Human-like adrenal features in Chinese tree shrews revealed by multi-omics analysis of adrenal cell populations and steroid synthesis.

The Chinese tree shrew ( ) has emerged as a promising model for investigating adrenal steroid synthesis, but it is unclear whether the same cells produce steroid hormones and whether their production is regulated in the same way as in humans. Here, we comprehensively mapped the cell types and pathways of steroid metabolism in the adrenal gland of Chinese tree shrews using single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptome analysis, mass spectrometry, and immunohistochemistry. We compared the transcriptomes of various adrenal cell types across tree shrews, humans, macaques, and mice.

[Air Microbial Contamination and Risk of Respiratory Exposure of Workers in Chicken Farms].

Animal farms are important sources of microbial contamination in the air environment. However, there are few reports on the time-regularity characteristics of airborne microbial contamination in farms. In the context of this situation, a study was conducted for more than 80 weeks using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize the bacterial distribution and respiratory exposure in the farm air and fecal environment, respectively, taking a layer farm as an example.

Morphologies and composition changes in nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent long-term statin therapy.

Although patients are undergoing similar lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) with statins, the outcomes of coronary plaque in diabetic mellitus (DM) and non-DM patients are different. Clinical data of 239 patients in this observational study with acute coronary syndrome was from our previous randomized trial were analyzed at 3 years, and 114 of them underwent OCT detection at baseline and the 1-year follow-up were re-anlayzed by a novel artificial intelligence imaging software for nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis (nCSA). Normalized total atheroma volume changes (ΔTAVn) of nCSA were the primary endpoint.

Preliminary study of the significance of reverberation by IVUS detection for patients with severe calcified lesions.

To explore the potential significance of the reverberation of calcification by comparing both intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement post manual coregistration. The reverberation phenomenon is often detected by IVUS for severe calcified lesions post rotational atherectomy (RA), which is thought to be due to the glassy and smooth inner surfaces of calcifications. Because of the poor penetration of IVUS, it is impossible to measure the thickness of calcifications, and the relationship between multiple reverberations and the thickness of calcification lesions has not been reported before.

Dynamic natural morphologies and component changes in nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome at 1-year follow-up and clinical significance at 3-year follow-up.

Background And Aims: We aimed to explore the dynamic natural morphologies and main components of nonculprit subclinical atherosclerotic changes underlying lesion regression (LR) or lesion progression (LP) in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: The primary endpoints were changes in percent atheroma volume (ΔPAV), normalized total atheroma volume (ΔTAVn) and each component in nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis from baseline to 1 year measured by optical flow ratio (OFR) software. LR or LP was defined by an increase or decrease in PAV.

Theoretical Study on Storage and Release of Firefly Luciferin.

Among numerous bioluminescent organisms, firefly is the most studied one. Recent experiment proposed that sulfoluciferin (SLH ) may serve as a storage form of luciferin (LH ). In the present article, we employed density functional theory calculation to uncover the mechanism and detailed process of the storage and release reactions.

Simultaneous Nucleic Acids Detection and Elimination of Carryover Contamination With Nanoparticles-Based Biosensor- and Antarctic Thermal Sensitive Uracil-DNA-Glycosylase-Supplemented Polymerase Spiral Reaction.

The current report devised a novel isothermal diagnostic assay, termed as nanoparticle-based biosensor (NB)- and antarctic thermal sensitive uracil-DNA-glycosylase (ATSU)-supplemented polymerase spiral reaction (PSR; NB-ATSU-PSR). The technique merges enzymatic digestion of carryover contaminants and isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique (PSR) for simultaneous detection of nucleic acid sequences and elimination of carryover contamination. In particular, nucleic acid amplification and elimination of carryover contamination are conducted in a single pot and, thus, the use of a closed-tube reaction can remove undesired results due to carryover contamination.

Label-Free Cross-Priming Amplification Coupled With Endonuclease Restriction and Nanoparticles-Based Biosensor for Simultaneous Detection of Nucleic Acids and Prevention of Carryover Contamination.

Here, we reported on a label-free cross-priming amplification (CPA) scheme that utilized endonuclease restriction for simultaneous detection of nucleic acids and elimination of carryover contamination. Reaction mixtures were detected in a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LFB). The assay exhibited attractive traits in that it did not require the use of labeled primers or labeled probes, and thus, the technique could prevent undesired results arising from unwanted hybridization between labeled primers or between a probe and labeled primer.

Detection of Nucleic Acids and Prevention of Carryover Contamination Using Cross-Priming Amplification Combined with Nanoparticles-Based Biosensor and Antarctic Thermal Sensitive Uracil-DNA-Glycosylase.

The current study reports on a cross-priming amplification (CPA) scheme that utilizes antarctic thermal sensitive uracilDNA-glycosylase (AUDG) for simultaneous detection of nucleic acids and prevention of carryover contamination. Amplification products were applied in a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LFB). The method shows attractive features in that it only requires the use of a labeled primer, eliminating the use of labeled probes.

The endogenous retrovirus-derived long noncoding RNA TROJAN promotes triple-negative breast cancer progression via ZMYND8 degradation.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) play pivotal roles in the development of breast cancer. However, the detailed mechanisms of noncoding HERVs remain elusive. Here, our genome-wide transcriptome analysis of HERVs revealed that a primate long noncoding RNA, which we dubbed TROJAN, was highly expressed in human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

DSCAM-AS1 regulates the G /S cell cycle transition and is an independent prognostic factor of poor survival in luminal breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy.

DSCAM-AS1 is one of the few intensively studied lncRNAs with high specific expression in luminal breast cancer. It is directly regulated by estrogen receptor α (ERα) and plays vital roles in tumor proliferation, invasion, and tamoxifen resistance. However, the detailed function of DSCAM-AS1 in tumor progression and its clinical significance remain unclear.

Anti-Cervical Cancer Role of Matrine, Oxymatrine and Sophora Flavescens Alkaloid Gels and its Mechanism.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading severe malignancies throughout the world. Sophra flavescens alkaloid (SFA) gels, a compound Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been clinically used in China for many years. Its individual active ingredients are matrine and oxymatrine, which has been showed that they can restrain primary tumorigenesis, while the underlying molecular mechanisms of SFA gels in cervical cancer cells remain unclear.

Discovery of susceptibility loci associated with tuberculosis in Han Chinese.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed the worldwide heterogeneity of genetic factors in tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility. Despite having the third highest global TB burden, no TB-related GWAS has been performed in China. Here, we performed the first three-stage GWAS on TB in the Han Chinese population.

The role and clinical significance of the CXCL17-CXCR8 (GPR35) axis in breast cancer.

Background: Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 17 (CXCL17) is the latest member of the chemokine family. However, its function in various cancer types is unknown. The G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) was identified as the receptor of CXCL17 and named recently as CXCR8.

Performance of the Interferon Gamma Release Assays in Tuberculosis Disease in Children Five Years Old or Less.

Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs) were developed for the indirect or immunologic diagnosis of tuberculosis infection; however, they have also been used to assist in difficult to diagnose cases of tuberculosis disease in adults, and to a lesser extent, in children, especially in those under 5 years old. We evaluated the utility of using an IGRA in pediatric tuberculosis in younger children in a hospital setting. The diagnostic accuracy of T-SPOT.

Gemcitabine resistance in breast cancer cells regulated by PI3K/AKT-mediated cellular proliferation exerts negative feedback via the MEK/MAPK and mTOR pathways.

Chemoresistance is a major cause of cancer treatment failure and leads to a reduction in the survival rate of cancer patients. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are aberrantly activated in many malignant tumors, including breast cancer, which may indicate an association with breast cancer chemoresistance. In this study, we generated a chemoresistant human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231/gemcitabine (simplified hereafter as "231/Gem"), from MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

[Clinical research on fire filiform needle combined with mild moxibustion for postherpetic neuralgia].

Objective: To compare efficacy differences between fire filiform needle combined with mild moxibustion and gabapentin combined with sham acupuncture for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: One hundred cases of PHN were randomly divided into a needle group and a medicine group, 50 cases in each one. In the needle group, pricking method of fire filiform needle was given at the Ashi points, and then mild moxibustion was applied for 15 min.

A functional promoter polymorphism of IFITM3 is associated with susceptibility to pediatric tuberculosis in Han Chinese population.

A susceptibility locus for tuberculosis, a re-emerging infectious disease throughout the world, was previously discovered to exist on chromosome 11p15. IFITM3 gene encoding for interferon inducible transmembrane protein 3, is located at 11p15. It acts as an effector molecule for interferon-gamma, which is essential for anti-tuberculosis immune response.

Meta-analysis of the relation between the VDR gene TaqIpolymorphism and genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer in Asian populations.

Background: Polymorphisms of the Taq I gene have been associated with prostate cancer risk.

Methods: We applied a fixed-effects model to combine odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The Egger's test was carried out to evaluate potential publication bias.

IFN-γ release assay: a diagnostic assistance tool of tuberculin skin test in pediatric tuberculosis in China.

Background: Prompt diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is an essential step in tuberculosis control and elimination. However, it is often difficult to accurately diagnose pediatric tuberculosis (TB). The tuberculin test (TST) may have a low specificity because of cross-reactivity with antigens present in Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and other mycobacteria, especially in China with a predominantly BCG-vaccinated population.

Transcription factor HAND2 mutations in sporadic Chinese patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor HAND2 plays an essential role in cardiac morphogenesis. However, the prevalence of HAND2 mutations in congenial heart disease (CHD) and the correlation between the HAND2 genotype and CHD phenotype have not been studied extensively.

Methods: We amplified the exons and the flanking intron sequences of the HAND2 gene in 131 patients diagnosed with congenital defects of the right ventricle, outflow tract, aortic artery or cardiac cushion and confirmed the mutations by sequencing.

Evaluation of new variable-number tandem-repeat systems for typing Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Beijing genotype isolates from Beijing, China.

The newly proposed variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) typing system, which includes a basic 15-locus set and a high-resolution 24-locus set (P. Supply et al., J.

[Analysis of loss of heterozygosity induced by vinblastine at tk locus in human lymphoblastoid cell line TK6].

Objective: To establish TK gene mutation assay using human lymphoblastoid cell line TK6 and to study the genotoxic mechanism of Vinblastine (VBL).

Methods: TK6 cells were treated with Vinblastine at different concentrations (0.625 ng/mL, 1.

[Synthesis of azobenzol compound and analytical application in a new catalytic spectrophotometry system].

Analysis of the indicator synthesis was studied by catalytic spectrophotometry, and the reducing decolorization that the copper(II) catalyzed the ration between ascorbic acid and 3-methyl-4-amino-4'-nitro azobenzol was discussed. Reaction condition was optimized and a highly selective determination of trace copper(II) was established. The detection limit was 0.