[Analysis of the burden of disease attributable to high temperature exposure in China and globally from 1990 to 2019].

Objective: To analyze the burden of disease attributable to high temperature exposure in China and globally from 1990 to 2019, and to study the current burden of disease in relevant populations. Methods: In October 2021, based on data from the global burden of disease 2019 (GBD 2019) study, population attributable fraction (PAF), number of deaths, mortality, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) and DALY rate of Chinese and global populations with different ages and genders in 1990 and 2019 were extracted and analyzed. The rate of change was calculated, the mortality rate was normalized by the age structure of the world standard population, and the causes of disease burden caused by high temperature exposure of Chinese residents were analyzed. Results: In 2019, compared with 1990, the PAF of Chinese and global population decreased by 43.98% and 12.41% respectively, the number of deaths increased by 29.55% and 49.40% respectively, the crude mortality rate increased by 7.81% and 3.30% respectively, the DALY decreased by 48.12% and 14.41% respectively, and the DALY rate decreased by 56.82% and 40.82% respectively. The mortality rate of the ≥70 age group was higher than that of other groups. The disease burden indicators such as PAF, standardized mortality and DALY attributable to high temperature exposure in men were higher than those in women. In 2019, the main cause of DALY affected by high temperature exposure in Chinese population was ischemic heart disease (84400 person-years), and the main cause of death was ischemic heart disease (4900 cases). Conclusion: The burden of diseases attributable to high temperature exposure is still serious in China and the world at large. Targeted interventions should be formulated for men, the elderly and people with occupational exposure, and a sound surveillance system should be established to reduce the burden of diseases caused by high temperature exposure.

Implementation of a youth and young adult e-cigarette cessation program within a dental clinic setting : A SToHN feasibility study.

Introduction: While significant progress has been made to decrease tobacco smoking among youth and young adults, e-cigarettes threaten to reverse the progress. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of the ReACH Assessment of Knowledge for E-Cigarettes (RAKE) e-cigarette cessation program targeting youth and young adults in Texas. Methods: Seven dental practitioners and 12 patients participated in this pilot study. Patients aged 15 to 29 who reported current e-cigarette use were recruited by their dental practitioner. All participants completed pre-and post-assessments-practitioners receiving the RAKE training and patients the RAKE cessation intervention. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: After RAKE training, all practitioners reported the RAKE cessation program as useful and an important part of patient care. In addition, after completing the program (5A's), 67% (n=9) patients reported that the program was helpful, and 100% (n=12) would recommend the program to other ENDS users. Conclusions: Practitioners and patients enhanced their knowledge of e-cigarettes and their harm to health. In addition, practitioners demonstrated their ability to implement the RAKE cessation program within the practice, and patients approved of the use of the program. This study illustrated the feasibility and acceptability of conducting an e-cigarette cessation study in dental practices and a critical need to develop and disseminate the program to young patients.

Inter-relationship of risk factors and pathways associated with chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a structural equation modelling analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the inter-relationships and pathogenetic mechanisms among risk factors are still largely unknown. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to test a hypothesis of causal pathways related to CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study. METHODS: A total of 3395 patients with T2DM were enrolled in this study. A hypothesised SEM was applied to assess associations among demographic data, diabetic self-management behaviours, diabetes control, lifestyle, psycho-social, chronic inflammation factors, anthropometric and metabolic variables simultaneously and the risk of CKD. RESULTS: Demographic data (including education, marital status and mini-mental state examination score) (-0.075), white blood cell count (0.084), high blood pressure (0.144), World Health Organisation (WHO) 5 well-being index (-0.082), diabetes control (0.099), triglyceride (0.091) and uric acid (0.282) levels had direct effects on the risk of CKD. The final model could explain 26% of the variability in baseline CKD status. In addition, the same direct and specific indirect factors at baseline CKD status analysis contributed to the risk of CKD at the 12-month follow-up. The final model could explain 31% of the variability in the risk of CKD at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigates associations between factors obtained from real-world daily practice and CKD status simultaneously and delineates the potential pathways and inter-relationships of the risk factors that contribute to the development of CKD in patients with T2DM.

[Analysis on disease burden of stroke in China and the regions with different sociodemographic index from 1990 to 2017].

Objective: To examine the trend of stroke disease burden and its main risk-attributable factors in China and regions with different Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) from 1990 to 2017. Methods: With 2017 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs) and disability-adjusted of life years (DALYs) were applied to describe the disease burden and major risk factors of stroke in China and different SDI regions from 1990 to 2017, and to analyze the changing trend of the disease burden and major risk factors of stroke. Results: From 1990 to 2017, the YLD crude rate, YLL crude rate and DALY crude rate for stroke in China showed an increasing trend and the rate of change was 126.5%, 14.6%, and 24.4%, respectively. In 2017, the YLD crude rate, YLL crude rate and DALY crude rate for stroke in China were 502.6 per 100 000, 2 633.1 per 100 000 and 3 135.7 per 100 000, respectively. Among them, the YLD crude rate, YLL crude rate, and DALY crude rate of stroke were the highest in the ≥70 age group, which were 2 617.2 per 100 000, 16 789.4 per 100 000 and 19 406.6 per 100 000, respectively. The YLD crude rate in male was 475.5 per 100 000, which was slightly lower than that of female (530.9 per 100 000), while the DALY crude rate and YLL crude rate for stroke were 3 657.1 per 100 000 and 3 181.7 per 100 000, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of female (2 591.8 per 100 000 and 2 060.9 per 100 000). Compared with regions with different SDI, the age standardized YLD rate, the age standardized YLL rate, the age standardized DALY rate in China were all at a high level. Among them, the age-standardized YLD rate increased from 286.2 per 100 000 to 374.5 per 100 000, with a rate of change of 30.9%; the age-standardized YLL rate decreased from 3 215.6 per 100 000 to 1 967.8 per 100 000, with a rate of change of -38.8%; the age-standardized DALY rate increased from 3 501.8 per 100 000 to 2 342.3 per 100 000, with a rate of change of -33.1%. The top five risk factors for stroke in China were hypertension, excessive sodium intake, insufficient fruit intake, insufficient cereal intake, and smoking in 1990 and 2017. High Body-Mass Index and Alcohol Use's rankings rose from the 9th and 10th in 1990 to the 6th and 7th in 2017, respectively. Conclusion: The burden of stroke disease in China is at a high level, and hypertension is the primary risk factor.

[The spectrum of pathogens in 187 cases of pulmonary fungal disease diagnosed by histopathology-a retrospective analysis].

Objective: To investigate the spectrum of pathogens causing lung fungal disease diagnosed by histopathology through histochemical special staining, compared to the fungal culture results, and to further evaluate the diagnostic value of histochemical special staining in pulmonary fungal disease. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 187 cases of pulmonary fungal disease diagnosed by histopathology in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2001 to 2015 (including 92 cases with pulmonary resection or open lung biopsy, 33 with percutaneous lung biopsy and 62 ones with fiberoptic bronchoscopic lung biopsy). All cases were treated with hexamine silver, PAS, mucus carmine and acid-fast staining in addition to conventional HE staining. The clinical records and the fungal culture results were reviewed. Results: There were 103 male and 84 female patients, aged from 12 to 70 years [average (48±14) years]. There were 85 cases(45.5%) of pulmonary aspergillosis(including 60 cases of invasive infection and 25 cases of aspergilloma), 51 cases(27.3%) of pulmonary cryptococosis, 6 cases (3.2%)of pulmonary mucormycosis, 3 cases(1.6%) of pulmonary histoplasmosis, 3 cases (1.6%)of pulmonary candidiasis, and 2 cases (1.1%) of pneumocystosis, while in the remaining 37 cases (19.8%) the pathogens could not be clearly classified by microscopy due to limited tissue or degeneration. Among the 88 patients with pulmonary fungal disease diagnosed by histopathology from 2011 to 2015, 35 ones (39.9%) were detected by fungal culture (including lung biopsy, intraoperative swab, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum, etc.). The diagnostic results of 18 cases were completely consistent between histopathological examination and fungal culture (18/35, 51.4%), while 13 cases (13/35, 37.1%) were diagnosed by histopathology but no fungi were cultured, and in 3 cases (3/35,8.6%) the culture was positive for fungi which could not be classified clearly by histopathology. In another case the pathogen was found to be Cryptococcus histopathologically but the lavage culture grew"candida", but the patient's blood cryptococcal antigen was positive. Conclusions: Among patients with histopathological diagnosis of pulmonary fungal disease, pulmonary aspergillosis was the most common, followed by pulmonary cryptococcosis, pulmonary mucormycosis, pulmonary histoplasmosis, pulmonary candidiasis and pneumocystosis. A small number of cases could not be classified by histopathology through histochemical special staining. There was a high consistency in discovering fungal pathogens between pathological histochemical special staining and culture method, but 37% pulmonary fungal disease diagnosed by histopathology were culture negative. In practice, the role of histochemical special staining in diagnosing pulmonary fungal disease should be paid more attention.

Research Progress on Pathological Fibrosis of Sinoatrial Node.

ABSTRACT: Human heart rhythm is mainly regulated and controlled by the sinoatrial node. Fibrosis plays an important regulating role in adjusting the structural and functional integrity of the sinoatrial node pacemaker complex. In physiological state, the fibrosis degree of sinoatrial node is negatively correlated with heart rate, positively correlated with age and heart size, and can maintain a relatively stable heart rate. Pathological fibrosis of sinoatrial node can induce various types of arrhythmias which can result in sudden death. Determination of the mechanisms related to sinoatrial node pathological fibrosis could provide a target for clinical treatment of sinoatrial node fibrosis and diagnosis basis for forensic pathologists. This paper reviews the main mechanism of sinoatrial node pathological fibrosis, including abnormal activation of cardiac fibroblast cells in sinoatrial node, hyperplasia of epicardial adipose tissue, calcium clock disorder, artery stenosis, etc., introduces the test methods, diagnostic criteria as well as its role in sudden cardiac death and discusses the potential application, to provide reference for relevant research and application.

[Platelet derived growth factor-BB regulates phenotype transformation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via SIRT3 affecting glycolytic pathway].

Objective: To investigate whether platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) can regulate phenotypic transformation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) via SIRT3 affecting glycolytic pathway. Methods: The PASMCs were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats. PASMCs were divided into 3 groups by using 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), an inhibitor of the glycolytic pathway: normal control group, PDGF-BB group(30 ng/ml) and PDGF-BB (30 ng/ml)+2-DG (10 mmol/L) group. In lentivirus-mediated overexpression assay, cells were divided into control group, PDGF-BB group(30 ng/ml), PDGF-BB+deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) overexpression group and PDGF-BB+empty vector group. The expression levels of phenotype related index such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC), calponin, vimentin were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Meanwhile, the expression of α-SMA was detected by cellular immunofluorescence staining. EDU staining was used to detect the proliferation of PASMCs. The expression of SIRT3 was detected by Western blot. The expressions of glucose transporter 1 and aerobic glycolytic enzymes were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot in lentivirus-mediated overexpression assay. Results: (1) PDGF-BB affects PASMCs phenotypic transformation through glycolytic pathway: compared with normal control group, PDGF-BB significantly decreased the expressions of contractile phenotype markers such as α-SMA, SM-MHC, calponin mRNA and protein (all P<0.05), but it increased the expressions of the synthetic phenotype marker vimentin mRNA and protein (both P<0.05). Cellular immunofluorescence assay showed that PDGF-BB significantly decreased the number of α-SMA positive cells, while 2-DG reversed the process. (2) PDGF-BB promoted cell proliferation through glycolytic pathway: the proliferation of PASMCs was significantly higher in PDGF-BB group than in control group (P<0.05), and which could be significantly reduced by 2-DG (P<0.05). (3) PDGF-BB inhibited the expression of SIRT3 protein in PASMCs: the expression of SIRT3 protein in PDGF-BB group was lower than that in control group (P<0.05). (4) PDGF-BB affected glycolytic pathway through SIRT3:compared with the control group, PDGF-BB significantly increased the expression levels of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), hexokinase 2 (HK2) and 6-phosphfructo-2-kinase 3 (PFKFB3) mRNA (all P<0.05), which was reserved by over-expression of SIRT3. There were no significant difference in mRNA expression levels between PDGF-BB group and PDGF-BB+empty vector group (P>0.05).Compared with the control group, PDGF-BB significantly increased the expression levels of Glut1, HK2 and PFKFB3 protein(all P<0.05), which was reserved by over-expression of SIRT3. There were no significant differences in protein expression levels between PDGF-BB group and PDGF-BB+empty vector group (all P>0.05). Conclusion: PDGF-BB regulates phenotypic transformation of PASMCs via SIRT3 affecting glycolytic pathway.

Short communication: Effects of dietary addition of N-carbamoylglutamate on milk composition in mid-lactating dairy cows.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) on milk production and composition in mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows. Sixty multiparous cows with a mean body weight of 669 kg (standard deviation = 71) and 176 days in milk (standard deviation = 55) were blocked based on parity and milk production and randomly assigned into 4 treatments, a basal diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, or 40 g of NCG/d per cow. Milk yield and composition were recorded weekly, whereas dry matter intake and plasma variables were determined every 2 wk. The results showed that the addition of NCG had no effect on the dry matter intake and milk yield of the cows. Milk fat content and yield increased linearly with NCG addition. The contents of milk protein and total solid also increased linearly in the cows fed NCG, whereas the yield of protein was not affected by the treatments. Conversely, dietary addition of NCG increased the plasma nitric oxide content in a quadratic manner. Moreover, addition of NCG linearly increased the plasma Arg content. Overall, the results indicate that dietary NCG addition increased the milk protein and fat contents, which improved the milk quality of lactating dairy cows.

The interaction between smoking and CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism on lung cancer: a meta-analysis in the Chinese population.

Many studies have examined the interaction between CYP1A1 MspI gene polymorphism and smoking for the risk of lung cancer risk in Chinese, but their results have been inconsistent. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to ascertain this issue. PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid and other Chinese databases were searched to include all the relevant studies. Smoking status was categorised as 'smokers' and 'non-smokers.' The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random effect model. Subgroup analyses according to ethnicity, source of control and geographical location were also conducted. This meta-analysis identified 13 studies containing 2248 lung cases and 3079 controls. Overall, a significant association between lung cancer and the variants of CYP1A1 MspI was found among smokers (type B and type C combined vs. type A: OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.15-3.11, P = 0.000 for heterogeneity), whereas not found among non-smokers. Similar to the overall results, stratified analyses showed that the increased risk of lung cancer was observed in population-based studies and north China among smokers (OR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.03-2.66; OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.14-3.53). Our meta-analysis showed that there was an interaction between the CYP1A1 MspI and smoking on the risk of lung cancer in the Chinese population.

A first-principles study of the diffusion coefficients of alloying elements in dilute α-Ti alloys.

Using first-principles calculations accompanied by the transition state theory and an 8-frequency model, we present a comprehensive investigation of the diffusion coefficients of substitutional alloying elements X in dilute α-Ti alloys, where X denotes Al, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Zr, and Sn. The alloying elements Mo and Al exhibit a maximum and a minimum diffusion rate in dilute α-Ti alloys, respectively. It is found that the nearest-neighbor solute-vacancy binding energies and activation energies are roughly inversely proportional to the volume changes induced by solute atoms. There are two exceptions to this trend: Al and Mo. Besides the physical effect (i.e., solute size), two other key factors governing solute diffusion in dilute α-Ti are clarified: the chemical bonding characteristics and vibrational features of X-Ti pairs. It verifies that the ultrafast diffusivity of Mo arises from the interactions with Ti atoms by metallic bonds and its low-frequency contributions to lattice vibration, while the more covalent bonding nature and the high-frequency contributions to the lattice vibration of Al lead to its ultraslow diffusivity. In addition, the correlation effects of diffusion coefficients are non-negligible for the large solutes Ta, Nb, and Zr, in which the direct solute-vacancy migration barriers are much smaller than the solvent-vacancy migration barriers.

Trismus, xerostomia and nutrition status in nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors treated with radiation.

The aims of the study were to: (1) examine levels of trismus, xerostomia and nutritional status; (2) compare levels of trismus, xerostomia and nutritional status in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) receiving different types of radiation modalities; and (3) identify factors related to NPC survivors' risk status for malnutrition and existing malnutrition. A cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling was conducted. NPC survivors were recruited from otolaryngology/oncology outpatient clinics in a medical centre in Northern Taiwan. Study measures included (1) Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire, (2) Xerostomia Questionnaire, (3) Mini Nutrition Assessment, (4) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression subscale, and (5) Symptom Severity Scale. A total of 110 subjects were recruited. Those receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy had less trismus and xerostomia than patients receiving two-dimensional radiation therapy. Patients with female gender, advanced stage, completion of treatments within 1 year, higher levels of depression, more severe trismus and higher symptom severity tended to have malnutrition or were at risk of malnutrition. Trismus and xerostomia are long-term problems in some NPC survivors and may contribute to malnutrition. To better manage a patient's trismus and xerostomia and to enhance nutritional status, clinicians should develop a patient-specific care programme based on careful assessment and targeted measures to improve oral function and insure adequate nutritional intake.

[CD137-CD137L signaling promotes angiogenesis in atherosclerosis plaque of mice through activating nuclear factor of activated T cells c1].

Objective: To explore whether CD137-CD137L signaling can promote angiogenesis in atherosclerosis plaque via activating nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1). Methods: Apolipoprotein E knock out mice were divided into the following groups: control group (n=5), CD137 activated group(n=5)and CD137 inhibited group (n=5). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of CD31 in aortic plaque. Endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were purchased from ATCC and divided into the following groups: control group, IgG isotype control group, CD137 activated group and CD137 inhibited group. Western blot was used to determine total protein and nucleoprotein expression of NFATc1. The expression level of CD137 protein on the surface of endothelial cells was detected by flow cytometry(FCM) and CD137 protein of lysate of endothelial cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transwell assay was used to observe the migration ability of endothelial cells.Matrigel tube formation ability of endothelial cells were tested in the following groups: control group, CD137 activated group, silent NFATc1 + CD137 activated group, CD137 inhibited group, and over expressed NFATc1+ CD137 inhibited group. Results: (1) In vivo, the expression level of CD31 was significantly higher in the aortic plaque of CD137 activated group than in control group(1 191±187 vs. 115±30, P<0.05), while which was significantly downregulated in CD137 inhibited group(450±92, P<0.05). (2) The level of nucleoprotein(3.07±0.03 vs. 1.00±0.00, P<0.05) and total protein(2.18±0.30 vs. 1.00±0.00, P<0.05) of NFATc1 were significantly higher in CD137 activated group than in IgG isotype control group. The level of nucleoprotein(0.82±0.04) and total protein(0.84 ± 0.09) of NFATc1 were significantly lower in CD137 inhibited group than in CD137 activated group(both P<0.05). (3) FCM results showed that the fluorescence intensity of CD137 on the cell membrane was significantly higher in endothelial cells stimulated by TNF-α than in normal endothelial cells(5 163±329 vs. 1 660±162, P<0.05). (4) ELISA examination showed that the level of CD137 protein was significantly higher in endothelial cells stimulated by TNF-α than in normal endothelial cells ((573.4±23.7)pg/mg vs.(69.5±16.7)pg/mg, P<0.05). (5) Migration cell number was remarkably higher in CD137 activated group than in IgG isotype control group(1.19±0.13 vs. 1.00±0.00, P<0.05) and significantly lower in CD137 inhibited group(0.82±0.06)than in control group (P<0.05). (6) Values of the formation of the tube length ((5.76±0.18)mm vs. (4.21±0.11)mm, P<0.05) and branch number (29.38±1.28 vs. 21.13±0.96, P<0.05) were both significantly higher in CD137 activated group than in the control group. The formation of the tube length ((1.90±0.11)mm) and branch number(8.91±0.72)were significantly lower in silent NFATc1 + CD137 activated group than in the CD137 activated group (both P<0.05). The formation of the tube length((1.28±0.34)mm) and branch number(5.07±0.35)were also significantly decreased in the CD137 inhibited group compared with the CD137 activated group (both P<0.05). Compared with the CD137 inhibited group, the formation of the tube length((4.82±0.09)mm) and branch number(24.44±1.05) in the over expressed NFATc1+ CD137 inhibited group was increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: CD137 can promote the angiogenesis in atherosclerosis plaque by activating NFATc1.

[In vivo and in vitro effects of CD137 stimulation on vascular calcification in high fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect and related mechanism of CD137 stimulation on aortic atherosclerotic plaque calcification in high fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice and on calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods: (1) ApoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet were randomly divided into 3 groups: CD137 activated group (treated by 200 µg CD137 agonist i. p. once per week for 6 weeks, n=5); CD137 inhibited group (anti-CD137 group: 200 µg anti-CD137 antibody + 200 µg CD137 agonist, i. p., once per week for 6 weeks, n=5) and control group (n=5). Von kossa staining was used to observe the calcification of the aortic plaque and VSMCs. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of BMP-2 and Runx2 which are known mediators of osteogenic differentiation. (2) The mouse aortic VSMCs were obtained by Patch-attaching method. The calcium content was measured by Methylthymol Blue complexone method. The mRNA expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and Runx2 were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). The protein levels of BMP-2, Runx2 of the VSMCs were determined by Western blot. Results: (1) In vivo, the plaque calcified area in ApoE-/- mice was significantly larger in CD137-agonist group than that in control group ((1.75±0.33)×104 µm2 vs. (0.23±0.07)×104 µm2,P<0.01), and this effect was significantly reduced by cotreatment with CD137-antagonist ((0.83±0.30)×104 µm2 vs. (1.75 ±0.33)×104 µm2,P<0.05). The levels of BMP-2 and Runx2 were all significantly upregulated in CD137-agonist group than in control group (both P<0.01), again, this effect was blocked by cotreatment with CD137-antagonist (P<0.05). (2) Consistent with the in vivo results, VSMCs calcification was also more serious in CD137-agonist group than in control group, which could be significantly attenuated by cotreatment with CD137-antagonist. In VSMCs, calcium content level in CD137-agonist group was higher than in control group ((0.001 3±0.000 2) mmol/mg protein vs. (0.000 7±0.000 1) mmol/mg protein, P<0.01), which could be significantly reduced by co-treatment with CD137-antagonist ((0.000 9±0.000 2) mmol/mg protein vs. (0.001 3±0.000 2) mmol/mg protein, P<0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of BMP-2 and Runx2 were significantly upregulated in CD137-agonist group compared with the control group (P<0.05), which could be significantly down-regulated by cotreatment with CD-137 antagonist (P<0.05). Conclusion: CD137 activation can promote vascular calcification in high fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice both in vivo and in vitro.

Electroluminescence enhancement in InGaN light-emitting diode during the electrical stressing process.

This study of the optoelectronic properties of blue light-emitting diodes under direct current stress. It is found that the electroluminescence intensity increases with duration of stress, and the efficiency droop curves illustrated that the peak-efficiency and the peak-efficiency-current increases and decreases, respectively. We hypothesize that these behaviors mainly result from the increased internal quantum efficiency.

Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes modify the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers: HapMap database analysis.

Although alcohol is associated with higher upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer risk, only a small fraction of alcoholics develop cancers. There is a lack of evidence proving the association of tag single nucleotide polymorphisms of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes with cancer risk. The aim of this study was to determine the association of these genetic polymorphisms with UADT cancer risk in a Chinese population. It was a hospital-based case-control candidate gene study. The databases of the International HapMap Project were searched for haplotype tag single nucleotide polymorphisms of the genes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)1B, ADH1C, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)2. The genotyping was performed by the Sequenom MassARRAY system. Totally, 120 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 138 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, and 276 age- and gender-matched subjects were enrolled between June 2008 and June 2010.Minor alleles of ADH1B (rs1229984) and ALDH2(rs671) were not only associated with the risk of UADT cancers (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval, CI]: 3.53 [2.14-5.80] and 2.59 [1.79-3.75], respectively) but also potentiated the carcinogenic effects of alcohol (OR [95% CI]: 53.44 [25.21-113.29] and 70.08 [33.65-145.95], respectively). Similar effects were observed for head/neck and esophageal cancer subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified four significant risk factors, including habitual use of cigarettes, alcohol, betel quid, and lower body mass index (P < 0.001). The haplotypes GAGC (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.08-2.40, P = 0.018) and CCAATG (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.24-2.30, P < 0.001) on chromosomes 4 and 12, respectively, were associated with higher cancer risk. These findings suggested that risk allele or haplotype carriers who consume alcohol and other carcinogens should be advised to undergo endoscopy screening. The information can be used to determine the degree of susceptibility of each subject and can be combined with other environmental factors, like carcinogen consumption, in the screening analysis.

First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria tenuissima on Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) in Western Australia.

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plants in a commercial plantation at Yanchep, Western Australia, in April and May 2013, showed a widespread leaf spotting condition. Leaf lesions were circular to irregular, light brown to gray, 1 to 5 mm in diameter, with distinct dark brownish red borders. A fungus was consistently recovered by plating surface-sterilized (1% NaOCl) sections of symptomatic leaf tissue onto water agar and sub-culturing onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). For conidial production, the fungus was grown on PDA under a 12-h/12-h dark/light photoperiod at 25°C. Fungal colonies had a dark olive color on both sides, with loose, cottony mycelium on the surface of cultures. Isolates showed morphological similarities to Alternaria tenuissima as described in other reports (1,3). Simple conidiophores ranged from 16.3 to 96.6 µm (mean 37.5 µm) and produced numerous conidia in long chains. Conidia ranged from 7.0 to 23.9 µm (mean 13.9 µm) in length and 3.9 to 7.5 µm (mean 5.7 µm) in width, contained two to five transverse septa, but only an occasional longitudinal septum was observed. Using a representative isolate, a PCR-based assay with the ITS1 and ITS4 primers was used to amplify from the 3' end of 16S rRNA, across ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 to the 5' end of the 26S rRNA (4). The DNA products were sequenced and BLAST analyses were used to compare sequences with those in GenBank (2). The sequence had ≥99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank (Accession No. KC568287) for A. tenuissima. The relevant information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (KF408355). A conidial suspension of 2.5 × 105 conidia ml-1 from a single-spore culture was spot inoculated onto 20 leaves, ranging from recently emerged to oldest, of 6-month-old V. corymbosum Nellie Kelly plants maintained at 18/13°C 12-h/12-h day/night and >90% relative humidity for 72 h post inoculation. Symptoms were evident by 18 days post inoculation and by 24 days consisted of pale brown lesions that were mostly 2.1 to 2.5 µm in diameter and with distinct dark brownish red borders. A. tenuissima, showing morphological characteristics identical to those described above, was re-isolated from lesions to fulfill Koch's postulates. No lesions occurred on an equivalent number of leaves of control plants inoculated with only deionized water. A culture of this representative isolate has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13639). A. tenuissima has been reported across Australia on a range of other hosts. However, on V. corymbosum, the pathogen has only previously been recorded in Tasmania (2009). It may also have been the cause of a leaf spotting condition on V. corymbosum recorded in Victoria (1976) and New South Wales (1984), but mistakenly listed with A. alternata as the cause. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of A. tenuissima on V. corymbosum in Western Australia. With 10 to 30% of leaves showing disease symptoms widely spread on many V. corymbosum plants in the commercial plantation, this pathogen could potentially adversely affect the future production of blueberries in Western Australia. References: (1) F. L. Caruso and R. C. Ramsdell, eds. Compendium of Blueberry and Cranberry Diseases. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1995. (2) J. C. Kang et al. Mycol. Res. 106:1151, 2002. (3) E. G. Simmons. Mycotaxon 70:325, 1999. (4) T. J. White et al. Pages 315-322 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

Airway pH monitoring in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea using the Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe: preliminary report of a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) episodes and pH values in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) using the Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients with complaint of snoring or suspected OSA were prospectively enrolled to receive full nocturnal polysomnography (PSG). The patients were divided into 2 groups: a simple snorers group if the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) was < 5 and an OSA group if the RDI was ≥ 5. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients simultaneously received Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe monitoring for 12 h from about 6 pm to 6 am of the next day. The number of LPR events was recorded if the nadir of rapid pH drops was below pH 5.0 and 5.5. The difference of LPR events between the two groups and the difference of LPR events between awake and sleep periods in each group were analysed, respectively. RESULTS: There were 18 (45%) patients diagnosed as OSA with a mean RDI of 28.7, and 22 patients (55%) diagnosed as simple snorers. Between 2 groups, there were no significant differences in the LPR events and pH values during the awake period, sleep period or overall recording period. Comparison of the LPR events and minimum pH values between the awake period and the sleep period revealed there were no significant differences in either group. CONCLUSION: Using the new sensitive Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe with PSG, we found that OSA does not correlate with a higher incidence of LPR episodes.

Early recognition of pelvic floor dyssynergia and colorectal assessment in Parkinson's disease associated with bowel dysfunction.

AIM: Slow colonic transit time (CTT) and pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) are major contributors to constipation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, no symptom survey yet exists that effectively differentiates the contributing aetiologies. The significance of individual pelvic floor musculature behaviours and their relationship with colorectal dysmotility in constipated patients with PD are still controversial and need further clarification. We aimed to investigate how differentiated constipation-related symptoms of PD patients with constipation may identify constipation groupings and to register the pathophysiological features of the pelvic musculature. METHOD: Our subjects undertook CTT, defaecography and the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom questionnaire. The pathological aetiologies were categorized as group 1 (slow CTT) and/or group 2 (puborectalis syndrome) and/or group 3 (pubococcygeus syndrome), in accordance with the CTT and defaecography results. RESULTS: Constipation-related symptoms such as incomplete evacuation and defaecation difficulty yielded high post-test probabilities (81% and 88%, respectively) in groups 3 and 2, but a low post-test probability in group 1 (58%). Changes in the anorectal angle and perineum descent during straining were significantly correlated with CTT (r = 0.57 and r = 0.61, respectively) and with each other (r = 0.82). CONCLUSION: Our findings that neural control of the puborectalis and pubococcygeus, along with colorectal peristalsis, were in a similar state of degeneration is key information that should assist physicians to instigate more effective management for colonic dysmotility or PFD.

First Report of Rice Blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) on Rice (Oryza sativa) in Western Australia.

Commercial rice crops (Oryza sativa L.) have been recently reintroduced to the Ord River Irrigation Area in northern Western Australia. In early August 2011, unusual leaf spot symptoms were observed by a local rice grower on rice cultivar Quest. A leaf spot symptom initially appeared as grey-green and/or water soaked with a darker green border and then expanded rapidly to several centimeters in length and became light tan in color with a distinct necrotic border. Isolations from typical leaf lesions were made onto water agar, subcultured onto potato dextrose agar, and maintained at 20°C. A representative culture was lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (WAC 13466) and as a herbarium specimen in the Plant Pathology Herbarium, Plant Biosecurity Science (BRIP 54721). Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and (ITS)2 regions flanking the 5.8S rRNA gene were carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 (4). The PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analyses used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. The sequence had 99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for Magnaporthe oryzae B.C. Couch, the causal agent of rice blast, the most important fungal disease of rice worldwide (1). Additional sequencing with the primers Bt1a/Bt1b for the ß-tubulin gene, primers ACT-512F/ACT-783R for the actin gene, and primers CAL-228F/CAL-737R for the calmodulin gene showed 100% identity in each case with M. oryzae sequences in GenBank, confirming molecular similarity with other reports, e.g., (1). The relevant sequence information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (GenBank Accession Nos. JQ911754 for (ITS) 1 and 2; JX014265 for ß-tubulin; JX035809 for actin; and JX035808 for calmodulin). Isolates also showed morphological similarity with M. oryzae as described in other reports, e.g., (3). Spores of M. oryzae were produced on rice agar under "black light" at 21°C for 4 weeks. Under 30/28°C (day/night), 14/12 h (light/dark), rice cv. Quest was grown for 7 weeks, and inoculated by spraying a suspension 5 × 105 spores/ml onto foliage until runoff occurred. Inoculated plants were placed under a dark plastic covering for 72 h to maximize humidity levels around leaves, and subsequently maintained under >90% RH conditions. Typical symptoms of rice blast appeared within 14 days of inoculation and were as described above. Infection studies were successfully repeated and M. oryzae was readily reisolated from leaf lesions. No disease symptoms were observed nor was M. oryzae isolated from water-inoculated control rice plants. There have been previous records of rice blast in the Northern Territory (2) and Queensland, Australia (Australian Plant Pest Database), but this is the first report of M. oryzae in Western Australia, where it could potentially be destructive if conditions prove conducive. References: (1) B. C. Couch and L. M. Kohn. Mycologia 94:683, 2002; (2) J. B. Heaton. The Aust. J. Sci. 27:81, 1964; (3) C. V. Subramanian. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria No 169, Pyricularia oryzae, 1968; (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, New York, 1990.