An Anterior Cingulate Cortex-to-Midbrain Projection Controls Chronic Itch in Mice.

Itch is an unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch. While acute itch serves as a protective system to warn the body of external irritating agents, chronic itch is a debilitating but poorly-treated clinical disease leading to repetitive scratching and skin lesions. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of chronic itch remain mysterious. Here, we identified a cell type-dependent role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in controlling chronic itch-related excessive scratching behaviors in mice. Moreover, we delineated a neural circuit originating from excitatory neurons of the ACC to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that was critically involved in chronic itch. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the ACC→VTA circuit also selectively modulated histaminergic acute itch. Finally, the ACC neurons were shown to predominantly innervate the non-dopaminergic neurons of the VTA. Taken together, our findings uncover a cortex-midbrain circuit for chronic itch-evoked scratching behaviors and shed novel insights on therapeutic intervention.

Screening new breeding japonica rice varieties by rice quality, three processing characteristics, and odor characteristics.

Rice's yield, cooking, and sensory quality are primary considerations in selecting new breeding rice varieties, which are determined by the rice eating quality such as processing and flavor characteristics. Thus, in this study, to advance the breed of new superior japonica rice varieties, the differences in the rice quality, processing characteristics, and flavor characteristics between 12 newly-bred varieties (H2-36, H2-42, H2-53, H2-59, H2-63, H2-73, H2-74, H2-79, H2-81, H2-82, H2-89, and H2-91) and 1 commercial variety (Kenyu38) were analyzed. The results indicated that H2-42 has a reasonable length-to-width ratio (1.51), high rice yield, good color, reasonable amylose, protein content, excellent water existence index, accessible storage, and the highest taste value. Electronic nose results showed significant differences in aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols among 13 rice varieties. Aroma analysis results showed that H2-42 had the highest n-hexanal (14.63 µg/kg), (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal (37.24 µg/kg), nonanal (19.93 µg/kg), and decanal (4.81 µg/kg); those were important aroma components in cooked rice. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, trough viscosity, peak time, and pasting temperature were the crucial factors that affected rice quality. According to partial least squares regression analysis, total color change, final viscosity, setback, (E)-2-heptenal, and 2-methyl-undecanol were the most important factors that distinguished the rice quality. In conclusion, H2-42 rice was better apparent quality, processing characteristics, and aroma compounds. Therefore, H2-42 has the potential for identification and promotion. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results from this study will provide data support for the cultivation, application, and quality improvement of high-quality rice varieties. In addition, it gives new ideas and methods for studying rice eating quality.

Discovery of new genetic loci for male sexual orientation in Han population.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the genetic factors partly influence the development of same-sex sexual behavior, but most genetic studies have focused on people of primarily European ancestry, potentially missing important biological insights. Here, we performed a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) with a total sample of 1478 homosexual males and 3313 heterosexual males in Han Chinese populations and identified two genetic loci (rs17320865, Xq27.3, FMR1NB, Pmeta = 8.36 × 10-8, OR = 1.29; rs7259428, 19q12, ZNF536, Pmeta = 7.58 × 10-8, OR = 0.75) showing consistent association with male sexual orientation. A fixed-effect meta-analysis including individuals of Han Chinese (n = 4791) and European ancestries (n = 408,995) revealed 3 genome-wide significant loci of same-sex sexual behavior (rs9677294, 2p22.1, SLC8A1, Pmeta = 1.95 × 10-8; rs2414487, 15q21.3, LOC145783, Pmeta = 4.53 × 10-9; rs2106525, 7q31.1, MDFIC, Pmeta = 6.24 × 10-9). These findings may provide new insights into the genetic basis of male sexual orientation from a wider population scope. Furthermore, we defined the average ZNF536-immunoreactivity (ZNF536-ir) concentration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) as lower in homosexual individuals than in heterosexual individuals (0.011 ± 0.001 vs 0.021 ± 0.004, P = 0.013) in a postmortem study. In addition, compared with heterosexuals, the percentage of ZNF536 stained area in the SCN was also smaller in the homosexuals (0.075 ± 0.040 vs 0.137 ± 0.103, P = 0.043). More homosexual preference was observed in FMR1NB-knockout mice and we also found significant differences in the expression of serotonin, dopamine, and inflammation pathways that were reported to be related to sexual orientation when comparing CRISPR-mediated FMR1NB knockout mice to matched wild-type target C57 male mice.

Telmisartan Improves Insulin Resistance: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and other obesity-related diseases are characterized by insulin resistance (IR) as a common pathophysiological change and are closely related to cardiovascular disease, which seriously threaten human health. Telmisartan belongs to a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) and it can partially activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Animal experiments have confirmed that telmisartan can regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, and improve IR. STUDY QUESTION: This study performs a systematic review of the advantages of telmisartan in improving IR and compared it with other ARBs. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared telmisartan with other ARBs in patients with obesity, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and metabolic syndrome were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, and Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM). RCTs published as of the end of April 2017 were included in the present study. MEASURES AND OUTCOMES: The outcomes included homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose level, fasting insulin level, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. We used a fixed-effects model or random-effects model to pool the estimates according to the heterogeneity between the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 21 RCTs, which included 1679 patients, were included. Results revealed that telmisartan was superior in improving homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (mean difference = -0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.40 to -0.06), reducing fasting blood glucose level (mean difference = -0.32, 95% CI, -0.57 to -0.07), reducing fasting insulin level (mean difference = -1.01, 95% CI, -1.63 to -0.39), and decreasing diastolic blood pressure (mean difference = -1.46, 95% CI, -2.10 to -0.82) compared with other ARBs. However, for the decrease in systolic pressure, the difference was not statistically significant (mean difference = -0.73, 95% CI, -1.53 to 0.07). CONCLUSION: Telmisartan can better improve IR compared with other ARBs.

Influence of Sensitization Patterns on Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Asthmatic Children.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) has been suggested as a non-invasive biomarker of airway inflammation, which is increased in atopic subjects. Whether sensitization to particular allergens is a predictive factor for increased FeNO levels is not yet fully understood. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. From October to December in 2015, the medical documents of 127 mild, steroid-naive asthmatic children and 34 healthy age-matched children were enrolled in this study. The results of the FeNO measurements, skin prick test, and the spirometry were collected for analysis. Sensitization patterns to the 18 aeroallergens (5 categories: mites, molds, animal dander, pollen, and other) were determined in study population. A significant increase in FeNO level was observed in poly-sensitized asthmatic children (34.7 part per billion, (ppb) [28.3-41.1 p.p.b]), compared with mono-sensitized asthmatics (30.7 p.p.b [18.3-43.2 p.p.b]) and with non-sensitized asthmatics (17.3 p.p.b [10.8-24.5 p.p.b]). With sensitization to perennial allergens (mites, mold, and animal dander), blood eosinophil counts were significantly associated with increased FeNO (p<0.05 for all). The highest FeNO level was identified in children sensitized to a combination of the perennial, seasonal, and other allergens, when compared with those sensitized to one category of allergen alone (p=0.004). Our study showed that variations in FeNO level were associated with individuals' sensitization patterns. Being sensitized to some particular allergens might contribute to prompt the airway inflammation.

[Spatiotemporal dynamics of atmospheric PM2.5 and PM10 and its influencing factors in Nanchang, China]. / 南昌市空气PM2.5和PM10çš„æ—¶ç©ºåŠ¨æ€åŠå ¶å½±å“å› ç´ .

PM2.5 and PM10 have become the primary pollutants of most cities in China. Atmospheric PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations, meteorological factors, traffic flow from 2013 to 2015 in Nanchang were analyzed. Spatiotemporal dynamic pattern of atmospheric particulate matter pollution and the effect of weather and traffic on particle concentration change were discussed in this paper. The results showed that PM2.5(70.92 µg·m-3 in 2013 > 53.70 µg·m-3 in 2014 ＞ 43.65 µg·m-3 in 2015) and PM10(119.72 µg·m-3 in 2013 ＞ 86.11 µg·m-3 in 2014 ＞ 73.32 µg·m-3 in 2015) concentrations decreased gradually from 2013 to 2015. In addition, low concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in summer (average PM2.5 concentration 36.74 µg·m-3, average PM10 concentration 69.20 µg·m-3) but high concentrations in winter (average PM2.5 concentration 74.29 µg·m-3, average PM10 concentration 111.64 µg·m-3) were observed. Moreover, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations changed with the urban-rural gradient, decreasing from the city center to suburb. The ratio of PM2.5/PM10(0.595 ＞ 0.584 ＞ 0.557) decreased year by year from 2013 to 2015 and was higher in the city center area than in the edge of city. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were affected by various meteorological factors and significantly related to air pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation and sunshine time. The influence of meteorological factors differed on PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. Traffic flow significantly increased the surrounding PM2.5 concentration, but not PM10 concentration.

Preoperative Patient Reported Mental Health is Associated with High Grade Complications after Radical Cystectomy.

PURPOSE: Psychological distress has been associated with an impaired immune response and poor wound healing. We hypothesized that preoperative patient reported mental health would be associated with high grade 30-day complications after radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer who completed Short Form 12 (SF-12) surveys for self-assessment of health status less than 6 months before surgery. Median physical and mental composite scores were calculated. An expert model including known predictors of postoperative high grade complications was developed, and SF-12 physical composite score and mental composite score were added to determine their association with this end point. RESULTS: From January 2010 to August 2014, 472 patients underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, of whom 274 (58.1%) completed preoperative SF-12 questionnaires. Responders were more likely to be white (p=0.024), have higher preoperative albumin (p=0.037), receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.002), have pT3/T4 disease (p=0.044) and have positive soft tissue surgical margins (p=0.006). Median SF-12 physical composite score was 43.1 (IQR 33.0-51.5) and mental composite score was 48.5 (IQR 39.5-54.7) in responders. Overall 46 (16.8%) responders experienced a high grade 30-day complication. Patients with a high grade complication had a lower preoperative median SF-12 mental composite score (44.8 vs 49.8, p=0.004) but no difference in physical composite score (39.2 vs 43.8, p=0.06). SF-12 mental composite score was also a significant predictive variable when added to our expert model (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative patient reported mental health was independently associated with high grade complications after radical cystectomy. Therefore, patient self-assessment of health status before surgery through validated questionnaires may provide additional information useful in predicting short-term postoperative outcomes.

Identification of small secreted peptides (SSPs) in maize and expression analysis of partial SSP genes in reproductive tissues.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Maize 1,491 small secreted peptides were identified, which were classified according to the character of peptide sequences. Partial SSP gene expressions in reproductive tissues were determined by qRT-PCR. Small secreted peptides (SSPs) are important cell-cell communication messengers in plants. Most information on plant SSPs come from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, while little is known about the SSPs of other grass species such as maize (Zea mays). In this study, we identified 1,491 SSP genes from maize genomic sequences. These putative SSP genes were distributed throughout the ten maize chromosomes. Among them, 611 SSPs were classified into 198 superfamilies according to their conserved domains, and 725 SSPs with four or more cysteines at their C-termini shared similar cysteine arrangements with their counterparts in other plant species. Moreover, the SSPs requiring post-translational modification, as well as defensin-like (DEFL) proteins, were identified. Further, the expression levels of 110 SSP genes were analyzed in reproductive tissues, including male flower, pollen, silk, and ovary. Most of the genes encoding basal-layer antifungal peptide-like, small coat proteins-like, thioredoxin-like proteins, γ-thionins-like, and DEFL proteins showed high expression levels in the ovary and male flower compared with their levels in silk and mature pollen. The rapid alkalinization factor-like genes were highly expressed only in the mature ovary and mature pollen, and pollen Ole e 1-like genes showed low expression in silk. The results of this study provide basic information for further analysis of SSP functions in the reproductive process of maize.

ABNORMAL POLLEN TUBE GUIDANCE1, an Endoplasmic Reticulum-Localized Mannosyltransferase Homolog of GLYCOSYLPHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL10 in Yeast and PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL GLYCAN ANCHOR BIOSYNTHESIS B in Human, Is Required for Arabidopsis Pollen Tube Micropylar Guidance and Embryo Development.

The perception and response of pollen tubes to the female guidance signals are crucial for directional pollen tube growth inside female tissues, which leads to successful reproduction. In pursuing the mechanisms underlying this biological process, we identified the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) abnormal pollen tube guidance1 (aptg1) mutant, whose pollen tubes showed compromised micropylar guidance. In addition to its male defect, the aptg1 mutant showed embryo lethality. APTG1 encodes a putative mannosyltransferase homolog to human PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL GLYCAN ANCHOR BIOSYNTHESIS B and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) GLYCOSYLPHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL10 (GPI10), both of which are involved in the biosynthesis of GPI anchors. We found that APTG1 was expressed in most plant tissues, including mature pollen, pollen tubes, mature embryo sacs, and developing embryos. By fluorescence colabeling, we showed that APTG1 was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, where GPI anchors are synthesized. Disruption of APTG1 affected the localization of COBRA-LIKE10, a GPI-anchored protein important for pollen tube growth and guidance. The results shown here demonstrate that APTG1 is involved in both vegetative and reproductive development in Arabidopsis, likely through processing and proper targeting of GPI-anchored proteins.

[The subchronic toxicity study on the biological amnion].

As the new type cornea ulcer renovation material, the biological amnion is to be implanted into the human body for a long time, a subchronic toxicity study in rats is made to evaluate its possibility of subchronic toxicity. The study is based on the requirements of "Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices, Part 11: Tests for systemic toxicity and Part 6: Tests for local effects after implantation". After the implantation of examples to be tested, animals were observed daily for mortality and 92 days later the possible subchronic toxicity was evaluated. And a necropsy was conducted and the selected organs were excised, weighed, and processed histologically. Body weights, organ weights, organ/body weight ratios, hematology values and clinical chemistry values were analyzed statistically. Results show that daily clinical observation, body weights, necropsy findings, organ weights and organ/body weight ratios were within acceptable limits in test and control treatment groups. There were no obvious changes in histopathology, hematology values or clinical chemistry values in either male or female rats and no notable differences between the biological amnion and the control amnion. This study proves that, the cornea ulcer renovation material, the biological amnion does not induce subchronic toxicity.

Optimized dyeing conditions of immunoprotein with reactive dye Procion Blue MX-7RX.

For investigating the feasibility of using reactive dyes as an immunoassay marker, a dichlorine triazine dye, Procion Blue MX-7RX, was employed to stain the antibody against human serum albumin (anti-HSA). With the color intensity revealed in the immunochromatographic test strip as the objective variables, the optimal dyeing conditions were found as follows: pH 11.4, temperature 35.7 degrees C, molar ratio 188 (mol dye/mol antibody), and reaction time 45.6 min. The dyed-anti-HSA revealed a maximal color intensity of 8738 without apparent loss of antigen binding affinity.

[Genome-wide search for linkage to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on the X chromosome].

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset behavioral. Boys are more often affected than girls. Family, twin and adoption studies have supported a strong genetic basis. The etiology of this disorder is not clear. Molecular genetic and pharmacological studies suggest the involvement of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems in ADHD, e.g , Several reports have found association between ADHD and the dopamine receptor gene DRD-4.the dopamine transporter gene DAT1, and the catechol-o-methyltransferase. Our previous studies showed an association between ADHD and the DXS7 locus, which is located in closely linked to the MAO gene, and MAOA gene on chromosome X. To test this hypothesis, we used the genome scan for a predisposing locus on chromosome X to ADHD. We used the tramsmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) to test for linkage between a VNTR polymorphism at the 48 markers of chromosome X and DSM-III-R oliagnosed ADHD in 84 nuclear families of the Chinese population. The TDT analysis revealed linkage between ADHD and the DXS1214(TDT: Chi2=18.1, df=7, P<0.01), DXS8102(TDT: Chi2=7.9, df=3, P<0.05), DXS1068(TDT: Chi2=21.9, df=9, P<0.01), DXS8015(TDT: Chi2=14.6, df=7, P<0.05), DXS1059(TDT: Chi2=27.8, df=10, P<0.01) and DXS8088(TDT: Chi2=20.4, df=3, P<0.01).The data showed that susceptibility loci might reside in chromosome Xp11.4-Xp21 and Xq23 for ADHD.

[Determination of rare earth elements in trialkyl phoshine oxide (TRPO)-kerosene by ICP-AES].

The present paper describes the determination of rare earth elements (REEs) in 30% TRPO-kerosene by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with ethanol as diluent. The relative intensities of REEs vary slowly when the content of 30% TRPO-kerosene varies from 4% to 20%. The relative intensity of Ce increased with the contents of H2O increasing from 1% to 7%, but the other REEs did not vary. No effects on the relative intensities of REEs are seen when the concentration of HNCO3 varies from 0.065 to 0.315 mol x L(-1). The effects of Fe and Zr on the relative intensities of REEs are also investigated. The effects of Fe on the relative intensities of REEs are not obvious, but when the concentration of Zr is ten times larger than REEs, the effects are obvious. The method is applicable when the content of 30% TRPO-kerosene ranges from 4% to 20%, the limits of detection of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm are 0.012, 0.040, 0.029, 0.040 and 0.021 microg x mL(-1) respectively, the RSD% is lower than 2%, and the relative error is lower than 3% when compared with the determination result of digestion. In contrast with digestion, this method is simple and rapid, and can accord with the requests of analysis.

[Analytical performance of CID-ICP-AES for alkaline-earth elements].

The plasma spectrometer composed of Charge Injection Device (CID) and echell grating has excellent analytical performance. In the present paper, analytical performance of CID-ICP-AES was studied for alkaline-earth elements. The results showed that the detection limits were 0.00003 mg x L(-1) for Ca, 0.0002 mg x L(-1) for Be, Sr and Ba, and 0.0001 mg x L(-1) for Mg. The self-absorption coefficient was less than 1 for all alkaline earth elements and 0.7-0.8 for Ca and Mg. The linear range of the determination was 10(4)-10(5). The photometric precision was RSD=1% when concentration was less than 1 mg x L(-1).

Gap junctions assemble in the presence of cytoskeletal inhibitors, but enhanced assembly requires microtubules.

The role of cytoskeletal elements in gap junction (GJ) assembly has been studied using Novikoff hepatoma cells treated with cytochalasin B (CB) to disrupt actin filaments or with colchicine or nocodazole to disrupt microtubules. After 60 min of cell reaggregation, freeze-fracture was used to evaluate quantitatively the "initiation," "maturation," and "growth" phases of GJ assembly. The development of junctional permeability to fluorescent dyes was also analyzed. The only effects of CB on the structure or permeability of the developing junctions involved an elongation of GJ aggregates and a small decrease in formation plaque areas. Colchicine (but not the inactive form, lumicolchicine) prevented the enhancement of GJ growth by cholesterol, but its effect on basal growth was equivocal. Nocodazole inhibited the growth of GJ, even under basal conditions, without an effect on initiation. Nocodazole also blocked the forskolin-enhanced increase in the growth of GJs and, in living MDCK cells, reduced the movement of transport intermediates containing green fluorescent protein-tagged connexin43. Thus, neither actin filaments nor microtubules appear to restrict GJ assembly by anchoring intramembrane GJ proteins, nor are they absolutely required for functional GJs to form. However, microtubules are necessary for enhanced GJ growth and likely for facilitating connexin trafficking under basal conditions.

[Study on enhancing effect of ethanol in lower power ICP].

The effects of ethanol on physical propesties (density, viscosity, surface tension) of sample solution, plasma temperature and electron number density in the ICP were investigated. Detection limits of varying elements in ethanol-water system were determined. The experimental results showed that the gas temperature, excitation temperature and electron number density were lower than those in water solution, the electron temperature and ionization temperature were slightly reduced, while the velocity of aerosol to the plasma increased. The lower detection limits of rare earth elements were observed. The detection limits of other elements were the same as those with water solution. The mechanism of the enhancing effect was discussed.