A new point mutation in ß2-tubulin confers resistance to carbendazim in Fusarium asiaticum.

Resistance to benzimidazole fungicides in many phytopathogenic fungi is caused by specific point mutations in the ß-tubulin gene (ß-tubulin). However, the mutated locus and genotype of ß-tubulin differ among phytopathogenic fungi. To validate the point mutation in Fusarium asiaticum ß2-tubulin that confers resistance to carbendazim and to analyze the molecular interaction between carbendazim and F. asiaticum ß2-tubulin. In this study, a new point mutation (GAG→GCG, E198A) at codon 198 of ß2-tubulin in a wild-type F. asiaticum strain was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis followed by a split marker strategy. The site-directed mutants were verified and exhibited a high level of resistance to carbendazim. In the absence of fungicide treatment, the biological characteristics did not differ between the site-directed mutants and the wild-type strain. Molecular docking between carbendazim and ß2-tubulin was carried out using the Surflex-Dock program in Sybyl X-2.0 version and the results indicated that the E198A mutation altered the configuration of ß2-tubulin, resulting in the change of the bonding sites and docking scores. We concluded that the point mutation of F. asiaticum ß2-tubulin conferring carbendazim resistance may not always be the bonding site for carbendazim.

Using integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes for imaging diagnosis education.

BACKGROUND: There are two parts included in traditional imaging diagnosis teaching: theoretical lessons and experimental lessons. Most of the time, the experimental lesson is a review of the theoretical lesson. The teacher is the centre of the course and students are passive learners. Thus, in this study we included the patient problem of the imaging centre in our imaging diagnosis education. The traditional theoretical lessen was used to discuss prior knowledge, the discussion and analysis of patient problems was arranged under class, and the experimental lesson was used to synthesize and test the newly acquired information. The aim of this study is to determine whether or not integration of problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes in imaging diagnosis education was associated with a good teaching effect. Forty-six of sixty students (76.7%) like integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode and 53 of 60 students (88.3%) think that integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode can make their ability of self-study be improved. METHODS: Sixty students participated in a prospective study with a two-phase cross-over design. All of the students were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. In the first term, the first group participated in an integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode, whereas students in the second group underwent the lecture-based learning teaching mode alone. During the second term, the teaching modes were exchanged between the two groups. A close-exam and survey were used to evaluate the teaching effect, and the data were analysed means of analysis of variance with a two-phase cross-over design and a χ2 test with a 2-tailed α of 0.05. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the test scores between the integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode and the lecture-based learning teaching mode alone (P < 0.05). The integration of problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode was well-appraised. CONCLUSION: Integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes in teaching imaging diagnosis education resulted in a good teaching effect.

Long Noncoding RNA Expression Signatures of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Revealed by Microarray.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at observing the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: LncRNA and mRNA expression signatures of AAA tissues and normal abdominal aortic tissues (NT) were analyzed by microarray and further verified by Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The lncRNAs-mRNAs targeting relationships were identified using computational analysis. The effect of lnc-ARG on 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) expression was tested in HeLa cells. RESULTS: Differential expressions of 3,688 lncRNAs and 3,007 mRNAs were identified between AAA and NT tissues. Moreover, 1,284 differentially expressed long intergenic noncoding RNAs and 206 differentially expressed enhancer-like lncRNAs adjacent to protein-coding genes were discerned by bioinformatics analysis. Some differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs between AAA and normal tissue samples were further verified using qRT-PCR. A co-expression network of coding and noncoding genes was constructed based on the correlation analysis between the differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. In addition, the lnc-ARG located within the upstream of ALOX5 was sorted as a noncoding transcript by analyzing the protein-coding potential using computational analysis. Furthermore, we found that lnc-ARG can decrease the mRNA level of ALOX5 and reactive oxygen species production in HeLa cells. CONCLUSION: This study revealed new lncRNA candidates are related to the pathogenesis of AAA.

Carboxylesterase-mediated insecticide resistance: Quantitative increase induces broader metabolic resistance than qualitative change.

Carboxylesterases are mainly involved in the mediation of metabolic resistance of many insects to organophosphate (OP) insecticides. Carboxylesterases underwent two divergent evolutionary events: (1) quantitative mechanism characterized by the overproduction of carboxylesterase protein; and (2) qualitative mechanism caused by changes in enzymatic properties because of mutation from glycine/alanine to aspartate at the 151 site (G/A151D) or from tryptophan to leucine at the 271 site (W271L), following the numbering of Drosophila melanogaster AChE. Qualitative mechanism has been observed in few species. However, whether this carboxylesterase mutation mechanism is prevalent in insects remains unclear. In this study, wild-type, G/A151D and W271L mutant carboxylesterases from Culex pipiens and Aphis gossypii were subjected to germline transformation and then transferred to D. melanogaster. These germlines were ubiquitously expressed as induced by tub-Gal4. In carboxylesterase activity assay, the introduced mutant carboxylesterase did not enhance the overall carboxylesterase activity of flies. This result indicated that G/A151D or W271L mutation disrupted the original activities of the enzyme. Less than 1.5-fold OP resistance was only observed in flies expressing A. gossypii mutant carboxylesterases compared with those expressing A. gossypii wild-type carboxylesterase. However, transgenic flies universally showed low resistance to OP insecticides compared with non-transgenic flies. The flies expressing A. gossypii W271L mutant esterase exhibited 1.5-fold resistance to deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide compared with non-transgenic flies. The present transgenic Drosophila system potentially showed that a quantitative increase in carboxylesterases induced broader resistance of insects to insecticides than a qualitative change.

Long noncoding RNA LRG modulates Drosophila locomotion by sequestering Synaptotagmin 1 protein.

Apparently, the genomes of many organisms are pervasively transcribed, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) make up the majority of cellular transcripts. LncRNAs have been reported to play important roles in many biological processes; however, their effects on locomotion are poorly understood. Here, we presented a novel lncRNA, Locomotion Regulatory Gene (LRG), which participates in locomotion by sequestering Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1). LRG deficiency resulted in higher locomotion speed which could be rescued by pan-neuronal overexpression but not by limited ellipsoid body, motoneuron or muscle-expression of LRG. At the molecular level, the synaptic vesicles (SVs) release and movement-related SYT1 protein was recognized as LRG-interacting protein candidate. Furthermore, LRG had no effects on SYT1 expression. Genetically, the behavioral defects in LRG mutant could be rescued by pan-neuronal knock-down of Syt1. Taken together, all the results suggested LRG exerts regulatory effects on locomotion via sequestering SYT1 thereby blocking its function without affecting its expression. Our work displays a new function of lncRNA and provides insights for revealing the pathogenesis of neurological diseases with motor disorders.

An Exploratory Pilot Study on the Application of Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Guided by Computed Tomography-Based 3D Printing Technology.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the treatment of choice for atrial fibrillation (AF). Additionally, the utilization of 3D printing for cardiac models offers an in-depth insight into cardiac anatomy and cardiovascular diseases. The study aims to evaluate the clinical utility and outcomes of RFA following in vitro visualization of the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) structures via 3D printing (3DP). Between November 2017 and April 2021, patients who underwent RFA at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University were consecutively enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: the 3DP group and the control group, in a 1:1 ratio. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was employed to capture the morphology and diameter of the LA and PV, which facilitated the construction of a 3D entity model. Additionally, surgical procedures were simulated using the 3D model. Parameters such as the duration of the procedure, complications, and rates of RFA recurrence were meticulously documented. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test or Mann-Whitney U test to evaluate the differences between the groups, with a P-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. In this study, a total of 122 patients were included, with 53 allocated to the 3DP group and 69 to the control group. The analysis of the morphological measurements of the LA and PV taken from the workstation or direct entity measurement showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, patients in the 3DP group experienced significantly shorter RFA times (97.03 ± 28.39 compared to 120.51 ± 44.76 min, t = 3.05, P = 0.003), reduced duration of radiation exposure (2.55 [interquartile range 2.01, 3.24] versus 3.20 [2.28, 3.91] min, Z = 3.23, P < 0.001), and shorter modeling times (7.68 ± 1.03 compared to 8.89 ± 1.45 min, t = 5.38, P < 0.001). 3DP technology has the potential to enhance standard RFA practices by reducing the time required for intraoperative interventions and exposure to radiation.

[Systematic review and Meta-analysis on chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression treated with acupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To review systematically the effectiveness of acupuncture in treatment of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression. METHODS: From the date of database establishment to April 1, 2020, the articles on randomized controlled trials of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression were retrieved by computer from the following databases, i.e. PubMed, Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL), EMbase, cumulative index to nursing & allied health literature (CINAHL), JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and SinoMed. Using RevMan5.3, Meta-analysis was conducted. With GRADEpro GDT, the evidence quality was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 12 articles were included, 10 articles of which were analyzed by quantitative Meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, the improvements in the decrease of post-chemotherapy leukocyte (P<0.01, MD=0.88, 95%CI=[0.71, 1.05]) and platelet (P<0.01, MD=25.91, 95%CI=[16.86, 34.97]) were better in the observation group. The difference in reducing hemoglobin was not significant between the two groups (P>0.05, MD=2.19, 95%CI=[-1.22, 5.61]). Regarding the improvement in the decrease of post-chemotherapy neutrophile granulocyte (P=0.03, MD=0.40, 95%CI=[0.04, 0.77]) and erythrocyte (P=0.03，MD=0.15，95%CI=[0.01, 0.28]), Karnofsky score (P<0.01, MD=4.19, 95%CI=[3.40, 4.98]) and quality of life (QOL) score (P<0.01, MD=5.01，95%CI=[1.61, 8.42]), the effects in the observation group were better than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture alleviates the decrease of leukocyte, platelet, neutrophile granulocyte and erythrocyte counts and improves the survival quality of patients with chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression.

Multislice spiral computed tomography imaging in evaluating hemophilic arthropathy.

BACKGROUND: Certain hemophilia patients are unable to cooperate with or afford magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. The purpose of our study was to explore the value of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in evaluating hemophilic arthropathy (HA). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with 73 joints of HA were consecutively selected from January 2016 to May 2018 for this prospective study. All 73 joints were examined by X-ray, CT, and MRI within 2 days. The MRI scores of the joints were determined by the International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG) standard. The CT findings were quantified according to the IPSG standard, except for cartilage injury, which was quantified by joint space narrowing using the X-ray Pettersson score. The CT and MRI scores were compared by the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The correlations between the CT score of joint space narrowing and MRI score of cartilage injury and the total CT and MRI scores were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation. The kappa test was used to compare the consistency of CT and MRI scores. RESULTS: MRI was superior to CT based on the scores for small amount of effusion (P < 0.05), synovial hypertrophy and hemosiderin deposition in the mild groups (P < 0.05). The CT and MRI scores were not significantly different for moderate and massive effusion, synovial hypertrophy, and hemosiderin deposition in the moderate and severe groups, bone erosion or cystic changes (P > 0.05), and there was a high degree of consistency between the two scores (kappa > 0.81). The consistency between the Pettersson scores of joint space narrowing on CT and the IPSG scores of cartilage injury on MRI was high (kappa = 0. 774, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The image scores of MSCT are generally consistent with MRI except for mild synovitis, which can be used as an alternative for the evaluation of HA.

[Investigation on a seasonal influenza accompanying with the first locale novel A/H1N1 influenza outbreak in China].

OBJECTIVE: To timely summarize past experience and to provide more pertinent reference for control and prevention in A/H1N1 cases in influenza season. METHODS: During May 25 to 31, 2009, 2 secondary community cases caused by a influenza A/H1N1 imported case. In the close contacts of 3 A/H1N1 cases, 14 had some aspirator symptoms onset, such as fever (> or = 37.5 degrees C), cough, sore throat and etc. Laboratory tests excluded the infection of A/H1N1 influenza. For throat swab test for the 14 cases, 7 were tested for seasonal influenza virus. A face-to-face or telephone interview was conducted by CDC staff to collect information of 62 close contacts. RESULTS: Of 14 fever cases, there was no significant by differences by age[15-age group: 19.2% (5/26), over 25-age group: 25.0% (9/36); chi(2) = 0.287, P = 0.592]; by sex group [24.0% (6/25) for male and 21.6% (8/37) for female; chi(2) = 0.048, P = 0.826], by working units [dressing and design, photograph, saleroom and others, consumer group: 42.1% (8/19), 27.3% (3/11), 12.5% (2/16) and 6.3% (1/16); chi(2) = 7.653, P = 0.054], by dormitory style [dormitory style = 33.3% (4/12), non-dormitory style = 29.4% (10/34); chi(2) = 0.699, P = 0.403]. All the cases had fever (37.5 - 37.9 degrees C), no case had diarrhea. One in 3 A/H1N1 cases had diarrhea. All the 14 cases were negative result for A/H1N1 RNA. Six from 7 cases were positive for seasonal influenza test. CONCLUSION: This was a seasonal influenza outbreak happened in the close contacts of first confirmed A/H1N1 cases in community in mainland China. It showed that we should exclude the seasonal influenza in the investigation of A/H1N1 cases in the seasonal influenza period in some time. It is necessary to take effective measure to strengthen the control and prevention of seasonal influenza.

Transmission risk of avian influenza virus along poultry supply chains in Guangdong, China.

OBJECTIVES: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) poise significant risk to human health and the poultry industry. We evaluated the transmission risk along the poultry supply chain. METHODS: During October 2015 and July 2016, four rounds of cross-sectional surveys were performed to characterize AIV spread in farms, transport vehicles, slaughterhouses, wholesale and retail live poultry markets (LPMs). Poultry cloacal and oral swabs, environmental swabs, bioaerosol samples and human sera were collected. Poultry and environmental samples were tested for AIVs by rRT-PCR, further subtyped by next generation sequencing. Previous human H9N2 infections were identified by hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization tests. Logistic regression was fitted to compare AIV transmission risk in different settings. RESULTS: AIVs was detected in 23.9% (424/1771) of the poultry and environmental samples. AIV detection rates in farms, transport vehicles, wholesale and retail LPMs were 4.5%, 11.1%, 30.3% and 51.2%, respectively. 5.2%, 8.3% and 12.8% of the poultry workers were seropositive in farms, wholesale and retail LPMs, respectively. The regression analysis showed that virus detection and transmission risk to human increased progressively along the poultry supply chain. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening control measures at every level along the poultry supply chain, using a one health approach, is crucial to control AIV circulation.

CT-pathologic correlation in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Distinguishing lung adenocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is clinically important. Computed tomography (CT) scan is an economical, effective, noninvasive, commonly available, and quick diagnostic way for lung cancer. In this study, we aim to compare the CT characteristics in adenocarcinoma and SCC.Data from 275 cases (259 adenocarcinoma and 16 SCC) were retrospectively compared. CT characteristics, including lesion size and shape, single/multifocal lesions, location of the tumor, the margin of lobes, whether the lesion had deep lobulated margin, bronchial cut-off sign, signs of dilated bronchial arteries, signs of vascular bundle thickening, signs of short burrs, spinous processes, and pleural indentation, were compared in 148 cases (137 adenocarcinoma and 11 SCC).Patients with adenocarcinoma were more likely to be female (44.2% vs 25.0%, P = .017). Compared with SCC, adenocarcinomas were more likely to have deep lobulated margin (81.0% vs 54.5%, P = .038), less likely to have smooth lobes margin (2.7% vs 83.3%, P < .001), more likely to have vascular bundle thickening (37.2% vs 0, P = .016) and pleural indentation (59.9% vs 18.2%, P = .01), and marginally less likely to have dilated bronchial arteries (17.5% vs 45.5%, P = .064). No significant difference was observed regarding to characteristics, including tumor size, location of the tumor, signs of bronchial cut-off, dilated bronchial arteries, short burrs, or spinous processes.CT scan has the potential to help to distinguish lung adenocarcinoma and SCC in a fast and commonly available way. CT could be a rough but fast way to diagnosis, and may thus shorten the waiting time to treatment and allow more time for clinicians, patients, and their families to prepare for future treatment.

[Distribution and property of anti-beta3-adrenoceptor autoantibody in patients with heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological effects of anti-beta(3) adrenoceptor (beta(3)-AR) autoantibody in the serum of patients with heart failure, which may contribute to a new therapeutic clue for heart failure. METHODS: The synthetic peptide of the second extracellular loop of the beta(3)-AR was used as the antigen to screen sera of patients with heart failure and of healthy controls by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG in the patients group of positive autoantibody sera was prepared by using a MabTrap Kit (Amersham) following the manufacturer's instructions. The effects of IgG per each group both on contractile response of adult isolated cardiomyocytes and on beating frequency of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were observed. RESULTS: The positive rate of anti-beta(3)-AR autoantibody was 26.7% (mean antibody titer: 1:43.27 +/- 2.71) or 11.0% (mean antibody titer: 1:14.59 +/- 1.61) in patients or healthy subjects, respectively P < 0.05. Compared with the control group, the autoantibody against beta(3)-AR from the patients group decreased cell shortening amplitude/cell shortening 3.84% +/- 0.33%, the velocity of shortening -0.47 microm/s +/- 0.07 microm/s and relengthening 0.17 microm/s +/- 0.02 microm/s in adult isolated cardiac myocytes, respectively. The autoantibody in the patients group decreased the beating rate in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes by 47.1 beats/min +/- 8.11 beats/min, which could have a 6-hour continuance. This decreasing was not modified by Nadolol (beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR antagonist) in pretreating myocytes, but was nearly prevented by Bupranolol (nonselective beta-AR antagonist) or beta(3)-AR specific antigen. CONCLUSION: It seems reasonable to state that a high titer of the autoantibody against beta(3)-AR in the serum in patients with heart failure, which could have a negative inotropic and chronotropic effect, may be a part of pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure.

[Ecological effect of plant root exudates and related affecting factors: a review].

The formation of plant root exudates is a vital physiological phenomenon in the metabolic processes of plant, and an important link of material turnover in "plant-soil" system. To study the plant root exudates is of significance in understanding the matter and energy flow, carbon and nitrogen balance, and improvement of primary production in terrestrial ecosystems. This paper reviewed the ecological effect of plant root exudates, such as the effect on plant physiological processes, soil microorganisms, soil matter turnover, and degradation of soil organic contaminants, and summarized the related affecting factors, including soil heavy metals and nutrient contents, soil moisture, light, and heat conditions, plant gene type, soil microorganisms, and input of exogenous organic contaminants. Based on the present research status of plant root exudates, the future research directions about the objects, methods, and effect assessment were prospected.

[Relation between clinical detection rates of the novel influenza virus A/H1N1 RNA in confirmed patients in Guangzhou and the disease course].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation of the detection rates of the novel influenza virus A/H1N1 RNA in clinically confirmed patients in the 2009 pandemic with the age distribution of the patients and the disease course. METHODS: A total of 151 clinical patients with H1N1 infection were enrolled in this study, from whom 833 dynamic throat swab samples were obtained for detecting the H1N1 RNA using real-time PCR. A statistical analysis of the age distribution was performed among the patients with different disease courses. Chi-square for trend test was used to study the correlation between the detection rates of H1N1 RNA and the time of disease onset. RESULTS: The majority of patients were young with their ages ranging from 10 to 20 years (57.26%) and 20 to 30 years (22.18%). Chi-square for trend test revealed that the positivity rates of the throat swabs in the patients decreased with the prolongation of the disease course (chi(2)=9.784, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Most of the H1N1 patients are young within the age range of 10-30 years, and the longest disease course can exceed 10 days. The positivity rates of throat swabs from the H1N1 patients decreases with the prolongation of the disease course.

[Discoveries of avian influenza A(H9N2) virus in chickens and men infected by H9N2 virus in Guangzhou area].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemic status of avian influenza A virus in chickens and men in Guangzhou area and to prevent men suffering from avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. METHODS: Etiologic and serological surveys were conducted in chickens and men who were working in the poultry farms and slaughter house. Viruses were isolated with both MDCK cells and embryonated chicken eggs. Hemagglutination inhibition tests were performed by routine method. RESULTS: Anti-H9N2 antibody was found in 12.8% of the chickens and 5.1% of the workers. CONCLUSIONS: Avian influenza virus H9N2 subtype existed in chickens and this subtype of influenza A virus might infect men.