[Spatial correlation between the prevalence of dental fluorosis and the chemical elemental composition of drinking water sources in a typical coal-fired pollution fluorosis area].

Objective: To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and correlation between the prevalence of dental fluorosis and the chemical elemental composition of drinking water sources in coal-fired fluorosis areas. Methods: Based on the survey data on the prevalence of dental fluorosis at CDC in Guizhou Province in 2022, 274 original surface drinking water sources were collected in typical coal-fired fluorosis areas, and fluoride (F), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), lead (Pb) 17 elements; apply Moran's I index, Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis of the global spatial autocorrelation of chemical elements in drinking water and the degree of aggregation of each element on the local area, and correlation analysis with the prevalence of dental fluorosis in the region. Results: Except for Cu, Zn, and Cd, global spatial autocorrelation Moran's I was negative, and all other elements were positive. F, Ca, Al, Ti, As, Mo, Cd, and Cu elements showed high values of aggregation in the southeastern low-altitude area; Mg, Ba, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Fe elements were mainly aggregated in the central altitude terrain transition area, Zn and Se elements in water sources are significantly positively correlated with the prevalence of dental fluorosis (P<0.05). In contrast, F, Mg, Al, Ti, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, and Pb elements negatively correlate (P<0.05). Elements in the central region were high-high aggregation, as a hot spot aggregation area with high disease incidence, while F, Al, Mn, Mo, Cd, and Ba elements in the western region were low-low aggregation, as a cold spot aggregation area with a low incidence of fluorosis. Conclusions: The risk of population fluoride exposure in surface drinking water sources is shallow. However, the chemical element content of drinking water sources in coal-fired polluted endemic fluorosis areas has prominent spatial geographical distribution characteristics. There is a significant spatial aggregation effect with the prevalence of dental fluorosis, which may play a synergistic or antagonistic effect on the occurrence and prevalence of dental fluorosis.

Improved Measurement of the Evolution of the Reactor Antineutrino Flux and Spectrum at Daya Bay.

Reactor neutrino experiments play a crucial role in advancing our knowledge of neutrinos. In this Letter, the evolution of the flux and spectrum as a function of the reactor isotopic content is reported in terms of the inverse-beta-decay yield at Daya Bay with 1958 days of data and improved systematic uncertainties. These measurements are compared with two signature model predictions: the Huber-Mueller model based on the conversion method and the SM2018 model based on the summation method. The measured average flux and spectrum, as well as the flux evolution with the ^{239}Pu isotopic fraction, are inconsistent with the predictions of the Huber-Mueller model. In contrast, the SM2018 model is shown to agree with the average flux and its evolution but fails to describe the energy spectrum. Altering the predicted inverse-beta-decay spectrum from ^{239}Pu fission does not improve the agreement with the measurement for either model. The models can be brought into better agreement with the measurements if either the predicted spectrum due to ^{235}U fission is changed or the predicted ^{235}U, ^{238}U, ^{239}Pu, and ^{241}Pu spectra are changed in equal measure.

Bi-national outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to onions: the United States experience.

From 2016-2019, dry bulb onions were the suspected cause of three multistate outbreaks in the United States. We investigated a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that caused illnesses in both the United States and Canada in 2020. Epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback investigations were conducted to determine the source of the infections, and data were shared among U.S. and Canadian public health officials. We identified 1127 U.S. illnesses from 48 states with illness onset dates ranging from 19 June to 11 September 2020. Sixty-six per cent of ill people reported consuming red onions in the week before illness onset. Thirty-five illness sub-clusters were identified during the investigation and seventy-four per cent of sub-clusters served red onions to customers during the exposure period. Traceback for the source of onions in illness sub-clusters identified a common onion grower in Bakersfield, CA as the source of red onions, and onions were recalled at this time. Although other strains of Salmonella Newport were identified in environmental samples collected at the Bakersfield, CA grower, extensive environmental and product testing did not yield the outbreak strain. This was the third largest U.S. foodborne Salmonella outbreak in the last 30 years. It is the first U.S. multistate outbreak with a confirmed link to dry bulb onions, and it was nearly 10-fold larger than prior outbreaks with a suspected link to onions. This outbreak is notable for its size and scope, as well as the international data sharing that led to implication of red onions as the primary cause of the outbreak. Although an environmental assessment at the grower identified several factors that likely contributed to the outbreak, no main reason was identified. The expedient identification of the outbreak vehicle and response of multiple public health agencies allowed for recall and removal of product from the marketplace, and rapid messaging to both the public and industry on actions to protect consumers; these features contributed to a decrease in cases and expeditious conclusion of the outbreak.

A novel wireless, smartphone-based biofeedback training device for functional defecatory disorders: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Functional defecatory disorders (FDDs) are highly prevalent around the world. Biofeedback is an effective treatment for FDDs. Traditionally, this treatment is performed by clinicians in a limited number of hospitals because of procedure-related expenses and a need for a dedicated procedure room. To make the biofeedback therapy more widely available, we have designed a novel wireless, smartphone-based biofeedback device, with the ultimate goal of performing the therapy at home. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether the developed device can be employed to treat patients with FDDs in a clinical setting, prior to employing it in a home setting. METHODS: From March 2018 to July 2018, we performed the biofeedback therapy using the newly developed wireless, smartphone-based device in patients with FDDs 30 min daily during weekdays for 2 weeks. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for bowel satisfaction, Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), and a balloon expulsion test were assessed at baseline and after the therapy. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were recruited and ten of them (mean age 70.3 ± 8.9 years, female:male ratio: 3:7) completed the study. Spontaneous bowel movements, complete spontaneous bowel movements, and VAS were all significantly increased after the therapy compared with baseline, respectively (6.5 ± 4.3 vs. 1.5 ± 2.2, p = 0.006; 3.1 ± 2.2 vs. 0.2 ± 0.6, p = 0.002; 49.5 ± 31.0 vs. 12.0 ± 9.2, p = 0.003). There was a significant decrease in the PAC-SYM and PAC-QoL after the biofeedback therapy (0.7 ± 0.6 vs. 1.4 ± 0.3, p = 0.001; 0.7 ± 0. 6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.4, p = 0.001). The therapy reduced the balloon expulsion time significantly (83.9 ± 68.8 s vs. 160.0 ± 36.7 s, p = 0.002). No obvious adverse events related to the procedure itself occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback training using the newly developed wireless, smartphone-based device is feasible in the clinic setting, and it seems to be a promising method for improving constipation and related symptoms in patients with FDDs. These findings could be used to develop a much-needed, home-based, suitably powered, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Analyses of the Tympanic Membrane Impulse Response Measured with High-Speed Holography.

The Tympanic Membrane (TM) transforms acoustic energy to ossicular vibration. The shape and the displacement of the TM play an important role in this process. We developed a High-speed Digital Holography (HDH) system to measure the shape and transient displacements of the TM induced by acoustic clicks. The displacements were further normalized by the measured shape to derive surface normal displacements at over 100,000 points on the TM surface. Frequency and impulse response analyses were performed at each TM point, which enable us to describe 2D surface maps of four new TM mechanical parameters. From frequency domain analyses, we describe the (i) dominant frequencies of the displacement per sound pressure based on Frequency Response Function (FRF) at each surface point. From time domain analyses, we describe the (ii) rising time, (iii) exponential decay time, and the (iv) root-mean-square (rms) displacement of the TM based on Impulse Response Function (IRF) at each surface point. The resultant 2D maps show that a majority of the TM surface has a dominant frequency of around 1.5 kHz. The rising times suggest that much of the TM surface is set into motion within 50 µs of an impulsive stimulus. The maps of the exponential decay time of the IRF illustrate spatial variations in damping, the least known TM mechanical property. The damping ratios at locations with varied dominant frequencies are quantified and compared.

Strongly correlated superconductivity in a copper-based metal-organic framework with a perfect kagome lattice.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are self-assemblies of metal ions and organic ligands, provide a tunable platform to search a new state of matter. A two-dimensional (2D) perfect kagome lattice, whose geometrical frustration is a key to realizing quantum spin liquids, has been formed in the π - d conjugated 2D MOF [Cu3(C6S6)] n (Cu-BHT). The recent discovery of its superconductivity with a critical temperature T c of 0.25 kelvin raises fundamental questions about the nature of electron pairing. Here, we show that Cu-BHT is a strongly correlated unconventional superconductor with extremely low superfluid density. A nonexponential temperature dependence of superfluid density is observed, indicating the possible presence of superconducting gap nodes. The magnitude of superfluid density is much smaller than those in conventional superconductors and follows the Uemura's relation of strongly correlated superconductors. These results imply that the unconventional superconductivity in Cu-BHT originates from electron correlations related to spin fluctuations of kagome lattice.

[A prospective randomized controlled clinical study on the optimal treatment interval of pulsed dye laser in treating hypertrophic scar after burn].

Objective: To observe the influence of different treatment intervals of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in treating hypertrophic scar after burn, and to explore the optimal treatment interval. Methods: From May 2018 to March 2019, 20 burn patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. Patients were divided into 1 week group (4 patients, 2 males and 2 females, aged 27 (4, 67) years, 19 scars), 2 weeks group (5 patients, 2 males and 3 females, aged 9 (3, 55) years, 15 scars), 3 weeks group (5 patients, 4 males and 1 female, aged 26 (19, 45) years, 15 scars), and 4 weeks group (6 patients, 4 males and 2 females, aged 31 (14, 48) years, 13 scars), according to the random number table, and treated with PDL with the treatment intervals of 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks, respectively, with total treatment cycle of 3 months. Before the first treatment and three months after the first treatment, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was conducted and the decreased value of VSS score was calculated; the laser Doppler blood flow meter was used to measure scar blood perfusion and the proportion of change in blood perfusion volume was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Wilcoxon symbolic rank sum test, Bonferroni correction, and Fisher's exact probability test. Results: The VSS scores of patients in 1 week group, 2 weeks group, 3 weeks group, and 4 weeks group in three months after the first treatment were significantly lower than those before the first treatment (Z=-3.74, -3.47, -2.69, -3.25, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the decreased values of VSS scores in three months after the first treatment among the patients in 4 groups (H=2.35, P>0.05). Three months after the first treatment, the blood perfusion volumes of patients in 2 weeks group and 3 weeks group were significantly lower than those before the first treatment (Z=-2.95, -2.50, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The proportions of changes in blood perfusion volume of patients in 1 week group, 2 weeks group, 3 weeks group, and 4 weeks group were respectively -0.02 (-1.05, 0.69), -0.29 (-0.75, 0.18), -0.11 (-0.55, 0.23), 0.05 (-0.61, 0.75). There were statistically significant differences among the 4 groups (H=9.39, P<0.05). The proportions of changes in blood perfusion volume of patients in 2 weeks group was statistically higher than that of 1 week group (Z=2.76, P<0.01). Conclusions: PDL treatment can reduce the VSS score and blood perfusion volume of scar. One treatment every two weeks or three weeks improve the scar blood perfusion volume more significantly, and can be recommended as the appropriate treatment interval of PDL for hypertrophic scar after burn.

Novel variants and uncommon cases among southern Chinese children with X-linked hypophosphatemia.

PURPOSE: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common inherited renal phosphate wasting disorder and is often misdiagnosed as vitamin D deficiency. This study aims to provide clinical and mutational characteristics of 65 XLH pediatric patients in southern China. METHODS: In this work, a combination of DNA sequencing and qPCR analysis was used to study the PHEX gene in 80 pediatric patients diagnosed with hypophosphatemia. The clinical and laboratory data of confirmed 65 XLH patients were assessed and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In 65 XLH patients from 61 families, 51 different variants in the PHEX gene were identified, including 23 previously reported variants and 28 novel variants. In this cohort of XLH patients, the c.1601C>T(p.Pro534Leu) variant appears more frequently. Fourteen uncommon XLH cases were described, including four boys with de novo mosaic variants, eight patients with large deletions and a pair of monozygotic twins. The clinical manifestations in this cohort are very similar to those previously reported. CONCLUSION: This study extends the mutational spectrum of the PHEX gene, which will contribute to accurate diagnosis. This study also suggests a supplementary qPCR or MLPA assay may be performed along with classical sequencing to confirm the gross insertion/deletion.

[Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection].

Objective: To explore the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxianwan for 78 weeks. Methods: Patients with chronic HBV infection were randomly treated with entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxian for 78 weeks. Ishak fibrosis score was used for blind interpretation of liver biopsy specimens. The improvement in liver fibrosis condition before and after the treatment was compared. Student's t test and non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis test) were used to analyze the measurement data. The categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test method and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to test bivariate associations. Results: Liver fibrosis improvement rate after 78 weeks of treatment was 36.53% (80/219) and the progression rate was 23.29% (51/219). The improvement of liver fibrosis was associated to the degree of baseline fibrosis and treatment methods (P < 0.05). The improvement rate of hepatic fibrosis in patients treated with anluohuaxianwan combined with entecavir at baseline F < 3 (54.74%, 52/95) was significantly higher than that in patients treated only with entecavir (33.33%, 16/48), P = 0.016 and the progression rate of hepatic fibrosis (13.68%, 13/95) was lower than that in patients treated alone (18.75%, 9/48), P = 0.466. In patients with baseline F < 3, the proportion of patients with improved and stable liver fibrosis in the combined treatment group (68.1%, 32/47) was higher than that in the treatment group alone (51.7%, 15/29). Conclusion: Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment can significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Furthermore, it has the tendency to improve the stability rate and reduce the rate of progression of liver fibrosis.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation for patients with premature ovary insufficiency caused by cancer treatment: optimal protocol.

Objective: Premature ovary insufficiency is frequent after chemotherapy/radiotherapy in cancer patients. Ovarian tissue (OT) cryopreservation and later retransplantation, the routine method in Europe, has recently been implemented at the first center in China. We investigated the protective effect of the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) during the decisive freezing-thawing steps. Methods: Fifteen OT samples were obtained from each of 13 cancer patients prospectively and randomly assigned to a control group and four groups with different NAC concentrations (Group 1, 0 mM NAC; Group 2, 0.5 mM NAC; Group 3, 1 mM NAC; Group 4, 5 mM NAC; Group 5, 25 mM NAC). After thawing, the follicle viability, DNA fragmentation, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated. Results: OT cryopreserved and thawed with 25 mM NAC (Group 5) has the lowest proportion of apoptotic stroma cells, but the worst follicle viability. The other four groups show similar anti-apoptosis and good follicle viability. Group 4 presented the lowest ROS and highest TAC levels. Conclusions: OT cryopreserved and thawed in medium supplemented with 5 mM NAC shows the highest antioxidant and lowest ROS capability, good apoptotic parameters, and follicle viability. Our results need to be confirmed in larger patient cohorts prior to being accepted as a standard protocol.

[Clinical comparative study of pulsed dye laser and ultra-pulsed fractional carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of hypertrophic scars after burns].

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of pulsed dye laser (PDL) and ultra-pulsed fractional carbon dioxide laser (UFCL) in treating hypertrophic scars after burns. Methods: Two hundred and twenty one patients with hypertrophic scar after burns conforming to the study criteria were admitted to our unit from February 2015 to October 2017, and their data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into group PDL (n=122) and group UFCL (n=99) according to the treatment method. Patients in group PDL were treated with PDL once every 3-4 weeks. Patients in group UFCL were treated with UFCL once every 6-12 weeks. Patients in both groups were treated until 12 months after having scar. Scars were scored by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) before and after treatment. Patients' pain was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) method before and after treatment. Blood flow in scar was monitored and recorded before treatment and in treatment months 6 and 12. Satisfaction degree of patients was recorded 3-6 months after treatment, and the satisfaction rate was calculated. Adverse reactions including duration of erythema/purpura, VAS in treatment, and loss of working time were recorded. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, t test, and Chi-square test. Results: (1) VSS scores of patients in groups PDL and UFCL after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment in the same group (t=11.34, 12.77, P<0.05). The decreasing VSS scores of patients after treatment in groups PDL and UFCL were (5.8±1.1) and (6.0±1.4) points, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (t=1.91, P>0.05). (2) VAS of patients in groups PDL and UFCL after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment in the same group (t=7.12, 5.23, P<0.05). The decreasing VAS of patients after treatment in groups PDL and UFCL were (4.0±0.6) and (3.2±1.3) points, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (t=1.93, P>0.05). (3) Scar blood flow of patients in group PDL in treatment months 6 had no obvious change compared with that before treatment (t=1.59, P>0.05), while that in treatment months 12 significantly decreased compared with that before treatment and that in treatment months 6 (t=3.17, 6.96, P<0.05). Scar blood flow of patients in group UFCL in treatment months 6 significantly increased compared with that before treatment (t=6.01, P<0.05), while that in treatment months 12 significantly decreased compared with that in treatment months 6 (t=4.52, P<0.05), but had no obvious change compared with that before treatment (t=0.92, P>0.05). (4) The satisfaction degree of patients in group PDL was 80.3% (98/122), which in group UFCL was 76.8% (76/99), and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ(2)=0.97, P>0.05). (5) The duration of erythema/purpura of patients in group PDL was (5.2±0.7) d, significantly shorter than (6.1±0.5) d in group UFCL (t=2.49, P<0.05). The VAS of patients in group PDL during treatment was (1.9±0.9) points, significantly lower than (4.7±0.4) points in group UFCL (t=4.85, P<0.05). Loss of working time of patients in group UFCL was (9.17±0.72) d, which was significantly longer than (3.96±0.23) d in group PDL (t=3.17, P<0.05). Conclusions: PDL and UFCL have definite effects on hypertrophic scar, while PDL with light pain, minor wound, and fast recovery time, is safe and effective for treatment of early hypertrophic scar and worthy of clinical promotion and application, especially for children and patients with poor pain tolerance.

[Structural changes of brain gray matter in male long-term smokers under magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To evaluate gray matter structure changes in long-term male smokers by voxel-based morphological method. Methods: Fifty long-term smokers and 37 non-smoking healthy volunteers were scanned with Siemens Skyro 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner from August 2014 to August 2016. The subjects underwent routine MRI (excluding intracranial lesions) sequences and 3D-T1 structural sequences (3D-mprage). SPM8 pretreatment based on Matlab was used to analyze the structural data. All of the data were analyzed by SPM8 software. The data were compared between groups with independent sample t test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between gray matter volume (GMV) and smoking data of two groups. Results: The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamic, right supramarginal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and left putamen of smoking group were (0.55±0.07), (0.40±0.05), (0.48±0.07) and (0.14±0.04) voxels, respectively, and the gray matter volume of the corresponding gyri in control group were (0.61±0.09), (0.43±0.06), (0.54±0.07) and (0.16±0.03) voxels, respectively; and the gray matter volume of smoking group were all lower than those in control group (t=-3.81, -3.51, -3.86, -2.33, all P<0.05), family wise error (FWE) correction (P<0.05). The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamus, right supramarginal gyrus and left putamen was negatively correlated with smoking index (r=-0.368, -0.189, -0.274, all P<0.05), and also negatively correlated with smoking years (r=-0.391, -0.221, -0.355, all P<0.05), and bilateral thalamus gray matter volume was negatively correlated with daily cigarette smoking (r=-0.186, P<0.05). Conclusion: The changes of brain structure of smokers mainly occur on reward-related pathways and marginal systems, and related to accumulation of cigarette smoking.

The effect of somatostatin retained enema in the treatment of pancreatic ileus.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the therapeutic effects of somatostatin retained enema in the treatment of pancreatic ileus in the clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 79 patients randomly divided into 41 cases in the observation group and 38 cases in the control group were analyzed. The control group applied basic treatment plan. The observational group applied the same treatment combined with somatostatin retained enema, conducted twice every day and at least 30 minutes every time. Every 7 days' treatment made a course. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: The levels of the hemo diastase and urinary amylase in both groups were decreased prominently after treatment. The levels of blood calcium were prominently increased (p<0.05) with even more improvement in the observation group (p<0.05). The relief times of the abdominal ache and distention, the recovery time of bowel sound and the first defecation time in the observation group were shorter (p<0.05) than those in the control group. The levels of blood serum IL-6 and TNF-α in the two groups were prominently decreased (p<0.05) after treatment, with even more obvious improvement in the observation group. The therapeutic effective rate of the observational group was prominently higher (p<0.05) than that in the control group. The occurrence rate of the complications was lower. CONCLUSIONS: The application of somatostatin retained enema in the treatment of pancreatic ileus is preferably safe and effective, and it deserves clinical promotion and application.

Intra-articular injection of microRNA-140 (miRNA-140) alleviates osteoarthritis (OA) progression by modulating extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Disruptions of extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis are key events in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). MicroRNA-140 (miRNA-140) is expressed specifically in cartilage and regulates ECM-degrading enzymes. Our objective in this study was to determine if intra-articular injection of miRNA-140 can attenuate OA progression in rats. DESIGN: miRNA-140 levels in human normal and OA cartilage derived chondrocytes and synovial fluid were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After primary human chondrocytes were transfected with miRNA-140 mimic or inhibitor, PCR and western blotting were performed to quantify Collagen II, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-5 expression. An OA model was induced surgically in rats, and subsequently treated with one single intra-articular injection of miRNA-140 agomir. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, OA progression were evaluated macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically in these rats. RESULTS: miRNA-140 levels were significantly reduced in human OA cartilage derived chondrocytes and synovial fluid compared with normal chondrocytes and synovial fluid. Overexpressing miRNA-140 in primary human chondrocytes promoted Collagen II expression and inhibited MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 expression. miRNA-140 levels in rat cartilage were significantly higher in the miRNA-140 agomir group than in the control group. Moreover, behavioural scores, chondrocyte numbers, cartilage thickness and Collagen II expression levels in cartilage were significantly higher, while pathological scores and MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 expression levels were significantly lower in the miRNA-140 agomir group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular injection of miRNA-140 can alleviate OA progression by modulating ECM homeostasis in rats, and may have potential as a new therapy for OA.

Hydrostatic pressure effects on the static magnetism in Eu(Fe0.925Co0.075)2As2.

EuFe2As2-based iron pnictides are quite interesting compounds, due to the two magnetic sublattices in them and the tunability to superconductors by chemical doping or application of external pressure. The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the static magnetism in Eu(Fe0.925Co0.075)2As2 are investigated by complementary electrical resistivity, ac magnetic susceptibility and single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements. A specific pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram of Eu(Fe0.925Co0.075)2As2 is established. The structural phase transition, as well as the spin-density-wave order of Fe sublattice, is suppressed gradually with increasing pressure and disappears completely above 2.0 GPa. In contrast, the magnetic order of Eu sublattice persists over the whole investigated pressure range up to 14 GPa, yet displaying a non-monotonic variation with pressure. With the increase of the hydrostatic pressure, the magnetic state of Eu evolves from the canted antiferromagnetic structure in the ground state, via a pure ferromagnetic structure under the intermediate pressure, finally to an "unconfirmed" antiferromagnetic structure under the high pressure. The strong ferromagnetism of Eu coexists with the pressure-induced superconductivity around 2 GPa. Comparisons between the P-T phase diagrams of Eu(Fe0.925Co0.075)2As2 and the parent compound EuFe2As2 were also made.

Epigenetic suppression of potassium-chloride co-transporter 2 expression in inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA).

BACKGROUND: Multiple mechanisms contribute to the stimulus-evoked pain hypersensitivity that may be experienced after peripheral inflammation. Persistent pathological stimuli in many pain conditions affect the expression of certain genes through epigenetic alternations. The main purpose of our study was to investigate the role of epigenetic modification on potassium-chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) gene expression in the persistence of inflammatory pain. METHODS: Persistent inflammatory pain was induced through the injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the left hind paw of rats. Acetyl-histone H3 and H4 level was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation in the spinal dorsal horn. Pain behaviour and inhibitory synaptic function of spinal cord were determined before and after CFA injection. KCC2 expression was determined by real time RT-PCR and Western blot. Intrathecal KCC2 siRNA (2 µg per 10 µL per rat) or HDAC inhibitor (10 µg per 10 µL per rat) was injected once daily for 3 days before CFA injection. RESULTS: Persistent inflammatory pain epigenetically suppressed KCC2 expression through histone deacetylase (HDAC)-mediated histone hypoacetylation, resulting in decreased inhibitory signalling efficacy. KCC2 knock-down caused by intrathecal administration of KCC2 siRNA in naïve rats reduced KCC2 expression in the spinal cord, leading to sensitized pain behaviours and impaired inhibitory synaptic transmission in their spinal cords. Moreover, intrathecal HDAC inhibitor injection in CFA rats increased KCC2 expression, partially restoring the spinal inhibitory synaptic transmission and relieving the sensitized pain behaviour. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the transcription of spinal KCC2 is regulated by histone acetylation epigenetically following CFA. SIGNIFICANCE: Persistent pain suppresses KCC2 expression through HDAC-mediated histone hypoacetylation and consequently impairs the inhibitory function of inhibitory interneurons. Drugs such as HDAC inhibitors that suppress the influences of persistent pain on the expression of KCC2 may serve as a novel analgesic.

Development and significance of SCAR marker QG12-5 for Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch by molecular cloning from improved RAPD amplification.

Sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) is a valuable molecular marker for the genetic identification of any species. This marker is mainly derived from molecular cloning of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). We have previously reported the use of an improved RAPD technique for the genetic characterization of different samples of Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch (C. album). In this study, DNA fragments were amplified using improved RAPD amplified from different samples of C. album. The amplified DNA fragment was excised, purified from an agarose gel and cloned into a pGM-T vector; subsequently, a positive clone, called QG12-5 was identified by PCR amplification and enzymatic digestion and sequenced by Sanger di-deoxy sequencing method. This clone was revealed consisting of 510 nucleotides of C. album. The SCAR marker QG12-5 was developed using specifically designed PCR primers and optimized PCR conditions. This SCAR marker expressed seven continuous "TATG" [(TATG)n] tandem repeats, which was found to characterize C. album. Subsequently, this novel SCAR marker was deposited in GenBank with accession No. KT359568. Therefore, we successfully developed a C. album-specific SCAR marker for the identification and authentication of different C. album species in this study.

An improved DNA marker technique for genetic characterization using RAMP-PCR with high-GC primers.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is a widely used molecular marker technique. As traditional RAPD has poor reproducibility and productivity, we previously developed an improved RAPD method (termed RAMP-PCR), which increased the reproducibility, number of bands, and efficiency of studies on polymorphism. To further develop the efficiency of this method, we used high-GC content primers for improved RAMP-PCR with DNA samples from Lonicera japonica. Comparison of amplification profiles obtained by standard RAPD primers with those obtained by regular PCR and RAMP-PCR, and high-GC primers with regular PCR and RAMP-PCR showed that the average number of bands and polymorphisms per primer gradually and significantly increased (from 6.4 to 15.0 and from 4.6 to 10.2, respectively). Cluster dendrograms showed similar results, indicating that this new method is consistent and reproducible. A total of 22 samples from different species, including plants, animals, and humans, were used for RAMP-PCR with high-GC primers. Multiple bands were successfully amplified from all samples, demonstrating that this method is a reliable technique with consistent results and may be of general interest in studies on different genera and species. We developed highly effective DNA markers, which can provide a more effective and potentially valuable approach than traditional RAPD for the genetic identification of various organisms, particularly of medicinal plants.

Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) ameliorates colonic neuronal nitric oxide synthase upregulation in rats with neurogenic bowel dysfunction following spinal cord injury.

Study designExperimental study.ObjectiveTo determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) on colonic motility and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in rats with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) after spinal cord injury (SCI).SettingSecond School of Clinical Medical, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China.MethodsWe divided 30 adult Sprague-Dawley rats into a sham group (10 rats), a model group (SCI alone, 10 rats) and a EA group (SCI+EA at ST36, 10 rats). Defecation time was recorded as the time from activated carbon administration (on day 15) to evacuation of the first black stool. Immunohistochemical, real-time PCR and western blot analyses were performed to assess changes in nNOS-immunoreactive cells, and nNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein, respectively, after 14 experimental days.ResultsDefecation time was lower in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.01). On immunohistochemical analysis, nNOS was localized in the myenteric plexus of the colon. The number of nNOS-immunoreactive cells and the intensity of nNOS staining were greater in the model group than in the sham group and lesser in the EA group than in the model group. Consistent with the immunohistochemical findings, nNOS mRNA and protein expression was higher in the model group than in the sham group and lower in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05 for both).ConclusionIncreased colonic nNOS expression can induce/aggravate NBD in SCI rats. EA at ST36 ameliorated NBD, possibly by downregulating colonic nNOS expression.

Effects of selenium on biological and physiological properties of the duckweed Landoltia punctata.

Duckweed can be used for bioremediation of selenium (Se) polluted water because of its capability of absorbing minerals from growing media. However, the presence of Se in the media may affect the growth of the duckweed. Landoltia punctata 7449 has been studied for its changes in chemical and biological properties with the presence of Se in the media. The duckweed was cultivated over a 12-day period at different initial concentrations of selenite (Na2 SeO3 ) from 0 to 80 µmol·l(-1) . The growth rate, the organic and total Se contents, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the photosynthetic pigment contents, the chlorophyll a fluorescence OJIP transient, and the ultrastructure of the duckweed were monitored during the experiment. The results have shown that Se at low concentrations of ≤20 µmol·l(-1) promoted the growth of the L. punctata and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Substantial increases in duckweed growth rate and organic Se content in the duckweed were observed at low Se concentrations. The anti-oxidative effect occurred likely with the increases in guaiacol peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as well as the amount of photosynthetic pigments. However, negative impact to the duckweed was observed when the L. punctata was exposed to high Se concentrations (≥40 µmol·l(-1) ), in which the duckweed growth was inhibited by the selenium. The results indicate that L. punctata 7449 can be used for bioremediation of selenium (Se) polluted water when the Se concentration is ≤20 µmol·l(-1) .