Stereospecific synthesis of S-(-)-trans-verbenol and its antipode by inversion of sterically hindered alcohols.

S-(-)-trans-Verbenol (1) and its antipode, R-(+)-trans-verbenol (1') have been confirmed as the critical pheromone components of bark beetles. Synthesis of these two active secondary alcohols (1 and 1') from commercially available starting materials S-α-pinene and R-α-pinene was reported. The key steps were mainly depended on the effective SN2 stereo-inversion of the hydroxy group of sterically hindered alcohols (3 and 3'), using Mitsunobu reaction or hydrolysis of mesylate ester, alternatively. Our results provide a new and stereo-selectivity way to obtain optically active insect pheromones.

Monoterpenoid signals and their transcriptional responses to feeding and juvenile hormone regulation in bark beetle Ips hauseri.

Hauser's engraver beetle, Ips hauseri, is a serious pest in spruce forest ecosystems in Central Asia. Its monoterpenoid signal production, transcriptome responses and potential regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. The quality and quantity of volatile metabolites in hindgut extracts of I. hauseri were found to differ between males and females and among three groups: beetles that were newly emerged, those with a topical application of juvenile hormone III (JHIII) and those that had been feeding for 24 h. Feeding males definitively dominated monoterpenoid signal production in I. hauseri, which uses (4S)-(-)-ipsenol and (S)-(-)-cis-verbenol to implement reproductive segregation from Ipstypographus and Ipsshangrila. Feeding stimulation induced higher expression of most genes related to the biosynthesis of (4S)-(-)-ipsenol than JHIII induction, and showed a male-specific mode in I. hauseri. JHIII stimulated males to produce large amounts of (-)-verbenone and also upregulated the expression of several CYP6 genes, to a greater extent in males than in females. The expression of genes involved in the metabolism of JHIII in females and males was also found to be upregulated. Our results indicate that a species-specific aggregation pheromone system for I. hauseri, consisting of (4S)-(-)-ipsenol and S-(-)-cis-verbenol, can be used to monitor population dynamics or mass trap killing. Our results also enable a better understanding of the bottom-up role of feeding behaviors in mediating population reproduction/aggregation and interspecific interactions.

Periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis was reported to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the association between them has not been firmly established in the existing literature. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between periodontitis and IBD. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for publications up to August 1, 2019 to include all eligible studies. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated to determine the association between periodontal disease and IBD using a random or fixed effects model according to heterogeneity. RESULTS: Six eligible studies involving 599 IBD patients and 448 controls were included. The pooled OR between periodontitis and IBD was 3.17 (95% CI: 2.09-4.8) with no heterogeneity observed (I2 = 0.00%). The pooled ORs were 3.64 (95% CI: 2.33-5.67) and 5.37 (95% CI: 3.30-8.74) for the associations between periodontitis and the two sub-categories of IBD, Crohn' s disease and ulcerative colitis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that periodontitis was significantly associated with IBD. However, the mechanisms underlying periodontitis and IBD development are undetermined. Further studies are needed to elucidate this relationship.

Protective role of α2-macroglobulin against jaw osteoradionecrosis in a preclinical rat model.

OBJECTIVE: We have previously demonstrated the effect of alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2M) in the remediation of radiation-induced cellular damage. Here, we investigated the protective effects of α2M in a preclinical rat model of jaw osteoradionecrosis (ORN). METHODS: Eighteen rats were divided randomly into three groups: the control group, the radiation therapy (RT) alone group, and the radiated mandibles pretreated with α2M (α2M + RT) group. One month after radiation, all left molar teeth were extracted. After another 3 months, the animals were sacrificed and body weight, histopathology, microcomputed tomography and immunofluorescence were evaluated in all groups. RESULTS: The RT group showed serious alopecia, bone exposure, inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis, and the absence of new bone formation within the socket. The α2M + RT group exhibited less alopecia than the RT group and slight inflammation and fibrosis in the bone marrow cavity. The cortical bone was similar to normal bone tissue. Interestingly, compared with RT group, serum superoxide dismutase levels in the α2M + RT group increased at the 1th day (P = 0.037), 14th day (P = 0.012), while reactive oxygen species levels clearly decreased at the 1th day (P< 0.001), 14th day (P = 0.007), and 28th day (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: A clinically translational model of jaw ORN was successfully established and the application of α2M prior to radiation protected the bone from being injured by the radiation, possibly related to oxidative stress.

Identification and Field Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most serious pest in south China of camphor trees, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, an important urban tree species. Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) of the sex pheromone of O. achatina showed three EAD-active components. Coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses identified these as (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11-16:OH), (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:OAc), and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-tricosapentaene (Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H). In field tests using different combinations of the three compounds, male moths were attracted to a mixture of Z11-16:OAc and Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H, but less attracted to other blends. Further field tests with different ratios of the two compounds determined the optimal ratio of the binary blend as 500:250. The addition of Z11-16:OH to Z11-16:OAc, or to the binary mixture of Z11-16: OAc and the pentaene did not yield higher catches. This shows that O. achatina uses a mixture of Type I and Type II sex pheromone components. Orthaga achatina is the third Pyraloidea species found to utilize Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H as a sex pheromone component.

Triptorelin relieves lower urinary tract symptoms in Chinese advanced prostate cancer patients: a multicenter, non-interventional, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although triptorelin is increasingly used in China for biochemical castration, its effects on primary prostate cancer symptoms remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Chinese prostate cancer patients and the effectiveness of triptorelin on LUTS. METHODS: In this 48-week multicenter, non-interventional, prospective study, we enrolled patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Patients received triptorelin (15 mg) intramuscularly at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, and 36 with symptom assessment using the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). The primary endpoints were the prevalence of LUTS at baseline per IPSS categories and the percentage of patients with moderate to severe LUTS (IPSS > 7) at baseline, having at least a 3-point reduction of IPSS score at week 48. RESULTS: A total of 398 patients were included; 211 (53.0%) and 160 (40.2%) among them had severe and moderate LUTS, respectively. Of the patients with IPSS scores available at baseline and at week 48 (n = 213), 81.2% achieved a reduction in IPSS of at least 3 points. Of the patients with moderate to severe LUTS at baseline and IPSS scores available at baseline and at week 48 (n = 194), 86.6% achieved a total IPSS reduction of at least 3 points. CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer scheduled to receive triptorelin as part of their standard treatment have severe or moderate LUTS. Triptorelin therapy resulted in sustained improvement of LUTS in these patients.

Reversible tetraplegia after percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and septic shock: a case of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy with acute onset and complete recovery.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and critical illness myopathy (CIM) are complications causing weakness of respiratory and limb muscles in critically ill patients. As an important differential diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), CIP and CIM should be diagnosed with caution, after a complete clinical and laboratory examination. Although not uncommon in ICU, CIP and CIM as severe complications of percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PNL) have not been documented in literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our hospital, complaining of occasional pain in the right lower back for one month. Lithiasis was diagnosed by ultrasonographical and radiological examinations on the urinary system. PNL was indicated and performed. The patient developed CIP and CIM on the fourth day after PNL. Early recognition and treatment of the severe complications contributed to a satisfactory recovery of the patient. CONCLUSION: This case expands our understanding of the complications of PNL and underscores the importance of differentiating CIP/CIM from GBS in case of such patients developing weakness after the treatment. Clinical characteristics and examination results should be carefully evaluated to make the diagnosis of CIP or CIM. Both anti-septic prophylaxis and control of hyperglycemia might be effective for the prevention of CIP or CIM; aggressive treatment on sepsis and multiple organ failure is considered to be the most effective measure to reduce the incidence of CIP/CIM.

Identification of components of the female sex pheromone of the Simao pine caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura.

The pine caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus kikuchii Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is a pest of economic importance on pine in southwest China. Three active compounds were detected during analyses of solvent extracts and effluvia sampled by solid phase microextraction (SPME) from virgin female D. kikuchii using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with electroantennographic (EAG) recording with antennae from a male moth. The compounds were identified as (5Z,7E)-5,7-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (Z5,E7-12:OAc), (5Z,7E)-5,7-dodecadien-1-ol (Z5,E7-12:OH), and (5Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (Z5-12:OAc) by comparison of their GC retention indices, mass spectra, and EAG activities with those of synthetic standards. Microchemical reactions of gland extracts provided further information confirming the identifications of the three components. Solvent extractions and SPME samples of pheromone effluvia from virgin calling females provided 100:18:0.6 and 100:7:1 ratios of Z5,E7-12:OAc:Z5,E7-12:OH:Z5-12:OAc, respectively. Field behavioral assays showed that Z5,E7-12:OAc and Z5,E7-12:OH were essential for attraction of male D. kikuchii moths. However, the most attractive blend contained these three components in a 100:20:25 ratio in a gray rubber septa. Our results demonstrated that the blend of Z5,E7-12:OAc, Z5,E7-12:OH, and Z5-12:OAc comprise the sex pheromone of D. kikuchii. The optimized three-component lure blend is recommended for monitoring D. kikuchii infestations.

Sensilla on antennae and mouthparts of adult spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is an invasive forest pest that occurs across Eurasia. To further understand the mechanism of insect-host chemical communication and the feeding choices of adult I. typographus, we examined the sensilla on the antennae and mouthparts of I. typographus using scanning electron microscopy. No sexual dimorphism in sensilla type or distribution was observed. Ten subtypes of antennal sensilla were identified: sensilla trichodea Types I-III (TR1 , TR2 , and TR3 ); sensilla chaetica Types I and II (CH1 and CH2 ); sensilla basiconica Types I-III (BA1 , BA2 , and BA3 ); sensilla coeloconica (CO); and Böhm sensilla (BS). BA2 were the most abundant among the antennal sensilla in both sexes. Thirteen mouthpart sensilla subtypes were observed: sensilla trichodea Types I-IV (TR1 , TR2 , TR3 , and TR4 ); sensilla chaetica Types I-III (CH1 , CH2 , and CH3 ); sensilla digitiformia (DI); sensilla basiconica Types I-II (BA1 and BA2 ); and sensilla styloconica Types I-III (ST1 , ST2 , and ST3 ). Among these, TR4 were the most abundant in both sexes. The apex of each maxillary and labial palp carried the same sensilla (BA2 , ST1 , ST2 , and ST3 ), although the apex of the maxillary palp contained more total sensilla. The functional roles of each sensilla type are discussed based on their external structure and distribution. The results provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the olfactory and feeding behaviors and electrophysiology of adult I. typographus.

SEM analysis of sensilla on the mouthparts and antennae of Asian larch bark beetle Ips subelongatus.

The Asian larch bark beetle, Ips subelongatus, is a severe pest of larches in Northeastern China. The gustatory and olfactory systems of I. subelongatus play important roles in host location, mating, and feeding. In this study, we examined the types, distributions, and abundances of various sensilla associated with the mouthparts and antennae of I. subelongatus using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the mouthparts, five types of sensilla are present: sensilla trichodea (S.t.1-3), sensilla chaetica (S.c.1-3), sensilla basiconica (S.b.1-2), sensilla twig basiconica (S.tb.1-3), and sensilla placodea (S.p). S.t.3 are the most abundant sensilla subtype on the mouthparts in both sexes, while S.b.1 are the least abundant. Most sensilla on the mouthparts are located on the maxillae and labium, and the apex of each maxillary and labial palp carry the same sensilla subtypes (S.b.2 and S.tb.1-3). However, the total number of sensilla on the apex of each maxillary palp is higher than that on the labial palp. On the antennae, five types of sensilla are present: sensilla trichodea (S.t.1-3), sensilla chaetica (S.c.1-2), sensilla basiconica (S.b.1-3), Böhm bristles (B.b), and sensilla coeloconica (S.co). Antennal sensilla are mostly situated on the anterior surface of the antennal club, particularly on the two dense sensory bands. S.b.1 are the most abundant sensilla subtype on the antennae in both sexes, while S.t.1 are the least abundant. No sexual dimorphism in sensilla type or distribution on the mouthparts or antennae is observed between the sexes of I. subelongatus. However, S.t.3 (on mouthparts) and S.c.1 (on antennae) were significantly more abundant in males than in females, while more S.t.1 (on mouthparts) were observed in females than in males. Finally, the putative functions of each kind of sensilla with respect to their fine structures, distributions, and abundances on the mouthparts and antennae are discussed.

New records and a confirmation of three perlodid species in China, with additional notes and images of Rauserodes epiproctalis (Zwick, 1997)(Plecoptera: Perlodidae).

Three species of the family Perlodidae are newly reported or confirmed for China, Isoperla asiatica Rauser from Arxan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Isoperla eximia Zapekina-Dulkeit from Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, and Mesoperlina capnoptera (McLachlan, 1886) from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Based on new material, additional taxonomic notes and images of another perlodid stonefly, Rauserodes epiproctalis (Zwick, 1997) is provided.

Differences in Gut Bacterial Communities of Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Induced by Enantiomer-Specific α-Pinene.

The spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) is a destructive pest of Eurasian spruce forests. Although the gut bacteria of this insect are considered to play important roles in its lifecycle, the relationship between I. typographus and its gut bacterial community is poorly characterized. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine gut bacterial community composition across successive I. typographus life stages. Responses of the gut bacteria to α-pinene enantiomers were also explored. Ips typographus gut bacterial populations were dominated by the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, and the relative abundance of these phyla varied across different developmental stages of the beetle. Bacterial species diversity and richness indices increased with developmental stage progression. Relative abundances of the dominant genera, Erwinia (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae), Pseudoxanthomonas (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae), Serratia (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae), and Romboutsia (Clostridiales: Peptostreptococcaceae), also varied across successive I. typographus life stages. Large disparities in the gut bacterial community of male adults were observed when the beetles were treated with S-(-)-α-pinene and R-(+)-α-pinene. The relative abundances of Lactococcus (Lactobacillales: Streptococcaceae) and Lelliottia (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) increased drastically with R-(+)-α-pinene and S-(-)-α-pinene treatment, respectively. This indicated a distinct enantiomer-specific effect of α-pinene on the I. typographus gut bacteria. This study demonstrated the plasticity of gut bacteria during I. typographus development, when α-pinene host monoterpenes are encountered. This study provides new insights into the relationship between 'I. typographus-gut bacteria' symbionts and host trees.

Relationship between SnoN expression and mouse follicular development, atresia, and luteinization.

SnoN, which belongs to the ski family of nuclear proteins, is a novel oncoprotein; it can induce both oncogenic transformation and terminal muscle differentiation when expressed at high levels. SnoN is an important regulator of signal transduction of the transforming growth factor beta super-family. The present study determined the ovarian localization and regulation of SnoN protein levels in neonatal mice, and in gonadotropin-induced immature mice during follicular development, atresia, and luteinization. In the postnatal mice, positive staining for SnoN was detected for the first time in the interstitial compartment adjacent to the follicles at 7 days and the pattern of immunostaining remained constant. As theca cells differentiated from the stroma, the theca externa layers stained positively for SnoN, and this immunostaining in the theca externa layers persisted in preantral, antral, and preovulatory follicles, even in atretic follicles. Interestingly, the theca interna layers did not contain detected levels of SnoN until the large antral stage of follicular development. In follicular development, SnoN was not expressed in granulosa cells of the healthy follicles but in those that became atretic. After the initiation of luteinization with hCG, SnoN was detected within the luteinizing granulosa cells, and the levels of SnoN were higher during the luteinization process of granulosa cells. Together, our data indicate that SnoN is expressed in a cell-specific manner during ovarian follicular development, atresia, and luteinization and that SnoN might play essential roles in these physiological processes. The present study is the first to investigate SnoN localization and regulation in mouse ovary.

[Mass screening prostate cancer and clinical comparison].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of the mass screening by analyzing the features of prostate cancer between mass screening patients and clinical patients. METHODS: From January 2000 to January 2008, 441 cases of prostate cancer (including 122 patients from clinical diagnosis and 319 patients from mass screening 23 183 men who were more than 50 years old) were analyzed from age, digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and range, the Gleason's score and grade, clinical staging and therapy. RESULTS: 42.0% of mass screening patients were inspected by DRE, it was lower than that (79.5%) in the clinical patients. The percent of patients with serum PSA levels of less than 10.0 microg/L in mass screening group was higher than in clinical group, while the percent of patients with serum PSA levels of more than 20.0 microg/L in mass screening group was lower than in clinical group. The percent of moderately differentiated degree of prostate cancer in mass screening group was higher than in clinical group, but it was on the contrary for poorly differentiated degree of prostate cancer. The percent of T1-2 prostate cancers in mass screening group was 56.1%, which was higher than 25.4% in clinical group. While, the percent of T3-4 tumors in mass screening group was lower than in clinical group. The percent of men undergoing radical prostatectomy in mass screening group was 18.2%, which was higher than 9.8% in clinical group. The percent of men of locally advanced and far metastasis in mass screening group was 26.0%, while was lower than 46.0% in clinical group. CONCLUSION: General investigation for prostate cancer is benefit to find asymptomatic cancer of early stage.

Epibiotic Fungal Communities of Three Tomicus spp. Infesting Pines in Southwestern China.

The association between insects and fungi has evolved over millions of years and is ubiquitous in nature. This symbiotic relationship holds critical implications for both partners, the insects and the associated microbes. Numerous fungi are externally allied with bark beetles and form a close symbiosis, but the community structures of these fungi are largely unknown. In Yunnan Province in southwestern China, the beetles Tomicus yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus are major forest pests that cause large losses of two indigenous pines, Pinus yunnanensis and P. kesiya. In this study, we used the Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform to process 48 samples of epibiotic fungal communities pooled from 1348 beetles; the beetles were collected during both the branch- and trunk-infection sections from five locations across Yunnan Province. Considerably greater species richness was detected using high-throughput sequencing of amplified internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) libraries than previously documented by using culture-dependent methods. In total, 1,413,600 reads were generated, and a 97% sequence-similarity cutoff produced eight phyla, 31 classes, 83 orders, 181 families, 331 genera, 471 species, and 1157 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with 659, 621, and 609 OTUs being confined to T. yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus, respectively. Tomicus yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus had the similar OTUs richness and evenness of fungal communities in Yunnan Province; nevertheless, the two fungal community compositions associated with T. yunnanensis and T. minor were structurally similar to each other but distinct from that associated with T. brevipilosus. Lastly, the results of principal co-ordinates analysis suggested that epibiotic fungal community structures of the three Tomicus spp. were conditioned strongly by the locations and pine hosts but weakly by beetle species and infection sections. Our findings provide baseline knowledge regarding the epibiotic fungal communities of three major Tomicus spp. in southwestern China.

Morphological analysis of sensilla on different organs in Pachyneuron aphidis, a hyperparasitoid of Myzus persicae.

Aphidius gifuensis is the main enemy of Myzus persieae. While its parasitic rate can be influenced by the hyperparasitoid, Pachyneuron aphidis. As important parts of insects to sense odors from various environments, study of sensilla can lay the foundation of the further study about the parasitic mechanisms, reduce the hyperparasitic rate, and make the most effect usage of A. gifuensis. Here, we give a fundamental study about the morphology of the sensilla on the whole body of male and female P. aphidis. We observed seven main types of sensilla on them totally by using scanning electron microscopy. Including Böhm bristle (BB), chaetica sensilla (ChS), basiconic sensilla (BS), trichoid sensilla (TS), and placodea sensilla (PS), coeleoconica sensilla (CoS), basiconic capitate peg sensilla (BCPS). In addition, TS on antennae can be divided into four subtypes, on wings can be divided into two subtypes. Sensilla were most abundant on the antennae. We observed all types of sensilla on antennae. TS4 was uniporous and PS was multiporous. The other sensilla were nonporous. We did not find sexual dimorphism with regards to sensilla on the antennae except for the location of CoS. In male, CoS situated on the fourth subsegment of flagellum, but on the eighth subsegment in female. In other organs, TS has the largest number. We also found BS on compound eyes and ovipositor, BB on thoracic legs. The possible roles of these sensilla played in life activities are discussed. Our study makes a contribution of the parasitic mechanism of hyperparasitoids.

Differential patterns of ophiostomatoid fungal communities associated with three sympatric Tomicus species infesting pines in south-western China, with a description of four new species.

Bark beetles and their associated fungi, which cause forest decline and sometimes high mortality in large areas around the world, are of increasing concern in terms of forest health. Three Tomicus spp. (T.brevipilosus, T.minor and T.yunnanensis) infect branches and trunks of Pinusyunnanensis and P.kesiya in Yunnan Province, in south-western China. Tomicus spp. are well known as vectors of ophiostomatoid fungi and their co-occurrence could result in serious ecological and economic impact on local forest ecosystems. Nonetheless, knowledge about their diversity, ecology, including pathogenicity and potential economic importance is still quite rudimentary. Therefore, an extensive survey of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with these Tomicus species infesting P.yunnanensis and P.kesiya was carried out in Yunnan. Seven hundred and seventy-two strains of ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from the adult beetles and their galleries. The strains were identified based on comparisons of multiple DNA sequences, including the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) region, the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2, together with the intervening 5.8S gene (ITS) and the partial genes of ß-tubulin (TUB2), elongation factor 1α (TEF1-α) and calmodulin (CAL). Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony (MP) as well as maximum likelihood (ML). Combinations of culture features, morphological characters and temperature-dependent growth rates were also employed for species identification. Eleven species belonging to five genera were identified. These included six known species, Esteyavermicola, Leptographiumyunnanense, Ophiostomabrevipilosi, O.canum, O.minus and O.tingens and four novel taxa, described as Graphilbumanningense, O.aggregatum, Sporothrixpseudoabietina and S.macroconidia. A residual strain was left unidentified as Ophiostoma sp. 1. The overall ophiostomatoid community was by far dominated by three species, representing 87.3% of the total isolates; in decreasing order, these were O.canum, O.brevipilosi and O.minus. Furthermore, the ophiostomatoid community of each beetle, although harbouring a diversity of ophiostomatoid species, was differentially dominated by a single fungal species; Ophiostomacanum was preferentially associated with and dominated the ophiostomatoid community of T.minor, whereas O.brevipilosi and O.minus were exclusively associated with and dominated the ophiostomatoid communities of T.brevipilosus and T.yunnanensis, respectively. Eight additional species, representing the remaining 12.7% of the total isolates, were marginal or sporadic. These results suggested that sympatric Tomicus populations are dominated by distinct species showing some level of specificity or even exclusivity.

[Diagnosis and treatment of non-specific granulomatous prostatitis: a report of 32 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of non-specific granulomatous prostatitis (NSGP). METHODS: Thirty-two cases of NSGP were diagnosed by puncture biopsy under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and treated with antibiotics and other medicines from September, 2000 to May, 2006. RESULTS: Pathomorphologically, NSGP was basically characterized by granuloma with vessels or grand alveoli in the center. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Urination irritation and obstruction were improved. Q(max) was increased to 15.0-24.0 ml/s, and in 3 cases of urinary retention, to 12.0, 14.5 and 16.5 ml/s, respectively. Digital rectal examination (DRE) indicated a reduced size and softened texture of the prostate induration. PSA was decreased to 1.3-11.5 microg/L. Four cases experienced relapse but were cured after retreated. No prostate cancer was observed. CONCLUSION: NSGP can be definitely diagnosed by puncture biopsy under TRUS and effectively relieved by antibiotics with the alpha-receptor blocker. In case of serious obstruction complicated by urinary retention, transurethral electrotomy can be considered.

Association of toll-like receptors with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

AIM OF STUDY: Association of toll-like receptors (TLRs) with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) from the published reports is still conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between TLRs and the risk of OSCC using meta-analysis method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The association studies were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library on April 01 2015, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method. RESULT: Three reports were recruited into this meta-analysis for the association of TLRs with OSCC susceptibility. In this meta-analysis, we found that TLRs were not associated with OSCC susceptibility. However, in the sub-group analysis, we found that TLR-7 was associated with OSCC risk. CONCLUSION: TLR-7 was associated with OSCC risk. TLR-7 might be an indicator to predict the OSCC risk. However, more studies should be conducted to confirm it.

[Transrectal ultrasound: an applicable diagnostic approach to chronic prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the application value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis. METHODS: TRUS and examination of prostatic secretion (EPS) were used in the diagnosis of 3 500 cases of chronic prostatitis from September, 2000 to May, 2006. RESULTS: Lower resonance of the inner gland, low-level echo, uneven echo light spots, incomplete outlines and unsmooth borderlines were found in 2279 cases (65.1%), and the enlarged prostate in 1 084 cases (31.0%), with clear integrated amicula and enhanced echogenic spots at the juncture of the external and inner gland. No obvious changes were noted in 137 cases (4.0%), and in another 391 cases (11.2%) were detected alteration of the acoustic image of cystospermitis and blurred margins and uneven echoes of the seminal vesicle. The WBC count in EPS was < 10/HP in 132 cases (3.8%), 10-19/HP in 2 156 cases (61.6%) and > or =20/HP in 1212 cases (34.6%). CONCLUSION: TRUS, as a diagnostic means for chronic prostatitis, can be easily performed and causes little pain and therefore is readily accepted by patients. Combined with EPS, TRUS can provide more definite diagnostic evidence, and for those who are afraid of pain and reject EPS, it is a desirable alternative in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.