Development of 39 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas using Illumina paired-end sequencing

Dosidicus gigas is an abundant squid species supporting one of the most important fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Assessment and management of the fishery requires reliable information on the population’s genetic structure. In this study, we isolated and characterized 39 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci for D. gigas using Illumina paired-end sequencing. Loci were screened in 20 individuals from the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 26 (mean = 14.72). The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.150 to 0.950 (mean = 0.604), and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.487 to 0.972 (mean = 0.872). The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.440 to 0.945, with a mean of 0.836. These microsatellite loci are expected to be useful for further studies of genetic diversity and genetic structure of D. gigas.     

Impact of Dietary Aromatic Amino Acids on Osteoclastic Activity

We had shown that aromatic amino acid (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) supplementation prevented bone loss in an aging C57BL/6 mice model. In vivo results from the markers of bone breakdown suggested an inhibition of osteoclastic activity or differentiation. To assess osteoclastic differentiation, we examined the effects of aromatic amino acids on early /structural markers as vitronectin receptor, calcitonin receptor, and carbonic anhydrase II as well as, late/functional differentiation markers; cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Our data demonstrate that the aromatic amino acids down-regulated early and late osteoclastic differentiation markers as measured by real time PCR. Our data also suggest a link between the vitronectin receptor and the secreted cathepsin K that both showed consistent effects to the aromatic amino acid treatment. However, the non-attachment related proteins, calcitonin receptor, and carbonic anhydrase II, demonstrated less consistent effects in response to treatment. Our data are consistent with aromatic amino acids down-regulating osteoclastic differentiation by suppressing remodeling gene expression thus contributing initially to the net increase in bone mass seen in vivo.     

Factors associated with depression and anxiety in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis

Objectives

To investigate anxiety, depression, and related factors in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving maintenance hemodialysis and provide a reference for the establishment of a healthier life for such patients.

Methods

A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study. Qualified participants filled out self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and depression self-assessment scale (SDS) questionnaires as well as assessments of health knowledge and health self-efficacy. Linear regression analysis was performed to relate demographic factors, lifestyle habits, and nutrition parameters to SDS and SAS score indices.

Results

The mean SAS and SDS score indices for the 81 patients were 52.96 and 46.71, respectively; 56 patients (69.1 %) had a depressive disorder (SDS score ≥ 50), and 31 patients (36.9 %) had anxiety symptoms (SAS score ≥ 50). SAS score index correlated with gender (p < .05) and history of alcohol use (p < .01), whereas SDS score index correlated with administration of erythropoietin (EPO) (p < .05) as well as gender and history of alcohol use.

Conclusion

History of alcohol consumption may predict less depressive symptoms and more anxiety among Chinese patients living in a northeastern Chinese city with ESRD. EPO administration may reduce anxiety in patients with ESRD. Female patients were more prone to anxiety, whereas males were more likely to show symptoms of depression. These factors should be evaluated by nephrologists treating patients with ESRD.     

Comparative outcomes of the tubularized incised plate and transverse island flap onlay techniques for the repair of proximal hypospadias

Purpose

The optimal management of proximal hypospadias remains uncertain. In this study, the surgical outcomes of tubularized incised plate repair (TIP) and transverse island flap (TVIF) onlay urethroplasty in boys with hypospadias were compared.

Methods

A total of 176 patients with proximal hypospadias underwent TIP (n = 83) or TVIF onlay repairs (n = 93) by a single surgeon and were evaluated retrospectively. No patient received a testosterone injection prior to surgery. A retrospective review of their medical records collected data regarding age at surgery, chordee, dorsal plication, hypospadias site, penoscrotal transposition, bifid scrotum, congenital hernia, undescended testis and any postoperative complications, including fistula, recurrent curvature, dehiscence, diverticulum, meatal stenosis and urethral stricture. The pediatric penile perception score (PPPS) was completed by parents to evaluate their perception of cosmetic outcomes.

Results

There was no statistical difference in age or any of the anatomical and clinical features of hypospadias. The median follow-up duration was 22 months (range 12–48 months) and 25 months (14–51 months) for the TIP and TVIF onlay groups, respectively. The overall complication rate in the TVIF onlay group was 21.5 % (20/93), which was higher than 18.1 % (15/83) in the TIP group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.569). The most common complication was urethrocutaneous fistula, occurring in 9.6 % (8/83) of the TIP group and 10.8 % (10/93) of the TVIF onlay group. There were no significant differences in the rate of any complication and the overall PPPS between the two groups.

Conclusion

TIP and TVIF onlay are clinically equivalent for the repair of proximal hypospadias.     

Is the supine position superior to the prone position for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)?

The objective of this study is to update the two previous meta-analyses in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for patients in the prone position versus supine position. An electronic database search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, google scholar, and the Cochrane library was performed up to June, 2013. All studies comparing prone with supine position for PCNL were included. The outcome measures were stone-free rate, operative time, complication and hospital stay. Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 non-RCTs, including 6,413 patients (4,956 patients in the prone position group and 1,457 patients in the supine position group), met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of extractable data showed that PCNL in the supine position was associated with a significantly shorter operative time (WMD: 21.7; 95 % CI 2.46–40.94; p = 0.03) but lower stone-free rate (OR: 1.36; 95 % CI 1.19–1.56; p < 0.0001) than PCNL in the prone position. There was no difference between the two positions regarding hospital stay (WMD = 0.05; 95 % CI ?0.16–0.25; p = 0.66) and complication rate (OR: 1.1; 95 % CI 0.94–1.28; p = 0.24). In conclusion, the present study found different results from the two previous meta-analyses results regarding stone-free rate; PCNL in the supine position had a significantly lower stone-free rate than that in prone position.     

Abnormal lipid metabolism down‐regulates adenosine triphosphate synthase β‐subunit protein expression in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in vitro and in vivo

Metabolic syndrome is closely related to erectile dysfunction (ED), and hyperlipidaemia is considered a major risk factor for ED. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase is believed to play an important role in metabolic syndrome; it has been hypothesised that ATP synthase contributes to ED development. We have verified this hypothesis using primary cultured human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (HCCSM) cells treated with excessive free fat acid (FFA) and a high‐fat diet (HFD) mouse model. Our results showed that high fatty factors could cause lipid accumulation in HCCSM cells, which could result in abnormal lipid metabolism, such as high levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose in the HFD mice. There was a remarkable down‐regulation of ATP synthase and p‐Akt after in vivo and in vitro excessive FFA treatments. These results indicated that abnormal lipid metabolism could induce ATP synthase down‐regulation via the Akt phosphorylation pathway and that ATP synthase may be a target of lipotoxicity in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.     

Altered expression of mitofusin 2 in penile tissues of diabetic rats

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication in diabetes mellitus, and the efficacy of first‐line therapies is not satisfactory. Recent studies revealed that corporal apoptosis was responsible for the nonresponsiveness of severe ED to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) is a versatile protein, regulating mitochondrial morphology and playing an important role in apoptosis. Several studies showed that expression of Mfn2 was decreased in STZ‐induced diabetic rats' kidney, myocardium and retina, which was associated with diabetic nephropathy, cardiomyopathy and retinopathy respectively. In this study, our aim was to explore the expression of Mfn2 and apoptosis in diabetic rats' penes. We found that erectile function (ICP/MAP) elicited by electrical stimulation of cavernous nerve was markedly impaired in diabetic rats compared with the normal rats. The mRNA and protein levels of Mfn2 were found to be significantly reduced in diabetic rats' penile tissues. Compared with normal rats, the content of smooth muscle and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2)/Bcl‐2‐associated X protein (Bax) ratio were dramatically decreased, and penile apoptotic index and expression of activated‐caspase‐3 were dramatically increased in diabetic rats. This data indicated that repression of Mfn2 in diabetic rats' penes might be associated with excessive apoptosis in diabetes‐induced severe ED.     

Multi-label classification of retinal lesions in diabetic retinopathy for automatic analysis of fundus fluorescein angiography based on deep learning

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To automatically detect and classify the lesions of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) images using...