Reasons for the differences in biotransformation of conjugated linoleic acid by Lactobacillus plantarum.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has attracted a great deal of attention for its functions in weight loss, regulation of metabolism, and antioxidant capabilities. Many microorganisms, including rumen bacteria, propionic acid bacilli, and Lactobacillus, have CLA biotransformation ability. The CLA production capability of different species is different, as are those different strains of the same species. However, the reasons for this discrepancy remain unclear. In this study, 14 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum were found, through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, to be capable of converting linoleic acid to CLA. The transcriptional levels of CLA-related genes in the high- (AR195, WCFS1, and AR488) and low-yield strains (AR176, AR269, and AR611) were analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR. The transcriptional levels of cla-hy, cla-dh, and cla-dc in AR195 were the lowest in the exponential phase, but it had the highest CLA yield. Correlation analysis showed no correlation between CLA yield and the transcription level of these genes in the exponential phase. The results showed that a high transcriptional level in the exponential phase of cla-hy, cla-dh, and cla-dc did not necessarily lead to high CLA production. Investigation of the transcription level in different growth phases showed that the CLA biotransformation abilities of Lactobacillus plantarum strains significantly depended on the transcriptional maintenance of cla-hy, cla-dh, and cla-dc. We observed a correlation between CLA production and increased levels of cla-hy transcription, but a prerequisite is needed: the transcription of cla-dh and cla-dc should be upregulated and maintained a high transcriptional level during the platform period. This study provides a new strategy for screening high CLA-producing strains. It also lays a theoretical foundation for regulating CLA biotransformation and increasing the yield of CLA.

Zearalenone induces immuno-compromised status via TOR/NF/κB pathway and aggravates the spread of Aeromonas hydrophila to grass carp gut (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The occurrence of immuno-compromised status in animals with zearalenone (ZEA) exposure may be a critical contributor to associated mucosal (gastrointestinal tract) diseases. However, it is difficult to assess the associated risks with limited reference data. This study comprehensively discussed the effects of ZEA on intestinal immune components, cytokines and molecular mechanism of juvenile grass carp infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Specifically, the fish were fed six graded levels of dietary ZEA (0-2507 µg kg-1 diet) for 70 d. The results pointed out that the average residual amount of ZEA in the intestines increased with dose level after ZEA feeding. We further performed an infection assay using A. hydrophila. After 14 d, ZEA groups increased enteritis morbidity rate compared with controls. The acid phosphatase (ACP), lysozyme (LZ) activities and immunoglobulin M (IgM) content were significantly decreased in three intestinal segments. Furthermore, ZEA could reduce the transcription of ß-defensin-1, Hepcidin, liver expressed antimicrobial peptide 2A/2B (LEAP-2A/2B) and Mucin-2. We next confirmed the loss of these immune components accompanied by the invasion of the intestinal barrier by bacteria, as indicated by activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and the expression of downstream cytokines. Notably, the phosphorylated target of rapamycin (TOR) plays an important role in regulating these genes, thus indicating a possible target caused by ZEA. In summary, the extensive inhibition of immune components by ZEA promotes the spread of pathogens, which may increase the possibility of intestinal mucosa exposure and the risk of transforming disease.

Bilateral anterior elevation prosthesis boosts chondrocytes proliferation in mice mandibular condyle.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a mouse model predominating in a proliferative response in the articular cartilage of the temporomandibular joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bilateral anterior elevation of occlusion was developed by installing metal tubes onto the incisors of mice with edge-to-edge relation to prevent tooth wear, leading to an increase in the vertical height of the dental occlusion with time. Morphological changes and expression changes in Cyclin D1, Aggrecan, and type II and type X collagen in the mandibular condylar cartilage were detected. In addition, cells were isolated from the mandibular condylar cartilage and exposed to cyclic tensile strain (CTS). RESULTS: Compared with age-matched controls, the tooth length was longer at 3 weeks, 7 weeks, and 11 weeks in BAE mice (p < 0.05), with increased condylar cartilage thickness, matrix amount, and cell number (p < 0.05). Compared with the deep zone cells, CTS stimulated the superficial zone cells to express a higher level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Cyclin D1, Aggrecan, and type II collagen but a lower level of type X collagen and alkaline phosphatase. CONCLUSION: Bilateral anterior elevation stimulated the proliferative response in the mandibular condylar cartilage, offering a new therapeutic strategy for cartilage degeneration.

Early growth response 1 reduction in peripheral blood involving condylar subchondral bone loss.

OBJECTIVES: To detect whether early growth response 1 (EGR1) in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) indicates temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs were detected in eight malocclusion patients without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs and 16 malocclusion patients with clinical TMD signs with (eight) or without (eight) imaging signs of TMJ OA. Twelve 6-week-old rats were randomized to a control group and a unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) group and were sampled at 4 weeks. The Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs and protein expression levels in different orofacial tissues were measured. RESULTS: Patients with TMD signs with/without TMJ OA diagnosis showed lower Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs than patients without TMD signs. The lower Egr1 mRNA expression was also found in the PBLs of UAC rats, which were induced to exhibit early histo-morphological signs of TMJ OA lesions. In subchondral bone of UAC rats, EGR1 protein expression was decreased, co-localization of EGR1 with osterix or dentin matrix protein-1 was identified, and the number of EGR1 and osterix double-positive cells was reduced (all p < .05). CONCLUSION: Egr1 reduction in PBLs potentially indicates subchondral bone OA lesions at an early stage.

Catabolic changes of rat temporomandibular joint discs induced by unilateral anterior crossbite.

BACKGROUND: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc plays a role in joint movement and in load absorbance and distribution. An experimental unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) prosthesis induces mandibular condylar cartilage degeneration in rats. However, the changes in the articular disc are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in the TMJ discs of UAC rats. METHODS: The discs of fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats, equally distributed into a UAC group and an age-matched sham-operated control group at 4, 12 and 20 weeks (n = 9), were evaluated by gross and histomorphological observation and by detection at the mRNA or protein expression levels of the markers related to the matrix elements. RESULTS: No macro- or micro-morphological differences were observed between groups. However, there were catabolic degradative changes at the molecular level in the UAC group, showing a significant reduction in the mRNA and/or protein expression levels of many molecules. The reduction became worse with time (P < 0.05). The reduced molecules included: (a) those related to the extracellular matrix, such as type I collagen, decorin and fibromodulin; (b) those related to chondrogenesis, such as type II collagen and aggrecan; and (c) those related to osteogenesis, such as alkaline phosphatase and runt-related transcription factor 2. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor did not change. In contrast, fibronectin, which can promote wound healing, and its N-terminal fragment, which can induce cartilage degradation, were accumulated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TMJ discs were stimulated to catabolic changes by the aberrant dental occlusion and seemed to go to inanimate with time.

Molecular changes in peripheral blood involving osteoarthritic joint remodelling.

Biomarkers of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) remain unknown. The objective was to detect whether molecular biomarkers from peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) engage in TMJ OA lesions. Thirty-four six-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were used. The top upregulated gene ontology categories and gene-fold changes in PBLs were detected by a microarray analysis comparing rats that received 20-week unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) treatment with age-matched controls (n = 4). Twenty weeks of UAC treatment had been reported to induce TMJ OA-like lesions. The other twenty-four rats were randomly placed in the UAC and control groups at 12- and 20-week time points (n = 6). The mRNA expression levels of the selected biomarkers derived from the microarray analysis and their protein expression in the alveolar bone and TMJ were detected. The microarray analysis indicated that the three most highly involved genes in PBLs were Egr1, Ephx1 and Il10, which were confirmed by real-time PCR detection. The increased protein expression levels of the three detected molecules were demonstrated in cartilage and subchondral bone (P < 0.05), and increased levels of EPHX1 were reported in discs (P < 0.05); however, increased levels were not present in the alveolar bone. Immunohistochemistry revealed the increased distribution of EGR1-positive, EXPH1-positive and IL10-positive cells predominantly in the osteochondral interface, with EXPH1 also present in TMJ discs. In conclusion, the increased mRNA expression of Egr1, Ephx1 and Il10 in PBLs may serve as potential biomarkers for developed osteoarthritic lesions relating to osteochondral interface hardness changes induced by dental biomechanical stimulation.

Effect of GnRHR polymorphisms on in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

We investigated the relationship between gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) gene polymorphisms and outcome of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET were selected, and infertile patients due to dysfunctional oviducts served as controls. GnRHR gene polymorphisms were detected using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Gene-gene interaction and linkage disequilibrium tests were performed using the SHEsis software. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors affecting outcome of patients undergoing IVF-ET. The PCOS group showed more patients with CC+CT genotypes rs12644822, rs3756159 and rs13138607 than the control group, and CC+CT genotypes and C alleles from three positions enhanced risk of PCOS. Patients with CC+CT genotypes from three positions exhibited increased serum luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and follicles than those with TT genotypes. The haplotype analysis indicated that CCC, CCT and TCC haplotypes increased the risk of PCOS, while TCT, TTC and TTT haplotypes lowered the risk. After IVF-ET treatment, patients with CC+CT genotypes of three positions in the GnRHR gene had a lower pregnancy rate than patients with TT genotypes. Logistic regression analysis indicated that CC+CT genotypes rs12644822, rs3756159 and rs13138607 were risk factor for patients undergoing IVF-ET. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that CC+CT genotypes rs12644822C>T, rs3756159C>T and rs13138607C>T in the GnRHR gene may contribute to a decreased pregnancy rate for PCOS patients after IVF-ET.

Half-metallic and magnetic properties in nonmagnetic element embedded graphitic carbon nitride sheets.

We have investigated the structures, electronic structures and magnetic properties of the triazine-based g-C3N4 (gt-C3N4) monolayer doped with B, Al, and Cu atoms based on density functional theory using ab initio calculations. The B atom prefers to be situated at the center of the triazine ring, whereas the Al and Cu atoms tend to be located above the center of the triazine ring. The doping at the interstitial sites results in nonplanar structures which are thermodynamically stable. Each dopant atom induces a total magnetic moment of 1.0 µB which mainly arises from the pz orbitals because the n-type doping injects unpaired electrons into anti-π orbitals. The results obtained from the GGA-PBE and HSE06 schemes show that all the doped systems exhibit half-metallic behaviors. B- and Al-doped systems are at a ferromagnetic ground state, while the Cu-doped case is at an anti-ferromagnetic ground state. The long-range half-metallic ferromagnetic order is attributed to the p-p interactions. In particular, the estimated Curie temperature implies that the systems doped with B are potential candidates for spintronics applications in future.

[Effect of acupuncture on early cerebral palsy infants with parafunctional sitting position: a multi-centre, randomized, control research].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of development theory based acupuncture on early cerebral palsy (CP) infants with parafunctional sitting position. METHODS: Totally 120 early CP infants were randomly assigned to two groups equally, the treatment group and the control group. All received acupuncture combined with training rehabilitation. Patients in the treatment group adopted acupuncture based on infants development theory, while those in the control group were treated by head acupuncture. Sitting functional points in Gross motor function measure (GMFM) 88 were observed in different groups and infant patients of various types before and after treatment. Root mean square (RMS) signals of sitting correlated muscles (latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, rectus abdominis) were recorded by surface electromyography (sEMG). The effective rate was evaluated by Nimodipine method. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, sitting functional points were significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.01). After treatment, it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). The advance amplitude was higher in CP infants of the spastic type and the hypotonic type than other types (P<0.01). Along with sitting process, latissimus dorsi RMS signals were gradually tapered, erector spinae RMS signals were gradually enhanced, and rectus abdominis RMS signals were slightly weakened. Compared with the control group, latissimus dorsi RMS signals obviously decreased, and erector spinae RMS signals obviously increased in the treatment group after treatment (all P<0.01). The total effective rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (89.29% vs. 77.78%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Infants development theory based acupuncture could effectively elevate dorsi-extensor muscles force, improve sitting position of 8 months to 1 year old CP infants with parafunctional sitting position.

The diversity of human papillomavirus infection among human immunodeficiency virus-infected women in Yunnan, China.

BACKGROUND: Yunnan has one of the oldest and the most severe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics in China. We conducted an observational study to evaluate the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in relation to cervical neoplastic disease risk among HIV-infected women in Yunnan. METHODS: We screened 301 HIV-infected non-pregnant women in Mangshi prefecture in Yunnan province. All consenting participants underwent simultaneous and independent assessment by cervical cytology, colposcopy-histopathology, and HPV genotyping. Unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate factors associated with single or multiple carcinogenic HPV genotypes. RESULTS: HPV genotypes were present in 43.5% (131/301) overall, and carcinogenic HPV genotypes were present in 37.5% (113/301) women. Among women with carcinogenic HPV genotypes, 80 (70.8% of 113) had a single carcinogenic HPV type, while 33 (29.2%) women had multiple (2 or more) carcinogenic HPV types. Overall, the most common carcinogenic HPV types were HPV52 (7.3%), HPV58 (6.6%), HPV18 (6.3%), HPV16 (6.0%), and HPV33 (5.3%). In women with cervical precancerous lesions (i.e., high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [HSIL] on cytology or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse [CIN2+] detected on colposcopy-histology), the most commonly detected genotypes were HPV16 (28.6%), HPV52 (25.0%), HPV58 (17.9%), HPV18 (10.7%) and HPV31 (10.7%). Increasing age was an independent risk factor associated with presence of single carcinogenic HPV types (adjusted odds ratio: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.07, p = 0.012) but not with the presence of multiple carcinogenic types in the multivariable-adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: As HIV-infected women continue to live longer on antiretroviral therapy in China, it will be increasingly important to screen for, and prevent, HPV-associated cervical cancer in this population, especially given the wide diversity and multiplicity of HPV genotypes.

Therapeutic effect of manual massage on early postpartum rectus abdominis separation and postpartum depression.

BACKGROUND: Rectus abdominis separation (DRA) affects pelvic stability and body image. No studies have explored the effects of manual massage on early postpartum DRA and postpartum depression. AIM: To analyze the curative effect of massage on early postpartum DRA and its impact on postpartum depression and thus its ability promote the overall psychosomatic rehabilitation of postpartum women. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected on 70 primiparous women with postpartum DRA who underwent rehabilitation at the Postpartum Rehabilitation Center of Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from October 2022 to September 2023. The patients were divided into the Group S (35 cases, biomimetic electrical stimulation treatment) and Group L (35 cases, biomimetic electrical stimulation combined with manual massage treatment). Baseline data, the edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) score, and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for rectus abdominis distance, waist circumference, and lower back pain before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the baseline data, rectus abdominis distance, waist circumference, and VAS and EPDS scores between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, the distance between rectus abdominis and waist circumference in Group L were significantly smaller than those in Group S (P < 0.05). Furthermore, lower back pain (VAS score) and the EPDS score in Group L were significantly lower than those in Group S (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Manual massage can significantly reduce early postpartum DRA, waist circumference, and back pain and improve the patient's mental state and postpartum depression.

Molecular epidemiology of PRRSV from China's Guangxi Province between 2007 and 2009.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is considered to be one of the most important infectious diseases affecting livestock. This study used gene sequence analysis of ORF5 and Nsp2 to determine the molecular epidemiology of PRRSV in different parts of the Guangxi province of China. These genes were selected due to their extensive variation within the genome. Out of 189 samples from animals suspected to have PRRS, 145 were PRRSV RNA positive. ORF5 and Nsp2 gene sequence analysis of 31 of these samples showed that all of the Guangxi isolates were of type 2. A phylogenetic tree analysis based on ORF5 showed that the Guangxi isolates were divided into two groups. Most of these were closely related to highly pathogenic strains, showing a 30 amino acid deletion at positions 481 and 533-561 of Nsp2, but an additional unique isolate (GXNN06) possessed a further four amino acid deletion at positions 485-488 of Nsp2.

Secondary findings from non-invasive prenatal testing for common fetal aneuploidies by whole genome sequencing as a clinical service.

OBJECTIVE: To report secondary or additional findings arising from introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy by whole genome sequencing as a clinical service. METHODS: Five cases with secondary findings were reviewed. RESULTS: In Case 1, NIPT revealed a large duplication in chromosome 18p, which was supported by arrayCGH of amniocyte DNA, with final karyotype showing mosaic tetrasomy 18p. In Case 2, a deletion in the proximal long arm of chromosome 18 of maternal origin was suspected and confirmed by arrayCGH of maternal white cell DNA. In Case 3, NIPT was negative for trisomies 21 and 18. In-depth analysis for deletions/duplications was requested when fetal structural anomalies were detected at routine scan. A deletion in the proximal long arm of chromosome 3 was found and confirmed by karyotyping. In Case 4, NIPT correctly predicted confined placental mosaicism with triple trisomy involving chromosomes X, 7 and 21. In Case 5, NIPT correctly detected a previously unknown maternal mosaicism for 45X. CONCLUSION: Non-invasive prenatal testing is able to detect a wide range of fetal, placental and maternal chromosomal abnormalities. This has important implications on patient counseling when an abnormality is detected by NIPT.

In vitro infection with classical swine fever virus inhibits the transcription of immune response genes.

BACKGROUND: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) can evade the immune response and establish chronic infection under natural and experimental conditions. Some genes related to antigen processing and presentation and to cytokine regulation are known to be involved in this response, but the precise mechanism through which each gene responds to CSFV infection remains unclear. RESULTS: In this study, the amplification standard curve and corresponding linear regression equations for the genes SLA-2, TAP1, SLA-DR, Ii, CD40, CD80, CD86, IFN-α, and IFN-ß were established successfully. Real-time RT-PCR was used to quantify the immune response gene transcription in PK-15 cells post CSFV infection. Results showed that: (1) immune response genes were generally down-regulated as a result of CSFV infection, and (2) the expression of SLA-2, SLA-DR, Ii and CD80 was significantly decreased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that in vitro infection with CSFV inhibits the transcription of host immune response genes. These findings may facilitate the development of effective strategies for controlling CSF.

Detection of rabies virus via exciton energy transfer between CdTe quantum dots and Au nanoparticles.

Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by the rabies virus. The diagnosis of the disease depends in large part on the exposure history of the victim and clinical manifestations of the disease. Rapid rabies diagnosis is an important step in its prevention and control. Therefore, for accurate and timely diagnosis and prevention of rabies, we developed nanomaterials for a novel photoelectrochemical biosensing approach (PBA) for the rapid and reliable diagnosis of rabies virus. This approach uses high-efficiency exciton energy transfer between cadmium telluride quantum dots and Au nanoparticles and is low cost, and easy to miniaturize. By constructing PBA, rabies virus can be detected quickly and with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity; the minimum detection concentration limit for rabies virus is approximately 2.16 ffu/mL of rabies virus particles, or 2.53 × 101 fg/mL of rabies virus RNA. PBA could also detect rabies virus in the brain and lung tissue from rabid dogs and mice with better sensitivity than RT-PCR.

Neutralization sensitivity, fusogenicity, and infectivity of Omicron subvariants.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants has raised questions regarding resistance to immunity by natural infection or immunization. We examined the sensitivity of Delta and Omicron subvariants (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4/5, and BA.3) to neutralizing antibodies from BBIBP-CorV-vaccinated and BBIBP-CorV- or ZF2001-boosted individuals, as well as individuals with Delta and BA.1 breakthrough infections, and determined their fusogenicity and infectivity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, serum samples from two doses of BBIBP-CorV-vaccinated individuals 1 (n = 36), 3 (n = 36), and 7 (n = 37) months after the second dose; BBIBP-CorV- (n = 25) or ZF2001-boosted (n = 30) individuals; and fully vaccinated individuals with Delta (n = 30) or BA.1 (n = 26) infection were collected. The serum-neutralizing reactivity and potency of bebtelovimab were assessed against D614G, Delta, and Omicron subvariants (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4/5, and BA.3) through a pseudovirus neutralization assay. The fusogenicity and infectivity of D614G, Delta, and Omicron subvariants were determined by cell-cell fusion assay and pseudovirus infection assay, respectively. RESULTS: Omicron subvariants markedly escaped vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies after two doses of BBIBP-CorV with comparable efficiency. A third dose vaccination of BBIBP-CorV or ZF2001 increased neutralizing antibody titers and breadth against Delta and three Omicron subvariants. Delta and BA.1 breakthrough infections induced comparable neutralizing antibody titers against D614G and Delta variants, whereas BA.1 breakthrough infections elicited a stronger and broader antibody response against three Omicron subvariants than Delta breakthrough infections. BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 are more resistant to immunity induced by breakthrough infections. Bebtelovimab had no significant loss of potency against the Delta and Omicron subvariants. Cell culture experiments showed Omicron subvariants to be less fusogenic and have higher infectivity than D614G and Delta with comparable efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important public health implications and highlight the importance of repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens to broaden the neutralizing antibody response against Omicron subvariants.

Phylogenetic analysis of the E2 gene of classical swine fever virus from the Guangxi Province of southern China.

In this study, suspected classical swine fever (CSF) samples from the Guangxi Province of China were obtained from pigs with acute CSF, aborted fetuses, newborn pigs that died at 1-2 days of age, tonsils of healthy pigs, and leukocytes of immunized sows during 2001-2009. About 92 of 775 samples were found to be positive by RT-PCR, and 41 isolates were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 31 isolates by sequencing the E2 gene, and the isolates were found to cluster into two groups: (1) isolates from aborted fetuses (except GXGZ02), deceased newborn baby pigs, tonsils of healthy pigs, and leukocytes of immunized sows belonged to group 1.1, along with vaccine strain, HCLV, and standard virulent strain, Shimen, of China, and (2) 20 isolates from pigs with acute CSF belonged to group 2.1, 13 of which were clustered into subgroup 2.1b with isolates from other provinces of China, and 7 of which were clustered into subgroup 2.1a with isolates from Italy and Germany.

Masseter response to long-term experimentally induced anterior crossbite in Sprague-Dawley rats.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the long-term response to unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) in masticatory muscles and in molecular biomarkers of peripheral blood leukocytes. DESIGN: Fifty-six six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The gene-fold changes in peripheral blood leukocytes were detected by the microarray analysis to compare the rats that received 20-week UAC treatment with age-matched controls (n = 4). Muscle atrophy-related gene Fbxo32 was selected based on the data of the microarray analysis verified by using real-time PCR. The remaining 36 rats were randomly separated in the UAC and control groups at 12 and 20 weeks (n = 12). The protein expression of Fbxo32 and the muscle injury and myogenesis-related markers, αB-crystallin and desmin, were detected in the masseter and lateral pterygoid muscles by western blot assay. RESULTS: In the 20-week UAC group, the masseter muscle weight was lower than that in the age-matched control group, and the expression level of Fbxo32 gene in peripheral blood leukocytes was increased according to the microarray analysis confirmed by real-time PCR detection. The increased protein expression levels of Fbxo32 were detected in the masseter in the 20-week UAC group, and the protein expression levels of desmin and αB-crystallin were decreased at this time point. No similar changes were detected in the lateral pterygoid muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Masseter atrophy is induced by long-term stimulation of UAC. The increased expression of the Fbxo32 gene in peripheral blood leukocytes may be a candidate biological marker of masseter atrophy.

trans-Diaqua-bis-[5-carb-oxy-4-carboxyl-ato-2-(4-pyridinio)-1H-imidazol-1-ido-κN,O]zinc(II).

In the title complex, [Zn(C(10)H(6)N(3)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], the Zn(II) atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by two trans-positioned N,O-bidentate and zwitterionic 5-carb-oxy-4-carboxyl-ato-2-(4-pyridinio)-1H-imidazol-1-ide (H(2)PIDC(-)) ligands and two water mol-ecules, defining a distorted octa-hedral environment. The complete solid-state structure can be described as a three-dimensional supra-molecular framework, stabilized by extensive hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving the coordinated water mol-ecules, uncoordin-ated imidazole N atom, protonated pyridine N and carboxyl-ate O atoms of the H(2)PIDC(-) ligands.

[Effects of mild warming moxibustion on acupoints Shenque (RN8) and Guanyuan (RN4) for prevention and treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infection in children with cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of mild warming moxibustion (MWM) on acupoints Shenque (RN8) and Guanyuan (RN4) for treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Sixty-four CP patients with RRTI were randomly and equally assigned to two groups, all received conventional rehabilitation treatment, but in acute infection stage, MWM was applied on the treated group, and intravenous dripping of immunoglobulin was given to the control group, all for 3 months. The frequency of RRTI attacking (Fre), the mean cough alleviating time (T-CA) and rale disappearing time (T-RA) during infection, as well as the serum levels of immune globulins during the post-treatment 1-year follow-up period were observed. RESULTS: The effectiveness in the treated group was better than that in the control group, showing in aspects of Fre (2.38 +/- 0.64 times vs. 6.50 +/- 0.84 times), T-CA (3.92 +/- 1.32 days vs. 6.48 +/- 2.18 days) and T-RA (4.66 +/- 1.82 days vs. 7.64 +/- 1.44 days), significant difference was shown between groups (P < 0.01). The serum levels of IgG, IgM and IgA all raised in both two groups (P < 0.05), comparison of immunoglobulin levels between groups showed that they were lower immediately after treatment, but higher at the end of the 1-year follow-up in the treated group than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: MWM on acupoints Shengue and Guanyuan has a better and long-term clinical effect for treatment of RRTI in children with CP.