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The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an invasive species and currently occurs in only a few areas in China. An easy, accurate and developmental-stage independent method to identify F. occidentalis would be a valuable tool to facilitate pest management decision making and, more importantly, to provide an early warning so actions can be taken to prevent its introduction into non-infested areas. Morphological identification of thrips adults and, to a lesser extent, of second-stage larvae is the main method currently available to identify F. occidentalis. Molecular identification, however, can be easily carried out by a non-thrips-specialist with a little training. In this study, DNA sequence data [within the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene ( COI)] and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were utilized to develop a molecular diagnostic marker for F. occidentalis. A primer set and PCR cycling parameters were designed for the amplification of a single marker fragment (340 bp) of F. occidentalis COI mtDNA. Specificity tests performed on 28 thrips species, efficacy tests performed on five immature developmental stages as well as on male and female adults and tests on primer sensitivity all demonstrated the diagnostic utility of this marker. Furthermore, the primer set was tested on seventeen F. occidentalis populations from different countries and invaded areas in China and proved to be applicable for all geographic populations. It was used successfully to clarify the distribution of F. occidentalis in the Beijing metro area. These results suggested that this diagnostic PCR assay provides a quick, simple and reliable molecular technique for the identification of F. occidentalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To test the predictive properties of the Vulnerable Elders-13 Survey (VES-13) a short tool that predicts functional decline and mortality over a 1- to 2-year followup interval over a 5-year interval. DESIGN: Longitudinal evaluation with mean follow-up of 4.5 years. SETTING: Two managed-care organizations. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred forty-nine communitydwelling older adults (>/=75) enrolled in the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders observational study who screened positive for symptoms of falls or fear of falling, bothersome urinary incontinence, or memory problems. MEASUREMENTS: VES-13 score (range 1--10, higher score indicates worse prognosis), functional decline (decline in count of 5 activities of daily living or nursing home entry), and deaths. RESULTS: Higher VES-13 scores were associated with greater predicted probability of death and decline in older patients over a mean observation period of 4.5 years. For each additional VES-13 point, the odds of the combined outcome of functional decline or death was 1.37 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.25--1.50), and the area under the receiver operating curve was 0.75 (95% CI=0.71-- 0.80). In the Cox proportional hazards model predicting time to death, the hazard ratio was 1.23 (95% CI=1.19-- 1.27) per additional VES-13 point. CONCLUSION: This study extends the utility of the VES-13 to clinical decisions that require longer-term prognostic estimates of functional status and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives A novel kind of non-viral gene delivery vector based on transferrin (Tf) as the core component was constructed with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity. Materials and Methods The synthesis vector of Tf-PEI600 was confirmed by different physicochemical methods, including 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray and thermogravimetric analysis. The cytotoxicity and gene delivery efficiency of the synthesized vector were verified by in vitro experiments. Results The agarose gel electrophoresis assay indicated that the novel copolymer Tf-PEI600 could efficiently condense plasmid DNA and the condensed nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape. As the weight ratio of Tf-PEI600 to DNA reached 15·0, the particle size (about 200 nm) and the zeta potential (about 20 mV) of the nanoparticles became optimal for gene delivery. The methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay showed the cytotoxicity of Tf-PEI600 to be similar to that of PEI600 and much lower than that of PEI25kDa. In gene-delivery experiments with COS-7 cells and HepG2 cells, the Tf-PEI600 showed about a 30- to 53-fold higher efficiency than PEI600 and nearly equal to that of PEI25kDa. Conclusions These data suggest that Tf-PEI600, with the advantages of low toxicity and high gene-delivery efficiency, might have great prospects in the practice of gene delivery. The core-shell structure of Tf-PEI600 also provided a novel strategy for the construction of non-viral gene delivery vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to examine the effect of physical activity (PA) intensity on tobacco or alcohol abuse, suicide behaviours and psychopathological symptoms in junior and senior high school students in China. Methods: A total of 5453 students from nine middle schools participated in a self-administered anonymous survey to report their frequency of moderate and vigorous PA at a normal learning week. Tobacco or alcohol use in the past 30 days, suicide behaviours during the past 12 months were asked. The Symptoms Checklist 90 was used to assess general mental problem and nine special psychopathological symptoms. The Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and School Life Satisfaction Rating Questionnaire for Adolescent were selected to rate the respondents' self-esteem and school life satisfaction. Results: Percentage of high-, low–moderate- and very-low-intensity PA was 22.0%, 37.0% and 41.0%, respectively. By using multivariable multinomial logistic regression, it was indicated that low–moderate-intensity PA was a protective factor of depression (odds ratio (OR) was 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.40–0.91) and psychotic symptoms (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.93), while high-intensity PA was a risk factor of binge drinking (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.29–2.54), suicide ideation (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.54), general psychological disorders (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.11–1.84), and hostile symptoms (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03–2.07). Conclusion: Different intensity PA in adolescents had different association with risk health behaviours and psychopathological symptoms. The reasons are worth further researching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linked Content This article is linked to Simpkins et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13996 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13846. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study on the effects of Cimicifuga extract from Cimicifuga foetida L. on biomechanical characteristics of femur in ovariectomized rats.Methods: The osteoporosis were induced by ovariectomy. After three months, the concentrations of estradiol in serum was measured by electric radiation immunologic method. Bone density and mineral content of femur metaphysis of rats was measurd by Dual Energy X-ray Absorbtionmetry(DEXA). Biomechanical characteristics of femur were measured by three point bending test and the index of uterus was calculated.Results: The bone density and mineral content of femur metaphysis of rats increased remarkably. The resistance of bending and compression of rat femur was enhanced. While, there is no effect on the level of estradiol and index of uterus.Conclusions: Cimicifuga extract had antiosteoporotic effects on ovariectomized rats. The Cimicifuga extract exerted estrogenic effects in the bone, particularly in osteoblasts, while it didn't play a role in the uterus of variectomized rats. The extract appears to contain rat organ-specific selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and if these findings can be approved in human it may be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 79, P38–P38; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.138 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To observe the cruor time window of Hydroxysafflor yellow A of the mice in vivo.Methods: 70 male mice were divided into 7 groups, with the dose of 5 mg/kg, the drug was administrated ip to the mice once a day, continuously for 3-days. After the last administration for 1h, 2h, 4h, 8h, 16h, 24h, the cruor time were observed.Results: The measured cruor time was markedly longer after the last administration in the 1h, 2h, 4h, 8h and 16h groups than control group (respectively 136.8±29.5 sec in 1h group and 97.6±24.3 sec in 16h group vs 65.2±22.9 sec of control), and the 24h group had no significant change.Conclusions: The results showed that the treatment time window of Hydroxysafflor yellow A on cruor time of the mice in vivo may be continued to 16 hours after administration.Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 79, P8–P8; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.027 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unknown how blood pressure (BP) relates to stroke risk across levels of hypertension daily dose (HDD)-quantified antihypertensive medication intensity., Methods and Results: The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study enrolled 30 239 participants from the 48 contiguous US states in 2003 to 2007 with in-person follow-up in 2013 to 2016 (Visit 2). We included those without prior stroke at Visit 2, treating this visit as T 0 . Biannual phone calls and medical record review ascertained incident stroke events. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of incident stroke by treatment intensity defined by systolic BP stages and HDD groupings. There were 344 stroke events over a median 5.5 years. Relative to systolic BP <120 mm Hg and no antihypertensive medications, the stroke HR was 2.86 (95% CI, 1.68-4.85) for systolic BP 140 to 159 mm Hg and HDD tertile 2, 2.33 (1.37-3.97) for systolic BP 140 to 159 mm Hg and HDD tertile 3, 3.08 (1.20-7.88) for systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg and HDD tertile 2, and 3.66 (1.61-8.30) for systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg and HDD tertile 3. Stroke risk was similar across HDD levels for people with systolic BP <140 mm Hg., Conclusions: Among adults without prior stroke, systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and HDD tertile ≥2 was associated with greater stroke risk. For adults with BP <140 mm Hg, stroke risk was similar despite cumulative dose of antihypertensive medications used. These findings support the practice of BP-lowering medications to mitigate stroke risk.

Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE) is closely associated with systemic symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for ACLE and explore their association with SLE to enable early prediction of ACLE and identify potential treatment targets for the future. In total, 185 SLE-diagnosed patients were enrolled and categorized into two groups: those with ACLE and those without cutaneous involvement. After conducting logistic regression analysis of the differentiating factors, we concluded that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an independent risk factor for ACLE. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic revealed an area under the curve of 0.716 for TNF-α. Additionally, both TNF-α and ACLE are positively correlated with disease activity. TNF-α shows promise as a biomarker for ACLE, and in SLE patients, ACLE may serve as a clear indicator of moderate-to-severe disease activity., (© 2024 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a crucial neuromodulation therapy for depression, yet its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we aim to unveil the underlying mechanisms of antidepression by systematically evaluating the change of gene expression in different brain regions (i.e., hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex)., Methods: The adolescent depression rat model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), followed by the taVNS treatment for 3 weeks. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), elevated plus maze test (EPM), and new object recognition (NOR) test were used to evaluate depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Gene expression analysis of three brain regions was conducted by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and further bioinformatics methods., Results: The depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats were manifested by decreased spontaneous locomotor activity of OFT, increased immobility time of FST, increased entries and time in the closed arms of EPM, and decreased new object index of NOR. Furthermore, CUMS exposure also led to alterations in gene expression within the hippocampus (HIP), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting a potential link between adolescent stress and pathological changes within these brain regions. TaVNS could significantly ameliorate depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. Its effects on these three brain regions were found related to regulation of the metabolism, and there were some brain region-specific findings. Compared with ACC and mPFC, taVNS has a more concrete effect on HIP by regulating the inflammation response and glycolysis., Conclusion: taVNS is capable of ameliorating adolescent depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors by regulating plenty of genes in the three brain regions. Suppressed level of inflammatory response and enhanced glycolysis manifests the dominant role of taVNS in HIP, which provides a theoretical foundation and data support for the molecular mechanism of antidepression by taVNS., (© 2024 The Authors. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Host-cell proteins (HCPs) and high molecular weight (HMW) species have historically been treated as independent classes of impurities in the downstream processing of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), but recent indications suggest that they may be partially linked. We have explored this connection with a shotgun proteomic analysis of HMW impurities that were isolated from harvest cell culture fluid (HCCF) and protein A eluate using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). As part of the proteomic analysis, a cross-digest study was performed in which samples were analyzed using both the standard and native digest techniques to enable a fair comparison between bioprocess pools. This comparison reveals that the HCP profiles of HCCF and protein A eluate overlap substantially more than previous work has suggested, because hundreds of HCPs are conserved in aggregates that may be up to ~50 nm in hydrodynamic radius and that persist through the protein A capture step. Quantitative SWATH proteomics suggests that the majority of the protein A eluate's HCP mass is found in such aggregates, and this is corroborated by ELISA measurements on SEC fractions. The SWATH data also show that intra-aggregate concentrations of individual HCPs are positively correlated between aggregates that were isolated from HCCF and protein A eluate, and species that have generally been considered difficult to remove tend to be more concentrated than their counterparts. These observations support prior hypotheses regarding aggregate-mediated HCP persistence through protein A chromatography and highlight the importance of this persistence mechanism., (© 2023 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.)