[Modified reverse puncture technique for esophagojejunostomy during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the value of implementing a modified reverse puncture procedure for esophagojejunostomy during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy. Methods: This was a descriptive case series. Relevant clinical data, including the operative procedure, recovery, and pathological findings of 35 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone esophagojejunostomy with a modified reverse puncture technique during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, from June 2022 to January 2023, were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. The age of all patients in the group was (64.9±8.0) years old, with 22 males (62.9%) and a body mass index of (23.2±2.4) kg/m2. The tumors were located in the upper and middle parts of the stomach in 24 cases (68.6%) and in the junction of the esophagus and stomach in 11 cases (31.4%). Important technical aspects of the modified reverse puncture procedure are as follows. (1) Site of the esophageal incision: a transverse incision is made across the right lateral wall of the esophagus at the expected site of esophageal disjunction. (2) Technique for inserting an anvil: after threading a silk thread through the tip of anvil, the end of the thread is knotted and fixed as the traction thread, after which an anvil is inserted into the esophagus through the esophageal incision, leaving the end of the traction line exposed. Next, a 60-mm linear cutter is placed through the right midclavicular trocar to straighten the opened esophagus vertically, after which the rod of the anvil is pulled out of a small incision that has been made in the esophagus by pulling the traction thread, thus completing anvil placement. (3) Jejunal binding: the jejunum on the central bar of the stapler is fastened with silk thread to the stump of the jejunum, and then tied to the output loop of the jejunum with a gauze strip. Results: All 35 surgeries were successful, with no mortality or conversion to laparotomy. The operation time, anvil insertion time, and digestive tract reconstruction time were (232.7±34.4), (8.5±1.4), and (40.5±4.8) minutes, respectively. The intraoperative blood loss was 100 (20-250) mL and the incision was (5.3±0.9) cm long. The upper surgical margin was negative in all patients and the mean distance between the upper and tumor margins was (3.5±1.2) cm. The mean number of lymph nodes dissected per patient was 33.9±7.1. The times to initial ambulation, initial passage of flatus , postoperative fluid intake, and length of postoperative hospital stay were (3.2±1.1), (3.7±1.5), (4.6±2.3), and (9.8±3.2) days, respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in five patients: one case of anastomotic leak, two of anastomotic stenosis, one of pulmonary infection, and one of incomplete intestinal obstruction, all of which were successfully managed conservatively. Conclusion: Esophagojejunostomy using a modified reverse puncture technique during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy is safe and feasible for gastric cancer, requiring only a small incision and achieving higher upper esophageal resection margins and good postoperative recovery, and therefore warrants further implementation.

A prospective multicentre controlled study of Gaoweikang (Chinese multiherb extract-based tincture) used in high-risk HPV infections.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and antiviral efficacy of a Chinese multiherb extract-based tincture (GWK) on a population of patients with high-risk human papilloma (hrHPV) infections and hrHPV-caused cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with persistent hrHPV infection were enrolled in Group A, including A1 subjects, who received the intervention, and A2 subjects, who received the control. Patients with hrHPV infection causing cervical LSIL were enrolled in Group B, which included B1 subjects, who received the intervention, and B2 subjects, who served as the control. For Groups A1 and B1, hrHPV was tested at 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) after the intervention. The side effects were also analyzed. RESULTS: At baseline (D0), a total of 99 patients were enrolled in Group A, with 50 subjects in Group A1 and 49 subjects in Group A2. A total of 91 patients were enrolled in Group B, with 45 subjects in Group B1 and 46 subjects in Group B2. There was no significant difference in the characteristics, including average age, age stratification, and HPV genotype. At M6, both Group A1 and Group B1 had a higher hrHPV clearance rate than the control group (A1/A2: 80.0% vs. 20.4%; B1/B2: 64.4% vs. 15.2%, p<0.001). At M6, the effective rates of Group A1 and Group B1 were 84% (42/50) and 68.9% (31/45), respectively. The side effect rates of Groups A1 and B1 were 11.5% (6/52) and 11.1% (5/45), respectively. Most adverse reactions involved local discomfort, including vulvar erythema, vulvar itch, increased vaginal discharge, cervical bleeding, and mild pain in the lower abdomen. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the intervention had an OR of 12 (95% CI 4.431-32.50) for clearing persistent HPV infection (p<0.001). For cervical LSIL, the intervention had an OR of 10.1 for clearing persistent HPV infection (95% CI 3.68-27.7) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the Chinese multiherb extract-based tincture GWK is safe and well tolerated. Furthermore, this preliminary study showed that this Chinese multiherb extract-based tincture is helpful for promoting HPV clearance in cases of persistent HPV and HPV-induced LSIL.

[Hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to COVID-19: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To improve the awareness of hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS) secondary to COVID-19 (COVID-sHPS). Methods: We reported an adult case of COVID-sHPS, including clinical presentation, laboratory examinations, histopathological findings, treatment strategy, and outcome. We also conducted literature research in PubMed database and Wanfang database using the keywords "COVID-19" and "hemophagocytic syndrome" and subsequently summarized relevant literature. Results: A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after 4 weeks of recurrent fever. Prior to this hospitalization, he had received an empiric combination therapy with antibiotics and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. His vital signs were within the normal range and no abnormalities were found on physical examination on admission. After admission, throat swab nucleic acid tests were weakly positive for SARS-CoV-2, and negative for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Blood nucleic acid tests for cytomegalovirus and EB virus were negative, as was blood mNGS. Laboratory tests showed a series of abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, low fibrinogen, elevated serum ferritin, elevated transaminase, decreased NK cell activity, and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow. According to the HPS-2004 diagnostic criteria, he was diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome, which was high likely to be caused by COVID-19 infection due to the lack of evidence of genetic risk factors and other clear triggers. He was initially treated with dexamethasone at a dose of 10 mg·m-2·d-1 and his condition improved rapidly. The literature search identified twenty-three articles on COVID-sHPS, 22 of which were in English. A total of 89 patients had COVID-sHPS and 55 (61.7%) were male. COVID-sHPS could occur at any age, but mainly in adults (86/89, 96%). Fever was reported in the literature with a clear description of the course of the disease. Most HPS occurred during the acute phase of COVID-19, but 3 patients developed HPS during the convalescent phase. Almost all reported cases presented with increased ferritin, elevated transaminases, elevated triglycerides, and cytopenia, mainly anemia and thrombocytopenia. In the retrieved literature, HS-score≥169 was frequently used to diagnose COVID-sHPS, and glucocorticoid in combination with immunoglobulin was the most common treatment strategy. COVID-sHPS had a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate (84.2%, 75/89). Conclusions: The prognosis of COVID-sHPS is poor, so clinicians should raise their awareness of the disease, identify high-risk suspected populations, and arrange reasonable relevant examinations for definite diagnosis and early initial treatment to improve their outcome.

[A new perspective on Su Wen re-collated in the Song Dynasty].

The government of the Northern Song Dynasty collated and annotated Su Wen four times from 1026-1118. It examined a large number of errors in the collated edition by Wang Bing, and corrected the edition. However, for reasons of time and conditions, there still existed some mistakes, even serious ones, such as the selection of the original texts and the determination of the titles and many other details as well. Among these mistakes, the one which seriously prevented learning medical classics for following generations was that the quoted texts from early medical books were modified based on the Su Wen collated by Wang Bing and Jia Yi Jing on Acupuncture and Moxibustion. This led to the distortion of some early important medical books. This paper examines the re-collation of Su Wen by the officials of the Song Dynasty in a specific historical background and environment, focuses on the errors that have not been perceived today, and pays attention to the investigation and analysis of the causes of those errors, so as to provide a reference for collation of ancient medical classics today.

[A new perspective and discovery of Su Wen noted by Wang Bing].

Wang Bing's perspective included two aspects. One was the annotation of the classical text, focusing on the medical interpretation and the precise interpretation of concepts and terminology, in particular, the annotation of the scriptures related to acupuncture and moxibustion which had a wide and far-reaching influence on the acupuncture and moxibustion literature in the Song Dynasty. Another was the adaptation of classical text which can be divided into two categories: the adaptation for revealing the original meaning and applying esoteric language; the adaptation of his own understanding. In the second type of adaptation, Wang Bing deliberately concealed the supplementary style of "Words written in red".Wang Bing most likely wrote and annotated the "Seven Chapters of Su wen", which was an important pawn in his adaptation of Suwen. In terms of history and logic, Wang Bing's problems in his large-scale adaptation of Suwen look far more than his achievements. The deception and misdirection caused by the second kind of adaptation concealed deliberately by Wang Bing is still unknown.

[The version and literature value of 45 volumes of Yixue Gangmu in the Ming Dynasty].

The existing 45 volumes of Yixue Gangmu(, Compendium of Medicine) in Ming dynasty is the most similar to its original book by Lou Ying. The discovery of these volumes is of just as great significance to the study of Yixue Gangmu, as the discovery of The New Version of Sun Zhenren Qianjin Fang (, The Immortal Sun's Precious Formulary) in Song Dynasty was to the study of Beiji Qianjin Yao Fang (, Essential Recipes for Emergent Use Worth A Thousand Gold). The discovery of the 45 volumes of Yixue Gangmu in Ming Dynasty has a unique literature value for the annotation of medical classics, identification and collation of medical books in Jin and Yuan Dynasties.

[Puzzle Solution of the compilation and circulation of Classics on Acupuncture and Plain Questions].

Through mining and collecting the compiling thought of Miraculous Pivot (《》) and Plain Questions (《》), which were handed down from ancient times, it is discovered that these two ancient works refer to two components of one integrity book. With regard to the character and relationship, Miraculous Pivot is the main section and the essence, focusing on theoretic innovation. "Writing" is predominated in its statement. Plain Questions is the supplementary opinions to the main section, containing clinical application and material collection. "Compiling" is predominated in its statement. Both of two works were completed between the late Western Han Dynasty and the Eastern Han Dynasty. The author was a leading scholar and had worked in a national library for a long time. Before the Song Dynasty, Plain Questions had been widely circulated, while the spreading of Miraculous Pivot was limited. In the process of inheritance, some of the content of these two works were lost or supplemented, and the chapters were disarranged or adjusted artificially. But, in general, the original is not distorted seriously, especially the essential section, Miraculous Pivot.

Nonrestorative sleep scale: a reliable and valid short form of the traditional Chinese version.

PURPOSE: Previous research has suggested the essential unidimensionality of the 12-item traditional Chinese version of the Nonrestorative Sleep Scale (NRSS). This study aimed to develop a short form of the traditional Chinese version of the NRSS without compromising its reliability and validity. METHODS: Data were collected from 2 cross-sectional studies with identical target groups of adults residing in Hong Kong. An iterative Wald test was used to assess differential item functioning by gender. Based on the generalized partial credit model, we first obtained a shortened version such that further shortening would result in substantial sacrifice of test information and standard error of measurement. Another shortened version was obtained by the optimal test assembly (OTA). The two shortened versions were compared for test information, Cronbach's alpha, and convergent validity. RESULTS: Data from a total of 404 Chinese adults (60.0% female) who had completed the Chinese NRSS were gathered. All items were invariant by gender. A 6-item version was obtained beyond which the test performance substantially deteriorated, and a 9-item version was obtained by OTA. The 9-item version performed better than the 6-item version in test information and convergent validity. It had discrimination and difficulty indices ranging from 0.44 to 2.23 and - 7.58 to 2.13, respectively, and retained 92% of the test information of the original 12-item version. CONCLUSION: The 9-item Chinese NRSS is a reliable and valid tool to measure nonrestorative sleep for epidemiological studies.

Pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium injection in swine.

The pharmacokinetics of a diclofenac sodium was investigated in swine. A single intravenous (i.v.) or intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 5% diclofenac sodium (concentration = 2.5 mg · kg-1) was administered to 8 healthy pigs according to a two-period crossover design. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis with DAS2.1.1 software. After a single i.v. administration, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of diclofenac sodium injection in swine were as follows: the elimination half-time (T1/2ß) was 1.32±0.34 h; the area under the curve (AUC) was (55.50±5.50 µg · mL-1 h; the mean residence time (MRT) was 1.60±0.28 h; the apparent volume of distribution (Vd) was 0.50±0.05 L · kg-1; and the body clearance (CLB) was 0.26±0.04 L · (h · kg)-1. After the single i.m. administration, the pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: peak time (Tmax) was 1.19±0.26 h; and peak concentration (Cmax) was 11.61±5.99 µg mL-1. The diclofenac sodium has the following pharmacokinetic characteristics in swine: rapid absorption and elimination; high peak concentration; and bioavailability.

Knockdown of HJURP inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by repressing Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Holliday junction-recognizing protein (HJURP) was found to be upregulated in several tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the effect of HJURP on NSCLC remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to explore the clinical significance of HJURP and its function in regulating the progression of NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reverse Transcriptions-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PC) and Western blot were performed to detect the expression levels of HJURP in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The association of HJURP expression level with various important clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. Then, the effects of HJURP expression on tumor cell behavior in vitro were analyzed by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU assays, colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. The protein levels of related proteins of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway were determined using the Western blot assay. RESULTS: Our study showed that HJURP was significantly upregulated in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The higher expression of HJURP was associated with advanced TNM stage, distant metastasis, and poor prognosis. Our data from in vitro assays confirmed that the knockdown of HJURP suppressed NSCLC cells proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progress, and induced cells apoptosis. Notably, through Western blot analysis, we found that HJURP suppression remarkably decreased ß-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-myc expression level in NSCLC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide clues regarding the role of HJURP as a tumor promoter in NSCLC via the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, indicating HJURP may be a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

[Evaluation of the effect of electrical stimulation combined with biofeedback therapy for postpartum pelvic organ prolapse: a static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging study].

Objective: To explore the clinical value of static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the effect of electrical stimulation combined with biofeedback in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse postpartum. Methods: A total of 50 primiparas diagnosed as pelvic organ prolapse postpartum from February 2016 to November 2017 were randomly divided into treatment group (24 cases) and control group (26 cases). The control group recovered spontaneously, and the treatment group received electric stimulation combined with biofeedback therapy (6 weeks). All subjects underwent static and dynamic MRI before and after treatment. The thickness of bilateral puborectal muscles, levator ani hiatus area (LHA), H line, M line and levator ani plate angle (LPA) were respectively measured in rest state and strain state at 42 days and 12 weeks postpartum, and the differences of parameters were compared between two groups. Results: (1) Compared with 42 days postpartum, the effective rate of pelvic organ prolapse was 15.4% (4/26) in the control group and 62.5% (15/24) in the treatment group, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). (2) Compared with 42 days postpartum, the thickness of bilateral puborectal muscles in the treatment group increased at 12 weeks postpartum, while that of the H line, LHA, M line and LPA in strain state decreased. (3) At 12 weeks postpartum, the thickness of the bilateral puborectal muscle in the treatment group was greater, and LHA, M line, and LPA in strain state were less than that in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Electrical stimulation combined with biofeedback therapy can improve pelvic organ prolapse due to vaginal delivery, and the static and dynamic MRI can objectively evaluate the effect of pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy on improving the pelvic floor supporting structure and function, providing an important support and guidance for restoration of postpartum pelvic organ prolapse.

[An Interpretation of the bamboo slips of acupuncture prescriptions excavated from the Han Dynasty Tomb at Laoguanshan].

The bamboo slips of acupuncture prescriptions unearthed from the Han Dynasty Tomb at Laoguanshan include both theoretical elaborations and formulae. Specifications for diagnosis and treatment, standards for needles and a variety of acupuncture techniques are discussed. The 40 acupuncture prescriptions recorded are based on presupposed summaries of theory and experience, rather than empirical formulae. Among them, 28 have needling sites that are maishu (vessel points), with proper names and specific locations. The names of these maishu adopt the pattern of 'the name of the site + the name of one of the three yin and three yang meridians'. Needling numbers are indicated for the majority of the sites of acupuncture stimulation, no matter whether for maishu or for sites at pathological areas. These statements fully embody the distinct characteristics of Bianque acupuncture.

[Clinical analysis of the risk factors for No.12p LN metastasis in advanced gastric cancer].

Objective: To analyse the risk factors for periportal lymphnode (No.12p LN) in advanced gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 183 patients with advanced gastric cancer from January 2005 to December 2010, and all patients were underwent D2 lymphadenectomy in addition to No. 12p LN dissections. Potential clinicopathological factors that could influence No. 12p LN metastasis were statistically analyzed. Results: There were 18 cases (9.8%) with periportal lymphnode metastasis. A logistic regression analysis suggested that the Borrmann type (Ⅲ/Ⅳ versus Ⅰ/Ⅱ, P=0.008), tumor size (≥6 cm vs <6 cm, P=0.001), and depth of invasion (pT4 vs pT2/pT3, P=0.049) were associated with 9.5-, 8.5-, and 3.2-fold increases, respectively, for risk of No. 12p LN metastasis. A logistic regression analysis also showed that No. 5 (P=0.002) and No. 12a (P=0.002) LN metastasis were associated with 7.5- and 7.3-fold increases, respectively, for risk of No. 12p LN metastasis. In addition, significant differences in 5-year survival of patients with and without No. 12p LN metastasis were observed (11.1% vs 32.7%, P=0.042). Conclusions: Borrmann type, tumor size and depth of invasion are significant factors for identifying patients with No. 12p LN metastasis. Patients with No. 5 or No. 12a LN metastasis should be higher possibility of No.12p LN metastasis.

Effects of smoking and alcohol consumption on lipid profile in male adults in northwest rural China.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the individual and combined influences of smoking and alcohol consumption on lipid profile in male adults in northwest rural China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In total, 4614 subjects were enrolled in the cross-sectional study, performed between 2008 and 2012. The present study examined males aged ≥18 years from northwest rural China (n = 707). Data on current smoking and drinking status were collected. Logistic regression was used to estimate the individual and combined influences of smoking and alcohol consumption on lipid profile. Age, ethnic group, educational background, smoking (or alcohol consumption), waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were adjusted as confounders. RESULTS: Total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, triglycerides (TG)/HDL-C ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C ratio and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers, whereas HDL-C was lower in smokers. TG/HDL-C ratio, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, TG, lipid accumulation product and VAI were significantly higher in drinkers than non-drinkers. After adjustment for confounders, significant relationships were observed between smoking status and any dyslipidemia, low HDL-C and high VAI (odds ratios [ORs]: 2.53 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.25-5.15], 6.13 [95% CI: 2.84-13.25] and 4.39 [95% CI: 2.02-9.54], respectively). The OR for any dyslipidaemia was 1.94 (95% CI: 1.09-3.48) for subjects who smoke and drank alcohol compared with subjects who did not smoke or drink alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in lipid profile are correlated with smoking and alcohol consumption, which calls for intervention strategies to prevent dyslipidaemia and control risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

[Study on the excavated wooden carved acupuncture statue of the Western Han Dynasty in Laoguanshan].

The painted red lines on the wooden carved acupuncture statue of Western Han Dynasty in Laoguanshan, illustrate the running courses of the"eleven meridians"on the body surface in the early meridian doctrine. The carved white lines show the body surface running courses of the"twelve meridians"in the meridian doctrine and the Sanjiao images in Sanjiao doctrine. The dots on the wooden carved acupuncture statue are of two categories, one of them is of regulatory, round and concave spots, which are carved before the process of lacquer undercoat. The other category is of different sizes and in irregular forms, which are carved simultaneously with those white lines. Altogether there are over one hundred dots in these two categories, representing the mai shu (transport point of vessels). The wooden carved acupuncture statue reflects the distinct characteristics on the running courses of meridians, Sanjiao doctrine, the nomenclature and localization of"mai shu"in Bianque medicine, which provides the most powerful evidence for the confirmation of the correlation between Laoguanshan excavated documents and Bianque medicine.

[The affinity between Le family of Tong Ren Tang and acu-moxibustion as viewed from Mian xue tang zhen jiu ji cheng (Mian Xuetang's Synthetic Work of Acu-moxibustion)].

This compilation process of Mian xue tang zhen jiu ji cheng(Mian Xuetang's Synthetic Work of Acu-moxibustion)was quite mysterious, the book's advent coincidentally met with several major historical events which made its value of decoding its historical functions far beyond its academic value. The editor of this book is Le Xianyang, the founder of Tong Ren Tang. While compiling this book, he also made a replica of Ming-Dynasty's Zhengtong bronze statue. More than 200 years later, Le Jingyu, the 12th generation of the Le family revised Ming Tang Tuinherited from his ancestors and engraved Ming Tang Tuon the stone for its standardization. This great achievement of Le family was no less than the recasting of the Tiansheng bronze statue and the reengraving Tong ren shu xue zhen jiu tu jing(Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points of the Bronze Figure) by support of state power for building the Beijing Imperial Hospital in the eighth year of the Zhengtong reign (1443).

Nutrient assessment of olive leaf residues processed by solid-state fermentation as an innovative feedstuff additive.

AIMS: Olive leaf residue feedstuff additives were prepared by solid-state fermentation (SSF), and its feeding effects on broiler chickens were examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: The fermentation's nutrient value, that is, protein enrichment, cellulase activity, tannic acid degradation and amino acid enhancement, was determined. The effect of different strains, including molds (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Trichoderma viride) and yeasts (Candida utilis, Candida tropicalis and Geotrichum candidum), and the fermentation time on the nutrient values of the feedstuff additives was investigated. The experimental results showed that the optimal parameters for best performance were A. niger and C. utilis in a 1 : 1 ratio (v/v) in co-culture fermentation for 5 days. Under these conditions, the total content of amino acids in the fermented olive leaf residues increased by 22·0% in comparison with that in the raw leaf residues. Both Glutamic acid and Aspartic acid contents were increased by more than 25·4%. Broiler chickens fed with different amounts of feedstuff additives were assessed. The results demonstrated that the chicken weight gains increased by 120%, and normal serum biochemical parameters were improved significantly after 10% of the feedstuff additives were supplemented to the daily chicken feed for 28 days. CONCLUSIONS: The co-culture combination of A. niger and C. utilis with SSF for olive leaf residue had the best nutrient values. The addition of 10% fermented olive leaf residue facilitated the chicken growth and development. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reveals that olive leaf residues fermented by SSF exhibited considerable potential as feed additives for feeding poultry.

Hsp70 and small Hsps are the major heat shock protein members involved in midgut metamorphosis in the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura.

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are important chaperones, which are involved in various signal pathways and regulate lots of physiological processes. Early research suggested that some Hsps are involved in insect development. However, few studies have been carried out to explore the roles of Hsps, especially in larval-pupal metamorphosis. In the present study, 49 Hsp unigenes were identified in the Spodoptera litura transcriptome and their mRNA expression profiles during midgut metamorphosis were examined using a tag-based digital gene expression system. The genes with the most different levels of expression were then cloned and their expression patterns in midguts from sixth instar larvae to pupae were analysed using real time quantitative PCR. The responses of these genes to juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) were also studied. The results showed that the mRNA levels of 22 Hsp unigenes changed significantly during midgut metamorphosis. Amongst these 22 unigenes, hsp70, hsp20.4 and hsp20.8 were the most up-regulated members, and hsp15.9, hsp19.3 and hsp22.0 were the most down-regulated ones. Further studies showed that hsp70, hsp20.4 and hsp20.8 were remarkably up-regulated by JH. In addition, 20E slightly increased the mRNA levels of both hsp20.4 and hsp20.8. However, hsp15.9, hsp19.3 and hsp22.0 did not respond to either JH or 20E. These results indicate that Hsp70 and small Hsps (sHsps) are probably the major players in midgut metamorphosis in S. litura. The current findings provide valuable insights into the roles of the Hsp superfamily in insect metamorphosis.

A numerical investigation of the effect of vertex geometry on localized surface plasmon resonance of nanostructures.

Advances in nanofabrication and nano-scale measurement methods now allow for fabrication of highly detailed nanometer-scale topographic features. As geometric features greatly impact the formation of an electromagnetic field in response to incident light, this in turn calls for the study of the effects of new features of nanostructures on their performance in applications such as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing. This paper studies the effects of vertex features of a single nanostructure on its LSPR properties. A general relationship between the LSPR spectra and the vertex features of a nanoparticle is established. The results of electrodynamics calculations show that a delta-star with a relatively small vertex angle exhibits a bigger resonant wavelength than one with a large vertex angle. Moreover, the sensing performance initially increases, and then decreases as angular size of the vertices increases, with a turning point of 30 degrees. It is also shown that for nanostars with different numbers of vertices, the resonant wavelength undergoes a blue shift and the sensing performance grows poorer as the number of vertices increases. A regular vertex angle of 30 degrees displays the greatest figure of merit (FOM) value for LSPR applications, approximately 9.5 RIU(-1).

Genomic variations within DEFB1 are associated with the susceptibility to and the fatal outcome of severe sepsis in Chinese Han population.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome to infection. Human beta-defensin 1 (DEFB1) is a multifunctional mediator in infection and inflammation, which has been largely explored in ex vivo studies. The present case-control study was designed to investigate whether DEFB1 genomic variations are associated with the susceptibility to and the outcome of severe sepsis in 211 patients with severe sepsis and 157 ethnic-matched healthy controls. After correcting for multiple testing, the -44G/C was the only polymorphism found to show significant associations with both the susceptibility to and the fatal outcome of severe sepsis (P=0.0049, odd ratio (OR) 1.971 and P=0.002, OR 2.406, respectively). Haplotype -20A/-44C/-52G showed a protective role against severe sepsis (P=0.0066, OR 0.6751), whereas haplotype -20G/-44G/-52G served as a risk factor for the fatal outcome of severe sepsis (P=0.0052, OR 2.427). These findings provide further evidence that beta-defensin 1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis.