The growth inhibitory effects and non-targeted metabolomic profiling of Microcystis aeruginosa treated by Scenedesmus sp

The health of the aquatic ecosystem has recently been severely affected by cyanobacterial blooms brought on by eutrophication. Therefore, it is critical to develop efficient and secure methods to control dangerous cyanobacteria, such as Microcystis aeruginosa. In this research, we tested the inhibition of M. aeruginosa growth by a Scenedesmus sp. strain isolated from a culture pond. Scenedesmus sp. culture filtrate that had been lyophilized was added to M. aeruginosa, and cultivation for seven days, the cell density, chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured. Moreover, non-targeted metabolomics was carried out to provide light on the inhibitory mechanism in order to better understand the metabolic response. According to the results, M. aeruginosa is effectively inhibited by the lyophilized Scenedesmus sp. culture filtrate at a rate of 51.2%. Additionally, the lyophilized Scenedesmus sp. clearly inhibit the photosystem and damages the antioxidant defense system of M. aeruginosa cells, resulting in oxidative damage, which worsens membrane lipid peroxidation, according to changes in Chl-a, Fv/Fm, SOD, CAT enzyme activities and MDA, GSH. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the secondary metabolites of Scenedesmus sp. significantly interfere with the metabolism of M. aeruginosa involved in amino acid synthesis, membrane creation and oxidative stress, which is coherent with the morphology and physiology outcomes. These results demonstrate that the secondary metabolites of Scenedesmus sp. exert algal inhibition effect by breaked the membrane structure, destroyed the photosynthetic system of microalgae, inhibited amino acid synthesis, reduced antioxidant capacity, and eventually caused algal cell lysis and death. Our research provides a reliable basis for the biological control of cyanobacterial blooms on the one hand, and on other hand supply application of non-targeted metabolome on the study of microalgae allelochemicals.

[Metabolomic study on urine of chronic inflammation rats treated with Buyang Huanwu Decoction based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS]

The study investigated the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD) on endogenous biomarkers in the urine of rats with chronic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), aiming to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of BYHWD on chronic inflammation from a metabolomics perspective. Male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose BYHWD groups(7.5, 15, and 30 g·kg~(-1)). The model group and BYHWD groups received tail intravenous injection of LPS(200 μg·kg~(-1)) on the first day of each week, followed by oral administration of BYHWD once a day for four consecutive weeks. Urine samples were collected at the end of the administration period, and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to analyze the metabolic profiles of the rat urine in each group. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to analyze the effect of BYHWD on endogenous metabolites. One-way ANOVA and variable importance for the projection(VIP) were used to screen for potential biomarkers related to chronic inflammation. The identified biomarkers were subjected to pathway and enrichment analysis using MetaboAnalyst 5.0. A total of 25 potential biomarkers were screened and identified in the rat urine in this experiment. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significant increases in the levels of 14 substances(P<0.05) and significant decreases in the levels of 11 substances(P<0.05). BYHWD was able to effectively reverse the trend of most endogenous biomarkers. Compared with the model group, BYHWD significantly down-regulated 13 biomarkers(P<0.05) and up-regulated 10 biomarkers(P<0.05). The metabolic products were mainly related to the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A, tryptophan metabolism, retinol metabolism, and propionate metabolism. BYHWD has therapeutic effect on chronic inflammation induced by LPS, which may be related to its ability to improve the levels of endogenous metabolites, enhance the body's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, and restore normal metabolic activity.

Morphological change and differential proteomics analysis of gill in Mytilus coruscus under starvation

Mytilus coruscus is a dominant shellfish in the Yangtze estuary and its adjacent sea area. Food deprivation often occurs during their growth due to fluctuations in algal abundance caused by seasonal freshwater flushing and high-density aquaculture mode. To investigate the coping strategies of M. coruscus to starvation stress, electron microscopy and differential proteomic analysis were performed on the critical feeding organ gill of the mussels after 9 days of starvation. The electron microscopy results showed that the cilia of the mussel gills were dissolved, and the gaps between gill filaments widened under starvation. Differential proteomic analysis revealed that phagocytosis-related proteins such as ATPeV1E, ATPeV1C, LAMP1_2 and CTSL were significantly upregulated, and the phagocytosis pathway was significantly enriched (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, the corin content in gill and myeloperoxidase level as well as the number of dead cells in blood were both significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05). What’s more, proteomic data suggested that immune maintenance, cellular transport and metabolism related pathways were significantly enriched, which illustrated an immune and metabolism responses under starvation. This study reveals for the first time that phagocytosis functions as an essential strategy for M. coruscus to cope with starvation, which provides new scientific knowledge and a theoretical basis for understanding the adaptation mechanisms of mussel to starvation and for rational optimization of mussel culture patterns.

[Application of high-density polyethylene implants in adult cleft lip and palate nasal deformity and dysfunction]

Objective: Through the use of high-density polyethylene implants in adults with cleft lip and palate nasal deformities and abnormal functions, to evaluate the clinical effect of postoperative patients on improving nasal shape and symptoms. Methods: A retrospective study of 12 patients with nasal deformities after cleft lip and palate surgery in the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine from January 2018 to January 2022 was completed, including 7 males and 5 females, with the age ranging from 18 to 29 years. All the patients underwent nasal deformity correction, and nasal septum correction was performed if necessary. High-density polyethylene implants (MEDPOR/Su-Por) were used intraoperatively. Follow-up for at least 6 months was performed to measure the relevant appearance indicators and subjective Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and to compare the clinical effects before and after surgery. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Before and after surgery, the average VAS score of nasal obstruction decreased by (4.83±0.94) points; the average VAS score of appearance satisfaction increased by (3.92±1.08) points; the height of nasal columella was increased by (1.79±0.78)mm; the height of nasal tip was increased by (2.79±1.50)mm; the height of ipsilateral nostril was increased by (1.83±0.62)mm; the width of the ipsilateral nasal floor was reduced by (0.42±0.47)mm. All of above were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: High-density polyethylene implants can effectively improve the shape and function of the nose in operations related to cleft lip and palate nasal deformity and abnormal functions, and are an ideal synthetic material.

Comparative study of Janus B2XY (X, Y = S, Se, Te) and F-BNBN-H monolayers for water splitting: revealing the positive and negative roles of the intrinsic dipole

It is widely recognized that the intrinsic dipole in two-dimensional (2D) photocatalysts promotes hydrogen production during water splitting. Herein, we wonder whether the intrinsic dipole plays a negative role in water splitting. In this work, we make a comparative study of the structural, electronic, and photocatalytic properties of Janus B₂XY (X, Y = S, Se, Te) and F-BNBN-H monolayers using first principles. Our theoretical results reveal that both B₂XY and F-BNBN-H monolayers exhibit spatially separated conduction band minimum (CBM) and valence band maximum (VBM), as well as vacuum level differences at the opposite surfaces due to the intrinsic dipole. The F-BNBN-H monolayer has excellent redox ability for water splitting, because its CBM is located at the surface with a lower vacuum level and its VBM is distributed on the opposite surface possessing a higher vacuum level. By sharp contrast, B₂XY monolayers have limited or vanishing redox ability, because their CBM is located at the surface with a higher vacuum level and their VBM is distributed on the opposite surface with a lower vacuum level. This work emphasizes the negative role of vacuum level differences of photocatalysts caused by the intrinsic dipole in water splitting.

The phytochemical constituents and protective effect of Fritillaria hupehensis on acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI), a severe respiratory disorder, frequently develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) without timely treatment and scores highly in terms of morbidity and mortality rates. Fritillaria hupehensis is a famous traditional Chinese medicine with antitussive, expectorant and anti-asthmatic effect. Here, the effects of F. hupehensis extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice were evaluated for the first time. We showed ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) significantly reduced the leukocytes and neutrophils of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the lung index as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) of lung homogenates but increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Additionally, the alleviation of EAF treatment on lung injury was verified through histopathological observations. Subsequent phytochemical investigation on bioactive fraction led to isolation of 17 compounds including two new, in which compounds 2, 5 and 6 exhibited better anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced 16 human airway epithelial (16HBE) cells model by inhibiting the production of CRP and PCT. Furthermore, compound 2 suppressed the LPS-induced upregulation of proteins containing p-p65, COX-2, Caspase-1 and IL-18. In summary, F. hupehensis alleviating LPS-induced ALI in mice may be associated with the anti-inflammatory activity of steroidal alkaloids by suppressing the NF-κB-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins.

[Trends of the disease burden of intellectual disability among children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019 in China]

Objective: This study aims to analyze the disease burden of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents aged 0-19 years in 2019 and its trends from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Data were gathered from the Global Burden of Disease study. The prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents were compared with the global average by gender, age group, and severity of disability in 2019. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in the prevalence and YLDs of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019. Results: The prevalence and YLDs of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents in 2019 were 1 522.65 per 100 000 (95%UI: 1 228.62 per 100 000-1 817.55 per 100 000) and 109.81 per 100 000 (95%UI: 72.15 per 100 000-158.09 per 100 000), respectively, which were lower than the global average. The prevalence and YLDs of severe intellectual disability in China were slightly higher than the global average. The average annual percent changes in the prevalence and YLDs of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents were -0.23% (95%CI: -0.26%--0.21%, P<0.001) and 0.74% (95%CI: 0.66%-0.81%, P<0.001) from 1990 to 2019, respectively. The prevalence and YLDs of severe intellectual disability showed continuously increasing trends over the past 30 years. Conclusions: The disease burden of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents was lower than the global average in 2019, but severe intellectual disability was higher than the global average. The prevalence of intellectual disability among Chinese children and adolescents showed an overall decrease, while YLDs showed an increasing trend from 1990 to 2019.

Integrated Analyses of miRNome and Transcriptome Reveal the Critical Role of miRNAs Toward Heat Stress Response in Isochrysis galbana

Isochrysis galbana is widely used in aquaculture as a bait microalgal species. High temperature (HT) can severely impair the development of I. galbana, exerting adverse effects on its yield. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in modulating stress-responsive genes. However, the role of miRNAs in response to HT in microalgae remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we identified several conserved and novel miRNAs in I. galbana through miRNome sequencing. Among these identified miRNAs, 22 miRNAs were differentially expressed in response to heat stress, and their target genes were predicted accordingly. Moreover, a comprehensive and integrated analysis of miRNome and transcriptome was performed. We found that six potential reversely correlated differentially expressed miRNA (DEM) and differentially expressed gene (DEG) pairs were associated with heat stress response (HSR) in I. galbana. The expressions of DEMs and DEGs were further verified using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Integrated analyses showed that miRNAs played fundamental roles in the regulatory network of HSR in I. galbana mainly by regulating some heat-responsive genes, including heat shock proteins (HSPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling-related genes, and specific key genes in the ubiquitination pathway. Our current study identified the first set of heat-responsive miRNAs from I. galbana and helped elucidate the miRNA-mediated HSR and resistance mechanisms in I. galbana. This new knowledge could provide ways to enhance its heat stress tolerance.

The Protective Effect of Sweet Potato Root Tuber on Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia

SCOPE

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is one of the leading crops worldwide, containing high nutritional components such as fiber and polyphenols. Root tuber of Simon 1 (SIMON), a cultivar of sweet potato, is a folk food in China with a hemostasis function but lacking experimental data support.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Now the protective effect of SIMON on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT), a serious complication of cancer treatment, is investigated for the first time by a CIT mouse model induced by intraperitoneal injection of carboplatin. As a result, SIMON raises the number of peripheral platelets, white blood cells, and bone marrow nucleated cells in CIT mice significantly. Besides, carboplatin-induced atrophy of the thymus, spleen, and disordered metabolism of the inflammatory immune system and glycerophospholipids are also reversed by SIMON. Phytochemical analysis of SIMON indicates 16 compounds including eight phenolic derivatives, which might be associated with its anti-CIT bioactivity.

CONCLUSION

Sweet potato (SIMON) may be an efficient function food in the prevention of bleeding disorders.

[Analysis of changes in mortality of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years in China from 2004 to 2018 and policy effects]

Objective: To analyze the trend of child and adolescent mortality rate in China from 2004 to 2018 and explore the possible policy effects. Methods: This study used the mortality data of child and adolescent aged 5 to 19 years from 2004 to 2018 based on the National Disease Surveillance System. Age-standardized mortality rate was calculated by using the population from the sixth national census. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the trend of child and adolescent mortality with different features from 2004 to 2018. Results: From 2004 to 2018, the overall mortality rate of children and adolescents in China dropped from 40.02 per 100 000 to 22.00 per 100 000, and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was -4.28 (95%CI:-5.35,-3.20,P<0.001). The mortality rate dropped rapidly from 2004 to 2006, and the annual percentage change (APC) was -9.20 (95%CI:-15.63,-2.28,P=0.017). The decline rate slowed down between 2006 and 2013, and the APC was -1.56 (95%CI:-2.78,-0.33,P=0.020). The downward trend accelerated from 2013 to 2018, and the APC was -5.99 (95%CI:-7.52,-4.43,P<0.001). The trend of child mortality rate in rural area, females, eastern provinces of China, children aged 10 to 14 years, children aged 15 to 19 years, and injury mortality rate were basically consistent with the overall trend. The child mortality rate in urban area, central provinces of China and the mortality rate of infectious diseases, maternal and infant, and nutritional deficiencies diseases showed a uniform downward trend from 2004 to 2018, with AAPC values about -3.59 (95%CI:-4.38,-2.78,P<0.001), -2.89 (95%CI:-3.24,-2.54,P<0.001) and -6.66 (95%CI:-7.64,-5.68,P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The mortality rate of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years in China continues to decline from 2004 to 2018, and the decline rate becomes faster after 2011.

[Methods for evaluating overweight and obesity among children and adolescents and application in SPSS and SAS]

Overweight/obesity has become one of the major public health problems among children and adolescents all over the world. The current screening standards for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are not unified. It is easy to make mistakes and inefficient to evaluate item by item or develop self-written packages. Taking the"Screening standards for overweight and obesity in Chinese school-age children and adolescents"as an example, this study introduced four methods and procedures for evaluating overweight and obesity among children and adolescents from the world and China and described their application methods in combination with specific cases. At the same time, the SPSS and SAS packages were compiled and the specific application steps were explained, so that users could correctly and quickly screen overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, and conduct horizontal comparisons of similar studies across different regions.

RNA-seq Insights Into the Impact of Alteromonas macleodii on Isochrysis galbana

Phycospheric bacteria may be the key biological factors affecting the growth of algae. However, the studies about interaction between Isochrysis galbana and its phycospheric bacteria are limited. Here, we show that a marine heterotrophic bacterium, Alteromonas macleodii, enhanced the growth of I. galbana, and inhibited non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of this microalgae. Further, we explored this phenomenon via examining how the entire transcriptomes of I. galbana changed when it was co-cultured with A. macleodii. Notable increase was observed in transcripts related to photosynthesis, carbon fixation, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosomal proteins, biosynthetic enzymes, and transport processes of I. galbana in the presence of A. macleodii, suggesting the introduction of the bacterium might have introduced increased production and transport of carbon compounds and other types of biomolecules. Besides, the transcriptome changed largely corresponded to reduced stress conditions for I. galbana, as inferred from the depletion of transcripts encoding DNA repair enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other stress-response proteins. Taken together, the presence of A. macleodii mainly enhanced photosynthesis and biosynthesis of I. galbana and protected it from stress, especially oxidative stress. Transfer of fixed organic carbon, but perhaps other types of biomolecules, between the autotroph and the heterotroph might happen in I. galbana-A. macleodii co-culture. The present work provides novel insights into the transcriptional consequences of I. galbana of mutualism with its heterotrophic bacterial partner, and mutually beneficial associations existing in I. galbana-A. macleodii might be explored to improve productivity and sustainability of aquaculture algal rearing systems.

[Gender difference in secular trends of body height in Chinese Han adolescents aged 18 years, 1985-2014]

Objective: To analyze the gender difference in secular trends of body height in Chinese Han adolescents aged 18 years from 1985 to 2014. Methods: Data were extracted from 1985, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014 Chinese National Surveys in Students' Constitution and Health. A total of 124 099 Chinese Han adolescents aged 18 years were included in the analysis. ANOVA test was used to compare the body height between different subgroups stratified by gender and the mean difference and ratio in body height were calculated. Quantile regression model was used to assess the association between body height and gender over time in the adolescents stratified by region or area. Results: The mean body height of adolescents aged 18 years increased significantly from 1985 to 2014 with the rate of 1.3 cm/decade in male adolescents and 0.8 cm/decade in female adolescents, and the highest increment occurred from 1995 to 2005 in both groups. Male adolescents were taller than female adolescents at each subgroup (P<0.05). Gender difference in body height increased from 11.1 cm in 1985 to 12.6 cm in 2014 and ratio remained to be 1.07-1.08. The body height was taller in adolescents in urban area than in rural area (P<0.05) and in northeastern China than in other regions (P<0.05) in both male and female adolescents. The body height of obese male adolescents had been taller since 2000 and the body height of obese female adolescents had been taller since 2010 than other groups. When adjusted for urban-rural areas, region, socioeconomic status and nutritional status, the body height increased over time at P₅, P₂₅, P₅₀, P₇₅ and P₉₅ in both male and female adolescents, and the increments of gender difference in body height at different percentile ranged from 0.45 cm/decade to 0.57 cm/decade. When stratified by region, the gender difference in body height showed similar trend with total sample except P₅ and P₉₅ in northeastern China, the difference of increments were not significant. Conclusions: From 1985 to 2014, the gender difference in body height of Chinese Han adolescents aged 18 years increased, and male adolescents showed greater increase than female adolescents. Moreover, the adolescents in northeastern and eastern China had larger increment in body height. It is necessary to paid more attention to the adolescents in central and western China to promote their physical development.

[Evaluation of the effects auricular reconstruction with Medpor combined with hearing rehabilitation]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of single-stage auricular reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation in children with microtia and external auditory canal atresia. Methods: Sixty eight cases of microtia with external auditory canal atresia (53 males and 15 females, age from 7 to 12 years, with a median age of 8.8 years), who received operations in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from July 2017 to December 2019 were collected.A total of 28 cases received auricle reconstruction with high-density polyethylene (Medpor) framework and hearing reconstructions, among which 20 patients received the traditional external auditory canal and middle ear repair (EACR), and eight patients were implanted bone conduction device bone bridge(BB) simultaneously.In the control group, 40 patients only received Medpor frame implantation for auricle plasty. Postoperative changes in auricle morphology and auditory function and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: After three to thirty months follow-ups, the auricles shape recovered well in all three groups. The average scores of 14 fine structures in the auricles were 9.43(EACR) and 10.67(BB) points. The average score of auricle symmetry were 6.83(EACR) and 6.00(BB) points. There was no significant difference compared to the auricle reconstruction group (8.23/6.20 points). P>0.05. After surgery, the average hearing improvement in the BB group was 43.33 dB HL and the average speech recognition threshold declined 42.28 dB HL. In the EACR group, the average hearing improvement was 4.13 dB HL and the average speech recognition threshold declined 11.36 dB HL. No vertigo, tinnitus, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other complications occurred in all the patients. In the EACR group, sensorial hearing loss, auricle stent fracture, ear canal restenosis and ear canal atresia occurred in one patient respectively. In the auricle group, one auricle stent exposure and one facial branch nerve injury occurred. Nearly ten patients had difficulty in hair growth at scalp incisions. Conclusions: The operation of single-stage auricular reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation for microtia is feasible. The methods of hearing reconstruction should be determined by evaluating the development of the inner and middle ear of the patients. For those with poor mastoid development, bone bridge implantation is recommended to achieve a stable and significant hearing effect.

[Molecular mechanism analysis of Erzhi Wan in treatment of aging based on network pharmacology]

This present study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of Erzhi Wan(a prescription of nourishing Yin and toni-fying liver and kidney) in treatment of aging by network pharmacology. The active constituents and target proteins of Erzhi Wan were searched from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database(TCMSP) and PubChem databases respectively. Aging-related genes were searched from Gene and HAGR databases. Based on the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis(IPA), we analyzed the common molecular network, biological pathway and interaction sites between these two parts, and verified some of them by Western blot. Twelve active constituents of Erzhi Wan were screened by TCMSP databases, 69 protein targets were predicted through PubChem, and 148 aging-related genes were found in Gene and HAGR databases. IPA comparison showed that the molecular networks of these two were complex, with diversity of biological functions. The common pathways involved 292 pathways, mainly related to tumors. They acted on hypoxia inducible factor-1α gene(HIF1α), nuclear factor-E2 related factor(Nrf2/NFE2 L2), tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and other sites. Western blot results suggested that Erzhi Wan could down-regulate the expression of HIF1α, with statistical difference(P&lt;0.05). It was concluded that, Erzhi Wan could intervene aging through improving pseudo-hypoxic microenvironment and inflammation. The molecular mechanism of Erzhi Wan in delaying aging was preliminarily revealed, which laid a foundation for further stu-dying the anti-aging mechanism of Erzhi Wan, and also provided a reference for the compatibility mechanism and extended application of Chinese medicine compounds.

[Association between endurance quality and blood pressure levels in Han students aged 13-18 years in China, 2014]

Objective: To analyze the association between the endurance quality and blood pressure levels in Han students aged 13-18 years in China. Methods: We used the data of Han students aged 13-18 years from 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. Elevated blood pressure and its components, including isolated elevated SBP, isolated elevated DBP, and mix elevated blood pressure, were evaluated according to the reference of screening for elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents aged 7-18 years. The students' endurance quality was scored according to the National Standards for Students' Physical Health (2014 revision) and categorized based on their percentiles into four groups as follows: P(0)-, P(25)-, P(50)-, and P(75)-P(100). Trend χ(2) test was used to analyze the trend of the detection rates of elevated blood pressure and its components in different groups of endurance quality. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for elevated blood pressure and its components in different endurance quality groups and P(0)-group was set as reference group. Quantile regression model was used to analyze the association between different blood pressure levels and endurance quality. Results: The detection rate of elevated blood pressure in the students aged 13-18 years in China in 2014 was 9.2%. The detection rate of elevated blood pressure and its components decreased with the improvement of endurance quality (P<0.001). With the P(0)-endurance quality group as reference, the OR(95%CI) were 0.89(0.84-0.95), 0.81(0.76-0.86) and 0.79(0.74-0.84) respectively in P(25)-, P(50)- and P(75)-P(100) endurance quality groups respectively. The negative association existed between endurance quality and elevated blood pressure in overweight, obese and normal students, but not in malnourished students. The quantile regression analysis results showed that in overweight and obese students, the SBP levels at the P(10), P(25), P(50), P(75), P(9)0 and P(95) groups were negatively associated with the endurance quality, and the DBP levels at the P(25) and above group were negatively associated with the endurance quality. In malnourished and normal students, only some levels of DBP were negatively associated with the endurance quality. Conclusions: The negative association existed between endurance quality and elevated blood pressure in Han students aged 13-18 years in China. In overweight and obese students, the association between endurance quality and blood pressure level was stronger. Improving students' endurance quality may facilitate the prevention of elevated blood pressure.

[Analysis on the trend of prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status among Chinese Han students aged 13 to 18 years and related influencing factors from 1985 to 2014]

Objective: Using the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health data from 1985 to 2014 to analyze the trend of excellent and good physical fitness and health status among Chinese Han students aged 13 to 18 years and the related influencing factors. Methods: 738 523 students aged 13 to 18 years with completed data of gender, age, urban and rural, physical form, vital capacity and physical fitness were selected from the six Chinese National Surveys on Students' Constitution and Health. According to National Standards for Students' Physical Health (2014 revision), the comprehensive scores and the prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status were calculated (90.0-120.0 was classified as excellent, and 80.0-89.9 was classified as good). The trend of prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status in different years and the corresponding differences among students with different characteristics were analyzed and compared. The log-binomial regression model was used to analyze related factors of physical fitness and health status. Results: From 1985 to 2014, the overall prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status increased from 27.6% in 1985 to 35.6% in 1995, and then declined to 13.9% in 2005. In the 2010 and 2014 cycles, the prevalence increased steadily, at 16.5% and 19.1% respectively. Except for 1995 and 2014, the prevalence of boys was higher than that of girls (P<0.001). The prevalence of students aged 13 to 15 was higher than that of students aged 16 to 18 (P<0.001). Log-binomial regression model analysis showed that girls ［PR（95%CI）=1.03（1.00-1.05）, P=0.021］, rural area ［PR（95%CI）=1.09（1.07-1.12）, P<0.001］, 13-15 years old［PR（95%CI）=1.89（1.84-1.94）, P<0.001］, eastern region［PR（95%CI）=1.94（1.88-2.00）, P<0.001］, middle region［PR（95%CI）=1.15（1.11-1.20）, P<0.001］, Exercise time ≥1 h/d［PR（95%CI）=1.41（1.37-1.45）, P<0.001］, parents support participation in sports activities after school［PR（95%CI）=1.10（1.06-1.15）, P<0.001］, TV time ≤1 h/d［PR（95%CI）=1.26（1.21-1.30）, P<0.001］, playing video games, watching videos or e-books ≤1 h/d［PR（95%CI）=1.05（1.02-1.09）, P<0.001］ were all related to the high prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status. Conclusion: The prevalence of excellent and good physical fitness and health status among students aged 13 to 18 was changing between 1985 and 2014. Gender, age, area, physical exercise time, screen time for non-learning purposes, and parents' attitudes toward students' participation in physical activities were all related to the excellent and good physical fitness and health status of students.

[The application of the National Standards for Students' Physical Health (2014 revision) in SPSS]

The National Standards for Students' Physical Health (2014 revision)is a standard for providing primary guidance for the national school education work and applicable to the evaluation of the physical health of primary school, secondary school and university students in China. This standard sets indicators and assessment scores by gender and grade from three aspects, i.e. body shape, function and quality. Given the complexity of the application process and the large number of indicators, it could be inefficient and misused due to a large sample size. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively introduce the application of the standard with examples, and compile the corresponding SPSS package for potential audience to quickly and accurately evaluate students' physical health.

[Comparison of status of physical activity time at school and influencing factors in students in China, 2010 and 2014]

Objective: To compare the probability of physical activity (PA) time ≥1 hour at school and influencing factors in students in China between 2010 and 2014. Methods: We used the data of 2010 and 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH). The surveys covered the Han students aged 9-22 years and Tibetan students aged 9-18 years (Tibet). The participants were primary school students (9-12 years old), junior high school students (13-15 years old), senior high school students (16-18 years old) and college students (19-22 years old). The probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school was compared using χ(2) tests between 2010 and 2014 survey years. Log-binomial Regression was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) for the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in different age groups. Results: The overall probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in students aged 9-22 years was 20.5% in 2010, and 23.8% in 2014. The difference between 2010 and 2014 was significant (P<0.001). On the whole, the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school increased in the eastern, central and western areas in 2014 compared with 2010 (P<0.05), and the increase range was highest in eastern area, followed by western area and central area (P<0.05). The probability of PA time of 1 hour at school in all age groups increased in 2014 compared with 2010 (P<0.05). The increase in the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school was larger in primary school students than that in high school students and college students (P<0.05). The probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school increased in all age groups in three areas, except in junior and senior high school students in the central area where the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school decreased. The probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in primary and junior/senior high school students in the eastern area had the greatest increase, but in college students it had the smallest increase in the three areas. From 2010 to 2014, the changes in the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in students in different provinces were quite different, especially in primary school students. The probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in four age groups increased in only three provinces. With the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in primary school students as the reference, the RR in junior high students had no significant change between 2010 and 2014. The RR in senior high school increased from 0.34 (0.33-0.35) in 2010 to 0.36 (0.36-0.37) in 2014, and the RR in college students increased from 0.33 (0.32-0.34) in 2010 to 0.43 (0.42-0.44) in 2014. Conclusions: The probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in all age groups increased in 2014 compared with 2010, but there were great differences among provinces. The findings of our study suggests that although the national policy played a certain role, the provinces should take specific measures to improve the probability of PA time ≥1 hour at school in students according to their own conditions. In addition, more attention should be paid to PA of older students.

[Secular trends and geographic disparities of all-cause mortality among Chinese adolescents aged 10-24 years, between 1953 and 2010]

Objective: To analyze the secular trends and geographic disparities of all-cause mortality among Chinese adolescents aged 10-24 years over the period of 1953-2010. Methods: Data were extracted from the Chinese National Census in 1953-2010. We calculated the all-cause mortality and annualized rates of the changes. Using the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as an indicator of regional socio-economic development level, we calculated the Wagstaff normal concentration indices for adolescent mortality. Results: Over the period of 1953-2010, the general patterns of Chinese adolescent mortality appeared higher in males than those in females, higher in the 20-24-year-old than those in the 15-19 year-old and in the 10-14 year-old groups, higher in adolescents from the western than those in the eastern regions. The mortality of adolescents decreased from 554.6/100 000 in 1953-1964 to 55.7/100 000 in 2010 in males and decreased from 488.4/100 000 to 26.7/100 000 in females, respectively. The percentage of decrease for females (94.5%) was higher than that for males (90.0%). In 1981-2010, the highest annualized rate of decline for males was seen in Beijing (4.4%), with the lowest seen in Qinghai (0.1%). For girls, Hubei showed the highest annualized rate of decline (6.4%) while Qinghai the lowest (0.8%). Provinces that with higher mortality tended to have lower annualized rate of decline. The concentration indices for boys were -0.07 (95%CI: -0.11- -0.03), -0.13 (95%CI: -0.18- -0.08), and -0.16 (95%CI: -0.22- -0.10) in 1990, 2000, and 2010, respectively, and were -0.07 (95%CI: -0.13- -0.02), -0.18 (95%CI: -0.24- -0.12), and -0.18 (95%CI: -0.26- -0.09) respectively in girls. The indices among 1990, 2000, and 2010 did not show statistically significantly differences, both for boys and girls (P>0.05). Conclusions: Over the half century, the mortality of Chinese adolescents showed dramatic decreasing trend. However, in terms of death rates, gender and geographic disparities were consistently seen in the adolescents.

[Effects of heme oxygenase-1 knockdown on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and its mechanism]

Objective: To investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) knockdown on proliferation, invasion and migration of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and explore the mechanism. Methods: The expression levels of HO-1 mRNA in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and human lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1299, H358 and H1993) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression level of HO-1 in human lung adenocarcinoma specimens. The HO-1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was transfected into A549 cells by RNA interference technique. HO-1 stably deleted A549 cells were selected (HO-1 shRNA group) and verified by RT-qPCR and western blot. HO-1 shRNA A549 cells and control shRNA A549 cells were treated with the inducer of autophagy Torin1 or its inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1), respectively. The expressions of autophagic markers LC3B and p62 were determined by western blot. The proliferation, invasion and migration abilities of each group of A549 cells were assessed by cell counting, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. Results: The expressions of HO-1 mRNA in lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1299, H358 and H1993) were significantly higher than that of HBECs, and HO-1 upregulated in human lung adenocarcinoma. The expression of p62 protein and the ratio of LC3B-Ⅱ/ LC3B-Ⅰ in no treatment group, Torin1 treatment group and Baf A1 treatment group were significantly higher than those of the corresponding control group (P<0.05). After 11 days of culture, the number of cells in HO-1 shRNA group were 41.8%, 30.4% and 14.0% of the corresponding control group, respectively. The number of lower chamber cells in HO-1 shRNA group were (35.7±2.1), (27.0±1.0) and (38.0±1.0)/field, respectively, which were lower than (66.0±9.2), (39.3±1.2) and (43.0±2.6)/field of the corresponding control group, respectively (P<0.05). The migration distances of HO-1 shRNA group were (7.47±0.91) mm, (4.23±0.82) mm and (5.42±0.24) mm, which were lower than (10.07±1.26) mm, (7.14±0.07) mm and (12.04±0.80) mm of the corresponding control groups, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Knockdown of HO-1 inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of A549 cells by impeding autophagy.

[Analysis on the urban-rural disparity of childhood stunting and its association with economic growth among Chinese Han students aged 7-18 years old]

Objective: To analyze the urban-rural disparity of childhood stunting and its association with subnational economic growth among Chinese Han students aged 7-18 years. Methods: We used the data from 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. 213 940 Chinese Han students aged 7-18 years with complete height records were included in this study. Stunting was defined according to the Screening Criteria of Malnutrition for School-age Children and Adolescents(2014 version, in Chinese). We divided students into two groups (economically developed and underdeveloped areas) according to the provincial GDP per capita. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to explore the association between the difference of urban-rural stunting prevalence and the provincial GDP per capita. Logistic regression models were established to assess the risk of stunting in rural children compared with urban children. Results: Among 213 940 students, 107 033 (50.0%) were from urban areas. The average height of 7-18 years old and 18 years old [(152.9±15.7) and (166.1±8.7) cm] of urban students were both higher than those of rural students [(150.7±16.0) and (165.1±8.6) cm] (P<0.001). The stunting prevalence of Chinese urban students (0.4%) was statistically significant lower than that of rural students (1.1%) (P<0.001), which was consistent in all age groups (P<0.05). The urban-rural disparity was found in 60% (18/30) of Chinese provinces. The difference of urban-rural stunting prevalence was negatively associated with provincial GDP per capita (r=-0.62, P<0.001). In economically underdeveloped areas, the risk of stunting for rural students aged 7-9 years was 4.69 (95%CI: 2.93-7.52) times that for urban children, while for students aged 10-18 years, the odds ratio was 2.44 (95%CI: 2.02-2.96). In economically developed areas, the risk of stunting for rural students aged 7-9 years was 5.43 (95%CI: 3.67-8.03) times that for urban children, while for students aged 10-18 years, the odds ratio was 2.15 (95%CI: 1.85-2.49). Conclusions: The urban-rural disparity of childhood stunting existed in most places in China. The difference of growth retardation between urban and rural areas was related to regional economic development.

Bacterial Community Diversity and Screening of Growth-Affecting Bacteria From Isochrysis galbana Following Antibiotic Treatment

Algal cultures are generally co-cultures of algae and bacteria, especially when considering outdoor cultivation. However, the effects of associated bacteria on algal growth remain largely unexplored, particularly in the context of Isochrysis galbana. In the present study, we investigated the effects of antibiotic on the growth of I. galbana and its associated bacterial community. We found advantageous responses of I. galbana to antibiotic exposure, evidenced by the increased growth, and the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm). Since antibiotics can cause major disturbances within bacterial community, we further conducted 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing to determine the changes of bacterial community diversity following antibiotic treatment. We found that antibiotic treatment considerably and negatively affected the abundance and diversity of bacterial community, and 17 significantly decreased bacterial species in the antibiotic-treated medium, including Pseudomonas stutzeri, were identified. Further co-culture experiments revealed that P. stutzeri inhibited the growth of I. galbana, and the inhibitory activity was retained in the cell-free bacterial filtrate. These results indicated that the negative effect of bacteria was not exclusively transmitted through contact with I. galbana but could be also mediated via secretory compounds. Taken together, our findings not only fully characterized the bacterial community associated with I. galbana and how the bacterial community changed in response to antibiotic perturbations, but also provided a valuable information about the interactions between I. galbana and its associated bacteria, which might help improve the yield, and quality of I. galbana during its cultivation processes.

Sarocladione, a unique 5,10:8,9-diseco-steroid from the deep-sea-derived fungusSarocladium kiliense

Sarocladione was isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungusSarocladium kilienseas the first example of a 5,10:8,9-diseco-steroid.

Distribution of Karlodinium veneficum in the coastal region of Xiangshan Bay in the East China Sea, as detected by a real-time quantitative PCR assay of ribosomal ITS sequence

Athecate dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum is a universal toxic species possessing karlotoxins recognized especially as ichthyotoxic as well as cytotoxic and hemolytic. Blooms of K. veneficum, both single-species or accompanied with other species, occurred more frequently worldwide in recent years, including the coastal region of China. Normally, K. veneficum present in relatively low abundance in phytoplankton communities in estuary regions. Being small and difficult to identify with light microscopy, it has been ignored for a long time till its blooming and toxins being confirmed. How it presents in background level and what is its relationship with critical geological and hydrological environment factors are basically not clear. In this study, the paper reports the application of a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to investigate the abundance and distribution of K. veneficum in the coastal waters of Xiangshan Bay in the East China Sea (ECS), a typical bay area of harmful algae blooms and heavily affected by anthropogenic activities. The real-time qPCR assay came out being an efficient method at detecting even low cell densities of K. veneficum of different genotypes. A total of 38 field samples of surface (0.5 m) and bottom water (9-100 m in depth) were analyzed and 12 samples were found positive for K. veneficum. At least 3 genotypes of K. veneficum present in this region. Temperatures in sites of K. veneficum positive ranged from 21.7 to 23.4 °C, and salinity levels were between 21.1 and 26.3. The K. veneficum distributed quite extensively in the waters of Xiangshan Bay, cell abundance varied from a low of 4 cells/L to a maximum of 170 cells/L. Most of the samples containing K. veneficum were collected from bottom water in different sites. At three of the 19 sampling sites, K. veneficum was detected in both surface and bottom water samples. Especially at sampling site near Beilun port, where the water is typically muddy with low transparency, relative high cell numbers of K. veneficum were found in both surface and bottom waters. Mixotrophy and vertical migration of K. veneficum could be important eco-physiological factors to consider in terms of understanding these distribution characteristics. The ideal conditions for K. veneficum growth and aggregation in this area still needs further study.

[Clinical study of nasopharyngeal masses with suspicion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adult patients]

Objective: To improve the accuracy of diagnosis and to reduce the misdiagnosis rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by analyzing the characteristics of such masses. Methods: Clinical data from 55 patients with suspicion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed and treated between March 2016 and September 2017 were analyzed. All patients were followed up regularly. Results: With following-up of 12 to 25 months, 6 (10.9%) of 55 cases were identified as nasopharyngeal malignant tumors, including 4 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 2 cases of lymphoma, and 49 cases (89.1%) were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal benign masses, including 29 (59.2%) cases for nasopharyngeal lymphoid proliferation, 15 (30.6%) for adenoid hypertrophy, 2 (4.1%) for nasopharyngeal cyst, 1 (2.0%) for polyp, 1 for papilloma and 1 for nasopharyngeal pharyngeal cyst. Small nasopharyngeal malignant tumor and masses with benign hyperplasia showed the overlap of images on the enhanced MRI/CT and Fibro-nasopharyngoscopy, but all 6 patients with nasopharyngeal malignant tumors presented with moderately enhanced multiple enlarged lymph nodes. Conclusions: Fibro-nasopharyngoscopy and enhanced MRI/CT have some value on evaluation of nasopharyngeal masses, but biopsy is a golden standard for diagnosis. Follow-up is necessary for the patients with negative biopsy and benign nasopharyngeal hyperplasia indicated by fibro-nasopharyngoscopy and enhanced MRI/CT.

Significance of expression of ID-1, ID-3, and NF-κB in colorectal adenocarcinoma

AIM

To detect the expression of inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding (ID)-1, ID-3, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in colorectal adenocarcinoma and to analyze their clinical significance.

METHODS

Eighty-eight colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues, 43 colorectal high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia tissues, and 34 normal colonic mucosal tissues (>5 cm away from the edge of tumor) were collected. Expression of ID-1, ID-3, and NF-κB in these tissue samples was detected by immunochemistry.

RESULTS

Expression of ID-1, ID-3, and NF-κB differed significantly between colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and control tissues. Expression of ID-1, ID-3, and NF-κB was correlated with proliferation index and lesion depth. Expression of ID-1 and ID-3 was correlated with tumor differentiation. Expression of NF-κB was correlated with metastasis. There was a positive correlation between ID-1 and ID-3 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues.

CONCLUSION

High expression of ID-1, ID-3 and NF-κB can promote the formation and progression of colorectal adenocarcinoma. ID-1 and ID-3 may have a synergistic effect.

One-Step Bioconversion of Fatty Acids into C8-C9 Volatile Aroma Compounds by a Multifunctional Lipoxygenase Cloned from Pyropia haitanensis

The multifunctional lipoxygenase PhLOX cloned from Pyropia haitanensis was expressed in Escherichia coli with 24.4 mg·L^-1 yield. PhLOX could catalyze the one-step bioconversion of C18-C22 fatty acids into C8-C9 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), displaying higher catalytic efficiency for eicosenoic and docosenoic acids than for octadecenoic acids. C20:5 was the most suitable substrate among the tested fatty acids. The C8-C9 VOCs were generated in good yields from fatty acids, e.g., 2E-nonenal from C20:4, and 2E,6Z-nonadienal from C20:5. Hydrolyzed oils were also tested as substrates. The reactions mainly generated 2E,4E-pentadienal, 2E-octenal, and 2E,4E-octadienal from hydrolyzed sunflower seed oil, corn oil, and fish oil, respectively. PhLOX showed good stability after storage at 4 °C for 2 weeks and broad tolerance to pH and temperature. These desirable properties of PhLOX make it a promising novel biocatalyst for the industrial production of volatile aroma compounds.

Detection of Skeletonema costatum based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick

We developed a new assay method, which combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with a chromatographic lateral flow dipstick (LFD) for the rapid and special detection of the diatom Skeletonema costatum. Four groups of LAMP primers were derived from a conserved DNA sequence unique to S. costatum. The amplifications were carried out at 61, 63, and 65 °C for 60 min in various combinations by the quantitative PCR thermal cycler to confirm optimal primers and reaction temperature. The LAMP-LFD detection limit was 0.94 pg/μL of S. costatum genomic DNA and was 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. The LAMP-LFD method had high specificity and accurately identified S. costatum algal isolates, but not other algal isolates. The new LAMP-LFD assay can be used as a reliable and easy method to detect S. costatum.

[Immunotherapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas]

The Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of heterogeneous diseases. Patients with HNSCC demonstrate poor prognosis and survival time with standard therapy, especially in patients with advanced HNSCC. Recurrence and metastasis have not yet been effectively controlled. The immune profile in HNSCC, whether caused by carcinogen exposure or human papillomavirus (HPV), showed significantly immunosuppression. With the understanding of the complex interaction between tumor and immune system and immune escape mechanism of HNSCC, new immunotherapies have been generating. This article will summarize the immunological mechanism and immune therapy of HNSCC currently..

[Effects of Effective Fractions of Panax Notoginseng on the Expression of TF and TFPI-2 in Rat En- dometrium with Whole Cycle Exogenous Estrogen Intervention]

Objective To observe the effects of notoginsenoside, Panax notoginseng flavonoids (PNF) , Panax notoginseng acid (PNA) , and their mixtures on the expressions of tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI-2) in rat endometriaum with whole cycle exogenous estrogen inter- vention. Methods Totally 160 female impuberty rats were randomly divided into the blank group (n =40) and the model group (n =120). Rats in the blank group were administered with normal saline by gastroga- vage for 3 weeks, while those in the model group were administered with estradiol valerate suspension. The two interventions lasted for 3 consecutive weeks. After 3 weeks of intervention, rats with asexual cycle were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the model group, the continuous estrogen group, the No- toginsenoside group, the PNF group, the PNA group, the mixture group. Rats in the model group, the continuous estrogen group, the Notoginsenoside group, the PNF group, the PNA group, the mixture group were respectively administered with normal saline, estrogen, notoginsenoside, PNF, PNA, and mixture of effective Panax notoginseng fractions by gastrogavage for 2 successive weeks. Expression levels of TF, TFPI-2, TF mRNA, and TFPI-2 mRNA in the endometrium were detected 2 weeks later. Re-sults Compared with the blank group, positive expressions of TF and TF mRNA increased, and positive expressions of TFPI-2 and TFPI-2 mRNA decreased in the model group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of TF and TF mRNA significantly increased, the expressions of TF- PI-2 and TFPI-2 mRNA significantly decreased in the estrogen group at the end of the 5th week (P < 0. 01). Compared with the model group and the estrogen group, positive expressions of TF and TF mRNA significantly decreased, positive expressions of TFPI-2 and TFPI-2 mRNA significantly increased in the Notoginsenoside group, the PNF group, the PNA group, the mixture group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Com- pared with the Notoginsenoside group, positive expressions of TFPI-2 and TFPI-2 mRNA significantly in- creased in the mixture group (P <0. 05). Compared with the PNF group, the expressions of TF and TF mRNA significantly decreased in the Notoginsenoside group and the mixture group (P <0. 01) ; positive expressions of TFPI-2 increased in the mixture group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Conclusions The effective fractions of Panax notoginseng could decrease the-expression of TF and increase the expression of TFPI- 2 in rat endometrium with whole cycle exogenous estrogen intervention. They activated blood circulation and arrested bleeding possibly through inhibiting TF, blocking activation of coagulation system, and re- ducing inflammatory response. Meanwhile, it also could strengthen endometrial extracellular matrix, maintain the endometrial stability, thereby reducing endometrial disintegration and bleeding, and being beneficial for endometrium repairing and remodeling.

The development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick for detection of Karlodinium veneficum

The aim of this study was to develop a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with a chromatographic lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay to rapidly and specifically detect the Karlodinium veneficum ITS gene. Four groups of LAMP primers were specially designed to target the K. veneficum ITS gene. The LAMP-LFD detection limit was 7.4pg/μL (approximately 6.5cells/mL) of K. veneficum genomic DNA and was 10 times more sensitive than standard PCR. The LAMP-LFD method exhibited high specificity and accurately identified K. veneficum algal isolates, but not other algal isolates. To test the assay's accuracy, samples from positive results were further analyzed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, all of which were identified as K. veneficum. Over all, the LAMP-LFD assay established in this paper can be used as a reliable and simple method to detect the K. veneficum.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis from Arg195 to His of a Microalgal Putatively Chloroplastidial Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase Causes an Increase in Phospholipid Levels in Yeast

To analyze the contribution of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) to the first acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G-3-P), the present study focused on a functional analysis of the GPAT gene from Lobosphaera incisa (designated as LiGPAT). A full-length cDNA of LiGPAT consisting of a 1,305-bp ORF, a 1,652-bp 5'-UTR, and a 354-bp 3'-UTR, was cloned. The ORF encoded a 434-amino acid peptide, of which 63 residues at the N-terminus defined a chloroplast transit peptide. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogeny analysis of GPAT homologs provided the convincible bioinformatics evidence that LiGPAT was localized to chloroplasts. Considering the conservation of His among the G-3-P binding sites from chloroplastidial GPATs and the substitution of His by Arg at position 195 in the LiGPAT mature protein (designated mLiGPAT), we established the heterologous expression of either mLiGPAT or its mutant (Arg195His) (sdmLiGPAT) in the GPAT-deficient yeast mutant gat1Δ. Lipid profile analyses of these transgenic yeasts not only validated the acylation function of LiGPAT but also indicated that the site-directed mutagenesis from Arg(195) to His led to an increase in the phospholipid level in yeast. Semi-quantitative analysis of mLiGPAT and sdmLiGPAT, together with the structural superimposition of their G-3-P binding sites, indicated that the increased enzymatic activity was caused by the enlarged accessible surface of the phosphate group binding pocket when Arg(195) was mutated to His. Thus, the potential of genetic manipulation of GPAT to increase the glycerolipid level in L. incisa and other microalgae would be of great interest.

Vagal afferent-dependent cholecystokinin modulation of visceral pain requires central amygdala NMDA-NR2B receptors in rats

BACKGROUND

Cholecystokinin (CCK), a gut hormone that is released during feeding, exerts gastrointestinal effects in part through vagal pathway. It is reported to be a potential trigger for increased postprandial visceral sensitivity in healthy subjects and, especially in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. NR2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the central amygdala (CeA) participate in pain modulation. Systemically administered CCK activates the CeA-innervating neurons. Here, we investigated whether CCK modulation of visceral sensitivity is mediated through CeA NMDA-NR2B receptors and whether this modulation involves vagal pathway.

METHODS

We first examined the visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distention (CRD) following i.p. injection of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) in a rat model. Next, the NR2B antagonist ifenprodil and the NR2A antagonist NVP-AAM077 were microinjected into the CeA before systemic CCK injection. NR2B phosphorylation was detected by Western blot. To down-regulate NR2B gene expression, NR2B-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) was delivered into CeA neurons by electroporation. In addition, the effects of functional deafferentation by perivagal application of capsaicin and pretreatment with the CCK1 receptor antagonist devazepide were investigated.

KEY RESULTS

CCK-8 increased VMR to CRD in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was blunted by intra-CeA administration of ifenprodil (but not NVP-AAM077) and was accompanied by phosphorylation of NR2B subunits in the CeA. CCK failed to increase VMR to CRD in NR2B siRNA-treated rats. Perivagal capsaicin application and pretreatment with devazepide prevented CCK-induced pronociception and CeA NR2B phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The pronociception induced by systemic CCK, which is vagal afferent-dependent, requires activation of CeA NMDA-NR2B receptors.

Determining the Functions of HIV-1 Tat and a Second Magnesium Ion in the CDK9/Cyclin T1 Complex: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

The current paradigm of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) regulation based on the well-established CDK2 has been recently expanded. The determination of CDK9 crystal structures suggests the requirement of an additional regulatory protein, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat, to exert its physiological functions. In most kinases, the exact number and roles of the cofactor metal ions remain unappreciated, and the repertoire has thus gained increasing attention recently. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were implemented on CDK9 to explore the functional roles of HIV-1 Tat and the second Mg²⁺ ion at site 1 (Mg₁²⁺). The simulations unveiled that binding of HIV-1 Tat to CDK9 not only stabilized hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) between ATP and hinge residues Asp104 and Cys106, as well as between ATP and invariant Lys48, but also facilitated the salt bridge network pertaining to the phosphorylated Thr186 at the activation loop. By contrast, these H-bonds cannot be formed in CDK9 owing to the absence of HIV-1 Tat. MD simulations further revealed that the Mg₁²⁺ ion, coupled with the Mg₂²⁺ ion, anchored to the triphosphate moiety of ATP in its catalytic competent conformation. This observation indicates the requirement of the Mg₁²⁺ ion for CDK9 to realize its function. Overall, the introduction of HIV-1 Tat and Mg₁²⁺ ion resulted in the active site architectural characteristics of phosphorylated CDK9. These data highlighted the functional roles of HIV-1 Tat and Mg₁²⁺ ion in the regulation of CDK9 activity, which contributes an important complementary understanding of CDK molecular underpinnings.

Glycerol-3-phosphate metabolism plays a role in stress response in the red alga Pyropia haitanensis

Glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) has been suggested as a novel regulator of plant defense signaling, however, its role in algal resistance remains largely unknown. The glycerol kinase (also designated as NHO1) and NAD-dependent G3P dehydrogenase (GPDH) are two key enzymes involved in the G3P biosynthesis. In our study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of NHO1 (NHO1Ph ) and GPDH (GPDHP h ) from the red alga Pyropia haitanensis (denoted as NHO1Ph and GPDHP h ) and examined their expression level under flagellin peptide 22 (flg22) stimulation or heat stress. We also measured the level of G3P and floridoside (a downstream product of G3P in P. haitanensis) under flg22 stimulation or heat stress. Both NHO1Ph and GPDHP h shared high sequence identity and structural conservation with their orthologs from different species, especially from red algae. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NHO1s and GPDHs from red algae were closely related to those from animals. Under flg22 stimulation or heat stress, the expression levels of NHO1Ph and GPDHP h were up-regulated, G3P levels increased, and the contents of floridoside decreased. But the floridoside level increased in the recovery period after heat stress. Taken together, we found that G3P metabolism was associated with the flg22-induced defense response and heat stress response in P. haitanensis, indicating the general conservation of defense response in angiosperms and algae. Furthermore, floridoside might also participate in the stress resistance of P. haitanensis.

Development and evaluation of a real-time fluorogenic loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay integrated on a microfluidic disc chip (on-chip LAMP) for rapid and simultaneous detection of ten pathogenic bacteria in aquatic animals

Rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly strategies are urgently needed for early disease diagnosis and timely treatment, particularly for on-site screening of pathogens in aquaculture. In this study, we successfully developed a real-time fluorogenic loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay integrated on a microfluidic disc chip (on-chip LAMP), which was capable of simultaneously detecting 10 pathogenic bacteria in aquatic animals, i.e., Nocardia seriolae, Pseudomonas putida, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio rotiferianus, and Vibrio vulnificus. The assay provided a nearly-automated approach, with only a single pipetting step per chip for sample dispensing. This technique could achieve limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.40 to 6.42pg per 1.414μL reaction in less than 30 min. The robust reproducibility was demonstrated by a little variation among duplications for each bacterium with the coefficient of variation (CV) for time to positive (Tp) value less than 0.10. The clinical sensitivity and specificity of this on-chip LAMP assay in detecting field samples were 96.2% and 93.8% by comparison with conventional microbiological methods. Compared with other well-known techniques, on-chip LAMP assay provides low sample and reagent consumption, ease-of-use, accelerated analysis, multiple bacteria and on-site detection, and high reproducibility, indicating that such a technique would be applicable for on-site detection and routine monitoring of multiple pathogens in aquaculture.

Outcomes of laryngectomy in elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma

Laryngeal carcinoma is a common tumor of the head and neck region. This study aimed to examine the outcomes of laryngectomy in elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma. One-hundred twenty-two patients (male, 117; female, 5) aged 60 years or older (range, 60-94 years) who underwent laryngectomy between 1996 and 2010 were included. All patients were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, and 95 patients (77.9%) had additional concurrent diseases. Tumors were staged according to the TNM categories of the American Joint Committee on Cancer 2002 criteria; there were 16 stage-I, 24 stage-II, 52 stage-III, and 30 stage-IV cases. With regard to treatment modalities, 10 patients underwent transoral laser laryngectomy, 25 underwent partial laryngectomy, and 87 underwent total laryngectomy. When necessary, neck dissection was performed according to the Dalian criteria set in 2004 (a Chinese standard). Of the 122 cases, there were 114 cases of grade I (93.4%), 5 cases of grade II, and 3 cases of grade III (pharyngeal fistula in 2 cases recovered after 2 weeks of care) wound healing. No significant differences were observed in the occurrence or severity of comorbidities. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 97.5% (119/122), 84.4% (92/109), and 68.4% (67/98), respectively. Age alone should not be used to determine treatment options for elderly patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Presuming that careful pre-treatment evaluations are performed, laryngectomy is a key method for elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

Expression of CXCR4 is associated with progression and invasion in patients with nasal-surface basal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide that imposes a considerable burden on public health. C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR4) plays a vital role in initiation, progression and metastasis of several types of cancers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of CXCR4 in BCC.

METHODS

In this study, 80 samples of primary BCC were assessed for CXCR4 expression using immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CXCR4 were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

CXCR4-positive staining was detected in 70% of BCC samples. Overexpression of CXCR4 was significantly associated with tumor size (>2 vs. 2 cm, p = 0.002) and pathological type (invasive vs. noninvasive, p = 0.007). CXCR4 was also upregulated at transcriptional and translational levels.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that the expression of CXCR4 was associated with progression and invasion in patients with BCC. It may be a considerable biomarker to assess invasiveness of nasal-surface BCC and to guide clinical management of such tumors.

[CH4 emission features of leading super-rice varieties and their relationships with the varieties growth characteristics in Yangtze Delta of China]

A pot experiment was conducted to study the CH4 emission features of fourteen leading super-rice varieties (six Japonica rice varieties and eight Indica hybrid rice varieties) and their relationships with the varieties growth characteristics in Yangtze Delta. Two distinct peaks of CH4 emission were detected during the entire growth period of the varieties, one peak occurred at full-tillering stage, and the other appeared at booting stage. The average total CH4 emission of Japonica rice varieties was 37.6% higher than that of the Indica hybrid rice varieties (P<0.01), and the differences in the CH4 emission between rice types occurred at the post-anthesis phase. For all the varieties, there was a significant positive correlation between the total CH4 emission and the maximum leaf area, but the correlations between the CH4 emission and the other growth characteristics varied with variety type. The total CH4 emission of Japonica rice varieties had a significant positive correlation with plant height, while the correlations between the total CH4 emission of Indica hybrid rice varieties and their plant height were not significant. The total CH4 emission of Indica hybrid rice varieties had significant negative correlations with the total aboveground biomass, grain yield, and harvest index, but the correlations were not significant for Japonica rice varieties. The lower CH4 emission of Indica hybrid rice varieties was likely due to their significantly higher root biomass, as compared with Japonica rice varieties.

[Advances on the genome of algae]

Algae possess complex and diverse biology and evolutionary history. They play an important role in the ecosystem. A mass of unique genes and biological processes also make them attractive. The application of high-throughput sequencing approaches to algal research has greatly contributed to the development of algal genomics and transcriptomics, as well as enriched the gene information of algae. In this article, we summarize the advances of algal genomics and transcriptomics, describe and compare the characteristics of different algae genomes, and introduce the application of expression sequence tags (ESTs), microarray and RNA sequencing technique to algal transcriptomics research. Furthermore, the advances of algal gene expression and small RNA are also reviewed in detail. At last, we discuss the challenges and future development of this area.

[Spatiotemporal characteristics of zooplankton community structure and diversity in the strong temperature increment seawaters near Guohua power plant in Xiangshan Bay]

To explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of the zooplankton community structure and diversity in the strong temperature increment seawaters near a power plant, zooplankton samples were seasonally collected in duplicate by the type II net with mesh size of 160 microm at 10 stations near Guohua power plant in Xiangshan Bay in 2011. The results showed that a total of 62 species (including larvae) were identified in the samples, and the average abundance was 9 531.1 ind x m(-3). In the seawaters, zooplankton communities were mainly composed of copepods and pelagic larvae, and pelagic larvae were the dominant with an average percentage of abundance reached up to 66.6%. Analysis of similarities demonstrated that significant differences existed in zooplankton community structures among different months (P < 0.01). In these zooplankton communities, there were 18 dominant species controlling these community structures, among which the most important discriminating species were Centropages tenuiremis, Oithona similis, Oithona fallax, Acartia clausi, Clausocalanus furcatus, Paracalanus aculeatus and Paracalanus parvwus. GLM analysis indicated that diversity indices were also significantly different among different months (P < 0.01). According to the calculation results, the inflection point, where the diversity index began to decrease with increasing water temperature, fell within 20.31-22.31 degrees C. In sections, the average water temperature in the 0.2 km section (D02), away from the outfall, was 2.16: higher than that in the 2 km section. Driven by temperature, the main dominant species such as C. tenuiremis and O. similis tended to move into the 0.2 km section, while A. clause and especially large zooplankton tended to stay away from the outfall, and then gathered in the 1.2 km section. As a result, the number of species (33 species) and abundance (5 522.8 ind x m(-3)) were minimum in the section D02, while the number of species (53 species) and abundance (16 491.0 ind x m(-3)) reached the highest in the 1.2 km section. Meanwhile, diversity indices in the 0.2 km section were also obviously lower than those in other sections. Linear regression analysis showed that the diversity indices significantly decreased with increasing water temperature (P < 0.01). The zooplankton richness decreased by 12.3% when the water temperature increased by 1 degrees C.

[Carrageenan oligosaccharides inhibit growth-factor binding and heparanase activity]

This study is designed to investigate the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis mechanism of carrageenan oligosaccharides. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced cell proliferation, heparanase activity and bFGF binding ability were evaluated in human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results indicate that, at rational concentrations, carrageenan oligosaccharides showed low cytotoxic effect. At relatively low concentrations (0.2-200 microg x mL(-1)), these oligosaccharides could competitively bind bFGF and inhibit bFGF induced cell proliferation. In these samples, oligo-lambda-carrageenans (dp2-8) were the most potent bFGF antagonists. At concentration of 20 microg x mL(-1), their inhibitory ratio reached to 30%. The heparanase enzyme assay revealed that three kinds of carrageenan oligosaccharides showed different inhibitory activities to two cell lines. For HeLa cell, oligo-lambda-carrageenans showed highest inhibitory effect, but for HUVEC, oligo-kappa-carrageenans (dp9-17) were the best inhibitors. Current observations demonstrated that the biological activities of carrageenan oligosaccharides are closely related to the molecular weight, carbohydrate structure and the content and linking position of sulfur groups. Carrageenan oligosaccharides with high sulfate fraction, 2-8 units saccharide size and suitable molecular structure are able to achieve potent heparin sulfate-like compounds.

Studies on pathogenicity and prevalence of white spot syndrome virus in mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal), in Zhejiang Province, China

Mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal), is the most commercially important marine crab species in China. In recent years, serious diseases have occurred in major mud crab culture regions in SE China. PCR detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in diseased mud crabs collected from Zhejiang Province during 2006-2008 showed a prevalence of 34.82%. To study the pathogenicity of WSSV to mud crab, healthy mud crabs were injected intramuscularly with serial 10-fold dilutions of a WSSV inoculum. The cumulative mortalities in groups challenged with 10⁻¹, 10⁻², 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁴ dilutions were 100%, 100%, 66.7% and 38.9% at 10 days post-injection, respectively. All moribund and dead mud crabs except the control group were positive for WSSV by PCR. Based on the viral load of the WSSV inoculum by quantitative real-time PCR, the median lethal dose (LD50) of WSSV in S. serrata was calculated as 1.10 × 10⁶ virus copies/crab, or 7.34 × 10³ virus copies g⁻¹ crab weight. The phenoloxidase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in haemolymph of WSSV-infected moribund crabs, were significantly lower than the control group, whereas alkaline phosphatase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase were higher than in the control group. WSSV was mainly distributed in gills, subcuticular epithelia, heart, intestine and stomach as shown by immunohistochemical analysis with Mabs against WSSV. The epithelial cells of infected gill showed hypertrophied nuclei with basophilic inclusions. Numerous bacilliform virus particles were observed in nuclei of infected gill cells by transmission electron microscopy. It is concluded that WSSV is a major pathogen of mud crab with high pathogenicity.

Stakelama pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Sphingomonadaceae isolated from the Pacific Ocean

A Gram reaction-negative, weakly motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium designated strain JLT832T was isolated from surface water of the central Pacific Ocean and formed yellow colonies on rich organic (RO) medium. The strain was oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Acid was produced from mannitol, glucose, sucrose, lactose, sorbitol, maltose, (+)-trehalose and d-fructose. No acid was produced from d-(+)-xylose. The major cellular fatty acids of strain JLT832T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C14 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Ubiquinone-10 and spermidine were present as the major quinone and polyamine, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JLT832T was 66.0±0.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate formed a tight branch within the family Sphingomonadaceae but was clearly separate from established genera in this family. The sequence similarities between the new isolate and type strains of established genera ranged from 90.5 to 94.9 %. Based on these data, strain JLT832T constitutes a novel genus and species, for which the name Stakelama pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Stakelama pacifica is JLT832T (=CGMCC 1.7294T =LMG 24686T).

Mameliella alba gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the Roseobacter clade in the order Rhodobacterales

A Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, JLT354-WT, that accumulates poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules was isolated from the South China Sea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain was related to members of the genera Antarctobacter, Sagittula, Oceanicola and Loktanella; levels of similarity between strain JLT354-WT and members of the above genera were less than 92.0 %. The predominant fatty acid of strain JLT354-WT was C18 : 1 ω7c (83.1 %); significant amounts of C18 : 0 (7.9 %) and C12 : 1 3-OH (3.7 %) were also present. The predominant respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content of strain JLT354-WT was 63.7 mol%. The isolate was distinguishable from members of the order Rhodobacterales based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics. On the basis of the taxonomic data presented, strain JLT354-WT is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Mameliella alba gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Mameliella alba is JLT354-WT (=LMG 24665T=CGMCC 1.7290T).