Anti-tumor effect of innovative tumor treatment device OM-100 through enhancing anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in glioblastoma growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is associated with a median survival rate of less than 15 months, necessitating innovative treatment approaches. This study investigates the safety and efficacy of the low-frequency magnetic field (LFMF) OM-100 instrument in GBM therapy. In vitro experiments utilized normal astrocyte and GBM cell lines, determining that OM-100 at 100 kHz for 72 h selectively targeted GBM cells without harming normal cells. Subsequent analyses revealed OM-100's impact on cell viability, apoptosis, migration, invasion, reactive oxide species levels, and PD-L1 expression. In vivo studies on mice with U87-induced GBM demonstrated OM-100's synergy with anti-PD-1 therapy, leading to significant tumor volume reduction and increased apoptosis. Notably, OM-100 exhibited safety in healthy mice. Overall, OM-100 could enhance anti-PD-1 immunotherapy effectiveness probably by directly inhibiting tumor proliferation and migration as well as promoting PD-L1 expression, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM treatment.

Children with severe neurological symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during Omicron pandemic in China.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with severe neurological symptoms associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the Omicron pandemic in China. METHODS: This study used a questionnaire to obtain data from pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) centers in seven tertiary hospitals in Northeast China from December 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 45 patients (17.65 %) were included in this study. Of these, seven (15.6%) patients died, and the median time from admission to death was 35 h (IQR, 14-120 h). Twenty (52.6%) survivors experienced neurological sequelae. Patients with platelet counts lower than 100 × 109/L had a higher incidence of complications such as multiple organ dysfunction, mechanical ventilation rate, and mortality. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) always reveals cerebral tissue edema, with some severe lesions forming a softening site. CONCLUSION: Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 often exhibit severe neurological symptoms, and in some cases, they may rapidly develop malignant cerebral edema or herniation, leading to a fatal outcome. An early decrease in platelet count may associated with an unfavorable prognosis. IMPACT: Since early December 2022, China has gradually adjusted its prevention and control policy of SARS-CoV-2; Omicron outbreaks have occurred in some areas for a relatively short period. Due to the differences in ethnicity, endemic strains and vaccination status, there was a little difference from what has been reported about children with SARS-CoV-2 infection with severe neurological symptoms in abroad. This is the first multicenter clinical study in children with nervous system involvement after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in China, and helpful for pediatricians to have a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical symptoms and prognosis of such disease.

Maize ZmHSP90 plays a role in acclimation to salt stress.

Background: Maize is sensitive to salt stress, especially during the germination and seedling stages. Methods: We conducted germination experiments on 60 maize materials under salt stress, and screened out the most salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties based on germination indicators. Afterwards, transcriptome analysis was performed to screen for key regulators in the plumule and flag leaf at the germination and seedling stages, respectively. Following that, transgenic tobacco was developed to expose the roles and mechanisms of the candidate genes, enabling a deeper investigation of their functions. Results: Out of the 60 inbred lines of maize, "975-12" exhibits the highest level of salt tolerance, while "GEMS64" displays the lowest. The application of salt stress resulted in a significant increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in both "975-12" and "GEMS64". ABA signal transduction and jasmonic acid pathways were the pathways that mainly affected by salt stress. In addition, a significant finding has been made indicating that when exposed to high levels of salt stress, the expression of ZmHSP90 in '975-12' increased while in 'GEMS64' decreased. Furthermore, in tobacco plants overexpressing ZmHSP90, there was an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity associated with salt tolerance. ZmHSP90 enhanced the expression levels of NtSOS1, NtHKT1, and NtNHX1 as compared to those in the salt treatment, causing the maintenance of Na+ and K+ homeostasis, suggesting that high expression of ZmHSP90 was conducive to regulate Na+ transporters to maintain K+/Na+ balanced in tobacco.

A quality control circle process to improve enteral nutrition feeding support in discharged patients with colorectal cancer.

Correct usage and maintenance of the enteral nutrition feeding pump system is always a challenge in nutrition support for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are few studies on the sustained accuracy improvement of the enteral nutrition feeding system in discharged CRC patients. Here, we established a seven-month quality control circle (QCC) activity with the theme of improving the performance of home enteral feeding pumps (EFP) and examined the effect of QCC activity on the nutritional state and quality of life in discharged CRC patients. We enrolled 100 discharged CRC patients treated with home enteral nutrition from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between March 2020 and December 2021. The patients were randomly split into two research groups: one participated in the QCC activity (n = 50) and the other did not (n = 50). QCC analysis indicated that the top 3 causes of EFP inaccurate usage are the simple and boring contents of training, various types of pumps, no examination rules, and lack of management. Furthermore, both intra- and inter-group comparisons showed that QCC significantly improved the patients' pass rate of nutrition pump operation from 52 to 70% after 1-month of activity, which gradually improved and got the highest (90%) after 3 months (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the established QCC activity significantly increased the patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) and Barthel index (BI) scores, body fat mass (BFM) and superior longitudinal muscle (SLM) by intra- and inter-group comparisons. In this study, we clarified the main causes of inaccurate EFP usage and established a QCC process to improve the pass rate of EFP usage. It finally leads to the improvement of nutritional state and quality of life in CRC patients.

Shikonin suppresses small cell lung cancer growth via inducing ATF3-mediated ferroptosis to promote ROS accumulation.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subtype of lung cancer with a very poor overall survival rate due to its extremely high proliferation and metastasis predilection. Shikonin is an active ingredient extracted from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and exerts multiple anti-tumor functions in many cancers. In the present study, the role and underlying mechanism of shikonin in SCLC were investigated for the first time. We found that shikonin effectively suppressed cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and colony formation and slightly induced apoptosis in SCLC cells. Further experiment indicated the shikonin could also induced ferroptosis in SCLC cells. Shikonin treatment effectively suppressed the activation of ERK, the expression of ferroptosis inhibitor GPX4, and elevated the level of 4-HNE, a biomarker of ferroptosis. Both total ROS and lipid ROS were increased, while the GSH levels were decreased in SCLC cells after shikonin treatment. More importantly, our data identified that the function of shikonin was dependent on the up-regulation of ATF3 by performing rescue experiments using shRNA to silence the expression of ATF3, especially in the total and lipid ROS accumulaiton. Xenograft model was established using SBC-2 cells, and the results revealed that shikonin also significantly inhibited tumor growth by inducing ferroptosis. Finally, our data further confirmed that shikonin activated ATF3 transcription by impairing the recruitment of HDAC1 mediated by c-myc on the ATF3 promoter, and subsequently elevating of histone acetylation. Our data documented that shikonin suppressed SCLC by inducing ferroptosis in a ATF3-dependent manner. Shikonin upregulated the expression of ATF3 expression via promoting the histone acetylation by inhibiting c-myc-mediated HDAC1 binding on ATF3 promoter.

Research Progress in Polypeptoids Prepared by Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerizations.

Polypeptoids, structural mimics of polypeptides, have attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility, proteolytic stability, thermal processability, good solubility, synthetic accessibility, and structural diversity. Polypeptoids have emerged as an interesting material in both polymer science and biological field. This review primarily discusses the research progress of polypeptoids prepared by controlled ring-opening polymerizations in the past decade, including synthetic strategies of monomers, polymerizations by different initiators, postfunctionalization, fundamental properties, crystallization-driven self-assembly, and potential biological applications.

Helicobacter pylori infection eradication for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Previous studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of H. pylori eradication treatment on NAFLD patients. Two hundred NAFLD patients who tested positive for H. pylori infection were randomized into the H. pylori eradication treatment group or the control group. Metabolic and inflammatory parameters and FibroScan were measured in all subjects at baseline and 1 year after treatment. At 1 year after treatment, the decrease in metabolic indicators, such as fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, body mass index and controlled attenuation parameter values, were more obvious in the treatment group. Moreover, the inflammatory indicators white blood count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the inflammatory factors interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also significantly decreased. H. pylori eradication can further reduce the metabolic indices of NAFLD and the degree of liver steatosis. H. pylori infection may participate in the occurrence and development of NAFLD through its influence on inflammatory factors. Thus, checking for the presence of H. pylori infection in patients at risk of NAFLD may be beneficial.

Patterns of Care in Maintenance Therapy in US Patients Undergoing Definitive Chemoradiation for Stage 3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

OBJECTIVE: The recommended treatment for patients with unresectable stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is definitive chemoradiation followed by 1 year of maintenance durvalumab. Our objective was to assess the rate of maintenance durvalumab use after chemoradiation. METHODS: Analyses were conducted in both open claims (IQVIA pharmacy and medical claims data) and adjudicated closed claims (IQVIA PharMetrics Plus Health Plan Claims Database). Patients with a lung cancer diagnosis between November 2017 and November 2020 who received definitive chemoradiation were included. RESULTS: Of the 5802 NSCLC patients included in the open claims source, 1794 (31%) received durvalumab, 1403 (24%) received maintenance chemotherapy, and 2605 (45%) did not receive any maintenance therapy. Of the 239 NSCLC patients included in the closed claims source, 127 (53%) received durvalumab, 40 (17%) received maintenance chemotherapy, and 72 (30%) did not receive any maintenance therapy. The most common maintenance chemotherapy agents patients received were carboplatin, pemetrexed, and paclitaxel. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of durvalumab utilization was overall low in both the open and closed claims data sources (31% and 53%, respectively). It remains unknown what percent of eligible patients end up receiving durvalumab, as our analysis was unable to filter out patients who were unfit for durvalumab or if they had progression after chemoradiation. Future efforts are needed to increase maintenance durvalumab utilization and to determine how best to manage patients who are unfit for durvalumab.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin as an Age-Specific Predictor and Risk Marker of Colorectal Adenomas in Non-Diabetic Adults.

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for colorectal neoplasms. The association between the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the risk of colorectal adenomas (CRAs) in non-diabetic adults needs to be investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on non-diabetic adults with normal HbA1c level who underwent colonoscopy between January 2010 and December 2016 during health check-ups in our hospital in China. The association between HbA1c level and CRAs was assessed by multiple logistic regression models stratified by age group (<40, ≥40 and <50, and ≥50 years old). The age group-specified thresholds for HbA1c on elevated risk of CRAs were estimated using the piecewise logistic regression. Results: Among the 2,764 subjects, 445 (16.1%) had CRA. The prevalence of CRA varied across the three age groups. A higher HbA1c level was found to be significantly associated with increased CRA risk in the 40-50 years group (odds ratio [OR]=1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.78, p=0.035) after adjusting for other related factors, while this association was borderline significant among the 50 years and older group (OR=1.57, 95% CI 0.97-2.54, p=0.067). Based on the piecewise logistic regression analysis results, the thresholds for HbA1c on elevated risk of CRA were 5.44% for the 40-50 years group and 4.81% for the 50 years and older group, respectively. Conclusions: Higher levels of HbA1c, even within the normal range, were associated with elevated CRA risk among non-diabetic adults. The threshold effects of HbA1c on the risk of CRA varied across different age groups, and early screening colonoscopy might be needed for individuals in their 40s and with HbA1c levels ≥5.44%.

The deep vein thrombosis of lower limb after total hip arthroplasty: what should we care.

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower limb is one of the common complications after total hip arthroplasty(THA), we aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors of DVT of lower limb in patients with THA, to provide insights into the management of THA. METHODS: Patients who underwent THA in our hospital from January 1, 2017 to November 30, 2020 were included. The personal characteristics and clinical data of DVT and no-DVT patients were compared and analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were perfomed to identify the potential risk factors of DVT in patients with THA. RESULTS: A total of 182 THA patients were included, the incidence of DVT of lower limb in patients with THA was 19.78 %. There were significant differences in the age, BMI, diabetes, number of replacement, duration of surgery, type of prosthesis and duration of days in bed between DVT and no-DVT patients(all P < 0.05). And there were no significant differences in the gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, preoperative D-dimer, type of anesthesia and anticoagulant drugs use(all P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that age > 70y(OR4.406, 95 %CI1.744 ~ 6.134), BMI ≥ 28(OR2.275, 95 %CI1.181 ~ 4.531), diabetes(OR3.949, 95 %CI1.284 ~ 5.279), bilateral joint replacements(OR2.272, 95 %CI1.402 ~ 4.423), duration of surgery ≥ 120 min(OR3.081, 95 %CI1.293 ~ 5.308), cemented prosthesis(OR2.435, 95 %CI1.104 ~ 4.315), and duration of days in bed > 3 days(OR1.566, 95 %CI1.182 ~ 1.994) were the risk factors of DVT of lower limb in patients with THA. CONCLUSIONS: DVT in the lower limb after THA is common, and its onset is affected by many factors. In clinical work, attention should be paid to identify the risk factors for DVT and targeted interventions are highlighted to prevent the postoperative DVT.

Usefulness of controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement for detecting increased arterial stiffness in asymptomatic populations in China.

In recent studies, vibration-controlled transient elastography (FibroScan) has been reported as an alternative noninvasive approach for measuring liver steatosis and fibrosis. The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of FibroScan controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in the detection of increased arterial stiffness in asymptomatic populations in China.A retrospective cohort recruiting 4747 asymptomatic patients with no underlying causes of liver disease and having FibroScan and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) during wellness check-up was covered. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was defined as a CAP ≥238 dB/m. NAFLD with significant fibrosis was defined as an LSM ≥7.3 kPa in the presence of NAFLD. Increased arterial stiffness was determined as a BaPWV ≥1.4m/second.Among the 4747 study participants, 1596 subjects (33.6%) suffered from increased arterial stiffness. The prevalence of increased arterial stiffness progressively increased across CAP quartiles and LSM quartiles in NAFLD (23.5%, 30.8%, 38.3%, 43.7%, P < .001 and 33.1%, 36.8%, 40.4%, 48.2%, P < .001, respectively). After conventional cardiovascular risk factors were adjusted (age, sex, overweight, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and current smoking habits), multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CAP (odd ratio [OR] = 1.005; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.003-1.006; P < .001), NAFLD (OR = 1.427; 95% CI: 1.212-1.681; P < .001), LSM in NAFLD (OR = 1.073; 95% CI: 1.023-1.125; P = .003), and significant fibrosis in NAFLD (OR = 1.480; 95% CI: 1.090-2.010; P = .012) were independently associated with increased arterial stiffness. Furthermore, in a multivariate logistic regression analysis, OR (95% CI) for the maximal vs. the minimal quartile of CAP was 1.602 (1.268-2.024), and that of LSM in NAFLD was 1.362 (1.034-1.792) after adjustment for the above-mentioned risk factors. Notably, NAFLD and significant fibrosis in NAFLD were significantly correlated only with increased arterial stiffness in subjects without hypertension or diabetes mellitus after adjustment for the above-mentioned risk factors.CAP-defined NAFLD and LSM-defined significant fibrosis in NAFLD showed significant and independent relationships with increased arterial stiffness even after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, which can be conducive to stratifying relative risk of subjects having undergone screening assessment for cardiovascular disease.

Two-Photon Excitation/Red Emission, Ratiometric Fluorescent Nanoprobe for Intracellular pH Imaging.

Herein, we describe a novel two-photon excitation/red emission-based ratiometric pH nanosensor consisting of a pH-sensitive two-photon dye and Tm3+-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP). The fluorescence emission ratio between the dye (610 nm) and UCNPs (810 nm) (I610/I810) provides a linear indicator of pH values in the range from pH 4.0 to 6.5 with high sensitivity. These nanoprobes selectively accumulate in the lysosomes of cells, making them suitable for lysosomal pH tracking. This pH nanoprobe has been successfully applied in visualizing chemically stimulated changes of intracellular pH in living cells and tissues.

Identification of novel bacteriophage vB_EcoP-EG1 with lytic activity against planktonic and biofilm forms of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of unary tract infection. Due to increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance, alternative methods to eradicate the UPECs are urgently needed. In this respect, phage therapy has been demonstrated to be a good candidate. Here, we described a novel bacteriophage named vB_EcoP-EG1, which can infect several strains of UPEC. Phage morphology and genome sequencing analysis show that vB_EcoP-EG1 belongs to the T7-like Podoviridae. vB_EcoP-EG1 possesses a genome (39,919 bp) containing 51 predicted genes and 149 bp terminal repeats. vB_EcoP-EG1 genome does not encode toxic proteins or proteins related to lysogeny. And no known virulent proteins were found in purified phage particles by mass spectrometry. vB_EcoP-EG1 appeared to be relatively specific and sensitive to clinical UPEC strains, which could infect 10 out of 21 clinical multidrug-resistant UPEC strains. In addition, vB_EcoP-EG1 suspension can eliminate biofilm formed by E. coli MG1655 and multidrug-resistant UPEC strain 390G7. Therefore, we concluded that vB_EcoP-EG1 has desirable characteristics for potential therapy, which may serve as an alternative to antibiotic therapy against urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant UPEC.

Late complications of totally implantable venous access ports in patients with cancer: Risk factors and related nursing strategies.

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence rate and the risk factors for late complications associated with use of central totally implanted venous access devices (TIVAPs) in patients with cancer, and to devise nursing strategies to minimize late complications.This retrospective study included 500 patients with TIVAPs from 2012 to 2015. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the effect of sex, age, primary diagnosis, duration of surgery, and the length of hospital stay on the incidence of late complications of TIVAP.The cumulative maintenance period of TIVAP was 159,605 days. Late complications included catheter-related obstruction (n = 14; 2.8%), infection (n = 3; 0.6%), drug extravasation (n = 1; 0.2%), and catheter exposure (n = 1; 0.2%). Multivariate analyses revealed that age, breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer were risk factors for the late complications associated with TIVAP.There was a low incidence of late complications with TIVAP use. Catheter-related obstruction is the most frequent late complication of TIVAP. Risk factors for TIVAP-associated late complications include age and certain cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer.

The Effects of Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 2 (EBNA2) on B-Lymphocytic Activity.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus is a worldwide disease that can cause a wide range of human diseases, the person will become a lifelong carrier of the virus once infected. To investigate the mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) on B-lymphocytic activity, sera from 35 patients with infectious mononucleosis and from 34 cases without Epstein-Barr virus infection are collected for experimental analysis. METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and MTT assays were used to evaluate the relative expression level of EBNA2 and to examine its impact on cell vitality. RESULTS: Research found that the average EBNA2 mRNA and protein levels in 35 patients with infectious mononucleosis were higher than that 34 cases without Epstein-Barr virus infection. The MTT assay indicates that EBNA2 can promote the growth and proliferation of B lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the above implies that EBNA2 plays an important role in diseases that are induced by the Epstein-Barr virus. Other experiments reveal that ATO promotes the degradation of EBNA2 protein and induces the apoptosis of B lymphocytes which are EBNA2-positive.

The potential value of serum pepsinogen for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis among the health check-up populations in China: a diagnostic clinical research.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the validity of the measurement of pepsinogen as a screening test for chronic atrophic gastritis (AG) in health check-up populations in China. METHODS: Patients from consecutive regular health check-up were enrolled from January 2014 to June 2015. Endoscopy, combined with monitoring the Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infections, and measuring the serum pepsinogen (PG) were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of PG for the screening of atrophic gastritis. Histopathology was assessed by the Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) system. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The total Hp infection rate was 40%. Based on pathology, the 996 participants were divided into three groups: non-atrophic (NAG), mild-moderate atrophic (MAG): stage I and II of the OLGA classification, and severe atrophic (SAG): stage III and IV of the OLGA classification. Compared with NAG and MAG groups, PGR decreased significantly in SAG group (p < 0.05). PGI and PGII levels were significantly elevated in Hp-positive group, while the PGR was markedly decreased (p < 0.01). When MAG and SAG groups were combined and compared with NAG group, the best cutoff value for atrophy diagnosis was PGI ≤50.3 ng/ml; the cutoff value in Hp-negative group was absolutely higher than in Hp-positive group. When NAG and MAG groups were combined and compared with the SAG group, the best cutoff value for diagnosis of severe atrophy was at PGR ≤4.28. The cutoff values in Hp-negative and Hp-positive groups were calculated at PGR ≤6.28 and ≤4.28, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pepsinogens play an important role in the identification of patients with atrophic gastritis and severe AG. Use of different cutoff values of PG for Hp-negative and Hp-positive groups may offer greater efficacy in the diagnosis of AG.

Family-Based Association Study of rs17300539 and rs12495941 Polymorphism in Adiponectin Gene and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disease that has both genetic and environmental components. Adiponectin plays an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance (IR) in PCOS. The aim of this study was to determine 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) variants (rs12495941 and rs17300539) of the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) families. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 197 PCOS probands, their biological parents, and 192 controls. Anthropometric variables, including hip circumference (HC) and waist circumference (WC), were measured in all subjects during their first visit to the outpatient department. Serum T, FBG, FINS, TC, TG, LDL, and HDL levels were measured. PCOS patients were divided into 2 groups based on BMI: group A (BMI <25 kg/m²) and group B (BMI ≥25 kg/m²). Parents of PCOS were accordingly categorized into group C and group D (fathers), and group E and group F (mothers). The associations among ADIPOQ rs12495941, rs17300539, and PCOS were analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). RESULTS A significant association was found between SNP rs17300539 and PCOS in our Chinese population. The levels of TG and FINS and the genotype frequencies of rs17300539 are significantly different between overweight and lean PCOS. No significant association was detected for rs12495941. CONCLUSIONS TDT confirms that rs17300539 of ADIPOQ is strongly associated with the risk of PCOS in a Chinese Han population, but rs12495941 of ADIPOQ is not associated with the occurrence of PCOS.

7-Hydroxytropolone produced and utilized as an iron-scavenger by Pseudomonas donghuensis.

Pseudomonas donghuensis can excrete large quantities of iron chelating substances in iron-restricted environments. At least two kinds of iron-chelator can be found in the culture supernatant: fluorescent siderophores pyoverdins, and an ethyl acetate-extractable non-fluorescent substance. The non-fluorescent substance was the dominant contributor to the iron chelating activity of the culture supernatant of P. donghuensis. Electron ionization mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy identified the non-fluorescent iron-chelator as 7-hydroxytropolone. The stoichiometry of 7-hydroxytropolone ferric complex was determined to be 2:1 by the continuous variation method. The production of 7-hydroxytropolone was repressible by iron in the medium. Moreover, the inhibited growth of doubly siderophore-deficient strain of P. donghuensis under iron-limiting conditions could be partly restored by 7-hydroxytropolone. Thus, 7-hydroxytropolone was considered to play a previously undiscovered role as an iron-scavenger for P. donghuensis.

Evaluation of Apelin and Insulin Resistance in Patients with PCOS and Therapeutic Effect of Drospirenone-Ethinylestradiol Plus Metformin.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of apelin and insulin resistance (IR) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess the possible therapeutic effect of the combined therapy of drospirenone-ethinylestradiol (DRSP-EE) combined with metformin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-three PCOS patients and 40 non-PCOS infertile patients were recruited. The fasting serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), glucose (FBG), insulin (FINS), and apelin at the early follicular phase were measured. To further investigate the relation between apelin and IR, we treated the PCOS patients with DRSP-EE (1 tablet daily, 21 d/month) plus metformin (500 mg tid) for 3 months. All of the above indices were measured again after treatment. RESULTS: 1) Levels of apelin, LH, LH/FSH, T, and FINS, as well as homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) in PCOS patients, were significantly higher than in the control group before treatment. 2) These indices significantly decreased after treatment with DRSP-EE plus metformin. 3) Correlation analysis showed that apelin level was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), FINS level, and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: Apelin level significantly increased in PCOS patients. The combined therapy of DRSP-EE plus metformin not only decreases IR, but also improves apelin level. This combination is a superior approach for PCOS treatment.

[Case-control based study between polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene and polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequeney of four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites (rs17300539, rs12495941, rs2241766 and rs1501299) of adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) and to elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A total of 207 women with PCOS and 192 controls were recruited. Four ml whole-blood samples were collected in tubes containing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) by peripheral venous puncture. Genomic DNA was extracted using a QIAamp DNA mini kit. Four SNP sites (rs17300539, rs12495941, rs2241766 and rs1501299) of ADIPOQ were amplified by PCR and then directly sequenced to screen variants. RESULTS: (1) The genotype frequencies of AA of rs17300539 in PCOS was significantly higher than controls [57.5% (119/207) versus 48.4% (93/192), P<0.05]. The genotype frequencies of AA of rs1501299 in PCOS was significantly lower than controls [4.8% (10/207) versus 11.5% (22/192), P<0.05]. While no significant differences were found in rs2241766 and rs12495941 (P>0.05). (2) The allele A of rs17300539 [75.8% (314/414)] and allele C frequeneies of rs1501299 [76.3% (316/414)] in PCOS were significantly higher than controls [67.7% (260/384), 69.0% (265/384), respectively; all P<0.05]. While no significant differences were found in rs2241766 and rs12495941 (P>0.05). (3) Further analysis we found rs17300539 AA genotypes had an increased risk for PCOS compared with GG genotype (OR=2.670, P=0.009), rs1501299 CC genotype had an increased risk for PCOS compared with AA genotypes (OR=2.756, P=0.012); and the difference remained significantly after adjustment for age, testosterone and body mass index (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in genotype and allele frequencies between PCOS and controls for rs2241766 and rs12495941. However, we observed an association between rs17300539, rs1501299 and PCOS. rs17300539 and rs1501299 of ADIPOQ perhaps are the susceptibility gene locus of PCOS.