Gene Expression Profile of Human Skeletal Muscle and Adipose Tissue of Chinese Han Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To study the differential patterns of gene expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue between type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） patients and healthy subjects using DNA microarray analysis, Methods T2DM patiens were divided into female group, young male group and old male group. DNA microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were carried out to anaIyze the relation between gene expressions and T2DM. Results The mRNA expression of 298, 578, and 350 genes was changed in the skeletal muscle of diabetes mellitus patients compared with control subjects. The 1320, 1143, and 2847 genes were modified in adipose tissue of the three groups. Among the genes surveyed, the change of 25 and 39 gene transcripts in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was ≥2 folds, These differentially expressed genes were classified into 15 categories according to their functions. Conclusion New genes are found and T2DM can be prevented or cured.

Brain functional network connectivity based on a visual task: visual information processing-related brain regions are significantly activated in the task state

It is not clear whether the method used in functional brain-network related research can be applied to explore the feature binding mechanism of visual perception. In this study, we inves-tigated feature binding of color and shape in visual perception. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 38 healthy volunteers at rest and while performing a visual perception task to construct brain networks active during resting and task states. Results showed that brain regions involved in visual information processing were obviously activated during the task. The components were partitioned using a greedy algorithm, indicating the visual network existed during the resting state.Z-values in the vision-related brain regions were calculated, conifrming the dynamic balance of the brain network. Connectivity between brain regions was determined, and the result showed that occipital and lingual gyri were stable brain regions in the visual system network, the parietal lobe played a very important role in the binding process of color features and shape features, and the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri were crucial for processing color and shape information. Experimental ifndings indicate that understanding visual feature binding and cognitive processes will help establish computational models of vision, improve image recognition technology, and provide a new theoretical mechanism for feature binding in visual perception.

Positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay results in patients recovered from COVID-19: Report of two cases

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has spread around the globe.On February 28,2020,the World Health Organization adjusted the risk of spread and impact of COVID-19 to“very high”at the global level.Studies have mainly focused on the etiology,epidemiology,and treatment of COVID-19 to limit further spread and the negative impact of the disease,while less attention has been devoted to the follow-up and reexamination of patients who recovered from COVID-19 or were released from quarantine.CASE SUMMARY This study reports two cases where patients who had negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)test results and met the criteria for discharge subsequently had positive RT-PCR test results.The clinical manifestations and computed tomography(CT)findings of these patients were examined.The conversion of RT-PCR test results in these two patients may be related to false-negative and false-positive outcomes of the test.CT images helped track improvement of pulmonary lesions.CONCLUSION The timing of discharge of COVID-19 patients should be determined by comprehensive analysis of CT images and RT-PCR test results.

Rapid progression of atherosclerosis in a patient with acute coronary syndrome and ANCA-associated vasculitis:split or confluence?

A59-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital on 9 March 2021,due to recurrent chest pain.She underwent percutaneous coronary intervention,with a focus on the proximal segment of the left anterior descending(LAD)artery,six months prior to admission.The patient had a long-term history of hyperlipidaemia and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome(OSAS).She also had rheumatoid arthritis and ANCA-associated vasculitis that lasted for more than 10 years and a 9-year history of concomitant hypertension.She was on long-term oral leflunomide and intermittent oral prednisone.The patient underwent a computed tomography angiogram(CTA)six years ago(2015),which showed minor atherosclerotic plaque build-up in the LAD artery and the right coronary artery(RCA)(Figure 1).

Functional characterization of an invertase inhibitor gene involved in sucrose metabolism in tomato fruit

In this study, we produced tomato plants overexpressing an invertase inhibitor gene （Sly-INH） from tomato using a simple and efficient transient transformation system. Compared with control plants, the expression of Sly-INH was highly upregulated in Sly-INH overexpressing plants, as indicated by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Physiological analysis revealed that Sly-INH inhibited the activity of cell wall invertase （CWIN）, which increased sugar accumulation in tomato fruit. Furthermore, Sly-INH mediated sucrose metabolism by regulating CWIN activity. Our results suggest that invertase activity is potentially regulated by the Sly-INH inhibitor at the post-translational level, and they demonstrate that the transient transformation system is an effective method for determining the functions of genes in tomato.