Taurine alleviated hepatic steatosis in oleic acid-treated-HepG2 cells and rats fed a high-fat diet.

Taurine has been proven in many trials to alleviate the symptoms of metabolic associated fatty liver disease. Here its protective effect for hepatic steatosis and modulation of AMP-activated protein kinase and insulin signaling pathway were investigated. Steatotic HepG2 cell established with oleic acid (0.05 mmol/L), treated with taurine (5 mmol/L), dorsomorphin (10 µmol/L) for 24 h. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into regular and high-fat diet (HFD) groups, and their corresponding taurine (70 or 350 mg/kg BW/d) groups, fed for 8 weeks. In steatotic cell, taurine reduced the TG concentration and SREBP-1c, PPARγ, FAS, ACC, SCD1 protein levels, decreased phosphorylation of mTOR, IRS1 (Ser302), increased phosphorylation of AMPKα, LKB1, PI3K, Akt, ACC. While dorsomorphin eliminated taurine's TG-lowering effect. In HFD-fed rats, taurine reduced liver TG, serum TG, ALT, AST, IL-1ß, IL-4, TNF-α. The effects of taurine on the main factors of fatty acid synthesis were mostly consistent with cell experiments, and the reduction of microRNAs (451, 33, 291b) was aligned with the improvement in LKB1 and AMPK expression in HFD rats. Taurine alleviated steatosis-induced inhibition of IRS1-PI3K-Akt pathway, but suppressed its positively regulated downstream factor mTOR. In parallel, taurine reduced steatosis by activating LKB1-AMPKα pathway via phosphorylation and no-phosphorylation manner, then inhibiting SREBP-1c directly or by suppressing mTOR phosphorylation.

Application of apical negative pressure irrigation in the nonsurgical treatment of radicular cysts: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Radicular cysts are one of the most common odontogenic cystic lesions found in the jaw. Nonsurgical treatment of large radicular cysts is a topic of ongoing debate, and there is still no clear consensus on the most effective therapies. The apical negative pressure irrigation system aspirates the cystic fluid and releases the static pressure in the radicular cyst, representing a minimally invasive approach for decompression. In this case, the radicular cyst was in close proximity to the mandibular nerve canal. We used nonsurgical endodontic treatment with a homemade apical negative pressure irrigation system and the prognosis was good. CASE SUMMARY: A 27-year-old male presented to our Department of General Dentistry with complaints of pain in the mandibular right molar when chewing. The patient had no history of drug allergies or systemic disease. A multidisciplinary management approach was designed and included root canal retreatment with a homemade apical negative pressure irrigation system, deep margin elevation and prosthodontic treatment. According to a 1-year follow-up period, the patient showed a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: This report reveals that nonsurgical treatment with an apical negative pressure irrigation system may provide new insights into the treatment of radicular cysts.

Construction and Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Multifunctional Coordination Cages with Triangular Metal-Metal-Bonded Units.

Herein, a series of face-capped (Tr2M3)4L4 (Tr = cycloheptatrienyl cationic ring; M = metal; L = organosulfur ligand) tetrahedral cages 1-3 functionalized with 12 appended crown ether moieties were designed and synthesized. The reversible binding of ammonium cations with peripheral crown ether moieties to adjust internal guest-binding was realized. Combination of a bisammonium linker and cage 3 led to the formation of a supramolecular gel SPN1 via host-guest interactions between the crown ether moieties and ammonium salts. The obtained supramolecular gel exhibited multiple-stimuli responsiveness, injectability, and excellent self-healing properties and could be further developed to a SPN1-based drug delivery system. In addition, the storage modulus of SPN1 was 20 times higher than that of the model gel without Pd-Pd bonded blocks, and SPN1 had better self-healing properties compared with the latter, demonstrating the importance of such cages in improving mechanical strength without losing the dynamic properties of the material. The cytotoxicity in vitro of the drug-loaded (doxorubicin or methotrexate) SPN1 was significantly improved compared to that of free drugs.

Detection rates of abnormalities in over 10,000 amniotic fluid samples at a single laboratory.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of cytogenetic techniques have been used for prenatal diagnosis. This study aimed to demonstrate the usefulness of karyotyping, BACs-on-Beads (BoBs) assay and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in prenatal diagnosis during the second trimester based on our laboratory experience. METHODS: A total of 10,580 pregnant women with a variety of indications for amniocentesis were enrolled in this retrospective study between January 2015 and December 2020, of whom amniotic fluid samples were analysed in 10,320 women. The main technical indicators of participants in the three different technologies were summarized, and cases of chromosome abnormalities were further evaluated. RESULTS: The overall abnormality detection rate of karyotyping among all the amniotic fluid samples was 15.4%, and trisomy 21 was the most common abnormality (20.9%). The total abnormality detection rate of the BoBs assay was 5.6%, and the diagnosis rate of microdeletion/microduplication syndromes that were not identified by karyotyping was 0.2%. The detection results of the BoBs assay were 100.0% concordant with karyotyping analysis in common aneuploidies. Seventy (87.5%) cases of structural abnormalities were missed by BoBs assay. The total abnormality detection rate of the SNP array was 21.6%. The detection results of common aneuploidies were exactly the same between SNP array and karyotyping. Overall, 60.1% of structural abnormalities were missed by SNP array. The further detection rate of pathogenic significant copy number variations (CNVs) by SNP was 1.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Karyotyping analysis combined with BoBs assay or SNP array for prenatal diagnosis could provide quick and accurate results. Combined use of the technologies, especially with SNP array, improved the diagnostic yield and interpretation of the results, which contributes to genetic counselling. BoBs assay or SNP array could be a useful supplement to karyotyping.

Assessment of lake area in response to climate change at varying elevations: A case study of Mt. Tianshan, Central Asia.

Changes in lake area (water surface area) are often considered accurate and sensitive representations of climate change. However, the role that elevation plays in this dynamic is somewhat unclear; studies remain inconclusive as to whether lake responses are consistent across elevation gradients. Here, we used Landsat and keyhole satellite images to quantify lake area changes from the 1960s to 2020 at different elevations in Central Asia's Tianshan Mountains and relate them to both climatic and anthropogenic factors. The results revealed that all low-elevation lakes showed a decreasing trend, and the total area of all monitored low-elevation lakes was reduced by 18.50 %. The total area of the mid-elevation lakes decreased by 0.16 %, while the total area of the high-elevation glacial lakes increased by 4.35 %. Lakes are recharged by a variety of influxes including glacial meltwater and precipitation. Notably, human activities (urban and agricultural water consumption) were the dominant factors in the shrinkage of low-elevation lakes. Climatic factors were the main driving factors of mid-elevation lake changes, and these lakes appeared to be more sensitive to temperature changes than lakes at other elevations. In addition, significant warming dominated area changes in high-elevation proglacial and unconnected glacial lakes. Overall, those results emphasized that when using lakes to reconstruct paleoclimates or predict lake evolution, it is necessary to consider how elevation gradients and recharge types may affect lake sensitivity to variations in climatic and anthropogenic activity.

A nomogram model integrating LI-RADS features and radiomics based on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for predicting microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma falling the Milan criteria.

PURPOSE: To establish and validate a nomogram model incorporating both liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) features and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI)-based radiomics for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) falling the Milan criteria. METHODS: In total, 161 patients with 165 HCCs diagnosed with MVI (n = 99) or without MVI (n = 66) were assigned to a training and a test group. MRI LI-RADS characteristics and radiomics features selected by the LASSO algorithm were used to establish the MRI and Rad-score models, respectively, and the independent features were integrated to develop the nomogram model. The predictive ability of the nomogram was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The risk factors associated with MVI (P<0.05) were related to larger tumor size, nonsmooth margin, mosaic architecture, corona enhancement and higher Rad-score. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the MRI feature model for predicting MVI were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78-0.92) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.74-0.95), and those for the Rad-score were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73-0.90) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.67-0.93) in the training and test groups, respectively. The nomogram presented improved AUC values of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81-0.94) in the training group and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81-0.98) in the test group (P<0.05) for predicting MVI. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram model had high goodness-of-fit and clinical benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram model can effectively predict MVI in patients with HCC falling within the Milan criteria and serves as a valuable imaging biomarker for facilitating individualized decision-making.

Management of the palato-radicular groove with a periodontal regenerative procedure and prosthodontic treatment: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Palato-radicular groove (PRG) is defined as an anomalous formation of teeth. The etiology of PRG remains unclear. The prognosis of a tooth with a PRG is unfavorable. The treatment of combined periodontal-endodontic lesions requires multidisciplinary management to control the progression of bone defects. Some researchers reported cases that had short-term observations. The management of teeth with PRGs is of great clinical significance. However, to date, no case reports have been documented on the use of bone regeneration and prosthodontic treatment for PRGs. CASE SUMMARY: This case reported the management of a 40-year-old male patient with the chief complaint of slight mobility and abscess in the upper right anterior tooth for 15 d and was diagnosed with type II PRG of tooth 12 with combined endodontic-periodontal lesions. The accumulation of plaque and calculus caused primary periodontitis and a secondary endodontic infection. A multidisciplinary management approach was designed that included root canal therapy, groove sealing, a periodontal regenerative procedure, and prosthodontic treatment. During a 2-year follow-up period, a good prognosis was observed. CONCLUSION: This report indicates that bone regeneration and prosthodontic treatment may contribute to the long-term favorable prognosis of teeth with PRGs.

Effects of physical therapy-based rehabilitation on recovery of upper limb motor function after stroke in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Limb hemiplegia is one of the common sequelae of stroke. Physical therapy-based rehabilitation training can rapidly improve limb functioning and muscle strength. This study investigated the effect of physical therapy on the recovery of upper limb motor function by employing a literature search and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials library, Wiley online library, PubMed, Ovid, and Clinicaltrials.org for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies and performed an electronic search with the keyword combinations 'physical therapy/rehabilitation' & 'stroke/post-stroke' & 'upper extremity/upper limb'. After screening the literature for inclusion criteria and assessing the risk of bias, Revman 5.4 software was used for the analysis and to obtain forest and funnel plots. RESULTS: A total of 15 RCTs with 1,081 patients were included in the quantitative analysis for this study. The meta-analysis results showed that compared with conventional therapy, physical therapy improved the upper limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA) scores in convalescent stroke patients (MD =7.27, 95% CI: 4.23-10.32, Z=4.68, P<0.00001), and increased the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores (MD =18.82, 95% CI: 6.34-31.30, Z=2.96, P=0.003), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores (MD =8.84, 95% CI: 6.53-11.15, Z=7.50, P<0.00001), and the Box and Block Test (BBT) scores (MD =6.11, 95% CI: 1.18-11.04, Z=2.43, P=0.02) of patients during the rehabilitation period. DISCUSSION: The use of physical therapy-based rehabilitation training in the recovery period for stroke patients with hemiplegia can improve upper limb movement ability, increase muscle strength, reduce limb pain, and improve the quality of life.

Hemolymphangioma with multiple hemangiomas in liver of elderly woman with history of gynecological malignancy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic hemolymphangioma is an extremely rare benign congenital malformation composed of cystically dilated lymphatic and blood vessels, and they have nonspecific clinical symptoms and laboratory results. In this study, hepatic hemolymphangioma with multiple hemangiomas in an elderly woman was initially reported and analyzed. CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old female patient, with a history of hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy, was referred to the hepatobiliary surgery department with the complaint of multiple hepatic hemangiomas that had been diagnosed 2 years prior in a preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) examination. Upon entering our hospital, no abnormal physical examination and laboratory data were found. The latest CECT revealed a new 7.0 cm × 6.2 cm cystic-solid lesion with multiple internal divisions in segment II of the liver, with delayed CECT enhancement characteristics that presented as solid parts with internal division. On the positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, no significant uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucse was observed. Finally, hepatic hemolymphangioma was confirmed based on the pathological and immunohistochemical results after surgery. At 1-year follow-up, her posthepatectomy evaluation was uneventful, and she had recovered full activity. In addition, no postoperative recurrent or residual lesion was found on CECT imaging. CONCLUSION: Hepatic hemolymphangioma with multiple hemangiomas was reported and observed by CECT and PET/CT imaging.

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of fungal pathogens isolated from diseased fish in Xinjiang, China.

The outbreaks of fungal diseases in cultured fish have been severe in recent years, which is harmful to the healthy and sustainable development of fish farming. In this study, an investigation was conducted for significant fungal infections of 12 species of fish in four regions in Xinjiang, China, to understand the distribution of local fish fungal pathogens. Twenty-six fungal strains with pathogenicity were isolated, and the challenge experiment showed that eight strains from Changji area had high infection rate to fish eggs. Based on internal transcribed spacer sequence data and molecular analysis, the 26 strains were classified into nine different species of six fungal genera. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all strains were divided into two clades, namely Cluster 1 (contains only the genus Mucor) and Cluster 2 (consists of five small branches), and the distribution of strains from the same region was scattered in two clusters. There is no strict host selectivity for these fungi to infect fish. Mucor sp. are the main fungal pathogen of fish in these four regions, whereas Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Carassius auratus are two types of fish that were susceptible to pathogen. In addition, the environmental adaptability experiments showed that eight highly pathogenic strains have different adaptability to the environment, and their optimum temperature and pH were 25°C and 7.0, respectively, whereas the concentration of NaCl was negatively correlated with the growth of strains. Therefore, these results indicated that the coinfection of multiple fungal pathogens in a culture region should be considered in the future study.

The anti-melanogenic effects of 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid via Nrf2-mediated α-MSH inhibition in UVA-irradiated keratinocytes and autophagy induction in melanocytes.

3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid (EAA) is an ether-derivative of ascorbic acid, known to inhibit tyrosinase activity, and is widely used in skincare formulations. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the EAA's effects are poorly understood. Here, the anti-melanogenic activity of EAA was demonstrated through Nrf2-mediated α-MSH inhibition in UVA-irradiated keratinocytes (HaCaT) and autophagy induction and inhibition of α-MSH-stimulated melanogenesis in melanocytes (B16F10). EAA pretreatment increased the HaCaT cell viability but suppressed ROS-mediated p53/POMC/α-MSH pathways in UVA-irradiated cells. Further, the conditioned medium from EAA-pretreated and UVA-irradiated HaCaT cells suppressed the MITF-CREB-tyrosinase pathways leading to the inhibition of melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. EAA treatment increased nuclear Nrf2 translocation via the p38, PKC, and ROS pathways leading to HO-1, γ-GCLC, and NQO-1 antioxidant expression in HaCaT cells. However, Nrf2 silencing reduced the EAA-mediated anti-melanogenic activity, evidenced by impaired antioxidant gene expression and uncontrolled ROS (H202) generation following UVA irradiation. In B16F10 cells, EAA-induced autophagy was shown by enhanced LC3-II levels, AVO formation, Beclin-1 upregulation, and activation of p62/SQSTM1. Further, EAA-induced anti-melanogenic activity was substantially decreased in autophagy inhibitor (3-MA) pretreated or LC3 knockdown B16F10 cells. Notably, transmission electron microscopy data showed increased melanosome-engulfing autophagosomes in EAA-treated B16F10 cells. Moreover, EAA also down-regulated MC1R, TRP-1/-2, tyrosinase expressions, and melanin synthesis by suppressing the cAMP-CREB-mediated MITF expression in B16F10 cells stimulated with α-MSH. In vivo studies on the zebrafish model further confirmed that EAA inhibited tyrosinase expression/activity and endogenous pigmentation. In conclusion, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid is an effective skin-whitening agent and could be used as a topical agent for cosmetic purposes.

The in vitro and in vivo depigmenting activity of pterostilbene through induction of autophagy in melanocytes and inhibition of UVA-irradiated α-MSH in keratinocytes via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathways.

Pterostilbene (Pt) is a natural polyphenol found in blueberries and several grape varieties. Pt's pharmacological importance was well documented. Nevertheless, the depigmenting effects are not demonstrated. We evaluated the Pt's depigmenting effects through autophagy induction in B16F10 cells and inhibition of UVA (3 J/cm2)-irradiated α-MSH in keratinocyte HaCaT cells via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathways. Pt (2.5-5µM) attenuated ROS production and downregulated the POMC/α-MSH pathway in HaCaT cells. The conditioned medium-derived from UVA-irradiated HaCaT pretreated with Pt suppressed melanogenesis in B16F10 through MITF-CREB-tyrosinase pathway downregulation. Interestingly, Pt-induced HaCaT autophagy was revealed by enhanced LC3-II accumulation, p62/SQSTM1 activation, and AVO formation. Pt significantly decreased melanosome gp100 but increased LC3-II levels in HaCaT cells exposed to B16F10-derived melanin. Pt activated and facilitated the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway in HaCaT cells leading to increased HO-1, γ-GCLC, and NQO-1 antioxidant protein expression. ERK, AMPK, and ROS pathways mediate the Nrf2 activation. However, Nrf2 knockdown suppressed Pt's antioxidant ability leading to uncontrolled ROS and α-MSH levels after UVA-irradiation suggested the essentiality of the Nrf2 pathway. Moreover, in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells, Pt (10-30 µM) downregulated the MC1R, MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1/-2, and melanin expression. Further, Pt showed potent anti-melanogenic effects through autophagy induction mechanism in B16F10 cells, verified by increased LC3-II/p62 levels, AVO formation, and Beclin-1/Bcl-2 ratio, decreased ATG4B levels and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Transmission electron microscopy provided direct evidence by showing autophagosomes engulfing melanosomes following Pt treatment in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. Moreover, Pt-induced anti-melanogenic activity through the downregulation of CREB-MITF pathway-mediated TRP-1/-2, tyrosinase expressions, melanosome formation, and melanin synthesis was substantially reversed due to 3-MA (autophagy inhibitor) pretreatment or LC3 silencing in B16F10 cells. In vivo results also confirmed that Pt-inhibited tyrosinase expression/activity and endogenous pigmentation in the zebrafish model. Therefore, pterostilbene is a potent skin-whitening and antioxidant agent and could be used in skin-whitening formulations as a topical applicant.

Chromobacterium violaceum infection on lower limb skin: A case report.

RATIONAL: Chromobacterium violaceum is a motile gram-negative bacterium. This bacterium commonly grows in tropical or subtropical areas in sewage and can cause opportunistic infections. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old Chinese man had a skin ulcer in the middle of his left leg in front of the tibia. The diameter of the wound was 3.0 cm, the exudation was obvious, and necrotic tissue was attached to the wound. One week previously, he was working in a field where he accidentally punctured his left leg. DIAGNOSIS: C violaceum infection was diagnosed as per the results of pathogen culture from the infection site. INTERVENTIONS: He was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam (3.375 g/12 h iv) and levofloxacin (0.5 g/24 h iv) for 5 days. OUTCOMES: The patient showed good response to therapy and was discharged on day 18 after wound healing. LESSONS: C violaceum rarely infects humans. When an infection is suspected, samples should be immediately sent for microbial culture. Timely treatment on the basis of drug sensitivity test results can prevent further complications.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Kashgarian loach (Triplophysa yarkandensis) from Bosten Lake.

Triplophysa yarkandensis is a specific cobitidae species that is endemic to Xinjiang Tarim River basin, China. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of T. yarkandensis from Bosten Lake was determined in this study (Accession number MN821008). The mitogenome (16,552 bp) consists of 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and 1 control region (D-loop region). The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the T. yarkandensis provides an important data set for further study in genetic mechanism and classification.

The complete mitochondrial genome of a microalgae Chlamydomonas moewusii strain XJCH-01 from Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China.

Chlamydomonas moewusii is a microalga isolated from the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of C. moewusii strain XJCH-01 was determined in this study (Accession number MT015649). The mitogenome (22,887 bp, 34.58% G + C) consists of 7 protein-coding genes (PCG), discontinuous large and small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 4 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the C. moewusii strain XJCH-01 enriches data resources for further study in genetic and functional evolution.

Long non-coding RNA PSMA3-AS1 enhances cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating miR-302a-3p/RAB22A in glioma.

Glioma is the most prevalent solid tumor in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, it has been indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) substantially adjust the development of a variety of human cancers. In the present study, it was found and verified via microarray analysis that lncRNA PSMA3-AS1 exhibited a high expression in glioma tissues and cell lines. Then CCK-8, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, plate clone assay, Transwell assay, Western blotting and nude mouse model were adopted to verify PSMA3-AS1's effects on glioma. Knockdown of PSMA3-AS1 inhibited the migration, proliferation and invasion of glioma cells in vivo and in vitro. Besides, PSMA3-AS1 bound to miR-302a-3p directly reduced the expression of miR-302a-3p, thus functioning as an endogenous sponge confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and bioinformatics analysis. PSMA3-AS1 knockdown remarkably enhanced the role of miR-302a-3p overexpression in cell behaviors in glioma. Moreover, these assays also confirmed that RAB22A was a target of miR-302a-3p. In this research, therefore, the PSMA3-AS1/miR-302a-3p/RAB22A pathway regulatory axis may be revealed in the pathogenesis of glioma, and PSMA3-AS1 can be used as an underlying target for the treatment and prognosis of glioma.

Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry.

Since its emergence in December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted several countries, affecting more than 90 thousand patients and making it a global public threat. The routes of transmission are direct contact, and droplet and possible aerosol transmissions. Due to the unique nature of dentistry, most dental procedures generate significant amounts of droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and correction of negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, some special precautions that should be implemented during an outbreak have been raised in this review.

Autotransplantation of third molars with completely formed roots to replace compromised molars with the computer-aided rapid prototyping.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a method to fabricate donor tooth replica to assist surgeons in preparation of recipient socket during tooth autotransplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 compromised molars in 27 patients were transplanted with third molars using computer-aided rapid prototyping (CARP) technique. Surgery time and extra-alveolar time were documented. Postoperatively, the distance between cervix of transplanted tooth and the alveolar wall was measured. The degree of postoperative pain experienced was assessed with visual analog scale at day 1, 3, and 7. RESULTS: From 28 clinical cases, the average extra-alveolar time and surgery time were 2.5 minutes (±1.3) and 44 minutes (±6.8), respectively. Postoperatively, the average distance between cervix of transplanted tooth and the alveolar wall was 0.87 mm (±0.15) at the mesial-cervix, 0.95 mm (±0.17) at the distal-cervix, 0.88 mm (±0.18) at the buccal-cervix, and 0.95 mm (±0.13) at the lingual-cervix. The value of visual analog scale score significantly decreased from day 1 to day 3. CONCLUSIONS: CARP is a reliable technique for fabrication of tooth like surgical replicas in conventional autotransplantation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CARP technique minimized extra-oral time, reduced iatrogenic damage, and consequently increased the survival rate of tooth autotransplantation.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Yimeng black goat (Capra hircus) and its potential application in mutton discrimination.

Yimeng black goat is one of the national breeds of geographical indication in China and is one of the key protected local livestock and poultry breeds of Shandong province. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Yimeng black goat was investigated in this study (GenBank accession no. MT134111). The mitogenome (16,640 bp) consisted of a non-coding control region (D-loop region), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence and the neighbour-joining tree of the Yimeng black goat would contribute to further study in genetic mechanism and phylogenomic research of goats.

Assessment of Spatial Agglomeration of Agricultural Drought Disaster in China from 1978 to 2016.

Drought disaster space agglomeration assessment is one of the important components of meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation. Agriculture affected by drought disaster is not only a serious threat to world food security, but also an obstacle to sustainable development. Additionally, China is an important agricultural import and export country in the world. Therefore, we used the global Moran's I and the local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) to reveal the spatial agglomeration of agricultural drought disaster in China from1978 to 2016, respectively. The results showed that China's agricultural drought disaster presents local spatial autocorrelation of geographical agglomeration at national level during the study period. The spatial agglomeration regions of China's agricultural drought disaster were in Inner Mongolia, Jilin province, Heilongjiang province, Liaoning province, Shanxi province, Hebei province, Shandong province, Shaanxi province and Henan province, indicating that agricultural drought disaster mainly distributed in North and Northwest China, especially occurred in the Yellow River Basin and its north areas. We also found that the overall movement direction of agricultural drought disaster agglomeration regions was northwest, and the maximum moving distance was 722.16 km. Our results might provide insight in early warning and prevention for drought disaster.