Two new species of Sordariomycetes (Chaetomiaceae and Nectriaceae) from China.

Rich and diverse fungal species occur in different habitats on the earth. Many new taxa are being reported and described in increasing numbers with the advent of molecular phylogenetics. However, there are still a number of unknown fungi that have not yet been discovered and described. During a survey of fungal diversity in different habitats in China, we identified and proposed two new species, based on the morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Herein, we report the descriptions, illustrations and molecular phylogeny of the two new species, Bisifusariumkeratinophilumsp. nov. and Ovatosporasinensissp. nov.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Eight New Acrophialophora Species (Sordariales, Chaetomiaceae) from China.

The genus Acrophialophora belongs to the family Chaetomiaceae. With the addition of new species and transferred species from other genera, the genus Acrophialophora has expanded. In this study, eight new species related to Acrophialophora were isolated from soil samples in China. Using muti-locus phylogenetic (ITS, LSU, tub2 and RPB2) analysis combined with morphological characteristics, eight new species (Acrophialophora curvata, A. fujianensis, A. guangdongensis, A. longicatenata, A. minuta, A. multiforma, A. rhombica, and A. yunnanensis) are described. Descriptions, illustrations, and notes of the new species are also provided.

Serum CTRP9 and high-molecular weight adiponectin are associated with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: C1q/TNF-related protein 9 (CTRP9) and adiponectin (APN) have beneficial metabolic regulatory and vasoprotective effects. This study explored alteration of CTRP9 and APN multimers during onset of ischemic stroke and development, to provide novel clinical and experimental basis for recognition and prevention of ischemic stroke. METHODS: There were 269 patients with ischemic stroke and 182 control subjects included in this study. Serum levels of CTRP9 and APN multimers in different disease stages were measured. RESULTS: Serum CTRP9, total APN (tAPN), and high-molecular weight (HMW) APN decreased gradually in stage I (acute stage, within 72 h of onset) of ischemic stroke and increased during stage III (11th day to one month) and stage IV (1 month after), compared to control. In the non-hyperlipidemia group, serum CTRP9, tAPN, and HMW were decreased in ischemic stroke patients compared to control (P < 0.05). Serum CTRP9 is closely related to serum tAPN and HMW (r = 0.992, 0.991). Serum CTRP9 are protective against ischemic stroke (OR = 0.400, 95% CI 0.197-0.810, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lower serum CTRP9, tAPN, LMW, and HMW are significantly associated with increased ischemic stroke risk in non-hyperlipidemia subjects. CTRP9, tAPN, and HMW isoforms may be valuable clinical indicators for patients with ischemic stroke.

Elaborated Reaction Pathway of Photothermal Catalytic CO2 Conversion with H2 O on Gallium Oxide-Decorated and -Defective Surfaces.

Ga2 O3 -decorated and -defective surface models based on anatase TiO2 have been established. The thermodynamic reaction pathways, including protonation, deoxygenation and hydroxylation steps, during CO2 conversion with H2 O to C1 products were calculated. The calculation results demonstrate that a Ga2 O3 cocatalyst enhances the selective adsorption of CO2 and slightly weakens the competitive adsorption of H2 O. The promotion effect of Ga2 O3 on the subsequent reaction depends on the availability of protons and electrons. Free-energy calculations revealed that the basic functional site generated by Ga2 O3 not only suppresses the back reaction of the OH group after H2 O directly provides protons but also maintains the surface defect oxygen vacancy (VO ), which promotes the reaction thermodynamics but tends to be consumed in the process. Additionally, Ga2 O3 decoration promotes VO formation, and the coexistence of Ga2 O3 and VO further decreases the reaction rate-determining step energy barrier, promoting C1 production.

Effects of lung-protective ventilation strategy on lung aeration loss and postoperative pulmonary complications in moderate-risk patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is a controversy about whether the use of a lung-protective ventilation strategy(LPVS) can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and improve the clinical outcomes in moderate-risk patients were assessed by the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia(ARISCAT). METHODS: One hundred moderate-risk patients predicted by the ARISCAT, scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery were randomized into two groups: conventional ventilation strategy group (G0) and lung-protective ventilation strategy group (G1). Lung ultrasonography (LUS) and the LUS score were performed before induction of anesthesia (T0), 30min after extubation (T1), and 24h (T2), 72h (T3) after surgery. The incidence and severity of PPCs within the postoperative 7 days, the duration of postoperative oxygen supplementation, and postoperative hospital stay (PHS) were recorded. RESULTS: The LUS score of both groups at T1-3 was higher than those at T0 (P<0.05), moreover, the LUS score of G1 was lower than that of G0 at T1-3. The incidence of PPCs of G1 (10.9%) was lower than that of G0 (29.8%) (relative risk, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14 to 0.93; P=0.02) and the severity of PPCs of G1 were lower than those of G0 (P<0.05). The PHS of G1 was less than that of G0 (8[7-10] vs. 9[8-11], P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The LPVS can decrease lung aeration loss assessed by LUS and reduce the incidence of PPCs in moderate-risk patients.

Prognostic Role of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter for Neurological Outcomes in Post-Cardiac Arrest Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated whether optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) could be used to predict neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search in the Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to June 2020 for eligible articles. Stata 14.0 software was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 473 patients were considered eligible for this meta-analysis. The pooled result using a random-effects model showed that broadened ONSD is associated with poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients (OR = 15.62, 95% CI: 5.50-44.34, P < 0.001; I 2 = 58.4%, P = 0.018), with a sensibility of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.45-0.73) and specificity of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83-0.98). The area under the curve of the SROC curve for ONSD was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.84-0.90). Subgroup analysis revealed that sample size and time of ONSD measurement may be the source of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the stability of the results of this meta-analysis. No publication bias using Deeks' funnel plot was noted across the studies (P = 0.23). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirmed that ONSD can be used to predict neurological outcomes in post-CA patients.

MicroRNA-497 regulates cisplatin chemosensitivity of cervical cancer by targeting transketolase.

Cervical cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies amongst women, partially because it is unresponsive to many chemotherapeutic drugs. The mechanism underlying cisplatin (DDP) resistance in cervical cancer remains largely elusive. In this study, by detecting the 12 most reported down-regulated miRNAs in chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant cervical cancer cells, we found that miR-497 was significantly reduced in chemotherapy-resistant HeLa/DDP cells and contributed to DDP chemosensitivity. Transketolase (TKT), a thiamine-dependent enzyme that plays a role in the channeling of excess glucose phosphates to glycolysis in the pentose phosphate pathway, was identified as a direct target of miR-497. TKT expression in clinical specimens was characterized by immunohistochemistry and the result showed that TKT was highly expressed in 81.1% (60/74) of samples examined. Data from Oncomine databases revealed that TKT was significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal controls. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies showed that the miR-497/TKT axis was a critical modulator in DDP chemosensitivity as demonstrated by cell viability and apoptosis assays. Mechanistically, DDP chemosensitivity induced by the miR-497/TKT axis was associated with glutathione (GSH) depletion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and GSH treatment effectively abrogated miR-497/TKT-mediated chemosensitivity. In conclusion, these findings suggest that a deregulated miR-497/TKT axis has important implications in the cervical cancer cellular response to DDP, and thus targeting this axis may be a promising way to improve chemosensitivity in cervical cancer.

HPV E6/p53 mediated down-regulation of miR-34a inhibits Warburg effect through targeting LDHA in cervical cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) play crucial roles in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and developmental timing. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs have recently emerged as key regulators of metabolism. However, little is known about its role in tumor metabolism of cervical cancer. In this study, we determined the oncogenic effects of miRNAs on Warburg effect, a metabolic phenotype that allows cancer cells to utilize glucose even under aerobic conditions. A gain-of-function study was performed in 12 down-regulated miRNAs that frequently reported in cervical cancer. We found that miR-34a plays a suppressive role in Warburg effect as evidenced by decreased lactate production and glucose consumption. Knockdown of oncoprotein E6 expression of human papillomavirus in SiHa and HeLa cells by siRNAs lead to an increased protein level of p53, decreased level of miR-34a, as well as reduced Warburg effect. Subsequently, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), which catalyzes the last key step in glycolysis, was identified as a direct target of miR-34a. Silencing of LDHA or introduction of miR-34a significantly attenuated colony formation ability and invasive capacity of SiHa and HeLa cells, and these effects were fully compromised by reintroduction of LDHA. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that deregulated miR-34a/LDHA axis induced by HPV E6/p53 signaling facilitates tumor growth and invasion through regulating Warburg effect in cervical cancer, and provided new insights into the mechanism by which miR-34a contributes to the development and progression of cervical cancer.

Memory dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus correlates with reduced hippocampal CA1 and subiculum volumes.

BACKGROUND: Little attention has been paid to the role of subcortical deep gray matter (SDGM) structures in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced cognitive impairment, especially hippocampal subfields. Our aims were to assess the in vivo volumes of SDGM structures and hippocampal subfields using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to test their associations with cognitive performance in T2DM. METHODS: A total of 80 T2DM patients and 80 neurologically unimpaired healthy controls matched by age, sex and education level was enrolled in this study. We assessed the volumes of the SDGM structures and seven hippocampal subfields on MRI using a novel technique that enabled automated volumetry. We used Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores as measures of cognitive performance. The association of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with SDGM structures and neuropsychological tests and correlations between hippocampal subfields and neuropsychological tests were assessed by partial correlation analysis in T2DM. RESULTS: Bilaterally, the hippocampal volumes were smaller in T2DM patients, mainly in the CA1 and subiculum subfields. Partial correlation analysis showed that the MoCA scores, particularly those regarding delayed memory, were significantly positively correlated with reduced hippocampal CA1 and subiculum volumes in T2DM patients. Additionally, higher HbA1c levels were significantly associated with poor memory performance and hippocampal atrophy among T2DM patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the hippocampus might be the main affected region among the SDGM structures in T2DM. These structural changes in the hippocampal CA1 and subiculum areas might be at the core of underlying neurobiological mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction, suggesting that degeneration in these regions could be responsible for memory impairments in T2DM patients.

ITGA1 polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with gastric cancer risk in a Korean population.

AIM: To evaluate the association between the genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of the ITGA1 gene and the risk of gastric cancer. METHODS: The study subjects were 477 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs. Genotyping was performed for 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ITGA1. The associations between gastric cancer and these SNPs and haplotypes were analyzed with multivariate conditional logistic regression models. Multiple testing corrections were carried out following methodology for controlling the false discovery rate. Gene-based association tests were performed using the versatile gene-based association study (VEGAS) method. RESULTS: In the codominant model, the ORs for SNPs rs2432143 (1.517; 95%CI: 1.144-2.011) and rs2447867 (1.258; 95%CI: 1.051-1.505) were statistically significant. In the dominant model, polymorphisms of rs1862610 and rs2447867 were found to be significant risk factors, with ORs of 1.337 (95%CI: 1.029-1.737) and 1.412 (95%CI: 1.061-1.881), respectively. In the recessive model, only the rs2432143 polymorphism was significant (OR = 1.559, 95%CI: 1.150-2.114). The C-C type of ITGA1 haplotype block 2 was a significant protective factor against gastric cancer in the both codominant model (OR = 0.602, 95%CI: 0.212-0.709, P = 0.021) and the dominant model (OR = 0.653, 95%CI: 0.483-0.884). The ITGA1 gene showed a significant gene-based association with gastric cancer in the VEGAS test. In the dominant model, the A-T type of ITGA1 haplotype block 2 was a significant risk factor (OR = 1.341, 95%CI: 1.034-1.741). SNP rs2447867 might be related to the severity of gastric epithelial injury due to inflammation and, thus, to the risk of developing gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: ITGA1 gene SNPs rs1862610, rs24321 43, and rs2447867 and the ITGA1 haplotype block that includes SNPs rs1862610 and rs2432143 were significantly associated with gastric cancer.

[3, 4- dinitro-furazan-based oxidation furazan acute and subchronic toxicity studies].

OBJECTIVE: To study the 3, 4- dinitro-furazan-based oxidation furazan (DNTF) of sub-acute toxicity and chronic toxicity, to determine the acute toxicity classification DNTF, the nature of toxic effects and major target organ for the development provide the basis for occupational exposure limits. METHODS: ( 1) Acute toxicity: The oral gavage method once infected, symptoms of poisoning of animals observed to calculate the LD50DNTF and 95% confidence limits. ( 2) sub-chronic experiment: selection of 96 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, doses of 25, 56.2, 125 mg/kg and the negative control group, Exposure for ninety days,five days a week, once a day, The rats were killed at end of Exposure, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain,testis, uterus were taken to observe the pathological changes. RESULTS: ( 1) Acute oral toxicity test results indicate that DNTF rat oral LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg, DNTF mice treated by oral LD50 4589 mg/kg, 95%confidence limit for the 4026-5230 mg/kg, Acute toxicity grade level is low toxicity compounds. (2) Sub-chronic toxicity experiment, the high-dose male rats, high, medium and low-dose group female rats weight gain than the negative control group, compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).125 mg/kg of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase was significantly higher. 125 mg/kg dose groups, liver, kidney, lung, testicular factor was significantly higher. Liver, kidney, lung histological examination showed obvious morphological changes. CONCLUSION: Acute toxicity grade DNTF low toxicity level compounds, target organ toxicity of liver, kidney and lung.

Evaluation of the relationship between dietary factors, CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection, and RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation in gastric cancer tissue.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship among Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, CagA status, and dietary factors with RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation. METHODS: Gastric cancer tissue samples were collected from 184 South Korean patients. All patients were interviewed following a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The average frequencies of intake and portion sizes of 89 common food items were documented, and total intakes of calories, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals were calculated for each subject. DNA was extracted from gastric cancer tissue samples, and amplification of the HSP60 gene was performed to detect H. pylori infection. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of the CagA gene. RUNX3 gene expression was measured by reverse transcription-PCR, and RUNX3 methylation status was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95%CI associated with RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation status were estimated for each of the food groups, lifestyle factors, and the interaction between dietary and lifestyle factors with CagA status of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Overall, 164 patients (89.1%) were positive for H. pylori DNA, with the CagA gene detected in 59 (36%) of these H. pylori-positive samples. In all, 106 (57.6%) patients with gastric cancer demonstrated CpG island hypermethylation at the RUNX3 promoter. RUNX3 expression was undetectable in 52 (43.7%) of the 119 gastric cancer tissues sampled. A high consumption of eggs may increase the risk of RUNX3 methylation in gastric cancer patients, having a mean OR of 2.15 (range, 1.14-4.08). A significantly increased OR of 4.28 (range, 1.19-15.49) was observed with a high consumption of nuts in patients with CagA-positive H. pylori infection. High intakes of carbohydrate, vitamin B1, and vitamin E may decrease the risk of RUNX3 methylation in gastric cancer tissue, particularly in CagA- or H. pylori-negative infection, with OR of 0.41 (0.19-0.90), 0.42 (0.20-0.89), and 0.29 (0.13-0.62), respectively. A high consumption of fruits may protect against RUNX3 methylation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the CagA status of H. pylori infection may be a modifier of dietary effects on RUNX3 methylation in gastric cancer tissue.

[A coal mine and coal preparation plant coal dust workplace present situation investigation and analysis].

OBJECTIVE: Through a detection of dust in the coal mines workplace, to understand the status of occupational hazards, and the evaluation of occupational hazards, provide subject to control occupational hazards. METHOD: According to production process and "hazardous substances in workplace air monitoring, sampling norms" and other standards to determine the sampling points and sampling of coal dust. RESULT: Underground mining operations in 21 subjects with time-weighted average concentration of dust types pass rate of 28.6%, of which five types of dust hazard grade II, six types of dust hazard rating of 0, and the remaining types of grade I dust hazard levels. Coal dust test six types of time-weighted average concentration of 83.3% pass rate, only one types of dust hazard grade I, all the rest is 0. Calculated by the detection of dust overrun 18 times operating sites, the pass rate of 72.2% results. CONCLUSION: Purified water spray and air flow curtain of dust control has played a certain role, but the work of underground working conditions and environmental constraints, most of the dust concentration in workplace occupational exposure limits do not meet the requirements, recommended the strengthening of dust or Dust the daily management and maintenance of equipment, strengthen the ventilation, personal protection officers to strengthen operations.

Dimethyl-ammonium bis-(4-methyl-morpholin-4-ium) tetra-chloridozincate.

The title compound, (C(2)H(8)N)(C(5)H(12)NO)[ZnCl(4)], was synthesized by hydro-thermal reaction of ZnCl(2) with 4-methyl-morpholine in a dimethyl-formamide solution. The asymmetric unit is composed of half a [ZnCl(4)](2-) anion, half a 4-methyl-morpholin-4-ium cation and half a dimethyl-ammonium cation, all located on mirror planes parallel to ac. All the amine H atoms are involved in inter-molecular N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, building up an infinite chain parallel to the c axis.

[Correlation analysis between the expression of aquaporin 4 and magnetic resonance imaging of brain tissue in severely scalded rabbit with brain edema during early stage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe expression pattern of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in brain tissue of severely scalded rabbit during early stage of brain edema and its relationship with signal changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to explore the feature of water transmembrane transportation in brain edema at early stage after severe scald. METHODS: Thirty-five healthy New Zealand white rabbits were divided into control group (C, n = 5) and scald group (S, n = 30) according to the random number table. Rabbits in S group were inflicted with 50% TBSA full-thickness scald with brain edema (confirmed by histopathologic examination). At post scald hour (PSH) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, signal change in cerebral MRI, as well as dynamic change in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were examined in rabbits of S group. Specimens were harvested from frontal cortex, parietal cortex, temporal lobe cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum in rabbits of S group for determination of protein and gene expressions of AQP4 with immunohistochemical method and RT-PCR. Above-mentioned indexes were also determined in C group. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and linear correlation analysis (between protein expression of AQP4 and ADC value). RESULTS: There was no significant change in image signal of MRI at each time point in S group as compared with that in C group, including T1WI, T2WI, and DWI. Compared with those in C group, ADC in S group at PSH 4, 5, and 6 were significantly decreased (with F values from 0.492 to 2.271, P values all below 0.05). The expression of AQP4 protein in each part of brain tissue in S group was obviously increased at PSH 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as compared with those in C group (from 0.164 ± 0.022 to 0.247 ± 0.018), and it peaked at PSH 3 or 4 (from 0.237 ± 0.042 to 0.306 ± 0.026), with F values from 2.420 to 11.439, P values all below 0.05. The expressions of AQP4 protein were similar in brain tissue of all regions, and they were negatively correlated with corresponding ADC values (with r values from -0.489 to -0.337, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with that in C group, the expression of AQP4 mRNA in each part of brain tissue in S group was obviously increased at each time point, and it reached the peak at PSH 2 (with F values from 39.992 to 238.584, P values all below 0.05). The expressions of AQP4 mRNA were similar in all brain tissue regions. CONCLUSIONS: Brain edema within 6 hours after severe scald was mainly characterized by cytotoxicity, in which AQP4 may play an important role. ADC value may have important reference value for non-invasive and convenient assessment of development of brain edema.

[Study on acute and subchronic toxicity of ammonium dinitramide].

OBJECTIVE: To study the acute, subacute and subchronic toxicity induced by ammonium dinitramide (ADN), and to ascertain the gradation and target organs of acute toxicity induced by AND. METHODS: According to technical specifications for toxicity determination of chemicals, the oral tests for acute, subacute and subchronic toxicity induced by AND were performed for 90 days. RESULTS: The oral LDx for mouse and rat was 568.9 mg/kg and 616.6 mg/kg ADN respectively. The gradation of acute toxicity induced by AND was low level. The results of oral subacute and subchronic toxicity tests (for 28 and 90 days) showed that a gain in weight in group exposed to 123 mg/kg AND was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05), the TBIL and ALT in group exposed to 61.6 and 123 mg/kg AND significantly increased and the ratio of liver weight to body weight obviously decreased, as compared with control group, the number of animals with hepatic pathological changes in group exposed to 61.6 and 123 mg/kg AND was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The gradation of acute toxicity induced by ADN was low level. When the exposure dose of AND was 30.8 mg/kg, the adverse effect was not observed, and the target organ was liver.

[Study on mutagenicity and teratogenicity of ammonium dinitramide].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mutagenicity and teratogenicity induced by ammonium dinitramide(ADN). METHODS: According to technical specifications for toxicity determination of chemicals, Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay (Ames assay), in vivo mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test, sperm malformation test and teratogenesis test were used to detect the mutagenicity and teratogenicity induced by AND. RESULTS: When the exposure doses of AND were 8-5000 pg/plate, the result of Ames assay was negative. As compared with control group, the micronucleus rate of mice exposed to 113.8 mg/kg AND significantly increased(P<0.05), the sperm malformation rates of mice exposed to 54.4-272.0 mg/kg AND did not increased significantly. The survival rate of fetuses decreased, the rate of assimilated fetuses increased, the rate of fetus sternum agenesis enhanced in mice exposed to 319 mg/kg AND, as compared with controls. The rates of in the 4th-6th fetus sternum agenesis in groups exposed to 21.3, 79.7 and 319 mg/kg AND were higher than that in control group. The malformation rate of fetus bowels in groups exposed to 319 mg/kg AND was higher than that in control group. The teratogenic index of ADN was 30. CONCLUSION: AND may be a mutagen and induce the teratogenic effect.

Modification of the relationship between urinary 8-OHdG and hippuric acid concentration by GSTM1, GSTT1, and ALDH2 genotypes.

Urinary hippuric acid (HA) has been widely used as a biological marker of occupational exposure to toluene, although it is no longer valid for low levels of toluene exposure. Toluene exposure is known to induce oxidative DNA damage and the metabolism is affected by genetic polymorphisms of some metabolizing enzymes. Therefore, genetic polymorphisms of these metabolizing enzymes must be considered in the evaluation of oxidative stress caused by toluene exposure. We evaluated the relationship between urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, and urinary HA in individuals without occupational exposure to toluene and characterized the possible roles of GSTM1, GSTT1, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotypes in the relationships between these markers. In this study, we enrolled 92 healthy Koreans. Urinary HA and 8-OHdG levels were measured and the correlations between them were statistically tested according to the GSTM1, GSTT1, and ALDH2 genotypes. HA did not significantly correlate with urinary 8-OHdG in overall subjects. However, the correlation between them showed a statistical significance in individuals with GSTM1-null, GSTT1-null, and ALDH2 *2/*2 genotypes (r = 0.766, p < 0.01). This study shows that the relationship between urinary HA and 8-OHdG concentration is modified by genetic polymorphisms of some metabolizing enzymes such as GSTM1, GSTT1, and ALDH2.

Localization of cerebral functional deficits in patients with non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NP-SLE) is a common complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and clinical interventions are of only limited efficacy despite relatively high prevalence. Such complications have been studied extensively, but the pathoetiology of NP-SLE has not yet been elucidated. Diagnosis of NP-SLE focuses primarily on psychological manifestations, and the underlying mechanisms leading to neuropsychiatric complications remain unknown. To address potential changes in brain function before NP-SLE development, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare regional brain activity in SLE patients versus matched controls. We report that regional activity in cerebellum and in areas of the default mode network are attenuated in patients with SLE, and moreover individual alterations in cerebellar activity correlated positively with the disease activity index. These findings provide direct evidence that significant alteration of brain function, resembling that observed in patients with NP-SLE, is already present in SLE patients without neuropsychiatric complications, highlighting the need for early evaluation and intervention in SLE patients. Furthermore, the disease activity rating correlated with regional functional alterations in the cerebellum, suggesting that the cerebellum could play a role in the pathogenesis of NP-SLE.