Densoviruses in oyster Crassostrea ariakensis.

Densoviruses have short ssDNA genomes and mainly infect arthropods. To characterize viral nucleic acid in shellfish, oysters (Crassostrea ariakensis) were analyzed using viral metagenomics. Two large de novo assembled contigs, CaaDV1 and CaaDV2, consisting of nearly complete densovirus genomes (5860 nucleotides (nt) and 4034 nt) with two major ambisense protein coding regions were identified. Several potential non-structural proteins and capsid proteins were encoded by these genomes, but these were divergent from the existing densoviral species. The NS1 protein of the two CaaDVs shared 43.3%~61.5% amino acid identities with the sea star-associated densovirus and cherax quadricarinatus densovirus, with the four species clustering by phylogenetic analysis. This is the first report of densovirus detection in shellfish, increasing the potential host range of densoviruses and the genetic diversity of the genus Ambidensovirus.

Comparison of the long-term results of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized trials.

PURPOSE: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are 2 of the most widely used bariatric procedures today, in this meta-analysis, both techniques were compared for evaluating the efficacy and safety of the treatment of morbid obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic literature search of Cochrane Controlled Trials Register Databases, Medline, Embase, ISI databases, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database was performed. Statistical analyses were carried out using RevMan software. RESULTS: Thirty-two recent studies including 6526 patients in total were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with SG, RYGB had significantly better effect in resolving type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and arthritis. However, RYGB had higher incidence of complications and reoperation, and longer operation time than SG. CONCLUSIONS: RYGB was more effective than SG in the resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, SG was a safer procedure with a reduced rate of complications and reoperation.

Comparison of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is one of the most widely used bariatric procedures, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as a single-stage procedure for treating morbid obesity is becoming more popular. We compared both techniques to evaluate their efficacy in treating morbid obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases, Medline, Embase, ISI databases and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of LRYGB and LSG for morbid obesity or T2DM published in any language. Statistical analyses were carried out using RevMan software. RESULTS: Five worldwide RCTs with 196 patients in the LRYGB group and 200 in the LSG group were included in our analysis. Compared with patients who had LSG, those who had LRYGB had a higher remission rate of T2MD, lost more weight and had lower low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, homeostasis model assessment index and insulin levels. There was no difference in the reoperation rate between the groups. However, patients treated with LRYGB had a higher incidence of complication than those treated with LSG. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that LRYGB is more effective than LSG for the surgical treatment of T2DM and control of metabolic syndrome. However, LSG is safer and has a reduced rate of complications. Further high-quality RCTs with long follow-up periods are needed to provide more reliable evidence.

CONTEXTE: La dérivation gastrique laparoscopique Roux-en-Y (DGRY) est l'une des interventions bariatriques les plus utilisées, et la gastrectomie longitudinale laparoscopique (GLL) gagne en popularité comme intervention en une seule étape pour le traitement de l'obésité morbide. Nous avons comparé les 2 techniques pour en évaluer l'efficacité dans le traitement de l'obésité morbide ou du diabète de type 2 (DT2). MÉTHODES: Nous avons interrogé les bases de données du Registre des essais cliniques contrôlés de la Collaboration Cochrane, de même que les bases de données Medline, Embase, ISI et la base de données de la littérature biomédicale chinoise pour recenser les essais randomisés et contrôlés (ERC) publiés dans toutes les langues sur la DGRY et la GLL dans les cas d'obésité morbide ou de DT2. Les analyses statistiques ont été effectuées au moyen du logiciel RevMan. RÉSULTATS: Cinq ERC ont été recensés dans le monde et ont été inclus dans notre analyse, totalisant 196 patients soumis à la DGRY et 200 soumis à la GLL. Comparativement aux patients soumis à la GLL, les patients soumis à la DGRY ont présenté des taux de rémission plus élevés de leur DT2, ils ont perdu plus de poids et ont présenté des taux plus faibles de lipoprotéines de faible densité et de triglycérides, une baisse de leur indice d'évaluation du modèle d'homéostasie) et de leur taux d'insuline. On n'a noté aucune différence entre les groupes pour ce qui est du taux de réintervention. Toutefois, l'incidence des complications a été plus élevée chez les patients traités par DGRY que chez ceux traités par GLL. CONCLUSION: Notre méta-analyse démontre que la DGRY est plus efficace que la GLL pour le traitement chirurgical du DT2 et le contrôle du syndrome métabolique. Toutefois, la GLL est plus sécuritaire et s'accompagne d'un taux moindre de complications. Il faudra procéder à d'autres ERC de grande qualité comportant des suivis prolongés pour amasser des preuves plus fiables.

Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of postoperative complications after tension-free hernioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Previous reviews of the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis for elective inguinal hernia repair were not conclusive owing to the limited number of patients enrolled in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, since new RCTs involving patients undergoing tention-free hernioplasty have been published in recent years, we performed a new meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxisin the prevention of postoperative complications after this procedure. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of RCTs studying the use of antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent postoperative complications in patients undergoing tension-free hernioplasty. RESULTS: We included 6 RCTs conducted around the world in our analysis. Compared with the control condition, antibiotic prophylaxis was associated with a lower incidence of incision infection (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.77, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in risk for incision hematoma (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.60-4.10, p = 0.35), respiratory infection (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.17-5.79, p > 0.99) or urinary tract infection (OR 1.81, 95% CI 0.38-8.52, p = 0.45) between the 2 conditions. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis use in patients undergoing tension-free hernioplasty decreases the rate of incision infection by 55%.

Soy isoflavone delays the progression of thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the effect of soy isoflavone (SI) on liver fibrosis in a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight rats were assigned to four groups: sham group, fibrosis group, low-dose treatment group (LDg) and high-dose treatment group (HDg). SI (90 or 270 mg/kg) was administered daily during the model development by TAA. Standard liver tests, platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were measured. The expression of collagen, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in liver tissue was determined. Electron microscopy was used to perform ultrastructural analysis of the livers. RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by 8 weeks of TAA administration. However, following the administration of SI, collagen staining significantly declined as compared with the fibrosis group (p < 0.01). Less collagen fibers around the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were observed in HDg as compared to the fibrosis group and LDg. There was no significant difference in standard liver tests between the fibrosis group and the two treatment groups. The levels of PDGF-BB and TIMP-1 in the two SI-treated groups were significantly lower than in the fibrosis group (p < 0.01). The expression of α-SMA and TGF-ß1 in HDg was less than that in the fibrosis group and LDg (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Administration of a high dose of SI resulted in an obvious inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis induced by TAA in rats. One hypothesis is that the effect may be related to the inhibition of HSC activation and proliferation.

[Experimental analysis of microRNAs related to cardiac development differential expression].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential expression profiles of microRNAs in the knockout Pax-8 mice by miRNA microarray analysis and study the function of microRNA during cardiac development. METHODS: The knockout Pax-8 mice model was established and the total RNA derived from Pax-8 KO-/- and Pax-8 KO+/- mice heart. MicroRNA microarray containing 567 mammalian microRNA probes was used to investigate the microRNAs differential expression between Pax-8 KO-/- and Pax-8 KO+/- mice. The candidates of microRNAs were confirmed by real time RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: The heart of pax-8 KO-/- mice became spheroidal. Left ventricle enlargement, left ventricular wall and interventricular septum thickening and papillary muscles in left ventricle enlargement were found. Furthermore, many apoptotic cells were discovered in left ventricular wall and interventricular septum in pax-8 KO-/- mice. The MicroRNA microarray result displayed 10 microRNAs differential expressions, in which 2 microRNAs became down-regulated and 8 microRNAs up-regulated by more than two folds in pax-8 KO-/- mice. This was in accordance with the result of real-time RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: Some microRNAs may play important roles in cardiac development and ventricular septal defect pathogenesis.