Nanoscale strain engineering of giant pseudo-magnetic fields, valley polarization, and topological channels in graphene.

The existence of nontrivial Berry phases associated with two inequivalent valleys in graphene provides interesting opportunities for investigating the valley-projected topological states. Examples of such studies include observation of anomalous quantum Hall effect in monolayer graphene, demonstration of topological zero modes in "molecular graphene" assembled by scanning tunneling microscopy, and detection of topological valley transport either in graphene superlattices or at bilayer graphene domain walls. However, all aforementioned experiments involved nonscalable approaches of either mechanically exfoliated flakes or atom-by-atom constructions. Here, we report an approach to manipulating the topological states in monolayer graphene via nanoscale strain engineering at room temperature. By placing strain-free monolayer graphene on architected nanostructures to induce global inversion symmetry breaking, we demonstrate the development of giant pseudo-magnetic fields (up to ~800 T), valley polarization, and periodic one-dimensional topological channels for protected propagation of chiral modes in strained graphene, thus paving a pathway toward scalable graphene-based valleytronics.

Nodal mitigates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Nodal is a member of the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) family, which induces the activation of the cytoplasmic Smad2 and Smad3, both of which play a neuroprotective role against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the  role of Nodal in cerebral I/R is unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to shed light on the function of Nodal in cerebral I/R injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cerebral I/R injury was induced in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion and in murine hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) stimulation. The lentivirus vectors (Nodal overexpressing lentivirus vector [OE-Nodal] and the short hair RNA of Nodal [sh-Nodal]) were used to upregulate and downregulate Nodal in SD rats or cells. RESULTS: Nodal expression increased in the cerebral I/R models and reached a peak after 12 h of reperfusion. OE-Nodal administration to the cerebral I/R rats significantly reduced the cerebral infarction volume and inhibited the brain cell apoptosis. It also increased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, and decreased the levels of the lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde [MDA] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), in addition to those of the proinflammatory factors. Consistently, the upregulation of Nodal in HT22 by OGD/R significantly increased the SOD level and decreased the levels of MDA, LDH, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that Nodal exerted a protective role during cerebral I/R by inhibiting excessive oxidative stress and inflammation.

Enhancement of bile resistance by maltodextrin supplementation in Lactobacillus plantarum Lp-115.

AIMS: To identify the mechanism in which way maltodextrin enhance bile tolerance in Lactobacillus plantarum Lp-115. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on determining the OD600 value and counting the numbers of viable cells by the pour plate method, the results showed that maltodextrin could not promote the strain growth directly, but could enhance the tolerance of bile in Lp-115. The OD600 value of L. plantarum Lp-115 cultured in MRSB broth with maltodextrin was three times higher than the control value. After supplementing the medium with 4·0% maltodextrin, the highest survival rate was observed when the bile concentration is 0.3%. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, maltodextrin exhibited a significant improvement of bile tolerance and it could enhance cell hydrophobicity, shift the fatty acid composition of the membrane and induce the expression of a bile salt hydrolase gene (pva3) significantly. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report concerning the mechanism of maltodextrin enhancing the bile tolerance. This study promotes the application of maltodextrin as a choice to protect probiotic L. plantarum strains against the bile salt stress.

Correlation between serum P450arom and sex hormones in males with late-onset hypogonadism: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to investigate the correlation between serum P450arom and sex hormones in males with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 97 LOH patients and 301 matched healthy males of same age underwent androgen deficiency in the aging males (ADAM) and aging males' symptoms (AMS) scales as well as basic questionnaire survey. Serum P450arom, sex hormones, fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles were tested. General information, P450arom and sex hormone levels were compared between the LOH group and the control group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum P450arom concentration and AMS score, blood glucose, lipid profiles, body mass index (BMI) and sex hormones. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the fasting blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and Estrogen/Total Testosterone ratio (E2/TT) were significantly increased in LOH group (p<0.05), while TT, E2 and testosterone secreting index (TSI) were significantly decreased (p<0.05). No significant difference in P450arom concentration was observed between the two groups (p>0.05). The serum P450arom concentration was not related to TT, E2/TT, AMS score, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that the serum P450arom concentration is unrelated to LOH symptom score and sex hormone levels and could not be used as an observation index and diagnostic basis for LOH.

Endothelial progenitor cell miR-126 promotes homing of endothelial progenitor cells within arterial thrombus in patients with cerebral infarction and its molecular mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of microRNA-126 (miR-126) on the migration and homing of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) within arterial thrombus of cerebral infarction patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EPCs from rat bone marrow were isolated, and miR-126 overexpressed EPCs were constructed by lentiviral transfection. Then, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by the method of thread ligation. Successfully established model rats were randomly divided into miR-126 overexpression EPC group, miR-126 wild type EPC group, and normal saline group. One day after the infarction, the miR-126 overexpression EPCs, miR-126 wild type EPCs, and normal saline, were injected into the lateral ventricle of the corresponding groups. Also, the transplanted cells were tracked by cell dye SPDiIC18. The expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in brain tissue was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Transplanted cells were detected in the cerebral infarction area 3 days after transplantation by cell dye SP-DiIC18. The number of homing EPCs in miR-126 overexpression group was significantly higher than that of miR-126 wild type EPC group (p < 0.05). Also, the protein expression of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the miR- 126 overexpression EPC group was significantly higher compared with that of the miR-126 wild type EPC group and the normal saline group. CONCLUSIONS: miR-126 overexpression EPCs, which were transplanted in the lateral ventricle, can home to the cerebral infarction areas via increasing increase.

Descriptive epidemiology of deployment-related medical conditions and shipboard training-related injuries in a Chinese Navy population.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the deployment-related medical conditions and shipboard tactical training-related injuries in a Chinese Navy population. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study with the Chinese Navy was conducted. METHODS: The medical records of 1543 Navy crewmembers from 2011 to 2015 were collected. The distribution and incidence rate (IR) of different types of medical conditions were provided and compared between the Aden Gulf deployment and nondeployment periods. The occurrence of military training-related injuries in crewmembers receiving 12-week shipboard tactical training was compared with that of 956 marines and 4371 recruits receiving combat and physical training, respectively. The anatomic locations and types of training-related injury were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the nondeployment period, the percentages of the following injuries were significantly higher during deployment: injuries and certain other consequences of external causes (16.97% vs 7.76%), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (15.40% vs 10.34%) and mental and behavioral disorders (11.23% vs 3.45%); however, respiratory system diseases had a lower percentage (19.84% vs 28.35%). Far seas deployment significantly increased the IRs of acute upper respiratory infection, skin and eye infection, sprains and low back pain as well as aphthous ulcer, insomnia, and seasickness (P < 0.05, 0.01 or 0.001). Shipboard training induced higher IRs of injuries to the upper extremities, spine and back and head and face than physical training and a higher incidence of head and face injury than combat training (P < 0.05 or 0.001). Physical training had higher IRs of overuse injuries than shipboard and combat training (P < 0.001). The IR of fracture was higher during combat and physical training than shipboard training (P < 0.01 and 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese Navy has experienced novel health issues in crewmembers in recent years. Corresponding countermeasures should be taken to address deployment-related medical conditions and shipboard training-related injuries in the future.

Autophagy mediated by arginine depletion activation of the nutrient sensor GCN2 contributes to interferon-γ-induced malignant transformation of primary bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Autophagy has been linked to the regulation of both the prevention and progression of cancer. IFN-γ has been shown to induce autophagy in multiple cell lines in vitro. However, whether IFN-γ can induce autophagy and whether autophagy promotes malignant transformation in healthy lactating bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) remain unclear. Here, we provide the first evidence of the correlation between IFN-γ treatment, autophagy and malignant transformation and of the mechanism underlying IFN-γ-induced autophagy and subsequent malignant transformation in primary BMECs. IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in cattle that received normal long-term dietary corn straw (CS) roughage supplementation. In addition, an increase in autophagy was clearly observed in the BMECs from the mammary tissue of cows expressing high levels of IFN-γ. In vitro, autophagy was clearly induced in primary BMECs by IFN-γ within 24 h. This induced autophagy could subsequently promote dramatic primary BMEC transformation. Furthermore, we found that IFN-γ promoted arginine depletion, activated the general control nonderepressible-2 kinase (GCN2) signalling pathway and resulted in an increase in autophagic flux and the amount of autophagy in BMECs. Overall, our findings are the first to demonstrate that arginine depletion and kinase GCN2 expression mediate IFN-γ-induced autophagy that may promote malignant progression and that immunometabolism, autophagy and cancer are strongly correlated. These results suggest new directions and paths for preventing and treating breast cancer in relation to diet.

Effect of primary ovarian insufficiency and early natural menopause on mortality: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the associations of all-cause, cardiovascular and all-cancer mortality with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early natural menopause (ENM). METHODS: Electronic databases for relevant studies were searched up to February 28, 2015. POI and ENM were usually defined as spontaneous menopause before age 40 years and at age 40-44 years, respectively. RESULTS: A total of nine articles were derived from seven prospective cohort studies. In all studies, age of menopause was self-reported. Our meta-analysis showed that POI women had a higher risk of death from all causes (pooled relative risk (RR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.77) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) (pooled RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.16) when compared with women at normal age at natural menopause (ANM). No significant association was detected from stroke and all-cancer mortality between POI women and normal ANM women. Only a slightly higher risk of death from IHD (pooled RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.18) was found when ENM women were compared with normal ANM women. CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrated that POI was associated with a higher risk of IHD and all-cause mortality; ENM was only associated with a slightly higher risk of IHD mortality.

Human dCTP pyrophosphatase 1 promotes breast cancer cell growth and stemness through the modulation on 5-methyl-dCTP metabolism and global hypomethylation.

Human DCTPP1 (dCTP pyrophosphatase 1), also known as XTP3-transactivated protein A, belongs to MazG-like nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphatase (NTP-PPase) superfamily. Being a newly identified pyrophosphatase, its relevance to tumorigenesis and the mechanisms are not well investigated. In the present study, we have confirmed our previous study that DCTPP1 was significantly hyperexpressed in breast cancer and further demonstrated its strong association with tumor progression and poor prognosis in breast cancer. Knockdown of DCTPP1 in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells remarkably retarded proliferation and colony formation in vitro. The capacity of mammosphere formation of MCF-7 was suppressed with the silence of DCTPP1, which was consistent with the enhanced mammosphere-forming ability in DCTPP1-overexpressed MDA-MB-231 cells. To further dissect the mechanisms of DCTPP1 in promoting tumor cell growth and stemness maintenance, its biochemical properties and biological functions were investigated. DCTPP1 displayed bioactive form with tetrameric structure similar to other MazG domain-containing pyrophosphatases based on structure simulation. A substrate preference for dCTP and its methylated or halogen-modified derivatives over the other canonical (deoxy-) NTPs was demonstrated from enzymatic assay. This substrate preference was also proved in breast cancer cells that the intracellular 5-methyl-dCTP level increased in DCTPP1-deficient MCF-7 cells but decreased in DCTPP1-overexpressed MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, global methylation level was elevated in DCTPP1-knockdown MCF-7 cells or mammosphere-forming MCF-7 cells but decreased significantly in DCTPP1-overexpressed MDA-MB-231 cells and its mammospheres. Our results thus indicated that human DCTPP1 was capable of modulating the concentration of intracellular 5-methyl-dCTP. This in turn affected global methylation, contributing to a known phenomenon of hypomethylation related to the cancer cell growth and stemness maintenance. Our current investigations point to the pathological functions of DCTPP1 overexpression in breast cancer cells with aberrant dCTP metabolism and epigenetic modification.

DNA sequence polymorphism within the bovine adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) is associated with production traits in Chinese cattle.

The objectives of the present study were to detect an 18-bp deletion mutation in the bovine adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) gene and analyze its effect on growth traits in 2 Chinese cattle breeds using DNA sequencing and agarose electrophoresis. The five 19-bp polymerase chain reaction products of the AMPD1 gene exhibited 3 genotypes and 2 alleles: WW: homozygote genotype (wild-type); DD: homozygote genotype (mutant-type); WD: heterozygote genotype. Frequencies of the W allele varied from 66.15-70.35%. The associations between the 18-bp deletion mutation in the AMPD1 gene with production traits in 226 Jia-Xian red cattle was analyzed. The animals with genotype WW showed significantly higher heart girth and body weight than those with genotypes WD and DD at 24 months (P < 0.01). Our results indicate that the deletion mutation in the AMPD1 gene is associated with production traits, and may be used for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding programs.

Exploring the osteoarthritis-related genes by gene expression analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a most common chronic degenerative joint lesion, which affects both cartilage and bone. A better understanding of the gene expression profiling of OA may help understanding the pathogenesis of OA and finding the therapy targets for OA treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GSE8077 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) including 5 OA rats induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and partial medial meniscectomy and 5 rats that were performed sham surgery as control. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OA group and control group were identified by t-test with p < 0.05 and the coding genes that transcription factors corresponded were screened by TRANSFAC. Then Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis for DEGs and transcription factors were performed. The DEGs and transcription factors were integrated with information from STRING database to construct PPI network. RESULTS: A total of 119 up-regulated genes, 39 down-regulated genes and 9 transcription factors were identified in OA sample. The GO enrichment analysis showed that 119 up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in blood vessel development and KEGG pathway enrichment showed that genes were involved in circadian rhythm pathway. In the PPI network, Cd44, Mmp13, Timp1 and Igf1 showed higher degrees. CONCLUSIONS: The screened genes could provide a new and comprehensive view for treatment of OA.

HLA-B*13:01 and the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Dapsone is used in the treatment of infections and inflammatory diseases. The dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome, which is associated with a reported mortality of 9.9%, develops in about 0.5 to 3.6% of persons treated with the drug. Currently, no tests are available to predict the risk of the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome. METHODS: We performed a genomewide association study involving 872 participants who had received dapsone as part of multidrug therapy for leprosy (39 participants with the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome and 833 controls), using log-additive tests of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed HLA molecules. For a replication analysis, we genotyped 24 SNPs in an additional 31 participants with the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome and 1089 controls and performed next-generation sequencing for HLA-B and HLA-C typing at four-digit resolution in an independent series of 37 participants with the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome and 201 controls. RESULTS: Genomewide association analysis showed that SNP rs2844573, located between the HLA-B and MICA loci, was significantly associated with the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome among patients with leprosy (odds ratio, 6.18; P=3.84×10(-13)). HLA-B*13:01 was confirmed to be a risk factor for the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (odds ratio, 20.53; P=6.84×10(-25)). The presence of HLA-B*13:01 had a sensitivity of 85.5% and a specificity of 85.7% as a predictor of the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome, and its absence was associated with a reduction in risk by a factor of 7 (from 1.4% to 0.2%). HLA-B*13:01 is present in about 2 to 20% of Chinese persons, 1.5% of Japanese persons, 1 to 12% of Indians, and 2 to 4% of Southeast Asians but is largely absent in Europeans and Africans. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-B*13:01 was associated with the development of the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome among patients with leprosy. (Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and others.).

Impacts of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in the bovine Dapper1 gene on body weight.

The Dapper1 protein plays important role in multiple developmental processes via negative modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. We detected variations in Dapper1 in 1185 individuals from 5 Chinese cattle breeds and determined their effects on bovine body weight. Two silent mutations (g.8344C>T and g.8428C>T) in exon 6 along with two substitutions (g.10513A>G and g.10765C>G) in the 3'-untranslated region were detected with DNA pool sequencing and forced polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Haplotype variability and the extent of linkage disequilibrium of the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed, and the results revealed 16 haplotypes and 7 combined haplotypes in the 5 cattle breeds. Statistical analyses indicated that genotypes CC and AA in the g.8344C>T and g.10513A>G loci were associated with heavier body weight at 6 months in the Nanyang cattle population (P < 0.05), and the combined haplotype had consistent significant effects on body weight with a single SNP. Cattle with haplotype combinations H1H5 (CCCTAACC) displayed the heaviest body weight at 6 months compared with that of other haplotypes (P < 0.05). Our results provide evidence that 4 SNPs and haplotypes in Dapper1 may be used for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding programs.

Effect of silencing PARG in human colon carcinoma LoVo cells on the ability of HUVEC migration and proliferation.

Our aim was to investigate the influence of silencing poly-(ADP-ribose)glycohydrolase (PARG) in human colon carcinoma LoVo cells on the ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration, proliferation and its possible mechanisms. PARG mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcriptase (RT) and real-time-PCR. PARG, poly-(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), p38, p-p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-ERK, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 expressions were detected by western blot. The influence of PARG-short hairpin (sh)RNA on the ability of HUVEC migration and proliferation were observed by transwell migration and Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Both RT-PCR and western blot results showed that the expression of PARG in PARG-shRNA cells was decreased and expressions of PARP, p38, p-p38, ERK, p-ERK, NF-κB, p-IκBα, VEGF, b-FGF, ICAM-1 and MMP-9 in those cells were lower than that in the untransfected and control-shRNA groups (P<0.05). Migration assay showed that migratory inhibition rate for HUVEC was decreased (55.23%) in cocultured PARG-shRNA cells; moreover, CCK-8 assay showed that the proliferation of HUVECs cultured with the supernatant of PARG-shRNA cells was also comparatively lower. Hence, concluding that PARG silencing could inhibit the ability of HUVEC migration and proliferation by downregulating the activity of NF-κB in LoVo cells that in turn decreases angiogenic factors such as VEGF, b-FGF, ICAM-1, MMP-9, as well as phosphorylation of p38 and ERK.

Sequence variants in the bovine PRDM16 gene associated with body weight in Chinese cattle breeds.

As a zinc-finger protein, PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) controls brown fat determination by stimulating brown fat cell production while suppressing the expression of genes for production of white fat cells; mutations in this domain are associated with myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemogenesis. In our study, polymorphisms in exons 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the PRDM16 gene were detected by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and CRS-PCR-RFLP methods in 1031 cattle of the Chinese breeds: Jiaxian, Nanyang, Qinchuan, and Chinese Holstein. Three mutations (NC_007314.3: g.577 G>T, 614 T>C, 212237 T>C) were detected. Animals with the homozygote genotype had lower body weight and average daily gain than those with the other genotypes. PRDM16 gene-specific SNPs may be useful markers for growth traits for marker-assisted selection programs.

Case report: a p.C618S RET proto-oncogene germline mutation in a large Chinese pedigree with familial medullary thyroid carcinoma.

We report a Chinese pedigree with familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. Direct sequencing of the entire coding sequences of Rearranged during Transfection (RET) identified a recurrent c.T1852A (p.C618S) mutation in 13 of 23 members. The polymorphisms c.A135G (p.A45A), c.A1296G (p.A432A), c.T2307G (p.L769L) and IVS19 + 15T > C were also found in 13 carriers, and c.G2073A (p.G691S) was found in 1 carrier. Of the 13 carriers, seven (mean age: 42.6 years, range: 27-64) presented MTC as the isolated clinical phenotype, with elevated basal serum calcitonin (average: 1077.9 ng/L, range: 504-2,652) and a mean diameter of thyroid nodules of 2.97 cm (range: 1.6-4.3); they underwent a total thyroidectomy with modified bilateral/unilateral neck dissection and/or level VI lymph node dissection. The other 6 carriers did not accept surgery (4 rejected, 2 awaited). These were 2 older patients (63 and 32 years) with elevated calcitonin (1359 and 41.4 ng/L) and multi-centric hypoechoic nodules (1.5 and 0.6 cm) with calcifications in both/left thyroid lobes; and Doppler ultrasound showed normal bilateral thyroids in 4 younger carriers (median age: 8.3 years, range: 4-12) but with increased calcitonin (average: 9.7 ng/L, range: 7.87-12.2) in 3 of them. The phenotype here is consistent with the clinical symptoms reported worldwide. We recommend that screening of hotspot regions of RET should be preferentially carried out, while whole-exon sequencing should be performed when clinical signs fail to reveal hotspot mutations or different phenotype discrepancies. Moreover, we strongly suggest prophylactic thyroidectomy should be performed before age 5 in carriers with p.C618S to prevent the occurrence and metastasis of MTC.

Evaluation of the Determine Syphilis TP assay for the detection of antibodies against Treponema pallidum for the serodiagnosis of syphilis.

Currently, infectious syphilis has been resurgent in China and has become a significant public health problem. The rapid expansion of syphilis screening programs is urgently required. In the present study, the performance of the Determine Syphilis TP assay (Determine TP assay) for the detection of antibodies against Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) for syphilis serodiagnosis was evaluated. In total, 300 serum samples were tested for the presence of treponemal-specific antibodies using the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay, the Determine TP assay, and the InTec immunochromatography assay (InTec assay). The Determine TP assay detected 99, 11, and 5 positive results, whereas the InTec assay detected 97, 3, and 3 positive samples from group I (100 TPPA-positive sera), group II (13 TPPA 1:80 +/- sera), and group III (187 TPPA-negative sera), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and the rate concordant with TPPA for the Determine TP assay were 97.35, 98.91, and 97.33%, respectively. In comparison to the TPPA, the Determine TP assay is simple to perform and time-saving, making it a favorable alternative for the detection of T. pallidum-specific antibodies where other T. pallidum-specific confirmatory tests are not available. In addition, this rapid treponemal test promotes prompt treatment for syphilis by providing early laboratory diagnosis.

Preemptive versus prophylactic protocol to prevent cytomegalovirus infection after renal transplantation: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: This review was conducted to assess the efficacy of preemptive versus prophylactic protocols for the prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease after renal transplantation. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, SCI, the China Journal Full-text Database, the Chinese Biomedical Database, the Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, and the CMA Digital Periodicals were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of preemptive versus prophylactic protocols for the prevention and treatment of CMV infections after renal transplantation (up to April 2010). Two reviewers independently extracted data using a designed extraction form. The quality of the included trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5.0 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Seven RCTs, involving 560 patients, were included. The results of the meta-analysis were as follows: the prophylactic protocol was significantly more effective than the preemptive protocol in reducing CMV infections and the recurrence rates of CMV infection; both the preemptive protocol and the prophylactic protocol reduced the risk of CMV disease, with no significant differences; no significant differences were observed in the risks of mortality, acute rejection, graft loss, other infections, or neutropenia between preemptive therapy and prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Preemptive protocols are as effective as prophylaxis in reducing the risk of CMV disease in renal transplant recipients, whereas the prophylactic protocols could more effectively reduce the CMV recurrence rates. However, the trial data were very sparse, so further observations of the long-term effects of the protocols are needed.

Novel 12-bp deletion in the coding region of the bovine NPM1 gene affects growth traits.

The nucleophosmin 1 gene (NPM1) encodes a multifunctional nucleolar phosphoprotein that plays a crucial role in the control of various aspects of cell growth and homeostasis. In this study, the coding region of the NPM1 gene was screened in 1035 individuals of 4 Chinese cattle breeds by DNA sequencing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A novel 12-bp deletion mutation was identified in the coding region of the NPM1 gene. The PCR products of primer NPM1-P2 exhibited 3 genotypes and 2 alleles: 178 bp (denoted as W) and 166 bp (denoted as D). Genotype DD and allele D were predominant in the studied populations. Association analysis with growth traits in the Nanyang breed (N = 265) showed that the animals with genotype DD had significantly greater birth weight, body weight, body length, and heart girth than those with genotype WD (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) at birth and after 6 months and 12 months, but not at 18 and 24 months of age. Results of this study suggest that the NPM1 gene is a candidate gene for growth traits in cattle.