Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Increases Access and Health Equity in Underserved Populations with Diabetes.

Diabetic eye disease (DED) is a leading cause of blindness in the world. Early detection and treatment of DED have been shown to be both sight-saving and cost-effective. As such, annual testing for DED is recommended for adults with diabetes and is a Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure. However, adherence to this guideline has historically been low, and access to this sight-saving intervention has particularly been limited for specific populations, such as Black or African American patients. In 2018, the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) De Novo cleared autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnosing DED in a primary care setting. In 2020, Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), an integrated healthcare system with over 30 primary care sites, began deploying autonomous AI for DED testing in some of its primary care clinics. In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine whether autonomous AI implementation was associated with increased adherence to annual DED testing, and whether this was different for specific populations. JHM primary care sites were categorized as "non-AI" sites (sites with no autonomous AI deployment over the study period and where patients are referred to eyecare for DED testing) or "AI-switched" sites (sites that did not have autonomous AI testing in 2019 but did by 2021). We conducted a difference-in-difference analysis using a logistic regression model to compare change in adherence rates from 2019 to 2021 between non-AI and AI-switched sites. Our study included all adult patients with diabetes managed within our health system (17,674 patients for the 2019 cohort and 17,590 patients for the 2021 cohort) and has three major findings. First, after controlling for a wide range of potential confounders, our regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio of adherence at AI-switched sites was 36% higher than that of non-AI sites, suggesting that there was a higher increase in DED testing between 2019 and 2021 at AI-switched sites than at non-AI sites. Second, our data suggested autonomous AI improved access for historically disadvantaged populations. The adherence rate for Black/African Americans increased by 11.9% within AI-switched sites whereas it decreased by 1.2% within non-AI sites over the same time frame. Third, the data suggest that autonomous AI improved health equity by closing care gaps. For example, in 2019, a large adherence rate gap existed between Asian Americans and Black/African Americans (61.1% vs. 45.5%). This 15.6% gap shrank to 3.5% by 2021. In summary, our real-world deployment results in a large integrated healthcare system suggest that autonomous AI improves adherence to a HEDIS measure, patient access, and health equity for patients with diabetes - particularly in historically disadvantaged patient groups. While our findings are encouraging, they will need to be replicated and validated in a prospective manner across more diverse settings.

Risk Factors for Nondiagnostic Imaging in a Real-World Deployment of Artificial Intelligence Diabetic Retinal Examinations in an Integrated Healthcare System: Maximizing Workflow Efficiency Through Predictive Dilation.

OBJECTIVE: In the pivotal clinical trial that led to Food and Drug Administration De Novo "approval" of the first fully autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) diabetic retinal disease diagnostic system, a reflexive dilation protocol was used. Using real-world deployment data before implementation of reflexive dilation, we identified factors associated with nondiagnostic results. These factors allow a novel predictive dilation workflow, where patients most likely to benefit from pharmacologic dilation are dilated a priori to maximize efficiency and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who were assessed with autonomous AI at Johns Hopkins Medicine (8/2020 to 5/2021). We constructed a multivariable logistic regression model for nondiagnostic results to compare characteristics of patients with and without diagnostic results, using adjusted odds ratio (aOR). P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of 241 patients (59% female; median age = 59), 123 (51%) had nondiagnostic results. In multivariable analysis, type 1 diabetes (T1D, aOR = 5.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-23.40, P = .01), smoking (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.36-5.99, P = .005), and age (every 10-year increase, aOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.62-2.77, P < .001) were associated with nondiagnostic results. Following feature elimination, a predictive model was created using T1D, smoking, age, race, sex, and hypertension as inputs. The model showed an area under the receiver-operator characteristics curve of 0.76 in five-fold cross-validation. CONCLUSIONS: We used factors associated with nondiagnostic results to design a novel, predictive dilation workflow, where patients most likely to benefit from pharmacologic dilation are dilated a priori. This new workflow has the potential to be more efficient than reflexive dilation, thus maximizing the number of at-risk patients receiving their diabetic retinal examinations.

[Mechanism of Qingluo Tongbi Formula for regulating immune-bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Qingluo Tongbi formula for regulating "immune-bone erosion" in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty-four RA patients were randomized into two groups to receive treatment with oral methotrexate or Qingluo Tongbi Formula for 12 weeks. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes in the percentages of CD3-CD19+, CD19+CD27 and CD19+BAFFR+B cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of the patients, and serum levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF), RANKL, RANK and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels were detected using ELISA. Before and after the treatment, serum levels of ß-CTX, TRACP-5b, BGP, BALP, and PINP were measured with ELISA, and bone mineral density was determined with DXEA dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In the cell experiment, RAW264.7 cells were induced to differentiated into osteoclasts and treated with Qingluo Tongbi Formula at low-, moderate and high doses (125, 250 and 500 µg/mL, respectively) or with methotrexate (2 µg/mL) for 48 h, and the changes in the expression levels of RANKL, RANK, OPG and c-Fos were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The B cell subgroups in RA patients were correlated with the RANKL/RANK/OPG system. Treatment with Qingluo Tongbi Formula obviously down-regulated the percentages of the B cell subgroups, lowered serum levels of BAFF, ß-CTX and TRACP-5b, increased the levels of BGP, BALP and PINP, and improved lumbar bone density of RA patients (P<0.05); All these changes were significantly correlated with the regulation of B cell expressions (P<0.05). In RAW264.7 cells-derived osteoclasts, Qingluo Tongbi Formula significantly decreased the expressions of RANKL, RANK and c-Fos and increased the expression of OPG (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Qingluo Tongbi Formula inhibits bone erosion in RA possibly by regulating B cell subset percentages and BAFF expression and inhibiting osteoclast differentiation via the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway.

[Comparison of efficacy and safety between new oral anticoagulants and traditional anticoagulants in patients with liver cirrhosis requiring anticoagulant therapy].

Objective: To compare the advantages and disadvantages of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with traditional anticoagulants, in an attempt to evaluate their efficacy and safety in patients with liver cirrhosis requiring anticoagulant therapy. Methods: Relevant literatures were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, HowNet, Wanfang, VIP and other databases by computer retrieval. The literatures quality was evaluated by NOS. The extracted data were meta-analyzed by RevMan5.3 software. Results: A total of seven studies were included, including one randomized controlled trial and six retrospective cohort studies with a total of 3042 cases. Among them, 1677 and 1365 cases used NOACs and traditional anticoagulants. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the traditional anticoagulant group, the NOACs group had a lower incidence of massive hemorrhage [OR=0.56, 95%CI (0.37-0.85), P＜0.01] and a higher thrombotic recanalization rate [OR=7.77, 95%CI (3.48~17.34), P＜0.01], and the difference was statistically significant, while there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in comparison to all-cause bleeding rates [OR=0.72, 95%CI (0.13-3.91), P=0.07], all-cause mortality [OR=0.72, 95%CI (0.25-2.07), P=0.54], recurrent embolism and stroke rates [OR=0.90, 95%CI (0.59-1.39), and P=0.64]. Conclusion: Compared with traditional anticoagulants, NOACs have higher safety and better efficacy in the treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis, but it has not been widely used in China. Therefore, large-scale randomized controlled trials and prospective studies are further needed to confirm it in the future.

Neobavaisoflavone improves medial collateral ligament-induced osteoarthritis through repressing the nuclear factor -κB/hypoxia-inducible factor-2α axis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease. There have been some studies on the treatment of OA with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Neobavaisoflavone (NBIF) is an isoflavone isolated from TCM Psoralea corylifolia L (also called 'Buguzhi') and shows anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to explore the potential role of NBIF in treating OA. The rat chondrocytes were dealt with interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) for inducing an in-vitro OA model and a rat OA model was established by medial collateral ligament resection. Followed by NBIF treatment, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis. The expression of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors in chondrocyte medium and rat serum was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining were carried out to examine the histopathological changes in knee joints. Caspase-3, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), and hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2α) expressions were monitored by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and/or immunohistochemistry. As indicated by the results, NBIF mitigated cartilage matrix degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis in the OA rat model. NBIF hampered IL-1ß-mediated cell viability inhibition, apoptosis, inflammatory reactions, and oxidative stress of chondrocytes. Moreover, NBIF suppressed NF-κB phosphorylation and HIF-2α expression. HIF-2α overexpression induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in chondrocytes, while NBIF reversed HIF-2α overexpression-caused chondrocyte damage. Overall, NBIF had antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative stress effects in OA models by impeding NF-κB/HIF-2α axis, suggesting that NBIF has potential therapeutic effects in OA.

[The Ophthalmology-centered medical industry in Suzhou in the Ming and the Qing Dynasties - from the Painting Album of Cityscapes and Business].

The Painting Album of Cityscapes and Business was finished in the early Qing Dynasty with realism. This painting album described the prosperity in business and everyday life in Suzhou during the late Ming and the early Qing Dynasties. They were drawn and painted retrospectively, ie, the content of the pictures was based on existing paintings handed down. In the painting album, more than ten medical-related elements were specifically depicted, such as traditional Chinese medicine clinics and pharmacies and seven ophthalmology-related elements including one clinic specialized in ophthalmology, two spectacle shops, two people wearing eyeglasses and three blind people. Up to now, no specialized ophthalmology clinics and spectacle shops have been found in earlier literature and paintings. It can be speculated that the Painting Album of Cityscapes and Business is the earliest album of paintings depicting clinics specialized in ophthalmology and spectacle shops in China. This painting album provides important information for the study of the medical industry in Suzhou in the late Ming and the early Qing Dynasties, particularly, in terms of ophthalmology-related diagnosis and treatment.

Potential probiotics Lactobacillus casei K11 combined with plant extracts reduce markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in mice.

AIMS: Probiotics and plant extracts have been used to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study aimed to explore the effect of the interaction between potential probiotics and bitter gourd extract (BGE) or mulberry leaf extract (MLE) on T2DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Potential probiotics were tested for their gastrointestinal tract viability and growth situation combined with BGE and MLE in vitro. The diabetes model was constructed in C57BL/6 mice, and the potential effect and mechanism of regulating blood glucose were verified. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE), gas chromatography (GC), ELISA, and RT-PCR were also used for analysis. The results showed that Lactobacillus casei K11 had outstanding gastrointestinal tract viability and growth situation with plant extracts. Administration of L. casei K11 combined with BGE and MLE significantly reduced blood glucose levels and ameliorated insulin resistance in diabetic mice than the administration of Lactobacillus paracasei J5 combined with BGE and MLE. Moreover, in L. casei K11 combined with BGE and MLE groups, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and proinflammatory cytokine levels were regulated. Furthermore, the results indicated that L. casei K11 combined with BGE and MLE improved free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2) upregulation, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that L. casei K11 combined with BGE and MLE modified the SCFA-FFAR2-GLP-1 pathway to improve T2DM. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study identified a new modality for evaluating interactions between potential probiotics and plant extracts. Our findings revealed that L. casei K11 combined with BGE and MLE significantly promoted the SCFA-FFAR2-GLP-1 pathway to inhibit T2DM.

Patient Use of Dietary Supplements, Home Monitoring, or Genetic Testing for Nonneovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: This work evaluated the use and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring for nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the prevalence of genetic testing among patients with AMD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 129 participants older than 50 years who completed self-administered questionnaires regarding usage and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring, as well as the participants' use of genetic testing for AMD. Results: Of 91 participants with AMD, 83 (91.2%) took vitamins, including 55 (60.4%) who used an Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) or AREDS2 formulation. Of 38 without AMD, 31 (81.6%) took vitamins (difference from participants with AMD = 9.6% [95% CI, 0%-23.2%]), including 2 on an AREDS formulation. Among 82 participants with AMD who were AREDS candidates (intermediate or advanced AMD in 1 or both eyes), 51 (62.2%; 95% CI, 51.7%-72.7%) took an AREDS or AREDS2 formulation, and 31 (37.8%) did not (5 were unsure). Additionally, 50 (61.0%; 95% CI, 50.4%-71.6%) AREDS candidates did some type of home monitoring. Only 1 (1.2%; 95% CI, 0%-3.6%) underwent genetic testing for AMD. Among 9 with AMD who were not AREDS candidates, 4 (44.4%) used an AREDS formulation, 4 (44.4%) did not, and 1 (11.1%) was unsure; only 1 (11.1%) of these 9 performed home monitoring. Conclusions: Despite similar results from past surveys and AREDS2 data supporting supplement use in 2013 and home monitoring in 2014, these findings suggest about one-third of AREDS candidates do not do so, providing further support for improving education regarding appropriate supplement and home monitoring usage. Genetic testing for AMD also appears infrequent.

Streamlining the Quantitative Metrics Workflow at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the project was to describe an efficient workflow for quantifying and disseminating tumor imaging metrics essential for assessing tumor response in clinical therapeutic trials. The clinical research utility of integration of the workflow into the electronic health record for radiology reporting was measured before and after the intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of institutional clinical trial databases was performed to identify trials with radiology department collaborators. Investigator initiated trials, or those which lacked a standardized or automated system of collaboration with the research team were selected for the study. A web based application integrated in the electronic health record platform, the Quantitative Imaging Analysis Core (QIAC) initiative was established as a divisional resource with institutional support to provide standardized and reproducible imaging metrics across the institution. The turnaround time for radiology reports before (phase 1) and after web based application workflow (phase 2) was measured. During our test period (November 2014 to June 2015), a total of 68 requests with 37 from phase 1 and 31 from phase 2 were analyzed for patients who were enrolled in prospective clinical therapeutic interventional trials. RESULTS: The mean turnaround time for generation of quantitative tumor metric results after implementation of the web based QIAC workflow (phase 2) was significantly lower than prior (phase 1) (15.9 ± 21.3 vs 31.7 ± 35.4 hours, p= 0.0005). The mean time from the scan to the preliminary assessment was 19.6 ± 25.6 hours before and significantly reduced to 8.0 ± 9.9 hours with implementation of web based QIAC workflow. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a web based QIAC workflow platform enabled significantly improved turnaround time for quantitative tumor metrics reports and enabled faster access to the reports.

Effects of sodium butyrate on intestinal health and gut microbiota composition during intestinal inflammation progression in broilers.

Butyric acid is a beneficial feed additive used in animal production, including poultry production. However, there are few reports on butyric acid as a prophylactic treatment against intestinal inflammation in broilers. The current study explored the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) as a prophylactic treatment on the intestinal health and gut microbiota of broilers with intestinal inflammation induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) by monitoring changes in intestinal histopathology, gut leakiness indicators, inflammatory cytokines, and gut microbiota composition. Sodium butyrate supplementation prior to DSS administration significantly reduced the lesion scores of intestinal bleeding (P < 0.05) and increased villus height and the total mucosa of the ileum (P < 0.05). Regardless of intestinal inflammation, supplementation with SB at 300 mg/kg significantly decreased the levels of D (-)-lactate (P < 0.05), interleukin-6, and interleukin-1ß (P < 0.05) but increased the level of interleukin-10 (P < 0.05). The SB treatment did not affect the alpha diversity of intestinal microbiota during intestinal inflammation progression but altered their composition, and the microbial community structure of treated broilers was similar to that of control broilers. Taken together, our results reveal the importance of SB in improving intestinal development, inducing an anti-inflammatory effect during intestinal inflammation progression, and modulating the microbial community in broilers. Sodium butyrate seems to be optimized for anti-inflammatory effects at higher doses (300 mg/kg SB).

Acute Cellular Rejection and Infection Rates in Alemtuzumab vs Traditional Induction Therapy Agents for Lung and Heart Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Heart and lung transplantation is a high-risk procedure requiring intensive immunosuppressive therapy for preventing organ rejection. Alemtuzumab, a CD52-specific monoclonal antibody, is increasingly used for induction therapy compared with conventional agents. However, there has been no systematic review comparing its efficacy with traditional therapeutic drugs. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched to October 1, 2017, for articles on alemtuzumab in cardiothoracic transplant surgery. Of the 433 studies retrieved, 8 were included in the final meta-analysis. RESULTS: In lung transplantation, alemtuzumab use was associated with lower odds of acute cellular rejection compared with antithymocyte globulin (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11-0.40; P < .001), lower acute rejection rates (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.55; P < .01), and infection rates (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.35-1.36; P = .33) when compared with basiliximab. Multivariate meta-regression analysis found that mean age, male sex, single lung transplant, double lung transplant, cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus status, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and mean ischemic time did not significantly influence acute rejection outcomes. For heart transplantation, alemtuzumab use was associated with lower acute rejection rates when compared with tacrolimus (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.30-0.66; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Alemtuzumab use was associated with lower rejection rates when compared with conventional induction therapy agents (antithymocyte globulin, basiliximab, and tacrolimus) in heart and lung transplantation. However, this was based on observational studies. Randomized controlled trials are needed to verify its clinical use.

Melatonin at pharmacological concentrations suppresses osteoclastogenesis via the attenuation of intracellular ROS.

Osteoporosis is linked to age-related decline of melatonin production; however, the direct effects of melatonin on osteoclastogenesis remain unknown. Our study demonstrates that melatonin at pharmacological concentrations, rather than at physiological concentrations, significantly inhibits osteoclastogenesis. Melatonin-mediated anti-osteoclastogenesis involves a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated but not a silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1)-independent pathway. INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a bone disorder linked to impaired bone formation and excessive bone resorption. Melatonin has been suggested to treat osteoporosis due to its beneficial actions on osteoblast differentiation. However, the direct effects of melatonin on osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow monocytes (BMMs) remain unknown. This study was to investigate whether melatonin at either physiological or pharmacological concentrations could affect osteoclast differentiation. METHODS: Primary BMMs were isolated from the femurs and tibias of C57BL/6 mice and were induced toward multinucleated osteoclasts, in the presence of melatonin at either physiological (0.01 to 10 nM) or pharmacological (1 to 100 µM) concentrations. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to label multinucleated osteoclasts and the levels of osteoclast-specific genes were evaluated. To further explore the underlying mechanisms, the roles of silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. RESULTS: We found that melatonin at pharmacological concentrations, rather than at physiological concentrations, significantly inhibited osteoclast formation in a dose-dependent manner. The number of TRAP-positive cells and the gene expression of osteoclast-specific markers were significantly downregulated in melatonin-treated BMMs. The melatonin-mediated repression of osteoclast differentiation involved the inhibition of the nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway. The treatment with SIRT1 inhibitors did not affect osteoclast differentiation but, when supplemented with exogenous hydrogen peroxide, a partial rescue of melatonin-suppressed osteoclastogenesis was observed. CONCLUSION: Melatonin at pharmacological doses directly inhibited osteoclastogenesis of BMMs by a ROS-mediated but not a SIRT1-independent pathway.

Contribution of presynaptic HCN channels to excitatory inputs of spinal substantia gelatinosa neurons.

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are pathological pain-associated voltage-gated ion channels. They are widely expressed in central nervous system including spinal lamina II (also named the substantia gelatinosa, SG). Here, we examined the distribution of HCN channels in glutamatergic synaptic terminals as well as their role in the modulation of synaptic transmission in SG neurons from SD rats and glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD67)-GFP mice. We found that the expression of the HCN channel isoforms was varied in SG. The HCN4 isoform showed the highest level of co-localization with VGLUT2 (23±3%). In 53% (n=21/40 neurons) of the SG neurons examined in SD rats, application of HCN channel blocker, ZD7288 (10µM), decreased the frequency of spontaneous (s) and miniature (m) excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) by 37±4% and 33±4%, respectively. Consistently, forskolin (FSK) (an activator of adenylate cyclase) significantly increased the frequency of mEPSCs by 225±34%, which could be partially inhibited by ZD7288. Interestingly, the effects of ZD7288 and FSK on sEPSC frequency were replicated in non-GFP-expressing neurons, but not in GFP-expressing GABAergic SG neurons, in GAD67-GFP transgenic C57/BL6 mice. In summary, our results represent a previously unknown cellular mechanism by which presynaptic HCN channels, especially HCN4, regulate the glutamate release from presynaptic terminals that target excitatory, but not inhibitory SG interneurons.

Leaf defense system of Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings exposed to 3years of elevated atmospheric CO2 and Cd-contaminated soils.

Short-term exposure to elevated CO2 increases cadmium (Cd) uptake in some plant species (wheat, poplars, and willows), which triggers an increase in antioxidative system activity to deal with additional reactive oxygen species that are generated. Here, we examined leaf defenses in Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings exposed to elevated CO2+Cd for 3years. Three years of elevated CO2 decreased Cd uptake into leaves and the Cd content in soils and increased the pH of rhizosphere soil relative to ambient CO2. In plants exposed to Cd stress, leaf chlorophyll content was greater under elevated CO2 than under ambient CO2. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activity increased, glutathione content increased, and malondialdehyde and phytochelatins contents decreased under elevated CO2+Cd relative to Cd alone. Proline, soluble sugars, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic acids contents were greater under elevated CO2+Cd than under Cd alone, and condensed tannin content was lower. Overall, long-term elevation of CO2 enhanced the leaf defense system of R. pseudoacacia exposed to Cd by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic adjustment, and the production of glutathione, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms involved in the decrease in Cd uptake into leaves and Cd content in soils and the increase in rhizosphere soil pH under long-term exposure to elevated CO2.

Dietary linseed oil in the maternal diet affects immunoglobulins, tissue fatty acid composition and expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in piglets.

This experiment investigated the effects of supplementing the maternal diet with linseed oil (LSO) and soya bean oil (SBO) on immunoglobulins, the fatty acid composition and hepatic expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in piglets. Multiparous sows (twenty-four per diet) were fed on diets containing a supplement of either SBO or LSO during last week of gestation and lactation. The results indicated that supplementation of maternal diet with LSO could improve the weaning weight of piglets and average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05). The concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) was enhanced in sow plasma, colostrum and milk by the addition of LSO (p < 0.05). In addition, the concentration of 18: 3n-3 fatty acids was higher in the milk of LSO sows. Meanwhile, maternal supplementation with LSO increased the levels of plasma IgG, IgA and the tissues n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in piglets (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, the mRNA expression levels of hepatic ∆5-desaturase (D5D) and ∆6-desaturase (D6D) were higher, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) was lower in piglets from LSO-fed sows when compared with that in the SBO group. In conclusion, LSO supplementation of the maternal diet increases immunoglobulins, modifies the fatty acid composition and affects the gene of D5D and D6D expression of piglets.

[The regulatory mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D3 in allergic rhinitis].

Nearly 30 years at home and abroad, the study found that Vitamin D can adjust congenital and acquired immune at the same time. As a result, Vitamin D is expected to be used for prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis. But about vitamin D supplement to the mechanism of action of allergic disease such as allergic rhinitis is still not clear, there is no consistent condusion, even some of the result also has certain contradiction, so vitamin D is not routinely used for clinical therapy. This review will help us to understand the mechanism of action of vitamin D for allergic rhinitis in the treatment of thinking in the future.

Genetic diversity of Toona sinensis Roem in China revealed by ISSR and SRAP markers.

Toona sinensis Roem has an important value as a type of traditional vegetable and Chinese medicinal herb, and is also a valuable source of wood in China. In this study, we used the inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers to assess the level and pattern of genetic diversity in five domesticated T. sinensis populations in China. Our results indicated a relatively low level of genetic diversity both at species (Hs = 0.1662, 0.2098, respectively) and population levels (Hs = 0.0978, 0.1145, respectively). Molecular variance analyses revealed a relatively high degree of differentiation among populations (GST = 0.3901, 0.4498), and low levels of gene flow (Nm = 0.7816 and 0.6116). We divided the five populations into two groups by cluster analysis: group one consists of populations collected from the south part of China (e.g., Yuxi, Yunan Province and Zuanjiang, Chongqing Municipality), and group two contains those cultivated in north part of China (e.g., Hengshui, Hebei Province, Jinan and Rizhao, Shandong Province). The correlation of genetic relationships among populations fits well with their geographical distribution (Mantel test; r = 0.7236 and 0.6789, respectively). Asexual propagation, limited gene flow and geographic isolation are most likely the key factors associated with the observed genetic structure of T. sinensis grown in China. The present study indicated that both ISSR and SRAP markers were effective and reliable for assessing the degree of T. sinensis genetic variations.

[Textual research on the fire needle and the fire needle therapy].

There are different names of the fire needle therapy in the Huang di nei jing (Inner Canon of Huangdi) such as Zu-zhen (), Cui-zhen (,), Fan-zhen (), Huo-cui (), Cui (,,), Cuici ,), Fan zhen jie ci (). It is claimed that the lance needle, the round sharp needle and the long needle recorded in this Classic are puncturing tools for the fire needle therapy. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing expanded the indications for the fire needle therapy and Huo-zhen () firstly appeared in the Jin kui yu han jing(Classic of the Jade Box and Golden Chamber). The application of the fire needle therapy had been further expanded to a lot of internal and external disorders form the Wei-Jin-Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are more detailed records on the manipulation and the tools of the fire needle therapy during this period. In the 1970s, Huo zhen liao fa () was proposed and still in use today. However the Bai-zhen (plain needle) in ancient literature is equal to the filiform needle and should not be regarded as the former name of the fire needle.

Isolation and characterization of a novel paraffin wax-degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas sp strain PW-1, from petroleum-contaminated sites.

An isolate capable of degrading paraffin wax was isolated from petroleum-contaminated sites in Daqing, China, and identified as Pseudomonas sp strain PW-1 by analyzing the 16S rDNA sequence (GenBank accession No.: KF529529) as well as the biochemical and physiological characteristics. The optimized degradation conditions of the isolate were as follows: FeSO4 metal ion concentration of 0.01 g, temperature of 30°C, (NH4)2SO4 nitrogen source concentration of 1.5 g/L, and a carbon: nitrogen ratio of 10:1. Response surface methodology-based analysis of the culture time, inoculation amount, and initial pH of the medium revealed that the optimal theoretical conditions were a culture time of 11.16 days, inoculation amount of 3.13%, and an initial pH of 9.29. The theoretical degradation rate was up to 54.68% under the optimal conditions. Taking into account the experimental conditions of a laboratory, 11.2 days of cultivating time, 3% inoculum, and a medium initial pH of 9.3 were used in practical settings. Experimental results showed that the degradation rate of paraffin wax was 52.85%, which demonstrated that this strain could degrade 1050 mg paraffin wax, using it as the sole carbon source, in a 1000-mL minimal salts medium. These results indicate that the strain PW1 can be used for application in oil wells with paraffin deposition problems in order to enhance oil recovery.