A meta-analysis of the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes' performance.

Objective: To explore the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes' performance using meta-analysis method. Methods: A total of 11 articles and 23 effect sizes were included through retrieval of Chinese and English databases, with a total sample size of 582. Result: Mindfulness training improves the level of mindfulness [SMD =1.08, 95%CI (0.30, 1.86), p < 0.01], fluency (The optimal competitive psychological state of the athlete, the athlete's attention is all focused on the task, and other things no longer attract their attention) [SMD =1.47, 95%CI (0.87, 2.08), p < 0.001] and performance [SMD =0.92, 95% CI (0.40, 1.43), p < 0.01], reduced psychological anxiety [SMD = -0.87, 95% CI (-1.54, -0.20), p < 0.05], and all reached the level of large effect size. Conclusion: The effect of mindfulness training on athletes' sports performance is effective, and it can be used as an effective psychological skill intervention method to improve athletes' sports performance. In the future, we should further expand the sample size, strengthen the comparative study of different sports and intervention modes, and pay attention to the difference between the time effect and trait mindfulness level in fluency state.

Research progress on venous thrombosis development in patients with malignant tumors.

The coexistence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) within patients with cancer, known as cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), stands as a prominent cause of mortality in this population. Over recent years, the incidence of VTE has demonstrated a steady increase across diverse tumor types, influenced by several factors such as patient management, tumor-specific risks, and treatment-related aspects. Furthermore, mutations in specific genes have been identified as potential contributors to increased CAT occurrence in particular cancer subtypes. We conducted an extensive review encompassing pivotal historical and ongoing studies on CAT. This review elucidates the risks, mechanisms, reliable markers, and risk assessment methodologies that can significantly guide effective interventions in clinical practice.

Clinical application value of Ultrafast Pulse Wave Velocity in early cardiovascular injury of Immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

AIM: To investigate the application and the related influencing factors of ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in the evaluation of carotid artery elasticity in patients with Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 156 IgAN patients and 50 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. The ufPWV technique was employed to measure carotid arterial elasticity parameters, including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity at the beginning of systole (BS-PWV) and pulse wave velocity at the end of systole (ES-PWV). RESULTS: Across the three groups (control group, IgAN patients with normal renal function, and IgAN patients with renal dysfunction) there was an increasing trend observed in cIMT, BS-PWV, and ES-PWV. Additionally, ES-PWV exhibited higher sensitivity than BS-PWV. Correlation analysis revealed that BS-PWV and ES-PWV were positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CONCLUSION: The ufPWV technique allows for the rapid and direct measurement of arterial elasticity parameters in the neck and represents a novel approach for the early diagnosis and quantitative assessment of arterial stiffness risk in IgAN patients.

Patterns and drivers of avian taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity in China vary across geographical backgrounds and dispersal abilities.

Geographical background and dispersal ability may strongly influence assemblage dissimilarity; however, these aspects have generally been overlooked in previous large-scale beta diversity studies. Here, we examined whether the patterns and drivers of taxonomic beta diversity (TBD) and phylogenetic beta diversity (PBD) of breeding birds in China vary across (1) regions on both sides of the Hu Line, which demarcates China's topographical, climatic, economic, and social patterns, and (2) species with different dispersal ability. TBD and PBD were calculated and partitioned into turnover and nestedness components using a moving window approach. Variables representing climate, habitat heterogeneity, and habitat quality were employed to evaluate the effects of environmental filtering. Spatial distance was considered to assess the impact of dispersal limitation. Variance partitioning analysis was applied to assess the relative roles of these variables. In general, the values of TBD and PBD were high in mountainous areas and were largely determined by environmental filtering. However, different dominant environmental filters on either side of the Hu Line led to divergent beta diversity patterns. Specifically, climate-driven species turnover and habitat heterogeneity-related species nestedness dominated the regions east and west of the line, respectively. Additionally, bird species with stronger dispersal ability were more susceptible to environmental filtering, resulting in more homogeneous assemblages. Our results indicated that regions with distinctive geographical backgrounds may present different ecological factors that lead to divergent assemblage dissimilarity patterns, and dispersal ability determines the response of assemblages to these ecological factors. Identifying a single universal explanation for the observed pattern without considering these aspects may lead to simplistic or incomplete conclusions. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of large-scale beta diversity patterns and effective planning of conservation strategies necessitate the consideration of both geographical background and species dispersal ability.

A single photoreceptor splits perception and entrainment by cotransmission.

Vision enables both image-forming perception, driven by a contrast-based pathway, and unconscious non-image-forming circadian photoentrainment, driven by an irradiance-based pathway1,2. Although two distinct photoreceptor populations are specialized for each visual task3-6, image-forming photoreceptors can additionally contribute to photoentrainment of the circadian clock in different species7-15. However, it is unknown how the image-forming photoreceptor pathway can functionally implement the segregation of irradiance signals required for circadian photoentrainment from contrast signals required for image perception. Here we report that the Drosophila R8 photoreceptor separates image-forming and irradiance signals by co-transmitting two neurotransmitters, histamine and acetylcholine. This segregation is further established postsynaptically by histamine-receptor-expressing unicolumnar retinotopic neurons and acetylcholine-receptor-expressing multicolumnar integration neurons. The acetylcholine transmission from R8 photoreceptors is sustained by an autocrine negative feedback of the cotransmitted histamine during the light phase of light-dark cycles. At the behavioural level, elimination of histamine and acetylcholine transmission impairs R8-driven motion detection and circadian photoentrainment, respectively. Thus, a single type of photoreceptor can achieve the dichotomy of visual perception and circadian photoentrainment as early as the first visual synapses, revealing a simple yet robust mechanism to segregate and translate distinct sensory features into different animal behaviours.

Isolation and characterization of a novel parvovirus from a red-crowned crane, China, 2021.

BACKGROUND: Parvoviruses are icosahedral, nonenveloped viruses with single-stranded DNA genomes of approximately 5 kb in length. In recent years, parvoviruses have frequently mutated and expanded their host range to cause disease in many wild animals by altering their tissue tropism. Animal infection mainly results in acute enteritis and inflammation of other organs. In this study, we used a viral metagenomic method to detect a novel parvovirus species in a red-crowned crane that died due to severe diarrhea in China. RESULTS: The presence of the viral genome in the kidney, lung, heart, liver, and intestine were confirmed by PCR. Histopathological examination of the intestine showed a large number of infiltrated inflammatory cells. The JL21/10 strain of the red-crowned crane parvovirus was first isolated from the intestine. Whole-genome sequence analysis showed that JL21/10 shared high identity with the red-crowned crane Parvovirinae strains yc-8 at the nucleotide level (96.61%). Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome and NS1 gene revealed that the JL21/10 strain clustered with strains in chicken and revealed a close genetic relationship with the red-crowned crane parvovirus strains.The complete of VP2 gene analysis showed that JL21/10 shared identity with the red-crowned crane yc-8 strains (97.7%), chicken (55.4%),ducks(31.0%) and geese(30.1%) at the amino acid level. The result showed that red-crowned crane parvovirus may be cross-species transmission to chicken. However, There is little possibility of transmission to ducks and geese. CONCLUSION: This is the first isolation and identification of a parvovirus in red-crowned crane that was associated with severe diarrhea.

An extra-clock ultradian brain oscillator sustains circadian timekeeping.

The master circadian clock generates 24-hour rhythms to orchestrate daily behavior, even running freely under constant conditions. Traditionally, the master clock is considered self-sufficient in sustaining free-running timekeeping via its cell-autonomous molecular clocks and interneuronal communications within the circadian neural network. Here, we find a set of bona fide ultradian oscillators in the Drosophila brain that support free-running timekeeping, despite being located outside the master clock circuit and lacking clock gene expression. These extra-clock electrical oscillators (xCEOs) generate cell-autonomous ultradian bursts, pacing widespread burst firing and promoting rhythmic resting membrane potentials in clock neurons via parallel monosynaptic connections. Silencing xCEOs disrupts daily electrical rhythms in clock neurons and impairs cycling of neuropeptide pigment dispersing factor, leading to the loss of free-running locomotor rhythms. Together, we conclude that the master clock is not self-sufficient to sustain free-running behavior rhythms but requires additional endogenous inputs to the clock from the extra-clock ultradian brain oscillators.

Case report: Ultrasound-guided intrauterine biopsy and RF ablation therapy for fetal posterior neck solid tumor: first successful report.

Large fetal head and neck tumors are being increasingly identified during prenatal examination and tend to have a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, appropriate intrauterine interventions at suitable periods can improve pregnancy outcome. Ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy of the solid fetal head and neck mass and radiofrequency ablation of a portion of the tissue can clarify the tumor pathology and reduce the tumor size, respectively. These treatment methods are reproducible and associated with reduced trauma and complications.

Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction Enhanced Paclitaxel Sensitivity by Decreasing Autophagy in Paclitaxel-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.

Ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) was introduced as a promising method to improve anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy, while minimizing side effects to healthy tissues. Nevertheless, the acoustical phenomenon behind the UTMD as well as the exact mechanisms of autophagy action involved in the increased anti-cancer response are still not fully understood. Therefore, we examined the drug resistance-reversing effects of low-intensity focused ultrasound with microbubble (LIFU+MB) in paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Cell viability was evaluated using CCK8 (Cell Counting Kit-8), apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of mRNA and protein, and autophagy was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We revealed that the level of autophagy was increased (p < 0.05) in PTX-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Treatment of LIFU+MB combined with PTX can notably inhibit proliferation as well as increase apoptosis (p < 0.01) in drug-resistant cells. We proposed that LIFU+MB might affect the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to PTX by modulating autophagy. To verify the hypothesis, we analyzed the autophagy level of drug-resistant cells after the treatment of LIFU+MB and found that autophagy was significantly inhibited. Altogether, our findings demonstrated that LIFU+MB could reverse PTX resistance in ovarian cancer via inhibiting autophagy, which provides a novel strategy to improve chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer.

Glucocorticoids induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats via PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Background: Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a disorder that causes severe disability in patients and has a high incidence worldwide. Although glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts is an important cytological basis of SONFH, the detailed mechanism underlying SONFH pathogenesis remains elusive. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was reported to involve in cell survival and apoptosis. Objective: We explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway and its downstream targets during glucocorticoid -induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods: We obtained gene expression profile of osteoblasts subjected to dexamethasone (Dex) treatment from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out and functional enrichment analysis were conducted by bioinformatics analysis. In vitro, we analyzed Dex-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells and explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway in this phenomenon by employing siRNA-FOXO1 and IGF-1(PI3K/AKT agonist). Finally, we verified our results in a rat model of SONFH. Results: In Dex-treated osteoblasts, DEGs were mainly enriched in the FOXO signaling pathway. Dex inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell viability in a dose-dependent effect and induced apoptosis by increasing the expression levels of FOXO1, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3, and cleaved-Caspase-9, while reducing the expression of Bcl-2. Notably, these results were reversed by siRNA-FOXO1 treatment. Dex inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, upregulated FOXO1 expression and increased FOXO1 nuclear translocation, which were reversed by IGF-1. Compared to normal rats, the femoral head of SONFH showed increased expression of FOXO1, increased number of apoptotic cells, and empty osteocytic lacunas, as well as decreased bone tissue content and femoral head integrity. Significantly, the effects of GC-induced SONFH were alleviated following IGF-1 treatment. Conclusion: Dex induces osteoblast apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway. Our research offers new insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis in SONFH and proposes FOXO1 as a therapeutic target for this disease.

Identification of a Nomogram with an Autophagy-Related Risk Signature for Survival Prediction in Patients with Glioma.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is a common type of tumor in the central nervous system characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Autophagy plays vital roles in the development and progression of glioma, and is involved in both normal physiological and various pathophysiological progresses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 531 autophagy-related genes (ARGs) were obtained and 1738 glioma patients were collected from three public databases. We performed least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to identify the optimal prognosis-related genes and constructed an autophagy-related risk signature. The performance of the signature was validated by receiver operating characteristic analysis, survival analysis, clinic correlation analysis, and Cox regression. A nomogram model was established by using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Schoenfeld's global and individual test were used to estimate time-varying covariance for the assumption of the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. The R programming language was used as the main data analysis and visualizing tool. RESULTS: An overall survival-related risk signature consisting of 15 ARGs was constructed and significantly stratified glioma patients into high- and low-risk groups (P < 0.0001). The area under the ROC curve of 1-, 3-, 5-year survival was 0.890, 0.923, and 0.889, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses indicated that the risk signature was a satisfactory independent prognostic factor. Moreover, a nomogram model integrating risk signature with clinical information for predicting survival rates of patients with glioma was constructed (C-index=0.861±0.024). CONCLUSION: This study constructed a novel and reliable ARG-related risk signature, which was verified as a satisfactory prognostic marker. The nomogram model could provide a reference for individually predicting the prognosis for each patient with glioma and promoting the selection of optimal treatment.

Multidimensional amphibian diversity and community structure along a 2 600 m elevational gradient on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Mountain systems harbor an evolutionarily unique and exceptionally rich biodiversity, especially for amphibians. However, the associated elevational gradients and underlying mechanisms of amphibian diversity in most mountain systems remain poorly understood. Here, we explored amphibian phylogenetic and functional diversity along a 2 600 m elevational gradient on Mount Emei on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in southwestern China. We also assessed the relative importance of spatial (area) and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, normalized difference vegetation index, and potential evapotranspiration) in shaping amphibian distribution and community structure. Results showed that the phylogenetic and functional diversities were unimodal with elevation, while the standardized effect size of phylogenetic and functional diversity increased linearly with elevation. Phylogenetic net relatedness, nearest taxon index, and functional net relatedness index all showed a positive to negative trend with elevation, indicating a shift from clustering to overdispersion and suggesting a potential change in key processes from environmental filtering to competitive exclusion. Overall, our results illustrate the importance of deterministic processes in structuring amphibian communities in subtropical mountains, with the dominant role potentially switching with elevation. This study provides insights into the underlying assembly mechanisms of mountain amphibians, integrating multidimensional diversity.

Spectrophotometric Assays for Sensing Tyrosinase Activity and Their Applications.

Tyrosinase (TYR, E.C. 1.14.18.1), a critical enzyme participating in melanogenesis, catalyzes the first two steps in melanin biosynthesis including the ortho-hydroxylation of L-tyrosine and the oxidation of L-DOPA. Previous pharmacological investigations have revealed that an abnormal level of TYR is tightly associated with various dermatoses, including albinism, age spots, and malignant melanoma. TYR inhibitors can partially block the formation of pigment, which are always used for improving skin tone and treating dermatoses. The practical and reliable assays for monitoring TYR activity levels are very useful for both disease diagnosis and drug discovery. This review comprehensively summarizes structural and enzymatic characteristics, catalytic mechanism and substrate preference of TYR, as well as the recent advances in biochemical assays for sensing TYR activity and their biomedical applications. The design strategies of various TYR substrates, alongside with several lists of all reported biochemical assays for sensing TYR including analytical conditions and kinetic parameters, are presented for the first time. Additionally, the biomedical applications and future perspectives of these optical assays are also highlighted. The information and knowledge presented in this review offer a group of practical and reliable assays and imaging tools for sensing TYR activities in complex biological systems, which strongly facilitates high-throughput screening TYR inhibitors and further investigations on the relevance of TYR to human diseases.

Clonal spread of Escherichia coli O101: H9-ST10 and O101: H9-ST167 strains carrying fosA3 and bla CTX-M-14 among diarrheal calves in a Chinese farm, with Australian Chroicocephalus as the possible origin of E. coli O101: H9-ST10.

During a 2018 antimicrobial resistance surveillance of Escherichia coli isolates from diarrheal calves in Xinjiang Province, China, an unexpectedly high prevalence (48.5%) of fosfomycin resistance was observed. This study aimed to reveal the determinants of fosfomycin resistance and the underlying transmission mechanism. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening showed that all fosfomycin-resistant E. coli carried the fosA3 gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and southern blot hybridization revealed that the 16 fosA3-positive isolates belonged to four different PFGE patterns (i.e., A, B, C, D). The fosA3 genes of 11 clonally related strains (pattern D) were located on the chromosome, while others were carried by plasmids. Whole-genome and long-read sequencing indicated that the pattern D strains were E. coli O101: H9-ST10, and the pattern C, B, and A strains were O101: H9-ST167, O8: H30-ST1431, and O101: H9 with unknown ST, respectively. Among the pattern C strains, the bla CTX-M-14 gene was co-localized with the fosA3 gene on the F18: A-: B1 plasmids. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis based on core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNPs) showed that the O101: H9-ST10 strains were closely related to a Australian-isolated Chroicocephalus-origin E. coli O101: H9-ST10 strain producing CTX-M-14 and FosA3, with a difference of only 11 SNPs. These results indicate possible international dissemination of the high-risk E. coli clone O101: H9-ST10 by migratory birds.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair combined with Reimplissage for the treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder in adults with Hill-Sachs defect / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the method and clinical effects of the treatment of recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder with Hill-Sachs injury by arthroscopic Bankart repair and Remplissage.@*METHODS@#From March 2016 to March 2019, 106 patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder with glenoid bone defect less than 20% underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair, including 76 males and 30 females, aged from 18 to 45 (27.3±8.6) years, 59 cases of left shoulder and 47 cases of right shoulder. Range of motion (ROM), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES) score, Constant-Murley score and Rowe score were used to evaluate shoulder functionand stability before and after operation.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 21 to 60 months, with a mean of (41.5± 8.5) months. One patient developed infection after operation, and the infection was controlled after arthroscopic debridement again. The remaining patients did not have clinical complications such as infection, intra articular hematocele and redislocation. Shoulder flexion and lifting increased from (158.33±15.72) ° preoperatively to (169.43±10.04) ° at the latest follow up, and internal rotation changed from T7 (T4 to T10) preoperatively to T8 (T5 to T10) at the latest follow up;the average lateral external rotation and abduction 90 ° external rotation decreased from (58.46±15.51) ° preoperatively and (99.37±14.09) ° to (53.18±14.90) ° and (92.52±13.10) ° at the latest follow up, respectively. The ASES score, Constant -Murley score and Rowe score were significantly improved.@*CONCLUSION@#The clinical effect of rehabilitation of Bankart repair combined with Remplissageunder arthroscopy in the treatment of recurrent dislocation of shoulder joint in adults with Hill-Sachs defect is satisfactory. Although the external rotation function is weaker than that before operation, it can effectively reconstruct the shoulder function and avoid the occurrence ofdislocation after operation.

Age-standardized mortality, disability-adjusted life-years and healthy life expectancy in different cultural regions of Guangdong, China: a population-based study of 2005-2015.

BACKGROUND: Guangdong province is dominated by three cultural regions: Canton, Hakka and Hoklo. However, little is known about the disease burden within these regions, particularly because different population,environmental and socioeconomic risk factors might cause different patterns of mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE). We aimed to compare the patterns of disease burden in Canton, Hakka and Hoklo regions between 2005 and 2015. METHOD: We calculated the mortality, YLL, YLD for 116 diseases for different cultural regions between 2005 and 2015. We calculated the DALYs for 116 causes as the sum of YLLs and YLDs. We estimated the life expectancy and HALE by using sex-specific mortality rates and YLDs for the three cultural regions. RESULTS: With a respective reduction of 22.3, 15.8 and 17.8% in 2015 compared with 2005, the age-standardized DALY rates in 2015 was 19,988.0, 14,396.5 and 20,436.6 in Hakka, Canton and Hoklo region. Canton region had a significantly lower mortality and DALYs in most diseases, followed by Hoklo and Hakka regions. The life expectancy and HALE at birth were highest in Canton region in both 2005 and 2015, than in Hoklo and Hakka region. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings call for improved public health care via the refinement of policy and effective measures for disease prevention. Understanding the environmental and culture-related risk factors of diseases in Hoklo and Hakka regions may help inform public health sectors to reduce the disease burden and the between-region inequality.

Identification of a t(X;17)(q28;q21) generating a KANSL1-MTCP1 gene fusion leading to dysregulated expression of MTCP1 in acute myeloid leukemia.

Chromosomal translocations and generating fusion genes are closely associated with disease initiation and progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we identified a novel t(X;17)(q28;q21) chromosomal rearrangement in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia. Using RNA-sequencing, we identified a KANSL1-MTCP1 and a KANSL1-CMC4 fusion gene. 5'-UTR sequences of the KANSL1 gene were found to become fused upstream of the coding sequence region of the MTCP1 and CMC4 genes, respectively, resulting in an aberrantly high expression of these genes. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of the MTCP1 gene induced an increased cell proliferation and partial blockage of cell differentiation, suggesting that the aberrant expression of MTCP1 is of critical importance in leukemogenesis.

Molecular survey of duck circovirus infection in poultry in southern and southwestern China during 2018 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Duck circovirus (DuCV) is a potential immunosuppressive virus that causes feather disorders in young ducks. In this study, DuCV obtained from various species of ducks was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in southern and southwestern China (Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces) from 2018 to 2019. RESULTS: A total of 848 bursa samples were collected from dead Mulard, Cherry Valley Pekin, Muscovy and Mallard ducks from duck farms. The positivity rate of DuCV in the total sample was approximately 36.91%. We found that the prevalence of DuCV in Yunnan (43.09%) was higher than those in Guangxi (34.38%) and Guangdong (34.4%). However, the positivity rates of DuCV in the four duck species were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Nineteen randomly selected complete viral genomes were sequenced. The complete genomes of the DuCV were 1987 to 1995 nt in length, and were 81.7-99.3% homologous to the other 57 sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses based on the complete genomes of 76 DuCVs showed that the 19 novel DuCV sequences from Guangdong and Guangxi provinces mainly belonged to the DuCV-1 and DuCV-2 genetic groups, respectively. However, the two genotype groups coexisted in Yunnan Province. In addition, recombination analysis showed putative recombination sites in 3 strains in Yunnan that originated from strains Guangdong and Guangxi. Interestingly, the epidemiological investigation showed that Mulard ducks, Cherry Valley Pekin ducks and Muscovy ducks more than 4 weeks old were more susceptible to infection with the novel DuCV than ducks less than 4 weeks old. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide insight into the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of DuCVs circulating in southern and southwestern China for the first time.

Xanthatin induces glioma cell apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth via activating endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent CHOP pathway.

Xanthatin is a natural sesquiterpene lactone purified from Xanthium strumarium L., which has shown prominent antitumor activity against a variety of cancer cells. In the current study, we investigated the effect of xanthatin on the growth of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. In both rat glioma C6 and human glioma U251 cell lines, xanthatin (1-15 µM) dose-dependently inhibited cell viability without apparent effect on the cell cycle. Furthermore, xanthatin treatment dose-dependently induced glioma cell apoptosis. In nude mice bearing C6 glioma tumor xenografts, administration of xanthatin (10, 20, 40 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip, for 2 weeks) dose-dependently inhibited the tumor growth, but did not affect the body weight. More importantly, xanthatin treatment markedly increased the expression levels of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related markers in both the glioma cell lines as well as in C6 xenografts, including glucose-regulated protein 78, C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), activating factor 4, activating transcription factor 6, spliced X-box binding protein-1, phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2a. Pretreatment of C6 glioma cells with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA, 7 mM) or knockdown of CHOP using small interfering RNA significantly attenuated xanthatin-induced cell apoptosis and increase of proapoptotic caspase-3. These results demonstrate that xanthatin induces glioma cell apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth via activating the ER stress-related unfolded protein response pathway involving CHOP induction. Xanthatin may serve as a promising agent in the treatment of human glioma.