Bacteriological and molecular typing of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated in retail beef in Beijing, China.

Clostridium perfringens is an important zoonotic pathogen. This study was designed to explore the prevalence and toxin types of C. perfringens in retail beef collected from Beijing, China. Among 221 beef samples collected, 53 samples were positive for C. perfringens, resulting in the average prevalence as 23.98%. By toxin gene-based typing, the most C. perfringens strains belong to type A (96.23%, 51/53), only 2 strains were identified as type D. By a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST)-based analysis, a total of 36 sequence types (STs) were detected, and the most STs (n=30) represented just a single strain. These finding suggested that the prevalence of C. perfringens in retail beef in Beijing was considerably high and these bacteria displayed extreme diversity in genetics.

[Levels, Characteristics, and Potential Source of Micro(meso)plastic Pollution of Soil in Liaohe River Basin].

With the Liaohe River basin as the research object, the morphology, abundance, and distribution characteristics of micro(meso) plastics of soil in Liaohe River basin were studied based on the density flotation principle and the technique of stereo microscope and micro-FTIR and the significant factors affecting the distribution of the micro(meso)plastics and their potential sources were reasonably speculated. The results indicated that the average abundance of the soil micro(meso)plastic is (145.83±211.46) n·kg-1. The most abundant types of micro(meso)plastics are debris (46.00%), <1000 µm (39.57%), PP (41.71%), and white (46.86%). Among them, Rayon, PES, and PET micro(meso)plastics are primarily in the shape of fibrous (>85%), PE is mostly in the shape of film and fragments (96.91%), PP is mainly in the shape of fragments (85.62%), and PS is primarily in the shape of foam. Industrial activities (express delivery companies, plastic factories, and clothing factories), agricultural activities (plastic mulch, sewage irrigation, and sludge composting), population density, and sewage treatment plants, etc, may lead to higher levels of micro(meso)plastic abundance in the soil of the study area. Plastic products (pesticide bottles, chemical fertilizer packaging bags, woven bags, and plastic agricultural films), sewage discharge and irrigation, and foam materials used for packaging and decoration are the potential sources of soil micro(meso)plastic in the region.

Effect of an educational intervention on HPV knowledge and attitudes towards HPV and its vaccines among junior middle school students in Chengdu, China.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccines among adolescents in mainland China. Also, limited information has been available on how to improve their knowledge and willingness towards HPV and its vaccines to ensure a successful vaccination program in the future. METHODS: This was a school-based interventional follow-up study. One urban and one rural junior middle school in Chengdu were selected by convenience sampling. At baseline, half of the grade one students were randomly selected as controls and the rest were interventions. A set of self-administered questionnaires on HPV and its vaccines were completed by both groups at baseline. After that, only the intervention group received a PowerPoint-oriented health education and finished the post-education questionnaires. One year later, both groups completed the same questionnaires as the follow-up survey. RESULTS: In total, 1675 students finished the pre-intervention questionnaires; 751 were from the control group and 924 were from the intervention group. Among them, only 34.3% had heard of cervical cancer/genital warts, while only 15.1% of them had ever heard of HPV. However, 55.2% of students showed their willingness to be vaccinated even before any intervention. Seven variables were found to be associated with the willingness to be vaccinated at baseline. Immediately after the intervention, 88.4% of students were willing to vaccinate themselves. After 1 year, the effectiveness of intervention remained but decreased. Compared with the control group, the intervention group was more aware about cervical cancer, HPV and its vaccines with statistical significance. However, the level of HPV knowledge and willingness to be vaccinated among the intervention group had significantly decreased compared with that immediately after the intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The baseline level of knowledge on HPV, its vaccines, and cervical cancer was very low among junior middle school students in Chengdu, China. However, the willingness to be vaccinated seemed positive. School-based health education is effective and appropriate in increasing the awareness of HPV and willingness towards its vaccines. Regular health education on HPV and cervical cancer prevention at a shorter interval should be guaranteed to ensure continuous effectiveness.

Transcriptome Sequencing Investigated the Tumor-Related Factors Changes After T. gondii Infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite and causes a global epidemic parasitic disease. T. gondii-infection could inhibit the growth of tumor. In this study, the transcriptomes of samples were detected by deep sequencing analysis. The transcriptome data was compared with reference genome to perform sequence alignment and the further analysis. The analyses of differential expression and the differentially expressed genes were performed in the present study. Genes involved in P53 signaling pathway, COLORECTAL cancer pathway, NON-SMALL CELL LUNG cancer signaling pathway, and BREAST cancer signaling pathway were up-regulated or down-regulated among the samples. The KEGG analysis indicated that the cancer pathways changed after infection of T. gondii. Furthermore, tumor-related mRNAs from different samples had a large difference, which suggested that the difference might provide important information in resisting cancer. The protein results indicated that tumor-related protein changes occurred after infection of T. gondii. In conclusion, the infection changed the cancer pathways, which could possibly inhibit the growth of tumor.

Design and Development of Novel 4-(4-(1H-Tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-morpholino-N-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine as Cardiotonic Agent via Inhibition of PDE3.

The classical phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitors provide relaxation of the vasculature system via increasing the cellular level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and proved to be useful in the management of congestive heart failure. Consequently, the present paper deals with the development of novel pyrazole derivatives tethered with substituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives in search for novel PDE3 inhibitors. The synthesis of designed inhibitors was realized in a multi-step reaction and the structures were ascertained with the help of various spectroscopic techniques. Subsequently, these analogs were tested for their inhibitory activities against PDE3 enzymes, where they exhibited considerable inhibition, revealing 9g as the most promising inhibitor of the class. In a docking study, the morpholine fragment of compound 9g was efficiently engulfed in the small pocket of the active site lined by Gly940 and Pro941. The substituted aromatic ring of the core scaffold was found to be positioned deep in the cavity bordered by Tyr829, Asn830, Leu850, Glu851, and Thr893. Moreover, it considerably improved the contractility of cardiac muscles without altering the heart beat frequency in experimental subjects.

[Effects of biochar and nitrification inhibitor incorporation on global warming potential of a vegetable field in Nanjing, China].

The influences of biochar and nitrification inhibitor incorporation on global warming potential (GWP) of a vegetable field were studied using the static chamber and gas chromatography method. Compared with the treatments without biochar addition, the annual GWP of N2O and CH4 and vegetable yield were increased by 8.7%-12.4% and 16.1%-52.5%, respectively, whereas the greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were decreased by 5.4%-28.7% following biochar amendment. Nitrification inhibitor significantly reduced the N2O emission while had little influence on CH4 emission, decreased GWP by 17.5%-20.6%, increased vegetable yield by 21.2%-40.1%, and decreased the GHGI significantly. The combined application of biochar and nitrification inhibitor significantly increased both vegetable yield and GWP, but to a greater extent for vegetable yield. Therefore, nitrification inhibitor incorporation could be served as an appropriate practice for increasing vegetable yield and mitigating GHG emissions in vegetable field.

Prognostic role of hypoxic inducible factor expression in non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Reported prognostic roles of hypoxic inducible factor (HIF) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have varied. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between HIF expression and clinical outcome in NSCLC patients. METHODS: PubMed were used to identify relevant literature with the last report up to December 20th, 2012. After careful review, survival data were collected from eligible studies. We completed the meta-analysis using Stata statistical software (Version 11) and combined hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS). Subgroup specificity, heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed. All of the results were verified by two persons to ensure accuracy. RESULTS: Eight studies were finally stepped into this meta-analysis in which seven had available data for HIF-1α and three for HIF-2α. Combined HRs suggested that higher expression of HIF1α had a negative impact on NSCLC patient survival (HR=1.50; 95%CI =1.07-2.10; p=0.019). The expression of HIF-2α was also relative to a poorer survival (HR=2.02; 95%CI =1.47-2.77; p=0.000). No bias existed in either of the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that elevations of HIF-1α and HIF- 2α expression are both associated with poor outcome for patients with NSCLC. The data support further and high quality investigation of HIF expression for predicting poor outcome in patients with NSCLC.

Effects of ACE inhibition on endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the chemotactic response of endothelial progenitor cells to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in T2DM patients after acute myocardial infarction, as well as the associated prognosis. METHODS: Sixty-eight T2DM patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to either receive or not receive daily oral perindopril 4 mg, and 36 non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled as controls. The numbers of circulating CD45-/low+CD34+CD133+KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells, as well as the stromal cell-derived factor-α and high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels, were measured before acute percutaneous coronary intervention and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 after percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12002599. RESULTS: T2DM patients had lower circulating endothelial progenitor cell counts, decreased plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and α levels, and higher plasma high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels compared with non-diabetic controls. After receiving perindopril, the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells increased from day 3 to 7, as did the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cell-derived factor-α, compared with the levels in T2DM controls. Plasma high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels in the treated group decreased to the same levels as those in non-diabetic controls. Furthermore, compared with T2DM controls, the perindopril-treated T2DM patients had lower cardiovascular mortality and occurrence of heart failure symptoms (p<0.05) and better left ventricle function (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors represents a novel approach for improving cardiovascular repair after acute myocardial infarction in T2DM patients.

Effects of ACE inhibition on endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the chemotactic response of endothelial progenitor cells to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in T2DM patients after acute myocardial infarction, as well as the associated prognosis. METHODS: Sixty-eight T2DM patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to either receive or not receive daily oral perindopril 4 mg, and 36 non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled as controls. The numbers of circulating CD45−/low+CD34+CD133+KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells, as well as the stromal cell-derived factor-α and high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels, were measured before acute percutaneous coronary intervention and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 after percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12002599. RESULTS: T2DM patients had lower circulating endothelial progenitor cell counts, decreased plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and α levels, and higher plasma high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels compared with non-diabetic controls. After receiving perindopril, the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells increased from day 3 to 7, as did the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cell-derived factor-α, compared with the levels in T2DM controls. Plasma high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels in the treated group decreased to the same levels as those in non-diabetic controls. Furthermore, compared with T2DM controls, the perindopril-treated T2DM patients had lower cardiovascular mortality and occurrence of heart failure symptoms (p<0.05) and better left ventricle function (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors represents a novel approach for improving cardiovascular repair after acute myocardial infarction in T2DM patients. .

Lactate measurement interference by hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (Oxyglobin, Hemopure, and Hemolink).

We sought to determine whether hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), hemoglobin glutamer-200 [bovine] (HBOC-200, Oxyglobin), hemoglobin glutamer-250 [bovine] (HBOC-201, Hemopure), and hemoglobin raffimer (Hemolink) interfere with the accuracy of lactate measurements. Combinations of concentrated L-lactate solution, HBOC, and blood or plasma with added PlasmaLyte-A were added to sample tubes to make a linear and constant increase in lactate concentration in consecutive samples. Sample lactate concentrations ranged from 5-110 mg/dL (0.6-12 mm) (physiological reference range: 5-20 mg/dL [0.56-2.2 mm]). Comparisons were made between machine measured lactate concentrations and calculated lactate concentrations. For Hb glutamer-250, the average difference between measured and calculated lactate concentrations was -5.1 mg/dL (-0.57 mm) (LX-20), with greater underestimation at larger lactate concentrations. For Hb raffimer, the average difference was -2.2 mg/dL (-0.24 mm) (LX-20). The veterinary product, Hb glutamer-200, was tested on 3 analyzers (LX-20(R), YSI 1500, and YSI 2300). The YSI 1500 was the most accurate instrument with the mean difference between measured minus calculated lactate being +1.3 mg/dL versus -2.6 mg/dL (YSI 2300) and -8.4 mg/dL (LX-20). The clinical implications of this study are that with increasing levels of an HBOC in plasma, lactate interpretation may become inaccurate, especially at larger lactate concentrations, causing underestimation of measured lactate values and possible under-treatment of the patient. Therefore, caution must be exercised when interpreting lactate results when a HBOC is present in plasma.

Regulation of regional expression in rat brain PC2 by thyroid hormone/characterization of novel negative thyroid hormone response elements in the PC2 promoter.

The prohormone convertases (PCs) PC1 and PC2 are involved in the tissue-specific endoproteolytic processing of neuropeptide precursors within the secretory pathway. We previously showed that changes in thyroid status altered pituitary PC2 mRNA and that this regulation was due to triiodothyronine-dependent interaction of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) with negative thyroid hormone response elements (nTREs) contained in a large proximal region of the human PC2 promoter. In the current study, we examined the in vivo regulation of brain PC2 mRNA by thyroid status and found that 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil-induced hypothyroidism stimulated, whereas thyroxine-induced hyperthyroidism suppressed, PC2 mRNA levels in the rat hypothalamus and cerebral cortex. To address the mechanism of T3 regulation of the PC2 gene, we used human PC2 (hPC2) promoter constructs transiently transfected into GH3 cells and found that triiodothyronine negatively and 9-cis-retinoic acid positively regulated hPC2 promoter activity. EMSAs, using purified TRalpha1 and retinoid X receptor-beta (RXRbeta) proteins demonstrated that TRalpha bound the distal putative nTRE-containing oligonucleotide in the PC2 promoter, and RXR bound to both nTRE-containing oligonucleotides. EMSAs with oligonucleotides containing deletion mutations of the nTREs demonstrated that the binding to TR and RXR separately is reduced, but specific binding to TR and RXR together persists even with deletion of each putative nTRE. We conclude that there are two novel TRE-like sequences in the hPC2 promoter and that these regions act in concert in a unique manner to facilitate the effects of thyroid hormone and 9-cis-retinoic acid on PC2.

Prohormone convertase 2 enzymatic activity and its regulation in neuro-endocrine cells and tissues.

We used the fluorometric substrate, pGlu-Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-MCA and the C-terminal peptide of human 7B2(155-185), a specific inhibitor of prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), to specifically measure the enzymatic activity of the prohormone convertases, PC2. Using lysates from the pancreatic alpha cell line, alphaTC1-6 cells, which contain moderate levels of PC2 enzymatic activity, we determined that the PC2 assay was linear with respect to time of incubation and protein added and had a pH optimum of 5.5 and a calcium optimum of 2.5 mM. Rat pituitary contained high levels of PC2 enzymatic activity, while the hypothalamus and other brain regions contained moderate levels. This enzyme assay was used to document that both mice null for PC2 as well as mice null for the PC2 cofactor, 7B2, had only trace levels of PC2 activity in various brain regions, while mice heterozygous for these alleles had approximately half of the PC2 activity in most brain regions. PC2 enzymatic activity and PC2 mRNA levels were somewhat discordant suggesting that PC2 mRNA levels do not always reflect PC2 enzymatic activity.