Two new species of Anoplophora Hope, 1839 from China (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae).

Two new species of starry longhorn beetles are described from China, i.e. Anoplophora iadina sp. nov. from Yunnan and A. zibroides sp. nov. from Hunan and Guangxi. Color plates are presented to illustrate their diagnostic characters.

Supplementingand activating blood circulation method to treat vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia with posterior circulatory watershed infarction: a case report of two patients.

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD), a rare posterior circulation vascular variant disease, is an important risk factor for many acute cerebrovascular diseases. An insufficient understanding of VBD often leads to misdiagnose. Two cases of VBD that were initially diagnosed as posterior circulation watershed infarction are reported here. Absence of common causes of stroke including hypoperfusion, blood system diseases, carotid and aortic dissection, and eosinophil elevation, the symptoms of the 2 patients met the diagnostic criteria of VBD. Both patients displayed symptoms that were in line with the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of "deficiency and blood stasis". Accordingly, they were comprehensively treated with Supplementingand activating blood circulation method. The clinical manifestations of the 2 patients were remarkably improved and no recurrence of watershed infarction was found in a 1-year follow-up. A detailed medical history and laboratory examination are capable of improving diagnostic accuracy of VBD. TCM treatment based on syndrome identification might be a promising candidate for VBD management.

Taxonomic status of Rana nigromaculata mongolia and the validity of Pelophylax tenggerensis (Anura, Ranidae).

The Black-spotted Pond Frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, is widely distributed across mainland China, Korean Peninsula, and Japan. The taxonomic relationships among P. n. nigromaculatus, Rana nigromaculata mongolia (sensu P. n. mongolicus), and P. tenggerensis have long been ambiguous. Here we examine the topotype specimens of P. tenggerensis and R. n. mongolia, and provide phylogenic analyses based on four mitochondrial DNA sequences. The combined evidences from morphology and molecular phylogeny have shown the distinct specific-level of P. n. mongolicus that distant from P. nigromaculatus, while indicating the homogeneity between P. n. mongolicus and P. tenggerensis. Thus, we suggest elevating P. n. mongolicus as a full species Pelophylax mongolicus comb. nov., and place P. tenggerensis to be a secondary synonym of P. mongolicus comb. nov.

A new species of Anoplophora Hope, 1839 allied to A. freyi (Breuning, 1947) from Sichuan, China (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae).

A new species of longhorn beetle, Anoplophora puxian sp. n. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Lamiini) is described from Sichuan, China. It is closely related to A. freyi (Breuning, 1947). Diagnostic characters of the two species are illustrated and compared.

New species and new record of cavernicolous ground beetles from Sichuan Province, China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini and Platynini).

Two new species of cave-adapted ground beetles are described and illustrated from Sichuan Province, southwestern China: Jujiroa zhouchaoi sp. nov. from the calcareous conglomerate cave Shenxian Dong in Mt. Zhaogong (Dujiangyan, Chengdu) and Pterostichus (Huaius) hanwang sp. nov. from the limestone cave Hanwang Dong (Chaotian, Guangyuan). A new locality for Jujiroa deliciola Uéno and Kishimoto, 2001 is given. Keys to species of the genus Jujiroa Uéno, 1952 and the subgenus Huaius Tian and Huang, 2019 (in Tian et al. 2019) are also provided.

Effects of tumor-associated macrophages on the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer-associated lymphatic endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to explore whether M2 macrophages can be transformed into M1 macrophages, and to investigate the effect of different types of macrophages on the proliferation, migration and ring-forming ability of esophageal cancer-related lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC). Human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1 cell) was induced to differentiate to M1 macrophages (M1 group) and M2 macrophages (M2 group), and co-cultured with esophageal cancer-associated LEC. The individual esophageal cancer co-cultured with LEC was used as control. Different types of macrophages were observed by Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the VEGF-C concentration; the expression of VEGFR-3 protein and its mRNA was detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively. The positive rate of the M1 group induced by IFN-γ and LPS was significantly higher than that of M2 macrophages (48.57%5.98% vs 25.83%1.95%). The expression of VEGF-C in the supernatant of the M2 group was higher than that in the control group, but no significant differences regarding the expression of VEGF-C between M1 and control groups were found. In addition, the expression of VEGFR-3 on both mRNA and protein in esophageal cancer-related LEC of the M2 group was significantly higher than those in the control group; however, the M1 group had a significantly lower VEGFR-3 level on both mRNA and protein than the control group. Human M2 macrophages can be transformed into M1 macrophages, and can promote the proliferation, migration and ring-forming ability of esophageal cancer-associated LEC.

Effects of 12-week brisk walking training on exercise blood pressure in elderly patients with essential hypertension: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension (EP) is characterized by blood pressure (BP) elevations, which often lead to target organ damage and cardiovascular illness. The following study investigates whether aerobic exercise programs with different intensities could reduce the magnitude of BP rise. METHODS: Patients with essential hypertension were recruited from the Baoshan Community Health Service Center. A total of 46 patients were finally selected and randomly assigned into two groups: control group (CON) included patients who did not participate in exercise intervention training; treatment group (TRG) included patients who participated in 12-week brisk walking training (60-min of brisk walking, three times a week for a total of 12 weeks). 3-minute step tests of low and high intensity were conducted pre- and post-intervention. To compare the effects of exercise intervention, 23 subjects with normal blood pressure (NBP) who did not participate in 12-week brisk walking training, were recruited. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of brisk walking, SBP of TRG during resting, low and high-intensity exercise was significantly reduced by 8.3mmHg, 15.6mmHg, and 22.6mmHg, respectively; while HR of TRG's during resting, low and high intensity was significantly reduced by 3.6beats/minute, 8.7beats/minute and 11.3beats/minute, respectively. Meanwhile, after 12 weeks of brisk walking, TRG's steps per day, [Formula: see text]o2max, moderate physical activity time and physical activity energy expenditure significantly increased by 6000 steps, 2.4 ml/kg/m, 40 minutes and 113 kcal, respectively. At the same time, TRG's body fat rate and sedentary time significantly reduced by 2% and 60 minutes per day. CONCLUSION: Brisk walking can reduce the magnitude of BP rise during exercise of different intensities and may be reduced the risk of acute cardiovascular incidents in elderly patients with essential hypertension. ABBREVIATIONS: EP: Essential hypertension; BP: blood pressure; CON: control group; TRG: treatment group; NBP: normal blood pressure; PA: physical activity.

High mobility group box 1 regulates tumor metastasis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.

The present study examined the mechanisms of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)-induced cell migration in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) SCC13 cells. Western blotting, a chemotaxis assay and ELISA were performed to analyze HMGB1 level in SCC13 cells and its ability to regulate tumor metastasis. The results demonstrated a significantly higher level of HMGB1 in the SCC13 cell supernatant compared with the human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell supernatant. Administration of HMGB1 to the SCC13 cells caused cell migration, which occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, HMGB1 significantly activated the phosphosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by an increased level of phosphorylation in p85PI3K, AKT, p38 and p42/44 MAPK. Taken together, these data suggest that HMGB1 regulates tumor metastasis in CSCC via the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.

The Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Conduction Abnormalities in Chagas' Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chagas' disease (CD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and electrocardiographic (ECG) conduction defects. However, prior studies have shown conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis comparing the prevalence of AF and conduction abnormalities between CD and non-CD patients. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and Latin American databases were searched for studies that directly compared the prevalence of AF and conduction defects in CD and non-CD patients. Odds ratios (OR) were computed using random-effects model due to anticipated heterogeneity. We further performed subanalyses limited to studies that included only patients with cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: A total of 17,238 patients from 30 studies were included, of whom 6,840 (40%) had a positive serology for CD. In the pooled data, AF was significantly more prevalent in the CD group (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.21-2.15; P = 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between groups when the analysis included only patients with cardiomyopathy (OR 1.21; 95%CI 0.97-1.50; P = 0.08) or heart failure (OR 1.09; 95%CI 0.81-1.47; P = 0.55). The combination of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) had the highest OR for increased prevalence in patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy compared to non-CD etiologies (OR 5.31; 95%CI 1.23-22.86; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggests that the prevalence of AF in patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy is not significantly different from non-CD cardiomyopathies. The pattern of RBBB and LAFB in patients with cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology and epidemiologic risk factors should raise the possibility of CD and prompt specific diagnostic testing.

Expression and characterization of a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase gene in Schistosoma japonicum.

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx, GPx4) is a major antioxidant enzyme, which plays unique roles in the protection of cells against oxidative stress by catalysing reduction of lipid hydroperoxides. We isolated and characterized a full-length cDNA sequence encoding GPx gene from a blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum (designated SjGPx), which contained an in-frame TGA codon for selenocysteine (Sec) and a concurrent Sec insertion sequence in its 3'-untranslated region. Protein encoded by SjGPx demonstrated a primary structure characteristic to the PHGPx family, including preservation of catalytic domains and absence of the subunit interaction domains. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting showed that the SjGPx was mainly expressed in the female adults and eggs. RNA interference approach was employed to investigate the effects of knockdown of SjGPx. SjGPx expression level was significantly reduced on the 5th day post-RNAi. Significantly reduction in GPx enzyme activities, as well as obvious changes in morphology of intrauterine eggs followed the reduction in SjGPx transcript level. We observed a 63·04% reduction in GPx activity and the eggs severely deformed. Our results revealed that SjGPx protein might be involved in the provision of enzyme activity during egg production.