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The form of the gemmae appears to be constant within Bryum species, and it is an important character for distinguishing among closely related species. In this study, we describe a new species of Bryum, B. glacierum Y.Y. Liu & Y.H. Wu, that was collected from Tianshan Mountain in China along with a description of its gemmae. This species is distinguished morphologically by (1) gemmiforfm to julaceous shoots; (2) broadly ovate leaves, strongly concave, with obtuse to acuminate apex, plane and undifferentiated leaf margins, rhombic to rhomboidal distal and medial cells; and (3) dark red-brown, obconic or ovate bulbils with peg-like leaf primordia, densely clustered in the leaf axils of sterile shoots. The new moss species is currently known from two localities in northwestern China. The species seems to prefer high altitudes, growing as a pioneer mainly on ground exposed by retreating glaciers. The principal distinctive characters that separate Bryum glacierum from similar species of Bryum and Pohlia are discussed. An identification key for bulbiferous species of Bryum in China is provided.

The uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene plays an important role in the complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the association between variants in the UCP2 gene and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Han Chinese T2D patients remains unclear.Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) [rs659366 (-866G/A) and a 45-bp insertion/deletion (I/D) in the 3'-UTR] in the UCP2 gene were genotyped in a study cohort of 209 T2D patients with DR and 199 T2D patients without DR by direct DNA sequencing.Logistic regression analysis showed that the AA and GA genotypes of rs659366 were significantly associated with an increased risk for nonproliferative DR (NPDR) in the codominant model (corrected p-value0.01) and the dominant model (corrected p-value = 0.006). Patients harboring the II and DI genotypes had a higher risk for PDR in the codominant model (corrected p-value = 0.011) and the dominant model (corrected p-value = 0.006), and the DI genotype showed a higher risk for NPDR in the dominant model (corrected p-value = 0.007) or codominant model (corrected p-value = 0.006). Further, haplotype analyses verified that the A-I haplotype is a risk haplotype for NPDR and PDR.This study suggests that the UCP2 gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of NPDR and PDR in Han Chinese patients with T2D.

Many superionic mixed ionic–electronic conductors with a liquid-like sublattice have been identified as high efficiency thermoelectric materials, but their applications are limited due to the possibility of decomposition when subjected to high electronic currents and large temperature gradients. Here, through systematically investigating electromigration in copper sulfide/selenide thermoelectric materials, we reveal the mechanism for atom migration and deposition based on a critical chemical potential difference. Then, a strategy for stable use is proposed: constructing a series of electronically conducting, but ion-blocking barriers to reset the chemical potential of such conductors to keep it below the threshold for decomposition, even if it is used with high electric currents and/or large temperature differences. This strategy not only opens the possibility of using such conductors in thermoelectric applications, but may also provide approaches to engineer perovskite photovoltaic materials and the experimental methods may be applicable to understanding dendrite growth in lithium ion batteries., Mixed ionic–electronic conductors are limited by material decomposition. Here the authors reveal the mechanism for atom migration and deposition in Cu2–δ(S,Se) materials based on a critical chemical potential difference and propose electronically conducting, ion-blocking interfaces to enhance stability.

Objective Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as an important treatment for gastric cancer patients, especially for those in advanced stage. To evaluate the effects of TCM treatment on gastric cancer patients, the authors performed a retrospective study to report the result of the integrated treatment of TCM with chemotherapy for stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer. Methods In this study, 182 patients with stage IV and non-surgical gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effects of TCM integrated with chemotherapy. Among the 182 cases, 88 cases received integrated therapy consisting of TCM and chemotherapy, while 94 cases received chemotherapy alone. The overall survival and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were measured as the main outcome. Results The median overall survival of the integrated therapy group and chemotherapy group were 16.9 and 10.5 months, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of integrated therapy group vs. chemotherapy group were 70% vs. 32%, 18% vs. 4%, and 11% vs. 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 42.244, P Conclusion This study demonstrated that TCM integrated with chemotherapy may prolong overall survival and improve survival rate and life quality of patients with stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.

Previous work suggests that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) derived from the maternal genome has a close affinity with type 2 diabetes. This would support a familial pattern for type 2 diabetes. Thereby, we analyzed complete mtDNA genomes from two families, A and B, from Southwest China that demonstrated maternally inherited type 2 diabetes. Our data support that mtDNA lineages from families A and B belong to haplogroups A4 and D4h1, respectively. This suggests that maternally inherited type 2 diabetes with similar penetrances can arise in Chinese individuals with strikingly different maternal genetic backgrounds. Two private coding region mutations (G13759A in MT-ND5 and G15930A in tRNA-Thr) were identified in family B. Further evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses suggest that both these mutations have multiple origins and are unlikely to be disease causing.

Liu, Y.-Y., Wang, X-R., Cao, Z. & Zhao, J.-C. 2019. Epipterygium wrightii, a moss species new to China. – Herzogia 32: 256 –260.Epipterygium wrightii formerly known only from the West Indies is reported from China. It also represents a new record to Eurasia. A brief description, illustrations and the global distributions of the species are provided. The diagnostic characters that distinguish it from similar species in the genus are discussed.

A taxonomic study of the propaguliferous species of the genus Pohlia with axillary and rhizoidal propagules in China is presented. Structure in the variation in size and form of the propagules provides a basis for distinguishing species although developmental variations often exist in the propagules. Ten species are recognized in the study area, including two new records: Pohlia andalusica and P. andrewsii . P. andalusica has obconic propagules with erect-spreading laminate leaf primordia clustered in the leaf axils. The oblong, translucent, reddish-orange, axillary propagule with inconspicuous peg-like protuberances of leaf primordia that are incurved at the apex is a distinctive trait of P. andrewsii . P. hisae is an endemic species to China. The species is distinct because of its axillary propagules, which are obconic to ovate, with long, flexuose peg-like leaf primordia. In addition, the glossy shine of the plants when dry is a good diagnostic feature of Pohlia proligera, P. andrewsii and P. andalusica. Taxonomically important characters of all Chinese propaguliferous Pohlia are provided, as are photomicrographs of propagules and an artificial key to these species. The global distribution and specify provinces in China for each species have been summarized.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is characterized by the onset of diabetes before the age of 25 years, positive family history, high genetic predisposition, monogenic mutations, and an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Here, we aimed to investigate the mutations and to characterize the phenotypes of a Han Chinese family with early-onset maternally inherited type 2 diabetes. Detailed clinical assessments and genetic screening for mutations in theHNF4α,GCK,HNF-1α,IPF-1,HNF1β, andNEUROD1genes were carried out in this family. One HNF4A mutation (p.T130I) and two HNF1A polymorphisms (p.I27L and p.S487N) were identified. Mutation p.T130I was associated with both early-onset and late-onset diabetes and caused downregulatedHNF4Aexpression, whereas HNF1A polymorphisms p.I27L and p.S487N were associated with the age of diagnosis of diabetes. We demonstrated that mutation p.T130I in HNF4A was pathogenic as were the predicted polymorphisms p.I27L and p.S487N in HNF1A by genetic and functional analysis. Our results show that mutations inHNF4AandHNF1Agenes might account for this early-onset inherited type 2 diabetes.

The genus Pohlia Hedwig is a large moss genus that has been placed in the Bryaceae family as traditionally determined. However, a molecular phylogenetic analysis has indicated that the Pohlia genus is more closely related to genera that are traditionally classified into the Mniaceae or Mielichhoferiaceae families. In this study, we performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis using evidence from four chloroplast regions ( atpB-rbcL , rps4 , trnG , and trnL-trnF ) and one nuclear ribosomal intragenic spacer region (ITS) using different methods (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference). The phylogenetic relationships between Pohlia and its related genera are discussed. Two large clades among our samples were well supported in all of the datasets. The traditionally defined Bryaceae species, including Brachymenium pendulum , Bryum caespiticium , Bryum capillare , Anomobryum gemmigerum , and Rhodobryum ontariense , formed a monophyletic clade with high support. The second clade corresponding to the Mielichhoferiaceae-Mniaceae complex also had high support. All of the Pohlia , Mielichhoferia and Mniaceae samples were included in this latter clade. The clearest result from the phylogenetic analysis is that the Pohlia genus is non-monophyletic. The analysis is identical when using three methods and concludes that Pohlia is closer to the genera in Mielichhoferiaceae and Mniaceae. A formal taxonomic treatment of this clade was not performed because we lacked sufficient specimens of the species, although this work will be included in a future study.

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of needle and syringe exchange program among a community of injecting drug users (IDUs) on AIDS prevention.A quasi-experiment design was used in a controlled community intervention study. Needle and syringe exchange program was implemented for 10 months in IDUs of an intervention community, including peer education and health education, provision of free needles and syringes, and collecting back of used needles and syringes by trained peer educators and local health workers, whereas no intervention measure in a control community was instituted. Interviews with IDUs were conducted before and after intervention with a snowballing strategy to evaluate its effectiveness.A total of 428 and 429 IDUs were interviewed with structured questionnaire before and after intervention in intervention and control communities, respectively. Results revealed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge increased from 29.4% to 58.7% in the intervention community. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge was higher in those who had read health education materials (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.12 - 4.04). As compared with the baseline data, frequency of sharing needles and syringes in past 30 days in the intervention community decreased from 48.9% to 20.4% in before intervention community (chi(2) = 41.02, P = 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in the control community. The causes of sharing needles and syringes in the intervention community included 'disable to get needle and syringe during the night', 'lack of needle and syringe when injecting at friend's home', 'not daring to buy needle and syringe for fear of being arrested' and 'no money to buy needle and syringe', declined markedly.Needle and syringe exchange program was feasible and effective in reducing their risky drug injecting behavior among IDUs in communities. Such strategy should be adopted in the country to reduce rapid spread of HIV.

To explore epidemiological features and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Guangdong Province of China, so as to work out effective strategies for its better control.A total of 1 511 clinically confirmed SARS cases in Guangdong Province of China from November 16, 2002 to Jun 15, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.The first SARS case was identified in Foshan municipality on November 16, 2002, followed by 1 511 clinically confirmed cases (including 58 deaths) up to May 15, 2003. Of all cases, health care workers and community family cluster cases accounted for 19.38% and 12.04%. 65.86% SARS patients aged 20 - 49 years, and increased incidence was positively related to their ages. 95.97% cases lived in the following five cities around Pearl Delta Area: Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen. Eleven early reported cases in the communities took animal-related positions. Face-to-face contacts with infected droplets were the main transmission route. An epidemic peak occurred during January 28 to February 26, and those cases accounted for 50.69% of total. Incidence, mortality, and case fatality of SARS were 1.77/100,000, 0.07/100,000, and 3.84% respectively. The mean incubation period was 4.5 days.The most effective way to control SARS is to break the chain of transmission from infected to healthy persons-early identification, prompt and effective isolation, and vigorous close contact tracing. Hospital infections among health care workers is critical. Several observations support the hypothesis of an animal origin for the disease.