Synthesis and Application of Negatively Charged PNA Analogues

Negatively charged DNA mimics containing phosphonate analogues of peptide nucleic acids were designed, and their physicochemical and biological properties were evaluated in the comparison with natural oligonucleotides, classical peptide nucleic acids, and morpholino phosphorodiamidate oligonucleotide analogues. The results obtained revealed a high potential of phosphonate-containing PNA derivatives for a number of biological applications, such as diagnostic, nucleic acids analysis, and inhibition of gene expression.     

Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) Testing

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) therapy is sometimes used as a treatment for various common skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne, and eczema. The dosage of UV light is prescribed according to an individual''s skin sensitivity. Thus, to establish the proper dosage of UV light to administer to a patient, the patient is sometimes screened to determine a minimal erythema dose (MED), which is the amount of UV radiation that will produce minimal erythema (sunburn or redness caused by engorgement of capillaries) of an individual''s skin within a few hours following exposure. This article describes how to conduct minimal erythema dose (MED) testing. There is currently no easy way to determine an appropriate UV dose for clinical or research purposes without conducting formal MED testing, requiring observation hours after testing, or informal trial and error testing with the risks of under- or over-dosing. However, some alternative methods are discussed.     

丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物叶细胞形态特征及其系统学意义

通过光学显微镜（LM）和扫描电镜（SEM）观察了17属国产丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物叶中上部细胞的形态特征,结果表明：丛藓科植物的叶中上部细胞的形状、大小及表面形态等特征上具较大相似性;据细胞表面特征,叶细胞可分为无疣或具乳突、具圆疣以及具分枝的马蹄形疣3种类型,且该特征在丛藓科不同属、种间有较大的区别。因此,叶细胞形态特征可为丛藓科植物属级和亚科级的划分提供细胞形态学依据。     

Diterpenoid alkaloids with chemotaxonomic significance from Aconitum spathulatum

Diterpenoid alkaloids have been acknowledged as of chemotaxonomic significance in plants from the genus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae). Phytochemical investigation on the Aconitum spathulatum W. T. Wang, an endemic Aconitum species in China, has led to the isolation of twelve C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds are summarized.     

The relationship between the presence of ADHD and certain candidate gene polymorphisms in a Turkish sample

Due to the high heritability of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parents of children with ADHD appear to represent a good sample group for investigating the genetics of the disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ADHD and six polymorphisms in five candidate genes [5-HT2A (rs6311), NET1 (rs2242447), COMT (rs4818), NTF3 (rs6332), SNAP-25 (rs3746544) and (rs1051312)]. We included 228 parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and 109 healthy parents as the control group. The polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays and analyzed using the chi-square test and the multinomial logit model. SNAP-25 (rs3746544) polymorphism was associated with loading for ADHD, while 5-HT2A (rs6311) and NET1 (rs2242447) polymorphisms were associated with ADHD. On the other hand, there was no significant association between the SNAP-25 (rs1051312), NTF3 (rs6332), or COMT (rs4818) gene polymorphisms and ADHD.     

Differences Between Men and Women in Ambulatory Blood Pressure Thresholds for Diagnosis of Hypertension Based on Cardiovascular Outcomes

Previous studies have reported sex differences in the pathophysiology of hypertension and responses to blood pressure (BP)-lowering medications. Moreover, men exhibit typically higher BP than women, the differences being greater for systolic (SBP) than diastolic (DBP) BP. These differences become apparent during adolescence and remain significant at least until 55–60 yrs of age. Despite such significant sex-related differences in BP regulation, the current recommended ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) thresholds for diagnosis of hypertension do not differentiate between men and women. We aimed to derive separate male and female diagnostic thresholds for the awake and asleep SBP and DBP means based upon cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcome. We prospectively studied 3344 subjects (1718 men/1626 women), 52.6?±?14.5 yrs of age, during a median follow-up of 5.6 yrs. Those with hypertension at baseline were randomized to ingest all their prescribed hypertension medications upon awakening or the entire daily dose of ≥1 of them at bedtime. At baseline, BP was measured at 20-min intervals from 07:00 to 23:00?h and at 30-min intervals at night for 48?h, and physical activity was simultaneously monitored every minute by wrist actigraphy to accurately derive the awake and asleep BP means. Identical assessment was scheduled annually and more frequently (quarterly) if treatment adjustment was required. Cox regression analysis was used to derive outcome-based reference thresholds for ABPM in men and women. Men exhibited greater event rates than women of CVD death, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary revascularization, and heart failure; however, event rates of non-CVD death and cerebrovascular events were comparable. The relationship between progressively higher ambulatory BP and CVD risk increased more rapidly in women than men for awake SBP/DBP means ≥125/75?mm Hg and asleep means ≥110/70?mm Hg. The derived outcome-based reference thresholds for men were 135/85?mm Hg for the awake and 120/70?mm Hg for the asleep SBP/DBP means. In terms of CVD outcome, the equivalent cutoff threshold values for women were 125/80?mm Hg for the awake and 110/65?mm Hg for the asleep SBP/DBP means. Outcome-based reference thresholds for the diagnosis of hypertension were 10/5?mm Hg lower for ambulatory SBP/DBP in women than men. This marked sex difference indicates the need for revision of current guidelines that propose diagnostic thresholds for ambulatory BP without differentiation between men and women. (Author correspondence: rhermida@uvigo.es)     

Multi-test analysis and model-based estimation of the prevalence of Taenia saginata cysticercus infection in naturally infected dairy cows in the absence of a ‘gold standard’ reference test

The diagnostic values of seven serological tests (ELISAs) and of the obligatory European Union-approved routine visual meat inspection for the detection of Taenia saginata cysticercosis were investigated. A total of 793 slaughtered dairy cows were selected in three European Union approved abattoirs in Switzerland, an endemic area (apparent prevalence by enhanced meat inspection up to 4.5%) with typically low parasite burdens. ELISAs based on a somatic larval antigen, isoelectric focused somatic larval antigen, larval excretory/secretory antigens, peptide HP6-2, peptide Ts45S-10, pooled peptide solution and a monoclonal antibody antigen capture assay were initially screened. As there is no perfect diagnostic ‘gold standard’ reference test, the obligatory meat inspection and four selected serological tests were further analysed using Bayesian inference to estimate the “true” prevalence and the diagnostic test sensitivities and specificities. The ELISA for specific antibody detection based on excretory/secretory antigens showed highest sensitivity and specificity with 81.6% (95% credible interval: 70–92) and 96.3% (95% credible interval: 94–99), respectively. The Bayesian model estimated the specificity of the ELISA, based on the synthetic peptide Ts45S-10 as 55.2% (95% credible interval: 46–65) and sensitivity as 84.7% (95% credible interval: 82–88). The sensitivity of the ELISA based on mAbs, detecting circulating antigen, was 14.3% (95% credible interval: 9–23) with a specificity of 93.7% (95% credible interval: 92–96). The diagnostic sensitivity of the obligatory standard European Union meat inspection procedure for the detection of T. saginata cysticercus infection at the abattoir was estimated to be 15.6% (95% credible interval: 10–23). Based on these data, the modelled prevalence of cysticercosis in dairy cows presented at abattoirs in Switzerland was estimated to be 16.5% (95% credible interval: 13–21). These cattle also had a high prevalence of infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum (60.8%) and Fasciola hepatica (13.5%).     

microRNAs在肝细胞癌中的调控机制及临床应用

microRNA（miRNA）在人类恶性肿瘤的发生发展过程中起着重要作用。近期研究表明,miRNA通过结合特定靶标参与调控肝细胞癌（hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC）的发生,可作为辅助生物标志物用于指导肝细胞癌的诊断和治疗,并为有效地监控和预防肝病提供了新途径。寻找miRNA靶标,阐明miRNA参与肝癌发生的调控机理,有利于肝癌的临床靶向基因治疗。通过总结miRNA在肝细胞癌中的调控机制及临床应用的研究进展,为寻找肝细胞癌早期诊断的生物标志物及介入治疗的靶点提供了参考。     

自动乳腺全容积扫描联合乳腺钼靶摄影在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值

目的：探讨自动乳腺全容积扫描（automated breast volume scanner,ABVS）联合乳腺钼靶摄影在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值。方法：观察随访130例就诊我科的乳腺疾病患者,进行ABVS、传统超声和乳腺钼靶检查。结果：130例患者中ABVS的疾病单独诊断准确率为91．5％（119／130）,传统乳腺超声的单独诊断准确率为84．6％（110／130）,乳腺钼靶的单独诊断准确率为86．9％（113／130）,而ABVS联合乳腺钼靶应用的诊断准确率为95．4％（124／130）,明显优于两者单独应用,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：ABVS是一种全新的乳腺检查方法,较传统乳腺超声、乳腺钼靶具有较高的疾病诊断准确率,而ABVS联合乳腺钼靶可以显著提高诊断的准确率,值得在临床推广。     

慢性牙周炎患者龈沟液中IL-8 和TNF-alpha水平变化及临床意义

目的：探讨慢性牙周炎患者龈沟液中白细胞介素-8（IL-8）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平变化及临床意义,为临床诊疗提 供参考。方法：选择2013 年12 月到2015 年12 月我院收治的60 例慢性牙周炎患者为实验组,选择同期60 例牙周健康者为对照 组。对照组对象于体检时、实验组患者于牙周常规治疗前后收集龈沟液并记录牙龈指数（GI）、牙龈沟出血指数（SBI）、菌斑指数 （PLI）、牙周袋探诊深度（PD）、临床附着丧失（CAL）等牙周临床指标。测量并比较两组对象龈沟液中IL-8 和TNF-α水平。结果：实 验组患者治疗前GI、SBI、PLI、PD 及CAL 等牙周临床指标均明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;治疗后,实验组患 者各牙周临床指标明显低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,但与对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。实验组患者治疗 前龈沟液中IL-8 和TNF-α水平均明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;治疗后,实验组患者龈沟液中IL-8 和TNF-alpha水 平均明显低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。实验组患者治疗前龈沟液中IL-8 水平与牙周临床指标PD 呈正相关性（r=0. 495,P=0.027）,TNF-α水平与牙周临床指标SBI、PD 呈正相关性（r=0.512,0.673;P=0.019,0.012）。结论：慢性牙周炎患者龈沟液中 IL-8 和TNF-α具有较高水平,两者可能与慢性牙周炎的发生发展有关,对于临床诊断慢性牙周炎具有积极的临床意义。