COVID-19-Related Health Inequalities Induced by the Use of Social Media: Systematic Review.

Background: COVID-19-related health inequalities were reported in some studies, showing the failure in public health and communication. Studies investigating the contexts and causes of these inequalities pointed to the contribution of communication inequality or poor health literacy and information access to engagement with health care services. However, no study exclusively dealt with health inequalities induced by the use of social media during COVID-19. Objective: This review aimed to identify and summarize COVID-19-related health inequalities induced by the use of social media and the associated contributing factors and to characterize the relationship between the use of social media and health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on this topic in light of the protocol of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 statement. Keyword searches were performed to collect papers relevant to this topic in multiple databases: PubMed (which includes MEDLINE [Ovid] and other subdatabases), ProQuest (which includes APA PsycINFO, Biological Science Collection, and others), ACM Digital Library, and Web of Science, without any year restriction. Of the 670 retrieved publications, 10 were initially selected based on the predefined selection criteria. These 10 articles were then subjected to quality analysis before being analyzed in the final synthesis and discussion. Results: Of the 10 articles, 1 was further removed for not meeting the quality assessment criteria. Finally, 9 articles were found to be eligible and selected for this review. We derived the characteristics of these studies in terms of publication years, journals, study locations, locations of study participants, study design, sample size, participant characteristics, and potential risk of bias, and the main results of these studies in terms of the types of social media, social media use-induced health inequalities, associated factors, and proposed resolutions. On the basis of the thematic synthesis of these extracted data, we derived 4 analytic themes, namely health information inaccessibility-induced health inequalities and proposed resolutions, misinformation-induced health inequalities and proposed resolutions, disproportionate attention to COVID-19 information and proposed resolutions, and higher odds of social media-induced psychological distress and proposed resolutions. Conclusions: This paper was the first systematic review on this topic. Our findings highlighted the great value of studying the COVID-19-related health knowledge gap, the digital technology-induced unequal distribution of health information, and the resulting health inequalities, thereby providing empirical evidence for understanding the relationship between social media use and health inequalities in the context of COVID-19 and suggesting practical solutions to such disparities. Researchers, social media, health practitioners, and policy makers can draw on these findings to promote health equality while minimizing social media use-induced health inequalities.

Chinese Version of the Mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire: Translation, Adaptation, and Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: The usability of mobile health (mHealth) apps needs to be effectively evaluated before they are officially approved to be used to deliver health interventions. To this end, the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) has been designed and proved valid and reliable in assessing the usability of mHealth apps. However, this English questionnaire needs to be translated into other languages, adapted, and validated before being utilized to evaluate the usability of mHealth apps. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to improve, further adapt, and validate the Chinese version of the MAUQ (C-MAUQ; interactive for patients) on Left-handed Doctor, one of the most popular "reaching out to patients" interactive mHealth apps with chatbot function in China, to test the reliability and cross-cultural adaptability of the questionnaire. METHODS: The MAUQ (interactive for patients) has been translated into Chinese and validated for its reliability on Good Doctor, one of the most influential "reaching out to patients" mHealth apps without chatbot function in China. After asking for the researchers' approval to use this Chinese version, we adjusted and further adapted the C-MAUQ by checking it against the original English version and improving its comprehensibility, readability, idiomaticity, and cross-cultural adaptability. Following a trial survey completed by 50 respondents on wenjuanxing, the most popular online questionnaire platform in China, the improved version of the C-MAUQ (I-C-MAUQ) was finally used to evaluate the usability of Left-handed Doctor through an online questionnaire survey (answered by 322 participants) on wenjuanxing, to test its internal consistency, reliability, and validity. RESULTS: The I-C-MAUQ still retained the 21 items and 3 dimensions of the original MAUQ: 8 items for usability and satisfaction, 6 items for system information arrangement, and 7 items for efficiency. The translation problems in the C-MAUQ, including (1) redundancy, (2) incompleteness, (3) misuse of parts of speech, (4) choice of inappropriate words, (5) incomprehensibility, and (6) cultural difference-induced improper translation, were improved. As shown in the analysis of data obtained through the online survey, the I-C-MAUQ had a better internal consistency (ie, the correlation coefficient between the score of each item and the total score of the questionnaire determined within the range of 0.861-0.938; P<.01), reliability (Cronbach α=.988), and validity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin=0.973), compared with the C-MAUQ. It was effectively used to test the usability of Left-handed Doctor, eliciting over 80% of informants' positive attitudes toward this mHealth app. CONCLUSIONS: The I-C-MAUQ is highly reliable and valid for Left-handed Doctor, and suitable for testing the usability of interactive mHealth apps used by patients in China. This finding further confirms the cross-cultural validity, reliability, and adaptability of the MAUQ. We identified certain factors influencing the perceived usability of mHealth apps, including users' age, gender, education, profession, and possibly previous experience with mHealth apps and the chatbot function of such apps. Most notably, we found a wider acceptance of this new technology among young Chinese female college students who were more engaged in the interaction with health care chatbots. The age-, gender-, and profession-induced preference for new digital health interventions in China aligns with the findings in other similar studies in America and Malaysia. This preference identifies areas for further research on the social, cultural, and gender adaptation of health technologies.

Language Use in Conversational Agent-Based Health Communication: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Given the growing significance of conversational agents (CAs), researchers have conducted a plethora of relevant studies on various technology- and usability-oriented issues. However, few investigations focus on language use in CA-based health communication to examine its influence on the user perception of CAs and their role in delivering health care services. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to present the language use of CAs in health care to identify the achievements made and breakthroughs to be realized to inform researchers and more specifically CA designers. METHODS: This review was conducted by following the protocols of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 statement. We first designed the search strategy according to the research aim and then performed the keyword searches in PubMed and ProQuest databases for retrieving relevant publications (n=179). Subsequently, 3 researchers screened and reviewed the publications independently to select studies meeting the predefined selection criteria. Finally, we synthesized and analyzed the eligible articles (N=11) through thematic synthesis. RESULTS: Among the 11 included publications, 6 deal exclusively with the language use of the CAs studied, and the remaining 5 are only partly related to this topic. The language use of the CAs in these studies can be roughly classified into six themes: (1) personal pronouns, (2) responses to health and lifestyle prompts, (3) strategic wording and rich linguistic resources, (4) a 3-staged conversation framework, (5) human-like well-manipulated conversations, and (6) symbols and images coupled with phrases. These derived themes effectively engaged users in health communication. Meanwhile, we identified substantial room for improvement based on the inconsistent responses of some CAs and their inability to present large volumes of information on safety-critical health and lifestyle prompts. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review of language use in CA-based health communication. The results and limitations identified in the 11 included papers can give fresh insights into the design and development, popularization, and research of CA applications. This review can provide practical implications for incorporating positive language use into the design of health CAs and improving their effective language output in health communication. In this way, upgraded CAs will be more capable of handling various health problems particularly in the context of nationwide and even worldwide public health crises.

Interventions in Chinese Undergraduate Students' Mental Health: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Over 30% of university students from 8 countries were afflicted with mental distress according to a World Health Organization survey. Undergraduate students in increasing numbers in China have also been reported to suffer from different mental problems. Various psychological distresses significantly impact their academic and daily life, thereby causing role impairments and unsatisfactory academic achievements. While the prevalence of, diverse underlying factors for, and interventions of social support in college students' mental health have extensively been investigated in China, there is no study exclusively focusing on the impact of interventions on their psychological well-being. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to identify and synthesize the interventions in the mental health concerns of Chinese undergraduate students studying in China reported in the literature to inform educational authorities, college and university management, students' affairs counselors, and mental health providers. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and reported the research findings of previous studies according to the protocol of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 statement. First, based on the predefined search strategy, keyword searches were performed in the PubMed and ProQuest databases to retrieve relevant studies. Subsequently, we screened the candidate articles based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, we analyzed the included papers for qualitative synthesis. RESULTS: We retrieved a total of 675 studies from the PubMed and ProQuest databases using the search strategy on March 15, 2022. Among these candidate studies, 15 that were not written in English, 76 duplicates, and 149 studies of other document types were removed before screening. An additional 313 studies were excluded in the screening process, with 73 articles ruled out for being not relevant to interventions, not related to mental health, or not focused on undergraduate students in the full-text review. As a result, 49 papers were eligible and included in this systematic review. In the qualitative synthesis, we divided the interventions reported in the selected studies into two categories: (1) social support from government authorities, university authorities, students' affairs counselors and teachers, family members, health care authorities and professionals, and the media (various online platforms), and (2) various coping strategies adopted by undergraduate students themselves. We identified further research on mental health interventions that may be delivered by digital medical platforms, conversational agents (eg, chatbots), and researchers. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first systematic review of interventions to address the mental health concerns of Chinese undergraduate students studying in China. The categorization of reported interventions and the identification of new intervention channels can effectively inform stakeholders. Interventions for undergraduate students' mental health is a research topic worth further investigation.

Use of Health Care Chatbots Among Young People in China During the Omicron Wave of COVID-19: Evaluation of the User Experience of and Satisfaction With the Technology.

BACKGROUND: Long before the outbreak of COVID-19, chatbots had been playing an increasingly crucial role and gaining growing popularity in health care. In the current omicron waves of this pandemic when the most resilient health care systems at the time are increasingly being overburdened, these conversational agents (CA) are being resorted to as preferred alternatives for health care information. For many people, especially adolescents and the middle-aged, mobile phones are the most favored source of information. As a result of this, it is more important than ever to investigate the user experience of and satisfaction with chatbots on mobile phones. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was twofold: (1) Informed by Deneche and Warren's evaluation framework, Zhu et al's measures of variables, and the theory of consumption values (TCV), we designed a new assessment model for evaluating the user experience of and satisfaction with chatbots on mobile phones, and (2) we aimed to validate the newly developed model and use it to gain an understanding of the user experience of and satisfaction with popular health care chatbots that are available for use by young people aged 17-35 years in southeast China in self-diagnosis and for acquiring information about COVID-19 and virus variants that are currently spreading. METHODS: First, to assess user experience and satisfaction, we established an assessment model based on relevant literature and TCV. Second, the chatbots were prescreened and selected for investigation. Subsequently, 413 informants were recruited from Nantong University, China. This was followed by a questionnaire survey soliciting the participants' experience of and satisfaction with the selected health care chatbots via wenjuanxing, an online questionnaire survey platform. Finally, quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to find the informants' perception. RESULTS: The data collected were highly reliable (Cronbach α=.986) and valid: communalities=0.632-0.823, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO)=0.980, and percentage of cumulative variance (rotated)=75.257% (P<.001). The findings of this study suggest a considerable positive impact of functional, epistemic, emotional, social, and conditional values on the participants' overall user experience and satisfaction and a positive correlation between these values and user experience and satisfaction (Pearson correlation P<.001). The functional values (mean 1.762, SD 0.630) and epistemic values (mean 1.834, SD 0.654) of the selected chatbots were relatively more important contributors to the students' positive experience and overall satisfaction than the emotional values (mean 1.993, SD 0.683), conditional values (mean 1.995, SD 0.718), and social values (mean 1.998, SD 0.696). All the participants (n=413, 100%) had a positive experience and were thus satisfied with the selected health care chatbots. The 5 grade categories of participants showed different degrees of user experience and satisfaction: Seniors (mean 1.853, SD 0.108) were the most receptive to health care chatbots for COVID-19 self-diagnosis and information, and second-year graduate candidates (mean 2.069, SD 0.133) were the least receptive; freshmen (mean 1.883, SD 0.114) and juniors (mean 1.925, SD 0.087) felt slightly more positive than sophomores (mean 1.989, SD 0.092) and first-year graduate candidates (mean 1.992, SD 0.116) when engaged in conversations with the chatbots. In addition, female informants (mean 1.931, SD 0.098) showed a relatively more receptive attitude toward the selected chatbots than male respondents (mean 1.999, SD 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the use of health care chatbots among young people (aged 17-35 years) in China, focusing on their user experience and satisfaction examined through an assessment framework. The findings show that the 5 domains in the new assessment model all have a positive impact on the participants' user experience and satisfaction. In this paper, we examined the usability of health care chatbots as well as actual chatbots used for other purposes, enriching the literature on the subject. This study also provides practical implication for designers and developers as well as for governments of all countries, especially in the critical period of the omicron waves of COVID-19 and other future public health crises.

Sinonasal Hamartomas: From Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma to Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma. Report of six Cases and Review of the Literature.

Sinonasal hamartomas are uncommon lesions of nasal and sinus cavities. Based on indigenous cellular components and characteristic histologic features, they are further classified into four entities: respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH), seromucinous hamartoma (SH), chondro-osseous and respiratory epithelial hamartoma (CORE), and nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma (NCH). REAH, SH, and CORE are seen in adult patients, while NCH predominantly occurs in newborns and infants. Morphologically REAH and SH are composed of respiratory epithelium and seromucinous glands, CORE is related to REAH but with additional feature of chondroid and/or osseous tissue, and NCH is composed of chondroid and stromal elements but devoid of epithelial component. All four lesions can present as sinonasal mass lesions and with associated obstructive symptoms. Given the rarity of these lesions, diagnosis can be challenging, especially in unusual clinical scenario. In this study, we report six cases of sinonasal hamartoma, including one case of NCH, one case of CORE, two cases of SH, and two cases of REAH. All cases were from adult patients including four men and two women. We also review the literature of the clinical and pathologic features of these rare lesions.

Cystic Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma in the Male Breast: An Unusual Feature With a Diagnostic Challenge.

Papillary carcinoma in the male breast is uncommon. Here, we report a case of a large encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) in a 62-year-old male. The patient presented with a left breast mass of 1-year duration and bloody nipple discharge for several days. Mammography and breast ultrasonography showed a large left breast mass. The initial biopsy demonstrated fat necrosis with acute and chronic inflammation only. Due to clinical suspicion, a repeat biopsy was performed and revealed scant fragments of papillary carcinoma in a background of inflammation. The patient underwent left total mastectomy. Grossly, the breast contained a 9.0 cm entirely cystic lesion lined by a hemorrhagic thick fibrotic wall. No solid area was identified in the cyst. The entire cyst wall was examined under microscopy; only a few sections with papillary carcinoma were identified. The lesion was confined to the cyst wall; so, a diagnosis of EPC was made. Compared to the previously reported EPC cases of male breast, the lesion of this case was unusually cystic, which making the diagnosis challenging. Therefore, awareness of this unusual feature, repeat biopsy when the pathology result is discordant, and extensive sampling of the lesion are essential for making the correct diagnosis and guiding patient management.

FISH-Based Karyotype Analyses of Four Dracaena Species.

The genus Dracaena is the main source of dragon's blood, which is a plant resin and has been used as traditional medicine since ancient times in different civilizations. However, the chromosome numbers and karyotypes present in this genus remain poorly understood. In this study, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using oligonucleotide probes for ribosomal DNAs (5S and 45S rDNA) and telomeric repeats (TTTAGGG)3 was applied to analyze 4 related species: Dracaena terniflora Roxb., Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep., Aizong (Dracaena sp.), and Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen. In all 4 species, both 5S and 45S rDNA showed hybridization signals in the paracentromeric region of a pair of chromosomes; the sizes of the 45S rDNA signals were larger than those of the 5S rDNA. Importantly, the telomeric repeat signals were located in the telomeric regions of almost all chromosomes. The results indicated that the chromosome number of all 4 Dracaena species is 2n = 40, and the lengths of the mitotic metaphase chromosomes range from 0.99 to 2.98 µm. Our results provide useful cytogenetic information, which will be beneficial to future studies in genome structure of the genus Dracaena.

BCOR-CCNB3 Sarcoma with Prominent Rhabdoid Cells Mimicking Rhabdomyoblasts: Expanding the Morphologic spectrum of BCOR-CCNB3 Sarcoma.

BCOR-CCNB3 sarcoma (BCS) is a rare recently defined undifferentiated sarcoma that predominantly affects children and young adults. The diagnosis of this tumor is difficult due to the highly variable morphology and nonspecific immunophenotype. Emerging data suggest that patients with BCS show response to Ewing sarcoma-based treatment regimen, thus correct diagnosis is of clinical relevance. In this study, we report a case of BCS arising from the big toe of a 15-year-old male patient. The tumor had a prominent population of rhabdoid cells with bright eosinophilic cytoplasm mimicking rhabdomyosarcoma. The tumor cells were focally positive for desmin and myogenin, and negative for CD99. Next-generation sequencing showed the presence of BCOR-CCNB3 gene fusion. BCS with prominent rhabdoid cells has not been described before. This study further expands the morphologic spectrum of BCS.

[Study on effect elements of anthers opening-closing movement and its cell morphology regulatory mechanism of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis].

In order to study the effect elements of anthers opening-closing movement of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, and its cell morphology regulatory mechanism. Anthers daily opening in the morning and closing in the evening and its corresponding ecological elements changes were recorded. Different light, temperature, humidity experiment and artificial rainfall experiment were designed to observe the effect on anthers opening-closing movement, paraffin sections were made to observe the cell morphology change when the anthers daily opening and closing. The result showed that the movement of anthers daily opening and closing was regulated by ecological elements. The overall trend was high temperature and strong light, low humidity was favorable for anther opening, and low temperature, weak light, high humidity was favorable for anther closing. In this experiment, the effect of these ecological elements on the movement of anthers opening from strong to weak was humidity, temperature, light. The effect of these ecological elements on the movement of anthers closing from strong to weak was light, humidity, temperature. The direct contact of the raindrops causes the rapid closing of the anthers in the rain. Observing the cell morphology change when anthers opening and closing, it was a pollen sac dehydration and water-absorption process, different light, temperature and humidity conditions induce different physiological activities in the cell, which caused the cell osmotic pressure change, eventually resulting in anther opening and closing movement. But anthers closing caused by the rain was a simple physical adjustment process, the raindrops fell on the anthers directly, which caused anthers soaked water and change of the cell osmotic pressure, then resulting in anther closing.

Anti-TCRß mAb in Combination With Neurogenin3 Gene Therapy Reverses Established Overt Type 1 Diabetes in Female NOD Mice.

Insulin-producing ß cells in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are destroyed by T lymphocytes. We investigated whether targeting the T-cell receptor (TCR) with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) abrogates T-cell response against residual and newly formed islets in overtly diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. NOD mice with blood glucose levels of 250 to 350 mg/dL or 350 to 450 mg/dL were considered as new-onset or established overt diabetes, respectively. These diabetic NOD mice were transiently treated with an anti-TCR ß chain (TCRß) mAb, H57-597, for 5 days. Two weeks later, some NOD mice with established overt diabetes further received hepatic gene therapy using the islet-lineage determining gene Neurogenin3 (Ngn3), in combination with the islet growth factor gene betacellulin (Btc). We found that anti-TCRß mAb (50 µg/d) reversed >80% new-onset diabetes in NOD mice for >14 weeks by reducing the number of effector T cells in the pancreas. However, anti-TCRß mAb therapy alone reversed only ∼20% established overt diabetes in these mice. Among those overtly diabetic NOD mice whose diabetes was resistant to anti-TCRß mAb treatment, ∼60% no longer had diabetes when they also received Ngn3-Btc hepatic gene transfer 2 weeks after initial anti-TCRß mAb treatment. This combination of Ngn3-Btc gene therapy and anti-TCRß mAb treatment induced the sustained formation of periportal insulin-producing cells in the liver of overtly diabetic mice. Therefore, directly targeting TCRß with a mAb potently reverses new-onset T1D in NOD mice and protects residual and newly formed gene therapy-induced hepatic neo-islets from T-cell‒mediated destruction in mice with established overt diabetes.

PD-L1-driven tolerance protects neurogenin3-induced islet neogenesis to reverse established type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.

A breakdown in self-tolerance underlies autoimmune destruction of ß-cells and type 1 diabetes. A cure by restoring ß-cell mass is limited by the availability of transplantable ß-cells and the need for chronic immunosuppression. Evidence indicates that inhibiting costimulation through the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is central to immune tolerance. We therefore tested whether induction of islet neogenesis in the liver, protected by PD-L1-driven tolerance, reverses diabetes in NOD mice. We demonstrated a robust induction of neo-islets in the liver of diabetic NOD mice by gene transfer of Neurogenin3, the islet-defining factor, along with betacellulin, an islet growth factor. These neo-islets expressed all the major pancreatic hormones and transcription factors. However, an enduring restoration of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and euglycemia occurs only when tolerance is also induced by the targeted overexpression of PD-L1 in the neo-islets, which results in inhibition of proliferation and increased apoptosis of infiltrating CD4(+) T cells. Further analysis revealed an inhibition of cytokine production from lymphocytes isolated from the liver but not from the spleen of treated mice, indicating that treatment did not result in generalized immunosuppression. This treatment strategy leads to persistence of functional neo-islets that resist autoimmune destruction and consequently an enduring reversal of diabetes in NOD mice.

[Phenotypic Trait Variation, Principal Component, Correlation and Path Analysis of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenotypic trait variation range of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, and to look for phenotypic traits closely related with yield, in order to provide reference for its breeding in the future. METHODS: Wild plants of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis populations cultivated for three years in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province were chosen. The plants of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis were randomly labelled, its phenotypic traits were observed and analyzed by variation, principal component, correlation, variance and path analysis. RESULTS: Eleven phenotypic traits variation of the populations of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis were great, mainly distributed in yield, growth and genetic characteristics. Phenotypic trait of different growth years (4 - 10 years) including stem height, stem diameter, flower stem height, flower stem diameter, leaf number, leaf length and leaf width had no significant difference(P > 0. 05). The underground phenotypic traits including root weight, root length and root diameter increased significant (P <0. 05) with plant growth years. Effect of the other phenotypic traits on root weight was as follows: root diameter (0. 2550) > root growth years (0. 1183 ) > root length(0. 0202) > stem diameter(0. 0081) > stem height (0. 0044) > leaf number (0. 0025) > leaf length (0. 0018) > leaf width (0. 0004) > flower stem height (0. 0003) > flower stem diameter (0. 0001). CONCLUSION: The phenotypic traits on yield, growth and genetic characteristics have rich variations, and the phenotypic traits on the ground have no relationship with plant growth years, the plant growth years mainly affect the underground phenotypic traits. When choosing different root types, root diameter can be used as the preferred character, stem diameter as the second preferred traits when the root traits information not be easily obtained.

Mimecan, a Hormone Abundantly Expressed in Adipose Tissue, Reduced Food Intake Independently of Leptin Signaling.

Adipokines such as leptin play important roles in the regulation of energy metabolism, particularly in the control of appetite. Here, we describe a hormone, mimecan, which is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue. Mimecan was observed to inhibit food intake and reduce body weight in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of a mimecan-maltose binding protein (-MBP) complex inhibited food intake in C57BL/6J mice, which was attenuated by pretreatment with polyclonal antibody against mimecan. Notably, mimecan-MBP also induced anorexia in A(y)/a and db/db mice. Furthermore, the expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 was up-regulated in the hypothalamus by mimecan-MBP, as well as in N9 microglia cells by recombinant mouse mimecan. Taken together, the results suggest that mimecan is a satiety hormone in adipose tissue, and that mimecan inhibits food intake independently of leptin signaling by inducing IL-1ß and IL-6 expression in the hypothalamus.

[A New Pest of Amomum villosum in Xishuangbanna].

OBJECTIVE: To report a new pest of Amomum villosum and its distribution, occurrence regularity and damage situation, in order to provide reference for its control. METHODS: Reared the pest larvae, observed the morphological characters, and made a preliminary investigation on its distribution, occurrence regularity and damage situation. RESULTS: Through macroscopic examination, the pest was identified as Anisodera rugulosa, which distributed in the main producing areas of Amomum villosum in Xishuangbanna, the pest larvae ate the inside of Amomum villosum fruit, which made the fruit formed holes, more seriously, it made the whole fruit rot black. CONCLUSION: The pest causes the fruit yield reduction of Amomum villosum. Pest control work needs to be carry out as soon as possible.

[Phenotypic Trait Variation, Correlation and Path Analysis of Clerodendranthus spicatus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenotypic trait variation range of Clerodendranthus spicatus, and to look for phenotypic traits closely related with its yield and quality, in order to provide reference for its breeding. METHODS: Randomly labelled plants of Clerodendranthus spicatus, observed its phenotypic traits and analyzed by variation, principal component, correlation and path analysis. RESULTS: 13 phenotypic traits in the 15 germplasms of Clerodendranthus spicatus had great variations, the variations mainly distributed in yield, growth and genetic characteristics. Correlation and path analysis showed that, the plant dry weight had an extremely significantly positive correlation with fresh weight, and a positive correlation with stem height, stem diameter and root diameter. Plant fresh weight had a majorly direct contribution to the plant dry weight, stem height, stem diameter and root diameter also had a direct contribution to the plant dry weight. The other characters, including root length, branches, the number of leaf nodes, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, fresh weight/dry weight ratio, rosmarinic acid content and ursolic acid content all had a negatively direct contribution to the plant dry weight. Rosmarinic acid content had a positive correlation with fresh weight, and a significantly positive correlation with fresh weight/dry weight ratio. Fresh weight had a majorly direct contribution to the rosmarinic acid content, stem height and stem diameter also had a direct contribution to the plant rosmarinic acid content. The other characters, including root length, root diameter, branches, the number of leaf nodes, leaf length, leaf width, dry weight, fresh weight/dry weight ratio, and ursolic acid content all had a negatively direct contribution to the rosmarinic acid content. CONCLUSION: The phenotypic traits of Clerodendranthus spicatus had rich variations on yield, growth and genetic characteristics. When choosing good germplasm, plant fresh weight, stem height, stem diameter and plant fresh weight/dry weight ratio having promoting effects on the plant dry weight and rosmarinic acid content should be considered comprehensively, and plant with vigorous growth, tall stem and more leaves can be choosed firstly.

[Occurrence situation and control strategy of Dendrobium diseases in large-scale farming system].

Artificial cultivation medical Dendrobium flourished quickly and gradually developed in a streamlined production in large scale in Zhejiang, Yunnan, Anhui, Guizhou et al provinces in recent years. As the growing years being extended and area expanded, plant disease is a growing issue and became even worse. In the current review, we summarized the available studies and the investigation in those areas on disease kinds, regular patterns, area specificity, and prevention solutions and so on. We elucidated the limitations of plant disease on medical Dendrobium planting industry development, and provided some suggestions in prevention strategy depending on the occurrence characteristics and epidemic factors. Strengthening basic research, appropriate field management and reasonable utilization of pesticide are the key part of disease integrated management

[Breeding system of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the basic guidance for seed breeding and cross-breeding of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis. METHOD: The floral behavior and pollinators were observed; 0.5% TTC solution was used for the pollen viability test and benzidine and -H2O2 was used for estimation of the stigma receptivity. The mating systems were tested by out crossing index (OC1), and pollination experiment was carried out by bagged and emasculated test in the field. RESULT: Commonly, stigma lobes spread slightly, and anthers started presenting the pollen from the outer ring while the flower was just beginning to open. Consequently, the distance between the stigma and its own pollen was relatively far, this "floral behavior" may be conducive to outcrossing. Then the flower entered the later period, while the stigma lobes spread widely, anthers all split, and this "floral behavior" shortened the stigma and its own pollen's distance, which may be conducive to selfing. P. polyphylla was partly protogynous. Stigma life-span was about 10-12 d. After anther dehiscence, the pollen viability maintained about 10% within 2 days, and 20% within 10 days. The value of out crossing index (OC1) was 4. By pollination experiment and pollinators observed, P. polyphylla was self-compatible, but no capacity for autonomous self-fertilization; In natural circumstances, outcrossing fructification rate was low, and mainly anemophilous. Assisted selfing-fertilization fructification rate was higher, spider was the main pollinators. CONCLUSION: P. polyphylla has a mixed mating system with self-pollination and cross-pollination characteristics. Floral behavior has important adaptive significance in avoiding female and male interference, outcrossing, and delayed selfing. P. polyphylla is ambophily (a combination of both wind and insect pollination), pollinators changes due to environment. Pollen limitation is the main cause of low fructification rate under natural conditions.

Neo-islet formation in liver of diabetic mice by helper-dependent adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by T cell-mediated autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Until now insulin replacement is still the major therapy, because islet transplantation has been limited by donor availability and by the need for long-term immunosuppression. Induced islet neogenesis by gene transfer of Neuogenin3 (Ngn3), the islet lineage-defining specific transcription factor and Betacellulin (Btc), an islet growth factor has the potential to cure type 1 diabetes. Adenoviral vectors (Ads) are highly efficient gene transfer vector; however, early generation Ads have several disadvantages for in vivo use. Helper-dependent Ads (HDAds) are the most advanced Ads that were developed to improve the safety profile of early generation of Ads and to prolong transgene expression(1). They lack chronic toxicity because they lack viral coding sequences(2-5) and retain only Ad cis elements necessary for vector replication and packaging. This allows cloning of up to 36 kb genes. In this protocol, we describe the method to generate HDAd-Ngn3 and HDAd-Btc and to deliver these vectors into STZ-induced diabetic mice. Our results show that co-injection of HDAd-Ngn3 and HDAd-Btc induces 'neo islets' in the liver and reverses hyperglycemia in diabetic mice.