Development of diabetes mellitus ontology and realization of semantic inference / 中华医学图书情报杂志

Objective To lay the foundation for the successive research on diabetes mellitus (DM) management system and provide support for the general doctors at grass root level to make decisions by developing DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database for semantic inference, reuse of DM knowledge, revealing and sharing potential DM knowledge. Methods The DM ontology was established on the Stanford University Protégé Platform according to the 7-step method and skeletal method by extracting the concepts of DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database, and their relationship from domestic DM-related clinical guidelines and knowledge of DM experts. The SWRL diagnosis and treatment rules were then composed and the semantic inference was realized using the JESS inference engine. Results The developed DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database included 233 concepts, 205 examples, 16 relationships between examples, 18 data value properties, 28 SWRL rules, which could thus realize the semantic inference. Conclusion The developed DM ontology can realize semantic inference and is thus beneficial for the application of ontology technology in diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease.

Development of diabetes mellitus ontology and realization of semantic inference / 中华医学图书情报杂志

Objective To lay the foundation for the successive research on diabetes mellitus (DM) management system and provide support for the general doctors at grass root level to make decisions by developing DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database for semantic inference, reuse of DM knowledge, revealing and sharing potential DM knowledge. Methods The DM ontology was established on the Stanford University Protégé Platform according to the 7-step method and skeletal method by extracting the concepts of DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database, and their relationship from domestic DM-related clinical guidelines and knowledge of DM experts. The SWRL diagnosis and treatment rules were then composed and the semantic inference was realized using the JESS inference engine. Results The developed DM ontology database and DM diagnosis and treatment database included 233 concepts, 205 examples, 16 relationships between examples, 18 data value properties, 28 SWRL rules, which could thus realize the semantic inference. Conclusion The developed DM ontology can realize semantic inference and is thus beneficial for the application of ontology technology in diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease.

Effect of Decitabine on DKK1 Gene Demethylation in Leukemia Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of decitabine on Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) gene expression level and its downstream Wnt signaling pathway in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line HL-60.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Flow cytometry and DNA ladder analysis were performed to detect apoptosis in HL-60 cell treated with different concentration of decitabine. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) was used to examine the methylation status of DKK1 gene. The expressions of mRNA and protein were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Flow cytometric detection showed that after treating HL-60 cell line with decitabine of different concentrations for 48 h, the early apoptosis of HL-60 cells increased significantly as compared with control group (P < 0.05). DNA ladder analysis showed that the DNA ladder and demethylation of DKK1 gene appeared. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expressions of mRNA and protein increased. The protein expressions of β-catenin and C-MYC decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decitabine can promote the apoptosis of HL-60 cells throngh demethylation of DDK1 gene and inhibition of Wnt signalling pathway.</p>

Research Progress on DKK1 Gene in Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

A number of studies have demonstrated that the methylation of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) gene promoter is related with the occurrence and development of many neoplastic diseases. By means of binding with corresponding receptors, DKK1 blocks the transduction pathway of Wnt/β-catenin/TCF and inhibits the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells, inducing apoptosis. Leukemia is a hyperplastic disease of hematopoietic stem cell malignant clone. Its pathogenesis has been confirmed to be closely related with the aberrant activation of Wnt signaling pathway. This pathway is associated with the self-renewal and proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells, which can regulate growth, differentiation, migration of the cells, angiogenesis and embryonic development. Its expression is regulated by some suppressor genes like Dickkopf 1 (DKK1). Leukemia often accompanied by methylation modification of the DKK1 gene, so as to leads to silencing itself and activation of the Wnt signaling pathway, which cause the occurrence of leukemia. Some therapeutic methods on leukemia aiming at DKK1 gene have been reported, among which DKK1 gene was demethylated. The intensive study on the expression and function of DKK1 should be important for the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This article reviews the current progress in this field.

Determination of oropharyngeal pathogenic colonization in the elderly community / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pneumonia has become the predominant cause of death for the elderly. It is critical to determine the status of oropharyngeal pathogen colonization in the elderly when treating pneumonia. To explore the efficient approaches to treat age-related pneumonia, we determined the status of oropharyngeal pathogenic colonization in the elderly community.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Throat swab cultures were used to isolate oropharyngeal pathogens from 706 residents older than 65 years living in the community of Shenyang City. Characteristics of bacterial strains were sorted and identified using drug sensitivity tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results of bacterial identification showed that 265 out of 706 samples were positive, thereby exhibiting a 37.5% positive rate. There were 290 bacterial strains isolated from the elderly community in total, of which 248 strains were gram-negative bacilli (GNB) and 42 strains were gram-positive cocci (GNC), accounting for 85.5% and 14.5%, respectively. There were 158 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, representing 54.4% of the all GNB.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rate of oropharyngeal GNB colonization in the elderly community increases and Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most common strain.</p>

Effects of five flavonoids on expression of Bcl-2 family proteins in apoptosis of myocardiocytes / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To observe the effects of five flavonoids include rutin(RU),dihydromyricetin(DMY),hesperetin(HP),daidzein(DA)and hydroxysaffor yellow A(HYSA)on myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by H2O2 and to explore their relationships with Keshan disease and the possible mechanism.Methods Primary cultured cardiocytes of neonatal rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,and flavonoids preincubation group.The cardiocyte apoptosis was examined by fluorescent staining,the rates of apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins associated with apoptosis were observed:by Western blot.Results Compared with model group[(24.33±6.51)%],RU[(13.95±3.80)%],DA[(11.82±3.50)%],HYSA[(12.33±3.78)%]could decreased the rate of apoptosis(P＜0.05).The five flavonoids could up-regulate Bcl-2 expression,down-regulate Bax expression,and increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio[RU(0.989±0.094),DMY(0.931±0.280),HP(0.980±0.095),DA(1.049±0.092),HYSA(1.031±0.039),vs model(0.490±0.046),the difference had statistical significances(P＜0.05)],but the Bcl-xl did not significantly changed(P＞0.05).Conclusions RU,DMY,HP,DA and HYSA have antiapoptotic effects on cardiomyocyte via regulating Bcl-2 and Bax,which gives us a hint in prevention and treatment of Keshan disease.