Preliminary clinical study of left ventricular myocardial strain in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common cardiomyopathy worldwide, with significant mortality. Correct evaluation of the patient's myocardial function has important clinical significance in the diagnosis, therapeutic effect assessment and prognosis in non-ischemic DCM patients. This study evaluated the feasibility of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STE) for assessment of the left ventricular myocardial strain in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Apical full-volume images were acquired from 65 patients with non-ischemic DCM (DCM group) and 59 age-matched normal controls (NC group), respectively. The following parameters were measured by 3D-STE: the peak systolic radial strain (RS), circumferential strain (CS), longitudinal strain (LS) of each segment. Then all the parameters were compared between the two groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The peak systolic strain in different planes had certain regularities in normal groups, radial strain (RS) was the largest in the mid region, the smallest in the apical region, while circumferential strain (CS) and longitudinal strain (LS) increased from the basal to the apical region. In contrast, the regularity could not be applied to the DCM group. RS, CS, LS were significantly decreased in DCM group as compared with NC group (<it>P </it>< 0.001 for all). The interobserver, intraobserver and test-retest reliability were acceptable.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>3D-STE is a reliable tool for evaluation of left ventricular myocardial strain in patients with non-ischemic DCM, with huge advantage in clinical application.</p

Development of CMOS Image Sensor System based on Chaos Particle Swarm

Particle swarm optimization algorithm in solving complex functions, such as slow convergence, accuracy is not high, easily falling into local optimum problem. Based on the chaos optimization is introduced into particle swarm optimization algorithm, given the chaotic particle swarm optimization algorithm. In order to improve the image quality of CMOS image sensor, the image of the main noise source and the distortion of image analysis, this paper present the development of CMOS image sensor system based on chaos particle swarm. Computer CMOS image sensor image quality simulation, the results show that chaotic particle swarm optimization algorithm convergence performance is better than that of particle swarm optimization algorithm

Extraction of Pectin from Satsuma Mandarin Peel: A Comparison of High Hydrostatic Pressure and Conventional Extractions in Different Acids

Satsuma mandarin peel pectin was extracted by high hydrostatic pressure-assisted citric acid (HHPCP) or hydrochloric acid (HHPHP), and the physiochemical, structural, rheological and emulsifying characteristics were compared to those from conventional citric acid (CCP) and hydrochloric acid (CHP). Results showed that HHP and citric acid could both increase the pectin yield, and HHPCP had the highest yield (18.99%). Structural characterization, including NMR and FTIR, demonstrated that HHPHP showed higher Mw than the other pectins. The viscosity of the pectin treated with HHP was higher than that obtained with the conventional method, with HHPHP exhibiting significantly higher viscosity. Interestingly, all the pectin emulsions showed small particle mean diameters (D4,3 being 0.2–1.3 μm) and extremely good emulsifying stability with centrifugation and 30-day storage assays, all being 100%. Satsuma mandarin peel could become a highly promising pectin source with good emulsifying properties, and HHP-assisted acid could be a more efficient method for pectin extraction

Attenuated lncRNA NKILA Enhances the Secretory Function of Airway Epithelial Cells Stimulated by Mycoplasma pneumoniae via NF-κB

The secretory function of airway epithelial cells is important in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). To investigate the regulatory function of NKILA (nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) interacting long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)) in MPP, we first detected NKILA as well as the concentration of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with MPP. Then, NKILA was knocked down in epithelial cells to investigate its effect on their secretory function. The results suggested that NKILA was downregulated in children with MPP, while IL-8 and TNF-α levels increased. Knockdown of NKILA in vitro promoted the inflammatory effects of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in epithelial A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Knockdown of NKILA promoted inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation showed that NKILA could physically bind to IκBα in MP-treated A549 cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated that attenuation of NKILA enhances the effects of MP-stimulated secretory functions of epithelial cells via regulation of NF-κB signaling

Nitrogen Addition Decreases Rhizodeposition by Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) Seedlings and Its Distribution in Soil Aggregates

Rhizodeposition-derived carbon plays an important role in plant nutrient acquisition and soil carbon sequestration. However, how nitrogen deposition affects the distribution of rhizodeposition-derived carbon into aggregate classes (macrogagregates, microaggregates, and silt and clay) is unclear. We conducted a nitrogen addition experiment on Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) seedlings with continuously labeled 13CO2 for 120 days. Plant growth and the distribution of rhizodeposition-derived carbon into aggregate classes were assessed. Results showed that nitrogen additionconsiderably increased the ratio of aboveground to belowground biomass, but not aboveground and belowground biomass. Compared with the control, nitrogen addition resulted in a significantdecreaseby 52% inrhizodeposition-derived carbon in bulk soil.We found that more rhizodeposition-derived carbon was incorporated into macroaggregate, followed by microaggregate, and silt and clay regardless of nitrogen addition. The rhizodeposition-derived carbon was significantly decreased by 40% in macroaggregate, 60% in microaggregate, and 61% in silt and clay after nitrogen addition. Nitrogen addition and aggregate classes had no interactive effect on the rhizodeposition-derived carbon. Our results suggest that nitrogen deposition decreases the rhizodeposition of Chinese fir and its distributionin aggregate classes

Influence of bloodmeal host on blood feeding, egg production, and offspring sex ratio of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché), feeds on different host species, causing annoyance or transmitting disease agents. In this study, the influence of the host of the cat flea on blood feeding, egg production, and sex ratio of the offspring was investigated. Two strains of C. felis were domesticated on either rats or mice for >10 yr in the laboratory, and in this study, these fleas were placed in the following groups and fed on rats or mice continuously: Group A (rat-domesticated C. felis with rats as host); Group B (rat-domesticated C. felis with mice as host); Group C (mouse-domesticated C. felis with rats as host); and Group D (mouse-domesticated C. felis with mice as host). In total, 240 adult fleas were in each group at a sex ratio of female:male = 1.7:1. The mean egg production per flea of Groups A, B, C, and D was 55.0, 19.2, 62.5, and 13.2, respectively. A significant correlation between egg production and the volume of blood consumed was detected for Groups A, B, C, and D. The sex ratio (F:M) of the offspring in Groups A and C was 2.07 and 2.11, respectively, whereas in Groups B and D, the ratio was 1.04 and 1.03, respectively. In conclusion, the C. felis with rats as host consumed more blood, produced more eggs, and had higher sex ratios of the offspring than those with mice as the host

Nitrogen Addition Decreases Rhizodeposition by Chinese Fir (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> (Lamb.) Hook) Seedlings and Its Distribution in Soil Aggregates

Rhizodeposition-derived carbon plays an important role in plant nutrient acquisition and soil carbon sequestration. However, how nitrogen deposition affects the distribution of rhizodeposition-derived carbon into aggregate classes (macrogagregates, microaggregates, and silt and clay) is unclear. We conducted a nitrogen addition experiment on Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) seedlings with continuously labeled 13CO2 for 120 days. Plant growth and the distribution of rhizodeposition-derived carbon into aggregate classes were assessed. Results showed that nitrogen additionconsiderably increased the ratio of aboveground to belowground biomass, but not aboveground and belowground biomass. Compared with the control, nitrogen addition resulted in a significantdecreaseby 52% inrhizodeposition-derived carbon in bulk soil.We found that more rhizodeposition-derived carbon was incorporated into macroaggregate, followed by microaggregate, and silt and clay regardless of nitrogen addition. The rhizodeposition-derived carbon was significantly decreased by 40% in macroaggregate, 60% in microaggregate, and 61% in silt and clay after nitrogen addition. Nitrogen addition and aggregate classes had no interactive effect on the rhizodeposition-derived carbon. Our results suggest that nitrogen deposition decreases the rhizodeposition of Chinese fir and its distributionin aggregate classes

Whole Genome Sequencing in the Evaluation of Fetal Structural Anomalies: A Parallel Test with Chromosomal Microarray Plus Whole Exome Sequencing

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a powerful tool for postnatal genetic diagnosis, but relevant clinical studies in the field of prenatal diagnosis are limited. The present study aimed to prospectively evaluate the utility of WGS compared with chromosomal microarray (CMA) and whole exome sequencing (WES) in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies. We performed trio WGS (≈40-fold) in parallel with CMA in 111 fetuses with structural or growth anomalies, and sequentially performed WES when CMA was negative (CMA plus WES). In comparison, WGS not only detected all pathogenic genetic variants in 22 diagnosed cases identified by CMA plus WES, yielding a diagnostic rate of 19.8% (22/110), but also provided additional and clinically significant information, including a case of balanced translocations and a case of intrauterine infection, which might not be detectable by CMA or WES. WGS also required less DNA (100 ng) as input and could provide a rapid turnaround time (TAT, 18 ± 6 days) compared with that (31 ± 8 days) of the CMA plus WES. Our results showed that WGS provided more comprehensive and precise genetic information with a rapid TAT and less DNA required than CMA plus WES, which enables it as an alternative prenatal diagnosis test for fetal structural anomalies

Targeted next-generation sequencing as a comprehensive test for patients with and female carriers of DMD/BMD:a multi-population diagnostic study

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD) are the most commonly inherited neuromuscular disease. However, accurate and convenient molecular diagnosis cannot be achieved easily because of the enormous size of the dystrophin gene and complex causative mutation spectrum. Such traditional methods as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification plus Sanger sequencing require multiple steps to fulfill the diagnosis of DMD/BMD. Here, we introduce a new single-step method for the genetic analysis of DMD patients and female carriers in real clinical settings and demonstrate the validation of its accuracy. A total of 89 patients, 18 female carriers and 245 non-DMD patients were evaluated using our targeted NGS approaches. Compared with traditional methods, our new method yielded 99.99% specificity and 98.96% sensitivity for copy number variations detection and 100% accuracy for the identification of single-nucleotide variation mutations. Additionally, this method is able to detect partial deletions/duplications, thus offering precise personal DMD gene information for gene therapy. We detected novel partial deletions of exons in nine samples for which the breakpoints were located within exonic regions. The results proved that our new method is suitable for routine clinical practice, with shorter turnaround time, higher accuracy, and better insight into comprehensive genetic information (detailed breakpoints) for ensuing gene therapy