Search

Colouration in spider mites is due to the presence of carotenoids with diverse colours, including yellows, oranges and reds. Tetranychus urticae has two main colour forms, red and green. Although a ketolase has been implicated in determining the colour, the underlying genetic basis of body colour divergence between the two forms has remained unclear. Based on a combination of comparative transcriptomes and RNA interference, we found that a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme of the CYP4 clan (CYP389B1) had remarkably high expression in adult females of the red T. urticae, as well as in hybrids obtained by crossing the red and green forms. Down‐regulation of this gene by RNA interference resulted in decreased accumulation of red pigment. Up‐regulation of the expressions of a scavenger receptor gene (SCARB1) and a mitochondrial glycine transporter (SLC25A38) also strongly contributed to red colour development in adult females. Suppressing the mRNA levels of these genes also resulted in reduced accumulation of red pigment in the three other spider mites with red body colour. Our results provide evidence that the body colour divergence between the two forms is caused by different expressions of pigmentation‐related genes, and point to a possible role of a novel cytochrome P450 gene (CYP389B1) in regulating red‐orange body colour. These findings expand the number of candidate cytochrome P450 genes involved in endogenous pigmentation and will help to understand their roles in determining colour patterns in mites and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using high‐resolution MMS data, we report the observations of broadband electrostatic waves associated with parallel electron temperature anisotropy (Te∥>Te⊥ ${T}_{e{\Vert} } > {T}_{e\perp }$) behind a dipolarization front (DF). These electrostatic waves include electrostatic solitary waves and electron cyclotron waves. To quantify electron anisotropy, we define the parallel flux anisotropy parameter Q=F∥/F⊥−1 $Q={F}_{{\Vert} }/{F}_{\perp }-1$, where F $F$ is phase space densities at each energy. By performing correlation analyses between parallel flux anisotropies (Qs $Qs$) and power spectral densities (PSDs) of these waves, we find that: (a) Qs $Qs$ in 0.8–20 keV are positively correlated with the parallel electric field fluctuations in 50–3,000 Hz; (b) Qs $Qs$ in 0.8–20 keV are positively correlated with perpendicular electric field fluctuations in all frequency ranges; (c) the correlation between parallel flux anisotropies and perpendicular electric field fluctuations is more significant in this case. We also discuss the possibility of electron firehose instability and wave–particle interactions. Our study promotes the understanding of the properties and dynamics of DFs. Plain Language Summary: Dipolarization fronts (DFs), the leading edge of the earthward high speed plasma jets in the Earth's magnetotail, are characterized by a sudden increase of northward magnetic field. It plays crucial roles in global flux transport and energy conversion during substorm. Behind DFs, there are various plasma waves related to the electron temperature anisotropies. For example, the whistler waves excited by perpendicular electron temperature anisotropy have been widely observed. However, few studies on the relationship between parallel electron temperature anisotropy and waves are reported behind DFs. In this study, using MMS data, we report the observations of broadband electrostatic waves associated with parallel electron temperature anisotropy behind a DF, and quantitatively investigate the correlation between parallel electron anisotropies and power spectral densities of these waves. Key Points: Broadband electrostatic waves are observed behind a dipolarization frontThese waves include electrostatic solitary waves and electron cyclotron wavesThese electrostatic fluctuations are positively correlated with electron parallel flux anisotropies in 0.8–20 keV [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ENPP1 mutation causes recessive Cole disease by altering melanogenesis. Classical features of Cole disease include cutaneous dyspigmentation, commonly hypopigmented macules of varying sizes and rarely hyperpigmented macules predominantly located on the extremities, PPPK and infrequently ectopic calcifications. The proband had widespread dyspigmentation (both hypo- and hyperpigmented macules), and PPPK, but her father had only hypopigmented macules localized to the extremities. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To examine the association between 24 literature‐based single nucleotide polymorphisms and diabetic kidney disease in Chinese people with type 2 diabetes. Methods and results: Twenty‐four candidate diabetic kidney disease‐susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in 208 participants with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease and 200 participants with type 2 diabetes without diabetic kidney disease (case and control groups, respectively), together with 206 healthy participants using MassARRAY. Rs11643718 in the SLC12A3 gene was associated with diabetic kidney disease in the recessive model after adjusting for confounding factors, such as age and gender (adjusted odds ratio 2.056, 95% CI 1.120–3.776; P = 0.020). Meta‐analyses further confirmed the association (P = 0.002). In addition, participants with the GG genotype had worse renal function and more albuminuria than those with the AA+AG genotype (P < 0.05). Renal section immunohistochemistry was conducted in participants with type 2 diabetes, diabetic kidney disease and AA+AG or GG genotypes and in participants with glomerular minor lesions. Together with data from the Nephroseq database, it was shown that the abundance of SLC12A3 was reduced in patients with the GG genotype, while elevated expression of SLC12A3 was associated with better renal function. In addition, rs10951509 and rs1345365 in ELMO1, which were determined to be in high linkage disequilibrium by SHEsis software, were also associated with diabetic kidney disease (adjusted P = 0.010 and 0.015, respectively). Conclusions: The G allele and GG genotype of SLC12A3 rs11643718 are associated with the development of diabetic kidney disease in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes. What's new?: Many diabetic kidney disease (DKD)‐susceptible single‐nucleotide polymorphims (SNPs) in type 2 diabetes have been identified; however, the relationship between some SNPs and DKD is still controversial. The effect of several SNPs on DKD in Chinese populations with type 2 diabetes is also unclear.This study found that the G allele and GG genotype in SLC12A3 rs11643718, as well as the G allele and GG+AG genotype in ELMO1 rs10951509 and rs1345365, may be risk factors for DKD in Chinese type 2 diabetes populations.Analysing these genotypes in people with type 2 diabetes will be helpful in identifying populations with high risk of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) dramatically increased over these years and environmental factors were considered as potential contributors towards these trends. Objective: This study aimed to explore several major environmental exposures, including air pollution, temperature and relative humidity, in order to identify potential modifiable risk factors and their interactive effects on AD. Methods: We applied a bivariate response surface model and stratification model based on time‐series Poisson generalized additive models to examine the interactive effects of air pollution and meteorological factors on AD. Results: A total of 64 987 outpatient visits for AD were recorded from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. Interactive effects were found between air pollutants and meteorological factors. Enhanced positive associations between pollutants and outpatient visits for AD were found at the highest quartile temperature level. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 were associated with 0.42% (95% CI: 0.16–0.67%), 0.34% (95% CI: 0.15–0.54%), 1.11% (95% CI: 0.38–1.84%) and 1.06% (0.21–1.93%) increase in outpatient visits for AD at the highest quartile temperature level. Conclusion: That effects of air pollutants on AD can be modified by meteorological factors, with enhanced effects on hot days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism that regulates pre‐implantation development of the yak (Bos grunniens). We determined the transcriptomes of in vitro‐produced yak embryos at two‐cell, four‐cell, eight‐cell stages, and morula and blastocyst using the Illumina RNA‐seq for the first time. We obtained 47.36–50.86 million clean reads for each stage, of which, 85.65%–90.02% reads were covered in the reference genome. A total of 17,368 genes were expressed during the two‐cell stage to blastocyst of the yak, of which 7,236 genes were co‐expressed at all stages, whereas 10,132 genes were stage‐specific expression. Transcripts from 9,827 to 14,893 different genes were detected in various developmental stages. When |log2 ratio| ≥ 1 and q‐value <0.05 were set as thresholds for identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we detected a total of 6,922–10,555 DEGs between any two consecutive stages. The GO distributions of these DEGs were classified into three categories: biological processes (23 terms), cellular components (22 terms) and molecular functions (22 terms). Pathway analysis revealed 310 pathways of the DEGs that were operative in early pre‐implantation yak development, of which 32 were the significantly enriched pathways. In conclusion, this is the first report to investigate the mechanism that regulates yak embryonic development using high‐throughput sequencing, which provides a comprehensive framework of transcriptome landscapes of yak pre‐implantation embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: To increase the current understanding of the gene expression in the pre‐ovulatory ovary and identify the key genes involved in the regulation of ovulation rate, we compared the transcriptomes of ovaries from the prolific Jintang black goat (JTG) and the non‐prolific Tibetan goat (TBG) during the follicular phase using the Illumina RNA‐Seq method. Three ovarian libraries were constructed for each breed. On average, we obtained approximately 49.2 and 45.9 million reads for each individual ovary of TBGs and JTGs, respectively, of which 79.76% and 78.67% reads were covered in the genome database. A total of 407 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were detected between these two breeds, in which 316 were upregulated, and 91 were downregulated in the ovaries of JTGs versus TBGs. Based on the results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, some of these DEGs potentially play an important role in controlling the development of ovarian follicles. SRD5A2, MSMB, STAR and 3BHSD, etc. were the most significantly differentially expressed between these two distinct breeds. In addition, each ovary expressed 1,066 versus 989 novel transcripts, and 171,829 versus 140,529 putative SNPs in TBGs versus JTBs, respectively. All data sets (GEO and dbSNP) were available via public repositories. Our study provides insight into the transcriptional regulation of the ovaries of two distinct breeds of goats that might serve as a key resource for understanding goat fecundity. SRD5A2, MSMB, STAR and 3BHSD may be associated with the high fecundity of JTGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumour necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) promoter −308 A/G polymorphism plays an important role in the aetiology of systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE). Several studies have estimated the association between TNF-α −308 A/G and SLE risk. However, results were inconsistent. A case-control study was carried out to explore the association between TNF-α −308 A/G and the SLE risk in a Chinese Han population. Meta-analysis combining present with previous studies was conducted to further explore the association. Our case-control study included 556 patients with SLE along with 570 matched healthy controls. TNF-α −308 A allele was significantly increased in patients with SLE compared with controls ( OR = 2.184, 95% CI: 1.718-2.778, P < 0.001). Genotypes AA and AG were associated with the susceptibility to SLE as compared with the GG genotype, as well as the dominant model ( AA+ AG versus GG), respectively. The meta-analysis included 41 comparative studies involving 4799 patients and 6635 controls. An association between SLE and allele A was found in the overall populations ( OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.46-1.98, P < 0.001). In addition, we discussed the correlation between this polymorphism and lupus nephritis ( LN) risk, showing that allele A was significantly related to LN in the overall populations ( OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.21-2.68, P = 0.004). The results from our case-control study and the meta-analysis indicate that the TNF-α −308 A allele is significantly associated with an increased risk of SLE/ LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether an antimicrobial mouthrinse intervention reduces adverse pregnancy outcomes in a low-resource rural area.Design: Randomised controlled trial.Setting: A county-level maternal health care hospital in China.Sample: Pregnant women of less than 20 weeks of gestation having periodontal disease.Methods: Women with periodontal disease were randomised into the intervention (n = 232) and control group (n = 234). Participants in the intervention group were provided with free mouthrinse (alcohol-free mouthrinse containing 0.7% cetylpyridinium chloride) throughout the pregnancy and given education on oral health. Women in the control group only received oral hygiene education. All participants had a periodontal re-examination at the third trimester and were followed-up to childbirth.Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was gestational age. Secondary outcomes included birthweight, periodontal disease score, pregnancy complications (small-for-gestational-age, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetic mellitus, severe anaemia, premature rupture of membrane).Results: The general periodontal status of the intervention group at the third trimester was significantly better than that of the control group (measured by periodontal disease score: 11.26 ± 3.60 versus 11.92 ± 3.01; P = 0.04). There was no difference in pregnancy outcome between the two groups except for premature rupture of the membranes. The women in the intervention group had a significantly reduced risk of premature rupture of the membranes compared with the control group (1.4 versus 5.7%, OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.84; P = 0.03).Conclusions: The mouthrinse intervention during pregnancy improved periodontal health. The intervention did not lead to a change in gestational age but it reduced the rate of premature membrane rupture. Further studies are needed to explore the biological mechanism of this association.Tweetable Abstract: Use of antiseptic mouthrinse during pregnancy may improve maternal oral health and pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal transfer (HT), the exchange of genetic material between species, plays important roles in transposon biology and genome evolution. In this study, we provide the first documented example of a new Academ transposon involved in recent and distant HTs into the genomes of species belonging to seven different orders of insects: Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Embioptera, Dermaptera, Trichoptera and Zoraptera. These results suggest that HT of DNA transposons amongst insects has occurred on a broader scale than previously appreciated. The Academ transposon discovered in the Lepidoptera and parasitic wasps is of particular interest because the intimate association between wasps and their lepidopteran hosts might provide an opportunity for HT of transposons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ neutron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) have been used to study the early stages of bainite transformation in a 2 mass% Si nano-bainitic steel. It was observed that carbon redistribution between the bainitic ferrite and retained austenite at the early stages of the bainite transformation at low isothermal holding occurred in the following sequence: (i) formation of bainitic ferrite nuclei within carbon-depleted regions immediately after the beginning of isothermal treatment; (ii) carbon partitioning immediately after the formation of bainitic ferrite nuclei but substantial carbon diffusion only after 33 min of bainite isothermal holding; (iii) formation of the carbon-enriched remaining austenite in the vicinity of bainitic laths at the beginning of the transformation; (iv) segregation of carbon to the dislocations near the austenite/ferrite interface; and (v) homogeneous redistribution of carbon within the remaining austenite with the progress of the transformation and with the formation of bainitic ferrite colonies. Bainitic ferrite nucleated at internal defects or bainite/austenite interfaces as well as at the prior austenite grain boundary. Bainitic ferrite has been observed in the form of an individual layer, a colony of layers and a layer with sideplates at the early stages of transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent excessive sympathetic activation greatly contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure ( CHF) and hypertension. Cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex ( CSAR) is a sympathoexcitatory reflex with positive feedback characteristics. Humoral factors such as bradykinin, adenosine and reactive oxygen species produced in myocardium due to myocardial ischaemia stimulate cardiac sympathetic afferents and thereby reflexly increase sympathetic activity and blood pressure. The CSAR is enhanced in myocardial ischaemia, CHF and hypertension. The enhanced CSAR at least partially contributes to the sympathetic activation and pathogenesis of these diseases. Nucleus of the solitary tract ( NTS), hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus ( PVN) and rostral ventrolateral medulla are the most important central sites involved in the modulation and integration of the CSAR. Angiotensin II, AT1 receptors and NAD( P) H oxidase-derived superoxide anions pathway in the PVN are mainly responsible for the enhanced CSAR in CHF and hypertension. Central angiotensin-(1-7), nitric oxide, endothelin, intermedin, hydrogen peroxide and several other signal molecules are involved in regulating CSAR. Blockade of the CSAR shows beneficial effects in CHF and hypertension. This review focuses on the anatomical and physiological basis of the CSAR, the interaction of CSAR with baroreflex and chemoreflex, and the role of enhanced CSAR in the pathogenesis of CHF and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Apelin is a specific endogenous ligand of orphan G protein-coupled receptor APJ. This study was designed to determine the roles and mechanisms of apelin-13 and APJ in paraventricular nucleus ( PVN) in renal sympathetic nerve activity ( RSNA), arginine vasopressin ( AVP) release and mean arterial pressure ( MAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats ( SHR). Method Acute experiment was carried out in 13-week-old male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats ( WKY) under anaesthesia. RSNA and MAP responses to the PVN microinjection were determined. Apelin and APJ expressions were examined with quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. AVP and noradrenaline were determined with ELISA. Osmotic minipumps were used for chronic PVN infusion in conscious WKY. Results Apelin and APJ in the PVN were up-regulated in SHR. The PVN microinjection of apelin-13 increased, but APJ antagonist F13A decreased the RSNA, MAP, plasma noradrenaline and AVP levels in SHR. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist plus non-NMDAR antagonist abolished the apelin-13-induced sympathetic activation rather than AVP release. NMDAR antagonist or non-NMDAR antagonist alone attenuated the apelin-13-induced sympathetic activation. Chronic infusion of apelin-13 into the PVN in normotensive rats induced hypertension, increased plasma noradrenaline and AVP levels and promoted myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide and beta-myosin heavy chain mRNA expressions, two indicative markers of cardiac hypertrophy. Conclusion Apelin-13 and APJ in the PVN contribute to hypertension via sympathetic activation and AVP release in SHR. The sympatho-excitatory effect of apeline-13 is mediated by both NMDAR and non- NMDAR in the PVN. Persistent activation of APJ in the PVN induces hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We undertook a prospective study of non-obstetric epidurals placed in surgical inpatients at a single teaching hospital to evaluate the incidence of and potential risk factors for major complications of continuous epidural anesthesia. Methods Demographic information, details of the epidural procedure, and complications (from the pre-anesthetic period through resolution) were recorded for more than 5000 surgical inpatients who underwent continuous epidural anesthesia in our institution between March 2009 and April 2011. The incidence of and risk factors for major complications were evaluated. Results During the study period, 5083 patients were interviewed and their details were recorded (98% capture rate). Sixty-nine (1.36%) experienced major complications: epidural hematoma in 1 patient (0.02%), post-operative neurologic deficits in 57 patients (1.12%), post-dural puncture headache in 7 patients (0.14%), and systemic local anesthetic toxicity in 4 patients (0.08%). Only one patient had permanent sequelae: unilateral lower limb paresthesia. Identified risk factors for neurologic deficits were as follows: American Society of Anesthesiologists status II- III, siting in the lumbar region, orthopedic and urologic surgery, multiple attempts to site an epidural, paresthesia during insertion, a history of neuraxial anesthesia, and use of patient-controlled epidural analgesia. Conclusions Serious complications were very rare; only one patient had permanent sequelae, and a single epidural hematoma was diagnosed. Post-operative neurologic deficits were more common, but most complications resolved spontaneously within 3 months and they rarely required intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive sympathetic activity contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension and the progression of the related organ damage. Adipose afferent reflex ( AAR) is a sympatho-excitatory reflex that the afferent activity from white adipose tissue ( WAT) increases sympathetic outflow and blood pressure. Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus ( PVN or PVH) is one of the central sites in the control of the AAR, and ionotropic glutamate receptors in the nucleus mediate the AAR. The AAR is enhanced in obesity and obesity hypertension. Enhanced WAT afferent activity and AAR contribute to the excessive sympathetic activation and hypertension in obesity. Blockage of the AAR attenuates the excessive sympathetic activity and hypertension. Leptin may be one of sensors in the WAT for the AAR, and is involved in the enhanced AAR in obesity and hypertension. This review focuses on the neuroanatomical basis and physiological functions of the AAR, and the important role of the enhanced AAR in the pathogenesis of obesity hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents With an aim to improve the efficiency of yak-bovine interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (i SCNT), this study investigated the effect of different culture systems on the development, quality and gene expression profile of yak-bovine i SCNT embryo. Reconstructed embryos were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid (m SOF) or relative defined culture medium ( RDCM) with 5% or 20% oxygen tension. Relative m RNA abundance of Oct-4, IFNT, IGF-2, Bax, GPX-1, SOD-1, CAT and GSS was analysed in blastocysts with q RT-PCR. The blastocyst formation rate in RDCM under 5% oxygen tension was significantly higher than that under 20% oxygen tension ( P < 0.05). The total cell number of blastocyst derived from RDCM with 20% oxygen tension was lower than that of other groups, whereas the group of RDCM with 5% oxygen tension showed a beneficial effect on apoptosis index and tolerance to cryopreservation ( P < 0.05). However, under the same oxygen tension, the m RNA abundance of IFNT of RDCM groups was higher than that of the m SOF groups. In addition, high oxygen tension during in vitro culture ( IVC) with RDCM significantly increases the m RNA expression of oxidative stress-related genes ( GPX-1, SOD-1, CAT and GSS) ( P < 0.05). 3, 4-Dihydroxyflavone ( DHF) during high oxygen tension was able to improve the cloned blastocyst formation rate in RDCM ( P < 0.05). These results for the first time showed that low oxygen tension and RDCM could improve the developmental competence and quality and alleviate the oxidative stress for yak-bovine i SCNT embryo during IVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic in much of Latin America. With increased globalisation and immigration, it is a risk in any country, partly through congenital transmission. The frequency of congenital transmission is unclear. Objective To assess the frequency of congenital transmission of T. cruzi. Search strategy Pub Med, Journals@ Ovid Full Text, EMBASE, CINAHL, Fuente Academica and BIREME databases were searched using seven search terms related to Chagas disease or T. cruzi and congenital transmission. Selection criteria The inclusion criteria were the following: Dutch, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish language; case report, case series or observational study; original data on congenital T. cruzi infection in humans; congenital infection rate reported or it could be derived. This systematic review included 13 case reports/series and 51 observational studies. Data collection and analysis Two investigators independently collected data on study characteristics, diagnosis and congenital infection rate. The principal summary measure - the congenital transmission rate - is defined as the number of congenitally infected infants divided by the number of infants born to infected mothers. A random effects model was used. Main results The pooled congenital transmission rate was 4.7% (95% confidence interval: 3.9-5.6%). Countries where T. cruzi is endemic had a higher rate of congenital transmission compared with countries where it is not endemic (5.0% versus 2.7%). Conclusions Congenital transmission of Chagas disease is a global problem. Overall risk of congenital infection in infants born to infected mothers is about 5%. The congenital mode of transmission requires targeted screening to prevent future cases of Chagas disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Zheng J, Xiong X, Ma Q, Zhang X, Li M. A new uterine compression suture for postpartum haemorrhage with atony. BJOG 2011;118:370-374. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of worldwide maternal mortality and is still associated with significant morbidity. After the B-Lynch suture was reported in 1997, several different uterine compression sutures were found to be successful in controlling PPH. In this paper, we describe another simple variation of the uterine compression suture technique, which was performed without an incision in the uterine wall, without entering the uterine cavity and without suturing the anterior and posterior walls of the uterus together, so minimising the trauma to the uterus. This new uterine compression suture is an effective and safe surgical treatment for PPH caused by atony. It has the potential to apply to intractable PPH after vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children undergoing stem cell transplant (SCT) experience high levels of somatic distress and mood disturbance. This trial evaluated the efficacy of complementary therapies (massage, humor therapy, relaxation/imagery) for reducing distress associated with pediatric SCT.Methods: Across 4 sites, 178 pediatric patients scheduled to undergo SCT were randomized to a child-targeted intervention involving massage and humor therapy, the identical child intervention plus a parent intervention involving massage and relaxation/imagery, or standard care. Randomization was stratified by site, age, and type of transplant. The interventions began at admission and continued through SCT Week +3. Primary outcomes included patient and parent reports of somatic distress and mood disturbance obtained weekly from admission through Week +6 using the Behavioral, Affective, and Somatic Experiences Scales. Secondary outcomes included length of hospitalization, time to engraftment, and usage of narcotic analgesic and antiemetic medications.Results: A mixed model approach was used to assess longitudinal trends of patient and parent report outcomes and to test differences between groups on these measures. Significant changes across time were observed on all patient and parent report outcomes. However, no significant differences between treatment arms were found on the primary outcomes. Similarly, no significant between-group differences were noted on any of the medical variables as secondary outcomes.Conclusions: Results of this multisite trial failed to document significant benefits of complementary interventions in the pediatric SCT setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new x-type HMW glutenin subunit, designated as 1Dx1.6t from Aegilops tauschii was identified and characterized by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF-MS. This subunit is located between 1Dx2 and 1Dx1.5t and possesses a molecular mass ( Mr) of 88565.8 Da. Its complete coding sequence was amplified via allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR), and the amplified product was cloned and sequenced. The authenticity of the cloned 1Dx1.6 t gene was confirmed by successful expression of its open reading frame in Escherichia coli. The molecular characterization of 1Dx1.6 t gene showed that its coding region consisted of 2541 bp encoding a polypeptide of 845 amino acid residues. Sequence comparison to previously characterized 1Dx1.5t subunit which is related to good dough quality of bread wheat indicated that the 1Dx1.6t subunit displayed high homology, but possesses 14 residue substitutions and a nonapeptide insertion. A total of 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (1 per 212 bp) was identified in the 1Dx1.6 t allele (11 in repetitive domain and 1 in the C-terminal domain), which could facilitate the design of AS-PCR markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate seasonal differences in bermudagrass response to N fertilization and irrigation by using optical sensing. A second objective was to determine if optical sensing could measure N status when the turf response to N was confounded by differences in moisture status. Bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon L.) ‘Rivera’ and ‘Yukon’ were managed under three irrigation treatments and six N treatments during the growing seasons in 2003 and 2004. Turf quality, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), red light reflectance in relation to near infrared reflectance (R/NIR), and green light reflectance in relation to near infrared reflectance (G/NIR) were measured. Bermudagrass demonstrated a noticeable third-order polynomial seasonal trend in response to N and irrigation treatment, and this trend was characterized as early-, peak-, mid- and late-season responses. Normalized difference vegetation index and GNDVI demonstrated a better relationship with turf quality and N status than R/NIR and G/NIR. A comparison among the four indices showed NDVI to be more closely correlated with irrigation, N fertilization, and turf quality. Minimum acceptable and target NDVI were developed by seasonal period based on visual turf quality assessment. It was also found that NDVI response to N fertilization was not strongly affected by irrigation treatment and could be used as an indicator of N status and need regardless of irrigation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent studies suggest that periodontal disease, as a source of subclinical and persistent infection, may induce systemic inflammatory responses that increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objectives To examine the existing evidence on the relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Search strategy Published studies identified via searches of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Current Contents full-text databases. Selection criteria We identified and selected observational studies (i.e. case–control, cross-sectional, and cohort) and nonrandomised controlled studies or randomised controlled trials that examined periodontal disease as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data collection and analysis Odds ratios (OR) or risk ratios (RR) were extracted or calculated from the studies’ data. We calculated pooled effect size for two clinical controlled trials but not for the observational studies due to the heterogeneity in definitions for periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes across studies. Main results Twenty-five studies (13 case–control, 9 cohort, and 3 controlled trials) were identified. The studies focused on preterm low birthweight, low birthweight, preterm birth, birthweight by gestational age, miscarriage or pregnancy loss, and pre-eclampsia. Of the chosen studies, 18 suggested an association between periodontal disease and increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (ORs ranging from 1.10 to 20.0) and 7 found no evidence of an association (ORs ranging from 0.78 to 2.54). Three clinical trial studies suggest that oral prophylaxis and periodontal treatment can lead to a 57% reduction in preterm low birthweight (pooled RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.24–0.78) and a 50% reduction in preterm births (RR 0.5; 95% CI 0.20–1.30). Author's conclusions Periodontal disease may be associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. However, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study prevalence, risk factors, and birth outcomes of women with anemia during pregnancy in a Chinese population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed based on 16 936 pregnancies delivered between January 1989 and December 1990 in Suzhou, China. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin less than 10 g/dl. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and to control for confounding variables. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 10.3% at the first trimester, 18.9% at the third trimester. Overall, 26.2% pregnant women experienced anemia in pregnancy. Anemia during early pregnancy was not associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, anemia in later pregnancy was inversely associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. Conclusions: Anemia during pregnancy does not increase the risk of poor birth outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Potato cultivars resistant to cold-temperature sweetening are of major importance to the processing industry producing both chips (crisps) and French fries. When most modern potato cultivars are maintained in cold storage to retard sprouting, the tubers accumulate reducing sugars, and the products become an unacceptable brown colour when fried. Selection for better processing quality during the early generations of a breeding programme could be of considerable advantage. Using a portable `sugarmeter', which requires only a drop of sap from the tuber on a test strip, many samples can be efficiently surveyed for low sugar as early as the F1 generation. Using seedlings of three test crosses, glucose and specific gravity of field-grown tubers, minitubers from greenhouses and microtubers from in vitro culture were compared after cold treatment. Although the mean glucose levels of minitubers and microtubers were higher than field-grown tubers, the correlation between the glucose contents of the three types of tubers was fairly high. A considerable genetic improvement was noted when progenies were grown as minitubers or microtubers, even though the response to selection for low glucose levels in minitubers and microtubers was lower than from direct selection from field-grown tubers. The specific gravity of field-grown tubers showed a significant association with freshly harvested minitubers and microtubers. Selection for low glucose content in minitubers can therefore save considerable resources in a breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Letter a new physical model for metal–insulator–metal CMOS capacitors is presented. In the model the parameters of the circuit are derived from the physical structural details. Physical behaviors due to metal skin effect and inductance have been considered. The model has been confirmed by 3D EM simulator and design rules proposed. The model presented is scalable with capacitor geometry, allowing designers to predict and optimize quality factor. The approach has been verified for MIM CMOS capacitors. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 177–181, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10409 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 20-year-old man with progressive jaundice alongwith abdominal pain and fever.

Ranula seldom happens as a complication secondary to the surgery surrounding the sublingual gland. Here, we reported that a rare case of sublingual gland ranula after tongue reconstruction with radical forearm flap, saliva extravasation after trauma to the sublingual gland or the ducts was responsible for the occurrence of this ranula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor in response to comments on an article on periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The article discusses the medical case of a 67-year-old woman with intermittent pain the epigastrium for a month. The patient was diagnosed with hepatic neroendocrine carcinomas with primary adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. It mentions other investigations that may differentiate the tumors, which include magnetic resonance imaging, somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy and positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT).

The article presents the case of a 56-year-old man who presented himself at a hospital because of two weeks history of jaundice, weight loss and abdominal pain. The blood test of the patient reveals a mild elevation of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatae, and alanine aminotransferase. His magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography shows dilatation of the extrahepatic bile duct. The article discusses a case of traumatic neuroma of the ampulla vater.

Investigates the impact of pregnancy-induced hypertension on birth weight by gestational age in Alberta. Performance of analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression; Delivery of low birth weight infant in mothers with preeclampsia.

Examines the relationship between history of abortion, preterm birth and the risk of preeclampsia in Alberta. Reduction of preeclampsia in multiparous women without prior abortion; Impact of a history of a term pregnancy.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive and lethal type of lung cancer, characterized by limited treatment options, early and frequent metastasis. However, the determinants of metastasis in SCLC are poorly defined. Here, we show that estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) is overexpressed in metastatic SCLC tumors, and is positively associated with SCLC progression. ERRγ functions as an essential activator of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and cell adhesion, two critical steps in metastasis, by directly regulating the expression of major genes involved in these processes. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of ERRγ markedly reduces collagen production, cell-matrix adhesion, microfilament production, and eventually blocks SCLC cell invasion and tumor metastasis. Notably, ERRγ antagonists significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis and restored SCLC vulnerability to chemotherapy in multiple cell-derived and patient-derived xenograft models. Taken together, these findings establish ERRγ as an attractive target for metastatic SCLC and provide a potential pharmacological strategy for treating this lethal disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is currently a hot topic of medical research. It has been reported that autophagy plays a crucial role in causing erectile dysfunction in T1DM. Recent research has shown that mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2) is strongly linked to the development of T1DM. However, the specific mechanism by which it regulates the erectile function is not yet fully understood., Objectives: To investigate whether HMGCS2 affects erectile function in type 1 diabetic rats by regulating autophagy in corpus cavernosum endothelial cells (CCECs)., Materials and Methods: First, the rat model of T1DM was established. Then, the ratio of maximum penile intracavernous pressure (ICPmax) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was detected to assess the erectile function in various groups, and the protein expression of HMGCS2, mTOR and p-mTOR was evaluated by western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). To explore the relationship between HMGCS2 and the mTOR signaling pathway in T1DM ED rats, we silenced the expression of HMGCS2 and activated the mTOR signaling pathway with MHY1485 in CCECs and then assessed the expression of beclin1, P62, LC3, autophagosome, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphorylation of eNOS (p-eNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) to evaluate autophagy and the erectile function by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot., Results: The study conducted on T1DM ED rats showed that the expression of HMGCS2 was significantly increased, while the autophagy was suppressed. Additionally, the mTOR signaling pathway was highly activated. In contrast, when HMGCS2 was silenced in vitro, p-mTOR/mTOR was reduced, and autophagy was improved. These effects were accompanied by the enhanced activity of eNOS. Furthermore, when HMGCS2 was silenced and the mTOR signaling pathway was simultaneously activated, the results revealed a decrease in autophagy as well as a reduction in activity of eNOS in comparison to just silencing HMGCS2 alone., Discussion and Conclusion: HMGCS2 upregulation in T1DM rats inhibited autophagy and eNOS activity by activating the mTOR pathway and led to a decrease in the erectile function., (© 2024 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Background: The specific mechanism underlying the role of oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts in angiogenesis remains undefined. Herein, the expression of Galectin-3 in oral lichen planus and verifying whether Galectin-3 can promote angiogenesis through oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts has been investigated., Methods: The expression of Galectin-3 and CD34 in the oral lichen planus tissues (n = 30) and normal oral mucosa tissues (n = 15) was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of Galectin-3 in the oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Galectin-3 overexpression lentiviral vector was constructed and transfected with oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts. In addition, oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts were treated with GB1107 (5 and 10 μM) to inhibit Galectin-3 expression and co-cultured with human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells, and analyzed by Transwell and tube formation assays. The expression of VEGF and FGF2 in oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts was detected, and the expression and phosphorylation levels of VEGFR2 and FAP in human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells were determined., Results: Oral lichen planus subcutaneous tissues highly expressed Galectin-3, positively correlated with angiogenesis. Oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts expressed significantly higher Galectin-3 than NFs. Oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts overexpressing Galectin-3 enhanced the migration and tube-forming capacity of co-cultured human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells. In oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts, 10 μM GB1107 reduced the proliferation and migration capacity, decreased the expression of α-SMA, FAP, VEGF, and FGF2, and inhibited the tube-forming capacity and the expression of VEGFR2 phosphorylation and FAK in co-cultured human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells., Conclusions: The upregulation of Galectin-3 expression in oral lichen planus is associated with angiogenesis, and the oral lichen planus-activated fibroblasts promote human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells migration and tube-forming differentiation through VEGFR2/FAP activation by Galectin-3., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Aims: The relationship between alcohol consumption and age-related diseases is inconsistent. Biological age (BA) serves as both a precursor and a predictor of age-related diseases; however, longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption and BA in middle-aged and older people remain unclear. We measured whether there was a longitudinal association between drinking frequency and pure alcohol intake with BA among middle-aged and older people., Design and Setting and Participants: This study involved two prospective cohort studies, set in Southwestern China and the United Kingdom. A total of 8046 participants from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study (CMEC) and 5412 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB), aged 30-79 years, took part, with complete data from two waves of clinical biomarkers., Measurements: BA was calculated by the Klemera Doubal's method. Accelerated BA equalled BA minus chronological age. Drinking frequency and pure alcohol intake were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Drinking frequency in the past year was classified as current non-drinking, occasional (monthly drinking) and regular (weekly drinking)., Findings: Compared with consistent current non-drinkers, more frequent drinkers [CMEC: β = 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13-0.80; UKB: β = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.01-1.29)], less frequent drinkers (CMEC: β = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.37-0.87; UKB: β = 0.54, 95% CI = -0.01-1.09), consistent occasional drinkers (CMEC: β = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.23-0.79; UKB: β = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.13-1.13) and consistent regular drinkers (CMEC: β = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.17-0.95; UKB: β = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.00-0.91) exhibited increased accelerated BA. A non-linear relationship between pure alcohol intake and accelerated BA was observed among consistent regular drinkers., Conclusions: In middle-aged and older people, any change in drinking frequency and any amount of pure alcohol intake seem to be positively associated with acceleration of biological ageing, compared with maintaining abstinence., (© 2024 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Objective: In this study, we aimed to perform a network meta-analysis (NMA) to investigate the effects of different testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) administration routes on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH)., Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting data on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, or prostate volume. NMA was performed, and subgroup analysis was conducted to assess the impact of TRT duration on outcomes., Results: A total of 21 RCTs involving 2453 participants were included. For pairwise meta-analysis, p values for TRT delivered by transdermal, intramuscular, and oral routes were as follows: IPSS: 0.93, 0.20, and 0.76; PSA level: 0.20, 0.27, and 0.98; prostate volume: 0.18, 0.04, and 0.16. There were no significant differences in IPSS, PSA level, or prostate volume between TRT routes. In subgroup analysis, long-term intramuscular TRT significantly decreased IPSS (p = 0.03), short-term transdermal TRT increased PSA levels (p < 0.001), and short-term intramuscular TRT increased the prostate volume (p = 0.04). Other forms of TRT showed no significant change in IPSS, PSA level, and prostate volume compared with the placebo. Indirect comparison of the three administration routes demonstrated no significant differences in IPSS, PSA level, and prostate volume. Nevertheless, surface under the cumulative ranking curve analysis indicated that intramuscular TRT had an 83% probability of being the best method for decreasing IPSS., Conclusions: The results demonstrate that TRT does not worsen LUTS regardless of the administration route. Intramuscular TRT may be the preferred treatment for aging men with LOH and LUTS. Intramuscular TRT may be the preferred treatment for men with LOH and LUTS. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and optimize TRT management strategies., (© 2024 Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)