Sex reversal, representing extraordinary sexual plasticity during the life cycle, not only triggers reproduction in animals but also affects reproductive and endocrine system-related diseases and cancers in humans. Sex reversal has been broadly reported in animals; however, an integrated resource hub of sex reversal information is still lacking. Here, we constructed a comprehensive database named ASER (Animal Sex Reversal) by integrating sex reversal-related data of 18 species from teleostei to mammalia. We systematically collected 40,018 published papers and mined the sex reversal-associated genes (SRGs), including their regulatory networks, from 1611 core papers. We annotated homologous genes and computed conservation scores for whole genomes across the 18 species. Furthermore, we collected available RNA-seq datasets and investigated the expression dynamics of SRGs during sex reversal or sex determination processes. In addition, we manually annotated 550 in situ hybridization (ISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and im-munohistochemistry (IHC) images of SRGs from the literature and described their spatial expression in the gonads. Collectively, ASER provides a unique and integrated resource for researchers to query and reuse organized data to explore the mechanisms and applications of SRGs in animal breeding and human health. The ASER database is publicly available at http://aser.ihb.ac.cn/.

Objective To investigate the effect of lipid encapsulated 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane phase change nanodroplets for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation.Methods The lipid encapsulated 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane phase change nanodroplets was prepared with membrane hydration method,and its physicochemical properties were examined.The synergistic effect of HIFU ablation was verified with experiments in vitro and in vivo experiments.For in vitro experiment,the isolated bovine liver tissues were irradiated with HIFU (250 W,10 s,continuous wave).For in vivo experiment,the livers of New Zealand rabbits were irradiated with HIFU (200 W,5 s,continuous wave).The volume of coagulative necrosis,energy efficiency factors (EEF) and the volume of the hyperechoic area after HIFU radiation were measured.And the statistical analysis was performed.Results Phase change nanoparticles were spherical in solution and uniform in size.For in vitro experiment,the coagulative necrosis volume,EEF and hyperechoic area of bovine liver tissue injected with nanodroplets were significantly higher than those of untreated bovine liver tissue (t=28.80,19.55,14.30;P=0.01,0.02,0.02) after HIFU.For in vivo experiment,the coagulative necrosis volume,EEF and hyperechoic area of rabbit liver tissue injected with nanodroplets were significantly higher than those of untreated rabbit liver tissue (t=9.41,13.52,15.67;P=0.02,0.01,0.01) after HIFU.Conclusion The lipid encapsulated 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane phase change nanodroplets can significantly improve the efficiency of HIFU ablation significantly.

Objective To understand the epidemical patterns of schistosomiasis in Guichi District of Chizhou City，Anhui Province，in order to provide the reference for schistosomiasis control. Methods The annual data of schistosomiasis endemic situation in Guichi District from 1991 to 2011 were collected. The descriptive analysis was first conducted to describe the changes of schistosomiasis in local residents and the status of Oncomelania hupensis. An autoregressive integrated moving average （ARIMA）model was applied to fit and predict the tendency of schistosomiasis incidence in this region. Results The humanmorbidity increased with the increasing of the areas with snail habitats（P < 0.05），and four peaks（in 1992，1995，2005，2008）were detected. The difference of the area with snails among different types of snail habitats was statistically significant（F = 256.79，P < 0.05）. ARIMA（1，1，1）was determined to be the optimal model for analyzing the morbidity of schistosomiasis，and the short⁃term forecast of the morbidity in Guichi District from 2012 to 2015 showed that the predicted values were 0.017%，0.007%，0.012%，and 0.010%，respectively. Conclusions The endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Guichi District is controlled relatively well in the past two decades. However，the surveillance in the lake and marshland regions should be strengthened continuously to prevent the rebounding of the schistosomiasis endemic situation.

Objective To observe the clinical effiect and toxicity of Aidi injection and Huaier particles combined with interventional therapy for primary liver cancer patients.Methods 43 paients with primary liver cancer were randomly divided into two groups:the treatment group 22 cases(Aidi injection and Huaier particles combined with interventional therapy to the primary liver cancer)and the control group 21 cases(treated only with intervention therapy of liver cancer).The recent efficiency and toxicity of the two groups were compared.Results The effective rate of the treatment group was 59.1%,and in control group was 33.3%,and the differences was significant(P＜0.01).In the treatment group,clinical benefit rate was 86.4%higher than than of the control group(71.4%),and the difference was significant(P＜0.05);The treatment group significantly improved the quality of life of patients,T cell and NK cell activity were improved,and better than the control group(P＜0.05).The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions and neutropenia rate in treatment group was lower than the control group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Aidi injection and Huaier Granule interventional therapy could improve the curative effect of primary liver cancer、the immune activity、quality of patients life,and the adverse effects.

One hundred and eleven patients with acute myocardial infarction and without known diabetes mellitus who underwent continuous glucose monitoring were divided into normoglycemia(n = 30),transient hyperglycemia(n = 36),and persistent hyperglycemia(n = 45)groups.Compared with other two groups,higher mean blood glucose,standard deviation of blood glucose,largest amplitude of glycemic excursions,mean amplitude of glycemic excursions,and absolute mean of daily differences were observed in the patients with persistent hyperglycemia group(all P<0.01),who were more likely to be female with the history of hypertension and old myocardial infarction(all P<0.05).It was shown that the levels of aspartate aminotransferase,creatine phosphokinase(CK),CK-MB,total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HbA1C,and C reactive protein levels were higher in these patients(P<0.01).

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic olmesartan in treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension in comparison with losartan. Methods Two hundred and thirty-seven patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, paralleded and active-controlled trial, and were divided into olmesartan group (olmesartan 20 mg + losartan 50 mg placebo) and losartan group (losartan 50 mg + olmesartan 20 mg placebo) for a 8-week therapy. Four weeks after treatment, dosages of drugs were doubled in patients with seated diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa). All patients were followed up every two weeks, and the efficacy and adverse effects were observed. Another 32 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled and given olmesartan only, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results Compared with those before treatment, both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in olmesartan group and losartan group 8 weeks after treatment [(15.2 ±13.3) mmHg and (19.5 ±11.8) mmHg, respectively for systolic blood pressure (P <0.001); (15.9 ±7.48) mmHg and (16.2 ± 5.95) mmHg, respectively for diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) ], while there was no significant difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in total effective rate and incidence of adverse effect between these two groups (86.9% vs 93.7% and 7.63% vs 5.88% , P > 0.05) . Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring demonstrated that trough to peak ratios of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 86% and 71%, respectively. Conclusion Domestic olmesaratan provides an effective, safe and long action in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism underlying insulin-stimulated increase in glucose uptake during low-flow myocardial ischemia. METHODS: The expression of myocardial GLUT1 polypeptide was determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The expression of GLUT1 mRNA was determined by semiquantitative Northern blotting. RESULTS: After infusing insulin during low- flow myocardial ischemia for 8 h，the expression of both GLUT1 mRNA and GLUT1 polypeptide was significantly higher in experimental myocardium than that in normal myocardium. The glucose uptake was upregulated at the same time in the exprimental myocardium. CONCLUSION: Insulin enhances the expression of GLUT1 mRNA and GLUT1 polypeptide in ischemic myocardial regions. GLUT1 expression may be an important mechanism by which myocardial cells enhance glucose uptake and metabolism during low-flow myocardial ischemia.

Objective: To investigate whether there is additi ve effects of hyperinsulinemia and ischemia on expression of canine myocardial G LUT4 gene in vivo. Methods: The expression of myocardial GLU T4 was determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting.The expression of GLUT4 mRN A was determined by semiquantitative Northern blotting. Results: Dramatic changes were seen in GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 expression in the ischemic hearts.After infusing insulin for 8 h,regional GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 levels in is chemic hearts were 2.5, 2.3-fold that of expression in normal hearts(P<0.01 ). Myocardial glucose uptake in ischemic hearts was increased by 4-fold when co mpared with normal hearts(P<0.01). Conclusion: There are not only additive effects of hyperinsulinemia and low-flow ischemia on canine myoc ardial GLUT4 mRNA and GLUT4 expression in vivo, but also increase of myocar dial glucose uptake. Enhanced GLUT4 expression may be an important protective m echanism by which myocardial cells enhance glucose uptake and metabolism during low-flow ischemia.

Objective: To investigate the changes of myo cardial contractile function during myocardial stunning in calcium overload rats and the protective effects of tetrandrine. Methods: Forty-six rats were randomized into control, myocardial ischemia, myocardial stunning, low and high dose of tetrandrine groups. Another 10 rats were used to identify the calcium overload. vitamin D3 (0.3 million Unit/kg) and nicotinic acid were adm inistered. After 16 d when calcium overload occured, left anterior descending ar tery was ligated. Twenty minutes of myocardial ischemia followed by 60 min of re perfusion was induced. The contractile function parameters were determined dynam ically. At the end of experiment, myocardial cytosolic ［Ca2+］i was deter mined in various groups. In tetrandrine groups, tetrandrine (62.2 or 93.6 μmol/ kg ) was administered by gastrogavage daily.After 16 d, the rats undergone the e xperiments mentioned above. Results: Sixteen days after vitamin D3 , nicotinic acid were given, ［Ca2+］i increased by 2.6 folds (146.8±10.8 ) vs (368.5±22.6) nmol/L, (P<0.01). Whereas, ［Ca2+］i in tetrand rine groups were (210.8±16.4) and (198.6±15.3) nmol/L, which were significantl y lower than that of calcium overload group. Twenty minutes of myocardial ische mia resulted in the decrease of dp/dtmax and Vmax in all groups with the most si gnificant in stunning and calcium overload groups. The contractile function rest ored gradually after reperfusion. At all time points, dp/dtmax and Vmax in both tetrandrine groups were higher than those in both stunning and calcium overload groups. And effect with higher dose of tetrandrine were more significant than in low dose of tetrandrine. After 60 min of reperfusion, dp/dtmax in stunning, cal cium overload, low and high dose of tetrandrine groups were 49.7%, 51.5%, 71.0% and 83.4% of that in control, respectively， and Vmax were 55.0%, 49.8%, 73.9% and 77.5% of that in control, respectively. Conclusion: T he myocardial contractile function in vitamin D3-induced calcium overload gro up is impaired. On basis of myocardiocyte calcium overload, transient ischemia l eads to myocardial stunning. At the stage of ischemia, the impaired degree of my ocardial contractile function is similar to that in stunning group, suggesting a t this stage the effect of ischemia on myocardial function is greater than that of calcium overload. Tetrandrine chronically improves the myocardial function in Vitamin D3-induced calcium overload rats.

Objective: To observe the effect of L-carniti ne (L-CN) in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Meth ods: Fifty-six cases of chronic CHF randomly received routine treatment (Digitalis, diuretics, vasodilator, ACEI or βblocker) or L-CN (3.0 g/d ,V D×10 d) with routine therapy. Results: The treatment efficiency of L-CN group and control group were 89.3% and 60.7% (P<0.01), respect ively. No adverse reactions related to the drug were observed. Conclusio n: L-CN with routine therapy might be a safe way to the treat CHF.