[Association study between the KCNE family gene polymorphisms of potassium channel gene and the susceptibility of atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between KCNE family gene polymorphisms of potassium channel gene and the susceptibility of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: In the case-control study, a total of 648 subjects were studied, of which 338 patients with atrial fibrillation were selected from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to December 2019, and 310 healthy people were selected from the physical examination population during the same period. DNA sequencing technology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect the genotype and allele frequency of rs1805127 of KCNE1, rs9984281 of KCNE2, rs9516, rs626930 of KCNE3 and rs12621643 of KCNE4. Results: The ages of subjects in atrial fibrillation group and control group were (69±13) and (73±8) years, respectively (P=0.077). Men subjects accounted for 57.70% (195 men) and 40.00% (124 men) in the two groups, respectively (P=0.092). The distribution frequencies of the allele C at rs1805127 of gene KCNE1, the allele A at rs9984281 of gene KCNE2 and the allele G at rs12621643 of gene KCNE4 were significantly different between groups (P<0.05). After adjustment for sex, smoking, hypertension, cardiac insufficiency and other factors, it was found that the increase in the frequency of the above three loci would increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (rs1805127 OR=7.064, 95%CI:1.559-31.997; rs9984281 OR=4.210, 95%CI:1.118-15.850; rs12621643 OR=2.679, 95%CI:1.025-6.998). Conclusion: The rs1805127 of KCNE1, the rs9984281 of KCNE2,the rs12621643 of KCNE4 were significantly associated with the susceptibility to atrial fibrillation.

Biological Toxicity Effects of Soil Pollution Caused by Galvanized Wastewater Based on Vibrio Qinghaiensis sp.-Q67.

ABSTRACT: Objective To establish a rapid diagnosis method for the biological toxicity of soil, accurately and rapidly evaluate the toxicity of contaminated sites and identify the dominant pollutants. Methods Take the soil pollution of a galvanized factory as an example, while the metal concentration level was analyzed and detected, a rapid biological toxicity detection method based on the acute toxicity test of luminescent bacteria （Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67） was established, and the dominant pollutants were identified by stepwise multiple regression. Results The pollutants came from wastewater and metal plating fragments directly discharged from the manufacturing line of the factory. The concentration of those pollutants was correlated with the acute toxicity of Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67. The dominant pollutants in the study were zinc （Zn）, aluminum （Al） and copper （Cu）. Conclusion The luminescent bacteria toxicity test method based on Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 can conveniently and rapidly assess the degree of toxic damage of polluted soil and identify the dominant pollutants and can be applied to the acute toxicity evaluation of polluted soil.

Identification and expression analysis of cDNA encoding chitinase-like protein (CLP) gene in Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis.

Chitinase-like proteins (CLP) are important members of the glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18) and are involved in growth control and remodeling processes. In this study, a CLP transcript was isolated and sequenced from the Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) after screening expressed sequence tags. The full-length complementary DNA of M. yessoensis CLP (My-Clp1) was 1555 bp in length, consisting of a 75-bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 160-bp 3'-UTR, and a 1320-bp open reading frame bearing characteristics of the GH18 family. The My-Clp1 protein was well conserved, with similar domain structures and architecture across species (e.g., from mollusks to mammals). Expression analysis in healthy tissues and across developmental stages revealed a strong preference for expression; My-Clp1 was abundantly expressed in the mantle and throughout metamorphosis, which suggests the involvement of My-Clp1 in the synthesis of extracellular components, and tissue degeneration and remodeling. My-Clp1 expression was induced after infection with a bacterial pathogen, Vibrio anguillarum, suggesting its involvement in immunity against this intracellular pathogen.

Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and growth-associated protein 43 in aging atrial fibrillation patients of Xinjiang Uygur and Han nationality.

The aim of this study was to explore the changes in gene and protein expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) in aging atrial fibrillation patients of Xinjiang Uygur and Han nationality, and the significance of the changes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to detect gene and protein expressions of TH and GAP43 in atrial tissues of 54 patients with valvular heart disease. mRNA and protein expressions of GAP43 and TH were significantly different between the sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation groups (P < 0.05). Protein expressions of GAP43 and TH of both nationalities differed significantly between the sinus rhythm group and the atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05), whereas there was no statistical difference between the two nationalities within each group (P > 0.05). Protein expressions of GAP43 and TH differed significantly among different age groups of different nationalities in the sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation groups (P < 0.05); only protein expression of GAP43 differed significantly in different age groups in the atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05). The changes of mRNA and protein expressions of TH and GAP43 played a vital role in the process of maintaining the atrial fibrillation. Therefore, increased expression of TH and GAP43 might be a molecular mechanism for left atrial myoelectricity remodeling of aging atrial fibrillation patients, which might be potential therapeutic targets of atrial fibrillation.

[Screening and analysis of prognostic factors of repairing single missing tooth by autotransplantation of teeth].

Objective: To screen and analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of replacing single missing tooth by autograft tooth, so as to provide reference for clinical judgment of surgical prognosis. Methods: A total of 176 patients (188 teeth) underwent autotransplantation of teeth in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019, including 85 teeth of males and 103 teeth of females were involved. The age was (33.0±9.8) years (16-65 years). The possible factors affecting the prognosis of replacing single missing tooth by autograft tooth were summarized and grouped, and the clinical and imaging data were recorded and judged. The surgical records and photographic data from the patients' previous medical records were retrospectively analyzed. The survival analysis method was used for statistical analysis to screen out the factors affecting the cumulative survival rate of transplanted teeth. Results: The 5-year cumulative survival rate of 188 transplanted teeth was 88.4%. Univariate Log-Rank analysis showed that age (P<0.001), sex (P=0.008), smoking (P<0.001), position of recipient area (P<0.001), height of alveolar bone in recipient area (P<0.001), time of donor tooth in vitro (P<0.001), use of donor model (P<0.001) and initial stability (P<0.001) were significantly correlated with cumulative survival rate of transplanted teeth. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that smoking (ß=-2.812, P=0.049), alveolar bone height (ß=1.521, P=0.020), donor time (ß=-2.001, P=0.019), use of donor model (ß=1.666, P=0.034) and initial stability (ß=-1.417, P=0.033) were significantly correlated with the cumulative survival rate of transplanted teeth. Conclusions: The prognosis of autogenous tooth transplantation can be predicted by smoking, height of alveolar bone in recipient area, time of donor teeth in vitro, use of donor model and initial stability. Good prognosis of transplanted teeth can be obtained by using donor model during operation, reducing the time of donor teeth in vitro, taking effective methods to restore alveolar bone height, maintaining good initial stability, and good oral health education after operation.

[Clinical observation of three-dimensional printing donor tooth model in peri-operative period of autotransplantation of tooth].

Objective: To prepare a three-dimensional (3D) printing donor tooth model and to observe its application in the peri-operative period. Methods: In part one, 192 cases (2017.9-2019.8) from Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University ï¼»107 males and 85 females, age (34.2±10.7) yearsï¼½ which need autotransplantation of teeth (ATT) were collected. Whether the donor teeth can be completely extracted was predicted through clinical and imaging examination (first prediction). The second prediction was supplemented by the three-dimensional printing model of the donor teeth. Each of the prediction was compared with the actual results and the coincidence rate was calculated. In part two, 64 cases (2017.9-2019.8) from Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University ï¼»28 males, 36 females, age (30.2±8.3) yearsï¼½ which need ATT were randomly divided into the model group and the donor group. The time of alveolar fossa preparation, time of donor tooth in vitro, times of trial implantation and time of pulptomy and root canal location were recorded respectively. Results: In part one, the coincidence rate between the second prediction and the actual results ï¼»97.4%(187/192)ï¼½ was significantly higher than that of the first prediction ï¼»93.2%(179/192)ï¼½ (P<0.05). In part two, the preparation time of the alveolar fossa in the maxillary and mandibular were (18.8±4.6) and (22.7±3.4) min, the time of the teeth in vitro were (3.0±0.6) and (2.1±0.6) min, the times of trial implantation were (1.3±0.8) and (1.0±0.9), and the time of pulpotomy and root canal location were (4.3±0.6) and (4.0±0.5) min. All values in the model groups were better than those in the donor group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The 3D printing model is accurate. It can be used in autogenous tooth transplantation to shorten the preparation time of alveolar fossa and time of donor tooth in vitro, and reduce the times of trial implantation of donor teeth, and to help to improve the prediction accuracy of complete extraction of donor teeth and the time of pulpotomy and root canal location.

Substrate induced reactivation of spinach ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase denatured by low concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride.

The unfolding and refolding behavior of the hexadecameric ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) from spinach in solutions of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) was studied. By a number of criteria (enzyme activity, protein fluorescence, circular dichroism), the enzyme was judged to be almost completely unfolded in 6 M GdnHCl. The changes in enzyme activity occur at lower concentrations of GdnHCl than those required to bring about changes in circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence, as has been found for other enzymes. Spinach Rubisco is completely inactive in 0.5 M GdnHCl with no apparent changes observed in the overall structure of the enzyme as monitored by CD and intrinsic fluorescence. The result of the size-exclusion chromatography indicates that the inactive enzyme still exists in the hexadecameric state. On dilution of the GdnHCl, reactivation of the inactive enzyme by low concentrations of GdnHCl occurred. The regain of activity was time-dependent and obeyed first-order kinetics, and the substrate, ribulose-1,5-biphosphate, can stimulate this reactivation process. The result suggests that the inactivation of the Rubisco in dilute GdnHCl is caused by the conformational changes at the active site instead of the inhibition of guanidine hydrochloride or the dissociation of the oligomeric enzyme molecules.

A sesquiterpene lactone glucoside from Ixeris denticulata f. pinnatipartita.

An extract from the entire Ixeris denticulata f. pinnatipartita plant afforded the guaianolide sesquiterpene lactone glucoside, 8 beta,15-dihydroxy-1(10),3,11(13)-guaiatrien-12,6-olide-15-O- glucopyranoside, along with the known flavonoids luteolin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide-6'-methyl ester; their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Ixerin Y inhibited the growth of human breast cancer MCF7 and MDA468 cell lines.

Steroidal glycosides from the subterranean parts of Liriope spicata var. prolifera.

In a continuation of phytochemical studies on the underground organs of Liriope spicata var. prolifera, four new steroidal glycosides, lirioproliosides A-D, along with two known compounds, 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->3)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside and ophiopogonin A, were identified. The structures of lirioproliosides A-D were established by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods as 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)][beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->3)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, 25(S)-ruscogenin 1-O-[3-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside, 25(S)-ruscogenin (1-O-[2-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside and ruscogenin (1-O-[2-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside, respectively. Among these steroidal glycosides, ophiopogonin A and lirioprolioside B, and lirioproliosides C and D, were isolated as epimeric pairs.

Histological study on crude drugs pai-wei, pai-chein and indigenous species of Cynanchum in Taiwan.

The botanical origins of Cynanchum species (Cynanchum spp.) on the Taiwan market have been established by histological studies in the present paper. The results showed that the Chinese crude drug Pai-wei on the Taiwan market was derived from the dried roots of Cynanchum atratum Bunge; that of Pai-chein was derived from the dried roots of C. stauntonii (Decne.) Hand.-Mazz; and the Wanling-shu used locally in Taiwan was derived from the dried roots of C. taiwanianum Yamazaki.

[Study on the Chinese drug beimu. IX. Microscopic identification of the upper epidermis of the scales of Fritillaria bulls].

Beimu, a famous traditional Chinese drug, has been used as an antitussive and expectorant for a long time and it is derived from a number of species of Fritillaria. So it is difficult to identify exactly the botanical origin of the commercial crude drugs by means of macroscopic examination. This paper deals with the microscopic identification of the upper epidermis of the scales of 20 species. The result showed that these species are different from each other in the shape and size of the epidermal cells, the shape, size and arrangement of the cuticular peg. Moreover, it was found that the anticlinal wall of the epidermal cells is not bead--thickened, but cuticular peg formed by cuticle.

[Pharmacognostical studies on Baibu radix stemonae and allied drugs. IX. Determination and evaluation of total alkaloid content in the roots of Chinese Stemona spp].

An acid-dye colorimetric method was reported for the determination of total alkaloids in 53 samples of Baibu drugs from their growing destricts in 14 provinces and municipalities and its average recovery and its linear range were 96.1% (CV less than 4%) and 20-150 micrograms respectively. The relationship between the total alkaloid content, geographical origins and morphology were discussed. The results showed that: 1. the content of total alkaloids of stemona was 0.26-3.1%; 2. that of Stemona sessilifolia was 0.26-2.17% with the highest content of the sample from Nanyang country in Henan Province; 3. that of S. japonica was 0.83-1.43%; 4. that of S. tuberosa was 0.53-3.1% with the highest content of sample from Hengyang in Hunan Province; 5. that of S. parviflora was 0.22-0.74% with the highest content of sample from Qongzhong in Hainan Province; and 6. that of more yellow, solider and stronger samples was higher than that of any other samples. However, that of all bigger samples in shape was not higher than that of smaller ones.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Dendrobium loddigesii rolfe].

According to IR, UV, MS and NMR spectra of the compounds isolated from the fresh stem of Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe (a Chinese medicine), 3 constituents were identified. They are shihunidine, shihunine and dendrophenol (4,4'- dihydroxy-3,3',5-trimethoxybibenzyl). Chemical reactions showed that shihunidine was derived from shihunine during isolation. Shihunidine and shihunine were shown to be inhibitors of Na+, K+-ATPase of the rat kidney.

[Microscopical examination of leaf sheathes of the Chinese drug "Shihu", herba dendrobii].

"Shihu", a famous Chinese traditional drug, is used to replenish the vital essence of the lung and stomach, to clear up the excessive heat and to promote the secretion of the body fluid. The commercial crude drugs under the general name "Shihu" are mostly derived from a number of species of the genus Dendrobium. It is difficult to identify exactly the botanical origin of these crude drugs through macroscopical examination. In order to tackle this problem, the leaf sheathes of the stems of 16 species of the genus Dendrobium are examined microscopically and the characteristics of their epidermal cells and calcium oxalate crystals are compared. The diagnostic features found are proved to be useful for the identification of the botanical origin of commercial samples of the "Shihu". In this paper the microscopical characters of 16 Dendrobium species are described with illustration.

Properties of chicken liver phosphofructokinase-2.

Phosphofructokinase-2 was purified to homogeneity from chicken livers by homogenization, polyethylene glycol fractionation and column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Blue-Sepharose 4B. Some properties of the enzyme were as follows: (i) The saturation curve of the enzyme for fructose 6-phosphate showed hyperbolic and the Km of fructose 6-phosphate was affected by inorganic phosphate while Vmax was not; (ii) the binding of ATP to the enzyme was of negative cooperativity with a Hill coefficient of 0.56; (iii) the activity of the enzyme was completely lost in the presence of EDTA. The enzyme was activated by Mg2+ at low concentrations, but inhibited by Mg2+ at high concentrations; (iv) the enzyme was stable below 30 degrees C and easily lost its activity when the temperature was above 40 degrees C; (v) the activity of the enzyme was stable at the range of pH 7-9, increased at pH 9.0-9.5 and decreased when pH was over 9.5; (vi) the enzyme was sensitive to trypsin and ATP protected the enzyme against the proteolysis of trypsin.

[Herbalogical study of Chinese drug guijiu and xiaoyelian].

Through a critical study of ancient Chinese herbals, it is concluded that the botanical origin of Guijiu should be Dysosma versipellis or D. pleiantha instead of Sinopodophyllum emodi, and that Xiaoyelian was originated from the latter. In Chinese Pharmacopoeia and many other books, the botanical origin of Xiaoyelian was erroneously referred to as Podophyllum emodi.

Current noise in three-terminal hybrid quantum point contacts.

We investigate the current noise of three-terminal hybrid structures at arbitrary bias voltages. Our results indicate that the noise can be a useful tool to extract dynamical information in multi-terminal hybrid structures. The zero-frequency noise is sensitive to the coupling with a normal lead. As a result, the characteristic multiple-step structure of the noise Fano factor due to multiple Andreev reflection will be suppressed as we increase this coupling. In addition, the internal dynamics due to processes of Andreev reflection and multiple Andreev reflection raises rich features in the noise spectrum corresponding to the energy differences of various dynamical processes.

Effect of JJYMD-C, a novel synthetic derivative of gallic acid, on proliferation and phenotype maintenance in rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro.

Tissue engineering encapsulated cells such as chondrocytes in the carrier matrix have been widely used to repair cartilage defects. However, chondrocyte phenotype is easily lost when chondrocytes are expanded in vitro by a process defined as "dedifferentiation". To ensure successful therapy, an effective pro-chondrogenic agent is necessary to overcome the obstacle of limited cell numbers in the restoration process, and dedifferentiation is a prerequisite. Gallic acid (GA) has been used in the treatment of arthritis, but its biocompatibility is inferior to that of other compounds. In this study, we modified GA by incorporating sulfamonomethoxine sodium and synthesized a sulfonamido-based gallate, JJYMD-C, and evaluated its effect on chondrocyte metabolism. Our results showed that JJYMD-C could effectively increase the levels of the collagen II, Sox9, and aggrecan genes, promote chondrocyte growth, and enhance secretion and synthesis of cartilage extracellular matrix. On the other hand, expression of the collagen I gene was effectively down-regulated, demonstrating inhibition of chondrocyte dedifferentiation by JJYMD-C. Hypertrophy, as a characteristic of chondrocyte ossification, was undetectable in the JJYMD-C groups. We used JJYMD-C at doses of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 µg/mL, and the strongest response was observed with 0.25 µg/mL. This study provides a basis for further studies on a novel agent in the treatment of articular cartilage defects.

Disorder effect on the transport properties of graphene quantum well structures.

We study the disorder effect on the transport properties of graphene quantum well structures using a phenomenological statistical model. By adopting the transfer matrix method combined with a Monte Carlo averaging procedure, we observe transitions from ballistic transport to the diffusive limit. It is found that the transmission probability of incident electrons is sensitive to the disorder effect. The significance of the disorder effect depends on the incident angle of the electrons. For normal incidence, the perfect transmission due to the Klein tunneling remains robust against the disorder effect. For tilted incidence, the transmission possibility can be suppressed. In particular, we found that the transmission probability for electrons with a very small angle, i.e. the wavevector along the transport direction is zero in the barrier, can be greatly suppressed. As a result, abrupt dips at these wavevectors emerge in the transmission spectrum.