High-quality genome assembly and transcriptome of Ancherythroculter nigrocauda, an endemic Chinese cyprinid species.

Ancherythroculter nigrocauda is a cyprinid fish endemic of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China, where it is an important aquaculture and commercial species. It is also a threatened species as a result of overfishing, dam construction and water pollution. In this study, a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. nigrocauda is reported and built using PacBio sequencing and the Hi-C technology. The 1.04-Gb sequenced genome of A. nigrocauda contained 2,403 contigs, with an N50 length of 3.12 Mb. Then, 1,297 contigs, which represented 54.0% of all contigs and 97.2% of the whole content of the genome nucleotide base, were assembled into 24 chromosomes. Combined with transcriptome data from 10 tissues, 27,042 (78.5%) genes were functionally annotated out of 34,414 predicted protein-coding genes. Interestingly, high expression of many positively selected genes and expanded gene families in the brain suggested that these genes might play important roles in brain development in A. nigrocauda. Finally, we found tissue-specific expression of 10,732 genes. Functional analyses showed that they were mainly composed of genes related to (a) environmental information processing, (b) the circulatory system, and (c) development, suggesting they might be important for adaptation to different environments and for development of A. nigrocauda. The high-quality genome obtained in this study not only provides a valuable genomic resource for future studies of A. nigrocauda populations and conservation, but is also an important resource for further functional genomics studies of fishes.

Association between 5α-reductase inhibitors therapy and incidence, cancer-specific mortality, and progression of prostate cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis.

5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) are widely employed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It has been noted that 5-ARI exhibit the potential to attenuate the risk of prostate cancer, but consistent agreement has not been achieved. Moreover, the effect of 5-ARI on cancer-specific mortality and progression of prostate cancer remains unclear. Therefore, the goal of the current meta-analysis was to elucidate the impact of 5-ARI on the incidence and progression of prostate cancer. We searched for all studies assessing the effect of 5-ARI on risk of prostate cancer in PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases. Pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were accepted to evaluate the association between 5-ARI and the risk of prostate cancer. Synthetic results implied that subjects who accepted 5-ARI compared with the placebo group experienced a distinctly weakened overall incidence of prostate cancer (RR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.66-0.82; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses further revealed that 5-ARI reduction of the incidence of prostate cancer was limited to low-grade (Gleason score 2-6; RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.57-0.81; P < 0.001) and intermediate-grade tumors (Gleason score 7; RR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.97; P = 0.023), but not high-grade tumors (Gleason score >7; RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.98-1.43; P = 0.069). The results also showed that 5-ARI treatment did not significantly alter prostate cancer-specific mortality (RR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.95-1.05; P = 0.916). In addition, it was worth noting that 5-ARI treatment acted in a protective role that presented a dramatic benefit to delay the progression of low-risk tumors (RR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.43-0.78; P < 0.001).

Predictive significance of serum inhibin B on testicular haploid gamete retrieval outcomes in nonobstructive azoospermic men.

The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum inhibin B (INHB) as a predictor of the retrieval outcome of testicular haploid gametes (spermatids and testicular spermatozoa) in nonobstructive azoospermic men. Serum hormone levels, testicular volume, and histological evaluation were performed in 403 Chinese nonobstructive azoospermic men. Testicular haploid gamete was successfully retrieved in 213 of 403 patients (52.85%). The haploid gamete group always had higher INHB levels than the non-haploid gamete group. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, INHB was a good predictor of testicular haploid gamete retrieval outcome in all patients (sensitivity: 77.93% and specificity: 91.58%) and patients with normal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; sensitivity: 88.52% and specificity: 70.83%). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of INHB was similar to that of FSH in all patients or patients with normal FSH. In patients with elevated FSH, INHB was superior to FSH in predicting the presence of haploid gamete (AUC: 0.73 vs 0.55, P < 0.05), with a sensitivity of 60.00% and a specificity of 80.28%. It concluded that serum INHB as an effective marker for spermatogenesis was a significant predictor of testicular haploid gamete retrieval outcomes in nonobstructive azoospermic men. Especially, INHB is superior to FSH in predicting the presence of haploid gamete in the patients with elevated FSH.

[Treatment of femoral shaft fractures by closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical effect of closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing in the treatment of femoral shaft fracture. METHODS: From March 2006 to December 2011,103 patients with femoral shaft fracture were treated by closed reduction and interlocking intramedullary nailing including 76 males and 27 females with an average age of 36 years old ranging from 19 to 55 years old. According to AO classification,there were 64 cases with type A,27 with type B, 12 with type C. Thirteen cases were open fractures including 5 cases with Gustilo type I , 8 with Gustilo type II . The time of bone healing were observed after operation, the knee function recovery was evaluated by HSS scoring standard at 1 year after operation. RESULTS: The intraoperative complications included femoral neck fracture in 1 case and proximal femoral fracture in 1 case,both of the patients were treated with reconstructive intramedullary interlocking nail and the fractures healed postoperatively. One patient was suffered from common peroneal nerve injury,which were fully recovered at 4 months later after medical treatment. All the patients were followed up from 12 to 28 months (averaged 22 months). All of the fractures were healed well and the average healing time was 3 to 9 months (averaged 5 months). All the hip joints were recovered to normal function. The average HSS was 90.89±5.06 at 1 year after operation. CONCLUSION: Interlocking intramedullary nailing is the preferred treatment for patients with femoral shaft fracture. Carefully operating and closed reduction can reduce the complications.

[pH buffering capacity of landfill leachate contaminated aquifer sediments in different redox zones].

A simulated column filled with fine sand was constructed to investigate pH buffering capacity of aquifer sediments and its variation in different redox zones. Experimental results indicated that background pH buffering capacity of sediments was 324.93 pH(-1) mmol/kg, and the buffering capacities of cation exchange, calcium carbonate, silicate and secondary were 41.77 x pH(-1), 86.53 pH(-1), 47.33 pH(-1) and 149.31 x pH(-1) mmol/kg, respectively. pH buffering capacity increased 12.4%, 10.8%, 19.8% and 11.1% in MGZ/SRZ, IRZ, NRZ and ORZ, respectively. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base exchangeable cation (BEC) content of sediments in redox zones were lower than background content which was 11.59 x pH(-1) and 8.52 x pH(-1) mmol/kg, respectively. Base cation saturation was increasing first and then then decreasing, and it was higher than background of 63.47%. Therefore, the aquifer sediments have high pH buffering capacity. Research on the pH buffering capacity of landfill leachate polluted aquifer sediments in redox zones could provide theoretical evidences for remediation of polluted sites.

[Influences of matter variations on pollution buffer capacity of landfill leachate polluted subsurface environment].

Columns filled with fine sand were constructed to investigate influences of subsurface environment and main constituent variations caused by landfill leachate pollution on pH buffer capacity and redox buffer capacity of sediments. Experimental results indicated that the subsurface environment had significant impacts on pH and redox buffer capacity. The pH buffer capacity increased 12.4%, 10.8%, 19.8% and 11.1% in MGZ/SRZ, IRZ, NRZ and ORZ compared with background value, respectively. pH buffer and redox buffer were interaction and inter-promotion, which influenced natural attenuation processes of pollutants in subsurface directly. Content of iron oxides, organic substrate, SOC2(2-) and NH4+ -N in sediments had different impacts on pH buffer and redox buffer capacity, and the overall pollution buffer capacity of system was comprehensive results of constituents.

[pH buffering capacity of geological media on landfill leachate].

The one-dimensional breakthrough soil column experiment and static experiment were constructed to investigate the spacial and temporal pH buffering capacity of the four natural geological media. Experimental results indicate that the background pH buffering capacity of fine sand, silt sand and clay is 79.9 x pH(-1) mmol/kg, 207.5 x pH(-1) mmol/kg, 456.4 x pH(-1) mmol/kg respectively. With the time going on and the distance closer to the leaching source, for each medium which is contaminated by the landfill leachate, the total pH buffering capacity decreases, the buffering capacity of calcium carbonate buffering system decreases, the buffering capacity of the silicate and cation exchange buffering system have no obvious changes, and the buffering capacity of the aluminium and ferric oxide buffering system also decrease, but the soil's buffering capacity of aluminium buffering system increases at first and then decreases. The temporal and spacial buffering capacity for each buffering system of the fine sand all increase appreciably. The order of the pH buffering capacity of the geological media on landfill leachate is fine sand < silt sand < clay < soil. The soil and clay have a good pH buffering capacity on landfill leachate as well as the controlling effect of the pollutants' transferring and diffusion.

[Redox zones and its functional bacteria in a contaminated landfill site].

A column filled with sandy soil was constructed to investigate biogeochemical process of leachate polluted zones. Experimental results demonstrated that four sequent redox zones appeared in pollution plume. The zones can be named sulfate reduction zone, iron reduction zone, nitrate reduction zone and oxygen reduction zone, ranges of them were 0-27 cm, 27-62 cm, 47-74 cm, 74-91 cm. In the redox zones bacterial community structure changed, and the preponderant bacteria were sulfate reduction bacteria (SRB), iron reduction bacteria (IRB), nitrate reduction bacteria (NRB) correspondingly, however there were other bacteria in the redox zones. Distribution of redox zones and functional bacteria means that there is not a significant boundary between redox zones, moreover one redox zone overlaps others. Evolvement of functional bacterial community brings the redox zones substitute.

1-Benzoyl-N-phenyl-cyclo-propane-carboxamide.

The title compound, C(17)H(15)NO(2), was synthesized by reaction of 1,2-dibromo-ethane with 1-benzoyl-N-phenyl-cyclo-propane-carboxamide and K(2)CO(3) in dimethyl-formamide. The mol-ecule exhibits a V-shaped conformation in the crystal with a dihedral angle of 88.7 (3)° between the two benzene rings. Pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into dimers about centres of inversion.

[Analysis of the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni in thymopeptide and transfer factor biological injections].

Thymopeptide and transfer factor are two common clinic biological preparations, which are used to cure immunodeficiency, low immunofunction or infectious disease caused by virus or fungi owing to their functions of increasing body immunity. In order to discuss the relationship between trace elements and those related diseases, to coordinate sound clinic use of the preparations and to provide productive data on them, atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to detect the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni in thymopeptide and transfer factor biological preparations. Respective contents of detected elements were compared in a statistical way. Results show that Zn and Co contents in thymopeptide were lower than in transfer factor; the contents of Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, in thymopeptide were higher than in transfer factor. For Zn, Cu, Mn and Co, there was a significant difference between the two biologicam preparations (P<0.01). For Fe and Ni there was a great difference (Q<0.05). The results can provide useful data for sound clinic biological injection to promote immune function, and for increasing or decreasing certain trace elements in preparation.

[Analysis of the contents of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in serum of middle and old-aged hypertension patients].

Atomic absorption method was used to detect the contents of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in serum of 48 hypertension patients and 52 healthy people. The results show that the contents of Na, Mg, Zn, Fe and Mn in hypertension were higher than healthy control, while K, Ca and Cu were lower. Na/K were higher, but Ca/Mg and Cu/Zn were lower, than healthy control. These suggested that we should add K, Ca, Mg and Cu properly, reduce Na, scientifically control the increase of Zn, Fe and Mn, pay attention to the balance relation of Na/K, Ca/Mg and Cu/Zn, reduce Na/K, raise Cu/Zn, and add Ca with Mg properly. This can be useful for preventing and treating hypertension.

[Determination of the content of inorganic elements in taponin tablet recipe].

The content of seven inorganic elements in Taponin tablet recipe, including calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and cadmium were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that there were comparatively rich inorganic metal elements. Content of the seven metal elements is that iron > calcium > magnesium > zincr > copper > manganese > cadmium, the content of iron was higher significantly than other inorganic elements in Taponin tablet recipe. It provided useful data for discussing the relationship between the content of inorganic elements in Chinese traditional medicines recipe and the quality control of the recipe, for studying the relationship between the trace element in Chinese traditional medicines recipe and cure for the heart and brain blood vessel disease.

[Determination of the contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn in suxiao jiuxin pill and the analysis of Ca/Mg and Cu/Zn values].

The content of five metal elements in Suxiao Jiuxin pill, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The ratio of Ca/Mg and Cu/Zn in Suxiao Jiuxin pill had been studied. The results showed that calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc elements in Suxiao Jiuxin pill have comparatively rich. Contents of elements are that calcium is more than iron, iron is more than magnesium, magnesium is more than zinc, zinc is more than copper. It has provided useful data for probing into the relationship between calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc in Suxiao Jiuxin pill and treating coronary heart disease.

[Determination of Na, Mn, Mg, Cr and Ni in 10 Chinese traditional medicines by FAAS].

Five metallic elements in 10 Chinese traditional medicines such as Na, Mn, Mg, Cr and Ni were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results show that there are rich metal elements, but the contents are different in 10 Chinese traditional medicines. Among them, the content of Na element is the highest in Naosaitong; the content of milligram is the highest in Zhongfenghuichunpian; the content of Mn is the highest in Qianglitianmaduzhong pill; but in Xiaoshuantongluo capsule, the contents of Cr and Ni are higher. And it provide useful data for discussing between trace elements in Chinese traditional medicines and the cure for cerebrovascular.

[Analysis of K, Na, Ca and Mg in yingpingwanbixiao and yingpingwanbitong].

The contents of K, Na, Ca and Mg in three Yingpingwanbixiao and one Yingpingwanbitong were determined by FAAS. The results showed that the contents of K, Na, Ca and Mg in Yingpingwanbixiao and Yingpingwanbitong were all abundant. This paper provided useful data for the relationship between the therapeutic efficacy and the contents of magnificence elements in Yingpingwanbixiao and Yingpingwanbitong.