Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome with progressive, generalized loss of muscle mass, strength, and physiological function. Low muscle mass is an important diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia. Ultrasound is safe, convenient and cost-effective, with extensive availability. It's a promising diagnostic tool for muscle mass assessment and sarcopenia screening in the elderly population. This review focuses on the specific methods and latest research progress on ultrasound assessment of sarcopenia.

Talaromycosis marneffei has been increasing in recent years. Our understanding of this disease has gradually deepened through extensive basic and clinical research, but there are still many limitations. In this article, by incorporating the latest research advancements, we discuss important issues in managing Talaromycosis marneffei trends, aiming to guide effective prevention and control of the disease, improving public health, and reducing the healthcare burden.

Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an economically important woody oil plant that produces tung oil rich in eleostearic acid. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome sequence of tung tree. The genome sequence was assembled by combining Illumina short reads, Pacific Bio-sciences single-molecule real-time long reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. The size of tung tree gen-ome is 1.12 Gb, with 28,422 predicted genes and over 73％ repeat sequences. The V. fordii underwent an ancient genome triplication event shared by core eudicots but no further whole-genome duplication in the subsequent ca. 34.55 million years of evolutionary history of the tung tree lineage. Insertion time analysis revealed that repeat-driven genome expansion might have arisen as a result of long-standing long terminal repeat retrotransposon bursts and lack of efficient DNA deletion mechanisms. The genome harbors 88 resistance genes encoding nucleotide-binding sites;17 of these genes may be involved in early-infection stage of Fusarium wilt resistance. Further, 651 oil-related genes were identified, 88 of which are predicted to be directly involved in tung oil biosynthesis. Relatively few phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase genes, and synergistic effectsbetween transcription factors and oil biosynthesis-related genes might contribute to the high oil content of tung seed. The tung tree genome constitutes a valuable resource for understanding genome evolution, as well as for molecular breeding and genetic improvements for oil production.

Dysphagia is often associated with incoordination between breathing and swallowing, resulting in the occurrence of aspiration, cough and aspiration pneumonia. This article reviewed the specific physiological mechanisms of respiration and swallowing and their clinical applications, which aimed to focus on the relationship between respiration and swallowing systems in health and disease, and to explore its guiding value in the clinical treatment of dysphagia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of individual donation-nucleic acid amplification test (ID-NAT) and minipool of 16 donations-NAT (P16-NAT) on the results of NAT of blood donors.Methods From February 2009 to June 2009,samples randomly collected from voluntary blood donors in Beijing were tested individually or in pooling of 16 donations by the PROCLEIX ULTRIO assay.For ID-NAT reactive samples with HBsAg,anti-HCV,or anti-HIV serologically unqualified,ID-NAT repeat reactive samples with serologically qualified,and P16-NAT reactive and followed resolution ID-NAT reactive samples,were performed for further discriminatory assays for HIV-1,samples and followed resolution ID-NAT reactive samples,were performed for further discriminatory assays for HBV,HCV and HIV-1discriminatory reagents.Samples which were HBV NAT + alone with serologically qualified were further quantified and confirmed of HBV DNA by Roche HBV quantitative PCR,analyzed by HBV serology and were diluted to simulate if they could be detected in P16-NAT.Results ( 1 ) Among 7613 samples tested by ID-NAT,26 were NAT positive,i.e.the ID-NAT positive rate was 0.34％ ( 26/7613 ). ( 2 ) Among 1004 P16 samples from 16 064 blood donations,27 were NAT positive,i.e.the P16-NAT positive rate was 0.17％ (27/16 064).(3)In serological qualified donations,ID-NAT yield rate (1 in 826,9/7438 ) was much higher than P16-NAT ( 1 in 7875,2/15 750) (x2 =11.880,P ＜ 0.05 ).All these 9 ID-NAT positive and 2 P16-NAT positive donations were discriminated as HBV NAT positive.There were no HCV NAT yield or HIV NAT yield samples. (4) Dilution assay showed only 2 of the 9 (22.22％ ) ID-NAT HBV yields were detected by P16-NAT.(5)Eight ID-NAT and 2 P16-NAT positive samples were quantified for HBV DNA and confirmed as HBV NAT yield,although the virus loads were very low:2 samples had HBV viral loads of 15 IU/ml and 472 IU/ml,6 samples ＜ 12 IU/ml,and 2 could not be detected in the original samples while had ＜ 12 IU/ml and 14.3 IU/ml in the 10 times concentrated samples.(6)Among 11 HBV NAT yield cases,3 (27.3％ ) were possible HBV window-period donors with all HBV seromarkers negative,the other 8 (72.7％ ) had occult HBV infections with anti-HBc or anti-HBe positive,however anti-HBc IgM negative.(7) The rate of initial P16-NAT reactive pools needed to be further tested by ID-NAT was 2.49％(25/1004).Initial P16-NAT reactive pools which caused by serologically qualified donations was 0.20％(2/1004).ConclusionsHBV NAT yield cases are detected at a higher frequency with ID-NAT than P16-NAT.In order to avoid samples with low viral loads would be undetected,NAT assay with high sensitivity should be selected and tested in minimized minipool donations or even with individual donation.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the genetic diversity and chemical variation of Cinnamomum migao.

METHODISSR marker technique was used to research the genetic structure of 9 population, GC-MS was used to analyze the main ingredients of the volatile oil in C. migao.

RESULTThe analysis on the main ingredients of the volatile oil showed that there were significant or extremely significant differences in 9 populations. The minimum variation index of population was Yunnan Funing and the maximum variation index of population was Guangxi Yueye. ISSR marker analysis showed that the average of polymorphic loci percentage (P) was 42.41%, expected heterozygosity (H) was 0.181 0, Shannon's information index (I) was 0.293 8, the Nei's genetic diversity (H(s)) in the group was 0.188 9, genetic differentiation index (G(st)) was 2.269 1. The relationship between the genetic diversity and chemical variation showed that there was no significant correlation between the main ingredients of the volatile oil and 4 indexes of genetic structure of C. migao.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic diversity of C. migao was relatively high at the population levels, while it is low within the population levels, the relationship between chemical variation and genetic diversity was not obvious, that may indicate that other factors causes the chemical variation of C. migao.

China ; Cinnamomum ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the biomass structure of Epimedium acuminatum Franch in the different ecological environments for the development and protection.

METHODThrough the scientific investigation in four typical habitats, the sampling spots were set up, the functional modules' biomass structure and relationship of E. acuminatum were researched.

RESULTThe average of rhizome, as the largest biomass, and the average total biomass had the same pattern: the open areas of forest edge > shrub lumber > shrub-weed > stream drains. The ratio of the functional modules' biomass had different rates under different habitat conditions. By analyzing and combining investigation, the aerial part of E. acuminatum in the shrub-weed were comparative advantage, and the roots of nutrient accumulation of E. acuminatum in the open areas of forest edge were the highest efficient. Under different ecological condition, the distribution of water metabolism was different strategies.

CONCLUSIONIn the open areas of forest edge, E. acuminatum growing well, followed by shrub-weed. These two habitats are the ideal ecological environments while the rhizome or the whole plant used as medicine, but also the protection of E. acuminatum.

Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Epimedium ; growth & development

AIM: To study the basic mechanism of transcriptional regulation, NKX3.1 gene promoter was cloned and its promoter activities in prostate cancer cell lines and other cancer cell lines were tested. METHODS: 1.04 kb - promoter fragment of NKX3. 1 gene was obtained by PCR and cloned into pGL3 - basic and pEGFP - 1 that are promoter - less reporter vectors to examine its promoter activity driving the reporter gene transcription. The promoter activity was determined by dual -luciferase reporter assay and the expression of GFP reporter observed under fluorescence micro scope. RESULTS: The sequence of the cloned 1.04 kb promoter proved to be correct by DNA sequencing. The dual - lu ciferase reporter assay (M1/M2) showed that the promoter activity in LNCaP cell transfected with pGL3 - 1.04 kb promoter was about 1.5 - fold higher than that of pGL3 - control transfection and 50 - fold higher than that of pGL3 - basic transfec tion. To investigate the 1.04 kb - promoter activity in different tumor cell lines, the constructed pGL3 - 1.04 kb promoter and pEGFP - 1.04 kb promoter were transfected into several cell lines, respectively. The results showed that the activity of 1.04 kb promoterin LNCaP was highest among the tested cell lines. Multiple consensus sequence elements have been iden tified within the 1.04 kb fragment using TRANSFAC database. Further experiments will be done to determine their founc tions. CONCLUSION: Cloned 1.04 kb fragment upstream of NKX3.1 gene presented a strong promoter activity and its activity was highest in LNCaP cell among the tested tumor cell lines.

AIM: To observe the effect of exogenous androgen responsive element decoy on the promoter of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the growth of LNCaP cells for searching the possibility of gene therapy for prostate cancer. METHODS: Firstly, pGL3 - PSA luciferase expression vector containing 640bp - promoter fragment of PSA gene was constructed. Then, a 23 -mer phosphorothioated ARE decoy based on the deduced ARE sequence at the promoter region of PSA gene was synthesized. pGL3 - PSA and ARE decoy DNA were cotransfected into PC3 - M cell by lipofectamineTM 2000. Through detecting the activity of luciferase, the effect of ARE decoy on the promoter of PSA was studied. Then the ARE decoy DNA was transfected into LNCaP cells. The effect of decoy DNA on the proliferation of LNCaP cells was examined by using MTT assay. The effects of apoptosis were detected by phase contrast microscopy, DNA agrose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the nuclear extract was prepared from LNCaP cells and DNA - protein interactions were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: The reporter assay showed that the aetivity of luciferase was significantly reduced in the ARE decoy - transfected cells, bnt not in the cells transfected with the control decoy. EMSA demonstrated specific binding of the ARE decoy to androgen receptor. The growth of LNCaP was remarkably inhibited and apoptotic morphological changes as well as DNA fragmentation were observed in the ARE decoy- transfected cells. The rate of apoptosis was 22.4% detected by FCM. CONCLUSION: The ARE decoy is capable of inhibiting the promoter of PSA gene and inducing the apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. It may become a potential therapeutic tool for prostate cancers.

AIM: To observe the effect of E2F decoy DNA on proliferation and apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3M.METHODS: E2F decoy DNA,ARE decoy DNA and control decoy DNA were transfected into PC-3M cells with lipofectamine,respectively.Their effects on cell proliferation were detected by MTT assay.The changes of cell morphology were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope.The cell apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry(FCM) analysis and chromosome DNA ladder was detected by DNA gel electrophoresis.The expression of c-Myc mRNA and cyclin D1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.The protein levels of c-Myc and cyclin D1 were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: The growth of PC-3M cells was inhibited after transfection.The transfected PC-3M cells displayed typical apoptotic morphological changes.The apoptotic rate was 26.35% and DNA ladder was observed after transfection.The expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1 were inhibited.CONCLUSION: These results indicate that E2F decoy DNA induces apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines PC-3M and inhibits cell proliferation via inhibiting expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1.