Caterpillar Responses to Gustatory Stimuli in Potato Tuber Moths: Electrophysiological and Behavioral Insights.

This research investigates how fourth-instar larvae of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella, respond to plant secondary metabolites (sucrose, glucose, nicotine, and tannic acid) both in terms of gustatory electrophysiology and feeding behavior. The objective is to establish a theoretical foundation for employing plant-derived compounds in potato tuber moth control. We employed single-sensillum recording techniques and dual-choice leaf disk assays to assess the gustatory electrophysiological responses and feeding preferences of these larvae towards the mentioned compounds. Sensory neurons responsive to sucrose, glucose, nicotine, and tannic acid were identified in the larvae's medial and lateral sensilla styloconica. Neuronal activity was influenced by stimulus type and concentration. Notably, the two types of sensilla styloconica displayed distinct response patterns for sucrose and glucose while they had similar firing patterns towards nicotine and tannic acid. Sucrose and glucose significantly promoted larval feeding, while nicotine and tannic acid had significant inhibitory effects. These findings demonstrate that the medial and lateral sensilla styloconica house sensory neurons sensitive to both feeding stimulants and inhibitors, albeit with differing response profiles and sensitivities. This study suggests that sucrose and glucose are promising candidates for feeding stimulants, while nicotine and tannic acid show potential as effective feeding inhibitors of P. operculella larvae.

Different Detection Methods of Blood Nucleic Acid and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Blood Virus Screening.

Through the detection of antigens or antibodies of related viruses in blood, the incidence of transfusion-transmitted diseases can be reduced, the comprehensive performance indicators of the human body can be judged, and the disease can be effectively treated and prevented. The purpose of this study is to analyze the screening results of blood viruses by different detection methods of blood nucleic acid and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this study, the comparison and data analysis of the two detection methods in the study were carried out through the comparison method and data analysis method, and the functional analysis is combined with the detection principle. The positive rate of anti-HCV was 1.67% (10 / 600) by ELISA and 0.34% (2 / 590) by nucleic acid. Conclusion enzyme immunoassay is not sensitive to the antigen-antibody reaction in the window stage, and there is a mistake in the detection. However, nucleic acid detection has high sensitivity because of its PCR principle, but it is also prone to false-positive.

Overview on new progress of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer with CDH1 variants.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), comprising 1%-3% of gastric malignances, has been associated with CDH1 variants. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated more than 100 germline CDH1 variant types. E-cadherin encoded by the CDH1 gene serves as a tumor suppressor protein. CDH1 promoter hypermethylation and other molecular mechanisms resulting in E-cadherin dysfunction are involved in the tumorigenesis of HDGC. Histopathology exhibits characteristic signet ring cells, and immunohistochemical staining may show negativity for E-cadherin and other signaling proteins. Early HDGC is difficult to detect by endoscopy due to the development of lesions beneath the mucosa. Prophylactic gastrectomy is the most recommended treatment for pathogenic CDH1 variant carriers. Recent studies have promoted the progression of promising molecular-targeted therapies and management strategies. This review summarizes recent advances in CDH1 variant types, tumorigenesis mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapy, as well as clinical implications for future gene therapies.

Abnormal brain activity in adolescents with Internet addiction who attempt suicide: an assessment using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Internet addiction is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior and can lead to brain dysfunction among adolescents. However, whether brain dysfunction occurs in adolescents with Internet addiction who attempt suicide remains unknown. This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 41 young Internet addicts, aged from 15 to 20 years, from the Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China from January to May 2018. The participants included 21 individuals who attempted suicide and 20 individuals with Internet addiction without a suicidal attempt history. Brain images in the resting state were obtained by a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The results showed that activity in the gyrus frontalis inferior of the right pars triangularis and the right pars opercularis was significantly increased in the suicidal attempt group compared with the non-suicidal attempt group. In the resting state, the prefrontal lobe of adolescents who had attempted suicide because of Internet addiction exhibited functional abnormalities, which may provide a new basis for studying suicide pathogenesis in Internet addicts. The study was authorized by the Ethics Committee of Chongqing Medical University, China (approval No. 2017 Scientific Research Ethics (2017-157)) on December 11, 2017.

Synchronous multiple primary gastrointestinal cancers with CDH1 mutations: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Synchronous multiple primary cancers (SMPC) mean two or more malignant tumors occurring simultaneously and with different origins no matter what types they are or where they are located. The carcinogenesis of SMPC often involves variations of some specific genes. However, the correlation between CDH1 mutations and synchronous multiple primary gastrointestinal cancers is largely unknown. CASE SUMMARY: A 62-year-old woman had sustained abdominal pain for one week and visited our hospital. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple small polypoid lesions in both the stomach and colorectum. Computed tomography and laboratory results were within normal limits. Pathological evaluation confirmed signet ring cell carcinoma without obvious metastatic evidence. Malignant cells showed negativity for E-cadherin and positivity for ß-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus. DNA sequencing performed on paraffin-embedded tissue revealed two exactly coincident alterations in CDH1, C.57T>G and C.1418A>T. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that the combination of CDH1 mutations and WNT/ß-catenin signaling activation contributes to the carcinogenesis of gastrointestinal SMPC.

Quantification of SO2 Oxidation on Interfacial Surfaces of Acidic Micro-Droplets: Implication for Ambient Sulfate Formation.

Sulfate formation on the surface of aqueous microdroplets was investigated using a spray-chamber reactor coupled to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer that was calibrated using Na2SO4(aq) as a function of pH. The observed formation of SO3-•, SO4-•, and HSO4- at pH < 3.5 without the addition of other oxidants indicates that an efficient oxidation pathway takes place involving direct interfacial electron transfer from SO2 to O2 on the surface of aqueous microdroplets. Compared to the well-studied sulfate formation kinetics via oxidation by H2O2(aq), the interfacial SO42- formation rate on the surface of microdroplets was estimated to be proportional to the collision frequency of SO2 with a pH-dependent efficiency factor of 5.6 × 10-5[H+]3.7/([H+]3.7+10-13.5). The rate via the acidic surface reactions is approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than that by H2O2(aq) for a 1.0 ppbv concentration of H2O2( g) interacting with 50 µg/m3 of aerosols. This finding highlights the relative importance of the interfacial SO2 oxidation in the atmosphere. Chemical reactions on the aquated aerosol surfaces are overlooked in most atmospheric chemistry models. This interfacial reaction pathway may help to explain the observed rapid conversion of SO2 to sulfate in mega-cities and nearby regions with high PM2.5 haze aerosol loadings.

[Comparative study of IL-4, IFN-gamma gene methylation for the epigenetics of allergic rhinitis in Xinjiang Uygur, Han people].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of IL-4, IFN-gamma gene promoter methylation of allergic rhinitis patients between Uygur and Han people of Xinjiang. METHOD: Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) detected IL-4, IFN-gamma gene methylation of each of 50 patients with allergic rhinitis in Uygur and Han. RESULT: Complete IL-4 gene promoter methylation rate was 44% (22/50) and 48% (24/50) in Uygur and Han AR patients, un-methylation was 26% (13/50) and 22% (11/50), coexistence rate of methylation and un-methylation was 30% (15/50) and 30% (15/50). Complete IFN-gamma gene promoter methylation rate was 12% (6/50) and 16% (8/50) in Uygur and Han AR patients, un-methylation was 8% (4/50) and 10% (5/50), coexistence rate of methylation and unmethylated was 80% (40/50) and 74% (37/50). Distribution of IL-4 gene methylation between Han and Uygur AR patients had no statistically significant (P > 0.05). Distribution of IFN-gamma gene methylation between Han and Uygur AR patients had no statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no difference of IL-4, IFN-gamma gene methylation in patients between the Han and Uygur.

Incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Uygur and Han Chinese adults in Urumqi.

AIM: To investigate the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its related risk factors in Uygur and Han Chinese adult in Urumqi, China. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken in a total of 972 Uygur (684 male and 288 female) aged from 24 to 61 and 1023 Han Chinese (752 male and 271 female) aged from 23 to 63 years. All participants were recruited from the residents who visited hospital for health examination from November 2011 to May 2012. Each participant signed an informed consent and completed a GERD questionnaire (Gerd Q) and a lifestyle-food frequency questionnaire survey. Participants whose Gerd Q score was ≥ 8 and met one of the following requirements would be enrolled into this research: (1) being diagnosed with erosive esophagitis (EE) or Barrett's esophagus (BE) by endoscopy; (2) negative manifestation under endoscopy (non-erosive reflux disease, NERD) with abnormal acid reflux revealed by 24-h esophageal pH monitoring; and (3) suffering from typical heartburn and regurgitation with positive result of proton pump inhibitor test. RESULTS: According to Gerd Q scoring criteria, 340 cases of Uygur and 286 cases of Han Chinese were defined as GERD. GERD incidence in Uygur was significantly higher than in Han Chinese (35% vs 28%, χ(2) = 11.09, P < 0.005), Gerd Q score in Uygur was higher than in Han Chinese (7.85 ± 3.1 vs 7.15 ± 2.9, P < 0.005), and Gerd Q total score in Uygur male was higher than in female (8.15 ± 2.8 vs 6.85 ± 2.5, P < 0.005). According to normalized methods, 304 (31%) cases of Uygur were diagnosed with GERD, including 89 cases of EE, 185 cases of NERD and 30 cases of BE; 256 (25%) cases of Han Chinese were diagnosed with GERD, including 90 cases of EE, 140 cases of NERD and 26 cases of BE. GERD incidence in Uygur was significantly higher than in Han Chinese (31% vs 25%, χ(2) = 9.34, P < 0.005) while the incidences were higher in males of both groups than in females (26% vs 5% in Uygur, χ(2) = 35.95, P < 0.005, and 19.8% vs 5.2% in Han, χ(2) = 5.48, P < 0.025). GERD incidence in Uygur male was higher than in Han Chinese male (26% vs 19.8%, χ(2) = 16.51, P < 0.005), and incidence of NERD in Uygur was higher than in Han Chinese (χ(2) = 10.06, P < 0.005). Occupation (r = 0.623), gender (r = 0.839), smoking (r = 0.322), strong tea (r = 0.658), alcohol drinking (r = 0.696), meat-based diet (mainly meat) (r = 0.676) and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.567) were linearly correlated with GERD in Uygur (r = 0.833, P = 0.000); while gender (r = 0.957), age (r = 0.016), occupation (r = 0.482), strong tea (r = 1.124), alcohol drinking (r = 0.558), meat diet (r = 0.591) and BMI (r = 0.246) were linearly correlated with GERD in Han Chinese (r = 0.786, P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between Gerd Q scoring and three normalized methods for the diagnosis of GERD. CONCLUSION: GERD is highly prevalent in adult in Urumqi, especially in Uygur. Male, civil servant, smoking, strong tea, alcohol drinking, meat diet and BMI are risk factors correlated to GERD.

Chlorotoxin bound magnetic nanovector tailored for cancer cell targeting, imaging, and siRNA delivery.

Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) is a powerful molecular tool that has potential to revolutionize the treatment of cancer. One major challenge of applying this technology for clinical application is the lack of site-specific carriers that can effectively deliver short interfering RNA (siRNA) to cancer cells. Here we report the development and assessment of a cancer-cell specific magnetic nanovector construct for efficient siRNA delivery and non-invasive monitoring through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The base of the nanovector construct is comprised of a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle core coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted chitosan, and polyethylenimine (PEI). The construct was then further functionalized with siRNA and a tumor-targeting peptide, chlorotoxin (CTX), to improve tumor specificity and potency. Flow cytometry, quantitative RT-PCR, and fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed receptor-mediated cellular internalization of nanovectors and enhanced gene knockdown through targeted siRNA delivery. The ability of this nanovector construct to generate specific contrast enhancement of glioblastoma cells was demonstrated through MR imaging. These findings suggest that this CTX enabled nanoparticle carrier may be well suited for delivery of RNAi therapeutics to brain cancer cells.

[Rotational and vibrational state distributions of CsH in the reactions of Cs(6 2D5/2) with H2].

The nascent quantum state distributions of the CsH product resulting from the reaction Cs(6D5/2) with Hz were determined using a laser pump-probe technique in a five-arm crossed heat-pipe oven. Cs-H2 mixture was irradiated with pulses of 885.4 nm radiation from a OPO laser, populating 6D5/2 state by two-photon absosption. Laser induced fluorescence was used to detect CsH molecules directly at the collision volume by scanning pulse tunable dye laser over X 1 sigma+ (v", J") --> A 1 sigma+ (v', J' = J" +/- 1) absorption line. The vibration bands (v" = 0, v' = 6) and (v" = 1, v' = 9) were chosen. For the investigated reaction, the nascent CsH product molecules were found to populate the lowest two vibrational (v" = 0, 1) levels of the ground electronic state but could not be detected in any higher vibrational state. Rotational distributions of CsH products obtained for v" = 0 and 1 states appear to be monomodal , peaking in J = 6-8. The rotational population profile is roughly consistent with a statistical distribution at the system temperature. A plot of logarithm of relative population of states J divided by the degeneracy factor (2J + 1) against J (J + 1) was yielded. The linearity of the plot establishes the Boltzmann form for rotational distributions of both the v" = 0 and 1. The rotational temperatures are (458 +/- 20) K and (447 +/- 18) K for v = 0 and 1, respectively. The nascent CsH rotational temperatures were found to be slightly below the cell temperature. The relative vibrational population was determined to be 0.527 and 0.473. The average vibrational and rotational energy release can be computed. The relative fractions (fv), (fR) and (fT) of average energy disposal were derived as 0.25, 0.10 and 0.65 respectively, having a major translation energy release. All of the above results support the assumption that the Cs(6 2D5/2)-H2 reaction occurs primarily in a collinear geometry by a harpoon mechanism but not an insertion.

[The C224T polymorphism in the cathepsin D gene is not associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Chinese].

Cathepsin D is the major lysosomal/endosomal aspartic protease and exhibits beta- and gamma-secretase-like activity in vitro. Data from German suggest that the C224T polymorphism in the Cathepsin D gene (CTSD) exon 2 is strongly associated with the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Meanwhile other studies have not been able to replicate the result. It's necessary to determine the genotype of the polymorphism in CTSD in Chinese sporadic AD patients and age-matched controls with normal cognition and examine possible association of the polymorphism with the disease. We find no strong evidence of association between the CTSD C224T polymorphism and Chinese sporadic AD. Whereas there may be a weak synergistic interaction between ApoE epsilon4 and CTSD T allele.

Characteristics of suicide attempters and nonattempters with schizophrenia in a rural community.

In this study, demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with schizophrenia in a Chinese rural community who had attempted suicide at some time in their lives and those who had not made a suicide attempt were compared. Among individuals with schizophrenia, subjects with (n = 38) and without (n = 472) a lifetime history of suicide attempt were assessed with the Present State Examination. The results indicate that attempters had a significantly younger age, higher level of education, higher rate of lifetime depressed mood and hopelessness, and a larger number of positive symptoms than patients without suicide attempts. The logistic regression models also indicated that hopelessness, the number of positive symptoms and age were the most important predictors. Early interventions focusing on reducing hopelessness and controlling positive symptoms may help reduce the risk of suicide attempts among patients with schizophrenia.

[A caregiver survey in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Chengdu: health services status for the elderly with dementia].

OBJECTIVE: In order to rationally allocate resources and to improve the quality of life of people with dementia, it is necessary to assess their current health services status. METHODS: A population-based door-to-door caregiver survey was conducted in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Chengdu in 1998. Totally 1 141 individuals with dementia were found among 34 807 residents aged 55 years and over on the basis of national prevalence study of dementia. Then 428 families with demented patients were randomly selected for questionare interview. Interviews were completed in 405 but refused by 23 families. Measurements included demographic characteristics of patients and their caregivers, perspective of the victim of the disease, current awareness of the disease and medical and welfare services provided. RESULTS: Among 405 cases of dementia (including 298 cases of AD and 81 cases of VaD), mean MMSE scores were 16.3 +/- 5.3 for 157 mild cases, 12.7 +/- 5.4 for 135 moderate cases, and 6.2 +/- 5.8 for 110 severe cases. Most patients (96%) were cared for at home by family members. Among caregivers, 189 (48.8%) considered the impairment of cognition, behavior and daily living activity in demented persons as a result of normal aging. Half of the caregivers spend over 8 hours each day looking after the patient. Whether the caregivers brought their relatives with dementia to a doctor was determined by disease severity, i.e. 8.3% for mild, 13.5% for moderate, and 19.4% for severe in 1996 to approximately 1997 and 14.4%, 25.6% and 33.6%, respectively in 1998-1999. Of those, only 26.9% reported receiving a dementia diagnosis, and only 21.3% received a recommedation to take medication. However, there was no established standard treatment and only 2% patient's used Ache-I. CONCLUSIONS: General education is needed to increase the public awareness of dementia. For patients with dementia, early diagnosis, early treatment and optimal care are important to improve their quality of life.

[Analysis on association between the polymorphisms in apolipoprotein E, interleukin-1 alpha genes and Alzheimer's disease in Chengdu area].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E(APOE), the interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha ) genes and the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease(AD). METHODS: Association study was performed in 114 AD patients and 113 healthy elderly individuals from Chengdu, China. Polymorphisms of APOE and IL-1 alpha genes were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of APOE-epsilon 4-carrying genotype in moderate to severe AD patients (28.6%) was higher than that of mild patients (18.5%) and the controls (14.2%), and the difference between moderate to severe AD group and the control group was significant (OR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.1-5.5). The frequency of epsilon 4 was also of significant difference between the group of moderate to severe dementia and the control group (OR=2.6, 95%CI: 1.3-5.3). However, no significant difference in distribution of IL-1 alpha polymorphism between AD patients and controls was observed. CONCLUSION: The APOE epsilon 4 allele was associated with moderate to severe AD while no association between the IL-1 alpha gene polymorphism and AD was found.

[The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment among residents aged 55 or over in Chengdu area].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the urban and the rural areas in Chengdu, Southwest China. METHODS: Residents aged 55 or over were selected by stratified random cluster sampling from 19 districts, cities, and counties of Chengdu area in Sichuan province. A two-stage survey was carried out. In the first stage, CMMSE, CES-D were used as screening instruments. In the second stage, Diagnostic questionnaires of dementia and CDR were used as diagnostic instruments. The diagnostic criteria of mild cognitive impairment adopted from Petersen's were: (1) memory complaint; (2) normal activities of daily living; (3) normal general cognitive function; (4) memory impairment incompatible with age; (5) not demented; (6) CDR = 0.5 and (7) exclusion of the reversible cognitive impairment caused by other factors (i.e. depression). RESULTS: Three thousand, nine hundred and ten subjects were examined. The prevalence rates of MCI was 2.4%. The MCI prevalence rates in the urban and the rural areas were 1.5%, 2.5% respectively, without significant difference. The MCI prevalence in males and females were 1.8%, 2.9% respectively. Prevalence rate in female was higher than in males with significant difference. Prevalence of illiteracy (4.0%) was the highest among different educational levels. The accumulated prevalence increased with age. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MCI (2.4%) was slightly higher than the prevalence of AD (2.05%) in the same areas of Chengdu. MCI seemed to be a high risk factor for AD which should to be followed up. Early intervention in MCI might be helpful in the prevention of AD.