In the present study, the correlated activities of adjacent ganglion cells of transient subtype in response to full-field white light stimulation were investigated in the chicken retina. Pharmacological studies and cross-correlation analysis demonstrated that application of the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (BIC) significantly down-regulated the correlation strength while increasing the firing activities. Meanwhile, application of the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol (MUS) potentiated the correlated activities while decreasing the firing rates. However, application of the GABA(C) receptor antagonist (1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid (TPMPA) did not have a consistent influence on either the firing rates or the correlation strength. These results suggest that in the chicken retina, correlated activities among neighborhood transient ganglion cells can be increased while firing activities are reduced with the activation of GABA(A) receptors. The GABA(A)-receptor-mediated inhibitory pathway may be critical for improving the efficiency of visual information transmission.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Bicuculline ; pharmacology ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Muscimol ; pharmacology ; Phosphinic Acids ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Receptors, GABA-A ; metabolism ; Retina ; physiology ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Abstract: Objective　To find out the existing problems and provide reference for further improving the quality of report information by analyzing the report cards of COVID-19 and the positive report cards of primary screening reported in Ningxia. Methods　All COVID-19 case cards from 2020 to 2021 and initial screening positive cards were derived from the Chinese Information System for Disease Control and Prevention according to final review date. The timeliness of case reporting, timeliness of case review, completeness and accuracy of the case cards were analyzed. Results　In Ningxia, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on January 20, 2020, and as of December 31, 2021, 122 confirmed cases and 4 symptomatic infected cases were reported. In 2021, the timely reporting rate of COVID-19 was 98.00%, which increased by 8.24% compared with 2020 (90.54%). Compared with 2020, the average time limit for diagnosis to reporting of COVID-19 in 2021 was shortened by 83.12%; in 2021, the timely review rate of COVID-19 was 100.00%, which increased by 13.84% compared with 2020 (87.84%). Compared with 2020, the time from reporting to final review was shortened by 98.91%. In 2021, the timely rate of positive reports in COVID-19 in Ningxia was 90.00%, among which the timely rate of reports by county (district) nucleic acid detection institutions was the highest (92.31%), followed by municipal (91.67%) and autonomous region (81.82%). Conclusions　At the beginning of the epidemic in 2020, the timeliness of COVID-19 in Ningxia was poor, and through the implementation of measures such as technical training, supervision and inspection to continuously optimize the staffing of medical institutions and disease control institutions, the timeliness of reporting COVID-19 in Ningxia in 2021 was substantially improved, but there were still some weak links. In the future work, technical guidance and training should be carried out for weak links, and efforts should be made to improve the quality of reports.

Objective To study the relationship between the clinical manifestations and changes of pituitary magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in short stature children with growth hormone deficiency(GHD).Methods The pituitary MRI finding in 38 cases of short stature children diagnosed as GHD(males 23,females 15;5-14 years old,10 children were in pubertas and Tanner Ⅱ-Ⅲ) were analyzed,and the pituitary morphology,size,signal and pituitary stalk's shape and location were observed.SPSS 12.0 soffware was used to analyze the data.Results The forms of pituitery were plaque in 20 children(53%),cupped in 17 children(45%),and carinate in 1 children.In the 22 cases of completely GHD,18 cases had different levels of anterior pituitary dysplasia,abnormal pituitary stalk and/or pituitary signal changes,5 cases without posterior lobe disappeared high signal and 4 cases with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome;the other 4 cases had completely normal pituitary.In the 16 cases of partially GHD,7 cases had varying degrees of pituitary size and/or abnormal pituitary stalk,8 cases had completely normal pituitary,and 1 case had pituitary adenoma.Conclusion Pituitary MRI could assist diagnosis and evaluate pituitary function in short stature children.

Objective To understand species, population density, and seasonality of rodents in Fangshan District of Beijing and provide the information for prevention and control of rodents and rodent-borne diseases. Methods The rodents were captured by using the trap at-night method in Mukezhai, Xianfenggu, Liushilu, Gushanzhai, Wanjingxiangou.The rodents pieces were identified and the density was calculated. Results Totally 4 665 traps were placed and 268 rodents were captured during 2016-2017.Among the seven identified species, the proportion of Apodemuspeninsulae was the highest (31.0%).The density of rodents was higher in primary forest area (7.29%) and edge area (6.10%) than in living area (2.94%)(P < 0.05).The density of rodents was 6.43% in 2016, and 4.44% in 2017(P < 0.05).The highest density (10.7%) was found in September. Conclusion The rodent species with highest density was Apodemuspeninsulae that can transmit Yersinia pestis.Comprehensive prevention measures should be taken to reduce the rodent density for controlling rodent-borne diseases.

Objective To optimize ambi-extracting and inclusion process of volatile oil from Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Methods With yield ratio of volatile oil and ferulic acid content in water extract as evaluation indexes, single factor experiments were used to study the extraction process. With the inclusion rate of volatile oil and yield of inclusion as evaluation indexes, saturated aqueous solution was used to L9(34) orthogonal experiments to reach optimum inclusion process. Results The optimum extraction process of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinensis Radix was extracted for 8 hours with 8 folds the amount of water, and without soaking. The validation experiments of extraction of volatile oil and ferulic acid content in water extract were 1.23 mL and 0.387 9 mg/g. The optimum conditions of inclusion process were as follows: volatile oil (mL): β-CD (g) was 1:8;inclusion temperature was 40 ℃; inclusion time was 3 hours. The validation experiments of inclusion rate of volatile oil and yield of inclusion were 74.89% and 72.81%. Conclusion Optimum ambi-extracting and inclusion process of volatile oil from Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinensis Radix are feasible and stable, witch can provide certain supporting data for preparation production.

Adult ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between the phenotype and genotype of tooth agenesis using the tooth agenesis code (TAC) and the traditional descriptor for missing teeth.

METHODSPatients with isolated hypodontia caused by PAX9 or MSX1 mutation reported before May 2007 were enrolled. The teeth missing rate and TAC code were recorded. The missing teeth patterns caused by the two mutations were compared.

RESULTSThe teeth missing rates in each teeth positions were significantly different between maxillary and mandibular except maxillary central incisor, lateral incisor and mandibular canine, first molar (P<0.05, P<0.001). MSX1 gene mutation often led to the loss of maxillary first premolar, maxillary second premolar, and mandibular second premolar, while PAX9 gene mutation often led to the loss of the first, second, and third molars. The results were similar when analyzed either by TAC code analysis or by traditional descriptor.

CONCLUSIONSPAX9 and MSX1 gene mutation can cause different phenotypes of tooth agenesis. The TAC code can be used in the analysis of the correlation between phenotype and genotype of the missing teeth patients.

Anodontia ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; MSX1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Mutation ; PAX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Phenotype

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the mutation of HBV polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine.

METHODSThe restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) assay for HBV DNA sequence determination at the codon 528 and 552 in the HBV polymerase gene associated with lamivudine resistance in vitro. HBV DNA samples extracted from sera of 240 patients were subjected to PCR amplification with primer pairs F2/R2 (552), F3/R2 (528). Each PCR product was digested with Nde I or Nla III.

RESULTSSerum HBV DNA mutation was found in 51/240 patients (38/51M552V, 26/38L528M, 13/51M552I) after therapy for 52 weeks. DNA sequence analysis was performed on samples of 3 patients, and the results were consistent with those of RFLP assay.

CONCLUSIONThe RFLP assay was able to detect the mutation of HBV DNA at codon 552 and 528 which are the principal site of HBV DNA resistant to lamivudine. The specific PCR method for HBV DNA mutation is rapid, simple and specific.

Drug Resistance, Viral ; Gene Products, pol ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of XRCCl gene polymorphisms and its haplotype on the susceptibility of pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODSPeripheral blood DNA was extracted from 210 pancreatic carcinoma patients and 213 control subjects. SNaPshot technique was used for genotyping seven SNP sites of the XRCCl gene (rs3213403, rs25487, rs1799782, rs731420, rs1001581, rs12611088, and rs3213282). Logistic regression model was performed to analyze the relationship of different genotypes or haplotype and the susceptibility of pancreatic carcinoma.

RESULTSThe frequency for allele A at site rs25487 in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The frequency of GG, GA and AA genotype between the case group and control group had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with GG genotype, the risk of pancreatic carcinoma in the subjects carrying mutated allele A (GA+AA) was increased by 0.648 times (P < 0.05). Among them the pancreatic carcinoma risk of individuals carrying A allele was increased by 0.552 times compared with the individuals carrying G allele. The frequency of allele and genotype at site rs1799782 in the case group and control group had a significant difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the CC genotype, the risk of pancreatic carcinoma in the subjects carrying mutated allele T (CT+TT) was increased by 0.683 times. Among them the pancreatic carcinoma risk of individuals carrying T allele was increased by 0.549 times compared with the individuals carrying C allele. Significant differences were observed in linkage disequilibrium between any two of the seven SNPs (P < 0.05), the frequency of H4-AGCCCGC, H6-GGCCCGG or H7-AGCCTAG haplotypes was significantly lower in the case group than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs25487 and rs1799782 for XRCC1 gene may be correlated with the occurrence of pancreatic carcinoma. The haplotypes of H4-AGCCCGC, H6-GGCCCGG and H7-AGCCTAG might be a potential genetic protective factor for the occurrence of pancreatic carcinoma.

Alleles ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; X-Rays ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

Ticks are obligate ectoparasites and vectors of arboviruses, vickettsiate, spirochetes and parasitil protozoa of humans and domestic animals. Immunological protection of mammalian hosts against tick infestation has been proposed as the most sustainable alternative tick control method to the current use of acaricides. The success of this method is dependent on the identification of key molecules for use as tick vaccine antigens. Proteolytic enzymes are involved in a wide range of cellular processes, thus they can be considered as good target antigens for a tick vaccine. In the present study, we used rapid amplification of cDNA ends protocol and primers that were designed based on the consensus amino acid motifs flanking present in all papain-like cysteine proteinases, to amplify, sequence and characterize two Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides haemaphysaloides cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinases, named as cysA and cysB. The full length of cysA is 1168bp, encoding a 332 amino acid residue polypeptide with 36.33kD predicted molecular mass; the full length of cysB is 1153bp, encoding a 335 amino acid residue polypeptide with 37.56kD predicted molecular mass. The consensus amino acid motifs flanking presence in both deduced amino acid sequences. And both genes show high sequence homology to other tick cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase, so they were identified as members of the cysteine proteinase gene family. Expression analysis by RT-PCR revealed that cysA and cysB were expressed differently in different periods of tick development.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cathepsin L ; Cathepsins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Female ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhipicephalus ; enzymology ; Sequence Analysis