Yi‐Hao Lin

The National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), which is a part of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), provides a family of database resources to support the global academic and industrial communities. With the rapid accumulation of multi-omics data at an unprecedented pace, CNCB-NGDC continuously expands and updates core database resources through big data archiving, integrative analysis and value-added curation. Importantly, NGDC collaborates closely with major international databases and initiatives to ensure seamless data exchange and interoperability. Over the past year, significant efforts have been dedicated to integrating diverse omics data, synthesizing expanding knowledge, developing new resources, and upgrading major existing resources. Particularly, several database resources are newly developed for the biodiversity of protists (P10K), bacteria (NTM-DB, MPA) as well as plant (PPGR, SoyOmics, PlantPan) and disease/trait association (CROST, HervD Atlas, HALL, MACdb, BioKA, BioKA, RePoS, PGG.SV, NAFLDkb). All the resources and services are publicly accessible at https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn.

AIM: To examine the temporal effects of diabetes on the bladder and the external urethral sphincter (EUS) activity in rats. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into two groups: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and age-matched controls. Cystometrograms (CMGs) were taken under urethane anesthesia and electromyograms (EMG) of the EUS were evaluated in all rats at 6 and 20 weeks after diabetes induction. After EMG assessment, the tissues of the urethra were harvested for morphological examination. RESULTS: Diabetes caused reduction of body weight, but an increase in bladder weight. CMG measurements showed diabetes increased threshold volume, contraction duration, high-frequency oscillations (HFO), and residual volume. Peak contraction amplitude increased in 6-week but not 20-week diabetic rats. EUS-EMG measurements showed increased frequency of EUS-EMG bursting discharge during voiding in 6-week diabetic rats (8.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.9 +/- 0.6/sec) but not in 20-week (5.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.2/sec) diabetic rats compared with controls. EUS-EMG bursting periods were also increased in both 6-week and 20-week diabetic rats compared with controls. EUS-EMG silent periods were reduced in 6-week diabetic rats, but were not changed in 20-week diabetic rats compared with controls. Active periods did not change in 20-week diabetic rats, but increased in 6-week diabetic rats compared with controls. Morphometric analysis showed atrophy of the EUS after 20 week but not 6 weeks of DM induction. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates diabetes causes functional and anatomical abnormalities of the EUS. These abnormalities may contribute to the time-dependent bladder dysfunction in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To examine bladder function in a newly developed experimental autoimmune cystitis (EAC) model in female SWXJ strain mice, as a potential animal model for interstitial cystitis (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 20 SWXJ female mice were divided into two groups: an EAC group immunized with mouse bladder homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and a control group immunized with CFA alone. At 4 months after injection, the bladder function of some mice (six) was studied with 24-h micturition habits using metabolic cages and conscious cystometrography (CMG). The bladder and lung were harvested for histological examination and to assess interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression. RESULTS: Histology examination showed obviously thickened lamina propria, infiltration of lymphocytes, giant cells, and increased mast cells in the detrusor muscle of the EAC mice. The lungs of EAC mice showed normal histology. The IFN-gamma mRNA expression increased significantly in the bladder, but not in the lung of the EAC mice. The 24-h micturition habits measurements showed increased frequency of urination in the EAC mice compared with the controls. Similarly, CMG showed decreased intercontraction intervals and voided volumes per micturition in the EAC mice compared with the controls. However, there were no significant differences in peak voiding pressure or total voiding volume between the EAC and control mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our murine EAC model has comparable functional and histological alterations to those seen in human IC, and may provide a useful model for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of IC.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of non-ablative laser treatment on overactive bladder (OAB) syndromes, stress urinary incontinence and sexual function in women with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2015 and June 2015, consecutive patients with USI with OAB syndromes underwent two sessions of Erbium:YAG laser treatment in a tertiary hospital. Patients received validated urological questionnaires, urodynamic studies, 1-h pad test and measurement of vaginal pressure before, one and three months after laser treatment. Questionnaires at 12 months were completed by telephone interview. Adverse effects and patients' satisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: We included 30 patients with a mean age of 52.6 ± 8.8 years. Three months after therapy, mean 1-h pad test significantly decreased (P = 0.039). Significant improvement in OAB symptoms in four questionnaires were noted at three months post treatment, but not sustained for 12 months in two of them. Three months after therapy, mean vaginal pressure significantly improved (P = 0.009). Of 24 (82.7%) sexually active patients, 62.5% (15/24) and 54.2% (13/24) of their sexual partners reported improved sexual gratification three months later. No major adverse effects were noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Erbium:YAG laser treatment can resolve USI and coexistent OAB symptoms three months after therapy. Sexual experience is also improved. However, repeated laser therapy may be necessary after six months.