Abstract Objective: To analyze the value of serum miRNA-122 expression in the diagnosis, severity, and prognosis of Acute Cerebral Infarction (ACI) and the correlation mechanism of serum miRNA-122 on the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in ACI. Method: A total of 60 patients with ACI who were admitted to the emergency department of the Taizhou People’s Hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 30, 2019, and 30 healthy controls during the same period were selected. General clinical data of all patients at admission were collected. Including age, sex, medical history, and inflammatory factors (C-Reactive Protein [CRP], Interleukin-6 [IL-6], Procalcitonin [PCT], Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipid carrier protein [NGAL]). The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission and short-term prognosis (the Modified Rankin Score [mRS]) score at 3 months after onset were recorded. The expression level of miRNA-122 in the serum of patients with ACI and normal controls was detected by reverse-transcription quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-QPCR), and the correlation between the expression level of miRNA-122 in the serum of patients with ACI and the level of inflammatory factors, NIHSS and mRS scores were analyzed. The expression levels of miRNA-122 in the serum of patients with ACI, normal people, and Human Umbilical cord Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) cultured in a blank control group were detected by RT-QPCR and statistically analyzed. MTT and flow cytometry was used to compare the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in the miRNA-122 mimics and inhibitors transfection groups and the corresponding negative control group. The mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-related factors Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and angiogenesis-related proteins Hes1, Notch1, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF), and CCNG1 were detected by RT-QPCR and Western blot. Bioinformatics methods predicted CCNG1 to be the target of miRNA-122, and the direct targeting relationship between CCNG1 and miRNA-122 was verified by a dual-luciferase reporting assay. Result: Serum miRNA-122 expression in patients with ACI was significantly higher than that in healthy controls, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.929, 95% Confidence Interval of 0.875‒0.983, and an optimal cut-off value of 1.397. The expression levels of CRP, IL-6, and NGAL in patients with ACI were higher than those in healthy control groups, p < 0.05; miRNA-122 was positively correlated with CPR, IL-6, NIHSS score, and mRS score. At 48h and 72h, the proliferation rate of HUVECs cells in the miRNA-122 mimics group decreased and the apoptosis rate increased. Cell proliferation rate increased, and apoptosis rate decreased significantly in the groups transfected with miRNA-122 inhibitors. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-apoptotic factors Bax and caspase-3 were significantly increased in the miRNA-122 mimics transfection group, while those of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 were significantly decreased compared to those of the control group. The expression of Bax and Caspase-3 decreased, and the expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 increased in the transfected miRNA-122 inhibitors group. mRNA expression levels of Hes1, Notch1, VEGF, and CCNG1 in the miRNA-122 mimic transfected group were significantly decreased, while mRNA expression levels in the miRNA-122 inhibitors transfected group were significantly increased. Bioinformatics showed that there was a miRNA-122 binding site in the 3′UTR region of CCNG1, and dual luciferase assay confirmed that CCNG1 was the target of miRNA-122.

Abstract Serrapeptase, a proteolytic enzyme, has been used for the adjuvant treatment of many diseases. However, its fibrinolytic activity is still uncertain. Herein, the fibrinolytic activity of serrapeptase and its in vitro thrombolytic effects were investigated. The results showed that the fibrinolytic activity of serrapeptase was 1295 U/mg, and the specific activity was 3867 U/mg of protein when its proteolytic activity toward casein was 2800 U/mg. The optimum temperature and pH for serrapeptase activity were 37-40°C and 9.0, respectively. At 1 mmol/L, Zn2+, Mn2+ and Fe2+ could activate the fibrinolytic activity of serrapeptase, while K+, Cu2+, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) inhibited it. In vitro tests showed that serrapeptase could completely prevent blood coagulation at 150 U/mL, and the percentage of blood clot lysis reached 96.6% at 37°C after 4 h at 300 U/mL. These results indicate that serrapeptase has excellent fibrinolytic activity, and can be used as a health food or candidate drug for the prevention or treatment of thrombotic diseases.

RESUMO No ambiente de rápido desenvolvimento do nível social e econômico, a reforma da informatização médica está constantemente avançando, e os residentes prestam cada vez mais atenção ao seu próprio estado de saúde, melhorando ao Mesmo tempo seu padrão de vida. O sistema tradicional de serviços médicos tem algumas desvantagens em fornecer serviços de saúde em tempo real, transfronteiriços, de longo prazo e fáceis de operar, o que vem se tornando cada vez mais inadequado para satisfazer as necessidades de saúde dos usuários. A fim de resolver o problema a da dificuldade em consultar um médico por devido a recursos médicos limitados, e para realizar a monitorização da saúde em tempo real para um grande número de grupos que sofrem de doenças crônicas e subgrupos de saúde, este estudo conduziu uma análise aprofundada e uma exploração experimental sobre o método de coleta de informações médicas móvel à distância humana baseado na Internet das coisas e algoritmo inteligente. Estabeleceu a seção de coleta de informações utilizando o algoritmo de clustering KbaC baseado no sistema de pontos de colônias de formigas que, juntamente com um estudo comparativo sobre os indicadores de saúde dos Grupos conexos, conseguiu provar que a tecnologia da Internet das coisas e o algoritmo inteligente para a coleta de informações médicas e acompanhamento dos serviços médicos têm certa relevância positiva baseada na Internet das coisas e outras tecnologias relacionadas ao sistema de coleta de informações médicas remotas humanas, podendo detectar com precisão e tempo hábil a pressão arterial do paciente, a glicose e outros dados de saúde, e, em seguida, fornecer o serviço médico correspondente.

ABSTRACT In the environment of rapid social and economic development, the reform of medical informatization is constantly advancing, and the residents pay more and more attention to their own health status while improving their living standards. The traditional medical service system has some disadvantages in providing real-time, cross regional, long-term and easy-to-operate health services, which has become increasingly inadequate to meet the health needs of users. In order to solve the problem of difficulty in seeing a doctor caused by limited medical resources, and to carry out real-time health monitoring for a large number of groups suffering from chronic diseases and sub-health groups, this study conducted in-depth analysis and experimental exploration on the human remote mobile medical information collection method based on the Internet of things and intelligent algorithm. It established the information collection section by using KbaC clustering algorithm based on ant colony point system which, combined with a comparative study on the health indicators of related groups, has successfully proved that the Internet of things technology and intelligent algorithm for medical information collection and follow-up medical services are of certain positive significance, based on the Internet of things and other related technologies of human remote medical information collection system that can accurately and timely detect the patient's blood pressure, blood sugar and other health data, and then provide corresponding medical services.

RESUMEN En un entorno de rápido desarrollo social y económico, la reforma de la informatización médica avanza constantemente y las personas prestan cada vez más atención a su estado de salud mientras mejoran su nivel de vida. El sistema de servicio médico tradicional tiene deficiencias en la prestación de servicios de salud en tiempo real, transregionales, a largo plazo y fáciles de operar, los que se han vuelto cada vez más inadecuados para satisfacer las necesidades de salud de los usuarios. Este estudio realizó un análisis con el objetivo de resolver la dificultad para consultar al médico debido a la limitación de los recursos, y de realizar un seguimiento de la salud en tiempo real de un gran número de grupos que padecen enfermedades crónicas. Dicho trabajo realizó un análisis en profundidad y de exploración experimental acerca del método de recopilación de información médica humana móvil remoto basado en Internet de las cosas y el algoritmo inteligente. Estableció la sección de recopilación de información utilizando el algoritmo de agrupación KbaC basado en el sistema de puntos de colonia de hormigas. Esto, combinado con un estudio comparativo sobre los indicadores de salud de grupos relacionados, ha demostrado con éxito que la tecnología de Internet de las cosas y el algoritmo inteligente para la recopilación y seguimiento de información médica son de importancia positiva, y que pueden detectar de manera precisa y oportuna la presión arterial, el azúcar en sangre y otros datos de salud del paciente, para luego proporcionar la atención médica correspondiente.

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) has a poor prognosis and many patients are ineligible for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study evaluated the 12-month outcomes of coronary artery reconstruction and surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery for diffuse CAD. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent CABG with surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery (reconstruction group) or standard CABG alone (standard group) at the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the local Hospital between January 2014 and January 2016. Follow-up was censored at 12 months after surgery. Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping durations were longer in the reconstruction group (n=32) than in the standard group (n=125) (P<0.05). There were no differences in graft blood flow and postoperative levels of cardiac markers between the two groups (P>0.05). In the reconstruction group, one patient died; a vein graft showed occlusion. In the standard group, two patients died; one left internal mammary artery graft and three vein grafts showed occlusion. There were no significant differences in mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and patency between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Coronary artery reconstruction and surgical patch angioplasty of the coronary artery can be performed for diffuse CAD. Patient outcomes were not significantly different from those of patients who underwent standard CABG.

Abstract Histone methylation plays a crucial role in various biological processes, from heterochromatin formation to transcriptional regulation. Currently, no information is available regarding histone methylation modifiers in the important rubber-producing plant Hevea brasiliensis. Here, we identified 47 histone methyltransferase (HMT) genes and 25 histone demethylase (HDM) genes as possible members of the histone methylation modifiers in the rubber tree genome. According to the structural features of HMT and HDM, the HbHMTs were classified into two groups (HbPRMs and HbSDGs), the HbHDMs have two groups (HbLSDs and HbJMJs). Expression patterns were analyzed in five different tissues and at different phases of somatic embryogenesis. HbSDG10, 21, 25, 33, HbJMJ2, 18, 20 were with high expression at different phases of somatic embryogenesis. HbSDG10,14, 20, 21, 33 and HbPRMT4 were expressed highly in anther, HbSDG14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 33, 35 and HbPRMT1 HbJMJ7 and HbLSD1, 2, 3, 4 showed high expression levels in callus. HbSDG1, 7, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 35, HbPRMT1, 8, HbJMJ5, 7, 11, 16, 20 and HbLSD2, 3, 4 were expressed highly in somatic embryo. HbSDG10, 21, 25, 33, HbLSD2, 3 were expressed highly in bud of regenerated plant. The analyses reveal that HbHMTs and HbHDMs exhibit different expression patterns at different phases during somatic embryogenesis, implying that some HbHMTs and HbHDMs play important roles during somatic embryogenesis. This study provide fundamental information for further studies on histone methylation in Hevea brasiliensis.

Abstract Mago nashi (MAGO) and Y14 proteins are highly conserved among eukaryotes. In this study, we identified two MAGO (designated as HbMAGO1 andHbMAGO2) and two Y14 (designated as HbY14aand HbY14b) genes in the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) genome annotation. Multiple amino acid sequence alignments predicted that HbMAGO and HbY14 proteins are structurally similar to homologous proteins from other species. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed that HbMAGO and HbY14 genes were expressed in at least one of the tissues (bark, flower, latex, leaf and root) examined. HbMAGOs and HbY14s were predominately located in the nucleus and were found to interact in yeast two-hybrid analysis (YTH) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays. HbMAGOs and HbY14s showed the highest transcription in latex and were regulated by ethylene and jasmonate. Interaction between HbMAGO2 and gp91phox (a large subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) was identified using YTH and BiFC assays. These findings suggested that HbMAGO may be involved in the aggregation of rubber particles in H. brasiliensis.

The cDNA encoding the R1-MYB transcription factor, designated as JcR1MYB1, was isolated from Jatropha curcas using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. JcR1MYB1 contains a 951 bp open reading frame that encodes 316 amino acids. The deduced JcR1MYB1 protein was predicted to possess the conserved, 56-amino acid-long DNA-binding domain, which consists of a single helix-turn-helix module and usually occurs in R1-MYBs. JcR1MYB1 is a member of the R1-MYB transcription factor subfamily. A subcellular localization study confirmed the nuclear localization of JcR1MYB1. Expression analysis showed that JcR1MYB1 transcripts accumulated in various examined tissues, with high expression levels in the root and low levels in the stem. JcR1MYB1 transcription was up-regulated by polyethylene glycol, NaCl, and cold treatments, as well as by abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene treatment. Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing JcR1MYB1 indicates an inportant function for this gene in salt stress.

Background: Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most devastating disease in peanut. Planting resistant peanut cultivars is deemed as the sole economically viable means for effective control of the disease. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying resistance and facilitate breeding process, differences in gene expression between seeds of Rihua 1 (a Virginia type peanut variety resistant to bacterial wilt) inoculated with the bacterial pathogen suspension (10(9) cfu ml-1) and seeds of the same cultivar treated with water (control), were studied using the GenefishingTM technology. Results: A total of 25 differentially expressed genes were isolated. Expression of genes encoding cyclophilin and ADP-ribosylation factor, respectively, were further studied by real time RT-PCR, and full length cDNAs of both genes were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Conclusions: The study provided candidate genes potentially useful for breeding peanut cultivars with both high yield and bacterial wilt resistance, although confirmation of their functions through transgenic studies is still needed.

YKL-40 has been identified as a growth factor in connective tissue cells and also a migration factor in vascular smooth muscle cells. To a large extent, the increase of serum YKL-40 is attributed to liver fibrosis and asthma. However, the relationship of the expression and clinical/prognostic significance of YKL-40 to the splenomegaly of patients with portal hypertension is unclear. In the present study, the expression of YKL-40 was studied by immunohistochemistry in 48 splenomegaly tissue samples from patients with portal hypertension and in 14 normal spleen specimens. All specimens were quickly stored at -80°C after resection. Primary antibodies YKL-40 (1:150 dilution, rabbit polyclonal IgG) and MMP-9 (1:200 dilution, rabbit monoclonal IgG) and antirabbit immunoglobulins (HRP K4010) were used in this study. The relationship of clinicopathologic features with YKL-40 is presented. The expression of YKL-40 indicated by increased immunochemical reactivity was significantly up-regulated in splenomegaly tissues compared to normal spleen tissues. Overexpression of YKL-40 was found in 68.8% of splenomegaly tissues and was significantly associated with Child-Pugh classification (P = 0.000), free portal pressure (correlation coefficient = 0.499, P < 0.01) and spleen fibrosis (correlation coefficient = 0.857, P < 0.01). Further study showed a significant correlation between YKL-40 and MMP-9 (correlation coefficient = -0.839, P < 0.01), indicating that YKL-40 might be an accelerator of spleen tissue remodeling by inhibiting the expression of MMP-9. In conclusion, YKL-40 is an important factor involved in the remodeling of spleen tissue of portal hypertension patients and can be used as a therapeutic target for splenomegaly.

Plant pathogenic fungi have long been documented through concerted efforts of mycologists and plant pathologists; these records have served as the basis for regional and countrywide checklists which have since been put into databases listing hosts and associated fungi. They are used by governments and scientists to formulate trade quarantine policies and determine research funding, such as in plant breeding programs and disease control. With the ability to use molecular characters to study the systematics of fungi it is clear that morphologically defined species are often large complexes comprised of genetically and biologically distinct species. Use of molecular techniques to examine species complexes has revealed cryptic species in many important plant pathogenic genera, e.g. Botryosphaeria, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, and Mycosphaerella. It has occurred to such an extent that existing checklists and databases need updating. It is important that the data from these studies, including changes in taxonomy and nomenclature, be incorporated into the databases of plant pathogenic fungi to support accurate plant quarantine decisions. In addition, epitypifying fungi by re-collecting material from type habitats and isolating the organism into pure culture will provide essential materials for systematics studies to further clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of plant pathogenic fungi. Overall, we conclude that disease lists are likely to be highly outdated and advocate the need for countrywide re-inventory of plant pathogens. As a result of these studies, tools can be developed that use morphological or molecular characters, or both, to promote accurate identification of plant pathogenic fungi.

El propósito de este artículo es realizar una investigación exploratoria de la estructura de los flujos migratorios interregionales en España durante el período 1998 a 2006. Se aplicó la descomposición de tendencias extremas de Sonis (1980) a los flujos migratorios matriciales. Se encontró que la estructura migratoria inter-regional en España se hizo menos compleja durante el período analizado y que sus lugares de origen y destino han permanecido constantes.

The purpose of this paper is to perform an exploratory investigation of the structure of inter-regional migration flows across Spanish regions between 1998 and 2006. We apply Sonis' (1980) extreme tendency decomposition to the flow matrices to reveal that the structure of inter-regional migration in Spain is becoming less complicated over time but the places of origin and destination have remained very similar.

O propósito deste artigo é realizar uma pesquisa exploratória da estrutura dos fluxos migratórios inter-regionais na Espanha durante o período 1998-2006. Aplicou-se a decomposição de tendências extremas de Sonis (1980) aos fluxos migratórios matriciais. Encontrou-se que a estrutura migratória inter-regional na Espanha se fez menos complexa durante o período analisado, mas seus lugares de origem e destino permaneceram constantes.