[Clinical and bioinformatics analysis of the relationship between LAMA3 DNA methylation expression and platinum resistance and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer].

Objective: To investigate the effect of DNA methylation of laminin α3 (LAMA3) on the prognosis of platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and its possible mechanism. Methods: (1) The relationship between DNA methylation of LAMA3 and platinum resistance in EOC was evaluated by bioinformatics. (2) A total of 67 EOC patients treated at Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital from January 2000 to December 2012 were selected to detect the levels of LAMA3 DNA methylation in EOC tissues using pyrophosphate sequencing technology to explore its diagnostic efficacy for platinum resistance and prognosis in EOC patients. Furthermore, its impact on chemotherapy efficacy and prognosis of platinum resistant EOC patients were also analyzed. Results: (1) Ten proteins highly interacting with LAMA3 were screened from the Gene Interaction Retrieval Platform (STRING) database, including laminin ß (LAMB) 3, laminin γ (LAMC) 3, integrin α (ITGA) 6, intestine protein ß4 (ITGB4), ITGA3, LAMC1,LAMB2, dystrophin associated glycoprotein 1 (DAG1), LAMB1 and cytochrome P450c17α (COL17A1) protein; kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that LAMA3 and its related interacting proteins participate in the regulation of malignant tumor occurrence and development through signaling pathways such as apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage response, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), RAS/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), tuberous sclerosis protein complex (TSC)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and their expression levels were related to the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin in EOC. (2) Our clinical data analysis found that the LAMA3 DNA methylation level in EOC tissue of the platinum-sensitive group (35 cases) was 71% (25/35), which was higher than 69% (22/32) in the platinum-resistant group (32 cases), with statistically insignificant difference (χ2=0.057, P=0.811). The area under the curve (AUC) of LAMA3 DNA methylation level for assessing platinum resistance in EOC was 0.601, and the AUC for predicting EOC patient prognosis was 0.686. The chemotherapy efficacy of EOC patients with high methylation of LAMA3 DNA was worse than that of patients with low methylation, 50% (12/24) vs 15/15, with statistically significant difference (χ2=10.833, P=0.001). The level of LAMA3 DNA methylation had a significant impact on the progression free survival and overall survival of EOC patients (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The level of LAMA3 DNA methylation has certain diagnostic and predictive value for platinum resistance and prognosis in EOC patients, which may be closely related to the regulatory mechanism, platinum resistance and prognosis of EOC.

Effect of menopausal symptom treatment options on palpitations: a systematic review.

This systematic review provides an overview of the effects of menopausal symptom treatment options on palpitations, defined as feelings of missed or exaggerated heart beats, reported by perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO to identify articles meeting pre-specified inclusion criteria. Of 670 unique articles identified, 37 were included in the review. Treatments included drug therapies and non-drug therapies. Palpitations were studied as an outcome in 89% of articles and as an adverse effect in 11%. Articles provided mostly level II/III evidence due to their design and/or small sample sizes. Based on available evidence, no therapies can be fully recommended for clinical practice. Only some hormonal agents (e.g. estradiol) can be recommended with caution based on some positive evidence for reducing palpitation prevalence or severity. However, other drug therapies (e.g. moxonidine, atenolol), dietary supplementary treatments (e.g. isoflavones, Rheum rhaponticum, sage), cognitive-behavioral intervention and auricular acupressure cannot be recommended given the existing evidence. Additional well-designed randomized controlled treatment trials focusing on palpitations during the menopause transition as an inclusion criteria and outcome are needed to advance the field.

[The correlation between metabolic parameters in (18)F-FDG PET-CT and solid and micropapillary histological subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma].

Objective: Solid and micropapillary pattern are highly invasive histologic subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma and are associated with poor prognosis while the biopsy sample is not enough for the accurate histological diagnosis. This study aims to assess the correlation and predictive efficacy between metabolic parameters in (18)F-fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT), including the maximum SUV (SUV(max)), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and solid and micropapillary histological subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A total of 145 resected lung adenocarcinomas were included. The clinical data and preoperative (18)F-FDG PET-CT data were retrospectively analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of the metabolic parameters between solid and micropapillary subtype group and other subtypes group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and areas under curve (AUC) were used for evaluating the prediction efficacy of metabolic parameters for solid or micropapillary patterns. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the prediction factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary subtypes. Results: Median SUV(max) and TLG in solid and papillary predominant subtypes group (15.07 and 34.98, respectively) were significantly higher than those in other subtypes predominant group (6.03 and 10.16, respectively, P<0.05). ROC curve revealed that SUV(max) and TLG had good efficacy for prediction of solid and micropapillary predominant subtypes [AUC=0.811(95% CI: 0.715~0.907) and 0.725(95% CI: 0.610~0.840), P<0.05]. Median SUV(max) and TLG in lung adenocarcinoma with the solid or micropapillary patterns (11.58 and 22.81, respectively) were significantly higher than those in tumors without solid and micropapillary patterns (4.27 and 6.33, respectively, P<0.05). ROC curve revealed that SUV(max) and TLG had good efficacy for predicting the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns [AUC=0.757(95% CI: 0.679~0.834) and 0.681(95% CI: 0.595~0.768), P<0.005]. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the clinical stage (Stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ), SUV(max) ≥10.27 and TLG≥7.12 were the independent predictive factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns (P<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative SUV(max) and TLG of lung adenocarcinoma have good prediction efficacy for the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns, especially for the solid and micropapillary predominant subtypes and are independent factors of the presence of solid or micropapillary patterns.

[Bioinformatics analysis of drug-resistant ceRNA in epithelial ovarian cancer].

Objective: To explore the possible biological function of long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) drug resistance and the value of new diagnostic markers through bioinformatics analysis, clinical testing and verification methods. Methods: (1) Mining the lncRNA related to EOC and constructing the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network: comprehensively apply text mining, data prediction and network construction and other bioinformatics methods to establish a potential ceRNA regulatory network related to EOC drug resistance, namely lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA regulatory network. (2) Clinical verification: a total of 95 cancer tissue specimens were collected from EOC patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from June 2008 to October 2016, of which 54 were platinum-resistant patients (resistance group), 41 platinum-based drug-sensitive patients (sensitive group). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA in EOC tissues of the two groups, the effect of lncRNA expression on the prognosis of EOC patients, and the diagnostic efficacy of lncRNA expression on resistance to EOC were also analyzed. Results: (1) Text mining preliminarily screened out 25 differentially expressed lncRNA related to the occurrence and development of EOC, and further subcellular localization analysis found that 8 lncRNA exist in the cytoplasm. Through further data mining, collinear literature analysis and construction of ceRNA, the regulatory network predicts that the two lncRNA molecules, GAS5 and HOTAIR, could serve as key ceRNA molecules. (2) Through real-time fluoressent quantitative PCR verification, it was found that both GAS5 and HOTAIR were highly expressed in drug-resistant EOC tissues, which affects the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) time of patients with drug-resistant EOC independent risk factors (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) of GAS5 alone was 0.678, the AUC of HOTAIR alone was 0.863, and the AUC of GAS5 combined with HOTAIR was 0.871, and there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The high expression of GAS5 and HOTAIR is closely related to the drug resistance of EOC, which could be used as a potential predictor of response to chemotherapy. At the same time, the combined detection of GAS5 and HOTAIR has a certain diagnostic efficiency for patients with platinum-resistant EOC. This method of using the ceRNA regulatory network to predict key molecules will provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of EOC.

Review and Prospect of Pathological Features of Corona Virus Disease.

ABSTRACT: Since 2003, coronavirus has caused multiple major public health events that resulted in global epidemics, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome （SARS）, Middle East respiratory syndrome （MERS） and corona virus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. Especially since COVID-19 outbroke in Wuhan, Hubei, in December 2019, coronavirus has had a significant impact on people's health and lives. But so far, the pathological diagnosis of COVID-19 has been relatively deficient： it is still confined to the pathological findings of punctured organs, and the majority of medical workers have poor awareness of its pathological characteristics. The COVID-19, as same as SARS and MERS, is caused by coronaviruses and can cause viral pneumonia. They have certain similarities. This article comprehensively reviews the pathological features observed in the autopsies of the aforementioned three diseases, in order to provide reference to the analysis of pathological changes of COVID-19.

[Current epidemiological status of causes of disease among patients with liver disease hospitalized in Department of Infectious Diseases in a large general hospital within the past 20 years].

Objective: To investigate the causes of disease among patients with liver disease hospitalized in Department of Infectious Diseases in our hospital and the changes in such causes within the past 20 years. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 7570 patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 1995 to December 2015. The chi-square test was used for the statistical analysis of constituent ratio. Results: Of all 7570 patients with liver disease, 4930 (65.13%) had viral hepatitis, 332 (4.39%) had immune disease, 215 (2.84%) had drug-induced liver injury, 192 (2.54%) had fatty liver disease, 88 (1.16%) had schistosome-induced liver disease, 160 (2.11%) had inherited metabolic diseases, and 20 (0.13%) had vascular disease; 689 (9.1%) still had no clear cause of disease at discharge. The proportion of patients with viral hepatitis was 77.61% in the first 10 years and 59.19% in the last 10 years (P < 0.01). As for liver disease caused by hepatotropic virus, there were significant increases in the proportion of patients with hepatitis C or hepatitis E from the first to the last 10 years (hepatitis C: 2.24% vs 15.56%, P < 0.01; hepatitis E: 18.61% vs 23.07%, P < 0.05), while there were significant reductions in the proportion of patients with hepatitis B (68.14% vs 60.01%, P < 0.05) or hepatitis A (10.7% vs 1.36%, P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with immune diseases was 0.82% in the first 10 years and 6.08% in the last 10 years (P < 0.01). There were also certain changes in the proportion of patients with liver disease caused by other reasons. Conclusion: There is a large proportion of patients with viral hepatitis among patients with liver disease hospitalized in Department of Infectious Diseases in a large general hospital, especially hepatitis B and E caused by hepatotropic virus. There is a certain change in the epidemiology of liver disease within the past 20 years, with a reduction in the proportion of patients with viral hepatitis and an increase in the proportion of patients with non-infectious liver diseases. There is a large proportion of patients with unknown causes of liver disease.

[Predictive value of serum glycosylated hemoglobin for the onset of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective: To discuss the affect of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level for the onset of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in cohort population. Methods: An epidemiological survey of the relationship between HbA1c and NAFLD conducted in 2012 was based at cohort baseline, and three follow-up sessions conducted in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In total 2 811 subjects were included in the study after exclusion of NAFLD patients at baseline and those who lost their lives due to relocation, and death. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin and other risk factors of NAFLD. Continuous variables were compared using the t-test or the Mann-Whitney test. χ (2)-test was used for the measurement of categorical data. Results: A total of 2 811 subjects with mean age of 59 (58.2±9.8) years old, including 1 664 males and 1 147 females. Age, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, γ-glutamyltransferase and fasting blood glucose level of HbA1c abnormal group were higher than normal group. The incidence of NAFLD in the abnormal HbA1c level group (25.4%) was higher than normal group (14.9 %), and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than normal group and the differences were statistically significant. During the three follow-up intervals, there were 440 new cases of NAFLD, consisting 285 males and 155 females with cumulative incidence of 15.7% (440/2 811). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that patients with elevated HbA1c had a higher risk of developing NAFLD (HR 1.796; 95% CI 1.335~2.418; P < 0.01), and the increased HbA1c level after adjustment for gender, age, and metabolic syndrome-related factors remained an independent risk factors for NAFLD (HR 1.580; 95.0% CI 1.161-2.152; P < 0.01). Conclusion: An elevated HbA1c levels have a positive predictive value for the onset of NAFLD.

[The role of neuroglobin in oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial depolarization and reactive oxygen species production in SH-SY5Y cells].

Objective: To investigate the role of neuroglobin (NGB) in oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) induced mitochondrial depolarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS)production in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). Methods: SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with lentivirus to establish a stable cell line of NGB knockdown (KD). After treated with OGD/R, cells were collected at different time points to analyze NGB mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, cells were stained with JC-1 and DCFH-DA to evaluate mitochondrial depolarization and ROS production by inverted fluorescence microscope. Also, to determine the neurotoxicity, we measured the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level in the cell culture medium. Results: After the treatment of OGD/R, the NGB mRNA and protein started to elevate and peak at 4 h and 8 h (2.04±0.35 fold, 1.69±0.18 fold). Compared with the vector group, NGB KD group had much more mitochondrial depolarization [JC-1 red/green (1.10±0.10) vs (1.46±0.11), P<0.05] and ROS production [DCFH-DA fluorescence (36.30±5.32) vs (16.26±2.97), P<0.05]. Furthermore, NGB KD groups had a higher level of LDH release [(63.42±6.14)%vs (49.65±5.09)%, P<0.05]. Conclusions: NGB plays an important role in the homeostasis of mitochondria. Knockdown of NGB results in increased mitochondrial depolarization, ROS production and neurotoxicity under hypoxia circumstances.

[Effect of neuroglobin on oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation induced autophagy in a human neuroblastoma cell line].

Objective: To investigate the effect of neuroglobin on oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) induced autophagy in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). Methods: SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with plasmids (or vector) to establish a stable cell line of NGB overexpression (OE). After treated with OGD/R, cells were collected for the analyses of mRNA (Atg5, Atg7, BECN1 and FUNDC1) and protein levels of LC3. Furthermore, mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions were isolated for protein levels of PINK1 and Parkin. Results: Treatment of OGD/R significantly increased the levels of mRNA of Atg5, Atg7, BECN1 and FUNDC1 (peak levels were 4.90±0.71, 6.72±0.75, 2.71±0.39 and 3.96±0.78 fold, all P<0.05). The protein level of Parkin increased in mitochondria and decreased in cytoplasm after the treatment. Compared with the vector group, Ngb OE group showed a significant higher level of FUNDC1 mRNA (3.96±0.78 versus 6.86±0.63 fold, P<0.05), while Atg5, Atg7 and BECN1 mRNA levels showed no significant difference. Moreover, the mitochondrial or cytosolic protein levels of PINK1 or Parkin showed no significant difference between Ngb OE and vector group. Conclusions: Overexpression of Ngb can not affect autophagy or mitohpagy in OGD/R treated SH-SY5Y cells. Overexpression of Ngb can increase the mRNA level of FUNDC1 and the mechanism needs further study.

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of pri-miR-34b/c and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. MicroRNA-34 (miR-34) gene plays a key role in altering the apoptotic cycle and pathways of downstream cells, and therefore influences carcinogenesis. In this case-control study, we assessed the role of the pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism in HCC risk. The pri-miR-34b/c polymorphic genotype was determined in 286 patients with HCC and 572 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The male gender (X2 = 12.95, P < 0.001), regular alcohol consumption (X2 = 16.81, P < 0.001), and a family history of cancer (X2 = 11.88, P = 0.001) were associated with HCC risk. However, the age (t = 1.19, P = 0.12) and tobacco smoking habit (X2 = 0.64, P = 0.42) of HCC patients were comparable to those of the controls. The TC (adjusted OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.06-2.01) and CC (adjusted OR = 3.07, 95%CI = 1.77-5.34) genotypes of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 were correlated with a higher risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype. Moreover, the TC+CC genotype was correlated with an increased risk of HCC compared to the TT genotype (adjusted OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.21-2.22). In the recessive model, the CC genotype of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 was significantly correlated with an elevated risk of HCC compared to the TT+TC genotype (adjusted OR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.49-4.22). Further large-scale and multi-center studies are required to confirm these results.

[Influences of DNA methylation upon neuroglobin sustained expression in oxygen- glucose deprivation model].

Objective: To investigate the influences of genomic DNA methylation upon neuroglobin sustained expression in oxygen- glucose deprivation model. Methods: With A549 cell strain as the research object, the control group were cultivated in the complete medium containing 10 µmol/L of 5-azacytidine for 4 days, and the control group was cultivated in the complete medium for 4 days.Then carried out oxygen glucose deprivation treatment for 4 h.Detecting neuroglobin expression, DNA methyltransferase expression, cell inhibition ratio and DNA methylation level at different time points. Results: DNA methylation level of the experimental group declined apparently[6 h : (1.0±0.0) vs (2.1±0.3); 12 h: ( 0.9±0.0) vs (1.4±0.0); 24 h: (0.9±0.0) vs (2.6±0.2); 36 h: (0.9±0.0) vs (2.9±0.1)], neuroglobin expression of the experimental group continued and was obviously higher than that of the control group at the same time point[NGB-PCR: 6 h: (3.3±1.1) vs (0.4±0.1); 12 h: (3.2±0.8) vs (0.1±0.1); 24 h: (4.6±0.6) vs (0.2±0.0); 36 h : (5.1±0.3) vs (0.1±0.1)], while the Cell inhibition ratio of the experimental group was obviously lower than that of the control group at the same time point[(6 h: (10.4±0.5) vs (14.1±0.7); 12 h: (22.0±1.3) vs (35.1±0.5); 24 h: (25.7±1.0) vs (40.6±1.3); 36 h: (30.0±0.8) vs (44.4±0.7)], differences had statistical significance (P<0.05).mRNA expression of three methyltransferases of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at different time points, where, DNMT1 and DNMT3B showed great differences (P<0.05), while differences in DNMT3A of two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusions: In the OGD/R model of A549 cell strain, genomic DNA methylation resulted in unsustained expression of neuroglobin, but neuroglobin expression increased after demethylation inhibitor was used.

[Effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on immune function and prognosis of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on the immune function and prognosis of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods: A total of 65 patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis were divided into observation group and control group. The patients in the observation group were given intervention (via the proper hepatic artery or the portal vein) and intravenous infusion of 4×108 hUCMSCs in two doses, as well as the same basic treatment as in the control group. The patients in the control group were given conventional medical treatment. ELISA as used to measure the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß) in the observation group before surgery and at 1 week after surgery, as well as the serum levels of IL-6, TNFα, IL-10, and TGFß in the control group on admission and at 1 week after admission. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of lymphocyte subsets in the observation group before surgery and at 1 week after surgery, as well as that in the control group on admission and at 1 week after admission. In addition, the patients' prognosis and major complications during hospitalization were observed in both groups, and the patients were followed up for 24 weeks to record the number of deaths. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data which were expressed as percentages. Results: At 1 week after the transplantation of hUCMSCs, compared with the control group, the observation group had significant reductions in the serum levels of IL-6 and TNFα and significant increases in the serum levels of IL-10 and TGFß (all P < 0.001), as well as significant increases in the percentages of T4 cells and Treg cells and significant reductions in the percentages of T8 cells and B cells (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the changes in T3 cells and natural killer cells between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly lower probability of progression to liver failure (6.45% vs 14.71%, P = 0.017). Conclusion: In the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, transplantation of UCMSCs can inhibit the proliferation of T cells and B cells and the differentiation of T8 cells, upregulate Treg cells, promote the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, and reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, it can alleviate liver inflammatory response and liver cell damage and reduce the probability of hepatic failure.

Hypertension-mediated enhancement of JNK activation in association with endoplasmic reticulum stress in rat model hippocampus with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

Acute brain ischemia can induce the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs). Hypertension is a critical etiology for brain ischemia. We identified the effects of hypertension on the activation of JNK as well as its impact on SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, during endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the hippocampus using a rat model. Transient whole-brain ischemia was induced by 4-vessel occlusion (bilateral vertebral and bilateral common carotid arteries) in normal and spontaneous hypertensive rats. SP600125 (0.05 mg/kg, iv) was administered 30 min before ischemia. Morphological changes in hippocampal nerve cells were observed by cresyl violet staining. Phosphorylation of JNK, and expression levels of CHOP and GPR78, markers for ERS, were detected by western blot at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h, and neurological outcomes were measured using an eight-arm radial maze 48 h after ischemia. Hypertension apparently aggravated impairment of memory function, decreased the density of surviving neurons, increased phosphorylation of JNK, and enhanced CHOP expression, but reduced GPR78 levels in hippocampal tissues following brain ischemia. SP600125 alleviated neurological dysfunction, improved neuron survival, decreased phosphorylation of JNK and levels of CHOP, but increased expression of GPR78 in rats with hypertension during cerebral ischemia by inhibition of ERS.

[Application of acellular dermal matrix in periodontal soft tissue augmentation surgery].

The substitute materials of autologous tissue graft for periodontal soft tissue augmentation surgery develop rapidly. The use of substitute material can avoid the second operation area, shorten the operation time, reduce the postoperative reaction and pain, and is not limited by the quantity, suitable for a wide range of cases. In this paper, the characteristics, histological study, clinical application and therapeutic effect of acellular dermal matrix as a substitute material for autologous tissue transplantation were introduced to provide reference for clinical work.

Loss of the Parkinson's disease-linked gene DJ-1 perturbs mitochondrial dynamics.

Growing evidence highlights a role for mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as underlying contributors to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. DJ-1 (PARK7) is a recently identified recessive familial PD gene. Its loss leads to increased susceptibility of neurons to oxidative stress and death. However, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. Presently, we report that DJ-1 deficiency in cell lines, cultured neurons, mouse brain and lymphoblast cells derived from DJ-1 patients display aberrant mitochondrial morphology. We also show that these DJ-1-dependent mitochondrial defects contribute to oxidative stress-induced sensitivity to cell death since reversal of this fragmented mitochondrial phenotype abrogates neuronal cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to play a critical role in the observed defects, as ROS scavengers rescue the phenotype and mitochondria isolated from DJ-1 deficient animals produce more ROS compared with control. Importantly, the aberrant mitochondrial phenotype can be rescued by the expression of Pink1 and Parkin, two PD-linked genes involved in regulating mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. Finally, we show that DJ-1 deficiency leads to altered autophagy in murine and human cells. Our findings define a mechanism by which the DJ-1-dependent mitochondrial defects contribute to the increased sensitivity to oxidative stress-induced cell death that has been previously reported.

Characterization of Baylisascaris schroederi from Qinling subspecies of giant panda in China by the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of nuclear ribosomal DNA.

In the present study, a total of 20 nematode isolates, (including 10 male and 10 female worms) representing Baylisascaris schroederi from 5 Qinling subspecies of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Shaanxi Province of China, were characterized and grouped genetically by the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The rDNA fragment spanning 3' end of 18S rDNA, complete ITS-1 rDNA, and 5' end of 5.8S rDNA were amplified and sequenced. The sequence variability in ITS-1 rDNA was examined within B. schroederi and among parasites in order Ascaridata available in GenBank™, and their phylogenetic relationships were also reconstructed. The sequences of ITS-1 rDNA for all the B. schroederi isolates were 427 bp in length, with no genetic variation detected among these isolates. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS-1 rDNA sequences revealed that all the male and female B. schroederi isolates sequenced in the present study were posited into the clade of genus Baylisascaris, sistered to zoonotic nematodes in genus Ascaris, and the ITS-1 rDNA sequence could distinguish different species in order Ascaridata. These results showed that the ITS-1 rDNA provides a suitable molecular marker for the inter-species phylogenetic analysis and differential identification of nematodes in order Ascaridata.

Physical location of the carotenoid biosynthesis genes Psy and ß-Lcy in Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae) using heterologous probes from Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae).

Carotenoids are responsible for a range of fruit colors in different hot pepper (Capsicum) varieties, from white to deep red. Color traits are genetically determined by three loci, Y, C1, and C2, which are associated with carotenogenic genes. Although such genes have been localized on genetic maps of Capsicum and anchored in Lycopersicon and Solanum, physical mapping in Capsicum has been restricted to only a few clusters of some multiple copy genes. Heterologous probes from single copy genes have been rarely used. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed in Capsicum annuum varieties with different fruit colors, using heterologous probes of Psy and ß-Lcy genes obtained from a BAC library of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). The probes hybridized in the terminal portion of a chromosome pair, confirming the location of these genes in genetic maps. The hybridized segments showed variation in size in both chromosomes.

Influence of eutrophication on the distribution of total mercury and methylmercury in hydroelectric reservoirs.

The distribution of mercury (Hg) and the characteristics of its methylation were investigated in Wujiangdu (WJD) and Yinzidu (YZD) reservoirs in Guizhou province, China. The two reservoirs are characterized by high and low levels of primary productivity, respectively. Mercury species in water samples from depth profiles in both reservoirs and from interface water in the WJD were analyzed each season during 2007. The concentrations of total Hg (HgT(unf)) and methylmercury (MeHgT(unf)) in unfiltered water samples from the WJD varied from 3.0 to 18 pmol dm(-3) and from 0.17 to 15 pmol dm(-3), respectively; ranges were 2.0 to 9.5 pmol dm(-3) for HgT(unf) and 0.14 to 2.2 pmol dm(-3) for MeHgT(unf) in the YZD. Elevated methylmercury concentrations in water samples from the bottom water and water-sediment interface demonstrated an active net Hg methylation in the downstream reach of the WJD. There was no discernable Hg methylation occurring in the YZD, nor in the upstream and middle reaches of the WJD. The results suggest that high primary productivity resulting from cage aquaculture activities in the WJD is an important control on Hg methylation in the reservoir, increasing the concentrations of MeHg in water in the Wujiang River basin Southwestern China.

Metabolic syndrome: prevalence and risk factors in southern China.

This was a cross-sectional study to investigate the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome and the distribution of inter-related metabolic abnormalities in different population groups in Guangdong, southern China. Individuals were recruited according to the percentage of different occupational populations in southern China. The study cohort included 1206 subjects, and the prevalence and distribution of the components of metabolic syndrome were assessed using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III 2005 criteria. The unadjusted rate of metabolic syndrome was 26.7%, and the prevalences of hypertension and diabetes were 38.0% and 4.3% respectively. Hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, elevated blood glucose and elevated blood pressure decreased significantly with increasing levels of life stress and anxiety. The prevalence of hypertension and metabolic syndrome in southern China is very high, and early identification and treatment of at-risk individuals may help target intervention to improve future cardiovascular health.