Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in discriminating fumarate hydratase-deficient (FH-d) uterine leiomyomas (ULs) from FH-preserved ULs. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of three stages, with independent cohorts recruited for each stage: 1) sample-size estimation was retrospectively performed on UL specimens (diameter ≥3 cm; age, 20–40 years) from our database with immunohistochemistry (IHC) for 2-succinocysteine (2-SC) as the reference, without genetic testing, 2) MRS sequence optimization in confirmed FH germline mutation participants with ultrasound-detected ULs (diameter ≥3 cm), without IHC analysis, and 3) prospective diagnostic test accuracy was evaluated in consecutive participants with ultrasound-detected ULs (diameter ≥3 cm;age, 20–40 years), using IHC for 2-SC for determining the FH status and subsequent genetic testing in those with positive 2-SC results to identify whether FH mutations were germline or somatic in origin. The choline and fumarate peaks in MRS were classified as positive, negative, or technical failure (TF). TFs were analyzed separately and excluded from the primary diagnostic accuracy calculations. T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted images were interpreted as hyperintense or hypointense. The enhancement rate and apparent diffusion coefficient were also acquired. Diagnostic performance was compared between MRS and various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. Results: The optimal MRS parameters for the fumarate peak were echo time (TE) = 140 ms and an average of 256. Among the 360 prospective participants, 37 were confirmed to have FH-dULs. MRS showed positive fumarate peaks in 35 of 37 FH-dULs.After excluding six TFs, the positive fumarate peak on MRS showed 94.6% (35/37) sensitivity, 99.7% (316/317) specificity, and 99.2% (351/354) accuracy, all of which were significantly superior to those of other MRI features (P ≤ 0.002). Conclusion A positive fumarate peak on MRS may be a useful imaging biomarker for diagnosing FH-dULs.

Genome reannotation aims for complete and accurate characterization of gene models and thus is of critical significance for in-depth exploration of gene function. Although the availability of massive RNA-seq data provides great opportunities for gene model refinement, few efforts have been made to adopt these precious data in rice genome reannotation. Here we reannotate the rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) genome based on integration of large-scale RNA-seq data and release a new annotation system IC4R-2.0. In general, IC4R-2.0 significantly improves the completeness of gene structure, identifies a number of novel genes, and integrates a variety of functional annota-tions. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are system-atically characterized in the rice genome. Performance evaluation shows that compared to previous annotation systems, IC4R-2.0 achieves higher integrity and quality, primarily attributable to mas-sive RNA-seq data applied in genome annotation. Consequently, we incorporate the improvedannotations into the Information Commons for Rice (IC4R), a database integrating multiple omics data of rice, and accordingly update IC4R by providing more user-friendly web interfaces and implementing a series of practical online tools. Together, the updated IC4R, which is equipped with the improved annotations, bears great promise for comparative and functional genomic studies in rice and other monocotyledonous species. The IC4R-2.0 annotation system and related resources are freely accessible at http://ic4r.org/.

Objective To explore the correlations between self-management and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide effective measures to improve quality of life of them. Methods A total of 750 elderly patients with CHF were selected as the research subjects by convenience sampling method from 5 regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from February to August 2015. General Data Questionnaire, Heart Failure Self-Management Scale and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) were applied in the investigation to analyze the correlation between self-management and quality of life. Results A total of 750 questionnaires were distributed and 704 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective recovery rate of 94.1%. The total score of self-management and MLHFQ in the 704 CHF patients was (47.6±11.1) and (57.1±18.5) respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that patients' self-management was positively correlated with quality of life (r=0.114, P＜ 0.05). Conclusions The overall level of self-management and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure in Xinjiang Region is mid-to-low. Nursing intervention can give full play to the initiative of self-management behavior in accordance with patients' cultural background, so as to improve their quality of life.

AIM: To study the effect of proliferating cell nucler antigen antisense oligonucleotide on ex vivo expansion of cord blood CD34~+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.METHODS: CD34~+ cells were purified from fresh cord blood by immunomagnetic beads.CD34~+ cells were incubated in liquid culture system with different concentrations of(PCNA-ASODN).Using flow cytometry,the number of different kinds of stem/progenitor cells and PCNA expression were measured after CD34~+ cell incubation.RESULTS: PCNA was lowly expressed in low experiential group,with a positive rate of(27.2?3.6)% and(19.0?1.5)%,the positive rate of control group was(53.8?8.3)%(P

The therapeutic effects of dermatological preparations for external use are not only dependent on its peculiar pharmacological action of the basis but also closely related to many factors, such as drug concentrations, types of preparation, excipients etc. On the basis of extensively reading the relevant literatures and of author's practical experiences, the above affected faetors were discussed preliminarily.

Objective To explore the possibility of heterogenous gene to express in juvenile Schistosoma japonicum and the application of electroporation in transformation of schistosomulae. Methods The plasmids of pEGFP-C1 were introduced into mechanically transformed schsitosomula with electroporation. The presence, transcription and translation of the transgene in electroporated schistosomula were confirmed by PCR, RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis respectively using the genomic DNA, total RNA and protein extracted and isolated from schistosomula cultured in vitro for 48 hours. Meanwhile, localization of EGFP within electroporated schistosomula was performed with confocal laser scanning microscope. Results 760 bp and 276 bp amplified products by PCR and RT-PCR were found coincident with the expected size and expression of EGFP gene in elctroporated schistosomula was confirmed by Western blotting. Fluorescence of EGFP was localized in tegument and subtegument of the electroporated schistosomula with confocal microscopy, especially in the anterior part of the worm. Conclusion The heterogenous gene of EGFP has been successfully introduced into juvenile S. japonicum by electroporation and the expression of transgene was confirmed with molecular and microscopical methods.