Analysis of Whole Blood and Urine Trace Elements in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Autistic Behaviors.

The relationship between trace elements and neurological development is an emerging research focus. We performed a case-control study to explore (1) the differences of 13 trace elements chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), stannum (Sn), stibium (Sb), mercury (Hg), titanium (TI), and plumbum (Pb) concentration in whole blood and urine between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children and their typical development peers, and (2) the association between the 13 trace elements and core behaviors of ASD. Thirty ASD subjects (cases) and 30 age-sex-matched healthy subjects from Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, were recruited. Element analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Autistic behaviors were assessed using Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS). The whole blood concentrations of Mo (p = 0.004), Cd (0.007), Sn (p = 0.003), and Pb (p = 0.037) were significantly higher in the ASD cases than in the controls. Moreover, Se (0.393), Hg (0.408), and Mn (- 0.373) concentrations were significantly correlated between whole blood and urine levels in ASD case subjects. There were significant correlations between whole blood Sb (0.406), Tl (0.365), Mo (- 0.4237), Mn (- 0.389), Zn (0.476), and Se (0.375) levels and core behaviors of ASD. Although the mechanism of trace element imbalance in ASD is unclear, these data demonstrate that core behaviors of ASD may be affected by certain trace elements. Further studies are recommended for exploring the mechanism of element imbalance and providing corresponding clinical treatment measures.

PLCζ can stably regulate Ca2+ fluctuations in early embryo.

Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is an important inducer of Ca2+ oscillations in mammalian sperm. To explore the influence of PLCζ on early embryonic Ca2+ fluctuations during sperm-egg binding, this study used PLCζ from sheep sperm to construct an early embryonic Ca2+ fluctuation model. First, sheep MII oocytes were cultivated and screened using microinjection technology. Then, a pEGFP-N1-PLCζ plasmid was constructed to activate oocytes in the test group. Ionomycin combined with 6-Dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) was used for the control group to explore the effects on early embryonic development and regulation of Ca2+ fluctuations during development. The results demonstrated that both the PLCζ and ionomycin combined with 6-DMAP activation methods induced sheep oocyte parthenogenetic activation and development in early embryos. In comparisons, the cleavage rate of ionomycin combined with 6-DMAP activation was significantly higher than that of PLCζ (60.9% ± 19.4% vs 76.1% ± 0.7%, respectively; p < 0.001), and the blastocyst rates were 16.2% ± 0.62% and 21.1% ± 0.92%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, when comparing the distribution of Ca2+ in early embryos at different stages, Ca2+ in both treatment groups was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, but the temporal pattern of Ca2+ fluctuations differed. PLCζ resulted in Ca2+ peaks that appeared at the cleavage and morula stages of early embryos, and Ca2+ returned to normal levels at the morula stage. However, the Ca2+ concentration after ionomycin combined with 6-DMAP activation was always much higher than that with PLCζ, and its single peak appeared later than in the PLCζ group. In summary, the PLCζ gene promoted stable regulatory effects on Ca2+ fluctuations at different stages during early embryonic development.

Palladium-Catalyzed Regioselective Coupling Cyclohexenone into Indoles: Atom-Economic Synthesis of ß-Indolyl Cyclohexenones and Derivatization Applications.

Herein, we report a palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling of indoles with cyclic enones to give ß-indolyl cyclic enones under mild and neutral reaction conditions. The key to the success is to explore a mild condition, which ensures the indole C-H activation and subsequent syn ß-hydride elimination through rapid enolization isomerization of Pd(II)-enolate while suppressing other undesired side reactions. Synthetic utility has also been demonstrated in the flexible transformation of the coupling products to meta-phenols and benzo[a]carbazoles.

IL28B rs12980275 variant as a predictor of sustained virologic response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The IL-28B rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT genotypes were proved to be predictor for pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV)-treated hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. However, there were no identical conclusions on rs12980275 polymorphism. Our aim is to perform a meta-analysis in order to determine the association between rs12980275 polymorphism of IL28B and the sustain viral response (SVR) of HCV patients with PEG-IFN/RBV therapy. METHODS: Studies were retrieved from PubMed and Chinese China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Data were extracted by two investigators and analyzed using Stata 11.0 software. RESULTS: Sixteen articles, containing 19 independent studies were included in the analysis. The results showed that patients with AA genotype of rs12980275 achieved higher SVR than patients with AG/GG genotypes. The overall OR (95% CI) was 3.118 (2.146, 4.529). In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the ORs (95% CIs) were 3.084 (1.454, 6.542) and 2.736 (1.863, 4.018) in Asian and Caucasian population, respectively. Another subgroup analysis by HCV genotype, the ORs (95% CIs) were 3.976 (2.568, 6.158), 1.462 (0.504, 4.240) and 1.489 (0.916, 2.421) in patients with HCV genotype 1/4, mix genotype, and HCV genotype 2/3, respectively. CONCLUSION: AA genotype of rs12980275 was a predictive factor for SVR in HCV patients with PEG-IFN/RBV treatment, especially in HCV genotype 1/4.

[Changes in the mRNA expression of adiponectin, adiponectin receptors, and leptin in adipose tissue of Wannanhua pigs at different stages of development].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in the mRNA expression of adiponectin (Adp), adiponectin receptors(AdpR), and leptin in different adipose tissues of Wannanhua pigs at different stages of development, and their sexual dimorphism. METHODS: Five Wannanhua boars and five Wannanhua gilts were sampled at birth, 30, 45, 90, and 180 days of age respectively. The delta delta Ct relative quantification real-time PCR was used to detect the transcription levels of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNAs in subcutaneous (SC) and perirenal (PR) adipose tissues, and beta-actin were used as internal standards. RESULTS: The expression level of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA in SC and PR adipose tissue were changed with age significantly (P < 0.01). In general, Adp mRNA expression in SC adipose tissue was significantly lower than that in PR adipose tissue (P < 0.05), while AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA expression in SC adipose tissue were significantly higher than those in PR adipose tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Although the sexual dimorphism were found in apart genes or apart days of age, Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA expression both in SC adipose tissue and PR adipose tissue had no significant differences between Wannanhua gilts and boars in general. Significant positive correlation was found between Adp and AdpR1, AdpR2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and significant negative correlation was found between Adp and leptin (P < 0.05) in SC adipose tissue and PR adipose tissue respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA in adipose tissue of Wannanhua pigs followed specific developmental patterns and tissue specificity. Adp correlated with its receptors.