A global analysis of Y-chromosomal haplotype diversity for 23 STR loci

In a worldwide collaborative effort, 19,630 Y-chromosomes were sampled from 129 different populations in 51 countries. These chromosomes were typed for 23 short-tandem repeat (STR) loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385ab, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, GATAH4, DYS481, DYS533, DYS549, DYS570, DYS576, and DYS643) and using the PowerPlex Y23 System (PPY23, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI). Locus-specific allelic spectra of these markers were determined and a consistently high level of allelic diversity was observed. A considerable number of null, duplicate and off-ladder alleles were revealed. Standard single-locus and haplotype-based parameters were calculated and compared between subsets of Y-STR markers established for forensic casework. The PPY23 marker set provides substantially stronger discriminatory power than other available kits but at the same time reveals the same general patterns of population structure as other marker sets. A strong correlation was observed between the number of Y-STRs included in a marker set and some of the forensic parameters under study. Interestingly a weak but consistent trend toward smaller genetic distances resulting from larger numbers of markers became apparent.Peer reviewe

On residents’ satisfaction with community health services after health care system reform in Shanghai, China, 2011

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health care system reform is a major issue in many countries and therefore how to evaluate the effects of changes is incredibly important. This study measured residents’ satisfaction with community health care service in Shanghai, China, and aimed to evaluate the effect of recent health care system reform.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Face-to-face interviews were performed with a stratified random sample of 2212 residents of the Shanghai residents using structured questionnaires. In addition, 972 valid responses were retrieved from internet contact. Controlling for sex, age, income and education, the study used logistic regression modeling to analyze factors associated with satisfaction and to explain the factors that affect the residents’ satisfaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparing current attitudes with those held at the initial implementation of the reform in this investigation, four dimensions of health care were analyzed: 1) the health insurance system; 2) essential drugs; 3) basic clinical services; and 4) public health services. Satisfaction across all dimensions improved since the reform was initiated, but differences of satisfaction level were found among most dimensions and groups. Residents currently expressed greater satisfaction with clinical service (average score=3.79, with 5 being most satisfied) and the public health/preventive services (average score=3.62); but less satisfied with the provision of essential drugs (average score=3.20) and health insurance schemes (average score=3.23). The disadvantaged groups (the elderly, the retired, those with only an elementary education, those with lower incomes) had overall poorer satisfaction levels on these four aspects of health care (P<0.01). 25.39% of the respondents thought that their financial burden had increased and 38.49% thought that drugs had become more expensive.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The respondents showed more satisfaction with the clinical services (average score=3.79) and public health services/interventions (average score=3.79); and less satisfaction with the health insurance system (average score=3.23) and the essential drug system (average score=3.20). Disadvantaged groups showed lower satisfaction levels overall relative to non-disadvantaged groups.</p

CaMKIIα may modulate fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia via a CeLC-PAG-RVM-spinal cord descending facilitative pain pathway in rats.

Each of the lateral capsular division of central nucleus of amygdala(CeLC), periaqueductal gray (PAG), rostral ventromedial medulla(RVM) and spinal cord has been proved to contribute to the development of opioid-induced hyperalgesia(OIH). Especially, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) in CeLC and spinal cord seems to play a key role in OIH modulation. However, the pain pathway through which CaMKIIα modulates OIH is not clear. The pathway from CeLC to spinal cord for this modulation was explored in the present study. Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were tested by von Frey test or Hargreaves test, respectively. CaMKIIα activity (phospho-CaMKIIα, p-CaMKIIα) was evaluated by western blot analysis. CaMKIIα antagonist (KN93) was micro-infused into CeLC, spinal cord or PAG, respectively, to evaluate its effect on behavioral hyperalgesia and p-CaMKIIα expression in CeLC, PAG, RVM and spinal cord. Then the underlying synaptic mechanism was explored by recording miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) on PAG slices using whole-cell voltage-clamp methods. Results showed that inhibition of CeLC, PAG or spinal CaMKIIα activity respectively by KN93, reversed both mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Microinjection of KN93 into CeLC decreased p-CaMKIIα expression in CeLC, PAG, RVM and spinal cord; while intrathecal KN93 can only block spinal but not CeLC CaMKIIα activity. KN93 injected into PAG just decreased p-CaMKIIα expression in PAG, RVM and spinal cord, but not in the CeLC. Similarly, whole-cell voltage-clamp recording found the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs in PAG cells were decreased by KN93 added in PAG slice or micro-infused into CeLC in vivo. These results together with previous findings suggest that CaMKIIα may modulate OIH via a CeLC-PAG-RVM-spinal cord descending facilitative pain pathway

Fossil Fruits of Ceratophyllum from the Upper Eocene and Miocene of South China

Ceratophyllum L. is a cosmopolitan genus of perennial aquatic herbs that occur in quiet freshwaters. Fossils of this genus have been widely reported from the Northern Hemisphere, most of them occurring in the temperate zone. Here, we describe two species of fossil fruits discovered from subtropical areas of China. The fossil fruit discovered from the upper Eocene Huangniuling Formation of the Maoming Basin is designated as C. cf. muricatum Chamisso, and fruits discovered from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of the Guiping Basin are assigned to the extant species C. demersum L. The discovery of these two fossil species indicates that Ceratophyllum had spread to South China by the late Eocene and their distribution expanded in subtropical China during the Miocene

Inhibition of mEPSCs in vlPAG neurons from the OIH rats by intro-CeLC injection of KN93.

<p>(A) mEPSCs recordings in control and OIH group after the application of KN92 or KN93. (B) Individual traces (average) of mEPSCs obtained from respective recordings. Calibration: 1 s, 20 pA. (C-D) Bar graphs showing the frequency (C) and amplitude (D) of mEPSCs from vlPAG neurons in slices from control and OIH group (12 h post induction). Results are expressed as mean ± SD; n = 8–11 for each group; *, <i>p</i> < 0.05, **, <i>p</i> < 0.01.</p

KN93 (added in the ACSF) reversed the enhanced mEPSCs in vlPAG neurons from the OIH rats.

<p>(A) mEPSCs recordings in control and OIH group at baseline and after the application of KN93. (B) Individual traces (average) of mEPSCs obtained from respective recordings. Calibration: 1 s, 20 pA. (C-D). Bar graphs showing the frequency (C) and amplitude (D) of mEPSCs in vlPAG neurons in control and OIH group (12 h post induction). Results are expressed as mean ± SD; n = 6 for each group; *, <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p

Illustration of the experimental design.

<p>Experiment 1: To investigate the effect of CeLC CaMKIIα antagonism on the level of CaMKIIα activity in CeLC, PAG, RVM and spinal cord regions and the behavioral hyperalgesia induced by fentanyl, rats were first implanted with CeLC cannulas before the induction of OIH by fentanyl. Then the Control group (n = 6) and OIH group (n = 6) received 50%DMSO (vehicle) 0.3 μl. OIH+KN92 10 nmol group (n = 6) and OIH+KN93 10 nmol group (n = 6) received equal volume (0.3 μl) of KN92 10 nmol and KN93 10 nmol respectively 6.5 h after the last injection of fentanyl. Experiment 2: To test whether spinal cord has a reverse effect on amygdala CaMKIIα signal, animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6). The Control group and OIH group received 50% DMSO (vehicle) 0.45 μl. OIH+KN92 45 nmol group and OIH+KN93 45 nmol group received equal volume (0.45 μl) of KN92 45 nmol and KN93 45 nmol respectively 6.5 h after the last injection of fentanyl. Experiment 3: To confirm whether <i>p-</i>CaMKIIα in vlPAG is involved in fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia and whether there is connection between PAG and other regions including CeLC, RVM and spinal cord in OIH, animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6). Control group and OIH group received 50% DMSO (vehicle) 0.3 μl. OIH + KN92 10 nmol group and OIH + KN93 10 nmol group received KN92 10 nmol and KN93 10 nmol respectively 6.5 h after the last injection of fentanyl. Experiment 4: To determine if there were differences between the Control rats and OIH rats in the synaptic transmission, and whether CaMKIIα modulates synaptic transmission in PAG neurons in OIH rats, the PAG slices of control rats (n = 6) and OIH rats (n = 6) were obtained 12 h after the last injection of saline or fentanyl. KN93 (10 μM) were added in the recording well 10 min after the baseline recording. Experiment 5: To further confirm whether inhibition of CeLC CaMKIIα activity has a direct effect on the enhanced synaptic transmission of vlPAG neurons in OIH rats, the Control+KN92 (n = 11) group and OIH+KN92 (n = 8) received CeLC injection of KN92 (10 nmol) and Control+KN93 group (n = 8) and OIH+KN93 (n = 8) group received CeLC injection of KN93 (10 nmol) respectively 6.5 h after the last injection of saline or fentanyl.</p

Intrathecal KN93 injection attenuated fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia and decreased the level of <i>p</i>-CaMKIIα in spinal cord but not CeLC in OIH rats.

<p>(A, B) Graphical display of the mechanical threshold of paw withdrawal (A) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (B) collected at baseline, pre-drug (6 h after the last injection of fentanyl or saline), and post-drug (0.5 h after Intrathecal injection). (C-F) Representative Immunoblots of activated CaMKII<i>α</i> (<i>p</i>-CaMKII<i>α</i>) and histogram of relative density of <i>p</i>-CaMKII<i>α</i> to GAPDH in the spinal cord (C-D) and CeLC (E-F). Control, OIH, OIH+KN92 45 nmol, and OIH+KN93 45 nmol group received i.t. injection with 50% DMSO (vehicle), 50% DMSO (vehicle), KN92 10 nmol and KN93 10 nmol respectively. Results are expressed as mean ± SD; *, compared with Control group; &, compared with OIH group; +, compared with OIH+KN92 45 nmol group, n = 6 for each group; One symbol: <i>p</i> < 0.05, Two symbols: <i>p</i> < 0.01, Three symbols: <i>p</i> < 0.001.</p