Preoperative prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma microvascular invasion based on magnetic resonance imaging feature extraction artificial neural network.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence is highly correlated with increased mortality. Microvascular invasion (MVI) is indicative of aggressive tumor biology in HCC. AIM: To construct an artificial neural network (ANN) capable of accurately predicting MVI presence in HCC using magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: This study included 255 patients with HCC with tumors < 3 cm. Radiologists annotated the tumors on the T1-weighted plain MR images. Subsequently, a three-layer ANN was constructed using image features as inputs to predict MVI status in patients with HCC. Postoperative pathological examination is considered the gold standard for determining MVI. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm. RESULTS: Using the bagging strategy to vote for 50 classifier classification results, a prediction model yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed that alpha-fetoprotein values and tumor volume were not significantly correlated with the occurrence of MVI, whereas tumor sphericity was significantly correlated with MVI (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Analysis of variable correlations regarding MVI in tumors with diameters < 3 cm should prioritize tumor sphericity. The ANN model demonstrated strong predictive MVI for patients with HCC (AUC = 0.79).

A medicine and food homology formula prevents cognitive deficits by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress via activating AEA-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder frequently accompanied by neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The medicine and food homology (MFH) has shown potential for treating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to provide a safe and efficient therapy for AD based on MFH. In this study, we develop a MFH formula consisting of egg yolk oil, perilla seed oil, raphani seed oil, cinnamon oil, and noni puree (EPRCN). To evaluate the ameliorative effects of EPRCN on AD-related symptoms, a mouse model of AD was constructed using intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine in ICR mice. Experimental results demonstrated that EPRCN supplement restored behavioral deficits and suppressed neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of scopolamine-induced mice. An in vitro study was then performed using induction of Aß(25-35) in glial (BV-2 and SW-1783) and neuron (SH-SY5Y) cell lines to examine the improvement mechanism of EPRCN on cognitive deficits. Multi-omics and in vitro studies demonstrated that these changes were driven by the anandamide (AEA)-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway, which was inhibited by AM404 (an AEA inhibitor), AMG9810 (a Trpv1 inhibitor), and BT (an Nrf2 inhibitor). Consequently, EPRCN is an effective therapy on preventing cognitive deficits in mouse models of AD. In contrast to donepezil, EPRCN exhibits a novel modes action for ameliorating neuroinflammation. The mechanism of EPRCN on preventing cognitive deficits is mediated by improving neuroinflammation and oxidative stress via activating the AEA-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway.

Synergistic Intramolecular Non-Covalent Interactions Enable Robust Pure-Blue TADF Emitters.

Stability-issues of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) employing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) require further advancements, especially in pure-blue range of CIEy < 0.20, existing a dilemma between color purity and device lifetime. Though improving bond-dissociation-energy (BDE) can effectively improve material intrinsic stability, strategies to simultaneously improve BDE and photophysical performances are still lacking. Herein, it is disclosed that synergistic intramolecular non-covalent interactions (Intra-NI) can achieve not only the highest C─N BDE among blue TADF materials, but enhanced molecular-rigidity, near-unity photoluminescent quantum yields and short delayed lifetime. Pure-blue TADF-OLEDs based on proof-of-concept TADF material realize high external-quantum-efficiency and record-high LT80@500 cd m-2 of 109 h with CIEy = 0.16. Furthermore, deep-blue TADF-sensitized devices exhibit high LT80@500 cd m-2 of 81 h with CIEy = 0.10. The findings provide new insight into the critical role of Intra-NI in OLED materials and open the way to tackling vexing stability issues for developing robust pure-blue organic emitters and other functional materials.

Effect of endoscopic full-thickness resection assisted by distal serosal turnover with floss traction for gastric submucosal masses.

BACKGROUND: Complex and high-risk surgical complications pose pressing challenges in the clinical implementation and advancement of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR). Successful perforation repair under endoscopy, thereby avoiding surgical intervention and postoperative complications such as peritonitis, are pivotal for effective EFTR. AIM: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of EFTR assisted by distal serosal inversion under floss traction in gastric submucosal tumors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with gastric and duodenal submucosal tumors treated with EFTR assisted by the distal serosa inversion under dental floss traction from January 2023 to January 2024 was conducted. The total operation time, tumor dissection time, wound closure time, intraoperative bleeding volume, length of hospital stay and incidence of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 93 patients, aged 55.1 ± 12.1 years. Complete tumor resection was achieved in all cases, resulting in a 100% success rate. The average total operation time was 67.4 ± 27.0 min, with tumor dissection taking 43.6 ± 20.4 min. Wound closure times varied, with gastric body closure time of 24.5 ± 14.1 min and gastric fundus closure time of 16.6 ± 8.7 min, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). Intraoperative blood loss was 2.3 ± 4.0 mL, and average length of hospital stay was 5.7 ± 1.9 d. There was no secondary perforation after suturing in all cases. The incidence of delayed bleeding was 2.2%, and the incidence of abdominal infection was 3.2%. No patient required other surgical intervention during and after the operation. CONCLUSION: Distal serosal inversion under dental-floss-assisted EFTR significantly reduced wound closure time and intraoperative blood loss, making it a viable approach for gastric submucosal tumors.

Analysis of factors impacting postoperative pain and quality of life in patients with mixed hemorrhoids: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoids are among the most common and frequently encountered chronic anorectal diseases in anorectal surgery. They are venous clusters formed by congestion, expansion, and flexion of the venous plexus in the lower part of the rectum. Mixed hemorrhoids bleed easily and recurrently, and this can result in severe anemia. Hence, they may have a negative effect on the health of the patient and surgical treatment is required. Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy has been widely used since 1937 for the treatment of grade III and IV hemorrhoids. However, most patients experience different degrees of postoperative pain that may cause anxiety. AIM: To assess the factors influencing pain scores and quality of life (QoL) in patients with mixed hemorrhoids post-surgery. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with mixed hemorrhoids who underwent Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy were collected retrospectively. The basic characteristics of the enrolled patients with mixed hemorrhoids were recorded, and based on the Goligher clinical grading system, the hemorrhoids were classified as grades III or IV. The endpoint of this study was the disappearance of pain in all patients. Quantitative data were presented as mean ± SD, such as age, pain score, and QoL score. Student's t-test was used to compare the groups. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients were enrolled. The distribution of the visual analog scale pain scores of all patients at 3, 7, 14 and 28 d after surgery showed that post-surgery pain was significantly reduced with the passage of time. Fourteen days after the operation, the pain had completely disappeared in some patients. Twenty-eight days after the surgery, none of the patients experienced any pain. Comparing the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF self-reporting questionnaire scores of patients between 14 and 28 d after surgery, we observed that the quality-of-life scores of the patients post-surgery had significantly improved. There were six items that were compared at 14- and 28-d post-surgery. The mean QoL score 28 d after surgery (4.79 ± 0.46) was higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (3.79 ± 0.57). The mean health condition score 28 d after surgery (4.80 ± 0.41) was also higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (4.01 ± 0.62). The mean physical health score 28 d after surgery (32.10 ± 2.96) was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (23.41 ± 2.85). The mean psychological health score 28 d after surgery (27.22 ± 1.62) was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (21.37 ± 1.70). The mean social relations score 28 d after surgery (12.21 ± 1.59) was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (6.32 ± 1.66). The mean surrounding environment score 28 d after surgery (37.13 ± 2.88) was significantly higher than that at 14 d post-surgery (28.42 ± 2.86). The differences in quality-of-life scores at day 14 and day 28 post-surgery were observed to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy can significantly improve the postoperative QoL of patients. Age, sex, and the number of surgical resections were important factors influencing Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.

Aculebiphenyl A-B, new biphenyl derivatives from Ruscus aculeatus.

The investigation of chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus resulted in the isolation of two new biphenyl derivatives, aculebiphenyls A and B (1-2), together with two known analogs (3-4). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic interpretation and HR-ESI-MS analysis. Compounds 3-4 were isolated from the Ruscus genus for the first time. The isolated compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activities and antibacterial activities. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production and COX-2 with IC50 values of 10.8 µM and 0.4 µM. Compound 1 also significantly down-regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activities.

Inhibitory Mechanism of Prenylated Flavonoids Isolated from Mulberry Leaves on α-Glucosidase by Multi-Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Flavonoids have always been considered as the chemical basis for the hypoglycemic effect of mulberry leaves. In the course of our search for hypoglycemic effect agents from natural sources, a systematic study was launched to explore prenylated flavonoids from mulberry leaves. Herein, chemical investigation led to the isolation of 10 characteristic prenylated flavonoids, including two new compounds (1 and 3). Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data. All compounds exhibited good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro, among which compound 2 had the best activity (IC50 = 2.6 µM), better than acarbose (IC50 = 19.6 µM). Additional in vivo tests have further demonstrated compound that compound 2 has a good ability to reduce postprandial blood glucose. Then, multi-spectroscopic methods and molecular simulation studies were used to study the inhibition mechanism. The results showed that compound 2 was a mixed inhibition of α-glucosidase and the binding process was spontaneous, with van der Waals forces as the main driving force, followed by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces. The above studies enriched the chemical basis of mulberry leaves, and the application of computational chemistry also provided a reference for future research on such structures.

Apoptotic effects of phenols from the twigs and leaves of Garcinia nujiangensis.

In order to find potential agents for treating cancer disease in naturally occurring compounds, we conducted a systematic phytochemical investigation on the endemic species of Garcinia nujiangensis. Three new biphenyl derivatives (1-3) and one new polycyclic polyprenylated benzophenone (4), together with four known benzophenone analogues (5-8), have been isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the twigs and leaves of G. nujiangensis. Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses and comparison with structurally related known analogues. Experimental and calculated ECD method was used to determine the absolute configuration of 1 and 4. Moreover, compounds 5-7 were isolated for the first time from this species. The cytotoxicities of the new compounds were evaluated using HL-60, HepG2, and A549 human cancer cell lines. Compound 4 showed more significant antiproliferative effects against HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 11.38 ± 0.79 µM than that of three biphenyl derivatives. The morphological features of apoptosis were evaluated in 4-treated HepG2 cells. Compound 4 effectively prevented the cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells in G2 phase. Additionally, western blot analysis indicated that treatment of 4 on HepG2 cells led to decreased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-Caspase-3, and increased protein expression of both pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved PARP with reference to ß-actin. Overall, our results suggested that the active polycyclic polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives in the twigs and leaves of G. nujiangensis can be used as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.

The protective effects and mechanism of Ruyi Zhenbao Pill, a Tibetan medicinal compound, in a rat model of osteoarthritis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ruyi Zhenbao Pill (RZP) is a prescribed Tibetan formulation for the treatment of white-pulse-disease, yellow-water-disease as well as pain-related disease. RZP is composed of 30 medicinal materials including herbal medicine, animal medicine and mineral medicine. They are widely used in the Tibetan area to treat cerebrovascular disease, hemiplegia, rheumatism, and pain diseases for centuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-osteoarthritis function of RZP and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active components in RZP were identified using HPLC methods. Osteoarthritis (OA) animal model was established via intra-articular injection of papain in rat knees. After the administration of RZP (0.45, 0.9 g/kg) for 28 days, the clinical observation was conducted, and pathological changes as well as serum biochemical indexes were detected. Moreover, therapeutic targets and pathways of RZP were discussed. RESULTS: The results showed that RZP could suppress knee joint swelling and arthralgia, thus relieving joint pain and inflammation in OA rats. Microcomputed tomography (µCT)-based physiological imaging and staining pictures confirmed the therapeutic effects of RZP on OA symptoms including knee joint swelling and structural changes with progressive inflammation in OA rats. RZP could promote the synthesis or inhibit the degradation of COLⅡ, attenuate OA-induced OPN up-regulation and thus relieve the OA symptom. Furthermore, RZP (0.45-0.9 g/kg) could all ameliorate the imbalance of biomarkers related to OA such as MMP1, TNF-α, COX2, IL-1ß and iNOS in knee joints or serum. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, RZP could effectively relieve inflammatory reaction induced by OA injury and the formulation could be applied to the treatment of OA therapy.

Optimization scheme of machine learning model for genetic division between northern Han, southern Han, Korean and Japanese.

Han Chinese, Korean and Japanese are the main populations of East Asia, and Han Chinese presents a gradient admixture from north to south. There are differences among the East Asian populations in genetic structure. To achieve fine-scale genetic classification of southern (S-) and northern (N-) Han Chinese, Korean and Japanese individuals in this study, we collected and analyzed 1185 ancestry informative SNPs (AISNPs) from previous literature reports and our laboratory findings. First, two machine learning algorithms, softmax and randomForest, were used to build genetic classification models. Then, phylogenetic tree, STRUCTURE and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the performance of classification for different AISNP panels. The 234-AISNP panel achieved a fine-scale differentiation among the target populations in four classification schemes. The accuracy of the softmax model was 92%, which realized the accurate classification of the S-Han, N-Han, Korean and Japanese individuals. The two machine learning models tested in this study provided important references for the high-resolution discrimination of close-range populations and will be useful tools to optimize marker panels for developing forensic DNA ancestry inference systems.

Neuroprotective Effects of Sodium Butyrate and Monomethyl Fumarate Treatment through GPR109A Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Restoration on PD Mice.

Research has connected Parkinson's disease (PD) with impaired intestinal barrier. The activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) protects the intestinal barrier by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which is a GPR109A ligand, may have anti-PD effects. The current study's objective is to demonstrate that NaB or monomethyl fumarate (MMF, an agonist of the GPR109A) can treat PD mice induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) via repairing the intestinal barrier. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups randomly: control, MPTP + vehicle, MPTP + NaB, and MPTP + MMF. Modeling mice received MPTP (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for a week, while control mice received sterile PBS. Then, four groups each received two weeks of sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), NaB (600 mg/kg/day, i.g.), or MMF (100 mg/kg/day, i.g.). We assessed the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and claudin-1), GPR109A, and p65 in the colon, performed microscopic examination via HE staining, quantified markers of intestinal permeability and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, and evaluated motor symptoms and pathological changes in the substantia nigra (SN) or striatum. According to our results, MPTP-induced defected motor function, decreased dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the striatum, decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and increased activated microglia in the SN, and systemic inflammation were ameliorated by NaB or MMF treatment. Additionally, the ruined intestinal barrier was also rebuilt and NF-κB was suppressed after the treatment, with higher levels of TJ proteins, GPR109A, and decreased intestinal permeability. These results show that NaB or MMF can remedy motor symptoms and pathological alterations in PD mice by restoring the intestinal barrier with activated GPR109A. We demonstrate the potential for repairing the compromised intestinal barrier and activating GPR109A as promising treatments for PD.

Robust data storage in DNA by de Bruijn graph-based de novo strand assembly.

DNA data storage is a rapidly developing technology with great potential due to its high density, long-term durability, and low maintenance cost. The major technical challenges include various errors, such as strand breaks, rearrangements, and indels that frequently arise during DNA synthesis, amplification, sequencing, and preservation. In this study, a de novo strand assembly algorithm (DBGPS) is developed using de Bruijn graph and greedy path search to meet these challenges. DBGPS shows substantial advantages in handling DNA breaks, rearrangements, and indels. The robustness of DBGPS is demonstrated by accelerated aging, multiple independent data retrievals, deep error-prone PCR, and large-scale simulations. Remarkably, 6.8 MB of data is accurately recovered from a severely corrupted sample that has been treated at 70 °C for 70 days. With DBGPS, we are able to achieve a logical density of 1.30 bits/cycle and a physical density of 295 PB/g.

Andrographolide suppresses non-small-cell lung cancer progression through induction of autophagy and antitumor immune response.

Despite recent advances in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unsatisfactory in terms of prognosis. Andrographolide (AD), a principal active component of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, exerts anti-cancer therapeutic properties. AD has been used for centuries in China for clinical treatment of viral infections. However, the pharmacological biology of AD in NSCLC remains unknown. In this study, AD regulated autophagy and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that AD bound directly to signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) with high affinity. Proteomics analysis indicated that AD reduced the expression of tumour PD-L1 in NSCLC by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signalling. AD modulated the P62-dependent selective autophagic degradation of PD-L1 by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation. In vivo study revealed that AD suppressed tumour growth in H1975 xenograft mice and Lewis lung carcinoma cell models, and better efficacy was obtained at higher concentrations. AD prolonged the survival time of the mice and enhanced the treatment efficacy of anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy by stimulating CD8+ T cell infiltration and function. This work elucidated the specific mechanism by which AD inhibited NSCLC. Treatment with the combination of AD and anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy could be a potential strategy for patients with NSCLC.

A high-performance SNP panel developed by machine-learning approaches for characterizing genetic differences of Southern and Northern Han Chinese, Korean, and Japanese individuals.

Population stratification analyses targeting genetically closely related East Asians have revealed that distinguishable differentiation exists between Han Chinese, Korean, and Japanese individuals, as well as between southern (S-) and northern (N-) Han Chinese. Previous studies offer a number of choices for ancestry informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (AISNPs) to discriminate East-Asian populations. In this study, we collected and examined the efficiency of 1185 AISNPs using frequency and genotype data from various publicly available databases. With the aim to perform fine-scale classification of S-Han, N-Han, Korean, and Japanese subjects, machine-learning methods (Softmax and Random Forest) were used to screen a panel of highly informative AISNPs and to develop a superior classification model. Stepwise classification was implemented to increase and balance the discrimination in the process of AISNP selection, first discriminating Han, Korean, and Japanese individuals, and then characterizing stratification between S-Han and N-Han. The final 272-AISNP panel is an alternative optimization of various previous works, which promises reliable and >90% accuracy in classification of the four East-Asian groups. This AISNP panel and the machine-learning model could be a useful and superior choice in medical genome-wide association studies and in forensic investigations for unknown suspect identity.

A new species of subgenus Asonicogryllus He, 2019 from Yunnan (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae).

We studied the relationship of the genera Loxoblemmus Saussure, 1877 and Asonicogryllus He, 2019 by reconstructing the phylogenetic tree based on 2 mitochondrial genes and 2 ribosomal genes. The result shows that Loxoblemmus is paraphyletic. Thus, we place Asonicogryllus as a subgenus of Loxoblemmus. Meanwhile, we report a new species of Asonicogryllus, L. (A.) bronzus He sp. nov. The new species is similar to L. (A.) kwanghua, but it has well developed forewings and hindwings. The type specimens are deposited in the Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

[Differentiation of Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes in the Water Source Treatment Wetlands of Stream Networks].

To explore the isotopic distribution and differentiation of water along the hydraulic flow gradients and plant-bed/ditch systems in constructed root-channel wetlands, surface and subsurface water samples were collected from four ecological wetlands, namely Shijiuyang and Guanjinggang in Jiaxing, as well as Changshuitang and Taishangang in Haining. All samples were collected along water flow pathways during the wet and rainy summer season in August 2019, except for those from Taishangang, which were collected within the plant-bed/ditch system during the dry and cold winter season in January 2020. The abundance of deuterium (δD) and δ18 O was determined in each functional area of the wetlands to assess the influence of wetlands on water differentiation. Stable isotope technology and mathematical statistics were used to analyze the distribution of δD and δ18 O in constructed root-channel wetlands and to reveal the influence of plant-bed/ditch systems on stable isotopes of water. A variety of data mining methods were used to examine the differentiation of stable isotopes of water, at various dimensions and scales, including nonparametric Kendall's tau-b correlation, stepwise regression, gray relational analysis, and machine learning (random forest) combined with scatter diagrams and model hypothesis diagnosis analysis. The main results were as follows:① The spatiotemporal variations in water isotopes of stream networks were largely affected by different water supply and evaporation enrichment effects. The slope and intercept of the wetland water line in Jiaxing were both significantly lower than the regional precipitation line of the adjacent Changshu Station (CHNIP). This showed that the wetlands area had undergone hydrogen and oxygen isotope enrichment. The δD values in Shijiuyang wetland water ranged from -52.2‰ to -49.4‰, and δ18 O values ranged from -7.6‰ to -6.9‰. In Guanjinggang wetland water samples, δD ranged from -48.1‰ to -45.1‰, and δ18 O ranged from -6.8‰ to -5.8‰. The δD values in Changshuitang wetland water ranged from -49.8‰ to -48.4‰, and δ18 O ranged from -7.2‰ to -6.6‰. The δD values in Taishangang wetland water ranged from -55.3‰ to -51.6‰, and δ18 O ranged from -7.8‰ to -7.2‰. ② Hydrogen and oxygen isotope abundance and composition of water showed complex nonlinear changes in the vertical and horizontal dimensions at different scales. At the regional scale, water level elevation in the vertical dimension had a greater impact on water isotope distribution than the length of the hydraulic flow pathway in the horizontal dimension. Water isotopes tended to be enriched in low-lying areas with low water levels. At the local scale, the influence of hydraulic process often played a greater role in determining water isotope distributions. The spatial variations of water isotopes were comprehensively determined by the evaporation of regional water and meandering hydraulic processes inside the wetland. ③ Compared with other wetland functional areas, the central constructed root-channel area (middle treatment zone) was more enriched in water isotopes. ④ The underground macropore network formed by plants with developed rhizomes or roots (e.g., Phragmites communis Trin. and Typha orientalis Presl), mineral-rich substrate soil, and aquatic plants in the plant bed had a significant influence on the abundance of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the plant-bed/ditch system. Therefore, when water passed through the plant-bed/ditch system, the values of δD and δ18 O in the lower ditch (outlet) were lower than those in the higher ditch (inlet). ⑤ The abrupt change in isotopic contents of the plant-bed/ditch system might indicate an inflection point in water quality purification. ⑥ The deuterium excess (d-excess) in subsurface water of the plant-bed/ditch system was significantly higher than that in ditch water, and the coefficient of variation in subsurface water was considerably greater than that in ditch water. The d-excess in the wetland root-channel ecological purification zone showed significant temporal differences and was negative in the summer and positive in the winter, which reflected the seasonal variation in water vapor sources and the spatial variation in isotope fractionation behavior in wetlands. These results provide some understanding of the distribution of water isotopes in constructed wetlands, which will strengthen their operation and management. This study also provides some ideas regarding new technologies for water quality improvement and shows that water isotope technology may be a reliable method for analyzing wetland hydrology.

Report of a new genus Majialandrevus, with a new species M. dingguo from Western Yunnan, China (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Landrevinae).

We reported a new genus Majialandrevus from Western Yunnan, China. The new genus differs from other genera in having the following combination of characters: short forewings, male genitalia with blunt distal parts of posterolateral epiphallic lobes, absence of medial lobes of epiphallus and ectoparamere being membranous. The type specimens are deposited in the Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

[Nitrogen Removal of Double-bacteria-layer System via PN/A Process].

Nitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) sludge was acclimated via SBR and MBR reactors respectively, both of which were embedded with microbial immobilization technology and spliced together to construct a PN/A double-bacteria-layer system. A short-term experiment proved that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ANAMMOX bacteria in the system played dominant roles separately in different stages, which maintained the acid-base balance and achieved efficient removal of NH4+-N (98.8%). A long-term experiment showed that the PN/A double-bacteria-layer system improved the utilization of dissolved oxygen (DO) and enhanced the stability and nitrogen removal efficiency, with limited dissolved oxygen. The nitrogen removal efficiency of the PN/A double-bacteria-layer system remained stable at~80% when the influent NH4+-N was 200 mg·L-1 or 400 mg·L-1 in the presence of 1.0 mg·L-1 DO, whereas those of the control group were only 58.1% and 61.4%, respectively. When influent NH4+-N and DO were 400 mg·L-1 and 3.0 mg·L-1, respectively, the PN/A double-bacteria-layer system achieved a nitrogen removal efficiency, nitrogen loading rate (NLR), and nitrogen removal rate (NRR) of 87.9%, 0.4 kg·(m3·d)-1, and 12.8 mg·(g·h)-1, respectively.

Abnormal gene methylation during embryonic development after preimplantation genetic testing increases risk of liver-derived insulin resistance.

The operations involved in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) occur during the key stages of gametogenesis and early embryonic development, and the health of progeny following PGT (PGT-born) is worthy of attention. In order to fully assess the potential risk of abnormal glucose metabolism in adult PGT-born offspring and to evaluate possible mechanisms, we compared a mouse model of PGT (in vitro cultured embryos with biopsy, hereafter "PTG-born mice"), an in vitro embryo manipulation mouse model (in vitro cultured embryos without biopsy), and normal mice. PGT-born mice displayed increased fasting glucose, and decreased glycogen synthesis and glucose oxidative utilization in the liver. Moreover, PGT-born mice also displayed reduced expression of insulin receptor, AKT, and insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation (pAkt) in the liver. These results suggest a potential risk of insulin resistance in adult PGT-born mice. By analyzing the DNA methylation profiles of 7.5 days postconception (dpc) embryos, we identified differentially methylated genes associated with liver development between PGT-born and control groups; some of these genes are associated with glucose homeostasis and insulin response. These results suggest that abnormal methylation in embryos that develop after PGT may be a potential mechanism occurring during embryonic development that can influence the risk of liver-derived insulin resistance in adulthood.

A study on the correlation between MTHFR promoter methylation and diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: In order to observe the relationship between MTHFR promoter and DN, the determinations on MTHFR promoter methylation level and expression of HCY from DN patients have been carried out. METHODS: According to the Diabetes diagnosis and classification standard from WHO in 1999, 85 patients with DM diagnosed by Endocrinology and 30 healthy participants from our medical examination center were chosen as control specimen to study in this paper. All this specimen were divided into A, B, C and D four groups , which are corresponding simple diabetes mellitus group (SDM), early diabetic nephropathy group (EDN), clinical diabetic nephropathy group (CDN) and normal control group. And then, all common materials and clinical experiments data have been collected respectively. (1) Extracted the peripheral blood DNA of each group and determinate the methylation status of MTHFR gene promoter by PCR (MSP). (2) Determinated the serum HCY protein expression of each group. RESULTS: (1) The MTHFR promoter methylation of SDM and diabetic nephropathy group are wear off comparied with normal control group. And MTHFR promoter was in demethylation state in normal control group, a slightly weak in SDN, a obviously weak in early diabetic nephropathy group; the MTHFR promoter was in methylation state in clinical diabetic nephropathy group. (2) The HCY protein of simple diabetes mellitus group, early diabetic nephropathy group and clinical diabetic nephropathy group are Pitch with normal control group. HCY protein level of each group are as 7.41±1.61 umol/L, 10.34±2.89 umol/L, 10.95±5.89 umol/L and 13.03±6.14 umol/L corresponding normal control group, simple diabetes mellitus group, early diabetic nephropathy group and clinical diabetic nephropathy group. And there is no statistical significance about the differences among four groups. CONCLUSION: The demethylation state of MTHFR promoter was obviously weaker in clinical diabetic nephropathy group than in SDM. The level of serum HCY was obviously higher in clinical diabetic nephropathy group than in SDM. It suggested that MTHFR promoter demethylation may be involoed in the pathogenesis of DN.