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1.
Inorg Chem ; 63(16): 7464-7472, 2024 Apr 22.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38598182

Uranium accumulation in the kidneys and bones following internal contamination results in severe damage, emphasizing the pressing need for the discovery of actinide decorporation agents with efficient removal of uranium and low toxicity. In this work, cinnamic acid (3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid, CD), a natural aromatic carboxylic acid, is investigated as a potential uranium decorporation ligand. CD demonstrates markedly lower cytotoxicity than that of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), an actinide decorporation agent approved by the FDA, and effectively removes approximately 44.5% of uranyl from NRK-52E cells. More importantly, the results of the prompt administration of the CD solution remove 48.2 and 27.3% of uranyl from the kidneys and femurs of mice, respectively. Assessments of serum renal function reveal the potential of CD to ameliorate uranyl-induced renal injury. Furthermore, the single crystal of CD and uranyl compound (C9H7O2)2·UO2 (denoted as UO2-CD) reveals the formation of uranyl dimers as secondary building units. Thermodynamic analysis of the solution shows that CD coordinates with uranyl to form a 2:1 molar ratio complex at a physiological pH of 7.4. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further show that CD exhibits a significant 7-fold heightened affinity for uranyl binding in comparison to DTPA.


Cinnamates , Uranium , Cinnamates/chemistry , Cinnamates/pharmacology , Animals , Ligands , Mice , Uranium/chemistry , Uranium/metabolism , Uranium/toxicity , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/metabolism , Cell Line , Density Functional Theory , Rats , Molecular Structure , Cell Survival/drug effects , Chelating Agents/chemistry , Chelating Agents/pharmacology , Chelating Agents/chemical synthesis
2.
Food Chem Toxicol ; 181: 114103, 2023 Nov.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37852353

There are several technical challenges and public issues concerning genome editing applications before they become viable in commercial aquaculture. Recently, we developed a novel strategy to generate all-female (AF) common carp, which exhibited a growth advantage over the control carp, using genetic editing through single gene-targeting manipulation. Here, we found that the body weight of the AF common carp was higher by 22.58% than that of the control common carp. Because the genotype of the AF common carp was cyp17a1+/-;XX, the contents of sex steroids were normally synthesized, as they were comparable to that of the control female carp. To evaluate the food safety of the AF carp, Wistar rats were fed a diet containing control female carp (control, C) or all-female (AF) carp at an incorporation rate of 5, 10 and 20% (w/w) for 90 days. Compared with those fed control carp, the rats fed AF common carp exhibited no significant difference in body weight, food intake, feed conversion ratio, hematology, serum biochemistry, urine test, relative organ weight, gross necropsy, and histopathological examination. This is the first food safety assessment of the farmed fish strain cultured using CRISPR/Cas9, which will further advance the fishery development of genome-edited animals.


Carps , Gene Editing , Female , Animals , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Genotype , Body Weight , Animal Feed/analysis , Diet
3.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 14: 1187825, 2023.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37501788

Objective: The lymph node posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) is a crucial component of the central lymph nodes (LNs). We aimed to evaluate multimodal predictive factors of LN-prRLN metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), including the clinical data, pathologic data, and preoperative sonographic characteristics of PTCs. Methods: A total of 403 diagnosed PTC patients who underwent unilateral, sub-total, or total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection were enrolled in this retrospective study. The clinical data, pathologic data, conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics of PTCs were collected and evaluated for predicting LN-prRLN metastasis. Results: In this study, 96 PTC patients with LN-prRLN metastasis and 307 PTC patients without LN-prRLN metastasis were included. Univariate analysis demonstrated that PTC patients with LN-prRLN metastasis more often had younger age, larger size, multifocal cancers, A/T < 1, well-margins, microcalcification, petal-like calcification, internal vascularity, centripetal perfusion pattern and surrounding ring enhancement. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the CEUS centripetal perfusion pattern, central LN detected by ultrasound and LN-arRLN metastasis were independent characteristics for predicting LN-prRLN metastasis in PTC patients. Conclusion: According to our research, it is essential for clinicians to thoroughly dissect central LNs, particularly LN-prRLNs.


Carcinoma, Papillary , Carcinoma , Thyroid Neoplasms , Humans , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Carcinoma/pathology , Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma, Papillary/surgery , Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology , Risk Factors , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Lymph Nodes/pathology
4.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol ; 10: 955127, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36338124

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising new anti-tumor therapy that inhibits tumor growth by ultrasound activation of sonosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the problems of hypoxia in the microenvironment within solid tumors and the effectiveness of SDT will decrease due to the little accumulation of sonosensitizers at the tumor site, as well as tumor cell tolerance, have limited the development of SDT. To overcome these problems, a core-shell structured nanoparticle (IR780/PLGA@MnO2 NPs) loaded with IR780 and manganese dioxide (MnO2) was developed as a nanocarrier to transport the sonosensitizer IR780 and the generated oxygen into the tumor tissue. The MnO2 shell layer of IR780/PLGA@MnO2 NPs can prevent the premature release of IR780 in the blood and also it can react with acidic and high H2O2, the generated oxygen can relieve tumor tissue hypoxia, and the generated Mn can enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity by acting as a contrast agent for MRI. More importantly, the released IR780 can produce ROS to kill tumor cells under ultrasound excitation. This PH-responsive and H2O2-triggered SDT based on the IR780/PLGA@MnO2NPs is an effective platform to inhibit tumor growth with negligible systemic toxicity. This work develops a multifunctional therapeutic integrated nanoplatform for breast cancer treatment, which is expected to be used in the clinic.

5.
Int J Nanomedicine ; 17: 4525-4546, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36193213

Background: MRSA with high morbidity and mortality is prone to cause serious infection, SDT has become a new antibiotic-free modality for bacterial infection treatment. Switching from proinflammatory M1 macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages dominant could activate the immune system to generate an anti-infection immune response. Methods: Herein, we developed M2 macrophages derived cell membranes coated PLGA nanoparticles with IR780 encapsulation (M2/IR780@PLGA) for antibacterial SDT and subsequent M2 macrophage polarization to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of MRSA myositis. For in situ visualization of antibacterial SDT, both diagnostic high-frequency US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were introduced to monitor the sono-therapeutic progression of M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles in mice with bacterial myositis. Results: Our developed M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles exhibited excellent antibacterial effects due to the IR780 under low-frequency US irradiation in vitro. In an MRSA-infected mice model, a great deal of M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles accumulated at the site of inflammation due to M2 macrophage coating. The infected legs in the M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles-based SDT group were significantly smaller, fewer blood flow signals, a slight muscular edema without obvious intermuscular abscesses under high-frequency US and MR images guidance. Histopathology proved the infected legs in the M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles-mediated SDT group had less clumped bacteria infiltration, more M2 macrophage expression and less M1 macrophage expression. The percentage of mature dendritic cells in spleens was much higher in the group of mice with M2/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles-based SDT. Conclusion: This study provides a promising nanoparticles-based SDT anti-bacterial strategy, which could effectively enhance the antibacterial SDT and subsequent promote M2 macrophage polarization to boost the therapeutic efficacy of MRSA myositis.


Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Myositis , Nanoparticles , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , Macrophages , Mice , Multimodal Imaging
6.
Int J Nanomedicine ; 17: 4725-4741, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36246937

Background: Many nanocarriers currently developed have potential in tumor targeting, but there are still several limitations to their applications in clinical treatment. It is crucial to explore novel nanocarriers with higher biocompatibility and targeting efficiency to overcome the barriers of the tumor microenvironment to penetrate deeply into the tumor. Methods: In this work, we designed multilayer sonoresponsive M1/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles, which can actively target tumor tissues, and repolarize M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment into M1 macrophages to stimulate antitumor immune effects. When the nanoparticles reach the tumor site, ultrasound (US) irradiation is applied to the tumor site, and the sonosensitizer consumes oxygen and generates ROS, thereby triggering local tumor cell death. Results: The M1/IR780@PLGA nanoparticle-based antitumor sonodynamic therapy (SDT) significantly inhibited tumor growth, triggered a great number of M2 tumor-associated macrophages to convert into M1 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and promoted dendritic cell maturation to activate the antitumor immune response. Conclusion: M1/IR780@PLGA nanoparticles potentiate antitumoral efficacy through SDT and antitumor immune responses by activating dendritic cells maturation and M1 macrophage repolarization in the tumor microenvironment.


Nanoparticles , Ultrasonic Therapy , Cell Line, Tumor , Macrophages , Oxygen/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Tumor Microenvironment
7.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 13: 941905, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36133315

This study evaluated the preoperative diagnostic value of lymph node ultrasonography in distinguishing between benign and malignant central cervical lymph nodes (CCLNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). A total of 176 patients who had PTC with 216 CCLNs (49 benign and 155 malignant) were enrolled in this study and preoperatively imaged by ultrasonography, including conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). We evaluated the ultrasonography parameters for each lymph node. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that multifocality of PTC and the absence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are independent clinical features related to patients with PTC who also have malignant CCLNs. For preoperative ultrasonography features, heterogeneous enhancement and centripetal perfusion are independent ultrasonographic features to identify malignant and benign CCLNs. This study demonstrated that preoperative CEUS characteristics help to distinguish malignant CCLNs from benign CCLNs.


Thyroid Neoplasms , Humans , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Ultrasonography/methods
8.
Int J Artif Organs ; 45(11): 898-904, 2022 Nov.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35791081

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of needle biopsy of the upper pole of the transplanted kidney guided by the ultrasound cardiac probe. METHODS: The success rates of biopsy at the upper pole of the transplanted kidney under the guidance of cardiac, abdominal and superficial probes were compared in 540 patients with impaired renal function after renal transplantation. The guidance was completed by an experienced sonographer and the puncture success rate was calculated. Pathologists make the diagnosis and count the success rate of diagnosis and the incidence of complications. RESULTS: The success rates of puncture of the transplanted kidney under the guidance of the cardiac, abdomen and superficial probe were 100%, 85%,and 73%, respectively, the success rates of pathological diagnosis were 92.68%, 88.9%,and 80.7%, and the incidence of hematoma was 23.2%, 25.3%, respectively, 21.9%, and the pathological diagnosis was mainly acute and chronic rejection. CONCLUSION: The cardiac probe can clearly guide the puncture through the upper pole of the transplanted kidney, with high guidance success rate and good pathological tissue satisfaction and fewer complications. It is an effective guidance method after renal transplantation.


Kidney Transplantation , Kidney , Biopsy , Biopsy, Needle/methods , Humans , Kidney/diagnostic imaging , Kidney/physiology , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Ultrasonography
9.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 13: 850698, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35370962

Mummified thyroid nodules (MTNs) are rarely reported and are usually misdiagnosed as malignant nodules. This article first reviewed the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) enhancement features of 218 MTNs and classified them into three (A, B, C) patterns. The A pattern MTNs show linear hypo-enhancement, the B pattern MTNs show heterogeneous hypo-enhancement, and the C pattern MTNs show no enhancement in thyroid nodules. The A and C pattern enhancements of MTNs demonstrated a high specificity compared with the enhancement of previously reported typical papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). To further study the B pattern MTNs, 24 B pattern MTNs and 42 PTCs were enrolled in this study, and CEUS parameters for each nodule were evaluated. Univariate analysis indicated that compared with PTCs, the B pattern MTNs more frequently exhibited heterogeneous hypo-enhancement and clear margins after clearance (p <0.05). A multivariate analysis revealed that heterogeneous hypo-enhancement and clear margins after clearance were independent characteristics related to the B pattern MTNs for differentiating them from PTCs (p <0.05). Thus, preoperative CEUS may provide more important information for distinguishing MTNs from malignant thyroid nodules to avoid surgical excisions or unnecessary fine-needle aspiration (FNA).


Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Nodule/pathology , Ultrasonography
10.
J Clin Ultrasound ; 50(5): 721-732, 2022 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35358353

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is among the latest doppler ultrasound methods. It uses an advanced clutter filter to eliminate artifacts caused by breathing, movement and retains the low-speed blood signals in microvessels. The great advantage of SMI is that it can intuitively detect very slow blood signals in microvessels, providing clinicians with more significant information about flow distribution in the target area. Therefore, it is speculated that SMI has important application value. The purpose of this article is to outline the application of SMI in different parts of the body.


Microvessels , Ultrasonography, Doppler , Angiography , Artifacts , Humans , Microvessels/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography/methods , Ultrasonography, Doppler/methods
11.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 13: 812475, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35185795

The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Two hundred and one cervical LNs (157 metastatic from PTC and 44 benign) were evaluated using conventional ultrasonography (US) and CEUS before biopsy or surgery. Histopathology was used as the gold standard. We evaluated the size, long axis/short axis ratio (L/S), fatty hilum, hyper-echogenicity, calcification, cystic change, peripheral vascularity and CEUS parameters for each lymph nodule. The CEUS parameters included enhancement type, homogeneity, perfusion type, ring enhancement, peak intensity (PI) index and area under the curve (AUC) index. Univariate analysis demonstrated that compared with benign LNs, malignant LNs more frequently had L/S < 2, absence of a fatty hilum, presence of hyper-echogenicity, presence of calcification, peripheral vascularity, hyper-enhancement, heterogeneous enhancement, centripetal perfusion, ring enhancement, PI index > 1 and AUC index > 1 on preoperative US and CEUS. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hyper-enhancement, centripetal perfusion, and ring enhancement are independent CEUS characteristics related to malignant LNs for their differentiation from benign LNs (all p < 0.05). Our study indicated that preoperative CEUS characteristics may serve as a useful tool to identify malignant cervical LNs from benign cervical LNs.


Thyroid Neoplasms , Contrast Media , Humans , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Ultrasonography
12.
Front Chem ; 10: 840598, 2022.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35141201

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains have emerged and weakened the therapeutic effects of antibacterial drugs. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) takes advantage of noninvasiveness and deep tissue-penetrating features and has been rejuvenated to combat MDR bacteria and their biofilm-associated infections. To improve the efficacy of antibacterial SDT, we first developed IR780-based PLGA nanoparticles as sonosensitizers for high-frequency ultrasound (US)-monitored antibacterial SDT of MRSA myositis by therapeutic low-frequency US. In this study, the developed shell-core-structured IR780@PLGA nanoparticles were designed with a polymer shell PLGA with the sonosensitizer IR780 loaded on. High-frequency diagnostic US was introduced to monitor the sonotherapeutic progression of bacterial myositis by therapeutic low-frequency US. Importantly, the in vitro and in vivo results confirmed that IR780@PLGA nanoparticles combined with US irradiation possess high efficiency for antibacterial therapy. This approach provides a simple and efficient strategy to monitor and combat MDR bacterial infection.

13.
Ultrasound Med Biol ; 47(12): 3384-3392, 2021 12.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34602283

Our objective was to provide the various sonographic characteristics of clinically atypical subacute thyroiditis (CAST) in distinguishing CAST from papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) by using conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Forty-six CAST patients and 50 PTC patients were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the size, shape, margin, echogenicity, calcification, vascularity and CEUS parameters for each nodule. The final diagnosis of CAST was confirmed via fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or surgery. Of the 46 CASTs, 13 (28.3%) were confirmed by surgery to be benign, and 33 (71.7%) were proven by FNA to be benign. Univariate analysis indicated that compared with PTCs, CAST lesions more frequently had wider-than-taller shapes, blurred margins, the absence of microcalcifications, peripheral high echogenicity, the absence of internal vascularity, hypo-enhancement, centrifugal perfusion and a peak intensity index <1 and area under the curve index <1 on pre-operative US and CEUS. A multivariate analysis revealed that clear margins, microcalcifications and centripetal perfusion were independent characteristics related to PTCs for their differentiation from CAST (all p values <0.05). Our study indicated that the pre-operative multiparameter US characteristics may serve as a useful tool for distinguishing CAST from malignant thyroid nodules to avoid surgical excisions or unnecessary FNAs.


Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Thyroiditis, Subacute , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography
14.
Ecol Evol ; 11(11): 6798-6813, 2021 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34141257

Sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewski, 1855) is a small, widespread, and native cyprinid fish with prominent habitat suitability and high invasive potential and is becoming the dominant species in freshwater ecosystems under intensified environmental disturbances. But how H. leucisculus acclimates to extremely heterogeneous environments remains unclear. In current study, the genetic structure of H. leucisculus was analyzed using Bayesian phylogenetic inference, haplotype network, and STRUCTURE base on cytb gene across 18 populations spanning 20 degrees of latitude and 18 degrees of longitude in China. The morphological diversification of body size and shape for H. leucisculus along the climate gradient was studied. The results showed that the 18 H. leucisculus populations were divided into 3 clusters: one cluster mainly from Huanghe River Basin, another cluster mainly from Yangzi River Basin, and H cluster containing Hainan and Beihai populations. The fish from southern populations were deeper bodied while individuals from northern populations were more slender. Inland individuals were more streamlined while coastal individuals were of deeper body. The partial Mantel test predicts that the potential mechanism underlining the intraspecies morphological diversification along climate gradients is primarily the divergent selection pressures among different environments, while genetic variation had less contribution to morphological differentiation. The formation of the Nanling Mountain Range could drive genetic differentiation between Beihai population and those from Yangzi River Basin. The present results highlight strong selective pressures of climate on widespread species and enrich morphological differentiation basis of acclimation for species with high habitat suitability and invasive potential.

15.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 12: 556851, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33796065

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the sonographic characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) for predicting central lymph node metastasis (CLNM). One hundred thirty-three patients who underwent thyroidectomy and central cervical lymph node dissection for PTC with coexistent HT were retrospectively analyzed. All PTCs with HT were preoperatively evaluated by ultrasound (US) regarding their nodular number, size, component, shape, margin, echogenicity, calcification, capsule contact with protrusion, vascularity and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters. Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients with PTCs with HT and CLNM more frequently had age ≤ 45 years, size > 10 mm, a wider than tall shape, microcalcification, hypo-enhancement and peak intensity index < 1 than those without CLNM (all p<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that size > 10 mm and CEUS hypo-enhancement were independent characteristics for the presence of CLNM. Our study indicated that preoperative US characteristics could offer help in predicting CLNM in PTCs with coexistent HT.


Hashimoto Disease/diagnosis , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnosis , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnosis , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Ultrasonography , Adult , Contrast Media/therapeutic use , Female , Hashimoto Disease/complications , Hashimoto Disease/surgery , Humans , Lymph Node Excision , Male , Middle Aged , Neck Dissection , Predictive Value of Tests , Preoperative Care/methods , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/complications , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery , Thyroid Neoplasms/complications , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery
16.
J Clin Ultrasound ; 49(1): 78-82, 2021 Jan.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32530510

Isolated ventricular apical hypoplasia (IVAH) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, with clinical manifestations depending on the age of the patient, ranging from no symptoms in children to congestive heart failure or even malignant tachycardia in adults. Herein, we describe the clinical and anatomical findings in four cases with hypoplasia of the right or left ventricular apex, and we discuss the possible mechanisms and differential diagnosis of this malformation. Echocardiography is a rapidly accessible, low cost, noninvasive technique for the detection and evaluation of IVAH.


Echocardiography/methods , Heart Ventricles/diagnostic imaging , Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Heart Ventricles/abnormalities , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
17.
Zootaxa ; 4860(1): zootaxa.4860.1.6, 2020 Oct 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33056175

A new species of the xenodermatid snake genus Achalinus Peters, 1869 is described from Yunnan Province, Southwest China, based on a single male specimen. The new species is assigned to the genus Achalinus on the basis of absence of preocular and postocular, subcaudals arranged in single row, and results of phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA CO1 sequence data. Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the combination of following morphological characters: absence of a loreal, internasals subequal to that between prefrontals and dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout. Currently, 13 species are in the genus Achalinus, further taxonomical and phylogenetic studies based on more extensive samples and more markers will help understand the cryptic diversity and clarify their interspecific relationships.


Snakes , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures , Animals , China , Male , Phylogeny
18.
Am J Prev Med ; 58(6): 839-844, 2020 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32444002

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to investigate an association between the risk of patient falls and self-reported hearing loss and to examine whether self-reported hearing loss with versus without hearing aids predicts patient falls in an inpatient setting. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted in 2018 in a large, urban, academic medical center. Participants included unique inpatients (N=52,805) of adults aged >18 years between February 1, 2017, and February 1, 2018. Outcome measures were falls in the inpatient setting and hearing loss with versus without hearing aids as predictors for patient falls. RESULTS: Self-reported hearing loss was associated with falls in the inpatient setting (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.46, 2.07, p<1.43 × 10-9). Among patients with hearing impairment, a lack of hearing aids increased the risk for falls in the inpatient setting (OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.64, 4.69, p<1.41 × 10-5). After accounting for the risk of fall using the Morse Fall Scale (which does not include hearing impairment) and controlling for age and sex, patients with hearing loss and no hearing aids were significantly more likely to fall (OR=2.44, 95% CI=1.002, 5.654, p<0.042), but patients with hearing loss who did have hearing aids were not significantly more likely to fall (p<0.889). Hearing loss together with the Morse Fall Scale better predicted falls than the Morse Fall Scale alone (p<0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In the inpatient setting, there was a positive association between hearing loss and falls. However, among patients with hearing loss, only those without hearing aids were significantly more likely to fall, accounting for the Morse Fall Scale score and demographics characteristics. These findings support adding hearing loss as a modifiable risk factor in risk assessment tools for falls and exploring the use of amplification devices as an intervention.


Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data , Hearing Aids/statistics & numerical data , Hearing Loss/pathology , Inpatients/statistics & numerical data , Predictive Value of Tests , Self Report , Academic Medical Centers , Adult , Aged , Female , Hearing/physiology , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Young Adult
19.
Chemosphere ; 248: 126110, 2020 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32041077

Bisphenol A (BPA), is a common contaminant in diverse environmental compartments and its endocrine disruptive effect on living organisms has been widely reported. Further works are still required to facilitate the research on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. In the present study, grass carp ovary (GCO) cells were used to investigate cellular oxidative stress and genomic DNA methylation under BPA exposure. Results showed that BPA exposure for 48 h arrested cell proliferation and viability. The oxidative stress was distinctly enhanced with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde level, and oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) in 30 µM BPA group. Furthermore, the global 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) level was elevated and showed inverted U-shaped responses to the BPA doses. Besides, one-carbon metabolism and de novo GSH synthesis were disrupted at 30 µM BPA. Current data suggested that low dose of BPA exposure could exhibit hormesis in recycling circular biosynthesis of GSH and scavenging ROS to create a relatively reductive intracellular environment, and up-regulate transcripts of methyltransferases that increased the 5 mC level in GCO cells. While high dose of BPA distinctly induced oxidative stress, elevated de novo GSH synthesis, and then attenuated transmethylation activity and decreased 5 mC level. Current study highlighted the discrepant dose responses of BPA in fish ovary cells that facilitated the understanding of pleiotropic consequences in organisms.


Benzhydryl Compounds/toxicity , Carps/metabolism , DNA Methylation/drug effects , Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Ovary/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Phenols/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Carps/genetics , DNA Damage , Female , Glutathione/metabolism , Ovary/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
20.
Sci Total Environ ; 695: 133897, 2019 Dec 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31425978

The starvation is a common and severe stress for animal survival and development. In aquatic environment, many fish suffer starvation stress in different extent because of the natural migration or feed limitation. When subjected to starved conditions, organisms will employ various adaptive physiological, biochemical, and behavioral changes to regulate metabolism and maintain homeostasis. In the present study, adult female zebrafish were deprived of feed for 1 to 3 weeks to detect the starved effects on adults and larvae. The results showed that biological indexes, RNA/DNA ratios, and nutritional indexes significantly decreased in the female fish after starvation. The number of mature follicles reduced while the average spawning diameter of oocytes increased. For the larvae, the maternal starvation stress distinctly delayed embryonic hatching, decreased larval body length, disrupted larval swimming ability, and reduced survival rate at early-life stages. Furthermore, we found that DNA methylation might conduce to the downregulated mRNA expression of anti-Müllerian hormone and cytochrome P450 aromatase in retarded ovaries under starved conditions. Significant effects on autophagic transcription were shown in maternal ovary and larvae responded to starvation stress. Taken together, our study systematically revealed the reproductive impairments of starvation stress and would facilitate the investigation of environmental stress in teleost fish.


Stress, Physiological/physiology , Zebrafish/physiology , Animals , Female , Larva/physiology , Starvation
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