Study on the Influence of Label Image Accuracy on the Performance of Concrete Crack Segmentation Network Models

A high-quality dataset is a basic requirement to ensure the training quality and prediction accuracy of a deep learning network model (DLNM). To explore the influence of label image accuracy on the performance of a concrete crack segmentation network model in a semantic segmentation dataset, this study uses three labelling strategies, namely pixel-level fine labelling, outer contour widening labelling and topological structure widening labelling, respectively, to generate crack label images and construct three sets of crack semantic segmentation datasets with different accuracy. Four semantic segmentation network models (SSNMs), U-Net, High-Resolution Net (HRNet)V2, Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet) and DeepLabV3+, were used for learning and training. The results show that the datasets constructed from the crack label images with pix-el-level fine labelling are more conducive to improving the accuracy of the network model for crack image segmentation. The U-Net had the best performance among the four SSNMs. The Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU), Mean Pixel Accuracy (MPA) and Accuracy reached 85.47%, 90.86% and 98.66%, respectively. The average difference between the quantized width of the crack image segmentation obtained by U-Net and the real crack width was 0.734 pixels, the maximum difference was 1.997 pixels, and the minimum difference was 0.141 pixels. Therefore, to improve the segmentation accuracy of crack images, the pixel-level fine labelling strategy and U-Net are the best choices.

A polysaccharide utilization locus from Chitinophaga pinensis simultaneously targets chitin and β-glucans found in fungal cell walls

In nature, complex carbohydrates are rarely found as pure isolated polysaccharides. Instead, bacteria in competitive environments are presented with glycans embedded in heterogeneous matrices such as plant or microbial cell walls. Members of the Bacteroidota phylum thrive in such ecosystems because they are efficient at extracting nutrients from complex substrates, secreting consortia of synergistic enzymes to release metabolizable sugars. Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are used to target enzymes to substrates, enhancing reaction rate and product release. Additionally, genome organizational tools like polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) ensure that the appropriate set of enzymes is produced when needed. In this study, we show that the soil bacterium Chitinophaga pinensis uses a PUL and several CBMs to coordinate the activities of enzymes targeting two distinct polysaccharides found in fungal cell walls. We describe the enzymatic activities and carbohydrate-binding behaviors of components of the fungal cell wall utilization locus (FCWUL), which uses multiple chitinases and one β-1,3-glucanase to hydrolyze two different substrates. Unusually, one of the chitinases is appended to a β-glucan-binding CBM, implying targeting to a bulk cell wall substrate rather than to the specific polysaccharide being hydrolyzed. Based on our characterization of the PUL's outer membrane sensor protein, we suggest that the FCWUL is activated by β-1,3-glucans, even though most of its enzymes are chitin-degrading. Our data showcase the complexity of polysaccharide deconstruction in nature and highlight an elegant solution for how multiple different glycans can be accessed using one enzymatic cascade. IMPORTANCE We report that the genome of the soil bacterium Chitinophaga pinensis encodes three multi-modular carbohydrate-active enzymes that work together to hydrolyze the major polysaccharide components found in fungal cell walls (FCWs). The enzymes are all encoded by one polysaccharide utilization locus and are co-expressed, potentially induced in the presence of β-1,3-glucans. We present biochemical characterization of each enzyme, including the appended carbohydrate-binding modules that likely tether the enzymes to a FCW substrate. Finally, we propose a model for how this so-called fungal cell wall utilization locus might enable C. pinensis to metabolize both chitin and β-1,3-glucans found in complex biomass in the soil.

Research on the Efficiency of Bridge Crack Detection by Coupling Deep Learning Frameworks with Convolutional Neural Networks

Bridge crack detection based on deep learning is a research area of great interest and difficulty in the field of bridge health detection. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of coupling a deep learning framework (DLF) with a convolutional neural network (CNN) for bridge crack detection. A dataset consisting of 2068 bridge crack images was randomly split into training, verification, and testing sets with a ratio of 8:1:1, respectively. Several CNN models, including Faster R-CNN, Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD), You Only Look Once (YOLO)-v5(x), U-Net, and Pyramid Scene Parsing Network (PSPNet), were used to conduct experiments using the PyTorch, TensorFlow2, and Keras frameworks. The experimental results show that the Harmonic Mean (F1) values of the detection results of the Faster R-CNN and SSD models under the Keras framework are relatively large (0.76 and 0.67, respectively, in the object detection model). The YOLO-v5(x) model of the TensorFlow2 framework achieved the highest F1 value of 0.67. In semantic segmentation models, the U-Net model achieved the highest detection result accuracy (AC) value of 98.37% under the PyTorch framework. The PSPNet model achieved the highest AC value of 97.86% under the TensorFlow2 framework. These experimental results provide optimal coupling efficiency parameters of a DLF and CNN for bridge crack detection. A more accurate and efficient DLF and CNN model for bridge crack detection has been obtained, which has significant practical application value.

Multiple enzymatic approaches to hydrolysis of fungal β-glucans by the soil bacterium Chitinophaga pinensis

The genome of the soil Bacteroidota Chitinophaga pinensis encodes a large number of glycoside hydrolases (GHs) with noteworthy features and potentially novel functions. Several are predicted to be active on polysaccharide components of fungal and oomycete cell walls, such as chitin, β-1,3-glucan and β-1,6-glucan. While several fungal β-1,6-glucanase enzymes are known, relatively few bacterial examples have been characterised to date. We have previously demonstrated that C. pinensis shows strong growth using β-1,6-glucan as the sole carbon source, with the efficient release of oligosaccharides from the polymer. We here characterise the capacity of the C. pinensis secretome to hydrolyse the β-1,6-glucan pustulan and describe three distinct enzymes encoded by its genome, all of which show different levels of β-1,6-glucanase activity and which are classified into different GH families. Our data show that C. pinensis has multiple tools to deconstruct pustulan, allowing the species' broad utility of this substrate, with potential implications for bacterial biocontrol of pathogens via cell wall disruption. Oligosaccharides derived from fungal β-1,6-glucans are valuable in biomedical research and drug synthesis, and these enzymes could be useful tools for releasing such molecules from microbial biomass, an underexploited source of complex carbohydrates.

[Multiple pulmonary nodules with interstitial changes]

A 53-year-old female patient with pulmonary nodules for more than 3 years was admitted to Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital because of cough and sputum with shortness of breath after exercise for 4 months. In the first two and a half years, her pulmonary nodules remained stable, after that the nodules increased obviously with interstitial changes. After admission, a venous thromboembolic (VTE) event was quickly detected with a marked increase in D-dimer. Then, based on the clues of VTE examination, bronchoscopy, gastroscope, positron emission tomography-CT, head magnetic resonance and other examinations were performed. The final pathological diagnosis was lung adenocarcinoma, mainly solid with mucus secretion, with mediastinal hilar lymph node metastasis, intrapulmonary metastasis and gastric metastasis. Gene detection of lung and stomach histopathological tissues showed positive EML4-ALK fusion gene. The patient received therapies with crizotinib, alectinib in sequence and anticoagulation. After 20-month treatment, a telephone follow-up showed that there was no significant limitation in her daily activities.

Association of Arterial Stiffness with Functional Disability and Mobility Limitation: The Rugao Longitudinal Ageing Study

OBJECTIVES

Arterial stiffness is a common issue that may represent an indicator of vascular ageing. We aimed to investigate the association of arterial stiffness with the risk of functional disability and mobility limitation in older adults.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1699 older adults from the Rugao Longitudinal Ageing Study were included and analysed.

MEASUREMENTS

Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Functional disability and mobility limitation were evaluated by the activities of daily living and the Timed Up and Go test, respectively. The associations of baPWV and risk of functional disability and mobility limitation were analysed using logistic regression models. Restricted cubic spline regressions were applied to estimate the possible nonlinear relationships between them.

RESULTS

During the 3.5-year follow-up, 97 (10.00%) and 285 (31.11%) individuals were defined as new-onset functional disability and mobility limitation, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, elevated baPWV was significantly associated with a higher risk of incident functional disability (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.31) and mobility limitation (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.16). Additionally, consistent results were obtained from the stratified analyses of the different subgroups. Multivariable restricted cubic spline regression analysis further demonstrated that a near-linear association occurred between baPWV and the risk of incident functional disability and mobility limitation (P-overall < 0.01, P-nonlinear >0.05).

CONCLUSION

Arterial stiffness, as assessed by baPWV, was associated with the risk of functional disability and mobility limitation in this community-based cohort, and these associations were nearly linear.

Integrity Assessment of Isolated Plant Mitochondria

The integrity of isolated mitochondria can be estimated functionally using enzymatic activities or the permeability of mitochondrial membranes to molecules of different sizes. Thus, the permeability of the outer membrane to the protein cytochrome c, the permeability of the inner membrane to protons, and the permeability of the inner membrane to NAD⁺, NADH and organic acids using soluble matrix dehydrogenases as markers have all been used. These assays all have limitations to how the data can be converted into a measure of integrity, are differently sensitive to artifacts and require widely variable amounts of material. Therefore, each method has a restricted utility for estimating integrity, depending on the type of mitochondria analysed. Here, we review the advantages and disadvantages of different integrity assays and present protocols for integrity assays that require relatively small amounts of mitochondria. They are based on the permeability of the outer membrane to cytochrome c, and the inner membrane to protons or NAD(H). The latter has the advantage of utilizing a membrane-bound activity (complex I) and the pore-forming peptide alamethicin to gain access to the matrix space. These methods together provide a toolbox for the determination of functionality and quality of isolated mitochondria.

[The effect of red blood cell folate on the prognosis of high-risk human papillomavirus infection: a community-based cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the effect of red blood cell folate on the prognosis of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A total of 564 participants with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINⅠ) were selected from the community-based married women cohort established in 2014. The general baseline information and factors related to HPV infection were collected. Meanwhile, HPV genotyping and levels of folate were measured. The subjects were divided into different levels of exposure group according to the folate levels and followed up for 24 months to observe the changes of HR-HPV infection status. There were four changes, including persistent infection, infection turned negative, from negative to positive and constant negative by comparing HR-HPV infection status at baseline and follow-up to 24 months. Results: 483 participators completed 24 months of follow-up observation, with a follow-up rate of 85.64% (483/564). The rates of persistent infection, infection turned negative, from negative to positive, and the constant negative were 52.45% (75/143), 47.55% (68/143), 19.71% (67/340), 80.29% (273/340), respectively. Our results demonstrated that the risk of persistent infection (aRR=2.50, 95%CI: 1.55-4.02) and from negative to positive (aRR=4.55, 95%CI: 2.52-8.23) in the low level of folate were significantly higher than that in the high level of folate, especially the risk of homotype persistent infection (aRR=2.72, 95%CI: 1.51-4.90). The risk of persistent infection (trend χ²=20.62, P<0.001), from negative to positive (trend χ²=31.76, P<0.001), persistent homotypic infection (trend χ²=20.09, P<0.001) increased with the decrease of red blood cell folate level. On the contrary, no similar results were found in persistent heterotypic infection. Conclusions: A low level of red blood cell folate could increase the risk of HR-HPV persistent infection and from negative to positive. In women with HR-HPV infection, the risk of persistent homotypic infection is higher.

Grain size dependent high-pressure elastic properties of ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular

We have performed sound velocity and unit cell volume measurements of three synthetic, ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular samples up to 50 GPa using Brillouin spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The samples are characterized by average grain sizes of 90 nm, 93 nm and 179 nm (hereinafter referred to as samples Gr90, Gr93, and Gr179, respectively). The experimentally determined sound velocities and elastic properties of Gr179 sample are comparable with previous measurements, but slightly higher than those of Gr90 and Gr93 under ambient conditions. However, the differences diminish with increasing pressure, and the velocity crossover eventually takes place at approximately 20-30 GPa. The X-ray diffraction peaks of the ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular samples significantly broaden between 15-40 GPa, especially for Gr179. The velocity or elasticity crossover observed at pressures over 30 GPa might be explained by different grain size reduction and/or inhomogeneous strain within the individual grains for the three grossular samples, which is supported by both the pressure-induced peak broadening observed in the X-ray diffraction experiments and transmission electron microscopy observations. The elastic behavior of ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline silicates, in this case, grossular, is both grain size and pressure dependent.

[Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure on prognosis of high risk human papillomavirus infection: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure on the prognosis of high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: In this prospective study, 564 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia confirmed by pathology were selected from the natural cohort population established by our research group in Shanxi province in 2014. Based on the baseline data of demographic characteristics and factors related to HPV infection, the concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine samples of the patients were determined by high performance liquid chromatography to define the exposure level of PAHs. At baseline survey and follow-up after 24 months, flow-through hybridization was used to detect HPV infection types, and to evaluate the prognosis of HR-HPV (persistent infection, negative conversion, positive conversion and persistent negative status). Results: Of the 564 subjects, 483 completed the follow-up, with a follow-up rate of 85.6% (483/564). Among them, the persistent infection rate was 52.4% (75/143), the persistent homotype infection rate was 35.7% (51/143), the negative conversion rate was 47.6% (68/143), the positive conversion rate was 19.7% (67/340), and the persistent negative rate was 80.3% (273/340). The follow-up results showed that the persistent infection rate (aRR=3.22, 95%CI: 1.85-5.62) and positive conversion rate (aRR=2.84, 95%CI: 1.64-4.94) of HR-HPV in high PAHs exposure group were higher than those in low PAHs exposure group, while the persistent negative rate (aRR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.43-0.70) of HR-HPV in high PAHs exposure group were lower than those in low PAHs exposure group. Based on restrictive cubic spline analysis, the results showed that the effects of PAHs exposure on persistent HR-HPV infection and persistent homotype infection showed an ascending linear dose-response relationship, while on HR-HPV positive conversion and persistent negative status showed an ascending and declining nonlinear dose-response relationship respectively (P<0.01). Conclusions: High PAHs exposure could promote persistent HR-HPV infection and persistent homotypic infection. Reducing PAHs exposure might conducive to HR-HPV continuous negative maintenance. Active prevention and control of PAHs exposure is of great significance to prevent HR-HPV infection and persistent infection.

[Relationship between serum folate and CIN1 prognosis and its interaction with HR-HPV infection]

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum folate and the prognosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I (CIN1) and the interaction between folate and high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: From a community-based married women cohort established in Jiexiu and Yangqu County of Shanxi Province from June to December 2014, a total of 564 eligible women with CIN1 by pathologically diagnosed were recruited. The pathological examination was performed again 12 months later. According to the prognosis of CIN1, participants were divided into CIN1 regression group, persistence and progression group, respectively. Nested case-control study was used to explore the relationship between serum folate and CIN1 prognosis, and additive model was used to analyze the interaction between serum folate and HR-HPV infection. Results: Among 564 CIN1 patients, 479 cases underwent pathological examination again, 331 were divided in CIN1 regression group and other 148 in persistence and progression group. The levels of serum folate in CIN1 regression group and persistence and progression group were (18.890±8.360) and (15.640±5.550) nmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-6.937, P<0.001). HPV infection was detected in 154 patients, including 148 cases of HR-HPV infection and 6 cases of low risk human papillomavirus (LR-HPV) infection. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the age, passive smoking, frequency of pudendal cleaning, frequency of cleaning after sex, frequency of changing underwear, serum folate and HR-HPV infection between regression group and persistence and progression group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of pudendal cleaning (OR=0.422, 95%CI: 0.238-0.750), frequency of changing underwear (OR=0.574, 95%CI: 0.355-0.928), serum folate (13.06-16.78nmol/L: OR=4.806, 95%CI: 2.355-9.810; ≤13.05nmol/L: OR=8.378, 95%CI: 4.024-17.445), HR-HPV infection (OR=1.852, 95%CI: 1.170-2.933) were the independent influencing factors of CIN1 prognosis. Interaction analysis showed that the relative excess risk of low serum folate level and HR-HPV infection for the CIN1 persistence and progression was 4.992 (95%CI: 0.189-9.796), attributable proportion due to interaction was 0.552 (95%CI: 0.279-0.824), synergy index was 2.632 (95%CI: 1.239-5.588), aOR of serum folate≤16.78 nmol/L and HR-HPV infection positive was 9.055 (95%CI: 4.878-16.807). Conclusion: Low serum folate level could increase the risk of CIN1 persistence and progression, and might enhance the risk when combined with HR-HPV infection.

Experimental semi-autonomous eigensolver using reinforcement learning

The characterization of observables, expressed via Hermitian operators, is a crucial task in quantum mechanics. For this reason, an eigensolver is a fundamental algorithm for any quantum technology. In this work, we implement a semi-autonomous algorithm to obtain an approximation of the eigenvectors of an arbitrary Hermitian operator using the IBM quantum computer. To this end, we only use single-shot measurements and pseudo-random changes handled by a feedback loop, reducing the number of measures in the system. Due to the classical feedback loop, this algorithm can be cast into the reinforcement learning paradigm. Using this algorithm, for a single-qubit observable, we obtain both eigenvectors with fidelities over 0.97 with around 200 single-shot measurements. For two-qubits observables, we get fidelities over 0.91 with around 1500 single-shot measurements for the four eigenvectors, which is a comparatively low resource demand, suitable for current devices. This work is useful to the development of quantum devices able to decide with partial information, which helps to implement future technologies in quantum artificial intelligence.

[Effect of dietary water-soluble vitamins on the poor prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To explore the effect of dietary water-soluble vitamins on the poor prognosis of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINⅠ). Methods: A total of 564 participants with CINⅠ were selected from a community-based married women cohort established in 2014. The general baseline information was collected, and HPV genotyping was detected. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate dietary water-soluble vitamins' consumption and determine their exposure levels. The follow-up program was carried out for 12 months, and the regression, persistence, and progression of CINⅠ was determined according to histopathological results at 12-month. Results: The low-levels of dietary water-soluble vitamins could promote CINⅠ's persistence and progression, showing the increasing tendency of CINⅠ poor prognosis with the decrease of water-soluble vitamin levels. Especially folate, VB1, VB2, VB6, niacin, biotin, and VC (RR values were 15.22, 1.86, 1.92, 2.11, 2.98, 2.14, 2.19, respectively) played an important role. Considering the status of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, our results showed that the low levels of folate, niacin, biotin could promote the poor prognosis of CINⅠ. Conclusions: The low-level of dietary water-soluble vitamins could facilitate the poor prognosis of CINⅠ. In addition, folate, niacin, biotin were more effective on HR-HPV positive women.

[The optimal model of diagnosis to low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by combined detecting vaginal micro-environmental factors, based on the high-risk HPV infection]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of different vaginal micro-environmental factors in low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅰ) and determine the optimal model in high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A total of 926 women, including 623 with normal cervical (NC) condition and 303 CINⅠ patients, had undergone pathological examinations, and were enrolled in the study. All the women were from a community previously established cohort. Vaginal cleanliness, pH, H₂O₂, β-glucuronidase, coagulase, sialidase, and leukocyte esterase (LE) were detected by the combined detection method aerobic vaginitis/bacterial vaginosis in vaginal secretions. HPV genotyping was performed by using the flow-through hybridization technology. The data were analyzed by SAS 9.2 and SPSS 23.0. Results: The vaginal cleanliness, pH, sialidase, and LE were determined as the representative vaginal micro-environment factors by principal component analysis. Based on logistic regression theory to analyze the ROC curve, the results showed that the highest sensitivity was with pH value (76.2%), and the highest specificity was with sialidase (90.9%). The area under ROC curve were higher in combination detection modes of sialidase+LE (0.714), pH+sialidase+LE (0.719), vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (0.713) and pH+vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (0.709). According to HR-HPV infection status, the TOPSIS method was used to analyze the combined detection optimal model. Specifically, we found that the best diagnostic model was pH+sialidase +LE (C_i=0.585) in the HR-HPV positive group and vaginal cleanness+sialidase+LE (C_i=0.641) in the negative group. Conclusions: The combined detection of vaginal microenvironment factors could be used for auxiliary diagnosis for CINⅠ. It would be more effective when detecting pH, sialidase, and LE in HR-HPV positive women while vaginal cleanness, sialidase, and LE in HR-HPV negative women at the same time.

[Prognosis of high-risk HPV infection and its influences by vaginal micro-environmental factors]

Objective: To describe the characteristics of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and its influences by vaginal micro-environmental factors. Methods: A total of 421 women with HR-HPV infection and normal cervix diagnosed by pathology were selected from a community cohort established earlier by our research group for a 24-month follow-up. The baseline data were collected at enrollment. The vaginal micro-environmental factors were detected by using the combined detection kit of aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. And the HPV was detected by using the flow-through hybridization technology. According to the HR-HPV infection status in baseline and 24 months of follow-up, with the prognosis characteristics of HR-HPV infection described, the impact of vaginal micro-environmental factors on the prognosis of HR-HPV infection was explored as well. Results: Among 390 HR-HPV infected women who completed 24 months of follow-up, the top five types of persistent HR-HPV infection rate appeared as HPV16 (24.1%), HPV58 (22.2%), HPV53 (21.7%), HPV52 (20.0%), and HPV39 (11.8%), respectively. The results showed that women with abnormal vaginal pH (aOR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.08-2.80), abnormal neuraminidase (aOR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.52-4.83), or abnormal leucocyte esterase (aOR=3.41, 95%CI: 2.13-5.44), the risk of HR-HPV persistent infection increased. The abnormalities of neuraminidase and leukocyte esterase could increase the risk of persistent infection of homotype and heterotypic HR-HPV. Conclusions: HPV16 was prone to persistent infection. Abnormalities of vaginal pH, neuraminidase, and leukocyte esterase might increase the risk of HR-HPV persistent infection. Both the abnormalities of neuraminidase and leukocyte esterase play an essential role in the HR-HPV persistent infection.

[Relations of human papillomavirus infection, vaginal micro-environmental disorder with cervical lesion]

Objective: To study the relations of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaginal micro-environmental disorder with cervical lesion. Methods: A total of 1 019 women including 623 with normal cervical (NC), 303 with low-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅰ) and 93 with high-grade cervical lesion (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ) were enrolled in this study from the communities in Shanxi province, China. Case-control method was adopted, with NC as the control group and CIN as the case group. Related information was collected including demographic characteristics and relevant factors related to cervical lesions. HPV genotypes were detected by flow-through hybridization technology. Vaginal pH was detected by the pH test paper. Vaginal H(2)O(2) was detected by the combined detection kit of aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal cleanliness was detected by smear method. Results: Data from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that HPV infection (CINⅠ: aOR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.01-1.90; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=11.74, 95%CI: 6.96-19.80), H(2)O(2) (CINⅠ: aOR=2.09, 95%CI: 1.47-2.98; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=4.12, 95%CI: 2.01-8.43), cleanliness (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ: aOR=2.62, 95%CI: 1.65-4.14), and composite indicators (CINⅠ: aOR=1.67, 95%CI: 1.24-2.25; CINⅡ/Ⅲ: aOR=4.24, 95%CI: 2.30-7.81) all had increased the risk of cervical lesion and the trend on the severity (P<0.001) of cervical lesions. Additionally, we observed a synergic effect between HPV infection and vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator in CINⅡ/Ⅲ. With or without HPV infection, the ORs value of CINⅠ caused by vaginal micro-environment disorder remained close. Conclusions: Results from our study revealed that vaginal micro-environmental composite indicator could increase the risk for cervical lesion, in particular with the high-grade ones which all posed stronger risks when combined with HPV infection. However, the role of vaginal micro-environment disorder in the occurrence of CIN Ⅰ should not be ignored.

[Long-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic versus abdominal surgery in stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI+）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer patients with different tumor size: a big database in China]

Objective: To compare the long-term oncological outcomes between laparoscopic and abdominal surgery in stage Ⅰa1 （lymph-vascular space invasion-positive, LVSI⁺）- Ⅰb1 cervical cancer patients with different tumor sizes. Methods: Based on the Big Database of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Cancer in China (1538 project database), patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer who treated by laparoscopic or abdominal surgery were included. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) between the two surgical approaches were compared under 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) in different tumor diameter stratification. Results: (1) A total of 4 891 patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016 were included in the 1538 project database. Among them, 1 926 cases in the laparoscopic group and 2 965 cases in the abdominal group. There were no difference in 5-year OS and 5-year DFS between the two groups before matching. Cox multivariate analysis suggested that laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.367, 95%CI: 1.105-1.690, P=0.004). After 1∶1 PSM matching, 1 864 patients were included in each group, and there was no difference in 5-year OS between the two groups （94.1% vs 95.4%, P=0.151）. While, the inferior 5-year DFS was observed in the laparoscopic group (89.0% vs 92.3%, P=0.004). And the laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.420, 95%CI: 1.109-1.818, P=0.006). (2) In stratification analysis of different tumor sizes, and there were no difference in 5-year OS and 5-year DFS between the laparoscopic group and abdominal group in tumor size ≤1 cm, >1-2 cm and >2-3 cm stratification (all P>0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that laparoscopic surgery were not related to 5-year OS and 5-year DFS (P>0.05). In the stratification of tumor size >3-4 cm, there was no difference in 5-year OS between the two groups (P>0.05). The 5-year DFS in the laparoscopic group was worse than that in the abdominal group (75.7% vs 85.8%, P=0.025). Cox multivariate analysis suggested that laparoscopic surgery was associated with lower 5-year DFS (HR=1.705, 95%CI: 1.088-2.674, P=0.020). Conclusions: For patients with stage Ⅰa1 （LVSI⁺）-Ⅰb1 cervical cancer, laparoscopic surgery is associated with lower 5-year DFS, and the adverse effect of laparoscopic surgery on oncology prognosis is mainly reflected in patients with tumor size >3-4 cm. For patients with tumor sizes ≤1 cm, >1-2 cm and >2-3 cm, there are no difference in oncological prognosis between the two surgical approaches.

Mitochondrial NAD(P)H oxidation pathways and nitrate/ammonium redox balancing in plants

Plant mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is characterised by alternative electron transport pathways with different energetic efficiencies, allowing turnover of cellular redox compounds like NAD(P)H. These electron transport chain pathways are profoundly affected by soil nitrogen availability, most commonly as oxidized nitrate (NO₃^-) and/or reduced ammonium (NH₄⁺). The bioenergetic strategies involved in assimilating different N sources can alter redox homeostasis and antioxidant systems in different cellular compartments, including the mitochondria and the cell wall. Conversely, changes in mitochondrial redox systems can affect plant responses to N. This review explores the integration between N assimilation, mitochondrial redox metabolism, and apoplast metabolism.

[Trend in proportion and clinicopathological characteristics of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer]

Objective: To analyze the 13 years trend in proportion, risks factors and clinicopathological characteristics of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer by using multi-center data of cervical cancer in China. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 46 313 patients with cervical cancer treated from 37 hospitals in China were obtained from January 2004 to December 2016. Using clinical and pathologic data, each patient's stage was reclassified by the 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. A total of 19 041 patients were selected according to the following criteria: FIGO stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2, underwent type B or C radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. All the patients were divided into two groups: the study group of 1 888 patients aged 35 years or younger and the control group of 17 153 patients aged over 35 years. The 13 years trend in proportion of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer, risks factors and clinicopathological characteristics of two groups were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) The total number of hospitalized patients with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer increased annually. However, a downward trend of patients aged 35 years or younger was observed (P<0.01) . The constituent ratio of patients aged 35 years or younger was significantly greater during 2004-2010 than that during 2011-2016 [12.6% (820/6 484) and 8.5% (1 068/12 557) , respectively; χ(2)=82.101, P<0.01]. (2) Compared with patients aged over 35 years, patients aged 35 years or younger had an earlier age at menarche, a later age at marriage, lesser gravida and parity (all P<0.01). The positive rate of high-risk HPV infection was not statistically different between two groups (all P>0.05). (3) The proportions of stage Ⅰ, exophytic type and non-squamous histological type in patients aged 35 years or younger were clearly higher than those in patients aged over 35 years (83.4% vs 68.5%, P<0.01; 63.2% vs 56.2%, P<0.01; 13.9% vs 12.0%, P<0.05, respectively). Whereas the poor differentiation ratios of the two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). (4) As for the postoperative pathological risk factors, the rate of surgical margin involvement in patients aged 35 years or younger was lower than that aged over 35 years (1.1% vs 1.8%, P<0.05), and the rate of depth of stromal invasion >1/2 in patients aged 35 years or younger was lower than that in patients aged over 35 years (40.1% vs 50.9%, P<0.01). In addition, there were no significant difference in parametrial margin involvement, tumor size and lymph vascular space invasion between two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The trend in proportion among hospitalized patients for stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer in young women is decreasing yearly. Compared with cervical cancer in middle-aged and elderly women, cervical cancer in young women have an earlier age at menarche, a higher proportion of stage Ⅰ patients and non-squamous histological type. In terms of the postoperative pathological risk factors, the rate of surgical margin involvement and depth of stromal invasion >1/2 in young women with cervical cancer are lower than in middle-aged and elderly women.

[Changes of sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in male adults with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug treatment]

Objective: To observe the changes of sex hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in young male patients with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment. Methods: Between January 2015 and July 2016, forty male patients with hyperthyroidism aged 19-52 years (with an median age of 33.1 years) were enrolled in the Department of Endocrinology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Blood samples were taken before treatment and at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 5 months after treatment to evaluate thyroid function, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T), free testosterone(FT), estradiol(E2), prolactin and SHBG. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled but only 35 patients completed the follow-up. The patients had high levels of thyroid function, SHBG and sex hormones before treatment. Before treatment, free thyroxine (FT(4)), free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), SHBG, LH, estradiol, testosterone and free testosterone was (0.30±0.12) pmol/L, (9.68±4.73) pmol/L, (146±111) nmol/L, (8.41±3.61) U/L, (19.9±7.7) pmol/L, (29.9±9.5) nmol/L and (0.24±0.08) nmol/L, respectively. After treatment, the level of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, FT(3) and FT(4) gradually decreased to normal (all P<0.001). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) gradually increased to normal (P<0.001). LH and estradiol levels gradually decreased (all P<0.001). FSH decreased but the difference was not statistically significant. Prolactin did not change significantly. Testosterone and SHBG levels decreased significantly while the levels of free testosterone, free testosterone percentage (FT%), bio-available testosterone (BAT), bio-available testosterone percentage (BAT%), free androgen index (FAI) gradually increased and stabilized (all P<0.001). The difference was not statistically significant between T/LH and E2/LH before and after treatment (all P>0.05). However FT/LH gradually increased and its difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The levels of LH, estradiol, testosterone and SHBG in male patients with hyperthyroidism significantly increased, while the free testosterone level decreased, but they all gradually returned to normal with the lowering of thyroid hormone levels during ATD treatment.

[The prognostic significance of minimal residual disease detection after first induction treatment in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with autologous stem cell transplantation]

目的

探讨成人急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）患者首疗程诱导治疗结束时微小残留病（MRD₁）检测对自体造血干细胞移植（auto-HSCT）预后的意义。

方法

回顾性分析2006年2月1日至2017年4月30日行auto-HSCT的87例有流式细胞术MRD₁检测结果的ALL患者临床资料，分析MRD₁与ALL患者auto-HSCT后复发、生存的关系。

结果

26例（29.9%）ALL患者MRD₁阳性。高危免疫表型比例在MRD₁阳性组显著高于MRD₁阴性组（34.6%对14.5%，P=0.038），初诊时年龄、性别、谱系（T/B）、免疫表型（标危/高危）、高白细胞计数（B-ALL>30×10⁹/L或T-ALL>100×10⁹/L）比例、伴高危染色体/基因比例、第1次完全缓解到移植的时间、预处理方案在MRD₁阴性组和阳性组中差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。MRD₁阴性患者、MRD₁阳性患者的5年无白血病生存（LFS）率分别为75.7%、29.6%（P<0.001），总生存（OS）率分别为72.7%、47.3%（P=0.004）。多因素分析结果显示MRD₁阳性是影响患者OS的独立危险因素（HR=3.007，95% CI 1.256~7.200，P=0.013），MRD₁阳性和高危免疫表型是影响患者LFS的危险因素（HR=3.986，95% CI 1.813~8.764，P=0.001；HR=2.981，95% CI 1.373~6.473，P=0.006）。

结论

auto-HSCT不能逆转MRD₁阳性患者的不良预后。MRD₁阴性且在强化治疗中持续保持阴性患者可选择auto-HSCT治疗。

Delirium tremens in an AUD patient after an intrathecal baclofen pump induced total alcohol abstinence

OBJECTIVE

Delirium Tremens (DT) is the most severe complication of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), and has a mortality rate of 1-5%. Baclofen is recommended for spasticity treatment, but it has recently been used for alcohol withdrawal symptoms reduction and alcohol abstinence.

CASE REPORT

A cervical spinal cord injury patient was treated for two years with oral baclofen 80 mg/day for spasticity. He is alcohol-dependent and a cannabis user and required an intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump implant. A week after the implant, he stopped drinking, as "he didn't felt the urge anymore". The AWS appeared five days after the last alcohol intake and DT at 7 days. Diazepam 20 mg was used up to three times per day, but didn't seem to improve or reduce the anxiety, agitation, visual or auditory hallucinations. Two years later the patient remains alcohol abstinent and still on intrathecal baclofen.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol-dependent patients can abruptly stop their alcohol intake, while in continuous infusion of intrathecal baclofen. Baclofen can be useful in the acute treatment of AWS as it seems to reduce diazepam requirements and in long-term alcohol abstinence. In the presence of AWS, while on chronic baclofen, no dose reduction should be attempted, as it can worsen the AWS or trigger baclofen withdrawal.

Effects of oral contraceptives on ovulation induction in in vitro fertilization patients with premature ovarian insufficiency

OBJECTIVE

To report a case series of in vitro fertilization patients with premature ovarian insufficiency, who were treated with oral contraceptives to reduce follicle stimulating hormone levels.

METHOD

This was a consecutive case series in a tertiary teaching hospital in China. Twenty-two women with refractory and idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency were administered a drospirenone/ethinylestradiol oral contraceptive orally. The main outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved and the number of embryos frozen.

RESULTS

There were total 106 oral contraceptive treatment cycles and 53 oocyte retrieval cycles in 20 patients (91%, 20/22; 2.4 cycles per woman, 53/22). The total number of oocytes retrieved was 48 in 17 patients (77%, 17/22; 2.2 oocytes per woman, 48/22), and the total number of embryos frozen was 33 in 16 patients (73%, 16/22; 1.5 embryos per woman, 33/22).

CONCLUSION

Oral contraception may be an effective method to induce ovulation for some patients with premature ovarian insufficiency.

External Quality Assessment for Rubella Virus RNA Detection Using Armored RNA in China

BACKGROUND

Although tremendous efforts have been made to reduce rubella incidence, there are still 300 new cases of congenital rubella syndrome daily; thus, rubella infections remain one of the leading causes of preventable congenital birth defects. An effective surveillance system, which could be achieved and maintained by using an external quality assessment program, is critical for prevention and control of this disease.

METHODS

Armored RNAs, which are noninfectious and RNase-resistant, were used for encapsulation of the E1 gene of rubella virus and for preparation of a 10-specimen panel for external quality assessment. Thirty-two laboratories across mainland China that used nucleic acid tests for rubella virus RNA detection were included in the external quality assessment program organized by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories of China.

RESULTS

Different kinds of commercial kits were used by the laboratories for nucleic acid extraction and TaqMan real-time reverse-transcription PCR for rubella virus RNA detection; 99.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity were achieved in this external quality assessment program.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the participating laboratories obtained accurate results for rubella nucleic acid tests, thereby achieving the quality required for regional rubella and congenital rubella syndrome elimination.

Epigenetic silencing of miR-137 induces drug resistance and chromosomal instability by targeting AURKA in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy. Aberrant microRNAs (miRNAs) expression has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of MM. In this study, we further demonstrated that miR-137 was significantly downregulated in MM and negatively correlated with clinical prognosis. Moreover, we described the epigenetic regulation of miR-137 and its association with progression-free survival in MM patients. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-137 in MM cell line (miR-137 OE) increased its sensitivity to bortezomib and eprirubicin in vitro. Also, some high-risk genetic abnormalities in MM, including deletion of chromosome 1p22.2, 14q or 17p13, and gain of chromosome 1p22.2 were detected in NCI-H929 empty vector (NCI-H929 EV) treated cells but not in the NCI-H929 miR-137 overexpression (NCI-H929 miR-137 OE) cells. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-137 targeted AURKA. Ectopic expression of miR-137 strongly reduced the expression of AURKA and p-ATM/Chk2 in MM cells, and increased the expression of p53, and p21. Importantly, miR-137 overexpression together with bortezomib treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth in MM xenograft model. Taken together, this study demonstrates that miR-137 is epigenetically silenced in MM, and overexpression of miR-137 could reduce drug resistance and overcome chromosomal instability of the MM cells via affecting the apoptosis and DNA damage pathways.

Ischemic postconditioning protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury via neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria

As a result of its spatial confinement in cardiomyocytes, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is thought to regulate mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function by maintaining nitroso-redox balance and Ca²⁺ cycling. Thus, we hypothesize that ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) protects hearts against ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury through an nNOS-mediated pathway. Isolated mouse hearts were subjected to I/R injury in a Langendorff apparatus, H9C2 cells and primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in vitro. IPostC, compared with I/R, decreased infarct size and improved cardiac function, and the selective nNOS inhibitors abolished these effects. IPostC recovered nNOS activity and arginase expression. IPostC also increased AMP kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and alleviated oxidative stress, and nNOS and AMPK inhibition abolished these effects. IPostC increased nitrotyrosine production in the cytosol but decreased it in mitochondria. Enhanced phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation, normalized SR function and decreased Ca²⁺ overload were observed following the recovery of nNOS activity, and nNOS inhibition abolished these effects. Similar effects of IPostC were demonstrated in cardiomyocytes in vitro. IPostC decreased oxidative stress partially by regulating uncoupled nNOS and the nNOS/AMPK/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha/superoxide dismutase axis, and improved SR function through increasing SR Ca²⁺ load. These results suggest that IPostC protected hearts against I/R injury via an nNOS-mediated pathway.

Association between folate status and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Background/Objectives:

To investigate the effect of folate status on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression and its relationship with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV).

Subjects/Methods:

We evaluated 20 000 sexually active women aged <65 years in Yangqu County by using a questionnaire; the subjects were also screened using the ThinPrep cytologic test (TCT). Patients with abnormal TCT results (other than glandular cell abnormalities) who were willing to provide informed consent were further diagnosed using colposcopy and histopathological examination. We investigated 247 cases of low-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 125 cases of high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and 877 controls. A 24-item food frequency questionnaire was filled out by the investigator to estimate the consumption of dietary folate. Positivity for hrHPV from residual exfoliated cervical cells was tested; serum folate was also measured.

Results:

The hrHPV infection rate in HSIL patients (77.6%) was higher than that in LSIL (33.2%) and control (32.0%) patients. Dietary folate intakes in controls, LSIL and HSIL were 306.9±176.6, 321.8±168.0 and 314.7±193.8 μg/kcal, respectively. The levels of serum folate in controls, LSIL and HSIL were 18.2±7.9, 15.9±7.1 and 14.3±7.5 nmol/l, respectively. Increased CIN correlated with higher rates of hrHPV infection and lower levels of serum folate.

Conclusions:

Low levels of serum folate may increase the risk of CIN progression. Furthermore, potential synergy may exist between low serum folate levels and hrHPV infection to promote CIN development.

[Research of gestrinone-related abnormal uterine bleeding and the intervention in the treatment: a multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence, influencing factors and intervention of gestrinone-related abnormal uterine bleeding at different dosage of gestrinone in the clinical treatment.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, randomized, control study of 195 Chinese women with endometriosis or adenomyosis from June 2011 to November 2013. The subjects were randomized into three groups with oral administration of gestrinone, 2.5 mg dose at one time; twice a week group: 67 cases with oral administration twice a week last three months; double dose first month group: 67 cases with oral administration triple times a week at first month, then twice a week for two months; three times a week group: 61 cases with oral administration three times a week last three months. The improvement of the abnormal uterine bleeding, the changes in estrogen, liver function and blood coagulation were evaluated. At the same time, B-ultrasound examination evaluation were performed.

RESULTS

(1) Three months later, the incidence of abnormal uterine bleeding in twice a week group was 30% (20/67), in double dose first month group and three times a week group were 7%(5/67) and 16% (10/61) respectively, there were significant difference between three groups (P<0.05). The incidence in double dose first month group was the most lower. (2) Univariate analysis showed that the dosage and ovarian size were the significant factors for abnormal uterine bleeding (OR=0.461,P= 0.003;OR=0.303,P=0.016); logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of abnormal uterine bleeding in double dose first month group was the lowest when compared with twice a week group and three times a week group, the risk in twice a week group was 5-fold higher than that in double dose first month group (OR=0.211,P=0.011). The incidence of abnormal uterine bleeding in participants with abnormal ovarian volume results from ovarian cyst or ovarian surgery was significantly lower than those with normal ovarian volume (OR=0.304,P=0.018). (3) After the treatment of three months, there were no significant difference in alanine transaminase level between the groups (P>0.05). The body mass index significantly increased in three group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the groups (P>0.05). As for blood coagulation, there were also no significant differences between the groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Double dose of gestrinone in the first month could significantly decrease the incidence of gestrinone-related abnormal uterine bleeding. It is a more optimied dosage of gestrinone and without severe side effects.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-12002327.

IL-6 secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts induces tamoxifen resistance in luminal breast cancer

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been implicated in the development of resistance to anticancer drugs; however, the role and mechanism underlying CAFs in luminal breast cancer (BrCA) tamoxifen resistance are unclear. We found that stromal fibroblasts isolated from the central or peripheral area of BrCA have similar CAF phenotype and activity. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that CAFs derived from clinical-luminal BrCAs induce tamoxifen resistance through decreasing estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) level when cultured with luminal BrCA cell lines MCF7 and T47D. CAFs promoted tamoxifen resistance through interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion, which activates Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways in tumor cells, followed by induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and upregulation of E3 ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex 10 activity, which targeted ER-α degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Inhibition of proteasome activity, IL-6 activity or either the JAK/STAT3 or PI3K/AKT pathways markedly reduced CAF-induced tamoxifen resistance. In xenograft experiments of CAFs mixed with MCF7 cells, CAF-specific IL-6 knockdown inhibited tumorigenesis and restored tamoxifen sensitivity. These findings indicate that CAFs mediate tamoxifen resistance through IL-6-induced degradation of ER-α in luminal BrCAs.Oncogene advance online publication, 9 June 2014; doi:10.1038/onc.2014.158.

Exendin-4 shows no effects on the prostatic index in high-fat-diet-fed rat with benign prostatic hyperplasia by improving insulin resistance

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease globally, and accumulating evidence has indicated an association between BPH, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes. Exendin-4 is widely used in clinics, which could enhance the proliferation of pancreatic β cells. The ability of exendin-4 to promote tumorigenesis has been of concern, and whether exendin-4 would enhance the propagation of BPH is not fully understood. We aimed to determine whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) were expressed in rat prostate and to determine the effect of exendin-4 on prostate of BPH. Male Wistar rats were used and assigned to six groups: normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + exendin-4, HFD + BPH, HFD + BPH + exendin-4 and HFD + BPH + rosiglitazone group. After castration, steroids were injected subcutaneously for 4 weeks to induce BPH. Rats were kept on high-fat diet to induce IR. Treatment groups were treated with exendin-4 and rosiglitazone. Prostatic index and HOMA-IR index were used to evaluate the prostatic hyperplasia status and the degree of IR respectively. The expression of GLP-1R was indicated not only by immunohistochemistry, but also by Western blot analysis. The expression of GLP-1R was significantly higher, and HOMA-IR index and body weight significantly decreased after administration of exendin-4. However, no significant differences in the prostatic index were observed between exendin-4 treatment groups and non-exendin-4 treatment groups. Prostatic index was not influenced by exendin-4 maybe by improving IR and weight loss.

Studies on the expression of linalool synthase using a promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion in transgenic Artemisia annua

Artemisinin, an antimalarial endoperoxide sesquiterpene, is synthesized in glandular trichomes of Artemisia annua L. A number of other enzymes of terpene metabolism utilize intermediates of artemisinin biosynthesis, such as isopentenyl and farnesyl diphosphate, and may thereby influence the yield of artemisinin. In order to study the expression of such enzymes, we have cloned the promoter regions of some enzymes and fused them to β-glucuronidase (GUS). In this study, we have investigated the expression of the monoterpene synthase linalool synthase (LIS) using transgenic A. annua carrying the GUS gene under the control of the LIS promoter. The 652bp promoter region was cloned by the genome walker method. A number of putative cis-acting elements were predicted indicating that the LIS is driven by a complex regulation mechanism. Transgenic plants carrying the promoter-GUS fusion showed specific expression of GUS in T-shaped trichomes (TSTs) but not in glandular secretory trichomes, which is the site for artemisinin biosynthesis. GUS expression was observed at late stage of flower development in styles of florets and in TSTs and guard cells of basal bracts. GUS expression after wounding showed that LIS is involved in plant responsiveness to wounding. Furthermore, the LIS promoter responded to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). These results indicate that the promoter carries a number of cis-acting regulatory elements involved in the tissue-specific expression of LIS and in the response of the plant to wounding and MeJA treatment. Southern blot analysis indicated that the GUS gene was integrated in the A. annua genome as single or multi copies in different transgenic lines. Promoter activity analysis by qPCR showed that both the wild-type and the recombinant promoter are active in the aerial parts of the plant while only the recombinant promoter was active in roots. Due to the expression in TSTs but not in glandular trichomes, it may be concluded that LIS expression will most likely have little or no effect on artemisinin production.

A novel experimental method to evaluate motor task control in Parkinson's patients

In this paper, a novel experimental method was developed to study planar arm movement control in tremor dominant Parkinson's (PD) patients. The method utilized a ball-bearing supported fiberglass brace apparatus against gravity to maintain the upper extremity in the horizontal plane. Subjects can perform postural and movement tasks with minimum damping effects. Arm movements were recorded using the MotionMonitor II system concurrently with EMGs of multiple muscles. Testing results in normal subjects with and without the brace support showed that the inertia and damping effects were negligible for oscillatory arm movement at maximum voluntary frequency (MVF). The tremor behaviors in horizontal posture maintenance and reaching movement in three PD subjects were also obtained with this method. The average frequency of postural tremor was 4.34 ± 0.15 Hz in all arm positions tested. However, the tremor magnitudes changed significantly with posture locations. In performing reaching movements, the tremor was inhibited prior to reaching, but resumed after reaching. These results may provide interesting insights into the pathological mechanisms of Parkinsonian tremor, as well as the modular nature of neural control of movements.

First Report of Laurel Oak as a Host for the Pecan Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne partityla, in Florida

Roots of laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia Michx.), member of the family Fagaceae, were found to be heavily galled by the pecan root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne partityla, in two separate home gardens between 2010 and 2012, in Alachua Co., FL. Distinct round galls were observed on secondary and tertiary roots. Internally, root-knot nematode females were clearly visible when the roots were thinly sliced and egg masses were seen protruding from the root surfaces. The nematode species identification was performed using morphology of the male stylet, selected characters of the second-stage juveniles (J2), female perineal patterns, and esterase (EST) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) isozyme phenotypes. Morphology of perineal patterns of females, body, stylet, and tail length of the J2 and males all matched those of the original description of M. partityla (2). A swollen deeply grooved rectum was observed in the J2. The male stylet had a blunt tip with a prominent thickening at the junction between the cone and shaft. The stylet knobs of males and females were bipartite, each incised by a deep medium longitudinal groove (2). The isozyme phenotypes (EST = Mp3; Mdh = N1a) were consistent with those previously reported for M. partityla from Florida (1). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (3) and ribosomal internal transcriber spacer (ITS) DNA (4) of females were amplified to further confirm the nematode species identification. The mtDNA amplification using the C2F3/1108 primer set (3) and the ITS amplification using a recently available M. partityla specific primer set (4) produced fragments of approximately 530 bp and 550 bp, respectively. These were consistent with those already reported for this nematode species. This first report of a plant host for the pecan root-knot nematode outside of the family Juglandaceae indicates that the nematode may have migrated from Quercus species to pecan trees during the period when orchards were being established in Florida. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the pecan root-knot nematode infecting laurel oak. References: (1) J. A. Brito et al. Nematology 10:757, 2008. (2) Kleynhans, K. P. N. Phytophylatica 18:103, 1986. (3) T. O. Powers et al., J. Nematol. 37:226, 2005. (4) R. A. Stamler. M. S. thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, 2009.

The role of propriospinal neuronal network in transmitting the alternating muscular activities of flexor and extensor in parkinsonian tremor

It has been shown that normal cyclic movement of human arm and resting limb tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) are associated with the oscillatory neuronal activities in different cerebral networks, which are transmitted to the antagonistic muscles via the same spinal pathway. There are mono-synaptic and multi-synaptic corticospinal pathways for conveying motor commands. This study investigates the plausible role of propriospinal neuronal (PN) network in the C3-C4 levels in multi-synaptic transmission of cortical commands for oscillatory movements. A PN network model is constructed based on known neurophysiological connections, and is hypothesized to achieve the conversion of cortical oscillations into alternating antagonistic muscle bursts. Simulations performed with a virtual arm (VA) model indicate that without the PN network, the alternating bursts of antagonistic muscle EMG could not be reliably generated, whereas with the PN network, the alternating pattern of bursts were naturally displayed in the three pairs of antagonist muscles. Thus, it is suggested that oscillations in the primary motor cortex (M1) of single and double tremor frequencies are processed at the PN network to compute the alternating burst pattern in the flexor and extensor muscles.

Seasonal abundance and activity of the tick Dermacentor silvarum in northern China

Studies on the seasonal abundance and activity of larvae, nymphs and adults of Dermacentor silvarum (Ixodida: Ixodidae), both on and off the host, were carried out over a 2-year period from February 2008 to January 2010 in northern China. During the study period, feeding ticks were removed weekly from domestic sheep and free-living ticks were collected weekly by flag-dragging in four different habitat types. Rodents were captured and inspected for immature ticks from June to September 2008. The results of this study suggest that the ticks mainly reside in shrubs and complete only one generation per year with sequential seasonal distribution and little overlap between the activity of the larvae and nymphs. Adults were most prevalent from late February to late May and peaked in number in mid-April. Larvae were found from early June to early September and peaked in number in mid-July. Nymphs were mainly distributed from late June to late September and peaked in mid-August. Adult and nymphal D. silvarum were found primarily on the ears of sheep, but no larvae were found on sheep. Additionally, an overwintering male adult population was detected on sheep after October, but no free-living adults were found by dragging.

Cholesterol depletion induces large scale domain segregation in living cell membranes

Local inhomogeneities in lipid composition play a crucial role in regulation of signal transduction and membrane traffic. Nevertheless, most evidence for microdomains in cells remains indirect, and the nature of membrane inhomogeneities has been difficult to characterize. We used lipid analogs and lipid-anchored proteins with varying fluidity preferences to examine the effect of modulating cellular cholesterol on domain formation. We show that lowering cholesterol levels induces formation of visible micrometer-scale domains in the plasma membrane of several mammalian cell types with complementary distributions of fluorescent lipid analogs with preferences for fluid or ordered domains. A uniform distribution is restored by cholesterol repletion. Unexpectedly, cholesterol depletion does not visibly alter the distribution of a crosslinked or uncrosslinked glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (the folate receptor). We also examined the effect of varying cholesterol content on the cold Triton X-100 solubility of several membrane constituents. Although a cholesterol analog, dehydroergosterol, and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein are largely retained after extraction, a lipid analog with saturated 16-carbon acyl chains is largely removed when the cellular cholesterol level is lowered. This result indicates that after cholesterol depletion molecules in the more ordered domains can be extracted differentially by cold nonionic detergents.

Increased nitric oxide in peritoneal fluid from women with idiopathic infertility and endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To verify whether nitric oxide in peritoneal fluid is associated with endometriosis and infertility.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-five women with idiopathic infertility and 38 with endometriosis were recruited, and 18 cases of uterine myomata and 2 cases of ovarian cyst served as controls. Peritoneal fluid samples were aspirated from the pouch of Douglas during laparoscopy or laparotomy. Metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrite and nitrate) in peritoneal fluid were determined by a method using nitrate reductase and the Griess reaction.

RESULTS

Peritoneal concentrations of nitrate/nitrite in both infertile women (42.02 +/- 12.98 mmol/L) and patients with endometriosis (41.75 +/- 16.42 mmol/L) were significantly higher than that in controls (33.96 +/- 13.07, P < .05 for both). No significant difference in peritoneal nitrate/nitrite level was found between infertile women and patients with endometriosis (P > .5). Peritoneal levels of nitrate/nitrite were comparable among patients with endometriosis at different stages (P > .5). Patients with endometriosis had more peritoneal fluid than controls and idiopathic infertile women, while controls and idiopathic infertile women had comparable amounts of peritoneal fluid.

CONCLUSION

An increased peritoneal level of nitric oxide is a common alteration in endometriosis, endometriosis-associated infertility and idiopathic infertility and may be associated with the pathogenesis of these diseases.

The role of controlled anticoagulation in balloon occluding vertebral arteries to treat giant fusiform aneurysms of the basilar artery

SUMMARY

We suggest and discuss the role of controlled anticoagulation therapy after the balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries to treat giant fusiform aneurysms in the basilar trunk. Two cases of giant fusiform aneurysms were treated with balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries. Both of these patients suffered severe brain stem ischaemia. Anticoagulants were used to adjust the PTT to 1.5-2.5 times the normal level to control the formation speed of thrombosis inside the aneurysms. Case 1 was obliged to suspend the anticoagulation therapy one week after occlusion because of digestive tract haemorrhage, and died of severe brain stem ischaemia. On autopsy, the sac of the aneurysm was totally occupied by the thrombus. Two perforating arteries feeding the brain stem arising from the wall of the aneurysm and infarction in the brain stem were found. Case 2 was anticoagulated strictly and progressively improved after three weeks. Anticoagulation was terminated after one month. Follow-up MRI showed the aneurysm had disappeared six months later. Giant fusiform aneurysms in the basilar artery trunk can be treated with the balloon occlusion of vertebral arteries which induces thrombosis in the sac of aneurysm. Controlled anticoagulation should be given to slow down the thrombotic obliteration in the perforators arising from the aneurysm wall to the brain stem and give the brain stem have enough time to establish the sufficient collateral circulation.

[An occlusive evaluation proposal to intra-saccular embolization of intracranial aneurysm]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the imaging criteria for evaluating intracranial aneurysm embolization.

METHODS

Angiographic occlusive criteria for intracranial aneurysm embolization (aneurysm not opcified angiographically after embolization, 100% occlusion; a little part of aneurysm neck residual, 95%; neck residual, 90%; neck and a little part of aneurysm cavity residual, 80%; some cavity residual, < 80%) were used by 6 specialists to evaluate 121 aneurysms embolized with MDS (mechanical detachable spiral) and/or GDC (guglielmi detachable coil) from March 1995 to July 1999. The rationality, feasibility and limitation of the criteria were discussed.

RESULTS

Among the 121 aneurysms, 100% occlusion was reached in 53 aneurysms (43.8%), 95% in 27 (22.3%), 90% in 16 (13.2%), 80% in 15 (12.4%), and less than 80% in 10 (8.3%) respectively. Good accordance was obtained among different doctors in the occlusive evaluation of aneurysm embolization.

CONCLUSIONS

The suggesting criteria are simple and feasible in clinical practice, although the effect of imaging follow-up of embolized aneurysm is unknown and the numerical value of occlusive percentage is arbitrary.