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Objective: To analyze the iodine nutrition status of children aged 8 to 10 years in Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2021. Methods: A multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select non-residential children aged 8 to 10 years from 90 counties in Zhejiang Province. A total of 114 103 children were included in the study from 2016 to 2021. Direct titration method and arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry were used to detect salt iodine content and urinary iodine level, respectively, to evaluate the iodine nutritional status of children. Ultrasound was used to detect thyroid volume and analyze the current prevalence of goiter in school-age children. Results: The age of 114 103 children was (9.04 ± 0.81) years old, with 50.0% of (57 083) boys. The median of iodine content M ( Q 1 , Q 3 ) in children's household salt was 23.00 (19.80, 25.20) mg/kg, including 17 242 non-iodized salt, 6 173 unqualified iodized salt, and 90 688 qualified iodized salt. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 84.89%, and the coverage rate of qualified iodized salt was 79.48%. The proportion of non-iodized salt increased from 11.85% in 2016 to 16.04% in 2021 ( χ 2 trend =111.427, P <0.001). The median of urinary iodine concentration M ( Q 1 , Q 3 ) in children was 182.50 (121.00, 261.00) μg/L, among which the proportions of iodine deficiency, iodine suitability, iodine over suitability, and iodine excess were 17.25% (19 686 cases), 39.21% (44 745 cases), 26.85% (30 638 cases), and 16.68% (19 034 cases), respectively. The median of urinary iodine concentration in children in inland areas [ M ( Q 1 , Q 3 ): 190.90 (128.80, 269.00) μg/L] was significantly higher than that in children in coastal areas [ M ( Q 1 , Q 3 ): 173.00 (113.00, 250.30) μg/L] ( P <0.001). From 2016 to 2021, a total of 39 134 ultrasound examinations were conducted, and 1 229 cases of thyroid enlargement were detected. The goiter rate was 3.14% (95% CI : 2.97%-3.32%). The incidence of goiter in children in coastal areas [3.45% (95% CI : 3.19%-3.72%), 641/18 604] was higher than that in children in inland areas [2.86% (95% CI : 2.64%-3.10%), 588/20 530] ( P =0.001). Conclusion: From 2016 to 2021, the iodine nutrition level of children aged 8-10 years in Zhejiang Province is generally suitable, and the rate of goiter in children meets the limit of iodine deficiency disease elimination standards.

This study collected epidemic data of COVID-19 in Zhengzhou from January 1 to January 20 in 2022. The epidemiological characteristics of the local epidemic in Zhengzhou High-tech Zone caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant were analyzed through epidemiological survey and big data analysis, which could provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of the Delta variant. In detail, a total of 276 close contacts and 599 secondary close contacts were found in this study. The attack rate of close contacts and secondary close contacts was 5.43% (15/276) and 0.17% (1/599), respectively. There were 10 confirmed cases associated with the chain of transmission. Among them, the attack rates in close contacts of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth generation cases were 20.00% (5/25), 17.86% (5/28), 0.72% (1/139) and 14.81% (4/27), 0 (0/57), respectively. The attack rates in close contacts after sharing rooms/beds, having meals, having neighbor contacts, sharing vehicles with the patients, having same space contacts, and having work contacts were 26.67%, 9.10%, 8.33%, 4.55%, 1.43%, and 0 respectively. Collectively, the local epidemic situation in Zhengzhou High-tech Zone has an obvious family cluster. Prevention and control work should focus on decreasing family clusters of cases and community transmission.

Gene editing technologies are used to specifically edit the target sequence. With the development of zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), regular clustering of short palindrome repeats (CRISPR) and single base editing (BE) techniques, gene editing technologies not only provide powerful tools for gene functional studies, but also offer new therapeutic strategies in biomedical research. Gene editing has demonstrated broad application prospects in the gene therapy field, as well as in the construction of animal and cell models, drug target screening and gene functional research. In this review, we summarize several typical gene editing technologies, their characteristics and applications in gene therapy and discusses their opportunities and challenges in gene therapy, thereby providing critical insights and references on the clinical application of gene editing technologies.

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) regulate diverse physiological processes such as the differentiation and development of red blood cells. However, it remains unclear whether KLFs exhibit synergistic regulatory effects. Transcriptomic data from our previous study showed that KLF1 and KLF9 expression was significantly higher in differentiated red blood cells than in hematopoietic stem cells. In the present study, we manipulated KLF1 and KLP9 gene expression by overexpressing or knocking down KLF1 and KLF9 in K562 cells and revealed a positive correlation between the expression of KLF1 and KLF9; their co-expression can significantly promote erythroid differentiation and specifically enhance β-globin gene expression. Further, we analyzed the transcriptome data of K562 cells with altered KLF1/KLF9 levels and found that KLF1 and KLF9 synergistically regulated erythroid differentiation through the PI3K-Akt and FoxO signaling pathways. KLF1 and KLF9 may exert this synergistic effect through FOS, TF, and IL8 in K562 cells. We have provided evidence that KLF1 and KLF9 play a synergistic role in regulating erythroid differentiation.

Objective: To understand the associations between overweight-obesity and puberty timing in children with different genders. Methods: The girls in grade 2, 3, 7, 8 and boys in grade 3, 4, 7, 8 were recruited from primary and middle schools in North new area of Shenyang, Yanqing district of Beijing, Erqi district of Zhengzhou and Jiulongpo district of Chongqing by purposive sampling method between October and December 2014, respectively. The information of demographic characteristics of the respondents were collected and the pubertal development status was evaluated by Pubertal Development Scale (PDS). A total of 6 701 students were recruited; 6 137 out of which were valid with complete questionnaires. The associations between overweight-obesity and puberty timing were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of overweight-obesity in primary schools were 34.8% (522/1 499) among boys and 24.2% (341/1 409) among girls, respectively. The prevalence of overweight-obesity in middle schools were 31.3% (591/1 658) among boys and 21.8% (342/1 571) among girls, respectively. The prevalence of premature puberty in primary schools were 15.0% (225/1 499) among boys and 14.2% (200/1 409) among girls, respectively. The prevalence of delayed puberty in middle schools were 14.3% (237/1 658) among boys and 14.9% (234/1 571) among girls, respectively. After adjusting the effects of region, age, one-child, family income and the parents' educational levels, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight-obesity had significantly positive association with premature puberty ( OR= 2.16, 95 %CI: 1.56-2.99) among girls in primary schools, and significantly negative association with delayed puberty ( OR= 0.54, 95 %CI: 0.36-0.80) among girls in middle schools when compared with students with normal weights, both P values were <0.05. There was no significant associations among boys in primary and middle schools between overweight-obesity and puberty timing, and the corresponding OR (95 %CI ) were 1.08(0.80-1.45) and 0.93(0.69-1.27) respectively, both P values >0.05. Conclusion: There was significantly positive association between overweight-obesity and premature puberty among girls, and significantly negative association with delayed puberty among girls in middle schools; but the association was not found among boys.

Background and Objectives: WHO recommended that iodized salt are more than 90% of households in USI programs, which may not be suitable for all regions, especially in coastal areas. This study intended to find out levels of iodine nutrition and give advice from the USI programs for areas with different iodized salt coverage., Methods and Study Design: Coastal and inland areas were selected according to geographical regions in Zhejiang Province, China. The water iodine concentration (spectrophotometer analysis), salt iodine concentration (the colorimetric titration method), salt intake, urinary iodine concentration (spectrophotometer analysis), and thyroid volume examination (ultrasonography), as well as questionnaire, were measured in the two areas., Results: Mean Urinary Iodine concentration (MUIs) of children in coastal areas was 149 μg/L, which was significantly lower than that in inland areas (191 μg/L). MUIs of pregnant women in coastal and inland areas were111 and 138 μg/L, respectively. Pregnant women who consumed iodine-containing supplements had higher MUIs (207 μg/L) than those did not (134 μg/L) in inland areas. Prevalence of goitre in children reached 7.0% and 6.6% in coastal and inland areas, respectively. The lowest prevalence of goitre was reached when the urinary iodine concentration was approximately 120-160 μg/L in coastal areas., Conclusion: Iodine levels of coastal and inland areas were in the adequate range. Advice from the USI program should be specialized for different areas to appropriately reduce the salt iodine concentrations in inland areas and to determine an appropriate proportion of households using iodized salt in coastal areas. Moreover, iodine supplement intake during pregnancy should officially be recommended.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third and second most common cancer in males and females worldwide, respectively. Spondin-2 is a conserved secreted extracellular matrix protein and a candidate cancer biomarker. Here we found that Spondin-2 mRNA was upregulated in CRC tissues using quantitative RT-PCR and data-mining of public Oncomine microarray datasets. Spondin-2 protein was increased in CRC tissues, as revealed by immunohistochemistry analyses of two tissue microarrays containing 180 cases. Spondin-2 gene expression was significantly associated with CRC stage, T stage, M stage and Dukes stage, while its protein was associated with age and M stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the upregulated Spondin-2 mRNA and protein predicted poor prognosis of CRC patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that grade, recurrence, N stage and high Spondin-2 were independent predictors of overall survival of CRC patients. ELISA revealed that plasma Spondin-2 was upregulated in CRC and dropped after surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that plasma Spondin-2 has superior predictive performance for CRC with an area under the curve of 0.959 and the best sensitivity/specificity of 100%/90%. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Spondin-2 enhanced colon cancer cell proliferation. Spondin-2 could be an independent diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of colon cancer.

Our previous studies suggest that Th17 cells accumulate within tumor tissues and correlate with recurrence of cervical cancer patients. However, the source of the increased tumor-infiltrating Th17 cells remains poorly understood. We investigated the prevalence, phenotype and trafficking property of Th17 cells in patients with cervical cancer. Our results showed that Th17 cells highly aggregated within tumor tissues in an activated phenotype with markedly increased expression of CCR6. Correspondingly, level of CCL20 in the tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in non-tumor and normal control tissues, and strongly positively associated with Th17 cells. Further, in vitro migration assay showed CCL20 had effective chemotaxis to circulating Th17 cells. In conclusion, Th17 cells are recruited into tumor tissues preferentially through CCR6-CCL20 pathway, which can serve as a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer.

The methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3)-containing methyltransferase complex catalyzes the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) formation, a novel epitranscriptomic marker; however, the nature of this complex remains largely unknown. Here we report two new components of the human m6A methyltransferase complex, Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) and methyltransferase like 14 (METTL14). WTAP interacts with METTL3 and METTL14, and is required for their localization into nuclear speckles enriched with pre-mRNA processing factors and for catalytic activity of the m6A methyltransferase in vivo. The majority of RNAs bound by WTAP and METTL3 in vivo represent mRNAs containing the consensus m6A motif. In the absence of WTAP, the RNA-binding capability of METTL3 is strongly reduced, suggesting that WTAP may function to regulate recruitment of the m6A methyltransferase complex to mRNA targets. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses in combination with photoactivatable-ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) illustrate that WTAP and METTL3 regulate expression and alternative splicing of genes involved in transcription and RNA processing. Morpholino-mediated knockdown targeting WTAP and/or METTL3 in zebrafish embryos caused tissue differentiation defects and increased apoptosis. These findings provide strong evidence that WTAP may function as a regulatory subunit in the m6A methyltransferase complex and play a critical role in epitranscriptomic regulation of RNA metabolism.

The identification of cervical cancer patients at high risk of local recurrence is urgent to improve the selection of patients for more aggressive treatment. The immune contexture in human tumors has vital impact on clinical outcome. Our aim in the study was to establish a predictive model of local recurrence by assessing the prognostic significance of clinicopathologic features and five immune markers within the tumor microenvironment in cervical cancer. The expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, FoxP3, and IL-17 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissue from 153 patients after radical resection for cervical cancer. Prognostic effects of these immune markers and clinicopathologic factors were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Local recurrence was observed in 34 % patients (52/153). Independent predictors of tumor recurrence were lymph node status (P = 0.004), lymph-vascular space invasion (P = 0.012), and the number of intratumoral IL-17(+) cells (P = 0.003). The risk of local recurrence was the highest in patients with lymph node positivity, presence of lymph-vascular space invasion, and low prevalent of intratumoral IL-17(+) cells (probability, 73 %; 5-year DFS, 19 %). A Cox model composed of these three features provided a significant higher diagnostic accuracy of local recurrence than each feature alone (P < 0.05). Lymph node status, lymph node space invasion, and number of intratumoral IL-17(+) cells are three independent predictors for recurrence of cervical cancer. Their combination by a Cox model is highly predictive and may help to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate the status of diffuse goiter of population in Zhejiang Province and to analyze the relevant influencing factors., Methods: A total of 18 188 subjects were recruited in the cross sectional survey, by multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. B ultrasound measurement were carried among the subjects to detect the thyroid volume, and the basic information and life styles were interviewed by questionnaires. Then, we analyzed the distribution and its influencing factors of diffuse goiter., Results: The ratio of diffuse goiter among the surveyed population was 2.2% (403/18 188), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 267.11, P < 0.05). The ratio among the group aged 6-7 years old and 8-10 years old was comparatively high, separately 10.3% (27/262) and 9.8% (51/519). The ratio among women (2.9%, 305/10 470) was higher than it among men (1.3%, 97/7672) (χ(2) = 55.55, P < 0.05). The residents from inland areas had the highest prevalence (3.2%, 138/4374), followed by residents from sub-coastal areas (2.0%, 131/6411), coastal areas minimum (1.8%, 138/4374) (χ(2) = 24.31, P < 0.05). The content of water iodine and salt iodine among people with symptoms of goiter had statistical difference with it among ordinary population (water iodine:χ(2) = 4.95, P = 0.026; salt iodine: χ(2) = 11.03, P < 0.01). The median(quartile) of water iodine in ordinary population was 2.41 (1.96-6.15) µg/L and among people with symptoms of goiter was 1.88 (1.49-5.15) µg/L. The median(quartile) of salt iodine in ordinary population was 30.18 (24.69-32.65) mg/kg and among people with symptoms of goiter was 29.1 (24.70-31.95) mg/kg. The influential factors of goiter were as follows: the family income, the education degree, the job and profession status, the diet character, the habitual sea food consumption, the alcohol intake status (χ(2) were separately 8.08, 37.85, 98.78, 68.69, 10.91, 12.21, 26.94, P < 0.05). Multi-factor analysis showed the results as follows: female (OR = 0.27 95%CI:0.18-0.39), school students (OR = 8.05, 95%CI:3.87-16.73), vegetarian (OR = 1.60, 95%CI:1.15-2.22) took a higher risk of getting pathogenic goiter; while the group of those who had university degree or above (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.73-0.97), ate sea food frequently (OR = 0.62, 95%CI:0.44-0.88) took a lower risk., Conclusions: The ratio of diffuse goiter in the group aged among 6-7 years old and 8-10 years old was comparatively high. The ratio was influenced by many factors.

Objective: To assess the level of dietary iodine intake and its contribution in Zhejiang., Methods: A total of 9798 subjects were recruited in this survey with multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method in April, 2010, the 24-hours dietary recall method and the "food composition table" were used to obtain the dietary iodine intake, and edible salt and drinking water samples were collected to detect the content of iodine., Results: A total of 9798 subjects were included in this survey. The mean intake of dietary iodine in Zhejiang residents per standard man-days was (395.13 ± 78.16) µg/d, which in between of Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) 150 µg/d and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) 1000 µg/d; the iodine intake of 18.40% (1803/9798) subjects was lower than estimated average requirement of iodine (EAR), 4.68% (459/9798) subjects was higher than the UL. The means of dietary iodine intake in various areas were (498.85 ± 96.77) µg/d, (384.50 ± 88.76) µg/d and (326.33 ± 78.32)µg/d in inland areas, sub-coastal areas and coastal areas, successively (F = 27.17, P < 0.05); the proportions of dietary iodine intake lower than EAR were 34.89% (1239/3551), 10.48% (370/3530) and 7.14% (197/2717) in coastal areas, sub-coastal area and inland areas, successively (χ(2) = 62.87, P < 0.01) , while those higher than UL were 5.10% (180/3530), 4.86% (132/2717) and 4.14% (147/3551) in sub-coastal area, inland areas and coastal areas.In the condition of ignoring cooking loss, the mean contribution of dietary iodine intake in edible salt, all kinds of food and drinking water were 74.92% (296.03/395.13), 23.85% (94.24/395.13) and 1.23% (4.86/395.13), successively; the contributions of edible salt in inland areas, sub-coastal areas and coastal areas were 83.72% (417.64/498.85), 73.05% (280.88/384.50) and 66.83% (280.09/326.33), successively; the contributions of drinking water in sub-coastal areas, coastal areas and inland areas were 1.61% (6.19/384.50) , 1.44% (4.70/326.33) and 0.65% (3.24/498.85) , successively (χ(2) = 7.24, P = 0.032) ; the contribution of laver in coastal areas, sub-coastal areas and inland areas were 22.57% (73.65/326.33), 17.11% (65.79/384.50) and 8.09% (40.36/498.85), successively (χ(2) = 82.17, P < 0.01) ; the contribution of sea fish in coastal areas, sub-coastal areas and inland areas were 2.38% (7.77/326.33), 0.72% (2.77/384.50) and 0.68% (3.39/498.85) (χ(2) = 19.47, P = 0.012)., Conclusions: The dietary iodine intake of Zhejiang residents was at recommended intake levels; the iodized salt turns out to be the main source, the iodine nutrition level was relatively low in coastal areas of Zhejiang, which the coverage of iodized salt should be improved.

Objective: To understand the current status of iodine nutrition among the community residents to compare the level of iodine nutrition in different areas and groups of populations in Zhejiang province., Methods: Stratified cluster sampling method was adopted and residents from twenty-two communities in Zhejiang province were selected. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using questionnaires, laboratory tests, on urinary iodine, water iodine and the concentration of the iodine in salt, which had played positive roles in the calculation of the level of iodine nutrition., Results Results: of the iodine nutrition in this cross-sectional survey were as follows: the median water iodine and salt iodine of Zhejiang were 2.42 µg/L and 28.8 mg/kg, respectively. The coverage of iodized salts was 79.54%, with the ingesting rate of qualified iodized-salt as 76.65% and the median content of urinary iodine in the population of Zhejiang was 161 µg/L. The average iodine content among pregnant women was 138 µg/L, with the percentage of samples less than 100 µg/L as 25.92%, more than 300 µg/L as 15.30%. The proportions of iodine intake through water, salt and other foods were 1.70%, 76.41% and 21.89%, respectively., Conclusion: The status of iodine nutrition in Zhejiang province in general seemed to be appropriate, but the level of iodine nutrition in pregnant women was less than the requirement, which should call for attention.

Objective: To evaluate the iodine nutrition level of population in Zhejiang province and to analyze the relevant influencing factors from 2009 to 2011., Methods: From October 2009 to October 2011, a total of 19 517 subjects were recruited in this cross sectional survey, by multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. The subjects were all living over three years in Zhejiang province. The basic information and life styles were interviewed by questionnaires; and the samples of drinking water, edible salt and urines were separately collected from the subjects to test the content of iodine. In total, 16 228 subjects answered the questionnaire, and 265 samples of drinking water, 7811 samples of edible salt and 19 517 samples of urine were collected. Then, we analyzed the distribution of iodine in water, edible salt and urine samples, as well as the relevance., Results: The median (25% - 75% percentile) of water iodine was 2.42 (1.17 - 6.28) µg/L in drinking water among Zhejiang residents; while separately 2.79 (1.60 - 6.87) µg/L in city and 2.04 (1.03 - 5.29) µg/L in country side (Z = 2.07, P < 0.05). The figures turned out to be 2.17 (1.22 - 5.73) µg/L, 2.77 (1.88 - 6.87) µg/L, and 1.40 (0.77 - 5.65) µg/L, respectively, in coastal areas, coastal periphery areas and inland areas (χ(2) = 11.16, P < 0.05). The median (25% - 75% percentile) of salt iodine was 28.80 (22.93 - 32.40) mg/kg; while separately 29.00 (24.50 - 32.60) mg/kg and 28.50 (13.90 - 32.29) mg/kg in city and country side (Z = 6.32, P < 0.05). The figures turned out to be 25.19 (0.00 - 30.20) mg/kg, 29.00 (26.60 - 31.70) mg/kg and 32.40 (28.94 - 36.30) mg/kg, respectively, in coastal areas, coastal periphery areas and inland areas (χ(2) = 1581.62, P < 0.05). The coverage rate of iodized salt was 79.54% (6213/7811) in all province. The urinary iodine median was 160.74(97.20 - 247.00) µg/L, while the urinary iodine median in pregnant women was 137.99 (82.40 - 215.30) µg/L, lower than the recommended optimal levels, which was 150 - 249 µg/L. The figures turned out to be 153.45(92.00 - 237.50) µg/L in city and 168.00 (102.18 - 257.00) µg/L in country side (Z = -9.25, P < 0.05); while in coastal, coastal periphery place and inland areas, the median were separately 156.00 (94.29 - 242.80) µg/L, 150.14 (94.70 - 227.00) µg/L and 187.70 (109.00 - 276.80) µg/L (χ(2) = 194.12, P < 0.05). The analysis of relevance between urine iodine, water iodine and iodized salt showed that the urine iodine would increase as long as the iodized salt increased; and the difference had statistical significance (χ(2) = 440.88, P < 0.01). And there were no relevance between urine iodine level and the water iodine level (χ(2)cmh = 0.57, P = 0.45). The analysis of the influencing factors showed that education background (χ(2) = 14.17, P < 0.05), different styles of career (χ(2) = 16.15, P < 0.01) and diet habits (χ(2) = 108.63, P < 0.01) could influence the level of urine iodine., Conclusion: Iodine was deficient in Zhejiang province. The nutrition level of iodine was fine in Zhejiang in 2009, however, the coverage rate of iodine was commonly low in coastal areas, especially the pregnant women suffered from iodine deficiency. In our study, the factors influencing the urine iodine level included iodized salt, age, education background and diet habits.

Purpose: To provide clinically meaningful, normative reference data that describe pubertal timing indicators among urban and rural Chinese girls., Methods: Girls of Chinese Han ethnicity from grade 1 in elementary schools through grade 12 in junior high schools in eight regions participated in China Puberty Research Collaboration from October 2010 to May 2011. At examination, stages of breast and pubic hair development were assessed by trained physicians. Data on menses were collected through questionnaire survey., Results: A total of 15,388 girls aged 6.0-18.9 years participated in this collaboration study. Among them, approximately 53.5% (8,238) came from rural areas. The median ages at stage 2 of breast development of Chinese girls were 9.18 (95% confidence interval: 8.91-9.44) years and at stage 2 for pubic hair growth were 11.65 (95% confidence interval: 11.41-11.90) years. Girls with body mass index ≥85th percentile had earlier age for B2 (Tanner stage 2 for breast development), B3 (Tanner stage 3 for breast development), PH2 (Tanner stage 2 for pubic hair development), PH3 (Tanner stage 3 for pubic hair development), and menarche compared with girls with body mass index < 85th percentile. Urban girls achieved PH2, PH3, and menarche at a much earlier age than rural girls, except for B2 and B3 attainment. Mean menarcheal age is 12.43 years., Conclusions: This study presented up-to-date data on female pubertal timing in a national sample of Chinese Han ethnicity girls and separately for urban and rural areas., (Copyright © 2012 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although it has been reported that hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) could induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process is still largely unknown. This study was undertaken to determine effects of single oral 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight doses of potassium dichromate on the expression level of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3, which are vital regulators of apoptosis, in mice liver. The results showed that Cr(VI) could upregulate the protein expression of p53, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 and downregulate the expression of Bcl-2 in mice liver. All these results suggested that p53, Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 may be involved in the regulation of Cr(VI) induced apoptosis in vivo.

Duying (Elaeocarpus glabripetalus Merr.; Elaeocarpaceae) is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree of commercial importance in southern China. From 2003 to 2008, severe outbreaks of Duying leaf blight occurred in the Hangzhou area, Zhejiang Province. Disease incidence was greater than 20% and mainly infected young leaves and shoots in the spring and autumn. Severely infected leaves and shoots died and eventually led to branch dieback. The overall growth decline of affected trees occurs over 4 to 6 years before tree death. Infection symptoms are characterized by grayish, round, semicircular- or irregular-shaped spots (5 mm to 5 cm long) with dark brown borders and the appearance of black, granular pycnidia within the dead leaf tissues. The primary infection zones are commonly observed on the leaf margins and apices, are brown, up to 2 mm in diameter, and often surrounded by a yellow zone. Pycnidia were globose and 122 to 127 μm (average 123.5 μm) in diameter. A fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Ash-black pycnidia appeared on PDA after 10 days. Ascospores developed on modified PDA (1 liter of PDA + 20 g of Duying leaves) after 18 days. Conidiogenous cells were cylindrical to obpyriform. The hyaline conidia were obovoid and guttulate, 10 to 13 × 6 to 8 μm (average 11.5 × 7.5 μm), and usually surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath with a hyaline apical appendage that was 5 to 8 μm long. Pseudothecia were solitary and subglobose with long necks. Asci were 45 to 70 × 7.5 to 12 μm (average 62.5 × 10.8 μm). Ascospores were 12 to 13 × 4 to 5 μm with rounded apices and hyaline, mucilaginous, apical caps. The fungus was morphologically identified as Phyllosticta anacardiacearum van der Aa (teleomorph Guignardia mangiferae A. J. Roy). This identification was also confirmed by the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC). Six representative fungal isolates were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA and comparing the sequences with those in GenBank using BLAST searches. The ITS sequences of six cultures (GenBank Accession Nos. EU821356-EU821361) showed 100% identity with the ITS sequences of an isolate of a Phyllosticta sp. (GenBank Accession No. AF532314) (2) and G. mangiferae (GenBank Accession No. AY277717) (1). To fulfill Koch's postulates, a conidial suspension (10 6 conidia per ml) collected from PDA cultures (isolate phy01) was used to spray inoculate leaves of potted 3-year-old Duying trees. Inoculated trees were kept for 48 h under a polyethylene sheet cover and grown at 10 to 15°C in a greenhouse. A total of 30 leaves of five healthy trees were inoculated with the pathogen. In addition, five 3-year-old trees were sprayed with sterile water to serve as uninoculated controls. After 10 to 14 days, inoculated leaves showed infection symptoms resembling those observed on Duying trees naturally infected with P. anacardiacearum. The pathogen was reisolated from the margins of necrotic tissues, but not from controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf blight on E. glabripetalus caused by P. anacardiacearum in China. Reference: (1) F. R. Katia et al. Mycol. Res. 108:45, 2004. (2) A. K. Pandey et al. Mycol. Res. 107:439, 2003.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg (TDG) on immune functions of ICR mice., Methods: ICR mice were exposed to different doses of EAF for 15 or 30 days and then their immune functions were analyzed, including ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte transformation, SRBC-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response, serum hemolysin analysis, antibody-producing cells, peritoneal macrophage phagocytized chicken red blood cells, natural killer cell activity, and serum level of cytokines., Results: EAF of extracts from TDG at different doses had various effects on immune functions of ICR mice. As compared with the controls, it increased the mouse spleen lymphocyte transformation induced by ConA, the left-hind voix pedis thickness and the number of plague forming cells (PFCs) at the dose of 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the ink clearance ability at the dose of 0.91 mg/mL, 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the phagocytosis index of mononuclear-macrophages and production of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the dose of 5.48 mg/mL; and could promote the production of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the dose of 9.12 mg/mL., Conclusion: EAF of extracts from TDG can regulate mouse immune functions in vivo.

The original hepatitis B virus (HBV) large surface antigen gene was synthesized. In order to optimize the expression of this gene in tomato plants, the tobacco pathogenesis-related protein S signal peptide was fused to the 5' end of the modified gene and the sequence encoding amino acids S, E, K, D, E, and L was placed at the 3' end. The gene encoding the modified HBV large surface antigen under the control of a fruit-specific promoter was constructed and expressed in transgenic tomato plants. The expression of the antigen from transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR. Enzyme-linked immunoassays using a monoclonal antibody directed against human serum-derived HBsAg revealed that the maximal level of HBsAg was about 0.02% of the soluble protein in transgenic tomato fruit. The amount of HBsAg in mature fruits was found to be 65- to 171-fold larger than in small or medium fruits and leaf tissues. Examination of transgenic plant samples by transmission electron microscopy proved that HBsAg had been expressed and had accumulated. The HBsAg protein was capable of assembling into capsomers and virus-like particles. To our knowledge, this is the first time the HBV large surface antigen has been expressed in plants. This work suggests the possibility of producing a new alternative vaccine for human HBV.

Objective: To investigate the level changes of obesity-associated factors and puberty-associated hormones and their relationship between obese and normal Children., Methods: The concentrations of orexins, leptin, insulin, testosterone (T), estradiol (E), luteotrophic hormone (LH), as well as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in blood were measured respectively in 78 cases of 13 years old obesity children and 84 normal children as a control group by the means of RIA methods. The bone ages were evaluated with "bone age standard of hundred percent scale"., Results: The leptin and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in obesity children as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The concentrations of plasma orexinA were significantly lower in obesity children as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The concentrations of T were significantly lower in obesity boys as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The concentrations of E2 and LH were significantly higher in obesity girls as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The bone age of the obese children was significantly older than that of the control group. Along with the bone age of children became older, the concentration of leptin and LH in blood were significantly increased. There was a positive correlation between LH and FSH in two groups of either boys and girls and so did between leptin and insulin, C-peptide, E2 (P < 0.01). In the group of normal boys, the positive correlations between LH, FSH and E2 were shown (r = 0.373, 0.314, P <0.05), and a negative correlations between leptin and T were shown as( r = -0.423, P < 0.01), a positive correlation between leptin and FSH was also shown as (r = 0.308, P < 0.05). In the control group of girls, there were positive correlations between leptin, LH and E2 (r = 0.585, 0.647, P < 0.01). Any correlations between LH, FSH T and E2 were not shown in the two obese groups of boys and girls., Conclusion: The leptin, orexinA, insulin, T, E2, and LH concentrations had been changed significantly in blood among those obesity children, and so as their interactions. The high level of leptin in obesity children may change the concentrations of T, E2 and LH and affect the development of puberty.

Objective: To investigate the concentration levels of leptin, orexins and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the blood of obese children, and to analysed the relationship between these substances., Methods: RIA methods were used to measure the concentrations of leptin, orexinA, orexinB, and NPY in the blood of 98 obese children [BMI: male (29.24 +/- 1.87) kg/mZ, female (28.12 +/- 2.30) kg/m2] and in 104 normal children [BMI: male (20.49 +/- 1.95) kg/m2, female (19.59 +/- 1.51) kg/m2] as the control group., Results: The leptin concentrations in obese children [male (26.00 +/- 14.66) ng/mL; female (33.59 +/- 14.63) ng/mL] were higher than those in the control group [male (6.65 +/- 44.49) ng/mL; female [10.48 +/- 5.52) ng/mL P < 0.013]. The concentrations of plasma orexinA in obes children [male (3.23 +/- 1.86) pg/mL; female (3.38 +/- 1.80) pg/mL] were lower than those in the control group [male (4.52 +/- 1.52) pg/mL; female (4.71 +/- 1.53) pg/mL P < 0.05]; Negative correlations between leptin and NPY were noted in the obesity group (r = -0.302) and the control group (r = -0.310, P < 0.01), while the slopes in the two groups were different (control group -2.969; obese group -0.809). A positive correlation between NPY and orexinA was noted (r = 0.207, P < 0.05). The fluctuation range of orexinA in obese children was markedly narrowed when compared with that in the control group., Conclusion: The concentration level of peripheral orexinA and leptin in the obese and non-obese children change inversely. The obesity in children correlates with the concentrations of orexinA, leptin, NPY as well as with their interactions.

We introduce a new method for determining the number of straight lines, line angles, offsets, widths, and discontinuities in complicated images. In this method, line angles are obtained by searching the peaks of a hybrid discrete Fourier and bilinear transformed line angle spectrum. Numerical advantages and performance are demonstrated.