OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of chronic stress on the spatial learning-memory and the role of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) of prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HP) in different age mice.

METHODSThe chronic stress model mice in 21 days with multiple chronic unpredictable stressors were applied. The spontaneous behavior and spatial learning-memory ability of mice were tested, using Open field and Morris water maze task, and the expression of GDNF in HP and PFC were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with young mice, the spontaneous behaviors were significantly decreased and the spatial learning-memory function were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in aged mice. The GDNF expression in the CA3, DG of HP and PFC were significantly reduced in aged mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After chronic stress, the spontaneous behaviors were remarkably decreased and the ability of spatial learning-memory of the stress group mice were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) compared with those of the control group mice. The expression of GDNF in HP and PFC were remarkably reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in stress group mice. The aged stress mice had more serious changes after chronic stress.

CONCLUSIONThe brain aging and chronic stress in mice causes behavioral changes and the damage of spatial learning-memory function, and which may be nearly related to the expression of GDNF in HP and PFC.

Aging ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Cognition Disorders ; metabolism ; Female ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Stress, Physiological

This study aims to investigate the genetic characteristics of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp of the epidemic strains in children with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated diseases. Total DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 134 children with EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (EBV-IM) and 32 children with EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital from 2006 to 2011. The EBNA3C, BZLF1, and Zp genes were amplified by PCR assay. Typing of EBV was performed according to the size of the amplification product of EBNA3C gene; the amplification products of BZLF1 and Zp genes were subjected to direct sequencing, and sequence analysis was performed using BioEdit 7. 0. 9. The results were as follows: (1) EBV-1 was present in 140 samples (97.2%, 140/144) and EBV-II in 4 samples (2.8%, 4/144). (2) Three BZLF1 genotypes and their 12 subtypes (including 6 newly found subtypes) were detected in this study; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of BZLF1-A and BZLF1-B between the children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.083); BZLF1-A1 was the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; t BZLF1-A mostly had three 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene, and BZLF1-B mostly had 30-bp repeats (P = 0.000), with the number of repeats varying from 1 to 13. (3) Four Zp genotypes were detected in this study, including Zp-P, Zp-V3, Zp-V4, and Zp-V1; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of these Zp genotypes between children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.272, 0.252, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively). (4) The linkage analysis of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp showed that BZLF1-A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000); EBV-I + BZLF1 A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000). The conclusions are as follows: (1) BZLF1-A1 is the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; there are mostly 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene for BZLF1-A genotype and 30-bp repeats for BZLF1-B genotype. (2) Zp-P and Zp-V3 are dominant Zp genotypes of EBV in children, which shared similar detection rates. (3) BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P; EBV-I+BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

The fruit shape is important quantitative trait closely related to the fruit quality. However, the genetic model of fruit shapes has not been proposed. Therefore, in the present study, analysis of genetic effects for fruit shape traits (fruit length and fruit perimeter) in sponge gourd was conducted by employing a developmental genetic model including fruit direct effects and maternal effects. Analysis approaches of unconditional and conditional variances were applied to evaluate the genetic behavior of fruit shape traits at economical and physiological maturation times. The results of variance analysis indicated that fruit length and fruit perimeter were simultaneously affected by fruit direct genetic effects and maternal effects. Fruit direct genetic effects were relatively more important for fruit shape traits at whole developmental period. The gene expression was most active at the economical maturation stage (1 approximately 12 d after flowering) for two shape traits, and the activation of gene was mostly due to direct dominance effects at physiological maturation stage (13 approximately 60 d after flowering). The coefficients due to different genetic effects, as well as the phenotypic correlation coefficients, varied significantly between fruit shape traits themselves at various maturation stages. The results showed that it was relatively easy to improve fruit shape traits for industrial purpose by carefully selecting the parents at economical maturation stage instead of that at physiological maturation stage.
Computer Simulation ; Fruit ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Luffa ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Models, Genetic ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo examine Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in subgingival plaque of the patients with periodontitis and to find out the rules of Pg colonization after periodontal initial treatment.

METHODSA total of 1620 subgingival plaque samples were collected from 180 subjects including chronic periodontitis (CP) patients (n = 90), and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) patients (n = 90) in different periods of periodontal initial therapy-the baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after treatment. The following periodontal clinical parameters were recorded with Florida probe at sampled sites: probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Quantities of Pg were examined by AmpliFluor endpoint quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSAt the 6th week of periodontal initial therapy, there were 61 (22.6%) and 66 (24.4%) Pg increased sites respectively, in which no significant difference was detected (P > 0.05). At baseline of periodontal initial therapy, more severe periodontal clinical parameters of Pg increased sites were observed than those of Pg stationary sites. At the 12th week, however, there were 96 (35.6%) and 18 (6.7%) Pg increased sites respectively, significant difference detected (P < 0.05). At 6th week of periodontal initial therapy, more severe periodontal clinical parameters of Pg increased sites were observed than those of Pg stationary sites.

CONCLUSIONSPg colonization in AgP and CP patients started 6 weeks after periodontal initial therapy, but the recolonization pattern was different between these two groups of patients. Severe periodontitis sites in baseline seemed to place them at risk of Pg colonization after periodontal initial therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aggressive Periodontitis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Chronic Periodontitis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; isolation & purification ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEMammography is the principle imaging modality used for early diagnosis of breast cancer in Western countries. It has not been well-established whether this Western diagnostic modality is adoptable for Chinese women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective accuracy of the common diagnostic tools for breast cancer including history-taking, physical examination, ultrasound and mammography.

METHODSClinical presentation and investigations for consecutive patients undergoing history-taking, physical examination, ultrasound, mammography and pathological assessment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were prospectively recorded between April 2010 and September 2011. Breast cancer high-risk factors acquired by history-taking were input into the risk assessment model established previously by Eleventh Five Year Key Programs for Science and Technology Development of China (Grant No. 2006BAI02A09) and classified into low-, medium-, high- and extremely high-risk groups. The low- and medium-risk groups were defined as test negative, while the high- and extremely high-risk groups were defined as test positive. Each mammogram and ultrasound was reported prospectively using a five-point reporting scale of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). Clinical data were compared with pathological findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PRV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of respective diagnostic methods were calculated and compared. The patients were divided into two groups, above and below 50 years of age for subgroup analysis.

RESULTSA total of 1468 patients (1475 breast lesions) constituted the study population. The median age was 44 (range 13 - 92) years. Five hundred and fifty-one patients were diagnosed as breast cancer. The median age at diagnosis was 51 years and breast cancer peaked in the age group of 40 - 60 years. The sensitivity of risk assessment model, physical examination, ultrasound and mammogram was 47.5%, 86.2%, 89.8% and 79.3%, respectively; specificity was 68.8%, 83.3%, 81.0% and 88.7%, respectively; PRV was 47.6%, 75.5%, 73.8% and 80.8%, respectively; NPV was 68.8%, 91.0%, 93.0% and 87.8%, respectively; and accuracy was 60.9%, 84.4%, 84.3% and 85.2%, respectively. Further subgroup analysis demonstrated that age is an important factor influencing the sensitivity and specificity of physical examination, ultrasound and mammography.

CONCLUSIONSUltrasound is more sensitive than mammography for early diagnosis of breast cancer in Chinese women and should be routinely used as a first-line diagnostic tool. Only a single diagnostic method is not enough sometimes and combined examination is needed for some high-risk populations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma in Situ ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; China ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Medical History Taking ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the features of intelligence development, facial expression recognition ability, and the association between them in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHODSA total of 27 ASD children aged 6-16 years (ASD group, full intelligence quotient >70) and age- and gender-matched normally developed children (control group) were enrolled. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition and Chinese Static Facial Expression Photos were used for intelligence evaluation and facial expression recognition test.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the ASD group had significantly lower scores of full intelligence quotient, verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index (PRI), processing speed index（PSI), and working memory index (WMI) (P<0.05). The ASD group also had a significantly lower overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and significantly lower accuracy rates of the recognition of happy, angry, sad, and frightened expressions than the control group (P<0.05). In the ASD group, the overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and the accuracy rates of the recognition of happy and frightened expressions were positively correlated with PRI (r=0.415, 0.455, and 0.393 respectively; P<0.05). The accuracy rate of the recognition of angry expression was positively correlated with WMI (r=0.397; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSASD children have delayed intelligence development compared with normally developed children and impaired expression recognition ability. Perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities are positively correlated with expression recognition ability, which suggests that insufficient perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities may be important factors affecting facial expression recognition ability in ASD children.

Adolescent ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; psychology ; Child ; Child Development ; Facial Expression ; Female ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Male

OBJECTIVETo establish a restriction endonuclease pattern which could detect and differentiate four major human herpesviruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), DNA cloning and sequence analysis.

METHODSA pair of primer, which was designed according to sequences in well-conserved regions of the DNA polymerase gene in human herpesviruses, was designed to amplify herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSVI/II), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Sequences of the primers are as follows: P(1) (5'-CGACTTTGCCAGCCTGACC-3') and P(2) (5'-AGTCCGTGTCCCCGTAGATG-3'). DNA of four strains of standard herpesviruses were amplified by PCR, and further studied by DNA cloning, sequence analysis and RFLP. At last, the authors established the PCR-RFLP technique to differentiate the four different herpesviruses. Meanwhile, 75 clinical blood specimens from infants with suspected viral infection and 38 blood specimens from healthy children were evaluated for herpesviruses DNA or virus-specific IgM antibody by PCR-RFLP or by ELISA.

RESULTSThe PCR amplified products of four human herpesviruses were from 510 bp to 592 bp in length and were analyzed for herpesvirus types with restriction endonuclease technique. The specificity and sensitivity of this PCR-RFLP were examined. There was no cross-reaction with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis B virus (HBV), Clostridium neoformans and human-genomic DNA and the lowest detection level was 0.1 fg DNA. Among 75 specimens, 23 were positive by PCR and the positive rate was 30.7%, including 13 for CMV, four for EBV, five for HSVII and one for HSVI after restriction enzyme digestion with BamHI and BstUI, while 10 were positive by ELISA and positive rate was 13.3%. All ELISA-positive specimens were likewise positive by PCR. Thirteen of 65 specimens that were ELISA-negative were tested positive by PCR. An infant with CMV infection was determined with viral DNA and virus-specific IgM antibody in blood at 3, 4 and 6 months after birth, respectively. The result showed that she was still CMV DNA-positive in blood whereas IgM antibody was positive only at month 3 after birth. None of the 38 control blood specimens was positive for herpesvirus by this PCR-RFLP or by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONSThis PCR-RFLP technique was specific, sensitive, rapid and accurate in diagnosing herpesviruses infection in infants, and it could detect herpesviruses DNA in specimens which were negative for IgM antibody by ELISA.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUNDSome larger scale, randomized studies have demonstrated the superiority of drug-eluting stents (DES) over bare metal stents (BMS) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to investigate the impact of DES, in comparison with BMS, on the 2-year clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2008, a total of 1301 consecutive STEMI patients treated with coronary stenting in Shenyang Northern Hospital were prospectively registered. Patients received BMS (n = 868) or DES (n = 435) implantation in the infarction related artery according to physician's discretion. A propensity score analysis was performed and two well matched subgroups were selected (BMS, n = 288; DES, n = 288) to evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR).

RESULTSSurvival salvage analysis showed that 2-year cumulative hazards were not significantly different between the two groups with respect to TVR (2.8% vs. 3.1%, log-rank P = 0.780), stent thrombosis (1.7% vs. 4.2%, log-rank P = 0.079) and MACE (8% vs. 10.8%, log-rank P = 0.236). Multivariate analysis showed that DES was an independent protective factor of MI (HR: 0.211, 95%CI: 0.049 to 0.908) and stent thrombosis (HR: 0.327, 95%CI: 0.107 to 0.994).

CONCLUSIONDES was associated with similar 2-year clinical outcomes to those of BMS for the treatment of STEMI in daily practice.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; mortality ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of intensive antiplatelet therapy for patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) after coronary stent implantation.

METHODSBetween March 2009 and February 2011, a total of 3316 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implanting from 3 hospitals were enrolled. Among them, 840 patients (25.3%) were identified as HPR (defined as 20 µmol/L adenosine diphosphate induced platelet aggregation of ≥ 55% at 24 hours after administration of 300 mg clopidogrel loading dose and 300 mg aspirin). The HPR patients were randomly assigned to receive standard (aspirin 300 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d, n = 280) or intensified (n = 560) antiplatelet therapy by the ratio of 1:2. Patients in the intensive group were initially treated with a double maintenance dose of clopidogrel (150 mg/d) and aspirin (300 mg/d). After 3 days, patients with unsolved HPR received additional cilostazol treatment (50 - 100 mg, bid). The reversion rate of HPR and clinical events were observed.

RESULTSIn the intensive group, HPR reversed in 304 out of 560 patients (54.3%) at 3 days post therapy and the remaining 256 patients with HPR were treated with additional cilostazol regimen for another 3 days and the total reversion rate of HPR was 81.1% (454/560). The reversion rate of HPR at 30 days in the intensified group was significantly higher than that of the standard group (69.9% vs. 55.7%, P = 0.000). At 30 days after percutaneous coronary intervention, 1 patient suffered from subacute stent thrombosis (0.2%) in intensified group and no stent thrombosis was observed in standard group (P = 1.000). There were no death, major or minor bleeding in both two groups. Minimal bleeding was also similar in the two groups (intensive: 4.28% vs. standard: 2.14%, P = 0.166).

CONCLUSIONSThe intensified antiplatelet therapy regimens could significantly increase the reversion rate of HPR in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing coronary stenting without increasing the risk of bleeding. The clinic impact of this strategy needs to be elucidated by long term follow-up outcome studies.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ticlopidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use