Fusarium diversity associated with diseased cereals in China, with an updated phylogenomic assessment of the genus.

Fusarium species are important cereal pathogens that cause severe production losses to major cereal crops such as maize, rice, and wheat. However, the causal agents of Fusarium diseases on cereals have not been well documented because of the difficulty in species identification and the debates surrounding generic and species concepts. In this study, we used a citizen science initiative to investigate diseased cereal crops (maize, rice, wheat) from 250 locations, covering the major cereal-growing regions in China. A total of 2 020 Fusarium strains were isolated from 315 diseased samples. Employing multi-locus phylogeny and morphological features, the above strains were identified to 43 species, including eight novel species that are described in this paper. A world checklist of cereal-associated Fusarium species is provided, with 39 and 52 new records updated for the world and China, respectively. Notably, 56 % of samples collected in this study were observed to have co-infections of more than one Fusarium species, and the detailed associations are discussed. Following Koch's postulates, 18 species were first confirmed as pathogens of maize stalk rot in this study. Furthermore, a high-confidence species tree was constructed in this study based on 1 001 homologous loci of 228 assembled genomes (40 genomes were sequenced and provided in this study), which supported the "narrow" generic concept of Fusarium (= Gibberella). This study represents one of the most comprehensive surveys of cereal Fusarium diseases to date. It significantly improves our understanding of the global diversity and distribution of cereal-associated Fusarium species, as well as largely clarifies the phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Taxonomic novelties: New species: Fusarium erosum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium fecundum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium jinanense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium mianyangense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium nothincarnatum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium planum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium sanyaense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium weifangense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai. Citation: Han SL, Wang MM, Ma ZY, Raza M, Zhao P, Liang JM, Gao M, Li YJ, Wang JW, Hu DM, Cai L (2023). Fusarium diversity associated with diseased cereals in China, with an updated phylogenomic assessment of the genus. Studies in Mycology 104: 87-148. doi: 10.3114/sim.2022.104.02.

[Application of two kinds of electrophysiological monitoring techniques for the prediction of facial nerve outcomes after vestibular Schwannoma surgery].

Objective: To investigate the application of transcranial facial nerve motor evoked potential (FNMEP) and direct nerve electrical stimulation (DNES) for the prediction of facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 106 patients who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery under electrophysiological monitoring of facial nerve between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively examined, and there were 57 males and 49 females, with a mean age of (51±11) years. Neuroelectrophysiological monitoring was performed in all patients during the operation. After the tumor was removed, FNMEP and DNES were used for electrophysiological evaluation of facial nerve function. The amplitude ratios of FNMEP to baseline (M1) and the brainstem segment to the internal auditory canal segment of DNES (M2) were recorded after the tumor was removed, respectively. The correlation between these two ratios and facial nerve function at 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after the operation were compared. According to the House-Brackmann (HB) scale, Grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ refers to good facial nerve function, and grade Ⅲ-Ⅵ refers to moderate and severe facial nerve dysfunction. Non-parameter Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between M1 and M2 and facial nerve function at 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after operation, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to verify the diagnostic efficacy of M1 and M2 for predicting the prognosis of postoperative facial nerve function. Results: Among 106 patients, 102 cases (96.3%) underwent total tumor resection, 4 patients (3.7%) underwent subtotal resection, 104 patients (98.1%) had anatomical preservation of facial nerves, and there were no deaths reported. All patients could evoke reliable FNMEP and 2 patients could not evoke DNES in the brainstem segment of the facial nerve. There were 81 (76.4%), 99 (93.4%) and 103 patients (97.2%) with satisfactory function of facial nerve at 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after surgery, respectively. M1 had large absolute values of Spearman correlation coefficient at 1 day (ρ=|-0.648|) and 1 month (ρ=|-0.552|) after surgery (both P<0.001), while M2 showed a greater absolute value of Spearman correlation coefficient at 3 months (ρ=|-0.395|) than that of M1 (ρ=|-0.378|) (P<0.001). Cut-off value of M1 was 0.58 (sensitivity=0.92, specificity=0.64), and that of M2 was 0.36 (sensitivity=0.64, specificity=1.00). Meanwhile, M1<0.58 or M2<0.36 suggested moderate and severe impairment of facial nerve function. Conclusions: Both FNMEP and DNES during vestibular schwannoma surgery can effectively evaluate the postoperative facial nerve function. FNMEP is better than DNES in predicting the early postoperative facial nerve function, but DNES is better for predicting the long-term postoperative facial nerve function.

[Effect of the varicella vaccination on the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster cases aged 20 years and under].

To discuss the effect of varicella vaccination on the clinical characteristics of herpes zoster (shingles) cases aged 20 years and under, and analyze its clinical features. Based on the Yichang Health Big Data Platform, a descriptive study was conducted to collect the information of cases aged 20 years and under in three medical institutions of Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang First People's Hospital and Yichang Second People's Hospital from March 2019 to September 2020. According to the history of varicella vaccine, cases were divided into vaccination group and non-vaccination group, and their clinical features and outcomes were compared. The results showed that 46 shingles cases, aged from 7 to 20 years old, were included in this study. 26 males (56.5%), 20 females (43.5%), 15 cases in vaccination group (32.6%) and 31 cases in non-vaccination group (67.4%). 28 cases had thoracic involvement, followed by lumbar (n=8), cranial (n=7) involvements and extremities (n=7). The spread of herpes skin area: 2 cases involved too large area, 21 cases of 10 cm×10 cm, 14 cases of 5 cm×5 cm, 9 cases of 1 cm×1 cm. Herpes number: 26 cases had 10-49 herpes, followed by <10 herpes (n=9), uncountable herpes (n=7) and 50-99 herpes (n=4). The clinical course[M(Q1,Q3)] lasted 20.5 (13.5,24.8) d averagely, 5 cases had postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and 1 case had respiratory complications. Shingles decrustation time was significantly shorter in vaccination group (Z=-2.01, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in other characteristics by vaccination. In conclusion, the number and spread of shingles in most children and adolescents are less, and the complications such as PHN are less. Varicella vaccination can reduce the decrustation time and relieve shingles cases with some clinical symptoms.

[Analysis of big data characteristics of allergic rhinitis patients in Beijing City from 2016 to 2021].

To explore the characteristics of big data of patients with allergic rhinitis, including the time, population and spatial distribution of allergic rhinitis in Beijing from 2016 to 2021, so as to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of this disease. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the distribution (including gender, age and location)and trend of allergic rhinitis patients in 30 pilot hospitals from January 2016 to December 2021, T test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used to test the statistical differences. The results showed that the number of patients with allergic rhinitis in 30 hospitals increased year by year from 2016 to 2019, with an increase of 97.9%. In 2020, the number of patients decreased. In 2021, the number of visits returned to the pre-epidemic level (461 332); The number of patients with allergic rhinitis was the highest in September, with a seasonal index of 177.6%, while the lowest number was in February, accounting for only 47.2%; a significant difference was observed in the number of patients in different age groups(H=45 319.48, P<0.05), and patients under 15 years old accounted for the highest proportion(819 284 visits); There were significant differences between patients of different genders in the 45-59 year old group (t=-4.26, P<0.05).There were relatively more patients with allergic rhinitis in Dongcheng District(31.1%) than in Huairou District and Miyun District (0.4%). In conclusion, since 2016, the number of patients increased significantly, with a varied trend in different seasons. Most patients were children. There were more patients in the central urban area than in the outer suburbs.

Fusarium and allied genera from China: species diversity and distribution.

The genus Fusarium includes numerous important plant and human pathogens, as well as many industrially and commercially important species. During our investigation of fungal diversity in China, a total of 356 fusarioid isolates were obtained and identified from diverse diseased and healthy plants, or different environmental habitats, i.e., air, carbonatite, compost, faeces, soil and water, representing hitherto one of the most intensive sampling and identification efforts of fusarioid taxa in China. Combining morphology, multi-locus phylogeny and ecological preference, these isolates were identified as 72 species of Fusarium and allied genera, i.e., Bisifusarium (1), Fusarium (60), and Neocosmospora (11). A seven-locus dataset, comprising the 5.8S nuclear ribosomal RNA gene with the two flanking internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA (IGS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), partial calmodulin (cam), partial RNA polymerase largest subunit (rpb1), partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (rpb2) gene regions, and partial ß-tubulin (tub2), were sequenced and employed in phylogenetic analyses. A genus-level phylogenetic tree was constructed using combined tef1, rpb1, and rpb2 sequences, which confirmed the presence of four fusarioid genera among the isolates studied. Further phylogenetic analyses of two allied genera (Bisifusarium and Neocosmospora) and nine species complexes of Fusarium were separately conducted employing different multi-locus datasets, to determine relationships among closely related species. Twelve novel species were identified and described in this paper. The F. babinda species complex is herein renamed as the F. falsibabinda species complex, including descriptions of new species. Sixteen species were reported as new records from China. Citation: Wang MM, Crous PW, Sandoval-Denis M, et al. 2022. Fusarium and allied genera from China: species diversity and distribution. Persoonia 48: 1-53. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.01.

[Analysis on tissue-related biomarkers in patients with acute aortic dissection].

Objective: To explore the clinical implication of tissue-related biomarkers in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Ten Stanford Type A AAD patients, who were diagnosed and surgically treated in the Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, from December 2018 to August 2019, were selected as the case group. Meanwhile, 10 patients with atherosclerotic heart disease, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), were selected as control group. The ascending aorta tissue specimens from patients of the two groups were collected during the operation. Four-dimensional non-standard quantitative proteomics technology (4D-LFQ) was used to detect the protein profile of ascending aorta tissue specimens of the two groups and to screen out differentially expressed proteins and analyze their biological functions. Precise quantification of the selected target proteins was achieved by parallel response monitoring (PRM). Results: A total of 3 985 proteins were identified by 4D-LFQ technology, among which 3 350 proteins could be quantified. There were 39 proteins were significantly upregulated and 47 proteins were significantly downregulated in AAD group. The results of biological function analysis showed that most of the differentially expressed proteins were located in the extracellular, and their functions were mainly involved in cell migration and proliferation, inflammatory cell activation, cell contraction, and muscle organ development. The 15 selected proteins underwent precise quantification by PRM, and the results showed that integrin α-Ⅱb (ITGA2B), integrin α-M (ITGAM), integrin ß-2 (ITGB2), integrin ß-3 (ITGB3) were significantly upregulated in the ascending aorta tissue of AAD patients. Conclusion: ITGA2B, ITGAM, ITGB2, and ITGB3 are highly expressed in aortic tissues of patients with AAD, which may be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of AAD patients.

[The observation of secretogranin â ¢ in the peripheral blood and vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy].

Objective: To study the expression levels of secretogranin Ⅲ (SCG3) in the peripheral blood and vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Cross-sectional research. A total of 77 patients (41 men and 36 women, 77 eyes) received vitrectomy in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from May to December 2018, with an average age of (60.75±11.34) years. According to the blood glucose level, diabetes history and fundus status, all the patients were divided into the DR group and the non-diabetic group. According to the patients' blood lipids and body mass index (BMI), patients were further divided into subgroups of high blood lipids, normal blood lipids, high BMI and normal BMI. All patients were tested with eye examinations, height and weight to calculate the BMI, and blood lipid levels in the peripheral blood. The vitreous was collected during the vitrectomy surgery, and the levels of SCG3 in the vitreous and peripheral blood were analyzed by ELISA. All the data were analyzed statistically with Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: There were 43 patients in the DR group, among whom 25 had hyperlipidemia, 18 had normal blood lipids, 22 had a high BMI, and 21 had a normal BMI. There were 34 patients in the non-diabetic group, among whom 13 had hyperlipidemia, 21 had normal blood lipids, 17 had a high BMI, and 17 had a normal BMI. The level of SCG3 in the DR group [6.02 (4.34, 11.76) ng/ml] was higher than that in the non-diabetic group [4.30 (3.20, 10.78) ng/ml] (Z=-2.339, P =0.019). The level of SCG3 in the hyperlipidemia subgroup of the DR patients [7.94 (5.33, 13.51) ng/ml] was higher than that in the normal blood lipid subgroup of the non-diabetic patients [4.04 (3.12, 7.77) ng/ml] (Z=-3.473, P=0.001), and higher than that in the DR patients without hyperlipidemia [4.45 (3.71, 9.14) ng/ml] (Z=-2.511, P=0.012). The level of SCG3 in the DR patients with a high BMI [7.12 (4.56, 13.12) ng/ml] was higher than that in the non-diabetic patients with a normal BMI [3.53 (3.16, 4.38) ng/ml] (Z=-3.767, P =0.000). The level of SCG3 in the DR patients with a normal BMI [5.72 (4.10, 11.60) ng/ml] was higher than that in the non-diabetic patients with a normal BMI (Z=-2.862, P = 0.004). SCG3 in the plasma was rare or can not be detected. Conclusions: The concentration of SCG3 in the vitreous increase in DR patients. However, SCG3 can not be detected in the healthy vascular system. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 933-937).

[Analysis of related factors affecting evolution of recent small subcortical infarcts with cerebral small vessel disease].

Objective: To explore related factors affecting evolution of recent small subcortical infarct (RSSI) with small-artery occlusion. Methods: A total of 96 RSSI patients with RSSI were admitted from Shanghai Tongji Hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. The age of patients containing 60 men was 64.5 (58-73) years, and MRI follow-up time was 11.6 (6.3-11.8) months. Clinical information of patients, images data at baseline head MRI and evolution outcomes at follow-up MRI were collected. All patients were divided into cavitation group (lacunes) and no cavitation group (white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and disappearance) to analyze related factors. Results: Fifty-nine cases (61.5%) developed to cavities, 32 cases (33.3%) were focal WMH, and 5 cases (5.2%) disappeared.In the univariate analysis, RSSI maximum diameter on the DWI or T(2)WI sequence of cavitation group was significantly higher than non-cavitation group, but male proportion was lower (11.6 (9.9-16.6) vs 8.6 (6.9-13.0) mm, 11.8 (9.7-16.2) vs 8.8 (6.7-13.1) mm, 54.2% vs 75.7%, all P<0.05). In Logistic regression analysis,the maximum diameter on DWI sequence was an independent predictor of cavity formation (P=0.022,OR=1.138).When conducting quantitative analysis of infarct diameter and taking infarct maximum diameter ≤10 mm group as reference, the cavitation risk of maximum diameter>15 mm group was about 7.5 times higher (P=0.010, OR=7.464). The maximum diameter of 10-15 mm lost predictive value for cavity formation (P=0.129, OR=2.444). Conclusions: About 61.5% of RSSI develop to cavitation and 38.5% to WMH or disappear. The RSSI showing larger diameter on DWI has a greater possibility of cavitation.

[Clinical characteristics and microsurgical strategy of intracranial posterior circulation aneurysms].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and microsurgical strategies of intracranial posterior circulation aneurysms. Methods: The clinical manifestations, imaging data, surgical approaches and follow-up results of 35 patients with circulating aneurysms (37 aneurysms) treated by microsurgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to January 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 22 aneurysms were clipped, 13 were clipped and resected, 1 case was clipped and together with AVM resection and 1 case was isolated. Of 37 aneurysms in 35 patients, 11 aneurysms were at the basilar artery apexes, 10 at the posterior cerebral arteries, 6 at the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, 3 at the basilar arteries, 3 at the vertebral arteries (including 1 case of vertebral arterial dissecting aneurysm), 2 at the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries and 2 at the superior cerebellar arteries. The surgical approaches included pterional approach, extensive pterional approach, infratemporal fossa approach, retrosigmoid approach and far-lateral approach. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores showed good recovery in 24 cases, moderate neurological dysfunction in 6 cases, severe neurological dysfunction in 2 cases, persistent vegetative state in 1 case and 2 cases of death 6 months after their discharge from hospital. Conclusions: Posterior circulation aneurysms are adjacent to important structures. They are deep in position, with small operation space and difficult to operate. Full preoperative evaluation of the condition, selection of appropriate surgical methods are the key factors to benefit the patients.

[The joint effect of abdominal obesity in childhood and adulthood on adult hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the joint effect of abdominal obesity in childhood and adulthood on adult hypertension. Methods: Based on the data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS, 1993-2011), a total of 1 431 subjects who were investigated in both childhood (6 to17 years old) and young adulthood (18 to 35 years old) were selected for the analysis. According to waist circumference (WC) status (normal WC or abdominal obesity) in childhood and adulthood, all subjects were categorized into 4 groups. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the joint effect of abdominal obesity in childhood and adulthood on adult hypertension and pre-hypertension. Results: Compared to the subjects (n=1 057) who had normal WC in both childhood and adulthood, subjects with abdominal obesity in childhood but with normal WC (n=45) in adulthood didn't have significantly increased risk of hypertension (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 0.19-12.06). In contrast, those who had normal WC in childhood and abdominal obesity in adulthood (n=289) had increased risk of hypertension (OR=6.48, 95%CI: 3.60-11.66). In addition, subjects with persistent abdominal obesity from childhood to adulthood (n=40) had the highest risk of hypertension (OR=15.98, 95%CI: 5.39-47.35). There was a similar trend for the association of abdominal obesity in childhood and adulthood with adult pre-hypertension, with the corresponding OR (95%CI) of 1.28 (0.66-2.49), 2.90 (2.17-3.89) and 3.49 (1.65-7.40), respectively. Conclusion: The joint effect of abdominal obesity in childhood and adulthood increased the risk of adult hypertension and pre-hypertension. There was no statistical significance for subjects who had abdominal obesity in childhood but had normal WC in adulthood when compared to those with normal WC in both childhood and adulthood.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti complex from China.

The Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) is shown to encompass 33 phylogenetic species, across a wide range of habitats/hosts around the world. Here, 77 pathogenic and endophytic FIESC strains collected from China were studied to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within FIESC, based on a polyphasic approach combining morphological characters, multi-locus phylogeny and distribution patterns. The importance of standardised cultural methods to the identification and classification of taxa in the FIESC is highlighted. Morphological features of macroconidia, including the shape, size and septum number, were considered as diagnostic characters within the FIESC. A multi-locus dataset encompassing the 5.8S nuclear ribosomal gene with the two flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS), translation elongation factor (EF-1α), calmodulin (CAM), partial RNA polymerase largest subunit (RPB1) and partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2), was generated to distinguish species within the FIESC. Nine novel species were identified and described. The RPB2 locus is demonstrated to be a primary barcode with high success rate in amplification, and to have the best species delimitation compared to the other four tested loci.

[Comprehensive rehabilitation of individualized exercise program for coal workers pneumoconiosis in Huaibei Coal Mine Group].

Objective: To explore the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment of individualized exercise program on lung function, exercise ability, quality of life and biochemical indexes of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients, and to provide scientific and effective methods for rehabilitation treatment of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Methods: In Huaibei Coal Mine Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital, the data of pneumoconiosis patients treated by pneumoconiosis department in the hospital were collected and sorted out. 80 patients were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using a random number table, they were randomly divided into two groups with 40 cases in each group. The data investigated in this study include the results before and after treatment. Pulmonary function index, BMI index, six-minute walking distance (6MWD) , quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) , hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) , st George's breathing questionnaire (sgrq) , c-reactive protein (CRP) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were used to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the two groups. Results: The lung function indexes of the test group were significantly higher than those of the control group after treatment (P<0.05) , including forced vital capacity, forced vital capacity in the first second, maximum expiratory flow, expiratory flow when vital capacity was 75% and expiratory flow when vital capacity was 25%. The forced vital capacity, the first-second forced vital capacity and the maximum expiratory flow of the patients in the test group were higher after treatment than before (P<0.05) . The six-minute walking distance of the test group was greater than that of the control group after treatment (P<0.05) . After treatment, the scores of st George's breathing questionnaire in the test group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05) . The scores of quality of life questionnaire in the test group were higher than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The comprehensive rehabilitation treatment of individualized exercise program improved the endurance and exercise ability of pneumoconiosis patients, improved the respiratory status and quality of life of pneumoconiosis patients in Huaibei Coal Mine, improved the lung function of pneumoconiosis patients, and improved the forced vital capacity of patients, but the small airway function has not been significantly improved.

[Association between polymorphisms of interleukin-17 genes and pneumoconiosis susceptibility].

Objective: To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin 17(IL-17) gene (rs4711998, rs763780) and the susceptibility of pneumoconiosis, and to provide a basis for prevention of high-risk groups of pneumoconiosis. Methods: A total of 219 pneumoconiosis patients and 242 workers without pneumoconiosis were enrolled in the study. All subjects were photographed with high undulating X-rays anterior chest radiographs, diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria for pneumoconiosis. We collected 3 ml of peripheral venous blood of the study subjects. Polymorphism in IL-17A rs4711998 and IL-17F rs763780 locus were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The IL-17A rs4711998 locus has AA, AG and GG genotypes, there was no the significant difference between case and control groups (P>0.05). IL-17F rs763780 had AA, AG and GG genotypes, there was a significant difference between case and control groups (P<0.05). Allele A and allele G were statistically significant difference between the case group and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: No relationship was found between IL-17A gene polymorphisms at rs4711998 and silicosis. IL-17F rs763780 locus gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to pneumoconiosis. AG genotype and G allele may have a protective effect.

Identification and characterization of ace1-type acetylcholinesterase in insecticide-resistant and -susceptible Propylaea japonica (Thunberg).

Characterization and gene cloning of acetylecholinesterase (AChE) in the insecticide-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) insects have been reported in the past. However, the studies focused mostly on herbivorous pests, rather than predacious species, such as ladybird beetles. Using R and S Propylaea japonica (thunberg), a full-length cDNA sequence (2928 bp) of the ace1-type AChE gene was determined for the first time. The ace1 encoding a protein of 645 amino acids contained typical conserved motifs, such as FGESAG domains, catalytic triad, acyl pocket, oxyanino hole, choline binding site, peripheral anionic site, omega loop and conserved aromatic residues. R P. japonica displayed 50-times greater resistance to chlorpyrifos or mathamidophos with a significantly lower AChE sensitivity to paraoxon, malaoxon, chlorpyrifos or methamidophos than its S counterpart. Five amino acids in the ace1 of R P. japonica differed from those found in S P. japonica. One of them, F358S, located in the acyl-binding pocket, might play a crucial role in the resistance of the insect to organophosphates (OPs). Whereas, K493E and I538V, which were close to some of the conserved aromatic amino acids (i.e., H509, Y511, and W499) in the gorge, and G571R and T576A near C593 that formed the disulfide bonds with C471, might also involve in the change of insecticide resistance in P. japonica. AChE insensitivity and amino acid replacements, particularly F358S, might be the determining factors in the alteration of OPs-resistance in P. japonica.

[Effect of AMPK/mTOR/S6K1 pathways and the insulin-sensitizing effect for adiponectin in endometrial cancer cells].

Objective: To explore effect of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) /mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) /ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 (S6K1) signaling pathways and the insulin-sensitizing effect by adiponectin in endometrial cancer HEC-1B cells. Methods: The experiments were divided into 4 groups, adiponectin (Ad) group (HEC-1B cells treated with 20 µg/ml adiponectin for 30 minutes) , inhibitor group (HEC-1B cells treated with 10 µmol/L compound C for 30 minutes) , inhibitor+ Ad group (HEC-1B cells treated with 10 µmol/L compound C for 30 minutes following incubation with 20 µg/ml adiponectin for 30 minutes) , control group (only added the culture medium without serum DMEM) . (1) Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the level of mRNA and protein of adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) 1 and AdipoR2. (2) Western blot analysis were used to detect phosphorylation of AMPK, mTOR, S6K1 or insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) protein expression with stimulation in different concentrations of adiponectin (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 µg/ml) , or following incubation with insulin 50 nmol/L for 5 minutes; or treated with 20 µg/ml adiponectin for different times (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes) , or following incubation with insulin 50 nmol/L for 5 minutes. (3) Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to investigate the cell proliferation, and transwell chamber assay was used to detect the cell migration in different groups. Results: (1) The relative expression level of AdipoR1 mRNA and protein were higher than AdipoR2 in HEC-1B cell (8.50±0.09 to 1.00±0.00, and 0.91±0.03 to 0.69±0.03; P<0.05) . (2) The phosphorylation level of p-AMPK was significantly induced, and the phosphorylation level of p-mTOR and p-S6K1 proteins, and 20 µg/ml adiponectin at 30 minutes, AMPK protein had the highest level of activation. (3) Adiponectin induces increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS1 in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. (4) The proliferation inhibition ratio in Ad group (0.68±0.34) % was much more than that in inhibitor+Ad group (0.24±0.04) % (t=17.88, P<0.05) . The number of cell migration in Ad group (77±8) was much more than that in inhibitor+Ad group (132±13; t=-7.34, P<0.05) . Conclusions: Adiponectin maybe inhibit proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells through AMPK/mTOR/S6K1 signal pathway. Adiponectin insensitizes insulin signaling may by regulating by the AMPK/S6K1/IRS1 pathway.

[Serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates from retail chicken carcasses in six provinces of China].

Objective: To obtain the serotype diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates recovered from retail chicken carcasses for sale in six regions of China. Methods: From August 2010 to March 2012, each month 20 retail chicken carcasses including freshly slaughtered, chilled and frozen samples were collected from supermarkets and farmer's markets in 7 monitoring sites in Beijing, Jilin province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous, Shanxi province, Jiangsu province and Guangdong province, respectively. Samples were routinely collected for 12 months for each site. 1 680 chicken carcasses were collected in total and 2 629 Salmonella strains were isolated by PCR and biochemical method. Luminex xMAP method and classical slide agglutination method were carried out to determine isolates' serotypes. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 classes of antimicrobials including 14 agents were determined using broth micro-dilution method. Mocular methods were used to determine antimicrobial resistance genes of CIP-CTX-CT co-resistant isolates. Results: In all, 2 629 Salmonella isolates, there were 17 seorgroups and 58 serotypes, B and D1 were the dominant serogroups with rates of 34.7% (n=913) and 31.0% (n=815), Enteritidis (30.8%, n=810), Indiana (17.6%, n=463), Infantis (10.6%, n=278) were the top three serovars. We found 224 CIP-CTX co-resistant S. Indiana containing 3 colistin resistant strains, one of them carrying mcr-1 gene and being ESBLs positive, which demonstrated a nine multi drug resistance against 11 antimicrobials tested. Conclusion: These data began to describe the complicated serovar diversity and heavy antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates recovered from retail chicken carcasses in six regions of China. The findings highlight the emergence of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana and also a mcr-1 positive S. Indiana with heavy multi drug resistance.

[Effect of tumor-associated macrophages in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition of Hep3B hepatoma cells and related mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in regulating epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of Hep3B hepatoma cells, since EMT is closely associated with the malignancy of hepatoma cells and tumor microenvironment plays an important role in regulating EMT of hepatoma cells, and to provide new regimens for the clinical studies and treatment of liver cancer. Methods: Human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells were successfully induced to TAMs. With TAMs as target cells, they were co-cultured with the supernatant of Hep3B hepatoma cells or Hep3B hepatoma cells, and Western blot and RT-PCR were used to measure the change in the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in TAMs. The expression of TLR4 in TAMs was downregulated by transient plasmid transfection with shRNA. With Hep3B hepatoma cells as target cells, the supernatants of TAMs and TAMs transfected with shRNA TLR4 plasmid were used for intervention, and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin. The two-sided t-test was used for comparison of the means of two independent samples. Results: THP-1 cells were successfully induced to TAMs. According to the results of Western blot, compared with the control-CM group, the TAM-CM group had a significant reduction in the protein expression of E-cadherin and significant increases in the protein expression of N-cadherin and vimentin in Hep3B cells. After the expression of TLR4 in TAMs was downregulated, the culture solution of TAMs was used for the intervention of Hep3B cells (shRNA group), and compared with the TAM-CM group, the shRNA group had a significant increase in the expression of E-cadherin and significant reductions in the protein expression of N-cadherin and vimentin in Hep3B cells. Western blot and RT-PCR showed that the expression of TLR4 in TAMs was influenced by Hep3B cells. Conclusion: TAMs can promote EMT of Hep3B hepatoma cells, and downregulation of the expression of TLR4 in TAMs may reduce EMT of Hep3B hepatoma cells, suggesting that TLR4 on the surface of TAMs may be a key molecule involved in the interaction between TAMs and Hep3B hepatoma cells.

Characteristics of cathelicidin-Bg, a novel gene expressed in the ear-side gland of Bufo gargarizans.

The traditional Chinese medicine Chan Su (toad venom) comprises dried secretions of the ear-side gland of Bufo gargarizans. Chan Su is known for its small molecular components, which include telocinobufagin, marinobufagin, and bufalin, while in other amphibians, studies mainly focus on peptide components. Until recently, no genes expressed in the ear-side gland of B. gargarizans gland had been cloned. In this study, cathelicidin-Bg, a coding sequence of anti-microbial peptide (AMP), was cloned. The predicted amino acid sequence of cathelicidin-Bg was very similar to that from other amphibians, with a 34-amino acid mature peptide predicted in the C-terminus. The functions of this mature peptide were verified by microbe and tumor cell inhibition assays. Our results showed that the mature peptide of cathelicidin-Bg could inhibit the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The mature peptide was also shown to selectively inhibit tumor cells. These results indicate that the identified coding sequence represents an active peptide of Chan Su.

A new HLA-A allele, HLA-A* 02:01:119, identified in a Chinese individual.

The new allele A*02:01:119 was initially identified in a Chinese individual by sequence-based typing.