Fuel types and use in late Western Zhou (877 - 771 BCE) industrial contexts in Northwest China.

To date, the types of fuels used in pottery kilns during the Western Zhou Dynasty have not been adequately addressed. Samples from updraft kilns and semi-downdraft kilns at the Fengjing site, the capital in the late Western Zhou period, were selected for analysis. Through phytolith and wood charcoal analysis, various grasses mainly Panicoideae, Pooideae, and Eragrostidoideae, as well as millet, rice, and wheat crops were identified. Additionally, wood primarily from trees of the Quercus, Ulmus, and Liquidambar taxa was found. These findings suggest that different pottery kilns used similar fuels, demonstrating a broad-spectrum rather than specialized fuel utilization during the Zhou period.

The evolution of cropping structure in prehistoric Xizang.

The origin and spread of agriculture facilitated a decline in human mobility and eventually led to a predominantly sedentary lifestyle globally, including on the Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies have proposed an evolution of prehistoric agriculture, from millet-based to barley-based farming. However, details regarding the process are vague. Here, we present diachronic changes in cropping structure from Xizang on the basis of a quantitative analysis of archaeobotanical remains from 12 sites located in southeastern Xizang. The advent of agriculture in Xizang began in the southeastern region around 4800 cal a BP and resulted in a quick spread of millet agriculture from the Hengduan Mountains to the Yarlung Zangbo River region. Subsequently, the introduction of barley and wheat in Xizang led to the transformation of millet-based farming into mixed farming after 3600 cal a BP. Eventually, around 3000 cal a BP, barley and wheat dominated across the entire Xizang with declining occurrences of millet. It took more than 600 years for barley and wheat to dominate in the Tibetan cropping system, which may reflect the time required for these exotic species to adapt physiologically to their new niche. In addition to the diachronic changes in crop farming, the ratio of barley to wheat and foxtail millet to broomcorn millet also varied at different elevations possibly due to local environmental variations and the crops' physiological requirements.

Analysis of factors correlated with spinal clinically isolated syndrome conversion to multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: The present study aims to explore the factors influencing spinal clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-one patients diagnosed with spinal CIS from January 2010 to November 2020 were divided into a non-progressing (CIS) group with 27 patients, and a conversion to MS (MS) group with 34 patients, based on whether they had converted to MS. The clinical presentation at onset, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) before and after steroid therapy, the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-OCB), and the evoked potentials (EPs) were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Differences in gender and age were not statistically significant between the MS and CIS groups. The median time to relapse was 12 months for the MS group, with an upper quartile of 23.7 months, and 91.2% of patients relapsed within three years. In univariate analysis, patients with CIS beginning with sensory symptoms had a lower level of progression to MS (OR = 0.311). Patients with Kurtzke Functional Systems Scores (FSSs) of pyramidal functions ≥ 2 (OR = 3.582) and positive CSF-OCB (OR = 5.208) quickly progressed to MS. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of spinal cord lesions < 3 vertebral segments, gadolinium enhancing lesions, or abnormal EPs. The difference in the EDSS scores before and after steroid therapy was higher in the MS group than in the CIS group (p = 0.001). Differences of ≥ 1.5 in the EDSS scores before and after steroid therapy were risk factors for CIS conversion to MS (OR = 9.333). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with spinal CIS with pure sensory abnormalities at onset were less likely to convert to MS (OR = 0.311), and the risk factors were, in order of risk, the difference in EDSS score before and after steroid therapy (≥ 1.5; OR = 9.333), positive CSF-OCB (OR = 5.208), and those with an FSS of the pyramidal functions score ≥ 2; OR = 3.582). The present study serves as a simple 'first step'. Any potential predictors identified should be validated via future prospective studies.

[Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics and therapeutic analysis of 9 patients with Lewis-Sumner syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, electrophysiological findings and treatment response of Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS). METHODS: Data of nine patients with LSS, who were diagnosed and treated from May 2008 to August 2014 in Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively, including clinical features, electrophysiological studies, pathological characteristics, therapy and follow up. RESULTS: The nine cases included seven males and two females, with the average age being 29 years old (18-64 years old). The follow-ups after treatment were between 6 months to 48 months. All 9 cases were asymmetrical onset, and the distal part of limbs was initially affected in 8 cases. Five cases presented with the initial symptom of sensorimotor, 3 cases with purely motor and only 1 case with sensory. The disease developed two forms: multifocal distribution and symmetrical distribution. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated conduction blocks on non-entrapment sites, involving mainly median nerve and ulnar nerve. Sural nerve biopsy presented mild demyelination without inflammatory infiltration. The symptoms of patients had some degrees of improvement after immunotherapy, and the prognosis was favorable. CONCLUSIONS: Lewis-Sumner syndrome presents the initial symptoms of asymmetrical sensorimotor neuropathy mostly affecting the upper extremities. Median nerve and ulnar nerve are the most common involvements. Electrophysiological studies demonstrate motor nerve conduction block. The major finding of pathology is mild demyelinated. The patients have a positive response to immunotherapy.

Carbamazepine Withdrawal-induced Hyperalgesia in Chronic Neuropathic Pain.

Combined pharmacological treatments are the most used approach for neuropathic pain. Carbamazepine, an antiepileptic agent, is generally used as a third-line treatment for neuropathic pain and can be considered an option only when patients have not responded to the first- and second-line medications. In the case presented herein, a patient with neuropathic pain was treated using a combined pharmacological regimen. The patient's pain deteriorated, despite increasing the doses of opioids, when carbamazepine was discontinued, potentially because carbamazepine withdrawal disrupted the balance that was achieved by the multifaceted pharmacological regimen, thus inducing hyperalgesia. Interestingly, when carbamazepine was prescribed again, the patient's pain was successfully managed. Animal research has reported that carbamazepine can potentiate the analgesic effectiveness of morphine in rodent models of neuropathic pain and postoperative pain. This clinical case demonstrates that carbamazepine may have a synergistic effect on the analgesic effectiveness of morphine and may inhibit or postpone opioid-induced hyperalgesia. We postulate that a probable mechanism of action of carbamazepine may involve -aminobutyric acid-ergic potentiation and the interruption of glutamatergic function via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Further research is warranted to clarify the analgesic action of carbamazepine and its potential use for the prevention of opioid-induced hyperalgesia in chronic neuropathic pain patients.

A one-step carbonization route towards nitrogen-doped porous carbon hollow spheres with ultrahigh nitrogen content for CO2 adsorption.

Nitrogen doped porous carbon hollow spheres (N-PCHSs) with an ultrahigh nitrogen content of 15.9 wt% and a high surface area of 775 m(2) g(-1) were prepared using Melamine-formaldehyde nanospheres as hard templates and nitrogen sources. The N-PCHSs were completely characterized and were found to exhibit considerable CO2 adsorption performance (4.42 mmol g(-1)).

A novel mutation of the glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) gene associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2D in a Chinese family.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features of a novel glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) gene mutation in a family with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D). METHODS: Exome capture with the next-generation sequencing technique was used to detect gene mutations. The mutations were verified by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique combined with DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In this pedigree, eight members were affected; seven males and one female. The affected members initially manifested with the onset of hand muscle weakness and atrophy in adolescence followed by gradual development of distal lower limb involvement and minor sensory involvement. Electrophysiological studies revealed that this disease mainly involves axonal damage. Genetic detection showed that all affected family members had a heterozygous missense mutation, c.999G>T (p.E333D), of the GARS gene. CONCLUSIONS: The c.999G>T mutation is a novel mutation of the GARS gene that has not been previously reported. The phenotype of this family is CMT2D, which is first reported in Chinese population.

[Ultrasonographic characteristics of haemophilic arthropathy in the knee joints].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of ultrasonography in haemophilic arthropathy in knee joints. METHODS: The knee joints (n=135) of 68 patients with haemophilia A (n=59) or haemophilia B (n=9) were consecutively evaluated with ultrasonography and scored according to MELCHIORRE ultrasound score. The correlations between ultrasound score and the number of knee joint bleeding episodes, age, and World Federation Haemophilic orthopedic (WFHO) score were studied. RESULTS: 68 male patients with median age 20 (3-48) years old were enrolled in this study. The prevalences of hydrops articuli, fibrotic septa, synovial hypertrophy, synovial hypertrophy with angiogenesis, haemosiderin deposition were 39.2% (53/135), 3.0% (4/135), 77.0% (104/135), 49.6% (67/135), 37.8% (51/135), respectively; and the prevalences of cartilage damage, bone erosion, bone remodeling, osteophytes were 63.7% (86/135), 48.1% (65/135), 3.0% (4/135), 13.3% (18/135) respectively. The average ultrasound score was 5.21[95% CI (4.50-5.93)]. The ultrasound score of knees joints according to age 0-6, 7-18 and > 18 years old groups were 0.63[95% CI (0.15-1.10)], 2.88[95% CI (1.90-3.85)], 7.83[95% CI (7.07-8.60)], respectively; and the difference among groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). The significant difference of ultrasound score was not found among moderate, mild and severe haemophilia (F=0.90, P=0.914). A significant positive correlation between ultrasound and WFHO scores was demonstrated (r=0.745, P<0.01). The ultrasound score increased significantly with the increase of number of knee bleed Episodes (F=49.926, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The main characteristics of ultrasonography of haemophilic arthropathy in knee joints were identified as followings: synovial hypertrophy, cartilage damage, bone erosion, hydrops articuli, and haemosiderin deposition. Ultrasonography was a fast, effective, safe, and available inspection method in assessment of haemophilic arthropathy.

[A study of motor unit number estimation by multiple point stimulation in patients with Hirayama disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of motor unit number estimation (MUNE) by using multiple point stimulating technique to evaluate patients with Hirayama disease (HD). METHODS: Multiple point stimulating technique was used to estimate the motor unit number of abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi in 35 normal subjects [14 - 33 years old, mean (20.9 ± 4.0) years old, 33 men and 2 women] without nerve and muscle disease and 69 patients definitely diagnosed as HD [16 - 35 years old, mean (21.46 ± 6.61) years old, 67 men and 2 women]. The differences between the two groups were examined by Fisher's exact test and t test. RESULTS: There were 42 patients with atrophy and 27 patients with normal clinical manifestation of left hand. For right hand there were 54 patients with atrophy and 15 normal. For controls, the MUNE value of left abductor pollicis brevis was 226.97 ± 30.59, while that of right side was 228.31 ± 25.35. The MUNE value of left abductor digiti minimi was 237.43 ± 30.78, while that of right side was 240.20 ± 37.73. For HD patients, the MUNE of left abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi was 145.66 ± 126.10 (t = 5.07, P < 0.01) and 102.20 ± 112.67 (t = 9.31, P < 0.01) respectively, while those of right hand was 149.72 ± 117.80 (t = 5.31, P < 0.01) and 64.23 ± 69.27 (t = 16.76, P < 0.01) respectively. MUNE of left abductor digiti minimi in 17 patients that was below 200 among 27 patients with normal clinical manifestation (χ(2) = 9.57, P = 0.002). MUNE of right abductor digiti minimi in 12 patients that was below 200 among 15 patients with normal clinical manifestation (χ(2) = 4.64, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The differences of MUNE values by multiple point stimulating technique between the normal subjects and the HD patients is significant, which suggests this method is very useful to evaluate HD in the early state.

[Study of association between hyperIgEaemia and Hirayama disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hyperIgEaemia is associated with Hirayama disease in China. METHODS: Serum total IgE were examined in 123 patients and 82 control subjects from 2006 to 2009 at this hospital and their correlations with clinical profiles investigated. The data were analyzed by t, Chi-square and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Past or present history of allergy/atopy was found in 14 (11.4%) patients and 11(13.4%)controls. The median value of serum total IgE were 87.97, 59.21 and 51.39 IU/ml in patients, controls and health controls respectively. There were no significant difference between the patient and control groups (Z = -0.947, P = 0.344) and the health control groups (Z = -0.914, P = 0.361). Serum IgE was elevated in 57 (43.6%) patients and 30 (36.6%) controls. HyperIgEaemia was present in 29 (23.6%) patients and 13 (15.9%) controls. There was no significant difference in the frequency of history of allergy/atopy, IgE elevation or hyperIgEaemia (P > 0.05) between cases and controls. Even after analyzing the length of duration or the severity of clinical disabilities, there was no difference neither (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Whether the length of duration or the severity of clinical disabilities, the serum total IgE level has no significant difference between all groups. HyperIgEaemia is not associated with Hirayama disease.

Identification of alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate cytidylyltransferase involved in Ebosin biosynthesis of Streptomyces sp. 139.

Ebosin, a novel exopolysaccharide produced by Streptomyces sp. 139 has antagonist activity for IL-1R in vitro and remarkable anti-rheumatic arthritis activity in vivo. Its biosynthesis gene cluster (ste) has been identified. In this study, gene ste17 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and the recombinant protein was purified. With CTP and alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate as substrates, the recombinant Ste17 protein was found capable of catalyzing the production of CDP-D-glucose and pyrophosphate, demonstrating its identity as an alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate-cytidylyltransferase (CDP-D-glucose synthase). To investigate the function of ste17 in Ebosin biosynthesis, the gene was disrupted with a double crossover via homologous recombination. The monosaccharide composition of exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by the mutant Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste17 (-)) was found significantly altered from that of Ebosin, with glucose becoming undetectable. This gene knockout also negatively affected the antagonist activity for IL-1R of EPS. These results indicate that the CDP-D: -glucose synthase encoded by ste17 gene is involved in the formation of nucleotide sugar (CDP-D-glucose) as glucose precursor in Ebosin biosynthesis.

Knockout of the gene (ste15) encoding a glycosyltransferase and its function in biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide in Streptomyces sp. 139.

Streptomyces sp. 139 produces a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) designated Ebosin which has antagonistic activity for IL-1R in vitro and remarkable anti-rheumatic arthritis activity in vivo. We previously identified a ste (Streptomyces eps) gene cluster consisting of 27 ORFs responsible for Ebosin biosynthesis. The gene product of ste15 shows high homology to known glycosyltransferases (GTFs). To elucidate its function in Ebosin biosynthesis, the ste15 gene was knocked out with a double crossover via homologous recombination. Our analysis of monosaccharide composition for EPS-m produced by the mutant strain Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste15(-)) showed that glucose was significantly diminished compared to its natural counterpart Ebosin. This derivative of Ebosin lost the antagonistic activity for IL-1R in vitro and its molecular mass was smaller than Ebosin. These results have demonstrated that the ste15 gene codes for a GTF for glucose, which is functionally involved in Ebosin biosynthesis.