Assessment of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary plaque characteristics by computed tomography in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the coronary plaque characteristics of coronary arteries using computed tomography angiography (CTA) in order to assess the risk of coronary artery disease and the relevance of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). METHODS: The clinical data of 400 DM patients and 400 non-DM patients from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected, including the results of coronaryCTA. The plasma hs-CRP level of the two groups were divided into three groups: CRP ≤ 1, 1 < CRP ≤ 2, CRP > 2. The correlation of the degree of stenosis, the number of plaques, the nature of plaques and hs-CRP value between the two groups was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with non-DM patients, the incidence of coronary artery plaques and lumen stenosis in DM patients was more higher than that in non-DM patients. DM patients were more likely to have more diseased vessels, especially diffuse vascular disease (12.00% vs 1.75%; P < 0.001). Subjects with high hs-CRP levels were more likely to have any plaque compared with individuals showing normal hs-CRP levels (p<0.01). There was no statistical significance in non calcified plaque with high level of hs-CRP, but the occurrence of plaque types in DM group was statistically significant compared with other hs-CRP levels in non DM group. Subjects with high hs-CRP were observed to be at increased risk for the presence of calcified plaque and severe narrowing in the unadjusted values. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary CTA combined with hs-CRP can accurately detect the characteristics of coronary artery stenosis and plaque in DM patients, which has an important clinical value in the risk assessment of coronary heart disease in DM patients.

MiR-125a-5p functions as a tumour suppressor in breast cancer by downregulating BAP1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of human cancers, including breast cancer (BC). In the current study, we examined the expression pattern of the miRNA miR-125a-5p in human BC tissues, tumorigenesis of BC progression. We found that miR-125a-5p was significantly downregulated in human BC tissues. Overexpression of miR-125a-5p in a xenograft mouse model indicated that miR-125a-5p may function as a tumour suppressor during carcinogenesis. To explore the molecular mechanism by which miR-125a-5p contributes to BC progression, we predicted the target genes of miR-125a-5p and identified BC susceptibility gene 1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) as a direct target. Finally, we demonstrated that BAP1 had opposing effects to those of miR-125a-5p on BC cells, suggesting that miR-125a-5p may inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis by negatively regulating BAP1. Taken together, our findings provide the first clues regarding the role of miR-125a-5p as a tumour suppressor in BC via the inhibition of BAP1 translation.

CT pulmonary angiogram for assessing the treatment outcome of acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for assessing the treatment outcome of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT pulmonary angiogram data and other clinical data were collected for 28 cases diagnosed as APE and analyzed retrospectively. The number and positions of emboli in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary artery obstruction index, right ventricular/left ventricular diameter ratio, main pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio and blood oxygen saturation, and pulmonary arterial pressure were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Of 28 cases, emboli in the pulmonary artery completely or partially disappeared in 16 and 12 cases, respectively. CPTA indicated that the pulmonary arterial pressure decreased dramatically and the blood oxygen saturation increased after treatment in 26 cases. There were significant differences in the number and positions of pulmonary emboli and in pulmonary artery obstruction index before and after treatment in 28 cases (P < .05). However, no significant differences were found in the right ventricular/left ventricular diameter ratio or main pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio (P > .05). CONCLUSION: CT pulmonary angiogram proved reliable for assessing the treatment efficacy of APE, providing more clinical information on the patients' status.

Multislice spiral CT angiography for evaluation of acute aortic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnostic value of multislice CT angiography (MSCTA) in acute aortic syndrome (AAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 36 cases diagnosed as AAS by MSCTA were collected. The manifestations of the MSCTA images were reviewed retrospectively, and the average x-ray dose was calculated. RESULTS: Among 36 AAS cases, 16 cases had aortic dissection (AD), 8 cases had penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU), 7 cases had intramural hematoma (IMH), and 5 cases had unstable thoracic aneurysm (UTA). Of 16 cases with AD, type A and type B accounted for 43.7% (7/16) and 56.3% (9/16), respectively. Of 7 cases with IMH, type A and type B accounted for 42.9% (3/7) and 57.1% (4/7), respectively. CONCLUSION: In spite of the x-ray radiation, MSCTA proves to be a rapid and noninvasive imaging technique for the diagnosis of AAS.

ECG-gated pulmonary artery CTA for evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using electrocardiogram-gated CTA and to discuss the clinical value of pulmonary artery CTA PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on death risk evaluation, 86 APE patients were divided into high-risk group (n=46) and non-high-risk group (n=40). The CT pulmonary embolism (PE) index and parameters of right ventricular function were analyzed from the CTPA images and compared between the two groups. Potential correlation between the two was also discussed. RESULT: CT PE index (median 24.69%) of the high-risk group was obviously higher than that of the non-high-risk group (median 8.58%) (P<.05). Except the diameter of superior vena cava, all other parameters of right ventricular function were significantly different between the two groups (P<.05). CT PE index was correlated with the parameters of right ventricular function. CONCLUSION: ECG-gated pulmonary artery CTA is suitable for assessing the severity of APE and right ventricular function.

Hepatitis B virus-human chimeric transcript HBx-LINE1 promotes hepatic injury via sequestering cellular microRNA-122.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers have a high risk to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies suggest that viral-human hybrid RNA transcripts, which play a critical role in promoting HCC progression, may be the molecules responsible for the development of HCC in HBV infected patients. Here we determine whether HBx-LINE1, a hybrid RNA transcript of the human LINE1 and the HBV-encoded X gene generated in tumor cells of HBV-positive HCC, can serve as a molecular sponge for sequestering miR-122 and promoting liver cell abnormal mitosis and mouse hepatic injury. METHODS: Paired tumor and distal normal liver tissue specimens, as well as HBx-LINE1 overexpressing hepatic cells, were used to test the relationship between HBx-LINE1 and miR-122. Levels of HBx-LINE1 and miR-122 were assayed by qRT-PCR and Northern blot. HBx-LINE1-miR-122 binding was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay. Mouse hepatic injury was monitored by tissue staining and serum aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin measurement. RESULTS: HBx-LINE1 in HBV-positive HCC tissues was inversely correlated with miR-122. Each HBx-LINE1 consists of six miR-122-binding sites, and forced expression of HBx-LINE1 effectively depleted cellular miR-122, promoting hepatic cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like changes, including ß-catenin signaling activation, E-cadherin reduction and cell migration enhancement. Mice administered with HBx-LINE1 display a significant mouse liver cell abnormal mitosis and hepatic injury. However, all these effects of HBx-LINE1 are completely abolished by miR-122. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding illustrates a previously uncharacterized miR-122-sequestering mechanism by which HBx-LINE1 promotes hepatic cell EMT-like changes and mouse liver injury.

Evaluation of image quality in carotid and cerebrovascular disease: a comparative study between subtraction and routine computed tomography angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Few data exist comparing the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of subtraction computed tomography (CT) angiography (SCTA) in carotid and cerebrovascular arteries with routine CT angiography (RCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 56 patients underwent 128-row CT angiography of these vessels with review by two radiologists using routine, nonsubtracted, and SCTA protocols. Comparisons were made using a 4-point subjective rating scale in all patients. Eighteen patients were examined with both SCTA and invasive digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The accuracy of SCTA and routine CTA reformations was assessed and compared by both patient-based and vessel-based analyses of intracranial aneurysms and intracranial and extracranial arterial stenotic lesions using DSA results as the reference standard. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy in the adjacent skull base portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and reading time for cerebral aneurysms and vessel stenoses were obviously improved with SCTA protocol, but the accuracy in vertebro-basilar arteries was no different. The diagnostic accuracy in general was slightly increased compared with routine CTA. CONCLUSION: Review of SCTA images is an effective means to remove bone close to vessels as seen on routine CTA and has good image quality and diagnostic accuracy. SCTA is superior to routine CTA in the visualization and diagnostic accuracy of adjacent skull base part of the ICA and decreases reading time for carotid and cerebrovascular arterial imaging.

Combining Coronary with Carotid and Cerebrovascular Angiography Using Prospective ECG Gating and Iterative Reconstruction with 256-slice CT.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the image quality and radiation dose of combined coronary and carotid/cerebrovascular angiography with ECG gating and iterative reconstruction using 256-slice CT compared with the findings with the two examinations performed separately. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty-five consecutive patients underwent a single-injection single-pass combination of coronary and carotid/cerebrovascular CT angiography (group A), coronary CT angiography alone (group B), or carotid/cerebrovascular CT angiography alone (group C). We assessed the image quality of the combined and separate examinations and calculated the respective effective radiation doses. We evaluated the differences in the proportions of image quality grade between the combination and single-examination groups. Diagnostic performance of the combined scanning for detecting significant vascular stenosis has been compared with reference digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the patient subgroup of group A. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, body mass index (BMI), or gender distribution among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). But there was significant difference in scan length, DLP, and effective dose among the 3 groups (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the effective radiation dose of coronary scanning between groups A and B (P > 0.05), while the effective radiation dose of carotid/cerebrovascular scanning in group A was significantly lower than that in group C (P < 0.05), and the total effective radiation dose in group A were relatively low (2.21 ± 1.38 mSv). The differences of the proportion of carotid/cerebrovascular image quality grades between groups A and C were not significant (P > 0.05). In a subgroup of group A of 30 patients with DSA, combined computed tomographic angiography successfully detected 56 coronary stenosis on per-segment basis, and 62 stenosis on carotid and cerebral artery. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (NPV) of coronary stenosis were 91.80%, 95.60%, 87.50% and 97.21%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and NPV of carotid/cerebrovascular stenosis were 93.55%, 94.68%, 92.06% and 95.70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combination of coronary and carotid/cerebrovascular angiography with 256-slice CT scanner with prospective ECG gating and iterative reconstruction produces diagnostic-quality images of the coronary, carotid, and cerebrovascular systems in a single examination, using less contrast medium and a lower radiation dose than when the two examinations are performed separately. This novel technique has high accuracy in detecting significant stenosis in one image setting.

The transcriptomes of the crucian carp complex (Carassius auratus) provide insights into the distinction between unisexual triploids and sexual diploids.

Both sexual reproduction and unisexual reproduction are adaptive strategies for species survival and evolution. Unisexual animals have originated largely by hybridization, which tends to elevate their heterozygosity. However, the extent of genetic diversity resulting from hybridization and the genomic differences that determine the type of reproduction are poorly understood. In Carassius auratus, sexual diploids and unisexual triploids coexist. These two forms are similar morphologically but differ markedly in their modes of reproduction. Investigation of their genomic differences will be useful to study genome diversity and the development of reproductive mode. We generated transcriptomes for the unisexual and sexual populations. Genes were identified using homology searches and an ab initio method. Estimation of the synonymous substitution rate in the orthologous pairs indicated that the hybridization of gibel carp occurred 2.2 million years ago. Microsatellite genotyping in each individual from the gibel carp population indicated that most gibel carp genes were not tri-allelic. Molecular function and pathway comparisons suggested few gene expansions between them, except for the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway, which is enriched in gibel carp. Differential expression analysis identified highly expressed genes in gibel carp. The transcriptomes provide information on genetic diversity and genomic differences, which should assist future studies in functional genomics.

Primulaweiliei (Primulaceae), a new species from Hubei, Central China.

In this study, we describe and illustrate a new species, Primulaweiliei L.S.Yang, Z.K.Wu & G.W.Hu, from the Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province in Central China. It is morphologically assigned to Primulasect.Aleuritia based on its dwarf and hairless habit, long petiole, fruits longer than calyx and covered by farina on the scape. This new species is similar to P.gemmifera and P.munroisubsp.yargongensis in the same section, but it can be distinguished by its smaller calyxes, homostylous flowers, corolla tube throat without annular appendage and only 1-2 flowers in each inflorescence. Based on the assessment conducted according to the IUCN Red List criteria, we propose that P.weiliei be classified as a Critically Endangered (CR) species.

Use of SPECT to detect changes in diastolic and coronary reserve in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: To assess diastolic function and coronary artery reserve in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). METHODS: Patients with OSA who had normal echocardiograph/electrocardiogram findings were divided into three groups based on OSA severity: mild (n = 15), moderate (n = 13), or severe (n = 18). A control group of participants without OSA (n = 17) was included. SPECT (with technetium-99 m-labeled red blood cells) was performed after the induction of cardiac stress by injection of dobutamine. The following ventricular parameters were determined: left ventricular ejection fraction, peak filling rate (PFR), peak ejection rate, 1/3 filling fraction (1/3FF), and regional ejection fractions (rEF). RESULTS: The median ages of OSA and control participants were 45.0 and 51.0 years, respectively. Median apnea-hypopnea index scores were 3.3, 9.1, 38.5, and 65.2 for the control, mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA groups, respectively. Post-stress, 1/3FF was significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). PFR was significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group (P < 0.05) and was significantly lower in the severe OSA group compared with the mild OSA group. Regional ejection fractions rEF3 (cardiac apex and a small part of the inferior wall) and rEF4 (anteroseptal wall) were significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group, suggesting decreased coronary artery reserve. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that SPECT can be used to detect abnormalities in diastolic function and coronary reserve in patients with OSA who have normal electrocardiogram or echocardiograph findings. SPECT may be useful for the early detection of cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA.

Dietary Curcumin Supplementation Could Improve Muscle Quality, Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and the Gut Microbiota Structure of Pelodiscus sinensis.

This experiment aimed to assess the impact of different dietary curcumin (CM) levels on growth, muscle quality, serum-biochemical parameters, antioxidant-enzyme activities, gut microbiome, and liver transcriptome in Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis). Five experimental diets were formulated to include graded levels of curcumin at 0 (control, CM0), 0.5 (CM0.5), 1 (CM1), 2 (CM2) and 4 g/kg (CM4). Each diet was randomly distributed to quadruplicate groups of turtles (164.33 ± 5.5 g) for 6 weeks. Our findings indicated that dietary curcumin supplementation did not have a significant influence on growth performance (p > 0.05); however, it significantly improved the muscular texture profiles (p < 0.05). Serum total superoxide dismutase (SOD), liver catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities increased significantly as dietary curcumin levels rose from 0.5 to 4 g/kg (p < 0.05). Dietary curcumin supplementation improved gut microbiota composition, as evidenced by an increase in the proportion of dominant bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Flavobacterium. Liver transcriptome analysis revealed that curcumin altered metabolic pathways in the liver. In conclusion, based on the evaluation of the activities of SOD in serum and CAT in liver under current experimental design, it was determined that the appropriate dietary curcumin supplementation for Chinese soft-shelled turtles is approximately 3.9 g/kg.

Ratiometric Fluorescence Immunoassay Based on MnO2 Nanoflakes for Sensitive and Accurate Detection of Tricaine.

Tricaine is a common anesthetic used in the long-distance transport of live fish. Recently, its negative impact on human health has aroused extensive concern. Thus, rapid and reliable techniques for tricaine residue analysis are essential to ensuring the quality of aquatic products. Herein, a specific anti-tricaine monoclonal antibody (Mab) was prepared. Then, a sensitive and robust ratiometric fluorescence ELISA (RF-ELISA) was constructed for detecting tricaine based on two MnO2 nanoflake-mediated (MnO2 NFs) fluorogenic reactions. In the RF-ELISA protocol, MnO2 NFs with oxidase-like activity can trigger the formation of fluorescent 2,3-diaminophenazine (oxOPD) with an emissive peak at 570 nm from non-fluorescent o-phenylenediamine (OPD), while ascorbic acid (AA) can decompose MnO2 NFs to lose their oxidase-mimicking activity, which is accompanied by the oxidation of AA into dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA). The subsequent reaction between the generated DHAA and OPD will result in the production of 3-(1,2-dihydroxy ethyl)furo[3,4-b]quinoxalin-1(3H)-on (DFQ), which has a potent emission peak at 445 nm. By virtue of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) labeled on the antibody, which can catalyze the production of AA from ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP), the concentration of tricaine can be linked to the variation of the RF signal (F445/F570) via a competitive immunoreaction. After optimization, RF-ELISA displayed a detection limit (LOD) of 0.28 ng/mL toward tricaine (in buffer solution), which was 376-fold lower than that of the traditional colorimetric ELISA. For practical application, the LODs of RF-ELISA for tricaine detection in shrimp and tilapia samples were determined to be 2.8 and 5.6 ng/g, respectively. Recoveries for spiked shrimp and tilapia samples, as well as the validation data from LC-MS/MS, showed that RF-ELISA exhibited good accuracy, precision, and reliability. This RF-ELISA protocol opened up new ways for tricaine and other-target analyses in food safety detection.

[Polymorphism of MSTN gene and its association with growth traits in yellow catfish (Pelteobagruse fulvidraco)].

Myostatin (MSTN) gene has negative influence on the growth of muscle, which belongs to transforming growth factor-ß family. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MSTN gene were detected in yellow catfish. Correlation analysis between MSTN polymorphisms and growth traits was also carried out. Results indicated that five genotypes (AA, BB, CC, CD and DD) were found in the first intron with one deletion site and two mutant sites (T1003del, G1022A and T1063G), two genotypes (EE and EF) were found in the third exon with one mutant site (T132C). The individuals with genotypes AA had a lager value than the individuals with the genotype CD and DD in total length, body length, body height, body width, head length and body weight (Plt;0.05). The female individuals with genotypes AA also had a lager value than the female individuals with genotypes DD in total length, body length, body height, body width, caudal peduncle height, caudal peduncle width and body weight (Plt;0.05). This implies that genotype AA has a positive influence on the growth traits of female yellow catfish, and genotype DD is opposite. Genotypes AA and DD can be used in marker assisted selection of female yellow catfish breeding in the future.

Dual-energy CT with virtual monoenergetic images to improve the visualization of pancreatic supplying arteries: the normal anatomy and variations.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a malignancy with poor prognosis, appropriate surgical resection and neoadjuvant therapy depend on the accurate identification of pancreatic supplying arteries. We aim to evaluate the ability of monoenergetic images (MEI [+]) of dual-energy CT (DECT) to improve the visualization of pancreatic supplying arteries compared to conventional polyenergetic images (PEI) and investigate the implications of vascular variation in pancreatic surgery and transarterial interventions. RESULTS: One hundred patients without pancreatic diseases underwent DECT examinations were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at 40-keV MEI (+) were significantly higher than those of PEI (p < 0.05). All subjective MEI (+) scores were significantly higher than those of PEI (p < 0.05). The visualization rates were significantly higher for posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA), anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (AIPDA, PIPDA), anterior and posterior pancreaticoduodenal arcade (APAC, PPAC), transverse and caudal pancreatic artery (TPA, PCA) at 40-keV MEI (+) than those of PEI (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences for visualizing anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA), inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA), dorsal and magnificent pancreatic artery (DPA, MPA) between 40-keV MEI (+) and PEI (p > 0.05). Four types of variations were observed in the origin of DPA and three to five types in the origin of PSPDA, AIPDA and PIPDA. CONCLUSIONS: 40-keV MEI (+) of DECT improves the visualization and objective and subjective image quality of pancreatic supplying arteries compared to PEI. Pancreatic supplying arteries have great variations, which has important implications for preoperative planning of technically challenging surgeries and transarterial interventions.

Molecular cloning and differential expression patterns of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and manganese superoxide dismutase in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix.

Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) cDNA and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) cDNA were first cloned from silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The open reading frame (ORF) of Cu,Zn-SOD is 465 bp and encodes a 154 amino acids (aa) protein, whereas the ORF of Mn-SOD is 675 bp and encodes a 224 aa protein. Multiple polypeptide sequence alignment showed high identity both of Cu,Zn-SOD (70-87%) and Mn-SOD (80-96%) with the species compared. Both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were detected in heart, brain, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, gill and blood. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were expressed throughout the embryogenesis, indicating their important roles during embryonic development specially at the cleavage stage. Acute hypoxia suppressed expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in liver significantly, up-regulated them in gill relatively, indicating that tissue-specific expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD is an important stress response adapted to hypoxia.

[Sequence and phylogeny analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Pelteobagrus vachelli].

Morphological classification of Bagridae fishes is relatively difficult due to various kinds and similar shape, and the phyletic evolution is not very clear in some species. To provide basic data to the classification of Bagridae and Siluriformes fishes, the complete mitochondrial genome of Pelteobagrus vachelli was obtained by PCR based on 16 primers, which were designed on the basis of related species mtDNA sequences. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16 527 bp in length, including 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and a non-coding control region. The organization and location of genes in the mitochondrial genome of Pelteobagrus vachelli were consistent with Siluriformes fishes published in GenBank. It has high homology with other families, such as Pseudobagrus Bleeker (91%) within Siluriformes. The phylogenetic analysis of Bagridae fishes was made from the level of mitochondria genome based on 9 species of 6 genera, which belong to 4 families of the Siluriformes, combining with 3 outgroups' complete mitochondrial genomes sequences. The result indicated that Pelteobagrus vachelli, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus nitidus and Pseudobagrus tokiensis of the Bagridae formed a monophyletic group; the Pseudobagrus Bleeker and Pelteobagrus Bleeker formed a sister group. Moreover, Pelteobagrus vachelli was more relative to Pelteobagrus nitidus than Pelteobagrus fulvidraco in Pelteobagrus Bleeker.

[Genetic variation analysis of two silver carp populations in the middle and upper Yangtze River by microsatellite.].

Thirty nine microsatellite markers were applied to analyze the genetic diversity of two silver carp populations in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The following parameters were calculated: average observed number of alleles, average effective number of alleles, genetic heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), genetic similarity coefficient, genetic distance, Hardy-Weinberg balance deflection index. These results indicated that the average observed number of alleles in each microsatellite locus of the Wanzhou population and Jianli populations is 6.128 and 4.974, respectively; the average effective number of alleles is 4.107 and 3.395, respectively; and the number of total alleles of these 39 microsatellite loci is 259. The PIC of polymorphic loci varies between 0.077-0.865, and the average PIC is 0.617. The average observed heterozygosity (Ho) of two populations is 0.834 and 0.775, respectively, and the average expective heterzygosity (He) is 0.713 and 0.623, respectively. The genetic similarity coefficient of two populations is 0.618 and the genetic distance of these populations is 0.482. These results indicated that the two populations belong to different popula-tions for the obvious genetic differentiation.

[Improvement of the silver-stained technique of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.].

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is widely applied in the SSR, SNP markers analysis and the construction of genetic map. It is disadvantage to use conventional silver-stained methods in experiment due to taking a very long time and having fussy steps. In this paper, a silver-stained method of DNA in PAGE gel was improved. The improved method is rapid banding which only takes about 20 min, and the high definition picture was obtained.

Emergency transcatheter arterial embolization for massive gastrointestinal arterial hemorrhage.

To evaluate the different arteriographic manifestations of acute arterial massive hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the efficacy of emergency transcatheter arterial embolization (ETAE).A total of 88 patients with acute massive GI bleeding who experienced failure of initial endoscopy and/or conservative treatment were referred to our interventional department for acute GI arteriography from January 2007 to June 2015. After locating the source of bleeding, appropriate embolic agents, such as spring coil, hydroxyl methyl acrylic acid gelatin microspheres, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles, etc., were used to embolize the targeted vessels. The angiographic manifestations and the effects of embolization of acute arterial massive hemorrhage of the GI tract were retrospectively analyzed.Of the 88 patients, 54 were diagnosed with arterial hemorrhage of the upper GI tract and 34 with arterial hemorrhage of the lower GI tract. Eighty cases were associated with positive angiography, which showed the following: contrast extravasation (only); gastroduodenal artery stenosis; pseudoaneurysm (only); pseudoaneurysm rupture with contrast extravasation; pseudoaneurysms merged with intestinal artery stenosis; GI angiodysplasia; and tumor vascular bleeding. Eight cases were diagnosed with negative angiography. Seven-two patients underwent successful hemostasis, and a total of 81 arteries were embolized. The technical and clinical success rates (no rebleeding within 30 days) in performing transcatheter embolization on patients with active bleeding were 100% and 84.71%, respectively (72 of 85). Within 30 days, the postoperative rebleeding rate was 15.29% (13/85). Of these rebleeding cases, 2 patients were formerly treated with "blind embolization," 7 underwent interventional embolic retreatment, and 3 had surgical operations. All cases were followed-up for 1 month, and 3 patients died from multiple organ failure. No serious complications such as bowel ischemia necrosis were observed.ETAE is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment; because of the diversified arteriographic manifestations of acute GI hemorrhage, the proper selection of embolic agents and the choice of reasonable embolization method are essential for successful hemostasis.