[Correlation of serum lipids levels of Alzheimer's disease patients with sex, age and apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism].

Objective: To explore the correlation of serum lipids levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with sex, age and apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphism. Methods: The retrospective study method was used, and 407 AD patients (142 males and 265 females, aged 52-91 years) were selected from Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2015 to August 2021 as the research target, and 894 healthy persons (339 males and 555 females, aged 52-94 years) who did body examination were selected as the control group. The AD patients were divided into four age groups according to the age interval of 10 years, including 85 aged 50-59 years, 163 aged 60-69 years, 119 aged 70-79 years, and 40 aged more than 80 years. The serum lipids levels were detected by biochemical analyzer, including triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoproteinA1(Apo A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B). ApoE gene polymorphism were detected by PCR fluorescent probe method. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to compare the serum lipids levels in each group. Results: The levels of serum CHO and LDL-C were 3.30(1.41,4.82) mmol/L and 1.76(1.39,2.78) mmol/L in AD patients, and 4.84(4.24, 5.56) mmol/L and 2.91(2.36, 3.57) mmol/L in control group, and the levels of serum CHO and LDL-C of AD patients were significantly lower than control group (Z=-15.172,Z=-14.583, P<0.001, P<0.001). The levels of serum HDL-C and Apo B were 1.84(1.30, 3.88) mmol/L and 1.17(0.85, 1.57) g/L in AD patients, and 1.39(1.18, 1.64) mmol/L and 0.93(0.81, 1.09) g/L in control group, and the levels of serum HDL-C and Apo-B of AD patients were significantly higher than control group (Z=-12.249, Z=-9.706, P<0.001, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in TG and Apo A1 between 2 groups (Z=-1.577, Z=-0.408, P=0.115, P=0.683). The levels of TG, CHO, LDL-C in female AD patients were significantly higher than male patients (Z=-2.737, Z=-3.963, Z=-4.417, P=0.006, P<0.001, P<0.001). There were significant differences in TG, CHO, HDL-C, LDL-C, Apo A1 and Apo B among AD patients of all age groups (Z=11.263, Z=10.060, Z=40.246, Z=10.451, Z=24.315, Z=19.922, P=0.010, P=0.018, P<0.001, P=0.015, P<0.001, P<0.001). The serum CHO and LDL-C levels were positively correlated with age (rs=0.160, rs=0.174, P=0.001, P<0.001), and HDL-C, Apo A1 and Apo B levels were negatively correlated with age (rs=-0.312, rs=-0.272, rs=-0.146, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.003), and there was no correlation between TG level and age in AD patients (rs=0.086, P=0.082). There were 3 cases (3.33%) of E2, 43 cases of E3 (47.78%) and 44 cases of E4 (48.89%) in AD patients, and 22 cases (12.72%) of E2, 117 cases of E3 (67.63%) and 34 cases of E4 (19.65%) in control group. There was significant difference in Apo E genotype distribution between AD patients and control group (χ²=26.381, P<0.001). Apo E4 was the most common genotype in AD patients, and the proportion was 48.89%. Except for Apo A1(Z=7.821, P=0.020), there was no significant difference in TG, CHO, HDL-C, LDL-C and Apo B levels among all patients with different genotypes (Z=3.732, Z=1.677, Z=1.455, Z=1.619, Z=2.202, P=0.155, P=0.432, P=0.483, P=0.445, P=0.333). Conclusion: The levels of CHO and LDL-C decreased while the levels of HDL-C and Apo B increased in AD patients. The dyslipidemia in AD patients might be correlated with age, but not sex and Apo E genotypes.

Identifying C2H4N4 structural isomers using fs-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Four C2H4N4 structural isomers are investigated with fs laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Plasma emissions, C I, Hα, the CN violet system (B2Σ+-X2Σ+, Δν = 0 sequence) and C2 swan system (d3Πg-a3Πu, Δν = 0 sequence) are measured. The temporal evolution of the characteristic emission intensity is obtained for each emission and their lifetimes are calculated. The lifetimes of the molecular emissions are much longer than those of the atomic emissions. Characteristic emission intensities and lifetime are correlated with the molecular structures of the four isomers to a certain extent. Plasma temperature is extracted by fitting the spectrum of the CN violet system, B2Σ+-X2Σ+; Δν = 0 sequence, and is weakly correlated with the molecular structures of the four isomers. Using the characteristic emission intensities as input, principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis are performed and the individual isomers can be well identified with PCA or ANN.

Retrospective Analysis of 2019-nCov-Infected Cases in Dongyang, Southeastern China.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) has caused increasing number of infected cases globally. This study was performed to analyze information regarding the transmission route and presence of viral nucleic acids on several clinical samples. Confirmed 2019-nCov-infected cases were identified in Dongyang and were treated according to guidelines for the diagnosis of 2019-nCov infection released by the National Health Commission. Information regarding the contacts that the infected people had was collected to determine whether it caused clustered cases. A series of successive nucleic acid examination of feces, oropharyngeal swabs, and sputum was also performed, and the results were analyzed. A total of 19 confirmed cases of 2019-nCov infection were identified in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, China. Five cases showed severe symptoms, and the remaining ones showed mild manifestations. Ten cases infected from two asymptomatic individuals were clustered into two groups. Among 14 cases with consecutive nucleic acid test results, four patients showed positive results in feces after their negative conversion in oropharyngeal swabs. Asymptomatic individuals with the virus could cause 2019-nCov clustered cases, and the clustered cases may differ from sporadic cases on age and length of hospitalization. In addition, nucleic acids in feces last longer than those in oropharyngeal swabs.

CN and C2 formation mechanisms in fs-laser induced breakdown of nitromethane in Ar or N2 atmosphere.

We investigate atomic and molecular emission of laser-ablated nitromethane in an Ar or N2 buffer gas, with fs laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The electronic bands of CN, C2, and NH molecules and the atomic transition lines of C I, N I, and Hα are identified. The time series of the emissions are obtained, and the formation mechanisms of CN and C2 are deduced. The CN violet system, the B2Σ+-X2Σ+ (0-0) band, is chosen to extract plasma temperature from the experimental spectra.

[Keratoplasty classification and primary disease spectrum analysis of 315 cases].

Objective: To identify the primary disease spectrum and trends of surgical procedure of keratoplasty patients. Methods: Retrospective case series study. To review all patients who underwent keratoplasty at Department of ophthalmology in Tongji Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015. The data collected included age, sex, birthplace, and primary corneal disease and associated surgical procedures. Then the data were compared with similar papers domestic and foreign. Results: A total of 315 keratoplasties were performed during this 4-year period. The average age of patients at time of surgery was (42.0± 1.8) years, range from 33 days to 89 years, 229 cases (72.7%) were from 18 to 65 years; male: female ratio was 2.06:1. Totally 289 cases (91.8%)came from Hubei province, 26 cases (8.2%) were from other provinces. The leading indications for corneal transplantation were keratitis in 125 cases (39.7%), followed by corneal scar in 71 cases (22.5%), keratoconus in 41 cases (13.0%), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in 26 cases (8.3%), corneal dermoid in 18 cases (5.7%), corneal dystrophy and degeneration in 16 cases (5.1%), and others (including chemical injuries, thermal burns, post-traumatic corneal scar and corneal opacity) in 18 cases (5.7%). Of the 125 keratitis cases, 51 cases (40.8%) were associated with fungus, 43 cases (34.4%)were associated with virus, and 24 cases (19.2%)were associated with bacterial. In accordance with the classification of corneal transplant surgery, penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 212 cases (67.3% ), lamellar keratoplasty was completed in 87 cases (27.6% ), corneal endothelial transplantation was made in 16 patients (5.1%). Conclusions: Infectious keratitis was the leading indication for corneal transplantation followed by corneal scar, keratoconus and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in Tongji hospital patients who underwent keratoplasty. And fungus was the first cause of infectious keratitis. Penetrating keratoplasty was still the main part of corneal transplantation. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 460-463).

Review of radiological classifications of pancreatic cancer with peripancreatic vessel invasion: are new grading criteria required?

Pancreatic cancer is mainly diagnosed at an advanced stage when adjacent vessel invasion is present; however, radical resection is potentially curative for selected patients with adjacent vessel invasion. Therefore, accurately judging the resectability of patients with adjacent vessel invasion represents a crucially important step in diagnosis and treatment. Currently, decisions regarding resectability are based on imaging studies, commonly contrast computed tomography (CT). Several radiological classifications have been published for vascular infiltration in pancreatic cancer. However, radiologists always formulate these CT grading systems according to their own experience, resulting in different judgment methods and parameters. And it is controversial in evaluating performance and clinical application. Besides, the conventional CT grading systems mainly focus on the evaluation of vessel invasion so as to less on the outcome of patient evaluation. In this review, we summarize the mainstream CT grading systems for vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer, with the aim of improving the clinical value of CT grading systems for predicting resectability and survival.

The M2 macrophages induce autophagic vascular disorder and promote mouse sensitivity to urethane-related lung carcinogenesis.

Tumor vessels are known to be abnormal, with typically aberrant, leaky and disordered vessels. Here, we investigated whether polarized macrophage phenotypes are involved in tumor abnormal angiogenesis and what is its mechanism. We found that there was no difference in chemotaxis of polarized M1 and M2 macrophages to lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells and that either M1 or M2 macrophage-conditioned media had no effect on LLC cell proliferation. Unexpectedly, the M2 but not M1 macrophage-conditioned media promoted the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and simultaneously increased endothelial cell permeability in vitro and angiogenic index in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The treatment with M2 but not M1 macrophage-conditioned media increased autophagosomes as well as microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3-B) expression (a robust marker of autophagosomes) but decreased p62 protein expression (a selective autophagy substrate) in HUVECs, the treatment with chloroquine that blocked autophagy abrogated the abnormal angiogenic efficacy of M2 macrophage-conditioned media. These results were confirmed in urethane-induced lung carcinogenic progression. Urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis led to more M2 macrophage phenotype and increased abnormal angiogenesis concomitant with the upregulation of LC3-B and the downregulation of p62. Clodronate liposome-induced macrophage depletion, chloroquine-induced autophagic prevention or salvianolic acid B-induced vascular protection decreased abnormal angiogenesis and lung carcinogenesis. In addition, we found that the tendency of age-related M2 macrophage polarization also promoted vascular permeability and carcinogenesis in urethane carcinogenic progression. These findings indicate that the M2 macrophages induce autophagic vascular disorder to promote lung cancer progression, and the autophagy improvement represents an efficacious strategy for abnormal angiogenesis and cancer prevention.

Association of HLA-DQ alleles with the presence of an anti-ß2-glycoprotein I antibody in patients with recurrent miscarriage.

Immunogenetic studies have suggested that autoantibody production is commonly associated with particular human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II genotypes in certain autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the production of anti-ß2-glycoprotein I antibody (aß2GPI) was associated with particular HLA-DQ alleles in patients with recurrent miscarriage (RM). The HLA-DQ genotypes in 126 patients with RM were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer method. Both the IgG and IgM isotypes of aß2GPI were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive results for either IgG or IgM on two occasions within an interval of 12 weeks were defined as antiphospholipid antibody-positive. The frequencies of the HLA-DQA1*01:02 [odds ratio (OR) 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-7.0, Pc = 0.018] and HLA-DQB1*02:01 alleles (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.1-10.2, Pc = 9.18 × 10(-4)) were significantly increased in aß2GPI-positive RM patients compared with aß2GPI-negative RM patients. These results suggest that the HLA-DQA1*0102 and HLA-DQB1*0201 alleles may be involved in the production of aß2GPI in RM patients.

[Plant regeneration from Agobacterium-mediated CTV-cp gene transformation of Poncirus trifoliata Raf].

OBJECTIVE: To lay a foundation for the resistant breeding, the anti-virus CTV-cp gene was transformed into the epicotyles mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Poncirus trifoliata. METHOD: The explants used for the genetic transformation were the epicotyls from P. trifoliata. The Agrobacterum tumefaciens strain was EHA101 containing vector plasmid pGA482GG. The coat protein gene (CTV-cp gene), GUS gene and NPT II gene were introduced into the transformation plasmid. RESULTS: Ceftaxime used as antibiotics was better than carbenicillin. The concentration was 300 mg.L-1; The selection pressure for kanamycin was 50 mg.L-1; 70.0% of the resistant plants were GUS-positive; extra gene was proved to be in P. trifoliata plant by southern blot examination. CONCLUSION: An effective genetic transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefacines, which harbours a CTV-cp gene, has been developed in P. trifoliata. Transgenic CTV-cp plants were obtained.

Malpractice risk assessment among different approaches for informed consent.

INTRODUCTION: The standards for obtaining informed consent, set forth by the Hawaii Revised Statutes, establish that it is the physician's duty to disclose what a reasonable person objectively needs to hear in order to make an informed decision. It is the purpose of this study to report the opinions of medical malpractice attorneys to survey their opinion whether full or limited disclosure of alternative treatments in informed consent is viewed as having a lower malpractice risk. METHODS: Hawaii medical malpractice attorneys viewed a compilation of arguments for and against both full and limited disclosure, and completed an opinion survey after reading samples of disclosure statements in two different case scenarios: 1) a pediatric emergency department case involving a febrile child at risk for occult bacteremia, and 2) an obstetrics case involving a woman with a postdate pregnancy. RESULTS: A vast majority of respondents believe that, in general and in the obstetrics case, full disclosure results in less liability. In the pediatrics ED case, 46% chose full disclosure as having less liability, 38% believe that the same liability exists with both full and limited disclosure, and 15% believe that limited disclosure is associated with less liability in this case. CONCLUSIONS: Hawaii attorneys with medical malpractice experience overwhelmingly agree that, in general, full disclosure is associated will less medical legal liability. Full disclosure was also the option selected as associated with less liability by a majority of attorneys in a sample obstetrical case. Opinions were more diverse in the pediatrics ED case. Many attorneys stressed that judging the risk of liability in general is difficult, and should be done on a case by case basis.

Importance of acidic, proline/serine/threonine-rich, and GTP-binding regions in the major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator: generation of transdominant-negative mutants.

The class II transactivator (CIITA) is a master transcription regulator of gene products involved in the exogenous antigen presentation pathway, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, invariant chain, and DM. An extensive analysis of the putative functional domains of CIITA is undertaken here to explore the action of CIITA. Antibodies to CIITA protein were produced to verify that these mutant proteins are expressed. Both acidic and proline/serine/threonine-rich domains are essential for class II MHC promoter activation. In addition, three guanine nucleotide-binding motifs are essential for CIITA activity. Of these mutants, two exhibited strong transdominant-negative functions. These two mutants provide a plausible approach to manipulate MHC class II expression and immune responses.

[A case-control study of serum beta-carotene and lung cancer].

A 1:2 matched case-control study was conducted in Wuhan area with conditional logistic regression model to study the relationship between occurrence of primary lung cancer and serum levels of beta-carotene. The results showed the lower the serum levels of beta-carotene, the higher the risk of lung cancer. It suggested the increase of serum beta-carotene with dietary intake could lower the risk of lung cancer.

[Male contraceptive -- the biological compatibility evaluation of hydrogel HFMC].

PIP: It was found from experiments in animals that HFMC hydrogel compound injected into the vas-deferens becomes a hydrogen molecule-releasing sediment, which changes the PH balance inside the vas deferens and can kill the sperm and achieve contraception. HFMC hydrogel can either dissolve in time or through an injection of DMSO solution, and fertility will resume subsequently. For the purpose of further developing HFMC hydrogel into a safe and effective contraceptive method, biological compatibility tests were conducted on mice, rats, and rabbits in the Occupation Disease Research Institute, Sichuan Province, China. No deaths or abnormal effects were found in toxicological tests, which suggested that the in vivo and in vitro administration of HFMC hydrogel is safe; the cell growth was found to be associated with the concentration of the compound. Injection of the compound caused local skin irritation without affecting the blood cell count. The skin irritation gradually recovered as the compound dissolved. The pathological observations on rats and rabbits showed no abnormal changes in the reproductive organs, and no damage of vas deferens was observed from micrography and electron micrography. The micronucleus rate of the polychromatic erythrocyte in the bone marrow of mice was not increased. The results of the investigation showed that HFMC hydrogel is a possible male contraceptive method. No abnormality or mutation was induced during the observation period of the study. Further studies on chronic toxicological effects and secondary toxicological effects need to be done. Other methods for studying its safety should also be explored.^ieng

Differences in the basal activity of the long terminal repeat determine different replicative capacities of two closely related human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates.

Two human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants derived from a single parental isolate were found to differ substantially in their ability to replicate in CD4-positive cells. Using transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression assays, we show that the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the better-replicating virus has significantly higher capacity than that of the companion virus to direct gene expression in T cells. Sequence data and site-specific mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that the higher LTR activity of the better-replicating HIV-1 is due to a combined effect of two mutations: (i) a point mutation in position -94 (relative to the transcriptional start site), which is located between the two subunits of the HIV-1 enhancer, and (ii) a duplication of 24 base pairs in positions -128 to -151, which was not previously known to be involved in any regulatory function. The presence of these mutations increases the basal level of the LTR-driven gene expression and does not influence the degree of induction caused by the viral tat gene product or by cell activation. Reciprocal exchange of LTRs between the respective viral DNAs results in a change of a recombinant virus replication pattern consistent with the activity of the particular LTR. These experiments suggest that the HIV-1 LTR is one of the sites which determines the functional heterogeneity of HIV-1.

Plant Regeneration with Callus and Protoplasts of Solanum uporo Dun.

Vigorous plants exceding 1 m in height and producing fruits with seeds have been regenerated from callus derived from hypocotyl segments in less than one year, using B5-media containing 0.5 mg · l(-1) 2,4-D, 0.25 mg · l(-1) kinetin, and 0.5 g · l(-1) casein hydrolyzate for callus formation, MS-media with 0.005 mg · l(-1) NAA and 0.5 mg · l(-1) zeatin for shoot formation, and MS-media with 0.005 mg · l(-1) NAA for rooting and plantlet formation. Of cytokinins tested zeatin was the most effective. Protoplasts from leaves of regenerated shoots cultured in vitro divided and formed callus which again and reliably produced shoots and plantlets when placed on MS-media as specified before.