Host selection by thrips is affected by the floral volatile profile of sunflower.

Thrips, Frankliniella intonsa, is a highly polyphagous pest with a worldwide distribution. F. intonsa-infested sunflower seeds show marked visual damage. The study findings revealed that significantly more F. intonsa infested confection sunflower compared to oilseed sunflower, via olfactometer bioassay studies, we found that compared with the flower and pollen of oilseed sunflowers, those of confection sunflowers attract F. intonsa. Considering this discrepancy in the preference of F. intonsa on oilseed and confection sunflowers, the volatiles of the flower and pollens of two sunflowers were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The behavioural responses of F. intonsa were assessed for these compounds using Y-tube bioassays. Geranyl bromide, a unique volatile component of oilseed sunflowers, induced an assertive approach-avoidance behaviour in F. intonsa, whereas the unique component ethyl isovalerate in confection sunflowers attracted F. intonsa. F. intonsa adults demonstrated significant attraction to the blends of confection sunflowers. Furthermore, field verification revealed that intercropping confection and oilseed sunflowers could effectively control F. intonsa. The study provided insights into the chemical cues used by F. intonsa in locating hosts. Therefore, oilseed sunflowers can be used as repellent plants to prevent F. intonsa invasion.

Epstein-Barr virus-positive iris diffuse large B-cell lymphoma detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a relatively rare subtype of DLBCL. Herein, we report a case of a patient with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and discuss its possible pathogenesis. METHODS: A 72-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with progressive blurring of vision in the left eye for the past 4 months. Small white nodular lesions were observed on the iris and retinal surface of the left eye, with a white cloud-like opacity in the vitreous cavity. RESULTS: The patient was eventually diagnosed with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing pathological and metagenomic tests. After injecting methotrexate in the left vitreous cavity and administering systemic and local antiviral treatments, the ocular lesions disappeared. CONCLUSION: EBV infection, drug immunosuppression, and aging-related immune deterioration may play significant roles in the pathogenesis of EBV-positive iris DLBCL. SYNOPSIS: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a new subtype of DLBCL, which rarely occurs. Herein, we report a case of a patient with EBV-positive iris DLBCL after undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and discuss its possible pathogenesis.

Which is Better for Patients with Breast Cancer: Totally Implanted Vascular Access Devices (TIVAD) or Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)?

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to compare the applications of totally implanted vascular access devices (TIVAD) and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in breast cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed 4080 cases of TIVAD and 1433 cases of PICC at the Breast Center of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. The success rate, operation time, and procedures of catheterization, as well as the catheterization-related complications, catheter indwelling-related complications, and the utilization conditions were compared between these two methods. RESULTS: Our results showed that the success rate of catheterization was relatively higher in PICC group (99.5%) than the TIVAD group (99.0%)(χ2 = 3.521, P = 0.038), and the operation time and the rate of catheterization-related complications were lower in PICC (18.65 ± 4.7603 min, 0.91%) compared to TIVAD (29.55 ± 4.0843 min, 1.59%)(t = 38.000, P < 0.01, χ2 = 3.578, P = 0.035). However, the rate of catheter indwelling-related complications was lower in TIVAD group (2.47%) than the PICC group (3.62%)(χ2 = 5.227, P = 0.016), and the catheter care was also better in TIVAD. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these analyses, we recommended TIVAD for the patients who need long-term and high-dose chemotherapy and PICC for the patients who need short chemotherapy cycle and live close to the hospital.

Human cytomegalovirus inhibits apoptosis involving upregulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bag-1.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals and is recognized as a major viral cause of birth defects. HCMV has the ability to establish lifelong persistence and latent infection following primary exposure. Apoptosis is an innate cellular defense response to viral infection. HCMV can block apoptosis in various cell types. Here we show that HCMV promotes survival of human embryonic lung fibroblasts by activating of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Bag-1 is up-regulated in a MAPK/ERK-dependent fashion in infected cells. Depletion of Bag-1 suppresses the antiapoptotic effect of HCMV. Taken together, these data indicate that Bag-1 up-regulation is required to maintain apoptosis resistance in HCMV infected cells.

Promoter hypermethylation of p14 (ARF) , RB, and INK4 gene family in hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B virus infection.

Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and gene methylation play important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, their association between HBV infection and gene methylation is not fully understood. Cell cycle control involving RB1 gene-related cell inhibitors is one of the main regulatory pathways were reported to be altered in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this research is to assess the methylation status of p14 (ARF) and INK4 gene family (p14 (ARF) , p15 (INK4B) , p16 (INK4A) , and p18 (INK4C) ) in HCC with HBV infection and HCC without it, and discuss possible role of HBV-induced hypermethylation in the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis. Methylation status of RB, p14 (ARF) , and INK4 gene family in 64 case of HCC with HBV infection and 24 cases without it were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, and HBV-DNA of the plasma were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. p14 (ARF) , p15 (INK4B) , p16 (INK4A) , and RB hypermethylation were observed in 30 (34.1%), 50 (56.8%), 62 (70.5%), and 24(27.3%) of 88 hepatocellular carcinomas, respectively. Methylation frequencies of them between HCC with HBV infection and HCC without it were 43.8% versus 8.3 % (p14 (ARF) ), 68.9% versus 25% (p15 (INK4B) ), 90.6% versus 16.7% ( p16 (INK4A) ), and 28.1 % versus 25% (RB), respectively. In HBV-associated HCC, the numbers of methylated genes were also more than HCC without virus infection, more than two methylated genes were seen in 48 of 64 (75 %) cases; more than three methylated genes were found in 32 of 64 (50%); correspondently, no one case has more than two genes methylated. p18 (INK4C) methylation product was not found in cancerous or non-cancerous tissues of 88 HCC. HBV infection is associated with p14 (ARF) , p15 (INK4B) , p16 (INK4A) , and RB gene methylation (P = 0.048, 0.035, 0.02); HBV-DNA replication is associated with p14 (ARF) , p15 (INK4B) , p16 (INK4A) , and RB gene methylation (P = 0.048, 0.035, 0.02); high rate of p14 (ARF) , p15 (INK4B) , and p16 (INK4A) in HCC with HBV infection suggests that HBV-induced hypermethylation may be one of the mechanisms of HBV involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Design and Implementation of Taizhou Integrated Prostate Screening.

A community-based prostate cancer screening program was conducted to assess the morbidity and associated factors for prostate cancer among the subpopulation of men aged ≥50 years in Taizhou, China. Taizhou Integrated Prostate Screening (TIPS) is a large, observational, population-based study of prostate cancer screening data based on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations. A pilot census of all male residents aged 50 years or older was conducted in Luqiao District, one of the field sites of the TIPS cohort in the city of Taizhou, Zhejiang. The interviewer-administered questionnaire evaluated demographic characteristics and environmental exposure factors. A total of 1,806 out of 3,516 participants completed the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of PSA ≥4 ng/mL was 11.5%, and included participants at low risk (9.2%), moderate risk (1.7%), and high risk (0.6%). Participants aged 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years had a 2.7-fold, 4.2-fold, and 6.5-fold higher risk of elevated PSA, respectively, in comparison with those aged 50 to 59 years (p < .001). Eighteen patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer, of whom 11 (61.1%) underwent radical surgery. This community-based PSA screening program indicated the results for early detection of prostate cancer among men aged ≥50 years. Early screening and appropriate clinical therapy for the management of prostate cancer are essential in this subpopulation.

[Estimation of the SOA Formation Potential of the National Trunk Highway in Central Plains Urban Agglomeration].

Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) are among the main components of air pollution. Accurately estimating SOAs formed from automobile exhaust is crucial for controlling and mitigating traffic air pollution. Sufficient monitoring data is difficult for regional analysis owing to limited monitoring data over a small area or few observation stations. Indirect methods may be used to estimate SOA using data on the number and types of vehicles. A linear reference system of Central Plains urban agglomeration was built from the national trunk line network system and the traffic survey data of transportation. The numbers of different types of vehicles were assigned to road segments as the traffic flow according to the represented length between monitoring stations. Then, VOCs emissions were calculated through the emission coefficient method based on the previous traffic flow data. Moreover, further estimations of the SOA formation potential were made by the fractional aerosol coefficient approach. Through kernel density analysis, discrete point data of the observer station were transformed into line segments and expanded to a continuous spatial distribution for quantitative and spatial variation analysis of the SOA in the study area. The results show that ① toluene has the highest SOA generation potential, 1,4-diethylbenzene has the strongest ability to form SOA, and aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit higher SOA formation capacity than alkanes; ② small and medium gasoline passenger cars generate the most SOA and account for about 1/3 of the total SOA, but small gasoline trucks exhibit the strongest capacity for SOA formation; ③ regarding the capacity of SOA formation for vehicles using different fuel types, gasoline vehicles have a higher capacity than diesel vehicles, and passenger cars have a slightly higher capacity than trucks; ④ in Central Plains urban agglomeration, the spatial distribution of SOA intensity data shows a trend of convergence to the center of Zhengzhou city. Gasoline vehicles exhibit a similar pattern overall, but diesel vehicles exhibit a weaker trend that decreases distinctly. SOA intensity along the north-south direction is much higher than that of the east-west direction around the center of Zhengzhou crossing.

[Spatial distribution of human activity intensity in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Wetland scenic area: A case study of Lashihai watershed in Yunnan Province, China]. / 云贵高原湿地景区人类活动强度的空间分布­­ä»¥äº‘南省拉市海流域为例.

Human activity intensity is mostly used to quantify the degree of human influence on natural systems, with obvious spatial variability. With Lashihai watershed in Yunnan Province as an example, we used SPOT remote sensing images to update land use data, and obtained a comprehensive index of land use intensity after gridding by assigning weights to different land types, which was considered as the basic human activity intensity. The local tourism activities (horseback riding and boating) were also included. The horseback riding and boating were spatially quantified according to the location of horse farms and the abundance of horses and boats which were superimposed with the basic human activity intensity on the spatial scale of 100 m×100 m to obtain a more accurate comprehensive human activity intensity and to analyze the spatial variations. The results showed that the gridding and the kernel density analysis improved the accuracy of spatial analysis and reflected the spatial superposition and diffusion effects. In the comprehensive human activity intensity map of Lashihai watershed, the highest intensity value of water area was at the mouth of the sea, the lowest intensity value was at the center of the sea, and the overall trend of intensity gradually decreased from the surrounding to the middle. The land settlement had the highest intensity, the intensity value of the agricultural land gathering area was at the middle level, and the intensity of human activities in the forestry area of higher altitude was lower. The comprehensive human activity intensity in the water area of the Lashihai watershed varied most obviously, and differed greatly from the basic human activity intensity. Although there were many local characteristic tourism activities in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Wetland scenic area, but their land use types did not change. We need to take them into account when quantifying the intensity of human activities.

4-Eth-oxy-N'-propanoylpyridine-2-carbohydrazide.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(11)H(15)N(3)O(3), mol-ecules are linked into a chain by inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Allelopathy of rape on seed germination and seedling growth of three crops]. / 油菜对3种作物种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用.

Rape is an important green manure crop in China. It could increase soil fertility, but might have allelopathic effect on subsequent crops. We examined the effects of rape water-extract (at 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 g·mL-1 concentrations) on seed germination, seedling growth, physiology and biochemistry of three crops including oat (Avena sativa), corn (Zea mays), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The results showed that water extract of rape did not affect seed germination rate of three crops. Oat had a trend of "low promotion and high inhibition", while sunflower had a trend of inhibition. High concentration of rape water extract inhibited root and stem length of oat seedling, corn seedling stem length and sunflower seedling root length, while low concentration treatment promoted root and stem length of corn seedling. The highest protein contents in oats and sunflower presented at the treatment of 0.05 g·mL-1, and that of corn at the treatment of 0.025 g·mL-1, which were significantly higher than that of control. The proline contents in sunflower decreased significantly in different treatments, while the proline content of corn was significantly higher than that of control at 0.05 g·mL-1. POD activity of corn was at a maximum at 0.05 g·mL-1, and that of sunflower was at 0.025 g·mL-1, which were significantly higher than control. There was no significant difference between control and other concentration treatments. The SOD activity of oat was significantly decreased at 0.025 g·mL-1. There was no significant difference in CAT activity between the three crops and the control. The MDA content in sunflower seedlings increased significantly at 0.1 g·mL-1, while that in corn seedlings was significantly lower than control. Our results indicated that the allelopathic inhibitory effect of rape water extract was the strongest on sunflower, followed by corn and oat.

[Characteristics of Nitrogen Metabolism by Denitrifying Bacterial Agents in Low Dissolved Oxygen Black Odor Water].

In order to deal with low dissolved oxygen black odor water body of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the nitrogen metabolic capacity of ammoniated bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria under low dissolved oxygen concentration was studied, and the relationship between denitrification efficiency and nitrogen conversion of different bacteria was clarified, which provided theoretical basis for the treatment of black odor water of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Nitrogen conversion characteristics of ammoniated bacteria (Staphylococcus sp. Ay), nitrifying bacteria (Microbacterium sp. Xw), and denitrifying bacteria (Arthrobacter sp. Fy) in simulated wastewater were detected by different concentration of bacteria and different concentration of substrates. The nitrogen metabolism of Ay, Xw and Fy in black odor water at the same concentration under low dissolved oxygen condition and the characteristics of nitrogen metabolism in different concentrations of black odor water were studied. The results showed that the bacterial concentration of Ay bacterium agent increased three times, but the ammoniation efficiency did not multiply. It indicated that increasing the concentration of ammoniated bacterium was not the best way to increase the ammoniation rate. Xw bacteria have a significant effect on the change of nitrate concentration. At 60 h, the nitrate concentration was increased 180% at low bacterial concentration, was 231% at a high bacterial concentration. Fy denitrification efficiency was high, that nitrate nitrogen can be removed quickly at lower concentration. Appropriate increase of total nitrogen concentration can increase the ammoniation efficiency of Ay microbial agent, but too high would inhibit the nitrogen metabolism efficiency of Ay microbial agent. The concentration of nitrate nitrogen of Xw bacterium reagent was increased (3736%) when the total nitrogen was 25 mg·L-1. The Fy microbial agent has no obvious effect on ammonia nitrogen removal. When the total nitrogen concentration was 25 mg·L-1, the removal rate of nitrate by Fy bacterium was the best. Overall, the results showed that the concentration of ammoniated bacteria and denitrifying bacteria could meet the need of nitrogen metabolism, and the nitrifying bacteria could increase the nitrate nitrogen synthesis rate with the increase of the concentration of nitrifying bacteria. In a certain range, increasing the concentration of substrate could increase the efficiency of nitrogen metabolism of bacterial agents, and excessive concentration would inhibit the effect of nitrogen metabolism. The study provides data support for the problem of black odor water in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

N,N-Diisopropylidene-pyrazine-2,5-dicarbohydrazide dihydrate.

In the title compound, C(12)H(16)N(6)O(2)·2H(2)O, the organic mol-ecule, except for the methyl H atoms, is essentially planar, the r.m.s. deviation from planarity being 0.044 Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter-molecular O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds which form chains.

[Concentration-response relationship between particulate air pollution and daily mortality in Taiyuan].

OBJECTIVE: To further study concentration-response relationship between daily mortality and particulate air pollution, to provide scientific basis for making policy. METHODS: We applied spline model to daily time-series data for Taiyuan city, China from 2004-2005, using concentration of particulate matter less than 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) as the exposure measure, and controlling confounding factors, such as season, meteorological factors, day-of-the-week, other air pollutions, etc. RESULTS: The spline model showed a nonlinear relationship for the relative risks of death for all causes (total deaths) and for specific causes in relation to PM10 concentration, and obtained threshold levels. For total mortality, malignant tumor mortality and cardiovascular-cerebrovascular-respiratory mortality, the threshold levels were 85.00 microg/m3, 89.59 microg/m3, 122.54 microg/m3, respectively using the value of differential deduction. CONCLUSION: Our nonlinear models are appropriate for assessing the effect of particulate air pollution on daily mortality at current ambient levels in Taiyuan, China,in contrast to those of Europe and America.

[Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in experimental herpes simplex virus keratitis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution and activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) during the course of experimental herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) keratitis. METHODS: Keratitis was induced in BALB/c mice by inoculating the cornea with 10(5) plaque-forming units (pfu) of HSV-1 (KOS strain). Corneas were harvested at days 0, 2, 7, 14 and 28 post-infection. Expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The enzymatic activities were analyzed by Zymography. RESULTS: At day 2 post-infection, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression were increased in the epithelium as compared to the uninfected control eyes, and were detected in the superficial stroma and in inflammatory cells beneath the epithelium. Similar staining patterns were detected for TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. MMP-2 and MMP-9 epithelial staining persisted until day 28 post-infection. Necrotizing keratitis with corneal ulceration was present on days 14 and 28 post-infection. This correlated with increased expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 within the stroma and in infiltrating inflammatory cells. MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 staining were particularly intense in the proximity of the ulcers. The neutrophils, which were abundant at the site of ulceration, were stained positive with MMP-8. Both gelatinolytic activities and caseinolytic activities were upregulated after HSV-1 corneal infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MMPs produced by resident corneal cells and by inflammatory cells possibly promote epithelial keratitis and ulcerative process after corneal HSV-1 infection. The interaction of MMPs and TIMPs may regulate the course of necrotizing HSV keratitis.