Altered Pattern of Spontaneous Brain Activity in the Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study with Regional Homogeneity Analysis

Purpose

To investigate the pattern of spontaneous neural activity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with and without neurocognitive dysfunction using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) with a regional homogeneity (ReHo) algorithm.

Materials and Methods

rs-fMRI data were acquired in 36 ESRD patients (minimal nephro-encephalopathy [MNE], n = 19, 13 male, 37±12.07 years; non-nephro-encephalopathy [non-NE], n = 17, 11 male, 38±12.13 years) and 20 healthy controls (13 male, 7 female, 36±10.27 years). Neuropsychological (number connection test type A [NCT-A], digit symbol test [DST]) and laboratory tests were performed in all patients. The Kendall''s coefficient of concordance (KCC) was used to measure the regional homogeneity for each subject. The regional homogeneity maps were compared using ANOVA tests among MNE, non-NE, and healthy control groups and post hoc t -tests between each pair in a voxel-wise way. A multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between ReHo index and NCT-A, DST scores, serum creatinine and urea levels, disease and dialysis duration.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, both MNE and non-NE patients showed decreased ReHo in the multiple areas of bilateral frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. Compared with the non-NE, MNE patients showed decreased ReHo in the right inferior parietal lobe (IPL), medial frontal cortex (MFC) and left precuneus (PCu). The NCT-A scores and serum urea levels of ESRD patients negatively correlated with ReHo values in the frontal and parietal lobes, while DST scores positively correlated with ReHo values in the bilateral PCC/precuneus, MFC and inferior parietal lobe (IPL) (all P<0.05, AlphaSim corrected). No significant correlations were found between any regional ReHo values and disease duration, dialysis duration and serum creatinine values in ESRD patients (all P>0.05, AlphaSim corrected).

Conclusion

Diffused decreased ReHo values were found in both MNE and non-NE patients. The progressively decreased ReHo in the default mode network (DMN), frontal and parietal lobes might be trait-related in MNE. The ReHo analysis may be potentially valuable for elucidating neurocognitive abnormalities of ESRD patients and detecting the development from non-NE to MNE.     

微杆菌Sneb159杀线虫活性物质的分离与鉴定

【目的】有关Microbacterium maritypicum在植物线虫生物防治方面的研究较少,探究菌株M. maritypicum Sneb159的杀线虫活性,明确菌株发酵液中具有杀线虫活性的物质,为生物农药的开发提供理论依据。【方法】本研究检测了菌株Sneb159发酵液对大豆胞囊线虫二龄幼虫的触杀活性;并以触杀活性为追踪,采用有机溶剂萃取、硅胶柱层析及半制备高效液相色谱等技术对菌株Sneb159发酵滤液中的活性物质进行分离纯化;采用核磁共振波谱对纯化物进行结构鉴定。【结果】菌株Sneb159具有杀线虫活性,在24 h和48 h处理组中线虫的死亡率均显著高于对照组。从菌株Sneb159发酵滤液中分离得到杀线虫活性物质A6,经结构鉴定确定该物质为苯乙酰胺。【结论】首次发现M. maritypicum对大豆胞囊线虫的触杀作用,并且明确活性物质为苯乙酰胺。结果表明菌株M. maritypicum Sneb159和苯乙酰胺在大豆胞囊线虫的生物防治方面具有较好的应用潜力。     

Effects of BmCPV Infection on Silkworm Bombyx mori Intestinal Bacteria

The gut microbiota has a crucial role in the growth, development and environmental adaptation in the host insect. The objective of our work was to investigate the microbiota of the healthy silkworm Bombyx mori gut and changes after the infection of B. mori cypovirus (BmCPV). Intestinal contents of the infected and healthy larvae of B. mori of fifth instar were collected at 24, 72 and 144 h post infection with BmCPV. The gut bacteria were analyzed by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. 147(135) and 113(103) genera were found in the gut content of the healthy control female (male) larvae and BmCPV-infected female (male) larvae, respectively. In general, the microbial communities in the gut content of healthy larvae were dominated by Enterococcus, Delftia, Pelomonas, Ralstonia and Staphylococcus, however the abundance change of each genus was depended on the developmental stage and gender. Microbial diversity reached minimum at 144 h of fifth instar larvae. The abundance of Enterococcus in the females was substantially lower and the abundance of Delftia, Aurantimonas and Staphylococcus was substantially higher compared to the males. Bacterial diversity in the intestinal contents decreased after post infection with BmCPV, whereas the abundance of both Enterococcus and Staphylococcus which belongs to Gram-positive were increased. Therefore, our findings suggested that observed changes in relative abundance was related to the immune response of silkworm to BmCPV infection. Relevance analysis of plenty of the predominant genera showed the abundance of the Enterococcus genus was in negative correlation with the abundance of the most predominant genera. These results provided insight into the relationship between the gut microbiota and development of the BmCPV-infected silkworm.     

Set Configuration in Resistance Exercise: Muscle Fatigue and Cardiovascular Effects

Purpose

Cardiovascular responses of traditional resistance (TS) training have been extensively explored. However, the fatigue mechanisms associated with an intra-set rest configuration (ISR) have not been investigated. This study compares two modalities of set configurations for resistance exercise that equates work to rest ratios and measures the central and peripheral fatigue in combination with cortical, hemodynamic and cardiovascular measures.

Methods

11 subjects performed two isometric knee extension training sessions using TS and ISR configurations. Voluntary activation (VA), single twitch amplitude, low frequency fatigue (LFF), Mwave, motor evoked potential (MEP), short intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF) and heart rate variability were evaluated before and after each training session. During each session beat to beat heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure product (RPP) were also evaluated.

Results

After exercise VA decreased significantly for TS but not for ISR (P < 0.001), single twitch amplitude and LFF values were lower for TS than ISR (P < 0.004), and SICI was reduced only for the TS configuration (P = 0.049). During exercise RPP values were significantly higher for the TS than for ISR (P = 0.001). RPP correlated with VA for TS (r = -.85 P < 0.001) suggesting a relationship between central fatigue and cardiovascular stress.

Conclusions

We conclude that ISR induced lower central and peripheral fatigue as well as lower cardiovascular stress in comparison with TS configuration. Our study suggests that set configuration is a key factor in the regulation of the neuromuscular and cardiovascular responses of resistance training.     

Expression Profiles of Long Noncoding RNAs and Messenger RNAs in Mn-Exposed Hippocampal Neurons of Sprague–Dawley Rats Ascertained by Microarray: Implications for Mn-Induced Neurotoxicity

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element, while excessive expose may induce neurotoxicity. Recently, lncRNAs have been extensively studied and it has been confirmed that lncRNAs participate in neural functions and aberrantly expressed lncRNAs are involved in neurological diseases. However, the pathological effects of lncRNAs on Mn-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. In this study, the expression profiles of lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were identified in Mn-treated hippocampal neurons and control neurons via microarray. Bioinformatic methods and intersection analysis were also employed. Results indicated that 566, 1161, and 1474 lncRNAs meanwhile 1848, 3228, and 4022 mRNAs were aberrantly expressed in low, intermediate, and high Mn-exposed groups compared with the control group, respectively. Go analysis determined that differentially expressed mRNAs were targeted to biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Pathway analysis indicated that these mRNAs were enriched in insulin secretion, cell cycle, and DNA replication. Intersection analysis denominated that 135 lncRNAs and 373 mRNAs were consistently up-regulated while 150 lncRNAs and 560 mRNAs were consistently down-regulated. Meanwhile, lncRNA {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"BC079195","term_id":"50926238"}}BC079195 was significantly up-regulated while lncRNAs uc.229- and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"BC089928","term_id":"59808777"}}BC089928 were significantly down-regulated in three comparison groups. The relative expression levels of 3 lncRNAs and 4 mRNAs were validated through qRT-PCR. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in hippocampal neurons of Sprague–Dawley rats. The results may provide evidence on underlying mechanisms of Mn-induced neurotoxicity, and aberrantly expressed lncRNAs/mRNAs may be useful in further investigations to detect early symptoms of Mn-induced neuropsychiatric disorders in the central nervous system.     

A Retrospective Study of Preferable Alternative Route to Right Internal Jugular Vein for Placing Tunneled Dialysis Catheters: Right External Jugular Vein versus Left Internal Jugular Vein

Background

Right internal jugular vein (IJV) is a preferred access route for tunneled (cuffed) dialysis catheters (TDCs), and both right external jugular vein (EJV) and left IJV are alternative routes for patients in case the right IJV isn’t available for TDC placement. This retrospective study aimed to determine if a disparity exists between the two alternative routes in hemodialysis patients in terms of outcomes of TDCs.

Methods

49 hemodialysis patients who required TDCs through right EJV (n = 21) or left IJV (n = 28) as long-term vascular access were included in this study. The primary end point was cumulative catheter patency. Secondary end points include primary catheter patency, proportion of patients that never required urokinase and incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI).

Results

A total of 20,870 catheter-days were evaluated and the median was 384 (interquartile range, 262–605) catheter-days. Fewer catheters were removed in the right EJV group than in the left IJV group (P = 0.007). Mean cumulative catheter patency was higher in the right EJV group compared with the left IJV group (P = 0.031). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of CRBSI, primary catheter patency or proportion of patients that never required urokinase use. Total indwell time of antecedent catheters was identified as an independent risk factor for cumulative catheter patency by Cox regression hazards test with an HR of 2.212 (95% CI, 1.363–3.588; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Right EJV might be superior to left IJV as an alternative insertion route for TDC placement in hemodialysis patients whose right IJVs are unavailable.     

大麦主栽品种亲缘系数和对叶斑病的抗性分析

为明确我国大麦主栽品种的遗传多样性及其对叶斑病的抗性来源,采用亲缘系数(COP,coefficient of parentage)分析方法对155个主栽大麦品种的遗传系谱进行聚类分析,同时对其中79个供试大麦品种在苗期和成株期分别接种2个强毒性菌株进行抗性鉴定。结果显示,155个品种聚为6个类群,有亲缘关系的品种占全部品种14.77%。在品种间组成的11935个组合中,1763个组合间存在亲缘关系,其COP值变化范围在0~0.7500之间,亲缘系数总和为157.5867,平均值为0.0132。根据系谱分析发现了不同育种单位所育品种的核心亲本,并追溯其主要的祖先亲本。此外,通过对叶斑病的抗性鉴定,发现大多数供试的大麦品种感叶斑病,高抗品种主要集中在垦啤麦系列品种和蒙啤麦3号,部分华大麦和驻大麦系列的品种在苗期或成株期中抗叶斑病。系谱分析及抗性鉴定结果揭示了我国大麦叶斑病抗性基因存在不同来源,分析结果有利于提高抗叶斑病基因筛选效率和缩小筛选范围,也将促进抗叶斑病新基因资源的发掘和利用。     

液体负平衡对感染性休克合并急性肺损伤患者早期复苏及预后的影响

目的:探讨液体负平衡对感染性休克合并急性肺损伤(ALI)患者早期复苏及预后的影响。方法:将2010年1月~2014年9月我院急诊外科收治的84例感染性休克合并ALI的患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各42例患者。治疗组采用出入量负平衡方式进行液体管理,对照组采用出入量平衡方式进行液体管理。观察和比较两组治疗前后氧合指数(PaO_2/FiO_2)、中心静脉压(CVP)、平均动脉压(MAP)、心指数(CI)、血管外肺水指数(ELWI)及APACHEⅡ评分的变化,记录和比较两组的机械通气时间、ICU住院时间、多器官功能障碍综合征(MODS)的发生率及28 d的病死率。结果:入院后3d、7d,治疗组的MAP较对照组明显降低,ELWI、PaO_2/FiO_2则明显升高(P0.05);治疗前、治疗后6h,两组的APACHEⅡ评分比较均无显著性差异(P0.05),而治疗组治疗后24h、48h的APACHEⅡ评分较对照组则明显降低(P0.05);与对照组比较,治疗组的机械通气时间、ICU住院时间显著缩短,MODS发生率明显降低(P0.05)。结论:在维持循环稳定和保证器官灌注的前提下,液体负平衡有助于减轻感染性休克合并ALI患者的心肺损伤,促进患者早期复苏,改善患者的预后。     

Antifungal Monoterpene Derivatives from the Plant Endophytic Fungus Pestalotiopsis foedan

A new monoterpene lactone, (1R,4R,5R,8S)‐8‐hydroxy‐4,8‐dimethyl‐2‐oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one ( 1 ), along with one related known compound, (2R)‐2‐[(1R)‐4‐methylcyclohex‐3‐en‐1‐yl]propanoic acid ( 2 ), were isolated from the liquid culture of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis foedan obtained from the branch of Bruguiera sexangula. The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were determined on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR spectra combined with computational methods via calculation of the optical rotation (OR) and ¹³C‐NMR. Both compounds exhibited strong antifungal activities against Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora nicotianae with MIC values of 3.1 and 6.3 μg/ml, respectively, which are comparable to those of the known antifungal drug ketoconazole. Compound 2 also showed modest antifungal activity against Candida albicans with a MIC value of 50 μg/ml.