Detecting Dysglycemia Using the 2015 United States Preventive Services Task Force Screening Criteria: A Cohort Analysis of Community Health Center Patients

BackgroundIn 2015, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended targeted screening for prediabetes and diabetes (dysglycemia) in adults who are aged 40 to 70 y old and overweight or obese. Given increasing prevalence of dysglycemia at younger ages and lower body weight, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities, we sought to determine whether the current screening criteria may fail to identify some high-risk population subgroups.ConclusionsTargeted diabetes screening based on new USPSTF criteria may detect approximately half of adult community health center patients with undiagnosed dysglycemia and proportionately fewer racial/ethnic minorities than whites. Future research is needed to estimate the performance of these screening criteria in population-based samples.     

杜仲内生真菌DZ05的鉴定及抗菌生物活性研究

结合菌株的形态学特征和ITS序列分析结果,对1株分离自杜仲茎部的内生真菌菌株DZ05进行鉴定,并对其在PDA液体培养基摇床培养3 d获得的发酵液对多种测试菌进行抗菌活性研究。结果显示:(1)分离自杜仲茎部的内生真菌菌株DZ05经形态学特征和ITS序列分析,被鉴定为淡紫色拟青霉。(2)其发酵液的乙酸乙酯提取物对6种测试细菌和9种测试植物病原菌均具有明显的抑菌活性,抑菌圈直径在13～45 mm之间,其中对番茄灰霉病菌、番茄叶霉病菌和苹果炭疽病菌抑菌圈直径＞40 mm。研究表明,杜仲内生真菌DZ05的代谢产物具有广谱的抗菌活性,在植物病原菌的生物防治领域具有较大的应用前景。     

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of tyr and tyrp1 genes in normal and albino yellow catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco

The full‐length complementary DNA of two genes related to vertebrate albinism, the tyrosinase gene tyr and tyrosinase‐related protein 1 gene tyrp1, were cloned and analysed from normal and albino yellow catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco. The open reading frames (ORF) of tyr and tyrp1 encode putative peptides of 533 and 526 amino acids (amino‐acid), both of which possess two conserved copper binding sites. The homologous identities of deduced amino‐acid sequences showed that both Tyr and Tyrp1 of T. fulvidraco share considerable similarity with that of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Both tyr and tyrp1 were expressed in a wide range of adult tissues. Tyr gene had the highest expression level in the brain of both normal and albino T. fulvidraco. Tyrp1 had the highest expression level in the skin of normal groups, and the fin of albino groups. The messenger (m)RNA expressions of tyr and tyrp1 were detectable at different early developmental stages and varied with embryonic and larval growth. Tyr and tyrp1 mRNA have obvious tissue specificity both in normal and albino T. fulvidraco and higher expression levels were detected in the normal group revealing that tyr and tyrp1 may have an important role in pigmentation. These results will provide useful data for understanding the molecular mechanism of melanin formation and the occurrence of albinism in T. fulvidraco.     

Disulfides of the lutropin receptor

Affinity cross-linking of the lutropin receptor with 125I-human choriogonadotropin (hCG) on porcine granulosa cells produced four distinct homone-receptor complexes under reducing conditions. They contain 18-, 24-, 28-, and 34-kDa components (Ji, I., Bock, J. H., and Ji, T. H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 12815-12821). Photoaffinity labeling and cross-linking produced 136-, 102-, and 74-kDa hCG-receptor complexes under reducing conditions and the 136-kDa complex under nonreducing conditions. In addition, the unreduced 102-kDa complex was seen in photoaffinity labeling but not in cross-linking. When the unreduced 136-kDa complex was reduced, the 102- and 74-kDa complexes were generated, indicating release of the 34- and the 28-kDa components in two steps. When the unreduced 102-kDa complex was reduced, the 74-kDa complex was produced, indicating the release of a 28-kDa component. The 74-kDa complex could not be reduced but was cleaved by alkaline treatment to produce the hCG alpha beta dimer. The results indicate that the 24-kDa component is released from the 74-kDa complex, since the apparent mass of the hCG alpha beta dimer on gels is 50 kDa. The 24-kDa component appears to be the initial site for photoaffinity labeling or cross-linking and to be disulfide linked to the 28-kDa component which is in turn disulfide linked to the 34-kDa component. These intercomponent disulfides exist in some receptors but not all. Formation of the disulfide-linked 136-kDa band required the presence of a sulfhydryl-blocking agent, N-ethylmaleimide. In particular, the 34-kDa component was vulnerable to reduction. There was no significant evidence of disulfides between the hormone and any of the receptor components.     

Red And far‐red regulation of filament movement correlates with the expression of phytochrome and FHY1 genes in Spirogyra varians (Zygnematales,Streptophyta)1

Spirogyra filaments show unique photomovement that differs in response to blue, red, and far‐red light. Phototropins involved in the blue‐light movement have been characterized together with downstream signaling components, but the photoreceptors and mechanical effectors of red‐ and far‐red light movement are not yet characterized. The filaments of Spirogyra varians slowly bent and aggregated to form a tangled mass in red light. In far‐red light, the filaments unbent, stretched rapidly, and separated from each other. Mannitol and/or sorbitol treatment significantly inhibited this far‐red light movement suggesting that turgor pressure is the driving force of this movement. The bending and aggregating movements of filaments in red light were not affected by osmotic change. Three phytochrome homologues isolated from S. varians showed unique phylogenetic characteristics. Two canonical phytochromes, named SvPHY1 and SvPHY2, and a noncanonical phytochrome named SvPHYX2. SvPHY1 is the first PHY1 family phytochrome reported in zygnematalean algae. The gene involved in the transport of phytochromes into the nucleus was characterized, and its expression in response to red and far‐red light was measured using quantitative PCR. Our results suggest that the phytochromes and the genes involved in the transport system into the nucleus are well conserved in S. varians.     

A photosynthesis-inspired supramolecular system: caging photosensitizer and photocatalyst in apoferritin

Photosynthesis Research - Inspired by the bioinorganic structure of natural [FeFe]-hydrogenase ([FeFe]-H2ase) that possesses iron sulfur clusters to catalyze proton reduction to hydrogen (H2), we...     

The role of IL-21 in hematological malignancies

IL-21, the newest member of the common γ-chain family of cytokines, has pleiotropic biological effects through regulating a variety of immune cells. Recently, the role of IL-21 in the treatment of cancers has been widely investigated. Conducted phase I trials in metastatic malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma have shown that rIL-21 has a favorable antitumor activity. Expression of IL-21 and IL-21R has also been found in many types of hematological malignancies, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphoma. Through binding with IL-21R, IL-21 induces activation of different JAK/STAT signal transduction pathways and regulates proliferation or apoptosis of tumor cells. In this review, we will discuss the expression of IL-21/IL-21R and its effect in different types of hematological malignancies.     

Microbial 2,3-butanediol production: a state-of-the-art review

2,3-Butanediol is a promising bulk chemical due to its extensive industry applications. The state-of-the-art nature of microbial 2,3-butanediol production is reviewed in this paper. Various strategies for efficient and economical microbial 2,3-butanediol production, including strain improvement, substrate alternation, and process development, are reviewed and compared with regard to their pros and cons. This review also summarizes value added derivatives of biologically produced 2,3-butanediol and different strategies for downstream processing. The future prospects of microbial 2,3-butanediol production are discussed in light of the current progress, challenges, and trends in this field. Guidelines for future studies are also proposed.