Visualization Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Literature in Forensic Research

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the literature on artificial intelligence in forensic research from 2012 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection Database, to explore research hotspots and developmental trends.

METHODS

A total of 736 articles on artificial intelligence in forensic medicine in the Web of Science Core Collection Database from 2012 to 2022 were visualized and analyzed through the literature measuring tool CiteSpace. The authors, institution, country (region), title, journal, keywords, cited references and other information of relevant literatures were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 736 articles published in 220 journals by 355 authors from 289 institutions in 69 countries (regions) were identified, with the number of articles published showing an increasing trend year by year. Among them, the United States had the highest number of publications and China ranked the second. Academy of Forensic Science had the highest number of publications among the institutions. Forensic Science International, Journal of Forensic Sciences, International Journal of Legal Medicine ranked high in publication and citation frequency. Through the analysis of keywords, it was found that the research hotspots of artificial intelligence in the forensic field mainly focused on the use of artificial intelligence technology for sex and age estimation, cause of death analysis, postmortem interval estimation, individual identification and so on.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to pay attention to international and institutional cooperation and to strengthen the cross-disciplinary research. Exploring the combination of advanced artificial intelligence technologies with forensic research will be a hotspot and direction for future research.

[Changes and clinical significance of erythrocyte lifespan in megaloblastic anemia]

Objective: To investigate the lifespan of erythrocytes in megaloblastic anemia (MA) patients. Methods: A prospective cohort study analysis. Clinical data from 42 MA patients who were newly diagnosed at the Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital from January 2021 to August 2021 were analyzed, as were control data from 24 healthy volunteers acquired during the same period. The carbon monoxide breath test was used to measure erythrocyte lifespan, and correlations between erythrocyte lifespan and laboratory test indexes before and after treatment were calculated. Statistical analysis included the t-test and Pearson correlation. Results: The mean erythrocyte lifespan in the 42 newly diagnosed MA patients was (49.05±41.60) d, which was significantly shorter than that in the healthy control group [(104.13±42.62) d; t=5.13,P=0.001]. In a vitamin B₁₂-deficient subset of MA patients the mean erythrocyte lifespan was (30.09±15.14) d, and in a folic acid-deficient subgroup it was (72.00±51.44) d, and the difference between these two MA subsets was significant (t=3.73, P=0.001). The mean erythrocyte lifespan after MA treatment was (101.28±33.02) d, which differed significantly from that before MA treatment (t=4.72, P=0.001). In MA patients erythrocyte lifespan was positively correlated with hemoglobin concentration (r=0.373), and negatively correlated with total bilirubin level (r=-0.425), indirect bilirubin level (r=-0.431), and lactate dehydrogenase level (r=-0.504) (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Erythrocyte lifespan was shortened in MA patients, and there was a significant difference between a vitamin B₁₂-deficient group and a folic acid-deficient group. After treatment the erythrocyte lifespan can return to normal. Erythrocyte lifespan is expected to become an informative index for the diagnosis and treatment of MA.

Jinfeng pills ameliorate premature ovarian insufficiency induced by cyclophosphamide in rats and correlate to modulating IL-17A/IL-6 axis and MEK/ERK signals

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jinfeng Pill (JFP) is a classical Chinese medicine formula and composed of 9 herbs, including Epimedium brevicornu Maxim (Yinyanghuo), Cervus elaphus Linnaeus (Lurong), Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. (Renshen), Equus asinus (EJiao), Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton (Nvzhenzi), Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke (Heshouwu), Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (Xianmao), Neolitsea cassia (L.) Kosterm. (Rougui) and Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Yimucao). The formula is clinically used to regulate menstrual cycle and alleviate polycystic ovarian syndrome due to its capabilities of ovulation induction. It is therefore presumed that JFP could be used for the therapy of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) but the assumed efficacy has not been fully substantiated in experiment.

AIM OF STUDY

To evaluate the effectiveness of JFP on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced POI and preliminarily explore its potential mechanisms of action.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An experimental rat model of POI was established by using CTX induction to assess the efficacy of JFP. The potential targets of action for JFP alleviating POI were predicted by the combination of network pharmacology and transcriptomics and finally validating by RT-qPCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

JFP alleviated the damages of ovarian tissue induced by CTX in the rat model of POI via significantly decreasing serum levels of FSH and LH and the ratio of FSH/LH and increasing the levels of E2 and AMH, accompanied with promoting ovarian folliculogenesis and follicle maturity and reversing the depletion of follicle pool. With the analysis of network pharmacology, pathways in cancer, proteoglycans in cancer, PI3K-AKT, TNF and FoxO signaling pathways were predicted to be influenced by JFP. The results of RNA-seq further revealed that IL-17 signaling pathway was the most important pathway regulated by both CTX and JFP, following by transcriptional misregulation in cancer and proteoglycans in cancer. Combining the two analytical methods, JFP likely targeted genes associated with immune regulation, including COX-2, HSP90AA1, FOS, MMP3 and MAPK11 and pathways, including IL-17,Th17 cell differentiation and TNF signaling pathway. Finally, JFP was validated to regulate the mRNA expression of FOS, FOSB, FOSL1, MMP3, MMP13 and COX-2 and decrease the release of IL-17A and the protein expression of IL-6 and suppress the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in CTX induced POI rats.

CONCLUSION

Jinfeng Pill is effective to ameliorate the symptoms of POI induced by CTX in the model of rats and its action is likely associated with suppressing IL-17A/IL-6 axis and the activity of MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling.

[Phonological processes in initial consonants of Putonghua in children in Jiangsu urban areas]

Objective: To explore the phonological processes in initial consonants of Putonghua-speaking children in Jiangsu urban areas. Methods: A status survey was applied. From December 2014 to September 2015, a stratified random sampling method was used to select 958 children aged 1 to 6 years with Putonghua as their mother tongue in the urban area of Nanjing, Changzhou, Yangzhou and Xuzhou to examine their phonological performance. Speech samples were collected by the method of picture naming. The children were divided into 9 age groups (1.5-<2.0, 2.0-<2.5, 2.5-<3.0, 2.5-<3.0, 3.0-<3.5, 3.5-<4.0, 4.0-<4.5, 5.0-<6.0, 6.0-<7.0 years). Descriptive analysis method was used to analyze the phonological processes in initial consonants at different age groups. Results: Among the 958 children, there were 482 boys and 476 girls. The age of the children was (3.8±1.4) years. The number of children in the 9 age groups (1.5-<2.0, 2.0-<2.5, 2.5-<3.0, 2.5-<3.0, 3.0-<3.5, 3.5-<4.0, 4.0-<4.5, 5.0-<6.0, 6.0-<7.0 years) is 100, 110, 110, 114, 114, 114, 111, 119, and 66, separately. The process of substitution was found in the speech of 701 children (73.2%), syllable structure simplification was found in 194 children (20.3%), distortion was found in 41 children (4.3%), and assimilation was found in 17 children (1.8%). Among these 4 types of processes, the occurrence of substitution was highest in all the age groups, ranging from 30.3% (20/66) to 94.5% (104/110). The occurrence of syllable structure simplification ranged from 27.3% (30/110) to 91.0% (91/100) in the age groups of 1.5-<3.0 years and 0.9% (1/114) to 7.9% (9/114) in the age groups of 3.0-<7.0 years. The occurrence of distortion ranged from 7.3% (8/110) to 19.1% (21/110) in the age groups of 1.5-<3.0 years and 0 (0/114) to 2.7% (3/111) in the age groups of 3.0-<7.0 years. The occurrence of assimilation was very low in all age groups, ranging from 0 (0/114) to 3.0% (3/100) among all age groups. For substitution, the occurrence order of mainly individual processes from high to low was listed as follows: retroflexion 35.4% (339/958), deretroflexion 31.6% (303/958), lateralization 27.9% (267/958), stopping 17.8% (171/958), backing 14.2% (136/958), palatalization 10.9% (104/958), fronting 10.6% (102/958), and nasalization 5.8% (56/958). From the 4.0-<4.5 years of age group onwards, the phonological processes in initial consonants all met suppression criteria (the occurrence of processes was reduced to<10%) except retroflexion, deretroflexion, and lateralization. Conclusions: The processes of syllable structure simplification and distortion mainly appears in the early stage of speech sound development, while substitution is the major form of phonological pattern in initial consonants found in developmental speech errors. By 4 years of age, phonological processes in initial consonants almost disappear. The remaining processes that persisted for a longer period of time are retroflexion, deretroflexion, and lateralization.

Exploration and Practice of the "One Combination, Two Highlights, Three Combinations, Four in One" Innovative Talents Training Mode in Forensic Medicine

Talent is one of the basic and strategic supports for building a modern socialist country in all aspects. Since the 1980s, the establishment of forensic medicine major and the cultivation of innovative talents in forensic medicine have become hot topics in higher education in forensic medicine. Over the past 43 years, the forensic medicine team of Shanxi Medical University has adhered to the joint education of public security and colleges, and made collaborative innovation, forming a training mode of "One Combination, Two Highlights, Three Combinations, Four in One" for innovative talents in forensic medicine. It has carried out "5+3/X" integrated reform, and formed a relatively complete talent training innovation mode and management system in teaching, scientific research, identification, major, discipline, team, platform and cultural construction. It has made a historic contribution to China's higher forensic education, accumulated valuable experience for the construction of first-class major and first-class discipline of forensic medicine, and provided strong support for the construction of the national new forensic talent training system. The popularization of this training mode is conducive to the rapid and sustainable development of forensic science, and provides more excellent forensic talents for national building, regional social development and the discipline construction of forensic science.

Screening Biomarkers of Sudden Coronary Death Based on mRNA Expression Profile of Rat Myocardial Tissues

OBJECTIVES

To explore the differential expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) in myocardial tissues of rats with sudden coronary death (SCD), and to provide ideas for the forensic identification of SCD.

METHODS

The rat SCD model was established, and the transcriptome sequencing was performed by next-generation sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in myocardial tissues of SCD rats were screened by using the R package limma. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.8.2 on DEG, and hub genes were screened based on cytoHubba plug-in. Finally, the R package clusterProfiler was used to analyze the biological function and signal pathway enrichment of the selected DEG.

RESULTS

A total of 177 DEGs were associated with SCD and were mainly involved in the renin-angiotensin system and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The genes including angiotensinogen (AGT), complement component 4a (C4a), Fos proto-oncogene (FOS) and others played key roles in the development of SCD.

CONCLUSIONS

Genes such as AGT, C4a, FOS and other genes are expected to be potential biomarkers for forensic identification of SCD. The study based on mRNA expression profile can provide a reference for forensic identification of SCD.

Gene Expression Profiles at Different Time Points after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Mice

OBJECTIVES

To explore the mRNA differential expressions and the sequential change pattern in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mice.

METHODS

The AMI mice relevant dataset GSE4648 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). In the dataset, 6 left ventricular myocardial tissue samples were selected at 0.25, 1, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation in AMI group and sham control group, and 6 left ventricular myocardial tissue samples were selected in blank control group, a total of 78 samples were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by R/Bioconductor package limma, functional pathway enrichment analysis was performed by clusterProfiler, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING database and Cytoscape software, the key genes were identified by Degree topological algorithm, cluster sequential changes on DEGs were analyzed by Mfuzz.

RESULTS

A total of 1 320 DEGs were associated with the development of AMI. Functional enrichment results included cellular catabolic process, regulation of inflammatory response, development of muscle system and vasculature system, cell adhesion and signaling pathways mainly enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The key genes of AMI included MYL7, TSC22D2, HSPA1A, BTG2, NR4A1, RYR2 were up-regulated or down-regulated at 0.25-48 h after the occurrence of AMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional signaling pathway of DEGs and the sequential expression of key genes in AMI may provide a reference for the forensic identification of AMI.

[Safety and efficacy of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy through ipsilateral calf venous access in the treatment of entire-limb acute deep venous thrombosis]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) through ipsilateral calf venous access in the treatment of entire-limb acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Methods: From July 2017 to August 2020, the clinical data of patients with entire-limb acute DVT at Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University treated by AngioJet through ipsilateral calf venous access were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received rivaroxaban or warfarin anticoagulant therapy for at least 6 months after operation. Pressure gradient socks were given routinely after operation. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12 months and every year after operation. The primary end points were the 12-month primary patency rate and the incidence of post thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The secondary end points included the thrombus clearance rate, total complication rate, bleeding complication rate and the 12-month incidence of moderate to severe PTS. Results: A total of 31 patients were included in the study. The age ranged from 31 to 80 (63±14) years, including 16 males and 15 females, 23 left lower limb DVT and 8 right lower limb DVT. There were 15 cases treated through peroneal venous access, 6 cases through anterior tibial venous access and 10 cases through posterior tibial venous access. Moreover, 9 cases underwent combined catheter-directed thrombolysis, 25 cases underwent iliac vein percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and 10 cases underwent iliac vein stenting. The thrombus clearance rate was grade Ⅱ in 19 cases (61.3%) and grade Ⅲ in 12 cases (38.7%). One patient (3.2%) with anterior tibial venous access developed hematoma at the puncture site, which was improved after pressure bandage, and there were no other bleeding and serious complications. All the 31 patients were followed up for at least 12 months, with an average follow-up period of (22±9) months. The 12-month primary patency rate was 77.4% (24/31). The 12-month incidence of PTS was 16.1% (5/31) and the incidence of moderate to severe PTS was 3.2% (1/31). Conclusions: PMT through ipsilateral calf venous access is safe and effective in the treatment of entire-limb acute DVT. Thrombus in the distal popliteal vein can be one-stage removed and the incidence of PTS is low. It is considered as the first choice of access for the endovascular treatment of entire-limb acute DVT.

Altered Metabolomics in Bipolar Depression With Gastrointestinal Symptoms

OBJECTIVE

Although gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are very common in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), Few studies have researched the pathomechanism behind these symptoms. In the present study, we aim at elucidate the pathomechanism of GI symptoms in BD through metabolomic analysis.

METHOD

BD patients were recruited from Shanxi Bethune Hospital that divided into two groups, each group assessed with the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) according to the presence or absence of GI symptoms. Healthy controls were recruited from the medical examination center of the same hospital. Differential metabolites were identified and further analyzed using Metabo Analyst 3.0 to identify associated metabolic pathways.

RESULTS

There were significantly higher HAMD-24 scores in the GI symptoms group than that of non-GI symptoms group (p = 0.007). Based on metabolomic analysis results, we found that the common disturbances metabolic pathway of both two patients groups was ketone body metabolism, and the unique disturbances metabolic pathways of BD with GI symptoms were fatty acid biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism, and these changes were independent of dietary habits.

CONCLUSION

BD patients with GI symptoms exhibited disturbances in fatty acid and tyrosine metabolism, perhaps suggesting that the GI symptoms in BD patients are related to disturbances of the gut microbiome. Both groups of patients jointly exhibit disturbances of ketone body metabolism, which may serve as a biomarker for the pathogenesis of BD patients.

Mapping the structure of depression biomarker research: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common mental disorder and the diagnosis is still based on the descriptions of symptoms. Biomarkers can reveal disease characteristics for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In recent years, many biomarkers relevant to the mechanisms of depression have been identified. This study uses bibliometric methods and visualization tools to analyse the literature on depression biomarkers and its hot topics, and research frontiers to provide references for future research.

METHODS

Scientific publications related to depression biomarkers published between 2009 and 2022 were obtained from the Web of Science database. The BICOMB software was used to extract high-frequency keywords and to construct binary word-document and co-word matrices. gCLUTO was used for bicluster and visual analyses of high-frequency keywords. Further graphical visualizations were generated using R, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software.

RESULTS

A total of 14,403 articles related to depression biomarkers were identified. The United States (34.81%) and China (15.68%), which together account for more than half of all publications, can be considered the research base for the field. Among institutions, the University of California, University of London, and Harvard University are among the top in terms of publication number. Three authors (Maes M, Penninx B.W.J.H., and Berk M) emerged as eminent researchers in the field. Finally, eight research hotspots for depression biomarkers were identified using reference co-citation analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study used bibliometric methods to characterize the body of literature and subject knowledge in the field of depression biomarker research. Among the core biomarkers of depression, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), cytokines, and oxidative stress are relatively well established; however, research on machine learning, metabolomics, and microRNAs holds potential for future development. We found "microRNAs" and "gut microbiota" to be the most recent burst terms in the study of depression biomarkers and the likely frontiers of future research.

DNA Methylation Differences in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Anaphylaxis

Abstract

Objective To study the DNA methylation of nucleated cells in peripheral blood of patients died from anaphylactic shock caused by cephalosporin drugs and to provide a new research direction and basis for the forensic diagnosis of shock caused by drug hypersensitiveness. Methods Methylation microarray was used to detect DNA methylation of nucleated cells in peripheral blood of patients died from anaphylactic shock caused by cephalosporin drugs and normal subjects. Sequencing data and chip data were analyzed for differences in DNA methylation using R language methylkit, ChAMP package. Random forest algorithm was used to evaluate the importance of the DNA methylation differential sites. Results Differential sites of DNA methylation highly associated with anaphylaxis caused by cephalosporin drugs were obtained at loci such as ETS1, PRR23B and GNAS. Conclusion Cephalosporin allergy is associated with DNA methylation, and DNA methylation may be a new strategy for forensic identification of anaphylactic shock and death.

Pre- and Post-treatment Levels of Plasma Metabolites in Patients With Bipolar Depression

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mental disease with complex clinical manifestations and high recurrence rate. The purpose of this study was to detect metabolites related to the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of bipolar depression in plasma samples by metabolomics. Methods: Thirty-one bipolar depression patients were recruited and completed 8 weeks medication and a matched group of 47 healthy controls (HCs) was recruited. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to profile plasma samples of bipolar depression patients at baseline and after 8 weeks medication, and HCs. Then Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to analyze differences of plasma metabolites among the three groups. Results: We detected seven specific differential metabolites in bipolar depression. Six of the metabolites were returned to the normal levels in different degrees after 8 weeks medication, only Glycine continuously decreased in the acute and significant improvement stages of bipolar depression (VIP > 1 and p < 0.05). These differential metabolites involved several metabolic pathways. Limitations: The small sample size was one of the most prominent limitations. Each BD patient was given an individualized medication regimen according to the clinical guidelines. Conclusion: There were metabolites changes before and after 8 weeks medication. Glycine may be a characteristic marker of bipolar depression and does not change with the improvement of bipolar depression, while other 6 differential metabolites may be biomarkers associated with the pathological development or the improvement of bipolar depression. And, these differential metabolites mainly related to energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and gut microbiota metabolism.

Temporal changes in Egr-1 and c-fos expression in rat models of myocardial ischemia

BACKGROUND

The pathological diagnosis of sudden cardiac death caused by myocardial ischemia is a difficult problem. Relevant evidence shows that the expression of Egr-1 and c-fos undergo changes in the early stage of myocardial ischemia, but the detailed temporal variation of them is not clear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe the temporal changes in mRNA and protein expression of Egr-1 and c-fos in ischemic myocardium in rats.

METHODS

Sixty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control group, the early myocardial ischemia (EMI) group, the sham operated group and the allergy group. The EMI rats were further divided into eight subgroups according to the different time points (30 min and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h) after modeling. The mRNA and protein of Egr-1 and c-fos of each group were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTS

In the EMI group, Egr-1 mRNA in ischemic myocardium rose 30 min after ischemia and peaked at 2 h; the plateau was maintained up to 8 h after ischemia, and then returned to the baseline level at 12 h. The c-fos mRNA in ischemic myocardium demonstrated a consistent changing curve with that of Egr-1. The mRNA of Egr-1 and c-fos showed no significant changes in the control group, the sham operated group and the allergy group. Immunohistochemistry showed that Egr-1 protein in the myocardial ischemic area was slightly positive 30 min after ischemia, and then strongly positive at 4 and 8 h, decreased at 12 h, and was negative at 24 h. The changing trends of c-fos protein were almost the same as that of Egr-1. Immunohistochemistry of Egr-1 and c-fos protein were all negative in the control group, the sham operated group and the allergy group.

CONCLUSIONS

The mRNA and protein expression of Egr-1 and c-fos presented rapid and temporal changes after myocardial ischemia, and this may be helpful in distinguishing sudden death induced by myocardial ischemia from that of allergy.

Determination of Escitalopram in Biological Samples by Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with GC-MS/MS

Objective To establish a method for determination of escitalopram in biological samples by ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （GC-MS/MS） and provide evidences for forensic determination of cases related to escitalopram. Methods The 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate （[C₆MIM][PF₆]） was selected as an extract solvent to process biological samples. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was used on the samples. Then the samples were detected by GC-MS/MS. Results The linear range of escitalopram in blood and liver were 5.56-1 111.10 ng/mL and 0.025-5.00 mg/g, respectively. The correlation coefficient （r） were greater than 0.999, limit of detection （LOD） were 4.00 ng/mL and 2.00 μg/g, limit of quantitation （LOQ） were 14.00 ng/mL and 6.00 μg/g, respectively. The extraction recovery rates were all greater than 50%, the interday and intraday precision were less than 20%. Escitalopram was detected in blood and liver samples from the actual poisoning case by this method with a content of 1.26 μg/mL and 0.44 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion The ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with GC-MS/MS is environment friendly, rapid, has good enriching effect and consumes less organic solvent and can be used for forensic determination of escitalopram related cases.

Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 suppresses Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus replication in B. mori

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays a very important role in facilitating the replication of many viruses. Until now, little has been known about the role of Hsp90 in Bombyx mori virus infection. In this study, we explored the role of BmHsp90 in B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) replication. We found that BmHsp90 inhibition by geldanamycin (GA) significantly reduced the BmNPV titre, the protein expression level of BmNPV nucleocapsid protein 39 (VP39) and the transcript level of BmNPV genes. Silencing the hsp90 gene in BmN cells by small interfering RNA suppressed BmNPV replication whereas overexpression of hsp90 promoted the replication of BmNPV. After inhibition of Hsp90, the expression of three key genes [signal transducing activator of transcription (stat), suppressor of cytokine signalling protein 2 (socs2), socs6] involved in the Janus kinase/STAT pathway significantly changed, with up-regulation of stat and down-regulation of socs2 and socs6. In addition, the expression of two antiapoptosis genes, BmNPV inhibitor of apoptosis protein1 (BmNPV-iap1) and Bmiap2, was greatly decreased in GA-treated cells, whereas their expression was significantly increased in hsp90-overexpressed silkworm larvae. Our results indicated that inhibition of Hsp90 can suppress BmNPV proliferation in B. mori. Our findings may provide new clues to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of silkworm-virus interactions.

[Clinical features of 54 cases of lung adenocarcinomas with c-ROS oncogene 1 fusion]

Objective: To study the prevalence of c-ros oncogene 1 fusion in lung adenocarcinoma and to evaluate its relationship with clinical characteristics. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) fusion in 1 482 patients with adenocarcinoma from March 2014 to January 2017 in the first affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University. Furthermore, ROS1 fusion positive patients diagnosed between February 2017 and December 2017 were also included in ROS1 positive group. The data of age, sex, smoking history, TNM stage and chest computed tomography were collected by Electronic Medical Record (EMR). The clinical data were compared by the chi-squared test or Mann-Whitney test. Results: Of these 1 482 patients,54 cases were diagnosed with ROS1 rearrangement, including 19 males and 35 females, while 73 cases were diagnosed with ALK rearrangement, including 28 males and 45 females, and 679 cases diagnosed with EGFR mutation including 293 males and 386 females. And there were 676 patients without driven genes mutation. The mean age in ROS1 fusion group (54±12) was lower than EGFR mutation group (60±11, z=-3.982, P<0.001) and WT group (62±10, z=-4.944, P<0.001). Female proportion in ROS1 fusion group (64.8%, 35/54) was higher than WT group (28.4%, 192/676, χ(2)=30.94, P<0.001). Non-smoker percentages in ROS1 fusion group (72.2%, 39/54) was significantly higher than WT group (38.0%,257/676, χ(2)=24.27, P<0.001). ROS1 fusion group was similar to ALK fusion group in sex, age and smoking history, and there were no significant difference in TNM stage among these groups. On chest CT, adenocarcinomas with ROS1 fusion were found to be more peripheral in location (71.4%, 20/28) and solid in density (75%, 21/28), usually with lobulated margins (75.0%, 21/28) and spiculated in contour (57.1%,16/28). Conclusion: In our study lung adenocarcinoma with c-ROS oncogene 1 fusion was a rare subtype lung cancer and was usually detected in young, never smoking, and female patients.

[HEAD-US-C quantitative ultrasound assessment scale in evaluation of joint damage in patients with moderate or severe hemophilia A received on-demand versus prophylaxis replacement therapy]

目的

探讨血友病关节超声评估量表（Haemophilic Early Arthropathy Detection with UltraSound in China，HEAD-US-C）对中间型/重型血友病A患者按需、预防治疗关节损伤评估的适用性。

方法

回顾性分析2015年6月至2017年7月70例接受肘、膝、踝关节超声检查的中间型及重型血友病A患者，应用HEAD-US-C超声评估量表及血友病关节健康评分量表2.1版（HJHS2.1）进行关节状况评分。对按需、预防治疗患者HEAD-US-C、HJHS评分进行相关性分析。

结果

70例中间型及重型血友病A患者共接受919例次关节超声检查。在中间型血友病患者中，按需、预防治疗组患者中位年靶关节出血次数差异无统计学意义[1（0，7）对1（0，5），z=1.271，P=0.137]。按需治疗组中位HEAD-US-C评分[1（0，6）对0.5（0，3），z=0.177，P=0.046]及HJHS评分[2（0，4）对2（0，3），z=0.375，P=0.007]明显高于预防治疗组。重型血友病患者按需、预防治疗组中位HEAD-US-C评分分别为4（0，7）、1（0，6）（z=2.189，P=0.008），中位HJHS评分分别为4（1，6）、2（0，5）（z=3.646，P<0.001），年靶关节出血次数分别为3（0，8）、2（0，8）（z=0.780，P=0.037），按需治疗组均高于预防治疗组。按需、预防治疗组患者HEAD-US-C评分与HJHS评分均存在正相关关系（P值均<0.05）。重型患者按需、预防治疗组HEAD-US-C评分与HJHS评分的相关系数分别为0.739（95%CI 0.708~0.767）、0.865（95%CI 0.848~0.880），95%CI不重合（P<0.05），预防治疗组两评分系统间具有更强的相关性。

结论

中间型/重型血友病A患者预防治疗疗效明显优于按需治疗。HEAD-US-C超声评估量表可有效评估中间型/重型血友病A患者按需、预防治疗关节损伤状况，与HJHS系统一致性较好，可为临床疗效评估提供客观指标。

[Clinical application and optimization of HEAD-US quantitative ultrasound assessment scale for hemophilic arthropathy]

目的

评价HEAD-US评估量表在血友病性关节病临床应用的可行性，提出优化的超声评估量表HEAD-US-C。

方法

2015年7月至2017年8月期间，91例血友病患者接受1 035例次关节超声检查，分别采用Melchiorre、HEAD-US、HEAD-US-C量表进行评分，分析与血友病关节健康评分量表（HJHS）评分之间的相关性并比较上述量表评价血友病性关节病的敏感性。

结果

91例患者均为男性，中位年龄16（4~55）岁，血友病A 86例，血友病B 5例。1 035例次关节检查Melchiorre、HEAD-US、HEAD-US-C量表的评分[M（P₂₅, P₇₅）]分别为2（0,6）、1（0,5）、2（0,6），均与HJHS评分之间存在相关关系（相关系数分别为0.747、0.762、0.765，P值均<0.001）。Melchiorre、HEAD-US-C、HEAD-US评分量表的阳性率分别为63.0%（95%CI 59.7%~65.9%）、59.5%（95%CI 56.5%~62.4%）、56.6%（95%CI 53.6%~59.6%），差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。336例次无症状关节（HJHS评分0分）Melchiorre、HEAD-US-C、HEAD-US评分量表的阳性率分别为25.0%（95%CI 20.6%~29.6%）、17.0%（95%CI12.6%~21.1%）、11.9%（95%CI 8.4%~15.7%）（P<0.001）。40例有关节出血症状的血友病患者（107例次）关节出血前、出血后超声评分差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。HEAD-US-C与HEAD-US评分的变化幅度比较，差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。

结论

与Melchiorre比较，HEAD-US、HEAD-US-C与HJHS之间具有相似的良好的相关性。HEAD-US-C评分量表较HEAD-US更为敏感，尤其适合亚临床状态血友病性关节病的评估。

Novel screening strategy reveals a potent Bacillus antagonist capable of mitigating wheat take-all disease caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici

Take-all is a severe root disease of wheat worldwide that is caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt). In this study, 272 Bacillus isolates were screened for their antifungal activity in vitro to Ggt. Of the 128 strains that demonstrated an antagonistic action, 24 of these exhibited at least three of the four plant growth promotion parameters (i.e. indole acetic acid and siderophore production, inorganic phosphorus solubilization and organic phosphorus solubilization) that were tested in wheat plants. The most effective strain found was Bacillus subtilis Pnf-12; its disease reduction effect reached 69%. Pnf-12 also caused a significant improvement (P < 0·05) in the root and shoot weights of wheat plants, though their root length and shoot height were similar to the noninoculated treatment (P > 0·05). The mechanism for this disease control may be linked to the production of the antifungal lipopeptides surfactin, iturin and fengycin production, all of which were detected in the cell-free supernatant of Pnf-12.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Take-all, which is caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), is one of the most widespread and devastating root diseases of wheat plants. This study focuses on a novel screening strategy of Bacillus isolates to evaluate their potential biological control capacity for suppressing wheat take-all. The joint assessment of antifungal activities, growth promotion factors and variety of antibiotic synthesis genes, in addition to greenhouse experiments, allowed for the identification and demonstration of the Bacillus isolate Pnf-12 as an effective disease control agent.

[Expression of proBNP and NT-proBNP in Sudden Death of Coronary Heart Disease]

OBJECTIVES

To study the expression change of pro-brain natriuretic peptide （proBNP） and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） in sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, and to explore its application in forensic diagnosis.

METHODS

Myocardial and blood samples were collected from normal control group, sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group and single coronary stenosis group （20 cases in each group）. The expression of proBNP in myocardial samples were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting, and that of BNP mRNA were detected by reverse transcription PCR （RT-PCR）. The content of NT-proBNP in plasma were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining showed positive expression of proBNP in both sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group and single coronary stenosis group. There was no positive expression in normal control group. For sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group and single coronary stenosis group, the relative expression of proBNP protein and BNP mRNA in myocardial tissue and the NT-proBNP content in plasma were higher than that of normal control group （P<0.05）. The NT-proBNP content in plasma of sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group was higher than that of single coronary stenosis group （P<0.05）.

CONCLUSIONS

In myocardial ischemia condition, the higher expression of proBNP in cardiac muscle cell shows that the detection of NT-proBNP in plasma can be useful to differentially diagnose the degree of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and determine whether the sudden death due to coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

[Antibacterial and residual antimicrobial activities of five final irrigants in infected root canal: an in vitro comparative study]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate antibacterial and residual antimicrobial activities of five root canal irrigants including Qmix, MTAD(mixture of a tetracycline isomer, an acid, and a detergent), 0.2% cetrimide(CTR), 2% chlorhexidine(CHX) and 17% ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA) and to find the most optimal final irrigants for using in root canal therapy.

METHODS

The standard enterococcus infection models were built up in 100 single rooted incisors with single canal. Totally 30 teeth were selected by using random number tablefor detecting the quality of the bacteria model. Crown-down technique with rotary ProTaper system was used to prepare the root canals. Then the teeth were randomly divided into seven groups of which five groups were irrigated with five different irrigants respectively, one group was irrigated with distilled water(distilled water group) and one group was no-irrigation group. Each tooth was sectioned into three parts: apical 1/3, middle 1/3 and coronal 1/3. After irrigation, specimenswere cultivated from day 0 to day 14. All statistical analyses were performed by means of SPSS 17.0 software. Chi-squared test was used to evaluate antibacterial activities. Generalized estimating equations was used to evaluate residual antimicrobial activities.

RESULTS

All samples rinsed with Qmix, MTAD, CTR, CHX were bacteria-free in 0 day. The samples rinsed with EDTA and distilled water had no bacteria in 7 coronal sections, 6 middle sections and 9 apical sections, respectively. The results of Qmix, MTAD, CTR and CHX groups showed significant difference when compared with that of distilled water, EDTA and control groups(P<0.05). Residual antimicrobial resultsin EDTA, distilled water, no-irrigation groups showed significant differences compared with that of Qmix, MTAD, CTR, CHX groups according to pairwise comparison(P<0.05) on day 1, 2 and 3. There was no significant difference between the other two groups(P>0.05). Antimicrobial properties on the coronal 1/3 and apical 1/3, middle 1/3 and apical 1/3 showed significant difference(P<0.05) while middle 1/3 and coronal 1/3 showed no significant difference(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Qmix, MTAD, CTR and CHX had an antimicrobial activity, but could not destroy Enterococcus faecalis completely. Antimicrobial activity in coronal 1/3 was better than in apical 1/3. Qmix, MTAD, CTR and CHX had a residual antimicrobial activity with various lasting times. The lasting time of residual antimicrobial activity was as follow: MTAD> CTR>Qmix>CHX. EDTA had no antibacterial and residual antimicrobial activities.

Expressions of Mast Cell Tryptase and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Myocardium of Sudden Death due to Hypersensitivity and Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES

To explore the value of mast cell tryptase and brain natriuretic peptide（BNP） in the differential diagnostic of sudden death due to hypersensitivity and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

METHODS

Totally 30 myocardial samples were collected from the autopsy cases in the Department of Forensic Pathology, Shanxi Medical University during 2010-2015. All samples were divided into three groups： death of craniocerebral injury group, sudden death of hypersensitivity group and sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group, 10 cases in each group. Mast cell tryptase and BNP in myocardium were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western Blotting.

RESULTS

Immunofluorescence staining showed that the positive staining mast cell tryptase appeared in myocardium of sudden death of hypersensitivity group and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group. Among the three groups, the expression of mast cell tryptase showed significantly differences through pairwise comparison （P<0.05）; The expression level of BNP in sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group were significantly higher than the sudden death of hypersensitivity group and death of craniocerebral injury group （P<0.05）. The difference of the expression level of BNP between the sudden death of hypersensitivity group and the death of craniocerebral injury group had no statistical significance （P>0.05）.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined detection of the mast cell tryptase and BNP in myocardium is expected to provide help for the forensic differential diagnosis of sudden death due to hypersensitivity and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

Mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A expression in body fluid and gastrointestinal tract associated with drug-related fatal anaphylaxis

AIM: To investigate the expression of mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A in drug-related fatal anaphylaxis.

METHODS: The expression of mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A in 15 autopsy cases of drug-related fatal anaphylaxis and 20 normal autopsy cases were detected. First, the expression of mast cell tryptase was determined in stomach, jejunum, lung, heart, and larynx by immunofluorescence. Different tissues were removed and fixed in paraformaldehyde solution, then paraffin sections were prepared for immunofluorescence. Using specific mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A antibodies, the expression of tryptase and carboxypeptidase A in gastroenterology tract and other tissues were observed using fluorescent microscopy. The postmortem serum and pericardial fluid were collected from drug-related fatal anaphylaxis and normal autopsy cases. The level of mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A in postmortem serum and pericardial fluid were measured using fluor enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (FEIA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. The expression of mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A was analyzed in drug-related fatal anaphylaxis cases and compared to normal autopsy cases.

RESULTS: The expression of carboxypeptidase A was less in the gastroenterology tract and other tissues from anaphylaxis-related death cadavers than normal controls. Immunofluorescence revealed that tryptase expression was significantly increased in multiple organs, especially the gastrointestinal tract, from anaphylaxis-related death cadavers compared to normal autopsy cases (46.67 ± 11.11 vs 4.88 ± 1.56 in stomach, 48.89 ± 11.02 vs 5.21 ± 1.34 in jejunum, 33.72 ± 5.76 vs 1.30 ± 1.02 in lung, 40.08 ± 7.56 vs 1.67 ± 1.03 in larynx, 7.11 ± 5.67 vs 1.10 ± 0.77 in heart, P < 0.05). Tryptase levels, as measured with FEIA, were significantly increased in both sera (43.50 ± 0.48 μg/L vs 5.40 ± 0.36 μg/L, P < 0.05) and pericardial fluid (28.64 ± 0.32 μg/L vs 4.60 ± 0.48 μg/L, P < 0.05) from the anaphylaxis group in comparison with the control group. As measured by ELISA, the concentration of carboxypeptidase A was also increased more than 2-fold in the anaphylaxis group compared to control (8.99 ± 3.91 ng/mL vs 3.25 ± 2.30 ng/mL in serum, 4.34 ± 2.41 ng/mL vs 1.43 ± 0.58 ng/mL in pericardial fluid, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Detection of both mast cell tryptase and carboxypeptidase A could improve the forensic identification of drug-related fatal anaphylaxis.

Diversity and degradation mechanism of an anaerobic bacterial community treating phenolic wastewater with sulfate as an electron acceptor

Petrochemical wastewater often contains high concentrations of phenol and sulfate that must be properly treated to meet discharge standards. This study acclimated anaerobic-activated sludge to treat saline phenolic wastewater with sulfate reduction and clarified the diversity and degradation mechanism of the microbial community. The active sludge in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor could remove 90 % of phenol and maintain the effluent concentration of SO4 (2-) below 400 mg/L. Cloning and sequencing showed that Clostridium spp. and Desulfotomaculum spp. were major phenol-degrading bacteria. Phenol was probably degraded through the carboxylation pathway and sulfate reduction catalyzed by adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) reductase and dissimilatory sulfite reductase (DSR). A real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that as phenol concentration increased, the quantities of 16S rRNA gene, dsrB, and mcrA in the sludge all decreased. The relative abundance of dsrB dropped to 12.46 %, while that of mcrA increased to 56.18 %. The change in the electron flow ratio suggested that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed mainly by sulfate-reducing bacteria under a phenol concentration of 420 mg/L, whereas it was removed mainly by methanogens above 630 mg/L.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene is associated with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage and rehabilitative treatment

Early rehabilitative therapy is important for patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage to improve long-term function of the extremities. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is closely associated with the pathogenesis of hypertension. To identify the markers contributing to the genetic susceptibility to hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage (HCH) and rehabilitative treatment, we examined the potential association between HCH and 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the VEGF gene. Participants included 244 patients with HCH and 251 healthy controls from our rehabilitation department. The T allelic frequencies of the rs3025020 (intron 6) and rs3025039 (3'-UTR) polymorphisms were significantly higher in the patients with HCH than in the healthy controls (rs3025020 T allele: P = 0.0002, OR = 1.619, 95%CI = 1.256-2.088; rs3025039 T allele: P = 0.001, OR = 1.682, 95%CI = 1.246-2.270). Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed in three blocks (D' > 0.9), and significantly more C-G-C (rs3025020, rs3025030, and rs3025039) haplotypes (P = 0.001) were found in the controls in block 3. Significantly more T-G-C haplotypes were found in the patients with HCH (P = 0.046). Further genotype and clinical phenotype correlation study of the rs3025039 carriers showed that Fugl-Meyer and Barthel index scores were lower in the patients with the TT genotype relative to CT + CC genotypes (P < 0.01). These findings point to a role for VEGF polymorphism in HCH, and may be informative for future investigations on the pathogenesis of rehabilitative treatment.

Correlation between carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-9), XII (CA-12) and hypoxia inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) in breast cancer

Hypoxia inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) can trigger the expression of several genes related to many aspects of tumor progress under hypoxia. As an independent factor, the role of HIF-2α is different from other hypoxia-mediated elements, including HIF-1α. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) were also regarded as important enzymes that involve in the tumor microenvironment pH. To find clinical-pathological features of breast cancer in plateau and explore the impact of CAIX, XII (CA-9, CA-12) and HIF-2α on patients with breast cancer. Clinical data were collected and summarized in 94 patients with breast cancer. The expression of HIF-2α, CA-9 and CA-12 were detected, using immunohistochemistry of specimens. The relation between expressions and clinical-pathology was analyzed. Under normoxia, hypoxia, and after being pretreated with the JNK inhibitor SP600125, HIF- 2α, CA-9 and CA-12 expressions were detected, and adhesion and invasion assays were performed in MCF-7 cells and HIF- 2α shRNA cells, respectively. There are higher expressions of HIF-2α in tumor classification 2 and clinical stage 2 (P < 0.05). High expression of CA-12 was observed in clinical stage 2 (P < 0.05). CA-9 expression is significantly correlated with CA-12 expression (r = 0.376, P = 0.0001). HIF-2α expression is not correlated with both CA-9 expression (P = 0.21) and CA-12 expression (P = 0.27). Breast cancer cells in vitro showed that HIF-2α, CA-9 or CA-12 had an increase expression under hypoxia (1% O2). CA-9 or CA-12 expression was observed in HIF-2α shRNA cells. JNK inhibitor SP 600125 reduced the HIF-2α expression and inhibited the adhesion and invasion of breast cancer cell. Slight inhibition effect on CA-9 and CA-12 expression was found. In conclusion, HIF-2α, CA-9 and CA-12 are important hypoxia responsive elements in breast cancer. HIF-2α was involved in metastasis and invasion of breast cancer cells under hypoxia, by the involvement of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signal pathway. CA-9 and CA-12 may tend to be regulated by HIF-1α more often than by HIF-2α under hypoxia.

Effects of Supplementation of β-Mannanase in Corn-soybean Meal Diets on Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Growing Pigs

A total of 288 crossbred (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) growing pigs were used in two experiments to investigate the effects of adding β-mannanase to corn-soybean meal-based diets on pig performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Both experiments lasted 28 d and were split into two phases namely 1 to 14 days (phase 1) and 15 to 28 days (phase 2). In Exp. 1,144 pigs weighing 23.60±1.59 kg BW were assigned to one of four corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0, 200, 400 or 600 U/kg β-mannanase. Increasing the level of β-mannanase increased weight gain (quadratic effect; p<0.01) and feed efficiency (linear and quadratic effect; p<0.01) during the second phase and the overall experiment. However, performance was unaffected (p>0.05) by treatment during phase 1. Increasing the amount of β-mannanase in the diet improved (linear and quadratic effect; p<0.05) the ATTD of CP, NDF, ADF, calcium, and phosphorus during both phases. Based on the results of Exp. 1, the optimal supplementation level was determined to be 400 U/kg and this was the level that was applied in Exp. 2. In Exp. 2, 144 pigs weighing 23.50±1.86 kg BW were fed diets containing 0 or 400 U/kg of β-mannanase and 3,250 or 3,400 kcal/kg digestible energy (DE) in a 2×2 factorial design. β-Mannanase supplementation increased (p<0.01) weight gain and feed efficiency while the higher energy content increased (p<0.01) feed intake and feed efficiency during both phases and overall. Increased energy content and β-mannanase supplementation both increased (p<0.05) the ATTD of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, phosphorus, and GE during both phases. There were no significant interactions between energy level and β-mannanase for any performance or digestibility parameter. In conclusion, the β-mannanase used in the present experiment improved the performance of growing pigs fed diets based on corn and soybean. The mechanism through which the improvements were obtained appears to be related to improvements in ATTD.

Association of HLA-DQB1*0501 with scleroderma and its clinical features in Chinese population

Specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQB1 alleles confer strong susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the frequencies of specific DQB1 alleles and their associations with SSc vary according to ethnicity and clinical features of SSc. The aim of this study was to profile DQB1 alleles in a Chinese population and to identify specific DQB1 alleles in association with SSc of Han Chinese. A cohort containing 213 patients with SSc and 239 gender-matched and unrelated controls was examined in the study. The HLA-DQB1 genotyping was performed with sequence-based typing (SBT) method. Exact p-values were obtained (Fisher's test) from 2x2 tables of allele counts or allele carriers and disease status. Seventeen DQB1 alleles were found in the cohort. DQB1*03:03 was the most common allele in this cohort. DQB1*05:01 was significantly increased in SSc, and was strongly associated with anti-centromere autoantibodies (ACA). Compared with SSc in other ethnic populations, SSc patients of Han Chinese are distinct in association with DQB1*06:11, common in association with DQB1*05:01, but lack association with DQB1*03:01. In addition, DQB1*06:01 appeared more common in ATA-positive Chinese SSc, and marginally associated with pulmonary fibrosis, and an increased frequency of DQB1*03:03 was observed in anti-U1RNP-positive Chinese SSc patients.

STAT4 is a genetic risk factor for systemic sclerosis in a Chinese population

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated and complex genetic disease. An association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the STAT4 gene with SSc has been reported in European Caucasians, North Americans and Japanese. We undertook the current study to examine whether the STAT4 SNPs are also associated with susceptibility to SSc and SSc subsets in a Han Chinese population. A total of 453 Han Chinese patients with SSc and 534 healthy controls were examined in the study. The SNPs rs7574865, rs10168266 and rs3821236 of the STAT4 gene were examined with SNP TaqMan assays. The T-allele carriers of rs7574865 and rs10168266 were strongly associated with the presence of anti-topoisomerase I (ATA) and pulmonary fibrosis in SSc patients, as well as with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc). The presence of anti-centromere (ACA) and limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) did not show significant association with any of the examined SNPs. The results were consistent with previous reports in other ethnic populations in supporting the notion that polymorphisms of STAT4 may play an important role in susceptibility to SSc. It also revealed different genetic aspects of SSc subsets in a Han Chinese population.

Marker-assisted selection in breeding silkworm strains with high silk production and resistance to the densonucleosis virus

In the silkworm (Bombyx mori), resistance to the Zhenjiang (China) strain of the densonucleosis virus (DNV-Z) is controlled by the recessive gene nsd-Z (non-susceptible to DNV-Z), which is linked to 7 simple-sequence repeat markers. Marker-assisted evaluation and selection of DNV-Z-resistant silkworms were used for predicting DNV-resistance in backcrossed animals. A silkworm race was bred using this method, and its economic characteristics were found to be similar to those of commercial silkworm races. These markers will therefore be useful for silkworm breeding programs and in screening for densonucleosis resistance in segregating populations.

Experimental study on air-stream gasification of biomass micron fuel (BMF) in a cyclone gasifier

Based on biomass micron fuel (BMF) with particle size of less than 250 microm, a cyclone gasifier concept has been considered in our laboratory for biomass gasification. The concept combines and integrates partial oxidation, fast pyrolysis, gasification, and tar cracking, as well as a shift reaction, with the purpose of producing a high quality of gas. In this paper, experiments of BMF air-stream gasification were carried out by the gasifier, with energy for BMF gasification produced by partial combustion of BMF within the gasifier using a hypostoichiometric amount of air. The effects of ER (0.22-0.37) and S/B (0.15-0.59) and biomass particle size on the performances of BMF gasification and the gasification temperature were studied. Under the experimental conditions, the temperature, gas yields, LHV of the gas fuel, carbon conversion efficiency, stream decomposition and gasification efficiency varied in the range of 586-845 degrees C, 1.42-2.21 N m(3)/kg biomass, 3806-4921 kJ/m(3), 54.44%-85.45%, 37.98%-70.72%, and 36.35%-56.55%, respectively. The experimental results showed that the gasification performance was best with ER being 3.7 and S/B being 0.31 and smaller particle, as well as H(2)-content. And the BMF gasification by air and low temperature stream in the cyclone gasifier with the energy self-sufficiency is reliable.

Mammary gland expression of antibacterial peptide genes to inhibit bacterial pathogens causing mastitis

As a step toward prevention of bovine mastitis, a plasmid-mediated gene transfer technique was used to enable mammary cells to synthesize and secrete bovine lactoferricin and bovine tracheal antibacterial peptides. For this purpose, a series of mammary tissue-specific expression vectors, harboring the antibacterial peptide gene, the 5'-flanking regulation sequence of goat beta-casein, and the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal sequence, were constructed using a eukaryotic expression vector pIRES1-neo. The mammary gland tissue-specific expression vector carrying the antimicrobial peptide genes dissolved in physiologic saline was injected directly into the lactating mammary glands of goats. The milk samples after injection were checked by Tricine-SDS-PAGE and bacterium inhibition zone assay. The results of these tests showed that the mammary gland tissue-specific expression vector driven by the goat beta-casein gene promoter could efficiently direct the expression of antibacterial peptides in goat milk; the expression of antibacterial proteins lasted for 3 to 6 d. All of the milk samples collected from the mammary glands that had been injected with different vectors harboring the antibacterial peptide gene(s) exhibited bacteriostatic activity against different bacterial pathogens. These results demonstrated that the mammary gland tissue-specific expression vector could be used to introduce antibacterial peptide gene into the goat mammary gland, enabling secretion of a bioactive form of antibacterial peptide in the milk. This successful expression of antibacterial peptides in goat mammary glands provided a possible method to prevent mastitis in ruminants.

Overexpression of TNF-alpha and TNFRII in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinicopathological correlations

AIMS

Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a potent angiogenic factor. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC), a rare subtype of breast cancer, possesses a lymphotropic nature with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The aim was to evaluate the role of TNF-alpha and its receptor TNFRII in the vascular development and metastasis of IMPC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred cases of IMPC and 97 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC) were studied in parallel by immunohistochemistry for TNF-alpha and TNFRII, and microvessel density (MVD) of the tumours was measured. The results showed that the expression of TNF-alpha and TNFRII and the MVD were higher in IMPC than in IDC (P < 0.05). In IMPC, MVD was significantly increased in those with lymph node metastasis compared with those without nodal metastasis (P = 0.001). TNF-alpha expression showed a significant positive correlation with the rate of proliferation, histological grade, lymph node metastasis and MVD (P < 0.05), whereas expression of TNFRII was correlated with TNF-alpha expression and the proliferation of tumour cells in IMPC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of TNF-alpha and TNFRII might play an important role in the angiogenesis, tumour cell proliferation and metastasis of IMPC. These markers could represent new targets for therapeutic intervention, i.e. blocking of TNF-alpha and its signal transduction could be a promising tool for treatment.

Nanovirus-like DNA component associated with the Malvastrum yellow mosaic virus

Nanovirus-like DNA components signed DNA1 are single-stranded molecules associated with monopartite begomovirus-satellite complexes. DNA1 molecules ranging in size from 1373-1385 nucleotides were detected in 5 isolates Hn36, Hn38, Hn39, Hn44, and Hn45 of Malvastrum yellow mosaic virus (MalYMV) isolated in Hainan, China. DNA1 molecules of all isolates contained three characteristics: a single ORF, conserved hairpin structure, and A-rich region. Nucleotide sequence comparison showed that DNA1 molecules of 5 examined isolates shared high sequence identity (71.8-98.8%). In comparison with other begomovirus DNA1 and nanovirus-associated DNA, the sequence identities 59.6-76.3% and 27.2-38.4%, respectively, were found.

A simple and rapid high performance liquid chromatography method to determine levofloxacin in human plasma and its use in a bioequivalence study

A simple and rapid HPLC-UV method has been developed for determination of levofloxacin in human plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, water, phosphoric acid and triethylamine (14:86:0.6:0.3, v/v/v/v) and flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The method used ultraviolet detection set at a wavelength of 294 nm. The standard curves were linear over concentration range of 0.05-5.0 μg/mL (r > 0.99). The method was simple, rapid, precise, accurate and suitable for routine bioequivalence study. The method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence study of two different levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules in Chinese healthy volunteers.

SPARC, an upstream regulator of connective tissue growth factor in response to transforming growth factor beta stimulation

OBJECTIVE

To differentiate the effects of inhibition of specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) and siRNA of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in cultured human fibroblasts, and to identify potential interrelationships between SPARC and CTGF.

METHODS

Fibroblasts from skin biopsy specimens of 2 normal individuals were transfected with siRNA of SPARC and siRNA of CTGF. The fibroblasts were stimulated with or without transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to determine the transcription levels of several extracellular matrix genes.

RESULTS

After exogenous TGFbeta1 stimulation, both SPARC siRNA and CTGF siRNA showed a protective role against overexpression of collagen genes. Following TGFbeta1 stimulation, SPARC siRNA-transfected fibroblasts showed a greater reduction in expression of the collagen genes compared with CTGF siRNA-transfected fibroblasts, as well as a significantly decreased expression of CTGF (P < 0.05). Using linear structure equations to quantitatively model a genetic network based on expression levels of each gene, a positive regulatory role of SPARC on CTGF, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL11A1, and TIMP3 was observed. However, the regulatory role of CTGF on SPARC appeared to be negative and very small, while the positive regulatory effects of CTGF on COL1A2, COL3A1, COL11A1, and TIMP3 were less than those of SPARC.

CONCLUSION

The results of this quantitative comparison support the hypothesis that in these cultured fibroblasts, the regulatory effects of SPARC on some major extracellular matrix structural components are greater than those of CTGF. In addition, SPARC appears to regulate CTGF in a predominantly positive manner, while CTGF may act as a negative feedback control on SPARC following TGFbeta stimulation.

Killing effects of ganciclovir on human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell A549 transduced with HSV1-TK gene in vitro and in vivo

AIM

To observe the killing effects of ganciclovir (GCV) on the human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell A549 transduced with Herpes simplex virus I type thymine kinase (HSV1-TK) gene in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

A retroviral vector containing the TK gene was constructed and transduced into a pulmonary carcinoma cell A549 by electroporation, to observe the sensitivity of the transfected cell to GCV in vitro and the bystander effect (MTT assay). Tumor cell apoptosis caused by the TK/GCV system was observed with a flow cell meter (FCM) and a scan electronic microscope (SEM). Recombination and expression of the TK gene were examined with DNA PCR and in situ hybridization, respectively. The therapeutic effect of GCV on subcutaneous tumor growth between transfected and parental cells was also compared.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the transfected cell to GCV was 46 times higher than that of the parental cell, and the bystander effect was stronger in high cell density than in low cell density. The subG0G1 peak was shown on the DNA histogram after A549-Tk cell was treated with 50 micromol/L GCV for 3 days by FCM, but not in the A549 cell. A cell cycle analysis showed that the apoptotic cell in the A549-TK and A549 cells were (12.2+/-1.7) % and (1.3 +/- 0.3) %, respectively (P < 0.01). The cell apoptosis features of nuclear condensation, apoptotic vesicle, and nuclear showing semimoon feature were found in the A549-TK cell by SEM, but not in the A549 cell. Recombination and expression of the TK gene were positive in the transfected cell. In vivo, the growth of tumors formed by the transfected cell was apparently inhibited by GCV, but not in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The transfected cell obtained sensitivity to GCV and the bystander effect was closely related to intercellular touch. The TK/GCV system killing tumor cell was related to cell apoptosis. GCV inhibited the growth of tumors which were inoculated by A549-TK cell in vivo.

[Determination of unbound concentration of drug in drug-human serum albumin mixture by high performance frontal analysis]

A high performance frontal analysis(HPFA) method was developed to determine the unbound concentration of drugs in drug-human serum albumin (HSA) mixture under binding equilibrium. The sample was injected directly onto an internal-surface reversed-phase silica column (ISRP). The mobile phase was 67 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, I = 0.17 mol/L). When a large volume of sample solution under drug-HSA binding equilibrium was directly injected, the drug was eluted as a trapezoidal peak with a plateau, and the drug concentration in this region was the same as that of the unbound drug in the sample solution. The eluate of plateau region was collected and a small volume was injected onto a reversed-phase HPLC column. This HPFA-HPLC method was employed in the determination of unbound concentration in both ketoprofen (KP)-HSA and cefoperazone (CP)-HSA mixtures. The unbound concentrations of drugs obtained by using HPFA-HPLC were compared with those determined with ultrafiltration-HPLC. The effects of sample volume and flow rate of mobile phase on the plateau formation were investigated. It was found that the minimum injection volume to achieve a trapezoidal peak varied with drugs. The flow rate showed no effect on the trapezoidal peak formation. The unbound concentrations of KP and CP obtained were about the same by using HPFA-HPLC or ultrafiltration-HPLC and precisions were similar for both methods.

[Changes in SR Ca2+-ATPase activity, Ca2+ release and uptake kinetics of diaphragm muscle after different-frequency chronic electrical stimulation of diaphragmatic nerve]

To study adaptation of rabbit diaphragm muscle after different-frequency chronic electrical stimulation, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and Ca(2+) release-uptake kinetics of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were respectively measured by detecting inorganic phosphorus ion and Furo-2 fluorescence. SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of the low-frequency stimulation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.0l), but it was significantly higher in the high-frequency stimulation group against control (P<0.0l). The kinetics of Ca(2+) release and Ca(2+) uptake was significantly lower in low-frequency group than that of the control (P<0.0l), but the kinetics of Ca(2+) release and Ca(2+) uptake was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.01). It is thought that different-frequency electrical stimulation induced different adaptative changes in SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, and Ca(2+) release and uptake kinetics of rabbit diaphragm muscle.

[Determination of bifonazole in cream by high performance liquid chromatography]

An accurate method for the determination of bifonazole in cream is described. The analytical column was packed with Hypersil ODS. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.08 mol/L aqueous triethylamine (TEA) phosphate solution(pH 7.0)-acetonitrile-methanol (20:10:70, V/V) and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. This method is simple, accurate and can be used for the quality control of bifonazole in cream.

[Retrospective analysis of argon laser for treating retinal periphlebitis]

OBJECTIVES

This article was to investigate the curative effect of argon laser photocoagulation for retinal periphlebitis treatment, and then to discuss the stage of the treatment.

METHODS

According to the condition of vitreous hemorrhage and the range of retinal neovascularization, 31 cases (34 eyes) were divided into the light group and the heavy group, and the therapeutic effective rate, the condition of visual acuity and vitreous hemorrhage were compared.

RESULTS

The therapeutic effective rate was 64.71%, there was significant difference in effective rate and prognosis of visual acuity between two groups (P < 0.01). After laser treatment, the morbidity of vitreous hemorrhage in heavy group decreased from 100% to 18.70%.

CONCLUSION

Argon laser photocoagulation is an effective method for treating retinal periphlebitis and early treatment is recommended.

[mRNA and protein expression of skeletal DHPR(alpha1) and RyRs in diaphragm muscle of rabbits]

To detect mRNA and protein expression of skeletal dihydropridine receptor isoform alpha1 subunit and ryanodine receptor 1 and 3 in diaphragm muscle of rabbits, the coupling mode and characteristics of Ca(2+) release were explored. Reverse transcription PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods were employed. A higher level of mRNA and protein expression of DHPR(alpha1) and RyR(1), and a lower level of mRNA expression of RyR(3) were found. It is suggested that the calcium release unit may consist of skeletal DHPR isoform, RyR(1) and RyR(3), and there may be two kinds of Ca(2+) release mode via conformational changes in linked proteins and Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) in diaphragm muscle of rabbits.

[Adaptation of diaphragm muscle strip mechanics to chronic electrical stimulation and the effect of change in extracellular Ca2+ in rabbit]

AIM

The mechanical character of diaphragm muscle after chronic electrical stimulation(CES) and effect of the extracellular Ca2+ change have not yet been explored. We wondered whether there might be great different change and effect on muscle mechanics after CES and the extracellular Ca2+ change.

METHODS

The twitch tension(Pt), time to peak tension(TPT), half-relaxation time(1/2 RT), tetanic tension(Po), fatigue index (FI) and fatigue recovery index(FRI) were respectively measured in normal group and CES groups; the switch tensions of diaphragm muscle strips were observed in the standard Hank's solution and the Hank's with free Ca2+.

RESULTS

There were more significant decrease in Pt, Po, FI and FRI, more significant lengthening in TPT and 1/2 RT in 10 Hz and 20 Hz groups(P < 0.01). However, there was completely opposite effect in 50 Hz and 100 Hz groups. There were more significant effect on muscle mechanics of contraction and relaxation in 10 Hz and 20 Hz groups than that in 50 Hz and 100 Hz groups when the extracellular Ca2+ changed.

CONCLUSION

After CES the significantly frequency dependent were presented on mechanical character of diaphragm muscle strips, and there were more effect on diaphragm muscle mechanics in 10 Hz and 20 Hz groups when the extracellular Ca2+ was changed.

[Determination of three principal components in chuanjing tablets by using high performance liquid chromatography]

Uniform design method was employed to optimize the mobile phase of HPLC in order to determine simultaneously three principal components, theophylline, amobarbital and methylephedrine hydrochloride, in Chuanjing tablet, a compound preparation for asthma and cough. The stationary phase was ODS and the optimal mobile phase composition was V (0.015 mol/L phosphate buffer containing 0.3% triethylamine, pH 4.9): V (methanol) = 35:65. The detection was performed at 215 nm and the sensitivity was time programmed for simultaneous determination of minor and major components. Caffeine was selected as the internal standard. A baseline separation was achieved within 10 min. The linear ranges for theophylline, amobarbital and methylephedrine hydrochloride were 0.03 g/L-0.20 g/L, 7.5 mg/L-50.0 mg/L and 7.5 mg/L-50.0 mg/L, recoveries 99.7%-102.6%, 98.5%-100.2% and 98.0%-102.7%, inter-day RSDs 0.23%-1.2%, 0.35%-2.5%, 0.33%-1.6% respectively. This HPLC method is rapid and accurate, and suitable for the quality control of the preparation.

[Elementary events and characteristics of calcium signalling]

There are many different elementary intracellular calcium signalling in the cell. These events appear to have a hierarchical organization depending on stimulus intensity. Low levels of stimulation activate individual channels such as the blips or quarks; The next level of organization is the puffs and sparks, which appear to be derived from small clusters of channels. At high stimulus intensities these elementary events are coordinated to give global events. These events not only present the character of Ca2+ release unit, also lead to different complex spatiotemporal organization of calcium signalling, emphasizing the hierarchical organization and local control model of calcium signalling.

Cloning, sequencing and further characterization of acylpeptide hydrolase from porcine intestinal mucosa

Acylpeptide hydrolase was purified to homogeneity from porcine intestinal mucosa using a seven-step procedure including ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration as well as anion exchange and affinity chromatography. The specific activity of the enzyme reached 105000 nmol/mg protein per min and the purification was as high as 5500-fold. This tetrameric enzyme is composed of four apparently identical subunits, the molecular mass of which was estimated to be 75 kDa, based on the results of amino acid analysis and gel electrophoresis performed under denaturing conditions. It is likely that the NH(2)-terminal residue may be acetylated, while serine was found to be the COOH-terminal residue. The hydrolytic activity of the enzyme toward N-acetyl-L-alanine p-nitroanilide at the optimum pH value was increased twofold in the presence of the chloride anion. The K(m) value calculated from the kinetics of the hydrolysis of acetylalanyl peptides was found to be 0.7+/-0.1 mM, whereas the V(max) values decreased from 200 to 50 nmol/min per microgram of enzyme, depending on the peptidic chain lengths. The V(max) value of the synthetic substrate (250 nmol/min per microgram of enzyme) was 25-500% higher than those of the acetylalanyl peptides, depending on the peptide chain length, although the enzyme affinity was slightly lower (1.8 mM as compared with 0.7 mM). In line with data on other animal species and on various tissues, the enzyme seemed likely to be a serine protease, since it was readily inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate and diethyl pyrocarbonate. A 2377-nucleotide long cDNA coding for the enzyme was isolated from pig small intestine. The deduced amino acid sequence consisted of 731 residues and showed a single different amino acid with that of the porcine liver APH, except the N-terminal amino acid which is still probably lacking.