HMOX1 Promoter Microsatellite Polymorphism Is Not Associated With High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in Han Chinese.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between microsatellite polymorphism in the Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) gene promoter and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in Han Chinese. METHODS: Eighty-three construction workers who developed HAPE 2 to 7 days after arrival at Yushu (3800 m) in Qinghai, China, and 145 matched healthy subjects were included in this study. The amplification and labeling of the polymerase chain reaction products for capillary electrophoresis were performed to identify HMOX1 genotype frequency. The alleles were classified as short (S: <25 [GT]n repeats) and long (L: ≥25 [GT]n repeats) alleles. RESULTS: Patients with HAPE have significantly higher white blood cell count, heart rate, and mean pulmonary artery pressure, but lower hemoglobin and arterial oxygen saturation than healthy subjects without HAPE. The numbers of (GT)n repeats in the HMOX1 gene promoter show a bimodal distribution. However, there is no significant difference in the genotype frequency and allele frequency between patients with HAPE and healthy subjects without HAPE. Chi-square test analysis reveals that the genotype frequency of (GT)n repeats is not associated with HAPE. CONCLUSION: The microsatellite polymorphism in the HMOX1 gene promoter is not associated with HAPE in Han Chinese in Qinghai, China.

Construction of Dual-Active Sites by Interfacing with Polyhydroxy Fullerene on Nickel Hydroxide Surfaces to Promote CO2 Deep Photoreduction to CH4.

Due to the complex series of elementary steps involved, achieving deep photoreduction of CO2 to multielectron products such as CH4 remains a challenging task. Therefore, it is crucial to strategically design catalysts that facilitate the controlled formation of the crucial intermediates and provide precise control over the reaction pathway. Herein, we present a pioneering approach by employing polyhydroxy fullerene (PHF) molecules to modify the surface of Ni(OH)2, creating stable and effective synergistic sites to enhance the formation of CH4 from CO2 under light irradiation. As a result, the optimized PHF-modified Ni(OH)2 cocatalyst achieves a CH4 production rate of 455 µmol g-1 h-1, with an electron-based selectivity of approximately 60%. The combination of in situ characterizations and theoretical calculations reveals that the hydroxyl species on the surface of PHF can participate in stabilizing crucial intermediates and facilitating water activation, thereby altering the reaction pathway to form CH4 instead of CO. This study provides a novel approach to regulating the selectivity of photocatalytic CO2 reduction by exploring molecular surface modification through interfacing with functionalized carbon clusters.

Incidentally discovered asymptomatic splenic hamartoma misdiagnosed as an aneurysm: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Splenic hamartoma (SH) is a rare, benign vascular proliferation that is often found incidentally. It may be misdiagnosed as a splenic aneurysm or splenic malignancy. CASE SUMMARY: A 21-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of an incidentally discovered asymptomatic splenic space-occupying lesion for 2 wk. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a circular low-density shadow in the hilum of the spleen. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed an aneurysm located in the hilum of the spleen before operation. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed and postoperative pathology revealed the presence of SH. CONCLUSION: Imaging studies are insufficient for the differential diagnosis of SH from other diseases, and laparoscopic splenectomy is a less invasive procedure and useful for the diagnostic purpose as well.

[The expression of a novel estrogen receptor, GPR30, in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and its correlation with MMP-9].

The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of a novel estrogen receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Ovary tissues were obtained from 39 female patients, including 30 cases of EOC and 9 cases of benign ovarian tumor. Four normal ovary tissues were used as control. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of GPR30 and MMP-9. Chi square test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that GPR30 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than those in benign ovarian tumor and normal ovary cases. Whereas MMP-9 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than that in normal ovary cases, without any difference to that in benign ovarian tumor cases. To demonstrate the relationship between GPR30 and clinicopathological variables of EOC, we further analyzed the pathology type, FIGO stage and age of patients sampled in our study. The analysis showed there were significant differences of GPR30 overexpression rate among various pathology types and different FIGO stages (P<0.05), and no significant difference of both GPR30 and MMP-9 among three age groups (P>0.05). Moreover, GPR30 expression was positively correlated with MMP-9 (r(s)=1.000, P=0.002). These results suggest that GPR30 may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of EOC, being a potential index of EOC early diagnosis and malignancy grade prediction.

Metabolic Alterations of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Pikas in Adaptation to High Altitude.

Cao, Xue-Feng, Zhen-Zhong Bai, Lan Ma, Shuang Ma, and Ri-Li Ge. Metabolic alterations of Qinghai-Tibet plateau pikas in adaptation to high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 18:219-225, 2017.-To determine specific metabolic alterations in the myocardium of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and potential metabolic biomarkers involved in their adaptation to the high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Ten pikas were captured by traps in the Kekexili Reserve (4630 m a.s.l; n = 5) and at the foot of the Laji Mountain (2600 m a.s.l; n = 5) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, China. Metabolite levels were determined by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) metabolomics, and multivariate statistical analysis was performed. Several metabolites involved in carbohydrate, fat, energy, and redox homeostasis pathways were significantly altered in pikas living at 4630 m. In addition, those pikas showed increased levels of lactic acid, sarcosine, 4-hydroxybutyrate, methionine, tartaric acid, ribose, tyrosine, pentadecanoic acid, 2-monoolein, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, trehalose-6-phosphate, succinic acid, myoinositol, fumaric acid, taurine, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, gluconic acid, citrulline, and glutathione, but decreased levels of oleic acid and 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate. Metabolic activity is significantly altered in the myocardium of pikas in the high-altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This study provides important insights into metabolic biomarkers related to the adaptation of pikas to high-altitude hypoxia.

Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle in China: a review.

The present review discusses the findings of cryptosporidiosis research conducted in cattle in China and highlights the currently available information on Cryptosporidium epidemiology, genetic diversity, and distribution in China, which is critical to understanding the economic and public health importance of cryptosporidiosis transmission in cattle. To date, 10 Cryptosporidium species have been detected in cattle in China, with an overall infection rate of 11.9%. The highest rate of infection (19.5%) was observed in preweaned calves, followed by that in juveniles (10.69%), postweaned juveniles (9.0%), and adult cattle (4.94%). The dominant species were C. parvum in preweaned calves and C. andersoni in postweaned, juvenile, and adult cattle. Zoonotic Cryptosporidium species (C. parvum and C. hominis) were found in cattle, indicating the possibility of transmission between humans and cattle. Different cattle breeds had significant differences in the prevalence rate and species of Cryptosporidium. This review demonstrates an age-associated, breed-associated, and geographic-related occurrence of Cryptosporidium and provides references for further understanding of the epidemiological characteristics, and for preventing and controlling the disease.