Single-cell transcriptomics allows novel insights into the endocrine-disrupting chemicals induced mammalian reproductive disorder.

Increasing environmental pollution has led to the spread of many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) around the world, which are toxic substances in the form of compounds that pose a great threat to the reproductive health of mammals and become a potential cause of many reproductive function-related diseases. In the past decade, the rapid development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has greatly promoted the study of the toxic mechanisms of EDCs in the mammalian reproductive system, including DEHP, ZEN, BPA, and BDE47. These studies aim to resolve the interference of EDCs in critical stages of reproductive development, including prepubertal and pubertal in males, meiosis I and early follicle formation in females. This paper introduces the sequencing process and analysis methods of current mainstream scRNA-seq technology, systematically reviews the outstanding contributions and specific research ideas of this technology in the study of reproductive system toxicity, lists representative cases of using this technology to explore reproductive damage caused by EDCs, and summarizes in detail the connection between environmental pollution and reproductive development disorders. It provides an important theoretical basis and direction for further exploring the mechanism of damage to the physiological functions of toxic substances on the reproductive system and the prevention and treatment of reproductive diseases.

The interaction of MC3R and MC4R with MRAP2a in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors are two important neural G protein-coupled receptors that regulate energy homeostasis in vertebrates. Melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) is also involved in the regulation of food intake and body weight as a variable regulator of melanocortin receptors. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a valuable cold-water fish cultured worldwide. In the rainbow trout model, we cloned and identified mrap2a, a paralog of mrap2. Rainbow trout mrap2a consisted of a 690 bp ORF and was expected to encode a putative protein of 229 amino acids. The qPCR results showed that rainbow trout mrap2a was expressed at high levels in brain tissue similar to mc3r and mc4r. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation verified that MRAP2a interacts with MC3R and MC4R in vitro and that MRAP2a is involved in and regulates the constitutive activity and signaling of MC3R and MC4R. MRAP2a reduced constitutive and agonist-stimulated cAMP levels of MC3R; furthermore, MRAP2a increased constitutive ERK1/2 activation but reduced ligand-induced stimulation at high levels of expression. For MC4R, MRAP2a showed decreased cAMP basal activity but increased agonist-stimulated cAMP signaling and increased ACTH ligand sensitivity. However, MRAP2a failed to affect MC4R constitutive activity and agonist-induced ERK1/2 signaling. Undoubtedly, our study will have great significance for revealing the conserved role of MC4R and MC3R signaling in teleost fish, especially in cold-water fish growth and energy homeostasis.

A C-type lectin with a single CRD from Onychostoma macrolepis mediates immune recognition against bacterial challenge.

C-type lectins (CTL) are a large group of pattern-recognition proteins and to play important roles in glycoprotein metabolism, multicellular integration, and immunity. Based on their overall domain structure, they can be classified as different groups that possess different physiological functions. A typical C-type lectin (named as OmLec1) was identified from the fish, Onychostoma macrolepis, an important cultured fish in China. Open reading frame of OmLec1 contains a 570 bp, encoding a protein of 189 amino acids that includes a signal peptide and a single carbohydrate-recognition domain. The phylogenetic analysis showed that OmLec1 could be grouped with C-type lectin from other fish. OmLec1 was expressed in all the tissues in our study, and the expression level was highest in liver. And its relative expression levels were significantly upregulated following infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. The recombinant OmLec1 protein (rOmLec1) could agglutinate some Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria in vitro in the presence of Ca2+, showing a typical Ca2+-dependent carbohydrate-binding protein. Furthermore, rOmLec1 purified from E. coli BL21 (DE3), strongly bound to LPS and PGN, as well as all tested bacteria in a Ca2+-dependent manner. These results indicate that OmLec1 plays a central role in the innate immune response and as a pattern recognition receptor that recognizes diverse pathogens among O. macrolepis.

The efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a prospective multi-center clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a severe condition with high mortality due to lack of efficient therapy. Until now, the use of methylprednisolone (MP) in HBV-ACLF is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MP in HBV-ACLF. METHODS: Totally 171 HBV-ACLF patients from three medical centers were randomly allocated into MP group (83 patients treated with MP intravenously guttae for 7 days plus standard treatment: 1.5 mg/kg/day [day 1-3], 1 mg/kg/day [day 4-5], and 0.5 mg/kg/day [day 6-7]) and control group (88 patients treated with standard treatment). The primary endpoints were 6-month mortality and prognostic factors for 6-month survival. The survival time, cause of death, adverse events, liver function, and HBV DNA replication were analyzed. RESULTS: The 6-month mortality was significantly lower in MP group than control group [32.4% vs. 42.5%, P = 0.0037]. MP treatment was an independent prognostic factor for 6-month survival [HR (95% CI) 0.547(0.308-0.973); P = 0.040]. Factors associated with reduced 6-month mortality in MP group included HBV DNA and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) (P < 0.05). Based on ROC curve, LMR+MELD had a better predictive value for prognosis of HBV-ACLF under MP treatment. No significant difference in HBV DNA replication was observed between groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MP therapy is an effective and safe clinical strategy in HBV-ACLF, increasing the 6-month survival rate. Clinical trials registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR-TRC-13003113 registered on 16 March 2013.

Difference of lower airway microbiome in bilateral protected specimen brush between lung cancer patients with unilateral lobar masses and control subjects.

The functional role of respiratory microbiota has attracted an accumulating attention recently. However, the role of respiratory microbiome in lung carcinogenesis is mostly unknown. Our study aimed to characterize and compare bilateral lower airway microbiome of lung cancer patients with unilateral lobar masses and control subjects. Protected bronchial specimen brushing samples were collected from 24 lung cancer patients with unilateral lobar masses (paired samples from cancerous site and the contralateral noncancerous site) and 18 healthy controls undergoing bronchoscopies and further analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. As results, significant decreases in microbial diversity were observed in patients with lung cancer in comparison to the controls, alpha diversity steadily declined from healthy site to noncancerous to cancerous site. Genus Streptococcus was significantly more abundant in cancer cases than the controls, while Staphylococcus was more abundant in the controls. The area under the curve of genus Streptococcus used to predict lung cancer was 0.693 (sensitivity = 87.5%, specificity = 55.6%). The abundance of genus Streptococcus and Neisseria displayed an increasing trend whereas Staphylococcus and Dialister gradually declined from healthy to noncancerous to cancerous site. Collectively, lung cancer-associated microbiota profile is distinct from that found in healthy controls, and the altered cancer-associated microbiota is not restricted to tumor tissue. The genus Streptococcus was abundant in lung cancer patients and exhibited moderate classification potential. The gradual microbiota profile shift from healthy site to noncancerous to paired cancerous site suggested a change of the microenvironment associated with the development of lung cancer.

High expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 as a predictor of poor prognosis for cervical cancer patient response to radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the associations of Kruppel-like factor 4 expression with sensitivity to radiation therapy in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients. METHODS: The records of 117 locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients were retrospectively reviewed, and Kruppel-like factor 4 expression in cervical carcinoma tissues was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The associations of Kruppel-like factor 4 expression with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Survival time was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Patients being resistant to radiation therapy were associated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, tumor diameter (>4 cm), and poor differentiation grade. The high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression level was significantly related to resistance to radiation therapy, including radiation therapy non-response, local recurrence, and distant metastasis. The high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression level was also significantly related to the advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and poor differentiation grade. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicates that locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression showed worse progression-free survival and overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analyses suggest that the high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression was one of the high-risk factors associated with poor prognosis in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients after radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the high Kruppel-like factor 4 expression can be used as a novel biomarker to predict radiation therapy resistance and poor prognosis for locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Propensity score matching analysis of a phase II study on simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy using helical tomotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Using propensity score matching method (PSM) to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) using helical tomotherapy (HT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Between August 2007 and January 2016, 381 newly diagnosed NPC patients using HT were enrolled in pre-PSM cohort, including 161 cases in a prospective phase II study (P67.5 study, with a prescription dose of 67.5Gy in 30 fractions to the primary tumour and positive lymph nodes) and 220 cases in a retrospective study (P70 study, with a prescription dose of 70Gy in 33 fractions to the primary tumour and positive lymph nodes). Acute and late toxicities were assessed according to the established RTOG/EORTC criteria and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) V 3.0. Survival rate were assessed with Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and Cox regression. RESULTS: After matching, 148 sub-pairs of 296 patients were generated in post-PSM cohort. The incidence of grade 3-4 leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia in the P67.5 group was significantly higher than in the P70 study, but no significant different was found in other acute toxicities or late toxicities between the two groups. The median follow-up was 33 months in the P67.5 and P70 group, ranging 12-54 months and 6-58 months, respectively. No significant differences in 3-year local-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed between the 2 groups. Univariate analysis showed that age, T stage, clinical stage were the main factors effecting survival. Cox proportional hazards model showed that 67.5Gy/30F pattern seemed superior in 3-year OS (HR = 0.476, 95% CI: 0.236-0.957). CONCLUSIONS: Through increasing fraction dose and shortening treatment time, the P67.5 study achieved excellent short-term outcomes and potential clinical benefits, with acceptable acute and late toxicities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 5 July 2014 with a registration code of ChiCTRONC-14,004,895.

miR-3156-3p is downregulated in HPV-positive cervical cancer and performs as a tumor-suppressive miRNA.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer in females in developing countries. The two viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 mediate the oncogenic activities of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), and HR-HPV, especially HPV16 or/and HPV18 (HPV16/18) play critical roles in CC through different pathways. microRNAs (miRNAs) may be associated with CC pathogenesis. Researches have indicated that human papillomavirus (HPV) may regulate cellular miRNA expression through viral E6 and E7. Herein, the purposes of this study were to identify the relationship between HPV infection and aberrantly expressed miRNAs and to investigate their pathogenic roles in CC. METHODS: miRNA expression was assessed using a microRNAs microarray in HPV16 E6- and E7-integrated HPV-negative HT-3 cell lines and mock vector-transfected HT-3 cells. The microarray results were validated, and the expression of miR-3156-3p was identified in HPV-positive and -negative CC cell lines as well as primary CC and normal cervical epithelium tissues using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), flow cytometry, transwell analysis, tube formation, and Western blotting were used to identify the functional role of miR-3156-3p in CaSki, SiHa, and HeLa cell lines. RESULTS: Six underexpressed microRNAs (miR-3156-3p, 6779-3p, 4779-3p, 6841-3p, 454-5p and 656-5p) were consistently identified in HPV16 E6- and E7-integrated HT-3 cells. Further investigation confirmed a significant decrease of miR-3156-3p in HPV16/18 positive CC lesions. CCK8, flow cytometry, transwell analysis, tube formation assays, and Western blotting of the CC cell lines with miR-3156-3p over/under-expression in vitro showed that miR-3156-3p was involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, neovascularization, and SLC6A6 regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that miR-3156-3p plays a suppressor-miRNA role in CC and that its expression is associated with HR-HPV infection.

Comparison of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and volumetric-modulated arc therapy in the treatment of cervical esophageal carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and toxicities of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with cervical esophageal cancer. Specifically, we asked whether technological advances conferred an advantage with respect to the clinical curative effect. Seventy-eight patients with cervical esophageal cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy at our institution between 2007 and 2014 were enrolled in the study: 26 received 3DCRT, 30 were treated with IMRT, and 22 underwent VMAT. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to analyze overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS). Treatment-related toxicity was also assessed. For all patients, the 2-year OS and FFS rates were 56.2 and 53.9%, respectively. The 2-year OS for the 3DCRT, IMRT, and VMAT groups was 53.6, 55.6, and 60.6%, respectively (P = 0.965). The corresponding 2-year FFS rates were 49.5, 56.7, and 60.1% (P = 0.998). A univariate analysis of the complete response to treatment showed an advantage of treatment modality with respect to OS (P < 0.001). The development of acute hematologic toxicity was not significantly different among the three groups. The survival rates of patients treated with IMRT and VMAT were comparable to the survival of patients administered 3DCRT, while lower lung mean dose, V20, maximum dose of brachial plexus and spinal cord. Grade 1 radiation pneumonitis occurred significantly less in patients treated with IMRT and VMAT than with 3DCRT (P = 0.011). A complete response was the most important prognostic factor of the patients with cervical esophageal cancer.

[The Analysis of Microcavity-Integrated Graphene Photodetector's SNR Based on 1.06 µm].

Avalanche photodiode is widely used in laser rangefinder due to high gain characteristics, but introduces highly additive noise during the time of current's multiplication that makes laser rangefinder's SNR meet bottleneck. This paper proposes a method of designing a high SNR's graphene photodetector based on microcavity. The graphene's unique optoelectronic properties make it an ideal platform for a variety of photonic applications, such as fast lasers, optical modulators, transparent electrodes, and ultrafast photodetectors. It has been recognized internationally to have dominant advantages in photodetectors due to its high carrier mobility, gapless spectrum, and frequency-independent absorption coefficient. With the wavelength of 1.06 µm, the mechanism of light waves' transmission in the cavity and the graphehne's absorption are studied by using optical transmission matrix method and scattering matrix method; the light absorption model of the graphene photodetector based on microcavity is established. Device's final quantum efficiency reaches 91.2%, respectively reaches 0.778 A·W(-1), its full width at half maximum (FWHM) reaches 6 nm; the influence between graphene's position in the microcavity and device's absorption shows that device's absorption's peak value changes periodically with graphene's position under resonant condition, and the variety of length of microcavity does not have any influence on the peak value, but changes the graphene's position when absorption reaches peak value, on the condition that the length of microcavity is n times of half of wavelength, the number of device's absorption peak value is 2n with the variety of graphene's position, and all the peak values are symmetrical with respect to the center of microcavity, the final graphene's position is 0.402 8 mm away from the top mirror of microcavity, and the absorption reaches 94%, Compared with single layer graphene, the absorption rate increases 16 dB; By solving SNR equation of the graphene photodetector based on microcavity and SNR equation of the avalanche photodiode, eventually finds that the SNR of the graphene photodetector based on microcavity is 90.3, which raises 10 dB compared with the avalanche photodiode's. Theoretical analysis shows the graphene photodetector based on microcavity has high absorption rate, high quantum efficiency, and high SNR. In this paper, the research achievements provide a theoretical reference to update and design higher SNR photodetector used in laser rangefinder's receiving system.

Treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma using simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy via helical tomotherapy: a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate short-term safety and efficacy of simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) delivered via helical tomotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Between August 2011 and September 2013, 132 newly diagnosed NPC patients were enrolled for a prospective phase II study. The prescription doses delivered to the gross tumor volume (pGTVnx) and positive lymph nodes (pGTVnd), the high risk planning target volume (PTV1), and the low risk planning target volume (PTV2), were 67.5 Gy (2.25 Gy/F), 60 Gy (2.0 Gy/F), and 54 Gy (1.8 Gy/F), in 30 fractions, respectively. Acute toxicities were evaluated according to the established RTOG/EORTC criteria. This group of patients was compared with the 190 patients in the retrospective P70 study, who were treated between September 2004 and August 2009 with helical tomotherapy, with a dose of 70-74 Gy/33F/6.5W delivered to pGTVnx and pGTVnd. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 23.7 (12-38) months. Acute radiation related side-effects were mainly problems graded as 1 or 2. Only a small number of patients suffered from grade 4 leucopenia (4.5%) or thrombocytopenia (2.3%). The local relapse-free survival (LRFS), nodal relapse-free survival (NRFS), local-nodal relapse-free survival (LNRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) were 96.7%, 95.5%, 92.2%, 92.7% and 93.2%, at 2 years, respectively, with no significant difference compared with the P70 study. CONCLUSIONS: Smart delivered via the helical tomotherapy technique appears to be associated with an acceptable acute toxicity profile and favorable short-term outcomes for patients with NPC. Long-term toxicities and patient outcomes are under investigation.

[Effect of motivational interviewing combined with peer participation on obesity management in adolescents].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of motivational interviewing combined with peer participation on obesity management in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 100 adolescents with simple obesity were randomly divided into traditional management and peer participation groups (n=50 each). The traditional management group received traditional health management. The peer participation group received motivational interviewing performed by psychological consultants combined with peer participation through the entire process in addition to traditional health management. The physical exercise, dietary behavior, differences in body composition parameters, and effect of comprehensive intervention were compared between the two groups after intervention for half a year. RESULTS: After the health management for six months, the peer participation group showed better improvements in the control of energy intake, adjustment of dietary structure, adherence to moderate/high intensity exercise, and increase in lean body mass compared with the traditional management group (P<0.05). The peer participation group had a significantly higher attendance rate for guidance and counseling performed by a multidisciplinary team once a week than the traditional management group (89% vs 57%; P<0.05), as well as a significantly higher response rate to health management than the traditional management group (83% vs 43%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Motivational interviewing combined with peer participation for obesity management can improve the compliance and the effect of comprehensive intervention in losing weight in adolescents.

A comparative study of CO adsorption on tetrahexahedral Pt nanocrystals and interrelated Pt single crystal electrodes by using cyclic voltammetry and in situ FTIR spectroscopy.

This study focuses on CO adsorption at tetrahexahedral Pt nanocrystals (THH Pt NCs) by using cyclic voltammetry and in situ FTIR spectroscopy. Since the electrochemically prepared THH Pt NCs in this study are enclosed by {730} facets which could be considered by a subfacet configuration of 2{210} + {310}, we have also studied CO adsorption on the interrelated Pt(310) and Pt(210) single crystal electrodes as a comparison. Cyclic voltammetry results demonstrated that CO adsorbs dominantly on the (100) sites of THH Pt NCs at low CO coverage (θ(CO)≤ 0.135), while on both (100) and (110) sites at higher CO coverage. On ordered Pt(310) and Pt(210), i.e. they were flame annealed and then cooled in H(2) + Ar, CO adsorption also illustrates relative priority on (100) sites at low CO coverage; while at high CO coverage or on oxygen-disordered Pt(310) and Pt(210) when they were cooled in air after flame annealing, the adsorption of CO presents a weak preference on (100) sites of Pt(310) and even no preference at all on (100) sites of Pt(210). In situ FTIR spectroscopic studies illustrated that CO adsorption on THH Pt NCs yields anomalous infrared effects (AIREs), which are depicted by the Fano-like IR feature on a dense distribution (60 µm(-2)) and the enhancement of abnormal IR absorption on a sparse distribution (22 µm(-2)) of THH Pt NCs on glassy carbon substrate. Systematic investigation of CO coverage dependence of IR features revealed that, on THH Pt NCs, the IR band center (ν(COL)) of linearly bonded CO (COL) is rapidly shifted to higher wavenumbers along with the increase of CO coverage to 0.184, yielding a fast linear increase rate with a high slope (dν(COL)/dθ(IR)(CO) = 219 cm(-1)); when θ > 0.184, the increase of ν(COL) with θCO slows down and deviates drastically from linearity. In contrast, the ν(COL) on the ordered Pt(310) electrode maintains a linear increase with θ(IR)(CO) for the whole range of θ(IR)(CO) variation, and gives a much smaller increase rate of slope 74.3 cm(-1). The significant differences in CO adsorption behavior on THH Pt NCs and on interrelated Pt single crystal planes demonstrated clearly the unique properties of nanoparticles enclosed by high-index facets.

A new prediction model for acute kidney injury following liver transplantation using grafts from donors after cardiac death.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major complication following liver transplantation (LT), which utilizes grafts from donors after cardiac death (DCD). We developed a machine-learning-based model to predict AKI, using data from 894 LT recipients (January 2015-March 2021), split into training and testing sets. Five machine learning algorithms were employed to construct the prediction models using 17 clinical variables. The performance of the models was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity and specificity. The best-performing model was further validated in an independent cohort of 195 LT recipients who received DCD grafts between April 2021 and December 2021. The Shapley additive explanations method was utilized to elucidate the predictions and identify the most crucial features. The gradient boosting machine (GBM) model demonstrated the highest AUC (0.76, 95% CI: 0.70-0.82), F1-score (0.73, 95% CI: 0.66-0.79) and sensitivity (0.74, 95% CI: 0.66-0.80) in the testing set and a comparable AUC (0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.81) in the validation set. The GBM model identified high preoperative indirect bilirubin, low intraoperative urine output, prolonged anesthesia duration, low preoperative platelet count and graft steatosis graded NASH Clinical Research Network 1 and above as the top five important features for predicting AKI following LT using DCD grafts. The GBM model is a reliable and interpretable tool for predicting AKI in recipients of LT using DCD grafts. This model can assist clinicians in identifying patients at high risk and providing timely interventions to prevent or mitigate AKI.

Synthesis of convex hexoctahedral Pt micro/nanocrystals with high-index facets and electrochemistry-mediated shape evolution.

Systematic manipulation of nanocrystal shapes is prerequisite for revealing their shape-dependent physical and chemical properties. Here we successfully prepared a complex shape of Pt micro/nanocrystals: convex hexoctahedron (HOH) enclosed with 48 {15 5 3} high-index facets by electrochemical square-wave-potential (SWP) method. This shape is the last crystal single form that had not been achieved previously for face-centered-cubic (fcc) metals. We further realized the shape evolution of Pt nanocrystals with high-index facets from tetrahexahedron (THH) to the HOH, and finally to trapezohedron (TPH) by increasing either the upper (EU) or lower potential (EL). The shape evolution, accompanied by the decrease of low-coordinated kink atoms, can be correlated with the competitive interactions between preferentially oxidative dissolution of kink atoms at high EU and the redeposition of Pt atoms at the EL.

[Analysis of reported infectious diarrhea (other than cholera, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid) in China in 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the etiological and epidemiological characteristics of the reported infectious diarrhea (other than cholera, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid) cases in China in 2011. METHODS: A total of 836 591 reported infectious diarrhea cases were collected from "China Information System for Disease Prevention and Control" since first week to fifty-second weeks in 2011, 59 929 out of which were laboratory-confirmed. The information of thirty public health emergencies relevant with infectious diarrhea was collected from "Emergency Public Reporting System" between first week and fifty-second weeks in 2011. The epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, confirmed cases and outbreaks, and the pathogenic spectrum of confirmed cases were then analyzed. RESULTS: In 2011, 836 591 infectious diarrhea cases (other than cholera, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid) were reported, and the incidence rate was 62.39/100 000. More than half patients were children aged under 5 year-old, accounting for 52.13% (436 098/836 591) and the incidence rate was 447.06/100 000 (436 098 cases). Most of the ill children were scattered, accounting for 50.53% (422 752/836 591). Reported cases showed two incidence peaks, with a summer peak from twenty-third weeks to thirty-fifth weeks, accounting for 34.33% (287 231/836 591) and a winter peak from forty-third weeks to fifty-second weeks, accounting for 23.54% (196 939/836 591). Cases distributed all over China, the incidence in Beijing (253.00/100 000 (49 619 cases)), Tianjin (244.34/100 000 (31 614 cases)), Zhejiang (204.42/100 000 (111 257 cases)), Ningxia (132.16/100 000 (9328 cases)) and Guangdong (127.40/100 000 (132 880 cases)) ranked the top five. Among the 30 public health emergencies, 5 outbreaks had lab tested pathogenic results, including 4 were norovirus-induced. Laboratory-confirmed cases accounted for 7.16% (59 929/836 591) of the case reported, including 56 687 viral cases and 3242 bacterial cases. Rotavirus cases took the highest proportion of viral cases, at 97.35% (53 612/55 185); and 97.15% (53 612/55 185) of which were children aged under 5 year-old. 82.42% (45 480/55 185) of the cases distributed in Guangdong and Zhejiang province, with the incidence peak from fiftieth weeks to fifty-first weeks, accounting for 15.42% (8508/55 185) of the whole year cases. The main pathogens of bacterial diarrhea were Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli, accounting for 48.43% (1570/3242), 32.20% (1044/3242) and 8.57% (278/3242) respectively, with the incidence peak from thirty-first weeks to thirty-fifth weeks, accounting for 23.01% (746/3242). Salmonella infection patients were mainly from Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang province (91.59% (1438/1570)), Vibrio parahaemolyticus patients were mainly from Shanghai (80.94% (845/1044)), and Escherichia coli patients were mainly from Guangdong province (84.17% (234/278)). Salmonella patients were concentrated in 0-9 years group, accounting for 42.36% (665/1570), while Vibrio parahaemolyticus patients in 20-39 years group, accounting for 81.99% (856/1044), and Escherichia coli patients in under 1 year old and 20-39 years group, accounting for 63.67% (177/278). CONCLUSION: In China, children aged under 5 year-old should be the priority population in surveillance of infectious diarrhea. Rotavirus is the main pathogen causing infectious diarrhea. The lab-testing and case-reporting capabilities differed greatly among areas.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Rhinogobius szechuanensis (Gobiiformes: Ggobiidae: Gobionellinae).

Here, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of Rhinogobius szechuanensis using the Illumina HiSeq platform and submitted the genome to Genbank with accession number OM617727. Assembly circular mitogenome (16,492 bp) consisted of 54.4% AT content, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, an origin of light-strand replication, and a control region. Phylogenetic analysis supported that R. szechuanensis was grouped with R. rubromaculatus and clustered with other Rhinogobius species. The basal molecular data will be essential for further genetics studies such as evolution, taxonomy, DNA barcoding, and population genetics of Rhinogobius.

Assembly and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitogenome of Devario interruptus (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Danionidae).

The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of Devario interruptus was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq platform and found to be 16,735 bp and included 37 genes encoding 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two non-coding regions. The proportion of nucleotides in mitochondrial genome was T (27.9%), C (23.7%), A (33%), G (15.4%), and the deviation of AT was 60.9%. A Maximum-Likelihood phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes of D. interruptus and other 18 species of fishes. Phylogenetic analysis results supported that D. interruptus was closely related to Devario shanensis. Fundamental genetic data of D. interruptus will be essential for further genetic studies.

Effects of Exergaming on Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is effective for musculoskeletal pain. However, physical, social, and environmental factors make it difficult for older adults to persist in exercising. Exergaming is a new pathway that combines exercise with gameplay and may be helpful for older adults to overcome these difficulties and engage in regular exercise. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to determine the efficacy of exergaming to improve musculoskeletal pain in older adults. METHODS: The search was performed in 5 databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). The risk of bias for randomized controlled studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool in randomized trials (RoB 2), and the methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence-Based Database scale. Standardized mean difference and 95% CI were calculated using fixed-effects model meta-analyses in the Review Manager version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3). RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled studies were included, which contained 264 older adults. Three of the 7 studies reported significant improvements in pain after the exergaming intervention, but only 1 reported a significant difference between groups after adjustment for baseline (P<.05), and another reported a significant improvement in thermal pain between the 2 groups (P<.001). The results of the meta-analysis of the 7 studies showed no statistically significant improvement in pain compared to the control group (standardized mean difference -0.22; 95% CI -0.47 to 0.02; P=.07). CONCLUSIONS: Although the effects of exergames on musculoskeletal pain in older adults are unknown, exergame training is generally safe, fun, and appealing to older adults. Unsupervised exercise at home is feasible and cost-effective. However, most of the current studies have used commercial exergames, and it is recommended that there should be more cooperation between industries in the future to develop professional rehabilitation exergames that are more suitable for older adults. The sample sizes of the studies included are small, the risk of bias is high, and the results should be interpreted with caution. Further randomized controlled studies with large sample sizes, high quality, and rigor are needed in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022342325; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=342325.

Murine skin-derived multipotent papillary dermal fibroblast progenitors show germline potential in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Many laboratories have described the in vitro isolation of multipotent cells with stem cell properties from the skin of various species termed skin-derived stem cells (SDSCs). However, the cellular origin of these cells and their capability to give rise, among various cell types, to male germ cells, remain largely unexplored. METHODS: SDSCs were isolated from newborn mice skin, and then differentiated into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) in vitro. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was then applied to dissect the cellular origin of SDSCs using cells isolated from newborn mouse skin and SDSC colonies. Based on an optimized culture strategy, we successfully generated spermatogonial stem cell-like cells (SSCLCs) in vitro. RESULTS: Here, using scRNA-seq and analyzing the profile of 7543 single-cell transcriptomes from newborn mouse skin and SDSCs, we discovered that they mainly consist of multipotent papillary dermal fibroblast progenitors (pDFPs) residing in the dermal layer. Moreover, we found that epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling is pivotal for the capability of these progenitors to proliferate and form large colonies in vitro. Finally, we optimized the protocol to efficiently generate PGCLCs from SDSCs. Furthermore, PGCLCs were induced into SSCLCs and these SSCLCs showed meiotic potential when cultured with testicular organoids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings here identify pDFPs as SDSCs derived from newborn skin and show for the first time that such precursors can be induced to generate cells of the male germline.