[Effect of vitamin D3 on mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetic mice and its possible mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vitamin D3 on mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetic mice and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Male db/db mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the diabetes mellitus (DM) group, the low dose [250 IU/(kg·d)], medium dose [500 IU/ (kg·d)] and high dose [1 000 IU/(kg·d)] vitamin D3 intervention groups. The db/m mice were enrolled as the normal control group. The mice in vitamin D3 groups were gavaged with corresponding concentration of vitamin D3 in corn oil, and the mice in the normal control group and the DM group were gavaged with corn oil. After being fed for 16 weeks, fasting blood glucose of mice in each group was measured at the end of 0, 4, 8 and 16 weeks, and the new object recognition experiment was conducted at the end of 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the hippocampi and cortices of mice in each group were collected, and the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the hippocampal tissues of mice in each group were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) in the hippocampal tissues of the mice. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the fasting blood glucose of mice in DM group was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The exploration and discrimination index (DI) in the new object recognition experiment were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The concentrations of 5-HT in the hippocampal tissues of mice were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The concentrations of IL-18 in cortical tissues of mice were significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the positive expression of NLRP3 in the hippocampal tissues was higher. However, compared with the DM group, the fasting blood glucose of mice was significantly decreased in the medium and high dose vitamin D3 groups at the end of 8 and 16 weeks (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The exploration and DI of mice in the new object recognition experiment were significantly increased in high dose vitamin D3 group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of 5-HT in hippocampal tissues were significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the concentrations of IL-18 in cortical tissues were significantly decreased in the medium and high dose vitamin D3 groups (P < 0.01). The positive expression of NLRP3 in hippocampal tissues was reduced in all the vitamin D3 groups. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D3 might reduce the inflammatory response by inhibiting the activity of NLRP3, and thus ameliorating mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetic mice.

Identification of the GAPDH gene family in Citrullus lanatus and functional characteristics of ClGAPC2 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Members of the GAPDH family play important roles in plant growth and development, as well as in stress responses. Our aim was to identify stress resistance genes through systematic analysis of the GAPDH family in watermelon. This could not only provide genetic resources for stress resistance breeding, but also form a basis for the study of plant stress resistance mechanisms. Eight GAPDHs representing four types of plant GAPDH in watermelon were identified (ClGAPA/B, ClGAPC1-3, ClGAPCp1-2 and ClGAPN). A comprehensive analysis of physicochemical properties, chromosome distribution, evolutionary relationships, exon-intron structure and conserved motifs of watermelon GAPDHs was performed using bioinformatics. Expression characteristics were assessed by RT-qPCR. Based on RT-qPCR results, ClGAPC2 was screened as a candidate for subcellular localization analysis and functional verification in Arabidopsis thaliana. Eight GAPDHs were classified into four subfamilies. GAPDHs in each subgroup were generally conserved and shared similarities in structure and conserved motifs. ClGAPDHs had notable tissue specificity and different expression patterns in response to H2 O2 , chilling, salt, osmotic stress, heat, salicylic acid, gibberellin, brassinosterol, ethylene and abscisic acid treatments. Three ClGAPC genes, especially ClGAPC2, were markedly induced by several treatments. ClGAPC2 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm of tabacum epidermal cells. The ClGAPC2 transgenic Arabidopsis showed enhanced tolerance to salinity at the germination stage. We suggest that ClGAPC2 plays important roles in the adaptation of watermelon to salinity. Our findings provided candidate genes for further improving the salt tolerance of watermelon.

[Research progress in titanium mesh application for bone augmentation in oral implantology].

Guided bone regeneration technique is a conventional method to repair various bone defects among series of techniques for bone augmentation around implant. Due to the excellent mechanical properties and biological compatibility, titanium mesh has unique advantages in the application of guided bone regeneration technology, such as broad clinical indications, high stability in osteogenesis. Though there are still some complications during the application of titanium mesh, a number of studies have tried to prevent the complications, so as to increase the success rate of bone augmentation surgery. This review elaborates the characteristics of titanium mesh, conventional clinical applications, common complications in application, and the research progress of its application and improvement, in order to provide reference for the improvement of titanium mesh in clinical and research applications.

[Cumulative risk assessment of phthalates exposure in preschool children].

Objective: The urine concentrations of phthalate metabolites were used to estimate the cumulative risk assessment in preschool children in Ma'anshan of Anhui province. Methods: Based on the China-Anhui Birth Cohort, the demographic information and urine samples of 3 743 children were collected in Ma'anshan from April 2014 to April 2015. The concentrations of 7 metabolites' [monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono (2-ethyl- 5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP)] of 5 phthalates [dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)] in the urine samples of the children were measured by solid-phase extration-triple quadrupole high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-isotope method. In addition, the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of 5 phthalates were calculated according to the metabolites' concentrations. Cumulative risk assessment was performed using hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) methods. Results: The M (Q(R)) of seven metabolite concentrations were 29.58 (18.69-48.26), 26.65 (13.44-56.09), 256.86 (150.99-438.51), 0.12 (0.04-0.32), 6.27 (3.71-11.13), 17.94 (11.94-28.42) and 24.80 (16.05-40.32) µg/g creatinine, respectively. For the EDIs of 5 phthalates, DBP ranked first, followed by DEHP, DMP, DEP and BBzP with the M (Q(R)) of 7.54 (4.41-12.85), 3.35 (2.20-5.42), 0.75 (0.47-1.24), 0.71 (0.36-1.52) and 0.003 (0.001-0.009) µg/(kg·d), respectively. The HQ and HI varied with age, gender and sampling season, the differences were significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicated that risk of cumulative exposure to phthalates was high in preschool children aged 3-6 years in Ma'anshan. Age, gender and sampling season were influencing factors.

[Association between the internal exposure levels of phthalates and executive function of preschool children].

Objective: To investigate the association between the internal exposure levels of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and executive function (EF) of preschool children. Methods: Between October 2008 and October 2010, pregnant women who accepted pregnancy health care services in four municipal medical and health institutions in Ma'anshan city, Anhui Province, were recruited as study objects. A total of 5 084 pregnant women and 4 669 singleton live births were enrolled in this cohort. The follow-up study was conducted from April 2014 to April 2015. A total of 3 725 data-completed preschool children aged 3 to 6 years older entered in this study. The method of analysis seven metabolites of phthalates in urine was high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and divided objects into low (P(0)-P(24)), medium (P(25)-P(74)) and high (P(75)-P(100)) groups according to their exposure concentrations. To investigate the executive function of preschool children, we used the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). Univariate and multivariate statistical method was used to analyze the etiology association between the phthalate metabolites levels and preschool children's executive function. Results: In this study, 53.6% (1 997/3 725) of preschoolers were boys, children's age was (51.5±5.6) months. The detection rates of seven phthalate esters were: mono-n-methyl phthalate (MMP) was 99.89% (3 721/3 725); mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) was 99.97% (3 724/3 725); mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) was 69.10% (2 574/3 725); mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono- (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) were 100.00% and mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) was 99.95% (3 723/3 725). The median concentrations of the seven phthalate metabolites were: 17.71, 15.36, 0.07, 155.24, 10.73, 14.67, 3.59 µg/L, respectively. The median concentrations corrected by urinary creatinine were 29.65, 26.65, 0.12, 257.73, 17.94, 24.80, 6.27 µg/g Cr, respectively. The P(25) and P(7)5 concentration of the total PAEs metabolites corrected by urinary creatinine were 1.20 µmol/g Cr and 3.04 µmol/g Cr. After adjusted the relevant demographic information: children sex, children age in month, maternal age, parental education levels, household exposure to secondhand smoke and whether the child is the only child as confounds, multivariate logistic regression model showed that the risk of inhibitory self-control index (ISCI) dysplasia in MEHHP high concentration group and MEOHP high concentration group were 1.71 and 1.54 times (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.11-2.62; OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.34) than in low concentration group. The risk of ISCI dysplasia in total PAEs metabolites high concentration group was 1.55 times (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.00-2.38) than in low concentration group. Conclusion: Phthalates exposure may damage the executive function of preschool children.

Methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism analysis of Verticillium wilt-stressed cotton (Gossypium).

In this study, a methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analysis system was used to analyze DNA methylation level in three cotton accessions. Two disease-sensitive near-isogenic lines, PD94042 and IL41, and one disease-resistant Gossypium mustelinum accession were exposed to Verticillium wilt, to investigate molecular disease resistance mechanisms in cotton. We observed multiple different DNA methylation types across the three accessions following Verticillium wilt exposure. These included hypomethylation, hypermethylation, and other patterns. In general, the global DNA methylation level was significantly increased in the disease-resistant accession G. mustelinum following disease exposure. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the disease-sensitive accession PD94042, and a significant decrease was observed in IL41. Our results suggest that disease-resistant cotton might employ a mechanism to increase methylation level in response to disease stress. The differing methylation patterns, together with the increase in global DNA methylation level, might play important roles in tolerance to Verticillium wilt in cotton. Through cloning and analysis of differently methylated DNA sequences, we were also able to identify several genes that may contribute to disease resistance in cotton. Our results revealed the effect of DNA methylation on cotton disease resistance, and also identified genes that played important roles, which may shed light on the future cotton disease-resistant molecular breeding.

Development of EST-SSR markers related to disease resistance and their application in genetic diversity and evolution analysis in Gossypium.

Cotton (Gossypium spp) is one of the most economically important crops that provide the world's most widely used natural fiber. Diseases such as Fusarium wilt and particularly Verticillium wilt seriously affect cotton production, and thus breeding for disease resistance is one of the most important goals of cotton breeding programs. Currently, potential exists to improve disease resistance in cultivated cotton. Increasing the understanding of the distribution, structure, and organization of genes or quantitative trait loci for disease resistance will help the breeders improve crop yield even in the event of disease. To facilitate the mapping of disease-resistance quantitative trait loci to achieve disease-resistant molecular breeding in cotton, it is necessary to develop polymorphic molecular markers. The objective of this study was to develop simple sequence repeat markers based on cotton expressed sequence tags for disease resistance. The efficacy of these simple sequence repeat markers, their polymorphisms, and cross-species transferability were evaluated. Their value was further investigated based on genetic diversity and evolution analysis. In this study, the unique sequences used to develop markers were compared with the G. arboretum and G. raimondii genome sequences to investigate their position, homology, and collinearity between G. arboretum and G. raimondii.

Role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the treatment of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to observe the influence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on airway inflammation and chemokine expression in asthmatic rats and to explore its significance in the treatment of asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (N), an asthma group (A), a 1,25-(OH)2D3 group (VD), a budesonide group (P) and a 1,25-(OH)2D3 + budesonide treatment group (L). The acute asthma models were established through ovalbumin sensitisation and challenge. Lung tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin to observe pathologic changes, whereas an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine serum IgE, as well as the eosinophil chemoattractant protein (eotaxin) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the serum. RESULTS: VD treatment partially reversed the characteristic pathological changes of airway inflammation. The IgE, eotaxin, and IL-8 expression levels in the VD group were significantly lower than those in the A group (p < 0.05) but remained higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1,25-(OH)2D3 reduces airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling by partially inhibiting chemokine production during airway inflammation, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 synergises with hormone therapy.

Prevention and treatment of diarrhoea with Saccharomyces boulardii in children with acute lower respiratory tract infections.

The aim of this study was to determine whether Saccharomyces boulardii prevents and treats diarrhoea and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) in children. A total of 333 hospitalised children with acute lower respiratory tract infection were enrolled in a 2-phase open randomised controlled trial. During the 1st phase, all children received intravenous antibiotics (AB). They were randomly allocated to group A (S. boulardii 500 mg/day + AB, n=167) or group B (AB alone, n=166) and followed for 2 weeks. Diarrhoea was defined as ≥3 loose/watery stools/day during at least 2 days, occurring during treatment and/or up to 2 weeks after AB therapy had stopped. AAD was considered when diarrhoea was caused by Clostridium difficile or when stool cultures remained negative. In the 2nd phase of the study, group B patients who developed diarrhoea were randomly allocated to two sub-groups: group B1 (S. boulardii + oral rehydration solution (ORS)) and group B2 (ORS alone). Data from 283 patients were available for analysis. Diarrhoea prevalence was lower in group A than in group B (11/139 (7.9%) vs. 42/144 (29.2%); relative risk (RR): 0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.5). S. boulardii reduced the risk of AAD (6/139 (4.3%) vs. 28/144 (19.4%); RR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.1-0.5). When group B patients developed diarrhoea (n=42), S. boulardii treatment during 5 days (group B1) resulted in lower stool frequency (P<0.05) and higher recovery rate (91.3% in group B1 vs. 21.1% in B2; P<0.001). The mean duration of diarrhoea in group B1 was shorter (2.31±0.95 vs. 8.97±1.07 days; P<0.001). No adverse effects related to S. boulardii were observed. S. boulardii appeared to be effective in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoea and AAD in children treated with intravenous antibiotics.