[On-pump total arterial revascularization in coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular dysfunction: a multi-center retrospective study].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of on-pump total arterial revascularization with bilateral radial artery (BRA) and left internal mammary artery (LIMA) as conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). Methods: All the perioperative medical records and follow-up results of coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% undergoing CABG from 24 heart centers of 15 provinces and autonomous regions in China between July 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 87 consecutive patients (55 males and 32 females) underwent on-pump CABG with BRA and LIMA, with a mean age of (57.5±9.1) years old. There were 22 patients complicated with primary hypertension, 12 with diabetes mellitus, 8 with peripheral vascular disease, 7 with chronic obstructive lung disease, 12 with mild renal injury and 3 with partial aortic calcification. There were 43 cases with in-stent stenosis, and 21 had left main disease. The mean LVEF and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was (35.5±7.3)% and (65.5±2.6) mm, respectively. The mean graft number, aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass duration was 3.2±0.9, (90.5±22.7) min and (113.4±19.2) min, respectively. There were 32 mitral and 9 aortic valve replacements, and 5 tricuspid annuloplasties. Prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pumps were implanted in 27 patients. There were 2 operative deaths from acute heart failure. After surgery, there were 15 cases of atrial fibrillation, 1 case of acute kidney injury, 1 case of acute myocardial infarction, and 1 cases of stroke. All the patients fulfilled the follow-up, with a mean time of (39.5±7.7) months. At 3 months after surgery, LVEDD was decreased and LVEF was improved significantly compared with pre-operative indicators [(53.0±1.5) mm vs (65.5±2.6) mm, t=9.51 P=0.02; (45.2±3.3)% vs (35.5±7.3)%, t=13.79, P=0.001]. No major cardiac events were reported during the follow-up. At (30.5±7.4) months after surgery, 62.4% of patients (53/85) underwent coronary CT angiography examination, and the results indicated that the graft patency was 98.8%, with only one case of RA occlusion occurred. Conclusion: In selected patients of LVD, on-pump total arterial revascularization with BRA and LIMA conduits was proved to be safe and effective.

[Analysis of CT perfusion imaging in chronic cerebral circulatory insufficiency and its relationship with crossed cerebellar diaschisis].

Objective: To investigate the change of cerebral microcirculation of chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency(CCCI) patients and the relationship between CCCI and crossed cerebellar diaschisis(CCD)by using 320-detector row of low-dose volume CT perfusion imaging. Methods: A total of 158 patients (103 males, 55 females, from 45 to 82 years old, the mean age was 62.9) with symptoms of CCCI were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2013 to January 2016. Low-dose CTP imaging of whole brain was performed to them using 320-detector row volume CT scanner. The perfusion parameters such as cerebral blood flow(CBF), cerebral blood volume(CBV), mean transit time(MTT), time to peak(TTP) and DLY in both cerebral blood supply areas and cerebellum were got, so were the 4-dimensional CTA images, and rCBF, rCBV, rMTT and rTTP were calculated by ipsilateral/contralateral value. Comparative t-test and independent t-test were applied to analyzing these parameters quantitatively.Chi-square test and Logistic regression model were applied to analyzing the related clinical risk factors. Results: (1) All 108 patients in CCCI group showed asymmetric perfusion within two cerebral hemispheres in CTP images. The CBF, CBV of diseased side were lower than the contralateral mirror area (t(CBF)=-12.89, t(CBV)=-7.031, P(CBF, CBV)<0.001); the MTT of the diseased side was shorter than the contralateral mirror area (t(MTT) =13.310, P(MTT)<0.001); the TTP of the diseased side was longer than the contralateral mirror area (t(TTP)=-4.012, P(TTP)<0.001). The rCBF and rCBV of CCCI group were lower than that in non-CCCI group (t(rCBF)=3.079, t(rCBV)=2.760, P(rCBF, rCBV)<0.01), while the rTTP of CCCI group was longer than that in non-CCCI group (t(rTTP)=4.846, P(rTTP)<0.001). (2)The results of Chi-square test showed that the differences of gender (χ(2)=4.036, P=0.045), hyperlipidemia (χ(2)=7.687, P=0.006), as well as smoking (χ(2)=11.868, P=0.001) had statistical significance between CCCI group and non-CCCI group.Multi-factor Logistic regression analysis showed that hyperlipidemia (OR value=3.736, P=0.016) and smoking (OR value=4.641, P=0.01) were the risk factors of CCCI, while gender had no relationship with it.(3)The incidence of CCD was 18.5% in the CCCI group, and at the same time, the supratentorial corresponding blood supply areas were classified.A total of 10(34.5%) cases were in blood supply area of posterior cerebral artery, 6(20.7%) cases were in blood supply area of middle cerebral artery, 12(41.4%) cases were of anterior cerebral artery, while only 1(3.5%) case was of basal ganglia, in which 4 cases were in blood supply area of posterior cerebral artery, another 4 cases were middle cerebral artery, 7 cases were of anterior cerebral artery and no case of basal ganglia respectively leading CCD alone. Conclusions: CTP could display the microcirculation situation of abnormal brain tissue perfusion area intuitively and quantitatively. Additionally, it could reflect the degree of relationship between cerebral several blood supply areas and cerebellum.

[CT perfusion analysis on the association of permeability surface with hematoma and edema volume in acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hematoma].

Objective: To discuss the correlation of permeability surface (PS) with hematoma and edema volume in acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hematoma using CT perfusion imaging. Methods: A total of 48 acute spontaneous putaminal and thalamic hemorrhage patients were enrolled in this study during October 2015 and December 2016 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. At the image slice with maximum size of hematoma, PS was measured by drawing various regions of interest (ROI) including"hot spots", perihematomal regions, outward regions, hemisphere regions and contralateral mirror regions. The relative PS (rPS) was calculated as the ratio of ipsilateral to contralateral PS value in each ROI. Hematoma and edema volumes were traced and obtained with commercial software. Results: The"hot spots"PS ((2.8±1.5) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) and perihematomal PS ((2.1±1.4) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) were both significantly higher than the PS of the contralateral mirror regions ((1.1±0.5) ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in outward regions PS and contralateral mirror regions PS (P>0.05), nor in hemisphere regions PS and contralateral mirror regions PS (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in"hot spots"rPS and perihematomal rPS (P=0.218). The"hot spots"rPS and Perihematomal rPS were both higher than the rPS of the outward and hemisphere regions (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the outward and hemisphere regions (P<0.01). The median hematoma volume was 12.63 ml and the median edema volume was 12.36 ml. The edema volume had a positive association with the hematoma volume(r=0.799, P<0.001) and perihematomal PS(r=0.465, P=0.001). Perihematomal PS had a positive association with the hematoma volume (r=0.386, P=0.007). Conclusion: The damage of blood-brain barrier around acute spontaneous hematoma can be measured via CT perfusion imaging. Perihematomal PS was associated with the hematoma and edema volume.

[The multicenter study on the registration and follow-up of low anticoagulation therapy for the heart valve operation in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal anticoagulation methods and monitoring strategy for Chinese patients undergoing heart valve replacement, which is potentially quite different from western populations. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective cohort study, the anticoagulation and monitoring strategy data was acquired from 25 773 in-hospital patients in 35 medical centers and 20 519 patients in outpatient clinic in 11 medical centers from January 1st, 2011 to December 31th, 2015. RESULTS: As for in-hospital patients, mean age of study population was (48.6±11.2) years old; main etiology of valve pathology was rheumatic (87.5%) origin among study cohort; 94.8% of study population received mechanical valve implantation; international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring (in all the study centers) and low-intensity anticoagulation strategy (31 hospitals chose target INR range of 1.5-2.5, and actual values of INR among 89.2% of 100 069 in-hospital monitoring samples were 1.5-2.5), with mean actual INR values of 1.84±0.53, and warfarin dosage of (2.82±0.93) mg/d were widely adopted among the study centers; strategies of in-hospital warfarin administration were similar in all the study centers; complication rates of low-intensity anticoagulation strategy were low in severe hemorrhage (0.02%), thrombosis (0.05%), and thromboembolism (0.05%) events, without anticoagulation-related death.As for 18 974 outpatient clinic patients, the follow-up rate was 92.47%, with a total of 30 012 patient-years (Pty). Anticoagulation-related morbidity and mortality rates were 0.67% and 0.15% Pty; major hemorrhage morbidity and mortality rates were 0.25% and 0.13% Pty; thromboembolism morbidity and mortality rates were 0.45% and 0.03% Pty.The mean dosage of warfarin daily dosage was (2.85±1.23) mg/d and INR value was 1.82±0.57.No significant regional difference in the intensity of anticoagulation therapy was noted during the study. CONCLUSIONS: INR can be used as a normalized indicator for intensity of anticoagulation therapy in China.The optimal anticoagulation intensity with INR range from 1.5 to 2.5 is safe and effective for Chinese patients with heart valve replacement, and there is no significant regional difference in the intensity of anticoagulation therapy.

Analysis of ROP signaling in the leaf epidermis of mutant tomato with low-energy ion beam.

The importance of the ROP small GTPase signaling pathway in the regulation of cellular polarity growth in eukaryotes has been thoroughly studied. In this study, we examined the LeROP small GTPase (related to Arabidopsis thaliana genome LeROP GTPase in tomato) signaling of cell polarity growth in the mutant (M-1) tomato. Interestingly, we detected expansive growth of epidermis cells in M-1, in which the leaves appeared slightly lobed shaped. However, we observed jigsaw puzzle shaped and deeply lobed shaped leaves in wild-type leaf epidermis cells. The t-test showed significant difference (P < 0.05). Based on previous studies of the AtROP gene in Arabidopsis leaf epidermis cells, we hypothesized that the growth of mutant M-1 tomato leaf epidermis cell is related to AtROP gene signal transmission. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed the expression of LeROP2, LeROP4, and LeROP7 in M-1 mutants were stronger than in wild-type cells. At the flowering stage, LeROP2 GTPase showed no expression in wild-type cells, but was expressed in mutant cells. This study revealed a link between the low-energy ion beam and the ROP GTPase signaling pathway in tomato. In addition, the ROP gene changes analyzed suggest a new mechanism for mutations following low-energy ion beam implantation.

Association of IGF1R polymorphisms with the development of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although the involvement of insulin-like signaling in cancer has been well documented in various types of cancers, the association between the genetic variants in the insulin-like signaling and the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In this study, a total of 498 individuals including 173 HBV related cirrhosis patients, 171 HBV-related HCC patients, and 154 healthy controls were enrolled. Sixteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IGF1, IGF2, IGF1R and IGF2R have been genotyped by employing SNaPshot assays. We found A/A genotype at rs3743251 of IGF1R was negatively associated with HBV related HCC [odds ratio (OR) = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.20-0.72, P = 0.037]; A/G genotype decreased the risk of portal vein thrombosis (OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.18-0.82, P = 0.01). These results indicate that rs3743251 polymorphism in IGF1R is associated with the susceptibility of HBV-related HCC.

Use of bone mesenchymal stem cells to treat rats with acute liver failure.

This study aimed to isolate mesenchymal stem cells from bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), determine their therapeutic potential for treating rats with acute liver failure (ALF), further explore the factors that induce liver failure mechanisms, and elucidate the role of bone marrow stem cell therapy and BMSCs on liver homing. We found that differentiation potential was present in BMSCs expressing high levels of CD29 and CD90. These cells improved liver functioning in vivo after transplantation into rat livers with D-galactosamine damage, as evidenced by the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase returning to normal (low levels) in recipient ALF rats. A significant improvement in the liver functional test and histological findings was observed in the transplantation group after 120 and 168 h of transplantation (P < 0.05). Histological data revealed that hepatocyte cell apoptosis was lower in the transplantation group compared to the control groups (P < 0.05), and that the transplantation of BMSCs reduced liver inflammation, decreased hepatic denaturation and necrosis, and promoted liver regeneration. These ameliorations were not recorded in the control groups. The results of in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot confirmed the presence of transplanted BMSCs in recipient rat livers. Stromal cell derived factor-1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly upregulated after the intraportal transplantation of BMSCs, with significantly higher levels being found in the portal vein and the tail vein groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BMSCs have a therapeutic effect against ALF rats, evoke endogenous repair mechanisms in the liver, and may represent a novel form of therapeutic intervention for the disease. Furthermore, intraportal transplantation serves as a more effective pathway compared to tail vein transplantation.

[Research on the framework of biosafety standards for pathogenic microbial laboratories].

Developing and implementing biosafety standards for pathogenic microbiology laboratories is essential to achieving scientific, efficient, and standardized management and operation. This article analyzes the current standardization construction in biosafety in pathogenic microbiology laboratories domestically and internationally. It proposes a framework for the biosafety standard system of pathogenic microbiology laboratories, which mainly includes four parts: basic standards, management standards, technical standards, and industry applications. It provides a reference for the standardization work of pathogenic microbiology laboratories and helps to standardize the biosafety industry in China.

Effect of atorvastatin on pulmonary hypertension rats through regulating notch signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of atorvastatin on pulmonary hypertension (PAH) rats through regulating the Notch signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rat model of PAH was established via hypoxic feeding and the Control group (n=10), PAH model group (Model group, n=10) and atorvastatin treatment group (ATO group, n=10) were set up. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) in each group were determined, the wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio of lung tissues was determined, and the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, the pathological changes in lung tissues of rats were detected via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the apoptosis level was detected via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Finally, the Notch signaling pathway and apoptosis level in tissues were detected via quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), and the protein expression level of Notch pathway in lung tissues was determined through Western blotting. RESULTS: Both RVSP and RVHI in Model group were significantly higher than those in Control group and ATO group (p<0.05). In Model group, the levels of inflammatory factors MPO, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly increased, and the W/D ratio was also significantly increased compared with those in Control group (p<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that the lung tissue injury in Model group was severe (p<0.05). According to the TUNEL staining results, the number of apoptotic cells in lung tissues was markedly larger in Model group than that in ATO group (p<0.05), and the expression levels of Caspase-3 and IL-6 in Model group were remarkably higher than those in ATO group (p<0.05), while the expression level of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in Model group was remarkably lower than that in ATO group (p<0.05). Besides, the gene and protein expression levels of Notch1 in ATO group were evidently lower than those in Model group (p<0.05), indicating that atorvastatin can effectively suppress the expression of Notch. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin can inhibit PAH in rats by suppressing the Notch pathway.

[Interpretation for the group standards in technical specification for health risk investigation of central air conditioning ventilation system during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic].

The central air conditioning ventilation system plays an important role in the air circulation of buildings such as centralized isolation medical observation points and general public buildings. In order to meet the requirements of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, Beijing Preventive Medicine Association organized Beijing CDC and other professional institutes to write up the group standard entitled "Technical specification for health risk investigation of central air conditioning ventilation system during the COVID-19 epidemic (T/BPMA 0006-2020)" . According to the particularity of central air conditioning ventilation system risk control during the outbreak of similar respiratory infectious diseases, based on current laws and regulations and the principle of scientific, practical, consistency and normative, 8 key points of risk investigations were summarized, which were the location of fresh air outlet, air conditioning mode, air return mode, air system, air distribution, fresh air volume, exhaust and air conditioner components. The contents, process, method, data analysis and conclusion of the investigation implementation were also defined and unified. It could standardize and guide institutions such as disease control and health supervision to carry out relevant risk managements, and provided solutions and technical supports for such major public health emergencies in city operations.

Gene polymorphism of adiponectin in restenosis after coronary stenting.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between adiponectin (APN)+45T/G and +276G/T polymorphisms and in-stent restenosis (ISR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 150 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were divided into the ISR group and non-ISR group. The levels of blood biochemical indicators were measured, and APN+45T/G and +276G/T polymorphisms were detected by TaqMan probes. RESULTS: Cholesterol levels in the IRS group were significantly higher than those in the non-ISR group (p<0.05). The frequency of the GG genotype and G allele of the APN+45T/G locus in the ISR group were significantly higher than those in the non-ISR group (p<0.05). The frequency of the GG genotype and G allele of the APN+276G/T locus in the ISR group were significantly higher than those in the non-ISR group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: APN+45T/G and +276G/T polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to ISR, and carrying the G allele of the APN+45T/G and +276G/T loci can significantly increase the risk of ISR.

[Inhibition of CD4(+)T cell infiltration by interleukin-10 competent B cells in periodontitis tissues].

Objective: To study the immune regulation function of high expressing interleukin-10 (IL-10) in B cells on CD4(+)T-cells in periodontitis mouse model. Methods: Twenty-four 7-weeks-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly and equally assigned into 4 groups: the healthy control group (HC group, n=6), the ligation combined Porphyromonasgingivalis (Pg) infection group (P group, n=6), the ligation combined Pg infection with non-stimulated B cell transfer group (P+NSB group, n=6) and the ligation combined Pg infection with stimulated B cell transfer group (P+SB group, n=6). Ligation combined Pg infection of the maxillary second molar was used to induce periodontitis of mice. The exogenous non-stimulated B cells or stimulated B cells were injected into the palate gingivalat the 5th day after ligation, and all mice were sacrificed at the 14th day. HE stain was used to detect the histological of periodontal tissues, toluidine blue stain was used to analysis the alveolar bone loss, immunofluorescence stain was used to detect the expression of CD4(+)T-cell and IL-10, immunohistochemical was used to detect the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and IL-1ß. Results: Results of HE staining showed that more hyperplasia of gingival epithelium and the alveolar bone resorption in P group, P+NSB group and P+SB group compared with HC group. Results of toluidine blue staining showed that the alveolar bone losses in P group [(0.668±0.041) mm(2)], P+NSB group [(0.750±0.039) mm(2)] and P+SB group [(0.517±0.038) mm(2)] were significantly increased compared with that in HC group [(0.336±0.029) mm(2)](F=146.051, P<0.01), and the alveolar bone resorption was significantly increased in P+NSB group compared with that in P group (F=146.051, P<0.01). However, compared with P+NSB group and P group, the alveolar bone loss in P+SB groupwas significantly decreased (F=146.051, P<0.01). Results of immunofluorescence staining showed that CD4(+)T-cells expressed in P group [(287.5±37.9) cell/mm(2)], P+NSB group [(314.6±53.3) cell/mm(2)] and P+SB group [(185.4±42.9) cell/mm(2)] were higher than that in HC group [(12.5±13.7) cell/mm(2))(F=71.284, P<0.01). Compared with P group and P+NSB group, CD4(+)T-cells expression in group P+SB was decreased (F=71.284, P<0.01). IL-10 levels were increased in P group [(111.7±20.4) cell/mm(2)], P+NSB group [(126.7±15.1) cell/mm(2)] and P+SB group [(191.0±22.6) cell/mm(2)] compared with that in HC group [(22.7±4.3) cell/mm(2)] (F=98.516, P<0.01), and the IL-10 expressed in P+SB group was significantly higher than those in P+NSB group and P group. Results of immunohistochemical tests showed that RANKL expressions in gingival tissues among P group [(674.0±71.5) cell/mm(2)], P+NSB group [(831.0±97.5) cell/mm(2)] and P+SB group [(420.1±40.8) cell/mm(2)] were significantly higher than that in HC group [(69.3±29.1) cell/mm(2)] (F=154.886, P<0.01). However, it dramatically decreased in P+SB group compared with those in P group and P+NSB group.The IL-1ßexpression in P group [(447.8±40.8) cell/mm(2)], P+NSB group [(512.5±38.2) cell/mm(2)] and P+SB group [(281.6±32.4) cell/mm(2)] were significantly higher than that in HC group [(50.8±20.9) cell/mm(2)], and it also higher in P+NSB group compared with in P group. However, it decreased in P+SB group compared with those in P group and P+NSB group (F=221.185, P<0.01). Conclusions: High expression IL-10 in B cell smight inhibit alveolar bone loss, RANKL and IL-1ß expressions and CD4(+)T-cell infiltration through IL-10.

LncRNA profiling of skeletal muscles in Large White pigs and Mashen pigs during development.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been increasingly implicated in the regulation of muscle development. Large White pigs have a higher muscle growth rate than do Mashen pigs. In the present study, the lncRNA expression profiles in skeletal muscle of these 2 pig breeds were compared at 1, 90, and 180 d of age using RNA sequencing. We obtained 2,718 million clean reads and identified a total of 5,153 novel lncRNA. We found 1,407 differentially expressed lncRNA that showed consistent expression patterns between the 2 breeds at all the 3 sampling points. Ten lncRNA were randomly selected, and their expression was validated using Real-time Quantitative PCR. In summary, this study identifies a number of lncRNA that correlate with muscle growth. The regulation and function of these lncRNA in muscle growth and development need to be further explored.

Treatment of free-flowing tuberculous pleurisy with intrapleural urokinase.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with loculated tuberculous pleurisy (TBP) treated with urokinase suffer less from residual pleural thickening (RPT) than those treated with simple drainage. However, the role of intrapleural urokinase in free-flowing TBP patients remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 318 patients with presumed TBP were screened. The final 171 patients who participated in the study were randomly allocated to the urokinase group (n = 86) and the control group (n = 85). Personalised doses of urokinase were infused via a catheter. This procedure was repeated every 24 h until the volume of pleural fluid obtained was less than 50 ml after three injections. Changes in lung function and pleural thickening were recorded and compared between both groups periodically for 24 weeks. RESULTS: Seven patients (9.1%) had restrictive functional sequelae in the control group, while no patient in the urokinase group suffered from sequelae (P < 0.05). The incidence of RPT (⩾10 mm) was 0 for the urokinase group and 9.1% for the control group (P < 0.05). A lower percentage of patients treated with intrapleural urokinase had blunted costophrenic angle than controls (5.1% vs.19.5%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with free-flowing TBP treated with urokinase suffered less from RPT than those treated with drainage.

A facile method for the solution and solid-phase synthesis of substituted [3.3.1] bicycles.

[reaction: see text] Interest in bicyclic natural products from the Guttiferae classification has led to the development of an improved method for the selenium-mediated cyclization of alkenyl-substituted beta-dicarbonyls (I) to form a variety of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones (II) both in solution and on solid support.

[QTL analysis for epistatic effects and QTL x environment interaction effects on final height of rice (Oryza sativa L.)].

QTLs with epistatic effects and environmental interaction effects for final height of rice were studied by mixed-model based QTL mapping with a doubled haploid population from IR64/Azucena in four environments. The results demonstrated the importance of epistasis as a genetic basis of the quantitative traits and also revealed several important features of this phenomenon. In the results, 100 per cent of QTLs were involved in epistasis, of which 64 per cent were found with significant additive effects. This might mean that the usual estimates of the QTL additive effects could be confounded by epistatic interactions and result in biased estimation unless epistatic effect is separated. The other 36 per cent did not have any significant additive effects of their own but were involved in 48 per cent of the identified epistatic interactions. Such loci might play the role of modifying agents that tend to activate other loci or modify the action of other loci. The other features of epistasis include as follows: it was fairly common for the same locus to get involved in interactions with more than one locus; the QTLs with relatively high magnitude of effects might also be involved in epistasis; and epistasis was sensitive to environmental interactions for their expression. QTL x environment (QE) interaction effects were detected more often than QTL main effects for plant height behavior, as might indicate that gene expression could be greatly affected by environments.

[Clinical observations on the treatment of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris infection with oxibendazole].

340 cases of hookworm infection, 196 cases of ascariasis and 178 cases of trichuriasis were treated with an anthelmintic, oxibendazole, 15mg/kg.d x 3d; 102, 70 and 66 cases of respective infections were treated with pyrantel 10mg/kg.d x 3d and 108, 74 and 63 cases took placebo for comparison and as control under double-blind observations. Re-examinations of the stool were performed after the treatment. Among the cases treated with oxibendazole, the egg negative conversion rates of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris were 70.3-80.6%, 92.5-97.8 and 67.0-71.0% respectively. The egg reduction rates of hookworm were 98.1-98.6%. The larval negative conversion rates of Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus were 77.7 and 83.2% respectively. Among the cases treated with pyrantel, the egg negative conversion rates of the three above mentioned parasites were 73.5, 90.0 and 28.8% respectively. The egg reduction rate of hookworm was 98.8%. Among the cases treated with placebo, the egg negative conversion rates of the three above mentioned parasites were 6.5, 29.7 and 7.9%. No marked adverse reactions were observed by clinical and laboratory examinations.