Triple Surgical Technique for the Repair of Auricular Keloids: Achieving Perfect Restoration of the Ear Contour.

BACKGROUND: Ear keloids, often resulting from ear piercing or other traumas, significantly alter appearance, adversely impacting patients' quality of life and psychological well-being. Thus, developing an effective and esthetically pleasing surgical repair technique is crucial for enhancing patient quality of life. METHODS: This study introduces a novel tripartite surgical approach, which includes arcuate incision design, blind dissection for scar flap, and centrifugal keloid core serial shave excision (ABC for short). This technique is particularly suited for keloids induced by ear piercing that are inoperable for direct suturing or where direct suturing significantly alters the ear contour. RESULTS: In this study, 17 patients underwent the surgical treatment without observing special complications such as infection or necrosis. Long-term postoperative follow-up demonstrated good restoration of the ear contour, with only one case of recurrence. Patients expressed satisfaction with both the surgical process and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The triple surgical technique (ABC surgery method) for treating auricular keloids has demonstrated excellent repair results, significantly improving auricle shape. Despite relying on the surgeon's experience, keloid characteristics, and patient comorbidities, it provides an effective treatment option. When combined with local radiotherapy, the recurrence rate is also significantly controlled. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Jun-mediated lncRNA-IMS promotes the meiosis of chicken spermatogonial stem cells via gga-miR-31-5p/stra8.

Meiosis, a key step in spermatogenesis, is affected by many factors. Current studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential factors regulating meiosis, and their regulatory mechanisms have received much attention. However, little research has been done on its regulatory mechanism in the spermatogenesis of roosters. Here, we found that lncRNA involved in meiosis and spermatogenesis (lncRNA-IMS) was involved in the regulation of Stra8 by gga-miR-31-5p and hindered the inhibition of Stra8 by gga-miR-31-5p. The acquisition and loss of function experiments demonstrated that lncRNA-IMS was involved in meiosis and spermatogenesis. In addition, we predicted and determined the core promoter region of lncRNA-IMS. Prediction of transcription factors, deletion/overexpression of binding sites, knockdown/overexpression of Jun, and dual-luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that Jun positively activated transcription of lncRNA-IMS. Our findings further enrich the TF-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network during male meiosis and provide new ideas for studying the molecular mechanism of meiosis and spermatogenesis in chicken spermatogonial stem cells.

A comprehensive and systematic review of the potential neuroprotective effect of quercetin in rat models of spinal cord injury.

CONTEXT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a potentially fatal neurological disease with severe complications and a high disability rate. An increasing number of animal experimental studies support the therapeutic effect of quercetin, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioflavonoid. OBJECTIVE: This paper reviewed the therapeutic effect of quercetin on a rat SCI model and summarized the relevant mechanistic research. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Science Direct, WanFang Data, SinoMed databases, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Vip Journal Integration Platform were searched from their inception to April 2023 for animal experiments applying quercetin to treat SCI. STUDY SELECTION: Based on the PICOS criteria, a total of 18 eligible studies were included, of which 14 were high quality. RESULTS: In this study, there was a gradual increase in effect based on the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score after three days (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, gender differences also appeared in the efficacy of quercetin; males performed better than females (p = 0.008). Quercetin was also associated with improved inclined plane test score (p = 0.008). In terms of biochemical indicators, meta-analysis showed that MDA (p < 0.0001) and MPO (p = 0.0002) were significantly reduced after quercetin administration compared with the control group, and SOD levels were increased (p = 0.004). Mechanistically, quercetin facilitates the inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy and apoptosis that occur after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, this systematic review suggests that quercetin has a neuroprotective effect on SCI.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of chondroitinase ABC promotes functional recovery in rat models of spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: To comprehensively assess the neurologic recovery potential of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched for animal experiments that evaluated the use of ChABC in the treatment of SCI up to November 2022. Studies reporting neurological function using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale, as well as assessments of cavity area, lesion area, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels, were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies were ultimately selected for inclusion. The results of the study showed that rats with SCI that received ChABC therapy exhibited a significant improvement in locomotor function after 7 days compared with controls (32 studies, weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.58, [0.33, 0.83], p < 0.00001). Furthermore, the benefits of ChABC therapy were maintained for up to 28 days according to BBB scale. The lesion area was reduced by ChABC (5 studies, WMD = -20.94, [-28.42, -13.46], p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, GFAP levels were reduced in the ChABC treatment group (8 studies, WMD = -29.15, [-41.57, -16.72], p < 0.00001). Cavity area is not statistically significant. The subgroup analysis recommended that a single injection of 10 µL (8 studies, WMD = 2.82, [1.99, 3.65], p < 0.00001) or 20 U/mL (4 studies, WMD = 2.21, [0.73, 3.70], p = 0.003) had a better effect on improving the function. The funnel plot of the BBB scale was found to be essentially symmetrical, indicating a low risk of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis has indicated that ChABC could improve functional recovery in rats after SCI.

Analysis of the Promoter Regions of gga-miR-31 and Its Regulation by RA and C-jun in Chicken.

The role of gga-miR-31 in chicken germ cell differentiation and spermatogenesis is of significant importance. The transcriptional properties of gga-miR-31 are crucial in establishing the foundation for the formation of chicken spermatogonia stem cells and spermatogenesis. In this study, a series of recombinant vectors including varying lengths of the gga-miR-31 promoter were predicted and constructed. Through the utilization of the dual luciferase reporting system, the upstream -2180~0 bp region of gga-miR-31 was identified as its promoter region. Furthermore, it was predicted and confirmed that the activity of the gga-miR-31 promoter is increased by retinoic acid (RA). The binding of RA to the gga-miR-31 and Stra8 promoter regions was found to be competitive. Through the deletion of C-jun binding sites and the manipulation of C-jun expression levels, it was determined that C-jun inhibits the activity of the gga-miR-31 promoter. Furthermore, the combined treatment of C-jun and RA demonstrated that the positive regulatory effect of RA on the gga-miR-31 promoter is attenuated in the presence of high levels of C-jun. Overall, this study establishes a foundation for further investigation into the regulatory mechanisms of gga-miR-31 action, and provides a new avenue for inducing chicken embryonic stem cells (ESC) to differentiate into spermatogonial stem cells (SSC), and sperm formation.

DNA hypomethylation activation Wnt/TCF7L2/TDRD1 pathway promotes spermatogonial stem cell formation.

Detailed analysis of the regulatory mechanism of spermatogonia stem cell (SSCs) genesis can provide a novel strategy for the application of SSCs in the fields of transgenic animal production and regenerative medicine. Previous studies in this study showed that WNT signaling can positively regulate the formation of SSCs, but the exact regulatory mechanism is not clear. Here, we predicted the target gene of the Wnt/TCF7L2 pathway, namely TDRD1, by bioinformatics analysis. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of TDRD1 during RA-induced SSCs formation in vitro significantly upregulated the expression of reproductive marker genes (Integrinß1 and Integrinα6), and further flow cytometric analysis also confirmed that the formation efficiency of SSCs was significantly increased after overexpression of TDRD1; while interference with TDRD1 showed the exact opposite result. The in vivo experiments were consistent with the results of the in vitro experiments. Interestingly, although Wnt/TCF7L2 can promote the formation of SSCs, its function must be dependent on the expression of TDRD1, which was also repeatedly demonstrated as a target gene of the Wnt/TCF7L2 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, we found a large number of CpG sites in the TDRD1 promoter, and BSP analysis also confirmed that DNA methylation modifications in the TDRD1 promoter were significantly higher in embryonic stem cells than in SSCs, and further dual-luciferase reporter system assays revealed that low DNA methylation modification levels could enhance TDRD1 promoter activity; although previous studies demonstrated that TCF7L2 could enrich in the TDRD1 promoter region, the binding of the two was dependent on low DNA methylation modification. Taken together, we confirmed that low DNA methylation mediates Wnt/TCF7L2 regulation of TDRD1 to promote the formation of SSCs, providing a basis for SSCs in improving animal productivity.

EYA2 suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via SOCS3-mediated blockade of JAK/STAT signaling.

BACKGROUND: Somatic mutations are involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, but the genetic mechanism associated to hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly understood. We report that Eyes absent homolog 2 (EYA2) suppresses the HCC progression, while EYA2(A510E) mutation identified by exome sequencing attenuates the tumor-inhibiting effect of EYA2. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on six pairs of human HCC primary tumors and matched adjacent tissues. Focusing on EYA2, expression level of EYA2 in human HCC samples was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Loss- and gain-of-function studies, hepatocyte-specific deletion of EYA2 (Eya2-/-) in mice and RNA sequencing analysis were used to explore the functional effect and mechanism of EYA2 on HCC cell growth and metastasis. EYA2 methylation status was evaluated using Sequenom MassARRAY and publicly available data analysis. RESULTS: A new somatic mutation p.Ala510Glu of EYA2 was identified in HCC tissues. The expression of EYA2 was down-regulated in HCC and associated with tumor size (P = 0.001), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (P = 0.016) and tumor differentiation (P = 0.048). High level of EYA2 was correlated with a favorable prognosis in HCC patients (P = 0.003). Results from loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments suggested that knockdown of EYA2 enhanced, while overexpression of EYA2 attenuated, the proliferation, clone formation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells in vitro. Delivery of EYA2 gene had a therapeutic effect on inhibition of orthotopic liver tumor in nude mice. However, EYA2(A510E) mutation led to protein degradation by unfolded protein response, thus weakening the inhibitory function of EYA2. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of EYA2 in mice dramatically promoted diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC development. EYA2 was also down-regulated in HCC by aberrant CpG methylation. Mechanically, EYA2 combined with DACH1 to transcriptionally regulate SOCS3 expression, thus suppressing the progression of HCC via SOCS3-mediated blockade of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we identified and validated EYA2 as a tumor suppressor gene in HCC, providing a new insight into HCC pathogenesis.

Comparison of radiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab vs. chemoradiotherapy for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The present study compared the effectiveness and toxicity of two treatment modalities, namely radiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab (N) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LR-NPC). METHODS: Patients with LR-NPC who were treated with radiotherapy were retrospectively enrolled from January 2015 to December 2018. The treatment included radiotherapy combined with N or platinum-based induction chemotherapy and/or concurrent chemotherapy. The comparison of survival and toxicity between the two treatment modalities was evaluated using the log-rank and chi-squared tests. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included, of whom 32 and 55 were divided into the N group and the CRT group, respectively. No significant differences were noted in the survival rate between the N and the CRT groups (4-year OS rates, 37.1% vs. 40.7%, respectively; P = 0.735). Mild to moderate acute complications were common during the radiation period and mainly included mucositis and xerostomia. The majority of the acute toxic reactions were tolerated well. A total of 48 patients (55.2%) demonstrated late radiation injuries of grade ≥ 3, including 12 patients (37.5%) in the N group and 36 patients (66.5%) in the CRT group. The CRT group exhibited significantly higher incidence of severe late radiation injuries compared with that of the N group (P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy combined with N did not appear to enhance treatment efficacy compared with CRT in patients with LR-NPC. However, radiotherapy combined with N may be superior to CRT due to its lower incidence of acute and late toxicities. Further studies are required to confirm the current findings.

Cryptococcosis in patients with liver cirrhosis: Death risk factors and predictive value of prognostic models.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is associated with immune deficiency, which causes these patients to be susceptible to various infections, including cryptococcus infection. Mortality in cirrhotic patients with cryptococcosis has increased. The present study was to explore the risk factors of mortality and the predictive ability of different prognostic models. METHODS: Forty-seven cirrhotic patients with cryptococcosis at a tertiary care hospital were included in this retrospective study. Data on demographics, clinical parameters, laboratory exams, diagnostic methods, medication during hospitalization, severity scores and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Student's t test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare characteristics of survivors and non-survivors at a 90-day follow-up and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) manifestations of cryptococcal meningitis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze patient survival. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the different prognostic factors. RESULTS: The 30- and 90-day survival rates were 93.6% and 80.9%, respectively, in cirrhotic patients with cryptococcosis. Cryptogenic liver diseases [hazard ratio (HR) = 7.567, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.616-35.428, P = 0.010], activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (HR = 1.117, 95% CI: 1.016-1.229, P = 0.022) and Child-Pugh score (HR = 2.146, 95% CI: 1.314-3.504, P = 0.002) were risk factors for 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients with cryptococcosis. Platelet count (HR = 0.965, 95% CI: 0.940-0.991, P = 0.008) was a protective factor. APTT (HR = 1.120, 95% CI: 1.044-1.202, P = 0.002) and Child-Pugh score (HR = 1.637, 95% CI: 1.086-2.469, P = 0.019) were risk factors for 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients with cryptococcal meningitis. There was significant difference in the percentage of lymphocytes in CSF between survivors and non-survivors [60.0 (35.0-75.0) vs. 95.0 (83.8-97.2), P < 0.001]. The model of end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) score was more accurate for predicting 30-day mortality both in patients with cryptococcosis [area under curve (AUC): 0.826, 95% CI: 0.618-1.000] and those with cryptococcal meningitis (AUC: 0.742, 95% CI: 0.560-0.924); Child-Pugh score was more useful for predicting 90-day mortality in patients with cryptococcosis (AUC: 0.823, 95% CI: 0.646-1.000) and those with cryptococcal meningitis (AUC: 0.815, 95% CI: 0.670-0.960). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that cryptogenic liver diseases, APTT and Child-Pugh score were associated with mortality in cirrhotic patients with cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis. MELD-Na score was important for predicting 30-day mortality, and Child-Pugh score was critical for predicting 90-day mortality.

Impact of the systematic use of the volume-viscosity swallow test in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is common after stroke. Patients with dysphagia have a higher risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and poor outcomes. Early detection of dysphagia is necessary to identify and manage patients at high risk of aspiration. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the systematic administration of the volume-viscosity swallow test (V-VST) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study that enrolled patients with acute ischaemic stroke in two consecutive time periods: pre-V-VST, when the 30-mL water-swallowing test (WST) was systematically administered, and V-VST, when all patients underwent the WST and the V-VST test was systematically administered if the patient failed the WST. RESULTS: Two hundred and 42 patients were enrolled. The mean age of the participants was 68.8 ± 10.88 years, 61.2% were male, and the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 3 (IQR, 1-6). A total of 147 patients were enrolled during the pre-V-VST period and 95 were enrolled during the V-VST period. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of SAP (21.8% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.024) and the rate of nasogastric tube feeding (25.9% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.040) between the two groups, and no differences were found in the length of hospital stay (p = 0.277) or the total cost of hospitalization (p = 0.846). CONCLUSIONS: The V-VST was a better clinical screening tool, and it can also provide detailed suggestions regarding dietary modifications to prevent aspiration and SAP.

Diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor in the submandibular gland: Case report and literature review.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) rarely occur in the head and neck area. Imaging findings are nonspecific, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. We report the case of a patient with a mass in the submandibular region that was initially diagnosed as basal cell adenoma. After excision and IHC examinations, a SFT was diagnosed.

Sonographic Findings in Superficial Angiomyxoma of the Vulva in a Perimenopausal Female.

Superficial angiomyxoma (SAM) is an extremely rare soft tissue tumor. It is especially rare in the vulva, with only a few such cases reported in the medical literature. Here, we report a case of SAM of the vulva that was initially suspected to be a Bartholin gland cyst. The patient underwent local excision of the vulvar cyst under lumbar anesthesia. Clinical manifestations and B-scan ultrasonographic features are similar between SAM and cysts. Echoes in the mass are uneven and exhibit low echoes and punctate hyperechoic floating. Thus, increasing sonographers' awareness of the high-frequency ultrasonography findings associated with this rare tumor could broaden their knowledge base.

Epidemiological Features of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease during the Period of 2008-14 in Wenzhou, China.

This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) during 2008-14 in Wenzhou, China. The epidemiological data of HFMD retrieved from the Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention were retrospectively analyzed. HFMD infections with enterovirus 71 (EV71), Cox A16 or other pathogens were further verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. A total of 213 617 cases of HFMD were reported between 2008 and 2014 in Wenzhou. The average incidence was 384.31 of 100 000, and the fatality rate was 0.14‰. The incidence of HFMD peaked between April and July, and it occurred more frequently in males than in females. Approximately 92.68% of the HFMD patients were children aged <5 years. Nearly 80% of the cases were diagnosed within 2 days after onset. The major HFMD pathogen was EV71. This study suggested that appropriate comprehensive prevention and control measures should be taken to avoid the spread of HFMD.

Corynebacterium faecale sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of Assamese macaque.

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, short rod-shaped, oxidase-negative and non-motile novel strain, designated YIM 101505T, was isolated from the faeces of a primate, Assamese macaque, and was studied to determine its taxonomic position. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and short-chain mycolic acids. Whole cell sugars were mannose, galactose and arabinose as major components. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c and the major menaquinone was MK-9(H2). The polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, glycolipid and six unidentified lipids. The new isolate shared most of the typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of members of the genus Corynebacterium. The closest related species was Corynebacterium efficiens based on 16S rRNA gene (98.1 % similarity) and partial rpoB gene (91.4 % similarity) sequences. Similarities with other species of this genus were below 97 % based on the 16S rRNA gene. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between YIM 101505T and C. efficiens DSM 44549T was 47.7±3.6 %. Moreover, the physiological and biochemical characteristics of YIM 101505T and C. efficiens DSM 44549T were different. Thus, strain YIM 101505T is considered to represent a novel member of the genus Corynebacterium, for which the name Corynebacterium faecale sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 101505T (=DSM 45971T=CCTCC AB 2013226T).

Prevalence of Internet addiction and its association with social support and other related factors among adolescents in China.

A cross-sectional study design was applied amongst a random sample (n = 10158) of Chinese adolescents. Self-completed questionnaires, including demographic characteristics, Internet use situation, Youth Internet Addiction Test, Youth Social Support Rating Scale and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale were utilized to examine the study objectives. Among the study population, the prevalence rate of Internet addiction was 10.4%, with 1038 (10.2%) moderately and 21 (0.2%) severely addicted to the Internet. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that a variety of related factors have significant effects on Internet addiction (parental control, per capita annual household income, academic performance, the access to Internet, online activities). The correlation coefficients showed that Internet addiction was negatively correlated with social support and positively associated with depression. Social support had a significant negative predictive effect on Internet addiction. The mediating effect of depression between social support and Internet addiction was remarkable.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism susceptibility to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: an updated meta-analysis.

Previous studies examining the possible role of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms in the development of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD) have provided inconclusive findings, this meta-analysis was therefore designed to get a more reliable assessment. A total of 38 articles were identified through a search of electronic databases, up to 27 February 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated using random effects models. Meta-analysis showed that MTHFR C677T was significantly associated with SZ, the highest OR was found for the recessive model (for TT vs. CT + CC: OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.18-1.53); a marginal association of MTHFR C677T with increased risk of BPD has also been found for the recessive model (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.00-1.59). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity indicated that the significant association with SZ and BPD existed among Asian and African populations, but not for the white. MTHFR A1298C was significant associated with SZ, the highest OR for the dominant model (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.24). Subgroup analysis indicated a significant association with SZ existed in Asian populations, not among the white populations and no significant association was detected between the MTHFR A1298C and BPD in all groups. We conclude that MTHFR polymorphism is associated with SZ and BPD among Asian, African populations, but not the white.

Enteractinococcus lamae sp. nov. and Enteractinococcus viverrae sp. nov., isolated from animal faeces.

Two novel actinobacteria, designated strains YIM 101617(T) and YIM 101632(T), were isolated from Lama pacos (alpaca) and Viverra zibetha (civet) faeces in Yunnan Wild Animal Park in Yunnan province, southwestern China. Both strains should be placed in genus Enteractinococcus based on phylogenetic analysis. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIM 101617(T) exhibits high similarity to Enteractinococcus fodinae DSM 22966(T) (97.70 %) and Enteractinococcus coprophilus YIM 100590(T) (97.45 %), whilst YIM 101632(T) exhibits high similarity to Enteractinococcus coprophilus YIM 100590(T) (97.25 %), and the similarity between YIM 101617(T) and YIM 101632(T) is 95.90 %. However, DNA-DNA hybridization values of the two strains with the type strains in the genus Enteractinococcus were low (<70 %). Most morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the two strains were found to be similar to those of species in the genus Enteractinococcus but also some differences were observed. The DNA G+C contents of strains YIM 101617(T) and YIM 101632(T) were determined to be 55.9 and 56.4 mol%, respectively. Based on these data, the two strains are concluded to represent two different novel species in the genus Enteractinococcus. The names Enteractinococcus lamae sp. nov. (type strain YIM 101617(T)=DSM 27612(T)=CCTCC AB 2013230(T)) and Enteractinococcus viverrae sp. nov. (type strain YIM 101632(T)=KCTC 39552(T)=CCTCC AB 2013280(T)) are proposed, respectively.

PPARD +294C overrepresentation in general and long-lived population in China Bama longevity area and unique relationships between PPARD +294T/C polymorphism and serum lipid profiles.

BACKGROUND: The +294T/C polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARD) gene is associated with hyperlipidemia in several younger populations, but results are still inconsistence across ethnic groups and its possible impact on the lipid profiles of long-lived individuals remains unexploited. Here, we aimed to evaluate the possible correlation between PPARD +294T/C and serum lipid levels in a long-lived population in Bama, a region known for longevity situated in Guangxi, China. METHODS: Genotyping of PPARD +294T/C polymorphism was conducted in 505 long-lived inhabitants (aged 90 and above, long-lived group, LG) and 468 healthy controls (aged 60-75, non-long-lived group, non-LG) recruited from Bama area. RESULTS: No difference in allelic and genotypic frequencies was found between the two groups (P>0.05). However, C-allele and C-genotype (TC and CC) were significantly more frequent in the females of non-LG than were LG after sex stratification. CC carriers exhibited higher LDL-C level in LG (P<0.05) but lower TC, TG and LDL-C in non-LG (P<0.05 for each) than TT carriers; C allele carriers (TC/CC) in LG exhibited higher TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as compared with the same genotype and the same lipid parameter in non-LG (P<0.05 for each). LDL-C in LG was correlated with genotypes while TC, TG, and LDL-C in non-LG were correlated with genotypes (P<0.05-0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there were different impact patterns of PPARD +294T/C polymorphism on lipid profiles between long-lived cohort and average population in Bama area and this may be one of the genetic bases of its longevity.

Association of microtubule associated protein tau/Saitohin (MAPT/STH) MAPT_238bp/STH Q7R polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between the extended tau haplotype (H1) and susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD) was controversial in previous studies. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to determine whether the additional polymorphisms in MAPT_238bp and STH Q7R which both included in H1 are associated with PD. METHODS: 19 studies were identified by a search of PubMed, PDGENE, Elsevier, Springer Link, CBM (Chinese Biomedical Database), CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP (Chinese), and Wanfang (Chinese) databases, up to May 2014. Additionally, manual retrieval of the references of identified articles was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random effects model or fixed effects model based on the between-study heterogeneity. The subgroup analyses were performed by the ethnicity. All the statistical tests were conducted using Stata 9.0. RESULTS: Both of MAPT_238bp/STH Q7R polymorphisms had a significant association with PD risk in all genetic models. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity showed that the association between MAPT_238bp polymorphism and PD existed in Caucasian populations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis suggested that MAPT_238bp/STH Q7R polymorphisms might modulate the risk of PD susceptibility. Certainly, additional well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer: an updated meta-analysis of 27 studies.

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) polymorphisms are known to play a crucial role in the development and metastasis of malignant diseases including esophageal cancer. However, the results of previous studies investigating the association between CYP1A1 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer risk have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis of 27 eligible studies, encompassing 4,215 esophageal cancer cases and 6,339 control subjects, pooled the odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) to assess this association. The effects of ethnicity (Caucasian and Asian) and histopathology type (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma) were considered in subgroup analyses. A significant association was observed between the CYP1A1 Ile/Val gene polymorphism and esophageal cancer in all of the genetic models (Ile/Val vs. Ile/Ile, OR = 1.41, 95 % CI = 1.25-1.58; Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile, OR = 1.94, 95 % CI = 1.34-2.82; Ile/Val + Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile, OR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.33-1.66). The subgroup analysis based on ethnicity showed that the association between the CYP1A1 Ile/Val polymorphism and esophageal cancer existed in Asian and Caucasian populations. However, no association was observed between the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and esophageal cancer in either subgroup or in the overall population. These results suggested that the CYP1A1 Ile/Val polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, whereas the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism may not have increased susceptibility to esophageal cancer. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.