Correlation analysis of epicardial adipose tissue thickness, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, visfatin, juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1, and type 2 diabetic macroangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the correlation between the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL) -6, visfatin, juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1 (JAZF1) and type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) macroangiopathy. METHODS: The study enrolled 82 patients with T2DM with macroangiopathy (the Complication Group), and 85 patients with T2DM (the Diabetes Group) who were admitted to Shandong Provincial Third Hospital from February 2018 to February 2020. In addition, 90 healthy people who underwent physical examination at the same hospital during the same period were enrolled (the Healthy Control Group). Age, gender, height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), diabetic course and therapeutic drugs, waist hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded and calculated. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the three groups were comparable, and the diabetic course of the Complication Group and the Diabetes Group was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The WHR of the Complication Group was higher than that of the Diabetes Group and the Healthy Control Group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The FPG, 2hPG, HbA1C, CRP, IL-6, Visfatin, JAZF1, HOMA-IR, EAT thickness, and baPWV of the Complication Group were all higher than those of the Diabetes Group and the Healthy Control Group (P < 0.05, respectively). The JAZF1 and FIns of the Complication Group and Diabetes Group were lower than those of the Healthy Control Group, and JAZF1 of the Complication Group was lower than the Diabetes Group with statistical significance (P<0.05, respectively). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the EAT thickness was positively correlated with CRP, IL-6, visfatin, and JAZF1 (r = 0.387, 0.451, 0.283, 0.301, respectively, all P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that baPWV was positively correlated with EAT thickness, CRP, IL-6, visfatin, and JAZF1 (r = 0.293, 0.382, 0.473, 0.286, respectively, all P < 0.001). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that FPG, 2hPG, HbA1C, CRP, IL-6, visfatin, JAZF1, and EAT thickness were independent risk factors that affected T2DM macroangiopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical monitoring and treatment of T2DM macroangiopathy can use CRP, IL-6, Visfatin, JAZF1, and EAT thickness as new targets to delay the progression of the disease. Further research on the relationship between the above factors and the pathogenesis of T2DM macroangiopathy may be helpful provide new treatment strategies.

Analysis of the effect of probucol-mecobalamin tablets combination on oxidative stress in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to observe the effect of probucol combined with mecobalamin tablets on oxidative stress in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: In this prospective study, 104 patients with DPN who were treated in our hospital were included, from August 2018 to January 2020. They were divided into groups of combination (n = 52) and control (n = 52) by using a random number table. All patients took mecobalamin tablets after meals for 3 months (1 tablet/time, 3 times/d). On this basis, patients in the combination group took probucol for 3 months (4 tablets/time, 2 times/d). The observation indicators were the Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS)(symptom, sensory, and reflex scores), nerve conduction velocity[sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV) of the common peroneal nerve and median nerve], oxidative stress indicators[superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and catalase(CAT)], clinical efficacy and adverse reactions. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the symptom scores, sensory scores, reflex scores, and total scores between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05), while these four indicators of the combination group were significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (p < 0.05). These four indicators of the two groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the SNCV and NMCV of the common peroneal nerve and median nerve between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05), while the indicators of the combination group were significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05) after treatment, and these indicators of the two groups after treatment were significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in SOD, MDA, GSH-Px, and CAT between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). After treatment, the SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in the combination group were significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), while the MDA in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in the two groups were significantly higher than that before treatment (p < 0.05), while the MDA was lower (p < 0.05). The clinical efficacy of the combination group was significantly better than that of the control group (94.23 % vs 78.85 %, p＜0.05) after treatment. There was no significant difference in the incidence of total adverse reactions between the two groups (3.85 % vs 5.77 %, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of probucol combined with mecobalamin tablets for patients with DPN was significant, which could effectively improve the oxidative stress response of patients and was worthy of clinical promotion.

[Biocontrol potential of Talaromyces purpurogenus and its regulation on soil microbial community]. / äº§ç´«ç¯®çŠ¶èŒçš„ç”Ÿé˜²æ½œåŠ›åŠå ¶å¯¹åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç¾¤è½çš„è°ƒæŽ§.

Talaromyces purpurogenus strain Q2 is a kind of beneficial microbe originally separated from the rhizosphere of healthy cucumber. In this study, we evaluated the biocontrol potential of strain Q2 against four soil-borne diseases by plate confrontation culture, potting in the greenhouse. We further estimated the control efficacy of strain Q2 combined metam-sodium fumigation against Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd in the field. The mechanism of strain Q2 controlling bitter gourd wilt and regulating soil microbial community was examined by plate dilution culture, high throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR. The results showed that strain Q2 could efficiently reduce disease incidence of Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd, potato stem canker, black shank of tobacco and black root rot of tobacco in the green house. Its biocontrol efficacy on black shank of tobacco and bitter gourd wilt was 75.3% and 63.4%, respectively. Biocontrol efficacy of strain Q2 on bitter gourd wilt was 51.0% in the artificial disease nursery inoculated pathogen of bitter gourd wilt, while the control efficacy of strain Q2 combined with soil fumigation technology was more than 80% in the same experiment condition. Strain Q2 application and soil fumigation altered soil microbial community composition and recovery trend. Metam-sodium fumigation significantly reduced the abundances of Fusarium oxysporum and causal agent of bitter gourd wilt. Strain Q2 further suppressed the efficient recovery trend of the pathogen. After application of strain Q2, Penicillium was enriched in soil, as well as the beneficial microbes involved in the suppression of F. oxysporum, such as Bacillus and Gaiella. Overall, after soil fumigation, biocontrol efficacy of strain Q2 on soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium wilt could attribute to the formation of beneficial microbial communities in soil and inhibition of strain Q2 on growth and development of F. oxysporum.

[Isolation, screening and identification of anantagonistic actinomycetes to control Fusarium wilt of Momordica charantia]. / é˜²æ²»è‹¦ç“œæž¯èŽç— çš„æ‹®æŠ—æ”¾çº¿èŒåˆ†ç¦»ç­›é€‰åŠé‰´å®š.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordica was used as the target pathogenic fungus to screen actinomycetes that were isolated from rhizosphere soil of Momordica charantia by confrontation culture and antifungal tests of fermentation filtrate. The candidate strain 0250 had broad antifungal activity. According to cultural characteristics, physiological and biochemical properties, as well as average nucleotide identity analysis of the strains with similar homology, the strain 0250 was identified as Streptomyces rhizosphaericus. Its effects on growth promotion and control of bitter gourd wilt were evaluated in both greenhouse and field. The results showed that the plate inhibition percentage of S. rhizosphaericus strain 0250 against F. oxysporum f. sp. momordica was 69.2%, while the plate inhibition percentage against 17 plant pathogenic fungi reached 64.3%-85.6%. The suspension treatment of the strain could promote the growth and development of roots and stems and improve production of bitter gourd in pots and field. The control efficacy of Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd was 66.9% and 61.5%, respectively. When soils were treated with the strain 0250 suspension in advance and inoculated with the fungal pathogen, the inhibition percentage on the soil F. oxysporum reached 62.1%. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase and ß-1,3-glucanase as well as root activity were significantly improved in bitter gourd seedlings. In summary, strain 0250 is an actinomycetes resource with biocontrol potential to Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd.

Comparison of botulinum toxin with surgery for the treatment of acute acquired comitant esotropia and its clinical characteristics.

We compared the therapeutic effects between botulinum toxin and surgery for acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) and analyze its clinical characteristics. The data of the 29 cases, who received treatment for AACE in the Ophthalmic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Provincial Ophthalmology Hospital between January 2016 and January 2017, were collected. The 29 cases with AACE were followed for 6 months or more, and received either botulinum toxin injection (group A with 13 cases) or squint correction (group B with 16 cases). The distant and near deviation angles were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The success rate (total horizontal deviation of 10 prism diopters or less) and stereopsis were compared between the two groups at post-treatment 6 months. At the same time, the relations between distant and near deviation angles were analyzed among different myopia levels and different AACE types. Results indicated that he success rate was not significantly different at post-treatment 6 months (84.6% vs 81.3%, P = 1.00). The distant and near deviation angles were all significantly different one day and one month after treatment (all P < 0.05); but at post-treatment 6 months, they were not significantly different (all P > 0.05) between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the distant and near stereoacuity between the two groups at post-treatment 6 months (all P > 0.05). Among the 25 cases with myopia, the pre-treatment distant deviation angle was significantly higher than pre-treatment near deviation angle in the cases with myopia level >-2.5 D (P < 0.05), and the pre-treatment distant and near deviation angles were all significantly higher in the cases with type-IIAACE than in the cases with type-IIIAACE (all P < 0.05). This study suggests that Botulinum toxin is as effective as surgery in the treatment of AACE at post-treatment 6 months. For the cases with myopia level >-2.5 D, the pre-treatment distant deviation angle is significantly higher than pre-treatment near deviation angle; and both pre-treatment distant and near deviation angles are greater in the cases with type-IIAACE than in the cases with type-IIIAACE.

Strong association of SLC1A1 and DPF3 gene variants with idiopathic male infertility in Han Chinese.

Male infertility is a multifactorial syndrome encompassing a wide variety of disorders. In recent years, several genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association studies (GWAS) have been performed on azoospermia and/or oligozoospermia in different populations including two GWAS on nonobstructive azoospermia in China; however, the association of SNPs with idiopathic male infertility, especially asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia, and their correlation with semen parameters are still not clear. To investigate genetic variants associated with idiopathic male infertility (asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia) in Chinese Han people, 20 candidate SNPs were selected from GWAS results and genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY assay. A total of 136 subfertile men and 456 healthy fertile men were recruited. rs6476866 in SLC1A1 (P = 1.919E-4, OR = 0.5905, 95% CI: 0.447-0.78) and rs10129954 in DPF3 (P = 0.0023, OR = 2.199, 95% CI: 1.311-3.689) were strongly associated with idiopathic male infertility. In addition, positive associations were observed between asthenozoospermia and rs215702 in LSM5 (P = 0.0016, OR = 1.479, 95% CI: 1.075-2.033) and between oligoasthenozoospermia and rs2477686 in PEX10 (P = 0.0011, OR = 2.935, 95% CI: 1.492-5.775). In addition, six SNPs (rs215702 in LSM5, rs6476866 in SLC1A1, rs10129954 in DPF3, rs1801133 in MTHFR, rs2477686 in PEX10, and rs10841496 in PED3A) were significantly correlated with semen quality alterations. Our results suggest that idiopathic male infertility in different ethnic groups may share the same mechanism or pathway. Cohort expansion and further mechanistic studies on the role of genetic factors that influence spermatogenesis and sperm progressive motility are suggested.

Binocular vision and abnormal head posture in children when watching television.

AIM: To determine the association between the binocular vision and an abnormal head posture (AHP) when watching television (TV) in children 7-14y of age. METHODS: Fifty normal children in the normal group and 52 children with an AHP when watching TV in the AHP group were tested for spherical equivalents, far and near fusional convergence (FC) and fusional divergence (FD) amplitudes, near point of convergence, far and near heterophoria, accommodative convergence/ accommodation ratio and stereoacuity. The values of these tests were compared between the two groups. The independent t test was applied at a confidence level of 95%. RESULTS: The far and near FC amplitudes and far FD amplitudes were lower in the AHP group (the far FC amplitudes: break point 13.6±5.4(Δ), recovery point 8.7±5.4(Δ). The near FC amplitudes: break point 14.5±7.3(Δ), recovery point 10.3±5.1(Δ). The far FD amplitudes: break point 3.9±2.7(Δ), recovery point 2.6±2.3(Δ)) compared with those in the normal group (the far FC amplitudes: break point 19.1±6.2(Δ), recovery point 12.4±4.5(Δ). The near FC amplitudes: break point 22.3±8.0(Δ), recovery point 16.1±5.7(Δ). The far FD amplitudes: break point 7.0±2.1(Δ), recovery point 4.6±1.9(Δ)). Other tests presented no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: An association between the reduced FC and FD amplitudes and the AHP in children when watching TV is proposed in the study. This kind of AHP is considered to be an anomalous manifestation which appears in a part of puerile patients of fusional vergence dysfunction.

Semaphorin 4A enhances lung fibrosis through activation of Akt via PlexinD1 receptor.

Semaphorin 4A plays a regulatory role in immune function and angiogenesis. However, its specific involvement in controlling lung fibrosis, a process that is closely related to angiogenesis and inflammation is still poorly understood. In the present study, we show that treatment of Sema4A on normal lung fibroblasts induces expression of proteins that contribute to a contractile phenotype, including alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), ezrin, moesin, and paxillin. We confirm that Sema4A enhances the ability of lung fibroblasts to contract collagen gel. Sema4A treatment led to resistance to apoptosis in normal lung fibroblasts. Relative to normal lung fibroblasts, fibroblasts cultured from scars of patients with the fibrotic disease Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) showed elevated Sema4A secretion, enhanced alpha-SMA, ezrin, moesin, and paxillin expression, and high ability to induce collagen gel contraction. Using neutralizing antibody against Sema4A receptor, PlexinD1, we found that endogenous Sema4A signalling in SSc fibroblast was through PlexinD1 receptor. We then identified the signalling mechanism through which Sema4A-PlexinD1 promotes the ability of normal fibroblasts to contract a collagen gel matrix. Western blot analysis showed that Sema4A activated the Akt pathway in lung fibroblasts, and the specific inhibitor of Akt pathway, Akt inhibitor III, blocked the ability of Sema4A to promote the ability of lung fibroblasts to contract a collagen gel matrix. Thus, blocking Sema4APlexinD1- Akt cascades might be beneficial in reducing pulmonary fibrosis.

[Association study of telomere length with idiopathic male infertility].

Telomeres are evolutionary conserved, multifunctional DNA-protein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomeres maintain chromosome stability and genome integrity and also play an important role in meiosis which aid in synapsis, homologous recombination, and segregation. Sperm telomere has been reported to play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Nowadays, the association between telomere and reproduction is one of the major areas of interest, however whether sperm telomere associated with male infertility is not clear. In this study, in order to find out the association between Chinese idiopathic infertility and sperm telomere length, we analyzed the difference of sperm telomere length between idiopathic infertile men and normal fertile men, as well as the correlations between sperm telomere length and human semen characteristics. We analyzed 126 Chinese idiopathic infertile men and 138 normal fertile men for sperm telomere length by using quantitative PCR. We found that the relative sperm mean telomere length of infertile men was significantly shorter than that of fertile men (2.894 ± 0.115 vs. 4.016 ± 0.603, P=5.097 x 10⁻5). Both sperm count and semen progressive motility are related with telomere length. Our results suggest that sperm telomere length is associated with idiopathic male infertility of China and we proposed the possibility that shorter telomeres in sperm chromosome will reduce spermatogenesis and sperm functions, which finally affected the fertility of male.

Preparation of lysine-coated magnetic Fe2O3 nanoparticles and influence on viability of A549 lung cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of lysine-coated oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Lys@MNPs) on viability and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells. METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Zeta potentiometric analyzer were employed to characterize Lys@MNPs. Then Lys@MNPs and lung cancer A549 cells were co-cultured to study the effect of Lys@MNPs on cell viability and apoptosis. The pathway of Lys@MNPs entering A549 cells was detected by TEM and cell imaging by 1.5 T MRI. RESULTS: Lys@MNPs were 10.2 nm in grain diameter, characterized by small size, positive charge, and superparamagnetism. Under low-dose concentration of Lys@MNPs (<40 µg/mL), the survival rate of A549 cells was decreased but remained higher than 95% while under high-dose concentration (100 µg/mL), the survival ratewas still higher than 80%, which suggested Lys@MNPs had limited influence on the viability of A549 cells, with good biocompatibility and and no induction of apoptosis. Moreover, high affinity for cytomembranes, was demonstrated presenting good imaging effects. CONCLUSION: Lys@MNPs can be regarded as a good MRI negative contrast agents, with promising prospects in biomedicine.

Curcumin inhibits endometriosis endometrial cells by reducing estradiol production.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a complex estrogen-dependent disease that is defined as the presence of endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Although the exact mechanism for the development of endometriosis remains unclear, there is a large body of research data and circumstantial evidence that suggests a crucial role of estrogen in the establishment and maintenance of this disease. OBJECTIVE: This study is an attempt to assess the effect of curcumin on inhibiting endometriosis endometrial cells and to investigate whether such an effect is mediated by reducing estradiol production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endometriotic stromal cells, normal endometrial stromal cells, endometriotic epithelial cells and normal endometrial epithelial cells were isolated and cultured. E2 value of cells and the effect of curcumin on cell proliferation were evaluated. Finally, effect of curcumin on E2 assay was detected. RESULTS: Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay results showed that E2 value of endometriotic epithelial cells was higher than the endometriotic stromal cells (p=0.037), while the expression of E2 in normal endometrial stromal and epithelial cells was extremely low. WST-8 result showed, compared with endometrial stromal cells, ectopic endometriotic stromal cells had a higher growth rate. After intervene with curcumin (10µmol/L, 30µmol/L and 50µmol/L) for 0-96h, the number of endometriotic stromal cells was reduced and cells growth slowed, compared with 0µmol/L group. Compared with 0µmol/L group, E2 level was lower after treatment with curcumin, especially in 30µmol/L and 50µmol/L group. CONCLUSION: In summary, in this study we found that E2 is important in ectopic endometrium, and epithelial cell is in dominant position with E2 secretion. Curcumin was able to suppress the proliferation of endometrial cells by reducing the E2 value.

[The clinical analysis of corneal interface fluid syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the clinical characteristics of corneal interface fluid syndrome (IFS). METHODS: This is a retrospective study. During Jun. 2007 to Oct. 2011. Eight cases (12 eyes) of IFS were diagnosed at Henan Eye Institute. The history and complete ophthalmic examination that include Slit-lamp examination, Slit-lamp photography, IOP, anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT), confocal microscopic exams were recorded. RESULTS: In total 8 cases (12 eyes), 4 cases were bilateral, 4 cases were unilateral. Six patients were male and 2 were female. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 35 years. Post-lasik steroid-induced elevated IOP was 4 eyes in 2 patients. Primary open angle glaucoma was 4 eyes in 2 patients. 1 patient (1 eye) was Posner-Shlossman syndrome, 1 patient (1 eye) was pigmented glaucoma, 1 patient (1 eye) was post-lasik traumatic iritis. 1 patient (1 eye) got IFS after repeated flap reposition because of epithelium ingrowth. Slit-lamp exam indicated edematous corneal, lamellar haze, interface fluids accumulation. AS-OCT showed obvious interface dark area. Confocal microscopy exam showed edematous corneal flap, more oval and large keratocytes' nuclei but no inflammatory cells. CONCLUSIONS: IFS is a rare but serious complication after LASIK. The main causes are high intraocular pressure and/or dysfunction of corneal endothelium. Careful exam by slit-lamp may help diagnosis, and further AS-OCT and/or in vivo confocal microscopy exam will confirm it.

CAG-repeat variant in the polymerase γ gene and male infertility in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

Several studies have reported a relationship between the length of the CAG-repeat in the polymerase γ (POLG) gene and male infertility. However, other studies have not reproduced this result. In our study, the POLG-CAG-repeat length was analyzed in 535 healthy individuals from six Chinese Han populations living in different provinces. The frequencies of 10-CAG alleles and genotypes were high (97.38 and 94.13%, respectively), with no significant difference among the six Chinese Han populations. Furthermore, we determined the distribution of the POLG-CAG-repeat in 150 infertile men and 126 fertile men. Our study suggested that the distributions of POLG-CAG-repeat alleles and genotypes were not significantly different between infertile (95.67 and 92.67%, respectively) and fertile men (97.22 and 94.44%, respectively). In a subsequent meta-analysis, combining our data with data from previous studies, a comparison of the CAG-repeat alleles in fertile versus infertile men showed no obvious risk for male infertility associated with any particular allele (pooled odds ratio (OR)=0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-1.48). The significance level was not attained with any of the following genetic models: homozygote comparison (not 10/not 10 versus 10/10: OR=1.34; 95% CI: 0.66-2.72), heterozygote comparison (10/not 10 versus 10/10: OR=1.04; 95% CI: 0.78-1.38), dominant model comparison (not 10/not 10+10/not 10 versus 10/10: OR=1.08; 95% CI: 0.79-1.47) and recessive genetic comparison (not 10/not 10 versus 10/not 10+10/10: OR=1.31; 95% CI: 0.68-2.55). In conclusion, there is no significant difference of the frequencies of POLG-CAG-repeat variants among six Chinese Han populations, and this polymorphism may not be associated with Chinese male infertility. On the basis of a meta-analysis, there is no obvious association between CAG-repeat variants of the POLG gene and male infertility.