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Tephritid fruit flies are among the most destructive agricultural pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide and can impose trade barriers against the movement of fresh tropical commodities. Primary pre-harvest control methods for these flies rely on the spraying of conventional chemical insecticides or bait sprays. However, resistance to these control methods has been reported in fruit flies. Erythritol is a non-nutritive sugar alternative for human consumption, which has been tested and confirmed for its insecticidal properties against various insect pest species. In this study, using laboratory bioassays, we evaluated the insecticidal effect of erythritol alone or various erythritol formulations containing sucrose and/or protein on four tropical fruit fly species established in Hawaii (e.g., melon fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, oriental fruit fly, and Malaysian fruit fly). In addition, the effects of other non-nutritive hexose and pentose sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol, were tested. Among the different standalone and combinatory treatments tested, 1M erythritol and a combinatory formulation of 2M erythritol + 0.5M sucrose appeared to be the most detrimental to the survival of all four species of tested flies, suggesting the potential of using erythritol as a non-toxic management tool for the control of tropical tephritid fruit flies.

Debao Li,1,* Keyang Li,2,* Hongliang Dong,2 Dongmei Ren,1 Dandan Gong,2 Fuguo Jiang,1 Chunhua Shi,1 Junmin Li,1 Qi Zhang,3 Wenjuan Yan,3 Yi Li3 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiaozuo People’s Hospital, Jiaozuo, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jiaozuo People’s Hospital, Jiaozuo, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenjuan Yan; Yi LiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Weiwu Road 7#, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 15225061830; +86 15939039006Email yanwenjuan2008@126.com; liyilabmed@henu.edu.cnPurpose: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) represents a serious problem worldwide. Herein, we describe the evolution of ceftazidime–avibactam (CZA) resistance by sequencing clinical isolates from a patient with CRKP infection undergoing CZA treatment.Patients and Methods: In this study, six CRKP strains were isolated from sputum and blood samples of a patient with CRKP infection after intracerebral hemorrhage. Two strains were selected for whole-genome analysis.Results: Drug susceptibility testing showed that the MIC of CZA for CRKP strains isolated after 6 days of CZA treatment was 64-fold higher than that for three CRKP strains isolated before CZA treatment (4 vs > 256 μg/mL), whereas the MIC of imipenem and meropenem was 128-fold (> 32 vs 0.25 μg/mL) and 16-fold (> 32 vs 2 μg/mL) lower relatively, respectively. Multilocus sequence typing showed that all six CRKP strains isolated from the patient were ST11 and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed that they were of the same clone. Two strains were selected for whole-genome analysis. The aspartic acid residue at position 179 in the Ω loop was replaced by a tyrosine residue in the resistant strain, and the plasmid carried a blaKPC-2 to blaKPC-33 mutation. The results of the modified carbapenem inactivation method and the carbapenemase inhibitor enhancement and colloidal gold enzyme immunochromatographic assays for blaKPC-33 were negative.Conclusion: This is the first report from Henan to show that treatment with CZA for 6 days can cause mutations and change the phenotype from CZA sensitive to resistant. Therefore, routine testing for drug susceptibility and carbapenemase phenotypes should be conducted during treatment with CZA, and genotype determination is essential.Keywords: ceftazidime–avibactam, drug resistance, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae carbapenemase-2, ST11

Ming Fu,1,* Xiangming Hu,2,* Shuo Sun,1 Shixin Yi,1 Ying Zhang,1 Yingqing Feng,1 Yingling Zhou,1 Qingshan Geng,1 Haojian Dong1 1Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.; Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Haojian DongDepartment of Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail donghaojian@sina.comPurpose: Masked hypertension (MHT), as an independent clinical entity, the cardiac dysfunction caused by it can be early detected through left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), yet the quantitative relation between MHT and GLS is still unclear. Therefore, we tried to conduct a community-based retrospective study to define this relationship.Patients and Methods: A total of 308 enrolled participants from Dongguan, China, were divided into non-hypertension (NHT) and MHT groups. Baseline characteristics were recorded, and echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed. Linear regression analysis and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to assess the associations between MHT and GLS in univariate and multivariate models, and the dose–response curve was plotted to demonstrate their relationship.Results: The mean age of the NHT and MHT groups was 57 and 60 years, respectively. Signs of left ventricular diastolic function, E/A was reduced and E/e’ was increased in the MHT group while those of the NHT group were nearly normal. The MHT group also showed a significantly lower (“worse”) GLS than NHT (− 15.2% vs − 19.9%, P < 0.001) while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) did not differ between the groups. Worse GLS was independently and significantly associated with MHT both in univariate (odds ratio [OR]: 1.97, P < 0.001) and stepwise multivariate regression analysis (OR: 1.99, P < 0.001). Comparison of ROC curve results showed that area under curve of GLS was larger than that of E/e’ both in unadjusted (0.8673 vs 0.6831) and adjusted model (0.9178 vs 0.8284). Further analysis showed adjusted nonlinear correlation between MHT and GLS.Conclusion: Based on the relationship between MHT and GLS, in clinical practice, GLS measurement could facilitate diagnosis for suspected MHT patients and could define the extent of left ventricular dysfunction for diagnosed MHT patients.Keywords: masked hypertension, left ventricular dysfunction, global longitudinal strain, nonlinear relation

Yingying Shen,1 Yuzhu Li,2 Hangchao Li,2 Qi Liu,2 Huijie Dong,2 Bo Wang,1 Baodong Ye,1 Shenyun Lin,1 Yiping Shen,1 Dijiong Wu1 1Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 2First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Dijiong Wu; Yiping ShenDepartment of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail wudijiong@zcmu.edu.cn; shenyp_@126.comAbstract: Monocytopenia and mycobacterial infection (MonoMAC) syndrome is a rare disease. Herein, we reported a 65-year-old Asian woman, previously diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), suffering from recurrent pneumonia, intermittent fever, fatigue, and chest tightness lasting for five months. She was ultimately diagnosed with MonoMAC syndrome with Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii) infection and GATA2 mutation through metagenomic generation sequencing (mNGS) of peripheral blood specimen, for which she was given anti-NTM therapy. Her situation significantly improved within 2 weeks of therapy. We discussed the clinical features, genetic characteristic, and prognosis of this disorder, aiming to further elucidate this rare syndrome. For MDS/AML patient with recurrent mixed infection and pancytopenia (especially with monocyte absence), MonoMAC syndrome should be highly suspected, and germline mutation and pathogen sequencing should be performed.Keywords: monocytopenia and mycobacterial infection syndrome, MonoMAC, M. kansasii, GATA-2 germline mutation, nontuberculous mycobacteria, next-generation sequencing

Hao Dong,1,* Yan-Qiang Qin,2,* Ying-Chun Sun,2,* Hai-Jiang Yao,2 Xian-Kuan Cheng,2 Yan Yu,1 Shou-Si Lu1 1Beijing Bo’ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China Rehabilitation Science Institute, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Treatment Center of TCM, Beijing Bo’ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China Rehabilitation Science Institute, School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yan-Qiang Qin; Ying-Chun SunTreatment Center of TCM, Beijing Bo’ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, China Rehabilitation Science Institute, No. 10 Jiaomen North Road, Beijing, 100068, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 18612251241Email yanqiangqin@126.com; syccrrc@sina.comBackground: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of physical therapy that has been widely used in clinical practice in China. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric complication after stroke. EA has been shown to have beneficial effects on PSD patients. However, the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of EA on PSD remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathway participates in the therapeutic effects of EA in a rat PSD model.Methods: Experimental PSD was induced by combining middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) in adult male rats. Bodyweight gain, neurological score, sucrose preference, and open field test were determined at 0, 7, 14, and 35 days after completing MCAO. The protein expressions of tPA, precursor BDNF (proBDNF), mature BDNF (mBDNF), and TrkB were measured by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. The tPA inhibitor plasminogen inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was used to explore whether tPA plays a crucial role in the protective effects of EA on PSD.Results: Compared with the sham rats, the PSD rats showed decreased bodyweight, deteriorated neurological score, and significant depressive-like behaviors. EA remarkably reversed bodyweight loss, neurological deficit, and depressive-like behaviors in PSD rats. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis showed that PSD-induced decreased expression of tPA, mBDNF, and TrkB were prevented by EA. Furthermore, we found that the effects of EA against PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors were abolished by PAI-1, the specific inhibitor of tPA.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the improvement in depressive-like behaviors induced by EA is likely achieved via activation of the tPA/BDNF/TrkB pathway.Keywords: electroacupuncture, poststroke depression, depressive-like behaviors, tPA/BDNF/TrkB, chronic unpredictable mild stimulation

We used 4-yr baseline Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 IR observations of the Galactic Centre in the F153M band (1.53 μm) to identify variable stars in the central ~2.3 arcmin × 2.3 arcmin field.We classified 3845 long-term (periods from months to years) and 76 short-term (periods of a few days or less) variables among a total sample of 33 070 stars. For 36 of the latter ones, we also derived their periods (< 3 d). Our catalogue not only confirms bright long period variables and massive eclipsing binaries identified in previous works but also contains many newly recognized dim variable stars. For example, we found δ Scuti and RR Lyrae stars towards the Galactic Centre for the first time, as well as one BL Her star (period < 1.3 d). We cross-correlated our catalogue with previous spectroscopic studies and found that 319 variables have well-defined stellar types, such as Wolf-Rayet, OB main sequence, supergiants and asymptotic giant branch stars. We used colours and magnitudes to infer the probable variable types for those stars without accurately measured periods or spectroscopic information. We conclude that the majority of unclassified variables could potentially be eclipsing/ellipsoidal binaries and Type II Cepheids. Our source catalogue will be valuable for future studies aimed at constraining the distance, star formation history and massive binary fraction of the Milky Way nuclear star cluster.

Chromosome missegregation into a micronucleus can cause complex and localized genomic rearrangements known as chromothripsis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Here we developed an inducible Y centromere-selective inactivation strategy by exploiting a CENP-A/histone H3 chimaera to directly examine the fate of missegregated chromosomes in otherwise diploid human cells. Using this approach, we identified a temporal cascade of events that are initiated following centromere inactivation involving chromosome missegregation, fragmentation, and re-ligation that span three consecutive cell cycles. Following centromere inactivation, a micronucleus harbouring the Y chromosome is formed in the first cell cycle. Chromosome shattering, producing up to 53 dispersed fragments from a single chromosome, is triggered by premature micronuclear condensation prior to or during mitotic entry of the second cycle. Lastly, canonical non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), but not homology-dependent repair, is shown to facilitate re-ligation of chromosomal fragments in the third cycle. Thus, initial errors in cell division can provoke further genomic instability through fragmentation of micronuclear DNAs coupled to NHEJ-mediated reassembly in the subsequent interphase.

Yu Li,1,* Ting Zhang,2,* Jing Huang,1 Haiyan Dong,1 Jingjing Xie,3 Lee Jia4 1Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, People’s Republic of China; 2Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, and Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Haiyan DongInstitute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, 1 Xue Yuan Road, University Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail cmopdhy@163.comJingjing XieSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiang’an South Road, Xiamen, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail xiejj@xmu.edu.cnBackground/Objective: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are known as the root of cancer metastasis. Capture and inhibition of CTCs may prevent metastasis. Due to the rarity of CTCs in vivo, the current technology about CTCs capture is still challenging. The aim of our study was to conjugate the enhanced biostable double-strand (ds) circular aptamer (dApR) with dendrimers for capturing and restraining CTCs in vitro and in vivo.Methods: CEM-targeting aptamer (Ap) was looped by ligation after phosphorylation to form circular ds aptamer dApR, which was then conjugated to dendrimers by biotin-streptavidin affinity reaction and named as G-dApR. The physicochemical properties of G-dApR were characterized by using PAGE gel electrophoresis, UV, DLS, AFM, fluorophotometer and laser confocal microscope. Biostability of G-dApR was also analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were then performed to determine the binding specificity of G-dApR to CEM cells and the captured CTCs in mice and in human blood. Apoptosis of the captured cells was finally evaluated by using MTT assay, DAPI staining, AO/EB staining, cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.Results: Physicochemical characterization demonstrated the entity of dApR and G-dApR, and the nano-size of G-dApR (about 180 nm in aqueous phase). G-dApR exhibited the excellent biostability that confers their resistance to nuclease-mediated biodegradation in serum for at least 6 days. In our established CTCs model, we found that G-dApR could specifically and sensitively capture CTCs not non-target cells even in the presence of millions of interfering cells (108), in mice and in human blood. Finally, the activity of captured CTCs was significantly down-regulated by G-dApR, resulting in apoptosis.Conclusion: We created the enhanced biostable dApR-coated dendrimers (G-dApR) that could specifically capture and restrain CTCs in vitro and in vivo for preventing CTC-mediated cancer metastasis.Keywords: metastasis, CTCs, G-dApR, biostability, specificity

Invasive snails and flies are major pests of imported orchids, controlled by methyl bromide (MB) fumigation in Korea. We compared the efficacy and phytotoxicity of ethyl formate (EF) and MB on four species of imported orchids using juvenile stages of Achatina fulica and third and fourth instars of Lycoriella mali. EF was as effective as MB. The LCt99 values of EF were 68.1 and 73.1 g h/m3 at 15 °C; and those of MB were 95.9 and 78.4 g h/m3 at 15 °C for A. fulica and L. mali, respectively. In the scale-up trials, EF treatment at 35 g/m3 for 4 h at 15 °C resulted in complete control of both pests. MB treatment based on the current treatment guidelines for imported orchids (48 g/m3, 2 h, at >15 °C) resulted in complete control of L. mali but not of A. fulica. Chlorophyll content and hue values of treated orchids were not affected by EF treatment but significantly changed by MB (p-value < 0.05). All four treated species of orchids died within 30 d of MB treatment, while only one species died from EF treatment. Our results suggest that EF is a potential alternative to MB in phytosanitary treatment of imported orchids.

Potential-averaged fivedimensional (PA5D) time-dependent wave packet calculations have been carried out to obtain the initial state-specific reaction probabilities and rate constants for a series of reactant rotationally excited states of the title reaction on one of our recently developed potential energy surface (F12a PES). It is found that individual excitation of the reactant HC1 to j1=2 or OH to j2=1 yields the largest total reaction probability except for low collision energies. In the low energy region, the resonance enhancement of reaction probability decreases rapidly with the increase of OH rotational excitation, resulting in a rapid decline in the rate constant below 250 K. The rate constant of the simultaneous HC1 and OH rotational excitation is not a simple superposition of the results of the separate excitation. Finally, we obtain the thermal rate constants of the reaction by Boltzmann averaging the rate constants for initial rotational states up to (5, 5), which are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haiyan Wang, 1 Qiuping Xu, 1 Hui Hu, 2 Chunling Shi, 3 Ziyan Lin, 3 Huixi Jiang, 3 Huaipu Dong, 3 Jing Guo 1 1Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People’s Republic of China; 2Osaka Dental University Kusuha School, Hirakata City, Osaka 573-1121, Japan; 3School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jing GuoDepartment of Orthodontics, Room 201, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Shandong University, 44-1 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong 250012, Mainland ChinaEmail guojing@sdu.edu.cnBackground: Relying on surface topography alone to enhance the osteointegration of implants is still inadequate. An effective way to combine long-term ion release and surface topography to enhance osteogenic property is urgently needed.Purpose: The objective of this study is to fabricate a long-term strontium ion release implant system and confirm the biological function in vitro and in vivo.Methods: The biomimic surface was fabricated through alkali-heat treatment and magnetron sputtering. The in vitro biological function assays were determined by MTT, fluorescence staining, alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular mineralization, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. The in vivo experiments were detected by micro-CT, HE staining and Masson staining.Results: The biomimic surface structure has been successfully fabricated. The in vitro cell assays determined that AH-Ti/Sr90 possessed the best biological function. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that AH-Ti/Sr90 could promote osteointegration significantly under both in normal and osteoporotic conditions.Conclusion: We determined that AH-Ti/Sr90 possesses the best osteogenic property, long-term ion release capacity and osteointegration promotion ability. It has potential clinic application prospects.Keywords: titanium, alkali-heat treatment, magnetron sputtering, osteogenic differentiation, osteoclast inhibition

Huijie Dong,1,* Yingying Shen,1,2,* Yiping Shen,1,2 Dijiong Wu1,2 1First Clinical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dijiong WuDepartment of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail wudijiong@zcmu.edu.cnAbstract: A 49-year-old male patient who had been diagnosed with variable hairy cell leukemia (HCL-V) was treated with interferon for half a year but exert no obvious effect. After two courses of chemotherapy with cladribine, he achieved remission, and splenomegaly significantly improved (the length in craniocaudal dimension decreased from 15.8cm to 11.8cm). Four years later, the patient got disease relapse and was recommended for another cycle of cladribine (6mg for 7 days). On the last day of cladribine, the patient developed fever with needle-like red rashes on the face, limbs, and trunk. At the very beginning, the rash was lighter in color, sparsely distributed, and without obvious itching. Three days later, the rash gradually darkened, expanded and merged, with itching. With the application of high dose gamma globulin and corticosteroids (prednisolone combined with dexamethasone), the rash finally faded, and the patient was discharged. Rash caused by cladribine is not uncommon, such serious and widespread drug-induced rash is rare, and there are few reports. This article reviewed relevant studies and treatments.Keywords: hairy cell leukemia, cladribine, system rash, side effect

Spectroscopic studies of water clusters provide insight into the hydrogen bond structure of water and ice. The authors measure infrared spectra of neutral water octamers using a threshold photoionization technique based on a tunable vacuum-UV free electron laser, identifying two cubic isomers in addition to those previously observed.