Relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and the severity of angiographic atherosclerosis in patients with H-type hypertension and coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate coronary artery disease (CAD) and its correlation with the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) in patients with H-type hypertension (essential hypertension combined with hyper-homocysteinemia) and coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Patients with essential hypertension and CHD who were undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. The general clinical data, biochemical indicators, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results and coronary angiography results of the selected patients were collected, and the AASI and Gensini scores were calculated. According to homocysteine (Hcy) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: a study group and a control group. The differences in general clinical data, biochemical indexes, AASI scores and degree of coronary artery lesions between the two groups were compared. The correlation between the AASI and the Gensini score and the relationship between the AASI and the Gensini score of CAD and various factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the Hcy level in the study group was significantly increased (8.16 ± 2.33 vs 19.20 ± 2.36, P = .001). The 24-h diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (76.38 ± 9.33 vs 79.91 ± 9.25, P = .002), and the AASI was significantly higher than in the control group (0.62 ± 0.81 vs 0.420 ± 0.70, P = .001). The number of patients having coronary stenoses with a Gensini score of ≤ 38 was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (21.3% vs 49.4%, P < .001). The number of patients with a Gensini score of ≥ 51 in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group (22.0% vs 18.8%, P < .001). There was a significant positive correlation between the AASI and the Gensini score in the study group (R = 0.732, P < .001). Hypertension duration (ß = 0.168), diabetes history (ß = 0.236), 24-h SBP (ß = 0.122), 24-h DBP (ß = -0.131), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ß = 0.134) and Hcy (ß = 0.233) were the influencing factors for AASI (P < .05). Both Hcy * AASI (ß = 0.356) and Hcy × 24-h HR (ß = 0.331) had a synergistic effect on the Gensini score (P = .017), with Hcy * AASI having a more significant effect on the Gensini score (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The AASI was significantly increased in patients with H-type hypertension and CHD, which was associated with the severity of CAD. Therefore, Hcy levels and the AASI have a synergistic effect when evaluating the severity of CAD in patients with hypertensive CHD.

Nicotinamide n-Oxide Attenuates HSV-1-Induced Microglial Inflammation through Sirtuin-1/NF-κB Signaling.

HSV-1 is a typical neurotropic virus that infects the brain and causes keratitis, cold sores, and occasionally, acute herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). The large amount of proinflammatory cytokines induced by HSV-1 infection is an important cause of neurotoxicity in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia, as resident macrophages in CNS, are the first line of defense against neurotropic virus infection. Inhibiting the excessive production of inflammatory cytokines in overactivated microglia is a crucial strategy for the treatment of HSE. In the present study, we investigated the effect of nicotinamide n-oxide (NAMO), a metabolite mainly produced by gut microbe, on HSV-1-induced microglial inflammation and HSE. We found that NAMO significantly inhibits the production of cytokines induced by HSV-1 infection of microglia, such as IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. In addition, NAMO promotes the transition of microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 type to the anti-inflammatory M2 type. More detailed studies revealed that NAMO enhances the expression of Sirtuin-1 and its deacetylase enzymatic activity, which in turn deacetylates the p65 subunit to inhibit NF-κB signaling, resulting in reduced inflammatory response and ameliorated HSE pathology. Therefore, Sirtuin-1/NF-κB axis may be promising therapeutic targets against HSV-1 infection-related diseases including HSE.

Capture Hi-C reveals the influence on dynamic three-dimensional chromosome organization perturbed by genetic variation or vanillin stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Studying the mechanisms of resistance to vanillin in microorganisms, which is derived from lignin and blocks a major pathway of DNA double-strand break repair in yeast, will benefit the design of robust cell factories that produce biofuels and chemicals using lignocellulosic materials. A high vanillin-tolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain EMV-8 carrying site mutations compared to its parent strain NAN-27 was selected for the analyses. The dynamics of the chromatin structure of eukaryotic cells play a critical role in transcription and the regulation of gene expression and thus the phenotype. Consequently, Hi-C and transcriptome analyses were conducted in EMV-8 and NAN-27 in the log phase with or without vanillin stress to determine the effects of mutations and vanillin disturbance on the dynamics of three-dimensional chromosome organization and the influence of the organization on the transcriptome. The outcomes indicated that the chromosome interaction pattern disturbed by vanillin stress or genetic mutations in the log phase was similar to that in mouse cells. The short chromosomes contact the short chromosomes, and the long chromosomes contact the long chromosomes. In response to vanillin stress, the boundaries of the topologically associating domain (TAD) in the vanillin-tolerant strain EMV-8 were more stable than those in its parent strain NAN-27. The motifs of SFL1, STB3, and NHP6A/B were enriched at TAD boundaries in both EMV-8 and NAN-27 with or without vanillin, indicating that these four genes were probably related to TAD formation. The Indel mutation of YRR1, whose absence was confirmed to benefit vanillin tolerance in EMV-8, caused two new interaction sites that contained three genes, WTM2, PUP1, and ALE1, whose overexpression did not affect vanillin resistance in yeast. Overall, our results revealed that in the log phase, genetic mutations and vanillin disturbance have a negligible effect on three-dimensional chromosome organization, and the reformation or disappearance of TAD boundaries did not show an association with gene expression, which provides an example for studying yeast chromatin structure during stress tolerance using Hi-C technology.

TRIM21 Regulates Virus-Induced Cell Pyroptosis through Polyubiquitination of ISG12a.

Pyroptosis is a form of regulated cell death mediated by the gasdermin protein family. During virus infection, cell pyroptosis restricts viral replication. The mechanisms of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) against viruses have been studied. The role of TRIMs and ISGs in pyroptosis remains unclear. In this study, we show that TRIM21 interacts with ISG12a in viral infection and facilitates its translocation into the mitochondria by promoting its ubiquitination, thereby causing caspase 3 activation. Gasdermin E (GSDME) is specifically cleaved by caspase 3 upon viral infection, releasing the GSDME N-terminal domain, perforating the cell membrane, and causing cell pyroptosis. Our study uncovers a new mechanism of TRIM21 and ISG12a in regulating virus-induced cell pyroptosis.

The Role of REC8 in the Innate Immune Response to Viral Infection.

REC8 meiotic recombination protein (REC8) is a member of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein partners, which play an important role in meiosis, antitumor activity, and sperm formation. As the adaptor proteins of RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-DNA signaling, the activity and stability of MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein; also known as VISA, Cardif, and IPS-1) and STING (stimulator of interferon genes; also known as MITA) are critical for innate immunity. Here, we report that REC8 interacts with MAVS and STING and inhibits their ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, thereby promoting innate antiviral signaling. REC8 is upregulated through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway during viral infection. Knockdown of REC8 impairs the innate immune responses against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Mechanistically, during infection with viruses, the SUMOylated REC8 is transferred from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and then interacts with MAVS and STING to inhibit their K48-linked ubiquitination triggered by RNF5. Moreover, REC8 promotes the recruitment of TBK1 to MAVS and STING. Thus, REC8 functions as a positive modulator of innate immunity. Our work highlights a previously undocumented role of meiosis-associated protein REC8 in regulating innate immunity. IMPORTANCE The innate immune response is crucial for the host to resist the invasion of viruses and other pathogens. STING and MAVS play a critical role in the innate immune response to DNA and RNA viral infection, respectively. In this study, REC8 promoted the innate immune response by targeting STING and MAVS. Notably, REC8 interacts with MAVS and STING in the cytoplasm and inhibits K48-linked ubiquitination of MAVS and STING triggered by RNF5, stabilizing MAVS and STING protein to promote innate immunity and gradually inhibiting viral infection. Our study provides a new insight for the study of antiviral innate immunity.

A new froth image classification method based on the MRMR-SSGMM hybrid model for recognition of reagent dosage condition in the coal flotation process.

Intelligent separation is a core technology in the transformation, upgradation, and high-quality development of coal. Realising the intelligent recognition and accurate classification of coal flotation froth is a key technology of intelligent separation. At present, the coal flotation process relies on artificial recognition of froth features for adjusting the reagent dosage. However, owing to the low accuracy and subjectivity of artificial recognition, some problems arise, such as reagent wastage and unqualified product quality. Thus, this paper proposes a new froth image classification method based on the maximal-relevance-minimal-redundancy (MR MR)-semi-supervised Gaussian mixture model (SSGMM) hybrid model for recognition of reagent dosage condition in the coal flotation process. First, the features of morphology, colour, and texture are extracted, and the optimal froth image features are screened out using the maximal-relevance-minimal-redundancy (MRMR) feature selection algorithm based on class information. Second, the traditional GMM clusterer is improved, called SSGMM, by introducing a small number of marked samples, the traditional GMM' problems of unclear training goals, invisible clustering results, and artificially judged clustering results are solved. Then a new hybrid classification model is proposed by combining the MRMR with the modified GMM (SSGMM) which can be named as (MRMR - SSGMM). The optimal froth image features are screened by MRMR to provide the SSGMM classifier. In the process of training and learning the feature samples, using the marked feature samples of froth images to guide the unmarked feature samples. The information of marked feature samples of froth images is mapped to the unmarked feature samples, the classification of the froth images were realised. Finally, the accuracy of the SSGMM classifier is used as the evaluation criterion for the screened features by MRMR. By automatically executing the entire learning process to find the best number of froth image features and the optimal image features, so that the classifier achieves the maximum classification accuracy. Experimental results show that the proposed classification method achieves the best results in accuracy and time, compared with other benchmark classification methods. Application results show that the method can provide reliable guidance for the adjustment of the reagent dosage, realize the accurate and timely control of the reagent dosage, reduce the consumption of the reagent and the incidence of production accidents, and stabilize the product quality in the coal flotation production process.

Proteomic analysis revealed the roles of YRR1 deletion in enhancing the vanillin resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

BACKGROUND: Vanillin is one of the important phenolic inhibitors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials and has been reported to inhibit the translation process in cells. In our previous studies, it was confirmed that the deletion of the transcription factor gene YRR1 enhanced vanillin resistance by promoting some translation-related processes at the transcription level. In this work, we investigated the effects of proteomic changes upon induction of vanillin stress and deletion of YRR1 to provide unique perspectives from a transcriptome analysis for comprehending the mechanisms of YRR1 deletion in the protective response of yeast to vanillin. RESULTS: In wild-type cells, vanillin reduced two dozens of ribosomal proteins contents while upregulated proteins involved in glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and the pentose phosphate pathway in cells. The ratios of NADPH/NADP+ and NADH/NAD+ were increased when cells responded to vanillin stress. The differentially expressed proteins perturbed by YRR1 deletion were much more abundant than and showed no overlaps with transcriptome changes, indicating that Yrr1 affects the synthesis of certain proteins. Forty-eight of 112 upregulated proteins were involved in the stress response, translational and transcriptional regulation. YRR1 deletion increased the expression of HAA1-encoding transcriptional activator, TMA17-encoding proteasome assembly chaperone and MBF1-encoding coactivator at the protein level, as confirmed by ELISA. Cultivation data showed that the overexpression of HAA1 and TMA17 enhanced resistance to vanillin in S. cerevisiae. CONCLUSIONS: Cells conserve energy by decreasing the content of ribosomal proteins, producing more energy and NAD(P)H for survival in response to vanillin stress. Yrr1 improved vanillin resistance by increasing the protein quantities of Haa1, Tma17 and Mbf1. These results showed the response of S. cerevisiae to vanillin and how YRR1 deletion increases vanillin resistance at the protein level. These findings may advance our knowledge of how YRR1 deletion protects yeast from vanillin stress and offer novel targets for genetic engineering of designing inhibitor-resistant ethanologenic yeast strains.

TRIM10 binds to IFN-α/ß receptor 1 to negatively regulate type I IFN signal transduction.

The type I interferon (IFN-I) system is important for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Prolonged activation of IFN/JAK/STAT signaling is closely associated with autoimmune diseases. TRIM10 dysfunction may be associated closely with certain autoimmune disorders. Here, we observed that the serum TRIM10 protein level is lower in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than in healthy control subjects. We speculated the possible involvement of TRIM10-induced modulation of the IFN/JAK/STAT signaling pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus. In line with our hypothesis, TRIM10 inhibited the activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway triggered by various stimuli. TRIM10 restricted the IFN-I/JAK/STAT signaling pathway, which was independent of its E3 ligase activity. Mechanistically, TRIM10 interacted with the intracellular domain of IFNAR1 and blocked the association of IFNAR1 with TYK2. These data suggest the possible TRIM10 suppresses IFN/JAK/STAT signaling pathway through blocking the interaction between IFNAR1 and TYK2. Targeting TRIM10 is a potential strategy for treating autoimmune diseases.

Hsp90 Inhibitors Inhibit the Entry of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Into Neuron Cells by Regulating Cofilin-Mediated F-Actin Reorganization.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a common neurotropic virus, the herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) caused by which is considered to be the most common sporadic but fatal encephalitis. Traditional antiviral drugs against HSV-1 are limited to nucleoside analogs targeting viral factors. Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) has potent anti-HSV-1 activities via numerous mechanisms, but the effects of Hsp90 inhibitors on HSV-1 infection in neuronal cells, especially in the phase of virus entry, are still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the Hsp90 inhibitors on HSV-1 infection of neuronal cells. Interestingly, we found that Hsp90 inhibitors promoted viral adsorption but inhibited subsequent penetration in neuronal cell lines and primary neurons, which jointly confers the antiviral activity of the Hsp90 inhibitors. Mechanically, Hsp90 inhibitors mainly impaired the interaction between Hsp90 and cofilin, resulting in reduced cofilin membrane distribution, which led to F-actin polymerization to promote viral attachment. However, excessive polymerization of F-actin inhibited subsequent viral penetration. Consequently, unidirectional F-actin polymerization limits the entry of HSV-1 virions into neuron cells. Our research extended the molecular mechanism of Hsp90 in HSV-1 infection in neuron cells and provided a theoretical basis for developing antiviral drugs targeting Hsp90.

CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Regulatory B cells Involved in Hepatic Alveolar Hydatid Infection in Humans.

In larval Echinococcus multilocularis infections causing alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in humans, immune tolerance and/or down-regulation of protective immunity is a marked characteristic of this chronic disease. In order to probe whether CD19+CD24hiCD38hi regulatory B cells (Bregs) took part in the immune suppression, the frequencies of these cells in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the level of IL-10 and TGF-ß were detected in serum through ELISA of AE patients and healthy individuals. The distribution of IL-10 and TGF-ß in hepatic tissue close to or distant from the lesion of AE patients was detected by immunohistochemistry separately. The results showed that the frequencies of Bregs and the level of IL-10 and TGF-ß increased significantly in AE patients compared with healthy individuals and the distribution of IL-10 and TGF-ß in hepatic tissue close to the lesion was more abundant than in the hepatic tissue distant from lesion. Taken together, the Bregs frequency and the interrelated cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-ß) have a positive correlation to the hepatic alveolar hydatid infection in humans.

Genome mining of 2-phenylethanol biosynthetic genes from Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087 and heterologous overproduction in Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: 2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) is a higher aromatic alcohol that is widely used in the perfumery, cosmetics, and food industries and is also a potentially valuable next-generation biofuel. In our previous study, a new strain Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087 was isolated to produce 2-PE from glucose through the phenylpyruvate pathway. RESULTS: In this study, candidate genes for 2-PE biosynthesis were identified from Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087 by draft whole-genome sequence, metabolic engineering, and shake flask fermentation. Subsequently, the identified genes encoding the 2-keto acid decarboxylase (Kdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) enzymes from Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087 were introduced into E. coli BL21(DE3) to construct a high-efficiency microbial cell factory for 2-PE production using the prokaryotic phenylpyruvate pathway. The enzymes Kdc4427 and Adh4428 from Enterobacter sp. CGMCC 5087 showed higher performances than did the corresponding enzymes ARO10 and ADH2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. The E. coli cell factory was further improved by overexpressing two upstream shikimate pathway genes, aroF/aroG/aroH and pheA, to enhance the metabolic flux of the phenylpyruvate pathway, which resulted in 2-PE production of 260 mg/L. The combined overexpression of tktA and ppsA increased the precursor supply of erythrose-4-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate, which resulted in 2-PE production of 320 mg/L, with a productivity of 13.3 mg/L/h. CONCLUSIONS: The present study achieved the highest titer of de novo 2-PE production of in a recombinant E. coli system. This study describes a new, efficient 2-PE producer that lays foundation for the industrial-scale production of 2-PE and its derivatives in the future.

Resveratrol Boosts Cognitive Function by Targeting SIRT1.

Cognitive decline is among the most devastating age-related conditions and is rapidly becoming an important cause of disease burdens worldwide. New strategies for the prevention and management of cognitive decline are needed. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, has been found to enhance brain health through multiple signaling pathways. Optimal SIRT1 activation is the most crucial step in the neuroprotection provided by resveratrol against cognitive impairment. This review discusses several recent developments in our understanding of the mechanisms by which resveratrol delay age-related cognitive decline through SIRT1. The regulatory mechanisms include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic processes and autophagy regulation, as well as increases in cerebral blood flow and improvements in the plasticity of synaptic pathways. Resveratrol, as well as novel SIRT1 activators, is likely to provide promising therapeutic strategies for impeding cognitive decline, repairing brain functions, and supporting healthy aging.

Association of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and carotid atherosclerostic plaque in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 214 SLE patients were divided into two groups according to the results of ultrasonic examination: carotid arterial atherosclerotic plaque groups and noncarotid arterial atherosclerosis groups. RESULTS: The values of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR) increase in carotid arterial atherosclerotic plaque groups compared with noncarotid arterial atherosclerosis groups (0.32 ± 0.18 vs 0.26 ± 0.15; p = 0.015). There was a significant correlation between MHR and carotid artery intima-media thickness (r = 0.228; p = 0.001) in patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the values of MHR could be a marker to assess carotid artery intima-media thickness in patients with SLE.

Whole Tibetan Hull-Less Barley Exhibit Stronger Effect on Promoting Growth of Genus Bifidobacterium than Refined Barley In Vitro.

The gut microbiota has recently become a new route for research at the intersection of diet and human health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether whole Tibetan hull-less barley (WHB) and refined Tibetan hull-less barley (RHB) caused differentiation of the fecal microbiota in vitro. The microbiota-accessible ingredients in the 2 barley samples were studied using an in vitro enzymatic digestion procedure. After in vitro digestion, insoluble dietary fiber, phenolic compounds, proteins, and ß-glucans were 93.2%, 103.4%. 18.8%, and 10.2% higher provided by WHB flour as compared with RHB flour based on the same mass amount. However, due to the significantly higher content of insoluble dietary fiber, WHB digesta had lower percentage contents of fast fermentable substrates including dietary fiber and starch as compared with RHB digesta. The results of Next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16SrRNA gene showed that both WHB and RHB fermentation had significantly promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium and inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Dorea, Escherichia, Oscillopira, and Ruminococcus. Moreover, in response to WHB fermentation, the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium increased by 78.5% and 92.8% as compared with RHB and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOs). Both WHB and RHB are good sources of fermentable dietary fiber with the ability to yield high concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as compared to FOs. However, the higher fraction of soluble fiber in RHB digesta increase higher amounts of SCFA compared with WHB digesta. Our findings shed light on the complex interactions of whole cereals with gut microbiota and the possible impact on host health. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Until now, only few reports have regarded the impact of in vitro digestion in components of whole grain with complex food matrix. Moreover, our findings shed light on the complex interactions of whole cereals with gut microbiota and the possible impact on host health.

Whole cereal grains and potential health effects: Involvement of the gut microbiota.

The intakes of whole cereal grains (WCGs) have long been linked to decreased risks of metabolic syndromes (MetS) and several chronic diseases. Owing to the complex range of components of cereals, which may show synergistic activities to mediate these protective effects, the mechanisms by which the benefits of whole cereals arise are not fully understood. The gut microbiota has recently become a new focus of research at the intersection of diet and metabolic health. Moreover, cereals contain various ingredients known as microbiota-accessible substrates that resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including resistant starch and non-starch polysaccharides such as ß-glucan and arabinoxylans, making them an important fuel for the microbiota. Thus, WCGs may manipulate the ecophysiology of gut microbiota. In this review, the scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that WCGs prevent MetS by modulating gut microbiota composition and functions are discussed, with focuses on cereal intake-related mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to human health and scientific evidences for the effects of WCGs on modulating gut microbiota. Once strong support for the association among WCGs, gut microbiota and host metabolic health can be demonstrated, particular cereals, their processing technologies, or cereal-based foods might be better utilized to prevent and possibly even treat metabolic disease.

The bioinformatics analyses reveal novel antigen epitopes in major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to predict the T-cell and B-cell epitopes in major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) by using online software and also to analyse the secondary structure of MOMP through bioinformatics tools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The predictions of secondary structure of MOMP protein were carried out using SOPMA software, and the prediction of B-cell epitopes in MOMP protein was carried out using IEDB and LEPS software, while the T-cell epitopes were predicted by the software of IEBD and SYFPEITHI. The predictions from the software were combined with MOMP protein characteristics, including surface features, hydrophilicity, flexibility, accessibility and plasticity, to analyse the common epitope areas' response by T-cells and B-cells. RESULTS: In the secondary structure of CT MOMP, the alpha-helices accounted for 41.62% of total amino acid, while the beta sheets and random coil accounted for 19.80% and 32.49%, respectively. Predictions combined with MOMP protein surface features, hydrophilicity, flexibility, accessibility and plasticity were further characterised, and three high-score B-cell epitope areas were found as located in 24-31, 307-311 and 318-327 amino acids of MOMP protein, respectively; in the meanwhile, three high-score T-cell epitope areas were found in 234-236, 323-329 and 338-343 amino acids of MOMP using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I HLA-A 0201 restrictive T-cell epitope analyser. CONCLUSION: We established the methods by using the biological information network technologies for looking the T-cell antigen epitopes and B-cell antigen epitopes in MOMP of CT, and three novel T-cell epitopes as well as three novel B-cell epitopes were identified in the current study. It provides important information for further studying the antigenicity of CT MOMP protein and also provides useful information for developing highly efficient subunit vaccines for CT.

Bioinformatic prediction of the antigenic epitopes of recombinant ferritin of Echinococcus granulosus.

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease affecting humans and other mammals, which is mainly caused Echinococcus at larval stages. It is predominantly endemic in Chinese pasture regions, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia. The aim of the present study was to predict the T­ and B­combined epitopes of Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). ferritin, and to analyze its secondary structure using online software. Prediction of the T­ and B­combined epitopes of Eg. ferritin was performed using IEDB, SYFPEITHI and LEPS software, which are used to identify common areas of T­ and B­cells. The results of the present study identified several potential antigenic epitopes of Eg. ferritin, including seven B­cell antigen epitope amino acid sequences with high values: 8­16, 54­61, 70­75, 80­90, 103­109, 117­124 and 167­173; and four T­cell antigen epitope amino acid sequences with high values: 85­93, 105­113, 133­141 and 157­165. Furthermore, a combined epitope region comprising an 105­109 amino acid sequence was identified. In conclusion, using bioinformatic methods, the present study confirmed the existence of Eg. ferritin on four T­cell antigen epitopes, seven B­cell antigen epitopes, and one T­ and B­combined epitope region. These findings provide significant information for further investigation of the antigenicity of Eg. ferritin and the development of highly efficient epitope vaccines.

[Serum 1, 5-anhydroglucose alcohol: a serum indicator for estimating acute blood sugar fluctuation in patients with fulminant type 1 diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of using 1,5-anhydroglucose alcohol (1,5-AG) as a diagnostic indicator of fulminant type 1 diabetes (FT1DM). METHODS: Fifteen patients with newly diagnosed FT1DM and 52 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were examined for serum biochemistry, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), and serum 1, 5-AG level. RESULTS: The patients with FT1DM and T2DM showed significantly different fasting levels of blood glucose (FBG), fructosamine (FMN), creatinine (Cr), urea, HbAlc and serum 1,5-AG (P<0.05). In FT1DM patients, serum 1,5-AG was found to inversely correlate with FBG (r=-0.646, P=0.032) and FMN (r=-0.680, P=0.021), and in T2DM patients, serum 1,5-AG was inversely correlated with FBG (r=-0.407, P=0.001), FMN (r=-0.314, P=0.01) and HbAlc (r=-0.576, P<0.01). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed an area under the curve of serum 1,5-AG of 0.804 with a cutoff value of 67.95, a sensitivity of 82.9% and a specificity of 60% for FT1DM diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Serum 1, 5-AG can reflect acute blood glucose fluctuation in FT1DM patients and is useful for differential diagnosis of FT1DM when combined with evaluations of the clinical characteristics of the patients and other related indicators.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Red Cell Distribution Width and Multiple Sclerosis.

Accumulating data have shown that immune and inflammatory factors are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids from plasma and blood cell membranes has also been reported in patients with MS, contributing to the variation of erythrocyte deformability. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to assess the association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and MS. A total of 109 patients with MS and 130 healthy individuals were enrolled into the study, and MS patients receiving treatment of subcutaneous recombinant Rebif (IFN-ß1a) were followed retrospectively. Complete blood cell counts and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score were evaluated in patients with MS before and after treatment. RDW values were significantly higher in patients with MS compared with the controls (13.6 ± 0.89 vs 12.8 ± 0.38, P < 0.001); a positive correlation between RDW and EDSS score was observed in patients with MS (r = 0.789, P < 0.001). Significant differences in the value of RDW and EDSS score were observed between treatment-naive patients and treated patients (13.6 ± 0.95 vs 12.7 ± 0.44, P < 0.001; 3.6 ± 1.39 vs 1.5 ± 0.60, P < 0.001). RDW was associated independently with MS in logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 7.007; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.461-14.187; P < 0.001), and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that a RDW measurement >13.11% evaluated MS with a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 84.7%, and the area under the ROC curve for RDW was calculated as 0.80 (95% CI 0.739-0.859, P < 0.001). The level of RDW was decreased in treatment responders with the reduction of EDSS score; a strong relationship was also observed in treatment responders between RDW and EDSS score (r = 0.733, P < 0.001), and covariance analysis indicated RDW values decreased significantly in treatment responders (P = 0.025). Our results suggest that elevated RDW values are associated with EDSS score in patients with MS, and the relationship is remarkably influenced by Rebif treatment; RDW may be a useful marker to estimate disability status and treatment effectiveness in patients with MS.

Association between Serum Fructosamine and Kidney Function in Nondiabetic Individuals without Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Serum fructosamine (SF) has been considered to be an indicator that estimates glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). There is increasing evidence that SF concentration and oxidative stress are significantly elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the data about SF and its association with kidney function are lacking in nondiabetic individuals without CKD. We included 1891 nondiabetic individuals who had not been diagnosed with CKD to determine the association between SF and kidney function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis on the basis of the biochemistry database in nondiabetic individuals without CKD. RESULTS: When eligible participants were stratified in accordance with SF quartiles, from the bottom to the top quartile of SF, a significant decrease of estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was observed in baseline data. SF concentration was negatively associated with estimated GFR (r=-0.066, P=0.004) in the Pearson correlation analysis. Estimated GFR was associated with SF levels independently of glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and total protein (TP) in multivariable logistic regression analysis (OR=0.984; CI 95% 0.977-0.991; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that mild elevation of SF concentration is associated with estimated GFR in nondiabetic individuals without CKD. These findings indicate that SF may underlie CKD in nondiabetic individuals.