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Abstract Gibbons have experienced extensive karyotype rearrangements during evolution and represent an ideal model for studying the underlying molecular mechanism of evolutionary chromosomal rearrangements. It is anticipated that the cloning and sequence characterization of evolutionary chromosomal breakpoints will provide vital insights into the molecular force that has driven such a radical karyotype reshuffle in gibbons. We constructed and characterized a high-quality fosmid library of the white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) containing 192,000 non-redundant clones with an average insert size of 38 kb and 2.5-fold genome coverage. By end sequencing of 100 randomly selected fosmid clones, we generated 196 sequence tags for the library. These end-sequenced fosmid clones were then mapped onto the chromosomes of the white-cheeked gibbon by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and no spurious chimeric clone was detected. BLAST search against the human genome showed a good correlation between the number of hit clones and the number of chromosomes, an indication of unbiased chromosomal distribution of the fosmid library. The chromosomal distribution of the mapped clones is also consistent with the BLAST search result against human and white-cheeked gibbon genomes. The fosmid library and the mapped clones will serve as a valuable resource for further studying gibbons’ chromosomal rearrangements and the underlying molecular mechanism as well as for comparative genomic study in the lesser apes.
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) has emerged as a major cause of neurological disease following the near eradication of poliovirus. Accumulating evidence suggests that mammalian microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of noncoding RNAs of 18 to 23 nucleotides (nt) with important regulatory roles in many cellular processes, participate in host antiviral defenses. However, the roles of miRNAs in EV71 infection and pathogenesis are still unclear. Here, hsa-miR-296-5p expression was significantly increased in EV71-infected human cells. As determined by virus titration, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting, overexpression of hsa-miR-296-5p inhibited, while inhibition of endogenous hsa-miR-296-5p facilitated, EV71 infection. Additionally, two potential hsa-miR-296-5p targets (nt 2115 to 2135 and nt 2896 to 2920) located in the EV71 genome (strain BrCr) were bioinformatically predicted and validated by luciferase reporter assays and Western blotting. Genomic alignment of various EV71 strains revealed synonymous mutations in hsa-miR-296-5p target sequences. Furthermore, the introduction of synonymous mutations into the EV71 BrCr genome by site-directed mutagenesis impaired the viral inhibitory effects of hsa-miR-296-5p and facilitated mutant virus infection. Meanwhile, compensatory mutations in corresponding hsa-miR-296-5p target sequences of the EV71 HeN strain (GenBank accession number JN256064) restored the inhibitory effects of the miRNA. These results indicate that hsa-miR-296-5p inhibits EV71 replication by targeting the viral genome. Our findings support the notion that cellular miRNAs can inhibit virus infection and that the virus mutates to escape suppression by cellular miRNAs.
Sample preparation technique, for the analysis of δ 13 C ratios in oil and gas samples, has gradually been recognized as one of the most crucial steps of the whole analytical process. In this study, a new convenient method, syringe solid phase extraction (SSPE), was proposed for measuring δ 13 C in natural gas samples. Based on conditional experiments of temperature and time, SSPE fitted with activated carbon adsorbent was applied with a gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) system for trace carbon isotope analysis. The results showed that isotopic fractionation was not clearly observed during the adsorption and desorption process, and the δ 13 C ratios measured by SSPE-GC/IRMS were in good agreement with the known δ 13 C ratios of CH 4 ~C 5 H 12 measured by GC/IRMS with the accuracy all within ±0.48‰. A natural gas sample was applied to verify the efficiency of this new method, and the obtained results confirmed that SSPE-GC/IRMS is a reliable technique characterized with simplicity, efficiency, and reliability.
Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm with distant metastases and a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 63-year-old male patient exhibiting stage IV primary EMPD with neuroendocrine differentiation, and harboring a somatic mutation in AMER1. After four cycles of Anlotinib combined with Tislelizumab, the patient achieved partial response for the metastatic lesions according to mRECIST1.1 criteria. Total positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) scans revealed a significant reduction in SUV from 18.9 to 5.3, and the serum CEA decreased to normal levels after the treatment regimen. However, the patient developed fractures of the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae during the treatment. Therefore, percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed, and the patient experienced severe postoperative pneumonia and died from pulmonary encephalopathy and respiratory failure in June 2021. The overall and progression-free survival of the patient after diagnosis were 9 and 8 months, respectively. During the systemic treatment, the patient suffered grade 1 rash in the back and thigh and grade 1 hypertension. Nevertheless, the combination treatment of anlotinib and tislelizumab had a favorable clinical outcome and provided a survival advantage, and should be considered a therapeutic option for patients with AMER1-mutant metastatic EMPD.
Summary Background Cumulative lifetime sun exposure is accepted as having a very important role to play in the expression of the signs of photoaging, which is then superimposed on the intrinsic processes involved in the chronological aging of skin. Many groups have evaluated the effects of emulsion‐based products, mostly although not exclusively, on the face using a variety of actives including retinoids and antioxidants. Nevertheless, the effect of a topical anhydrous product on photodamaged skin has not been reported in the literature. Aims The objective of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of a vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant‐containing oil‐based moisturizer on facial, neck, decolletage, arms, and lower leg body sites. Methods In a randomized, controlled and efficacy grader‐blinded clinical study conducted over 12 weeks, while at the same time recording the changes in skin condition for a no‐treatment group over the same time period, live clinical expert grading of all body sites and also grading of photographs for the face and neck assessed changes in the signs of photodamage was performed for the treatment and no‐treatment groups. Results Compared to the no‐treatment group, and to baseline, the oil improved fine lines, coarse wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, uneven skin tone, roughness, firmness, and clarity of the skin on the face and neck and was also shown to improve crepey skin texture, dryness, scaling and roughness on the decolletage, arms and lower legs at the primary end point at 12 weeks ( P < 0.001). Moreover, improvements in a variety of parameters were observed as quickly as 2 weeks. In general, the degree of improvement was greatest in the order legs > arms > decolletage > face > neck. Conclusions Collectively, these results show the cumulative improvements in the signs of photoaging compared to a no‐treatment control group for the oil‐based antiaging moisturizer for the first time. The differences in the efficacy of the vitamin A palmiate and antioxidant oil‐based moisturizer on different body sites probably reflect the differences in likely photodamage.
To collect the data of measuring skin thickness of children of both genders of different ages and parts of body with non-invasive high-frequency ultrasound method.Two hundred and twenty-one children from 1 to 18 years of age,without systemic disease or injury in skin, were enrolled in the study and divided into 4 groups: i.e., infant group (112 years of age), pre-school age group (3-6 years of age), school age group (7-12 years for boys and 7-11 years for girls), adolescent age group (13-18 years for boys and 12-18 years for girls), and each group was subdivided into 2 groups according to the gender. The skin thicknesses of children in cheek, chest, abdomen, forearms, fundament and thigh was respectively measured by 13 MHz high-frequency ultrasound.The region with thinnest skin in children was the cheek, and the thickest was the back and buttock. (1) There were no significant differences in thickness of skin in the same region between genders and also among different age groups (P > 0.05). (2) There were also no obvious differences of thickness of the dermis and the whole skin in the same region between male and female, or among infants, pre-school age and school age groups (P > 0.05). In adolescent group, the average thickness of dermis in male was (1.16 +/- 0.04 ) - (1.98 +/- 0.47) mm, the average whole thickness of skin in male was (1.27 +/- 0.12) - (2.20 +/- 0.45) mm, while those of female were (1.00 +/- 0.18) - (1.60 +/- 0.30) mm and (1.10 +/- 0.17) - (1.83 +/- 0.29) mm (P < 0.05).It is reliable to measure the skin thickness by 13MHz ultrasound as a non-invasive method. The main factor which determined the thickness of the skin is dermal thickness, especially in males. The significant differences of skin thickness among cheek, back and buttock provide the basis for us to choose the appropriate thickness of skin grafts harvested from different body parts.
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