Diagnostic value of nasal nitric oxide for children with primary ciliary dyskinesia / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To evaluate the value of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement as a diagnostic tool for Chinese patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Methods: This study is a retrospective study. The patients were recruited from those who were admitted to the respiratory Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University from March 2018 to September 2022. Children with PCD were included as the PCD group, and children with situs inversus or ambiguus, cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis, chronic suppurative lung disease and asthma were included as the PCD symptom-similar group. Children who visited the Department of Child health Care and urology in the same hospital from December 2022 to January 2023 were selected as nNO normal control group. nNO was measured during plateau exhalation against resistance in three groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the nNO data. The receiver operating characteristic of nNO value for the diagnosis of PCD was plotted and, the area under the curve and Youden index was calculated to find the best cut-off value. Results: nNO was measured in 40 patients with PCD group, 75 PCD symptom-similar group (including 23 cases of situs inversus or ambiguus, 8 cases of CF, 26 cases of bronchiectasis or chronic suppurative lung disease, 18 cases of asthma), and 55 nNO normal controls group. The age of the three groups was respectively 9.7 (6.7,13.4), 9.3 (7.0,13.0) and 9.9 (7.3,13.0) years old. nNO values were significantly lower in children with PCD than in PCD symptom-similar group and nNO normal controls (12 (9,19) vs. 182 (121,222), 209 (165,261) nl/min, U=143.00, 2.00, both P<0.001). In the PCD symptom-similar group, situs inversus or ambiguus, CF, bronchiectasis or chronic suppurative lung disease and asthma were significantly higher than children with PCD (185 (123,218), 97 (52, 132), 154 (31, 202), 266 (202,414) vs. 12 (9,19) nl/min,U=1.00, 9.00, 133.00, 0, all P<0.001). A cut-off value of 84 nl/min could provide the best sensitivity (0.98) and specificity (0.92) with an area under the curve of 0.97 (95%CI 0.95-1.00, P<0.001). Conclusions: nNO value can draw a distinction between patients with PCD and others. A cut-off value of 84 nl/min is recommended for children with PCD.

The expression of LASS2 in bladder cancer and its relationship with tumor proliferation and apoptosis in nude mice / 医学研究生学报

Objective Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors involving urinary system , yet its pathogene-sis has not been fully and thoroughly studied .The study aimed to de-tect the expression of LASS 2 in bladder cancer model of nude mice and investigate the relationship of LASS 2 with tumor proliferation and apoptosis as well as its possible molecular mechanism . Methods Tumor development in nude mice was observed through the establish-ment of orthotopic bladder cancer model by transplantation , bladder cancer metastasis model by subcutaneous injection and blank con-trol group.LASS2 expression and changes in proliferation and apoptosis were detected in tumor tissues of different parts . Results Bladder cancer cell injected subcutaneously metastasis model tumor formation rate of 100%.The two models were not found transfer phenomenon in vivo.Compared with blank control group (81.0%), LASS2 expression (60.0%, 14.0%) was significantly decreased in the inoculated group and subcutaneous implantation group ( P<0.05) .Compared with the blank control group ( 16.0%) , the expression of Ki67 in the inoculated group and subcutaneous implantation group increased (50.0%and 78.0%) (P<0.05).Compared with the in situ perfusion group, the expression of LASS2 (14.0%) was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the expression of Ki67 (78.0%) was increased (P<0.05).Compared with the blank control group , the expression of Bcl-2 in subcutaneous implantation group and in si-tu perfusion group was significantly increased ( P<0.05) .Compared with the subcutaneous implantation group , the expression of Bcl-2 was increased in the in situ perfusion group ( P<0.05) , while the expression of Bcl-x1 in the in situ implanted tumor was higher than that in the other two groups (P<0.05).The expression level of Bax and caspase3 in each group was not statistically significant (P>0.05) .Compared with the blank control group , the expression of Bim was significantly decreased in the subcutaneous implantation group (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of LASS2 may be related to the tumorigenicity , proliferation and apoptosis in EJ blad-der cancer cells .

Three-dimensional morphology of C6/36 cells infected by dengue virus: a study based on digital holographic microscopy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To monitor the 3-dimensional (3D) morphological changes of C6/36 cells during dengue virus (DENV) infection using a live-cell imaging technique based on digital holographic microscopy and provide clues for better understanding the mechanisms of DENV infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>C6/36 cells were seeded in 6-well plates to determine the optimal imaging density under a holographic cell imager, and the morphological changes of the cells were recorded in response to a culture temperature change from 28 degrees celsius; to 37 degrees celsius; C6/36 cells were infected with 4 DENV strains with different serotypes at 28 degrees celsius; and incubated at 37 degrees celsius; for 24 h, and the 3D holograms and relevant morphological parameters were recorded at different time points using HoloMonitor M4 holographic cell imaging and analysis system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The holograms of C6/36 cells inoculated at the optimal density for imaging (4×10per well) showed unified 3D morphologies of the single cells with minimal dispersions in the cell area, thickness and volume (P<0.05), which did not undergo obvious changes when the cells were incubated at 37 degrees celsius; for 24 h (P>0.05). The cell area and volume of the cells infected with the 4 DENV strains all increased and the cell thickness was reduced during incubation. Among the 4 strains, DENV-1 and DENV-2 caused reduced cell thickness while DENV-3 and DENV-4 increased the cell thickness, and the pattern and degree of such changes differ among the 4 strains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Digital holographic microscopy allows monitoring of the complex morphological changes of cells during DENV infection. The 4 DENV strains with different serotypes causes characteristic cell damages during infection.</p>

Screening potential DNA barcode regions of genus Papaver / 中国中药杂志

DNA barcoding is an effective technique in species identification. To determine the candidate sequences which can be used as DNA barcode to identify in Papaver genus, five potential sequences (ITS, matK, psbA-trnH, rbcL, trnL-trnF) were screened. 69 sequences were downloaded from Genbank, including 21 ITS sequences, 10 matK sequences, 8 psbA-trnH sequences, 14 rbcL sequences and 16 trnL-trnF sequences. Mega 6.0 was used to analysis the comparison of sequences. By the methods of calculating the distances in intraspecific and interspecific divergences, evaluating DNA barcoding gap and constructing NJ and UPMGA phylogenetic trees. The sequence trnL-trnF performed best. In conclusion, trnL-trnF can be considered as a novel DNA barcode in Papaver genus, other four sequences can be as combination barcode for identification.

Identification of crocus sativus and its adulterants from Chinese markets by using DNA barcoding technique

Background: saffron [Crocus sativus L.] is a common but very expensive herbal medicine. As an important traditional medicine, it has an outstanding effect in treating irregular and painful menstruation. Recently, the over-demand tendency of saffron results in an unusual phenomenon in the medicinal markets. Adulterants and saffron-like substitutes are intentionally mixed into medicinal markets and pharmacies or online stores, affecting drug safety and food quality

Objectives: Our study aimed to identify saffron from its adulterants via DNA barcoding

Materials and Methods: Samples [13 saffron + 4 others containing Carthamus tinctorius or Chrysanthemum x morifolium] obtained from 12 different provinces of China. Through DNA barcoding, samples were compared using three candidate markers, trnH-psbA, rbcL-a and ITS2

Results: trnH-psbA and rbcL-a were capable of distinguishing different accessions. ITS2 could identify samples even at intra-specific level. According to these three barcodes, four samples were identified saffron-like substitutes

Conclusions: the adulterant rate in Chinese markets reaches as high as 33.33% that may cause health risks and further may reduce saffron efficacy once is being used as herbal remedy. In order to make a distinction between C. sativus with other genera as adulterants, DNA barcoding is suggested

Progress of experimental research on treating Alzheimer's disease by acupuncture / 中国中西医结合杂志

To discuss the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we summarized the mechanisms of treating AD animal models by acupuncture from literatures in recent years as follows. Senile dementia rats' cognitive capabilities and memory could be improved by reduction of beta-amyloid protein, attenuation of excessive phosphorylation of tau protein, regulation of center neurotransmitter dysmetabolism, oxidation of anti-free radicals, reduction of neuron apoptosis in the cortex and the hippocampus, inhibition of glial cells' differentiation, adjustment of G protein signaling transduction, and improvement of the mitochondrial dysfunction, thus providing experimental evidence for treating AD by acupuncture.

Study on matrix metalloproteinase 1, 9, 12 polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among Han nationality in northern China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between the functional polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>147 COPD patients and 120 healthy smoking controls were selected. Spirometry and chest X-rays had been taken. Questionnaires including sex, age, smoking history, occupational exposure were completed. MMP-9 (-1562 C/T), MMP-1(-1607 1G/2G), MMP-12 (-82 A/G), MMP-12(-357 Asn/ Ser) alleles were determined using PCR-RFLP method. Independent samples T test analysis was carried out to compare patients' age, smoking index, FEV1 /FVC, FEV1 % pred with that of healthy controlled group. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles between groups were analyzed by chi-square tests and multilogistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MMP12 Asn/Asn, CT/AsnAsn were risk factors for smoking-induced COPD. The ORs were 2.361 (95% CI: 1.369-4.017) and 2.433(95% CI: 1.159-5.342) respectively while CC/1G1G/ SerSer seemed to be a protective factor for smoking-induced COPD, with OR as 0.457 and 95% CI as 0.231-0.911.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Asn/Asn, CT/AsnAsn might be susceptible genotypes while CC/GG/SerSer might serve as protective genotype.</p>