The complete mitochondrial genome of Engyodontium album and comparative analyses with Ascomycota mitogenomes

Abstract Engyodontium album is a widespread pathogen that causes different kinds of dermatoses and respiratory tract diseases in humans and animals. In spite of its perniciousness, the basic genetic and molecular background of this species remains poorly understood. In this study, the mitochondrial genome sequence of E. album was determined using a high-throughput sequencing platform. The circular mitogenome was found to be 28,081 nucleotides in length and comprised of 17 protein-coding genes, 24 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The nucleotide composition of the genome was A+T-biased (74.13%). Group-II introns were found in the nad1, nad5, and cob genes. The most frequently used codon of protein-coding genes was UAU. Isoleucine was identified as the most common amino acid, while proline was the least common amino acid in protein-coding genes. The gene-arrangement order is nearly the same when compared with other Ascomycota mitogenomes. Phylogenetic relationships based on the shared protein-coding genes revealed that E. album is closely related to the Cordycipitaceae family, with a high-confidence support value (100%). The availability of the mitogenome of E. album will shed light on the molecular systematic and genetic differentiation of this species.

Correlation of the level of Reg3α protein in plasma with gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to explore the correlation of regenerating Islet-derived 3-alpha(Reg3α) protein level in plasma with the diagnosis and prognosis of the gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (GI-aGVHD) after all-HSCT, 103 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were observed in our hospital from December 2011 to December 2012. Peripheral blood samples were routinely collected at 9 d before allo-HSCT, 0 d, 14 d, 28 d after allo-HSCT as well as in aGVHD and at the 1 and 4 weeks after aGVHD therapy. The plasma concentrations of Reg3α were measured by using ELISA kit. The results indicated that among the 103 patients, 17 cases never developed aGVHD symptoms (no-aGVHD), 27 cases presented with non-aGVHD associated diarrhea, 10 cases presented with isolated skin aGVHD, 17 cases developed grades I-II GI-aGVHD, 32 cases with grades III-IV GI-aGVHD. The plasma concentrations of Reg3α in group of patients with GI-aGVHD and group of non-aGVHD diarrhea were 111.5 (54.7-180.2) and 23.9 (14.5-89.5) ng/ml respectively with significant difference (P < 0.001). The plasma concentrations of Reg3α in 17 patients of grades III-IV GI-aGVHD who experienced a complete or partial response and 7 patients who had no response to therapy at 4 weeks were 137.2(51.7-205.4) and 679.4(122.3-896.8) ng/ml respectively with the significant difference (P = 0.028). All of the patients who had no response to therapy died of aGVHD associated multiple organ failure. The area under the ROC curve was 0.902 when plasma concentration of Reg3α was set at 87.73 ng/ml. The sensitivity was 81.48% and the specificity was 82.86% when the critical value was used in diagnosis of grades III-IV GI-aGVHD. The probability of grades III-IV GI-aGVHD had statistical difference above and below 87.73 ng/ml after allo-HSCT (P < 0.001). It is concluded that the increase of plasma Reg3α level after transplantation suggests the incidence of grades III-IV GI-aGVHD. The high level of plasma Reg3α protein in patients with grades III-IV GI-aGVHD after the immunosuppressive treatment for four weeks indicates a poor prognosis. The plasma concentrations of Reg3α can be used as a specific biomarker of GI-aGVHD.

Efficacy of arterial duct stenting in neonatal pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of arterial duct stenting in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven neonatal pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum patients received arterial duct stenting in our hospital from December 2007 to September 2010 were involved in this study. The average age was (8.20 +/- 2.90) days (ranged from 3 to 13 days). The average weight was (3.41 +/- 0.29) kg (ranged from 3.00 to 3.88 kg). The stents were selected according to digital subtracted angiography measurements. After checking for correct position by angiography, the balloon was inflated to expand the stent to desired diameter. Oxygen saturation was monitored, echocardiography was measured and stent diameter and location were observed by chest Xray. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post procedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Stents were successfully implanted in all 11 patients. The preoperative peripheral oxygen saturation was (63.27 +/- 8.47)%, while increased to (82.73 +/- 5.59)% after alprostadil application and to (86.18 +/- 3.19)% after operation (all P < 0.01). After the operation, the peripheral oxygen saturation was higher than alprostadil application (P < 0.05). The intraoperative narrowest diameter of patent ductus arteriosus was (1.69 +/- 0.37) mm, the length was (16.72 +/- 2.37) mm. The internal diameter of implant stents was 4 mm, the length was (20.18 +/- 3.40) mm. After the operation, surgical B-T shunt operation was performed in one patient due to stent shift and pulse oxygen saturation decrease. One patient died post operation with unknown reason, another patient received stent balloon dilatation due to pulse oxygen saturation decrease at 4 months after the surgery. Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum surgeries were performed in 2 patients at 5 and 7 months after stent implantation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neonatal pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum arterial stent implantation was a feasible and effective procedure and this method could be used as preferred treatment in pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum for neonates.</p>

Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for critical pulmonary stenosis in infants under 6 months of age and short and medium term follow-up / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect and results of short and medium periods of follow-up of percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for critical pulmonary stenosis of neonates and infants under 6 months of age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2002 and December 2008, 34 consecutive patients aged from 13 to 175 days with critical pulmonary valvular stenosis underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. Patients records, catheterization data, angiograms and echocardiograms were reviewed. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 4 years (mean 25.5 months) by means of clinical examination and Doppler echocardiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pulmonary valvuloplasty was accomplished in 32 (94%) of 34 attempts. Immediately after dilation, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) decreased from (96 ± 28) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) (49 ± 20) mm Hg (P < 0.01), the transvalvular peak to peak systolic gradient (ΔP) decreased from (89 ± 25) mm Hg to (25 ± 12) mm Hg (P < 0.01), and the right ventricular/aortic systolic pressure ratio decreased from 1.2 ± 0.5 to 0.7 ± 0.3 (P < 0.01). One patient died because of cardiac tamponade following rupture of the pulmonary valve annulus, 2 patients developed pericardial effusion, 3 patients had infundibular spasm, 3 patients had a pre-dilation by small balloon and 1 patient had weakened femoral artery pollex. After a follow up period of 6 months to 4 years 3 of 31 patients lost to follow-up. Repeat valvuloplasty was performed in 5 patients (3 neonates), no patient required surgery, and the other 23 patients did not undergo further intervention, a mean peak systolic Doppler gradient of (20 ± 13) mm Hg was found and no significant pulmonary regurgitation was seen.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was effective and safe for the treatment of critical pulmonary stenosis of neonates and infants under 6 months of age with good short and medium term results.</p>

Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty for congenital valvular aortic stenosis in children / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of the balloon valvuloplasty for congenital valvular aortic stenosis (AS) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of twenty one children with AS accepted the treatment of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV). One of them complicated with PDA underwent PDA closure by using Amplatzer occluder in the mean time. PBAV could not be accomplished in 3 cases because the catheter could not be advanced into left ventricle and PBAV was not performed in 2 cases due to the gradient pressures across aortic valves less than 50 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). The procedure was completed in 16 cases. The ratios of balloon/valve were 0.98 +/- 0.04 (0.92 - 1.10).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>13 cases had more than 50% gradient reduction (81.25%), 2 had 40% - 50% gradient reduction. The follow up period ranged from 3 months to 5 years. The gradient pressures rose to more than 50 mm Hg after follow up in 3 cases and they underwent repeat balloon valvuloplasty procedure or were operated successfully. There was no moderate to severe aortic insufficiency (AI).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The result of balloon aortic valvuloplasty showed the significant hemodynamic improvement with relative safety in pediatric patients. PBAV provides another choice in comparison with surgery.</p>

A linkage between beta-fibrinogen gene -148C/T polymorphism and cerebral infarction / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the linkage between -148C/T polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene and plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-one patients with cerebral infarction and 101 healthy individuals were enrolled in this trial. The beta-fibrinogen gene -148C/T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained from prothrombin time assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma fibrinogen levels of patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P<0.01). In both groups, T allele carriers had higher plasma fibrinogen levels than other those did (P<0.01); and the fibrinogen level difference was still significant if both groups was based on their sex (P<0.05). Divided by age, each group of the study cases has significant difference between two genotypes (P<0.05). T -148 allele frequency of the middle age case in study group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High plasma fibrinogen level is a risk factor to cerebral infarction. Plasma fibrinogen level is affected by -148C/T polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene. With or without other risk factors and environmental factors affecting, T allele increases plasma fibrinogen level and may be a heritable risk factor to cerebral infarction.</p>

Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects in children following transthoracic echocardiography / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSD) in children following transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From September 2002 to December 2005, eighty-nine children (47 males and 42 females) with perimembranous (VSD) underwent an attempt of transcatheter interventional occlusion. Among the 89 children, one of them was diagnosed with patent ductus arterious (PDA) and six with VSD leakage after the surgical repair (three with leakage after the surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot and three with leakage after the surgical repair of VSD). The mean age of patients was (6.4 +/- 3.9) years (ranged from 1 to 18 years). The mean body weight of patients was (22 +/- 11 )kg (ranged from 9 to 78 kg). The mean diameter of VSD measured by TTE was (4.3 +/- 1.5) mm(ranged from 2 to 8.5mm). The path of artery to vein was established following X-rays and TTE. Occluder was released through the right heart system. All patients were followed up in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after procedure of TTE, X-ray and electrocardiography.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The devices were deployed successfully in 85 patients, the rate of success was 95.5%. No death occurred during and after the procedure. There was trivial residual shunt in 12 patients immediately after the closure by TTE and angiography. Twenty-four hours later, only 3 patients had trivial residual and no shunt existed after 6 months follow-up. Convulsion occurred in 1 case due to serious cardiac arrhythmias. Hemolysis was found in 2 cases. Other complications included 2 cases of complete left bundle branch block, 1 cases of left anterior fascicular block and 3 cases of incomplete right bundle branch block. They recovered after 3 to 7 days of corticosteroid treatment. After 1 to 36 months (mean 9 months) follow-up, none of occluders displacement occurred and no valve was involved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transcatheter closure of membranous VSD using occluder would be safe and effective for children, and the results of short-term was satisfied. Transcatheter closure of VSD following TTE is a feasible method. TTE has the potential benefit of avoiding general anesthesia and esophageal intubation in children.</p>

Transcatheter therapy of combined congenital heart diseases in children / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the methods of interventional catheterization for combined congenital heart disease and to evaluate its efficacy in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 1994 to December 2003, 15 cases (6 boys, 9 girls) underwent transcatheter intervention for combined congenital heart diseases. The procedure of transcatheter intervention was as follows: for pulmonary stenosis (PS) and atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), PBPV first, occlusion of ASD or PDA later; for coarctation of aorta (COA) and PDA, dilation of COA first, occlusion of PDA 4-15 months later; for aortic stenosis (AS) and PDA, PBAV first, occlusion of PDA later; for ventricular septal defect (VSD) and PDA, all occlusions with detachable coils.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Transcatheter intervention for combined congenital heart diseases was successful in all patients. There was no residual shunt after occlusion immediately apart from 2 cases of PDA which were little residual after occlusion immediately. Follow-up for (3.57 +/-2.61) years, the systolic pressure gradients across pulmonary valve and coarctation were normal by ultrasonic or transcatheter, except AS. There was 3 cases presented postoperative complications: 1 with mechanical haemolysis, 1 with fall off of coil and 1 with arterial embolism, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transcatheter intervention for combined congenital heart diseases could obtain satisfactory results with appropriate indications and procedure manipulations.</p>