Complete Genome Sequence of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis Strain LLRS-1, Isolated from Wilted Tobacco in China.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence and annotation of Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis strain LLRS-1, which caused bacterial wilt on flue-cured tobacco in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Strain LLRS-1 is the first R. syzygii strain identified to be pathogenic to tobacco in China. The completely assembled genome of strain LLRS-1 consists of a 3,648,314-bp circular chromosome and a 2,046,405-bp megaplasmid with 5,190 protein-coding genes, 55 transfer RNAs, 28 small RNAs, 3 structural RNAs (5S, 16S, and 23S), and a G+C content of 67.05%.

Astroglial U87 Cells Protect Neuronal SH-SY5Y Cells from Indirect Effect of Radiation by Reducing DNA Damage and Inhibiting Fas Mediated Apoptotic Pathway in Coculture System.

Recent studies provide the evidence that indirect effects of radiation could lead to neuronal cells death but underlying mechanism is not completely understood. On the other hand astroglial cells are known to protect neuronal cells against stress conditions in vivo and invitro. Yet, the fate of neuronal cells and the neuroprotective effect of coculture system (with glial cells) in response to indirect radiation exposure remain rarely discussed. Here, we purpose that the indirect effect of radiation may induce DNA damage by cell cycle arrest and receptor mediated apoptotic cascade which lead to apoptotic death of neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. We also hypothesized that coculture (with glial U87) may relieved the neuronal SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity of indirect effects radiation by reducing DNA damage and expression of apoptotic proteins in vitro. In the present study irradiated cell conditioned medium (ICCM) was used as source of indirect effect of radiation. Neuronal SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to ICCM with and without coculture with (glial U87) in transwell coculture system respectively. Various endpoints such as, cell survival number assay, Annexin V/PI assay, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometer, mRNA level of Fas receptor by q RT-PCR, expression of key apoptotic proteins by western blot and estimation of neurotrophic factors by ELISA method were analyzed into neuronal SH-SY5Y cells with and without co culture after ICCM exposure respectively. We found that ICCM induced DNA damage in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells by significant increase in cell cycle arrest at S-phase (***P < 0.001) which was further supported by over expression of P53 protein (**P < 0.01). While coculture (with glial U87), significantly reduced the ICCM induced cell cycle arrest and expression of P53 ((###) P < 0.001) neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Further investigation of the underlying apoptotic mechanism revealed that in coculture system; ICCM induced elevated level of FAS mRNA level was significantly reduced ((###) P < 0.001) in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells which was followed by significant reduction in expression of key apoptotic protein i.e., FADD ((###) P < 0.001), caspase-8 ((###) P < 0.001), and cleaved caspase-3 ((###) P < 0.001) as compare to neuronal SH-SY5Y cells which received ICCM without coculture. Intriguingly, concentration of neurotrophic factors such as, GDNF and BDNF were significantly increased ((###) P < 0.001) in neuronal SH-SY5Y after coculture (with glial U87) cells. Hence, these findings infer that the receptor mediated pathway could be the one way through which indirect effects of radiation cause neurotoxicity. However, in co-cultures system (with glial U87) neuronal SH-SY5Y depicts remarkable resistance against ICCM induced neurotoxicity.

Glial U87 cells protect neuronal SH-SY5Y cells from indirect effect of radiation by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Recent studies have demonstrated the role of indirect effect of radiation in neurodegeneration. However, the role of glial cells in neuroprotection against indirect effect of radiation is still not clear, although they are known to protect neurons under stress conditions in central nervous system. Our study showed that indirect effect of radiation increased the oxidative stress that further enhances the expression of key apoptotic proteins and leads to neuronal cell death. We also investigated the indirect effect of radiation on neuronal cells in the presence of glial cells in a transwell co-culture system, while our analysis was focused on neuronal cells. Irradiated cell-conditioned medium (ICCM) was used as source of indirect radiation and neuroprotective effect was analyzed by various endpoints. It was observed that ICCM-induced reactive oxidative species level was significantly reduced in SH-SY5Y cells co-cultured with glial U87 cells, which might help to maintain the integrity of mitochondrial membrane potential. Increased levels of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and antioxidant glutathione were observed in SH-SY5Y cells co-cultured with glial U87 cells. Moreover, it was also observed that co-culture with glial cells inhibits the expression of ICCM-induced apoptotic proteins, i.e. Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 in SH-SY5Y cells. Hence, it can be speculated that in co-culture system glial cells may protect the neuronal SH-SY5Y cells by reducing the ICCM-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic death.

Indirect effects of radiation induce apoptosis and neuroinflammation in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells.

Recent studies have evaluated the role of direct radiation exposure in neurodegenerative disorders; however, association among indirect effects of radiation and neurodegenerative diseases remains rarely discussed. The objective of this study was to estimate the relative risk of neurodegeneration due to direct and indirect effects of radiation. (60)Co gamma ray was used as source of direct radiation whereas irradiated cell conditioned medium (ICCM) was used to mimic the indirect effect of radiation. To determine the potency of ICCM to inhibit neuronal cells survival colony forming assay was performed. The role of ICCM to induce apoptosis in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells was estimated by TUNEL assay and Annexin V/PI assay. Level of oxidative stress and the concentration of inflammatory cytokines after exposing to direct radiation and ICCM were evaluated by ELISA method. Expression of key apoptotic protein following direct and indirect radiation exposure was investigated by western blot technique. Experimental data manifest that ICCM account loss of cell survival and increase apoptotic induction in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells that was dependent on time and dose. Moreover, ICCM stimulate significant release of inflammatory cytokines i.e., tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha (P < 0.01), Interleukin-1 (IL-1, P < 0.001), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6, P < 0.001) in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells and elevate the level of oxidative stress (MDA, P < 0.01). Up-regulation of key apoptotic protein expression i.e., Bax, Bid, cytochrome C, caspase-8 and caspase-3 confirms the toxicity of ICCM to neuronal cells. This study provides the evidence that indirect effect of radiation can be as much damaging to neuronal cells as direct radiation exposure can be. Hence, more focused research on estimation risks of indirect effect of radiation to CNS at molecular level may help to reduce the uncertainty about cure and cause of several neurodegenerative disorders.

Neuroprotective role of BNIP3 under oxidative stress through autophagy in neuroblastoma cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced due to oxidative stress which has wide range of affiliation with different diseases including cancer, heart failure, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic diseases. This study shows the involvement of BNIP3 in the amplification of metabolic pathways related to cellular quality control and cellular self defence mechanism in the form of autophagy. We used conventional methods to induce autophagy by treating the cells with H2O2. MTT assay was performed to observe the cellular viability in stressed condition. MDC staining was carried out for detection of autophagosomes formation which confirmed the autophagy. Furthermore, expression of BNIP3 was validated by western blot analysis with LC3 antibody. From these results it is clear that BNIP3 plays a key role in defence mechanism by removing the misfolded proteins through autophagy. These results enhance the practical application of BNIP3 in neuroblastoma cells and are helpful in reducing the chances of neurodegenerative diseases. Although, the exact mode of action is still unknown but these findings unveil a molecular mechanism for the role of autophagy in cell death and provide insight into complex relationship between ROS and non-apoptotic programmed cell death.

Effect of Scarf and Chevron combined with Akin on postoperative balance in patients with moderate to severe foot bunion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of Scarf and Chevron combined with Akin on a postoperative balance of patients with moderate to severe foot bunion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred (100 feet) patients with moderate to severe bunion cysts treated at our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively selected as subjects and divided into 2 groups according to their surgical procedure. The control group received Scarf combined with Akin, and the study group received Chevron combined with Akin. Oxidative stress mediators [late oxidized protein product (AOPP), lipid peroxide (LPO)], inflammatory factors [interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), procalcitonin (PCT)], Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal joint angle (DMAA) Angle, ankle-hind foot American Orthotic Foot and Ankle Association (AOFAS) score, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score and balance Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score were compared between the two groups before and after surgery. The effectiveness and safety of the operation were compared. RESULTS: The levels of AOPP and LPO in the study group decreased most significantly, t=1.081 and 10.850, p=0.001; the levels of IL-1ß and PCT in the study group increased most significantly, t=16.970 and 12.260, p=0.001; the indexes of HVA, IMA, and DMAA in the study group increased significantly, t=11.890, 11.550, and 12.670, p=0.001; the AOFAS and BBS scores in the study group increased significantly, while the VAS score in the study group decreased significantly, t=14.760, 13.580, 5.994, p=0.001; the total effective rate of treatment in the study group was the highest, χ²=6.960, p=0.00; the total incidence of complications in the study group was the lowest, χ²=1.834, p=0.175. CONCLUSIONS: Chevron combined with Akin is more effective than Scarf combined with Akin in treating moderate to severe foot bunion, the former is more minimally invasive and has a better effect in promoting postoperative balance recovery.

Increased Serum Soluble Transferrin Receptor Levels Were Associated With High Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018.

Background: Iron deficiency is common in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), e.g., heart failure and coronary heart disease. Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a promising marker representing unmet cellular iron demands. However, whether higher serum sTfR is associated with increased risk of CVDs needs further investigation. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, we analyzed data of 4,867 adult participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Linear regression models were employed to identify possible correlations between sTfR and other characteristics. The association between sTfR and CVDs was assessed with univariable and multivariable logistics regression models. Results: The prevalence of CVDs was 9.5% among participants, and higher sTfR levels were found in participants with CVDs (p < 0.001). Linear regression models revealed positive associations between sTfR and age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobulin A1c, and insulin resistance (all p < 0.001). In the multivariable logistics regression model, the adjusted odds ratio of sTfR for CVDs was 2.05 (per 1 log2 mg/L, 95% confidence interval: 1.03∼4.05, p = 0.046). Further subgroup analysis identified the associations of sTfR and CVDs were only significant in participants ≥60 years old, or with hypertension (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that increased serum sTfR levels were associated with a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

A radiomics model predicts the response of patients with advanced gastric cancer to PD-1 inhibitor treatment.

Programmed cell death 1 (PD1) inhibitors have shown promising treatment effects in advanced gastric cancer, the beneficiary population not definite. This study aimed to construct an individualized radiomics model to predict the treatment benefits of PD-1 inhibitors in gastric cancer. Patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with PD-1 inhibitors were randomly divided into a training set (n = 58) and a validation set (n = 29). CT imaging data were extracted from medical records, and an individual radiomics nomogram was generated based on the imaging features and clinicopathological risk factors. Discrimination performance was evaluated by Harrell's c-index and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were analyzed to predict anti-PD-1 efficacy and survival. We found that the radiomics nomogram could predict the response of gastric cancer to anti-PD-1 treatment. The AUC was 0.865 with a 95% CI of 0.812-0.828 in the training set, while the AUC was 0.778 with a 95% CI of 0.732-0.776 in the validation set. The diagnostic performance of the radiomics was significantly higher than that of the clinical factors (p < 0.01). Patients with a low risk of disease progression discriminated by the radiomics nomogram had longer progression-free survival than those with a high risk (6.5 vs. 3.2 months, HR 1.99, 95% CI: 1.19-3.31, p = 0.009). The radiomics nomogram based on CT imaging features and clinical risk factors could predict the treatment benefits of PD-1 inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer, enabling it to guide decision-making regarding clinical treatment.

Effect of trichostatin A on transfected donor cells and subsequent development of porcine cloned embryos.

Transgenes integrated into mammalian cells are silenced rapidly. This phenomenon correlates with repressed chromatin structure marked by histone hypoacetylation. This study investigated the effect of trichostatin A (TSA; a histone-deacetylase inhibitor) on EGFP expression in transfected cells and embryonic development after somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Porcine adult fibroblasts were transfected with a pEGFP-C1 vector. Then transfected cells, donor cells for SCNT, were pretreated with TSA, with the untreated cells being used as the control. Expression of EGFP in donor cells and reconstructed embryos was detected when exposed to blue light. Results showed that the percentage of EGFP-positive cells significantly increased when the transfected cells were treated with TSA and the increased expression of EGFP was sustained to at least the morula stage. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of TSA on the transfected cells was dose dependent. In conclusion, TSA can rescue the silenced EGFP gene. Even after transferring the TSA-treated cells to enucleated recipient oocytes, TSA retained the ability to rescue a silenced EGFP gene. In addition, TSA had an impact on cell proliferation.

Multicentre evaluation of the Elecsys hepatitis B surface antigen II assay for detection of HBsAg in comparison with other commercially available assays.

Screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) demands highly sensitive and specific immunoassays with the ability to detect clinically relevant surface gene mutants-the presence of which is an increasing concern and can compromise test results. The objective of the study was to compare the clinical and technical performance of the fully automated Elecsys HBsAg II assay with other widely used HBsAg immunoassays in China. This was a multicentre study in which eight Chinese laboratories compared the Elecsys HBsAg II assay with the Architect HBsAg assay, AxSYM HBsAg assay, or generic microtitre plate (MTP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (manufactured in China) against preselected samples, including recombinant surface gene mutants, and routine clinical samples. Elecsys HBsAg II was the most sensitive assay for detecting positive results in seroconversion samples: up to 14, 11, and 22 days earlier than the Architect, AxSYM, and MTP HBsAg assays, respectively. It also detected all 211 preselected HBsAg-positive specimens and all 13 recombinant HBsAg mutants; the AxSYM and MTP HBsAg assays failed to detect 3 and 10 mutant samples, respectively. Sensitivity was 100% for Elecsys HBsAg II with routine samples, compared with 99.1, 98.9, and 95.2% for the Architect, AxSYM, and MTP HBsAg assays, respectively. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the Elecsys HBsAg II assay is suitable for routine HBsAg screening in China.

Pulmonary phospholipid saturation increases with glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in late gestation but not due to labor in the fetal rhesus monkey.

We report here changes in abundance of pulmonary cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNAs and phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FA) with gestational age, in either spontaneous or androstenedione-induced premature labor for 15 fetal rhesus monkeys and 1 neonate. Pulmonary RNA and lipids were extracted from the lungs of the rhesus monkeys, gestational ages ranging from 140 days to term. Northern hybridization analysis was performed for both cPLA2 and GR mRNAs. The results demonstrated the transcript of the cPLA2 constantly expressed and that of GR increased gradually in the lungs during the gestational stages studied. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were separated by thin layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition in these PL was quantified by gas chromatography (GC). Regression analysis demonstrated that the expression of GR, mRNAs increased significantly with gestational age (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the level of GR mRNA is significantly correlated with that of cPLA2, with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.83 (P < 0.01). The PC palmitate percentage increased significantly with gestational age (P < 0.01), while the PC unsaturation index and total polyunsaturated FA decreased during late gestation (P < 0.01). Changes in PG FA with gestational age were similar to those in PC, while PI FA did not change with gestational age. There was no effect of either spontaneous or induced labor on mRNA levels of cPLA2 and GR or the FA composition of pulmonary PL studied. We conclude that the pulmonary PL FA compositions are under developmental control.

Radiological and clinicopathological features of pPNET.

PURPOSE: To analyze the radiological and clinicopathological features of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of 14 cases of pPNET confirmed immunohistochemically. Relevant clinical data was also obtained. RESULTS: Of 14 cases, there were 10 male and 4 female with a mean age of 28 years. The main symptoms were the aggravated pain of the lesion site and enlarged palpable masses. Fourteen lesions were located in the chest wall (n = 4), retroperitoneum (n = 3), pelvic cavity (n = 2), intraspinal area (n = 2), nasal cavity (n = 1), leg ( n= 1) and iliac bone (n = 1). Eleven lesions originating from the soft tissue mainly demonstrated large and infiltrative mass with (n = 4) or without (n = 7) bony invasion. Ten cases of them showed heterogeneous density with patchy, necrotic foci and moderate heterogeneous enhancement. Four of them with large cystic area contained irregular septations within them. Two intraspinal cases had extradural lesions, extending through the intervertebral foramen and formed paraspinal soft tissue masses with vertebral destruction. The case within iliac bone demonstrated extensive mixed (lytic/osteoblastic) lesion with large adjacent soft tissue mass. After surgery or therapy, 10 patients died of local recurrences or metastases. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pPNET should be suggested in young patient when imaging depicts a large, ill-defined, soft-tissue mass containing area of cystic degeneration with internal septations and extending along the neural route and nearby the middle of the trunk. The key for correct diagnosis is to inosculate imaging to clinical data.

AVE0991, a Nonpeptide Compound, Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation via Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 and Downregulation of p-38 MAPK Phosphorylation.

The nonpeptide AVE0991 is an agonist of the angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) Mas receptor and is expected to be a putative new drug for treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms involved in the antiproliferative effects of AVE0991 are not fully understood. We saw that the compound attenuated proliferation in an angiotensin II-induced rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation model. Moreover, treatment with AVE0991 (10(-5) mol/L or 10(-7) mol/L) significantly attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and dose-dependently (10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/L) inhibited Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation. Meanwhile, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression increased in the AVE0991 + Ang II group (10(-5) mol/L or 10(-6) mol/L). However, the beneficial effects of AVE0991 were completely abolished when the VSMC were pretreated with A-779 (10(-6) mol/L). Furthermore, treatment with the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPPIX attenuated the inhibitory effect of AVE0991 on Ang II-induced p38MAPK phosphorylation. These results suggest that AVE0991 attenuates Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion and that this effect is associated with the Mas/HO-1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

[Community structure of phycophyta and evaluation of water quality in Sichuan section of Jialing River].

In order to understand the characteristics of the phycophyta community structure and water quality in Sichuan section of Jialing River, water samples were collected from 12 sites along the section in dry season (January) and rainy season (September), with the phycophyta species composition, Shannon diversity index (H'), Pielou evenness index (E), and Margalef richness index (d) analyzed. A total of 171 phycophyta species (including variety) were collected, belonging to 8 phyla, 42 families, and 95 genera, among which, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanophyta were the dominant groups. In dry season, the mean cell density of the phycophyta was 14.71 x 10(4) ind x L(-1), being the highest at sites JX (28.33.4 x 10(4) ind x L(-1)) and HYZ (25.40 x 10(4) ind x L(-1)), and diatom species had a higher richness than the others. In rainy season, the mean cell density was only 10.78 x 10(4) ind x L(-1), being the lowest (3.31 x 10(4) ind x L(-1)) at site QJ, and the species richness of chlorophyta and cyanobateria had somewhat increase. In the whole section, the mean d, H', and E of the phycophyta were 2.35, 1.60, and 0.31 in dry season, and 2.57, 2.09, and 0.39 in rainy season, respectively. Our results indicated that there were significant differences in the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of the community structure, cell density, diversity index, and evenness index of phycophyta in Sichuan section of Jialing River. The water quality of this section was overall belonged to mesosaprobic, being better at sites JX and SX (belonged to oligosaprobic or beta-mesosaprobic), but worse at sites CX, HYZ, XZ, and QJ (belonged to alpha-mesosaprobic).

Integrating mental health into primary care: the policy maker's perspective and experience in China.

In China, 'community' was an alien word. Many people used to live in dormitories (Danwei), to which they were assigned by government according to their work units. 'Dormitory form' community was closely linked to where people worked, and thus administration and supervision were simple, as was the provision of health services. In each Danwei, a clinic provided basic healthcare not only for its employees but also for the other residents of the dormitory. The old primary care service was based on this. In fact, the 'golden age' of community mental healthcare was at that time, when psychiatric hospitals extended their service to communities via the Danwei 's clinics in the cities and via 'barefoot doctors' in the rural areas. Home beds, occupational therapy stations and shelter factories were set up in some cities and mobile mental health teams played important roles in the villages. Although this did not really represent the 'integration' of mental health into primary care, it was a good example of maximising the utilisation of the very limited mental health resources by stretching the psychiatric service, using administrative power, and mobilising family members (Shen et al, 1990; Zhang & Yan, 1990; Zhang, 1999).