RNA Interference-Mediated Knockdown of Bombyx mori Haemocyte-Specific Cathepsin L (Cat L)-Like Cysteine Protease Gene Increases Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki Toxicity and Reproduction in Insect Cadavers

The silkworm’s Cat L-like gene, which encodes a lysosomal cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, is thought to be part of the insect’s innate immunity via an as-yet-undetermined mechanism. Assuming that the primary function of Cat L-like is microbial degradation in mature phagosomes, we hypothesise that the suppression of the Cat L-like gene expression would increase Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteraemia and toxicity in knockdown insects. Here, we performed a functional analysis of Cat L-like in larvae that were fed mulberry leaves contaminated with a commercial biopesticide formulation based on Bt kurstaki (Btk) (i.e., Dipel) to investigate its role in insect defence against a known entomopathogen. Exposure to sublethal doses of Dipel resulted in overexpression of the Cat L-like gene in insect haemolymph 24 and 48 h after exposure. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated suppression of Cat L-like expression significantly increased the toxicity of Dipel to exposed larvae. Moreover, Btk replication was higher in RNAi insects, suggesting that Cat L-like cathepsin may be involved in a bacterial killing mechanism of haemocytes. Finally, our results confirm that Cat L-like protease is part of the antimicrobial defence of insects and suggest that it could be used as a target to increase the insecticidal efficacy of Bt-based biopesticides.     

Abnormal Micronutrient Intake Is Associated with the Risk of Periodontitis: A Dose–response Association Study Based on NHANES 2009–2014

The association between micronutrient intake and the risk of periodontitis has received much attention in recent years. However, most studies focused on the linear relationship between them. This study aimed to explore the dose–response association between micronutrient intake and periodontitis. A total of 8959 participants who underwent a periodontal examination, and reported their micronutrient intake levels were derived from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2009–2014) database. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate associations between micronutrient intake and periodontitis after propensity score matching (PSM), and restricted cubic splines (RCS) analysis was conducted to explore the dose–response associations. Following PSM, 5530 participants were included in the RCS analysis. The risk of periodontitis was reduced with sufficient intake of the following micronutrients: vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin E. In addition, the risk of periodontitis was increased with excessive intake of the following micronutrients: vitamin B1 (1.8 mg/day, males; 1.3 mg/day, females), vitamin C (90 mg/day, males), and copper (1.1 mg/day, combined). In conclusion, a linear association was found between vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and copper and periodontitis—namely, a sufficient intake of vitamin A and vitamin B2 might help reduce the prevalence of periodontitis; by contrast, a high intake of vitamin C and copper increased the risk. In addition, a nonlinear dose–response association was found for the incidence of periodontitis with vitamin B1 and vitamin E. When within reasonable limits, supplemental intake helped reduce the prevalence of periodontitis, while excessive intake did not help significantly and might even increase the risk. However, confounding factors, such as health awareness, should still be considered.     

针灸加微波治疗肱骨外上髁炎100例

肱骨外上髁炎,俗称网球肘,属中医筋伤范畴,是常见的肘部筋腱慢性劳损性疾病。多见于从事前臂劳动强度较大的工作人员,如木工、银行点钞员及网球运动员。临床可见肘关节外侧酸痛、病侧手部无力握物、前臂旋转活动受限。中医认为与素体亏损、血不养筋、气滞血瘀有关。2004年5月至今我院理疗康复中心采用“针灸加微波疗法治疗肱骨外上髁炎100例,结果令人满意。现总结如下。1临床资料100例患者均为门诊病例,诊断均符合高等中医院校《中医骨伤科学》肘部筋伤的诊断标准。其中男性30例,女性7例;年龄最大65岁,最小30例,平均年龄45岁;病程最长年,最…     

林区心脑血管病高发原因临床分析

心脑血管病已成为危害人类健康的头等杀手,此病在林区发病率较全国偏高,近10年来,大兴安岭林区患冠心病、脑梗塞,心肌梗塞,脑出血的人数逐年增多,而且越来越年轻化。笔者从事中西医结合治疗心脑血管病20多年,看到心脑血管病不仅危害人的生命,同时易致病残,降低了人们的生活质量     

Research Progress on Emerging Viral Pathogens of Small Ruminants in China during the Last Decade

China is the country with the largest number of domestic small ruminants in the world. Recently, the intensive and large-scale sheep/goat raising industry has developed rapidly, especially in nonpastoral regions. Frequent trading, allocation, and transportation result in the introduction and prevalence of new pathogens. Several new viral pathogens (peste des petits ruminants virus, caprine parainfluenza virus type 3, border disease virus, enzootic nasal tumor virus, caprine herpesvirus 1, enterovirus) have been circulating and identified in China, which has attracted extensive attention from both farmers and researchers. During the last decade, studies examining the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and vaccines for these emerging viruses have been conducted. In this review, we focus on the latest findings and research progress related to these newly identified viral pathogens in China, discuss the current situation and problems, and propose research directions and prevention strategies for different diseases in the future. Our aim is to provide comprehensive and valuable information for the prevention and control of these emerging viruses and highlight the importance of surveillance of emerging or re-emerging viruses.     

Study on Wear Mechanism of Helical Gear by Three-Body Abrasive Based on Impact Load

This study aimed to explore the wear characteristics and evolution mechanisms of large-scale wind power gears under the impact load of particles of the three-body abrasive Al₂O₃ (0.2 mg/mL) from four aspects: oil analysis, vibration analysis, amount of gear wear, and tooth-surface-wear profile analysis. A magnetic powder brake was used to simulate the actual working conditions. Combined with the abrasive particle monitoring and the morphology analysis of the tooth-surface-wear scar, by setting quantitative hard particles in the lubricating oil, the gears are mainly operated in the abrasive wear state, and wear monitoring and wear degree analysis are carried out for the whole life cycle of the gears. Oil samples were observed and qualitatively analyzed using a particle counter, a single ferrograph, a metallographic microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. The experiments demonstrate that the initial hard particles have a greater impact in the early wear stage of the gears (<20 h), and abrasive particle concentration increases by 30%. This means that Al₂O₃ particles accelerate the gear wear during the running-in period. The loading method of the impact load on the oblique gear exacerbates the abrasion particle wear and expands the stress concentration, which reduces the surface of large milling particles on the surface, and reduces the width of the tooth (the part above the pitch line is severely worn), which causes the gear to break into failure. The research provides help for analyzing the mechanism of abrasive wear of gears and predicting wear life.     

植物多糖对家兔动脉粥样硬化脂质过氧化及炎症反应的干预

目的:探讨枸杞多糖、黄芪多糖对家兔动脉粥样硬化(As)脂质过氧化及炎症反应的干预机制。方法:将48只雄性新西兰大白兔随机分为4组:正常组(12只),As模型组(12只),枸杞多糖(LBP)治疗组和黄芪多糖(APS)治疗组。10周后,测定各组空腹甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TCh)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、一氧化氮(NO)、丙二醛(MDA)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、内皮素-1(ET-1)的含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,并计算HDL-C/TCh,同时计算主动脉内膜粥样斑块面积。结果:模型组与正常组比较,TG、TCh、ET-1、NO、CRP、MDA明显升高(P<0.01),HDL-C/TCh、SOD活性明显下降(P<0.01),主动脉内膜粥样斑块面积较大;而LBP和APS治疗组与模型组比较,TG、ET-1、NO、CRP明显下降(P<0.01),HDL-C/TCh和SOD活性明显升高(P<0.01),主动脉内膜粥样斑块面积明显减少(P<0.01)。结论:枸杞多糖和黄芪多糖对动脉粥样硬化有明显的预防和治疗作用,机制可能与降低血脂、抗氧化、调节免疫等功能有关。     

兔骨髓诱导的内皮细胞和纤维蛋白凝胶体外共培养

目的将兔骨髓诱导的内皮细胞接种于纤维蛋白凝胶内并观察其生长增值情况。方法梯度离心分离兔骨髓单个核细胞（MNCs）,直接向内皮细胞诱导培养,传代培养至第2代细胞,倒置显微镜观察细胞形态及生长特点,免疫组化鉴定;以10^5密度接种于纤维蛋白凝胶中培养并定期观察细胞生长情况,单纯细胞及胶原内的细胞分别用MTT法检测其生长并绘制生长曲线,胶原切片并作苏木精．伊红染色观察细胞在胶原内的生长。结果诱导的内皮细胞为铺路石样。呈单层生长,第2代细胞CD31、八因子相关抗原免疫组化均为阳性,摄取低密度脂蛋白和结合凝集素实验均阳性;细胞在纤维蛋白凝胶内成立体生长,细胞在纤维蛋白凝胶内3d后成梭形铺开,6d后自发形成管腔样结构;细胞在纤维蛋白凝胶内生长曲线成“s”形。结论骨髓诱导的内皮细胞在纤维蛋白凝胶内生长增值良好,纤维蛋白凝胶可以作为接种骨髓诱导的内皮细胞的基质材料。     

Characterization of phenotypes of skeletal Class III malocclusion in Korean adult patients treated with orthognathic surgery using cluster analysis

ObjectivesTo characterize the phenotypes of skeletal Class III malocclusion in adult patients who underwent orthognathic surgery (OGS).Materials and MethodsThe sample consisted of 326 patients with Class III malocclusion treated with OGS (170 men and 156 women; mean age, 22.2 years). Using lateral cephalograms taken at initial visits, 13 angular variables and one ratio cephalometric variable were measured. Using three representative variables obtained from principal components analysis (SNA, SNB, and Björk sum), K-means cluster analysis was performed to classify the phenotypes. Statistical analysis was conducted to characterize the differences in the cephalometric variables among the clusters.ResultsClass III phenotypes were classified into nine clusters from the following four major groups: (1) retrusive maxilla group, clusters 7 and 9 (7.1% and 5.5%; severely retrusive maxilla, normal mandible, severe and moderate hyperdivergent, respectively) and cluster 6 (9.2%; retrusive maxilla, normal mandible, normodivergent); (2) relatively protrusive mandible group, cluster 2 (20.9%; normal maxilla, normal mandible, hyperdivergent); (3) protrusive mandible group, clusters 3 and 1 (11.7% and 15.3%; normal maxilla, protrusive mandible, normodivergent and hyperdivergent, respectively) and clusters 8 and 4 (15.3% and 3.7%; normal maxilla, severe protrusive mandible, normodivergent and hypodivergent, respectively); and (4) protrusive maxilla and protrusive mandible group, cluster 5 (11.4%; protrusive maxilla, severely protrusive mandible, normodivergent). Considerations for presurgical orthodontic treatment and OGS planning were proposed based on the Class III phenotypes.ConclusionsBecause the anteroposterior position of the maxilla and rotation of the mandible by a patient''s vertical pattern determine Class III phenotypes, these variables should be considered in diagnosis and treatment planning for patients who have skeletal Class III malocclusion.     

Evaluation of blood pressure lowering effect by generic and brand-name antihypertensive drugs treatment: a multicenter prospective study in China

Background::Generic drugs are bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts; however, concerns still exist regarding the effectiveness and safety of generic dr...