Identification of odorant‐binding and chemosensory protein genes and the ligand affinity of two of the encoded proteins suggest a complex olfactory perception system in Periplaneta americana

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is an urban pest with a precise chemosensory system that helps it achieve complex physiological behaviours, including locating food and mating. However, its chemosensory mechanisms have not been well studied. Here, we identified 71 putative odorant carrier protein genes in P. americana, including 57 new odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) and 11 chemosensory proteins (CSPs). To identify their physiological functions, we investigated their tissue expression patterns in antennae, mouthparts, legs, and the remainder of the body of both sexes, and determined that most of these genes were expressed in chemosensory organs. A phylogenetic tree showed that the putative pheromone‐binding proteins of P. americana were in different clades from those of moths. Two genes, PameOBP24 and PameCSP7, were expressed equally in antennae of both sexes and highly expressed amongst the OBPs and CSPs. These genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and the resultant proteins were purified. The binding affinities of 74 common odorant compounds were tested with recombinant PameOBP24 and PameCSP7. Both proteins bound a variety of ligands. Our findings provide a foundation for future research into the chemosensory mechanisms of P. americana and help in identifying potential target genes for managing this pest.     

High expression of heme oxygenase-1 in target organs may attenuate acute graft-versus-host disease through regulation of immune balance of TH17/Treg

The high incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Grades III and IV aGVHD are the leading causes of death in allo-HSCT recipients. Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) has anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory functions. In this study, we evaluated the none GVHD and grade I–IV patients samples which were collected at the first re-examination after successful allo-HSCT, we found that expressions of HO-1 mRNA in the bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of allo-HSCT recipients who had subsequent non-GVHD and grade I aGVHD were significantly higher than those in patients with Grade III–IV aGVHD. We then demonstrated that enhanced expression of HO-1 in target organs by infusing HO-1-gene-modified Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alleviated the clinical and histopathological severity of aGVHD in experimental mice. Flow cytometry revealed a higher expression of Treg cells and a lower expression of TH17 cells in splenic and lymph node tissues of mice with enhanced HO-1 expression, as compared to that in the aGVHD mice. This was further substantiated by lower expression levels of ROR-Υt and IL-17A mRNA, and higher levels of Foxp3 mRNA in the splenic tissue of mice with enhanced HO-1 expression. Our results indicate that high expression of HO-1 may reduce the severity of aGVHD by regulation of the TH17/Treg balance.     

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and its etiological subtypes in elderly Chinese

BackgroundEpidemiologic studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are limited in China.MethodsUsing a multistage cluster sampling design, a total of 10,276 community residents (6096 urban, 4180 rural) aged 65 years or older were evaluated and diagnosed with normal cognition, MCI, or dementia. MCI was further categorized by imaging into MCI caused by prodromal Alzheimer's disease (MCI-A), MCI resulting from cerebrovascular disease (MCI-CVD), MCI with vascular risk factors (MCI-VRF), and MCI caused by other diseases (MCI-O).ResultsThe prevalences of overall MCI, MCI-A, MCI-CVD, MCI-VRF, and MCI-O were 20.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20.0–21.6%), 6.1% (95% CI = 5.7–6.6%), 3.8% (95% CI = 3.4–4.2%), 4.9% (95% CI = 4.5–5.4%), and 5.9% (95% CI = 5.5–6.4%) respectively. The rural population had a higher prevalence of overall MCI (23.4% vs 16.8%, P < .001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of MCI in elderly Chinese is higher in rural than in urban areas. Vascular-related MCI (MCI-CVD and MCI-VRF) was most common.     

Current management of acute malignant large bowel obstruction: a systematic review

BackgroundThe management of colonic obstruction has changed in recent years. In distal obstruction, optimal treatment remains controversial, particularly after the appearance and use of colonic endoluminal stents. The purpose of this study was to review the current treatment of acute malignant large bowel obstruction according to the level of evidence of the available literature.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar for articles published through January 2013 to identify studies of large bowel obstruction and colorectal cancer. Included studies were randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis.ResultsAfter a literature search of 1,768 titles and abstracts, 218 were selected for full-text assessment; 59 studies were ultimately included. Twenty-five studies of the diagnosis and treatment of obstruction and 34 studies of the use of stents were assessed.ConclusionsIn view of the various alternatives and the lack of high-grade evidence, the treatment of distal colonic obstruction should be individually tailored to each patient.     

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in China: Genetic and clinical characteristics from a real-world,multi-center,cohort study

BackgroundThere is a lack of large-scale data on the clinical and genotype characteristics of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) patients in Asia.ObjectiveTo define the characteristics of phenotypic and genetic HoFH probands from mainland China.MethodsWe collected data from patients with suspected HoFH from ten clinical hospitals across mainland China from 2003 to 2019. Clinical data and DNA testing were obtained in all patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival curves, and the groups were compared with the log-rank test.ResultsA total of 108 unrelated probands with suspected HoFH (mean age 14.9 years) were included. The three most common variants were W483X (c.1448 G>A), A627T (c.1879 G>A), H583Y (c.1747 C>T). The majority (64.8%) were compound heterozygotes (n = 70), 23 (21.3%) were true HoFH patients. True HoFH showed higher LDL-C levels compared to compound HoFH (16.8±3.6 mmol/L vs. 15.0±3.1 mmol/L, P = 0.022). During follow-up, only 21.2% patients exhibited an LDL-C reduction of more than 50%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the true HoFH probands had significantly worse survival rates compared to other genotype probands (13-year survival; 20.3% vs. 76.7%, respectively; P = 0.016). In addition, true HoFH shows that 2.8-fold (P = 0.022) increase any death and 3.0-fold (P = 0.023) increase cardiovascular death risk in relative to other FH.ConclusionsThis report shows that HoFH has devastating consequences, and that patients are often only diagnosed after they have been exposed to severely elevated LDL-C for years. Systematic screening and early intensive treatment are an absolute requirement for these young individuals with HoFH.     

不同病理类型肺腺癌临床和影像特征及预后分析

目的:探讨不典型腺瘤样增生(atypical adenomatous hyperplasia，AAH)、原位腺癌(adenocarcinoma in situ，AIS)、微浸润性腺癌(minimally invasive adenocarcinoma，MIA)及浸润性腺癌(invasive adenocarcinoma，IAC)的临床、影像、病理特征及预后相关的影响因素。方法:回顾性选取自2012年01月至2019年01月我院行手术治疗且病理确诊的肺腺癌患者503例，根据病理类型分为AAH、AIS、MIA、IAC四组，对比四组患者的临床、影像、病理特征，并采用单因素方差分析和多因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析四组患者预后危险因素的相关性。结果:AAH、AIS、MIA、IAC四组患者在性别比例方面，女性多于男性；在年龄分布方面，青年阶段（≤45岁）和中老年阶段（61~75岁）的差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01，P＜0.01）。不同病理类型肺腺癌患者在结节大小、结节性质及手术方式上差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。单因素生存分析发现，不同结节性质肺腺癌患者在手术年龄、再次手术及死亡率方面差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。多因素分析发现，结节最长直径［HR=7.166，95%CI（1.011,50.823）］、N分期［HR=10.689,95%CI（2.276,50.200）］是肺腺癌患者预后的独立影响因素（P＜0.05）。结论:在AAH-AIS-MIA-IAC肿瘤演变过程中，结节最长直径、实性成分大小及N分期是肺腺癌患者预后的影响因素，肺腺癌国际新分类方法有助于肺腺癌患者预后评估。     

毛大丁草抗卵清蛋白诱导的小鼠支气管哮喘作用的活性部位筛选

目的 通过卵清蛋白(ovalbumin，OVA)诱导的支气管哮喘小鼠模型，筛选毛大丁草抗哮喘的活性部位。方法 采用D101大孔吸附树脂法对毛大丁草50%乙醇提取物进行分段富集，依次洗脱得到水、60%乙醇、95%乙醇3个洗脱部位。小鼠通过腹腔注射OVA致敏、雾化吸入OVA激发来复制哮喘动物模型，在激发阶段连续6 d进行灌胃给药治疗。采用行为学评分考察不同部位对哮喘行为学的影响，利用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清、肺泡灌洗液(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid，BALF)中IL-5的浓度和血清免疫球蛋白IgE的浓度，采用HE染色对肺组织进行组织病理学评价。结果 模型组小鼠哮喘症状评分升高，血清中IgE和IL-5的水平显著升高，BALF中IL-5的水平显著升高；与模型组比较，60%乙醇段高剂量组小鼠哮喘症状明显改善，血清中IL-5的水平显著降低，BALF中IL-5的水平也显著降低。结合病理学切片观察，60%乙醇段治疗的小鼠较之模型组小鼠肺泡间隔增厚程度降低，血管周围和支气管周围炎症细胞浸润显著减少。结论 毛大丁草50%乙醇提取物的60%乙醇洗脱部位为其抗哮喘的活性部位，其化学成分主要是酚酸类、黄酮类和香豆素类。     

The prevalence of dementia in urban and rural areas of China

ObjectiveThe Chinese population has been aging rapidly and the country's economy has experienced exponential growth during the past three decades. The goal of this study was to estimate the changes in the prevalence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) among elderly Chinese individuals and to analyze differences between urban and rural areas.MethodsFor the years 2008 to 2009, we performed a population-based cross-sectional survey with a multistage cluster sampling design. Residents aged 65 years and older were drawn from 30 urban (n = 6096) and 45 rural (n = 4180) communities across China. Participants were assessed with a series of clinical examinations and neuropsychological measures. Dementia, AD, and VaD were diagnosed according to established criteria via standard diagnostic procedures.ResultsThe prevalence of dementia, AD, and VaD among individuals aged 65 years and older were 5.14% (95% CI, 4.71–5.57), 3.21% (95% CI, 2.87–3.55), and 1.50% (95% CI, 1.26–1.74), respectively. The prevalence of dementia was significantly higher in rural areas than in urban ones (6.05% vs. 4.40%, P < .001). The same regional difference was also seen for AD (4.25% vs. 2.44%, P < .001) but not for VaD (1.28% vs. 1.61%, P = .166). The difference in AD was not evident when the sample was stratified by educational level. Moreover, the risk factors for AD and VaD differed for urban and rural populations.ConclusionsA notably higher prevalence of dementia and AD was found in rural areas than in urban ones, and education might be an important reason for the urban–rural differences.     

MRI及DTI评估大鼠血管性认知障碍

目的 探讨早期诊断血管性认知障碍（VCI）的影像学指标。方法 将30只SD大鼠分为模型组（20只）和对照组（10只）,对模型组采用改良四血管法建立VCI大鼠模型,对照组行假手术处理,通过Morris水迷宫检测大鼠认知功能变化。于建模后2周、1个月、3个月、5个月对2组大鼠行MR T2W和DTI扫描,利用手动分割ROI的方法分析海马体积及FA值变化;利用基于体素分析方法（VBA）分析大鼠FA值下降的脑区。最后处死大鼠,取脑组织切片进行HE和尼氏染色,观察海马区神经细胞受损情况。结果 模型组大鼠的学习和记忆能力较对照组降低。与对照组相比,模型组大鼠术后3、5个月海马体积萎缩,且海马区FA值明显减低（P均<0.05）。VBA分析结果显示,建模后1、3、5个月多处脑区FA值显著下降,且下降区域范围随时间延长逐渐扩大。病理结果显示,海马区锥体细胞排列紊乱、结构模糊,尼氏小体溶解、消失。结论 观察大鼠海马体积以及微观白质变化有助于早期诊断VCI;大脑FA值可作为早期诊断VCI以及评估严重程度的观察指标。