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Macrophages are the main components of the innate immunity system, derived mainly from blood monocytes, and help the host to defend itself against many pathogens and cancers. Most established tumors can educate macrophages into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which contribute to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis, as well as resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, when appropriately activated, macrophages can also exert anti-tumor effects through enhanced phagocytosis and cytotoxicity against tumor cells. In addition, TAMs are associated with poor prognosis and drug resistance, including immunotherapies, suggesting that macrophages are attractive targets as part of combination therapy in cancer treatment. Herein, we review the recent findings on the role of macrophages in tumor development, metastasis and immunotherapy. We focus mainly on macrophage-centered therapy, including strategies to reduce and reshape TAMs, to represent potential targets for tumor immunotherapy.

Spider pulsars are neutron stars that have a companion star in a close orbit. The companion star sheds material to the neutron star, spinning it up to millisecond rotation periods, while the orbit shortens to hours. The companion is eventually ablated and destroyed by the pulsar wind and radiation 1,2 . Spider pulsars are key for studying the evolutionary link between accreting X-ray pulsars and isolated millisecond pulsars, pulsar irradiation effects and the birth of massive neutron stars 3-6 . Black widow pulsars in extremely compact orbits (as short as 62 minutes 7 ) have companions with masses much smaller than 0.1 M ⊙ . They may have evolved from redback pulsars with companion masses of about 0.1-0.4 M ⊙ and orbital periods of less than 1 day 8 . If this is true, then there should be a population of millisecond pulsars with moderate-mass companions and very short orbital periods 9 , but, hitherto, no such system was known. Here we report radio observations of the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J1953+1844 (M71E) that show it to have an orbital period of 53.3 minutes and a companion with a mass of around 0.07 M ⊙ . It is a faint X-ray source and located 2.5 arcminutes from the centre of the globular cluster M71., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are highly dispersed, millisecond-duration radio bursts 1-3 . Recent observations of a Galactic FRB 4-8 suggest that at least some FRBs originate from magnetars, but the origin of cosmological FRBs is still not settled. Here we report the detection of 1,863 bursts in 82 h over 54 days from the repeating source FRB 20201124A (ref.  9 ). These observations show irregular short-time variation of the Faraday rotation measure (RM), which scrutinizes the density-weighted line-of-sight magnetic field strength, of individual bursts during the first 36 days, followed by a constant RM. We detected circular polarization in more than half of the burst sample, including one burst reaching a high fractional circular polarization of 75%. Oscillations in fractional linear and circular polarizations, as well as polarization angle as a function of wavelength, were detected. All of these features provide evidence for a complicated, dynamically evolving, magnetized immediate environment within about an astronomical unit (AU; Earth-Sun distance) of the source. Our optical observations of its Milky-Way-sized, metal-rich host galaxy 10-12 show a barred spiral, with the FRB source residing in a low-stellar-density interarm region at an intermediate galactocentric distance. This environment is inconsistent with a young magnetar engine formed during an extreme explosion of a massive star that resulted in a long gamma-ray burst or superluminous supernova., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: To compare the outcomes of multi-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and simultaneous combined single-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy and flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (ECIRS) as treatment for staghorn stones. Methods: The clinical data of patients with staghorn stones who were treated with multi-tract PCNL or single-tract ECIRS in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Two group of patients were placed in semisupine-lithotomy position (Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position). We punctured into the renal calyces guided by ultrasonography. A F6 double J stent and a nephrostomy tube were routinely inserted in both groups. Kidney-ureter-bladder radiography (KUB) or computed tomography (CT) were done within 24 hours and 1 month after procedure to determine stone free rate (SFR). Stone free was defined as no residual stones or residual stones of <4 mm in diameter. The SFR, operating time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and hospitalization time of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: A total of 135 patients were included in the study, 70 patients were female, 65 patients were male. The average age were 50.8 years. A total of 74 patients were managed by multi-tract PCNL, while 61 patients were treated by single-tract ECIRS. The mean stone diameter was (58.5±11.4) mm in the PCNL group and (57.7±11.6) mm in the ECIRS group ( P =0.658). Neither the 24-hour SFR (81.1% vs 80.3%) nor one-month SFR (91.9% vs 90.2%) after procedure was significantly different between the groups (both P >0.05). The operating time was significantly longer in PCNL group compared with ECIRS group [130(100,171) vs 105(90,135) min, P =0.015]. The rate of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher were significantly higher in the PCNL group than the ECIRS group (18.92% vs 1.64%, P <0.01). The PCNL group required longer hospitalization time than the ECIRS group [8 (7, 9) vs 6 (5, 8) d, P <0.01]. Conclusions: Both multi-tract PCNL and single-tract ECIRS treating staghorn stones in semisupine-lithotomy position are safe and effective. The two procedures have comparable SFR. However, the ECIRS group has lower rates of postoperative complications, shorter operating time and hospitalization time.

We investigated the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of six morphologically distinct Ethiopian donkey populations using 12 equine microsatellite markers. The donkey populations were Abyssinian (AB), Afar (AF), Hararghe (HA), Ogaden (OG), Omo (OM) and Sinnar (SI). Blood samples were collected from 180 genetically unrelated donkeys (30 individuals per population). Population genetic diversity estimates showed that total number and mean number of observed alleles, average observed and expected heterozygosity were 94, 5.208 ± 0.0229, 0.555 ± 0.023 and 0.588 ± 0.022, respectively. Highly significant deficiency in heterozygote was detected within the overall samples (F IS = 0.055 ± 0.021; P < 0.001). Though highly significant (P < 0.001), heterozygote deficiency within populations relative to total population was moderate (F ST = 0.046 ± 0.016), suggesting a higher diversity within the populations (95.4%) than between populations. Various genetic distance estimation methods produced a similar topology of un-rooted dendrograms that grouped the overall Ethiopian donkeys into lowland (Ogaden, Omo and Sinnar) and highland (Abyssinian, Afar and Hararghe) genetic lineages. Likewise, Bayesian clustering analysis produced a similar pattern of clustering that was highly concordant with traditional donkey classification systems in Ethiopia.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio transients of unknown physical origin observed at extragalactic distances 1-3 . It has long been speculated that magnetars are the engine powering repeating bursts from FRB sources 4-13 , but no convincing evidence has been collected so far 14 . Recently, the Galactic magnetar SRG 1935+2154 entered an active phase by emitting intense soft γ-ray bursts 15 . One FRB-like event with two peaks (FRB 200428) and a luminosity slightly lower than the faintest extragalactic FRBs was detected from the source, in association with a soft γ-ray/hard-X-ray flare 18-21 . Here we report an eight-hour targeted radio observational campaign comprising four sessions and assisted by multi-wavelength (optical and hard-X-ray) data. During the third session, 29 soft-γ-ray repeater (SGR) bursts were detected in γ-ray energies. Throughout the observing period, we detected no single dispersed pulsed emission coincident with the arrivals of SGR bursts, but unfortunately we were not observing when the FRB was detected. The non-detection places a fluence upper limit that is eight orders of magnitude lower than the fluence of FRB 200428. Our results suggest that FRB-SGR burst associations are rare. FRBs may be highly relativistic and geometrically beamed, or FRB-like events associated with SGR bursts may have narrow spectra and characteristic frequencies outside the observed band. It is also possible that the physical conditions required to achieve coherent radiation in SGR bursts are difficult to satisfy, and that only under extreme conditions could an FRB be associated with an SGR burst.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio transients 1,2 of unknown origin. Two possible mechanisms that could generate extremely coherent emission from FRBs invoke neutron star magnetospheres 3-5 or relativistic shocks far from the central energy source 6-8 . Detailed polarization observations may help us to understand the emission mechanism. However, the available FRB polarization data have been perplexing, because they show a host of polarimetric properties, including either a constant polarization angle during each burst for some repeaters 9,10 or variable polarization angles in some other apparently one-off events 11,12 . Here we report observations of 15 bursts from FRB 180301 and find various polarization angle swings in seven of them. The diversity of the polarization angle features of these bursts is consistent with a magnetospheric origin of the radio emission, and disfavours the radiation models invoking relativistic shocks.

The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary analysis of the characterization and diversity of Y-chromosome haplotypes/haplogroups in yak of Qinghai Province, China. A total of 322 male yaks from nine populations belonging to three officially recognized breeds (Gaoyuan, Huanhu and Datong) were sampled. Animals were genotyped using six previously reported Y-SNPs present in the SRY, USP9Y, UTY, AMELY and OFD1Y genes and four new Y-SNPs in the OFD1Y gene (g.569A>C, g.578A>C, g.608G>T and g.653G>C) identified in this study. Seven Y-chromosome haplotypes (H1-H7) were identified according to the combination of the 10 Y-SNPs. H1, H2 and H6 were the most common and shared haplotypes across all yak populations/breeds. Private haplotypes H3 and H7 were detected in the Datong breed; H4 in Guoleimude, Qumalai, Qilian, Tianjun and Ganglong populations; and H5 in Qumalai of Gaoyuan breed. Haplotype clustering and network analyses inferred two haplogroups, Y1 and Y2, indicating two divergent lineages of paternal origins of Qinghai yak. The analysis of molecular variance showed a significant difference among individuals (P < 0.0001) with more than 93% of the total genetic variation present within populations, suggesting a weak genetic structure among Qinghai yak populations. The overall Y-haplotype diversity was 0.538 ± 0.028, showing a relatively high diversity in Qinghai yak. The Gaoyuan and Datong breeds had similar haplotype diversities (0.547 ± 0.030 and 0.553 ± 0.083, respectively), which were higher than that of the Huanhu breed (0.441 ± 0.098). Our results support the conservation and sustainable use of unique yak genetic resources in Qinghai., (© 2018 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

The X chromosome shows a special interaction between demographic factors and genetic variation, and the analysis of X-linked genomic variation can therefore provide insights into the unique effects of demography and selection on the horse genome that cannot be readily detected by autosomal markers. Debao (DB) ponies have experienced intense selective pressure for the development of their small stature (<106 cm at adult height). To identify selective sweeps on the X chromosome of the DB pony, we performed a genome-wide scan of three Chinese horse breeds using an Equine SNP70 BeadChip. Using Yili and Mongolian horses (>134 cm at adult height) as reference groups, both F ST and XP-EHH revealed that five regions on the X chromosome were under strong selection, resulting in 95 overlapping genes. Seven of these genes, SMS, PHEX, ACSL4, CHRDL1, CACNA1F, DKC1 and CDKL5, are involved in bone development, growth hormone secretion and fat deposition. The region showing the strongest selection pressure was located at the position of 86.6-87.5 Mb. The subsequent genome-wide association analysis of the adult height of three Chinese horse breeds detected the two most significant SNPs in the same region, and these two SNPs overlapped with the gene CHRDL1. As a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) superfamily, CHRDL1 antagonizes the function of BMP4 and plays an important role in embryonic bone formation and cartilage generation. Our results provide new insights into the X-linked selection in Chinese Debao pony., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Objective: To determine the early recognizable factors related to patients with fulminant myocarditis. Methods: Medical records from 60 adult patients who were diagnosed with acute viral myocarditis from January 2003 to September 2016 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed, and divided into the fulminant group ( n= 9) and the non-fulminant group ( n= 51). Clinical presentations, biochemical markers, electrocardiography and echocardiography features on admission were analyzed. Results: Prevalence of syncope (33.3%(3/9) vs. 2.0% (1/51), P= 0.009) and fatigue (77.8% (7/9) vs. 21.6% (11/51) , P= 0.002) was significantly higher, while the duration from flu-like syndromes to chest discomfort was shorter ((2.0±1.8) days vs. (4.5±3.5) days, P= 0.041) in the fulminant group than that in the non-fulminant group. Systolic blood pressare (SBP) ((94±14) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (117±12)mmHg, P= 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction((49±12)% vs. (60±13)%, P= 0.016) were significantly lower, while heart rate ((99±20)bpm vs. (84±19)bpm, P= 0.040) and NT-proBNP concentration ((7 962 (1 470, 23 849) ng/L vs. 1 771 (45, 2 380) ng/L, P= 0.000) were significantly higher in the fulminant group than those in the non-fulminant group. PR interval was longer (199 (140, 416) ms vs. 156 (112, 204) ms, P= 0.021), QRS complex was wider ((127±14)ms vs. (95±13)ms, t=- 6.647, P< 0.001) in the fulminant group than those in the non-fulminant group. Prolonged QRS duration≥120 ms was more often in fulminant group (77.8%(7/9) vs. 5.9%(3/51), P= 0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that PR interval (adjusted odd ratio 1.044, 95% CI 1.005-1.084, P= 0.025) and QRS complex width (adjusted odd ratio 1.252, 95% CI 1.045-1.501, P= 0.015) were the independent risk factors significantly associated with fulminant myocarditis. Conclusions: The risk of a fulminant course of acute myocarditis is higher in patients with elevated NT-proBNP, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and conduction disturbances at admission. Prolonged PR interval and widened QRS complex on admission are independent risk factors for developing fulminant myocarditis in adult patients with acute viral myocarditis.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of detecting index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and the relationship between IMR and left ventricular (LV) systolic function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The patients with first AMI received primary PCI in Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled from January 2014 to March 2016. IMR were measured immediately after PCI by using pressure/temperature wire. The relationship between IMR and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by echocardiography at first day and 6 months after admission was evaluated. Results: Twenty-eight patients with anterior wall AMI were enrolled, with an average age (56±13) years. The success rate of IMR detection was 100%. The mean IMR was (33±18 )mmHg·s. There was no complication related to intravenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (140 μg· kg(-1)· min(-1)). The IMR was negatively correlated with TIMI blood flow grade after primary PCI ( r =-0.386, P =0.043), and positively correlated with female gender, CK peak value and TnT peak value ( r =0.430, P =0.022; r =0.431, P =0.025; r =0.434, P =0.024). After 6 months of follow-up, no adverse cardiovascular events (including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, malignant arrhythmia, unplanned revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris and severe heart failure requiring hospitalization) occurred. LVEF increased significantly compared with the first day after PCI (0.54±0.08 vs 0.47±0.06, P =0.001), and IMR was negatively correlated with LVEF after 6 months ( r =-0.477, P =0.014). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that CK peak and IMR were predictors of LVEF after six months ( β=-0.595, t =-3.814, P =0.01; β=-0.352, t =-2.26, P =0.036). Conclusions: Immediate detection of IMR in patients with anterior wall AMI after PCI is safe and feasible. The immediate IMR after PCI reflects the extent of myocardial necrosis and myocardial perfusion, and is a predictor of LVEF at 6 months after PCI.

Aim: Serum total bilirubin (STB), a protective cardiovascular factor, was retrospectively investigated to determine the relationship between STB levels and the severity of disease in Chinese patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD)., Patients and Methods: A total of 347 eligible patients presenting to our department from December 2007 to December 2012 were divided into tertiles according to their Syntax scores (low, moderate, and high). To clarify the association between STB levels and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all patients were divided into two groups according to the median baseline STB (greater than or less than 13.2 μmol/l), which was measured after at least 12-h fast. All participants were followed for a mean of 37.1 months for MACE, including all-cause death, recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction, and recurrent percutaneous coronary intervention., Results: The STB levels were significantly lower in the high Syntax score group than those of the other groups and were negatively correlated with the Syntax score and number of diseased vessels. Follow-up data showed a higher incidence of MACE in the low STB group compared with the high STB group. Elevated STB levels predict the long-term prognosis of patients with stable angina pectoris. Finally, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher event-free survival rate in the patients with high STB levels than those in the low STB group., Conclusions: STB levels were independently associated with the severity of disease in patients with stable CAD. Elevated STB is associated with cardiovascular events and may be useful as a biomarker of the severity and prognosis of stable CAD.

Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Keratin-associated proteins (KRTAPs) play a critical role in cross-linking the keratin intermediate filaments to build a hair shaft. The genetic polymorphisms of the bovine KRTAP7-1 gene were investigated for the first time in this study. The complete coding sequence of the KRTAP7-1 gene in 108 domestic yak, taurine and zebu cattle from China and Indonesia were successfully amplified using polymerase chain reaction and then directly sequenced. Only two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (one nonsynonymous at c.7C/G and another synonymous at c.21C/T) and three haplotypes (BOVIN-KRTAP7-1*A, B and C) were identified in the complete coding sequence of the bovine KRTAP7-1 gene among all animals. There was no polymorphism across three Chinese indigenous yak breeds and one Indonesian zebu cattle population, all sharing the BOVINKRTAP71*A haplotype. The four taurine cattle populations also had BOVIN-KRTAP7-1*A as the most common haplotype with a frequency of 0.80. The frequency of novel haplotype BOVIN-KRTAP7-1*B was only 0.07 present in one heterozygous animal in each of the four taurine cattle populations, while BOVINKRTAP7- 1*C was only found in a Simmental and a local Chinese Yellow cattle population with frequencies of 0.17 and 0.36, respectively. The monomorphic yak KRTAP7-1 gene in particular, and highly conserved bovine, sheep and goat KRTAP7-1 genes in general, demonstrated its unique intrinsic structural property (e.g., > 21% high glycine content) and primary functional importance in supporting the mechanical strength and shape of hair.

The wild Huoba Tibetan sheep belongs to the subfamily Caprinae, which distributes in Huoba Town of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. In the present work, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of wild Huoba Tibetan sheep for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome is 16 621 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop region). As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. Its overall base composition is A: 33.64%, T: 27.32%, C: 25.90%, and G: 13.14%, A + T (61.96%) was higher than G + C (39.04%). The phylogenetic relationships was analyzed using the complete mitogenome sequence, results show that wild Huoba Tibetan sheep should be a different species differ from the Ovis aries. These information provide an important data for further study on protection of genetic resources and the taxonomy of Caprinae.

The dwarf blue sheep (Pseudois schaeferi haltenorth) belongs the subfamily Caprinae, which is distributed in Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, and Qinghai in China. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudois schaeferi haltenorth was sequenced. The mitogenome was 16 741 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop region). As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except for ND6 and eight tRNA genes which are encoded on the light strand. The overall base composition of the Pseudois schaeferi haltenorth is 33.54% A, 26.37% T, 26.91% C, and 13.18% G, A + T (59.91%) was higher than G + C (40.09%). The phylogenetic relationships was analyzed using the complete mitogenome sequence, results show that P. schaeferi haltenorth should be a different species differ from the Genus pseudois hodgson. These information provide useful data for further study on the protection of genetic resources and the taxonomy of Caprinae.

Objective: To explore the normal values of otolith function tests and agerelated changes in health volunteers. Method: One hundred and seventyone health volunteers were distributed to seven age groups, all subjects accepted otolith function tests, including fundus photography, static subjective visual vertical(SSVV), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential(cVEMP)and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential(oVEMP), the fundus photographs was used to measure the discfovea angle(DFA). DFA, SSVV and VEMPs were analyzed and compared among groups. Result: For DFA and SSVV,there were no significant differences either between different ages or between the two eyes in one individual（ P >0.05）. For cVEMP, the detection rate declined with age over 60 years old（ P <0.01）; the cVEMP threshold increased with every 20 years old( P <0.05); and the cVEMP amplitude decreased with every 10 years old( P <0.05),however, there was an exception that no significant difference was found between 41-50 years old and 51-60 years old groups（ P =0.93）;the cVEMP P1 latency prolonged with age over 70 years old（ P <0.01）.For oVEMP, the detection rate also declined with age over 60 years old（ P <0.01）; the oVEMP threshold was lowest at the age less than 30 years old and the largest threshold was found at the age over 70 years old（ P <0.01）; consistently, the oVEMP amplitude was found largest at the age less than 20 years old and lowest at the age over 60 years old( P <0.05).The P1 and N1 latencies were found significantly longer in the group of over 70 years old than other groups（ P <0.01）.No significant difference was found between both sides in one individual for oVEMP threshold,amplitude or latency ( P >0.05). Conclusion: In health volunteers,there were no obvious aged related changes in DFA and SSVV. However,the detection rate, threshold, amplitude and latency of cVEMP and oVEMP greatly changed with age., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

Objective: To objectively evaluate visual function by pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) and its related factors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)without any ocular symptoms., Methods: Eighty-three newly diagnosed OSAS and 18 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. The OSAS patients were divided into mild (n=11), moderate(n=17) and severe (n=55) groups based on the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI). Before the polysomnography(PSG) test, all participants underwent a PVEP examination measuring the latency and amplitude of P100., Results: Compared to healthy controls, the latency of P100 was significantly increased in OSAS patients [controls group: 97(95-100) ms, mild OSAS group: 101(98-103) ms, moderate OSAS group: 101(98-105) ms, severe OSAS group: 105(101-108) ms, all P<0.05], and the amplitude of P100 was significantly reduced [controls group: 9(8-10) μV, mild OSAS group: 7(5-8) μV, moderate OSAS group: 6(5-7) μV, severe OSAS group: 6(4-7) μV, all P<0.05]. The severe group showed significantly longer latency of P100 when compared with mild and moderate groups(P<0.05). In the OSAS patients, univariate analysis showed that, the latency of P100 was correlated with ODI, T90, AHI, sleep efficiency, minimum SaO2, and mean SaO2, and the amplitude of P100 was statistically associated with sleep efficiency .But the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only AHI was significantly correlated with the latency of P100 (r=0.275, P<0.01)., Conclusion: Abnormal PVEP was found in patients with OSAS without any clinical manifestations of the optic neuropathy. The dysfunction of optic nerve was significantly associated with AHI and sleep efficiency.

Soluble palladium and platinum phthalocyanines with coumarin moieties were synthesized with Q bands in the red and near-IR regions, in which the molar extinction coefficients were up to 1.01 × 10(5) cm(-1) mol(-1). These metallophthalocyanines were coupled with rubrene and applied in photon upconversion systems based on triplet-triplet annihilation. The highest upconversion efficiency of the palladium phthalocyanine was 5.6%, which is higher than that of the platinum phthalocyanine-rubrene system. The larger molar extinction coefficient resulted in high upconversion capability (>10(5) cm(-1) mol(-1)) and low saturation incident power (<20 mW cm(-2)).

Iranian livestock diversity is still largely unexplored, in spite of the interest in the populations historically reared in this country located near the Fertile Crescent, a major livestock domestication centre. In this investigation, the genetic diversity and differentiation of 10 Iranian indigenous fat-tailed sheep breeds were investigated using 18 microsatellite markers. Iranian breeds were found to host a high level of diversity. This conclusion is substantiated by the large number of alleles observed across loci (average 13.83, range 7-22) and by the high within-breed expected heterozygosity (average 0.75, range 0.72-0.76). Iranian sheep have a low level of genetic differentiation, as indicated by the analysis of molecular variance, which allocated a very small proportion (1.67%) of total variation to the between-population component, and by the small fixation index (FST  = 0.02). Both Bayesian clustering and principal coordinates analysis revealed the absence of a detectable genetic structure. Also, no isolation by distance was observed through comparison of genetic and geographical distances. In spite of high within-breed variation, signatures of inbreeding were detected by the FIS indices, which were positive in all and statistically significant in three breeds. Possible factors explaining the patterns observed, such as considerable gene flow and inbreeding probably due to anthropogenic activities in the light of population management and conservation programmes, are discussed., (© 2016 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Objective: This study aimed to detect serum level of glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) and explore the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress and the pathophysiology of OSA., Methods: A total of 91 patients with OSA were enrolled in this study, including 30 mild, 28 moderate and 33 severe. The other 27 obese subjects were of age, gender and BMI matched group. Eleven moderate or severe OSA patients were administrated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for 24 hours. Polysomnography, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), lowest arterial oxygen saturation(SaO2) and percentage of time spent at SaO2 below 90% (SIT90) were measured before and after sleep. Serum GRP78 was measured by ELISA., Results: The expression of GRP78 in mild(3.42±0.97)μg/L, moderate(2.67±1.14)μg/L and severe(2.62±1.11)μg/L OSA groups was significantly higher than in control group(1.75±0.41)μg/L (P<0.05). The GRP78 level in mild OSA group was significantly higher than either moderate or severe OSA group (P<0.05). After 24 h treatment of CPAP, serum GRP78 level decreased significantly [(1.77±0.39)μg/L vs(2.84±0.39)μg/L; P<0.05]., Conclusions: Endoplasmic reticulum stress involves in the pathophysiology of patients with OSA. Higher GRP78 level in mild OSA patients suggests that endoplasmic reticulum related protein GRP 78 might rise then fall during exacerbation of OSA.

Wool is produced via synthetic processes of wool follicles, which are embedded in the skin of sheep. The development of new-generation sequencing and RNA sequencing provides new approaches that may elucidate the molecular regulation mechanism of wool follicle development and facilitate enhanced selection for wool traits through gene-assisted selection or targeted gene manipulation. We performed de novo transcriptome sequencing of skin using the Illumina Hiseq 2000 sequencing system in sheep (Ovis aries). Transcriptome de novo assembly was carried out via short-read assembly programs, including SOAPdenovo and ESTScan. The protein function, clusters of orthologous group function, gene ontology function, metabolic pathway analysis, and protein coding region prediction of unigenes were annotated by BLASTx, BLAST2GO, and ESTScan. More than 26,266,670 clean reads were collected and assembled into 79,741 unigene sequences, with a final assembly length of 35,447,962 nucleotides. A total of 22,164 unigenes were annotated, accounting for 36.27% of the total number of unigenes, which were divided into 25 classes belonging to 218 signaling pathways. Among them, there were 17 signal paths related to hair follicle development. Based on mass sequencing data of sheepskin obtained by RNA-Seq, many unigenes were identified and annotated, which provides an excellent platform for future sheep genetic and functional genomic research. The data could be used for improving wool quality and as a model for human hair follicle development or disease prevention.

Tibetan sheep, an indigenous breed, have a wide variety of phenotypes and a colorful coat, which make this breed an interesting model for evaluating the effects of coat-color gene mutations on this phenotypic trait. The agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene is a positional candidate gene, as was inferred based on previous study. In our research, ASIP gene copy numbers in genomic DNA were detected using a novel approach, and the exon 2 g.100-104 mutation and copy number variation (CNV) of ASIP were associated with coat color in 256 sheep collected from eight populations with different coat colors by high-resolution melting curve assay. We found that the relative copy numbers of ASIP ranged from one to eight in Tibetan sheep. All of the g.100-104 genotypes in the populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and there was no relationship between the g.100-104 genotype and coat color (P > 0.05). The single ASIP CNV allele was found to be almost entirely associated with solid-black coat color; however, not all solid-black sheep displayed the putative single ASIP CNV genotype. From our study, we speculate that the ASIP CNV is under great selective pressure and the single ASIP CNV allows selection for black coat color in Tibetan sheep, but this does not explain all black phenotypes in Tibetan sheep.

Therapeutic hypothermia is an important treatment for cerebral resuscitation in patients after cardiac arrest. But it is rarely used for comatose survivor post-cardiac arrest in China. The patient was the first case who was in coma post cardiac arrest caused by acute myocardial infarction and given hypothermia therapy in our hospital. After coronary reperfusion and therapeutic hypothermia, the patient's sneurologic function was recovered to normal. The paper discussed the indications, contraindications, cooling methods and complications of therapeutic hypothermia.

Background: Monitoring mouse behavior is a critical step in the development of modern pharmacotherapies., New Method: Here we describe the application of a novel method that utilizes a touch display computer (tablet) and software to detect, record, and report fine motor behaviors. A consumer-grade tablet device is placed in the bottom of a specially made acrylic cage allowing the animal to walk on the device (MouseTrapp). We describe its application in open field (for general locomotor studies) which measures step lengths and velocity. The device can perform light-dark (anxiety) tests by illuminating half of the screen and keeping the other half darkened. A divider is built into the lid of the device allowing the animal free access to either side., Results: Treating mice with amphetamine and the delta opioid peptide receptor agonist SNC80 stimulated locomotor activity on the device. Amphetamine increased step velocity but not step length during its peak effect (40-70min after treatment), thus indicating detection of subtle amphetamine-induced effects. Animals showed a preference (74% of time spent) for the darkened half compared to the illuminated side., Comparison With Existing Method: Animals were videotaped within the chamber to compare quadrant crosses to detect motion on the device. The slope, duration and magnitude of quadrant crosses tightly correlated with overall locomotor activity as detected by MouseTrapp., Conclusions: We suggest that modern touch display devices such as MouseTrapp will be an important step toward automation of behavioral analyses for characterizing phenotypes and drug effects., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The desmoglein 4 (DSG4) gene is a potential candidate in the search for genes that may affect wool traits, because of its function. This study aimed to screen for polymorphisms in partial exon 16 and 3ꞌUTR of the sheep desmoglein 4 DSG4 gene, and to test its possible association with wool length and crimp associated with fur. Overall, 326 sheep were scanned via single-strand conformational polymorphism assay, through three pairs of primers. The breeds included Tan, Han, and TanxHan from China, Polled Dorset from Australia, and Suffolk from Britain genotypes AA, BB, and AB for primer2 and genotypes DD, EE, and DE for primer3 were detected in native breeds. Six SNPs and 3-bp insertion/deletions were found in exon 16, of which 4 lead to amino acid substitutions. In addition, 1 SNP was found in 3ꞌUTR. The DSG4 genotype was found to be strongly associated with all wool traits that were considered in this study (P < 0.01). Sheep with the genotype MM had a higher least square mean compared to sheep with the genotype WW or WM with respect to birth scapular wool length (P < 0.01), crimp number of birth scapular wool crimp (P < 0.01), crimp number of weaning scapular wool crimp (P < 0.01), and crimp number of weaning rump wool crimp (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In conclusion, our study is the first to demonstrate that the DSG4 gene may be a candidate, or major gene, which influences important wool traits.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element that is required for normal brain functioning. However, excessive intake of Mn has been known to lead to neuronal loss and clinical symptoms resembling idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), whose precise molecular mechanism remains largely elusive. In the study, we established a Mn-exposed rat model and identified a mitochondrial protease, the mature form of high temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2/Omi), which was significantly upregulated in rat brain striatum after Mn exposure. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the expression of mature HtrA2 was remarkably increased following Mn exposure. In addition, immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that overexposure to Mn could lead to significant elevation in the number of HtrA2-positive neurons. Accordingly, the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a well-characterized target of HtrA2-mediated proteolysis, was progressively decreased following Mn exposure, and was correlated with increased level of active caspase-3. Further, we showed that Mn exposure decreased the viability and induced apparent apoptosis of NFG-differentiated PC12 cells. Importantly, the expression of HtrA2 was progressively increased, whereas the level of cellular XIAP was reduced during Mn-induced apoptosis. In addition, blockage of HtrA2 activity with UCF-101 restored Mn-induced reduction in XIAP expression. Finally, we observed that UCF-101 treatment ameliorated Mn-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Collectively, these findings suggested that upregulated HtrA2 played a role in Mn-induced neuronal death in brain striatum., (Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In a recent breakup-reaction experiment using a Be12 beam at 29  MeV/nucleon, the 0+ band head of the expected He4+He8 molecular rotation was clearly identified at about 10.3 MeV, from which a large monopole matrix element of 7.0±1.0  fm2 and a large cluster-decay width were determined for the first time. These findings support the picture of strong clustering in Be12, which has been a subject of intense investigations over the past decade. The results were obtained thanks to a specially arranged detection system around zero degrees, which is essential in determining the newly emphasized monopole strengths to signal the cluster formation in a nucleus.

Variation in microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci has, until recently, relied heavily on the use of gel-based methods that can be both time consuming and difficult to genotype. Non gel-based systems are therefore important to increase simplicity and improve turn-around time without compromising assay sensitivity and accuracy. In this report, we assessed the latest of the non-gel-based methods, high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis. HRM is a technique that monitors exactly the decreasing fluorescence of intercalating dye in the process of dissociation of double-stranded DNA. The measurement immediately follows polymerase chain reaction in a one-step, closed-tube method. Four SSR loci of different complexity in sheep, namely MAF209, MCM140, CB226, and SRCRSP5, were assessed using the LightScanners System with LC Greens PLUS DNA binding dye. In order to improve the accuracy of genotyping, we applied internal oligo nucleotide calibrators while performing HRM. DNA polymorphisms were previously identified using capillary electrophoresis analysis (CE). The result showed that CE detected more genotypes than HRM in the same loci regardless of the level of polymorphism at the SSR loci. We demonstrate current limitations of the HRM method for the analysis of SSR loci.

Unravelling the genetic history of any livestock species is central to understanding the origin, development and expansion of agricultural societies and economies. Domestic village chickens are widespread in Africa. Their close association with, and reliance on, humans for long-range dispersal makes the species an important biological marker in tracking cultural and trading contacts between human societies and civilizations across time. Archaezoological and linguistic evidence suggest a complex history of arrival and dispersion of the species on the continent, with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop analysis revealing the presence of five distinct haplogroups in East African village chickens. It supports the importance of the region in understanding the history of the species and indirectly of human interactions. Here, through a detailed analysis of 30 autosomal microsatellite markers genotyped in 657 village chickens from four East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan), we identify three distinct autosomal gene pools (I, II and III). Gene pool I is predominantly found in Ethiopia and Sudan, while II and III occur in both Kenya and Uganda. A gradient of admixture for gene pools II and III between the Kenyan coast and Uganda's hinterland (P = 0.001) is observed, while gene pool I is clearly separated from the other two. We propose that these three gene pools represent genetic signatures of separate events in the history of the continent that relate to the arrival and dispersal of village chickens and humans across the region. Our results provide new insights on the history of chicken husbandry which has been shaped by terrestrial and maritime contacts between ancient and modern civilizations in Asia and East Africa., (© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Background: Adiposity is a known risk factor for psoriasis. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a number of genes associated with risk of psoriasis while the evidence on gene-environment interactions in psoriasis is very sparse., Objectives: To investigate the effect modification by adiposity measures on the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from published GWAS and risk of psoriasis., Methods: Our psoriasis GWAS dataset comprised 9194 participants, including 337 individuals with psoriasis and 8857 controls from six GWAS, nested within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHS II, and Health Professionals' Follow-up Study. Clinician-diagnosed psoriasis was ascertained with high validity. For stratified analyses, body mass index (BMI) was dichotomized at 25, and waist circumference was dichotomized at 30 (women) and 36 inches (men), while waist-hip ratio (WHR) was dichotomized at 0·8 (women) and 1·0 (men)., Results: Forty-one out of 44 previously reported psoriasis-related SNPs were included in our GWAS datasets. After excluding those with high linkage disequilibrium, 33 remained in the analysis. There were significant interactions between BMI and two SNPs in the IL12B (rs3212227) and IL23R (rs7530511) genes. Further analysis of these two SNPs indicated interactions between rs3212227 and waist circumference or WHR [P for interaction (P ) < 0·05], but not for rs7530511. These observations were confirmed among participants without type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. The interactions remained after simultaneously adjusting for BMI as a continuous variable. In addition, we did not observe a significant main effect for rs7530511., Conclusion: The association between a polymorphism in IL12B and psoriasis risk may be modified by measures of overall and central adiposity., (© 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists.)

A qualitative and quantitative determination method for chloropropanols in soy sauce was developed by GC-MS/MS with coupled column separation without derivatisation. The target compounds were 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol (1,3-DCP), 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol (2,3-DCP), 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD). 3-MCPD-d(5) was used as an isotope internal standard for MCPDs and 1,3-DCP-d(5) for DCPs. After spiking with internal standards and mixed with 1 g of Extrelut™ NT, about 1 g of the sample was washed by 4 ml of hexane and the analytes were eluted with 15 ml of 95% (v/v) ethyl ether/hexane mixture. The concentrated extract was directly injected without derivatisation, separated by a coupled column - a 3 m Innowax (polyethylene glycol) combined with a 30 m DB-5 ms ((5%-phenyl)-methylpolysiloxane) by a quartz capillary column connector - and detected by GC-MS/MS. The limits of detection (LODs) in the sample matrix were 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 5.0 µg kg(-1) for the above chloropropanols, respectively. The relative proportions of 2-MCPD/3-MCPD ranged from 0.19 to 3.74 in soy sauce samples. 2,3-DCP and 2-MCPD were more stable than 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD under alkaline condition. The levels of chloropropanols can be decreased by an alkaline treatment process.

The history of the introduction and dispersal of village chickens across the African continent is a subject of intense debate and speculation among scholars. Here, we synthesize and summarise the current scientific genetic and nongenetic knowledge in relation to the history of the species on the continent. Sociocultural, linguistic, archaeological and historic data all suggest a complex history for the species in Africa, characterized by multiple maritime and/or terrestrial introductions over time and several dispersal routes towards and within Africa. Molecular genetics information supports these observations and in addition suggests possible Asian centers of origin for African domestic chickens, including South Asia and Island Southeast Asia. However, both sets of data were until now too limited in their geographic scope, both within Africa and in comparison with chickens from Asia, to unravel the history of the species in detail. We anticipate that further continent-wide studies combining archaeological, ancient and/or modern genetic information may shed new insights on the history of the species. These will contribute to a deeper understanding of the history of trading networks and human interactions within Africa and between African and Asian societies, at the root of the development and expansion of African civilizations.

Background: Psoriasis has been linked to cardiovascular comorbidities in cross-sectional studies, but evidence regarding the association between psoriasis and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is limited., Objectives: To make a prospective evaluation of the association between psoriasis and risk of incident nonfatal CVD., Methods: Participants (n = 96, 008) were included from the Nurses' Health Study II, and followed for 18 years. Information on physician-diagnosed psoriasis was obtained by self-report and diagnosis was confirmed by supplementary questionnaires. We included 2463 individuals with self-reported psoriasis and a subsample of 1242 with validated psoriasis. The main outcome was incident nonfatal CVD events [nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) and nonfatal stroke], ascertained by biennial questionnaires and confirmed., Results: During 1 709 069 person-years of follow-up, 713 incident nonfatal CVD events were confirmed. Psoriasis was associated with a significantly increased multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of nonfatal CVD, 1·55 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1·04-2·31]. HRs for nonfatal MI and stroke were 1·70 (95% CI: 1·01-2·84) and 1·45 (95% CI: 0·80-2·65), respectively. The association remained consistent in a sensitivity analysis of confirmed psoriasis (HR: 2·06, 95% CI: 1·31-3·26). For individuals with concomitant psoriatic arthritis, the risk of nonfatal CVD was even higher (HR: 3·47; 95% CI: 1·85-6·51). Women diagnosed with psoriasis at < 40 years of age or with duration of psoriasis ≥ 9 years had substantial elevations in CVD risk: HR: 3·26 (95% CI: 1·21-8·75) and 3·09 (95% CI: 1·15-8·29), respectively., Conclusions: Psoriasis is an independent predictor for nonfatal CVD among women, with particularly high risk for those with longer duration of psoriasis and concomitant psoriatic arthritis., (© 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.)

The genetic consequences of population differentiation and isolation have been the subject of conservation biology. In this study, we analysed the genetic diversity and structure of Mongolian sheep in China. These animals belong to a traditional local breed with high production, extensive adaption, early maturity and roughage resistance. For this purpose, 26 microsatellites were genotyped for five Mongolian sheep populations. The Bayesian clustering indicated five clusters as the most probable genetic structure of the populations investigated. In addition, a clear genetic structure was revealed in three populations distributed at large geographical scales, while the other cluster encompassed UQ and HLBR sheep that displayed no clear differentiation, probably due to their close and small geographical distributions. Overall, our results are helpful in understanding the interplay of population dynamics in these close genetic lineages of Mongolian sheep., (© 2011 The Authors, Animal Genetics © 2011 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Most cashmere goats are found in northern China and Mongolia. They are regarded as precious resources for their production of high quality natural fibre for the textile industry. It was the first time that the genetic diversity and population structure of nine Chinese cashmere populations has been assessed using 14 ISAG/FAO microsatellite markers. In addition, two Iranian populations and one West African goat population were genotyped for comparison. Results indicated that the genetic diversity of Chinese cashmere goats was rich, but less than those of the Iranian goat populations. All pairwise F(ST) values between the Chinese cashmere goat populations reached a highly significant level (P < 0.001), suggesting that they should all be considered as separate breeds. Finally, clustering analysis divided Chinese cashmere goats into at least two clusters, with the Tibetan Hegu goats alone in one cluster. An extensive admixture was detected among the Chinese goat breeds (except the Hegu), which have important implications for breeding management., (© 2010 The Authors, Animal Genetics © 2010 International Society for Animal Genetics.)

We determined the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among 26 Chinese indigenous horse breeds and two introduced horse breeds by genotyping these animals for 27 microsatellite loci. The 26 Chinese horse breeds come from 12 different provinces. Two introduced horse breeds were the Mongolia B Horse from Mongolia and the Thoroughbred Horse from the UK. A total of 330 alleles were detected, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.719 (Elenchuns) to 0.780 (Dali). The mean number of alleles among the horse breeds ranged from 6.74 (Hequ) to 8.81 (Debao). Although there were abundant genetic variations found, the genetic differentiation was low between the Chinese horses, which displayed only 2.4% of the total genetic variance among the different breeds. However, genetic differentiation (pairwise FST) among Chinese horses, although moderate, was still apparent and varied from 0.001 for the Guizou-Luoping pair to 0.064 for the Jingjiang-Elenchuns pair. The genetic differentiation patterns and genetic relationships among Chinese horse breeds were also consistent with their geographical distribution. The Thoroughbred and Mongolia B breeds could be discerned as two distinct breeds, but the Mongolia B horse in particular suffered genetic admixture with Chinese horses. The Chinese breeds could be divided into five major groups, i.e. the south or along the Yangtze river group (Bose, Debao, Wenshan, Lichuan, Jianchang, Guizhou, Luoping, Jinjiang and Dali), the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau group (Chaidamu, Hequ, Datong, Yushu, Tibet Grassland and Tibet Valley), the Northeast of China group (Elenchuns, Jilin and Heihe), the Northwest of China group (Kazakh, Yili and Yanqi) and the Inner Mongolia group (Mongolia A, Sanhe, Xinihe,Wuzhumuqin and Sengeng). This grouping pattern was further supported by principal component analysis and structure analysis., (© 2010 The Authors, Animal Genetics © 2010 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Background: Latex allergy continues to be an increasingly serious occupational health problem in Taiwan, where it affects approximately 6.8% to 12% of health care workers. Contrasting with reports from western countries, Hev b 1 and hevamine, and not Hev b 3, 5 or 6.02, are the major latex allergens among health care workers in Taiwan. This study aimed at evaluating the allergenicity of 30 brands of commercially available medical latex gloves in Taiwan in 2007., Methods: Residual Hev b 1 and hevamine from the gloves were measured by inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polyclonal antibodies against purified recombinant Hev b 1 and hevamine. The results were compared to those achieved with quantification of residual total extractable proteins and skin prick testing., Results: The residual extractable protein levels in 30 medical gloves all conformed to United States Food and Drug Administration regulations. All the gloves except one yielded strong skin prick reactions in latex-allergic individuals. The only brand of gloves that consistently produced no skin prick reactions in latex-allergic individuals contained the lowest residual levels of Hev b 1 (0.60 microg/g) and hevamine (0.07 microg/g)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the measurement of residual extractable total proteins is not sufficient to assess the allergenicity of latex gloves and that Hev b 1 and hevamine may be used as indicator allergens in areas where they are major latex allergens, such as Taiwan.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists are involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses and recent studies suggest that PPAR-gamma ligands may have potential for the treatment of allergic airway disease. This study investigated the effect of the PPAR-gamma agonist, rosiglitazone, on nasal mucous allergic inflammation and galectin-3 gene expression in a murine model of allergic rhinitis (AR mice). Rosiglitazone resulted in a statistically significant attenuation of the increased numbers of inflammatory cells and Th2 cytokine levels in nasal cavity lavage fluid of AR mice. Furthermore, the expression of galectin-3 in the nasal mucosa of AR mice was statistically significantly increased. Overexpression of galectin-3 was markedly suppressed by rosiglitazone treatment. These data suggest that the PPAR-gamma agonist, rosiglitazone, may have potential in the development of therapies for allergic rhinitis.

The biocompatibility of hydroxylapatite-polyethylene composite implants (HAPEX, Smith and Nephew) was investigated in this study. Eleven middle ear prostheses, removed during revision surgery, have been examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the middle ear prostheses become overgrown by fibrous tissue inside a thin epithelial layer. In some cases the prosthesis is covered by fibrous tissue without an outer layer of epithelial cells. No arguments have been found for the accumulation of macrophages and foreign body giant cells associated with a foreign body reaction to the material. Therefore, hydroxylapatite-polyethylene composite implants (HAPEX, Smith and Nephew) would seem to be very suitable for reconstructive middle ear surgery., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

In this paper the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 87 domestic camels from Gansu, Xingjiang and Inner Mongolia were analyzed. Totally 18 restriction endonucleases including Apa I, Ava I, BamH I, Bcl I, Bgl I, Bgl II, Dra I, EcoR I, EcoR V, Hind III, Kpn I, Pvu II, Sac I, Sal I, Sca I, Sma I, Xba I and Xho I were used to investigate the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of camel mtDNA through Southern blotting to reveal the genetic diversity within three groups of domestic camel and the genetic relationships among the three domestic groups. The results indicated that the average molecular weight of camel mtDNA is 16.26 +/- 0.28 kb, the camel mtDNA is inherited maternally and no variations and heteroplasmy are found in camel mtDNA. Among the 82 domestic camels, 35 restriction morph and 12 haplotypes were detected, and the value of average sequence variation within the domestic population (pi) is 0.2273%, which showed a relatively rich genetic diversity existed in the domestic camels. From F-test of the haplotype distribution and comparison of the haplotype sharement between the 3 domestic camel groups, it was suggested that there is no obvious genetic divergence and that the rich genetic diversity comes from the variation among individuals instead of the genetic divergence between groups. All domestic camels could be divided into 2 types (A and B) with a significant genetic distance (P = 0.0464).

In search for new antitumor agents, twelve 6-aziridinylbenzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and their cytotoxicities were tested against three cancer cell lines (mouse lymphocytic leukemia P388 and B16, and human gastric carcinoma SNU-16). From 4-amino-3-nitrotoluene as the starting material, 2-(acetoxymethyl)benzimidazoles (5a-d) were obtained by Phillips reaction. These benzimidazoles were then reacted with Fremy's salt to give a mixture of three 2-(acetoxymethyl) (8a-c) and four 2-(hydroxymethyl)benzimidazole-4,7-diones (9a-d). Addition of these quinones with aziridine afforded 6-aziridinyl-2-(acetoxymethyl) (10a-c) and 6-aziridinyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)benzimidazole-4,7-diones (11a-d). Utilizing 2-(hydroxymethyl)benzimidazole-4,7-diones (9b,d), esters 10d and 13e-h were prepared by the sequential reactions of esterification and addition. The synthesized compounds show potent cytotoxicity against all of three cell lines tested. The cytotoxicities of 10a-d or 11a-d against SNU-16 were superior to those of 13e-h, and were equal to or slightly higher than that of mitomycin C. Compounds 11a-d were slightly more cytotoxic than 10a-d in all cell lines tested.

In order to reduce excessive plasma loss, to alleviate the effects of devitalized tissues on the body, and to shorten the time in hospital, we attempted to perform extensive escharectomy during the shock period in extensively burned patients. Group A consisted of 21 patients, aged 9-45 years, with a mean total burn area of 63.2 +/- 18.1 per cent TBSA, and full-thickness injury involving 35.9 +/- 19.6 per cent TBSA. The first escharectomy was performed at 24.1 +/- 13.9 h postburn. The excision area averaged 32.3 +/- 6.7 per cent TBSA (range 24-96 per cent). In 15 patients a Swan-Ganz catheter was introduced to monitor haemodynamic changes. It was found that RAP, PAP, PAWP, ABP, HR, CO and CI were all stable during and after the operation. Group B consisted of 29 patients, and escharectomy was begun 4-5 days postburn. The mean healing time of the patients in group A was 33.1 days, which was shorter than that in group B (40.1 days). The period of haemoconcentration was shorter in group A and the amount of blood required during the first 2 weeks was almost 700 ml less in group A. There were fewer visceral complications in group A and smaller amounts of antibiotics were required in this group. The authors believe that escharectomy during the shock stage is feasible.

We developed two leukemic cell lines (K562 HHT and L1210 HHT) stably 16.7 fold and 13.4 fold resistant to HHT respectively with which the culture were treated. Both cell lines were also cross-resistant to DOX, VCR, DNR and Mel. Increased expression of MDR1 gene in the both lines was noted. To further evaluate the implications of MDR1 in HHT resistance. We studied the expression of MDR1 in sensitive and HHT-resistant sublines of K562 by ABC with an monoclonal antibody against P170, JSB-1. K562 HHT cells were positive but sensitive cells were negative. Additionally, the increased drug resistance was associated with increased level of expression of alpha and pi class GST gene, but not with increased level of expression of mu class GST gene.