Auxin and abscisic acid antagonistically regulate ascorbic acid production via the SlMAPK8-SlARF4-SlMYB11 module in tomato.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a multifunctional phytonutrient that is essential for the human diet as well as plant development. While much is known about AsA biosynthesis in plants, how this process is regulated in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits remains unclear. Here, we found that auxin treatment inhibited AsA accumulation in the leaves and pericarps of tomato. The auxin response factor gene SlARF4 is induced by auxin to mediate auxin-induced inhibition of AsA accumulation. Specifically, SlARF4 transcriptionally inhibits the transcription factor gene SlMYB11, thereby modulating AsA accumulation by regulating the transcription of the AsA biosynthesis genes l-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase, l-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase, and dehydroascorbate. By contrast, abscisic acid (ABA) treatment increased AsA accumulation in tomato under drought stress. ABA induced the expression of the mitogen-activated protein kinase gene SlMAPK8. We demonstrate that SlMAPK8 phosphorylates SlARF4 and inhibits its transcriptional activity, whereas SlMAPK8 phosphorylates SlMYB11 and activates its transcriptional activity. SlMAPK8 functions in ABA-induced AsA accumulation and drought stress tolerance. Moreover, ABA antagonizes the effects of auxin on AsA biosynthesis. Therefore, auxin- and ABA-induced regulation of AsA accumulation is mediated by the SlMAPK8-SlARF4-SlMYB11 module in tomato during fruit development and drought stress responses, shedding light on the roles of phytohormones in regulating AsA accumulation to mediate stress tolerance.

miR-1229-3p as a Prognostic Predictor Facilitates Cell Viability, Migration, and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most prevalent human malignancies with high mortality. Increasing studies have revealed microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancers. The current study investigated the expression levels of miR-1229-3p and its potential role in HCC. This study enrolled 121 HCC patients. The expression of miR-1229-3p was measured using RT-qPCR in HCC tissue samples and cell lines. The association of miR-1229-3p expression with clinical parameters and patients' prognosis was analyzed by χ2 test, Kaplan-Meier, and multivariate Cox regression analyses, respectively. The functions of miR-1229-3p in HCC cells were explored by CCK-8 assay, Transwell migration, and invasion assays. miR-1229-3p was upregulated in HCC tissue samples and cell lines. The upregulation of miR-1229-3p was related to positive lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stages and predicted with patients' poor prognosis. Overexpression of miR-1229-3p facilitated cell viability and metastasis of HCC cells while knockdown of miR-1229-3p suppressed cell viability and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro. miR-1229-3p may function as an oncogenic role in HCC via promoting cell viability and metastasis. Moreover, miR-1229-3p may be a predictive marker for tumor development and prognosis of HCC patients.

BEL1-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN4 regulates chlorophyll accumulation, chloroplast development, and cell wall metabolism in tomato fruit.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a model plant for studying fruit development and ripening. In this study, we found that down-regulation of a tomato bell-like homeodomain 4 (SlBL4) resulted in a slightly darker-green fruit phenotype and increased accumulation of starch, fructose, and glucose. Analysis of chlorophyll content and TEM observations was consistent with these phenotypes, indicating that SlBL4 was involved in chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast formation. Ripened fruit of SlBL4-RNAi plants had noticeably decreased firmness, larger intercellular spaces, and thinner cell walls than the wild-type. RNA-seq identified differentially expressed genes involved in chlorophyll metabolism, chloroplast development, cell wall metabolism, and carotenoid metabolism. ChIP-seq identified (G/A) GCCCA (A/T/C) and (C/A/T) (C/A/T) AAAAA (G/A/T) (G/A) motifs. SlBL4 directly inhibited the expression of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (SlPPO), magnesium chelatase H subunit (SlCHLD), pectinesterase (SlPE), protochlorophyllide reductase (SlPOR), chlorophyll a/b binding protein 3B (SlCAB-3B), and homeobox protein knotted 2 (TKN2). In contrast, it positively regulated the expression of squamosa promoter binding protein-like colorless non-ripening (LeSPL-CNR). Our results indicate that SlBL4 is involved in chlorophyll accumulation, chloroplast development, cell wall metabolism, and the accumulation of carotenoids during tomato fruit ripening, and provide new insights for the transcriptional regulation mechanism of BELL-mediated fruit growth and ripening.

Preparation of Electrospun Gelatin Mat with Incorporated Zinc Oxide/Graphene Oxide and Its Antibacterial Activity.

Current wound dressings have poor antimicrobial activities and are difficult to degrade. Therefore, biodegradable and antibacterial dressings are urgently needed. In this article, we used the hydrothermal method and side-by-side electrospinning technology to prepare a gelatin mat with incorporated zinc oxide/graphene oxide (ZnO/GO) nanocomposites. The resultant fibers were characterized by field emission environment scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicated that the gelatin fibers had good morphology, and ZnO/GO nanocomposites were uniformly dispersed on the fibers. The loss of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) viability were observed to more than 90% with the incorporation of ZnO/GO. The degradation process showed that the composite fibers completely degraded within 7 days and had good controllable degradation characteristics. This study demonstrated the potential applicability of ZnO/GO-gelatin mats with excellent antibacterial properties as wound dressing material.

UNBS5162 as a novel naphthalimide holds efficacy in human gastric carcinoma cell behaviors mediated by AKT/ERK signaling pathway.

Purpose: Studies have determined that UNBS5162, recognized as a new naphthalimide, holds inhibitory effects in prostate and breast tumors; however, its functional implication on gastric carcinoma is currently undetermined. Based on this, this study designed to assess the functional role of it on human gastric carcinoma and underlying mechanism of action. Methods: Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were used to assess capabilities of SGC-7901 cell proliferation, invasion/migration, and apoptosis, respectively. Moreover, western blot was performed to determine the relative expression of protein related to autophagy and protein kinase B (AKT)/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling pathway. Results: We found SGC-7901 cells proliferation, invasion, and migration were significantly inhibited after treatment of UNBS5162. Moreover, the expression levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased while the expression of pro-apoptotic protein active caspase 3 and Bax increased concurrently after UNBS5162 stimulation. Further, upregulated LC3 II/I and Beclin-1 and downregulated P62 were induced by UNBS5162 addition. Mechanically, the ratios of phosphorylated-(p-)AKT/AKT, p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR, and p-ERK/ERK were hampered by UNBS5162 application. Conclusion: UNBS5162 could restrain gastric carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, which maybe induced by enhancement of apoptosis, autophagy manipulated through AKT/ERK signaling pathway.

[Characterization and pathophysiological changes of cerebral infarction rat model with qi-deficiency and blood-stasis Syndrome].

This study aimed to observe the general state and changes in pathophysiological indexes of multiple cerebral infarction rat model with Qi-deficienty and Blood-stasis syndrome. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups(with 30 in each group): the normal group, the sham group, the model group and the Yiqi Huoxue recipe group. Rats in the model group and Yiqi Huoxue group were provided with interruptable sleep deprivation for 7 days before the multiple cerebral infarction operation, and followed by another 4 weeks of sleep deprivation; rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group were intragastrically administrated with drug at a dose of 26 g·kg⁻¹, once a day for 4 weeks. The general state was observed, and the pathophysiological indexes were measured at 48 h, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after administration. The results showed that rats in the normal group and the sham group represented a good general state and behaviors, with a normal morphological structure of brain tissues; rats in the model group featured yellow fur, depression, accidie, loose stools and movement disorder, with obvious brain histomorphological damage, which became aggravated with the increase of modeling time; rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group showed release in the general state and above indexes. Compared with the sham group at three time points, rats in the model group showed decrease in body weight, exhaustive swimming time and RGB value of tongue surface image, and increase in whole blood viscosity of the shear rate under 5, 60 and 150 S⁻¹, reduction in cerebral cortex Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, Ca²âº-ATPase activity and contents of 5-HT, rise in TXB2 levels and decline in 6-keto-PGF1a in serum(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the Yiqi Huoxue group showed alleviations in the above indexes at 2 w and 4 w(P<0.05, P<0.01). The results showed that the characterization and pathophysiological indexes in the multiple cerebral infarction rat model with Qi-deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome were deteriorated; Yiqi Huoxue recipe could significantly alliviate the abnormal conditions, which suggested of the model was stable and reliable and the pathophysiologic evolutionary mechanism might be related to energy metabolism dysfunction, vasoactive substance abnormality and changes in neurotransmitters.

[Analysis on composition principles of prescriptions for nausea by using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system].

Nausea is special in the symptoms, and is different from hiccups and vomiting. The main symptom is that the patients throw up the indigested food from the stomach regularly--if the patients have a dinner, they will throw out it in the next morning, or if the patients have a breakfast, they will throw out it at night. Nausea is common in clinic, and different physicians may use different treatment methods for it. This disease also cannot be treated efficiently and may happen repeatedly with the western medicine. In this study, the composition principles of prescriptions in past traditional Chinese medicine for nausea were analyzed and summarized by using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system(V2.5), hoping to provide guidance for clinical drug use and summarize the basic rules for treatment of nausea.The prescriptions for nausea in "the prescription of traditional Chinese medicine dictionary" were selected, and the information was entered into the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system(TCMISS) to build a database. Data mining methods such as frequency statistics, association rules, complex system entropy clustering were used to analyze and summarize the composition principles of these prescriptions. The herb frequencies of the prescriptions were finally determined; herbs with higher use frequencies were obtained; and the association rules between herbs were found. 19 commonly used herb pairs, 10 core combinations and 10 newly developed prescriptions were found. The basic pathogenesis of nausea in traditional Chinese medicine is the weakness and coldness of spleen and stomach, and the Qi adverseness of stomach. Generations of physicians' main therapeutic method for nausea is mainly to warm the middle and invigorate the spleen, lower Qi and regulate stomach. The commonly used herbs for nausea are ginger, ginseng, large head attractylodes, tuckahoe, licorice, and appropriately supplemented with the herbs of eliminating dampness and eliminating phlegm, and regulating Qi-flowing for harmonizing stomach. In addition, it shall be treated according to the different accompanying syndromes such as phlegm, blood stasis, and yin deficiency.

[Clinical analysis of syndrome-relative biological indices in acute lacuna encephalon infarction patients of upper hyperactivity of Gan Yang syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize changes of syndrome-related biological indices in acute lacuna encephalon infarction patients of upper hyperactivity of Gan yang syndrome (UHGYS), thus providing objective evidence for syndrome typing and disease identification. METHODS: Recruited were 50 patients at Department of Encephalopathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, who were in line with diagnostic criteria of UHGYS as the experimental group in this study. Another 40 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group from May 2010 to July 2012. Blood routines (including WBC, RBC, Hb, NEUT%, and LY%), hepatic and renal functions tests (including ALT, AST, TBIL, TP, ALB, Cr, and BUN) were performed by automatic whole blood analyzer and colorimetric technique. The levels of fasting blood glucose, HbAlc, blood lipids (including TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C), and coagulation functions (including AT-III, PT, PTA, INR, TT, APTT, and FBG, reaction time), renin, angiotensin II, hs-CRP, and Hcy were also measured. The thyroid functions (including FT3, FT4, T3, T4, and TSH) were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6 and IL-1 in serum were measured by ELISA and radioimmunoassay respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, RBC, LY%, ALT, TP, ALB, HDL-C, AT-III activities, contents of PTA and FT4 obviously decreased, TBIL, BUN, Glu, HbAlc, TSH, hs-CRP, renin, Ang II, TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6 significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The pathological process of acute lacuna encephalon infarction patients of UHGYS was closely correlated with thyroid functions, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation systems, as well as inflammation reaction.

[Effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis on inflammatory reaction in Chinese mini-swine with coronary atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) in inhibiting the inflammatory reaction in Chinese mini-swine with coronary atherosclerosis. METHOD: Totally 36 Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Shujiangzhi group and TYTZ groups with does of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 g x kg(-1), and six each in every group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary atherosclerosis model. In the 8th week after the operation and administration, the intravascular ultrasound was adopted to observe the coronary artery plaque burden of each group and the pathological morphology of coronary artery. Such inflammatory factors as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were detected by ELISA. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation was observed by the immunohistochemical method. RESULT: Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in the coronary artery plaque burden at the end of the experiment (P < 0.01), notably abnormal structural changes in atherosclerotic vascular tissues, luminal stenosis, a large number of foam cells and inflammatory cell infiltration, remarkable growth of hs-CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels (P < 0.01). The immunohistochemical staining also showed the significant increase in the NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation of coronary artery of Chinese mini-swine in the model group. Compared with the model group, TYTZ could significantly attenuate atherosclerotic plaque burden (P < 0.01), inhibit the coronary luminal stenosis, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, decrease such inflammatory cell factors as hs-CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in serum, and inhibit the NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation of coronary artery (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TYTZ can reduce the downstream inflammatory reaction by controlling NF-kappaB p65 nuclear translocation, so as to inhibit the occurrence and development of coronary atherosclerotic plaque in Chinese mini-swine.

[Effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis in improving hemorheology and blood fat of mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) in improving hemorheology and blood fat of mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. METHOD: Thirty-six Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Shujiangzhi group and TYTZ groups with doses of 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 g x kg(-1), with six mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary heart disease model of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. In the 8th week after the operation and administration, the changes in hemorheological parameters, serum lipid level, myocardial ischemia level and range were observed. RESULT: Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant increase in serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.01), whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s (-1) and 60 s (-1) (P < 0.01), and myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TYTZ groups revealed significant decrease in myocardial ischemia degree and range (P < 0.01), serum TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and whole blood viscosity under the shear rate of 5 s(-1) and 60 s(-1) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TYTZ could improve the abnormal hemorheology in Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome, and regulate serum lipid, with a certain efficacy for coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

Gibberellins involved in fruit ripening and softening by mediating multiple hormonal signals in tomato.

The phytohormone ethylene is well known for its important role in the ripening of climacteric fruit, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). However, the role and mode of action of other plant hormones in climacteric fruit ripening regulation are not fully understood. Here, we showed that exogenous GA treatment or increasing endogenous gibberellin content by overexpressing the gibberellin synthesis gene SlGA3ox2 specifically in fruit tissues delayed tomato fruit ripening, whereas treatment with the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PAC) accelerated fruit ripening. Moreover, exogenous ethylene treatment cannot completely reverse the delayed fruit ripening phenotype. Furthermore, exogenous GA treatment of ethylene signalling mutant Never ripe (Nr) or SlEBF3-overexpressing lines still delayed fruit ripening, suggesting that GA involved in fruit ripening partially depends on ethylene. Transcriptome profiling showed that gibberellin affect the ripening of fruits by modulating the metabolism and signal transduction of multiple plant hormones, such as auxin and abscisic acid, in addition to ethylene. Overall, the results of this study provide new insight into the regulation of gibberellin in fruit ripening through mediating multiple hormone signals.

MiR-29c-3p represses gastric cancer development via modulating MEST.

Gastric cancer (GC) triggers a great number of deaths worldwide. Although great efforts have been made in treating this cancer, GC patients' survival rate remains unsatisfactory. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that miR-29c-3p inhibits cancer progression. However, the mechanism of miR-29c-3p in GC remains to be fully defined. Hence, this work aimed to analyze the underlying mechanism of miR-29c-3p in GC. Outcomes showed marked downregulation of miR-29c-3p in GC tissue and cell lines. Functional experiments exhibited that miR-29c-3p repressed GC cell malignant behaviors. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene detection indicated that MEST was targeted by miR-29c-3p. Rescue assay further proved that MEST participated in functions of miR-29c-3p in GC. To sum up, miR-29c-3p/MEST signaling pathway suppressed formation of malignant phenotypes of GC, and targeting the signaling pathway may be a new method for treating GC.

A Selective Separation Mechanism for Mono/divalent Cations and Properties of a Hollow-Fiber Composite Nanofiltration Membrane Having a Positively Charged Surface.

Positively charged nanofiltration (NF) technology is considered a green and low-cost method for mono/divalent cation separation. Nevertheless, the separation rejection mechanisms of these NF membranes have yet to be extensively investigated. In this work, we fabricated a thin-film composite (TFC) hollow-fiber (HF) NF membrane with a positively charged surface via modification of the nascent interfacial polymerization layer using a branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI)/ethanol solution. Then, we extensively investigated its selective separation mechanism for mono/divalent cations. We proposed and proved that there exists a double-charged layer near the membrane surface, which helps to repel the divalent cations selectively via Donnan exclusion while promoting the fast penetration of monovalent cations. Meanwhile, the membrane skin layer is loose and hydrophilic due to the loose BPEI structure and the abundance of amine groups, as well as the changed fabrication conditions. In this way, we achieved very good mono/divalent cation selectivity and relatively high water permeance for the as-prepared HF NF membrane. We also obtained good anti-fouling, anti-scaling, and acid resistance, and long-term stability as well, which are urgently needed during practical application. Furthermore, we successfully amplified this HF NF membrane and proved that it has broad application prospects in mono/divalent cation separation.

SlMYB72 affects pollen development by regulating autophagy in tomato.

The formation and development of pollen are among the most critical processes for reproduction and genetic diversity in the life cycle of flowering plants. The present study found that SlMYB72 was highly expressed in the pollen and tapetum of tomato flowers. Downregulation of SlMYB72 led to a decrease in the amounts of seeds due to abnormal pollen development compared with wild-type plants. Downregulation of SlMYB72 delayed tapetum degradation and inhibited autophagy in tomato anther. Overexpression of SlMYB72 led to abnormal pollen development and delayed tapetum degradation. Expression levels of some autophagy-related genes (ATGs) were decreased in SlMYB72 downregulated plants and increased in overexpression plants. SlMYB72 was directly bound to ACCAAC/ACCAAA motif of the SlATG7 promoter and activated its expression. Downregulation of SlATG7 inhibited the autophagy process and tapetum degradation, resulting in abnormal pollen development in tomatoes. These results indicated SlMYB72 affects the tapetum degradation and pollen development by transcriptional activation of SlATG7 and autophagy in tomato anther. The study expands the understanding of the regulation of autophagy by SlMYB72, uncovers the critical role that autophagy plays in pollen development, and provides potential candidate genes for the production of male-sterility in plants.

Arteriocolonic fistula of inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm: A case with lower gastrointestinal and intra-abdominal hemorrhage.

Introduction: Arteriocolonic fistula of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm (IMAA) refers to a spontaneous formation of pathological communication between the artery and the adjacent gastrointestinal tract. It is a rare, life-threatening condition primarily manifesting as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pulsating masses. However, its clinical manifestations are usually atypical with a difficult diagnosis and treatment. Case presentation: We report a rare case of a 50-year-old male with a hemorrhagic shock due to primary arteriocolonic fistula of IMAA. Instead of sigmoidectomy, super selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed after diagnostic angiography. Postoperatively, dynamic contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated no recanalization of the aneurysm, absence of abnormal collateral vessels, no active hemorrhage. The patient was discharged uneventfully after 2 weeks without abdominal pain or tension. Discussion: Colorectal tumor rupture is a major cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), with IMAA being an uncommon etiology. Because of the high mortality of explorative laparotomy with an unclear bleeding site, diagnostic angiography and therapeutic TAE are viable options for diagnosing hemodynamic instability. Conclusion: Arteriocolonic fistulas commonly occur secondary to a pseudoaneurysm formed at the anastomosis of the transplanted blood vessel after an artery surgery, which ruptures and penetrates into the intestine. We reported a unique case of primary arteriocolonic fistula of IMAA: aneurysm rupture and bleeding from the abdomen into the hematochezia. After multidisciplinary consultations, our patient obtained the best outcome using the most minimally invasive surgical methods. With an abdominal artery aneurysm presenting with colorectal hemorrhage, arteriocolonic fistula of IMAA should be suspected.

Factors contributing to the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a study from China.

BACKGROUND: The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has attracted global concerns. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the high prevalence of MDR-TB in China's Heilongjiang province. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey following the WHO/International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease guidelines was conducted with consecutive recruitment of patients with TB in 30 counties selected at random in Heilongjiang in 2004. A total of 1995 patients were tested for MDR-TB. Factors associated with MDR-TB were identified through multilevel models and traditional logistic regression analysis, along with in-depth interviews with nine patients, five healthcare managers and four doctors. RESULTS: 241 patients (12%) were identified with MDR-TB. The retreatment patients were 5.48 times (95% CI 4.04 to 7.44) more likely to have MDR-TB than newly diagnosed patients. The patients who were treated with isoniazid and rifampin for >180 days were 4.82 times (95% CI 2.97 to 7.81) more likely to develop MDR-TB than those treated <180 days. Age and delay in initiating TB treatment were associated with MDR-TB. Financial burden, poor knowledge and side effects of TB treatment were perceived by the interviewees as influencing factors. Lack of coordination of services, unsatisfactory supervision of treatment and infection control jeopardised the control of MDR-TB. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate treatment is the most important influencing factor of MDR-TB. Increasing people's awareness of TB, early detection and appropriate treatment of patients with TB should become a priority, which requires strong commitment and collaboration among health organisations and greater compliance with TB treatment guidelines by service providers and patients.

Electroacupuncture improves survival in rats with lethal endotoxemia via the autonomic nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances have indicated a complex interplay between the autonomic nervous system and the innate immune system. Targeting neural networks for the treatment of sepsis is being developed as a therapeutic strategy. Because electroacupuncture at select acupoints can modulate activities of the autonomic nervous system, we tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture at specific acupoints could modulate systemic inflammatory responses and improve survival via its impact on the autonomic nervous system in a rat model of sepsis. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats received electroacupuncture for 45 min before and at 1, 2, or 4 h after a lethal dose of intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection (6 mg/kg). Outcomes included survival and systemic cytokine responses. Also, the possible roles of neural circuitry, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system, were evaluated. RESULTS: Electroacupuncture pretreatment at the Hegu acupoints significantly attenuate systemic inflammatory responses and improve survival rate from 20% to 80% in rats with lethal endotoxemia. Such a site-specific effect requires the activation of muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system, but not increasing central sympathetic tone. In the periphery synergistic, rather than independent, action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems is also necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture pretreatment has a dramatic survival-enhancing effect in rats with lethal endotoxemia, which involves the activation of efferent neural circuits of the autonomic nervous system (e.g., cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway). This approach could be developed as a prophylactic treatment for sepsis or perioperative conditions related to excessive inflammation.

[Effect of Salvia chinensis extraction on angiogenesis of tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibition effect of Salvia chinensis extraction (SJC) on growth of H22 bearing tumor, and to analyze the mechanism about the anti-tumor effect. METHOD: With hepatoma H22 bearing mice, ICR mice were inoculated with H22 cells by subcutaneous injection. On day 2 after inoculation, the ICR mice were randomize into 5 groups, they were the control group, the high, middle, low dosages of SJC, and the positive-control group. Administrated 10 days, the inhibition rate of tumor in the treatment groups were analyzed at 11th day. Meanwhile, Immunostaining with antibodies against CD105 and VEGF were used to investigate the tumor-related angiogenesis. In addition, the effect of SJC on angiogenesis of tumor were investigated on chick embry chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) inoculated H22 cells. RESULT: In contrast to model group, the inhibition rate of the high, middle, and low dosages of SJC were 26.44% (P < 0.05), 42.28% (P < 0.01) and 32.59% (P < 0.05), respectively, and SJC could significantly reduced the express of VEGF and microvessel density (MVD) (P < 0.01). Injection with 6.25 g x L(-1) doses of SJC could significantly inhibited the angiogenesis of tumor, the inhibition rate of tumor-related angiogenesis was 50.67% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SJC showed anticancer effect, and maybe it is related to down-regulation VEGF and reducing MVD, then inhibiting the tumor-related angiogenesis.

[Effect of sailuotong capsule on intervening cognitive dysfunction of multi-infarct dementia in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Sailuotong capsule (Sailuotong) on learning and memory functions of multi-infarct dementia (MID) rats and its mechanism. METHOD: All SD rats were divided into five groups, namely the sham operation group, the model group, the positive group, the low dosage Sailuotong-treated group and the high dosage Sailuotong-treated group. The multi-infarct dementia model was established by injecting the micro-sphere vascular occlusive agent. On the 10th day after the successful operation, the rats were administered intragastrically with distilled water, memantine hydrochloride (20 mg x kg(-1)) and Sailuotong (16.5 mg x kg(-1) and 33.0 mg x kg(-1)) once a day for 60 days respectively, in order to detect the effect of Sailuotong in different doses on the latent period and route length in Morris water maze and the activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissues. RESULT: Compared with the sham operation rats, it had been observed that the latent period and route length of MID rats in Morris water maze were significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the activity of ChAT in brain tissues was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After the intervention with Sailuotong for sixty days, the latent period and route length of MID rats in Morris water maze significantly shrank (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Additionally, Sailuotong decreased AchE activity, while increasing ChAT activity in brain tissues of MID rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Sailuotong capsule can improve cognitive dysfunction of MID rats to some extent. Its mechanism may be related to its different regulation of activities of ChAT and AchE in brain tissues.

Application of the PBL Model Based on Deep Learning in Physical Education Classroom Integrating Production and Education.

This study aims to arouse students' interest in physical education (PE) in response to President Xi Jinping's call to strengthen students' physical quality because cultural courses occupy PE classes. Problem-based learning (PBL) is introduced, and a new teaching method of PE is proposed based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) in deep learning (DL). This method is employed to teach the experimental subjects in solid ball throwing. The students' interest, learning ability, and physical quality in the solid ball are investigated by a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey shows that the students' academic performance in solid ball throwing is improved, and their problem-solving ability, group cooperation ability, and theory learning ability are improved. Their time on a 1000-meter long run is shortened, and their body flexibility is improved. Therefore, it is believed that this new teaching method based on DL plays a significant role in improving students' physical quality.