Binding properties of chemosensory protein 4 in Riptortus pedestris to aggregation pheromones.

In insects, chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play an important role in the perception of the external environment and have been widely used for protein-binding characterization. Riptortus pedestris has received increased attention as a potential cause of soybean staygreen syndrome in recent years. In this study, we found that RpedCSP4 expression in the antennae of adult R. pedestris increased with age, with no significant difference in expression level observed between males and females, as determined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Subsequently, we investigated the ability of RpedCSP4 to bind various ligands (five aggregated pheromone components and 13 soybean volatiles) using a prokaryotic expression system and fluorescence competitive binding assays. We found that RpedCSP4 binds to three aggregated pheromone components of R. pedestris, namely, ((E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate (E2Z3), (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate (E2E2), and (E)-2-hexenyl hexenoate (E2HH)), and that its binding capacities are most stable under acidic condition. Finally, the structure and protein-ligand interactions of RpedCSP4 were further analyzed via homology modeling, molecular docking, and targeted mutagenesis experiments. The L29A mutant exhibited a loss of binding ability to these three aggregated pheromone components. Our results show that the olfactory function of RpedCSP4 provides new insights into the binding mechanism of RpedCSPs to aggregation pheromones and contributes to discover new target candidates that will provide a theoretical basis for future population control of R. pedestris.

Binding properties of chemosensory protein 12 in Riptortus pedestris to aggregation pheromone (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate.

Riptortus pedestris (bean bug), a common soybean pest, has a highly developed olfactory system to find hosts for feeding and oviposition. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) have been identified in many insect species; however, their functions in R. pedestris remain unknown. In this study, quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that the expression of RpedCSP12 in the adult antennae of R. pedestris increased with age. Moreover, a significant difference in the expression levels of RpedCSP12 was observed between male and female antennae at one and three days of age. We also investigated the binding ability of RpedCSP12 to different ligands using a prokaryotic expression system and fluorescence competitive binding assays. We found that RpedCSP12 only bound to one aggregation pheromone, (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate, and its binding decreased with increasing pH. Furthermore, homology modelling, molecular docking, and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the Y27A, L74A, and L85A mutants lost their binding ability to (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate. Our findings highlight the olfactory roles of RpedCSP12, providing insights into the mechanism by which RpedCSPs bind to aggregation pheromones. Therefore, our study can be used as a theoretical basis for the population control of R. pedestris in the future.

Comparison of area measurement methods in the routine assessment of diabetic foot ulcers-A consistency analysis method.

BACKGROUND: Ulcer area is a critical parameter in diabetic foot ulcer assessment but existing methods have deficiencies for routine measurement. AIM: We hypothesized that the Image J-based Computer Analysis method has a high level of agreement with the commonly used Maximum Length and Width and the Transparent Dressing-based Square Grid methods and aimed to test the consistency and verify the feasibility of the Image J-based Computer Analysis method in the routine assessment of ulcers. METHODS: Outpatient attendees with diabetic foot ulcers at the Department of Endocrinology of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital were enrolled between October 2020 and October 2021. The three methods sequentially assessed the area of 65 included ulcers. Results were analysed using one-way analysis of variance and Bland-Altman plots to perform consistency analysis. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation ulcer area measured using the three methods were 14.79 ± 5.39, 14.35 ± 5.26, and 14.30 ± 5.26 cm2 , respectively. The measurement differences among the three groups or between any two were not statistically significant. Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency between the Image J-based Computer Analysis and the other two methods. CONCLUSION: The Image J-based Computer Analysis method can be interchanged with the other methods to assess ulcer areas. It is freely accessible, accurate and home-operable, thus worth consideration by nurses for routine ulcer area assessment.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Odorant-Binding Proteins and Chemosensory Proteins in the Bean bug Riptortus pedestris.

Insects have sensitive olfactory systems to interact with environment and respond to the change in host plant conditions. Key genes in the system can be potential targets for developing new and efficient pest behaviour control methods. Riptortus pedestris is an important soybean pest in East Asia and has caused serious damage to the soybean plants in Huang-Huai-Hai region of China. However, the current treatment of pests is dominated by chemical insecticides and lacks efficient sustainable prevention and control technologies. In this study, we identified 49 putative odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) (43 were new genes) and 25 chemosensory proteins (CSPs) (17 were new genes) in R. pedestris genome. These OBP and CSP genes are clustered in highly conserved groups from other hemipteran species in phylogenetic trees. Most RpedOBPs displayed antennal-biased expression. Among the 49 RpedOBPs, 33 were significantly highly expressed in the antennae, including three male-biased and nine female-biased. While many RpedCSPs were detected both in the antennae and in non-antennal tissues, only 11 RpedCSPs displayed antennal-biased expression, in which four RpedCSPs were male-biased and five RpedCSPs were female-biased. Some OBP and CSP genes showed sex-biased expression profiles. Our results not only provide a foundation for future exploration of the functions of RpedOBPs and RpedCSPs but also aid in developing environmentally friendly insecticides in the future.

Increasing prevalence of myopia and the impact of education in primary-school students in Xi'an, north-western of China.

Purpose: The present study was performed to detect the prevalence of myopia among primary-school students in Xi'an, north-western of China. Methods: The present study was a school-based study with students aged from 6 to 13 years old. All the individuals underwent ophthalmological examination and spherical equivalent (SE) of refractive error were measured with non-cycloplegic refraction. Myopia was defined as a SE of ≤ -0.5 diopters (D), and further divided into three stratified groups based on SE: low myopia (≤ -0.5 to >-3.0 D), moderate myopia (≤ -3.0 to >-6.0 D), and high myopia (≤ -6.0 D). Relative risk factors, including age, sex, grade and ethnicity were investigated using questionnaire. Results: A total of 4,680 individuals were eligible for this survey and 4,654 (99.4% participation rate) were finally included (51.2% boys). The mean age of participants was 8.756 ± 1.727 years. The whole city-level prevalence of total myopia was 57.1% (95% CI: 55.7-58.6%). Additionally, the prevalence of low, moderate, and high myopia was 45.0% (95% CI: 43.5-46.4%), 11.1% (95% CI: 10.2-12.0%), and 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7-1.3%), respectively. Moreover, grade (education level) instead of age, sex and ethnicity was the most essential risk factor for prevalence of overall myopia (OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.605-2.119), and an increase of prevalence by 84.4% per grade was seen. Furthermore, similar associations of grade were significant with low myopia (OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.385-1.877) and moderate myopia (OR = 2.186, 95% CI: 1.693-2.823), meanwhile, prevalence of low myopia and moderate myopia demonstrated an increase of prevalence by 61.3 and 118.6% per grade, respectively. None of the factors included in the present study was significant risk factor for high myopia. Conclusions: The present study investigated a non-negligible high prevalence of myopia among primary-school students in Xi'an, north-western of China, and a gradual increasing in proportion with education level.

Empirical Antibiotic Treatment in Diabetic Foot Infection: A Study Focusing on the Culture and Antibiotic Sensitivity in a Population From Southern China.

Diabetic foot and subsequent diabetic ulcer infections are the most devastating complication of diabetes. This study was conducted to explore the bacterial spectrum, sensitivity of microbials, and analysis of the empirical antibiotic regimens in our health center. The study included patients with diabetic foot ulcer infection (DFI) seen from 2009 to 2014. The patients included had all information covering the physical examination, laboratory tests, and image examinations. We sent appropriately obtained specimens for culture prior to starting empirical antibiotic therapy in all participants. A total of 312 patients were included: 52, 112, 95 and 53 patients within uninfected, mild, moderate, and severe infection groups. The total percentages of Gram-positive cocci (GPCs) and Gram-negative rods (GNRs) were 54% and 48.8% ( P = 0.63). The most common GPC was Staphylococcus aureus (22.4%) and GNR was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.9%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 21 patients (6.7%). Even in the mild infection group, there was no significant difference between GPC and GNR infection, irrespective of recent antibiotic use ( P = 0.053). The most frequently used empirical antibiotics in our center were second-/third-generation cephalosporin ± clindamycin, both in the mild and moderate/severe infection groups. In our center, the amoxicillin/clavulanate or ampicillin/sulbactam (ß-L-ase 1) and second-/third-generation cephalosporins were highly resistant to the common GNR (30%-60%). The ticarcillin/clavulanate, piperacillin/tazuobactam (ß-L-ase 2), fluoroquinolone, and group 2 carbapenem had good sensitivity. This study presents a comprehensive microbiological survey of diabetic foot ulcers in inpatients and provides reliable evidence of the local microbial epidemiology and sensitivity of antibiotics, which may help us improve clinical outcomes in DFI patients.

A novel mutation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene CHRNA4 in a Chinese patient with non-familial nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.

So far, only two mutations in the CHRNA4 gene (in three studies) and one mutation in the CHRNB2 gene had been identified in the patients with sporadic nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE). The absence of mutations in the candidate genes in the majority of sporadic NFLE patients suggest that they are rare loci for the disease, but the necessity of performing genetic testing for sporadic cases should not be neglected. We designed mutation screening of exon 5 of CHRNA4, exon 5 of CHRNB2, and exon 6 of CHRNA2 in a group of 56 Chinese sporadic NFLE cases. A de novo missense mutation in the transmembrane domain M2 segment of the α4 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, c.823A>T, was found in a 15 year-old right-handed male, but was not observed in his parents and 400 control chromosomes. The mutation decreased the surrounding hydrophobicity and slightly altered secondary structure of the protein. No mutations were found in CHRNB2 and CHRNA2.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment of Rasmussen syndrome in 16 children].

OBJECTIVE: Rasmussen syndrome (RS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin, usually affecting one brain hemisphere. The present study aimed to analyze the electroclinical characteristics and treatment of RS. METHODS: The medical records of 16 children with RS were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 16 children, 8 were males and 8 were females. The age of onset was from 1 year and 11 months to 11 years and 6 months. The first symptom was seizure in all patients. The main seizure type was partial motor seizures. In all the patients, seizures gradually became frequent and in the form of epilepsia partialis continua (EPC). Thirteen cases developed hemiparesis. Fixed hemiparesis occurred from 2 months to 3 years after the onset of seizures. The cognitive deterioration was present in 14. The EEG background activity was abnormal in all the cases, asymmetric slow wave disturbances were bilateral but with unilateral predominance in 11, unilateral delta or theta wave in 8. The presence of interictal epileptiform discharges were found in all cases, unilateral in 11 and bilateral in 5. Seizures were recorded in all patients, no electroclinical correlation was found in 5. Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed progressive unihemispheric or focal cortical atrophy in all cases. Six cases transiently showed focal cortical swelling or T2/FLAIR hyperintense signal on early scans. Antiepileptic drugs were not effective in any of the patients. Three of 10 patients receiving immunoglobulin, and 4 of 8 receiving corticosteroids, had some reduction of seizure frequency for a short period. Six patients accepted functional hemispherectomy, in 4 of them seizure no longer occurred and cognitive function was improved. The results of multiple subpial transection in 2 cases and focal resection in one patient were disappointing. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of RS were refractory partial epilepsy, progressive hemiplegia and cognitive deterioration. The EEG background was asymmetric with slow wave activity, interictal epileptiform discharges were unilateral or bilateral, no electroclinical correlation occurred. Serial MRI showed progressive unihemispheric focal cortical atrophy. Antiepileptic drugs were not effective for RS. In some patients, immunoglobulin or corticosteroids could reduce seizure frequency in the short term. Functional hemispherectomy could lead to seizure control and prevent further development of neurological impairment and cognitive deterioration.