Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) were adopted to evaluate gastric risk stratification in five biopsy samples. This ...study aimed to evaluate the degree of gastric atrophy (GA) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) in five locations to detect a more representative biopsy sample in gastric cancer (GC) screening. Our study enrolled 368 patients and 5 biopsy pieces were acquired from them. Gastric risk stratification was calculated by OLGA and OLGIM staging system. The results revealed that the IM score in the incisura angularis was higher than that in the larger and lesser curvature of corpus mucosa (p = 0.037 and p = 0.030, respectively) and the IM score in the lesser curvature of antrum mucosa was higher than that in the incisura angularis mucosa (p = 0.018). IM is more frequently observed in the angulus region than in the lesser curvature of corpus in the mild degree (p = 0.004) and mild IM lesions in the lesser curvature of antrum were more frequently observed than in the incisura angularis mucosa (p = 0.004), Four biopsy pieces protocol (larger curvature and lesser curvature of the antrum, lesser curvature of the corpus and angulus) demonstrated accurate consistency (97.83% and 98.37%, respectively) with a Kendall's tau-b of higher than 0.990, along with low misdiagnosis rates of OLGA and OLGIM (III + IV) (9.76% and 5.00%, respectively). Three biopsy pieces protocol (lesser curvature of the antrum and corpus, angulus biopsy) in OLGA and OLGIM staging system was close to the standard protocol (five biopsy specimens) with a consistency of 94.84% and 94.29% and has a Kendall's tau-b higher than 0.950 and diagnostic omission rates of 9.76% and 5.00%, respectively, which was exactly the same with the four biopsy pieces protocol. Furthermore, it had the second-highest Youden index (0.902 and 0.950, respectively) and area under the ROC curve (0.992 and 0.996, respectively) for the screening of high-risk GC by OLGA and OLGIM stages. Thus, we recommended the angulus and the lesser curvature of antrum as a conventional biopsy and three biopsy pieces for further GC risk screening.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Context: Previous studies from our laboratory indicated that both acute and subchronic administration of Fructus Akebiae (FAE) the fruit of Akebiae quinata (Thunb.) Decne, (Lardizabalaceae) ...produce antidepressant-like effects in animal depressive behavior tests. FAE contains approximately 70% of hederagenin (HG) as its main chemical component.
Objective: This study compared the antidepressant ability of FAE with that of HG in mice and further investigated the antidepressant-like effects and potential mechanisms of HG in rats subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS).
Materials and methods: Mice received FAE (50 mg/kg) and HG (20 mg/kg) once a day via intragastric administration (i.g.) for 3 weeks. The anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of FAE and HG were compared using elevated plus maze (EPM) and behavioral despair tests including tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST), respectively. Antidepressant effects of HG (5 mg/kg) were assessed using the UCMS depressive rat model. Moreover, the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and relevant gene expression in UCMS rats' hippocampi were determined through high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques.
Results: The results of our preliminary screening test suggest that HG at 20 mg/kg, while not FAE at 50 mg/kg, significantly decreased the immobility in both TST and FST compared with the vehicle group when administered chronically; however, there were no significant differences observed between the HG and the FAE group. Chronic administration of HG failed to significantly reverse the altered crossing and rearing behavioral performance, time spent in the open arm and closed entries in the EPM, even if they showed an increased tendency, but HG significantly increased the percent of sucrose preference in the sucrose preference test (SPT) and decreased the immobility time in the FST. HG showed that significant increases of norepinephrine and serotonin levels and exhibited a tendency to increase the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 1A receptor mRNA, and to significantly decrease the expression of the mRNA for the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). However, there were no significant differences in the expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Conclusion: These findings confirm the antidepressant-like effects of HG in a behavioral despair test and UCMS rat model, which may be associated with monoamine neurotransmitters and 5-HTT mRNA expression.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and safety of using magnetically guided capsule endoscopy with a detachable string (ds-MCE) for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices in ...adults with cirrhosis.DesignProspective multicentre diagnostic accuracy study.Setting14 medical centres in China.Participants607 adults (>18 years) with cirrhosis recruited between 7 January 2021 and 25 August 2022. Participants underwent ds-MCE (index test), followed by oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD, reference test) within 48 hours. The participants were divided into development and validation cohorts in a ratio of 2:1.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE in detecting oesophagogastric varices compared with OGD. Secondary outcomes included the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices and the diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices.Resultsds-MCE and OGD examinations were completed in 582 (95.9%) of the 607 participants. Using OGD as the reference standard, ds-MCE had a sensitivity of 97.5% (95% confidence interval 95.5% to 98.7%) and specificity of 97.8% (94.4% to 99.1%) for detecting oesophagogastric varices (both P<0.001 compared with a prespecified 85% threshold). When using the optimal 18% threshold for luminal circumference of the oesophagus derived from the development cohort (n=393), the sensitivity and specificity of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophageal varices in the validation cohort (n=189) were 95.8% (89.7% to 98.4%) and 94.7% (88.2% to 97.7%), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for detecting high risk oesophagogastric varices, oesophageal varices, and gastric varices was 96.3% (92.6% to 98.2%), 96.9% (95.2% to 98.0%), and 96.7% (95.0% to 97.9%), respectively. Two serious adverse events occurred with OGD but none with ds-MCE.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that ds-MCE is a highly accurate and safe diagnostic tool for detecting and grading oesophagogastric varices and is a promising alternative to OGD for screening and surveillance of oesophagogastric varices in patients with cirrhosis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03748563.
AIM:To construct a tricistronic hepatitis C virus(HCV)replicon with double internal ribosome entry sites(IRESes)of only 22 nucleotides for each,substituting the encephalomyocarditis ...virus(EMCV)IRESes,which are most often used as the translation initiation element to form HCV replicons.METHODS:The alternative 22-nucleotide IRES,RNA-binding motif protein 3 IRES(Rbm3 IRES),was used to form a tricistronic HCV replicon,to facilitate constructing HCV-harboring stable cell lines andsuccessive antiviral screening using a luciferase marker.Briefly,two sequential Rbm3 IRESes were inserted into bicistronic p UC19-HCV plasmid,consequently forming a tricistronic HCV replicon(p HCV-rep-Neo R-h Rluc),initiating the translation of humanized Renilla luciferase and HCV non-structural gene,along with HCV authentic IRES initiating the translation of neomycin resistance gene.The s H7 cell lines,in which the novel replicon RNA stably replicated,were constructed by neomycin and luciferase activity screening.The intracellular HCV replicon RNA,expression of inserted foreign genes and HCV non-structural gene,as well as response to anti-HCV agents,were measured in s H7 cells and cells transiently transfected with tricistronic replicon RNA.RESULTS:The intracellular HCV replicon RNA and expression of inserted foreign genes and HCV nonstructural gene in s H7 cells and cells transiently transfected with tricistronic replicon RNA were comparable to those in cells stably or transiently transfected with traditional bicistronic HCV replicons.The average relative light unit in p HCV-rep-Neo R-h Rluc group was approximately 2-fold of those in the p UC19-HCV-h RLuc and Tri-JFH1 groups(1.049×108±2.747×107 vs 5.368×107±1.016×107,P<0.05;1.049×108±2.747×107 vs 5.243×107±1.194×107,P<0.05),suggesting that the translation initiation efficiency of the first Rbm3 IRES in the two sequential IRESes was stronger than the HCV authentic IRES and EMCV IRES.The fold changes of 72 h/4 h relative light units in the p HCV-rep-Neo R-h Rluc and p UC19-HCV-h RLuc groups were similar(159.619±9.083 vs163.536±24.031,P=0.7707),and were both higher than the fold change in the Tri-JFH1 group 159.619±9.083 vs 140.811±9.882,P<0.05;163.536±24.031 vs 140.811±9.882,P<0.05),suggesting that the replication potency of the Rbm3 IRES tricistronic replicon matched the replication of bicistronic replicon and exceeded the potency of EMCV IRES replicon.Replication of tricistronic replicons was suppressed by ribavirin,simvastatin,atorvastatin,telaprevir and boceprevir.Interferon-alpha 2b could not block replication of the novel replicon RNA in s H7 cells.After interferon stimulation,Mx A m RNA and protein levels were lower in s H7 than in parental cells.CONCLUSION:Tricistronic HCV replicon with double Rbm3 IRESes could be applied to evaluate the replication inhibition efficacy of anti-HCV agents.
Oranges are an important nutritional source for human health and have immense economic value. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of the draft genome of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). The ...assembled sequence covers 87.3% of the estimated orange genome, which is relatively compact, as 20% is composed of repetitive elements. We predicted 29,445 protein-coding genes, half of which are in the heterozygous state. With additional sequencing of two more citrus species and comparative analyses of seven citrus genomes, we present evidence to suggest that sweet orange originated from a backcross hybrid between pummelo and mandarin. Focused analysis on genes involved in vitamin C metabolism showed that GalUR, encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of the galacturonate pathway, is significantly upregulated in orange fruit, and the recent expansion of this gene family may provide a genomic basis. This draft genome represents a valuable resource for understanding and improving many important citrus traits in the future.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background. Seven persons in one family living in eastern China developed fever and thrombocytopenia during May 2007, but the initial investigation failed to identify an infectious etiology. In ...December 2009, a novel bunyavirus (designated severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus SFTSV) was identified as the cause of illness in patients with similar clinical manifestations in China. We reexamined this family cluster for SFTSV infection. Methods. We analyzed epidemiological and clinical data for the index patient and 6 secondary patients. We tested stored blood specimens from the 6 secondary patients using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, genetic sequencing, micro-neutralization assay (MNA), and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results. An 80-year-old woman with fever, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia died on 27 April 2007. Between 3 and 7 May 2007, another 6 patients from her family were admitted to a local county hospital with fever and other similar symptoms. Serum specimens collected in 2007 from these 6 patients were positive for SFTS viral RNA through RT-PCR and for antibody to SFTSV through MNA and IFA. SFTSV was isolated from 1 preserved serum specimen. The only shared characteristic between secondary patients was personal contact with the index patient; none reported exposure to suspected animals or vectors. Conclusions. Clinical and laboratory evidence confirmed that the patients of fever and thrombocytopenia occurring in a family cluster in eastern China in 2007 were caused by a newly recognized bunyavirus, SFTSV. Epidemiological investigation strongly suggests that infection of secondary patients was transmitted to family members by personal contact.
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BFBNIB, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
In the face of the unprecedented public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, front-line health workers are under enormous mental pressure. This paper aims to explore the ...mental health challenges faced by front-line health workers in the early stages of a public health emergency, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, the factors that increase their mental stress are analyzed, and practical measures are put forward to prevent and manage mental health problems, aiming at improving the quality of medical treatment during public health emergencies. This paper has some reference value for people engaged in mental health prevention.
Abstract
Background
Recently, researchers have proposed a possible relationship between RA and the microbiome of the oral cavity and gut. However, this relation has not been systematically ...established. Herein, we conducted a comprehensive review of the pertinent literature to describe this possible association.
Methods
We systematically performed searches in databases, namely EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed, from inception to 7 June 2020 to identify case–control studies that compared the oral and gut microbiome in adult RA patients with those of controls. The primary outcome was specific bacterial changes between RA and controls. The secondary outcome was microbial diversity changes between RA and controls.
Results
In total, 26 articles were considered eligible for inclusion and reported some differences. Therein, ≥3 articles reported decreased Faecalibacterium in the gut of early-RA (ERA)/RA patients compared with healthy controls (HCs). Also, ≥3 articles reported decreased Streptococcus and Haemophilus and increased Prevotella in the oral cavity of ERA/RA patients compared with HCs. In addition, some Prevotella species, including P. histicola and P. oulorum, showed increased trends in RA patients’ oral cavity, compared with HCs. The α-diversity of the microbiome was either increased or not changed in the oral cavity of RA patients, but it was more commonly either decreased or not changed in the gut of RA patients.
Conclusions
In this systematic review, we identified the microbiome associated with RA patients in comparison with controls. More research is needed in the future to find the deep relationship between RA and the microbiome.
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