Research Progress on the Role of Mitochondrial DNA in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Liver Disease / 中华肝脏病杂志

Mitochondrial DNA is the mitochondria's own genetic material located within the mitochondrial matrix and is involved in cellular metabolism and energy supply. Mitochondrial DNA damage exacerbates oxidative stress by increasing the release of reactive oxygen species, while mitochondrial DNA release also triggers apoptosis and activates immune inflammatory responses through damage-related molecular patterns. Mitochondrial autophagy regulates mitochondrial DNA damage and release through a negative feedback mechanism to maintain intracellular homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence and development of chronic liver disease are closely related to mitochondrial DNA-mediated immune inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.

Clinical evaluation of tumor-stroma ratio in pseudomyxoma peritonei from the appendix / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effect of tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) on disease progression and prognosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) from the appendix.@*METHODS@#The study included 30 PMP patients with complete individual patient data, who underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Beijing Shijitan Hospital. Image-Pro Plus was used to quantitatively analyze the proportion of tumor and stromal areas in hematoxylin-eosin staining pathological images, from which TSR was derived. Correlation studies were conducted to evaluate the relationships between TSR and clinicopathological features, immunohistochemical characteristics, and prognosis of PMP.@*RESULTS@#Among 30 PMP patients, there were 16 males (53.3%) and 14 females (46.7%), with the mean age of (54.9±2.3) years. There were 15 cases (50.0%) of low-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei (LMCP) and high-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei (HMCP), respectively, with vascular tumor emboli occurring in 4 cases (13.3%), nerve invasion occurring in 3 cases (10.0%), and lymphatic metastasis occurring in 4 cases (13.3%). The median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score was 36 (range: 3-39). The median TSR was 8% (range: 2%-24%), with TSR≤10% in 19 cases (63.3%) and TSR>10% in 11 cases (36.7%). Immunohistochemistry showed that 16 cases (53.3%) had Ki67 label index ≤ 50% and 14 cases (46.7%) > 50%. The mutation rate of p53 was 56.7% and the loss rate of MMR protein was 11.8%. In addition, the expression rates of MUC2, MUC5AC, CDX2, CK7, and CK20 were 66.7%, 100.0%, 82.6%, 56.0%, and 92.3%, respectively. There were significant correlations between TSR and histopathological types, nerve invasion, Ki67 label index, and p53 mutation (P<0.05 for all). At the end of the last follow-up, 21 patients (70.0%) died and 9 patients (30.0%) survived, including 6 patients survived with tumor. The median overall survival (OS) was 12.7 months (95%CI: 10.4-11.5 months), and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 60.5%, 32.3%, and 27.7%, respectively. The median OS was 19.4 months (95%CI: 3.0-35.9 months) in the TSR≤10% group, versus 12.6 months (95%CI: 0.7-24.5 months) in the TSR>10% group (χ2=3.996, P=0.046).@*CONCLUSION@#TSR is correlated with histopathological types, tumor proliferation, invasion behaviors and prognosis of PMP, thus could be a new prognostic indicator for PMP.

Effect of MiR-451a on Erythroid Differentiation of K562 Cells under Hypoxia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes of GATA-1 protein expression during erythroid differentiation of K562 cells under hypoxia and how GATA-1 can regulate erythroid differentiation by up-regulating the expression of miR-451a and inhibiting the expression of 14-3-3ζ.@*METHODS@#K562 cells were divided into 2 groups: the normoxia group and the hypoxia group, after the induction of hemin for 96 h, the positive cells rate of the benzidine staining, the mRNA expression of γ-globin and the expression of CD235a were detected, and the success of the model was verified. The changes of GATA-1 and miR-451a expression in the above-mentioned 2 groups, the changes of miR-451a expression after over-expressed GATA-1 were detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR. The cells in normoxic group and hypoxia group were divided into negative control group (NC group) and miR-451a over-expression group respectively, and the degree of erythroid differentiation in the four groups was judged according to the corresponding erythroid differentiation indexes, and the expression of 14-3-3ζ was detected by Western blot after over-expressed miR-451a.@*RESULTS@#The positive cell rate of benzidine staining, mRNA expression of γ-globin and the expression of CD235a after 96 h induction by K562 cells under hypoxia were significantly higher than 0 h, suggesting that the erythroid differentiation model of K562 cells under hypoxia was replicated successfully. The expression levels of GATA-1 protein and miR-451a in the hypoxic group were significantly higher than that in the normoxic group (P<0.05). The expression level of miR-451a in hypoxia group was significantly higher than that in NC group after overexpressed GATA-1 (P<0.05). After over-expressed of miR-451a under hypoxia, the positive cell rate of benzidine staining, the mRNA expression level of γ-globin and the expression of CD235a were significantly higher than those in NC group (P<0.05). The expression level of 14-3-3ζ protein in miR-451a over-expressed group was lower than that in NC group under hypoxia (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Hypoxia can significantly increase the expression of GATA-1 protein, and the increase of GATA-1 expression can up-regulate the expression of miR-451a, thereby inhibiting the expression of 14-3-3ζ protein, which hinders the cell proliferation in erythroid differentiation model of K562 cells and plays an important role in promoting erythroid differentiation.

Impact of different admission ways on treatment efficiency in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To analyze the impact of different admission ways on the timeliness of percutaneous coronary intervention and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 1 044 patients with STEMI, who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in 9 hospitals in Chengdu from January 2017 to June 2019, were retrospectively enrolled. According to the admission ways, patients were divided into ambulance group (n=100), self-transport group (n=584) and transferred group (n=360). Timeliness and in-hospital mortality were compared among the groups. Indicators of timeliness included the time from symptoms onset to arrive at the hospital, the time from arrive at the hospital to balloon and the total myocardial ischemia time (the time from symptoms to balloon). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to verify whether the admission ways was the determinant for in-hospital death in STEMI patients receiving PPCI. Results: The median total myocardial ischemic time in the ambulance group was significantly shorter than that in the self-transport group (180.0 (135.0, 282.0) minutes vs. 278.0 (177.8, 478.5) minutes, P<0.05) and the transferred group (180.0 (135.0, 282.0) minutes vs. 301.0 (204.3, 520.8) minutes, P<0.05). The median time from symptoms to door was as follows: ambulance group<self-transport group<transferred group (100.0 (56.3, 198.0) minutes vs. 149.0 (72.0, 313.5) minutes vs. 238.0 (135.0, 545.0) minutes, all P<0.05). The median door-to-balloon time was significantly shorter in the ambulance group and transferred group than in the self-transport group (75.0 (44.3, 101.8) minutes vs. 97.0 (71.0, 140.5) minutes, 67.0 (40.0, 91.8) minutes vs. 97.0 (71.0, 140.5) minutes, both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality among the three groups (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that admission way was not significantly associated with in-hospital death (P>0.05). Conclusions: STEMI patients, who are admitted through the medical emergency system, are more likely to receive timely interventional therapy.Different admission ways have no impact on in-hospital mortality.

Relationship between sleep problems and non-suicidal self-injury behavior among college students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between sleep problems and non-suicidal self-injury behavior in Chinese college students, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of non-suicidal self-injury behavior.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional survey of 11 689 college students from three universities in Guangzhou were selected as the research subjects. A questionnaire survey of college students’ mental health was conducted to investigate non-suicidal self-injury behavior, sleep problems, demographic information, lifestyle, and depressive symptoms.@*Results@#In the past year, the prevalence rates of non-suicidal self-injury in college students was 7.8%. Univariate Logistic analysis showed that all sleep problems were associated with non-suicidal self-injury behavior(P<0.05). After controlling for potential confounders,including grade,gender,parents’ education level,health conditon,family income,smoking,drinking and depression,multivariate Logistic regression showed that shorter sleep time at weekend (<7 h/d), insomnia symptoms and frequent nightmares significantly increased the risk of nonsuicidal selfinjury behavior in college students (OR=1.32-3.25, P<0.05), while longer sleep time at weekdays (≥9 h/d) was an important protective factor (OR=0.60, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#These findings indicate that short sleep time, insomnia and nightmares are important risk factors for college students’ non-suicidal self-injury behavior. Intervention and management on sleep problems can effectively reduce the occurrence of self-injury behaviors.

Linguistic Characteristics of Mandarin-Speaking Huntington's Disease Patients / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective Linguistic problem is common in Huntington's disease (HD) patients. It has been studied before in native speakers of alphabetic languages, such as English. As a hieroglyphic language, Chinese differs from alphabetic languages in terms of phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax. We aimed to investigate the linguistic characteristics of manifest HD in native speakers of Mandarin. Meanwhile, we expected to explore the linguistic differences associated with cortical or subcortical pathology.Methods Five HD patients and five Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients matched in age, gender, disease course and educational level were enrolled. All the participants were Mandarin native speakers. All finished history inquiry, physical examination, basic test, genetic test and neuropsychological assessment. Language evaluation was performed by Aphasia Battery of Chinese.Results HD patients had a mean disease course of 5.4±2.97 (range, 2-10) years. They showed a linguistic disorder close to transcortical motor aphasia. They exhibited prominent phonological impairment, as well as slight semantic and syntactic abnormality. Tonic errors were found in speech. Character structural errors and substitutions were detected in writing. In comparison, AD patients showed a more severe linguistic impairment, characterized by global aphasia with more semantic errors. Conclusion Mandarin-speaking HD patients have a transcortical motor aphasia-like disturbance with prominent phonological impairment, whereas AD patients have a more severe global aphasia with salient semantic impairment.

Investigation of Interaction Mechanism Between Signaling Molecule Hydrogen Sulfide and L-Lactic Dehydrogenase / 分析化学

Molecular mechanisms whereby H2S influences its targets have been of intriguing interest. In this work, L-lactic dehydrogenase ( L-LDH) was used as the protein target, and three kinds of H2S-donor reagents ( NaHS, Na2S, and polysulfide) were chosen. The interactions of these H2S-donor reagents with L-LDH were disclosed by molecular fluorescent assays for real-time monitoring of L-LDH activity. The results of the SDS-PAGE showed that H2S might not interact with L-LDH to form disulfide/trisulfide bonding. Circular dichroism spectra assays revealed that H2S reagents could be likely to react with cysteine thiols to yield sulfurated thiol (-SSH) derivatives in L-LDH, and sulfur-containing PS ( polysulfide) was a stronger protein S-sulfurating agent than the other two sulfides. Matrix assisted laser desorptionionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry ( MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) study showed partial S-sulfuration of the active cysteine sites existed in L-LDH. In conclusion, H2S exerts its biological effects as a gasotransmitter through its reactions with cysteine thiols in proteins by S-sulfuration.

Serum LncRNA PCAT-1 Expression Level of Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Clinical Value / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To explore serum long stranded noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcript 1 (PCAT-1) expression level of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and clinical value.Methods 72 cases of patients with MM treated in the Second People's Hospital of Zhaoqing City were selected as the study objects,and 60 cases of normal subjects undergoing physical examination in the same period were as the control group.Serum lncRNA PCAT-1 expression was detected by RT-PCR method.The relationship between lncRNA PCAT 1 expression and clinical pathological parameters,treatment effect was analyzed,and 5 years survival was analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier,and survival difference was detected by using Log-Rank method.Results Serum PCAT-1mRNA expression in MM group (2.65 ± 0.64) was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.06 ± 0.23,t=18.276,P=0.000).There were no significant differences in sex,clinical stage and pathological types of hemoglobin,plasma cells,platelets,albumin,β2-MG and CRP between PCAT 1 mRNA high expression group and low expression group (x2 =0.001 ～ 3.345,all P ＞ 0.05).Ca2+ ≥ 10 mg/dl in the PCAT-1 high expression group (57.14％) was significantly higher than that in the low expression group (27.27％,x2 =5.229,P=0.022).There was no significant difference in treatment effect between PCAT-1 mRNA high expression group and low expression group (88.64 ％ vs 75.00％,x2 =2.291,P=0.130).PFS and OS expression in PCAT-1 high expression group were lower than that in the low expression group (x2 =7.269,P =0.007;x2 =9.190,P =0.002).COX risk regression multiple factor analysis showed that age and PCAT-1mRNA expression were independent prognostic factors influencing patients (OR =3.275,P =0.025,95％CI:2.691～3.761;OR=2.136,P=0.046,95％CI:2.034～2.685).Conclusion LncRNA PCAT-1 is highly expressed in serum of patients with multiple myeloma,and correlated with the prognosis of patients.

Effects of oat β-glucan on the expression of small intestine injury-related genes in septic rats / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of oatβ-glucan on gene expression in small intestine injury in sepsis. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group ( NC group) , experimental control group ( TC group) and oat β-glucan group ( Oglu group) . TC group and Oglu group were used to establish sepsis model with CLP method ,and oglu group with different doses of oatβ-glucan. After 12 h the small intestine tissue were collected. Western blot was used to detect gene expression in the small intestine tissue injury. Results 1 ) Oat β-glucan reduced sepsis-induced small intestine injury,and reduced the TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 levels in small intestine of septic rats. (2) The expression of small intestinal injury-related proteins such as Bax, caspase-3, Toll-like, apoptotic genes FAS and FASL and NF-κB were significantly increased,and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in the TC group. (3) The expressions of Bax, caspase-3, Toll-like, apoptotic genes FAS and FASL and NF-κB in oat β-glucan-treated rats were lower than that in the septic rats, while Bcl-2 expression was higher than the TC group. Conclusions Oat β-glucan regulates the expression of small intestinal injury genes in septic rats and protects the small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury.

Effect of perinatal factors on postnatal development of lymphocyte subsets in early preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the postnatal changes in lymphocyte subsets in early preterm infants and the effect of perinatal factors on lymphocyte subsets.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 61 early preterm infants were enrolled. Flow cytometry was used to measure the absolute counts of lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after birth, as well as at 6 months after birth for 17 of these early preterm infants. The effects of perinatal factors, such as antepartum use of hormone, intrauterine infection, gestational age at birth, and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) colonization, on lymphocyte subsets were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets except natural killer (NK) cells were lowest at birth, increased rapidly at 1 week after birth, and reached the levels in healthy infants at 6 months; the count of NK cells remained at a low level and increased significantly at 6 months after birth. Compared with those with a gestational age of <28 weeks, the early preterm infants with a gestational age of ≥28 weeks had significantly higher absolute counts of T cells, T helper (Th) cells, and NK cells at 7 days after birth, a significantly higher absolute count of T cells at 14 days after birth, and significantly higher absolute counts of lymphocytes and Th cells at 28 days after birth (P<0.05). Compared with the group not using hormone, the group using hormone showed a significantly higher absolute count of T cells at 7 days after birth and significantly higher absolute counts of lymphocytes and all subsets at 14 days after birth (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in lymphocyte subsets at 1 day after birth between the intrauterine infection and non-infection groups (P>0.05); the intrauterine infection group had significantly higher absolute counts of B cells at 7 and 14 days after birth than the non-infection group. Compared those without UU colonization, the infants with UU colonization had significantly higher absolute counts of lymphocytes, T cells, Th cells, and Ts cells at 1 day after birth and a significantly higher absolute count of B cells at 14 days after birth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early preterm infants have deficiencies in innate immune cells at birth and normal levels at about 6 months after birth. Various perinatal factors including antepartum use of hormone, gestational age at birth, intrauterine infection, and UU colonization have long-term effects on lymphocyte subsets in early preterm infants.</p>

Chemical structure and bioactivity of cis-5'-oxopropylnicotine / 中国中药杂志

In this paper, the chemical constituents and bioactivities of leaves of Nicotiana tabacum were investigated. Six compounds were isolated by means of various chromatographic techniques (silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI GEL CHP-20P and HPLC), and their structures were elucidated as cis-5'-(2-oxopropyl)-nicotine (1), 3-O-(9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoyl)-glyceryl-β-D-galactppyranoside (2), (l'R, 2R, 5S, 10R)-2-(1', 2'-dihydroxy-l'-methylethyl)-6, 10-dimethylspiro [4, 5] dec-6-en-8-one (3), (l'S, 2R, 5S, l0R)-2-(1', 2'-dihydroxy-l'-methylethyl)-6, 10-dimethylspiro [4, 5] dec-6-en-8-one (4),2, 3-dihydroxypropyl-β-D-galactoside (5) and phenylethyl β-D-glucopyranoside (6) by extensive spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR). Among them, compound 1 is a new alkaloid, and compounds 2-6 are isolated for the first time from N. tabacum. Compounds 1 and 2 were assayed for agitating activities on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), melatonin receptor 1 and 2 (MT1 and MT2), 1 showed agitating rate of 55.41% (1.53mmol•L⁻¹) on MT2 and 2 possessed agitating rate of 128.11% (0.59 mmol•L⁻¹) and 52.00% (0.73mmol•L⁻¹) on TRPV1 and MT1, respectively.

Chemical constituents of Lepidium meyenii / 中国中药杂志

To study the chemical constituents of Lepidium meyenii, the air-dried rhizome of L. meyenii was extracted with 70% EtOH. The extract was condensed to a small amount of volume and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and n-BuOH, successively. The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography, and identified based on spectral analyses (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRESIMS). Eighteen compounds were isolated from L. meyenii, including 7 alkaloids and 4 fatty acids and 7 other compounds. They were characterized as (3-hydroxybenzyl) carbamic acid(1), phenylmethanamine(2), N-benzylformamide (3), N-benzylacetamide (4), pyridin-4-ylmethanamine(5), n-(4-methoxybenzyl) aniline(6), uracil(7), succininc acid(8), decanedioic acid(9), n-hexa- decanoic acid methyl ester(10), heptanoic acid(11), solerole(12), pyromucic acid methyl ester(13), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancar- boxadehyde(14), 5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde(15), 1,7-dihydroxy-2,3, 4-trimethoxyxanthone (16), 1,7-di- hydroxy-3,4- dimethoxy-xanthone(17), (+)-pinoresinol(18). Meanwhile, compounds 1-18 were obtained from L. neyenii for the first time.

Dynamic changes in programmed death-1 expression on the surface of T cells in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing interferon therapy / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic changes that occur in T cell subsets, particularly involving the surface expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1), in response to pegylated (Peg)-interferon (IFN) a-2a therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five patients with HCV genotype 1b chronic infection and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All the HCV patients received combination antiviral therapy of Peg-IFNa-2a (180 mug/week) plus ribavirin. At treatment weeks 0 (baseline), 4, 12, 24 and 48, the level of PD-1 protein expression on the surface of total peripheral CD8+ and CD4+ T cells was determined by flow cytometry and the level of PD-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Independent student's t-test were used to compare mean values between the two groups, repeat measure variance analysis was used to compare mean values among multiple groups, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlation significance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Over the course of antiviral therapy, the proportions of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, as well as the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, increased (F = 81.23, 39.28, and 7.01 respectively; all P less than 0.01). In contrast, the PD-1 protein expression frequency on CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells significantly declined (F = 100.11 and 158.40 respectively; all P less than 0.01). The PD-1-mRNA expression level in PBMCs was: 1.40+/-0.26 at baseline, 1.30+/-0.27 at week-4, 1.14+/-0.18 at week-12, 1.06+/-0.26 at week-24, and 0.83+/-0.25 at week-48 (F = 20.09; P less than 0.01). A positive correlation existed between the PD-1 protein expression frequencies on CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells and the HCV RNA load detected at baseline (r = 0.82 and 0.75 respectively; all P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ability of Peg-IFN-a-2a-based antiviral therapy to suppress HCV replication may involve reduction of PD-1 protein expression on the surface of CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells.</p>

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in alcoholic liver disease-related hepatocyte apoptosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-related hepatocyte apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of ALD was established by continuous intragastric administration of ethanol. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks later, randomly selected rats were sacrificed for serum and liver sample collection. Serum levels of total homocysteine (tHcy) were examined by chemiluminescence analysis. Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) activity in liver tissue was measured by chromatometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of ERS-related factors, glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-78, calpain 2 and caspase-12, were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Hepatocyte apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 16 weeks, the ALD rats' livers exhibited diffuse microvesicular adipose degeneration and fibrosis in the liver sinus and portal septa. As the duration of ethanol administration extended, the tHcy levels gradually increased (P less than 0.01), CBS activity decreased (P less than 0.01), gene expression levels of GRP-78, calpain 2, and caspase-12 were up-regulated (P less than 0.01), and protein expression levels of GRP-78 and calpain 2 were gradually increased. However, the protein level of procaspase-12 was found to decrease with increased duration of ethanol administration. Finally, the hepatocyte apoptosis index showed an increasing trend over time (P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In our experimental ALD rat model, hepatic apoptosis was detected with increasing frequency over the duration of ALD. Increased apoptosis was likely due to decreased CBS activity causing hyperhomocysteinemia, which further induced ERS and activated the calpain 2 and caspase-12 signaling pathway. These ethanol-induced molecular changes may provoke hepatic apoptosis and subsequently promote the pathogenic processes of alcoholic liver disease.</p>

Digit length ratio and male fertility among infertile patients in Ningxia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the digit length ratio (DLR) and male fertility in Ningxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using an electronic sliding caliper, we measured the lengths of the index finger (D2), middle finger (D3), ring finger (D4) and little finger (D5) of both the right and left hand of 136 infertile males in Ningxia, 45 of them with normal and the other 91 with abnormal semen, including 28 cases of oligozoospermia, 10 cases of obstructive azoospermia (OA) and 53 cases of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). We calculated the DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5 and compared them among different groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean values of FLR presented a pattern of D2:D3 < D2:D4 < D3:D4 < D2:D5 < D4:D5 in the infertile males. DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand were significantly higher in the abnormal than in the normal semen group (t = 2.56, 2.48, 3.57, 2.85, 2.53; P < 0.05); those of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand presented a pattern of NOA > oligozoospermia > OA > normal semen group, while that of D3:D5 presented a pattern of NOA > OA > oligozoospermia > normal semen group. The NOA group showed a significantly higher DLR of the right hand than the normal semen group in D2:D3, D2:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5, the oligozoospermia group in D2:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5, and the OA group in D2:D3 (P < 0.05). The D4:D5 DLR of the right hand was remarkably higher in the Han than in the Hui ethnic group (t = 2.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Higher DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand were associated with lower fertility in infertile males in Ningxia. And the D4:D5 FLRs of the right hand may be different between Hui and Han infertile men in Ningxia.</p>

Serum antibodies to 25 myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein epitopes in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica: clinical value for diagnosis and disease activity / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Whether antibody to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) can be a diagnostic marker for multiple sclerosis (MS) is still controversial. Recent studies suggested that serum specific anti-MOG epitope antibody might be an MS specific marker. However, these studies did not include neuromyelitis optica (NMO) which might be proven to also have anti-MOG antibody. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical value of serum antibodies to 25 MOG epitopes in conventional MS (CMS) and NMO.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum anti-MOG epitope IgG was detected in 61 CMS patients, 54 NMO patients, and 77 healthy controls, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Anti-MOG(27-38) IgG levels in both CMS and NMO patients were significantly higher than that in healthy controls (optical density (OD): 0.64 ± 0.38, 0.48 ± 0.23 vs. 0.19 ± 0.09; P = 0.000). CMS and NMO patients in relapse stage had significantly higher anti-MOG(27-38) IgG level than patients in remission stage (OD: 0.55 ± 0.14 vs. 0.24 ± 0.09, P = 0.027).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although serum anti-MOG epitope IgG could not differentiate MS from NMO, it may be a useful marker for monitoring disease activity.</p>

Entecavir treatment causes injury to the mitochondrial DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Based on the potential for nucleotide analogues to affect DNA polymerase-gamma, which controls the proliferation of mitochondria, this study aimed to determine whether long-term treatment with entecavir can cause damage to mitochondrial (mt)DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with CHB were divided into three groups according to their history of treatment type and duration: (1) entecavir monotherapy for 2 years, n = 17; (2) entecavir monotherapy for 3 years, n = 17; (3) non-antiviral treatment as control, n = 18. PBMCs were isolated and used to assess the mtDNA content by quantitative real-time PCR of mitochondria-specific genes. Plasma malonaldehyde (MDA) and F2-isoprostanes were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) was detected by spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The relative quantity (RQ; of mtDNA to nuclear (n)DNA) was significantly lower in the 3-year treatment group (0.5+/-0.3) than in the control group (1.4+/-1.2; F = 5.233, P = 0.009). The RQ was also significantly lower in the 2-year treatment group (0.4+/-0.2) than in the control group (P = 0.004). The level of F2-isoprostanes (ng/mL) was significantly lower in the 3-year treatment group (1.2+/-0.5) than in the control group (3.6+/-2.9, P = 0.002) or the 2-year treatment group (2.4+/-1.3, P = 0.007). The TAOC was significantly different when compared among all three groups (F = 4.326, P = 0.019). The TAOC (IU/mL) in the 3-year treatment group (2.6+/-1.2) was significantly lower than in the control group (5.0+/-3.0 P = 0.005), but was not significantly different than that for the 2-year group (3.2+/-1.6, P = 0.227). The levels of MDA were not significantly different between any of the groups (F = 0.291, P = 0.749).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Long-term treatment with entecavir, up to 3 years, leads to decreased mtDNA content in PBMCs. Since no clinical manifestations of mtDNA toxicity were observed, the consequent damage to the mitochondrial function may be compensated for by yet unknown mechanisms.</p>

Correlations between serum uric acid level and disease activity, intrathecal inflammation reactivity in patients with multiple sclerosis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlations between serum uric acid (UA) levels and the clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters of multiple sclerosis (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The medical reports of 47 MS patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital during 2008 and 2010 were reviewed. And 49 age- and gender-matched cerebral infarction patients were enrolled as control. The mean serum UA level of the MS patients was compared with that of the control group. The correlations between the UA levels and the clinical parameters including gender, disease duration, relapse rate, and disease disabilities as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, were explored. Forty-one patients had CSF examinations. The correlations between the UA levels and the CSF parameters reflecting inflammation and tissue damage, including CSF protein, white blood cell count, oligoclonal band, 24-hour IgG index, and myelin basic protein, were also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean serum UA level in the MS patients was lower than that in the control group (247.75±52.59 µmol/L vs. 277.94±74.33 µmol/L, P=0.025) and inversely correlated with the relapse rate (P=0.049). MS patients with lower serum UA levels tended to have higher white blood cell counts and myelin basic protein level. But there was no correlation between CSF protein levels (r=0.165, P=0.273), white blood cell counts (r=-0.051, P=0.732), IgG index (r=0. 045, P=0.802), or myelin basic protein level (r=-0.248, P=0.145) and the serum UA level, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In MS patients, UA levels might partly reflect the extent of disability and inflammation.</p>

Clinical research of xinganbao capsule on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of Xinganbao Capsule (Cordyceps Sinensis) on the chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to the trail group (40 cases) and the control group (20 cases). The trail group was treated with Xinganbao Capsule, 8 capsules each time, three times a day. The control group was given Heluo Shugan Tablet, 5 pills each time, thrice daily. Six months consisted of one therapeutic course. The liver function, four indicators of serum fibrosis, liver histology, and other items were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Xinganbao Capsule could reduce serum ALT and AST levels, serum HA, PC-III and LN levels (all P<0.05), showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment. The HA and LN levels decreased more significantly in the control group when compared with before treatment (P<0.05). Totally 21 patients (53% of the recruited cases) in the trial group completed the liver biopsy twice. After treated with Xinganbao Capsule, 81% patients (17/21) had decreased liver inflammation 1 grade or more, 52% patients (11/21) had decreased fibrosis staging one or more, and 33% (7/21) patients had no change in fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Xinganbao Capsule could improve the liver function, reduce liver inflammation, and fight against hepatic fibrosis.</p>

Current situation of the standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in Taiwan / 中国针灸

The current situation of the standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Taiwan region is introduced in this paper from the three aspects, named the development state of standard of acupuncture and moxibustion in Taiwan, the implementation of Taiwan district standard and the standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in Taiwan. At present, the relevant standards of acupuncture and moxibustion in Taiwan just include the standard operation procedure of acupuncture and moxibustion, the reference guideline of the safe operation in the medical service centers of traditional Chinese medicine, and the faculty standard of Chinese medicine hospital, etc. It is concluded that the current situation of the standardization of acupuncture and moxibusiton presented the weak awareness of the standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in the industry, insufficient enterprise standard, less-quantity of the implemented standards and narrow coverage.