Association between high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein,lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 and carotid atherosclerosis: A cross‐sectional study

High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) have been reported to be independent predictors of atherosclerosis. However, whether the combination of these two markers can improve the prediction of atherosclerosis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between combining hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 and predicting carotid atherosclerosis. A total of 1982 participants aged ≥40 years were included in this study. Hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 were measured by a high‐sensitivity nephelometry assay and quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Ultrasonography was performed on the bilateral carotid arteries to evaluate stenosis and plaques. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between the combination of the hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels and carotid plaques and stenosis. A total of 1579 (79.7%) and 181 (9.1%) subjects had carotid plaques and carotid stenosis, respectively. The group with high hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels had the highest prevalence of carotid plaques (90.6%) and stenosis (20.8%). A significant association was found between high hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 levels and carotid stenosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13‐5.09), but this combination was not associated with carotid plaques (OR: 2.62, 95% CI: 0.93‐7.38). The results suggested that the combination of hs‐CRP and Lp‐PLA2 were better predictors than either protein alone with regard to carotid atherosclerosis.     

对6个国外城市街道规划设计导则的解析——“如何规划步行友好的城市街道开放空间？”

本文将“如何通过街道规划设计,营建步行友好的城市开放空间环境,提高居民生活质量？”作为研究视角,抽取了6个国外城市街道规划设计导则中与“如何规划设计步行友好的城市开放空间？”密切相关的内容,根据相关导则编制的逻辑将内容进行提炼、归纳和重组。针对中国通过改善街道步行环境建设高品质城市的诉求以及相关导则中缺少对使用者需求关注的现状,提出了将需求调查纳入规划规定环节、从环境特征角度出发进行街道分类与定位、关注地域特征与集约性生态设施的环境营造方法以及提升步行道功能多样性和空间相容性的建议。     

[反]-β-法尼烯合成酶基因在植物抗蚜分子育种中的应用

蚜虫是重要的农业害虫,每年造成数以亿计的经济损失。[反]-β-法尼烯[(E)-β-farnesene,EβF]是绝大多数蚜虫报警信息素的主要成分,可使蚜虫产生骚动、从植株上脱落,并吸引蚜虫天敌,有效控制蚜虫危害。EβF合成酶是催化合成EβF的关键酶,目前该基因已从薄荷、香橙、花旗松、黄花蒿、洋甘菊等植物中得到分离鉴定。植物中表达EβF合成酶基因以催化法呢基焦磷酸(Farnesyl diphosphate,FPP)合成EβF是控制蚜虫危害的重要策略。文中概括了当前植物抗蚜转基因研究现状,综述了植物EβF合成酶基因及其在植物抗蚜分子育种中的应用。针对当前转基因植物的EβF生成量较低等问题,展望了EβF合成酶基因在植物抗蚜分子育种中的应用前景和研究策略。     

茶条槭自然种群种子和果实表型多样性研究

为探析茶条槭(Acer ginnala)种子和果实表型差异程度及变异规律,该研究采用巢式方差分析、主成分分析、聚类分析等方法,对茶条槭主要分布区内7个种群种子和果实的12个表型性状进行比较研究,分析茶条槭种群间和种群内的表型多样性以及与地理生态因子的关系。结果表明:除种子长/宽(SLW)外,其它11个表型性状在茶条槭种群间和种群内均具有显著差异;各性状平均变异系数(CV)为13.90%,变异幅度为8.14%～32.08%;种群间翅果性状的平均变异系数(15.63%)高于种子性状的平均变异系数(8.71%),表明种子性状的稳定性高于果实性状。主成份分析中,果实形态特征对茶条槭种群表型的贡献率大于种子贡献率。种群间表型分化系数为35.47%,说明种群内变异(64.53%)大于种群间变异(35.47%),暗示变异主要来源于种群内变异。茶条槭种子和果实表型性状受地理生态因子影响较小,主要受自身遗传因素的影响。基于种群间欧式距离的聚类分析将茶条槭7个种群分为2大支,没有严格按照地理距离而聚类,表明茶条槭种群表型性状变异的不连续性。茶条槭不同种群种子和果实具有较高的表型多样性,与其分布范围和生物学特性有关。     

LncRNA-135528 inhibits tumor progression by up-regulating CXCL10 through the JAK/STAT pathway

Spontaneous tumor regression can be observed in many tumors, however, studies related to the altered expression of lncRNA in spontaneous glioma regression are limited, and the potential contributions of lncRNAs to spontaneous glioma regression remain unknown. To investigate the biological roles of lncRNA-135528 in spontaneous glioma regression. The cDNA fragment of lncRNA-135528 was obtained by rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology and cloned into the plvx-mcmv-zsgreen-puro vector. Additionally, we stably silenced or overexpressed lncRNA-135528 in G422 cells by transfecting with siRNA against lncRNA-135528 or lncRNA-135528 overexpression plasmid. Then, we examined lncRNA-135528 overexpressing and lncRNA-135528 silencing on glioma cells and its effects on CXCL10 and JAK/STAT pathways. The main findings indicated that lncRNA-135528 promoted glioma cell apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle progression; the up-regulation of lncRNA135528 led to significantly increased CXCL10 levels and the differential expression of mRNA associated with JAK/STAT pathway in glioma cells. lncRNA-135528 can inhibit tumor progression by up-regulating CXCL10 through the JAK/STAT pathway.     

2011年、2013年和2016年医院内获得性血流感染常见病原菌分布及其耐药性分析

动态监测2011年、2013年和2016年我国不同地区医院内获得性血流感染病原菌分布及耐药进展趋势。从全国10个城市回顾性收集血流感染病原菌非重复性株,采用琼脂稀释法或微量肉汤稀释法进行药物敏感性试验,采用Whonet 5.6软件对药敏试验结果进行分析。收集的2 248株血流感染病原菌中革兰阴性杆菌为1 657株 (占73.7%),革兰阳性球菌为591株 (占26.3%)。分离率排名前五的病原菌依次为大肠埃希菌 (32.6%,733株/2 248株)、肺炎克雷伯菌 (14.5%,327株/2 248株)、金黄色葡萄球菌 (10.0%,225株/2 248株)、鲍曼不动杆菌 (8.7%,196株/ 2 248株) 和铜绿假单胞菌 (6.2%,140株/2 248株)。血流感染分离的革兰阴性杆菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为粘菌素 (96.5%,1 525株/1 581株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、替加环素 (95.6%,1 375株/1 438株,不包括天然耐药菌株)、头孢他啶/克拉维酸 (89.2%,1 112株/1 246株)、阿米卡星 (86.4%,1 382株/1 599株) 和美罗培南 (85.7%,1 376株/1 605株);革兰阳性球菌对抗菌药物体外敏感率较高的抗菌药物依次为替加环素、替考拉宁和达托霉素 (敏感率均为100.0%)、万古霉素和利奈唑胺 (敏感率均为99.7%)。2011年、2013年和2016年产超广谱β-内酰胺酶肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为50.6% (206株/407株)、49.8% (136株/273株) 和38.9% (167株/429株);碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌分离率分别为2.2% (9株/408株)、4.0% (16株/402株) 和3.9% (17株/ 439株);多重耐药鲍曼不动杆菌分离率分别为76.4% (55株/72株)、82.7% (43株/52株) 和87.5% (63株/72株),多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌分离率分别为9.8% (5株/51株)、20.0% (7株/35株) 和13.0% (7株/54株);甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌的分离率分别为51.9% (41株/79株)、29.7% (19株/64株) 和31.7% (26株/82株)。屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌中高水平庆大霉素耐药株分离率分别为43.2% (48株/111株) 和40.9% (27株/66株)。碳青霉烯不敏感肠杆菌科细菌中肺炎克雷伯菌居首位,占57.1% (24株/42株) 。肠杆菌科细菌中分离出30株替加环素不敏感株,其中肺炎克雷伯菌占76.7% (23株/30株);分离出粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌39株,其中大肠埃希菌、阴沟肠杆菌和肺炎克雷伯菌分别占43.6% (17株/39株)、35.9% (14株/39株) 和15.4% (6株/39株)。医院获得性血流感染病原菌主要为革兰阴性杆菌 (以大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌为主),其对替加环素、粘菌素和碳青霉烯类药物的敏感率较高;革兰阳性球菌中分离率最高的为金黄色葡萄球菌,其次为屎肠球菌,这两种细菌对替加环素、达托霉素、利奈唑胺、万古霉素和替考拉宁的敏感率较高。粘菌素耐药肠杆菌科细菌、替加环素不敏感肠杆菌科细菌、利奈唑胺或万古霉素不敏感革兰阳性球菌的分离,警示临床高度关注,仍需动态监测耐药进展趋势。     

Effects of Litter Inputs on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Emissions from a Tropical Rainforest in Southwest China

Litter inputs are expected to have a strong impact on soil N₂O efflux. This study aimed to assess the effects of the litter decomposition process and nutrient efflux from litter to soil on soil N₂O efflux in a tropical rainforest. A paired study with a control (L) treatment and a litter-removed (NL) treatment was followed for 2 years, continuously monitoring the effects of these treatments on soil N₂O efflux, fresh litter input, decomposed litter carbon (LCI) and nitrogen (LNI), soil nitrate (NO₃ ^?–N), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺–N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved nitrogen (DN). Soil N₂O flux was 0.48 and 0.32 kg N₂O–N ha^?1 year^?1 for the L and NL treatments, respectively. Removing the litter caused a decrease in the annual soil N₂O emission by 33%. The flux values from the litter layer were higher in the rainy season as compared to the dry season (2.10 ± 0.28 vs. 1.44 ± 0.35 μg N m^?2 h^?1). The N₂O fluxes were significantly correlated with the soil NO₃ ^?–N contents (P < 0.05), indicating that the N₂O emission was derived mainly from denitrification as well as other NO₃ ^? reduction processes. Suitable soil temperature and moisture sustained by rainfall were jointly attributed to the higher soil N₂O fluxes of both treatments in the rainy season. The N₂O fluxes from the L were mainly regulated by LCI, whereas those from the NL were dominated jointly by soil NO₃ ^? content and temperature. The effects of LCI and LNI on the soil N₂O fluxes were the greatest in the 2 months after litter decomposition. Our results show that litter may affect not only the variability in the quantity of N₂O emitted, but also the mechanisms that govern N₂O production. However, further studies are still required to elucidate the impacting mechanisms of litter decomposition on N₂O emission from tropical forests.     

Agreement between parent-reports and child self-reports of sleep problems in Chinese children

Sleep problems are major concerns for parents, health professionals, and children and youths themselves. For assessing sleep problems, both parent and child reports are important, with each having its unique features. However, little is known about the correlates of the agreement between parent and child self-reports. This study evaluated the agreement between the youth self-report sleep questionnaire (YSRSQ) and the parent-reported children’s sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) and assessed the associated sociodemographic factors, as well as the underlying discrepancies. The participants included 3143 pairs of Chinese preadolescents (mean age = 11.03, SD = 0.98) and parents. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), daytime sleepiness, and parasomnia were assessed by both the YSRSQ and CSHQ. Significant but low correlations were present between parent report and preadolescent self-report items on SDB problems, daytime sleepiness, and parasomnias. Although the agreement between SDB symptoms and parasomnias was stronger for girls than for boys, the degree of concordance between SDB symptoms and parasomnia increased with preadolescent age, with the highest agreement achieved among preadolescents aged 12 years or older for SDB problems and 11 years or older for parasomnias. Findings underscore the importance of utilizing both parental and preadolescent self-reports in accurately assessing and diagnosing sleep impairment in pediatric samples.

     

Peptidoglycan hydrolysis mediated by the amidase AmiC and its LytM activator NlpD is critical for cell separation and virulence in the phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris

The essential stages of bacterial cell separation are described as the synthesis and hydrolysis of septal peptidoglycan (PG). The amidase, AmiC, which cleaves the peptide side‐chains linked to the glycan strands, contributes critically to this process and has been studied extensively in model strains of Escherichia coli. However, insights into the contribution of this protein to other processes in the bacterial cell have been limited. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a phytopathogen that causes black rot disease in many economically important plants. We investigated how AmiC and LytM family regulators, NlpD and EnvC, contribute to virulence and cell separation in this organism. Biochemical analyses of purified AmiC demonstrated that it could hydrolyse PG and its activity could be potentiated by the presence of the regulator NlpD. We also established that deletion of the genes encoding amiC1 or nlpD led to a reduction in virulence as well as effects on colony‐forming units and cell morphology. Moreover, further genetic and biochemical evidence showed that AmiC1 and NlpD affect the secretion of type III effector XC3176 and hypersensitive response (HR) induction in planta. These findings indicate that, in addition to their well‐studied role(s) in cell separation, AmiC and NlpD make an important contribution to the type III secretion (T3S) and virulence regulation in this important plant pathogen.