Serum hsCRP in early pregnancy and preterm delivery in twin gestations: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation during pregnancy may be associated with preterm delivery (PTD), but data for twin gestations are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of inflammation, in early pregnancy of twin gestations with risk of PTD, including spontaneous (sPTD) and medical-induced preterm delivery (mPTD). METHODS: A prospective cohort study involved 618 twin gestations was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, from 2017 to 2020. Serum samples collected in early pregnancy were analyzed for hsCRP using particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. Unadjusted and adjusted geometric means (GM) of hsCRP were estimated using linear regression, and compared between PTD before 37 weeks of gestation and term delivery at 37 or more weeks of gestation using Mann-Whitney rank sum test. The association between hsCRP tertiles and PTDs was estimated using logistic regression, and further converted overestimated odds ratios into relative risks (RR). RESULTS: A total of 302 (48.87%) women were classified as PTD, with 166 sPTD and 136 mPTD. The adjusted GM of serum hsCRP was higher in PTDs (2.13 mg/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09 -2.16) compared to term deliveries (1.84 mg/L, 95% CI 1.80 -1.88) (P < 0.001). Compared with the lowest tertile of hsCRP, the highest tertile was associated with increased risk of PTD (adjusted relative risks [ARR] 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.78). Among twin pregnancies, the adjusted association between high values of serum hsCRP in early pregnancy and preterm delivery was only observed in the subgroup of spontaneous preterm deliveries (ARR 1.49, 95%CI:1.08-1.93). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated hsCRP in early pregnancy was associated with increased risk of PTD, particular the risk of sPTD in twin gestations.

Transcriptomic analysis of diapause-associated genes in Exorista civilis Rondani (Diptera:Tachinidae).

Exorista civilis Rondani (Diptera:Tachinidae) is an excellent dominant parasitic enemy all over the world. But there has been a lack of research on the molecular regulation of diapause in E. civilis. To investigate the important diapause-associated genes and metabolic pathways in E. civilis, we can provide a theoretical basis for clarifying the molecular mechanism of diapause at the transcriptome level. The Illumina HiSeq. 2000 platform was used to perform transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of the non-diapause and diapause pupae of E. civilis. 58,050 unigenes were successfully assembled, in which 4355 upregulated and 3158 downregulated unigenes were differentially expressed. Moreover, by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichments, 896 kinds of the differentially expressed genes were specifically analyzed and showed that diapause-associated genes were related to be involved in the pathways of cold resistance, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. Furthermore, these upregulated five genes showed the same trends of expression patterns between quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and RNA-Seq. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further study of the diapausing molecular mechanisms of E. civilis.

Association of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms with COPD in the Mongolian population of China.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disorder with increasing prevalence and mortality, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. ADAM33 gene has been found to be associated with asthma, declined lung function and COPD. AIM: The aim of this study was to find out if SNPs in ADAM33 (V4, T+1, T1, T2, S1, S2, Q-1 and F+1) play any role in genetic susceptibility to COPD in the Mongolian population of China. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen Mongolian COPD patients and 223 Mongolian healthy individuals were recruited for the study. Eight polymorphic loci (V4, T+1, T2, T1, S2, S1, Q-1, and F+1) of ADAM33 were selected for genotyping. Genotyping was carried out using the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: Seven SNPs in ADAM33 were associated with COPD (T+1, p = 0.014; T2, p = 0.018; T1, p = 0.048; S2, p = 0.003; S1, p = 0.000; Q-1, p = 0.000 and F+1, p = 0.000), even after Bonferroni correction, SNPs S2, S1, Q-1 and F+1 remained significant. Haplotype analysis showed that the frequencies of haplotype H1 (GGAGGGT), H5 (GGAGGGC) and H10 (GGGGAGT) were significantly higher in the COPD group than in the control group (p = 0.002, 0.031 and 0.009, respectively). In contrast, the haplotype H11 (GGACAGC) was more common in the control group than in the case group (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Seven SNPs in ADAM33 were associated with COPD in the Mongolian population of China.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RS20D Alleviates Male Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Pubertal Exposure to Di-n-butyl Phthalate and Mono-n-butyl Phthalate.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) and their metabolites, such as di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), are known to cause male reproductive damage. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RS20D has demonstrated the ability to remove both DBP and MBP in vitro, suggesting its potential as a detoxifying agent against these compounds. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of RS20D on DBP or MBP-induced male reproductive toxicity in adolescent rats. Oral administration of RS20D significantly mitigated the histological damage to the testes caused by MBP or DBP, restored sperm concentration, morphological abnormalities, and the proliferation index in MBP-exposed rats, and partially reversed spermatogenic damage in DBP-exposed rats. Furthermore, RS20D restored serum levels of estradiol (E2) and testosterone, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in DBP-exposed rats, significantly increased testosterone levels in MBP-exposed rats, and restored copper (Cu) concentrations in the testes after exposure to DBP or MBP. Additionally, RS20D effectively modulated the intestinal microbiota in DBP-exposed rats and partially ameliorated dysbiosis induced by MBP, which may be associated with the alleviation of reproductive toxic effects induced by DBP or MBP. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that RS20D administration can alleviate male reproductive toxicity and gut dysbacteriosis induced by DBP or MBP exposure, providing a dietary strategy for the bioremediation of PAEs and their metabolites.

The sources and metabolic dynamics of Schistosoma japonicum DNA in serum of the host.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has turned out to be one of the most potential tools for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. However, the source and metabolic dynamics of Schistosoma japonicum DNA in the blood of hosts is not clear. In this study, rabbit models with monosexual and mixed sexual cercariae infection were established to interpret the source of the parasite DNA in serum of the hosts. Following administration of praziquantel at 7 weeks postinfection, the metabolic mechanism of S. japonicum DNA in serum of the hosts was studied. The findings showed that, for the monosexual cercariae infection, the parasite DNA was detectable in serum of the host from day 3 to week 3 postinfection, while for the mixed sexual cercariae infection, the detection results were continually positive during the 7 weeks after infection. After treatment with praziquantel, detection of S. japonicum DNA in rabbit sera became positive at the second day posttreatment, and the positive period lasted 3 weeks in the monosexual cercariae infection group. However, with the mixed sexual cercariae infection group, the PCR results remained positive for 16 weeks after treatment. We conclude that the S. japonicum DNA in host serum primarily comes from the residual body of dead schistosomula and/or tegument shedding of worm growing in the first 4 weeks postinfection, while during the spawning stage of the female schistosome, the parasite DNA mainly comes from the disintegration of inactive eggs. The duration from treatment to total elimination of worm origin DNA in serum is not exceeding 3 weeks. However, the DNA release from inactive eggs can last for more than 16 weeks. Further studies are needed to address the sources and metabolic dynamics of S. japonicum DNA in human serum.

[The clinical characteristics and prognosis of 92 cases of delayed occurrence of retinoblastoma].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively summarize the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma (RB) patients in the children aged 5 years or above. METHODS: This was a case-series study. Total of 92 patients (107 eyes) with RB aged 5 years or above in Department of Pediatric,Beijing Tongren Hospital from September 2005 to May 2010 were included in the study. The diagnosis of RB was established using clinical examination and histopathology analysis.Statistical analysis in the characteristics of disease and initial symptoms was performed in 92 cases. Kaplan-Meier curve was employed to analyze the survival function. RESULTS: (1) The medium age of the patients was 6.25-year. Male accounted for 66.30% (61/92) and female was 33.69% (31/92) . According to the results of statistical scatter diagram, the age of the disease onset was ranged from 5.00 to 8.33 years. Percentile for age 5.77, 5.83 and 7.85 years were the 25th, 50th, 75th respectively. (2) In 92 cases, 83.69% (77/92) of the patients were unilateral RB and 16.31% (15/92) were bilateral RB. (3) Leukocoria was the most common manifestation in the diagnosis early RB, accounting for 55.43% (51/92) .Secondary symptoms were blurred vision, eye redness and photophobia, accounting for 23.91% (22/92). Other symptoms included strabismus, proptosis, glaucoma and the abnormal in fundus examination, accounting for 20.64% (19/92) .No family history of RB was found in all of cases studied. (4) Among 107 eyes with RB, 76 eyes were enucleated up to February 2013. The rate of enucleation was 71.02%. (5) By February 2013, the average following-up time was 39 months, during the time 1 case was lost, 6 cases were dead, the overall survival rate was 93.46% (85/92) . The result of Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the estimates of 5-year expected average total survival time was (72.61 ± 1.89) months(95%confidence interval was 68.9-76.3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral RB are the most common cases in the age of 5 years or above, and the most common symptom is Leukocoria.Overall survival rate of older RB patient is high with comprehensive treatment.

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethyl chitosan/pullulan composite film incorporated with eugenol and its application in the preservation of chilled meat.

To solve the problem of easy spoilage of chilled meat during storage, we fabricated a novel composite film using carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/pullulan (Pul)/eugenol (E) by casting method. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the films were better when the CMCS/Pul ratio was 2.5/2.5. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonds were formed among E, CMCS, and Pul, which was consistent with the rheological test results. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images showed that eugenol was well dispersed in the CMCS/Pul matrix. The addition of eugenol significantly increased the antibacterial properties and antioxidant properties. Moreover, when 5% eugenol was added, the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film reduced to 2.41 × 10-11 g/m·s·Pa. Finally, the freshness of the chilled meat wrapped with the eugenol-containing composite film was prolonged, thereby offering a potential alternative to synthetic materials.

[Evaluation of Low Concentration Dithiothreitol for Negating the Monoclonal Anti-CD38 Interference with Transfusion Compatibility Testing].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low concentration dithiothreitol (DTT) in removing the interference of monoclonal anti-CD38 on transfusion compatibility testing, and develop a reasonable clinical transfusion strategy. METHODS: The blood type, direct antiglobulin testing (DAT) and antibody screening were tested according to standard methods. Antibody screening cells and donor's red blood cells were treated by DTT 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.005 mol/L, and antibody screening and cross-matching of serums after monoclonal anti-CD38 treatment were performed by anti-human globulin card. RESULTS: The 0.01 mol/L DTT at 37℃ for 30 minutes could remove the effect of monoclonal anti-CD38 on antibody screening and cross-matching, meanwhile retain their effectiveness in detecting anti-K, anti-LW, anti-JMH, anti-Lub, anti-e, anti-Dia and anti-Jka alloantibodies. All the 10 patients had no acute or delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions and their routine blood tests showed that the red blood cells transfusion was effective. CONCLUSION: The 0.01 mol/L DTT is a safe and effective method for removing the interference of monoclonal anti-CD38 with transfusion compatibility testing, while retaining the ability to detect most alloantibodies.

[Establishment of human colorectal tissue model in HIV-1 mucosal infection].

OBJECTIVE: To establish human colorectal tissue model in HIV-1 mucosal infection and by using pseudotyped virus to simulate the biological process of HIV-1 mucosal infection from HIV-1 entering into mucosa to local infection establishment. METHODS: Tumor adjacent normal colorectal tissues were obtained with informed consent. After excised the muscularis externa, the mucosa and submucosa were dissected into the same blocks and cultured in 12-well cell culture plates. The cultured tissue structure and morphology were observed from day 0 to day 13 by staining with the hematoxylin eosin (HE), and the tissue activity was detected by 3(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The established tissues explants were infected by a single cycle replicated pseudotyped virus and propagated for 6 - 7 days, then subjected to the detection of p24 production within supernatant to verify the applicability of the model for the studying of HIV-1 mucosal infection. The applicability of the established explants for safety and reactivity evaluation of mucosa topical drugs was conducted by the using of first generation antiseptic Nonoxynol-9 (N-9) as an example. RESULTS: HE staining showed the structure of colorectal tissue was remained well until 5(th) day and still evident until 13(th) day. The tissue activity of cultured mucosa was above 80% at day 4, and still remained over 50% at day 7 as detected by MTT assay. After infected by pseudo virus, the increased level of p24 was detected from supernatant collected on 1(st), 4(th), 8(th) day, which indicated a local infection was created. In addition, the dose changing of N-9 was reflected sensitively by the activity of this model. CONCLUSION: Ex vivo human colorectal tissue model mimic HIV-1 mucosal infection was established that can be used to replicate the bioprocess of human HIV-1 mucosal infection.

FTIR analysis of protein secondary structure in cheddar cheese during ripening.

Proteolysis is one of the most important biochemical reactions during cheese ripening. Studies on the secondary structure of proteins during ripening would be helpful for characterizing protein changes for assessing cheese quality. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), with self-deconvolution, second derivative analysis and band curve-fitting, was used to characterize the secondary structure of proteins in Cheddar cheese during ripening. The spectra of the amide I region showed great similarity, while the relative contents of the secondary structures underwent a series of changes. As ripening progressed, the alpha-helix content decreased and the beta-sheet content increased. This structural shift was attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonds that resulted from hydrolysis of caseins. In summary, FTIR could provide the basis for rapid characterization of cheese that is undergoing ripening.

Altered Functional Segregated Sensorimotor, Associative, and Limbic Cortical-Striatal Connections in Parkinson's Disease: An fMRI Investigation.

Multiple studies have identified segregated functional territories in the basal ganglia for the control of goal-directed and habitual actions. It has been suggested that in PD, preferential loss of dopamine in the posterior putamen may cause a major deficit in habitual control (mediated by the sensorimotor cortical-striatal loop), and the patients may therefore be forced into a progressive reliance on the goal-directed behavior (regulated by the associative cortical-striatal loop). Functional evidence supporting this point is scarce at present. This study aims to verify the functional connectivity changes within the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic cortical-striatal loops in PD. Resting-state fMRI of 70 PD patients and 30 controls were collected. Bilateral tripartite functional territories of basal ganglia and their associated cortical structures were chosen as regions of interest, including ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex for limbic loop; dorsomedial striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for associative loop; dorsolateral striatum and sensorimotor cortex for sensorimotor loop. Pearson's correlation coefficients for each seed pair were calculated to obtain the functional connectivity. The relationships between functional connectivity and disease severity were further investigated. Functional connectivity between dorsolateral striatum and sensorimotor cortex is decreased in PD patients, and negatively correlated with disease duration; whereas functional connectivity between dorsomedial striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is also decreased but postitively correlated with disease duration. The functional connectivity within the sensorimotor loop is pathologically decreased in PD, while the altered connectivity within the associative loop may indicate a failed attempt to compensate for the loss of connectivity within the sensorimotor loop.

Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and their associations with diet and physical activity in suburban Beijing, China.

BACKGROUND: We calculated new prevalences of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and examined their associations with dietary habits and physical activity in a suburban area of Beijing--one of the most urbanized cities in China. METHODS: In 2007, a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 19,003 suburban residents aged 18 to 76 years was conducted. Dietary and anthropometric data were collected by questionnaire, and blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and serum lipids were measured. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalences of the CVD risk factors overweight/obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (MS) were 31.9%, 6.1%, 33.6%, 30.3%, and 11.6%, respectively. The adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of overweight/obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and MS for participants who were physically active, as compared with those who were not physically active, were 0.67 (0.47 to 0.85), 0.87 (0.80 to 0.95), 0.92 (0.87 to 0.98), 0.89 (0.82 to 0.96), and 0.74 (0.62 to 0.89), respectively. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of hypertension and MS for participants with a high intake of salt, as compared with those without a high intake of salt, were 1.72 (1.29 to 2.03) and 1.48 (1.16 to 1.77), respectively. In addition, participants who consumed a high-fat diet were more likely to be overweight/obese and dyslipidemic, whereas vegetarians had less risk of overweight/obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and MS. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of adults living in suburban Beijing, there were relatively high prevalences of the CVD risk factors overweight/obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and MS. Healthy dietary habits and physical activity may reduce the risks of these conditions.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves Parkinson's freezing of gait via normalizing brain connectivity.

Robust, effective treatments for Parkinson's freezing of gait remain elusive. Our previous study revealed beneficial effects of high-frequency rTMS over the supplementary motor area. The present study aims to explore the neural mechanisms of rTMS treatments utilizing novel exploratory multivariate approaches. We first conducted a resting-state functional MRI study with a group of 40 Parkinson's disease patients with freezing of gait, 31 without freezing of gait, and 30 normal controls. A subset of 30 patients with freezing of gait (verum group: N = 20; sham group: N = 10) who participated the aforementioned rTMS study underwent another scan after the treatments. Using the baseline scans, the imaging biomarkers for freezing of gait and Parkinson's disease were developed by contrasting the connectivity profiles of patients with freezing of gait to those without freezing of gait and normal controls, respectively. These two biomarkers were then interrogated to assess the rTMS effects on connectivity patterns. Results showed that the freezing of gait biomarker was negatively correlated with Freezing of Gait Questionnaire score (r = -0.6723, p < 0.0001); while the Parkinson's disease biomarker was negatively correlated with MDS-UPDRS motor score (r = -0.7281, p < 0.0001). After the rTMS treatment, both the freezing of gait biomarker (0.326 ± 0.125 vs. 0.486 ± 0.193, p = 0.0071) and Parkinson's disease biomarker (0.313 ± 0.126 vs. 0.379 ± 0.155, p = 0.0378) were significantly improved in the verum group; whereas no significant biomarker changes were found in the sham group. Our findings indicate that high-frequency rTMS over the supplementary motor area confers the beneficial effect jointly through normalizing abnormal brain functional connectivity patterns specifically associated with freezing of gait, in addition to normalizing overall disrupted connectivity patterns seen in Parkinson's disease.

Pet ownership in utero and in childhood decreases the effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on hypertension in children: A large population based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about whether exposure to pets influences the association between hypertension and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The current study aims to examine the interaction of pet ownership on ETS exposure and the development of hypertension in children. METHODS: From 2012 to 2013, a total of 9354 children, 5 to 17 years of age, were recruited from 62 schools in seven northeastern cities. BP in children was measured and hypertension was defined as an average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or systolic blood pressure (SBP) at or above the 95th percentile for that child's age, sex, and height. Pet ownership in three different time periods (in utero, past 2 years, and currently) and ETS exposure data were collected from parents via a questionnaire. Two-level regressions were used for the data analyses. RESULTS: The data show consistent, significant interactions between exposure to pets and effects from ETS. Children who were not exposed to pets experienced stronger effects from ETS on hypertension when compared to those exposed to pets, and the protective effect of pet ownership became stronger with a greater number of pets in the home. Exposure to in utero ETS was associated with hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.54] only for those children without pet exposure in utero but not for those with pets (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.49-1.15) (pinteraction < 0.05). Moreover, household dog ownership was related to significantly lower effects of current ETS on hypertension (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61-1.05) compared with children without dogs (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11-1.44) (pinteraction = 0.001). Interaction associations between ETS and pet ownership were more robust for girls than for boys and for younger than older children. CONCLUSION: This study indicates an inverse relationship between pet ownership and ETS, potentially pointing to pet ownership as protecting against the development of hypertension in children.

Estradiol promotes trophoblast viability and invasion by activating SGK1.

BACKGROUND: 17ß-Estradiol (E2) is a critical regulator of trophoblast function during pregnancy. Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK1) has been shown to regulate specific cellular targets downstream of E2. However, whether and how SGK1 directly mediates the regulatory effects of E2 on trophoblasts functions remain unknown. METHODS: SGK1 expression in human villous samples and serum E2 levels were measured in women with early pregnancy loss (EPL) and healthy pregnant women. The effect of E2 on SGK1 regulation was assessed using luciferase reporter gene assay and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assay. The mediation of regulatory effects of E2 by SGK1 on trophoblast functions including cell viability, invasion and related signaling molecules such as B cell leukemia/lymphoma 6, E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase 2, α-ENaC, vascular endothelial growth factor, and the phosphorylation status of FOXO1 and AKT were evaluated in HTR8/SVneo cells transfected with SGK1 knockdown plasmid with/without E2 treatment. RESULTS: SGK1 protein levels in human villous samples and serum E2 levels were decreased in patients with EPL compared to controls. E2 (10 nM) increased SGK1 promoter activity directly through estrogen receptor. E2-activated SGK1 enhanced cell viability, invasion and downstream targets in trophoblast cells. SGK1 knockdown abrogated the above responses to E2 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SGK1 mediates the effects of E2 on trophoblast viability and invasion, suggesting that SGK1 acts as a key node in regulating the cross-talk at the feto-maternal interface during the development of placenta and might be a potential therapeutic target for EPL.

High-frequency rTMS over the supplementary motor area improves freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Freezing of gait (FOG) contributes to falls in Parkinson's disease (PD), but robust, effective treatments remain elusive. There is evidence indicating that the supplementary motor area (SMA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of FOG and may therefore be a potential neuromodulation target. The present study explored the clinical efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the SMA on FOG in PD patients. METHODS: A group of 30 PD patients with FOG were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated 2:1 to receive ten sessions of either real (N = 20) or sham (N = 10) 10 Hz rTMS over SMA. The patients were assessed at baseline (T0), after the 5th (T1) and 10th (T2) sessions, and then 2 weeks (T3) and 4 weeks (T4) after the last session. The primary clinical outcome was the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire score (FOGQ), with the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores (MDS-UPDRS III) and Timed Up and Go test as secondary clinical outcomes. All the assessments were carried out at the "ON" state. RESULTS: With a four week's follow-up, there were significant interaction effects in the FOGQ (effect of group*time, p = 0.04), MDS-UPDRS III (p = 0.02) and several gait variables (total duration, p < 0.01; cadence, p = 0.04; turn duration, p = 0.01; and turn to sit duration, p = 0.02). Post-hoc analyses revealed a significantly decreased FOGQ score at T2 and T4, and significant improvements of MDS-UPDRS III and gait variables at T1, T2, T3 and T4 in the rTMS group. No significant improvements were found in the sham group. CONCLUSION: High-frequency rTMS over SMA may ultimately serve as an add-on therapy for alleviating FOG in PD patients.

Lead enrichment in different genotypes of rice grains.

Using environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray electron probe microanalysis, the lead content was studied in inner and outer surface of rice glume, surface of caryopsis, center of caryopsis, near aleuronic layer and aleuronic layer in 21 genotypes of rice grains. The results showed that the lead content in different part of 21 genotypes of rice grains changed as inner surface of rice glume > aleuronic layer > near aleuronic layer > surface of caryopsis > outer surface of rice glume > center of caryopsis. There were genetic differences in lead enrichment in different genotypes of rice grains, which reflected as the differences of lead content in the same part and different part of rice grains. In different genotypes of rice grains, there were significant non-linear correlations between lead content in the inner surface of rice glume, center of caryopsis, aleuronic layer and that in the other parts of rice grain. The results also indicated that the lead enrichment in the center of caryopsis regulated by glume and aleuronic layer. In addition, in different genotypes of rice grains, there were differences in regulation of lead enrichment among different parts, which changed non-linearly.

[Analysis on evaluation of medical device adverse events monitoring and some factors influencing MDAE's reporting by medical personnels].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the knowledge level related to medical device adverse events (MDAEs) among medical personnels, some factors influencing the reporting behavior and supervision and administrative strategies. METHODS: Stratified sampling, cluster sampling and random sampling were adopted together and a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1897 subjects from 33 hospitals. RESULTS: Medical personnels knew a very little about MDAEs and medical devices' post-market monitoring, but their attitudes towards its benefits were positive. Their intentions to report MDAEs were relatively strong, but there were still some barriers about it. CONCLUSION: A monitoring system and a professional training model about MDAEs reporting should be established and improved in hospitals.

Diagnostic accuracy of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in malignant pleural effusions: A preliminary report for in situ hybridization detection.

BACKGROUND: Detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) may be valuable in the diagnosis of cancer. We assessed the diagnostic performance of hTERT mRNA in cells from pleural fluid in malignant pleural effusions (PEs). METHODS: We used a 2-step ISH with digoxin-labelled oligonucleotide probes to detect hTERT mRNA in a blinded prospective study of cells from 103 unselected pleural fluid specimens. The reference standard for malignant PEs was clinical evaluation and pleural fluid cytology, combined with pleural biopsy, other examination and follow-up as needed. RESULTS: According to the final diagnoses, there were 41 malignant PEs, 55 benign PEs and 7 cases with uncertain etiology. When the 7 cryptogenic cases were excluded, the sensitivity and specificity of detectable hTERT mRNA for malignancy were 80% and 95%, respectively. When detection of hTERT mRNA was combined with clinical repeated pleural fluid cytology, the sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of hTERT mRNA in cells from pleural fluid by ISH could potentially be used in diagnosing malignant PEs as an aid. Further investigations with stricter controls and cross-validation tests will be warranted.