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原发性醛固酮增多症（PA）的单侧肾上腺醛固酮瘤或增生是手术可治愈的继发性高血压。选择肾上腺静脉采血（AVS）决定肾上腺醛固酮分泌优势侧，是确定需做手术PA患者的关键检查。目前关于AVS的适用人群、操作路径、数据解读、是否可被无创方法替代及应用前景等诸多方面仍存在争议，本文就AVS的历史和以上热点问题进行探讨。.

急性化脓性甲状腺炎较罕见，特点是起病急骤、病情多变，若治疗不及时可导致纵隔脓肿、气管或食管瘘，死亡风险高。在早期甲状腺脓肿未形成时易误诊为亚急性甲状腺炎。本例患者梨状窝瘘导致的急性化脓性甲状腺炎误诊为亚急性甲状腺炎，在应用糖皮质激素治疗后疾病进展伴颈部脓肿形成，需行脓肿切开引流及术后短暂呼吸机持续辅助呼吸。感染控制后行第三鰓裂瘘管探查切除，术后随访无复发。.

Skin basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor. Recent studies demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in tumorigenesis and may represent potential therapeutic targets. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression profiles of circRNAs and their role in skin BCC.Three pairs of skin BCC tissues and adjacent tissues were used to perform a circRNA microarray for screening of circRNA expression profiles. Circ_NCKAP1 was selected as a target circRNA by RT-qPCR verification and bioinformatics analysis. The effect of circ_NCKAP1 knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis was assessed using CCK8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI assays, and its regulation over the miR-148b-5p/HSP90 axis was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay.Circ_NCKAP1 was found to be significantly upregulated in skin BCC tissues (p0.05). In vitro loss-of-function assays demonstrated that circ_NCKAP1 knockdown markedly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis (p0.05). Moreover, Dual-Luciferase reporter assay identified that circ_NCKAP1 could bind to miR-148b-5p directly, and HSP90 was targeted by miR-148b-5p.Circ_NCKAP1 can promote skin BCC progression by sponging the miR-148b-5p/HSP90 axis, and circ_NCKAP1 may be a potential target for skin BCC therapy.

Annexin A1 (AnxA1, also known as lipocortin-1), is a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein with diverse functions. Previous studies have indicated that AnxA1 is associated with age-related β-cell dysfunction and aging, which lead to decreased β-cell proliferation capacity. However, it has been uncertain whether AnxA1 affects the proliferation of pancreatic beta (β) cells. In the present study, we reduced AnxA1 expression in the MIN6 islet β-cell line using small interfering RNA (AnxA1-siRNA), then measured cell cycle distribution and cellular proliferation. We also measured the expression levels of cell cycle-related proteins such as cyclin D1, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) by Western blot analysis. We investigated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ serine/threonine protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway to explore the potential mechanism underlying the observed effects. Knockdown of AnxA1 expression using siRNA reduced the rates of MIN6 cell proliferation. The proportions of cells in S and G2/M phases also decreased upon inhibition of AnxA1. Moreover, AnxA1 protein expression in MIN6 cells was positively related to the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK2. Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by AnxA1 may be involved in the signaling cascade to regulate cell proliferation. This study identified a positive correlation between AnxA1 protein and pancreatic β-cell proliferation. AnxA1 protein expression might affect the proliferation of MIN6 cells via regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK2 proteins, as well as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

This study evaluates the efficacy of statin-ezetimibe co-therapy compared to statin monotherapy in reducing cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in diabetes and non-diabetes patients.Literature search was conducted in electronic databases and study selection was based on pre-determined eligibility criteria. Random-effects metanalyses were performed to examine the risk of CVD incidence between statin-ezetimibe co-therapy and statin monotherapy and subgroups were performed to examine the significance of differences between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. A pooled analysis of hazard ratios of statin-ezetimibe combination versus statin monotherapy in the prevalence of CVD reported by the individual studies was also performed.8 studies (136893 individuals; 80790 diabetics, 85555 non-diabetics; age 63.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 61.2, 65.8]; 61.5% [95% CI 55.2, 67.8] males) were included. Follow-up duration was 45 months [95% CI 27.5, 62.5]. Risk of CVD prevalence was significantly less with ezetimibe-statin than with statin alone in both diabetes (RR 0.69 [95% CI 0.67, 0.73]; p0.00001) and in non-diabetes (RR 0.68 [95% CI 0.52, 0.90]; p=0.006) subjects (subgroup difference: chi2=0.00; p=0.97). Risk of prevalence of stroke was significantly less with ezetimibe-statin than with statin monotherapy in diabetes (RR 0.74 [95% CI 0.56, 0.98]; p=0.03) but non-significantly less in non-diabetes patients (RR 0.74 [95% CI 0.39, 1.41]; p=0.39) and this sub-group difference was also not statistically significant (chi2=0.00; p=0.99).Statin-ezetimibe co-therapy is found more efficacious than statin monotherapy in reducing the incidence of CVD with no significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Objectives To explore the association between the virulence genes exoU and pldA in isolated mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the clinical outcomes of patients with non–cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was performed in the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from October 2012 to January 2015. We consecutively enrolled all non-CF bronchiectasis patients with mucoid P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or sputum. The exposure variable was the presence of virulence gene, exoU or pldA, in the strains. The primary outcome was exacerbation of bronchiectasis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between virulence genes and exacerbation. Results The final analysis included 147 patients (mean (SD) age, 57.86 (11.43) years, 101 female subjects) with median (interquartile range) follow-up of 18 (13–26) months. The following factors were relative to exacerbations: body mass index ≤18.5 kg/m2 (odds ratio (OR) = 5.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37–18.57), length of stay ≥8 days (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.14–6.19) and positive for either virulence gene (OR = 6.80; 95% CI, 1.47–31.37). The gene-positive group had more exacerbations per year (mean 2.37, SD 2.10, n = 33 vs. mean 0.79, SD 0.83, n = 114) and a higher proportion of patients with exacerbation (31/33, 93.94% vs. 74/114, 64.91%). The proportion of patients being exoU or pldA positive increased as the exacerbation frequency of bronchiectasis increased. Conclusions The virulence genes exoU and pldA in mucoid P. aeruginosa are significant risk factors for exacerbations in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis.

We conducted this study to assess the clinical application of obestatin and arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels in cases of acute renal failure (ARF) and acute heart failure (AHF).30 cases of ARF, 30 cases of AHF, 30 cases of ARF complicated with AHF, and 30 cases of healthy subjects (control group) were successively selected. An ELISA test was conducted to detect levels of obestatin and AVP. Routine biochemistry testing was applied to detect the levels of serum creatinine and calculate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Electrochemiluminescence double antibody sandwich fluorescence immune testing was applied to detect NT-proBNP and color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic apparatus was applied to detect renal arterial resistive index (RI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The 30-day mortality was documented.Compared to other groups, the group of patients suffering from ARF complicated with AHF had significantly higher levels of obestatin and AVP, and significantly higher levels of serum creatinine, NT-proBNP and RI; however, their GFR and LVEF levels were the lowest. Differences were statistically significant (p0.05). Levels of obestatin and AVP are positively correlated with serum creatinine, NT-proBNP and RI levels, but negatively correlated with GFR and LVEF levels. The mortality rate of the group suffering from ARF complicated with AHF was markedly increased (p = 0.035). The obestatin and AVP levels of the death group were significantly higher than that of the survival group. However, the comparison among levels of serum creatinine, GFR, NT-proBNP, RI and LVEF revealed no statistical significance (p0.05).Obestatin and AVP levels were closely related to the severity of ARF and AHF and survival prognosis, which could be a sensitive indicator for diagnoses and prognoses.

Following studies that showed negative effects of species loss on ecosystem functioning newer studies have started to investigate if similar consequences could result from reductions of genetic diversity within species. We tested the influence of genotypic richness and dissimilarity (plots containing one three six or 12 genotypes) in stands of the invasive plant Solidago canadensis in China on the decomposition of its leaf litter and associated soil animals over five monthly time intervals. We found that the logarithm of genotypic richness was positively linearly related to mass loss of C N and P from the litter and to richness and abundance of soil animals on the litter samples. The mixing proportion of litter from two sites but not genotypic dissimilarity of mixtures had additional effects on measured variables. The litter diversity effects on soil animals were particularly strong under the most stressful conditions of hot weather in July: at this time richness and abundance of soil animals were higher in 12 genotype litter mixtures than even in the highest corresponding one genotype litter. The litter diversity effects on decomposition were in part mediated by soil animals: the abundance of Acarina when used as covariate in the analysis fully explained the litter diversity effects on mass loss of N and P. Overall our study shows that high genotypic richness of S. canadensis leaf litter positively affects richness and abundance of soil animals which in turn accelerate litter decomposition and P release from litter.

Phedimus aizoon var. latifolius (Sedum aizoon), a crassulaceae herb, is widely cultivated in northern China, including Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong provinces, as well as in Korea and Russia. In the middle of August 2015, approximately 40% plants with leaf spots were observed on the campus of Jilin Agricultural University, China. The leaves of P. aizoon var. latifolius were browned from the edge to inside with round or irregular lesions. Brown spots enlarged and coalesced later and resulted in early leaf fall. Plant symptomatic tissues were surface disinfested with 75% ethyl alcohol for 30 s, followed by 0.1% NaOCl for 1 min, washed with sterile distilled water three times before plating onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Six pure cultures with similar morphology were obtained through single spore isolation. The representative isolate (FC-DB1) cultivated on PDA at 25°C with a 12-h alternate light and dark period for 5 days. The fungal colonies were white to luteous, edge irregular and surfa...

Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) is a chemical activator of systematic resistance in many plants. The effect of postharvest dipping with different concentrations of ASM was studied in Hami melons (cvs. New Queen and 8601). A concentration at 200 mg/L was the most effective treatment for reducing decay severity caused by Alternaria alternata, Fusarium semitectum and Trichothecium roseum. Higher concentration (300 mg/L) failed to promote better resistance against decay-causing agent and to cause phytotoxicity. ASM did not demonstrate any fungicide effect in vitro and suppressed lesion diameter in treated melons, indicating that disease resistance was induced. Efficacy of suppression against T. roseum lasted 7 and 10 days for 'New Queen' and '8601' cultivars in ASM treated fruit. The protection of ASM was associated with the activation of peroxidase (POD), chitinase (CHT) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) in treated melons.

An optimal annealing temperature and time was determined for single crystal samples of the RNi 2 B 2 C series, R=Gd–Lu, Y. For R=Dy–Tm, Lu and Y dramatic improvements in the low temperature resistivity, residual resistivity ratio and implicitly the electronic mean free path were found for annealing temperature T =1000 °C and annealing time t ≈75–100 h. This annealing schedule is somewhat less effective in changing the temperature dependent resistivities of TbNi 2 B 2 C and GdNi 2 B 2 C but it produces dramatic changes in the resistivity of the heavy Fermion compound YbNi 2 B 2 C.

A dynamically screened three-Coulomb-wave (DS3C) method is applied to study the single ionization of magnesium by electron impact. Triple differential cross sections (TDCS) are calculated in doubly symmetric geometry at incident energies of 13.65, 17.65, 22.65, 27.65, 37.65, 47.65, 57.65, and 67.65 eV. Comparisons are made with experimental data and theoretical predictions from a three-Coulomb-wave function (3C) approach and distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA). The overall agreement between the predictions of the DS3C model and the DWBA approach with the experimental data is satisfactory.

Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gravimetry has been used to study GaAs (100) surfaces treated with a neutralized (NH4)2S solution. Compared to the conventional basic (NH4)2S solution treatment, a thick Ga sulfide layer and strong Ga–S bond were formed on the GaAs surface after dipping GaAs wafers in a neutralized (NH4)2S solution. Gravimetric data show that the etching rate of GaAs in the neutralized (NH4)2S solution is about 15% slower than that in the conventional (NH4)2S solution. From SEM observation, fewer etching pits with smaller sizes were found on the neutralized (NH4)2S-treated GaAs surface.

Administration of corticosteroids to patients affected by influenza virus, especially pandemic avian influenza virus, although relatively common, remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the impact of corticosteroid treatment on outcomes of patients with influenza virus infection. The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to February, 2015. Studies comparing corticosteroid treatment with no corticosteroid treatment in patients with influenza virus infection were included. The primary outcomes assessed were the association of mortality and nosocomial infection with corticosteroid treatment. Two authors independently extracted the data. ORs and weighted mean differences (WMDs) were used to describe dichotomous data and continuous data, respectively. Nineteen studies with 4916 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that corticosteroid treatment was significantly associated with mortality (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.62–2.43, p