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The article presents a study which examined the relationship between the exposure in air pollution and serious respiratory illness. The authors employed multiple index model to obtain insight and to infer the impacts of pollutants at different levels under different weather conditions. The analysis is conducted for four sub-regions in Hong Kong, China. The study also includes time lags of weather and environmental factors in triggering respiratory illnesses.

In mobile cellular networks, bandwidth is deterministic in terms of the number of channels by frequency division, time division, or code division. On the other hand, bandwidth partition schemes in the contention-based medium access control (MAC) in distributed wireless LANs are extremely challenging due to the contention-based nature, packet-based network, and the most important aspect: only one channel available, competed by an unknown number of stations. In this paper, we study this challenging issue. We propose and study four different bandwidth partition schemes for integrated voice/video/data traffic in the IEEE 802.11e wireless LANs: a Static bandwidth Partition (SP) scheme, a Dynamic budget Partition (DP) scheme, a Dynamic bandwidth Partition with Finer-Tune (DP-FT) scheme, and a Dynamic bandwidth Partition with Reserved Region (DP-RR). The proposed schemes are compared and evaluated via extensive simulations. Results show that the DP-FT scheme is the best scheme. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the association of brain-derived neurotrophic-factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism with both baseline health related quality of life (HRQOL) scores and improvement in HRQOL scores in Chinese major depressive patients treated with fluoxetine. Methods Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) took fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks. The HRQOL was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) at baseline and at 6th week. Patients were genotyped for Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF gene. Results There was a significant association between social function (SF) and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, and patients with Met/Met genotype had better SF (compared with Val/Val P = 0.004; compared with Val/Met P = 0.005). A significant association was found between improvement in SF and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, and patients with Met/Met genotype had poorer improvement in SF (compared with Val/Val P = 0.010; compared with Val/Met P = 0.001). Similar association was found between improvement in mental component summary (MCS) and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, and patients with Met/Met genotype had poorer improvement in MCS (compared with Val/Val P = 0.066; compared with Val/Met P = 0.006). Conclusions These results indicate that there may be association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and both baseline HRQOL (SF) scores and improvement in HRQOL (SF, MCS) scores in Chinese major depressive patients treated with fluoxetine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient turnover of messenger RNA represents an important mechanism that allows the cell to control gene expression. Until recently, the mechanism of mRNA decay was mainly attributed to exonucleases, comprising enzymes that degrade RNAs from the ends of the molecules. This article summarizes the endoribonucleases, comprising enzymes that cleave RNA molecules internally, which were identified in more recent years in eukaryotic mRNA metabolism. Endoribonucleases have received little attention in the past, based on the difficulty in their identification and a lack of understanding of their physiological significance. This review aims to compare the similarities and differences among this group of enzymes, as well as their known cellular functions. Despite the many differences in protein structure, and thus difficulties in identifying them based on amino acid sequence, most endoribonucleases possess essential cellular functions and have been shown to play an important role in mRNA turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI; EC 1.1.1.86) catalyzes the second common step in branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis. This enzyme is an important target for drug design. Based on the crystal structure of ketol-acid reductoisomerase/N-hydroxy-N-isopropyloxamate (IpOHA) complex, we have carried out high throughput receptor-based virtual screening of the ZINC/drug like database (2 000 000 compounds) to look for novel inhibitors of KARI for the first time. Some novel compounds were found to inhibit rice KARI in vitro among 15 procured compounds. This method can provide useful information for further design and discovery of KARI inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetramethylpyrazine has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The underlying mechanism of cardioprotective effects, however, remains to be elucidated. Here, using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we have assessed the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine on H2O2-induced oxidative damage. After pre-incubation with tetramethylpyrazine (50, 100 and 150 μg/ml) for 24 hr., viability loss in H2O2-induced HUVECs (76.5% of the control level, p < 0.05, at 400 μM of H2O2 for 12 hr.) was restored in a concentration-dependent manner, and the maximal recovery (88.7% of the control level, p < 0.05) was achieved with tetramethylpyrazine at 150 μg/ml. The production of reactive oxygen species was suppressed by measuring fluorescent intensity of 2′,7′-dichorofluorescein (83.1% of the H2O2-treated group, p < 0.05, at 150 μg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Tetramethylpyrazine also increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (144.1% and 118.3% of the H2O2-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 μg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). In addition, tetramethylpyrazine reduced levels of malonaldehyde, intracellular nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase (83.8%, 91.2% and 78.7% of the H2O2-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 μg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Furthermore, pre-incubation of tetramethylpyrazine with HUVECs for 24 hr. resulted in reduction of apoptosis and removal of cell cycle arrest in the S phase (56.6% and 59.7% of the H2O2-treated group, respectively, p < 0.01, at 150 μg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Altogether, these results suggest that tetramethylpyrazine has a protective effect on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HUVECs due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To demonstrate the clinical efficacy of combination capsule endoscopy (CE) and multiple-detector computed tomography (MDCT) diagnostic imaging in the identification of gastrointestinal hemorrhages. Methods: In the present study, 123 patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhages of obscure origin (GHOO) were examined with CE in combination with MDCT. The results were compared with findings of surgical pathology. Results: Of the 123 patients, 57.72% (71/123) of the patients exhibited positive CE findings compared with 30.08% (37/123) on MDCT alone ( P < 0.01). When used in combination, 65.85% (81/123) of patients scored positively. The detection rate due to the combination of diagnostic imaging was significantly higher than that of MDCT alone ( P < 0.01), but was not significantly higher than that of CE alone ( P > 0.05). Integrating the two diagnostic platforms improved the diagnosis of stromal tumors, hemangioma, Crohn's disease, vascular anomaly, Meckel's diverticulum, and ancylostomiasis. There was no significant difference in the positive detection rate between CE and MDCT when confirmed by surgical pathology. Conclusion: The contribution of CE is critical in the diagnosis of GHOO, given the fact that there is a significant difference in the detection rate between CE and MDCT, but there is no significant difference in the rate between CE plus MDCT and CE alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explores the development of new strobilurin derivatives that contains substituted pyrazoles. It states that a series of new strobilurin derivatives with substituted pyrazole in the side chain were bioassayed and synthesized. Furthermore, results demonstrates that strobilurin analogues containing substituted phenylpyrazolylmethoxymethyl side chains can be a possible lead compound for further development of agricultural fungicides and acaricides.

This article reports the first genetic study of the mating system of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), an endemic and endangered species in China. The investigation was carried out in a population (WRT) in the Qinling Mountains using data from both field observation and paternity analysis through microsatellite DNA profiling. During a mating season, a male on an average copulated with 5.7 females. Approximately 18% of the females were observed to copulate with more than one male over the study period. The majority of copulations (94.5%) were initiated by females. Twenty-eight of 430 observed matings were extra-unit copulations. Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were used for paternity analysis. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from 3 to 7 (mean=4.3). Observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.32 and 0.79. None of the loci showed significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Results from paternity exclusion showed that 12 of 21 (57.1%) immature individuals were sired by extra-unit males. Although the basic social unit of snub-nosed monkeys is consistent with a polygynous mating system, both field observation and genetic data suggests that their mating system is polygamous. Infanticide and inbreeding avoidance are the most likely explanations for the promiscuity of female snub-nosed monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 72:25–32, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose synthase-like (CSL) proteins of glycosyltransferase family 2 (GT2) are believed to be involved in the biosynthesis of cell-wall polymers. The CSL D sub-family (CSLD) is common to all plants, but the functions of CSLDs remain to be elucidated. We report here an in-depth characterization of a narrow leaf and dwarf1 ( nd1) rice mutant that shows significant reduction in plant growth due to retarded cell division. Map-based cloning revealed that ND1 encodes OsCSLD4, one of five members of the CSLD sub-family in rice. OsCSLD4 is mainly expressed in tissues undergoing rapid growth. Expression of OsCSLD4 fluorescently tagged at the C- or N-terminus in rice protoplast cells or Nicotiana benthamiana leaves showed that the protein is located in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi vesicles. Golgi localization was verified using phenotype-rescued transgenic plants expressing OsCSLD4–GUS under the control of its own promoter. Two phenotype-altered tissues, culms and root tips, were used to investigate the specific wall defects. Immunological studies and monosaccharide compositional and glycosyl linkage analyses explored several wall compositional effects caused by disruption of OsCSLD4, including alterations in the structure of arabinoxylan and the content of cellulose and homogalacturonan, which are distinct in the monocot grass species Oryza sativa (rice). The inconsistent alterations in the two tissues and the observable structural defects in primary walls indicate that OsCSLD4 plays important roles in cell-wall formation and plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that analyzes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in epidermal growth factor-induced glioblastoma cell proliferation in the U.S. The study showed that EGF-induced ARF6 expression plays a significant role in glioma cell proliferation. The study found out that EGF induces ARF6 expression by investigating the downstream signaling of EGFR-mediated ARF6 up-regulation.

A low profile, wideband, and portable antenna has been designed and fabricated for Inmarsat broadband global area network (BGAN) land mobile terminal applications. The purpose of the antenna was to provide a low-cost and easy-fabricated solution with wide bandwidth and high performance. The proposed antenna is composed of the stacked corner-truncated patches with sequential rotation oblique feed and a serial feeding network. Good antenna characteristics are achieved over the BGAN operating bands. The measurement results for return loss, gain, axial ratio, and radiation pattern confirm the integrity of the simulation results. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2354–2357, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24643 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the top 10 biodiversity hotspots in the world and acts as a modern harbour for many rare species because of its relatively pristine state. In this article, we report a landscape genetic study on the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus bieti), a primate endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. DNA was extracted from blood, tissue and fecal samples of 135 wild individuals representing 11 out of 15 extant monkey groups. Ten microsatellite loci were used to characterize patterns of genetic diversity. The most striking feature of the population structure is the presence of five subpopulations with distinct genetic backgrounds and unique spatial regions. The population structure of R. bieti appears to be shaped by anthropogenic landscape features as gene flow between subpopulations is strongly impeded by arable land, highways and human habitation. A partial Mantel test showed that 36.23% ( r = 0.51, P = 0.01) of the genetic distance was explained by habitat gaps after controlling for the effect of geographical distance. Only 4.92% of the genetic distance was explained by geographical distance in the partial Mantel test, and no significant correlation was found. Estimation of population structure history indicates that environmental change during the last glacial maximum and human impacts since the Holocene, or a combination of both, have shaped the observed population structure of R. bieti. Increasing human activity on the Plateau, especially that resulting in habitat fragmentation, is becoming an important factor in shaping the genetic structure and evolutionary potential of species inhabiting this key ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD100 participates in adaptive immune responses and is important in neural cell migration. To determine the role of endogenous CD100 in severe glomerular inflammation, we induced experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis by planting a foreign antigen in glomeruli of sensitized normal and CD100-deficient (CD100−/−) mice. Fewer CD100−/− glomeruli exhibited crescent formation or severe histological changes. Antigen-specific immune responses were reduced in CD100−/− mice. There was less interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 production by splenocytes and fewer activated T and B cells were present in lymph nodes of immunized CD100−/− mice. Serum antigen-specific immunoglobulin (IgG) levels were also decreased. Glomerular macrophage and CD4+ cell infiltration, and IgG and C3 deposition were attenuated. Normal kidneys expressed mRNA for CD100 and plexin-B1 (the tissue receptor of CD100). Direct immunofluorescence showed that renal-CD100 protein was predominantly in tubules, while plexin-B1 was present in both glomeruli and tubules. To determine whether glomerular plexin-B1 mediates leucocyte recruitment via leucocyte CD100, recruitment was studied after passive transfer of heterologous antibody (attracting neutrophils) or isologous antibody (attracting macrophages). Glomerular macrophages were reduced in CD100−/− mice, but neutrophil recruitment was equivalent, consistent with CD100 expression on macrophages, but not neutrophils. CD100 promotes severe nephritogenic immune responses and leucocyte CD100–glomerular plexin-B1 interactions enhance macrophage recruitment to glomeruli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Because habitat loss and fragmentation threaten giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), habitat protection and restoration are important conservation measures for this endangered species. However, distribution and value of potential habitat to giant pandas on a regional scale are not fully known. Therefore, we identified and ranked giant panda habitat in Foping Nature Reserve, Guanyinshan Nature Reserve, and adjacent areas in the Qinling Mountains of China. We used Mahalanobis distance and 11 digital habitat layers to develop a multivariate habitat signature associated with 247 surveyed giant panda locations, which we then applied to the study region. We identified approximately 128 km² of giant panda habitat in Foping Nature Reserve (43.6% of the reserve) and 49 km² in Guanyinshan Nature Reserve (33.6% of the reserve). We defined core habitat areas by incorporating a minimum patch-size criterion (5.5 km²) based on home-range size. Percentage of core habitat area was higher in Foping Nature Reserve (41.8% of the reserve) than Guanyinshan Nature Reserve (26.3% of the reserve). Within the larger analysis region, Foping Nature Reserve contained 32.7% of all core habitat areas we identified, indicating regional importance of the reserve. We observed a negative relationship between distribution of core areas and presence of roads and small villages. Protection of giant panda habitat at lower elevations and improvement of habitat linkages among core habitat areas are important in a regional approach to giant panda conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home range studies are essential for understanding an animal's behavioral ecology and for making wildlife conservation efficient. The home range of a group of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus bieti Milne-Edwards, 1897) was estimated using a global positioning system collar from December 2003 to October 2004 in northern Yunnan Province, China. To measure the ranging area of the study group 1291 animal locations were fixed. Based on the 100% minimum convex polygon method, the home range size was approximately 32.8 km2; based on the grid-cell method it was approximately 17.8 km2 using a 250-m grid and 23.3 km2 using a 500-m grid. We assessed seasonal changes in the home range of this monkey population and found a different ranging pattern of from earlier studies. Daily range size was calculated as 4.80 ± 5.81 ha (mean ± standard deviation), with arange of 45.66 ha (0.01–45.67 ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel triazolinones were synthesized and their structures were characterized by 1H NMR, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The herbicidal activities were evaluated against Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv., Digitaria adscendens, Brassica napus and Amaranthus retroflexus. The herbicidal activity data indicated that the title compounds had higher activities with substituted benzyl group moieties than with other groups such as sulfonyl, alkyl, etc. To further investigate the structure–activity relationship, comparative molecular field analysis was performed on the basis of herbicidal activity data. Both the steric and electronic field distributions of comparative molecular field analysis are in good agreement in this work. The results showed that a bulky and electronegative group around the ortho- or para-positions of the benzene ring would possibly lead to higher activity. Based on the comparative molecular field analysis, compound I-23 was designed and synthesized, which display as good herbicidal activities as the commercial herbicide, carfentrazone-ethyl. The activity against Digitaria adscendens is 66.1% under pre-emergence at 300 g of a.i./ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Delayed treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is common in Mainland China because of the lack of public education about health care resulting in the reluctance to undergo surgery. This leads to a high incidence of complex cases where surgeons may not be trained in advanced procedures. We report the efficacy of single-staged anterior and posterior spinal fusion for correction of severe AIS in China. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 31 consecutive cases in which patients were treated at the Orthopaedic Department of Changhai Hospital in Shanghai between 2001 and 2004 with a combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion with screws, hooks, sublaminar wires or cables. Results: Thirty-one patients with AIS with Lenke type 1, 2, 3 and 4 curves were included for analysis. At least one of the curves was ≥90° in each patient. The mean coronal and sagittal Cobb angles of the main thoracic curve were 98° and 22° before surgery, 50.5° and 21° after surgery, and 53.7° and 24° at follow-up, respectively. No neurological deficits or deaths occurred. Solid arthrodesis with coronal and sagittal balance was achieved in all patients. Conclusions: A single-stage anterior release and fusion and posterior fusion for treatment of severe AIS is good alternative to pedicle screws/vertebrectomy on the basis of risk–benefit balance, and can be performed by surgeons not experienced in more complex procedures. The risk of pulmonary complications may be preferable to the risk of severe neurological complications when thoracic pedicle screws are applied, especially when surgeons are not adequately trained in their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study that investigates the relative abundance and activities of Th17 cells and natural Treg cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It notes that SLE flare may probably link to the expansion of the Th17 cell population and the reduction of natural Treg cell subpopulations. On the other hand, the expansion of the Th17 cell population is probably related to a distinct cytokine environment in active SLE.

The aim of this study is to examine the association between obesity, metabolic syndrome, physical activity, and elevated γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among Indigenous Australian adults who did not drink alcohol. A cross-sectional study of 791 Indigenous adults in rural North Queensland communities was conducted between 1999 and 2001. Measures included serum GGT, fasting glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides; resting blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference; and self-reported physical activity, alcohol intake, and tobacco smoking. Central obesity measured by waist circumference in this population was significantly associated with elevated GGT independently of lifestyle behaviors (Adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–6.0). Metabolic syndrome (International Diabetes Federation definition) was also strongly associated with increased GGT (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5–4.6). Habitual physical activity may be slightly protective (OR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.5–1.6) in this group, but this was not clearly demonstrated in this study. Prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population should emphasize “waist loss” and metabolic health through dietary and other interventions.Obesity (2009) 17 4, 809–813. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.617 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of N, N′-diacylhydrazines were prepared and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, MS and FTICR-MS. They were tested radical-scavenging activity in vitro. The preliminary bioassays of title compounds showed that two compounds had excellent radical-scavenging activity comparable with vitamin C, while the activity is highly relative to the substituents. Surprisingly, several compounds also exhibit favorable fungicidal activities. To further explore the comprehensive structure–activity relationships about the fungicidal activity, a three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis using the method of comparative molecular field analysis was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS; EC 2.2.1.6) is the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the branched-chain amino acids. It catalyzes the conversion of two molecules of pyruvate into 2-acetolactate or one molecule of pyruvate and one molecule of 2-ketobutyrate into 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate. AHAS requires the cofactors thiamine diphosphate (ThDP), Mg2+ and FAD for activity. The herbicides that target this enzyme are effective in protecting a broad range of crops from weed species. However, resistance in the field is now a serious problem worldwide. To address this, two new sulfonylureas, monosulfuron and monosulfuron ester, have been developed as commercial herbicides in China. These molecules differ from the traditional sulfonylureas in that the heterocyclic ring attached to the nitrogen atom of the sulfonylurea bridge is monosubstituted rather than disubstituted. The structures of these compounds in complex with the catalytic subunit of Arabidopsis thaliana AHAS have been determined to 3.0 and 2.8 Å, respectively. In both complexes, these molecules are bound in the tunnel leading to the active site, such that the sole substituent of the heterocyclic ring is buried deepest and oriented towards the ThDP. Unlike the structures of Arabidopsis thaliana AHAS in complex with the classic disubstituted sulfonylureas, where ThDP is broken, this cofactor is intact and present most likely as the hydroxylethyl intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard in the treatment for cholelithiasis, but there are still some patients requiring conversion to open cholecystectomy for several factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate preoperative risk factors for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Methods: One thousand two hundred and sixty-five laparoscopic cholecystectomies were carried out from January 2005 to January 2006 in our hospital. Preoperative clinical, laboratory and radiographic parameters of these patients were kept prospectively and analysed retrospectively. Results: Conversion to open cholecystectomy was needed in 94 patients (7.4%). The main reason for conversion was inability to safely display and identify anatomical structures of Calot’s triangle correctly secondary to severe inflammation or dense adhesions, Multivariate analysis identified male sex, with Murphy’s sign positive, gall bladder wall thickness > 4 mm and previous upper abdominal surgery as independent predictors of conversion rate to laparotomy. Conclusion: Preoperative risk factors evaluated by the present study confirm the likelihood of conversion. Recognition of these factors was important for understanding the characteristics of patients at a higher risk of conversion. Identifying risk factors will help the surgeon to plan and counsel the patients and introduce new policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To present the effect of green tea consumption against liver disease. Data sources: Interventional and observational studies both in Western countries and in China and published between the years 1989 and December 2007. Review Methods: The articles were retrieved from Medline, Embase database, Chinese biomedicine web database and Chinese scientific journal's database using proper MESH headings and assessed by two independent investigators according to established inclusion criteria. The characteristics and outcomes of the chosen articles were displayed for further analysis and the quality of each study was also evaluated according to the widely acknowledged criteria. P<0.05 was defined as statistically significant in all enrolled trials. Results: Ten qualified studies (eight from China, one from Japan and the other from the USA) with various outcomes such as liver cancer, cirrhosis and fatty liver disease were finally chosen. Among them, study designs differed in that there were four randomized-controlled clinical trials, two cohort, one case–control and three cross-sectional studies. The heterogeneity in the study design, outcomes, cofounders and amount of tea consumption precluded further meta-analysis. Nevertheless, eight studies showed a significant protective role of green tea against various liver diseases as determined by relative risk/odds ratio or P-value and among them, four studies showed a positive correlation between green tea intake and attenuation of liver disease. Moreover, the other two studies also presented the protective tendency of green tea against liver disease. Conclusions: An increased consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the first case of Aspergillus myositis caused by Aspergillus flavus in a liver transplant patient. The patient was a 43-year-old man who underwent liver transplantation because of end-stage hepatic cirrhosis. He experienced pain in his left calf two months after the operation. Nodules with weakness, swelling, and flaring were found in the calf two wk later. Color ultrasonic examination showed uneven resonance in the left gastrocnemius. Needle aspiration and biopsy of the muscle revealed septate hyphae consistent with Aspergillus species and focal necrosis of the muscle cells with inflammatory cell infiltration. A culture subsequently yielded A. flavus, confirming histopathologic diagnosis. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region confirmed the morphologic identification. The patient was first given itraconazole 0.2 g twice daily for one wk and was then switched to terbinafine 0.25 g once a day. A three-month regimen of terbinafine therapy cured the infection, though the cultured fungus showed resistance to a number of antifungal agents. Aspergillus, a genus of ubiquitous molds, may cause invasive and even fatal disease in immunosuppressed patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stem cell factor receptor (c-Kit) plays critical roles in initiating cell growth and proliferation. Its kinase functional abnormity has been thought to associate with several human cancers. The regulation of c-Kit kinase activity is achieved by phosphorylation on the residues Tyr568 and Tyr570 within juxtamembrane region (JMR) and subsequent structural transition of JMR and activation loop (A-loop). However, the detailed conformational dynamics of JMR and A-loop are far from clear, especially whether their conformational changes are coupled or not during the kinase activation transition. In this investigation, the complete conformational transition pathway was determined using a series of nanosecond conventional molecular dynamics (MD) and targeted molecular dynamics (TMD) simulations in explicit water systems. The results of the MD simulations show that the phosphorylation of residues Tyr568 and Tyr570 within JMR induces the detachment of JMR from the kinase C-lobe and increases the fluctuation in the structure of JMR, thus appearing to initiate the kinase activation process. During the course of the TMD simulation, which characterizes the conformational transition of c-Kit from autoinhibitory to activated state, the JMR undergoes a rapid departure from the allosteric binding site and drifts into solvent, followed by the conformational flip of A-loop from inactive (fold) state to active (extended) state. A change in the orientation of helix αC in response to the motion of JMR and A-loop has also been observed. The computational results presented here indicate that the dissociation of JMR from the kinase domain is prerequisite to c-Kit activation, which is consistent with previous experiments. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been associated with degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the major cause of death among cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation, a major risk factor of AMI, is associated with leukocytic activation, secretion of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and subsequent oxidant generation. It has been hypothesized that oxidative stress is a risk factor for AMI. To test this hypothesis, we studied profiles of oxidative damage and antioxidants in patients with AMI. The levels of MPO, 8-OHdG, and 3-Cl-Tyr were higher in blood specimens from AMI patients than in those of controls. Antioxidant levels, such as vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly lower in these patients. The GSH/GSSG ratio, indicative of redox status, was also lower in AMI patients. Such findings suggest that these AMI patients experience increased oxidative stress. Moreover, markers in combination are better for evaluating antioxidant status and monitoring cardiac events than the same markers used separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), proposed by the Fatty Liver and Alcoholic Liver Disease Study Group of the Chinese Society of Hepatology. It informs that these guidelines just aim to help physicians in making correct decision for diagnosing and treating ALD and is not a compulsory standard. It mentions that these guidelines cannot resolve all problems in the diagnosis and treatment of ALD.

The article presents information on several guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), proposed by the Fatty Liver and Alcoholic Liver Disease Study Group of the Chinese Society of Hepatology. NAFLD can be diagnosed, if there is no past record of drinking alcohol, or ethanol intake per week is less than 140 gram in men and 70 gram in women, and if metabolic syndrome constituents, such as, hyperglycemia and hypertension occur.

Aurora-A has been identified as one of the most attractive targets for cancer therapy and a considerable number of Aurora-A inhibitors have been reported recently. In order to clarify the essential structure–activity relationship for the known Aurora-A inhibitors as well as identify new lead compounds against Aurora-A, 3D pharmacophore models were developed based on the known inhibitors. The best hypothesis, Hypo1, was used to screen molecular structural databases, including Specs and China Natural Products Database for potential lead compounds. The hit compounds were subsequently subjected to filtering by Lipinski’s rules and docking study to refine the retrieved hits and as a result to reduce the rate of false positive. Finally, 39 compounds were purchased for further in vitro assay against several human tumour cell lines including A549, MCF-7, HepG2 and PC-3, in which Aurora-A is overexpressed. Two compounds show very low micromolar inhibition potency against some of these tumour cells. And they have been selected for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protonation state of the triphosphate tail of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in protein environment is a fundamental issue, which has significant impact on the mechanism investigation of biochemical processes with ATP involved. Proton transition from surroundings (water molecule coordinating to magnesium, HW; amino group of Lys, HL) to the ATP tail in the catalytic core of protein kinase found recently disproved the commonly accepted deprotonation state of ATP tail. In this account, Car-Parrinello ab initio molecular dynamics (CP-AIMD) method has been employed to examine whether the proton transition occurs. To provide a comparison basis for the dynamics simulations, static quantum mechanics (QM), and combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations have also been carried out. Consistent results have been obtained that complete transition of hydrogen from the surroundings to the triphosphate tail of ATP is not allowed. The most dominant conformations correspond to the ones with HW bonding to O(W) and H-bonding to O(ATP), [O(W)-HW···O(ATP)], HL bonding to N(Lys) and H-bonding to O(ATP), [N(Lys)-HL···O(ATP)]. Metastable structures with one hydrogen atom bonding with two heavy atoms (hydrogen acceptors) were also located by our dynamic simulations. This bonding mode can satisfy the hungering for hydrogen of the two heavy atoms simultaneously. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new triterpenoids with the rarely occurring nigrum skeleton, namely (20E)-22-hydroxynigrum-20-en-3-one (1), 21β-hydroxynigrum-22(29)-en-3-one (2), and 21α-hydroxynigrum-22(29)-en-3-one (3), were isolated from the mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus.Additionally, five known triterpenoids including friedelin (4), 12-oleanen-3β-ol (5), 3β-hydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (6), 20(29)-lupen-3β,28-diol (7), and cucurbita-5,23-dien-3β,25-diol (8) were also isolated and identified. The latter structures were elucidated by a detailed NMR and MS analyses, as well as by comparison with reported literature data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of adjuvant chemobiotherapy via portal vein for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT) following hepatectomy plus thrombectomy. Eighty-six HCC patients with tumor thrombi in the portal trunk and/or the first-order branch were divided into groups A ( n = 33) and B ( n = 53). Patients in group A were treated with hepatectomy plus portal thrombectomy in combination with postoperative adjuvant chemobiotherapy administered via portal vein. The chemobiotherapy regimen consisted of 5-FU, adriamycin, cisplatin, and IFNα. Patients in Group B were subjected to hepatectomy plus thrombectomy alone. Survival rates of the two groups were compared and prognostic factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards model. Group A had a significantly longer median tumor-free survival time and median survival time compared with group B, i.e., 5.1 vs. 2.5 months ( p = 0.017) and 11.5 vs. 6.2 months ( p = 0.007), respectively. One-, two-, and three-year tumor-free survival rates were remarkably higher in group A than in group B, i.e., 18.4% vs. 8.4%, 13.8% vs. 4.2%, and 9.2% vs. 4.2%, respectively. One-, two-, and three-year survival rates were markedly greater in group A than in group B, i.e., 46.8% vs. 23.4%, 14.4% vs. 5.8%, and 9.6% vs. 5.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that adjuvant chemobiotherapy, pathologic grading, and tumor size were independent prognostic factors for survival time ( p = 0.000, 0.001, and 0.013, respectively), and chemobiotherapy and pathologic grading were independent prognostic factors for tumor-free survival time ( p = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). Surgical resection combined with adjuvant chemobiotherapy via portal vein is an effective and safe treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein thrombus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to develop a specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for determination of bis(7)-tacrine (B7T) in rat plasma. A 100 µL plasma sample was extracted with ethyl acetate. B7T and the internal standard (IS), pimozide, in the samples were then analyzed with LC-MS/MS in positive electrospray ionization condition. Chromatographic separation of B7T and IS was achieved in a C18 reversed-phase HPLC column (150 × 2.1 mm i.d.) by isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of 0.05% formic acid in water and acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was employed to measure the ion transitions: m/z 247 to 197 for B7T and m/z 462 to m/z 328 for IS, respectively. The method was linear over the studied ranges of 100-5000 and 10-100 ng/mL. The intra-day and inter-day variations of the analysis were less than 6.8% with standard errors less than 9.0%. The detection limit of B7T in rat plasma was 1 ng/mL. The developed method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of B7T after intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg B7T and further proved to be readily utilized for determination of B7T in rat plasma samples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: To elucidate the epidemiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in outpatients from the Department of Medicine in 10 hospitals in Zhejiang Province, east China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the cluster random sample was conducted from November 2004 to June 2005 using a validated Chinese version of the reflux disease questionnaire and other items recording the demographic characteristics for GERD symptoms. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0 programs. Results: A total of 15 283 outpatients from the Department of Medicine were investigated. The prevalence of GERD symptoms was 7.28% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.87%, and 7.69%) with the prevalence rate increasing with age ( P < 0.001), which was higher in men (7.79%, 95% CI: 7.20%, 8.38%) than in women (6.73%, 95% CI: 6.18%, 7.28%; χ2 = 5.81, P < 0.05). The prevalence rate of the gastrointestinal symptoms in GERD symptoms, including epigastric discomfort, nausea, retrosternal pain, belching, globus sensation, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, vomiting, wheezing cough, weight loss, and dysphagia were all higher than the non-GERD patients ( P < 0.0001). In the GERD patients, the prevalence of diseases, such as pharyngolaryngitis, snoring, bronchitis, liver disease, and gallbladder disease were all higher than the non-GERD patients ( P < 0.01). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that old age, night-shift work, heavy work burdens, single or divorced people, increase intake of greasy or sweet foods, excessive eating, and constipation were independent risk factors associated with GERD symptoms. Conclusion: GERD has a high prevalence in China and its main associated factors include respiratory, laryngopharyngeal and dental disorders, sex, anthropometrical variables, and social–psychological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnII ion in the title complex, [Zn(C9H4NO4S)(C3H4N2)2], is coordinated by an N atom and an O atom of a deprotonated tridentate Schiff base ligand, and two N atoms from two different imidazole ligands in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. In the crystal structure, molecules are connected via intermolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming extended one-dimensional chains along [111]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study sediment suspension above ripples under the combined action of waves and currents, a three-dimensional numerical model has been developed based on the use of FLUENT software, and an external sediment transport model. The computer model has been tested against laboratory measurements involving oscillatory wave motion, as well as cases of co-linear waves with following and opposing currents, with satisfactory results. Compared with the situation in which only waves are present (called waves-alone cases), the effects from the steady current on both vortex shedding and sediment suspension above ripples have clearly been revealed by the model results. In particular, the vortices generated in combined waves and currents tend to stay low in the trough area of the ripple and are ejected earlier than those in the waves-alone case at both the ripple crest and trough, which leads to concentration peaks at different phases and with different magnitudes. The model was also applied to a field case from a multi-barred, dissipative beach at Egmond-an-Zee, in the Netherlands, to investigate the influences of a long-shore current on cross-shore sediment transport. The model results show reasonable overall agreement with the field measurements, as well as the important effects of the three dimensional flow structure on the sediment entrainment process close to the ripple surface, which is very difficult to observe in such detail in field studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The golden monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is one of the most endangered primate species due to its dramatically shrinking distribution during the past 400 years. Its populations are restricted to three isolated regions, Qinglin (QL), Sichuan/Gansu (SG), and Shennongjia (SNJ) in China. As with other snub-nosed monkeys in China and Vietnam, the biology and evolution of this species is still poorly known. To assess genetic differentiation and explore the relationships among populations of golden monkeys from different geographic locations, 379 bp of mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) hypervariable segment I (HVI) was studied from 60 individuals. Twelve haplotypes were identified from seven populations within the three regions. Haplotype diversity was high (0.845), whereas nucleotide diversity among all haplotypes was low (0.0331). The most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) among mtDNA haplotypes was estimated to have lived approximately 0.48–0.32 million years ago. None of the haplotypes is shared among any of the three regions. Phylogenetic analysis and AMOVA revealed clear and significant phylogeographic structure between the three regions. However, only SG contained haplotypes of the two main clades, indicating either incomplete random sorting of haplotypes or a complex history with phases of population subdivisions and merging of populations. The phylogeographic structure implies that R. roxellana should be regarded as separate management units (MUs) for each of the three regions. It is likely that recent phylogeographic history has shaped the pattern of genetic differentiation observed in the golden monkey and that its populations have suffered significant demographic fluctuation. Am. J. Primatol. 69:1195–1209, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the denning ecology of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Foping Nature Reserve, China. We identified 17 used and 21 unused cavities of appropriate size to accommodate denning and measured several variables potentially affecting the suitability of these cavities for panda denning. Principal component analysis, combined with traditional univariate tests, indicated that maternal females preferred deeper cavities with a high interior-to-entrance ratio for height and width, suggesting a preference for narrow entrances and roomy chambers. Microhabitat features, including slope and distance to water, were also useful in predicting den use by maternal females. We believe that the availability of suitable dens may limit population size, especially in areas where tree dens have been eliminated by logging of old growth forests. Conservation managers in giant panda reserves can use our data to determine the number of suitable panda dens that are in an area, estimate whether there are enough for the adult female population to use as birthing dens, and--if needed--construct suitable artificial dens to increase the rate of reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of eradicating Helicobacter pylori on dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia in China. Data sources: Randomized controlled trials conducted in China and those published between 1989 and April 2007. Review methods: The articles were retrieved from Chinese biomedicine Web database and Chinese scientific Journals database using proper MESH headings and assessed by two independent investigators according to established inclusion criteria. The characteristics of chosen articles were displayed for further analysis, and summary odds ratio were calculated to determine the overall effect of H. pylori eradication. All the data were entered and analyzed usingreview manager 4.1, and p < .05 was defined as statistically significant in all analysis. Results: Seven qualified trials were enrolled, and the summary odds ratio for improvement in dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia in whom H. pylori was eradicated was 3.61 (95%CI: 2.62, 4.98, p < .00001). The difference in the follow-up period did not influence the final outcomes. Conclusions: An improvement in dyspeptic symptoms occurred among Chinese patients with functional dyspepsia in whom H. pylori was eradicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jussiaea repens L. (JRL) is an edible medicinal plant and is also used as a vegetable by the local people in southwestern China. The crude extract and its four fractions derived from JRL were evaluated for the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging ability, hydroxyl radical-scavenging capacity and the potassium ferricyanide reduction property. The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction (EAF) and EAF6 (a subfraction derived from EAF) were the most valuable fraction and subfraction, respectively. Furthermore, bioactivity-guided chromatographic fractionation revealed that three pure compounds greatly contributed to the antioxidant activities. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the major antioxidant constituents in the extract were systematically conducted by NMR, mass spectral analyses and RP-HPLC. The result demonstrated that rosmarinic acid (2.00 mg g−1 JRL dry weight) quercetin 3- O- β-d-glucopyranoside (9.88 mg g−1 JRL dry weight), and kaempferol 3- O- β-d-glucopyranoside (1.85 mg g−1 JRL dry weight) were the major antioxidative constituents in JRL. These compounds are reported for the first time from this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To optimize the free-breathing whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) protocol by using the short TI inversion-recovery diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (STIR-DWEPI) sequence and the built-in body coil. Additionally, to evaluate the feasibility of tumor screening using high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) maximum intensity projection (MIP) images. Materials and Methods The prescan procedure of STIR-DWEPI was modified using the data from 30 volunteers. During each exam, an optimized center frequency (CF) was used to minimize the slice offsets in consecutive scan stations. Prescan time was reduced from 50 seconds to 20 seconds with improved station profile. Total scan time was 30 minutes for five stations and 1.2 m coverage. A total of 30 patients with histologically-proven malignant disease were scanned under the final protocol using a built-in body coil. The image quality and the degree of background body signal suppression were assessed. Results Free-breathing WB-DWI was 100% successfully performed in all patients, without slice misregistration, fat contamination, significant distortion, or nonuniformity. The reconstructed 3D-MIP images were adequate to depict malignant lesions in all 30 patients. The results of WB-DWI were found to be comparable to those of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Conclusion Stable and high-resolution WB-DWI is feasible using the technical improvements described in this study. WB-DWI might have important clinical value for the detection of primary and metastatic malignancies within the whole body. The potential for diagnosis and therapeutic assessment of tumors should be further assessed in a larger patient cohort. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;26:1139-1144. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new brominated diterpenes, namely, laurendecumtriol (1) and 11-O-deacetylpinnaterpene C (2), one new polybromoindole, 2,3,4,6-tetrabromo-1-methyl-1H-indole (7), and six known natural products were isolated and identified from the marine red alga Laurencia decumbens. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analysis as well as by comparison with literature data. Based on 2D-NMR experiments, the previously reported NMR data for pinnaterpene C (3) were reassigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to obtain a comprehensive survey on the expression of p53, p16 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in esophageal cancer progression and their clinical significance. METHODS: A tissue microarray containing 86 specimens from esophageal cancer and 40 specimens from adjacent non-cancer tissue was constructed to survey the expression of p53, p16 and COX-2 by immunohistochemistry. The influence of each biomarker on the histotype of esophageal lesion was assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The expression of p53 and COX-2 was significantly higher in tumorous tissue than in non-tumorous tissue. As to p16, no significant difference was detected between tumorous and non-tumorous tissue. A significant correlation was observed among p53, COX-2 and p16 expression. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of a tumorous histotype were the positive expression of p53 (odds ratio [ OR] = 18.214) or COX-2 ( OR = 42.703), and no reciprocal relationship to neoplastic progression was recognized with p53, p16 and COX-2. CONCLUSIONS: p53 and COX-2 were independent predictors in esophageal carcinogenesis. Esophageal tissue with a positive expression of p53 or COX-2 was more likely to develop esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinopithecus bieti, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, is the nonhuman primate with the highest altitudinal distribution and is also one of the 25 most globally endangered primate species. Currently, R. bieti is found in forests between 3000 and 4500 m above sea level, within a narrow area on the Tibetan Plateau between the Yangtze and Mekong rivers, where it is suffering from loss of habitat and shrinking population size (~1500). To assess the genetic diversity within this species, its population structure and to infer its evolutionary history, we sequenced 401 bp of the hypervariable I (HVI) segment from the mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) for 157 individuals from 11 remnant patches throughout the fragmented distribution area. Fifty-two variable sites were observed and 30 haplotypes were defined. Compared with other primate species, R. bieti cannot be regarded as a taxon with low genetic diversity. Phylogenetic analysis partitioned haplotypes into two divergent haplogroups (A and B). Haplotypes from the two mitochondrial clades were found to be mixed in some patches although the distribution of haplotypes displayed local homogeneity, implying a strong population structure within R. bieti. Analysis of molecular variance detected significant differences among the different geographical regions, suggesting that R. bieti should be separated into three management units (MUs) for conservation. Based on our results, it can be hypothesized that the genetic history of R. bieti includes an initial, presumably allopatric divergence between clades A and B 1.0–0.7 million years ago (Ma), which might have been caused by the Late Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, secondary contact after this divergence as a result of a population expansion 0.16–0.05 Ma, and population reduction and habitat fragmentation in the very recent past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high‐density rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) was obtained by airtight cast molding. The morphology development during the compressive fracture process of RPUF was observed on‐line by a scanning electronic microscope (SEM). In the early stage of loading, the deformation of samples came from the tiny shape change in the cells' windows. As the load increases, some creases were formed in some cell windows in the vertical direction of loading, and the creases enlarged and resulted in the cracks across the whole cells. Moreover, during the deformation process, a failure band was formed in the weakest position. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]