Nonparametric and semiparametric estimation with sequentially truncated survival data

In observational cohort studies with complex sampling schemes, truncation arises when the time to event of interest is observed only when it falls below or exceeds another random time, that is, the truncation time. In more complex settings, observation may require a particular ordering of event times; we refer to this as sequential truncation. Estimators of the event time distribution have been developed for simple left-truncated or right-truncated data. However, these estimators may be inconsistent under sequential truncation. We propose nonparametric and semiparametric maximum likelihood estimators for the distribution of the event time of interest in the presence of sequential truncation, under two truncation models. We show the equivalence of an inverse probability weighted estimator and a product limit estimator under one of these models. We study the large sample properties of the proposed estimators and derive their asymptotic variance estimators. We evaluate the proposed methods through simulation studies and apply the methods to an Alzheimer's disease study. We have developed an R package, seqTrun , for implementation of our method.     

LEP and LEPR are possibly a double-edged sword for wound healing

Wound healing is a complex and error-prone process. Wound healing in adults often leads to the formation of scars, a type of fibrotic tissue that lacks skin appendages. Hypertrophic scars and keloids can also form when the wound-healing process goes wrong. Leptin (Lep) and leptin receptors (LepRs) have recently been shown to affect multiple stages of wound healing. This effect, however, is paradoxical for scarless wound healing. On the one hand, Lep exerts pro-inflammatory and profibrotic effects; on the other hand, Lep can regulate hair follicle growth. This paper summarises the role of Lep and LepRs on cells in different stages of wound healing, briefly introduces the process of wound healing and Lep and LepRs, and examines the possibility of promoting scarless wound healing through spatiotemporal, systemic, and local regulation of Lep levels and the binding of Lep and LepRs.     

湖南省发现云开脊蛇兼记棕脊蛇新地模标本

云开脊蛇(Achalinus yunkaiensis)之前仅在广东和广西有分布报道。本文基于形态比较及线粒体COI基因序列分子系统关系分析结果,确定采集于湖南省新宁县的1号雌性脊蛇标本(CIB 119041)为云开脊蛇,为湖南省新记录种。该标本鼻间鳞沟约等于前额鳞沟,上颔齿24枚;背鳞通身23行,腹鳞150枚,尾下鳞55枚;尾长与体长之比为0.203。至此共有4种脊蛇分布于湖南省。此外,本文还报道了棕脊蛇(A. rufescens)1号雄性地模标本(CIB 119042),该标本鼻间鳞沟长于前额鳞沟;背鳞通身23行,腹鳞153枚,尾下鳞62枚;尾长与体长之比0.201。分子系统发育结果显示,棕脊蛇种组各支系的系统地位还需进一步研究厘定。     

植物根际促生菌促生特性研究进展

根际微生物组是决定农作物健康状况的关键因素之一,也是调节农作物与生物和非生物环境相互作用的重要因素。植物根际促生菌(plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, PGPR)为农作物宿主提供了多种有益作用,通过化学交流以复杂的方式与农作物、土壤相互作用,进而促进农作物生长。本文综述了PGPR对农作物的促生机制、PGPR与农作物的互作及其在农业实践中的应用,并展望了PGPR在农业实践中应用的发展趋势,以期为今后PGPR的应用和研究提供新的思路和理论支撑。     

Molecular mimicry in Lyme disease: monoclonal antibody H9724 to b. burgdorferi flagellin specifically detects chaperonin-HSP60

A monoclonal antibody (H9724), specific for the 41-kDa flagellar protein of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, cross-reacts with human axons and detects one major protein in human neuroblastoma cell extracts. The homologous cross-reacting protein has now been isolated from calf adrenal and identified as chaperonin-HSP60 by N-terminal sequencing.     

益生元对口腔健康促进作用和机制研究进展

口腔微生物群落的动态平衡是维持口腔健康的关键因素。益生元是一类具有选择性、能够促进体内有益菌代谢增殖从而改善宿主健康的有机物质,主要通过调节口腔微生物生长代谢、抑制口腔菌斑生物膜形成、调节宿主免疫反应、参与硝酸盐-亚硝酸盐-一氧化氮代谢循环通路、调节氧化应激反应等途径调控口腔微生态,从而对口腔常见疾病,如龋齿、牙周病、口腔黏膜病的防治起到积极作用。本文主要就近年来益生元在口腔健康中的作用及相关机制的研究情况进行综述。     

油藏注入水靶向脱硫潜力的高温脱硫菌群富集驯化

【背景】海上油田见聚后产出水硫化物超标,影响到注聚水的配聚黏度,采用生物脱硫时,由于常规除硫菌难以适应除油后产出液的高温,使得脱硫效果不佳。【目的】分析海上采出液水处理过程的菌群结构,明确生物处理各节点的菌群构成变化;开展耐高温脱硫菌驯化筛选,获得耐高温的高效脱硫菌。【方法】采集来自胜利油田海三站的水样,以16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术分析样本菌群结构,并分别在不同温度(55、60和65℃)下的无机富集培养基中进行多轮转接驯化,结合常压室温等离子体(atmospheric and room temperature plasma, ARTP)诱变技术筛选获得耐高温的脱硫菌群,采用宏基因组测序技术分析富集菌群的组成,并测定其脱硫能力。【结果】处理前的采出液水样含有较多的嗜热菌和硫酸盐还原菌,如Thermodesulfovibrio、Pseudothermotoga、Thermolithobacter、Fervidobacterium、Thermovenabulales和Pseudomonas;以厌氧气浮除油工艺处理的出水中,嗜氢菌属(Hydrogenophilus)成为最主要的优势菌,...     

多酶恒温扩增核酸试纸条法快速检测肺炎支原体方法的建立及应用

【背景】肺炎支原体是导致儿童和青少年呼吸道感染的重要病原体,长期以来由于其临床表现不特异而容易错过最佳治疗时期。【目的】结合多酶恒温扩增(multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification,MIRA)技术和核酸试纸条建立一种快速检测肺炎支原体的方法。【方法】以肺炎支原体社区获得性肺炎呼吸窘迫综合征(community acquired respiratory distress syndrome, CARDS)毒素编码基因为靶基因设计引物和探针,对反应体系的温度、时间等进行优化,评估其敏感性,通过检测肺炎支原体和其余7种病原体分析其特异性,并对35份临床样本进行验证。【结果】MIRA核酸试纸条法在37℃条件下,15 min内便可完成对肺炎支原体的检测,最低检出限为10 copies/μL;除肺炎支原体外,其余7种病原体均不能扩增,特异性较好。以实时荧光PCR检测为标准,MIRA核酸试纸条法对35份临床样本检测后的诊断特异度为100.00%、灵敏度为96.15%、阴性预测值为90.00%、阳性预测值为100.00%。【结论】本研究建立了MIRA核酸试纸条法...     

基于双重芯片式数字PCR快速鉴定KPC型碳青霉烯耐药肺炎克雷伯菌的方法

【背景】由于碳青霉烯类药物的泛用和滥用,致使肺炎克雷伯菌碳青霉烯耐药株与日俱增,产碳青霉烯酶是肺炎克雷伯菌对碳青霉烯类药物耐药的主要原因。目前对肺炎克雷伯菌碳青霉烯耐药株的检测方法存在费时费力、特异性差、灵敏度低等问题。【目的】建立一种能同时检测肺炎克雷伯菌和碳青霉烯酶基因bla_KPC的双重芯片式数字PCR方法。【方法】依据肺炎克雷伯菌的特有基因yhaI和碳青霉烯耐药基因bla_KPC保守序列设计特异性引物和探针,确定双重芯片式数字PCR同时对yhaI和bla_KPC两个基因核酸浓度绝对定量的检测范围、检出限和最佳实验体系,并进行方法特异性、灵敏度、重复性分析及临床菌株的检测。【结果】双重芯片式数字PCR检测灵敏度比双重实时荧光定量PCR提高了约1.5个数量级,在两基因同时检出的情况下,最低检出限分别为3.74 copies/μL (yhaI基因)和1.93 copies/μL (bla_KPC基因);优化后的双重芯片式数字PCR对参考菌株检测特异性的结果与双重实时荧光定量PCR结果一致;利用优化后的双重芯片式数字PCR方法共检测58株临床菌株,其中肺炎克雷伯菌43株,属肺炎克雷伯菌且含有bla_KPC基因的菌株13株,这与质谱及耐药谱检测结果一致。【结论】利用双重芯片式数字PCR技术建立了产KPC型碳青霉烯酶肺炎克雷伯菌的绝对定量检测方法。该方法特异性强、灵敏度高、准确度好,可用于检测具有碳青霉烯酶基因bla_KPC的肺炎克雷伯菌的核酸检测和定量分析,也为产其他类型碳青霉烯酶的病原菌检测提供了新的技术参考。