Clinicopathological correlations of peritoneal endometriosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the clinical and histopathological features of peritoneal endometriosis (PEM) and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with PEM and DIE admitted to Dalian Women and Children's Hospital/Dalian Women and Children's Medical Center between October 2018 and December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. One hundred and thirty-one PEM specimens and 37 DIE were collected, 22 cases of these patients' eutopic endometrium were used as control (15 in PEM, seven in DIE). The present study mainly analysed the pelvic distribution, the histopathological and immunohistochemical features and peritoneal invasion of PEM and DIE. RESULTS: The main distribution of PEM and DIE was located in the posterior pelvic cavity (p < .001). The histopathological characteristics of different PEM forms were different: the contents of endometrioid glands, endometrioid stroma, smooth muscle, fibrous tissue and blood vessels in different lesions were statistically significant (all p < .050). Estrogen receptor (ER) of PEM and DIE was highly expressed in endometrioid glandular epithelium and endometrioid stroma, without statistical significance (p = .330/.113). Progesterone receptor (PR) was also highly expressed in endometrioid glandular epithelium and endometrioid stroma without statistical significance (p = .757/.798). Ki-67 expression of DIE in endometrioid glandular epithelium was significantly higher than that in brown and white lesions (p < .001), while its expression in the endometrioid stroma was not statistically significant in red lesions (p = .070), but higher than that in other PEM lesions (p < .001). Different morphological lesions had different invasiveness rates and depths of invasion to the peritoneum. White lesions had a deeper subperitoneal invasion level than transparent and vesicular lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Although different morphological appearance of PEM is a degenerative process, some active brown lesions of PEM have invasive effects during the process and may further develop into DIE. PEM and DIE may be different developmental stages of the same disease.

In summary, PEM is a progressive disease, and its different morphological appearance reflects different stages of lesion development.Ectopic endometrial cells have a destructive effect on the peritoneal structures; as the lesion progresses, it continuously infiltrates the subperitoneum.PEM and DIE are different development stages of the same disease. The homology of the two lesions has yet to be explored in terms of pathogenesis.

Bergenin inhibits palmitic acid-induced pancreatic ß-cell inflammatory death via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Background: Bergenin, an active constituent of plants of the genus Bergenia, has been reported to have antidiabetic properties. This study investigated whether bergenin is beneficial for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) via regulating NOD-like receptor family-pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Methods: Two pancreatic ß-cell lines, INS-1 and MIN6, were treated with 1, 3, or 10 µM bergenin in the absence or presence of palmitic acid (PA). Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8, flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining were performed. Results: Bergenin with concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 µM had no cytotoxicity in INS-1 and MIN6 cells. However, bergenin dose-dependently relieved PA-induced pancreatic ß­cell loss and apoptosis. Bergenin dose-dependently inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome-related inflammation, as observed by the downregulation of NLRP3, apoptosis associated speck like protein (ASC), cleaved caspase-1, and gasdermin-D (GSDMD)-N, as well as the decreased release of cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18. The NOD-like receptor signaling pathway was predicted to be a downstream signaling pathway regulated by bergenin. Autodock Vina software docked bergenin with NLRP3. The binding energy of interaction was -5.101 kcal/mol and the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) score was 1.5901A. Treating pancreatic ß­cells with bergenin accelerated the degeneration of NLRP3. Furthermore, restoration of NLRP3 expression using plasmid transfection reversed the protective effects of bergenin on pancreatic ß-cells. Conclusions: Our data suggests that bergenin is a potential agent for treating T2DM through preventing NLRP3 inflammasome-related inflammation in pancreatic ß-cells.

Genome sequencing identified novel mechanisms underlying virescent mutation in upland cotton Gossypiuma hirsutum.

BACKGROUND: Virescent mutation broadly exists in plants and is an ideal experimental material to investigate regulatory mechanisms underlying chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis and plant growth. Up to date, the molecular mechanisms in two virescent mutations have been clarified in cottons (Gossypiuma hirsutum). A virescent mutation has been found in the cotton strain Sumian 22, and the underlying molecular mechanisms have been studied. METHODS: The virescent mutant and wild type (WT) of Sumian 22 were cross-bred, and the F1 population were self-pollinated to calculate the segregation ratio. Green and yellow leaves from F2 populations were subjected to genome sequencing and bulked-segregant analysis was performed to screen mutations. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were performed to identify genes in relations to chlorophyll synthesis. Intermediate products for chlorophyll synthesis were determined to validate the RT-qPCR results. RESULTS: The segregation ratio of green and virescent plants in F2 population complied with 3:1. Compared with WT, a 0.34 Mb highly mutated interval was identified on the chromosome D10 in mutant, which contained 31 genes. Among them, only ABCI1 displayed significantly lower levels in mutant than in WT. Meanwhile, the contents of Mg-protoporphyrin IX, protochlorophyllide, chlorophyll a and b were all significantly lower in mutant than in WT, which were consistent with the inhibited levels of ABCI1. In addition, a mutation from A to T at the -317 bp position from the start codon of ABCI1 was observed in the genome sequence of mutant. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibited transcription of ABCI1 might be the mechanism causing virescent mutation in Sumian 22 cotton, which reduced the transportation of protoporphyrin IX to plastid, and then inhibited Mg-protoporphyrin IX, Protochlorophyllide and finally chlorophyll synthesis. These results provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying virescent mutation in cotton.

Anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective effects of a novel apitherapy formulation via upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and -γ in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Ventricular remodeling is associated with many heart diseases, and ventricular remodeling induced by hypertension can be fatal independent of hypertension. In this study, we prepared a novel apitherapy formulation, designated Bao-Yuan-Ling (BYL), which contained propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom, to treat spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs). We then evaluated the pharmacology of BYL and the potential mechanisms through which BYL affects hypertension and ventricular remodeling. We found that BYL treatment could reduce blood pressure in SHRs. Thereafter, we found that BYL treatment reduced serum levels of angiotensin II, endothelin 1, and transforming growth factor-ß and improved the myocardial structure. Moreover, the results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that BYL treatment could upregulate the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ. Thus, we could conclude that BYL had hypotensive and cardioprotective effects in SHRs, potentially through improvement of myocardial energy metabolism.

Alternating chiral selectivity of aldol reactions under the confined space of mesoporous silica.

The chiral selectivities were altered and high diastereo- and enantio-selectivities of the products were obtained in water medium without adding acid co-catalysts when a primary-tertiary diamine catalyst was immobilized on mesoporous SBA-15 to form a recyclable catalyst for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of cyclohexanone with p-nitrobenzaldehyde.

Cryptosporidium parvum IId family: clonal population and dispersal from Western Asia to other geographical regions.

In this study, 111 Cryptosporidium parvum IId isolates from several species of animals in China, Sweden, and Egypt were subtyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). One to eleven subtypes were detected at each of the 12 microsatellite, minisatellite, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci, forming 25 MLST subtypes. Host-adaptation and significant geographical segregation were both observed in the MLST subtypes. A clonal population structure was seen in C. parvum IId isolates from China and Sweden. Three ancestral lineages and the same RPGR sequence were shared by these isolates examined. Therefore, the present genetic observations including the higher nucleotide diversity of C. parvum IId GP60 sequences in Western Asia, as well as the unique distribution of IId subtypes (almost exclusively found in Asia, Europe, and Egypt) and in combination with the domestication history of cattle, sheep, and goats, indicated that C. parvum IId subtypes were probably dispersed from Western Asia to other geographical regions. More population genetic structure studies involving various C. parvum subtype families using high-resolution tools are needed to better elucidate the origin and dissemination of C. parvum in the world.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cyclospora cayetanensis, Henan, China.

To determine prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in Henan, China, we conducted a study of 11,554 hospital patients. Prevalence was 0.70% (95% confidence interval 0.70% ± 0.15%), with all age groups infected. Most cases were found in the summer. Minor sequence polymorphisms were observed in the 18S rRNA gene of 35 isolates characterized.

Cryptosporidium spp. in pet birds: genetic diversity and potential public health significance.

To characterize the prevalence and assess the zoonotic transmission burden of Cryptosporidium species/genotypes in pet birds in Henan, China, 434 fecal samples were acquired from 14 families of birds in pet shops. The overall prevalence of Cryptopsoridium was 8.1% (35/434) by the Sheather's sugar flotation technique. The Cryptosporidium-positive samples were analyzed by DNA sequence analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. Three Cryptosporidium species and two genotypes were identified, including C. baileyi (18/35 or 51.4%) in five red-billed leiothrixes (Leiothrix lutea), four white Java sparrows (Padda oryzivora), four common mynas (Acridotheres tristis), two zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a crested Lark (Galerida cristata), a Gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae), and a black-billed magpie (Pica pica); Cryptosporidium meleagridis (3/35 or 8.6%) in a Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus), a Rufous turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis), and a fan-tailed pigeon (Columba livia); Cryptosporidium galli (5/35 or 14.3%) in four Bohemian waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) and a silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris); Cryptosporidium avian genotype III (3/35 or 8.6%) in two cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and a red-billed blue magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha); and Cryptosporidium avian genotype V (6/35 or 17.1%) in six cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). Among the pet birds, 12 species represented new hosts for Cryptosporidum infections. The presence of C. meleagridis raises questions on potential zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis from pet birds to humans.

Characteristics of Cryptosporidium transmission in preweaned dairy cattle in Henan, China.

To estimate the prevalence and public health significance of cryptosporidiosis in preweaned calves in China, 801 fecal samples from eight farms in seven areas in Henan Province were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts. The overall infection rate of Cryptosporidium was 21.5%, with the farm in Xinxiang having the highest prevalence (40%). No significant difference in infection rates was observed between seasons. Cryptosporidium spp. were characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and DNA sequencing of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. The SSU rRNA-based PCR identified four Cryptosporidium species, including Cryptosporidium parvum (54/172), C. bovis (65/172), C. ryanae (19/172), and C. andersoni (12/172), and the occurrence of infections with mixed species (22/172). The earliest detection of C. bovis was in calves of 1 week of age, showing that the prepatent period was shorter than the previously stated 10 to 12 days. Infections with C. parvum peaked in summer, whereas C. bovis dominated in autumn and winter. There was no apparent difference in the age of cattle infected with either C. parvum or C. bovis. Sequencing analysis of the gp60 gene showed all 67 C. parvum samples belonged to subtype IIdA19G1. These findings suggested that the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in preweaned calves in Henan, China, appeared to be different from other areas both at genotype and subtype levels. Further molecular epidemiologic studies (including samples from both calves and humans) are needed to elucidate the transmission dynamics and public significance of C. parvum in cattle in China.

Genetic characterizations of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in humans in Henan, China.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections are common causes of diarrhea worldwide. To better understand the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in Henan, China, 10 Cryptosporidium-positive specimens and 18 Giardia-positive specimens were characterized at the species/genotype and subtype levels. Cryptosporidium specimens were analyzed by DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA and 60kDa glycoprotein genes. Among those genotyped, nine belonged to C. hominis and one C. felis, with the former belonging to three subtype families: Ia, Ib, and Id. The three Ib subtypes identified, IbA16G2, IbA19G2, and IbA20G2, were very different from the two common Ib subtypes (IbA9G3 and IbA10G2) found in other areas of the world. The distribution of Giardia duodenalis genotypes and subtypes was assessed by sequence analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene. The assemblages A (eight belonging to A-I and four A-II) and B (belonging to six new subtypes) were found in 12 and six specimens, respectively. More systematic studies are needed to understand the transmission of Cryptosporidium and G. duodenalis in humans in China.