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Graves' disease (GD) is one of the most common autoimmune conditions, but the mechanisms underlying the associated induction of autoimmunity are not known. We explored the role of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in disease pathogenesis. In total, 32 patients and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited in this study. Peripheral levels of T, B, NK, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells were measured using flow cytometry. For all patients, we compared all lymphocyte subpopulations between GD patients and healthy controls. Changes in patient lymphocyte subsets were compared before and after treatment. The absolute numbers of circulating Th17 cells (0.45 ± 1.16, p > 0.05) between GD patients and healthy controls were not significantly different. However, the percentage of Th17 cells was significantly increased (0.25 ± 0.11, p < 0.05). The absolute numbers and percentages of circulating Tregs in GD patients were significantly decreased compared with those in healthy participants (11.61 ± 2.75, p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in Treg absolute numbers between the untreated and drug-treated groups. Furthermore, we found that the Treg percentage in untreated patients (mean=4.78) was not significantly different from that in the drug-treated group (mean=4.81). In addition, circulating Treg absolute numbers in GD patients with exophthalmos were significantly lower than those in GD patients without exophthalmos (9.96 ± 4.16, p < 0.05). A similar trend was observed in GD patients with weight loss (11.97 ± 3.28, p < 0.05). GD pathogenesis was associated with a lower Treg population and an increased Th17/Treg ratio (T helper cell 17/ regulatory T cells). Th17 cells in this study were not related to the disease. Furthermore, anti-thyroid drug therapy improved immune-mediated system disorders. Finally, we found lower absolute numbers of circulating Tregs in GD patients with certain positive signs, such as exophthalmos and/or weight loss. Thus, immune changes are correlated with partial clinical manifestations. • The pathogenesis of Graves'disease is associated with lower Treg absolute counts and increased ratio of Th17/Treg. • Th17 cells in this study were proved to be not related to the disease. • Antithyroid drug therapy may improve immune-mediated system disorders to some extent. • The absolute counts of Tregs in peripheral blood of Graves'disease patients with some positive signs was reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First principles calculation has been used to comparatively find out the fundamental effects of Ti and C on cohesion properties and fracture toughness of ∑3(11 2 ‾)[111] grain boundary (GB) and bulk of Mo. Calculations reveal that C has a tendency to segregate in GB and makes GB more stable with lower GB energy, whereas Ti energetically prefers to stay in Mo bulk. It is also found that the GB of Mo possesses lower cohesion strength and fracture toughness than its bulk. In addition, C has an important effect to increase the brittleness of both bulk and GB of Mo, while the effect of Ti is rather small. The calculated results agree well with experimental observations, and are discussed in terms of electronic structure. • C has a tendency to segregate in grain boundary of Mo. • Ti energetically prefers to stay in Mo bulk, rather than grain boundary. • C has a bigger effect to increase the brittleness of Mo than Ti. • The calculated results agree well with experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuticular proteins (CPs) are vital components of the insects’ cuticle that support movement and protect insect from adverse environmental conditions. The CPs exist in a large number and diversiform structures, thus, the accurate annotation is the first step to interpreting their roles in insect growth. The rapid development of sequencing technology has simplified the access to the information on protein sequences, especially for non-model species. Dendrolimus punctatus is a Lepidopteran defoliator, and its periodic outbreaks cause severe damage to the coniferous forests. The transcriptome of D. punctatus integrating the whole developmental periods are available for the potential investigation of CPs. In this study, we identified 216 CPs from D. punctatus , including 147 from CPR family, 4 from TWDL family, 3 from CPF/CPFL families, 22 from CPAP families, 8 low complexity proteins, 1 CPCPC and 31 from other CP families. The putative CPs were compared with homologs in other species such as Bombyx mori , Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster . We further identified five co-orthologous groups have highly similar sequences of CRPs in nine lepidopteran species, which exclusively presented in RR-2 subfamily rather than RR-1. We inferred that in Lepidoptera the difference in RR-2 numbers was maintained by homologs in co-orthologous groups, coincided with observation in Drosophila and Anopheles that gene cluster was the model and source for the expansion of RR-2 genes. In combination with the variation of members in each CP family among different species, these results indicated the evolution of CPs was highly correlated to the adaptation of insect to environment. Furthermore, we compared the amino acid composition of the different types CPRs, and examined the expression patterns of CP genes in various developmental stages. The comprehensive overview of CPs from our study provides an insight into their evolution and the association between them and insect development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The diagnosis of moyamoya disease (MMD) is often uncertain. Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) is often misdiagnosed as MMD. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) enables vessel wall assessment to obtain more precise diagnoses. The aim of this study was to determine the true etiologies of arterial steno-occlusion in patients with an angiographic diagnosis of MMD or MMS using HR-MRI. Methods HR-MRI was performed in 21 adult patients with angiographically proven MMD or MMS. A definite diagnosis was based on the HR-MRI findings. The diagnoses made via the 2 different imaging technologies were compared, and significant findings were analyzed. Results A total of 21 patients were enrolled, including 7 patients with angiographically proven MMD and 14 patients with angiographically proven MMS. Among the 7 patients with MMD, HR-MRI confirmed the diagnosis of MMD in 6; the remaining patient was considered to have atherosclerosis in the bilateral distal internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and the left middle cerebral artery. Among the 14 patients with MMS, HR-MRI confirmed MMD in 6 patients (including 2 patients with unilateral MMD), atherosclerosis in 5 patients (including 3 patients with bilateral atherosclerosis and 2 with unilateral atherosclerosis), arterial dissection of the left ICA in 1 patient, and MMD in the left cerebral hemisphere with atherosclerosis in the right hemisphere in 2 patients. Conclusions Differentiating MMD from MMS is difficult in certain situations, and HR-MRI may help provide a more in-depth understanding of MMD and MMS, thereby achieving a more reliable diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: L-selectin belongs to selectin family of adhesion molecule and participates in the generation and development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the P213S polymorphism of L-selectin gene and T2D and insulin resistance in the Chinese population. Methods: We genotyped P213S polymorphism in 801 patients with T2D and 834 healthy controls in the Chinese population using polymerase chain reaction–ligase detection reaction (PCR–LDR) technique. Plasma glucose, insulin, lipid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid levels were measured by biochemical technique. Results: The frequency of 213PP genotype and P allele of the L-selectin gene in patients with T2D was significantly higher than that in controls (P =0.007; P =0.019, respectively). The relative risk of allele P suffered from T2D was 1.191 times higher than that of allele S. Moreover, the levels of FPG and HOMA-IR of PP and PS genotype carriers were significantly higher than those of SS genotype carriers in the T2D group (P <0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicated that the P213S polymorphism of L‐selectin gene may contribute to susceptibility to T2D and insulin resistance in the Chinese population, and P allele appears to be a risk factor for T2D. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of our study was to validate association between −8 C/G variant of PSMA6 gene and T2DM in Chinese Dongxiang and Han populations. Method: We genotyped PSMA6 gene −8 C/G polymorphism in the control groups and T2DM groups in two populations from China using PCR-RFLP technique. Phenotypes and biochemical indicators were measured by biochemical technique. Result: The frequencies of CG+GG genotype were observably different from CC genotype in the T2DM groups and control groups (for Dongxiang population: OR=1.341, 95% CI: 1.101–1.632, P =0.004; for Han population: OR=1.313, 95% CI: 1.085–1.569, P =0.006 after adjusting for gender, age, and BMI, respectively). In the Dongxiang population, the FPG, HOMA-IR, SBP and TG levels of CG+GG genotype were markedly higher than those of the CC genotype in control group (all P <0.05). However, in the Han population, we only found that the FPI level of the CC genotype was significantly higher than that of the CG+GG genotype in control group (P <0.05). Conclusion: Our investigation suggests that −8 C/G variant of PSMA6 gene may be associated with T2DM and diabetes-related metabolic traits in Chinese Dongxiang and Han populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]