Characterization of LRL5 as a key regulator of root hair growth in maize.

Root hair, a special type of tubular-shaped cell, outgrows from the root epidermal cell and plays important roles in the acquisition of nutrients and water, as well as interactions with biotic and abiotic stresses. Studies in the model plant Arabidopsis have revealed that root-hair initiation and elongation are hierarchically regulated by a group of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs). However, knowledge regarding the regulatory pathways of these bHLH TFs in controlling root hair growth remains limited. In this study, RNA-seq analysis was conducted to profile the transcriptome in the elongating maize root hair and >1000 genes with preferential expression in root hair were identified. A consensus cis-element previously featured as the potential bHLH-TF binding sites was present in the regulatory regions for the majority of the root hair-preferentially expressed genes. In addition, an individual change in ZmLRL5, the highest-expressed bHLH-TF in maize root hair resulted in a dramatic reduction in the elongation of root hair, and rendered the growth of root hair hypersensitive to translational inhibition. Moreover, RNA-seq, yeast-one-hybrid and ribosome profile analysis suggested that ZmLRL5 may function as a key player in orchestrating the translational process by directly regulating the expression of translational processes/ribosomal genes during maize root hair growth.

Visualisation of the vomerovaginal canal during endonasal transpterygoid approaches and CT imaging diagnosis.

The vomerovaginal canal (VVC) and palatovaginal canal (PVC) are two canals that open forward to the posterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). Although the anatomy and computed tomography (CT) appearances of the PVC have been well studied, the VVC has been rarely reported, especially in endoscopic examinations. Some studies have even failed to distinguish the PVC from the VVC on CT images. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the anatomy of the VVC on endoscopy and reveal its differences from the PVC, and to analyse the relative positions of the VVC, PVC, and pterygoid canal on CT images. Ten dry skull bases were studied to observe the structures involved in the formation of the VVC. Dissection of four cadaveric heads was performed to demonstrate the anatomy of the VVC on endoscopy. Coronal CT image analysis in 70 patients was conducted to evaluate the distances and relative positions between the VVC, PVC, and pterygoid canal. The PVC and VVC were also compared on axial CT images. The osteological study showed the top wall of the VVC was the antero-inferior wall of the sphenoid sinus. The VVC may be a helpful landmark in endoscopic endonasal transpterygoid approaches. Steps and discrimination in the dissections of the VVC and PVC were described. The interval between the PVC and VVC could be observed on both coronal and axial CT images. The coronal CT images of patients showed differences in the positions and distances among the three canals at both the anterior and posterior apertures of the PVC. The VVC can be easily mistaken for the PVC if its existence is not suspected. The anatomical morphologies and trajectories of the VVC and PVC differed on both nasal endoscopy and CT. The existence of the VVC should be considered during surgery and CT diagnosis within this area.

Multimodal therapy and twenty years of valid management of a patient with chronic hepatitis B in a less developed Western Region in China---case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: For patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis in less developed western regions in China, due to constraints of local economic conditions, the choice of treatment measures is often limited. However if patients recieved valid management and effective treatment, they were able to maintain their health and benign prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: This study narrates the long-term treatment and careful follow-up of a patient with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis in a less developed western region in China, and analyzes the prognosis of the disease and countermeasures. CONCLUSIONS: This would partly reflect the development of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B and multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment for cirrhosis-related complications in remote region with limited resources in the past 20 years.

Hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia: a retrospective study of urban residents.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the association between hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia (HUA). METHODS: The study was conducted in 3884 subjects who had not received medication enrolled as a baseline. Each participant received at least three annual health check-ups between 2011 and 2017. The risk of hyperuricemia was assessed in four Quartiles (Q1 to Q4) according to TG levels using multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS: The total incidence rate of HUA was 62.3/1000 person-years. In the univariate analysis, the risk of hyperuricemia in people with hypertriglyceridemia was 2.353 times that of normal triglycerides, with a 95% confidence interval of (2.011, 2.754), and the risk of hyperuricemia in men was 1.86 times of female, and the 95% confidence interval is (1.634, 2.177). After adjusting the potential confounders, the relative risk RR of TG at Q2 Q3 Q4 was 1.445 (95%CI:1.114, 1.901), 2.075 (1.611, 2.674), 2.972 (2.322, 3.804). CONCLUSIONS: TG is an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia. As the level of TG increases, the risk of HUA increases.

In Rheumatoid Arthritis, A Review of ncRNAs Related to NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with no known cure that results in joint deformities and dysfunction, significantly impacting the quality of life of patients. The abnormal NF-ＫB signaling pathway in RA has emerged as a crucial research area for the development of RA therapies, with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) serving as a potentially meaningful avenue to regulate it. Thus, understanding the role of ncRNAs in RA and the identification of new therapeutic targets have become pressing issues in the field. In this review, we aim to summarize recent studies on ncRNAs that regulate the NF-ＫB signaling pathway in RA, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, as well as the mechanisms by which drugs modulate NF-Ｋ B activity. By highlighting these recent advances, we hope to promote further research into targeted RA therapy and provide novel directions and ideas for researchers in the field.

Rational design for cooperative recognition of specific nucleobases using ß-cyclodextrin-modified DNAs and fluorescent ligands on DNA and RNA scaffolds.

We propose a binary fluorimetric method for DNA and RNA analysis by the combined use of two probes rationally designed to work cooperatively. One probe is an oligonucleotide (ODN) conjugate bearing a ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CyD). The other probe is a small reporter ligand, which comprises linked molecules of a nucleobase-specific heterocycle and an environment-sensitive fluorophore. The heterocycle of the reporter ligand recognizes a single nucleobase displayed in a gap on the target labeled with the conjugate and, at the same time, the fluorophore moiety forms a luminous inclusion complex with nearby ß-CyD. Three reporter ligands, MNDS (naphthyridine-dansyl linked ligand), MNDB (naphthyridine-DBD), and DPDB (pyridine-DBD), were used for DNA and RNA probing with 3'-end or 5'-end modified ß-CyD-ODN conjugates. For the DNA target, the ß-CyD tethered to the 3'-end of the ODN facing into the gap interacted with the fluorophore sticking out into the major groove of the gap site (MNDS and DPDB). Meanwhile the ß-CyD on the 5'-end of the ODN interacted with the fluorophore in the minor groove (MNDB and DPDB). The results obtained by this study could be a guideline for the design of binary DNA/RNA probe systems based on controlling the proximity of functional molecules.

[Cluster needling of scalp points improves cognitive dysfunction by regulating NF-κB activity in rats with Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of cluster needling of scalp points on nuclear transcription factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65)，NF-κB inhibitory protein α (IKBα)ï¼Œß secretase 1 (BACE1)，beta-amyloid protein (Aß) and hippocampal morphology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats，so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of AD. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation，model，clustering acupuncture and medication groups，with 12 trats in each group. AD model was induced by Aß1-42 injection into bilateral hippocampus. In the clustering acupuncture group，"Baihui" (DU20) and 1 mm on left and right sides of DU20 were needled for 30 min，once daily for 14 d. Rats of the medication group were given donepezil hydrochloride (0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1) intragastric perfusion once a day for 14 d. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. HE staining was used to observe the structure changes of hippocampal tissue. The expressions of NF-κB p65，IKBα and BACE1 in hippocampus were detected by Western blot. ELISA was used to detect the levels of Aß in hippocampus and serum of rats. RESULTS: Compared with sham operation group，the escape latency of Morris water maze test in the model group was prolonged，the number of crossing the original platform was decreased(P<0.01)，the protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and BACE1 in hippocampus，and the levels of Aß in hippocampus and serum of AD rats were increased (P<0.01，P<0.05)，while the expression of IKBα protein was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group，the escape latency of Morris water maze test was shortened and the number of crossing the original platform was increased in the clustering acupuncture and medication groups (P<0.01，P<0.05)，and the protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and BACE1 in hippocampus，the levels of Aß in hippocampus and serum were decreased (P<0.01，P<0.05)，while the expression of IKBα protein was increased (P<0.01). In comparison of the medication group，the protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and IKBα was lower in the clustering acupuncture group (P<0.05). HE staining showed that cells in the hippocampus were arranged loosely and disordered，some cytoplasm was hyperchromatic，nucleus was pyknotic，inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the model group，which were relatively milder in the clustering acupuncture and medication groups. CONCLUSION: Cluster needling at scalp points may improve the cognitive impairment in AD rats by reducing inflammatory infiltration in hippocampus，regulating the expressions of NF-κB p65，IKBα and BACE1，and inhibiting the aggregation of Aß.

[Effects of residual film density and area on water accumulation infiltration amount of soil]. / æ®‹è†œå¯†åº¦åŠé¢ç§¯å¯¹åœŸå£¤æ°´åˆ†ç´¯ç§¯å ¥æ¸—é‡çš„å½±å“.

With continuous increases in the amount and duration of plastic film used, the residual film in farmland soil is accumulated and tended to be fragmented, which affects soil water infiltration. We carried out an experiment of one-dimensional vertical infiltration of soil moisture. We examined the effects of different residual film density and area on soil water cumulative infiltration under 21 experimental treatments with 5 residual film area levels (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 8 cm2) and 5 residual film density levels (0, 60, 180, 300, 420 kg·hm-2). The results showed that soil water infiltration rate was accelerated and the total infiltration amount was increased by adding a certain amount of residual film into the clay loam soil with bulk density of 1.53 g·cm-3. The total infiltration amount of different residual film area always appeared mutation or turning point when the single residual film area was 1 cm2. When the residual film area and density were larger or smaller than that, the cumulative infiltration amount would be significantly affected, with the treatment of 0.5 cm2 residual film area and 200 kg·hm-2 residual film density being obvious demarcation. When the residual film area was 0.25 cm2, the cumulative infiltration reached the maximum. When the residual film with a single area ≤0.25 cm2 was uniformly mixed into the soil, the slope of soil water cumulative infiltration curve was significantly different from that of other residual film treatments, forming a "new structure" soil with unique water infiltration characteristics.

Shaping Future Directions for Breakdance Teaching.

This article reports on the evolution of breakdance. Given the inclusion of breakdancing in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, scholars have generated substantial international research related to breakdance teaching in recent years. However, few researchers have focused on the impact of formal formative assessment on breakdance teachers' teaching and students' learning. We wish to contribute to the quality of breakdance teaching and learning by identifying the positive impact of recent research on formative assessment on student learning and designing a formal formative assessment task related to breakdance. This article lays out a framework of formal formative assessment tasks and identifies the positive impact of formative assessment on dance education. Although our work is far from perfect, it does provide a general methodological framework for assessing breakdance students' abilities in formal educational settings.

Prognostic impact of tumor size on patients with neuroblastoma in a SEER-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic value of tumor size in neuroblastoma (NB) patients has not been fully evaluated. Our purpose is to elucidate the prognostic significance of tumor size in surgery performed on neuroblastoma patients. METHODS: Neuroblastoma patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) for the study. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify risk factors and the independent prognostic influences of tumor size on NB patients. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed through univariate Cox regression analysis. To determine the optimal cutoff value of tumor size, we first divided the cohort into three groups (≤5 cm, 5-10 cm, >10 cm). Subsequently, the patients were divided into two groups repeatedly, with tumor size at 1 cm intervals. The cutoff value that maximized prognostic outcome difference was selected. Furthermore, we performed the Kaplan-Meier methods to visually present differences in prognosis between the optimal tumor size cutoff value in different subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 591 NB patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the SEER database in this study. Cox analysis showed that age >1 year (HR = 2.42, p < 0.0001), originate from adrenal site (HR = 1.7, p = 0.014), distant stage (HR = 6.4, p < 0.0001), undifferentiated grade (HR = 1.94, p = 0.002), and large tumor size (HR = 1.5, p < 0.0001) independently predicted poor prognosis. For tumor size, there were significant differences in tumor size distribution in different ages, tumor grade, disease stage, and primary site subgroup but not in sex, race, and histology subgroup. Furthermore, both univariate (HR = 4.96, 95% CI 2.31-10.63, p < 0.0001) and multivariable analysis (HR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.29-6.08, p < 0.0001) indicated the optimal cutoff value of tumor size was 4 cm for overall survival of NB patients. Using a 4 cm of tumor size cutoff in subgroups, we found that it can identify poor prognosis patients whatever their age or primary site. Interestingly, tumor size of 4 cm cutoff can only identify unfavorable NB patients with diagnosis at distant-stage disease, or differentiated grade tumor, but not with regional and local or undifferentiated tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size is first to be recognized as a key prognostic factor of neuroblastoma patients and a cutoff value >4 cm might predict poor prognosis, which should be included in the evaluation of prognostic factors for NB.

[Effect of modified qianyang pellet on extravascular lung water and its correlated factors at the early fluid resuscitation stage of septic shock].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of modified Qianyang Pellet (MQYP) on extravascular lung water and its correlated factors at the early fluid resuscitation stage of septic shock. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with septic shock were randomly assigned to the treatment group (26 patients) and the control group (22 patients). They were treated with basic treatment combined with fluid resuscitation until the central venous pressure (CVP) reached > or = 8 mm Hg. Besides, patients in the treatment group received MQYP additionally. The haemodynamic indices, including CVP, cardiac index (CI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), and oxygenation index (PaO2/ FiO2) were monitored at 8 (T8), 16 (T16) and 24 h (T24) after ending fluid resuscitation, and the 28-day mortality was observed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, CI, GEDVI and PaO2/FiO2 increased significantly at T8, T16 and T24, while EVLWI and 28-day mortality lowered in the treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). But the difference in terms of CVP and SVRI between the two groups at corresponding time points was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the fluid resuscitation and basic treatment, MQYP could further improve CI, GEDVI and PaO2/FiO2, decrease EVLWI and 28-day mortality, but showed no effect on CVP or SVRI at the early fluid resuscitation stage of septic shock.

Network differentiation: A computational method of pathogenesis diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine based on systems science.

Resembling the role of disease diagnosis in Western medicine, pathogenesis (also called Bing Ji) diagnosis is one of the utmost important tasks in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM theory, pathogenesis is a complex system composed of a group of interrelated factors, which is highly consistent with the character of systems science (SS). In this paper, we introduce a heuristic definition called pathogenesis network (PN) to represent pathogenesis in the form of the directed graph. Accordingly, a computational method of pathogenesis diagnosis, called network differentiation (ND), is proposed by integrating the holism principle in SS. ND consists of three stages. The first stage is to generate all possible diagnoses by Cartesian Product operated on specified prior knowledge corresponding to the input symptoms. The second stage is to screen the validated diagnoses by holism principle. The third stage is to pick out the clinical diagnosis by physician-computer interaction. Some theorems are stated and proved for the further optimization of ND in this paper. We conducted simulation experiments on 100 clinical cases. The experimental results show that our proposed method has an excellent capability to fit the holistic thinking in the process of physician inference.

Trends in research related to high myopia from 2010 to 2019: a bibliometric and knowledge mapping analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the global trends in and explore hotspots of high myopia (HM) research. METHODS: This bibliometric analysis was used to reveal the publication trends in HM research field based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). VOSviewer version 1.6.13 software was used to analyze the data and construct a knowledge map including the yearly publication number, journals, countries, international collaborations, authors, research hotspots, and intellectual base in HM. RESULTS: The search engine found 3544 peer-reviewed publications on HM between 2010 and 2019, and the yearly research output substantially elevated over the past decade. China is the top publishing country, and Sun Yat-sen University was the most active academic institution. Jonas JB is the top publishing scientist, and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS) was the most productive journal. The highest cited references mainly focused on epidemiology and management. The keywords formed 6 clusters: 1) refractive surgery; 2) etiology and clinical characteristics; 3) the mechanism of eye growth; 4) management for myopic maculopathy; 5) vitrectomy surgical treatment; 6) myopia-associated glaucoma-like optic neuropathy. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of development trends based on the data extracted from WoSCC can provide valuable information and guidance for ophthalmologists and public health researchers to improve management procedures in HM field.

A Multidisciplinary Team Approach to the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of treating cirrhosis using a multidisciplinary team approach (MDT) and to pinpoint the key factors influencing its implementation. METHODS: The data of 307 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were studied retrospectively. Patients who received more than two treatment measures were assigned to the MDT group (n=228), and patients who received symptomatic medical drug treatment only were assigned to the traditional treatment group (n=79). The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 10 years, and the average follow-up period was 5.7 years. The results of the biochemical tests for hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid, hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid, and autoantibodies to liver disease were analyzed. RESULTS: The differences in gender and Child-Pugh grade of liver function between the two groups were not statistically significant. The MDT group had obvious advantages over the traditional treatment group in occupational composition, etiology composition, 5-year survival rate and annual hospitalization times. The leading causes of death in the MDT group, in descending order, were liver cancer, infection, mesenteric thrombosis, and non-hepatic disease, and, in the medical treatment group, they were liver failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, and liver cancer. There was a significant statistical difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). In the multidisciplinary treatment, etiological treatment was the most widely used treatment, accounting for 79.8%, followed by endoscopic treatment (33.3%), peritoneal drainage and ascites reinfusion (25%), splenectomy combined with devascularization (11.4%) and stem cell transplantation and liver transplantation (1.8%). CONCLUSION: An MDT can improve the efficacy and prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and improve patient compliance. After multi-disciplinary intervention, the mortality spectrum of long-term survival patients with cirrhosis changes, and the mortality rate of liver cancer and non-liver disease increases.

Taxonomic notes on Leptonetidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China, with descriptions of one new genus and eight new species.

Species of the spider family Leptonetidae Simon, 1890 from China are revised based on molecular and morphological data analyses. A new genus, Jingneta Wang & Li gen. nov., is erected, with Leptoneta cornea Tong & Li, 2008 as the type species. Twenty-two Chinese species previously assigned to the genus Leptoneta Simon, 1872 are revised, with eight transferred to Falcileptoneta Komatsu, 1970, seven transferred to Jingneta gen. nov., five transferred to Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978, and one species each transferred to Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 and Masirana Kishida, 1942. Eight new species are described: i.e., Falcileptoneta shuanglong Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂), Jingneta caoxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), J. jingdong Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), Longileptoneta gutan Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. huangshan Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. shenxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. yeren Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂), and L. zhuxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀). In total, 127 leptonetid species from six genera are documented from China: nine species of Falcileptoneta, nine species of Jingneta gen. nov., 101 species of Leptonetela, six species of Longileptoneta, one species of Masirana, and one species of Rhyssoleptoneta Tong & Li, 2007.

Morphology and Transcriptome Analysis of Nosema bombycis Sporoplasm and Insights into the Initial Infection of Microsporidia.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that infect a wide variety of host organisms, including humans. The sporoplasm is the initial stage of microsporidian infection and proliferation, but its morphological and molecular characteristics are poorly understood. In this study, the sporoplasm of Nosema bombycis was successfully isolated and characterized after the induction of spore germination in vitro The sporoplasm was spherical, 3.64 ± 0.41 µm in diameter, had the typical two nuclei, and was nonrefractive. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that the sporoplasm was surrounded by a single membrane, and the cytoplasm was usually filled with relatively homogeneous granules, possibly ribosomes, and contained a vesicular structure comprising a concentric ring and coiled tubules. Propidium iodide staining revealed that the sporoplasm membrane showed stronger membrane permeability than did the cell plasma membrane. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the sporoplasm can gain entry to the host cell by phagocytosis. Transcriptome analysis of mature spores and sporoplasms showed that 541 significantly differentially expressed genes were screened (adjusted P value [Padj] < 0.05), of which 302 genes were upregulated and 239 genes were downregulated in the sporoplasm. The majority of the genes involved in trehalose synthesis metabolism, glycolysis, and the pentose phosphate pathway were downregulated, whereas 10 transporter genes were upregulated, suggesting that the sporoplasm may inhibit its own carbon metabolic activity and obtain the substances required for proliferation through transporter proteins. This study represents the first comprehensive and in-depth investigation of the sporoplasm at the morphological and molecular levels and provides novel insights into the biology of microsporidia and their infection mechanism.IMPORTANCE Once awoken from dormancy, the cellular matter of microsporidia is delivered directly into the host cell cytoplasm through the polar tube. This means that the microsporidia are difficult to study biologically in their active state without a contaminating signal from the host cell. Sporoplasm is a cell type of microsporidia in vitro, but relatively little attention has been paid to the sporoplasm in the past 150 years due to a lack of an effective separation method. Nosema bombycis, the first reported microsporidium, is a type of obligate intracellular parasite that infects silkworms and can be induced to germinate in alkaline solution in vitro We successfully separated the N. bombycis sporoplasm in vitro, and the morphological and structural characteristics were investigated. These results provide important insight into the biology and pathogenesis of microsporidia and potentially provide a possible strategy for genetic manipulation of microsporidia targeting the sporoplasm.

Last Patents on Bubble Electrospinning.

Due to their unique properties, nanofibers have been widely used in various areas, for example, information industry, pharmaceutical application, environmental industry, textile and clothing, etc. Bubble electrospinning is one of the most important non-needle electrospinning methods for nanofiber fabrication. It usually uses polymer bubbles for the production of nanomaterials by using electrostatic force, flowing air or mechanical force to overcome the surface tension of bubbles. Bubble electrospinning mainly includes bubble electrospinning and blown bubble electrospinning. History of the development of bubble electrospinning is briefly introduced in this article, and the most promising patents on the technology are elucidated. The methods of bubble electrospinning are single bubble electrospinning, porous bubble electrospinning, blown bubble electrospinning, electrostatic-fieldassisted blown bubble spinning and others. These different bubble electrospinning methods are also discussed in this paper.

Highly sensitive nucleic acid detection and transaminase level in treatment decisions for Chinese patients with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the usefulness of highly sensitive nucleic acid detection for assisting with the accurate antiviral treatment of patients with cirrhosis that was caused by hepatitis. METHODS: There were 377 patients with hepatitis B with cirrhosis and 119 patients with hepatitis C with cirrhosis, either as hospitalized patients and outpatients, who were enrolled into the study. Among them, 299 were men and 197 were women between 23 and 82 years of age. All patients were examined using a domestic HBV DNA/HCV RNA test, which was negative in 162 cirrhosis with hepatitis B and 54 cirrhosis with hepatitis C patients (HBV DNA/HCV RNA <500 IU/mL). Prediction and analysis of the HBV DNA load using alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: For patients with hepatitis C with cirrhosis, after the antiviral therapy, ALT, HCV RNA, and Child-Pugh grade were significantly improved compared with before treatment. ROC analysis results showed that an ALT level of 29 IU/mL was the most sensitive cutoff value to judge a positive HBV DNA load (sensitivity 1.0, specificity 0.237, Youden index 0.763). CONCLUSION: Precise detection for patients with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis is required for accurate therapy.

Protective role of Dihydromyricetin in Alzheimer's disease rat model associated with activating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

The aim of the present study was to understand the possible role of the Dihydromyricetin (DHM) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat model through regulation of the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. Rats were divided into Sham group, AD group, AD + DHM (100 mg/kg) group and AD + DHM (200 mg/kg) group. The spatial learning and memory abilities of rats were assessed by Morris Water Maze. Then, the inflammatory cytokines expressions were determined by radioimmunoassay while expressions of AMPK/SIRT1 pathway-related proteins by Western blot; and the apoptosis of hippocampal cells was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. AD rats had an extended escape latency with decreases in the number of platform crossings, the target quadrant residence time, as well as swimming speed, and the inflammatory cytokines in serum and hippocampus were significantly elevated but AMPK/SIRT1 pathway-related proteins were reduced. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of hippocampal cells was significantly up-regulated with decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax, as compared with Sham rats (all P<0.05). After AD rats treated with 100 or 200 mg/kg of DHM, the above effects were significantly reversed, resulting in a completely opposite tendency, and especially with 200 mg/kg DHM treatment, the improvement of AD rats was more obvious. DHM exerts protective role in AD via up-regulation of AMPK/SIRT1 pathway to inhibit inflammatory responses and hippocampal cell apoptosis and ameliorate cognitive function.

Development and application of a PCR-HRM molecular diagnostic method of SNPs linked with TNF inhibitor efficacy.

Background Clinical evidence indicates that genetic variations may interfere with the mechanism of drug action. Recently, it has been reported that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of STAT4, PTPN2, PSORS1C1 and TRAF3IP2RA genes are associated with the clinical efficacy of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Therefore, the detection of the SNPs linked with TNF inhibitor efficacy may provide an important basis for the treatment of RA. This study intended to establish molecular diagnostic methods for genotyping the linked SNPs based on high resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis. Methods The polymerase chain reaction-HRM (PCR-HRM) curve analysis detecting systems were established by designing the primers of the four SNPs, rs7574865G>T, rs7234029A>G, rs2233945C>A and rs33980500C>T, and the performance and clinical applicability of which were evaluated by using the Sanger sequencing method and genotyping test for 208 clinical samples. Results The self-developed molecular diagnostic methods of PCR-HRM were confirmed to be able to correctly genotype the four SNPs, the sensitivity and specificity of which were 100% in this study. The repeatability and reproducibility tests showed that there is little variable in intra-assay and inter-assay (the coefficient of variation ranged from 0.01% to 0.07%). The slight changes of DNA template and primer concentrations, PCR cycle number and reaction system volume had no significant effect on the genotyping performance of the method. The PCR-HRM assays were also applied to other PCR thermocyclers with HRM function and use different saturation fluorescent dyes. Conclusions The PCR-HRM genotyping method established in this study can be applied to the routine molecular diagnosis of rs7574865, rs7234029, rs2233945 and rs33980500.