Genome-wide analysis of AP2/ERF superfamily in Isatis indigotica / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor) superfamily is one of the largest gene families in plants and has been reported to participate in various biological processes, such as the regulation of biosynthesis of active lignan. However, few studies have investigated the genome-wide role of the AP2/ERF superfamily in Isatis indigotica. This study establishes a complete picture of the AP2/ERF superfamily in I. indigotica and contributes valuable information for further functional characterization of IiAP2/ERF genes and supports further metabolic engineering.@*METHODS@#To identify the IiAP2/ERF superfamily genes, the AP2/ERF sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica rapa were used as query sequences in the basic local alignment search tool. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to investigate the protein structure, motif composition, chromosome location, phylogenetic relationship, and interaction network of the IiAP2/ERF superfamily genes. The accuracy of omics data was verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and heatmap analyses.@*RESULTS@#One hundred and twenty-six putative IiAP2/ERF genes in total were identified from the I. indigotica genome database in this study. By sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, the IiAP2/ERF genes were classified into 5 groups including AP2, ERF, DREB (dehydration-responsive element-binding factor), Soloist and RAV (related to abscisic acid insensitive 3/viviparous 1) subfamilies. Among which, 122 members were unevenly distributed across seven chromosomes. Sequence alignment showed that I. indigotica and A. thaliana had 30 pairs of orthologous genes, and we constructed their interaction network. The comprehensive analysis of gene expression pattern in different tissues suggested that these genes may play a significant role in organ growth and development of I. indigotica. Members that may regulate lignan biosynthesis in roots were also preliminarily identified. Ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis revealed that the expression of 76 IiAP2/ERF genes were up- or down-regulated under salt or drought treatment, among which, 33 IiAP2/ERF genes were regulated by both stresses.@*CONCLUSION@#This study undertook a genome-wide characterization of the AP2/ERF superfamily in I. indigotica, providing valuable information for further functional characterization of IiAP2/ERF genes and discovery of genetic targets for metabolic engineering.

Predictive value of impedance of leadless pacemaker during implantation on trend changes of pacing threshold / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the predictive value of the impedance measured during leadless pacemaker Micra implantation on the trend of changes of pacing threshold post implantation. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients who received implantation of leadless pacemaker Micra at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from December 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled. The clinical data and the intraoperative electrical parameters during leadless pacemaker implantation were collected. The impedance and pacing threshold data were analyzed at three time points: immediate release, 5-10 min after release, and after traction test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze the value of the impedance at immediate release on predicting the trend of changes of pacing threshold post implantation. Results: A total of 21 patients (mean age: (72.2±12.5) years, 12 males) were included. The impedance of 21 patients was (798.1±35.3) Ω immediately after implantation, (800.9±35.6) Ω after 5-10 minutes of release, and (883.6±31.7) Ω after traction test. Impedance was similar between the three time points (P>0.05). The threshold was (0.97±0.11) V/0.24 ms immediately after implantation, (0.95±0.12) V/0.24 ms at 5-10 min after the release, and (0.59±0.06) V/0.24 ms after the traction test. The threshold was significantly lower after the traction test than that immediately after release (P=0.003) and than that at 5-10 minutes after release (P=0.008), suggesting a decreased tendency of the threshold over time. According to the analysis of the ROC curve, the immediate impedance after the release ≥680 Ω could predict the ideal pacing threshold after the traction test (AUC=0.989, 95%CI 0.702-0.964, P<0.001), the prediction sensitivity was 87%, and the specificity was 100%. The pacing threshold would be not ideal with the immediate impedance ≤ 520 Ω (95%CI 0.893-1.000, P<0.001), the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 80%. Conclusions: The impedance immediately after the release has predictive value for the changing trend of threshold post leadless pacemaker Micra implantation. Impedance ≥680 Ω immediately after release is often related with ideal pacing threshold after the traction test. In contrast, the impedance ≤ 520 Ω pacing is often related with unsatisfactory threshold after the traction test, therefore, it is recommended to find a new pacing site to achieve the impedance ≥680 Ω immediately after release during leadless pacemaker Micra implantation.

Research Progress on Developmental Biology of Sarcosaprophagous Insects / 法医学杂志

Forensic entomology provides a feasible way to estimate postmortem interval (PMI), of which the growth and development of sarcosaprophagous insects is the most widely used indicator in forensic practice. Over the years, forensic entomologists have carried out a large number of studies on the development biology of sarcosaprophagous insects. This paper illustrates the main factors that affect the development of sarcosaprophagous insects, including temperature, humidity, light, food types and poisons. The development indicators of sarcosaprophagous insects were reviewed from the perspectives of morphology, differential gene expression and biochemical characteristics. It is emphasized that future research of development biology on sarcosaprophagous insects should fully absorb and integrate the methods of artificial intelligence and omics, and the research object also needs further expansion in order to establish a more objective and more accurate PMI estimation method.

Treatment of pulmonary sinus cusp-derived ventricular arrhythmia with reversed U-curve catheter ablation / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To summarize the ablation methods,and to provide experience reference for the treatment of pulmonary since cusp(PSC)-derived ventricular arrhythmia(VA)with ablation. Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 19 patients undergoing catheter ablation for PSC-derived VA in Cardiac Intervention Therapy Center,The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2013 and March 2016 was conducted. Results Among the 19 patients,PSC-derived VA originated from the lower regions of the pulmonary sinuses,generating from the right,left,and anterior sinuses of the PSC were identified in 5,7,and 7 patients,respectively. Twelve patients with PSC-derived VAs originating from the right and anterior sinuses underwent successful reversed U-curve catheter ablation,while the other 7 patients with arrhythmias originating from the left sinus underwent successful ablation with the conventional method(non-reversed U-curve catheter ablation). All the patients were followed-up for 6 to 31 months,and no recurrence of VA or complications were recorded. Conclusions Reversed U-curve catheter ablation is suitable for VA originating from the right and anterior PSCs,while conventional ablation can be used for those originating from the left PSCs.

Evaluation of mid-term follow-up after Salter innominate osteotomy in developmental dysplasia of the hip / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the mid-term outcome after Salter innominate osteotomy in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and to observe the developmental characteristics of the hip after operation and the relationships between the mid-term outcome and radiographic parameters as well as age at operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>: Forty-four patients with 61 treated hips were selected. The patients were treated with Salter innominate osteotomy and followed-up for at least three years with intact serial radiographs. Radiographs taken before operation, 6 weeks, 1 year and 2 - 3 years after operation and in the latest follow-up were selected. Acetabular index (AI), Sharp acetabular angle (SAA) and center-edge angle of Wiberg (CEA) were measured and Severin classification was done according to radiographs taken in the latest follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average correction of AI was 14° postoperatively. The acetabulum remodels best at 2-3 years after operation when the average AI became very close to normal. In the latest follow-up the SAA was 41° which could be regarded as normal. Postoperative CEA was on average 23° which increased to 25° 2-3 years later. In the latest follow-up, the average CEA was 26°. The ratio of excellent and good outcomes (Severin I, II) was 84%, while the ratio of moderate and poor outcomes (Severin III, IV, V, VI) was 16%. Age at operation had a negative effect on outcomes. Although 70% patients operated after age 6 had satisfactory outcomes. The Severin I, II group showed no difference in AI from III, IV, V, VI group 6 weeks after operation, but the AI of the former obviously improved 2-3 years after operation while that of the latter deteriorated. Significant difference in SAA and the CEA could be observed in the latest follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Salter innominate osteotomy focuses on normalizing the abnormal acetabular direction in DDH children as well as stimulating the remodeling of the acetabulum, which provides a satisfactory middle-term outcome. The acetabulum remodels rapidly during the first three years after operation when AI and CEA develops into normal. Interference should be adopted if these changes have not appeared in the first three years.</p>

Prevalence and risk factors of peri-procedure electrical storm in acute myocardial infarction patients underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence and to identify risk factors of peri-procedure electrical storm (ES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 228 AMI patients underwent emergency PCI were retrospectively analyzed and patients were divided into ES group (n = 39) and non-ES (n = 189) group. ES was referred to spontaneous ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation occurring twice or more within 24 h and requiring emergency treatment including anti-arrhythmic medicine and/or cardioversion or defibrillation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ES was diagnosed in 39 out of 228 patients (17.1%) during peri-procedure stage. The incidence of ES in patients with various infarct related arteries (IRA) was as follows: 55.6% with left main artery (LM), 23.7% with right coronary artery (RCA), 12.4% with anterior descending branch (LAD) and 0 with left circumflex artery (LCX). Older age, lager diameter of IRA, higher concentration of CK-MB and cTnT, higher incidence of reperfusion arrhythmia (RA), lower grade of TIMI after PCI and higher mortality were associated with increased risks of ES (The P value was 0.043, 0.012, 0.036, 0.018, 0.001, 0.049, respectively). Gender, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, random blood glucose level, white blood count and concentration of hs-CRP were similar between ES and non-ES patients. Logistic analysis showed that the diameter of IRA (OR 2.381, 95%CI 1.127-5.028, P = 0.023), TIMI grade of IRA after PCI (OR 4.744, 95% CI 1.773-12.691, P = 0.002) and RA (OR 12.680, 95% CI 4.360-36.879, P = 0.000) were the independent risk factors of per-procedure ES in AMI patients underwent emergency PCI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The AMI patients with LM as IRA had the highest incidence of ES during emergency PCI and the diameter of IRA, TIMI grade of IRA after PCI and RA were independent risk factors for the development of ES during peri-PCI stage.</p>

Treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas with simple prolonged bandaging / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The methods for the treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas (AVF-s) - simple observation, ultrasound guided compression, covered stents implantation and coil embolization have poor outcome. Surgery is the standard method for treatment of femoral AVFs, but it is a traumatic operation. In this study, we report the results of the treatment of postcatheterization femoral AVFs by simple prolonged compressing bandage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To treat iatrogenic femoral AVFs caused by transfemoral catheterization, prolonged binding with elastic or common bandage was applied in 16 cases. Catheterization was performed in 7 cases for radiofrequency current catheter ablation, in 4 for occlusion of congenital heart disease, in 3 for percutaneous coronary intervention, in 1 for coronary angiography and in 1 for right heart catheterization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All iatrogenic femoral AVFs were healed after simple binding with elastic or common bandage for 4 - 46 days (mean (15 +/- 10) days). During the period of binding, local skins ulceration occurred at puncture site in two cases and femoral vein thrombus was found in one patient. During 6 - 24 months (mean (11.8 +/- 3.6) months) followup with colour Doppler ultrasonography, no recurrent arteriovenous shunting or other complications were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that simple prolonged bandaging for postcatheterization femoral AVFs is an effective and economical procedure.</p>

Aldosterone/plasma renin activity ratio is a sensitive parameter for screening patients with primary aldosteronism / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen primary aldosteronism cases with ARR (aldosterone/plasma renin activity, ARR) from patients with hypertension, and to evaluate the diagnosis value of ARR in primary aldosteronism cases and analysis the clinical characters of primary aldosteronism cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine hundred and two patients with hypertension were collected, the plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity ratio were detected by radio-immunity method, after that, ARR were calculated. Retrospective analysis was made of clinical data in 126 primary aldosteronism cases, which ARR were over 25.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and twenty-six cases (14%) were diagnosed as primary aldosteronism, and of them, 49 cases had hypokalemia. 25 patients received surgical operation and the rate of efficiency and cure of surgery treatment were 100% and 48%, respectively. The rate of efficiency and cure of drug treatment was 89% and 24% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Primary aldosteronism affects over 10% of patients with hypertension in China. Patients with hypertension and most patients with treatment-resistant hypertension should undergo screening for primary aldosteronism with ARR. A high ARR is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants confirmatory testing.</p>