Author Correction: CRISPR interference-based specific and efficient gene inactivation in the brain.

In the version of this article initially published, the affiliation for Jian Zhang and Shuangli Mi was incomplete. In addition to the Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, they are also affiliated with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. In Supplementary Fig. 1h,l, the molecular mass marker accompanying Snap25 was labeled 58 kDa; the correct value is 25 kDa. In Supplementary Fig. 9b,c, the top panel was labeled Syt1, with molecular mass markers ranging from 46 to 100 kDa; it is actually Snap25, with molecular mass markers ranging from 17 to 46 kDa. The errors have been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

CRISPR interference-based specific and efficient gene inactivation in the brain.

CRISPR-Cas9 has been demonstrated to delete genes in postmitotic neurons. Compared to the establishment of proliferative cell lines or animal strains, it is more challenging to acquire a highly homogeneous consequence of gene editing in a stable neural network. Here we show that dCas9-based CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) can efficiently silence genes in neurons. Using a pseudotarget fishing strategy, we demonstrate that CRISPRi shows superior targeting specificity without detectable off-target activity. Furthermore, CRISPRi can achieve multiplex inactivation of genes fundamental for neurotransmitter release with high efficiency. By developing conditional CRISPRi tools targeting synaptotagmin I (Syt1), we modified the excitatory to inhibitory balance in the dentate gyrus of the mouse hippocampus and found that the dentate gyrus has distinct regulatory roles in learning and affective processes in mice. We therefore recommend CRISPRi as a useful tool for more rapid investigation of gene function in the mammalian brain.

Systematic review on safety and efficacy of lateral node dissection in rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of lateral node dissection in rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data of safety and efficacy in 27 case-controlled studies comparing lateral node dissection and non-lateral node dissection in rectal cancer were meta-analyzed using fixed effect model or random effect model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The increased operating time, blood loss and urinary dysfunction were more common in lateral node dissection group. The postoperative total complications, pelvic abscess, anastomotic leak, sexual dysfunction and defecation dysfunction were similar in both groups. There was no reasonably clear evidence in favor of lateral node dissection for recurrence, local recurrence, distal metastasis and 5-year survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lateral node dissection can neither reduce recurrence nor improve survival in the current study, which is not recommended to be a routine procedure in rectal cancer surgery.</p>

Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery in ulcerative colitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A search of published studies in English and Chinese between January 1992 and May 2008 was performed. Nine hundred and twenty-three patients from 16 studies were recruited which met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed through fixed effect model or random effect model dependent on heterogeneity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to open procedure, patients with ulcerative colitis undergone laparoscopic surgery were able to tolerate oral intake significantly earlier (P<0.01) with shorter hospital stay (P<0.01) and had lower total complication rate (P<0.01). But duration of laparoscopic surgery was significantly longer than that of open procedure(P=0.04). Laparoscopic procedure was no more superior to open procedure in recovery of bowel function, re-operation rate, intra-abdominal abscess, anastomotic leak, postoperative bowel obstruction, wound infection, blood loss and mortality. The conversion rate was 4.2% in this analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Laparoscopic surgery for ulcerative colitis is safe and feasible with better recovery in short-term as compared to the open procedure.</p>

CD127 expression inversely correlates with FoxP3 and suppressive function of human CD4+ T reg cells.

Regulatory T (T reg) cells are critical regulators of immune tolerance. Most T reg cells are defined based on expression of CD4, CD25, and the transcription factor, FoxP3. However, these markers have proven problematic for uniquely defining this specialized T cell subset in humans. We found that the IL-7 receptor (CD127) is down-regulated on a subset of CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood. We demonstrate that the majority of these cells are FoxP3(+), including those that express low levels or no CD25. A combination of CD4, CD25, and CD127 resulted in a highly purified population of T reg cells accounting for significantly more cells that previously identified based on other cell surface markers. These cells were highly suppressive in functional suppressor assays. In fact, cells separated based solely on CD4 and CD127 expression were anergic and, although representing at least three times the number of cells (including both CD25(+)CD4(+) and CD25(-)CD4(+) T cell subsets), were as suppressive as the "classic" CD4(+)CD25(hi) T reg cell subset. Finally, we show that CD127 can be used to quantitate T reg cell subsets in individuals with type 1 diabetes supporting the use of CD127 as a biomarker for human T reg cells.