Association between polymorphism of TGFA Taq I and cleft Lip and/or palate: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is one of the most common malformations in humans. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) is a well characterized mammalian growth factor which might contribute to the development of CL/P. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the association between the TGFA Taq I polymorphisms and CL/P. METHODS: We retrieved the relevant articles from PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Studies were selected using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the association between TGFA Taq I polymorphism and CL/P risk. Meta-analyses were performed on the total data set and separately for the major ethnic groups, disease type and source of control. All analyses were performed using the Stata software. RESULTS: Twenty articles were included in the present analysis. There is a significant association between the TGFA Taq I polymorphism and CL/P (C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.23-2.25, C2C2 + C1C2 vs C1C1C1: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.15-2.01; C2 vs C1:OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.12-1.78). Stratified analyses suggested that the TGFA Taq I polymorphism was significantly associated with CL/P in Caucasians (C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.34-2.86; C2C2 + C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.18-2.38; C2 vs V1: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.14 -2.02). CONCLUSION: TGFA Taq I polymorphism may be associated with the risk of CL/P

Expression Profiling and Proteomic Analysis of JIN Chinese Herbal Formula in Lung Carcinoma H460 Xenografts

Many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae have been used in cancer therapy. The JIN formula is an ancient herbal formula recorded in the classic TCM book Jin Kui Yao Lue (Golden Chamber). The JIN formula significantly delayed the growth of subcutaneous human H460 xenografted tumors in vivo compared with the growth of mock controls. Gene array analysis of signal transduction in cancer showed that the JIN formula acted on multiple targets such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase, hedgehog, and Wnt signaling pathways. The coformula treatment of JIN and diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) affected the stress/heat shock pathway. Proteomic analysis showed 36 and 84 differentially expressed proteins between the mock and DDP groups and between the mock and JIN groups, respectively. GoMiner analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins between the JIN and mock groups were enriched during cellular metabolic processes, and so forth. The ones between the DDP and mock groups were enriched during protein-DNA complex assembly, and so forth. Most downregulated proteins in the JIN group were heat shock proteins (HSPs) such as HSP90AA1 and HSPA1B, which could be used as markers to monitor responses to the JIN formula therapy. The mechanism of action of the JIN formula on HSP proteins warrants further investigation

A Short-Current Control Method for Constant Frequency Current-Fed Wireless Power Transfer Systems

Frequency drift is a serious problem in Current-Fed Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems. When the operating frequency is drifting from the inherent Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) frequency of resonant network, large short currents will appear and damage the switches. In this paper, an inductance-dampening method is proposed to inhibit short currents and achieve constant-frequency operation. By adding a small auxiliary series inductance in the primary resonant network, short currents are greatly attenuated to a safe level. The operation principle and steady-state analysis of the system are provided. An overlapping time self-regulating circuit is designed to guarantee ZVS running. The range of auxiliary inductances is discussed and its critical value is calculated exactly. The design methodology is described and a design example is presented. Finally, a prototype is built and the experimental results verify the proposed method

Methodology for carbon emission flow calculation of integrated energy systems

Aggravation of energy shortage and global warming has raised public low-carbon awareness and promoted the development of integrated energy system (IES). However, there has not been a general method for analysis of carbon emission distribution in the IES yet. A methodology combining energy flow (EF) with carbon emission flow (CEF) is proposed in this paper to calculate and analyze the carbon emission from the IES, which is composed of AC/DC power systems and heating/cooling systems. Decoupling methods are used to improve computing efficiency with good convergence in solving energy flow equations of subsystems. A typical case is modeled and simulated using CloudPSS-IESLab platform, a high-efficient power flow solver, with calculation results and Sankey diagram demonstrating the CEF distribution in the IES

Reconstruction of a subtotal upper lip defect with a facial artery musculomucosal flap, kite flap, and radial forearm free flap: a case report

Abstract Background For reconstructive surgeons, massive midface defects, including large, full-thickness wounds on the upper lip, can be very challenging. Although there are many methods for reconstruction of upper lip defects, it is difficult to obtain satisfactory restoration of oral functions and good cosmetic results. Case presentation This case report presents a man with massive midface defects, including upper lip, left nose, and cheek defects. Over the previous 2 years, the patient had three reconstructions with sequential free flaps for the resection of recurrent tumors, the first of which was in March of 2016; this resulted in the patient having massive midface defects, including an upper lip defect, a defect on the left side of the nose, and one on the left cheek. The defects were reconstructed using a radial forearm free flap (RFFF), a facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap, and a kite flap. In June 2016, he underwent a second reconstruction, this time of the left nose defect, using a left anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. In March of 2017, the patient underwent a third reconstruction with the use of a free ALT on the left intraoral cheek and the defects on the neck. All flaps survived. No complications were encountered postoperatively. The patient regained good oral sphincter function with no reports of drooling. Although the patient underwent three surgeries, the reconstruction results were acceptable. Conclusions For massive midface defects, including large, full-thickness wounds on the upper lip, the combination of a FAMM flap, kite flap, and RFFF promotes the reconstruction of the complex midface structure and improves the resulting functionality

Involuntary processing of timbre : a mismatch negativity study

Timbre is a key and complex attribute of sound that might be pre-attentively coded in sensory memory, and the mismatch negativity (MMN) component of event-related potential (ERP) might be adopted to detect this process. The present study investigated the timbre MMN in an oddball paradigm, with piano tone as standard, and sine wave or trumpet tone as deviant separately. Both deviants evoked a MMN component in a streaming of piano tones. Statistical analysis indicated that MMN for pure tone was significantly larger in magnitude than that for trumpet tone. The results evinced that the involuntary processing of timbre variations was relate to not to the spectral complexity but to the discrepancy between the standard and deviant tone.1952 page(s

Association between polymorphisms in pre-miRNA genes and risk of oral squamous cell cancer in a Chinese population.

MicroRNAs play important roles in the development of human cancers. This case-control study is to evaluate the roles of the polymorphisms in pre-miRNAs on risk of oral cancer in a Chinese population.The genotypes of three polymorphisms were determined in 340 patients with oral squamous cell cancer and 340 healthy controls who were frequency matched for age and sex. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to assess the association. All analyses were performed using the SPSS software. 3.154() 0.001.For miR-499 rs3746444, individuals carrying homozygous CC genotype had increased risks of oral cancer compared with the homozygous wild TT genotype (adjusted OR was 3.154, 95%CI was 1.555-6.397, P value was 0.001). The C allele of miR-499 rs3746444 was associated with a higher risk of oral cancer with significant odds ratio of 1.453. In the stratified analyses by sex, the associations between miR-499 rs3746444 and miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms with the susceptibility of oral squamous cell cancer were significant in males. However, with 1/4 as many subjects there were no significant associations between the three polymorphisms and oral cancer risks in females. The joint effects of miRNA polymorphisms and smoking on the risk of OSCC were analyzed and the results suggested that the association between microRNA genetic variants and OSCC risk was modified by smoking.These findings suggest that miR-499 rs3746444 and miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms may contribute to genetic susceptibility to oral squamous cell cancer

Species presence frequency and diversity in different patch types along an altitudinal gradient: Larix chinensis Beissn in Qinling Mountains (China)

Forest communities are mosaic systems composed of patches classified into four different developmental patch types: gap patch (G), building patch (B), mature patch (M) and degenerate patch (D). To study the mechanisms maintaining diversity in subalpine coniferous forests, species presence frequency and diversity in the four distinct patch types (G, B, M and D) of Larix chinensis conifer forests at three altitudinal gradients in the Qinling Mountains were analyzed. Our results were as follows: (1) Different species (or functional groups) had distinct presence frequencies in the four different patch types along the altitudinal gradient; (2) Some species or functional groups (species groups sharing similar traits and responses to the environment) only occurred in some specific patches. For seed dispersal, species using wind mainly occurred in G and D, while species using small animals mainly occurred in B and M; (3) Species composition of adjacent patch types was more similar than non-adjacent patch types, based on the lower β diversity index of the former; (4) The maximum numbers of species and two diversity indices (D′ and H′) were found in the middle altitudes. Various gap-forming processes and dispersal limitation may be the two major mechanisms determining species diversity in Larix chinensis coniferous forests at the patch scale

Puerarin Attenuates Ovalbumin-Induced Lung Inflammation and Hemostatic Unbalance in Rat Asthma Model

Aim. We aimed to investigate and evaluate the preventive activity of puerarin on the ovalbumin-induced asthma rat model. Materials and Methods. Male Wistar rats were sensitized intraperitoneally on days 0, 7, and 14 and challenged to ovalbumin intratracheally on day 21. Groups of sensitized rats were treated randomly either with placebo, puerarin, dexamethasone, or puerarin combined with dexamethasone, from days 15 to 20. Inflammatory markers, including cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammatory cytokines, histopathology, and coagulation parameters, such as coagulation tests and the activity of coagulation factors, were analyzed. Results. Puerarin significantly inhibited the recruitment of inflammatory cells in BALF and lung tissue. At the same time, the release of IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in serum and the expression of mRNAs in lung tissue homogenate were changed by puerarin. Administration of puerarin also effectively rectified the coagulation disorder in asthmatic rats, such as prothrombin time (PT) (P<0.01), thrombin time (TT) (P<0.05), fibrinogen (FIB) (P<0.01),the activity of factor II (FII) (P<0.01), the activity of factor V (FV) (P<0.05), the activity of factor VII (FVII) (P<0.05), the activity of factor X (FX) (P<0.05), the activity of factor VIII (FVIII) (P<0.01), the activity of factor IX (FIX) (P<0.05), and the activity of factor XII (FXII) (P<0.05). Conclusions. Our results provide a clue that puerarin was useful for the preventive of allergic airway disease in rodents

Effect of Drip Irrigation, N, K, and Zn Coupling on <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi><mi>n</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> of Densely Cultivated Apple on Dwarf Rootstock in Xinjiang, China

This study aimed to determine the effect of irrigation amount (W), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) on the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of closely planted apple trees on dwarf rootstocks in arid areas of Xinjiang. Taking the “Royal Gala” apple as the experimental material, a mathematical model for Pn was established using the principle of four-factor five-level quadratic regression with a general rotation combination design. The results show that: (1) The regression equations reached significant levels (F = 37.06 > F0.01(11.11) = 4.54). (2) The effect of W, N, K, Zn on Pn is significant with relative importance W > N > Zn > K. (3) The results of single factor analysis showed that with an increase in W, N, K, and Zn, Pn exhibits an n-shaped parabolic response. (4) The positive coupling between W and N is significant, and the positive coupling between W and Zn is also significant. (5) Analysis of the interaction between sets of three factors revealed that W, N, and Zn could be combined to best effect, with the maximum value reaching 12.77 μmol·m−2·s−1. Compared with W×K×Zn and W×N×K, the combination of W×N×Zn reduces W by 9.2% and 6.3%, respectively, which indicates its suitability for use in the dry and water deficient planting environment in Xinjiang. (6) Within the 95% confidence level, when W is 258–294.75 mm, N is 33.44–39.51 kg/hm2, K is 53.82–69.39 kg/hm2, and Zn is 6.46–7.84 kg/hm2, the net photosynthetic rate reaches 11 μmol·m−2·s−1