The enhancement of nonlinear optical properties of azulene-based nanographene by N atoms: a finishing touch.

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials play an increasingly important role in optoelectronic devices, biomedicine, micro-nano processing, and other fields. The development of organic materials with strong second or (and) third NLO properties and a high stability is still challenging due to the unknown strategies for obtaining enhanced high order NLO properties. In the present work, π-conjugated systems are constructed by doping boron or (and) nitrogen atoms in the azulene moiety of azulene-based nanographenes (formed with an azulene chain with two bridging HCCHs at the two sides of the connecting CC bonds between azulenes, A1A2A3), and the NLO properties are predicted with time-dependent density functional theory based methods and a sum-over-states model. The doping of heteroatoms induces charge redistribution, tunes the frontier molecular orbital energy gap, changes the composition of some frontier molecular orbitals, and affects the NLO properties of those nanographenes. Among the designed nanographenes, the azulene-based nanographene with two nitrogen atoms at the two ends has the largest static first hyperpolarizability (91.30 × 10-30 esu per heavy atom), and the further introduction of two N atoms at the two ends of the central azulene moiety of this nanographene results in a large static second hyperpolarizability while keeping the large static first hyperpolarizability.

Role of heat shock protein 90 as an antiviral target for swine enteric coronaviruses.

A variety of swine enteric coronaviruses (SECoVs) have emerged and are prevalent in pig populations, including porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), and swine acute diarrhea syndrome (SADS)-CoV, a newly identified bat-origin CoV with zoonotic potential. Unfortunately, available traditional, inactivated and attenuated SECoV vaccines are of limited efficacy against the variants currently circulating in most pig populations. In this study, we evaluated the role of host factor heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) as an antiviral target against SECoVs, exemplified by SADS-CoV. Pharmacological inhibition of Hsp90 diminished SADS-CoV replication significantly in porcine and human cell lines, and also decreased replication of SADS-CoV in a porcine intestinal enteroid model. Further mechanistic experiments revealed that both porcine and human isoforms of Hsp90 interact with the SADS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein, and inhibition of Hsp90 resulted in autophagic degradation of N protein. Moreover, we linked Hsp90 to virus-induced cellular pyroptosis, as SADS-CoV was found to trigger caspase-1/gasdermin-d-mediated pyroptotic cell death, which was mitigated by inhibition of Hsp90. Finally, we demonstrated that Hsp90 also associated with N proteins and was involved in propagation of PEDV, PDCoV and TGEV. This study thus extends our understanding of immune responses to SADS-CoV infection and offers a new potential therapeutic option against four SECoVs.

Effects of Chronic Hypoxic Environment on Cognitive Function and Neuroimaging Measures in a High-Altitude Population.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term hypoxic environment exposure on cognitive ability and neuroimaging characteristics in a highland population in China. Methods: Health system workers in Maduo County (4,300 m above sea level) and Minhe County (1,700 m above sea level) were selected as research participants and divided into a high-altitude (HA) group and low-altitude (LA) group, respectively. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail Making Test A and B (TMT), Digit Span Test (DST), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). All participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, resting state functional MRI scan, and diffusion tensor imaging to clarify changes in regional gray matter (GM) volume, anisotropy index (FA), local consistency (ReHo), and low-frequency oscillation amplitude (ALFF). Results: The HA group had significantly lower MoCA, DST, VFT, RAVLT, and TMT scores compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in SDMT score. Furthermore, compared to the LA group, the HA group had significantly lower GM density of the left olfactory cortex, right medial orbital superior frontal gyrus, bilateral insula, left globus pallidus, and temporal lobe (left superior temporal gyrus temporal pole, bilateral middle temporal gyrus temporal pole, and right middle temporal gyrus). In terms of FA, compared with the LA group, the HA group had lower values for the corpus callosum, corpus callosum knee, bilateral radiative corona, and left internal capsule. The HA group had lower ALFF values of the left cerebellum, left putamen, left orbital inferior frontal gyrus, and left precuneus, but higher ALFF values of the left fusiform gyrus, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, left orbital superior frontal gyrus and medial superior frontal gyrus, compared to the LA group. There was no significant group difference in ReHo values. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a chronic hypoxic environment can induce extensive cognitive impairment. Decreased GM density in multiple brain regions, damaged nerve fibers, and unbalanced neuronal activity intensity in different brain regions may be the structural and functional basis of cognitive impairment due to hypoxia.

Development of the ICF-CY Set for Cardiac Rehabilitation After Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Most children with congenital heart disease (CHD) require surgical repair, and postoperative rehabilitation is an essential step to restore the quality of life. The present study constructs and confirms the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth core set for children with congenital heart disease 1 year after surgery (ICF-CY-CHDS). METHODS: From February 2021 to August 2021, 340 children aged 3-6 years after CHD surgery were evaluated using the ICF-CY-CHDS and analyzed using the Rasch model. RESULTS: The final ICF-CY-CHDS contained 22 categories; it exhibited a nonsignificant χ2 test result for the item-trait interaction (χ2 = 6736.37, p = 0.8660, Bonferroni-adjusted p = 0.0023). The average severity of children was less than the average difficulty of categories (-2.26 logit <0 logit). The weighted k of all the categories was 0.964 (p < 0.001), and the item separation index was 0.96. The area under the ROC curve of children with a diagnosis result of heart failure was 0.866 (95% CI: 0.801 ~0.931) with good sensitivity (0.875) and specificity (0.759). CONCLUSION: The ICF-CY-CHDS presents a preliminary practical direction during early cardiac rehabilitation after pediatric CHD surgery, and thus provides a basis and scope for clinical evaluation and intervention program formulation.

Black blooms-induced adaptive responses of sulfate reduction bacteria in a shallow freshwater lake.

Decomposing cyanobacterial bloom-induced black blooms been seen as an issue in the management of freshwater ecosystems, but its effect on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in shallow freshwater lakes is not clear. The objective of this study is to present an in-depth investigation of black bloom effects on the activities and composition of SRB, as well as the interactions between SRB and other bacteria. Water and surface sediments samples were collected from a shallow freshwater lake during black and non-black blooms. Sulfate reduction rates (SRRs) in the water column were determined from the linear regression of sulfate depletion with time. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs), targeting the dsrA gene and Illumina sequencing of 16S rDNA, were used to estimate the SRB population and SRB community structures, respectively. Our data indicate that although a higher abundance of SRB was responsible for the higher SRR in the bottom water (34.09 ±â€¯2.37 nmol mL-1 day-1) than in the surface water (14.57 ±â€¯2.91 nmol mL-1 day-1) during black blooms, cell-specific sulfate reduction rates (csSRRs) in the distinct water layers were not significantly different (P = 0.95), with the value of approximately 0.017 fmol cell-1 day-1. Additionally, Desulfomicrobium and Desulfovibrio were the two main genera of SRB in the water column during black bloom season, while Desulfobulbus, Desulfobacca and Desulfatiglans genera were identified in the sediments of both the black and non-black blooms in genera pools. Each SRB genus preferentially associated with bacteria for specific functions in the bacterial co-occurrence network, regardless of whether black booms occurred or not. These results extend our knowledge on the importance of SRB during black blooms and the adaptation of SRB to environmental changes in freshwater lakes.

Management in the paediatric wards facing novel coronavirus infection: a rapid review of guidelines and consensuses.

OBJECTIVES: Relevant guidelines and consensuses for COVID-19 contain recommendations aimed at optimising the management in paediatric wards. The goal of this study was to determine the quality of those recommendations and provide suggestions to hospital managers for the adjustment of existing hospital prevention and control strategies, and also to offer recommendations for further research. DESIGN: A rapid review of the guidelines and consensuses for the management in paediatric wards facing COVID-19. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, UpToDate, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang database and relevant websites such as medlive.cn, dxy.cn, the National Health and Health Commission and the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention were systematically searched through late May 2020. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool was then used to assess the quality of the selected articles and summarise the relevant evidence concerning management in paediatric wards. RESULTS: A total of 35 articles were included, composed of 3 consensus guidelines, 25 expert consensuses and 7 expert opinions. Of the 35 papers, 24 were from China, 2 from the USA, 1 from Spain, 1 from Brazil, 1 from Saudi Arabia and 6 from multinational cooperative studies. Scores for the six domains of the AGREE II tool (scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, clarity of presentation, applicability and editorial independence) were 98.57%, 53.57%, 17.92%, 69.62%, 26.96% and 50.35%, respectively. Recommendations for nosocomial infection and control, human resource management as well as management of paediatric patients and their families were summarised. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the quality of rapid guidelines and consensuses for the management in paediatric wards affected by COVID-19 is unsatisfactory. In the future, it will be necessary to develop more high-quality guidelines or consensuses for the management in paediatric wards to deal with nosocomial outbreaks in order to fully prepare for emergency medical and health problems.

The Nutritional Status of Pediatric Patients with Single Ventricle Undergoing a Bidirectional Glenn Procedure.

Single ventricle (SV) physiology is associated with growth retardation in children. The nutritional status of pediatric patients with SV undergoing a bidirectional Glenn (BDG) procedure vitally affects the feasibility of the next operation stages. To explore the nutritional status and to identify specific anthropometric parameters relevant to short-term surgical outcomes in children with SV after the BDG procedure, this study included 151 patients who underwent the BDG procedure. Anthropometric assessments and Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) scores were used to evaluate nutritional status. There was a significant statistical correlation between ICFI and malnutrition in both the height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) and weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) groups (P < 0.05). The clinical data, including ventilation time, nosocomial infection presence, pressure injury presence, peritoneal dialysis status, and total intensive care unit days, after BDG surgery were significantly different among the HAZ groups (P < 0.05), while nosocomial infection was different among the WAZ groups (P < 0.05). Children after BDG procedure had a high incidence of malnutrition, in addition to disease factors, the type and frequency of dietary intake were also important factors leading to worse clinical outcomes during hospitalization. Therefore, it is vital to maintain an optimal nutritional status in infants with SV who are undergoing a series of surgical procedures.

Association Between Plasma Homocysteine Levels and Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Adult Subjects: A Meta-Analysis.

Increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels have been widely documented in patients with overt hypothyroidism; however, the significance of Hcy level changes in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the Hcy status in patients with SCH compared with euthyroid subjects. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases prior to December 2019 to identify eligible studies and assessed the quality of selected studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Publication bias was evaluated by Begg's test and Egger's test. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to investigate the source of heterogeneity. A likely source of heterogeneity was the year of the study. All statistical analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software. Our meta-analysis of twelve observational studies with 684 patients showed that those with SCH aged between 18 and 65 years old were associated with a slightly increased plasma Hcy level compared with euthyroid controls. The pooled result of the weighted mean difference (WMD) of increased tHcy levels was 1.16 µmol/l (95% CI: 0.51, 1.82; p=0.0005). The Hcy level in patients with SCH aged between 18 and 65 years old is significantly increased compared to euthyroid controls.

Succession of sulfur bacteria during decomposition of cyanobacterial bloom biomass in the shallow Lake Nanhu: An ex situ mesocosm study.

Previous studies of the dynamics of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) have focused on deep stratified lakes. The objective of this study is to present an in-depth investigation of the structure and dynamics of sulfur bacteria (including SRB and SOB) in the water column of shallow freshwater lakes. A cyanobacterial bloom biomass (CBB)-amended mesocosm experiment was conducted in this study, in which water was taken from a shallow eutrophic lake with sulfate levels near 40 mg L-1. Illumina sequencing was used to investigate SRB and SOB species involved in CBB decomposition and the effects of the increases in sulfate input on the water column microbial community structure. The accumulation of dissolved sulfide (∑H2S) produced by SRB during CBB decomposition stimulated the growth of SOB, and ∑H2S was then oxidized back to sulfate by SOB in the water column. Chlorobaculum sequences (the main SOB species in the study) were significantly influenced by increases in sulfate input, with relative abundance increasing approximately four-fold in treatments amended with 40 mg L-1 sulfate (referred to as 40S) when compared to the treatment without additional sulfate addition (referred to as CU). Additionally, an increase in SOB number was observed from day 26-37, concurrent with the decrease in SRB number, indicating the succession of sulfur bacteria. These findings suggest that biological sulfur oxidation and succession of sulfur bacteria occur in the water column during CBB decomposition in shallow freshwater ecosystems, and the increases in sulfate input stimulate microbial sulfur oxidation.

EP4 activation ameliorates liver ischemia/reperfusion injury via ERK1/2­GSK3ß­dependent MPTP inhibition.

Prostaglandin E receptor subtype 4 (EP4) is widely distributed in the heart, but its role in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), particularly in mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) modulation, is yet to be elucidated. In the present study, an EP4 agonist (CAY10598) was used in a rat model to evaluate the effects of EP4 activation on liver I/R and the mechanisms underlying this. I/R insult upregulated hepatic EP4 expression during early reperfusion. In addition, subcutaneous CAY10598 injection prior to the onset of reperfusion significantly increased hepatocyte cAMP concentrations and decreased serum ALT and AST levels and necrotic and apoptotic cell percentages, after 6 h of reperfusion. Moreover, CAY10598 protected mitochondrial morphology, markedly inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening and decreased liver reactive oxygen species levels. This occurred via activation of the ERK1/2­GSK3ß pathway rather than the janus kinase (JAK)2­signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)3 pathway, and resulted in prevention of mitochondria­associated cell injury. The MPTP opener carboxyatractyloside (CATR) and the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 also partially reversed the protective effects of CAY10598 on the liver and mitochondria. The current findings indicate that EP4 activation induces ERK1/2­GSK3ß signaling and subsequent MPTP inhibition to provide hepatoprotection, and these observations are informative for developing new molecular targets and preventative therapies for I/R in a clinical setting.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Endostar Combined With Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Versus TACE Alone for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Many studies have investigated the efficacy of Endostar combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Endostar. PubMed, Embase, and other databases were searched, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Nine studies, all of which were clinical randomized controlled trials, involving 411 participants were included. The overall response rate, disease control rate and α-fetoprotein negative conversion ratio, and the 6- and 12-month survival rate of HCC patients treated with combined Endostar and TACE were higher than those treated with TACE alone ( P < .01). Furthermore, the incidence of tumor progression was low after Endostar treatment ( P = .005). The incidence of adverse effects (leukocytopenia, liver function damage, and vomiting) was similar in Endostar with TACE and in TACE alone ( P > .05). However, large studies and more randomized trials are necessary to determine the effects of Endostar on HCC.

The induction of apoptosis and autophagy in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by combined treatment with vitamin C and polysaccharides extracted from Grifola frondosa.

Polysaccharides extracted from the mushroom Grifola frondosa (GFP) are a potential anticancer agent. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of GFP and vitamin C (VC) alone and in combination on the viability of human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells. Studies designed to detect cell apoptosis and autophagy were also conducted to investigate the mechanism. Results from the cell viability assay indicated that a combination of GFP (0.2 or 0.25 mg/mL) and VC (0.3 mmol/L) (GFP/VC) led to 52.73 and 53.93% reduction in cell viability of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells separately after 24 h. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that GFP/VC treatment induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and apoptosis occurred in approximately 43.62 and 42.46% of the SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells separately. Moreover, results of Hoechst33258 and monodansylcadaverine staining, and transmission electron microscopy, showed that GFP/VC induced apoptosis and autophagy in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells. Western blot analysis showed changes in the expression of apoptosis-related proteins [upregulation of BAX and caspase-3, downregulation of Bcl-2, and activation of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase] and autophagy protein markers (upregulation of beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain-3). We also demonstrated that the expression of both Akt and p-Akt was enhanced, suggesting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway might not be involved in this process. Our study shows that the combined application of GFP and VC induced cell apoptosis and autophagy in vitro, and might have antitumor activity in vivo.

Synergistic Apoptotic Effect of D-Fraction From Grifola frondosa and Vitamin C on Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of a combination of D-fraction polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa (DFP) and vitamin C (VC) on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro. DFP is a bioactive extract from the maitake mushroom. Anticancer activity was demonstrated using various concentrations of DFP alone or in combination with VC against the human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. To investigate the anticancer mechanism, studies designed to detect cell apoptosis were conducted. Results from the MTT assay indicated that a combination of DFP (0.2 mg/mL) and VC (0.3 mmol/L) led to a 70% reduction in cell viability. Flow cytometry results indicated that DFP/VC treatment induced apoptosis in approximately 65% SMMC-7721 cells. Cell cycle analysis identified cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase following DFP/VC treatment for 48 hours. In addition, cellular morphological changes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analysis revealed that the upregulation of BAX, downregulation of Bcl-2, activation of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP), and the release of cytochrome c were observed in cells treated with the combination of DFP/VC, which showed that the mechanism of anticancer activity in the SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells involved induction of apoptosis.

[Expression and clinical significances of c-myb and Bax proteins in endometrial carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expressions of c-myb and Bax proteins and their relationships with clinic-pathological characteristics in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: The expressions of c-myb and Bax protein were detected by immunohistochemistry in 42 normal endometrial tissues and 68 endometrial carcinoma tissues. Apoptosis index was detected by TUNEL technique. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of c-myb and Bax in endometrial carcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal endometrial tissues (P < 0.05). The expressions of c-myb and Bax in low differentiated endometrial carcinoma were higher than those in high and middle differentiated endometrial carcinoma (P < 0.05). The expressions of c-myb and Bax in stage III and stage IV endometrial carcinoma were higher than those in stage I and stge II endometrial carcinoma (P < 0.05). Apoptosis index in endometrial carcinoma was higher than that in normal endometrial carcinoma. The poorer the cellular differentiation was, the higher the apoptosis index was. There was positive correlation between the expression of Bax and apoptosis index (P < 0.05), but no correlation between the expression of c-myb and apoptosis index (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endometrial carcinoma has high expression of c-myb and Bax, and the expression status of both c-myb and Bax may be related to the malignant degree and prognosis of endometrial carcinoma.

Association between DNA repair genes (XPD and XRCC1) polymorphisms and susceptibility to age-related cataract (ARC): a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: DNA repair gene (XPD and XRCC1) polymorphisms have been considered as risk factors for the development of age-related cataract (ARC). To confirm the association between DNA repair gene (XPD and XRCC1) polymorphisms and the risk of ARC, a meta-analysis was conducted. METHODS: A search was made of published literature from Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data. In addition, all studies evaluating the association between DNA repair genes (XPD and XRCC1) polymorphisms and the risk for ARC were included in our analysis. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated by using fixed- or random-effects model. The Egger's test was used to check the publication bias. RESULTS: Six studies on XRCC1 Arg399Gln (1,300 cases, 1,222 controls) and five studies on XPD Lys751Gln (1,092 cases, 1,061 controls) were included. For the XPD Lys751Gln (A/C) SNP, the overall analysis demonstrated that the CC genotype showed a significant association with a decreased risk for ARC compared with the AA genotype (OR = 0.59, 95 % CI, 0.38-0.92, P = 0.019). Similarly, the CC genotype showed a significant association with a decreased risk for ARC compared with the (AA + AC) genotype (OR = 0.65, 95 % CI, 0.43-0.98, P = 0.040). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between the CC genotype and decreased risk for ARC is statistically significant in Caucasians (OR = 0.41, 95 % CI, 0.24-0.73, P = 0.002) but not in Asians (OR = 1.06, 95 % CI, 0.51-2.19, P = 0.877). For the XRCC1 Arg399Gln (G/A) SNP, the overall analysis demonstrated that the A allele showed a significant association with an increased risk for ARC compared with the G allele (OR = 1.16, 95 % CI, 1.03-1.31, P = 0.015). Subgroup analyses exhibited that the association between the A allele and the risk for ARC was statistically significant in Asians (OR = 1.23, 95 % CI, 1.07-1.41, P = 0.003) but not in Caucasians (OR = 0.94, 95 % CI, 0.73-1.22, P = 0.660). Compared with the GG genotype, the GA genotype showed a significant association with an increased risk for ARC in Asians (OR = 1.32, 95 % CI, 1.08-1.61, P = 0.006) but not in Caucasians (OR = 0.58, 95 % CI, 0.27-1.26, P = 0.171). The Egger's test did not reveal an obvious publication bias among the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggested that the CC genotype of XPD Lys751Gln (A/C) SNP seemed to portend a decreased risk for ARC in Caucasian populations but not in Asian populations. The A allele and GA genotype of XRCC1 Arg399Gln (G/A) SNP might increase risk for ARC in Asian populations but not in Caucasian populations. More researches with larger and more different ethnic populations on this issue are therefore necessary.

[Identification of a rare allele FGA-13 in Guangdong Han population].

OBJECTIVE: To report on a rare allele FGA-13 identified in Guangdong Han population. METHODS: The rare allele was detected by PCR-STR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The core repeat sequence of rare allele FGA-OL is [TTTC]3[TTTT][TTCT][CTTT]5 [CTCC][TTCC]2, which has been determined as FGA-13. CONCLUSION: The rare allele FGA-13 is also present in Guangdong Han population. This is significant for personal identification and paternity testing.

[Detection of matrix metalloproteinase-11 in menstrual blood by enhanced chemiluminescence method].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the forensic application value of detection of matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) in menstrual blood by enhanced chemiluminescence method. METHODS: Menstrual blood, vaginal swab, peripheral blood, saliva stain, urine stain and semen stain were collected to detect whether or not there were MMP-11 using enhanced chemiluminescence method. The specificity and reliability of the MMP-11 assay along with its sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of MMP-11 in menstrual blood was 89.47%, whereas no MMP-11 was found in vaginal swab, peripheral blood, saliva stain, urine stain and semen stain. When 25 microL sample was added, the mass concentration of protein was 1.329 microg/microL, then MMP-11 could be detected. A positive detection rate of 89.58% was observed in MMP-11 positive menstrual blood samples after stored at 4 degrees C for 20 months. CONCLUSION: Enhanced chemiluminescence method is sensitive and specific for detecting MMP-11, and can be applied to distinguish menstrual blood from common stain such as peripheral blood, vaginal fluid.

Increased apoptosis and expression of FasL, Bax and caspase-3 in human lupus nephritis class II and IV.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is involved in glomerular injuries leading to glomerulonephritis. However, the role of renal cellular apoptosis in the pathogenesis and progression of human lupus nephritis (LN) is controversial, and studies on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as FasL, Bax and caspase-3, in different classifications of human LN renal tissues are limited. METHODS: Thirty-two samples of LN tissues, including 10 cases of class II and 22 cases of class IV LN, and 5 cases of human normal renal tissues were obtained. Expression of FasL, Bax and caspase-3 proteins in LN tissues was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Apoptotic cells were evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: Expression of FasL, Bax and caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells in glomerular parenchymal cells, renal tubular epithelial cells and interstitial inflammatory cells were higher in LN tissues compared with controls. Expression of Bax and caspase-3, but not FasL, was significantly higher in glomeruli of class IV LN than those of class II LN. The apoptotic cell count per glomerulus was significantly higher in class IV LN than class II LN (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased apoptosis and the expression of FasL, Bax and caspase-3 in human LN suggest that apoptosis might be induced through pathways of these proteins in the pathogenesis process and play an important role in LN progression through Bax and caspase-3, but not FasL.

ASIC1a polymorphism is associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Recent in vitro and in vivo data show that acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) activation enhances neuronal excitability in the hippocampus and neocortex, indicating that ASIC1a might play a role in the generation and maintenance of epileptic seizures. The aim of this study was to investigate association of the ASIC1a gene with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) for the first time. Six tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ASIC1a gene were selected and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 560 TLE patients and 401 healthy controls. There was a significant allelic and genotypic association between rs844347:A>C and TLE compared with controls. The rs844347-A allele frequency was 88.1% in the patients and 83.0% in control subjects (OR=1.516, 95% CI 1.142-2.013, p=0.004). Furthermore, the haplotype analysis revealed a significant association with TLE. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time an association between an ASC1a variant allele and TLE in a Han Chinese population.