[Correlation analysis and breeding application of agronomic traits and quality indexes in Dendrobium nobile].

The present study aimed to explore the correlation between agronomic traits and quality indexes of Dendrobium nobile and its application value in agricultural breeding. The cultivated strains of D. nobile in Hejiang-Chishui producing areas were extensively collected,and the main agronomic traits and quality indexes were measured. The agronomic traits with significant correlation with quality indexes were screened out by the correlation analysis,and then the parental lines and self-bred F_1 generation plants were furtherverified. Among 96 lines of D. nobile,the content of soluble polysaccharides showed a significant negative correlation with dendrobine( P < 0. 01),and no significant correlation with agronomic traits in stems and leaves. The content of dendrobine exhibited a significant positive correlation with the stem width-thickness ratio( at the largest cross section; P < 0. 01),and no significant correlation with other agronomic traits. Regression analysis further verified the positive correlation between dendrobine content and stem width-thickness ratio( R2> 0. 9). Two lines,JC-10 and JC-35,with significant differences in stem width-thickness ratio were screened out( P <0. 05). The corresponding F1 generation plants by self-pollination both showed that the dendrobine content was higher with greater stem width-thickness ratio( P < 0. 01). The experimental results suggested that within a certain range,the dendrobine content was higher in D. nobile with flatter stem. Therefore,in the breeding of D. nobile,this specific trait could be used for screening plants with high content of quality indexes such as dendrobine.

Biological functions of Arabidopsis thaliana MBP-1-like protein encoded by ENO2 in the response to drought and salt stresses.

Arabidopsis thaliana ENO2 (AtENO2) plays an important role in plant growth and development. It encodes two proteins, a full-length AtENO2 and a truncated version, AtMBP-1, alternatively translated from the second start codon of the mRNA. The AtENO2 mutant (eno2- ) exhibited reduced leaf size, shortened siliques, a dwarf phenotype and higher sensitivity to abiotic stress. The objectives of this study were to analyze the regulatory network of the ENO2 gene in plant growth development and understand the function of AtENO2/AtMBP-1 to abiotic stresses. An eno2- /35S:AtENO2-GFP line and an eno2- /35S:AtMBP-1-GFP line of Arabidopsis were obtained. Results of sequencing by 454 GS FLX identified 578 upregulated and 720 downregulated differential expressed genes (DEGs) in a pairwise comparison (WT-VS-eno2- ). All the high-quality reads were annotated using the Gene Ontology (GO) terms. The DEGs with KEGG pathway annotations occurred in 110 pathways. The metabolic pathways and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites contained more DEGs. Moreover, the eno2- /35S:AtENO2-GFP line returned to the wild-type (WT) phenotype and was tolerant to drought and salt stresses. However, the eno2- /35S:AtMBP-1-GFP line was not able to recover the WT phenotype but it has a higher tolerance to drought and salt stresses. Results from this study demonstrate that AtENO2 is critical for the growth and development, and the AtMBP-1 coded by AtENO2 is important in tolerance of Arabidopsis to abiotic stresses.

A meta-analysis on associations between vitamin D receptor genetic variants and tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze potential associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variants and tuberculosis (TB) through a meta-analysis. METHODS: Systematic literature research of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CNKI was performed to identify eligible articles. Statistical analyses were conducted by using Review Manager. RESULTS: Totally 54 studies were enrolled for analyses. Pooled overall analyses suggested that VDR rs1544410 (dominant model: p = 0.02; allele model: p = 0.04), rs2228570 (recessive model: p = 0.01; allele model: p = 0.03) and rs731236 (recessive model: p = 0.02; allele model: p = 0.02) variants were significantly associated with TB. Further subgroup analyses by ethnicity revealed that rs1544410 variant was significantly associated with TB in South Asians (dominant and allele models) and Caucasians (dominant, recessive and allele models), rs2228570 variant was significantly associated with TB in East Asians (recessive model), and rs731236 variant was significantly associated with TB in South Asians (dominant, recessive and allele models). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggested that VDR rs1544410, rs2228570 and rs731236 variants might serve as genetic biomarkers of TB in certain populations.

Expression of IL-26 predicts prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: There is no data regarding prognostic impact of interleukin (IL)-26 on outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of IL-26 on HCC patients undergoing liver resection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 122 patients with HCC who received surgical curative resection were enrolled. Patients were stratified into IL-26-upper and -lower groups according to the median expression level from immunohistochemical staining of resected specimens. Prognostic impact of IL-26 was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate time-dependent prognostic impact and independency of IL-26. Demographic and clinical factors that were associated with IL-26 were comprehensively identified. RESULTS: Prognosis of the patients with high level of IL-26 revealed to be significantly unfavorable in both cumulative recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P = 0.002). Upper expression of IL-26 (HR: 1.643; 95% CI: 1.021 to 2.644; P = 0.041) and microvascular invasion (HR: 3.303; 95% CI: 1.255 to 8.696; P = 0.016) were identified as significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: IL-26 is a novel prognostic factor for HCC after resection. Evaluation of IL-26 expression may be potentially valuable in clinical therapy when planning individualized follow-up schedule and evaluating candidates for prophylactic adjuvant treatment to prevent recurrence.

Influence of Familiarity on Energy Intake and Plasma Gut Hormone Concentration in Lean and Overweight Young Male Students.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to examine the influence of familiarity on energy intake, eating behavior, and concentration of the plasma gut hormones in lean and overweight young male subjects. METHODS: Twenty-eight lean and twenty-eight overweight participants were recruited. Their food consumption was documented and analyzed when they had a test meal while they were paired with friends or strangers at the same weight stature. Their eating behavior was recorded with cameras hidden in the carton, and postprandial plasma gut hormone concentration were measured. RESULTS: Compared with overweight strangers (OS), overweight friends (OF) had increased food consumption, prolonged and decreased number of chews per 10 g food. Compared with OS, postprandial plasma concentration of cholecystokinin-8 was significantly lower in OF group at 30, 60, and 90 min, whereas the concentration of glucagon-like peptide 1 was significantly lower at 60 and 90 min. Plasma ghrelin concentration was significantly higher in the OF group than that in the OS group at 90 and 120 min. No significant differences in gut hormone concentration were observed between lean strangers (LS) and lean friends (LF) groups at all time points. CONCLUSION: Familiarity plays an important role in increasing energy intake and in changing of postprandial gut hormone concentration in overweight individuals.

[Research progress in the mechanism of translation initiation of eukaryotic mRNAs].

The translation of mRNA is a complicated multi-step process, including initiation, elongation and termination. Among them, the regulation of the initial stage plays the key role. There are many ways to initiate mRNA translation, and the most classical way is the m 7G cap-dependent scanning mechanism that was also the first mechanism identified. When cells encounter adversity and the classical mechanism is inhibited, other types of translation initiation mechanisms will be activated. In this review, we summarize the translation initiation mechanisms of eukaryotic mRNAs, especially some alternative mechanisms. It will provide a reference for further understanding of the expression and regulation of eukaryotic genes at the translation levels.

The molecular mechanisms of plant plasma membrane intrinsic proteins trafficking and stress response.

Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) are plant channel proteins located on the plasma membrane. PIPs transfer water, CO2 and small uncharged solutes through the plasma membrane. PIPs have high selectivity to substrates, suggestive of a central role in maintaining cellular water balance. The expression, activity and localization of PIPs are regulated at the transcriptional and post-translational levels, and also affected by environmental factors. Numerous studies indicate that the expression patterns and localizations of PIPs can change in response to abiotic stresses. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of PIP trafficking, transcriptional and post-translational regulations, and abiotic stress responses. Moreover, we also discuss the current research trends and future directions on PIPs.

Two genes conferring resistance to Pythium stalk rot in maize inbred line Qi319.

Stalk rots are destructive diseases in maize around the world, and are most often caused by the pathogen Pythium, Fusarium and other fungi. The most efficient management for controlling stalk rots is to breed resistant cultivars. Pythium stalk rot can cause serious yield loss on maize, and to find the resistance genes from the existing germplasm is the basis to develop Pythium-resistance hybrid lines. In this study, we investigated the genetic resistance to Pythium stalk rot in inbred line Qi319 using F2 and F2:3 population, and found that the resistance to Pythium inflatum in Qi319 was conferred by two independently inherited dominant genes, RpiQI319-1 and RpiQI319-2. Linkage analysis uncovered that the RpiQI319-1 co-segregated with markers bnlg1203, and bnlg2057 on chromosome 1, and that the RpiQI319-2 locus co-segregated with markers umc2069 and bnlg1716 on chromosome 10. The RpiQI319-1 locus was further mapped into a ~500-kb interval flanked by markers SSRZ33 and SSRZ47. These results will facilitate marker-assisted selection of Pythium stalk rot-resistant cultivars in maize breeding. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the resistance to P. inflatum in the inbred line Qi319, and is also the first description of two independently inherited dominant genes conferring the resistance of Pythium stalk rot in maize.

Overexpression of a phospholipase Dα gene from Ammopiptanthus nanus enhances salt tolerance of phospholipase Dα1-deficient Arabidopsis mutant.

MAIN CONCLUSION: A phospholipase Dα gene ( AnPLDα ) was cloned from xerophytic desert plant Ammopiptanthus nanus and its overexpression enhanced salt tolerance of a PLDα1 deficient Arabidopsis mutant. Phospholipase Dα (PLDα) hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to produce phosphatidic acid, and plays crucial role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress. In this study, a phospholipase Dα gene (AnPLDα) was cloned from xerophyte Ammopiptanthus nanus by the methods of homologous cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and evaluated for its function in stress tolerance. The full-length cDNA was 2832 bp long, containing an open reading frame of 2427 bp that encodes 808 amino acids. The putative protein was predicted to be localized to the cytoplasm and this was confirmed by transient expression of a fluorescent fusion protein. The endogenous expression of the AnPLDα gene was induced by high salt, dehydration, cold and abscisic acid. The heterologous expression of the AnPLDα gene improved salt tolerance of an Arabidopsis pldα1 knocked out mutant, and positively regulated the expression of the AtABI, AtNCED, AtRD29A, AtRD29B and AtADH genes. Therefore, the AnPLDα gene was concluded to be involved in response to abiotic stress. The AnPLDα gene is a hopeful candidate for transgenic application to improve stress tolerance of commercial crops.

Ancient DNA reveals a migration of the ancient Di-qiang populations into Xinjiang as early as the early Bronze Age.

Xinjiang is at the crossroads between East and West Eurasia, and it harbors a relatively complex genetic history. In order to better understand the population movements and interactions in this region, mitochondrial and Y chromosome analyses on 40 ancient human remains from the Tianshanbeilu site in eastern Xinjiang were performed. Twenty-nine samples were successfully assigned to specific mtDNA haplogroups, including the west Eurasian maternal lineages of U and W and the east Eurasian maternal lineages of A, C, D, F, G, Z, M7, and M10. In the male samples, two Y chromosome haplogroups, C* and N1 (xN1a, N1c), were successfully assigned. Our mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal DNA analyses combined with the archaeological studies revealed that the Di-qiang populations from the Hexi Corridor had migrated to eastern Xinjiang and admixed with the Eurasian steppe populations in the early Bronze Age.

[Present Situation and Prospect of Urinary Biomarkers For Bladder Cancer].

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Early detection of bladder cancer is critical to improve the prognosis of the patient. The conventional method for the detection and monitoring of bladder cancer at present is cystoscopy with urinary cytology. Limitations of cystoscopy and urinary cytology have shown the need for better diagnostic method for bladder cancer. Ideally, such assays would be applicable to noninvasively obtained, and be designed not only for diagnosis, but also for monitoring disease recurrence and providing basis for therapy. Consequently, the development of a noninvasive urine-based assay would bring the gospel to both patients and healthcare systems. This article reviews some of the more prominent urine-based biomarkers and related new technologies reported in the literature in recent years.

Ancient DNA evidence reveals that the Y chromosome haplogroup Q1a1 admixed into the Han Chinese 3,000 years ago.

OBJECTIVES: Y chromosome haplogroup Q1a1 is found almost only in Han Chinese populations. However, it has not been found in ancient Han Chinese samples until now. Thus, the origin of haplogroup Q1a1 in Han Chinese is still obscure. This study attempts to provide answer to this question, and to uncover the origin and paternal genetic structure of the ancestors of the Han Chinese. METHODS: Eighty-nine ancient human remains that were excavated from the presumed geographic source of the Han Chinese and dated to approximately 3,000 years ago were treated by the amelogenin gene polymerase chain reaction test, to determine their sex. Then, Y chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms were subsequently analyzed from the samples detected as male. RESULTS: Samples from 27 individuals were successfully amplified. Their haplotypes could be attributed to haplogroups N, O*, O2a, O3a, and Q1a1. Analyses showed that the assigned haplogroup of each sample is correlated to the suspected social status and observed burial custom associated with the sample. CONCLUSIONS: The origins of the observed haplotypes and their distribution in present day Han Chinese and in the samples suggest that haplogroup Q1a1 was probably introduced into the Han Chinese population approximately 3,000 years ago.

ZM-66, a new podophyllotoxin derivative inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in K562/ADM cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of ZM-66 on multidrug-resistant leukemic cell line K562/ADM. METHODS: The K562/ADM cells were treated with varying concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L) of ZM-66 or etoposide for 24 hours. The proliferation was detected by Sulforhodamine B Sodium Salt (SRB) assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent staining. In addition, the expression levels of p53 and bax genes in K562/ADM cells were detected by RT-PCR analysis. The level of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), P53 and Bax protein in K562/ADM cells were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS: SRB assay demonstrated that etoposide had little inhibitory effect on K562/ADM cells, whereas ZM-66 (1, 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L) had significantly inhibitory effect on K562/ADM cells (all P<0.01). The acridine orange/propidium iodide dual staining showed that there were typical condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentation nuclei with red color in ZM-66 treated cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that there was a significantly increase of apoptotic cells in K562/ADM cells after treated with ZM-66. RT-PCR showed that the p53 and bax mRNA expression levels in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 1, 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L were higher than those in the cell without treatment. Western blot showed that the P53 and Bax protein expression levels in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L were higher than those in the cell without treatment. But the P-gp protein expression level in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 2, 4 × 10⁻³ mmol/L was gradually lower than those in the cell without treatment. CONCLUSION: ZM-66 is able to induce cell death by apoptosis in vitro, as a result of the reverse of the apoptosis resistance in drug-resistant K562/ADM cells by modulating expression of key factors associated with apoptosis induction.

Study on blasting fragmentation mechanism of burnt rock in open-pit coal mine.

A large number of burnt rocks in some open-pit mines in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia have a great influence on the blasting effect. For this kind of rock, through the analysis of physical and chemical changes, combined with ANSYS/LS-DYNA and PFC 2D numerical simulation software, a burnt rock model with multiple joint cracks and irregular distribution is constructed to simulate the blasting process of burnt rock under the combined action of stress wave and detonation gas. The results show that the fracture of rock mass affects the propagation of blasting cracks in the fracture area, resulting in stress concentration and stress hindrance. The action time of stress wave is reduced, and the energy of blasting gas is partially absorbed by the fracture, resulting in uneven stress on the burnt rock bench and seriously affecting the bench blasting effect.

Analysis of disulfidptosis- and cuproptosis-related LncRNAs in modulating the immune microenvironment and chemosensitivity in colon adenocarcinoma.

The main objective was to establish a prognostic model utilising long non-coding RNAs associated with disulfidptosis and cuproptosis. The data for RNA-Sequence and clinicopathological information of Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A prognostic model was constructed using Cox regression and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator method. The model's predictive ability was assessed through principal component analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, nomogram etc. The ability of identifying the rates of overall survival, infiltration of immune cells, and chemosensitivity was also explored. In vitro experiments were conducted for the validation of differential expression and function of lncRNAs. A disulfidptosis and cuproptosis-related lncRNA prognostic model was constructed. The prognostic model exhibits excellent independent predictive capability for patient outcomes. Based on the authors' model, the high-risk group exhibited higher tumour mutation burdened worse survival. Besides, differences in immune cell infiltration and responsiveness to chemotherapeutic medications exist among patients with different risk scores. Furthermore, aberrant expressions in certain lncRNAs have been validated in HCT116 cells. In particular, FENDRR and SNHG7 could affect the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells. Our study developed a novel prognostic signature, providing valuable insights into prognosis, immune infiltration, and chemosensitivity in COAD patients.

The plant-sucking insect selects assembly of the gut microbiota from environment to enhance host reproduction.

Plant-sucking insects have intricate associations with a diverse array of microorganisms to facilitate their adaptation to specific ecological niches. The midgut of phytophagous true bugs is generally structured into four distinct compartments to accommodate their microbiota. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding regarding the origins of these gut microbiomes, the mechanisms behind microbial community assembly, and the interactions between gut microbiomes and their insect hosts. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive survey of microbial communities within the midgut compartments of a bean bug Riptortus pedestris, soybean plant, and bulk soil across 12 distinct geographical fields in China, utilizing high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. Our findings illuminated that gut microbiota of the plant-sucking insects predominantly originated from the surrounding soil environment, and plants also play a subordinate role in mediating microbial acquisition for the insects. Furthermore, our investigation suggested that the composition of the insect gut microbiome was probably shaped by host selection and/or microbe-microbe interactions at the gut compartment level, with marginal influence from soil and geographical factors. Additionally, we had unveiled a noteworthy dynamic in the acquisition of core bacterial taxa, particularly Burkholderia, which were initially sourced from the environment and subsequently enriched within the insect midgut compartments. This bacterial enrichment played a significant role in enhancing insect host reproduction. These findings contribute to our evolving understanding of microbiomes within the insect-plant-soil ecosystem, shedding additional light on the intricate interactions between insects and their microbiomes that underpin the ecological significance of microbial partnerships in host adaptation.

Depressive disorders among children in the transforming China: an epidemiological survey of prevalence, correlates, and service use.

BACKGROUND: To date, no one-phase survey of childhood depression has been performed in China that involves both urban and rural community children. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, correlates, and mental health service utilization of depressive disorders (DDs) in a community-based sample of 6-14-year-old children in south-central China. METHODS: Children (3,582) were approached through multistage sampling and interviewed using a Chinese version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents 5.0, which is a structured interview that is administered by trained psychiatrists to obtain information from children and their guardians. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of all current DDs was found to be 2.8% (95%CI: 1.5-3.9). The risk factors for depression included being 9-14-year old, not attending school, having unmarried parents, living in a non-nuclear family (single parent or parentless family), being taken care of by people other than two parents (single parent, grandparent(s), other relatives, or others) during the past year, and not being breastfed prior to 1 year of age. Only 5.8% of the depressed children had received professional help prior to the interview. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DDs among children in this part of China is relatively high compared with most figures reported in other countries. Depression in this age group has been a major public health concern, but it is often underrecognized. There is an urgent need to develop efficacious interventions aimed at the prevention and early recognition of childhood depression.

Use of a transanal drainage tube for prevention of anastomotic leakage and bleeding after anterior resection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of the transanal drainage tube for prevention of anastomotic leakage and bleeding after anterior resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 2007 and May 2011 a nonrandomized prospective study of patients undergoing anterior resection for rectal cancer was done. The patients were divided into the transanal drainage tube (TDT) and non-transanal drainage tube (NTDT) groups according to whether the transanal drainage tube was used in the operation. Clinical characteristics and postoperative complications were compared between the TDT and NTDT groups. RESULTS: The study included 81 patients in the TDT group and 77 patients in the NTDT group. In the TDT group, anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 patients and no anastomotic bleeding occurred. In the NTDT group, anastomotic leakage occurred in 7 patients and anastomotic bleeding occurred in 2 patients. The TDT group had significantly fewer anastomotic complications compared with the NTDT group (2.5 vs 11.7 %; P = 0.029). Furthermore, the TDT group showed an obvious reduction in the rate of anastomotic leakage and anastomotic bleeding compared with the NTDT group (2.5 vs 7.8 % and 0.0 vs 2.6 %), but because the number of cases is relatively small, the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.160 and P = 0.236). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a transanal drainage tube in anterior resection for rectal cancer may be a simple, safe, and effective means of preventing or reducing the occurrence of anastomotic leakage and bleeding. A larger-scale single or multi-center prospective randomized study or a meta-analysis including similar studies is necessary for further elucidation of this issue.

[Significance of apolipoprotein A1 as biomarker for early diagnosis and classification of bladder urothelial carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of apolipoprotein (Apo)-A1 in urine as a biomarker for early diagnosis and classification of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC). METHODS: Urine samples were divided into four groups: normal control group, benign bladder disease group, low-grade malignant BUC group, and high-grade malignant BUC group. Apo-A1, which showed significantly different expression among the four groups, was selected according to the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) images of the four groups, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify Apo-A1 in the four groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated, and the optimal operating points on the ROC curve were found to determine the critical concentrations of Apo-A1 for early diagnosis of BUC and differentiation of low-grade and high-grade malignant BUC. The results were verified clinically, and the specificity and sensitivity were calculated. RESULTS: The 2-DE images showed that that the level of Apo-A1 increased from the normal control grouP to high-grade malignant BUC group. The ELISA showed that there was no significant difference in Apo-A1 level between the normal control grouP and benign bladder disease group, but the Apo-A1 level was significantly higher in the BUC groups than in the normal control grouP and benign bladder disease grouP (P < 0.01); the high-grade BUC grouP had a significantly higher Apo-A1 level than the low-grade BUC grouP (P < 0.01). The BUC patients and those without BUC could be differentiated with an Apo-A1 concentration of 18.22 ng/ml, while the low-grade and high-grade malignant BUC could be differentiated with an Apo-A1 concentration of 29.86 ng/ml. When used as a biomarker, Apo-A1 had a sensitivity of 91.6% (98/107) and a specificity of 85.7% (42/49) for diagnosis of BUC and had a sensitivity of 83.7% (41/49) and a specificity of 89.7% (52/58) for BUC classification. CONCLUSION: Apo-A1 may be a biomarker for early diagnosis and classification of BUC and shows promise for clinical application.

[Application of urinary proteomics in early diagnosis of bladder urothelial carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in urinary proteome between patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) and healthy volunteers and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of BUC. METHODS: The urine samples from BUC patients and healthy volunteers (controls) were treated by 25% ethanol precipitation and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), and the obtained urinary proteins were subjected to Coomassie brilliant blue staining and analysis by PDQuest 8.0 (2-DE image analysis software); the differentially expressed proteins were sequenced by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and identified using the Swiss-Prot database; the differential expression of these proteins was verified by western blot. RESULTS: High-resolution and high-reproducibility 2-DE images were obtained from the urine samples of BUC patients and controls, with 789 ± 18 and 762 ± 14 protein spots, respectively. Compared with the control group, the BUC grouP had significantly decreased expression of 6 protein spots and significantly increased expression of 11 protein spots. The mass spectrometry revealed five proteins with increased expression in the BUC group, including fibrinogen, lactate dehydrogenase B, apolipoprotein A1, clusterin, and haptoglobin, and the results were confirmed by western blot. CONCLUSION: There is significant difference in urinary proteome between BUC patients and healthy volunteers; the identification of differentially expressed proteins in urine lays the foundation for identifying potential molecular markers in early diagnosis of BUC.