Objective Three parameters include circumferential strain (CS),circumferential strain rate (CSr) and stiffness parameter (β) were measured to evaluate the elasticity of carotid artery using two-dimensional(2D) strain imaging and evaluate its clinical value in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods 60 patients with T2DM were collected and divided into carotid intima-midia thickness (CIMT) thickeness group(34 cases,1.0 mm＜CIMT≤1.2 mm) and plaque group(26 case,CIMT＞ 1.2 mm).33 normal people were supplied as control group.The systolic global peak CS and CSr of the carotid artery were obtained from short-axis view of the common carotid artery and the stiffness parameters β was measured using 2D strain imaging.All the parameters were compared among the three groups.Results The CS and CSr were decreased and β was increased in patients with T2DM (P ＜ 0.01),The CS and CSr obtained from the plaque group were less than that of the CIMT thickeness group(P ＜0.05),but the β was higher than that of the CIMT thickeness group (P ＜0.01).The CS and β were correlated significantly with CIMT respectively (r =-0.79,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.72,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions 2D strain imaging is a technique for early assessing the carotid artery elasticity in patients with T2DM,the thicker the CIMT is,the smaller the deformation is and the larger the β is.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC),a zoonotic foodborne pathogen,can induce severe and prolonged di-arrhea,thus substantially affecting global public health safety.To understand the pathogenicity of EPEC and its potential risk to human health,this study investigated the antimicrobial resistance and genome-wide characteristics of EPEC originating from ducks.After identification of EPEC with the plate method and PCR,antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was examined with the microbroth dilution method.In addition,analyses of serotype,sequence type(ST),and plasmid incompatibility groups were conducted with whole-genome sequencing(WGS)and bioinformatic methods.Ten EPEC isolates were identified,including serotypes O71∶H40 and O3∶H21.All EPEC strains exhibited multiple drug resistance.The highest proportion of resistance(100％)was observed to ciprofloxacin,streptomycin,tetracycline,and polymyxin B.In contrast,the isolates showed susceptibility to cefoxitin,amikacin,and imipenem.Furthermore,all strains carried the tetracycline resistance gene tet(A)and extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)resistance genes,including blaOXA-10,blaTEM-1A,and blaTEM-1B.Various virulence genes,associated primarily with the secretory system,were de-tected in the isolates.However,no bf p genes or per ARC genes were identified,thus indicating that the EPEC isolates were atypical EPEC(aEPEC).The results demonstrated the presence of multiple antimicrobial resistance,multiple resistance and viru-lence genes,and various plasmid incompatibility groups,thus in-dicating potential pathogenicity to humans.Strengthened monitoring of duck-derived EPEC is crucial to effectively control the spread of the pathogen and safeguard public health.

Microparticles are vesicle-like structures with a diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 μm.It′s produced after cell activa-tion or apoptosis,which possesses physiological and pathological effects.Microparticle level rises in many cardiovas-cular diseases.Its elevation in plasma is thought to be a biomarker of vascular function change.The present article aimed at summarizing and providing newest research progress for microparticles playing role in atherosclerotic in-flammation.

The phyA(m) gene encoding acid phytase and optimized neutral phytase phyCs gene were inserted into expression vector pPIC9K in correct orientation and transformed into Pichia pastoris in order to expand the pH profile of phytase and decrease the cost of production. The fusion phytase phyA(m)-phyCs gene was successfully overexpressed in P. pastoris as an active and extracellular phytase. The yield of total extracellular fusion phytase activity is (25.4+/-0.53) U/ml at the flask scale and (159.1+/-2.92) U/ml for high cell-density fermentation, respectively. Purified fusion phytase exhibits an optimal temperature at 55 degrees C and an optimal pH at 5.5~6.0 and its relative activity remains at a relatively high level of above 70% in the range of pH 2.0 to 7.0. About 51% to 63% of its original activity remains after incubation at 75 degrees C to 95 degrees C for 10 min. Due to heavy glycosylation, the expressed fusion phytase shows a broad and diffuse band in SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). After deglycosylation by endoglycosidase H (EndoH(f)), the enzyme has an apparent molecular size of 95 kDa. The characterization of the fusion phytase was compared with those of phyCs and phyA(m).
6-Phytase ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Fermentation ; Genetic Vectors ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pichia ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification

We investigated the contamination,antimicrobial resistance and the virulence genes carriage of Salmonella spp. in duck slaughter chain.Suspected strains were isolated from slaughterhouse samples according to GB 4789.4-2010 and identi-fied by duplex PCR,and then the positive strains were used for serotype analysis.Subsequently,positive strains were tested against 10 different antimicrobial agents using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method,the results were determined on the basis of CLSI standard.Finally,9 virulence genes were detected among positive strains by PCR.The results showed that 9 9 Salmonella isolates were recovered from 343 samples and total isolation rate was 28.86%.The prevalence of Salmonella before slaughte-ring,at depilation stage,at evisceration stage,in duck meat and after slaughtering was 45.71%,22.68%,24.72%, 38.33% and 25.81%,respectively.Seven serotypes were de-tected and most of them were S.Indiana,S.Newlands,S. Anatum.The Salmonella isolates were most frequently re-sistant to nalidixic acid(91.92%),the resistance rates of tet-racycline (43.43%),ampicillin (42.42%),trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (34.34%),ciprofloxacin (29.29%),ceftri-axone (27.27%),gentamycin (24.24%),and kanamycin (22.22%)were at a medium level.The resistance rates of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (9.09%)and minocycline (6.06%)were relatively low.The multi-drug resistance rate of Salmonella isolates,which was 47.47%,showed a high especially in S.Indi-ana,S.Typhi and S.Typhimurium.It was notable that the harboring rates of virulence gene spvR(94.95%),avrA (93.94%),ssaQ(90.91%),mgtC(87.88%),sopB(83.84%),bcfC(80.81%),siiD(77.78%)among Salmonella isolates were at high level,in contrast to the lower carriage rates of spvB(29.29%),spvC (11.11%).In summary,the results indica-ted that the duck slaughter chain was easily contaminated by Salmonella spp.with different serotypes,different antibiotic re-sistant patterns and high virulence genes harboring rate.Relevant slaughterhouse and departments should strengthen supervi-sion in sanitation and manage the use of antimicrobial agents,to guarantee food safety and public health．

OBJECTIVETo construct the eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed2-N1-SDF-1alpha and observe its expression in the mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

METHODSDF-1alpha gene sequence with XhoI, EcoRI restriction enzyme cutting site was amplified from the total RNA of mouse smooth muscle cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed2-N1 encoding red fluorescent protein gene, and the insertion was verified by endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing. Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells identified with immunofluorescence assay for vimentin expression were transfected with the constructed plasmid pDsRed2-N1-SDF-1alpha, and the expression of sdf-1alpha was detected using immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe DNA fragment amplified by PCR from the total RNA was identical to SDF-1alpha from the gene library, and an identical DNA fragment was also amplified from the recombinants. Sequence analysis confirmed the successful insertion of SDF-1alpha into the pDsRed2-N1 vector and the eukaryotic expression vector pDsRed2-N1-SDF-1alpha was successfully constructed. The cultured mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells positive for vimentin protein showed SDF-1alpha expression 24 h after transfection with the recombinant vector.

CONCLUSIONThe pDsRed2-N1-SDF-1alpha eukaryotic expression vector constructed is capable of expression of SDF-1alpha fusion protein in the mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective: To analyze the current adherence to imatinib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in China and its influencing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Study period: from October 1, 2020 to November 31, 2020. Study subjects: GIST patients taking imatinib who were diagnosed and treated in public tertiary level A general hospitals or oncology hospitals; those who had not been pathologically diagnosed, those who never received imatinib, or those who had taken imatinib in the past but stopped afterwards were excluded. The Questionnaire Star online surgery platform was used to design a questionnaire about the adherence to adjuvant imatinib therapy of Chinese GIST patients. The link of questionnaire was sent through WeChat. The questionnaire contained basic information of patients, medication status and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Results: A total of 2162 questionnaires from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities were collected, of which 2005 were valid questionnaires, with an effective rate of 92.7%. The survey subjects included 1104 males and 901 females, with a median age of 56 (22-91) years old. Working status: 609 cases (30.4%) in the work unit, 729 cases (36.4%) of retirement, 667 cases of flexible employment or unemployment (33.3%). Education level: 477 cases (23.8%) with bachelor degree or above, 658 cases (32.8%) of high school, 782 cases (39.0%) of elementary or junior high school, 88 cases (4.4%) without education. Marital status: 1789 cases (89.2%) were married, 179 cases (8.9%) divorced or widowed, 37 cases (1.8%) unmarried. Two hundred and ninety-four patients (14.7%) had metastasis when they were first diagnosed, including 203 liver metastases, 52 peritoneal metastases, and 39 other metastases. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine patients underwent surgical treatment, of whom 1642 (81.9%) achieved complete resection. The median time of taking imatinib was 25 (1-200) months. Common adverse reactions of imatinib included 1701 cases (84.8%) of periorbital edema, 1031 cases (51.4%) of leukopenia, 948 cases (47.3%) of fatigue, 781 cases (39.0%) of nausea and vomiting, 709 cases (35.4%) of rash, and 670 cases (33.4%) of lower extremity edema. The score of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale showed that 392 cases (19.6%) had poor adherence, 1023 cases (51.0%) had moderate adherence, and 590 cases (29.4%) had good adherence. Univariate analysis showed that gender, age, work status, economic income, residence, education level, marriage, the duration of taking medication and adverse reactions were associated with adherence to adjuvant imatinib therapy (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that female (OR=1.264, P=0.009), non-retirement (OR=1.454, P=0.001), monthly income ≤4000 yuan (OR=1.280, P=0.036), township residents (OR=1.332, P=0.005), unmarried or divorced or widowed (OR=1.362, P=0.026), the duration of imatinib medication >36 months (OR=1.478, P<0.001) and adverse reactions (OR=1.719, P=0.048) were independent risk factors for poor adherence to adjuvant imatinib. Among patients undergoing complete resection, 324 (19.7%) had poor adherence, 836 (50.9%) had moderate adherence, and 482 (29.4%) had good adherence. Meanwhile, 55 patients with good adherence (11.4%) developed recurrence after surgery, 121 patients with moderate adherence (14.5%) developed recurrence, 61 patients with poor adherence (18.8%) developed recurrence, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.017). Conclusions: The adherence to adjuvant therapy with imatinib in Chinese GIST patients is relatively poor. Females, non-retirement, monthly income ≤4000 yuan, township residents, unmarried or divorced or widowed, the duration of imatinib medication >36 months, and adverse reactions are independently associated with poor adherence of GIST patients. Those with poor adherence have a higher risk of recurrence after surgery. Positive interventions based on the above risk factors are advocated to improve the prognosis of patients with GIST.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy*