Fixed-Time Synchronization of Coupled Oscillator Networks with a Pacemaker.

This paper investigates the fixed-time synchronization problem of a Kuramoto-oscillator network in the presence of a pacemaker. Based on the framework of the cyber-physical system (CPS), fixed-time synchronization criteria of such network are presented respectively for identical and non-identical oscillators. In virtue of Lyapunov stability analyses, sufficient conditions are deduced for achieving phase agreement and frequency synchronization for arbitrary initial phases and/or frequencies under distributed control strategies. Theoretical analysis shows that synchronization can be achieved in a fixed time, which is unrelated to initial phases/frequencies. Furthermore, the upper bounds of synchronization time are also obtained. Finally, the numerical simulations also verify the effectiveness of the derived results.

DNA methyltransferase 1 mediated aberrant methylation and silencing of SHP-1 gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive studies on SHP-1 protein and SHP-1 mRNA revealed that the diminishment or abolishment of the expression of SHP-1 in leukemias/lymphomas was due to aberrant promoter methylation. Thus far, the mechanism of epigenetic silencing of the SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase gene that occurs in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells remains poorly understood. METHODS: The expressions of the target molecules were determined by quantitative real time PCR and western blot, respectively. Bisulfite sequencing PCR was used to detect methylation status of DNA CpG. The lentiviral vectors were applied to modify gene expression. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that the promoter 2 of SHP-1 gene is located between positions from -577bp to +300bp, and 22 CpG sites contained in positions -353bp∼+182bp are aberrantly methylated in K562 cells. In vitro, we demonstrated that DNMT1 silencing induced demethylation of the 22 CpG sites located in the SHP-1 promoter and re-expression of SHP-1 gene in K562 cells. Moreover, we proved that the expression levels of DNMT1 and SHP-1 mRNA and protein were negatively correlated in K562 cells and BM aspirates mononuclear cells from CML patients. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results indicate that DNMT1 mediates aberrant methylation and silencing of SHP-1 gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, and provide a novel therapeutic target for CML.

Epidemiologic survey on hospitalized neonates in China.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a nationwide epidemiologic survey on the neonates in urban hospitals with an attempt to understand the disease spectrum and treatment outcomes of hospitalized neonates in China. METHODS: The clinical data of 43,289 hospitalized neonates from 86 hospitals in 47 Chinese cities (22 provinces) between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 1.73:1. Premature infants accounted for 26.2% of the hospitalized neonates, which was higher than that reported in 2002 (19.7%). The top three diseases during the neonatal period were jaundice, pneumonia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The incidences of pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and bilirubin encephalopathy in term infants were higher than those in premature infants, while the incidences of asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary hemorrhage in term infants were lower than those in premature infants. The incidences of asphyxia, small for gestational age infant, and wet lung were higher in neonates whose mother had pregnancy induced hypertension. The outcomes of these hospitalized neonates included: recovered, 63.9%; improved, 27.3%; discharged due to the family's own decisions, 7.6%, and died, 1.2%. Nearly half (46.4%) of the neonatal death occurred within 24 hrs after admission. CONCLUSION: The incidence of premature birth shows an increasing trend among hospitalized neonates. Since the neonatal deaths mainly occur within 24 hrs after admission, monitoring during this period should be enhanced.