Development of a Nomogram Based on Transcriptional Signatures, IFN-γ Response and Neutrophils for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health threat and its diagnosis remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a nomogram that incorporated peripheral blood transcriptional signatures and other blood tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Patients And Methods: Patients with TB, patients with other definite pulmonary diseases (OPD), individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and healthy controls (HC) were retrospectively enrolled between May 2017 and April 2018.

Evaluation of IFIT3 and ORM1 as Biomarkers for Discriminating Active Tuberculosis from Latent Infection.

Objective: Current commercially available immunological tests cannot be used for discriminating active tuberculosis (TB) from latent TB infection. To evaluate the value of biomarker candidates in the diagnosis of active TB, this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection by transcriptome sequencing.

Methods: The differentially expressed genes in unstimulated PBMCs and in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen-stimulated PBMCs from patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection were identified by transcriptome sequencing.

Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition Factor Regulates Monocyte Function during Mycobacterial Infection via Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Objective: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), causes an estimated 1.6 million human deaths annually, but the pathogenesis of TB remains unclear. Immunity plays a critical role in the onset and outcome of TB.

Diffusion tensor imaging revealed different pathological processes of white matter hyperintensities.

Background: Although increasing evidence showed the correlations between white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and cognitive impairment, the relationship between them is still modest. Many researchers began to focus on the variation caused by the heterogeneity of WMH. We tried to explore the pathological heterogeneity in WMH by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), so as to provide a new insight into the future research.

Turning pig manure into biochar can effectively mitigate antibiotic resistance genes as organic fertilizer.

The composting of fresh manure is an effective way to inactivate pathogens and reduce the levels of antibiotics and some antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) prior to its application on agricultural land as organic fertilizer. However, some ARGs could still exist and even be enriched after composting. This study investigated whether converting composted pig manure into biochar could reduce the dissemination of ARGs into the soil in comparison with a compost amendment.

Spontaneous isolated dissection and atherosclerotic plaques of superior mesenteric artery: the vastly different occurrence site suggests the opposite haemodynamic aetiology.

Objective: The development of atherosclerotic plaques and spontaneous isolated dissection (SID) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was considered to be related to opposite haemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to compare their occurrence sites and the morphology of the SMA to confirm the haemodynamic aetiologies.

Methods: 57 patients with SID and 64 patients with atherosclerotic plaques were compared about patient characteristics, location of SID and plaque, the distance from lesion to the aortic ostia, SMA branching angle and inlet diameter of the SMA.

Effect of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on NF-κB activation and CYP2E1 content of rats with immunological liver injury.

Context: Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a potent inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Recent studies have shown that NF-κB plays an essential role in the regulation of genes whose products are involved in the pathogenesis of immunological liver injury.

Objective: To study the function of NF-κB in immunological liver injury of rat model and its effect on CYP2E1 content and metabolic activity.

Type II, but not type I, cGMP-dependent protein kinase reverses bFGF-induced proliferation and migration of U251 human glioma cells.

Previous data have shown that the type II cGMP‑dependent protein kinase (PKG II) inhibits the EGF‑induced MAPK signaling pathway. In order to thoroughly investigate PKG, it is necessary to elucidate the function of another type of PKG, PKG I. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible inhibitory effect of PKG II and PKG I activity on the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)‑induced proliferation and migration of U251 human glioma cells and the possible underlying mechanisms.

Endogenous cGMP-dependent protein kinase reverses EGF-induced MAPK/ERK signal transduction through phosphorylation of VASP at Ser239.

In our previous study, we demonstrated that type II cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG II) was expressed at lower levels in different human cancer cell lines and that exogenous PKG II inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced MAPK/ERK signaling. In order to investigate its functions further in this signaling pathway, it is necessary to elucidate whether endogenous PKG has the same effect or not. This study aimed to investigate the possible inhibitory effect of endogenous PKG activity on EGF-induced MAPK/ERK signal transduction in human lung cancer cells and its mechanism.

[Effects of fungi on co-metabolic degradation of benzo [a] pyrene in droughty red soil].

Simulated bioslurry remediation of PAHs contaminated soil was carried out. Penicillium, Aspergillus niger and white-rot fungus etc. three strains of fungi isolated from petroleum-contaminated soils were inoculated into droughty red soils differently in application rates of phenanthrene and phthalic acid, to investigate their effects of co-metabolic degradation of B[a]P.

[Spatiotemporal evolvement of soil microbiological characteristics in upland fields with different utilization duration in Cixi, Zhejiang Province].

The microbial number, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities in five upland soils under agricultural utilization for 50-700 years were determined, with the correlations between soil microbiological characteristics and agricultural utilization duration analyzed. In the meantime, the functional diversity of microbes in soils having been utilized for 50, 100, and 700 years were investigated. The results showed that at the early stage (< 100 years) of agricultural utilization, the number of soil fungi (F) had a slight increase, while the bacterial number (B), B/F ratio, microbial biomass C (C(mic)), microbial biomass N (N(mic)), and the activities of catalase, invertase and urease all decreased markedly.

Sulfur (S)-induced enhancement of iron plaque formation in the rhizosphere reduces arsenic accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings.

The effects of two sulfur (S) sources (SO(4)(2-), S(0)), and three rates of S application (0, 30, 120 mgS/kg) on the formation of iron plaque in the rhizosphere, and on the root surface of rice, and As (arsenic) uptake into rice (Oryza sativa L.) were studied in a combined soil-sand culture experiment. Significant differences in As uptake into rice between +S and -S treatments were observed in relation to S sources, and rates of S application.