Pedobarography - a novel screening tool for diabetic peripheral neuropathy?

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic significance of foot plantar pressure distribution abnormalities in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Patients And Methods: A total of 107 patients were divided into normal control (28 participants, 56 feet), non-DPN (56 patients, 112 feet), and DPN groups (23 patients, 46 feet). Foot plantar pressure was measured while patients walked at a constant speed over a flat floor using F-Scan pressure insoles.

Altered Transcriptome of the B. melitensis Vaccine Candidate 16MΔvjbR, Implications for Development of Genetically Marked Live Vaccine.

The VjbR protein induced antibody responses in both human and animal brucellosis, and the vjbR mutant 16MΔvjbR is an ideal vaccine candidate because of the feasibility of using the VjbR as diagnostic antigen. To further characterize this vaccine candidate and provide information for vaccine development, in the present study, a whole genome DNA microarray of 16M were used to compare the transcriptome of the vjbR mutant to that of the wild type strains. A total of 126 genes were greatly differentially expressed in the vjbR mutant.

Changes of predominant species/biovars and sequence types of Brucella isolates, Inner Mongolia, China.

Background: Human brucellosis incidence in China was divided into 3 stages, high incidence (1950-1960s), decline (1970-1980s) and re-emergence (1990-2000s). Human brucellosis has been reported in all the 32 provinces, of which Inner Mongolia has the highest prevalence, accounting for over 40% of the cases in China. To investigate the etiology alteration of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia, the species, biovars and genotypes of 60 Brucella isolates from this province were analyzed.

[Simultaneous determination of tryptophan and its metabolites in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with on-column derivatization].

A high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/fluorescence detection (HPLC-UV/FLD) with on-column derivatization was established to simultaneously determine tryptophan (Trp), kynurenine (Kyn), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-Hiaa) and kynurenic acid (Kyna). A Hypersil C-18 column (250 mm x 4.0 mm, 5 microm) was used for the analysis at 30 degrees C.

Steady-state characteristics and transient response of MgZnO-based metal-semiconductor-metal solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector with three types of electrode structures.

Detailed studies of MgZnO-based metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector with different electrode structures are performed. A two-dimensional physical model is established based on the Poisson's equation and time-dependent continuity equations, which is verified by our experimental data of conventional electrode MSM detector. The steady-state characteristics and transient response of semicircular and triangular electrode MSM detectors are also investigated by this model.

Asymptomatic brucellosis infection in humans: implications for diagnosis and prevention.

Human brucellosis is mainly caused by contact with Brucella-infected animals and their secretions and carcasses. Individuals who are continuously in contact with animals are considered to be at a high risk but only some show symptoms and are diagnosed as cases of brucellosis. Here, we showed that asymptomatic brucellosis infections occur among humans.

The optimal time window of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the reperfusion injury in moderate to severe hepatocirrhosis in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of different-time ischemic preconditioning (IPC) schemes on the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in moderate to severe hepatocirrhosis in rats and to identify the optimal time window of IPC.

Methods: A total of 90 male SD rats with moderate to severe hepatocirrhosis were randomly divided into 5 groups (IR group, 5-10 min-IPC group, 8-10 min-IPC group, 10-10 min-IPC group and 15-10 min-IPC group), in which the liver was preconditioned by IPC of various durations, and then subjected to I/R injury in the last four groups. Thirty-six normal (non-cirrhotic) SD rats were divided into 2 groups (IR group and 10-10 min-IPC group).

Draft Genome Sequence of Brucella abortus BCB027, a Strain Isolated from a Domestic Deer.

Many Brucella species are isolated from nonpreferred hosts, and these bacteria may show genetic differences from isolates from the preferred hosts. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Brucella abortus BCB027, a novel strain isolated from a domestic deer.

Sustained and differential antibody responses to virulence proteins of Brucella melitensis during acute and chronic infections in human brucellosis.

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused primarily by the bacterial pathogens Brucella melitensis and B. abortus. The pathogens cause debilitating febrile illness that can progress into a long-lasting disease with severe complications in humans.

[Genetic polymorphisms of ADH1B and ALDH-2 associated with risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis].

Objective: To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) in China.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the database was performed to identify all case-control studies of ADH1B and ALDH-2 polymorphisms associated with esophageal cancer and their interactions with alcohol drinking. Meta-analysis was carried out for calculation of pooled OR value and its corresponding 95% CI.

Genome sequence of Brucella melitensis strain 128, an isolate of biovar 3 of sequence type 8.

Brucella melitensis is the most common Brucella species causing human brucellosis. B. melitensis is divided into 3 biovars.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella suis field strain BCB025 of sequence type ST22.

Brucella is a genus of relatively conservative pathogenic bacteria. Brucella suis is the most diversified Brucella species. Strains of B.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella melitensis 133, an isolate of biovar 1 of sequence type 32.

Brucellosis is highly epidemic in China. Of the six classical species, Brucella melitensis and biovar 1 are the most represented species and biovar that cause human brucellosis in China. Here, we report the genome sequence of Brucella melitensis strain 133, a strain of biovar 1 of sequence type 32.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella canis BCB018, a strain isolated from a human patient.

Brucella canis is considered a rare cause of human brucellosis because of difficulties in presumptive diagnosis and underestimation of the incidence. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Brucella canis isolate, BCB018, isolated from a human patient, providing precious resources for comparative genomics analysis of Brucella field strains.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus 134, a biovar 1 strain isolated from human.

Brucella abortus is one of the common pathogens causing brucellosis in China. Here, we report the genome sequence of B. abortus strain 134, a strain isolated from a human patient and belonging to biovar 1, the most highly represented biovar among B.

Shigella flexneri T3SS effector IpaH4.5 modulates the host inflammatory response via interaction with NF-κB p65 protein.

Shigella species possess a type III secretion system (T3SS), which is required for human infection and that delivers effector proteins into target host cells. Here, we show that the effector, IpaH4.5 dampens the pro-inflammatory cytokine response.

Treatment of acute carbon monoxide poisoning with extracorporeal membrane trioxygenation.

Objective: To treat acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACOP) with extracorporeal membrane trioxygenation (ECMO3), and to determine the efficacy and safety of ECMO3.

Method: Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into four groups including ECMO3 group (G1-ECMO3), oxygen treatment group (G2-FIO2), untreated ACOP group (G3-ACOP), and control group (G4-control). Rabbits in the first three groups were intraperitoneally injected with 99.

Genome sequences of three live attenuated vaccine strains of Brucella species and implications for pathogenesis and differential diagnosis.

Live attenuated vaccines play essential roles in the prevention of brucellosis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three vaccine strains, Brucella melitensis M5-10, B. suis S2-30, and B.

[Determination of homocysteine in plasma by precolumn derivatization-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection].

A precolumn derivatization-high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of homocysteine (Hcy) in plasma was established. Tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP) and N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide (NPM) were used as the reduced reagent and derivatization reagent, respectively. The separation was carried out on an Agilent Hypersil C-18 column (250 mm x 4.

Genome sequence of Brucella melitensis S66, an isolate of sequence type 8, prevalent in China.

Brucella melitensis is the most-represented Brucella species causing human brucellosis in China. Here we report the complete genome sequence of B. melitensis strain S66, a representative strain of sequence type 8 (ST8), which is prevalent in China, making it possible to compare the genome sequences of isolates from different countries.

Comparing the biological characteristics of adipose tissue-derived stem cells of different persons.

Scientists have found that cell sex is a variable that considerably influences the regeneration abilities of muscle-derived stem cells' in mice. We try to find out whether the cell sex or cell age (the age of donor) will influence the biological characteristics of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (H-ADSCs). The results indicate that cell sex influences the proliferation, differentiation, paracrine, and anti-apoptosis abilities of the H-ADSCs, and cell age may also affect the H-ADSCs' differentiation and anti-apoptosis abilities.

[Simultaneous determination of tryptophan and its key metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography with programmed wavelength ultraviolet detection].

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with programmed wavelength ultraviolet (UV) detection was established to simultaneously determine tryptophan (Trp) and its key metabolites kynurenine (Kyn) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). A BDS-Hypersil-C8 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) was used for the analysis at 25 degrees C.