Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium is a gastrointestinal protozoan that widely exists in nature, it is an established zoonotic pathogen. Infected cattle are considered to be associated with cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in humans. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and species distribution of Cryptosporidium in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia. METHODS: We focused on the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA) of Cryptosporidium and 60-kDa glycoprotein gene (gp60) of Cryptosporidium parvum. We collected 505 dairy cattle manure samples from 6 sampling sites in Inner Mongolia in 2021; the samples were divided into 4 groups based on age. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequence analysis, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using SspI and MboII restriction endonucleases were performed. RFLP analysis was performed to determine the prevalence and species distribution of Cryptosporidium. RESULTS: SSU rRNA PCR revealed that the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was 29.90% (151/505), with a prevalence of 37.67% (55/146) and 26.74% (96/359) in diarrheal and nondiarrheal samples, respectively; these differences were significant. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection at the 6 sampling sites ranged from 0 to 47.06% and that among the 4 age groups ranged from 18.50 to 43.81%. SSU rRNA sequence analysis and RFLP analysis revealed the presence of 4 Cryptosporidium species, namely, C. bovis (44.37%), C. andersoni (35.10%), C. ryanae (21.85%), and C. parvum (11.92%), along with a mixed infection involving two or three Cryptosporidium species. Cryptosporidium bovis or C. andersoni was the most common cause of infection in the four age groups. The subtype of C. parvum was successfully identified as IIdA via gp60 analysis; all isolates were identified as the subtype IIdA19G1. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of dairy cattle infected with four Cryptosporidium species in Inner Mongolia, China, along with a mixed infection involving two or three Cryptosporidium species, with C. bovis and C. andersoni as the dominant species. Moreover, this is the first study to identify C. parvum subtype IIdA19G1 in cattle in Inner Mongolia. Our study findings provide detailed information on molecular epidemiological investigation of bovine cryptosporidiosis in Inner Mongolia, suggesting that dairy cattle in this region are at risk of transmitting cryptosporidiosis to humans.

125 I interstitial brachytherapy in management of pediatric skull base tumors.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to present our preliminary assessment of the safety and efficacy of 125 I interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) in the management of pediatric skull base tumors. METHODS: Thirty pediatric patients with skull base tumors treated with 125 I IBT from April 2007 to May 2017 were included in this study. The probabilities of local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The one- and two-year LC rates were 96.7% and 74.8%, respectively. The one- and two-year OS rates were 93.3% and 72.2%, respectively. No severe acute toxicity was observed. Severe late toxicities were observed in one (3.33%) of 30 patients. CONCLUSION: 125 I IBT is effective and safe in the management of pediatric skull base tumors, with satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Membrane-Bound CD40L Promotes Senescence and Initiates Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype via NF-κB Activation in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cellular senescence acts as a barrier against tumorigenesis. The CD40L transgene, expressed in some tumor cells, not only becomes visible to antigen-presenting cells but also actively catalyzes its own termination. Here, we evaluated the effect of a membrane-bound mutant form of human CD40L (CD40L-M) on senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: CD40 expression levels in the NSCLC cell lines A549/TR, A549/DDP and H460 were examined by flow cytometry. Senescent cells and tissues were identified via SA-ß-gal activity. Cell proliferation was visualized by EdU labeling. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to assess mRNA and protein expression levels of CD40L, γ-H2A.X, p65, p-p65, IκBα, p53, p21 and p16. Cytokines secreted from transfected cells were tested by ELISA and cell migration assay. Capsid tyrosine-modified rAAV5-CD40L-M was packaged and carried out in vivo. RESULTS: Overexpression of CD40L-M promoted senescence, inhibited proliferation, increased DNA damage-associated γ-H2A.X, and initiated the SASP in CD40-positive NSCLC cells. NF-κB signaling was activated by CD40L-M overexpression in these cells. Knockdown of NF-κB partially overcame senescence and failed to induce SASP. Furthermore, increased p53 and p21 protein levels induced by CD40L-M were also reduced following NF-κB suppression. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that the membrane-bound CD40L mutant may promote cellular senescence and initiate the SASP of NSCLC cells in an NF-κB-dependent manner. Therefore, CD40L-M-induced senescence may be a potential approach to protect against lung adenocarcinoma.

Clinical presentation and outcome of pediatric patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in China: A retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a heterogeneous disease with major diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. A large-scale multicenter study of pediatric HLH is still lacking in China. PROCEDURE: The Histiocytosis Study Group of the Chinese Pediatric Society conducted this retrospective study in 2014. A total of 323 patients diagnosed with HLH between 2011 and 2013 from 12 hospitals were registered. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 2.2 years (range, 0-14.6 years), with a peak age of HLH onset at 0 to 3 years (63%). Mutations in HLH-related genes were found in 27.9% (24/86) patients who underwent genetic testing. PRF1, UNC13D, STXBP2 and LYST were the predominant genes involved. Sixteen patients (66.7%) presented with only monoallelic mutations in one gene. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was the major condition related to HLH, which was documented in 74.4% (201/270) of the patients who underwent EBV detection. Of 252 evaluable patients, 64.7% (163) achieved non-active disease at the eighth week and patients treated with a protocol containing etoposide presented higher remission rates (75.6% vs. 46.8%, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a younger age at diagnosis (<12 months), platelet count less than 80×109 /L, central nervous system involvement, and initial treatment using a protocol without etoposide (not HLH-94/04) were independent prognostic factors indicating resistant disease. DISCUSSION: This study first multicenter assessment of HLH in China shows some different features in Chinese children with HLH compared with those in western countries, including older age, vulnerability to EBV infection, and a high proportion of patients with single monoallelic genetic mutations.

[A rhabdomyosarcoma patient from a Li-Fraumeni syndrome family: a case report and literature review].

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome, with the characteristics of early onset of cancer and high cancer incidence. TP53 is widely accepted as a pathogenic gene of LFS. A 2 years and 6 months old boy is reported in this article, who was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in the left submandibular region. His brother died of RMS, and his grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. TP53 gene mutation detection was performed in this patient and some family members, indicating a missense mutation in exon 8 of the patient: c.844C>T (p.Arg282Trp, heterozygous). TP53 mutation was also found in his mother and sister. The boy met the diagnostic criteria for LFS. Among pediatric patients, the most common LFS diseases include osteosarcoma, adrenocortical cancer, central nervous system tumor, and soft tissue tumor. Additionally, leukemia and lymphoma are also involved. LFS patients have a high risk to suffer secondary or even multiple cancers. Therefore, it is necessary to perform genetic detection for pediatric cancer patients, especially those with hereditary predisposition cancers. TP53 mutation often indicates poor prognosis, so it is important to take active treatment and systematic monitoring for LFS family.

[Adverse effects of high-dose methotrexate therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the adverse effects of high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) therapy, and to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing clinical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 120 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma who underwent 601 times of HDMTX therapy. The adverse effects of various systems were analyzed according to the WHO criteria for the classification of adverse effects of anticancer drugs. RESULTS: Almost all the children experienced bone marrow suppression, and 93.3% had granulocytopenia. The most common adverse effects in the digestive system and urinary system were elevated glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (60.4%) and proteinuria (9.2%) respectively. For skin symptoms, skin erythema had the highest incidence rate (7.2%). The adverse effects in the nervous system (hyperpathia, numbness of extremities, or headache) were only observed in 7 cases. Serious adverse effects were only seen in the blood system and digestive system. Compared with the 3 g/m2 methotrexate (MTX) group, the 5 g/m2 HDMTX group had a significantly higher 24-hour plasma MTX concentration, significant reductions in hemoglobin and platelet count, and significantly higher incidence rates of oral mucositis, proteinuria, and skin symptoms (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serious adverse effects of HDMTX therapy mainly involve the blood system and digestive system, and the adverse effects such as bone marrow suppression, oral mucositis, proteinuria, and skin symptoms occur in a dose-dependent manner.

c-myc Gene Copy Number Variation in Cervical Exfoliated Cells Detected on Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Cervical Cancer Screening.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the clinical significance of c-myc gene copy number gain detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 140 Thinprep cytologic test (TCT) specimens that were histopathologically diagnosed with various stages of cervical neoplasia or malignancy. The specimens were subjected to TCT, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and FISH analysis with a c-myc-specific probe. The diagnostic reliability of these methods in determining progression was assessed according to sensitivity, specificity, and κ coefficients. RESULTS: The gene copy number gain of c-myc was significantly higher in the cervical lesion of advanced histologic grade (p < 0.001). For CIN2+ lesions, the sensitivities of TCT, HPV DNA testing, and FISH analysis were 72.3, 92.1, and 64.5%, respectively; the specificities were 81.3, 57.8, and 93.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The κ coefficients between the c-myc gene test and either the TCT or the HPV DNA test were 0.538 and 0.399, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FISH analysis of the c-myc oncogene could be a useful adjunct screening method for the early diagnosis of high-grade cervical lesions. Moreover, c-myc may be a new molecular biomarker for the early diagnosis of cervical lesion progression.

[Studied on Colored Dissolved Organic Matter of Spring in North Yellow Sea with Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Spectroscopy Combined with Parallel Factor Analysis].

This paper conducted fluorescent spectra of dissolved organic matter of Spring China North Yellow Sea by using three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMs) combined with parallel factors analysis (PARAFAC). The results showed that the fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) of North Yellow Sea could be resolved to four components. Two components, c1 (260,315/425) and c2 (295,355/490) were identified as humic-like fluorescence components while c3 (275/310) and c4 (230,290/345) were protein-like components. The different linear correlations showed different degrees of similarities in the source or the chemical constitution, the relationship of the humic-like fluorescence components were most closely, followed by protein-like components. Four fluorescent components and total fluorescence intensity (TFI) in the horizontal and vertical directions had a higher intensity in coastal area than that of the area far away from the coast. Additionally, besides terrestrial input, the seawater mass movement also affects the distribution of CDOM in North Yellow Sea. Cluster analysis not only further illustrated the TFI characteristics of different areas of the North Yellow Sea, but also reflects the overall uniformity of the CDOM. Fluorescence Index (FI), Humification Index (HIX) and Biological Index (BIX) at some extent indicated the source of North Yellow Sea CDOM and the conclusion was that the near shore side gets greater influence from terrigenous sources while the sea side is more impacted by biological activity, which matched with the prior distribution patterns of fluorescence components.

Reduced prevalence of chronic tubal inflammation in tubal pregnancies after levonorgestrel emergency contraception failure.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare chronic fallopian tubal inflammatory disease and fibrosis between patients with general tubal pregnancy (TP) and TP with levonorgestrel (LNG) emergency contraception (EC) failure. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients with general TP (n = 79) and TP following LNG-EC failure (n = 81) within the same conception cycle. Information on the gynecological features of each subject was collected. Pelvic inflammatory disease and associated sequelae were assessed by the serum Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) IgG test, laparoscopic evaluation of tubal damage, and histopathological observation of tube tissues. Chi-square and Student's t-tests were employed to determine the difference between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with general TP, cases of TP following LNG-EC failure subjects were less likely to have a history of previous ectopic pregnancy (5.06% vs. 18.52%, p = 0.009) and adnexal surgery (6.33% vs. 22.22%, p = 0.010). Patients with TP following LNG-EC failure were less likely to have pelvic inflammatory disease and associated sequelae than those with general TP, as revealed by positive reaction to anti-CT IgG (18.18% vs. 35.94%, p = 0.031), assessment of tubal damage (grade I: 5.06% vs. 17.28%; grade II: 2.53% vs. 11.11%; grade III: 1.27% vs. 6.17%; p = 0.001), infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells (10.91% vs. 62.50%, p < 0.001), and positive Masson's staining (7.69% vs. 39.58%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with cases of general TP, cases of TP following LNG-EC failure exhibited reduced rates of CT infection, fallopian tubal inflammation, and/or fibrosis.

Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy: a multi-center case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is the leading cause of maternal death during the first trimester of pregnancy. A better understanding of EP risk can help prevent its occurrence. We carried out a multi-center, large-sample, case-control study to evaluate the risk factors for EP in Shanghai, China. METHODS: Women who were diagnosed with EP (n = 2411) and women with intrauterine pregnancies (n = 2416) were recruited from five hospitals in Shanghai, China. Information regarding the sociodemographic characteristics; reproductive, gynecological and surgical history; and previous and current use of contraceptives was collected from all participants. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and adjusted for potential confounding factors via multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study revealed that the risk of EP was associated with the traditional risk factors including previous EP (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.83-4.05), previous Chlamydia trachomatis infection (Adjusted OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.64, 3.84), previous infertility (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.66-2.88), previous adnexal surgery (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.49-2.93), previous appendectomy (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.13-2.37), and previous use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.39-2.13). Additionally, EP risk was increased following the failure of most contraceptives used in the current cycle including IUDs (AOR = 16.43, 95% CI: 10.42-25.89), oral contraceptive pills (AOR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.16-7.86), levonorgestrel emergency contraception (AOR = 4.75, 95% CI: 3.79-5.96), and female sterilization (AOR = 4 .73, 95% CI: 1.04-21.52). Stratified analysis showed that in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) was the main risk factor for EP in women with tubal infertility (AOR = 8.99, 95% CI: 1.98-40.84), although IVF-ET showed no association with EP in women with non-tubal infertility (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 0.14-44.67). CONCLUSION: In addition to the traditional risk factors, IVF-ET and current IUD use play dominant roles in the occurrence of EP. Attention should be given to women with tubal infertility who have undergone IVE-ET treatment.

[Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome: a case report and literature review].

We described 1 case of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), first diagnosed in our hospital, and reviewed the recent literature. The 11-month old male patient presented with a history of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly since 1 month after birth. He suffered recurrent infectious diseases including cytomegalovirus infection, parvovirus B19 infection and chronic diarrhea disease. Besides, his symptoms included hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. The laboratory abnormality indicated an expanded population of alpha/beta double-negative T cells (DNTs) (27.18% of lymphocytes, 35.16% of CD3+ T lymphocytes) in peripheral blood, and autoantibodies including antinuclear antibody, double-stranded DNA and rheumatic factor were positive. Hyper gamma globulinemia and positive direct Coombs tests were seen in the patient. His parents were both healthy and denied autoimmune diseases. We identified a heterozygous point mutation in exon 3 of the FAS gene carrying c.309 A>C, resulting in a single base pair substitution in exon 3 of FAS gene which changed the codon of Arg103 to Ser103. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain the gene results of the child's parents. The patient was treated with glucocorticoids in our hospital and with mycophenolatemofetil in other hospital. And we were informed that his anemia condition relieved through the telephone follow-up, but he still suffered recurrent infections, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly still existed. As we all know ALPS is characterized by defective lymphocyte apoptosis, and thus cause lymphoproliferative disease and autoimmune disease, and increase the risk of lymphoma. It is more likely to be misdiagnosed as other diseases. ALPS should be suspected in the case of chronic lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and autoimmune features. Flow cytometry approach is helpful for the diagnosis. Immunosuppressive drugs are the necessary treatment.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: a retrospective clinical analysis of 1,922 cases in North China.

PURPOSE: To identify the cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in Shanxi, North China. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 1,922 women with PID who underwent laparoscopy for infertility. RESULTS: 1,922 cases (42.3%) of PID were detected in 4,540 cases of infertility, wherein the incidence rates of nonspecific PID and female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) were 57.9 and 42.1%, respectively. From 1985 to 1995, FGTB (25.1%) was the first reason for infertility, while from 1996 to 2006, nonspecific PID (33.9%) emerged as the most common cause of infertility. Further, FGTB (74.7%) was the major factor causing occluded fallopian tubes, followed by nonspecific PID (61.1%), and the damage of the former was more serious than the latter. CONCLUSIONS: PID is the main cause of tubal infertility, but the etiology of PID has changed from FGTB to nonspecific PID in the last 10 years in Shanxi.

Clinicopathological Features and Long-Term Prognostic Role of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 Low Expression in Chinese Patients with Early Breast Cancer: A Single-Institution Study.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze and compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis of Chinese patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low early breast cancer (BC) and HER2-IHC0 BC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative BC ( N = 999) at our institution between January 2011 and December 2015 formed our study population. Clinicopathological characteristics, association between estrogen receptor (ER) expression and HER2-low, and evolution of HER2 immunohistochemical (IHC) score were assessed. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the long-term survival outcomes (5-year follow-up) between the HER2-IHC0 and HER2-low groups. Results: HER2-low BC group tended to demonstrate high expression of ER and more progesterone receptor (PgR) positivity than HER2-IHC0 BC group ( P < 0.001). The rate of HER2-low status increased with increasing ER expression levels (Mantel-Haenszel χ 2 test, P < 0.001, Pearson's R = 0.159, P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed a significantly longer overall survival (OS) in HER2-low BC group than in HER2-IHC0 group ( P = 0.007) in the whole cohort and the hormone receptor (HR)-negative group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of disease-free survival (DFS). The discordance rate of HER2 IHC scores between primary and metastatic sites was 36.84%. Conclusion: HER2-low BC may not be regarded as a unique BC group in this population-based study due to similar clinicopathological features and prognostic roles.

[Application of excitation-emission matrix spectrum combined with parallel factor analysis in dissolved organic matter in East China Sea].

Using excitation-emission matrix spectrum(EEMs) combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) examine the fluorescent components feature of dissolved organic matter (DOM) sampled from East China Sea in the summer and autumn was examined. The type, distribution and origin of the fluorescence dissolved organic matter were also discussed. Three fluorescent components were identified by PARAFAC, including protein-like component C1 (235, 280/330), terrestrial or marine humic-like component C2 (255, 330/400) and terrestrial humic-like component C3 (275, 360/480). The good linearity of the two humic-like components showed the same source or some relationship between the chemical constitutions. As a whole, the level of the fluorescence intensity in coastal ocean was higher than that of the open ocean in different water layers in two seasons. The relationship of three components with chlorophyll-a and salinity showed the DOM in the study area is almost not influenced by the living algal matter, but the fresh water outflow of the Yangtze River might be the source of them in the Yangtze River estuary in Summer. From what has been discussed above, we can draw the conclusion that the application of EEM-PARAFAC modeling will exert a profound influence upon the research of the dissolved organic matter.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia, Northern China.

Giardia duodenalis is a gastrointestinal protozoan ubiquitous in nature. It is a confirmed zoonotic pathogen, and cattle are considered a source of giardiasis outbreaks in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and multilocus genotype (MLG) of G. duodenalis in dairy cattle in Central Inner Mongolia. This study was based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), and beta-giardin (bg) genes of G. duodenalis. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequence analysis were performed on 505 dairy cattle fecal samples collected in 2021 from six sampling sites and four age groups in Central Inner Mongolia to determine the prevalence and MLG distribution of G. duodenalis. The PCR results of SSU rRNA revealed that the overall prevalence of G. duodenalis was 29.5% (149/505) and that the overall prevalence of the diarrhea and nondiarrhea samples was 31.5% (46/146) and 28.5% (103/359), respectively; the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). SSU rRNA sequence analysis revealed that G. duodenalis assemblage E (91.1%, 133/146) was primarily detected and that assemblage A (8.9%, 13/146) was detected in 13 samples. The G. duodenalis-positive samples were PCR amplified and sequenced for gdh, tpi, and bg, from which 38, 47, and 70 amplified sequences were obtained, respectively. A combination of G. duodenalis assemblages A and E were detected in seven samples. Multilocus genotyping yielded 25 different assemblage E MLGs, which formed six subgroups. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding G. duodenalis infection in dairy cattle in Inner Mongolia, China. This study revealed that Inner Mongolian cattle pose a risk of giardiasis transmission to humans and that the distribution of local cattle G. duodenalis assemblage E MLGs is diverse. The findings of this study can bridge the knowledge gap in the molecular epidemiological investigation of giardiasis in Central Inner Mongolia.

Evaluation of serum creatinine- and cystatin C-based equations for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of a selection of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations based on serum creatinine (SCr) and serum cystatin C in a Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Estimated GFR values from 10 equations were compared with reference GFR (rGFR) from the (99m)Tc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging method. The study enrolled 569 Chinese participants (41.5% women, 53.5 ± 16.9 years, range 19-92 years), with mean rGFR 74.80 ± 26.10 (range 9.8-146.8 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis illustrated that the 95% agreement limits of all the equations surpassed the acceptable tolerance (<60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), of which the MacIsaac equation was the closest one, reaching 71.7 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Linear regression analysis also demonstrated a consistent result. When assessed in all participants, the accuracy of the six equations reached and exceeded the acceptable level (≥70%), of which the Shanghai and MacIsaac equations gained more accuracy than others. When compared in subgroups, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), MacIsaac and Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equations were optimal for rGFR stages ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2), 30-89 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and < 30 ml/min/1.73 m(2), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that further improvement is needed for the selected 10 equations. Not all the cystatin C equations were superior to SCr equations. They have their own applicability at various GFR levels. At present, the CKD-EPI, MacIsaac and CG equations may be applied to evaluate GFR in normal, mild to moderate and severe kidney function, respectively.

[Antidepressant activities of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and its neurogenesis protective effect in rats].

Adult rats chronic unpredictable stress model of depression (CUS) was adopted to elucidate the antidepressant pharmacological activity and related neurogenesis protective effect of the total flavonoids extract (licorice flavonoids, LF) from the Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. cultivated locally in Ningxia. The rats were exposed to 9 kinds of unpredictable sequence of stressors and were given flavonoids (300 mg x kg(-1), 100 mg x kg(-1) and 30 mg x kg(-1)) for 28 days. The antidepressant effect was elucidated by open field test, forced swimming test and tail suspension test. The level of serum corticosterone was detected by radioimmunoassay. 5'-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling experiments was employed to study the neurogenesis protective activities. The flavonoids can increase the sum of line crosses and number of rears, and decrease the number of fecal boli produced in the open field test of the CUS rats. Also the flavonoids can decrease the immobility time in forced swim test as well as in the tail suspension test. In addition, the flavonoids (300 mg x kg(-1)) can decrease the serum corticosterone level of the CUS rats, and increase the number of the new born BrdU positive progenitor cells at the subgranular zone (SGZ) of dentate gyrus (DG) region in hippocampus. The results demonstrated that the total flavonoids extract from the cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. could produce the anti-depressive effect on chronic unpredictable stress of depression model rats and its mechanism may be associated with its neurogenesis protective effect.

[Fluorescence characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the sea nearby Zhangzi island].

Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) was parsed, using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to parse the model, to examine the fluorescent components and their distributing variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) sampled from the nearby sea area of Zhangzi island. The identified components in different seasons were almost similar, including humic-like components C1(265/440 nm), C2(410-450/520-550 nm) and protein-like component C3(230, 280/330 nm), and the good linearity proved that they had the same sources or some relationships. Furthermore, all of the 3 components in different water layers and different seasons showed higher fluorescence intensity around the Zhangzi island. The relationships of the 3 components with chlorophyll-a and salinity were discussed, and the results showed that DOM in the study area depended on phytoplankton and the input from human activities. The results demonstrate the capability of the combination of EEMs and PARAFAC for characterizing fluorescence of DOM.

First determination of DNA virus and some additional bacteria from Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) in Tibet, China.

Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) is one of the common ectoparasites in sheep. In addition to causing direct damage to the host through biting and sucking blood, sheep ked is a potential vector of helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Sheep M. ovinus samples from three regions in Tibet were selected for DNA extraction. The 16S rDNA V3-V4 hypervariable region was amplified, after genomic DNA fragmentation, Illumina Hiseq libraries were constructed. The 16S rRNA sequencing and viral metagenomics sequencing were separately conducted on the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform and molecular biology software and platforms were employed to analyze the sequencing data. Illumina PE250 sequencing results demonstrated that the dominant bacteria phylum in M. ovinus from Tibet, China was Proteobacteria, where 29 bacteria genera were annotated. The dominant bacterial genera were Bartonella, Wolbachia, and Arsenophonus; Bartonella chomelii, Wolbachia spp., and Arsenophonus spp. were the dominant bacterial species in M. ovinus from Tibet, China. We also detected Kluyvera intermedia, Corynebacterium maris DSM 45190, Planomicrobium okeanokoites, and Rhodococcus erythropolis, of which the relative abundance of Kluyvera intermedia was high. Illumina Hiseq sequencing results demonstrated that 4 virus orders were detected in M. ovinus from Tibet, China, and 3 samples were annotated into 29 families, 30 families, and 28 families of viruses, respectively. Virus families related to vertebrates and insects mainly included Mimiviridae, Marseilleviridae, Poxviridae, Ascoviridae, Iridoviridae, Baculoviridae, Hytrosaviridae, Nudiviridae, Polydnaviridae, Adomaviridae, Asfarviridae, Hepeviridae, Herpesviridae, and Retroviridae; at the species level, the relative abundance of Tupanvirus_soda_lake, Klosneuvirus_KNV1, and Indivirus_ILV1 was higher. African swine fever virus and many poxviruses from the family Poxviridae were detected, albeit their relative abundance was low. The dominant bacterial phylum of M. ovinus from Tibet, China was Proteobacteria, and the dominant bacterial genera were Bartonella, Wolbachia, and Arsenophonus, where 23 out of 29 annotated bacteria genera were first reported in M. ovinus. Kluyvera intermedia, Corynebacterium maris DSM 45190, Planomicrobium okeanokoites, and Rhodococcus erythropolis were detected for the first time. All DNA viruses detected in this study have been reported in M. ovinus for the first time.

Anlotinib combined with TQB2450 in patients with platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer: A multi-center, single-arm, phase 1b trial.

This is a phase Ib study of anlotinib plus a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor TQB2450 for platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer. Thirty-four patients are enrolled and receive treatment. The objective response rate (ORR) is 47.1%, and the disease control rate is 97.1%. The median duration of response (DOR) has not been reached, and 61.3% of patients have a DOR of at least 8 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) is 7.8 months, and the median overall survival (OS) has not been reached. The PD-L1-positive group has an ORR of 25.0%, whereas the PD-L1-negative group has an ORR of 92.9%. Treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) occur in 70.6% of patients, with the most common being hypertension (29.4%) and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (29.4%). Anlotinib plus TQB2450 show promising antitumor activity and manageable toxicities in patients with platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer. A phase 3 randomized controlled trial to further validate our findings is ongoing.