4-Octyl itaconate alleviates renal ischemia reperfusion injury by ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum stress via Nrf2 pathway.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common clinical complication of multiple severe diseases. Owing to its high mortality and the lack of effective treatment, renal IRI is still an intractable problem for clinicians. Itaconate, which is a metabolite of cis-aconitate, can exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant roles in many diseases. As a derivative of itaconate with high cell membrane permeability, 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) could provide a protective effect for various diseases. However, the role of 4-OI in renal IRI is still unclear. Herein, we examined whether 4-OI afforded kidney protection through attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) via nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. To observe the effects of 4-OI on alleviating renal pathologic injury, improving renal dysfunction, decreasing inflammatory cytokines, and reducing oxidative stress, we utilized C57BL/6J mice with bilateral renal pedicle clamped and HK-2 cells with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) exposure in our study. In addition, through western blot assay, we found 4-OI ameliorated renal IRI-induced ERS, and activated Nrf2 pathway. Moreover, Nrf2-knockout (KO) mice and Nrf2 knockdown HK-2 cells were used to validate the role of Nrf2 signaling pathway in 4-OI-mediated alleviation of ERS caused by renal IRI. We demonstrated that 4-OI relieved renal injury and suppressed ERS in wild-type mice, while the therapeutic role was not shown in Nrf2-KO mice. Similarly, 4-OI could exert cytoprotective effect and inhibit ERS in HK-2 cells after H/R, but not in Nrf2 knockdown cells. Our in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that 4-OI protected renal IRI through attenuating ERS via Nrf2 pathway.

Evaluation of Ovarian Tumors with Multidetector Computed Tomography and Tumor Markers: Differentiation of Stage I Serous Borderline Tumors and Stage I Serous Malignant Tumors Presenting as Solid-Cystic Mass.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features and tumor markers for differentiating stage I serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOTs) from stage I serous malignant ovarian tumors (SMOTs). MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 48 patients with stage I SBOTs and 54 patients with stage I SMOTs who underwent MDCT and tumor markers analysis were analyzed. MDCT features included location, shape, margins, texture, papillary projections, vascular abnormalities, size, and attenuation value. Tumor markers included serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4). Parameters of clinical characteristic, MDCT features, and tumor markers were compared using a chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U tests. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to detect predictors for SMOTs. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the potential diagnostic value of the quantitative parameters. Kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate interobserver reproducibility for MDCT features. RESULTS Median ages between patients with SBOTs and SMOTs were significantly different. Compared with SBOTs, vascular abnormalities were significantly more common in SMOTs. CA125, HE4, the maximum thickness of the wall, the maximum thickness of the septa, and the maximum diameter of the solid portions were significantly higher in patients with SMOTs. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age, vascular abnormalities, and the maximum diameter of the solid portion were independent factors of SMOTs. ROC analysis was used to assess the potential diagnostic value for predicting SMOTs. Moderate or good interobserver reproducibility for MDCT features were identified. CONCLUSIONS Age, vascular abnormalities, and the maximum diameter of the solid portion were independent factors for differentiating SBOTs from SMOTs. The combined analysis of age, vascular abnormalities, and the maximum diameter of the solid portion may allow better differentiation between SBOTs and SMOTs.

Late Preterm Infants' Social Competence, Motor Development, and Cognition.

The aim of this study was to compare the social competence, motor development, and cognition of late preterm infants (LPIs) with full-term infants. Several studies in the recent past indicated that LPIs are at high risk of social development problems. We compared the development of motor skills, cognition, and social competency of LPIs with full-term infants at between 2 and 2.5 years old. The Chinese versions of the Gesell Development Diagnosis scale and the Normal Development of Social Skills from Infants to Junior High School Children scale were used for the assessment. LPIs were not more socially competent than their full-term counterparts. Each skill-namely, adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal-social responses-was separately associated with the total level of social skills. It was found that gross motor skills had a positive correlation with the self-help and locomotive abilities, and fine motor skills had a positive association with locomotion abilities. LPIs had risk factors due to their delayed social skills in areas including motor disorders and physiological and perinatal factors. LPIs under three were at a higher risk of impairment in social competency. Therefore, it is recommended that they be monitored regularly to identify the development of social and cognitive disorders at an early stage.

Prevalence and correlates of sexual and gender-based violence against Chinese adolescent women who are involved in commercial sex: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the vast quantity of research among Chinese female sex workers (FSWs) to address concerns regarding HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk, there is a paucity of research on issues of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the missed opportunity for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) promotion among young FSWs. Our research aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of SGBV among Chinese adolescent FSWs, and to explore SRH service utilisation. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a one-stage cluster sampling method was employed. A semistructured questionnaire was administered by trained peer educators or health workers. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine individual and structural correlates of SGBV. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Between July and September 2012, 310 adolescent women aged 15-20 years, and who self-reported having received money or gifts in exchange for sex in the past 6 months were recruited and completed their interview in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. RESULTS: Findings confirm the high prevalence of SGBV against adolescent FSWs in China, with 38% (118/310) of participants affected in the past year. Moreover, our study demonstrated the low uptake of public health services and high rates of prior unwanted pregnancy (52%; 61/118), abortion (53%; 63/118) and self-reported STI symptoms (84%; 99/118) in participants who were exposed to SGBV. Forced sexual debut was reported by nearly a quarter of FSWs (23%; 70/310) and was independently associated with having had a drug-using intimate partner and younger age (<17 years old) at first abortion. When controlling for potential confounders, having experienced SGBV was associated with frequent alcohol use, having self-reported symptoms of STI, having an intimate partner and having an intimate partner with illicit drug use. CONCLUSIONS: This study calls for effective and integrated interventions addressing adolescent FSWs' vulnerability to SGBV and broader SRH consequences.

[Analysis of Microfiber Knot Resonator Spectrum for Seawater Temperature].

As a sensing device, microfiber knot resonator (MKR) has been widely used in sensing field due to its advantages of high sensitivity and fast response. It is important to analyze the spectrum of MKR for detecting environmental parameters in that the spectrum can reflect the change of ambient environment. In this paper, the relationship between spectrum of MKR and seawater temperature has been studied theoretically and experimentally. Firstly, the dependences of the propagation constants of fundamental mode (HE11) on the fiber diameter and the probing wavelength are studied theoretically in this paper, including two orthogonal polarization states of fundamental mode. The calculated results show that the propagation constant increases with the increasing fiber diameter and the decreasing probing wavelength. Simultaneously, the dependence of propagation constant of fundamental mode on seawater temperature is studied. The results show that the larger propagation constant corresponds to the higher seawater temperature, which indicates that the seawater temperature affect the mode propagation constant. Thus, the seawater temperature can be obtained by detecting the resonant spectrum. Secondly, the experimental system for seawater temperature sensing is set up, with which the resonant spectrum of MKR for seawater temperature sensing are obtained. The experimental results show that two sets of resonant peak exist on the spectrum, which are corresponding to TE and TM modes of fundamental mode. The sensing sensitivities of the two polarization modes are 5.54 pm/°C and 5.24pm/°C, respectively. Finally, the reason for resonant spectrum of the two polarization states is discussed, which is that the separation of the two modes resulting from the twisted coupler of the knot zone, and the resonant intensity of the two polarization modes is analyzed. The resonant intensities of the two modes are different and one increases while the other one decreases with the increasing probing wavelength. It is determined by the coupling coefficients and attenuations of the two coupled states，which are affected by the probing wavelength. The experimental and theoretical results agree well.

WITHDRAWN: Associations between polymorphisms of HLA-B gene and postmenopausal osteoporosis in Chinese Han population.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

[Clinical effect of triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection among children in terms of Hp eradication rate and incidence of adverse events. METHODS: A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted on 240 children with a confirmed diagnosis of Hp infection. These patients were randomized into triple therapy (n=120) and probiotics groups (n=120). The triple therapy group received amoxicillin [40 mg/(kg·d), Tid], clarithromycin [15 mg/(kg·d), Bid] and omeprazole [0.7-0.8 mg/(kg·d), Qd], while the probiotics group received Saccharomyces boulardii (250 mg, Bid) in addition to triple therapy. The course of treatment was 14 days in both groups. The adverse events in subjects were recorded by their parents during treatment. Hp eradiation was evaluated by (13)C breath test at 4 weeks after treatment, and the eradication rate and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The Hp eradication rates were 75.8% (91/120) in the triple therapy group and 85% (102/120) in the probiotics group (P>0.05). Compared with the triple therapy group, the probiotics group had nonsignificantly lower incidence of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain (P>0.05) and significantly lower incidence of stomatitis, constipation and diarrhea (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii cannot significantly increase Hp eradication rate, but can significantly reduce the incidence of stomatitis, constipation, and diarrhea during treatment.

[Clinical application of single-balloon enteroscopy in children with small intestinal bleeding].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value and safety of single-balloon electronic enteroscopy in children with small intestinal bleeding. METHODS: Seventy children with clinically suspected small intestinal bleeding, including 38 males and 32 females aged 4-13 years, underwent single-balloon enteroscopy under general anesthesia. Twenty-six cases underwent the procedure through the mouth, 32 cases through the anus, and 12 cases through both. RESULTS: Of the 70 children, 58 (83%) had small bowel disease according to the single-balloon enteroscopy results, including 24 cases of non-specific inflammation, 12 cases of allergic purpura, 8 cases of Crohn's disease, 8 cases of Meckel's diverticulum, and 6 cases of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Single-balloon enteroscopy is a safe, effective means for the diagnosis of small intestinal bleeding among children.

BZS1, a B-box protein, promotes photomorphogenesis downstream of both brassinosteroid and light signaling pathways.

Photomorphogenesis is controlled by multiple signaling pathways, including the light and brassinosteroid (BR) pathways. BR signaling activates the BZR1 transcription factor, which is required for suppressing photomorphogenesis in the dark. We identified a suppressor of the BR hypersensitive mutant bzr1-1D and named it bzr1-1D suppressor1-Dominant (bzs1-D). The bzs1-D mutation was caused by overexpression of a B-box zinc finger protein BZS1, which is transcriptionally repressed by BZR1. Overexpression of BZS1 causes de-etiolation in the dark, short hypocotyls in the light, reduced sensitivity to BR treatment, and repression of many BR-activated genes. Knockdown of BZS1 by co-suppression partly suppressed the short hypocotyl phenotypes of BR-deficient or insensitive mutants. These results support that BZS1 is a negative regulator of BR response. BZS1 overexpressors are hypersensitive to different wavelengths of light and loss of function of BZS1 reduces plant sensitivity to light and partly suppresses the constitutive photomorphogenesis 1 (cop1) mutant in the dark, suggesting a positive role in light response. BZS1 protein accumulates at an increased level after light treatment of dark-grown BZS1-OX plants and in the cop1 mutants, and BZS1 interacts with COP1 in vitro, suggesting that light regulates BZS1 through COP1-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. These results demonstrate that BZS1 mediates the crosstalk between BR and light pathways.

[Controlled study on therapeutic effect of vessel pricking therapy and western medication for treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of therapeutic effects between vessel pricking therapy and Prednisone for treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis. METHODS: Seventy cases of acute purpura nephritis syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Patients in observation group were differentiated into sthenia and asthenia syndromes. Vessel pricking therapy was applied at Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Xuehai (SP 10) etc. by triangular needle for sthenia symptom; shallow needling was used at Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) etc. by filiform needle. The control group was treated with oral admi-nidtration of Prednisone. The symptom score of TCM, 24 h urinary protein, red blood cell count of urinary sediment of both groups were observed before and after treatment and therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 92.5% (37/40) in observation group was superior to that of 80.0% (24/30) in control group, and there was a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05); the symptom score of TCM, 24 h urinary protein, red blood cell count of urinary sediment were all improved in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.05), and moreover, the improvement in observation group was superior to that of control group (all P < 0.05); after treatment, the symptom score of TCM of sthenia syndrome was lower than that of asthenia syndrome in observation group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vessel pricking therapy has a significant therapeutic effect for treatment of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis, superior to that of oral administration of Prednisone, and the therapeutic effect is better for treating sthenia syndrome than for asthenia syndrome.

[Preparation and simultaneous determination of corynoline and acetylcorynoline in the herb of Corydalis bungeana].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and purify corynoline and acetylcorynoline from Corydalis bungeana and develop a reversed-phase HPLC method of determining the two components in C. bungeana. METHOD: Alkaloids were isolated from the ethanolic extract with column gel chromatography, and identified on the basis of spectral analysis (UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR) and physicochemical properties. For quantitative analysis of the two components, samples were separated on an ODS column with mobile phase of methanol-15 mmol.L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate/potassium phosphate dibasic (pH 6.70, 70:30). The flow rate was 0.8 mL.min-1, and the detection was set at 289 nm. RESULT: The purity was 99.5% and 99.1% for corynoline and acetylcorynoline respectively. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 6.9-110.4 mg.L-1 corynoline and 8.7-139.5 mg.L-1 acetylcorynoline. The RSD was 2.1% and 2.7%, and the average recovery was 97.3% and 97.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: The method of isolating and purifying corynoline and acetylcorynoline from Corydalis bungeana and the HPLC method of simultaneous determination of the two components have been developed. The HPLC method is simple, easy to perform and applicable to the content determination of corynoline and acetylcorynoline in C. bungeana of various origins.