High-Dose Assessment of Transgenic Insect-Resistant Maize Events against Major Lepidopteran Pests in China.

Lepidopteran pests present a key problem for maize production in China. In order to develop a new strategy for the pest control, the Chinese government has issued safety certificates for insect-resistant transgenic maize, but whether these transformation events can achieve high dose levels to major target pests is still unclear. In this paper, the transformation events of DBN9936 (Bt-Cry1Ab), DBN9936 × DBN9501 (Bt-Cry1Ab + Vip3A), Ruifeng 125 (Bt-Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj), and MIR162 (Bt-Vip3A) were planted in the Huang-huai-hai summer corn region of China to evaluate the lethal effects on major lepidopteran pests, Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa armigera, Ostrinia furnacalis, Conogethes punctiferalis, Mythimna separata, Leucania loreyi, and Athetis lepigone, using an artificial diet containing lyophilized Bt maize tissue at a concentration representing a 25-fold dilution of tissue. The results showed that the corrected mortalities of DBN9936 (Bt-Cry1Ab), DBN9936 × DBN9501 (Bt-Cry1Ab + Vip3A), Ruifeng 125 (Bt-Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj), and MIR162 (Bt-Vip3A) to the seven pests were in the ranges 53.80~100%, 62.98~100%, 57.09~100%, and 41.02~100%, respectively. In summary, the events of DBN9936, DBN9936 × DBN9501, and MIR162 reached high dose levels to S. frugiperda. DBN9936 × DBN9501 only at the R1 stage reached a high dose level to H. armigera. DBN9936, DBN9936 × DBN9501, and Ruifeng 125, at most growth stages, reached high dose levels to O. furnacalis, and these three events at some stages also reached high dose levels to A. lepigone. Ruifeng 125 presented a high dose level only to C. punctiferalis. However, no transformations reached high dose levels to either M. separata or L. loreyi. This study provides a support for the breeding of high-dose varieties to different target pests, the combined application of multiple genes and the commercial regional planting of insect-resistant transgenic maize in China.

Timing and Outcomes of Tracheostomy in Patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we sought to evaluate the timing and outcomes in patients with hemorrhagic stroke who received tracheostomy. METHODS: A retrospective database search was undertaken to identify patients with hemorrhagic stroke between January 2010 and December 2018. Clinical data on basic demographics, clinical features, and outcomes were extracted. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes were hospital stays and hospital costs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the characteristics and outcomes between patients with hemorrhagic stroke who underwent tracheostomy early (days 1-6) and late (days 7 or later). RESULTS: A total of 425 patients were identified, 74.4% (n = 316) received an early tracheostomy during the hospitalization. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke who received early tracheostomy had a higher rate of neurosurgical operation (odds ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-4.99; P = 0.001) and different types of hemorrhagic stroke (P = 0.001) in comparison with the late tracheostomy patients. In addition, early tracheostomy was associated with shorter hospital stays (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.03; P = 0.003) and reduced hospital costs (P < 0.001) than with late tracheostomy. However, no significant difference was observed with regard to in-hospital mortality between early and late tracheostomy groups (P = 0.744). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, early tracheostomy in patients with hemorrhagic stroke may help reduce hospital stays and hospital costs, but not in-hospital mortality. Future prospective multicenter studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users.

The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.

A novel antidoping and medical care delivery model at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games (2014), Nanjing China.

BACKGROUND: Antidoping and medical care delivery programmes are required at all large international multisport events. OBJECTIVE: To document and critique the novel antidoping and medical care delivery models implemented at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing 2014. METHODS: The International Olympic Committee implemented two new models of delivery of antidoping and medical care at the YOG. A review of these models as well as the public health programme and two health educational initiatives in the Cultural and Educational Program was undertaken by the International Olympic Committee. RESULTS: The implementation of the new antidoping model was feasible in the setting of the YOG. The antidoping rules and regulations of the International Olympic Committee were respected. This model enhanced the educational initiative and provided financial as well as human resource savings. The execution of the hospital-based venue model of medical care delivery at the YOG was also feasible in this setting. This model provided a practical infrastructure for the delivery of medical care at multisport events with the goal of providing optimum athlete healthcare. A public health prevention programme was implemented and no public health risks were encountered by the participants or the Nanjing citizens during the YOG. Finally, the implementation of the athlete health educational programmes within the Cultural and Educational Program provided athletes with an opportunity to improve their health and performance. CONCLUSIONS: To achieve the goal of protecting athlete health, and of employing effective doping control and education, new alternate models of antidoping and medical care delivery can be implemented.

Antisense reduction of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enhances energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity independent of food intake in C57BL/6J mice on a Western-type diet.

We recently reported that inhibition of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11ß-HSD1) by antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) improved hepatic lipid metabolism independent of food intake. In that study, 11ß-HSD1 ASO-treated mice lost weight compared with food-matched control ASO-treated mice, suggesting treatment-mediated increased energy expenditure. We have now examined the effects of 11ß-HSD1 ASO treatment on adipose tissue metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and whole-body energy expenditure. We used an ASO to knock down 11ß-HSD1 in C57BL/6J mice consuming a Western-type diet (WTD). The 11ß-HSD1 ASO-treated mice consumed less food, so food-matched control ASO-treated mice were also evaluated. We characterized body composition, gene expression of individual adipose depots, and measures of energy metabolism. We also investigated glucose/insulin tolerance as well as acute insulin signaling in several tissues. Knockdown of 11ß-HSD1 protected against WTD-induced obesity by reducing epididymal, mesenteric, and subcutaneous white adipose tissue while activating thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. The latter was confirmed by demonstrating increased energy expenditure in 11ß-HSD1 ASO-treated mice. The 11ß-HSD1 ASO treatment also protected against WTD-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance; this protection was associated with smaller cells and fewer macrophages in epididymal white adipose tissue as well as enhanced in vivo insulin signaling. Our results indicate that ASO-mediated inhibition of 11ß-HSD1 can protect against several WTD-induced metabolic abnormalities. These effects are, at least in part, mediated by increases in the oxidative capacity of brown adipose tissue.

The epidemiology and clinical management of craniocerebral injury caused by the Sichuan earthquake.

BACKGROUND: Earthquake is one of the most devastating natural disasters that threaten human lives. Worldwide more than 3 million deaths have been caused by earthquakes in recent 20 years. AIM: To analyze clinical features of head injuries after Sichuan earthquake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 12 to June 12, 2008, Departments of Neurosurgery in major Hospitals in Sichuan Province admitted 1368 patients with head injuries caused by the Sichuan earthquake; the epidemiology, mechanism, severity, complications, treatments and outcome of head injury were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,368 patients, 755 were men and 613 women. Collapsing building was the most important cause of head injury. Most of the patients, 85% had mild to moderate head injury. The type of injury was open scalp injury in 65% of patients. About 47% of the head-injured patients were admitted within 72 h after earthquake. Skeletal bone fracture was the most common associated injury (9%). Only 98 patients received surgery. Glasgow Outcome Scale on discharge or transfer was: 5 in 1,121 (82%) patients, 4 in 173 (13%) patients, and 3 or less in 74 (5%) patients. Overall 33 (2%) patients died. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of Sichuan earthquake-related head injury are quite distinct. Early standardized treatment is important to have better outcomes.