Assessment of sulfamethoxazole removal by three wetland plant species under hydroponic conditions: uptake, accumulation, and physiological responses.

Plants play a crucial role as a removal pathway in constructed wetlands, demonstrating the ability to absorb and tolerate antibiotics from wastewater. However, the specific contribution of plants in this regard has not yet to be sufficiently established. To gain a more comprehensive insight into the associated processes, we selected three common wetland plant species, Canna indica L. (C. indica), Cyperus alternifolius L. (C. alternifolius), and Thalia dealbata Fraser (T. dealbata), to evaluate their capacity for uptake, accumulation, and physiological response in the removal of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at varying initial concentrations (10, 30, 100, and 300 µg/L) under hydroponic conditions. The results showed that SMX removal was more efficient at lower concentrations (10 and 30 µg/L) than at higher concentrations (100 and 300 µg/L). Moreover, plant systems were found to consistently outperform unplanted systems in SMX removal. Among the assessed species, C. indica was identified as being relatively effective in the removal of SMX, whereas the performance of C. alternifolius was notably less pronounced. A positive correlation was observed between the concentration of SMX in the plant tissues and that in the external aqueous medium. However, plant tissue residues contributed only a minor fraction to the overall removal of SMX. Wetland plants absorb SMX through their roots, and we accordingly detected significantly higher concentrations in submerged plant tissues. Furthermore, we also detected reductions in net photosynthetic rates indicative of potential phytotoxicity, which is associated with the accumulation of antibiotic in the shoot tissues. Accumulation of SMX in the roots and rhizomes was also found to be associated with the development of shorter roots, with this effect becoming more pronounced with an increase in the concentration of exogenous SMX. However, despite these adverse effects, plants can detoxify antibiotics via the glutathione pathway. Of the assessed plant species, C. indica was identified as the most SMX tolerant, as indicated by Km and Vmax values, with C. alternifolius being the least tolerant. Our findings in this study reveal the potential value of wetland plants in the sequestration of antibiotics and provide evidence for the underlying mechanisms of action. These findings could make an important contribution to the implementation of phytoremediation in antibiotic-contaminated water.

Three wetland plants with fibrous root systems, namely Canna indica, Cyperus alterniflius, and Thalia dealbata, were selected to investigate the removal efficiencies of sulfamethoxazole in the hydroponic system by different emergent plants, quantify the contribution of uptake and accumulation for sulfamethoxazole in plant tissues, and assess the physiological responses of plants and their effect on the removal of sulfamethoxazole. The knowledge obtained from this study shows the potential use of wetland plants for removing antibiotics and the inherent mechanisms, which will be useful for the application of phytoremediation in antibiotic contaminated water.

Association between preoperative lipid profiles and new-onset diabetes after transplantation in Chinese kidney transplant recipients: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between the preoperative lipid profiles and new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in Chinese kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). METHODS: In this study, of 1140 KTRs registered between January 1993 and March 2018 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 449 were enrolled. Clinical data, obtained through a chart review of the patient records in the medical record system, were evaluated, and NODAT was diagnosed based on the American Diabetes Association guidelines. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted to determine whether the preoperative lipid profiles in KTRs were independently associated with NODAT incidence. The preoperative lipid profiles were analyzed as continuous variables and grouped into tertiles. Smooth curve fitting was used to confirm the linear associations. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 28.03 (interquartile range 12.00-84.23) months, 104 of the 449 (23.16%) participants developed NODAT. The multivariate model analysis, adjusted for all potential covariates, showed that increased values of the following parameters were associated with NODAT (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval): preoperative total cholesterol (TC; 1.25, 1.09-1.58, p = 0.0495), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 1.33, 1.02-1.75, p = 0.0352), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C; 1.41, 1.09-1.82, p = 0.0084), TC/HDL-C (1.28, 1.06-1.54, p = 0.0109), and non-HDL-C/HDL-C (1.26, 1.05-1.52, p = 0.0138). However, the association between the preoperative triglyceride, HDL-C, or TG/HDL-C and NODAT was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C/HDL-C were independent risk factors for NODAT.

The assessment of Buerger's exercise on dorsal foot skin circulation in patients with vasculopathic diabetic foot ulcer by using wireless near-infrared spectroscope: a cohort prospective study.

The improvement of peripheral circulation is crucial for the care of vasculopathic diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to investigate the effects of Buerger's exercise on dorsal foot skin circulation with novel technique of measuring the absorption difference in wavelength of light between oxy-hemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HbR). Patients with vasculopathic DFU who could tolerate Buerger's exercise three times a day at home for at least 8 weeks were enrolled (group A). They were divided into two subgroups: without previous percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (group A1) vs. with previous PTA (group A2). Wireless NIRS were applied on patients' dorsal foot to assess the peripheral circulation in follow-up clinics. The patients' wound condition, follow-up time, and concentration of HbO2 and total hemoglobin (HbT) before and after exercise rehabilitation program were documented. From May 2015 to February 2016, 14 patients with average age of 70.2 ± 11.2 were enrolled in this study (group A), including eight without previous PTA (group A1), and six with previous PTA (group A2). The concentration of HbO2 and HbT were significantly increased after exercise rehabilitation program training in group A (p = 0.024 in HbO2, p = 0.02 in HbT, n = 14) and group A2 (p = 0.021 in HbO2, p = 0.028 in HbT, n = 6), while the concentration in group A1 were improved with borderline significance after exercise (p = 0.055 in HbO2, p = 0.058 in HbT, n = 8). The majority of the ulcers were either completely healed (11/14 = 78.57%) or improving (3/14 = 21.43%). Buerger's exercise improved the peripheral circulation and wound condition in patients with vasculopathic DFU. The wireless apparatus is a novel and efficient tool to monitor rehabilitation program.

The application of wireless near infrared spectroscopy on detecting peripheral circulation in patients with diabetes foot ulcer when doing Buerger's exercise.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of patients with diabetes foot ulcer have peripheral arterial disease. The technique of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) used to monitor the dorsal foot blood circulation condition is by measuring the absorption differences between oxy-hemoglobin and deoxy-hemoglobin. STUDY DESIGNS/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) treated in our wound care center were divided into two sub-groups based on the Duplex ultrasound or angiography. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and non-peripheral arterial disease were divided into group A1 and A2, respectively. We applied wireless NIRS on patients' dorsal foot to assess the peripheral circulation by continuously detect the signal penetrating the tissue while patients were asked to do Buerger's exercise. The same procedure was also repeated on 15 healthy participants as control group B. RESULTS: From January to August 2015, 30 patients with DFU (Group A) were enrolled in the study, 9 patients in Group A1 and 21 patients in Group A2. Tissue concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) in each group varied in a similar trend among five stages of Buerger's exercise. HbO2 concentration increases at post-exercise stages in all groups (P = 0.006 in Group A1, P = 0.223 in Group A2, P = 0.03 in Group B), however, there were significant difference in both pre- and post-exercise stages (P = 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively) between Group A and B. Moreover, significant differences (P = 0.0009) of HbO2 were also found between Group A1 and A2 in pre-exercise status, but no significant difference (P = 0.294) was found in post-exercise status. Similar results were also found in total hemoglobin (Hb) concentration analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Buerger's exercise could increase peripheral HbO2 and total Hb circulation in patients with diabetes foot ulcer. The NIRS could continuously and quantitatively monitor real-time peripheral circulation in postural changes and is novel to rehabilitation program. A larger scale study to prove the accuracy of NIRS system in detecting peripheral circulation could be worthwhile. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:652-657, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Effect of dangua recipe on glycolipid metabolism and VCAM-1 and its mRNA expression level in Apo E(-/-) mice with diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and its mRNA expression level of transgenic Apo E(-/-) mouse with spontaneous atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanism for curing diabetes mellitus (DM) with angiopathy. METHODS: Diabetic model was prepared by peritoneally injecting streptozotocin (STZ) to Apo E(-/-) mouse. Totally 32 modeled mice were stratified by body weight, and then divided into 4 groups referring to blood glucose levels from low to high by random digit table, i.e., the model group (MOD, fed with sterile water, at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg), the DGR group (fed with DGR at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg), the combination group (COM, fed with DGR at the daily dose of 15 mL/kg and pioglitazone at the daily dose of 4.3 mg/kg), and the pioglitazone group (PIO, at the daily dose of 4.3 mg/kg), 8 in each group. Another 8 normal glucose C57 mouse of the same age and strain were recruited as the control group. All interventions lasted for 12 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, food intake, water intake, skin temperature, the length of tail, and the degree of fatty liver were monitored. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-C were determined. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Nitrogen monoxidum (NO) was determined by nitrate reductase. The kidney tissue VCAM-1 level was analyzed with ELISA. The expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in the kidney tissue was detected with real time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight and food intake decreased, water intake increased in all the other model groups (P < 0.05). Besides, the curve of blood glucose was higher in all the other model groups than in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight increased; levels of HbAlc, TC, LDL-C, ET-1, and VCAM-1 were significantly lower; and skin temperature was higher in the DGR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the PIO group, body weight, the increment of body weight, FBG, TC, and LDL-C were lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); food intake and water intake increased more and the tail length was longer in the DRG group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the level of NO among groups. The degree of fatty liver in the model group was significantly severer than that in the control group (P < 0.05). It was obviously alleviated in the DGR group (P < 0.05) when compared with the model group and the PIO group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). But it was severer in the PIO group than in the model group (P < 0.01). The degree of fatty liver in the combination group ranged between that of the DGR group and the PIO group (P < 0.05). The level of VCAM-1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the DGR group than in the model group, the PIO group, and the combination group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DGR had effect in lowering blood glucose and blood lipids, and fighting against fatty liver of transgenic Apo E(-/-) mouse with spontaneous atherosclerosis. DGR played an effective role in preventing and treating DM with angiopathy by comprehensively regulating glycolipid metabolism and promoting the vascular function.

[Research of Dangua Recipe on intervening the glycolipid metabolism and oxidative stress in diabetic rats with atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) positive expression and its mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta of diabetic rats with atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanisms for intervening chronic diabetic complications. METHODS: Recruited 40 Goto-Kakisaki (GK) Wistar rats were fed with high fat forage containing metabolic inhibition Propylthiouracil, and peritoneally injected with endothelial NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to establish a high fat diabetes model with atherosclerosis. The modeled GK rats were stratified by body weight, and then, by blood glucose level from high to low, randomly divided into the DGR group (at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg), the metformin group (MET, at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg), the simvastatin group (SIM, at the daily dose of 2 mg/kg), and the model group (MOD, fed with pure water, at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg) according to the random number table, 10 in each group. Another 10 Wistar rats of the same ages and comparable body weight level were recruited as the normal control group. All the interventions lasted for 24 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were monitored. The HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, serum ROS were determined. The aortic NF-kappaB level was analyzed with immunohistochemical assay. The expression of NF-kappaB (P65) mRNA in the aorta was detected with Real-time PCR. RESULTS: The body weight in the normal control group was eventually heavier than others (P < 0.01). There was no difference among the four groups of GK modeled rats (P > 0.05). The FBG in the four GK modeled groups were higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the blood glucose level at the first visit and at the baseline among the GK modeled groups (P > 0.05). The last FBG level was obviously lower in the MET and DGR groups than in the MOD group (P < 0.01) and the SIM group (P < 0.05). Twenty-four weeks after intervention, the level of FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate of the thoracic aorta of the four groups of GK modeled rats, and NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta in the MOD group, the MET group, and the DGR group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The TG level, serum ROS in the MET, DGR, and SIM groups, and the NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in the SIM group were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The levels of FBG, TC, LDL-C, serum ROS, NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in three drug intervention groups, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate in the DGR and MET groups, and the levels of HbA1c, TG in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MOD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The level of FBG in the MET and DGR groups were lower than that in the SIM group (P < 0.05). The level of NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta of the SIM and DGR groups, and the levels of TC and LDL-C in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MET group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: DGR played a role in preventing and treating chronic diabetic complications by comprehensively regulating blood glucose and serum lipids, as well as down-regulating oxidative stress.

The impact of entrepreneurial team psychological capital on innovation performance: The mediating role of knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding.

Introduction: The important role of psychological capital on corporate innovation has attracted the attention of academics, more and more scholars have conducted related studies. Although most scholars have explored the mechanisms and paths of psychological capital on innovation performance, few scholars have explored the inner relationship between them from the perspective of knowledge management. Based on the knowledge management perspective, We explore the influence effect of the psychological capital of entrepreneurial teams on the innovation performance of startups in the entrepreneurial situation. Methods: We conducted hypothesis testing using data from 113 Chinese entrepreneurial teams, and conducted reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis on the questionnaire data with the help of SPSS software and AMOS software. Results: The results showed that (1) entrepreneurial team psychological capital has a significant positive effect on innovation performance of startups; (2) entrepreneurial team psychological capital positively promotes their knowledge sharing behavior and reduces knowledge hiding behavior; (3) entrepreneurial team knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding play a partially mediating role between entrepreneurial team psychological capital and innovation performance of startups; (4)organizational innovation climate plays a moderating role in the influence of entrepreneurial team knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding on the innovation performance of startups. Discussion: The findings are consistent with the hypothesis model proposed in this paper, indicating that as the psychological capital of entrepreneurial teams increases, the innovation performance of startups can benefit from higher levels of knowledge sharing and lower levels of knowledge hiding.

The study on the relationship between venture capital, tolerance to failure, and enterprise innovation performance.

Venture capital not only affects enterprise innovation decisions by providing funds, value-added services and allocating control rights, but also the psychological capital of venture capital can enhance its tolerance for failure in innovation activities of enterprises, and thus have a positive impact on innovation performance of enterprises. This paper uses multivariate and negative binomial regression models, propensity score matching method and Heckman treatment effect model to study the impact mechanism of venture capital on enterprise innovation performance, and the mediation role of venture capital's tolerance for innovation failure in the relationship between the above two; this paper studies the moderating effect of the characteristics of heterogeneous venture capital institutions, such as joint investment strategies and geographical proximity, on the relationship between venture capital failure tolerance and enterprise innovation performance. The results show that venture capital can significantly improve its tolerance for enterprise innovation failure by holding shares and occupying seats on the board of directors of enterprises, thereby bring the increase of the innovation performance of enterprises; if joint investment strategy and close investment are selected, the tolerance of venture capital to innovation failure will have a more obvious effect on the promotion of enterprise innovation performance.

[Intrauterine growth characteristics of twins and those twins discordant birthweight].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intrauterine growth characteristics of twins and birthweight discordant twins (discordant twins). METHODS: Total of 1010 twin pregnancies (2020 fetuses) with complete delivery records from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First and Third Affiliated Hospital of SUN Yat-sen University between January 1, 2000 and July 31, 2010 were studied retrospectively. One handred and ninteen cases (238 fetuses) with intrapair birthweight difference ≥ 25% were determined as the discordant twins group, and the other 891 cases (1782 fetuses) with intrapair birthweight difference < 25% were identified as the concordant twins group. The singleton control group included 4042 singleton pregnancies in the same period. RESULTS: (1) Comparison of clinical data between the twins groups: the birthweight of larger-twin, smaller-twin and intrapair birthweight difference in the discordant twins group and the concordant twins group were (2090 ± 827) g, (1392 ± 592) g, (33.9 ± 9.3)%, and (2408 ± 543) g, (2191 ± 505) g, (8.9 ± 6.5)%, respectively, with significant differences (P < 0.01). The incidence of discordant twins was 11.78% (119/1010). Compared with the concordant twins group, the discordant twins group had higher proportion of monochorionic twins, and higher prevalence of pregnancy complications such as late miscarriage, abnormal umbilical insertion, twin-twin transfusion syndrome and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (P < 0.05). (2) The characteristics of twin birthweight distribution: 1) In all the 2020 twins, 80.05% (1617/2020) fetuses had birthweight below the 50(th) percentile of the singleton control group, while 23.71% (479/2020) feeuses got birthweight below the 10(th) percentile of the singleton control group. 2) After 19(th) gestational week, the 50(th) and 90(th) percentile of all twins' birthweight were lower than those of singletons. After 38(th) gestational week, the birthweight of singletons kept increasing and reached its peak at 41(th) week, while the birthweight of twins reached its peak at 38(th) week, followed by a decline at 39 weeks, which was even lower than the 10(th) percentile of the singleton control group. 3) The distribution of birthweight of larger- and smaller-twin in the discordant twins group: 65 (54.6%, 65/119) larger-twins and one (0.8%, 1/119) smaller-twin had birthweight above the 50(th) percentile of all twins, while 5 (4.2%, 5/119) larger-twins and 97 (81.5%, 97/119) smaller-twins got birthweight below the 10(th) percentile of all twins. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The patterns of birthweight curves for each gestational week are different between twins and singletons. In order to evaluate the growth of twins, birthweight reference for twins should be employed. (2) According to the reference of twins birthweight, the most discordant twins are complicated with fetal growth restriction at least in one twin.

Cross-Camera External Validation for Artificial Intelligence Software in Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Aims: To investigate the applicability of deep learning image assessment software VeriSee DR to different color fundus cameras for the screening of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Color fundus images of diabetes patients taken with three different nonmydriatic fundus cameras, including 477 Topcon TRC-NW400, 459 Topcon TRC-NW8 series, and 471 Kowa nonmyd 8 series that were judged as "gradable" by one ophthalmologist were enrolled for validation. VeriSee DR was then used for the diagnosis of referable DR according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. Gradability, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for each camera model. Results: All images (100%) from the three camera models were gradable for VeriSee DR. The sensitivity for diagnosing referable DR in the TRC-NW400, TRC-NW8, and non-myd 8 series was 89.3%, 94.6%, and 95.7%, respectively, while the specificity was 94.2%, 90.4%, and 89.3%, respectively. Neither the sensitivity nor the specificity differed significantly between these camera models and the original camera model used for VeriSee DR development (p = 0.40, p = 0.065, respectively). Conclusions: VeriSee DR was applicable to a variety of color fundus cameras with 100% agreement with ophthalmologists in terms of gradability and good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of referable DR.

Quality of care and prescription patterns among patients with diabetic kidney disease-a large-scale cohort study from Taiwanese clinics.

Aims: To investigate the quality of care and prescription patterns of patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) receiving primary care at local clinics in Taiwan. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in 43 primary care clinics in Taiwan. The patients' baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, presence of complications and antidiabetic agents prescribed were analyzed. Results: 7,200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Percentage of HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals reached were 52.5% in HbA1c < 7%, 40.9% in BP < 130/80 mmHg and 79.7% in LDL-C < 2.59 mmol/L. 18.3% achieved all three ABC goals. However, patients with DKD had a lower rate of ABC goal attainment and higher rate of complications. Among DKD patients with eGFR ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 and on monotherapy, metformin was most frequently prescribed. As for dual therapy, the most common combinations were metformin with sulfonylurea and metformin with DPP-4 inhibitors. Conclusions: Diabetes patients in Taiwan receiving primary diabetes care at local clinics had generally satisfactory management performance. However, more aggressive HbA1c, BP, and LDL-C management among DKD patients should be emphasized. Contrary to current recommendations, SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists as frontline therapy were under-prescribed.

Differentiation of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis Using Genome-Guided MALDI-TOF MS Based on Variations in Ribosomal Proteins.

Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis are closely related species that are relevant to foodborne diseases and biopesticides, respectively. Unambiguous differentiation of these two species is crucial for bacterial taxonomy. As genome analysis offers an objective but time-consuming classification of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis, in the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to accelerate this process. By combining in silico genome analysis and MALDI-TOF MS measurements, four species-specific peaks of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis were screened and identified. The species-specific peaks of B. cereus were m/z 3211, 6427, 9188, and 9214, and the species-specific peaks of B. thuringiensis were m/z 3218, 6441, 9160, and 9229. All the above peaks represent ribosomal proteins, which are conserved and consistent with the phylogenetic relationship between B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. The specificity of the peaks was robustly verified using common foodborne pathogens. Thus, we concluded that genome-guided MALDI-TOF MS allows high-throughput differentiation of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis and provides a framework for differentiating other closely related species.

Pseudotargeted Metabolomic Fingerprinting and Deep Learning for Identification and Visualization of Common Pathogens.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry fingerprinting has reduced turnaround times, costs, and labor as conventional procedures in various laboratories. However, some species strains with high genetic correlation have not been directly distinguished using conventional standard procedures. Metabolomes can identify these strains by amplifying the minor differences because they are directly related to the phenotype. The pseudotargeted metabolomics method has the advantages of both non-targeted and targeted metabolomics. It can provide a new semi-quantitative fingerprinting with high coverage. We combined this pseudotargeted metabolomic fingerprinting with deep learning technology for the identification and visualization of the pathogen. A variational autoencoder framework was performed to identify and classify pathogenic bacteria and achieve their visualization, with prediction accuracy exceeding 99%. Therefore, this technology will be a powerful tool for rapidly and accurately identifying pathogens.

Recent Advances in Glycosidase Probes Used in Escherichia Coli Detection.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli poses a serious threat to global public health and is especially dangerous with the increase of antibiotic resistance. ß-Glucuronidase (GUS) and some other glycosidases can serve as useful biomarkers or indicators for the detection of E. coli. The probes made up of a glycosyl residue (recognition group), a label or reporter group, and a linkage that is generally a direct glycosidic bond, are powerful analytical tools. Upon hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages by the corresponding glycosidases, these probes irreversibly release detectable labels or reporter molecules. A variety of such glycosidase probes have been developed and applied for the detection of E. coli or the development of various corresponding detection methods. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in this field, covering the development and applications of chromogenic, fluorogenic, luminogenic, and electrochemical glycosidase substrates. The challenges and opportunities in the probe development for detection of E. coli are also discussed.

Plants alter their vertical root distribution rather than biomass allocation in response to changing precipitation.

Elucidating the variation of allocation pattern of ecosystem net primary productivity (NPP) and its underlying mechanisms is critically important for understanding the changes of aboveground and belowground ecosystem functions. Under optimal partitioning theory, plants should allocate more NPP to the organ that acquires the most limiting resource, and this expectation has been widely used to explain and predict NPP allocation under changing precipitation. However, confirmatory evidence for this theory has mostly come from observed spatial variation in the relationship between precipitation and NPP allocation across ecosystems, rather than directly from the influences of changing precipitation on NPP allocation within systems. We performed a 6-yr five-level precipitation manipulation experiment in a semiarid steppe to test whether changes in NPP allocation can be explained by the optimal partitioning theory, and how water requirement of plant community is maintained if NPP allocation is unaltered. The 30 precipitation levels (5 levels × 6 yr) were divided into dry, nominal, and wet precipitation ranges, relative to historical precipitation variation over the past six decades. We found that NPP in both aboveground (ANPP) and belowground (BNPP) increased nonlinearly as precipitation increased, while the allocation of NPP to BNPP (fBNPP ) showed a concave quadratic relationship with precipitation. The declined fBNPP as precipitation increased in the dry range supported the optimal partitioning theory. However, in the nominal range, NPP allocation was not influenced by the changed precipitation; instead, BNPP was distributed more in the surface soil horizon (0-10 cm) as precipitation increased, and conversely more in the deeper soil layers (10-30 cm) as precipitation decreased. This response in root foraging appears to be a strategy to satisfy plant water requirements and partially explains the stable NPP allocation patterns. Overall, our results suggest that plants can adjust their vertical BNPP distribution in response to drought stress, and that only under extreme drought does the optimal partitioning theory strictly apply, highlighting the context dependency of the adaption and growth of plants under changing precipitation.

Effects of preoperative hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, and coinfection on the development of new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The effects of preoperative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and HBV plus HCV coinfection on the development of new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) remain unexplored in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study examined the association between preoperative viral status (i.e., HBV, HCV, and HBC + HCV infection) and incident NODAT in a large population of Chinese KTRs. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study enrolled 557 subjects who underwent kidney transplantation between 1993 and 2014 at Zhongshan Hospital. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative data were extracted and analyzed. Viral status was defined by serological results for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV antibody. The cumulative incidence of NODAT was compared across four groups of KTRs with different viral status. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate the effects of HBV, HCV, and HBC + HCV infection on incident NODAT after adjusting for important confounders. RESULTS: Patients seropositive for HCV (both HCV monoinfection and HBC + HCV coinfection) had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of NODAT than KTRs who were not infected with HCV (P < 0.05 for both). However, only HCV infection alone was found to be a risk factor for NODAT, increasing the NODAT risk 3.03-fold (95% confidence interval 1.77-5.18; P < 0.001). There was no independent correlation between HBV infection (alone or combined with HCV) and incident NODAT in KTRs. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative HCV infection significantly increased the risk of NODAT in Chinese KTRs, whereas HBV infection and HBC + HCV coinfection were not correlated with NODAT development.

[Prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose achondroplasia prenatally by FGFR3 gene detection. METHODS: Seventy-eight fetuses affected by short-limb dysplasias were recruited. Umbilical blood sampling was employed to obtain fetal blood for karyotyping and FGFR3 gene detection. Genomic DNA was extracted, and the exon 10 of the FGFR3 gene was amplified. PCR amplicons were analyzed by DNA sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism with Bfm I. The FGFR3 exon 10 from the parents of the positive fetuses was screened by the same method. RESULTS: In 78 fetuses affected with short-limb dysplasias, 8 cases had G1138A heterozygotic mutation and normal karyotype, and were diagnosed as achondroplasia. The other 70 fetuses had normal nucleotide at nucleotide 1138 in exon 10 of FGFR3, therefore were excluded from achondroplasia. Only one father in parents of the 8 achondroplasia fetuses also had the G1138A mutation. CONCLUSION: Achondroplasia could be diagnosed prenatally in the fetuses affected with short-limb dysplasias by using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing of the exon 10 of the FGFR3 gene.

[Comparison between transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling in clinical application for prenatal diagnosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling (TC-CVS) in application for prenatal diagnosis, and to summarize the experience of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS). METHODS: One hundred and nine TA-CVS between April 2005 and November 2007 and 69 TC-CVS between August 1999 and March 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The mean gestational age was (12.4 +/- 1.9) weeks at TA-CVS and (8.8 +/- 1.2) weeks at TC-CVS (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with TC-CVS, punctures were fewer (1.4 +/- 0.5) and (1.1 +/- 0.4) and specimen amount was more (9 +/- 5) mg and (17 +/- 5) mg in TA-CVS, and the success rate of one puncture (62.3% vs 87.2%) was higher in TA-CVS. (3) Among the cases followed up, the incidence of vaginal bleeding (TA-CVS: 2 cases, 2.0%; TC-CVS: 2 cases, 6.1%) and spontaneous abortion (TA-CVS: 4 cases, 4.0%; TC-CVS: 1 cases, 3.0%) were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TA-CVS appears to be a good method for early prenatal diagnosis with a wide range of indications, high success rate and sufficient specimen.

Protocol for a systematic evaluation of pediatric pharmacy development and pediatric pharmacy experts' research area in China.

BACKGROUND: The pediatric pharmacy research status of children's hospitals in China is still unknown. Our previous findings suggest the regional differences in academic level in tertiary (grade III level A) children's hospitals in China. METHODS: This systemic evaluation described in this protocol will be conducted to follow the Cochrane Handbook. We will perform a systemic literature search of relevant databases including Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP Paper Check System) and English databases (Medline, EMbase, Cochrane Library) from inception to December 31, 2018. The search strategy will be enacted according to the guidance offered from the Cochrane Handbook. Two rounds of searches will be conducted to prevent the omission of relevant literature. A pre-set grading standard will be used to give calculation weight (W) to evaluate the quality of each article. Data synthesis will be performed using STATA software (version 13.1, Statacorp, College Station, Texas). Pediatric pharmacy development index (PPDI) of each hospital will be used to evaluate the pediatric pharmacy development in each tertiary children's hospitals. The cumulative calculation weight (∑W) and annual calculation weight (∑yearW) will be used to evaluate the academic level of pharmaceutical departments in different tertiary children's hospitals. Subgroup analysis will be performed to compare the number of different types of articles published between different hospitals base on different research areas such as policy research, basic research, and clinical research. RESULTS: In this article, we will evaluate pediatric pharmacy development and the research area of pediatric pharmacy experts in China. Based on the results from this research, we will analyze the professional backgrounds of pediatric pharmacy experts from 23 tertiary children's hospitals in China. According to the contents and research directions of literature published by the pediatric pharmacy experts in these 23 hospitals, we will determine the professional field of pediatric pharmacy experts and establish an expert database. In the process of formulating the related national or local policies in the future, the expert database will be selected accurately to reach the expert consensus. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide a comprehensive picture of pediatric pharmacy development in China. The pediatrics pharmacy expert's database constructed by this study will be used to build consensus on pediatric pharmacology in the future.

A Review on Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacogenomics of Natalizumab: A Humanized Anti-α4 Integrin Monoclonal Antibody.

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab (NAT), a humanized monoclonal antibody, binding in both α4ß1 and α4ß7 integrins, is approved for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's Disease (CD). This review highlights the detailed Pharmacokinetics (PK) and Pharmacodynamics (PD) information of NAT, with the Pharmacogenomics (PG) properties of NAT. METHODS: We undertake a systemic English-language search of Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library electronic databases to identify all potential studies with PK, PD or PG properties of NAT (up to October 2017). RESULTS: Five papers contain detailed pharmacokinetic parameters are included in this review. Body weight is the most important factor associated with NAT concentration. Greater PK similarity and PD comparability is observed following Subcutaneous (SC) administration than Intramuscular (IM) administration. Initial difference in PK measures was observed between SC and Intravenous (IV) administration. However, trough NAT serum concentrations are similar between SC and IV administration after repeated dosing. Antibodies against NAT result in a low serum NAT concentration and cause a loss of efficacy of NAT. Gln-152, Lys-201, and Lys-256 are the three important point mutation on the α4 residues that NAT binds to. Syndecan-1 gene is a potential candidate gene for personalized approach for NAT use in MS. CONCLUSION: As MS is a disease that affects young women most and NAT can pass placental barrier before delivery and into breast milk, a proper risk-benefit analysis of NAT therapy in lactating women are still needed. The relationship between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and NAT treatment are still not clear.