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Sequences targeted at the V3 and V4 16S rRNA hypervariable regions of a streptococcal strain (P1L01T) isolated from vaginal swabs of a pregnant woman with diabetes were 100% similar to those of Streptococcus anginosus subsp. whileyi. However, phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA full-gene sequencing (1562 bp) revealed highest sequence similarity to Streptococcus periodonticum (98.7%), followed by Streptococcus anginosus subsp. whileyi (98.7%), and Streptococcus anginosus subsp. anginosus (98.4%). Phylogenies of housekeeping genes rpoB and groEL were compared to improve classification, and the results showed a clear separation between strain P1L01T and closely related Streptococcus type strains. The complete genome of strain P1L01T consisted of 2,108,769 bp with a G + C content of 38.5 mol%. Average nucleotide identity values, based on genome sequencing, between strain P1L01T and Streptococcus periodonticum KCOM 2412T, Streptococcus anginosus subsp. whileyi CCUG 39159T, and Streptococcus anginosus subsp. anginosus NCTC 10713T were 95.5%, 94.3%, and 95.3%, respectively. The highest in silico DNA–DNA hybridization value with respect to the closest species was 66.2%, i.e., below the species cutoff of 70% hybridization. The main cellular fatty acids of strain P1L01T were 16:0, 18:1ω7c, and 14:0. On the basis of phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic data, we propose to classify this isolate as representative of a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus vaginalis sp. nov., in reference to its isolation from vaginal swabs, with strain P1L01T (= NBRC 114754T = BCRC 81289T) as the type strain.

The effects of methylation/autophagy-related genes (MARGs) and immune infiltration in the tumor microenvironment on the prognosis of laryngeal cancer were comprehensively explored in this study. Survival analysis screened out 126 MARGs and 10 immune cells potentially associated with the prognosis of laryngeal carcinoma. Cox and lasso regression analyses were then used to select 8 MARGs (CAPN10, DAPK2, MBTPS2, ST13, CFLAR, FADD, PEX14 and TSC2) and 2 immune cells (Eosinophil and Mast cell) to obtain the prognostic risk scoring system (pRS). The pRS was used to establish a risk prediction model for the prognosis of laryngeal cancer. The predictive ability of the prediction model was evaluated by GEO datasets and our clinical samples. Further analysis revealed that pRS is highly associated with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), copy number variation (CNV), immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the screened pRS-related ceRNA network and circ_0002951/miR-548k/HAS2 pathway provide potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers of laryngocarcinoma. Based on the clustering results of pRS-related genes, single cells were then genotyped and revealed by integrated scRNA-seq in laryngeal cancer samples. Fibroblasts were found enriched in high risk cell clusters at the scRNA-seq level. Fibroblast-related ligand-receptor interactions were then exposed and a neural network-based deep learning model based on these pRS-related hub gene signatures was also established with a high accuracy in cell type prediction. In conclusion, the combination of single-cell and transcriptome laryngeal carcinoma landscape analyses can investigate the link between the tumor microenvironmental and prognostic characteristics.

Sarcopenia is a serious public health problem associated with the loss of muscle mass and function. The purpose of this study was to identify molecular markers and construct a ceRNA pathway as a significant predictor of sarcopenia. We designed a prediction model to select important differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), and constructed a sarcopenia associated ceRNA network. After correlation analysis of each element in the ceRNA network based on clinical samples and GTEX database, C2C12 mouse myoblasts were used as a model to verify the identified ceRNA pathways. A new model for predicting sarcopenia based on four molecular markers SEPP1, SV2A, GOT1, and GFOD1 was developed. The model was used to construct a ceRNA network and showed high accuracy. Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of lncDLEU2, SEPP1, and miR-181a were closely associated with a high risk of sarcopenia. lncDLEU2 inhibits muscle differentiation and regeneration by acting as a miR-181a sponge regulating SEPP1 expression. In this study, a highly accurate prediction tool was developed to improve the prediction outcomes of sarcopenia. These findings suggest that the lncDLEU2-miR-181a-SEPP1 pathway inhibits muscle differentiation and regeneration. This pathway may be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of sarcopenia.

Background Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD1) can inhibit the development of diabetic bone disease by promoting osteogenesis. In this study, we examined whether this regulation by SCD1 is achieved by regulating the expression of related miRNAs. Methods SCD1 expression levels were observed in human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the effect of SCD1 on osteogenesis was observed in human adipose-derived MSCs transfected with the SCD1 lentiviral system. We designed a bioinformatics prediction model to select important differentially expressed miRNAs, and established protein-protein interaction and miRNA-mRNA networks. miRNAs and mRNAs were extracted and their differential expression was detected. The SCD1-miRNA-mRNA network was validated. Findings SCD1 expression in bone marrow was downregulated in patients with T2DM and low-energy fracture, and SCD1 expression promotes BM-MSC osteogenic differentiation. The predictors in the nomogram were seven microRNAs, including hsa-miR-1908 and hsa-miR-203a. SCD1 inhibited the expression of CDKN1A and FOS, but promoted the expression of EXO1 and PLS1. miR-1908 was a regulator of EXO1 expression, and miR-203a was a regulator of FOS expression. Interpretation The regulation of BM-MSCs by SCD1 is a necessary condition for osteogenesis through the miR-203a/FOS and miR-1908/EXO1 regulatory pathways.

This study sought to perform integrative analysis of the immune/methylation/autophagy landscape on breast cancer prognosis and single-cell genotypes. Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk Score (BCRRS) and Breast Cancer Prognostic Risk Score (BCPRS) were determined based on 6 prognostic IMAAGs obtained from the TCGA-BRCA cohort. BCRRS and BCPRS, respectively, were used to construct a risk prediction model of overall survival and progression-free survival. Predictive capacity of the model was evaluated using clinical data. Analysis showed that BCRRS is associated with a high risk of stroke. In addition, PPI and drug-ceRNA networks based on differences in BCPRS were constructed. Single cells were genotyped through integrated scRNA-seq of the TNBC samples based on clustering results of BCPRS-related genes. The findings of this study show the potential regulatory effects of IMAAGs on breast cancer tumor microenvironment. High AUCs of 0.856 and 0.842 were obtained for the OS and PFS prognostic models, respectively. scRNA-seq analysis showed high expression levels of adipocytes and adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in high BCPRS clusters. Moreover, analysis of ligand-receptor interactions and potential regulatory mechanisms were performed. The LINC00276&MALAT1/miR-206/FZD4-Wnt7b pathway was also identified which may be useful in future research on targets against breast cancer metastasis and recurrence. Neural network-based deep learning models using BCPRS-related genes showed that these genes can be used to map the tumor microenvironment. In summary, analysis of IMAAGs, BCPRS, and BCRRS provides information on the breast cancer microenvironment at both the macro- and microlevels and provides a basis for development of personalized treatment therapy.

Objectives: Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms recurrence is common with estimated rate of 30%–50% within 1 year. The study aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors for symptoms UTI recurrence in women at outpatient clinic in a prospective fashion. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019. Women who visited urological clinics with symptoms suggestive of UTI were invited to fill the questionnaire including baseline characteristics and Urinary Tract Infection Symptom Assessment questionnaire. Mid-stream urine samples of the participants were collected for urine analysis and urine culture. Phone interviews were done at 12 months' postclinic visit to inquire if the participants have any episode of UTI symptoms recurrence during the period of time. Results: Among the 188 eligible patients, 183 patients (age = 50.0 ± 15.3 years old) were included in the analysis. There were 44 (24%) participants had UTI symptoms recurrent episodes during the 12-month follow-up. Further multivariate analysis revealed that menopause (odds ratio [OR] = 4.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.63–14.68, P = 0.005), history of UTI-related symptoms within 1 year before the episode OR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.29–11.15, P = 0.016) and Escherichia coli infection (OR = 4.81, 95% CI = 1.51-15.28, P = 0.008) were significant risk factors for UTI symptoms recurrence during the 12 months' follow-up. Conclusion: Menopause, history of UTI-related symptoms within 1 year before this episode of UTI and E. coli infection in 12 months were potential risk factors for UTIs symptoms recurrence in women.

Background The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the new flow cytometer UF-5000 with the UF-1000i and Gram staining for determining bacterial patterns in urine samples. Methods Women who attended our clinic with symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infection were enrolled in the study. Mid-stream urine samples were collected for gram staining, urine analysis and urine cultures. Bacterial patterns were classified using the UF-1000i (none, cocci bacteria or rods/mixed growth), the UF-5000 (none, cocci, rods or mixed growth) and Gram staining. Results Among the 102 included samples, there were 10 g-positive cocci, 2 g-positive bacilli, 66 g-negative rods, and 24 mixed growth. The sensitivity/specificity of the UF-1000i was 81.8/91.1% for gram-negative rods and 23.5/96.9% for cocci/mixed. The sensitivity/specificity of the UF-5000 was 80.0/88.2% for gram negative rods and 70.0/86.5% for gram-positive cocci. Conclusions The UF-5000 demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for Gram-negative bacilli and demonstrated an improved sensitivity for detecting Gram-positive cocci compared with the UF-1000i.

Background. The critical role of vascular health on brain function has received much attention in recent years. At the single-cell level, studies on the developmental processes of cerebral vascular growth are still relatively few. Techniques for constructing gene regulatory networks (GRNs) based on single-cell transcriptome expression data have made significant progress in recent years. Herein, we constructed a single-cell transcriptional regulatory network of mouse cerebrovascular cells. Methods. The single-cell RNA-seq dataset of mouse brain vessels was downloaded from GEO (GSE98816). This cell clustering was annotated separately using singleR and CellMarker. We then used a modified version of the SCENIC method to construct GRNs. Next, we used a mouse version of SEEK to assess whether genes in the regulon were coexpressed. Finally, regulatory module analysis was performed to complete the cell type relationship quantification. Results. Single-cell RNA-seq data were used to analyze the heterogeneity of mouse cerebrovascular cells, whereby four cell types including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, microglia, and oligodendrocytes were defined. These subpopulations of cells and marker genes together characterize the molecular profile of mouse cerebrovascular cells. Through these signatures, key transcriptional regulators that maintain cell identity were identified. Our findings identified genes like Lmo2, which play an important role in endothelial cells. The same cell type, for instance, fibroblasts, was found to have different regulatory networks, which may influence the functional characteristics of local tissues. Conclusions. In this study, a transcriptional regulatory network based on single-cell analysis was constructed. Additionally, the study identified and profiled mouse cerebrovascular cells using single-cell transcriptome data as well as defined TFs that affect the regulatory network of the mouse brain vasculature.

Background To create a nomogram prediction model for the efficacy of endoscopic nasal septoplasty, and the likelihood of patient benefiting from the operation. Methods A retrospective analysis of 155 patients with nasal septum deviation (NSD) was performed to develop a predictive model for the efficacy of endoscopic nasal septoplasty. Quality of life (QoL) data was collected before and after surgery using Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) scores to evaluate the surgical outcome. An effective surgical outcome was defined as a SNOT-22 score change ≥ 9 points after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then used to establish a predictive model for the NSD treatment. The predictive quality and clinical utility of the predictive model were assessed by C-index, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Results The identified risk factors for inclusion in the predictive model were included. The model had a good predictive power, with a AUC of 0.920 in the training group and a C index of 0.911 in the overall sample. Decision curve analysis revealed that the prediction model had a good clinical applicability. Conclusions Our prediction model is efficient in predicting the efficacy of endoscopic surgery for NSD through evaluation of factors including: history of nasal surgery, preoperative SNOT-22 score, sinusitis, middle turbinate plasty, BMI, smoking, follow-up time, seasonal allergies, and advanced age. Therefore, it can be cost-effective for individualized preoperative assessment.

Background Synovial fluid proteins had been applied as diagnostic biomarkers for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in recent research papers. Thus, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the diagnostic efficiency of synovial fluid α-defensin and leukocyte esterase (LE) for PJI. Methods We conducted our systematic review by searching the keywords in online databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Elsevier, Springer, and Web of Science from the time of database inception to October 2018. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients who have undergone knee, hip, or shoulder joint replacements; α-defensin or leukocyte esterase (LE strip) of synovial fluid was detected as the biomarker for PJI diagnosis; and Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) or utilizing a combination of clinical data was considered as the gold standard. Diagnostic parameters including sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary of receiver operating characteristics curve (AUSROC) were calculated for the included studies to evaluate the synovial fluid α-defensin and LE for PJI diagnosis. Results After full-text review, 28 studies were qualified for this systematic review, 16 studies used α-defensin and the other 12 were conducted using LE strip. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of LE strip were 87% (95% CI 84–90%), 96% (95% CI 95–97%), and 170.09 (95% CI 97.63–296.32), respectively, while the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of α-defensin were 87% (95% CI 83–90%), 97% (95% CI 96–98%), and 158.18 (95% CI 74.26–336.91), respectively. The AUSROC for LE strip and α-defensin were 0.9818 and 0.9685, respectively. Conclusion Both LE strip and α-defensin of synovial fluid provide rapid and convenient diagnosis for PJI. Sensitivity of α-defensin and LE strip are the same, while both these two methods have high specificity in clinical practice.

Brown rice was exposed to low-pressure plasma ranging from 1 to 3kV for 10min. Treatment of brown rice in low-pressure plasma increases the germination percentage, seedling length, and water uptake in laboratory germination tests. Of the various treatments, 3-kV plasma exposure for 10min yielded the best results. In germinating brown rice, α-amylase activity was significantly higher in treated groups than in controls. The higher enzyme activity in plasma-treated brown rice likely triggers the rapid germination and earlier vigor of the seedlings. Low-pressure plasma also increased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels from ∼19 to ∼28mg/100g. In addition, a marked increase in the antioxidant activity of brown rice was observed with plasma treatments compared to controls. The main finding of this study indicates that low-pressure plasma is effective at enhancing the growth and GABA accumulation of germinated brown rice, which can supply high nutrition to consumer.

Metabolic adaptation in cancer cells is important for cancer cell survival. Alternation in cellular metabolism getting more energy to support cell proliferation played a critical role in disease progression. We initially analyzed the public transcriptome of urothelial carcinoma in Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE31684) with particular focus on genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, and found that Chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) was a significantly up-regulated gene associated with advanced disease status. This study was aimed to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of CHI3L1 in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC).We performed immunohistochemical study to evaluate CHI3L1 expression in 2 well-defined cohorts of urothelial carcinoma, including UTUC (n = 340) and UBUC (n = 295). CHI3L1 expression level was determined by H-score method. The associations between CHI3L1 expression and clinicopathological features, disease-specific survival (DSS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were analyzed.High expression of CHI3L1 was significantly associated with adverse clinicopathological features in UTUC or UBUC, including advanced tumor status (pT), nodal metastasis, high histological grade, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, and high mitotic activity (all P0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with high CHI3L1 expression had shorter DSS and MFS in both UTUC and UBUC (all P0.05). In multivariate survival analyses, high expression of CHI3L1 acted as an independent prognostic factor for worse DSS (P0.001 in UTUC and P = 0.036 in UBUC) and MFS (P = 0.002 in UTUC and P = 0.003 in UBUC) in both UTUC and UBUC groups.High expression of CHI3L1 was significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and acted as an independent prognostic factor for worse outcome in urothelial carcinoma.

We propose cells can be descended using magnetic attraction, which leads to shorter experimental time and higher efficiency. We used an electroporation chip with adjustable electromagnetic field as the experimental platform, and tested Escherichia coli and 6-nm magnetic beads combined with DNA plasmid. The magnetic beads were positively charged and easy to bind to the negatively charged cell membrane of E. coli . The magnetic beads and E. coli could be attracted quickly to the bottom because of the electromagnet and could reduce operational time and enhance transfection efficiency. The descent velocity of E. coli under magnetic attraction was considerably higher than that of E. coli without magnetic attraction. After electroporating and culturing, we obtained the results for E. coli with drug resistance and calculated the number of colony as the transfection efficiency. The achieved transfection efficiency using magnetic beads was seven-fold higher than that without magnetic bead. The following optimum parameter values were determined: 1.4 × 10 14 bead/ml for nano-magnetic bead concentration, 200 Gauss for magnetic flux density, and 40 s for magnetic attraction lasting time. The results will help develop transfection applications for low-descent-velocity cells.

This study aims to explore the prevalence and determinations of physical inactivity among hospital employees in Shanghai, China. A cross-sectional study of 4612 employees aged 19 to 68 years was conducted through stratified cluster sampling from different classes of Shanghai hospitals in 2011. The total physical activity was evaluated using the metabolic equivalent according to the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Among the participants, 38.5%, 32.3%, and 64.6% of the employees are inactive at work, commuting, and taking leisure time, respectively. Up to 41.8% of the men and 37.8% of the women (P = 0.012) are physically inactive. When the age and educational level are adjusted, male doctors and medical technicians show a higher percentage of physical inactivity than male workers in logistics (P = 0.001). Among females, employees who are working in second- and third-class hospitals show a higher proportion of physical inactivity than those who are working in community health care centers. Logistic regression analyses show that the odds ratios (ORs) of leisure-time physical inactivity associated with the intensity of physical activity at work are 2.259, 2.897, and 4.266 for men (P < 0.001) and 2.456, 3.259, and 3.587 for women (P < 0.001), respectively. The time during commuting activities is significantly associated with leisure-time physical inactivity in either sex (OR = 2.116 for men and 2.173 for women, P < 0.001). Hospital employees, particularly doctors and medical technicians, show a higher proportion of physical inactivity than other inhabitants in Shanghai. The time and intensity of activity at work and commuting are associated with leisure-time activities.

Peptidyl-prolylcis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (encoded by the PIN1 gene) regulates the conformation of proline-directed phosphorylation sites and is important in the etiology of cancer. Since the identification of a functional polymorphism of PIN1, (-842 G>C; rs2233678), in the PIN1 promoter region, numerous studies have evaluated the association between the PIN1 promoter polymorphism (-842 G>C) and cancer risk. However, the available results are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis of seven previous case-control studies was performed, which included 4,524 cases exhibiting different tumor types and 4,561 control subjects. The published literature was retrieved from PubMed and EMBASE. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrated that individuals carrying the variant C allele (G/C and C/C) were associated with a significantly decreased cancer risk (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90 for GC vs. GG; OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.88 for GC/CC vs. GG). In further stratified analyses, a decreased cancer risk was observed in the following subgroups: Breast and lung cancer patients, Asian individuals, and in studies with a sample size >500. The results indicated that the PIN1 promoter polymorphism (-842 G>C; rs2233678) contributes to a decreased risk of cancer via attenuating the transcriptional activity.

Lactobacillus plantarum 510, previously isolated from a koshu vineyard in Japan, was found to produce a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance which was purified and characterized. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the mass of this bacteriocin is 4,296.65 Da. A partial sequence, NH2- SSSLLNTAWRKFG, was obtained by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. A BLAST search revealed that this is a unique sequence; this peptide is thus a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum 510 and was termed plantaricin Y. Plantaricin Y shows strong inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes BCRC 14845, but no activity against other pathogens tested. Bacteriocin activity decreased slightly after autoclaving (121 °C for 15 min), but was completely inactivated by protease K. Furthermore, trypsin-digested bacteriocin product fragments retained activity against L. monocytogenes BCRC 14845 and exhibited a different inhibitory spectrum.

Background: The objective of this nationwide observational study was to report the rate and risk factors for the second repair after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Materials and Methods: Children born from 1998 to 2005 were chosen from a cohort of 1,000,000 cases, which were randomly selected from an insured population of 23 million people in Taiwan (Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005). We identified all hernia repairs in the period of 1998–2012 for the sample population and then used a Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze the risk factors for the second repair after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Results: The total sample population comprised 79,820 children, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.27:1. During a mean observation period of 11.4 ± 2.2 years, 3339 (4.18%) of the children in the sample population received primary inguinal hernia repair. Of the 251 children (7.52%) who underwent a second repair, 220 were boys (8.13%) and 31 were girls (4.9%); 244 (8.62%) underwent primary unilateral hernia repair, and 7 (1.38%) underwent primary bilateral hernia repair. Considering that bilateral hernia involves unilateral hernia on two sides, the expected recurrence rate after primary unilateral hernia repair was calculated as 0.69%. The calculated rates for late occurrence of contralateral hernia after primary unilateral hernia repair were 11.04%, 7.73%, and 3.28% for children aged 0–1, 1–4, and >4 years, respectively. Significant risk factors for second hernia repair were age at first primary hernia repair and unilateral hernia (P < 0.001). Gender and prematurity were not risk factors for second hernia repair. Conclusions: The second repair rate after primary unilateral or bilateral hernia repair was 7.52%. The only risk factor that predicted the second repair was age of

The aim of this study was to address the effects of shaking stress (a.k.a. physical agitation) on burn-induced remote organ injury and to evaluate the application of delayed fluid resuscitation to treat severe burns under shaking conditions. Healthy adult male rabbits, weighing 2.50±0.40 kg, were randomly assigned to the following groups: control group, burn group, and burn+shaking group. One half of burned animals received a 6-h delayed fluid resuscitation and the other half remained untreated. Cardiovascular hemodynamics and functional and pathological changes of the heart and kidney were examined. Compared to normal controls, untreated burned animals showed decreased hemodynamic parameters, increased serum lactic acid, and severe myocardial inflammation. The burn-induced hemodynamic abnormalities and cardiac injury were aggravated by shaking stress. Burn injury led to reduced urine volume, elevated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and formation of erythrocyte casts in renal tubules. Shaking stimulation worsened the burn-associated functional and pathological changes of the kidney. Fluid resuscitation markedly mitigated cardiac and renal injury in burned animals, and, to a lesser extent, in the presence of shaking stimulation. Shaking stimulation aggravates burn-induced cardiovascular and renal disturbances. Delayed fluid resuscitation attenuates cardiac and renal damages in burn injury under shaking conditions.

We propose cells can be descended using magnetic attraction, which leads to shorter experimental time and higher efficiency. We used an electroporation chip with adjustable electromagnetic field as the experimental platform, and tested Escherichia coli and 6-nm magnetic beads combined with DNA plasmid. The magnetic beads were positively charged and easy to bind to the negatively charged cell membrane of E. coli. The magnetic beads and E. coli could be attracted quickly to the bottom because of the electromagnet and could reduce operational time and enhance transfection efficiency. After electroporating and culturing, we obtained the results for E. coli with drug resistance and calculated the number of colony as the transfection efficiency. The achieved transfection efficiency using magnetic beads was seven-fold higher than that without magnetic bead. The following optimum parameter values were determined: 1.4 × 1014 bead/ml for nano-magnetic bead concentration, 200 Gauss for magnetic flux density, and 40 s for magnetic attraction lasting time. The results will help develop transfection applications for low-descent-velocity cells.

We report a motorcyclist who presented with a right empty hemiscrotum with ecchymosis and swelling after sustaining straddle injuries in a motorcycle collision. A tender soft mass was palpable in the right groin on physical examination. The ultrasound image revealed a right dislocated testis within the inguinal canal; it had a normal size and echotexture. Manual reduction was unsuccessful. The patient underwent surgical exploration and reduction. He recovered well after undergoing orchidopexy. Two weeks later, the follow-up physical examination at the outpatient clinic was normal. Traumatic testicular dislocation is a rare occurrence after blunt scrotal trauma and is easily overlooked. Manual reduction of a dislocated testis has a low success rate and may overlook coexisting injuries. Early surgical exploration and testicular repositioning are necessary to preserve the testis and avoid coexisting injuries.

A community-based multi-center randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of blood pressure control for hypertension patients in communities in urban Shanghai by integrated intervention. At present, patients (n = 1395) from four communities have completed follow-up for one year, including the intervention group (n = 921) and usual care group (n = 474). The intervention programs included disease management by a care manager. Blood pressure of each patient was measured regularly. Compared with the control group, the net change of mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was − 6.75 (95% CI: − 7.79 to − 5.71, P < 0.001) mmHg, mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was − 4.29 (95% CI: − 5.08 to − 3.49, P < 0.001) mmHg, and mean pulse pressure (PP) was − 2.46 (95% CI: − 3.50 to − 1.43, P < 0.001) mmHg in the intervention group. The net change extent was larger in patients with regular pharmacological treatment than in those with irregular pharmacological treatment or non-pharmacological treatment. The measures of integrated intervention for hypertension patients in communities can lower significantly not only SBP and DBP, but also PP. It is suggested that measures of integrated intervention can decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases in hypertension patients.

Background/Purpose: Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) is the most frequent etiological agent of human salmonellosis. The molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of human and chicken isolates of SE were examined. Methods: A total of 27 human and 40 chicken isolates of SE were collected in 2005-2006. We examined these isolates by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and plasmid analysis. Results: Most isolates were susceptible to the seven antibiotics tested, except chicken isolates in 2005, which showed 70% resistance to streptomycin and 75% to tetracycline. There were six plasmid profiles identified among these isolates. Almost all isolates (97%) harbored the 60-kb serotype-specific virulence plasmid. PFGE using XbaI digestion separated human isolates into eight subtypes (1a-1h) and chicken isolates into four subtypes (1a-1c and 1g). In 2005, 1a and 1c were predominant for human isolates and 1a for chicken isolates. However, in 2006, 1a and 1c remained predominant for human isolates and 1b and 1c for chicken isolates. Most 1b and 1c isolates belonged to plasmid type 2 or 4. Correlation between plasmid patterns and PFGE subtypes was obtained between a 36-kb plasmid and 1b and between another 3.6-kb plasmid and 1a. Conclusion: Plasmid profiling and PFGE were efficient for discriminating SE isolates from different sources. Our data support the notion that SE is transmitted from chickens to humans, presumably through the food chain, but it appears that chickens are not the sole reservoir for human infection with SE in Taiwan. SE remained susceptible to most antimicrobial agents.

Aims: To investigate the effects of two prebiotics and trehalose on the production of bacteriocins. Methods and Results: Four carbohydrates [dextrose, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), raffinose, and trehalose] were used as the sole carbon source in a simple broth. Five bacteriocin-producing strains of bacteria, including those producing nisin, enteriocin, and other bacteriocins, were used, and their inhibitory activities when grown on each carbohydrate were determined. The inhibitory activity assay was performed using the agar well diffusion method, and Lactobacillus sakei JCM 1157T was used as the indicator strain. Effective enhancement of bacteriocin production was observed with FOS and trehalose incubation. Conclusions: The results suggest that FOS and trehalose can effectively enhance the production of the five kinds of bacteriocins evaluated in this study. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study offers useful information for not only a new application of FOS and trehalose, but also the potential improvement of food preservation.

Purpose There is limited information on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients diagnosed with hip fracture in the Chinese Han population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of change in the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) among postmenopausal women in North China with confirmed hip fracture. Methods This study was done from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2014. Three hundred and forty-nine postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with first-ever hip fracture and 349 matched controls without fracture were used for this study. The 25(OH) D, iPTH, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus levels were measured in fasting venous blood samples collected from the subjects. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect information on covariates for multivariate analyses to evaluate the hypothesized relationship between vitamin D deficiency and fracture risk. Results The serum 25(OH) D levels were found to be significantly (P

We propose cells can be descended using magnetic attraction, which leads to shorter experimental time and higher efficiency. We used an electroporation chip with adjustable electromagnetic field as the experimental platform, and tested Escherichia coli and 6-nm magnetic beads combined with DNA plasmid. The magnetic beads were positively charged and easy to bind to the negatively charged cell membrane of E. coli. The magnetic beads and E. coli could be attracted quickly to the bottom because of the electromagnet and could reduce operational time and enhance transfection efficiency. After electroporating and culturing, we obtained the results for E. coli with drug resistance and calculated the number of colony as the transfection efficiency. The achieved transfection efficiency using magnetic beads was seven-fold higher than that without magnetic bead. The following optimum parameter values were determined: 1.4 × 10 14 bead/ml for nano-magnetic bead concentration, 200 Gauss for magnetic flux density, and 40 s for magnetic attraction lasting time. The results will help develop transfection applications for low-descent-velocity cells.

SummaryIn a case of upper ureteral stricture refractory to laser ureterotomy, laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy was performed for resection of the stricture and reanastomosis of the ureter. Precise localization of the stricture segment was achieved by retrograde ureteroscopy performed concurrently with laparoscopy, with minimal change in the patient's position.

Enterococcus sp. 812, isolated from fresh broccoli, was previously found to produce a bacteriocin active against a number of Gram-positive bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteriocin activity decreased slightly after autoclaving (121 °C for 15 min), but was inactivated by protease K. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed the bacteriocin mass to be approximately 4,521.34 Da. N-terminal amino acid sequencing yielded a partial sequence, NH2-ATYYGNGVYXDKKKXWVEWGQA, by Edman degradation, which contained the consensus class IIa bacteriocin motif YGNGV in the N-terminal region. The obtained partial sequence showed high homology with some enterococcal bacteriocins; however, no identical peptide or protein was found. This peptide was therefore considered to be a novel bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus sp. 812 and was termed enterocin T.

Aims: To characterize bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) from two dochi-isolated Enterococcus faecium. Methods and Results: Enterococcus faecium D081821 and D081833 were isolated from dochi (a traditional fermented food in Taiwan) and found to produce BLIS with inhibitory activities against Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, and Bacillus cereus. Strains D081821 and D081833 showed different growth temperatures and their BLIS showed different sensitivities to heat, proteolytic enzymes, and antibacterial spectra. Both BLIS were collected, partially purified, and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE showed that both partially purified BLIS were approximately 3·0 kDa in size. Conclusions: These results indicate that E. faecium D081821 and D081833 produce different BLIS with strong antibacterial actions against the tested pathogenic bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of this study suggest that two different BLIS from dochi-isolated lactic acid bacteria have potential for use as food preservatives.

Aims: To isolate, characterize and identify bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria in soil. Methods and Results: Thirty-four acid-producing bacteria were isolated from 87 soil samples. Antibacterial activities were detected, and one strain, L28-1 produced a bacteriocin that was active against some Gram-positive bacteria. L28-1 was identified as Enterococcus durans by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and API50CHL. This bacteriocin did not lose its activity after autoclaving (121°C for 15 min), but was inactivated by protease K. The bacteriocin was purified by hydrophobic column chromatography, and Sep-Pak C18. Tricine sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the partially purified bacteriocin contained numerous protein bands. Two bands that displayed antibacterial activities were c. 3·4 and 2·5 kDa in size. In this work, the 3·4-kDa bacteriocin was analysed with N-terminal amino acid and DNA sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis. The results indicated that the 3·4-kDa bacteriocin of Ent. durans L28-1 is a new natural enterocin variant. Conclusions: Enterococcus durans L28-1 produced a new bacteriocin. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study reports a novel bacteriocin that is produced by Ent. durans that has potential for use as a food preservative.

AIM: To detect glutathione S-transferase placental (GST-P) mRNA expression in hepatic preneoplastic lesions in rats. METHODS: Using Solit-Farber model, the GST-P mRNA expression was observed in hepatic preneoplastic lesions induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in rats and normal and regenerated hepatic tissues in the control group by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: GST-P mRNA was mainly expressed in altered hepatic foci (AHF) and some of the oval cells in hepatic preneoplastic lesions and the extent of its expression was different among various foci or/and positive cells in the same focus whereas no expression was observed in normal and regenerated hepatic tissues. CONCLUSION: Cells in AHF and oval cells may be the preneoplastic cells in the experimental hepatocellular carcinoma at the molecular level and heterogeneity exists in GST-P transcription levels.