Construction of a Diagnostic Model and a lncRNA-Associated ceRNA Network Based on Apoptosis-Related Genes for Schizophrenia.

Methods: Gene expression profiles and apoptosis-related data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Molecular Signature databases, respectively. Apoptosis-related differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) from blood samples between the schizophrenia and healthy control individuals were screened. A diagnostic model was developed using the data from univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses, followed by validation using the GSE38485 dataset. Cases were divided into low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) groups based on the risk score of the model, and differences in immune gene sets and pathways between these two groups were compared. Finally, a ceRNA network was constructed by integrating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), DEMs, and DEGs. Results: A diagnostic model containing 15 apoptosis-related genes was developed and its diagnostic efficiency was found to be robust. The HR group was correlated with higher immune scores of chemokines, cytokines, and interleukins; it was also significantly involved in pathways such as pancreatic beta cells and early estrogen response. A ceRNA network composed of 2 lncRNAs, 14 miRNAs, and 5 mRNAs was established. Conclusions: The established model is a potential tool to improve the diagnostic efficiency of patients with schizophrenia, and the nodes included in the ceRNA network might serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for schizophrenia.

[Analysis of X-ray signs of cervical spondylosis between vertebral artery type and radiculopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the X-ray diagnosis of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (VCS). METHODS: A blinded design research. The X-ray signs both 60 patients with VCS and 60 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were collected from January 2011 to November 2012. There were 36 males and 84 females, aged from 25 to 65 years old with an average of (48.4 ± 12.3) years old. Cervical curvature, atlanto-occipital joint angle, atlanto-axial joint angle, C2/C3 joint angle and lower cervical instability condition and segmental distribution were measured and recorded by X-rays. These data were analyzed and compared between the two groups after unblended. Combined with clinical manifestations,the X-ray imaging features of VCS were further analyzed. RESULTS: There was significant difference in cervical curvature between two groups in anteflexion X-ray films (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in extension degree of atlanto-occipital joint angle between two groups (P < 0.01). There was significant difference in atlanto-axial joint angle between two groups in lateral X-ray films (P< 0.05). There was significant.difference in anteflexion degree of atlanto-axial joint angle between two groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in C2/C3 joint angle between two groups. There was no significant difference in the lower cervical instability condition and segmental distribution between two groups. In VCS group, the mild and moderate dizziness was main symptom, flexion and extension activities of neck was most common cause in the dizziness; and always accompanied with headache; tenderness mostly concentrated in the upper cervical area. CONCLUSION: Both X-ray signs and clinical manifestations can prompt the abnormalities of the upper cervical structure or function in patients with VCS. Anteflexion activities of neck observed by functional position of X-ray films should be emphasized in diagnosis of VCS.

[Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of typical organochlorine pesticides in the atmosphere of Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou, northwest China].

Air samples were seasonally collected in Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou, Gansu province, using polyurethane foam (PUF) based passive air samplers for a year and determined hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs). Atmospheric concentrations of sigma HCHs (alpha-HCH +beta-HCH +gamma-HCH +delta-HCH) and sigma DDTs (p,p'-DDT + o,p'-DDT + p,p'-DDE + p,p'-DDD) were 86.22 pg x m(-3) and 34.06 pg x m(-3) in Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou with background concentrations of 54.41 pg x m(-3) and 21.56 pg x m(-3), respectively, which were lower than previously reported values elsewhere. In general, the seasonal pollution characteristics of sigma HCHs and sigma DDTs exhibited higher levels with the average concentrations of 127.4 pg x m(-3) and 47.06 pg x m(-3) in autumn, respectively. Furthermore, relatively higher residual concentrations of HCHs and DDTs were found in Jiuquan, Anxi and Zhangye, relating to their more arable lands and more intensively historical usage. Source apportionment indicated HCHs were mainly originated from historical technical-HCHs residues and recent Lindane usage. Recently introduced technical-DDTs was highly responsible for DDTs contamination, whereas the higher concentrations of o,p'-DDT observed in Jiuquan and Anxi may be attributed to dicofol usage. In addition, human exposure to HCHs and DDTs in Hexi Corridor and Lanzhou via inhalation could be relatively low.

[Residual levels in air, soil and soil-air exchange of organochlorine pesticides in Hami region of Xinjiang and its potential ecological risk].

The concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in soil and air of urban/rural/forestry centre locations in the Hami region of Xinjiang were monitored for a year by passive atmospheric sampling in order to study the residual levels and air-soil exchange and evaluate ecological risk. The study results showed that the annual average concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in the air of Hami were 107.1 pg x m(-3) and 43.9 pg x m(-3), respectively, and the concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in summer and autumn were generally higher than those in winter and spring. It was deduced that the HCHs and DDTs tended to evaporate into the air because of the higher temperatures in summer and autumn. For OCPs in the air of study area, HCHs were dominanted the main pollution compared with DDTs. Meanwhile, alpha-HCH contributed the largest portion among all HCHs isomers, and p,p'-DDE dominated the residual levels of DDTs. Moreover, the values of alpha-HCH/gamma-HCH were in the range of 3 to 7, which indicated that the use of technical HCHs or the long distance atmosphere transport of HCHs may play a significant role for HCHs in the air of Hami region. Furthermore, ratios of (DDD + DDE)/DDTs were in the range of 0.4-0.9, 71.4% of which were higher than 0.5, indicating that DDTs in the air were mainly from historical usage and no new DDTs sources emerged in Hami recently. The concentrations of HCHs and DDTs in soil were between 0.344-6.954 ng x g(-1) and 0.104-26.397 ng x g(-1), respectively, which did not exceed the National Soil Quality Standard Level I. In addition, DDTs predominated in soil OCPs, in which beta-HCH accounting for a huge percentage in HCHs isomers, while o,p'-DDT predominated in pollution caused by DDTs isomers. From study results, it was also suggested that the important cause of DDTs residues in soil of Hami area could be the recent inputs of new sources since the value of (DDD + DDE)/DDTs were lower than 0.5. The sources of HCHs and DDTs in soil and atmosphere were not consistent, which was mainly caused by the different characteristics of soil and atmosphere and the complex geographical environment and climatic conditions in Hami region. The study on air-soil exchange showed that the escaping tendency of the various isomers of HCHs and p, p'-DDE was mainly from the soil to the air, on the contrary, the escaping tendency of o,p'-DDE,o,p'-DDD,p,p'-DDD,o,p'-DDT,p,p'-DDT was mainly from the air to the soil in Hami, which indicated that the soil was the sink of most of DDTs, and the air was the source of most of DDTs; while the air was the sink of HCHs and p,p'-DDE, and the soil was the source of HCHs and p,p'-DDE. There were potential risks of DDTs to birds and soil organisms in urban soil and forestry centre soil of Hami region, while the ecological risk of HCHs was light in Hami surface soil.

[Long-range transport potential of typical organic pollutants in Nanjing].

In this study, the long-range transport potentials (LRTP) of typical organic pollutants including p,p'-DDT, gamma-HCH, BaP and HCB in air and water of Nanjing were estimated using the TaPL3 model. The research results showed that the characteristic travel distances (CTD) of BaP and p,p'-DDT through air were relatively low, 198 km and 255 km, respectively, indicating relatively low LRTP and difficulty in pollution dispersion. In contrast, gamma-HCH and HCB tended to transport over longer distances through water and air, with CTD values of 91 558 km and 19 056 km in water and 1 858 km and 21 104 km in air, respectively, indicating that the dispersion of pollution in air and water of the studied area was relatively easy. Furthermore, the stickiness of gamma-HCH and HCB in water was negative, and the values were -2.1 and -54.86, respectively, indicating that gamma-HCH and HCB tended to remain in the atmosphere. The mass fractions in air after they passed air and achieved the steady state were 0.551% and 2.2%, respectively, whereas the mass fractions in air after they passed water and achieved the steady state were 0. 149% and 1.05% , respectively, which were higher than those of p,p'-DDT and BaP.

Brain event-related potentials associated with psychiatric symptoms in amphetamine-type stimulant dependent patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between brain event-related potentials (ERPs) and psychiatric symptoms in patients with amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) dependence. METHOD: Using Galileo Sirius 32-channels digital-evoked potential system, we measured the auditory P300 ERP in 40 ATS dependence subjects and 30 normal controls, respectively. Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used to rate the psychiatric symptoms in the subjects. RESULTS: In ATS dependence subjects, the latency of N2, latency of P3, and inter-peak latency of P2-N2 were significantly longer than those in controls, respectively (P < 0.05). The amplitude of P300 in ATS dependence subjects was significantly lower than that in controls (P < 0.01). Besides, significantly lower amplitude of P3 and longer latency of P3 were found in ATS dependence subjects suffering from psychiatric symptoms than those without psychotic symptoms (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in ATS dependence subjects, the latency of N2 was negatively correlated with the scores of anxiety factor (r = -0.366) and paranoid ideation factor of SCL-90; the latency of P3 negatively correlated with the scores of psychoticism (r = -0.430) and somatization (r = -0.397) factor; also, the amplitude of P3 was negatively correlated with the score ofpsychoticism factor (r = -0.486). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest cognitive dysfunction may be one of results of ATS dependence.

Effect of temperature on the population growth of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on sugarcane.

The effect of temperature on the developmental time, survival, and reproduction of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) reared on sugarcane was studied at seven constant temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 degrees C). The developmental threshold temperatures and effective accumulated temperatures for the whole generation were 17.41 degrees C and 1,590.72 DD, respectively. One generation had the highest survival rate (26.67%) at 28 degrees C. The egg failed to survive at 16 and 40 degrees C. The population trend index (I = 38.22) and net reproductive rate (R(o) = 38.3) were highest at 28 degrees C. The net reproductive rate (R(o) = 3.36), intrinsic rate of increase (r(m) = 0.0028), and finite capacity of increase (lambda = 1.0028) were lowest at 20 degrees C. The mean generation time (T(o) = 85.82) was shortest at 36 degrees C. The population double time (PDT = 27.08) was shortest at 32 degrees C. Based on these studies, we concluded that the temperatures from 28 to 32 degrees C were the most suitable temperatures for the development of R. ferrugineus.