSRs provide useful tools for future molecular breeding studies.

Lutein alleviates arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice via Nrf2 signaling

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms involved in the action of lutein (LU) alleviating arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity using mice model. Forty male Kunming mice were received following treatments by gavage: normal saline solution (control), arsenic trioxide (ATO; 5 mg/kg/day), LU (40 mg/kg/day), and ATO + LU (5 mg/kg/day + 40 mg/kg/day). At the end, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation and weighed. Pathological examination was done on the testis. The biomedical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidative capability, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and reproductive indexes were analyzed. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) in testis were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We found that there was a decrease in sperm count; testis somatic index; the activities of SOD, GSH, total antioxidative capacity ( p < 0.01, respectively) in ATO-treated mice, while there was an increase in the levels of sperm abnormalities, MDA, and 8-OHdG than control ( p < 0.01, respectively). The groups treated with ATO + LU showed recovery of the measured parameters between those of ATO or saline-treated group. The antagonized interaction between ATO and LU was statistically significant ( p < 0.01). Mice treated with ATO + LU also showed greater mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GST than ATO or saline-treated groups. These findings suggest that LU alleviates reproductive toxicity induced by arsenic in male mice via Nrf2 signaling, which implicates a possible mechanism of LU in preventing the reproductive injury, and elucidates that consuming the rich plant sources of LU will alleviate the reproductive toxicity induced by chemicals.

Polymorphisms in the PPARγ gene and their association with metabolic syndrome in Uyghurs and Kazakhs from Xinjiang, China

We investigated the association between polymorphisms rs1801282 and rs3856806 of the PPARγ gene and metabolic syndrome (MS) among Uyghurs and Kazakhs. Mass spectrometry techniques were used to detect the PPARγ genotypes rs1801282 and rs3856806 in 987 subjects, CC genotype and C allele frequencies were 83.6 and 91.7%, respectively, at rs1801282 in Kazakhs, which were higher than those in Uyghurs (72.3 and 85.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). CC genotype and C allele frequencies were 73.6 and 85.3%, respectively, at the rs3856806 loci in Kazakhs, which were higher than those in Uyghurs (60.7 and 77.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). For the rs3856806 polymorphism in Kazakhs, CT/TT genotype and T allele frequencies were 21.2 and 12.4% for MS subjects, which were lower than those for the control group (31.6 and 17.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). Risk analysis of Kazakhs revealed that individuals with the CT and TT genotypes at rs3856806 had an increased risk, 0.524- and 0.770-fold, respectively, of developing MS than those possessing the CC genotype. Individuals with the T allele also had an increase in risk, by 0.699-fold, of developing MS than those with the C allele. For Uyghurs, those with the CC genotype at rs1801282 had higher systolic blood pressure than those with the CG/GG genotype. Among Kazakhs, those with the CC genotype at rs3856806 had higher triglyceride and waist-hip ratio levels but lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than those with the CT/TT genotype. The rs1801282 and rs3856806 PPARγ polymorphisms differ between Uyghurs and Kazakhs from Xinjiang Province, China.

Effect of low-fat diet on breast cancer survival: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Even though many studies have examined the possible effect of low-fat diet on breast cancer survival, the relationship remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize the current evidence about the effect of post-diagnostic low-fat diet on recurrence and all-cause mortality of breast cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a search of Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library and as a result two randomized controlled trials (RCT) and one large multi-center prospective cohort study with 9,966 breast cancer patients were included in this report.

RESULTS

Post-diagnostic low-fat diet reduced risk of recurrence of breast cancer by 23% (HR=0.77, 95%CI 0.63 to 0.94, P=0.009) and all cause mortality of breast cancer by 17% (HR=0.83, 95%CI 0.69 to 1.00, P=0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggested the post-diagnostic low-fat diet can improve breast cancer survival by reducing risk of recurrence. However, more trials of the relationship between low-fat diet and all- cause mortality of breast cancer are still needed.

Linkage Disequilibrium Estimation of Chinese Beef Simmental Cattle Using High-density SNP Panels

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) plays an important role in genomic selection and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL). In this study, the pattern of LD and effective population size (N_e) were investigated in Chinese beef Simmental cattle. A total of 640 bulls were genotyped with IlluminaBovinSNP50BeadChip and IlluminaBovinHDBeadChip. We estimated LD for each autosomal chromosome at the distance between two random SNPs of <0 to 25 kb, 25 to 50 kb, 50 to 100 kb, 100 to 500 kb, 0.5 to 1 Mb, 1 to 5 Mb and 5 to 10 Mb. The mean values of r² were 0.30, 0.16 and 0.08, when the separation between SNPs ranged from 0 to 25 kb to 50 to 100 kb and then to 0.5 to 1 Mb, respectively. The LD estimates decreased as the distance increased in SNP pairs, and increased with the increase of minor allelic frequency (MAF) and with the decrease of sample sizes. Estimates of effective population size for Chinese beef Simmental cattle decreased in the past generations and N_e was 73 at five generations ago.

Effects of in ovo injection with selenium on immune and antioxidant responses during experimental necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of in ovo injection of Se on modulating the immune system and antioxidant responses in broiler chickens with experimental necrotic enteritis. Broiler eggs were injected at 18 d of embryo age with either 100 μL of PBS alone or sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) in PBS, providing 0 (SS0), 10 (SS10), or 20 (SS20) μg of Se/egg. At 14 d posthatch, PBS-treated and uninfected chickens were kept as the control group, whereas the remaining chickens were orally infected with 1.0 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima (SS0, SS10, SS20). At 18 d posthatch, E. maxima-infected chickens were orally infected with 1.0 × 10(9) cfu of Clostridium perfringens. Infected control SS0 group showed significantly decreased BW compared with the uninfected control. However, SS20 group showed significantly increased BW compared with the infected control SS0 group, whereas the BW were similar among uninfected control and infected SS10 and SS20 groups. The SS10 group showed significantly lower intestinal lesions compared with the SS0 group, and oocyst production was decreased in both SS10 and SS20 groups. Serum malondialdehyde level and catalase activity were also decreased in both SS10 and SS20 groups, whereas the superoxide dismutase level was significantly lower in the SS10 group compared with the SS0 group. The SS20 group showed significantly higher levels of transcripts for IL-1β and IL-6 in intestine, and SS10 and SS20 groups had higher levels of transcripts for IL-8 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and decreased glutathione peroxidase 7 mRNA levels compared with the SS0 group. The SS10 and SS20 groups also showed increased serum antibody levels to C. perfringens α-toxin and NetB toxin compared with the SS0 group. These collective results suggest that the injection of Se into the amniotic cavity of developing eggs may be beneficial for enhancing immune and antioxidant responses in the hatched chickens exposed to the necrotic enteritis-causing pathogens.

Epidemiological analysis of dyslipidemia in adults of three ethnicities in Xinjiang, China

This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of dyslipidemia in adults of Uygur, Kazak, and Han ethnicity in Xinjiang, China. A questionnaire including general data, physical examination (blood pressure, body height, and body weight) and blood lipid [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] was administered to 11,506 adults in Xinjiang, China from 2009 to 2010 using a stratified sampling method. The overall prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults were 42.4, 31.6, and 30.2%, respectively; they were 42.4, 31.8, and 28.2% after age standardization (P < 0.01). After standardization, the overall prevalence rates in Uygur, Kazak, and Han men were 52.6, 35.4, and 33.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in women of the corresponding ethnicities (P < 0.01). In Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults, there were significant differences with respect to the standardized prevalence rates of high TG (9.3, 9.3, and 17.3%), high TC (5.2, 6.9, and 6%), low HDL-C (33.6, 20.8, and 11.1%), and high LDL-C (2.4, 2.9, and 2%) (P < 0.05). The prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults in Xinjiang are higher than the average levels in China, with significant differences in ethnicity, age, and gender. Han adults exhibited the highest prevalence rate of high TG. Meanwhile, Uygur adults had the highest prevalence rate of low HDL-C. Kazak adults had high prevalence rates of high TC, low HDL-C, and high LDL-C.

Polymorphism of MyoD1 and Myf6 genes and associations with carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle

Myogenic determination factor 1 (MyoD1) and myogenic factor 6 (Myf6) genes belong to the myogenic differentiation (MyoD) gene family, which play key roles in growth and muscle development. The study aimed to investigate the effects of variants in cattle MyoD1 and Myf6 on carcass and meat traits. We screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of both genes in 8 cattle populations, including Simmental, Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Qinchuan, Luxi, and Jinnan by sequencing. The G782A locus was identified in exon 1 of MyoD1 (MyoD1-BglI) as well as the T186C locus in exon 1 of Myf6 (Myf6-ApaLI). For the two SNPs, the A allele was significantly more frequent than the B allele in the populations tested. The χ(2) test showed that the MyoD1-BglI locus conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the 8 populations, as did the Myf6-ApaLI locus, with the exception of the Simmental population (P > 0.05). Association analysis revealed that the MyoD1-BglI locus was significantly associated with loin muscle area (LMA) (P < 0.05), and the Myf6-ApaLI locus was significantly associated with carcass length (CL) (P < 0.05). Animals with BB and AB genotypes for the MyoD1-BglI locus had larger LMAs compared to animals with AA genotype. Individuals with BB genotype had longer CLs compared to those with AA and AB genotypes. We conclude that the two SNPs might provide useful genetic markers, opening up new possibilities for cattle breeding and improvements in gene-assisted selection.

Polymorphism of SREBP1 is associated with beef fatty acid composition in Simmental bulls

The sterol regulatory element binding factor 1 gene (SREBP1) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, and in lipid metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphisms of SREBP1 on the fatty acid composition of muscle and carcass traits in Simmental bulls and Snow Dragon black cattle. The 84-bp insertion/deletion (indel) in intron 5 of the bovine SREBP1 gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction to investigate its associations with traits. The results showed that the 84-bp indel in intron 5 was significantly associated with palmitoleic acid (C16:1), stearic acid (C18:0), saturated fatty acids (SFA), triglycerides (TAG), and the C16 index in Simmental bulls (P < 0.05). Cattle with the LL genotype had higher palmitic acid (C16:1), triglycerides, and C16 index but lower stearic acid (C18:0) and SFA compared to those with the LS genotype (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the 84-bp indel of SREBP1 could be used as a genetic marker for selecting Simmental breeding stock for healthier fatty acid composition.

Expression of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 in longissimus dorsi muscle related to meat tenderness in Nanyang cattle

The ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 are secreted proteases, which can cleave aggrecan, brevican and versican to regulate rebuilding of the extracellular matrix. We analyzed the ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 gene expression patterns in longissimus dorsi muscle at intervals from 135 days fetal age to 30 months old by qRT-PCR in Nanyang cattle. Expression of ADAMTS4 was significantly higher in 135 and 185-day-old fetuses than at other stages, while expression of ADAMTS5 decreased during development. The promoter regions of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 were cloned and the transcription factor binding sites were analyzed with bioinformatic methods. Twelve and six potential transcription factor binding sites were found in the promoter regions of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 genes, respectively. Three transcription factors (MZF1, C/EBPb, and NF-kap) were selected to analyze the expression pattern during the development of the longissimus dorsi muscle. MZF1 was significantly co-expressed with ADAMTS4, while C/EBPb expression was significantly negatively associated with that of ADAMTS4. We concluded that the expression of ADAMTS4 is positively regulated by MZF1 and negatively regulated by C/EBPb. We examined the relationships of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 expression with tenderness of longissimus dorsi muscle; ADAMTS4 was significantly and negatively correlated with meat tenderness. We conclude that ADAMTS4 participates in the regulation of muscle development in cattle.

Toll-like receptor 2 gene polymorphism and its relationship with SCS in dairy cattle

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays an important role in the innate immune response to a variety of pathogens. In this study, bovine TLR2 gene was taken as a candidate gene for mastitis resistance. Through PCR-SSCP analysis and sequencing, three missense mutations at T385 G, G398A, and G1884A were detected in the coding region that encoded extracellular domain. Altogether 240 dairy cattle of three breeds (Holstein, Simmental, and Sanhe cattle) were genotyped and allele frequencies were determined. The effects of TLR2 polymorphisms on somatic cell score (SCS) were analyzed and significant association was found between T385 G and SCS. The mean of genotype GG was significantly lower than those of genotype TT and TG. No significant associations were found with SCS for G398A and G1884A. Information provided in this research will be useful in further studies to determine the role of TLR2 gene in the mastitis resistance.

Fluvastatin reduces oxidative damage in human vascular endothelial cells by upregulating Bcl-2

BACKGROUND

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been widely used in clinical practise and their efficacy in reducing cardiovascular risk has been well described.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of low doses of fluvastatin (nanomolar) on H(2)O(2)-induced cell damage and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Primary cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used, and the effects of fluvastatin on H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis, necrosis, and proliferation were observed. H(2)O(2) at a concentration of 100 mum significantly induced apoptotic cell death after 24-h cell culture. Fluvastatin at low concentrations (10-100 nm) prevented H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis, as determined by a DNA fragmentation assay and by cell counting with trypan blue and Hoechst 33342 nuclei staining. The protective effect of fluvastatin was mediated by the upregulation of Bcl-2 expression as probed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Using siRNA to knock down the expression of Bcl-2, the protective effect of fluvastatin was abolished. Fluvastatin had no direct effect on the H(2)O(2)-sensitive TRPM2 calcium channel.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that fluvastatin has a potent protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis via upregulation of Bcl-2 expression. The findings provide a new insight into the mechanism by which fluvastatin is able to modulate the influence of oxidative stress on vascular endothelial cells.

Estimation of genetic parameters for lactational milk yields using two-dimensional random regressions on parities and days in milk in Chinese Simmental cattle

A two-dimensional random regression model with regressions on days in milk (DIM) and parity number was applied to lactational milk yields in Chinese Simmental cattle. Random regressions were fitted for additive genetic and permanent environmental effects using a two-dimensional polynomial on DIM and parity number. A total of 4340 lactational milk yields from Chinese Simmental cattle which calved between 1980 and early 2000 were used in this study. Variance components were estimated using Bayesian methodology via Gibbs sampling. Variances of random regression coefficients associated with all terms of the polynomials were significant. A covariance function showed that heritabilities of lactational milk yields between 200 and 400 DIM over parities varied between 0.25 and 0.45. Heritabilities of 305-day milk yields from 1st to 6-8th parities were 0.28, 0.30, 0.32 0.32, 0.32, and 0.31, respectively. Ratios of permanent environment variances to total variances at each DIM were greater than corresponding heritabilities. Generally, genetic correlations were higher between lactational milk yields with similar DIM and parity number.

Topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of urethral condylomata acuminata

BACKGROUND

Electrocoagulation and laser evaporation for urethral condylomata acuminata have high recurrence rates and can be associated with urethral malformations.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) on urethral condylomata acuminata and to examine the histological changes in lesions of condylomata acuminata after ALA-PDT.

METHODS

Patients with urethral condylomata (n = 164) were given topical ALA followed by intraurethral PDT through a cylindrical fibre. Patients included 11 individuals with 16 penile or vulval condylomatous lesions which were biopsied before or after treatment; the histological changes were then evaluated by light microscopy and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

The complete response rate was 95% and the recurrence rate was 5% after 6-24 months of follow-up. Light microscopy revealed keratinocytes in the middle and upper layers of the epidermis showing marked vacuolation and some necrocytosis 1 and 3 h after PDT. Necrosis in all layers of the epidermis was noted 5 h after PDT. Electron microscopy of keratinocytes revealed distinct ultrastructural abnormalities of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, and membrane damage. Apoptotic bodies were detected 3 h after PDT and a large number of keratinocytes exhibited necrosis 5 h after PDT.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that, compared with conventional therapies, topical ALA-PDT is a simple, effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for urethral condylomata acuminata that is associated with a low recurrence rate. The mechanism might be the triggering of both apoptosis and necrosis by ALA-PDT in human papillomavirus-infected keratinocytes.

Pharmacological profile of store-operated channels in cerebral arteriolar smooth muscle cells

1. In this study, we determined a pharmacological profile of store-operated channels (SOCs) in smooth muscle cells of rabbit pial arterioles. Ca(2+)-indicator dyes, fura-PE3 or fluo-4, were used to track [Ca(2+)](i) and 10 micro M methoxyverapamil (D600) was present in all experiments on SOCs to prevent voltage-dependent Ca(2+) entry. Store depletion was induced using thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid. 2. SOC-mediated Ca(2+) entry was inhibited concentration dependently by Gd(3+) (IC(50) 101 nM). It was also inhibited by 10 micro M La(3+) (70% inhibition, N=5), 100 micro M Ni(2+) (57% inhibition, N=5), 75 micro M 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (66% inhibition, N=4), 100 micro M capsaicin (12% inhibition, N=3) or preincubation with 10 micro M wortmannin (76% inhibition, N=4). It was completely resistant to 1 micro M nifedipine (N=5), 10 micro M SKF96365 (N=6), 10 micro M LOE908 (N=14), 10-100 micro M ruthenium red (N=1+2), 100 micro M sulindac (N=4), 0.5 mM streptomycin (N=3) or 1 : 10,000 dilution Grammostolla spatulata venom (N=4). 3. RT-PCR experiments on isolated arteriolar fragments showed expression of mRNA species for TRPC1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. 4. The pharmacological profile of SOC-mediated Ca(2+) entry in arterioles supports the hypothesis that these SOCs are distinct from tonically active background channels and several store-operated and other nonselective cation channels described in other cells. Similarities with the pharmacology of TRPC1 support the hypothesis that TRPC1 is a subunit of the arteriolar smooth muscle SOC.

TRPC1 store-operated cationic channel subunit

TRPC1 is a membrane protein that is highly conserved in mammals, amphibians and birds. It is widely expressed in cells throughout the body including in the heart and nervous system. Amino acid sequence analysis and over-expression studies indicate it is an ion channel that allows the transmembrane flux of small cations including sodium and calcium. In some cell types it is apparent that at least a fraction of TRPC1 exists in the plasma membrane. Inhibition of TRPC1 expression or block by TRPC1-specific antibody leads to attenuation of the plasma membrane calcium influx that occurs in response to depletion of calcium levels in sarcoplasmic or endoplasmic reticulum. TRPC1 would, therefore, seem to be a key subunit of store-operated channels (SOCs). TRPC1 is, nevertheless, unlikely to act alone. There is good evidence that it can heteromultimerise with the related proteins TRPC4, TRPC5 and polycystin-2; a tetrameric arrangement is envisaged, but not demonstrated. Like its relative in Drosophila, TRPC1 looks likely to function in a signalplex, a protein complex including inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) receptor, plasma membrane calcium-ATPase, caveolin-1 and calmodulin. Its localisation in membranes is punctate and associated with functionally discrete calcium signals. TRPC1's function may not only be linked to SOCs but also to other cellular events including the nuclear translocation of the NFAT transcription factor. There is still much to be learned about this fundamental protein.

K(V)alpha1 channels in murine arterioles: differential cellular expression and regulation of diameter

The primary objectives of this study were to reveal cell-specific expression patterns and functions of voltage-gated K(+) channel (K(V)alpha1) subunits in precapillary arterioles of the murine cerebral circulation. K(V)alpha1 were detected using peptide-specific antibodies in immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays. K(V)1.2 was localized almost exclusively to endothelial cells, whereas K(V)1.5 was discretely localized to the nerves and nerve terminals that innervate the arterioles. K(V)1.5 also localized specifically to arteriolar nerves in human pial membrane. K(V)1.5 was notable for its absence from smooth muscle cells. K(V)1.3, K(V)1.4, and K(V)1.6 were localized to endothelial and smooth muscle cells, although K(V)1.4 had a low expression level. K(V)1.1 was not expressed. Therefore, we show that different cell types of pial arterioles have distinct physiological expression profiles of K(V)alpha1, conferring the possibility of differential modulation by extracellular and second messengers. Furthermore, we show recombinant agitoxin-2 and margatoxin are potent vasoconstrictors, suggesting that K(V)alpha1 subunits have a major function in determining arteriolar resistance to blood flow.

TrpC1 is a membrane-spanning subunit of store-operated Ca(2+) channels in native vascular smooth muscle cells

Mammalian counterparts of the Drosophila trp gene have been suggested to encode store-operated Ca(2+) channels. These specialized channels are widely distributed and may have a general function to reload Ca(2+) into sarcoplasmic reticulum as well as specific functions, including the control of cell proliferation and muscle contraction. Heterologous expression of mammalian trp genes enhances or generates Ca(2+) channel activity, but the crucial question of whether any of the genes encode native subunits of store-operated channels remains unanswered. We have investigated if TrpC1 protein (encoded by trp1 gene) is a store-operated channel in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells of resistance arterioles, arteries, and veins from human, mouse, or rabbit. Messenger RNA encoding TrpC1 was broadly expressed. TrpC1-specific antibody targeted to peptide predicted to contribute to the outer vestibule of TrpC1 channels revealed that TrpC1 is localized to the plasma membrane and has an extracellular domain. Peptide-specific binding of the antibody had a functional effect, selectively blocking store-operated Ca(2+) channel activity. The antibody is a powerful new tool for the study of mammalian trp1 gene product. The study shows that TrpC1 is a novel physiological Ca(2+) channel subunit in arterial smooth muscle cells.

Reference data and predictive diagnostic models for calcaneus bone mineral density measured with single-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 7428 Chinese

Calcaneus bone mineral density (BMD) of 7428 Chinese (4126 women, 3302 men; aged 22-94 years) was measured using single-energy X-ray absorptiometry (SXA). A reference range of calcaneus BMD values for healthy Chinese men and women was established and the usefulness of this method for screening and diagnosis in osteoporosis was evaluated. The peak BMD occurred at 20-24 years old and peak BMD in women was significantly lower than in men. BMD loss in the calcaneus started at the age of 35 years for women, and at 63 years in men. BMD loss rate was 1.2%/year for women and 0.56%/year for men after 50 years. The young normal reference for calcaneus BMD was 442.1+/-69.6 mg/cm2 for men and 388.3+/-61.7 mg/cm2 for women calculated from the mean BMD value of subjects whose age ranged from 20 to 49 years. The accumulated BMD loss in the calcaneus is similar to that of Ward's triangle. Multiple linear regression showed that both age and weight were important factors. The incidence of osteoporosis in older men and women (> or = 60 years) is 6.6% and 32.1% respectively. We conclude that calcaneus BMD measurement is useful and sensitive for the screening and diagnosis of osteoporosis. A predictive diagnostic model for osteoporosis based on the calcaneus was constructed using multiple linear regression and the WHO criteria for diagnosing osteoporosis can be applied to calcaneus BMD.

Role of Arg163 in the N-glycosidase activity of neo-trichosanthin

Three mutant crystals of neo-trichosanthin (n-TCS), R163K, R163H and R163Q, were obtained by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. Structure determination indicated that there are no significant differences between the mutants and n-TCS except in the active pocket. All of them were also soaked in sodium citrate buffer (pH 4. 5) containing 20% KCl and 10 mg/ml AMP. Structure determination suggests that in the active pocket of the crystals of R163K and R163H, parallel to the aromatic ring of Tyr70, each mutant possesses an adenine. The relationship between structure and function is discussed. Biochemical analysis reveals that the mutants R163K and R163H have N-glycosidase activity, while R163Q does not. This suggests that R163 is a crucial residue for the enzyme activity of n-TCS, and its role is providing proton.

Block of human aorta Kir6.1 by the vascular KATP channel inhibitor U37883A

1. A human aorta cDNA library was screened at low stringency with a rat pancreatic Kir6.1 cDNA probe and a homologue of Kir6.1 (hKir6.1) was isolated and sequenced. 2. Metabolic poisoning of Xenopus laevis oocytes with sodium azide and application of the K+ channel opener drug diazoxide induced K+ channel currents in oocytes co-injected with cRNA for hKir6.1 and hamster sulphonylurea receptor (SUR1), but not in oocytes injected with water or cRNA for hKir6.1 or SUR1 alone. 3. K+ channel currents due to hKir6.1+SUR1 or mouse Kir6.2+SUR1 were strongly inhibited by 1 microM glibenclamide. K+-current carried by hKir6.1+SUR1 was inhibited by the putative vascular-selective KATP channel inhibitor U37883A (IC50 32 microM) whereas current carried by Kir6.2+SUR1 or Shaker K+ channels was unaffected. 4. The data support the hypothesis that hKir6.1 is a component of the vascular KATP channel, although the lower sensitivity of hKir6.1+SUR1 to U37883A compared with native vascular tissues suggests the need for another factor or subunit. Furthermore, the data suggest that pharmacology of KATP channels can be determined by the pore-forming subunit as well as the sulphonylurea receptor and point to a molecular basis for the pharmacological distinction between vascular and pancreatic/cardiac KATP channels.

Gross anatomy of the pancreatic lobes and ducts in six breeds of domestic ducks and six species of wild ducks in China

A previously unreported pancreatic duct was found by Liu (1989) in Pekin ducks. This duct has now been consistently found in six breeds of domestic ducks and six species of wild ducks in China. For purposes of Nomina Anatomica Avium it is hereby called the 'first pancreatic duct' (Ductus pancreaticus primus) since it enters the duodenum at or near the flexure where the descending duodenum becomes the ascending duodenum. All other pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum later, closer to where it joins the jejunum. This first pancreatic duct drains the caudal extremity of the dorsal lobe of the pancreas and can be easily exteriorized for experimental purposes. Within the parenchyma of the dorsal lobe of the pancreas this duct communicates with the dorsal pancreatic duct. In the present study of the gross anatomy of the pancreatic lobes of domestic and wild Chinese ducks we describe and illustrate variations in position and number of all biliary and pancreatic ducts.

Effects of berberine of L- and T-type calcium channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

AIM

To study the effects of berberine (Ber) on L-(ICa,L) and T-type (ICa,T) channels in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

METHODS

Using whole cell patch-clamp recording technique.

RESULTS

Ber 10, 30 mumol.L-1 inhibited the ICa, L from 1400 +/- 247 pA to 978 +/- 204 pA (n = 5 cells of 5 guinea pigs, P < 0.05), and to 664 +/- 179 pA (n = 5, P < 0.01), respectively. The inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent and non-frequency-dependent. The peak value of ICa,L in the current-voltage relationship was decreased. Ber affected the inactivation kinetics of ICa,L. The half activation potential (V0.5) was shifted from -27.8 mV to -34.2 mV and the slope factor (kappa) was changed from 9.22 into 13.03. Ber did not affect the activation kinetics. Ber 10 and 30 mumol.L-1 also inhibited ICa,T (from 154 +/- 80 pA to 101 +/- 78 pA, and to 48 +/- 45 pA, n = 8 cells of 5 guinea pigs, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ber possessed blocking effects on both L- and T-type calcium channels.

The new model of age-dependent changes in bone mineral density

To theoretically and quantitively describe the phenomena that bone mineral density (BMD) was changed with, the three-exponential model was proposed. Our results showed that BMD in radius and ulna in a sample of 36,879 healthy people ranging in age from 2 to 100 years fit the three-exponential equation well. Bone mass loss in Chinese women was faster than that in Chinese men. The method to accurately calculate the peak BMD and the corresponding age was given. The peak BMD and age for Chinese men and women in radius were 0.7469 g/cm2 and 35 years old, and 0.7051 g/cm2 and 33 years old respectively. The peak BMD and age in ulna were 0.7515 g/cm2 and 35 years old for Chinese men, and 0.6904 g/cm2 and 31 years old for Chinese women. Peak BMD in Chinese women was lower than in men. Peak BMD occurred slightly earlier in Chinese women. We concluded that our model could successfully characterize the regularity of bone mass accumulation and loss during the whole lifetime. The quantitive relationship was very useful in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Survey of Sarcocystis infection in cattle in east Hokkaido, Japan

The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection was examined in older cows and imported cattle slaughtered in East Hokkaido. Samples of myocardial tissues were examined for Sarcocystis microscopically. Sarcocystis cysts were detected in 15.7% of 83 older cows, 48.4% of 91 imported cattle which were kept in East Hokkaido prior to slaughter and 51.1% of 94 imported cattle slaughtered immediately after quarantine check. Based on the morphology of the cyst wall and the establishment of infection in experimentally inoculated dog, the Sarcocystis species was identified as Sarcocystis cruzi.

Development of a new laser-Doppler microvelocimetering and its application in patients with coronary artery stenosis

A new Laser-Doppler microvelocimetering (LDMV) was developed to study blood flow in individual vessels in patients with coronary artery stenosis. The LDMV measures steady blood flow velocity, diameter of vessels and pulsation flow. In addition, the effects of China's traditional herbs--Salvia Mitiorrhyza and other drugs--on the blood flow in the patients were investigated. LDMV constitutes a new quantitative procedure and is a promising tool for rapid monitoring of tissue perfusion in cardiovascular disease and estimating the action of drugs on microcirculation.

Morphometric Comparisons of Optic Nerve Axon Loss in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Axonal degeneration and diminution of the axonal population in the optic nerve have been documented in aging and in various neuro-ophthalmic conditions. We applied morphometric techniques to the postmortem examination of optic nerves obtained from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Twelve optic nerves (eight from patients with AIDS and four from age-matched control eyes) were stained with paraphenylenediamine and morphometrically analyzed with a computer-assisted image and measurement system. Degeneration was often severe and was scattered throughout all of the AIDS-affected optic nerves. In the AIDS-affected optic nerves, the mean axonal population was markedly lower than the mean obtained from normal optic nerves (880,000 vs 1,507,000). Despite the approximate 40% loss of axons, mean axonal diameters were not markedly different, suggesting that no particular class of axon was especially susceptible to AIDS-associated degeneration. The extent and pattern of axonal loss in optic nerves of patients with AIDS suggest that the changes may not only be secondary to damage at the retina, but may reflect an AIDS-associated primary optic neuropathy.

Multistage selection for genetic gain by orthogonal transformation

An exact transformed culling method for any number of traits or stages of selection with explicit solution for multistage selection is described in this paper. This procedure does not need numerical integration and is suitable for obtaining either desired genetic gains for a variable proportion selected or optimum aggregate breeding value for a fixed total proportion selected. The procedure has similar properties to multistage selection index and, as such, genetic gains from use of the procedure may exceed ordinary independent culling level selection. The relative efficiencies of transformed to conventional independent culling ranged from 87% to over 300%. These results suggest that for most situations one can chose a multistage selection scheme, either conventional or transformed culling, which will have an efficiency close to that of selection index. After considering cost savings associated with multistage selection, there are many situations in which economic returns from use of independent culling, either conventional or transformed, will exceed that of selection index.

Modulation of response to adenosine in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in defined medium

Cultured pig aortic smooth muscle cells maintain a viable, quiescent state in a chemically defined medium that contains 10(-6) M insulin, 5 micrograms/ml transferrin, and 0.2 mM ascorbate. DNA synthesis and DNA content were determined by measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation and DNA-binding to the fluorescent probe 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, respectively. The majority of the population of cells in defined medium cultures were diploid. Tritiated thymidine uptake in cells in defined medium was one-tenth that observed in cells in fetal bovine serum-containing medium. The study of cellular cyclic AMP level in response to extracellular adenosine stimulation in dividing cells and quiescent cells showed that cells in defined medium had a lower extent of response to adenosine compared to cells cultured in serum-containing medium. Both the cell growth index and the response to adenosine of cells cultured in defined medium were reversible after replacing the medium with 10% fetal bovine serum-containing medium, which suggests that the cells in defined medium were healthy and were capable of modulating cellular metabolism depending on culture conditions.