Utility of multidetector computed tomography quantitative measurements in identifying sarcopenia: a propensity score matched study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of multidetector computed tomography MDCT quantitative measurements in identifying sarcopenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data and MDCT images of 64 patients of sarcopenia and 184 non-sarcopenic participants between October 2020 and January 2021were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity score matching was used to match the sarcopenic patients with the non-sarcopenic participants. Two radiologists independently measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of skeletal muscle and intramuscular fat tissue and CT density of skeletal muscle at the middle L3 vertebral level on CT images of all participants. Intra-observer agreement was evaluated via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was built for each variable. Correlations between CT parameters and clinical data were assessed via Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 74 participants (mean age 72 ± 4 years, range 66-85 years; 38 men and 36 women) were included, comprising 37 sarcopenic patients and 37 non-sarcopenic participants. There were no significant intergroup differences regarding age, sex ratio, and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.05). The CSA and density of skeletal muscle measured by two radiologists were reliable (ICC ≥ 0.75, P < 0.001). Compared with the sarcopenic group, the non-sarcopenic group had a significantly greater CSA and CT density of the total skeletal muscle (TSM) and paraspinal skeletal muscle (PSM) and skeletal muscle index at L3 level (L3 SMI) (P < 0.05). The fat infiltration ratio (FIR) of TSM, PSM, and psoas muscle was significantly higher in the sarcopenic group than that in non-sarcopenic participants (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed the PSM FIR + PSM CT density (PSM D) had the best predictive value for sarcopenia (AUC = 0.836). The PSM FIR and age were moderately positively correlated (r = 0.410, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fat infiltration of skeletal muscle had better predictive value than L3 SMI in the diagnosis of sarcopenic. The PSM FIR + PSMD had the best predictive value for sarcopenia, which was moderately positively correlated with age.

Association Between the Cardiometabolic Index and Hyperuricemia in an Asymptomatic Population with Normal Body Mass Index.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association between the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and hyperuricemia was investigated to provide theoretical support for the management of hyperuricemia in an asymptomatic population with normal body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 374 asymptomatic adults with normal BMI. Traditional anthropometric indices and CMI were calculated. Anthropometric indices were divided into four quartiles and multivariate logistic analysis was used to analyze the association between these indices and hyperuricemia. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the power of the indices to predict hyperuricemia values. The DeLong test was used to compare the AUC of different anthropometric indices. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding variables, the CMI exhibited a stronger association with hyperuricemia than other anthropometric indices. The odds ratio (OR) for hyperuricemia in the highest quartile of the CMI was 16.674 (confidence interval [CI]=4.424-62.846). The AUC of the CMI was 0.777 (95% CI=0.719-0.835, p<0.001), which was higher than the values for other anthropometric indices. The differences in AUC between the CMI and other indices were statistically significant; the optimal cutoff value of the CMI was 0.655, with sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 84.2%. CONCLUSION: The CMI, which combines waist circumference, height and blood lipid parameters, was more strongly associated with hyperuricemia than other anthropometric indices in asymptomatic population with normal BMI. The CMI may serve as a potential monitoring indicator for hyperuricemia management in asymptomatic populations with normal BMI.

[Changes of wet and dry climate in the past 205 years indicated by Pseudotsuga forrestii of river valley from southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China]. / 河谷澜沧黄杉指示的青藏高原东南地区过去205年干湿变化.

The residual chronology of tree-ring width was constructed using Pseudotsuga forrestii collected from the low-altitude valley in the Chayu County, southeastern Tibetan Plateau of China. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out between the residual chronology of tree-ring width and climatic factors. The changes of Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) from April to May between 1812 and 2016 in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau were reconstructed by linear regression method (the variance interpretation was 47%). There was a significantly positive correlation between the PDSI index and tree-ring width index (r=0.69, P<0.01). The PDSI reconstructed sequence had four wet periods (1831-1844, 1853-1863, 1938-1948 and 1988-2002) and three dry periods (1864-1876, 1908-1926 and 2003-2016). Compared with other reconstructed sequences and historical records, our reconstructed sequence could better express dry and wet changes in the study area. The spatial analysis showed that the reconstructed sequence was consistent with the variation trend of PDSI index in southeastern Tibetan Plateau, with a strong spatial representation. Multiple tapers spectral analysis demonstrated that the PDSI reconstructed sequence had remarkable 19-20, 3.9, 3.2, 2.4 and 2.1 years quasi-periodic changes for the past 205 years, probably related to Asian summer monsoon and ENSO activities.

[Effects of GA, and CPPU on grape fruit adjacent leaf photosynthesis and fruit quality].

Taken the grape cultivar 'Shine Muscat' as the material, the effect of the combination of GA3 and CPPU on the light-response curves in the fruit adjacent leaves and fruit quality were investigated two weeks after blossoming. The results showed that non-rectangular hyperbolic model was more suitable for grape fruit adjacent leaf light response curve-fitting. Pn and g(s) of fruit adjacent leaves among all treatments increased with the increasing light intensity under the combination treat-ments of 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 and 5, 10, 15, 20 mg · L(-1) CPPU, respectively, but Ci decreased. Fruit quality increased with the increasing CPPU concentration under the combination treatments of 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 and 5, 10, 15 mg · L(-1) CPPU, respectively. Grape fruit adjacent leaf photosynthesis under the 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 + 20 mg · L(-1) CPPU treatment was higher than the other treatments. The fruit quality under the 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 + 20 mg · L(-1) CPPU treatment was lower than the 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 + 15 mg · L(-1) CPPU treatment. It indicated that reasonable CPPU treatment concentration could improve fruit adjacent leaf photosynthetic ability and fruit quality. Too high concentration made the fruit quality lower instead. The 25 mg · L(-1) GA3 + 15 mg · L(-1) CPPU treatment was most appropriate in two weeks after blossoming.

Apple ring rot-responsive putative microRNAs revealed by high-throughput sequencing in Malus × domestica Borkh.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which silence target mRNA via cleavage or translational inhibition to function in regulating gene expression. MiRNAs act as important regulators of plant development and stress response. For understanding the role of miRNAs responsive to apple ring rot stress, we identified disease-responsive miRNAs using high-throughput sequencing in Malus × domestica Borkh.. Four small RNA libraries were constructed from two control strains in M. domestica, crabapple (CKHu) and Fuji Naga-fu No. 6 (CKFu), and two disease stress strains, crabapple (DSHu) and Fuji Naga-fu No. 6 (DSFu). A total of 59 miRNA families were identified and five miRNAs might be responsive to apple ring rot infection and validated via qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we predicted 76 target genes which were regulated by conserved miRNAs potentially. Our study demonstrated that miRNAs was responsive to apple ring rot infection and may have important implications on apple disease resistance.

Self-compatibility in 'Zaohong' Japanese apricot is associated with the loss of function of pollen S genes.

While most Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) cultivars display typical S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility, some self-compatible (SC) cultivars have also been identified. In this study, we confirmed SC of 'Zaohong' through replicated self-pollination tests. Cross-pollination tests showed that SC of 'Zaohong' was caused by a loss of pollen function, so we determined that the S-genotype of 'Zaohong' was S 2 S 15 . Sequence analysis of the S-haplotypes of 'Zaohong' showed no mutations which were likely to alter gene function. Furthermore, expression analysis based on RT-PCR of S-locus genes revealed no differences at the transcript level when compared with 'Xiyeqing', a self-incompatible cultivar with the same S haplotypes. In addition, except for S-locus genes, a new type of F-box gene encoding a previously uncharacterised protein with high sequence similarity (61.03-64.65 %) to Prunus SFB genes was identified. Putative structural regions of PmF-box genes have been described, corresponding to regions in PmSFB alleles, but with some sequence variations. These results suggest that SC in 'Zaohong' occurs in pollen, and that other factors outside the S-locus, including PmF-box genes, might be associated with the loss of function of pollen S genes.

Genome-wide identification and comparative expression analysis of NBS-LRR-encoding genes upon Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection in two ecotypes of Fragaria vesca.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is one of the most destructive diseases of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne) worldwide. The correlation between NBS-LRR genes, the largest class of known resistance genes, and strawberry anthracnose resistance has been elusive. BLAST search in NCBI identified 94 FvNBSs in the diploid genome of strawberry Fragaria vesca, with 67 of the TIR-NBS-LRR type. At least 36 FvNBSs were expressed, with 25% being non-coding genes. Two F. vesca ecotypes, HLJ and YW, showed great variations in both morphological and physiological responses upon C. gloeosporioides infection. qRT-PCR revealed that 5 of the 12 leaf-expressed FvNBSs displaying opposite transcription responses to C. gloeosporioides infection in two ecotypes. These results showed that the transcriptional responses of several FvNBSs were involved in the ecotype-specific responses to C. gloeosporioides in F. vesca. These FvNBSs hold potential in characterizing molecular components and developing novel markers associated with anthracnose resistance in strawberry.

Identification and analysis of Toll-related genes in the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Silkworm (Bombyx mori), a model system for Lepidoptera, has contributed enormously to the study of insect immunology especially in humoral immunity. But little is known about the molecular mechanism of immune response in the silkworm. Toll receptors are a group of evolutionarily ancient proteins, which play a crucial role in the innate immunity of both insects and vertebrates. In human, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the typical pattern recognition receptors for different kinds of pathogen molecules. Toll-related receptors in Drosophila, however, were thought to function as cytokine receptors in immune response and embryogenesis. We have identified 11 putative Toll-related receptors and two Toll analogs in the silkworm genome. Phylogenetic analysis of insect Toll family and human TLRs showed that BmTolls is grouped with Drosophila Tolls and Anopheles Tolls. These putative proteins are typical transmembrane receptors flanked by the extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and the cytoplasmic TIR domain. Structural prediction of the TIR domain alignment found five stranded sheets and five helices, which are alternatingly joined. Microarray data indicated that BmToll and BmToll-2 were expressed with remarkable enrichment in the ovary, suggesting that they might play a role in the embryogenesis. However, the enriched expression of BmToll-2 and -4 in the midgut suggested that the proteins they encode may be involved in immune defense. Testis-specific expression of BmToll-10 and -11 and BmToLK-2 implies that these may be involved in sex-specific biological functions. The RT-PCR results indicated that 10 genes were induced or suppressed with different degrees after their immune system was challenged by different invaders. Expression profiles of BmTolls and BmToLKs reported here provide insight into their role in innate immunity and development.

Treatment of hyperbilirubinemia with blood purification in China.

The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia is high clinically, which is difficult to cure by medication, surgery or interventional therapies. Non-bioartificial liver is the main alternative in the blood purification for hyperbilirubinemia, which includes plasma exchange, hemoperfusion, hemodialysis, molecular adsorbent recycling system and so on. The research results and clinical experiences in China show that these methods are effective in lowering high levels of bilirubin with fewer side effects. The hyperbilirubinemias of different causes, with different complications or accompanying different diseases can be treated by different methods. Bioartificial liver, hybrid artificial liver support system and adsorbent membrane material have also been studied and their development in reducing hyperbilirubinemias has been achieved. This article gives a brief overview on the actuality and research improvement in blood purification for hyperbilirubinemia in China.