[Diagnostic value of urethral pressure profile for female bladder neck obstruction using air-charged catheters].

Objective: To evaluate the measurements of urethral pressure profile (UPP) using air-charged catheters (ACC) in women with bladder neck obstruction and to preliminarily analyze the diagnostic value of UPP based on ACC for female bladder neck obstruction. Methods: Retrospective inclusion of 63 female patients with bladder neck obstruction diagnosed in the Department of Urology of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital from September 2020 to December 2021 were included as the observation group, and 45 female patients who came to the hospital due to lower urinary tract symptoms with non-bladder neck obstruction during the same period were selected as the control group. All patients received urodynamic examination and UPP examination based on ACC, and urethral pressure measurements [M (Q1, Q3)] were compared between the two groups and analyzed the predictive value of the relevant measurements for female bladder neck obstruction. Results: The age of the observation group was 61 (47, 67) years and body mass index (BMI) was 24.1 (21.6, 27.9) kg/m2, the age of the control group was 65 (58, 71) years and BMI was 25.0 (22.8, 27.6) kg/m2. The urethral pressure at the bladder neck and urinary sphincter position in the observation group were higher than control group[104.00 (83.00, 124.00) cmH2O (1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa) vs 42.00 (31.00, 65.50) cmH2O, 125.0 (107.0, 154.0) cmH2O vs 99.0 (77.0, 124.0) cmH2O, P<0.001]. The results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of urethral pressure at the bladder neck position had the highest predictive value for female bladder neck obstruction (AUC: 0.946, 95%CI: 0.886-0.981, sensitivity: 87.3%, specificity: 91.1%), and the results of interaction point plot showed that the cut-off value was 72 cmH2O. The cut-off value of urethral pressure at the bladder neck position was used as positive cut-off value to predict female patients with bladder neck obstruction. Sixty-three patients with bladder neck obstruction were detected by UPP measurement using ACC in 59 cases (59/63, 93.7%) and the Kappa value was 0.774 (95%CI: 0.654-0.894), indicating that UPP had high consistency with pressure-flow study. Conclusions: UPP examination based on ACC can show the pressure values of the bladder neck and urethral sphincter position. When the urethral pressure of the bladder neck position is greater than 72 cmH2O, it is helpful for the diagnosis of female bladder neck obstruction and has guiding significance for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

[Curative effect of complete transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in post kidney transplantation patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of complete transabdominal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in treating primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) for post kidney transplantation patients. Methods: The clinical data of patients with primary renal pelvis and ureter tumors after kidney transplantation in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from May 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Seventeen patients (including 9 patients in ipsilateral transplanted kidney group and 8 patients in contralateral transplanted kidney group) underwent traditional retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (TRNU), and 24 patients (including 14 patients in ipsilateral transplanted kidney group and 10 patients in contralateral transplanted kidney group) underwent complete transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (CTNU). The perioperative clinical indicators of all patients were recorded and analyzed, and the surgical indicators of two techniques were compared. Results: Forty-one patients [16 males and 25 females, with a median age of 57 (53, 70) years old] were finally included. The operation time in the contralateral transplanted kidney group [(95±44) min] from CTNU was significantly decreased compared with that in the ipsilateral group from CTNU [(159±49) min] and the contralateral [(196±20) min] or ipsilateral [(205±21) min] groups from TRNU (all P<0.01). The blood loss volume [(84±39) ml vs (106±44) ml vs (109±20) ml vs (112±21) ml, P=0.271] and postoperative hospital stay [(10.6±2.1) d vs (11.8±1.7) d vs (10.3±1.5) d vs (11.4±1.5) d, P=0.171] were not statistically different among these four groups. During the median follow-up of 24 months, 13 patients developed contralateral recurrence or metastasis, 8 patients developed intravesical recurrence, and 5 patients died of UTUC. Conclusions: Single-position complete transabdominal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for the treatment of primary renal ureteral tumors after kidney transplantation has the advantage of a short operation time, without increasing intraoperative blood loss or perioperative complications. It is suitable for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation, especially for the contralateral side of the transplanted kidney.

Essential Oils in Urban Insect Management-A Review.

The allures of city life have culminated in the rise of urban populations resulting in conditions that promote the establishment of certain insect pests. Globally, the public health significance of these urban insect pests is enormous, ranging from billions of dollars to loss of lives. Most chemical insecticides no longer provide the anticipated level of control, and significant insecticide resistance has been reported. Therefore, there has been a spike in interest for alternatives to conventional insecticides. Among them, natural products from plants such as essential oils (EOs) and essential oil components (EOCs) have enjoyed the most attention owing to widespread reports of efficacy and toxicity even against insecticide-resistant urban insects. Yet, there is no comprehensive synthesis on the extent and impact of the management of urban insects using EOs or EOCs. Such a review is highly relevant since it provides a means to assess the extent of progress made, shortfalls, limitations, and prospects. More so, we hope it can be used to make informed decisions and develop relevant policies reliably. We present the ranges of insecticidal effects of EOs, EOCs, and commercially available EO-based products from laboratory and field studies. Finally, we discuss the gaps in our knowledge and prospects for the sustainable use of EOs.

Comparison of urology residency training between the United States and China.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the present status and traits of urology residency programs in the United States and China. METHODS: The flow path, structure, curriculum, operative experience, scholarly activities, evaluation systems and other aspects of training were comparatively evaluated between China and the United States. RESULTS: Urology residency training programs are different between China and the United States in many aspects. Admission requirements for the United States urology residency program are more rigorous, and the specialty training program in the United States is more concentrated. Furthermore, residency programs in USA have much more practical clinical and research training, and their evaluation process is more diverse, and it has been designed to assess competencies. Moreover, job opportunities after residency substantially differ between these two countries. Becoming an independent urologic surgeon is not the specific goal of the Urology residency training program in China, and it would require more training time than in the United States. CONCLUSION: Urology residency training programs in the United States and China have a unique format and characteristics. The training programs in China are focused on general techniques and procedures, while training programs in USA follow a more standardized curriculum. Both USA and China may complement each other to create training programs that would ultimately provide high-quality patient care.

Essential Oil Components in Superabsorbent Polymer Gel Modify Reproduction of Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Ectobiidae).

The use of essential oil components (EOCs) against the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), has increasingly received attention from researchers. However, the determination of lethal doses/concentrations alone does not provide enough information on the range of biological effects of these EOCs. To improve our understanding of the potential effects of EOCs, we examined biological parameters of B. germanica exposed to sublethal EOCs formulated in gels. This study employed superabsorbent polymer (SAP) gel to prolong bioavailability of limonene, carvacrol, and ß-thujaplicin, and evaluated how these EOCs shape biological parameters of B. germanica. Overall, median survival days ranged from 57 to 69.5 d for males and 73 to 99 d for females. The survival day ranking for the EOCs was limonene > ß-thujaplicin > carvacrol. Carvacrol and ß-thujaplicin gels reduced male longevity by at least 34 and 39%, respectively, while limonene had no effect. The longevity of females was reduced by limonene, but not by carvacrol and ß-thujaplicin gels. EOCs significantly suppressed overall adult females' reproductive period, oothecal hatchability, reduced fecundity, and interoothecal period, but not the number of oothecae formed and egg incubation period. The preoviposition period (mean: 2-25 d) ranking was limonene < carvacrol < ß-thujaplicin. Based on these results, limonene, carvacrol, and ß-thujaplicin in SAP gels show promising potential to reduce adult male survival/longevity, suppress egg hatchability and female fecundity, and delay the interoothecal period. These findings may represent the basis for the practical use of EOCs as a tactic in integrated pest management systems for B. germanica.

Topical Toxicity Profiles of Some Aliphatic and Aromatic Essential Oil Components Against Insecticide-Susceptible and Resistant Strains of German Cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae).

Toxicity profiles of four aliphatic (α-pinene, cyclononanone, limonene, nerolidol), four aromatic (ß-thujaplicin, carvacrol, eugenol, tropolone) essential oil components (EOCs), and permethrin were investigated against three strains of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). The strains include a susceptible strain (S), and two multi-resistant strains - strains D and E. Also, a synergism bioassay, using piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was conducted. The most toxic EOCs were aromatic EOCs carvacrol, eugenol, and tropolone, followed by aliphatic EOC limonene; all had LD50 values of <0.7 mg/µl. Four of the EOCs were equally toxic against all the strains, with carvacrol being the most toxic, followed by eugenol, tropolone, and α-pinene. The other four EOCs were more toxic against strain S than against the two resistant strains. Permethrin was significantly more toxic to strain S (LD50 = 0.056 µg/µl) compared with the resistant strains (D = 2.138 µg/µl, E = 1.730 µg/µl). Toxicity of aliphatic EOCs correlated positively with their molecular weight against strain E only, whereas both molecular weight and vapor pressure of aromatic EOCs correlated significantly with toxicity in all strains. Strain D exhibited the greatest resistance (RR of 6.7) to EOCs, and synergism to the aliphatic EOC cyclononanone. Clear synergism with PBO was observed in permethrin against resistant strains, but not in all of the EOCs, suggesting multiple resistance mechanisms in the resistant cockroaches. These findings give insight on the potential of EOCs to be incorporated as parts of an IPM approach to managing insecticide resistant German cockroaches.

Bulk Flow and Near Wall Hemodynamics of the Rabbit Aortic Arch and Descending Thoracic Aorta: A 4D PC-MRI Derived Computational Fluid Dynamics Study.

Animal models offer a flexible experimental environment for studying atherosclerosis. The mouse is the most commonly used animal, however, the underlying hemodynamics in larger animals such as the rabbit are far closer to that of humans. The aortic arch is a vessel with complex helical flow and highly heterogeneous shear stress patterns which may influence where atherosclerotic lesions form. A better understanding of intraspecies flow variation and the impact of geometry on flow may improve our understanding of where disease forms. In this work, we use magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and 4D phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) to image and measure blood velocity in the rabbit aortic arch. Measured flow rates from the PC-MRI were used as boundary conditions in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the arches. Helical flow, cross flow index (CFI), and time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) were determined from the simulated flow field. Both traditional geometric metrics and shape modes derived from statistical shape analysis were analyzed with respect to flow helicity. High CFI and low TAWSS were found to colocalize in the ascending aorta and to a lesser extent on the inner curvature of the aortic arch. The Reynolds number was linearly associated with an increase in helical flow intensity (R = 0.85, p < 0.05). Both traditional and statistical shape analyses correlated with increased helical flow symmetry. However, a stronger correlation was obtained from the statistical shape analysis demonstrating its potential for discerning the role of shape in hemodynamic studies.

[The roles of IL-17 and CXCR4 in chronic allograft nephropathy in rat models].

Objective: To investigate the role and mechanism of IL-17 and CXCR4 in chronic graft nephropathy (CAN) in rat models. Methods: CAN rat models were established using Fisher 344 to Lewis rats. In the control group(n=10), Lewis rats were performed isotransplantation. CAN rat models were established in experimental group(n=10). All the rats were havested 6 weeks after transplantation. Kidneys were examined by pathology to evaluate the injury of the renal allograft. SDF-1/CXCR4, IL-17 and α-SMA expression level in serum and renal graft were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA). The percent and the absolute amount of CD4(+) cells、CXCR4(+) cells and IL-17(+) cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results: The graft of the experiment group showed obvious pathological features of CAN. The protein expression levels of SDF-1/CXCR4 and IL-17 in the experiment group are significantly higher than in the control group. We could also observe the number of Th17 cells has a significant increase in the experiment group[blood (0.19±0.05)% vs (0.12±0.03)%; kidney (0.52±0.21)% vs (0.17±0.12)%]. The IL-17 level also showed the same differences between the experiment[blood (243.12±17.63) pg/ml, kidney (521.54±21.76) pg/ml]and the control group[blood (35.78±7.3) pg/ml, kidney (77.34±11.1) pg/ml]. Conclusions: The Th17 cells increase in the CAN rats model, maybe the SDF-1/CXCR4 has a chemotaxis to collect Th17 cells to the injured kidney. And its expression of IL-17 may promote the renal cells to transform into fibroblasts.

Attractiveness of Host Plants at Different Growth Stage to Kudzu Bug, Megacopta cribraria (Heteroptera: Plataspidae): Behavioral Responses to Whole Plant and Constitutive Volatiles.

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius), is an invasive pest of soybeans, Glycine max (L.) Merr., that has recently been detected in the United States. This study investigated whether there was a differential attraction of adult bugs to soybean growth stages, and whether the attraction was related to soybean constitutive volatiles. Greenhouse choice assays examined the behavioral orientation preference of adult bugs exposed to four growth stages of whole soybean plants: vegetative (V2), flowering (R1), pod (R3), and seed (R5). Results show that significantly more adults landed on plants in the early reproductive stage R1 than in other stages. Laboratory olfactometer assays also demonstrate that significantly more adult bugs were attracted to R1 plants, with females responding more strongly than males. Both greenhouse and olfactometer assays indicate that the differential attraction of adult bugs to soybean growth stages was mediated by plant constitutive volatiles. These results offer an insight into kudzu bug chemical and behavioral ecology and thus are of great significance for optimizing the timing of field scouting and treatment as well as the development of soybean pest management programs.

Research on the function and mechanism of survivin in heart failure mice model.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the role of survivin in the heart failure mice model and to study its mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 male C57BL/ 6J mice were selected and randomly divided into two groups: normal group (n=10) and heart failure group (n=10). After continuous modeling, the cardiac functions of mice in the two groups were detected via ultrasonic cardiogram equipment. The pathological conditions of hearts in the two groups were detected via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expressions of survivin in heart tissues in both groups were detected via immunofluorescence method. The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), factor associated suicide (Fas) and factor associated suicide ligand (FasL) were detected via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expressions of survivin in heart tissues of two groups were detected via Western blotting. RESULTS: Ultrasonic cardiogram showed that the myocardial motion amplitude of mice in heart failure group was significantly decreased compared with that in normal group. HE staining further revealed the pathological conditions in heart failure group. RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, Fas and FasL in heart failure group were significantly higher than those in normal group. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed that the expression of survivin in heart failure group was significantly higher than that in normal group. CONCLUSIONS: Survivin expression is closely related to the occurrence and development of heart failure, indicating that survivin has an important value in the research on heart failure and the mechanism is related to inflammation and apoptosis.

[Risk factors for acute rejection in living-donor kidney transplant recipients in China: a subgroup analysis of a multi-center, registry study].

Objective: To evaluate pre-and early post-transplantation risk factors for acute rejection(AR) in kidney recipients. Methods: This subgroup analysis of a multi-center registry study was conducted on living-donor kidney transplant recipients in China with 10 years of follow-up. This study analyzed 1 255 recipients including 921 males(73.4%) and with a mean age of (33±10)years. Data from patients were first analyzed with univariate analysis and then multivariate analysis was used for finding out the potential risk factors of AR. Results: A total of 106(8.4%) patients were suspected with AR after kidney transplantation, while 1 149 patients were considered as non-AR. Multivariable analysis demonstrated a significant influence of recipient age and cold ischemia time(CIT) on the occurrence of AR(OR: 0.956, 95% CI: 0.923-0.990; OR: 1.006, 95% CI: 1.002-1.011, respectively). The frequency of severe infection was significantly higher in the AR group than non-AR group(38.7% vs 10.8%; P<0.000 1). The occurrence of new-onset diabetes mellitus and tumors was similar in the two groups. Conclusions: Recipient age and CIT are risk factors for AR after living-donor kidney transplantation. Reducing CIT and intensive management of younger recipient could benefit kidney transplant patients.

[Safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose ATG-F in renal transplantation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose (9 mg/kg) of antithymocyte globulin-Fresenius S (ATG-F) for patients undergoing renal transplantation. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on the safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose of ATG-F for patients undergoing renal transplantation were searched in Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE covering a period from the beginning of databases to July 2015. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2. RESULTS: Five RCTs with 346 patients were included in this study. The meta-analysis showed that the incidences of acute rejection for the patients with renal transplantation were 20.6% (37/180) in the induction therapy group using a single high dose of ATG and 42.8% (71/166) in the control group, with a combined relative risk (RR) of 0.49 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of[0.36, 0.69](P<0.000 1). The patient survival rate (1 year: RR=1.02, 95% CI[0.98, 1.06], P=0.43; 5 years: RR=1.01, 95% CI[0.94, 1.08], P=0.83) and the graft survival rate (RR=1.04, 95% CI[0.97, 1.12], P=0.24) of the two groups were similar. The incidences of CMV infection, urinary tract infection, and malignant tumor were also similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The induction therapy using a single high dose of ATG-F significantly reduced the incidence of acute rejection after transplantation and showed no increased incidence of urinary tract infection, CMV infection, or malignant tumor. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that the application of a high dose of ATG-F may be a safe and effective induction therapy.

Antimicrobial and antitumor activity and diversity of endophytic fungi from traditional Chinese medicinal plant Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li.

Endophytes from Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li, an important source of anti-leukemia drugs, have not been widely explored. In this study, 265 endophytic fungal isolates from C. hainanensis Li were screened for antimicrobial activities against tilapia, banana, rice, and rape and for antitumor activities against human leukemia cell lines (K562, NB4, and HL-60). Diversity was also analyzed. The results showed that 17.7% of the endophytic fungi had antimicrobial activities against at least three different test microbes, and activity against Fusarium oxysporum RKY102 was the highest at 15.8%. Cytotoxicity against at least one tumor cell line tested was observed in 18.5% of the endophytic fungi; with the highest value of 10.6% against K562. The endophytic fungal strains also showed relatively high activities against K562, NB4, and HL-60 while relatively fewer strains were cytotoxic against the human hepatic Hep-G2 and colon LoVo cancer cell lines. Thirty endophytic fungal strains showed both high antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Moreover, the analyses of the diversity of the 30 highly active strains showed they belonged to 20 species from 14 genera, and this is the first report of endophytic fungi Albonectria rigidiuscula, Colletotrichum magnisporum, and Nemania diffusa being isolated from Cephalotaxus plants. These findings suggest that natural antibacterial products for humans and tilapia; antifungal compounds for rice, rape, and banana; and antitumor compounds for leukemia therapy could be isolated from fungal strains derived from C. hainanensis Li.

Uptake characteristics of levofloxacin for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori by GES-1 and MGC80-3 cells.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the uptake of levofloxacin for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori by human gastric epithelial cell lines, GES-1 and MGC80-3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and coomassie brilliant blue staining, among other methods, were used to study the uptake of levofloxacin in GES-1 and MGC80-3 cells. The effect of time, concentration, temperature, pH, cyclosporine A, verapamil, and cimetidine on uptake was analyzed. RESULTS: The uptake of levofloxacin by GES-1 and MGC80-3 cells reached a steady state after 15 minutes of incubation, and was enhanced by increasing the extracellular levofloxacin concentration, although not in a linear manner. A maximum uptake was observed at 37 °C and pH 7.4. Cyclosporin A and verapamil enhanced uptake in GES-1 cells by 2.07%-13.23% (p > 0.05), and 17.5%-35.3% in MGC80-3 cells (p < 0.05). The uptake of levofloxacin was not affected by cimetidine. CONCLUSIONS: P-glycoprotein mediates levofloxacin uptake in MGC80-3 cell. Further, P-glycoprotein may be involved in levofloxacin uptake in GES-1 cells. However, organic cation transporters were not involved in levofloxacin uptake in MGC80-3 and GES-1 cells.

Effect of hyperphosphatemia on gene expression of the Na-Pi cotransporter in rats.

We investigated the effect of high phosphorus content on the sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIl). Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: high-phosphorus group (HP) with fructose diphosphate sodium injection; self-manufactured low-phosphorus diet group (LP); and normal diet group (NP). At the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks, 4 rats from each group were sacrificed for detecting serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone. Semi-quantitative retrovirus-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of NaPi-IIa and NaPi-III mRNA in kidney. At the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks, serum phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels in HP group were significantly higher than those in LP and NP groups (P < 0.05). Serum calcium levels in the 3 groups showed no difference (P > 0.05). Comparing the expression of NaPi-IIa mRNA in HP group with LP and NP groups, NaPi-IIa mRNA expression was significantly reduced in HP group (P < 0.05), while NaPi-IIa mRNA expression in LP group began increasing at the 4th week (P < 0.05). At the 1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks, the expression of NaPi-III mRNA in HP, LP, and NP groups showed no clear differences (P > 0.05), while at the 6th week in HP group, NaPi-III mRNA expression was slightly increased compared to in LP and NP groups (P < 0.05). Hyperphosphatemia significantly affected NaPi-IIa and NaPi-III mRNA expression, and a factor promote an increase in intact parathyroid hormone independently of calcium.

Conceptual convergence: increased inflammation is associated with increased basal ganglia glutamate in patients with major depression.

Inflammation and altered glutamate metabolism are two pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Interestingly, these pathways may be linked given that administration of inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-α to otherwise non-depressed controls increased glutamate in the basal ganglia and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Whether increased inflammation is associated with increased glutamate among patients with major depression is unknown. Accordingly, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 50 medication-free, depressed outpatients using single-voxel MRS, to measure absolute glutamate concentrations in basal ganglia and dACC. Multivoxel chemical shift imaging (CSI) was used to explore creatine-normalized measures of other metabolites in basal ganglia. Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory markers were assessed along with anhedonia and psychomotor speed. Increased log plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly associated with increased log left basal ganglia glutamate controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking status and depression severity. In turn, log left basal ganglia glutamate was associated with anhedonia and psychomotor slowing measured by the finger-tapping test, simple reaction time task and the Digit Symbol Substitution Task. Plasma CRP was not associated with dACC glutamate. Plasma and CSF CRP were also associated with CSI measures of basal ganglia glutamate and the glial marker myoinositol. These data indicate that increased inflammation in major depression may lead to increased glutamate in the basal ganglia in association with glial dysfunction and suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting glutamate may be preferentially effective in depressed patients with increased inflammation as measured by CRP.

Analysis of the association between polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and dental caries in a Chinese population.

Environmental influences on the development and progression of dental caries are well known; however, there is little evidence of a genetic component imparting susceptibility to dental caries. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor TaqI locus and dental caries susceptibility in a Chinese population. This case-control study was conducted with a case group (264 patients with dental caries from northwestern China) and a control group (219 individuals without dental caries or systemic disease from the same area). DNA was extracted from the peripheral venous blood of the study participants; the distribution of TaqI locus genotypes and allele frequencies was determined via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Chi-square test. The frequency of the Tt genotype in the case group (14.0%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.3%), as determined using the genotype TT as the reference. The risk of dental caries was increased 3.8-fold in individuals with the heterozygous Tt genotype compared to that in the individuals with the TT genotype. The proportion of the 't' allele in the case group (7.0%) and the control group (2.1%) was observed to be significantly different [P = 0.0003; OR = 3.592, confidence interval 95% (1.790-7.208)]. Our results therefore suggested that the allele 't' might be a genetic factor determining dental caries susceptibility in individuals from the northwest of China.

Establishment and characterization of a rat model of hyperphosphatemia.

We established a rat model of hyperphosphatemia and investigated the systemic effects of high phosphorus (P). Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into high (HP), low (LP), and normal (NP) P groups (N = 12 each), which received injections of fructose diphosphate sodium, or were fed self-manufactured low phosphorus or normal diets, respectively. In each group, 4 rats were sacrificed at the first, third, and sixth week to detect the serum (Scr) and urinary creatinine and P, and calcium (Ca) levels. The HP group's serum P and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were significantly higher than those in the other groups at the first, third, and sixth weeks, (P < 0.05); the LP group's serum P was lower than the NP group's at the third week (P < 0.05), while at the sixth week, the serum P and iPTH were lower (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected for blood Ca+ (P > 0.05). The HP group's Scr increased (P < 0.01), whereas the fractional excretion decreased (P < 0.05) significantly. Thighbone and lumbar spine bone densities differed significantly between groups in the third week (P < 0.05); LP group densities were lower than NP group measures (P < 0.05). Crystallized stones were not observed microscopically following hematoxylin and eosin staining of the kidney. We successfully established a hyperphosphatemia rat model, and high blood P was found to significantly influence renal function and bone density. These results might provide a foundation to study the effects of hyperphosphatemia in rats.

Preoverwintering Copulation and Female Ratio Bias: Life History Characteristics Contributing to the Invasiveness and Rapid Spread of Megacopta cribraria (Heteroptera: Plataspidae).

Prewinter copulation, sperm storage, and oocyte development in overwintering adult Megacopta cribraria (F.) was examined in Alabama (Lee Co.). Microscopic examinations of the spermathecae and ovaries were made in females and of the testes in males that were collected approximately weekly from September 2013 through March 2014. The results indicated that approximately 15% of females mated before entering winter dormancy and sperm was stored in their spermatheca for up to seven months, oocytes in mated overwintering females proceeded to postblastoderm stage before the onset of spring feeding and mating in March, all of the overwintering males had sperm in their testes, and the ratio of females gradually increased in populations during overwintering. This study indicates that both males and females are capable of reproductive dormancy. The biological significance of these life cycle aspects is discussed from the viewpoints of invasiveness and adaptation.

Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li, a well-known medicinal plant in China.

UNLABELLED: About 1051 endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, branches, barks and stems of Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li from four sites in Hainan, China. The fungi were identified as 21 genera by morphology and ITS sequences. One dominant species was Phomopsis quercella in Hainan Tropical Botanical Garden and Bawangling Nature Reserve, with relative frequency of 42·06 and 34·88% respectively. Another dominant species was Colletotrichum boninense in Wuzhishan and Jianfengling Nature Reserves, with relative frequency of 36·84 and 46·97% respectively. Among the selected 21 endophytic fungi, 17 strains (80·95%) had activity against at least one pathogenic bacteria, and 14 strains (66·67%) exhibited activity against at least one fungal pathogens. Neonectria macroconidialis showed strong inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zone being 20 mm), Bacillus subtilis (14 mm) and Streptococcus agalactiae (28 mm). Xylaria sp. showed strong inhibition against Escherichia coli (20 mm), Rhizoctonia solani (20 mm) and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (17 mm). Verticillium bulbillosum showed great activity against Strep. agalactiae (32 mm) and Fusarium oxysporum (22 mm). These endophytic fungi showed potentials in medicine development. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Endophytic fungi from medicinal plants are an important source of novel and viable drugs. Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li is well known for leukaemia treatment and its endophytic fungi were isolated to investigate the diversity and antimicrobial activity. It was found that Ce. hainanensis Li had rich endophytic fungi, and some fungi showed strong antimicrobial activity against certain pathogens. These fungi can be used in medicine development.