Platinum accumulation in oxaliplatin‐induced peripheral neuropathy

Oxaliplatin‐induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is a common and dose‐limiting toxic effect that markedly limits the use of oxaliplatin and affects the quality of life. Although it is common, the underlying mechanisms of OIPN remain ambiguous. Recent studies have shown that the platinum accumulation in peripheral nervous system, especially in dorsal root ganglion, is a significant mechanism of OIPN. Several specific transporters, including organic cation transporters, high‐affinity copper uptake protein1 (CTR1), ATPase copper transporting alpha (ATP7A) and multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (MATE1), could be associated with this mechanism. This review summarizes the current research progress about the relationship between platinum accumulation and OIPN, as well as suggests trend for the future research.     

RAFT Dispersion Polymerization of Styrene in Water/Alcohol: The Solvent Effect on Polymer Particle Growth during Polymer Chain Propagation

The RAFT polymerization of styrene in a solvent consisting of a water/alcohol mixture with different water contents is performed and the solvent effects on polymerization kinetics, polymer chain propagation, and polymer particle growth are evaluated. It is found that the solvent affects the RAFT polymerization kinetics greatly, and the apparent polymerization rate constant (K_p ^app) increases with an increase in the water content of the water/alcohol mixture. In addition, RAFT polymerization in a water/alcohol mixture with a higher water content affords better control of the polydispersity index (PDI) of the synthesized polymers. Furthermore, the solvent also exerts a great influence on the growth of the polymer particles. Hollow particles are formed either at the initial polymerization with low monomer conversion or in the solvent with a low water content, whereas solid polymer particles are produced either at high monomer conversion or in the solvent with a high water content.

     

Connecting the P300 to the diagnosis and prognosis of unconscious patients

The residual consciousness of unconscious patients can be detected by studying the P300, a wave among event-related potentials. Previous studies have applied tones, the subject's name and other names as stimuli. However, the results were not satisfactory. In this study, we changed the constituent order of subjects' two-character names to create derived names. The subject's derived names, together with tones and their own names, were used as auditory stimuli in event-related potential experiments. Healthy controls and unconscious patients were included in this study and made to listen to these auditory stimuli. In the two paradigms, a sine tone followed by the subject's own name and the subject's derived name followed by the subject's own name were used as standard and deviant stimuli, respectively. The results showed that all healthy controls had the P300 using both paradigms, and that the P300 in the second paradigm had a longer latency and two peaks. All minimally conscious state patients had the P300 in the first paradigm and the majority of them had the P300 in the second paradigm. Most vegetative state patients had no P300. Patients who showed the P300 in the two paradigms had more residual consciousness, and patients with the two-peak P300 had a higher probability of awakening within a short time. Our experimental findings suggest that the P300 event-related potential could reflect the conscious state of unconscious patients.     

300例缺血性脑血管病患者中医证候的多元统计研究

目的研究300例缺血性脑血管病患者的中医证候。方法临床系统采集300例缺血性脑血管病患者中医四诊信息,运用SPSS 11.5软件,进行多元统计主因子提取、系统聚类。结果缺血性脑血管病患者临床中医证候以风阳上扰(型)兼督脉不利、或气郁血瘀;气虚血瘀(型)兼瘀热内盛;肝肾阴亏(型)兼痰湿内滞;痰浊上蒙(型)兼气虚血瘀四大证型为主。结论将多元统计主因子提取、系统聚类方法结合应用,可较好地对缺血性脑血管病患者的中医证候进行归类分析,有益于揭示缺血性脑血管病患者的中医证候特点。     

Update on the distribution and phylogenetics of Biomphalaria (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) populations in Guangdong Province,China

In 1973 planorbid snails then identified as Biomphalaria straminea were discovered in Hong Kong, China. It was assumed that these snails had been introduced to Hong Kong via the import of tropical fish by air from South America. In 2012 Biomphalaria were found for the first time in Guangdong Province, China. In view of the renewed interest in these invasive snails, a morphological and DNA-sequence based phylogenetic study was undertaken for seven populations of Biomphalaria snails collected in Guangdong. Morphologically and phylogenetically, five of the populations clustered more closely with Biomphalaria kuhniana than with B. straminea. Levels of genetic diversity among the populations were about half those of autochthonous populations in Brazil, the phylogenetic relationships did not correlate with a radiation from any one international port in China, and different lineages appeared associated with different ports. Consequently in explaining the current distribution of the snails, multiple colonization events, each establishing a new local snail population near to maritime international container ports, were considered more likely than the spread of snails from Hong Kong to China. The displacement of B. straminea by B. kuhniana in Guangdong is considered as an explanation for the habitat changes observed among the snails between Hong Kong in the 1980s and the present. The conclusions of the study are that any risk of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in China is more likely to come from parasite importation in the intramolluscan stage, than from transmission by migrant workers from South America or Africa. In addition, although likely to be rare, sporadic outbreaks of imported schistosomiasis (caused by invading infected snails) could be a threat to public health in the vicinity of International container ports (not only in Guangdong Province). Further work is called for to investigate further the presence of B. kuhniana and its potential interactions with B. straminea (the former is thought to be incompatible with S. mansoni), and the responses of Chinese Biomphalaria to potential competitors such as Thiaridae. The current expansion of container ports in Brazil and Venezuela, and the increase in trade with China, is likely to accentuate any current risk of imported schistosomiasis, and surveillance around ports in China, together with further research, are necessary.     

Consensus of Chinese Specialists on Diagnosis and Treatment of Resistant Hypertension

@@     

MreBCD-associated Cytoskeleton is Required for Proper Segregation of the Chromosomal Terminus during the Division Cycle of Escherichia Coli

Background:

In prokaryotic organisms, the mechanism responsible for the accurate partition of newly replicated chromosomes into daughter cells is incompletely understood. Segregation of the replication terminus of the circular prokaryotic chromosome poses special problems that have not previously been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of several protein components (MreB, MreC, and MreD) of the prokaryotic cytoskeleton for the faithful transmission of the chromosomal terminus into daughter cells.

Methods:

Strain LQ1 (mreB::cat), LQ2 (mreC::cat), and LQ3 (mreD::cat) were constructed using the Red recombination system. LQ11/pLAU53, LQ12/pLAU53, LQ13/pLAU53, LQ14/pLAU53, and LQ15/pLAU53 strains were generated by P1transduction of (tetO)₂₄₀-Gm and (lacO)₂₄₀-Km cassettes from strains IL2 and IL29. Fluorescence microscopy was performed to observe localization pattern of fluorescently-labeled origin and terminus foci in wild-type and mutant cells. SOS induction was monitored as gfp fluorescence from PsulA-gfp in log phase cells grown in Luria-Bertani medium at 37°C by measurement of emission at 525 nm with excitation at 470 nm in a microplate fluorescence reader.

Results:

Mutational deletion of the mreB, mreC, or mreD genes was associated with selective loss of the terminus region in approximately 40% of the cells within growing cultures. This was accompanied by significant induction of the SOS DNA damage response, suggesting that deletion of terminus sequences may have occurred by chromosomal cleavage, presumably caused by ingrowth of the division septum prior to segregation of the replicated terminal.

Conclusions:

These results imply a role for the MreBCD cytoskeleton in the resolution of the final products of terminus replication and/or in the specific movement of newly replicated termini away from midcell prior to completion of septal ingrowth. This would identify a previously unrecognized stage in the overall process of chromosome segregation.     

带绦虫精母细胞发生的超微结构观察

目的：在超微结构水平研究带绦虫精母细胞的发生。方法：透射电镜。结果：本文对猪带绦虫，牛带绦虫，及豆状带绦虫的精母细胞的发生进行了ＴＥＭ观察，结果精母细胞的发生（ｓｐｅｒｍａｔｏｃｙｔｏｇｅｎｅｓｉｓ）可分辨出两种精原细胞：Ａ型和Ｂ型，以及包绕其周围的支持细胞。Ａ型精原细胞为干细胞。Ｂ型为母细胞。Ｂ型精原细胞经４次无细胞分离的有丝分裂，形成１６个初级精母细胞，其特点为胞质中存在核糖体团。初级精母细胞经减数分裂产生３２个次级精母细胞，排列成玫瑰花团样。次级精母细胞经短暂的发育过程很快形成精细胞。结论：带绦虫精原细胞的分裂方式为无细胞分离的有丝分裂。     

HAX-1 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes cell proliferation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor. Due to the asymptomatic nature of early HCC and lack of effective screening strategies, 80% of patients present with advanced HCC at the time of diagnosis. Novel molecular marker identification will be valuable for effective diagnosis and treatment. In this study we reported HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) is overexpression in HCC in human HCC sample. Furthermore, we provided evidence that HAX-1 expression positively correlated with that of Ki67 in patient sample. Statistic analysis indicated that HAX-1 expression level significantly correlated with clinic outcome of HCC. Cell based assay revealed that knockdown of HAX-1 inhibits cell proliferation. This result suggests that HAX-1 can be a novel molecular marker for HCC.