The LEAFY (LFY) homologous gene of Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. was cloned by new primers which were designed based on the conservative region of known sequences of orchid LEAFY gene. Partial LFY homologous gene was cloned by common PCR, then we got the complete LFY homologous gene Den LFY by Tail-PCR. The complete sequence of DenLFY gene was 3 575 bp which contained three exons and two introns. Using BLAST method, comparison analysis among the exon of LFY homologous gene indicted that the DenLFY gene had high identity with orchids LFY homologous, including the related fragment of PhalLFY (84%) in Phalaenopsis hybrid cultivar, LFY homologous gene in Oncidium (90%) and in other orchid (over 80%). Using MP analysis, Dendrobium is found to be the sister to Oncidium and Phalaenopsis. Homologous analysis demonstrated that the C-terminal amino acids were highly conserved. When the exons and introns were separately considered, exons and the sequence of amino acid were good markers for the function research of DenLFY gene. The second intron can be used in authentication research of Dendrobium based on the length polymorphism between Dendrobium moniliforme and Dendrobium officinale.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; genetics ; Exons ; Introns ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among school adolescents in China.

METHODA stratified, randomized study by cluster sampling was conducted, which recruited 51,956 students from high and primary schools in Chinese cities. All students were requested to fill in a questionnaire.

RESULT(1) Factors including class (odds ratio 1.12), excessive intake of pepper (odds ratio 1.17), fried (odds ratio 1.08) and starch-based foods (odds ratio 1.06), gastrointestinal tract infection (odds ratio 2.66), abuse of analgesic (odds ratio 1.49), inheritance (odds ratio 1.83), fatigue (odds ratio 1.32) and repression (odds ratio 1.45) were significantly associated with the presence of IBS (P < 0.05). High protein food (odds ratio 0.90) was a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONDifferent food intake, gastrointestinal tract infection, abuse of analgesic, inheritance and psychological factors might be related to development of IBS in the students of the cities involved in this study.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Five members of the zinc finger of the cerebellum (ZIC) family—ZIC1, ZIC2, ZIC3, ZIC4, and ZIC5—have been shown to be involved in various carcinomas. Here, we aimed to explore the clinicopathologic and prognostic roles of ZIC family members in invasive breast cancer patients using immunohistochemical analysis, western blotting analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). METHODS: A total of 241 female invasive breast cancer patients who underwent radical mastectomy between 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. ZIC proteins in 241 pairs of breast tumors and corresponding normal tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry and the clinicopathologic roles of proteins were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were also used to analyze the prognostic value of the ZIC proteins. In addition, 12 pairs of fresh-frozen breast tumors and matched normal tissues were used in the western blotting analysis and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Only ZIC1 expression in normal tissues was obviously higher than that in tumors (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ZIC1 expression (in overall survival analysis: hazard ratio [HR], 0.405, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.233–0.702, p=0.001; in disease-free survival analysis: HR, 0.395, 95% CI, 0.234–0.669, p=0.001) was identified as a prognostic indicator of invasive breast cancer. CONCLUSION: ZIC1, but not the other proteins, was obviously decreased in breast tumors and associated with clinicopathologic factors. Thus, ZIC1 might be a novel indicator to predict the overall and disease-free survival of invasive breast cancer patients.
Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cerebellum* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Zinc Fingers* ; Zinc*

ObjectiveTePixD (Tll0078) is a blue light-using flavin (BLUF) photoreceptor protein from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. TePixD protein has a conserved Tyr8-Gln50-Met93 triad around the FAD pocket to mediate the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process. But the detailed light response mechanism needs further study. We aimed to elucidate the structure and biochemical properties of TePixD mutants at key light response sites to analyze the light response process of TePixD. MethodsWe employed X-ray crystallography to resolve the crystal structure of the TePixD Y8F mutant. The side chain of Tyr8 is involved in PCET while Phe8 in mutation loses the function due to the loss of its hydroxyl group. We compared the structure of TePixD Y8F mutation to TePixD wild type (WT) and its homology protein SyPixD Y8F. Using multi-angle light scattering (MALS), we analyzed the oligomerization of multiple TePixD mutations (Y8F, Q50L, W91F, Y8F/W91F, and Q50L/W91F), focusing specifically on mutational sites that are critical residues for the protein’s photo response to dark and light conditions. ResultsWe resolved the crystal structure of TePixD Y8F mutant at a resolution of 2.54 Å and found that it shares a similar overall structure with the TePixD WT but exhibits significant differences from the SyPixD Y8F structure. Biochemical analysis revealed differences in molecular mass and elution profiles between the TePixD mutants and the WT under dark and light conditions, indicating the perturbation on the light-induced conformational change by the mutants. ConclusionOur structure determination and biochemical analyses will add information to reveal the light response mechanism of BLUF proteins.

Objective     To investigate the left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with aortic valve insufficiency with reduced ejection fraction (AIrEF) and aortic valve insufficiency with preserved ejection fraction (AIpEF) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods    The clinical and follow-up data of patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the guideline, the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<55% were allocated to an AIrEF group, and the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥55% were allocated to an AIpEF group. Results    A total of 50 patients were enrolled. There were 19 patients in the AIrEF group, including 15 males and 4 females with a mean age of 74.5±7.1 years. There were 31 patients in the AIpEF group, including 19 males and 12 females with a mean age of 72.0±4.8 years. All patients underwent TAVR successfully. Echocardiographic results showed that TAVR significantly promoted LVRR in the patients. Significant LVRR occurred in the early postoperative period (the first day after the surgery) in both groups. It remained relatively stable after the LVRR in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) in the AIpEF patients, while it continued to occur in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) to three months after the surgery in the AIrEF patients, and then remained relatively stable. Compared to preoperative values, AIrEF patients had a reduction in the average left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and left ventricular end-systolic volume index by 16.8 mL/m2 (P=0.003) and 8.6 mL/m2 (P=0.005), respectively, and the average left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index and end-systolic diameter index decreased by 2.5 mm/m2 (P=0.003) and 1.9 mm/m2 (P=0.003), respectively on the first day after the surgery. In comparison to the first day after the surgery, AIrEF patients experienced an average increase of 12.1% in the left ventricular ejection fraction three months after the surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion    TAVR has achieved good therapeutic effects in patients with aortic valve insufficiency, significantly promoting the LVRR in patients, and has better curative effects in AIrEF patients.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA with the more than 200 nucleotides. Several lncRNAs have been identified as the potential targets for cancer therapy. LncRNA00067110 is one of the differentially expressed genes in the transcriptome profiles of melanoma B16-F10 cells compared to normal mice melanocytes. To investigate whether lncRNA00067110 regulates the proliferation, apoptosis and melanogenesis of B16-F10 cells, the calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation regulated protein (Cabyr) target gene was predicted by LncTar and verified by dual luciferase activities. The regulating function of lncRNA00067110 was investigated by the analysis of transcriptome profiles and to detect the proliferation, apoptosis and melanin production of B16-F10 cells transfected by the overexpression plasmids of lncRNA00067110. The results showed that the relationship of lncRNA00067110 targeting Cabyr, the mRNA and protein levels of proliferation (MEK/ERK/MNK/CREB) and melanogenesis-related genes (TYR family and CREB) were significantly down-regulated, while the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-related genes (AKT and Bcl-2) were up-regulated in B16-F10 cells with lncRNA00067110 overexpression. The transcriptome profile of B16-F10 cells with lncRNA00067110 overexpression showed that 17 genes were differentially expressed, among which Cabyr was up-regulated. Furthermore, the effect of lncRNA00067110 on the phenotypes of cell proliferation and apoptosis were verified. The results suggested that lncRNA00067110 might be a novel target for the treatment of melanoma by targeting Cabyr, which regulate the expression of related genes to inhibit the proliferation and melanogenesis, as well as to induce the apoptosis of B16-F10 cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of parent training combined with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSFifty-nine parents of children with ADHD under methylphenidate treatment participated in a modified 5-week training program. The intervention effect was evaluated using the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire, ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home Version (ADHD-RS-IV Home Version), Caregiver Strain Questionnaire, Parent-Child Relationship Self-rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Parents also completed the training satisfaction survey before and after the intervention.

RESULTSAfter the 5-week parent training, compared with the baseline values, total scores of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire and scores of conduct problems and anxiety significantly decreased, and scores of attention deficit, hyperactivity, impulsivity and oppositional defiant behaviors of ADHD-RS-IV Home Version, and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire total scores were all significantly decreased (P<0.05), while total scores of the Parent-Child Relationship Self-Rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale were significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModified 5-week parent training program may improve parent-child relationship and reduce parenting stress in ADHD families.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; education ; psychology ; Self Concept

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of Zhongji (CV 3) in treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate.

METHODSMulti-central, randomized, controlled, single bland clinical method was adopted, and 276 cases were divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a medication group, 138 cases in each group. The EA group were treated with EA at Zhongji (CV 3) and the medication group with oral administration of Qianliekang tablets. After treatment of 1 course, their therapeutic effects and changes of international prostate symptom (I-PSS) cumulative score, life quality index (L) cumulative score, nocturia times, urine stream state, lower abdominal symptom, maximal volume of urine flow, residual urine volume, prostatic volume, etc. Were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.4% in the EA group and 86.2% in the medication group, the former being better than the latter (P<0. 01); the two groups were effective in improvement of international prostate symptom (I-PSS) cumulative score, life quality index (L) cumulative score, nocturia times, urine stream state, hypogastrium symptom, maximal volume of urine flow, residual urine volume, prostatic volume, etc. with the former better than the latter.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Zhongji (CV 3) has a significant therapeutic effect for treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; therapy

Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) , as a critical inhibitor of the Wnt/p-catenin signaling pathway, may he involved in melanogenesis.In the current study, we investigated the effects of DKK3 on melanogenesis in melanocytes of alpaca.Overexpression of DKK3 in alpaca melanocytes, the expression of Wntl, Lefl , Myc and the major target genes termed microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (M1TF) and its downstream genes, including tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) and tyrosinase- related protein 2 (TYRP2) were significantly decreased at both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05); total alkali melanin, pheomelanin and eumelanin were decreased by 80.30%, 72.17% and 64.60% (P <0.05), respectively.In contrast, in the melanocytes transfected with siRNA-DKK3 (a small interference RNA targeting DKK3) , the expression of Wntl, Lefl, Myc, MITF, TYR, TYRPl and TYRP2 were significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05) ; total alkali melanin, pheomelanin and eumelanin were significantly increased by 1.65 folds, 1.25 folds and 1.21 folds (P< 0.05) , respectively.These results indicate that DKK3 regulates melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes via the Wnt/p-catenin signaling pathway and down-regulates MITF.

BACKGROUNDRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and event-related potentials (ERPs) are a noninvasive technique that widely used in neurophysiological field. Although rTMS has shown clinical utility for a number of neurological conditions, Recently,there was little understanding of the the efficacy of rTMS on Schizophrenia(SZ) and the change of ERP between before and after rTMS treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of N400, mismatch negativity (MMN), and P300 before and after treatment with rTMS in SZ.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-seven SZ patients hospitalized in Shanghai Mental Health Center from March 2015 to July 2017, divided into two groups (85 patients were recruited as rTMS group and 42 were recruited as sham rTMS [ShrTMS] group) and 76 normal controls (NCs) who were the staff and refresher staff in our hospital were recruited at the same time. A Chinese-made rTMS and a Runjie WJ-1 ERPs instrument were used in the present experiment. N400 was elicited by congruent and noncongruent Chinese idioms. After rTMS treatment, N400, P300, and MMN characteristics were compared with those before treatment and NC group.

RESULTSCompared with NC, the SZ patients exhibited delays in N400, P300, and MMN latency and decreased N400, P300, and MMN amplitudes in their frontal area (P < 0.05). After 25 rTMS treatments, N400 amplitudes in the frontal area (elicited by idioms with same phonic and different shape and meaning and with different phonic, shape, and meaning) were increased in the SZ patients (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in N400 before and after treatment with ShrTMS in SZ patients (P > 0.05). Amplitudes for MMN and target P300 also increased in SZ patients after rTMS treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBased on our preliminary findings, we believe that the combined usage of N400, MMN, and P300 could be a valuable index and an electrophysiological reference in evaluating the effects of rTMS treatment in SZ patients.