Machine learning analysis of serum cholesterol's impact on knee osteoarthritis progression.

The controversy surrounding whether serum total cholesterol is a risk factor for the graded progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has prompted this study to develop an authentic prediction model using a machine learning (ML) algorithm. The objective was to investigate whether serum total cholesterol plays a significant role in the progression of KOA. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the public database DRYAD. LASSO regression was employed to identify risk factors associated with the graded progression of KOA. Additionally, six ML algorithms were utilized in conjunction with clinical features and relevant variables to construct a prediction model. The significance and ranking of variables were carefully analyzed. The variables incorporated in the model include JBS3, Diabetes, Hypertension, HDL, TC, BMI, SES, and AGE. Serum total cholesterol emerged as a significant risk factor for the graded progression of KOA in all six ML algorithms used for importance ranking. XGBoost algorithm was based on the combined best performance of the training and validation sets. The ML algorithm enables predictive modeling of risk factors for the progression of the KOA K-L classification and confirms that serum total cholesterol is an important risk factor for the progression of KOA.

Complement factor I knockdown inhibits colon cancer development by affecting Wnt/ß-catenin/c-Myc signaling pathway and glycolysis.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer (CC) occurrence and progression are considerably influenced by the tumor microenvironment. However, the exact underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. AIM: To investigate immune infiltration-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CC and specifically explored the role and potential molecular mechanisms of complement factor I (CFI). METHODS: Immune infiltration-associated DEGs were screened for CC using bioinformatics. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to examine hub DEGs expression in the CC cell lines. Stable CFI-knockdown HT29 and HCT116 cell lines were constructed, and the diverse roles of CFI in vitro were assessed using CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, wound healing, and transwell assays. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining were employed to evaluate the influence of CFI on the tumorigenesis of CC xenograft models constructed using BALB/c male nude mice. Key proteins associated with glycolysis and the Wnt pathway were measured using western blotting. RESULTS: Six key immune infiltration-related DEGs were screened, among which the expression of CFI, complement factor B, lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1, and SRY-related high-mobility-group box 4 was upregulated, whereas that of fatty acid-binding protein 1, and bone morphogenic protein-2 was downregulated. Furthermore, CFI could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for CC. Functionally, CFI silencing inhibited CC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth. Mechanistically, CFI knockdown downregulated the expression of key glycolysis-related proteins (glucose transporter type 1, hexokinase 2, lactate dehydrogenase A, and pyruvate kinase M2) and the Wnt pathway-related proteins (ß-catenin and c-Myc). Further investigation indicated that CFI knockdown inhibited glycolysis in CC by blocking the Wnt/ß-catenin/c-Myc pathway. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study demonstrate that CFI plays a crucial role in CC development by influencing glycolysis and the Wnt/ß-catenin/c-Myc pathway, indicating that it could serve as a promising target for therapeutic intervention in CC.

Identification and field bioassay of the sex pheromone of Trichophysetis cretacea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

The jasmine bud borer Trichophysetis cretacea (Butler) (Lepidoptera Crambidae) is an important agricultural pest of jasmine flowers Jasminum sambac in China. The extract from the pheromone gland of the female moth was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac), (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald),and (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11-16:OH) were identified as the probable sex pheromone components. The electroantennogram (EAG) bioassay confirmed the results from the chemical analysis. Field bioassays conducted in the late summer and fall in Quanwei, Sichuan, China, showed that the synthetic chemical blend of Z11-16:Ac, Z11-16:Ald, and Z11-16:OH was highly attractive to male T. cretacea moths, and none of the three components was attractive by itself. All three components were necessary and the ratio of the three was critical. The highest number of male moths was captured when the ratio of Z11-16:Ac: Z11-16:Ald:Z11-16:OH was 10:10:1 at a dosage per lure of 200 microg Z11-16:Ac. The binary mixture of 200 microg Z11-16:Ac and 25 microg Z11-16:OH captured a number of Nymphicula mesorphna (10.3 +/- 4.4). The results indicate that traps with synthetic pheromone lures can be used to monitor jasmine bud borer populations in the field and potentially to control this pest.

Prolonged postoperative urine leakage due to a calyceal diverticulum mimicking a renal cyst: A case report and literature review.

Background: The calyceal diverticulum is a rare cystic cavity that communicates with the collecting system via a narrow neck or infundibulum. In clinical practice, part of the calyceal diverticula is difficult to differentiate from simple renal cysts even after contrast-enhanced CT. To date, there have been few kinds of literature works on the diagnosis and treatment of calyceal diverticulum combined with renal pelvis dilatation, especially concerning the treatment of prolonged postoperative urine leakage. Case description: A 53-year-old woman with calyceal diverticulum and renal pelvis dilatation mimicking a simple renal cyst suffered urine leakage after receiving laparoscopic unroofing of the renal cyst. A persistent urine leakage was observed immediately after surgery, with about 200 ml of drainage fluid per day. We first attempted to place a double-J ureteral stent and indwell a catheter. After failing that, conservative treatment was performed. The core idea of the conservative treatment is retaining the drainage tube for more than 1 month, then clamping the drainage tube for 1 week, and finally removing the drainage tube. By 3 weeks of follow-up, the urine leakage disappeared, and the CT scan showed hydronephrosis of the right kidney without perirenal exudation and the lower pole cyst of the right kidney shrank significantly. Conclusion: This case, we reported here, is to attract the attention of clinicians. Renal cysts should exclude the possibility of the calyceal diverticulum. If urine leakage is inevitable after surgical treatment, our conservative treatment strategy is also an alternative method.

TASP1 Promotes Proliferation and Migration in Gastric Cancer via EMT and AKT/P-AKT Pathway.

Threonine aspartase 1 (TASP1) was reported to function in the development of cancer. However, the regulatory mechanism of TASP1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. In this study, we determined the expression of TASP1 in tissues of GC patients, GC cells by qRT-PCR, and western blot and assessed the relationship between TASP1 and GC cell proliferation and migration via CCK-8 and transwell assay. It was found that the expression of TASP1 in GC tissues or GC cell lines was significantly higher than that in normal adjacent tissues or normal cells. The proliferation and migration of GC cells were inhibited upon TASP1 knockdown. Mechanism investigation revealed that TASP1 promoted GC cell proliferation and migration through upregulating the p-AKT/AKT expression. TASP1 induced GC cell migration via the epithelial -mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. In conclusion, TASP1 promotes GC progression through the EMT and AKT/p-AKT pathway, and it may serve as a new potential biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.

[The application of fluorescence in situ hybridization and automated image cytometry in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the application of automated DNA image cytometry (ICM) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder. METHODS: From August 2008 to March 2009, 60 volunteers with informed consent were divided into two groups, 40 patients proven as urothelial carcinoma of bladder by pathology and 20 healthy individuals as control. Urine was collected and tested by cytology, ICM and FISH. RESULTS: Overall sensitivity of FISH was significantly higher in detection of malignancy than that of ICM (82.5% vs 62.5%, P < 0.05) and that of urine cytology (82.5% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05), while ICM was more sensitive to diagnose urothelial carcinoma of bladder than urine cytology (62.5% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05). Specificities of urine cytology, ICM and FISH were 100% in diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder (P > 0.05). Sensitivities of urine cytology, ICM and FISH have no correlation with pathological stage (P > 0.05), but have significant correlation with grade (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ICM and FISH have the same specificity as urine cytology in diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma of bladder, but they have significantly higher sensitivity than urine cytology. FISH has the highest sensitivity among three diagnostic methods. Therefore, FISH may become a newly non-invasive technique for the diagnosis and surveillance of urothelial carcinoma of bladder.

Management of haemorrhoids: protocol of an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of haemorrhoidal diseases was high in general population, and many treatments are proposed for the management of haemorrhoids. The treatments include conservative and surgical interventions; the credibility and strength of current evidence of their effectiveness are not comprehensively evaluated. We aim to evaluate the credibility of systematic reviews and meta-analyses that assess the effectiveness of the treatments for haemorrhoidal diseases through an umbrella review. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane library and Web of Science from inception to March 2020 without any language restriction. We will include meta-analyses that examine the effectiveness of treatments in the management of haemorrhoids. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts of retrieved articles, and they will extract data from the included meta-analyses. For each meta-analysis, we will estimate the effect size of a treatment through the random-effect model and the fixed-effect model, and we will evaluate between-study heterogeneity (Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics) and small-study effect (Egger's test); we will also estimate the evidence of excess significance bias. Evidence of each treatment will be graded according to prespecified criteria. Methodological quality of each meta-analysis will be evaluated by using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2. The corrected cover area method will be used to assess the impact of overlap in reviews on the findings of the umbrella review. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: We will present the results of the umbrella review at conferences and publish the final report in a peer-reviewed journal. The umbrella review does not require ethical approval. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019140702.

No association between HMGB1 polymorphisms and cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) polymorphism was associated with cancer susceptibility. PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science were extensively searched without language restriction. Data were extracted using a standardized data collection sheet after two reviewers scanned studies independently. The association between HMGB1 polymorphism and cancer risks was indicated as odds ratio (OR) along with its related 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Meta-analysis was conducted via RevMan 5.3 software. A total of ten studies comprising 4530 cases and 5167 controls were included in our study. Meta-analysis revealed no statistical association between rs1045411, rs1360485, rs1412125, or rs2249825 polymorphisms in HMGB1 gene and risk of cancer, either did subgroup analysis of rs1045411 stratified by cancer types and ethnic groups. Our results revealed no statistical association between current four polymorphism loci and cancer risks, suggesting that the attempt of applying HMGB1 variants as a therapeutic target or a prognosis predictor might still require a second thought. However, HMGB1 is deemed to play pleiotropic roles in cancers, we strongly call for large-scale studies with high evidence level to uncover the exact relationship between HMGB1 gene variants and cancer progression.

Floral Volatiles from Vigna unguiculata Are Olfactory and Gustatory Stimulants for Oviposition by the Bean Pod Borer Moth Maruca vitrata.

Abstract: We investigated the role of floral odors from cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), in mediating oviposition of the bean pod borer moth, Maruca vitrata, a serious pest of grain legumes that flies to host plants at the flowering stage and oviposits onto flowers and buds. The flower of the host plant V. unguiculata was a stimulus for egg-laying by M. vitrata in an oviposition bioassay. Commercial longifolene, ß-caryophyllene, linalool, geraniol, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate were used as stimulus. Each one elicited dose-dependent electroantennogram responses in female M. vitrata, and all but longifolene stimulated oviposition, when presented singly. Beta-caryophyllene was the most active stimulant, similar to that of the flower of V. unguiculata, and eliciting a dose-dependent oviposition response. Either olfaction or gustation was sufficient to mediate an oviposition response to V. unguiculata floral volatiles: intact M. vitrata responded to ß-caryophyllene whether or not they could contact the source of the volatiles, and females with amputated antennae responded if allowed to contact the source. We believe this is the first demonstration in a moth where ß-caryophyllene from the host plant was able to mediate an oviposition response. As ß-caryophyllene is widely expressed by non-host plants, we suggest that its role in stimulating oviposition could be exploited as part of a push-pull strategy for pest management in which ß-caryophyllene-expressing non-host plants provide a population sink for M. vitrata.

Molecular and functional characterization of a candidate sex pheromone receptor OR1 in Spodoptera litura.

Olfaction is primarily mediated by highly specified olfactory receptors (ORs). Here, we cloned and identified an olfactory receptor, named SlituOR1 (Genbank no. JN835269), from Spodoptera litura and found evidence that it is a candidate pheromone receptor. It exhibited male-biased expression in the antennae, where it was localized at the base of sensilla trichoidea, the antennal sensilla mainly responsive to pheromones in moths. Conserved orthologues of this receptor, found among known pheromone receptors within the Lepidoptera, and SlituOR1 were placed among a clade of candidate pheromone receptors in a phylogeny tree of insect OR gene sequences. SlituOR1 showed differential expression in S. litura populations attracted to traps baited with different ratios of the two sex pheromone components (9Z,11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E11-14:OAc) and (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E12-14:OAc). Knocking down of SlituOR1 by RNA interference reduced the electroantennogram (EAG) response to Z9E11-14:OAc, and this result is consistent with the field trapping experiment. We infer that variation in transcription levels of olfactory receptors may modulate sex pheromone perception in male moths and could provide some of the flexibility required to maintain the functionality of communication with females when a population is adapting to a new niche and reproductive isolation becomes an advantage.

Design, Synthesis, and Fungicidal Evaluation of Novel Pyrazole-furan and Pyrazole-pyrrole Carboxamide as Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors.

The identification of novel succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitors represents one of the most attractive directions in the field of fungicide research and development. During our continuous efforts to pursue inhibitors belonging to this class, some structurally novel pyrazole-furan carboxamide and pyrazole-pyrrole carboxamide derivatives have been discovered via the introduction of scaffold hopping and bioisosterism to compound 1, a remarkably potent lead obtained by pharmacophore-based virtual screening. As a result of the evaluation against three destructive fungi, including Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Pyricularia grisea, a majority of them displayed potent fungicidal activities. In particular, compounds 12I-i, 12III-f, and 12III-o exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against S. sclerotiorum and R. solani comparable to that of commercial SDHI thifluzamide and 1.

Discovery of Novel Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors by the Integration of in Silico Library Design and Pharmacophore Mapping.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) has been demonstrated as a promising target for fungicide discovery. Crystal structure data have indicated that the carboxyl "core" of current SDH inhibitors contributed largely to their binding affinity. Thus, identifying novel carboxyl "core" SDH inhibitors would remarkably improve the biological potency of current SDHI fungicides. Herein, we report the discovery and optimization of novel carboxyl scaffold SDH inhibitor via the integration of in silico library design and a highly specific amide feature-based pharmacophore model. To our delight, a promising SDH inhibitor, A16c (IC50 = 1.07 µM), with a novel pyrazol-benzoic scaffold was identified, which displayed excellent activity against Rhizoctonia solani (EC50 = 11.0 µM) and improved potency against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (EC50 = 5.5 µM) and Phyricularia grisea (EC50 = 12.0 µM) in comparison with the positive control thifluzamide, with EC50 values of 0.09, 33.2, and 33.4 µM, respectively. The results showed that our virtual screening strategy could serve as a powerful tool to accelerate the discovery of novel SDH inhibitors.

[Treatment of deep partial thickness burns by a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of one dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burns. METHODS: From January 1997 to January 2004, sixty-seven cases of deep partial thickness total burned surface area (TBSA) from 50% to 90% burn wound were treated by a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix (the porcine acellular dermal matrix group). Ten cases of deep partial thickness burned patients with the same TBSA treated by exposure method served as the exposure method group. The healing time of the wound was observed. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years, and the scar proliferation was observed. RESULTS: The deep partial-thickness wound would be healed without dressing change in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group, and the average healing time was (12.2 +/- 2.6) days. The average healing time of the exposure method group was (27.4 +/- 3.5) days. Follow up of the patients within 3 months to 2 years showed that scar proliferation in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group was much less than that in the exposure method group, even no scar proliferation was observed in some patients. CONCLUSION: Without tangential excision, autografting and dressing change, a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burn wound could shorten the healing time and inhibit scar proliferation.

[Biosynthesis and endocrine regulation of sex pheromones in moth].

The crucial importance of sex pheromones in driving mating behaviors in moths has been well demonstrated in the process of sexual communication between individuals that produce and recognize species specific pheromones. Sex-pheromone molecules from different moth species are chemically characteristic, showing different terminal functional groups, various carbon chain lengths, different position and configuration of double bond system. This review summarized information on the biosynthetic pathways and enzymes involved in producing pheromone molecules in different moths. Then we listed the components and their ratios in the sex pheromones of 15 moth species belonging to different subfamilies in Noctuidae. We also discussed the various viewpoints regarding how sex pheromones with specific ratios are produced. In the discussion we attempted to classify the pheromone molecules based on their producers, characteristics of their functional groups and carbon chain lengths. In particular, composition and ratio variations of pheromones in closely related species or within a species were compared, and the possible molecular mechanisms for these variations and their evolutionary significance were discussed. Finally, we reviewed the endocrine regulation and signal transduction pathways, in which the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) is involved. Comparing the biosynthetic pathways of sex pheromones among different species, this article aimed to reveal the common principles in pheromone biosynthesis among moth species and the characteristic features associated with the evolutionary course of individual species. Subsequently, some future research directions were proposed.

[Porcine acellular dermal matrix in the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns in human].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility of treating deep partial-thickness burns by closed dressing of the wounds with porcine acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and evaluate the therapeutic effects. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 128 cases of burn patients who received treatment with porcine ADM within the period from January 1998 to January 2002 in our hospital. Different procedures were adopted according to the degree of the burn injury. As for "fairly superficial" deep partial-thickness skin burns, after removing the necrotic epidermis and washing with 0.1 % benzalkonium bromide, the wound was covered with porcine ADM pretreated with povidone-iodine and then bandaged with cotton gauze and bandages. In cases of "fairly deep" deep partial skin thickness burns, eschar excisions as deep as to expose parabiotic lamina were performed prior to dressing the wounds in the same manner as described above. RESULTS: All the patients were successfully treated with satisfactory clinical results. CONCLUSIONS: Porcine ADM is feasible as an efficient dressing material for deep partial-thickness burns, which may promote epithelialization in the wounds and help stabilize the patients' condition during burn shock stage to reduce the complications and shorten the treatment courses.

Molecular identification and characterization of the Orco orthologue of Spodoptera litura.

A highly conserved and broadly expressed receptor protein Orco (olfactory coreceptor) is crucial for insect olfaction, and an orthologue of Orco has been identified in several insect species. Here we report the identification and characterization of Orco from Spodoptera litura. The protein displays high primary amino acid sequence conservation with other previously identified Orco orthologues. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that it has common features with other members of the Orco subfamily: seven-transmembrane domains with intracellular N-terminus and extracellular C-terminus. The transcript was detected in abundance in the chemosensory organs of the antennae of both male and female adults by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and was localized at the bases of all categories of olfactory sensilla through in situ hybridization.

[Electroantennogram responses of Maruca testulalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to plant volatiles and sex pheromone].

By using cis-3-hexenyl acetate as standard chemical, the electroantennogram (EAG) responses of Maruca testulalis (Lepidoptera, Pyralididae) to plant volatiles and sex pheromone were investigated. Both the males and the females of M. testulalis showed strong EAG responses to the volatiles, but no significant difference was observed under most test concentrations. Among the test nine plant volatiles, the males and females had greater difference in the shape of EAG response to trans-2-hexenal, and their maximum EAG relative response to high concentration trans-2-hexenal was 250% and 260%, respectively. No obvious EAG responses were observed to the cedrene and cedrol from cowpea Vigna unguiculata floral. Both the male and the female moths showed clear EAG responses to sex pheromone, and significant difference was detected between males and females. The maximum EAG relative response of the males to (E10, E12)-16 CHO, a main component of sex pheromone, was 250%, while that of the females was only 53%. The difference in the EAG responses between the males and females reflected the difference in the structure, function and behavior of the males and females olfactory system.

[Use of lower trapezius musculocutaneous pedicle flap in repairing of maxillofacial region penetrating defect].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate an safe and effective new technology (treatment) to repair maxillofacial region penetrating defect. METHODS: The lower trapezius musculocutaneous flap is parallel just like as two leaves which is connected to each other, and was folded to provide the liner of oral cavity and external cover. RESULTS: Totally twelve folding lower trapezius musculocutaneous pedicle flap survived. Postoperative follow-up for 1 approximately 3 years, the patients restored the function as well as the shape of maxillofacial region. CONCLUSIONS: The lower trapezius musculocutaneous pedicle flap is a suitable material for maxillofacial region reconstruction, further more, the successful rate is perfect.

[A research of endothelial cell-targeted therapy for cure of hypertrophic scar].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of endothelial cell-targeted therapy to cure post-burn hypertrophic scar. METHODS: A hypertrophic scar animal model was made. Intralesional injecting of VEGF monoclonal antibody was performed for three weeks. The changes of scar in volume and morphology were observed. RESULTS: 1. The volume of scar decreased. 2. The number of the capillary, the amount of collagen I and collagen III decreased. 3. Transmission electron microscope examinations demonstrated many dead or apoptotic fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Fibrocytes were seen relatively common. CONCLUSION: VEGF induces the growth and development of hypertrophic scar in that it induces excessive and uncontrollable angiogenesis, which favors excessive collagen synthesis. Endothelial cell-targeted therapy may be a promising method to cure post-burn hypertrophic scar.