Epidemiological trends of schistosomiasis in Poyang County of Jiangxi Province from 2004 to 2020 based on the Joinpoint regression model / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the dynamic changes of schistosomiasis in Poyang County of Jiangxi Province from 2004 to 2020, so as to provide insight into the development of the schistosomiasis elimination strategy. Methods Schistosomiasis control data were captured from Poyang County from 2004 to 2020, and the epidemiological data of schistosomiasis were collected from national schistosomiasis surveillance sites in Poyang County from 2005 to 2020. The endemic status of schistosomiasis was analyzed in Poyang County from 2004 to 2020, and a Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to investigate the trends of schistosomiasis in Poyang County from 2004 to 2020. Results The sero-prevalence and egg-prevalence of human Schistosoma japonicum infections reduced from 24.39% (24 976/102 397) and 4.53% (259/5 721) in 2004 to 5.37% (2 421/45 100) [annual percent change (APC) = average annual percent change (AAPC) = −8.64%] and 0 (0/3 963) in 2020 (APC = AAPC = −32.07%) in Poyang County, and the trends were both significant (both P < 0.01). The sero-prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 1.21% (294/24 332) in bovines in 2013 to 0.58% (35/5 999) in 2020 in Poyang County, with one turning point (AAPC = −8.20%, P > 0.05). There were no townships or villages with emerging snail habitats in Poyang County from 2004 to 2020, and there were three turning points of trend in the proportion of snail areas detected in total snail areas (AAPC = −2.30%, P > 0.01). The sero-prevalence and adjusted prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 60.82% (742/1 220) and 10.16% (124/1 220) in local residents in 2005 to 5.73% (70/1 221) and 0 in 2020 in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of Poyang County, and the trends for sero-prevalence (APC = AAPC = 17.47%, P < 0.01) and adjusted prevalence of S. japonicum infections (APC = AAPC = −44.92%, P < 0.01) were both statistically significant. S. japonicum infections were identified in 10 (2005) and 2 local livestock (2007), with prevalence of 10.00% (10/100) and 13.33% (2/15), respectively, and S. japonicum infections were detected in snails in 2008 and 2009; however, no positive samples of mixed O. hupensis were detected by loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Conclusions The endemic situation of schistosomiasis control had remarkably reduced in Poyang County from 2004 to 2020; however, there are still challenges for consolidating schistosomiasis control achievements and even elimination of schistosomiasis.

Chronic psychological stress exacerbates aortic medial calcification via glucocorticoids / 生理学报

Chronic psychological stress can promote vascular diseases, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. This study aims to explore the effects and mechanism of chronic psychological stress on aortic medial calcification (AMC). Rat arterial calcification model was established by nicotine gavage in combination with vitamin D3 (VitD3) intramuscular injection, and rat model of chronic psychological stress was induced by humid environment. Aortic calcification in rats was evaluated by using Alizarin red staining, aortic calcium content detection, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay. The expression levels of the related proteins, including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contractile phenotype marker SM22α, osteoblast-like phenotype marker RUNX2, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers (GRP78 and CHOP), were determined by Western blot. The results showed that chronic psychological stress alone induced AMC in rats, further aggravated AMC induced by nicotine in combination with VitD3, promoted the osteoblast-like phenotype transformation of VSMCs and aortic ERS activation, and significantly increased the plasma cortisol levels. The 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone effectively reduced chronic psychological stress-induced plasma cortisol levels and ameliorated AMC and aortic ERS in chronic psychological stress model rats. Conversely, the glucocorticoid receptor agonist dexamethasone induced AMC, promoted AMC induced by nicotine combined with VitD3, and further activated aortic ERS. The above effects of dexamethasone could be inhibited by ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate. These results suggest that chronic psychological stress can lead to the occurrence and development of AMC by promoting glucocorticoid synthesis, which may provide new strategies and targets for the prevention and control of AMC.

Gene expression signature analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with for high altitude pulmonary hypertension and value for potential drug selection / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the gene expression characteristics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with high altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) in Naxi residents living in Lijiang, Yunnan, and to explore the underlying pathogenesis and value for potential drug selection. Methods: This is a case-control study. Six patients with HPAH (HPAH group) and 4 normal subjects (control group) were selected from the Naxi residents who originally lived in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The general clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the related indexes of pulmonary artery pressure were collected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the subjects were collected for RNA sequencing. The differences on gene expression, regulatory network of transcription factors and drug similarity between the two groups were compared. The results were compared with the public data of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Biological processes and signal pathways were analyzed and compared between HPAH and IPAH patients. Results: The age of 6 patients with HAPH was (68.1±8.3) years old, and there were 2 males (2/6). The age of 4 subjects in the control group was (62.3±10.9) years old, and there were 2 males (2/4). Tricuspid regurgitation velocity, tricuspid pressure gradient and pulmonary systolic pressure in HAPH group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The results of RNA sequencing showed that compared with the control group, 174 genes were significantly upregulated and 169 genes were downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HAPH group. These differentially expressed genes were associated with 220 biological processes, 52 molecular functions and 23 cell components. A total of 21 biological processes and 2 signal pathways differed between HPAH and IPAH groups, most of which were related to inflammation and immune response. ZNF384, SP1 and STAT3 were selected as highly correlated transcription factors by transcription factor prediction analysis. Trichostatin A and vorinostat were screened out as potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH by drug similarity analysis. Conclusions: There are significant differences in gene expression in peripheral blood monocytes between HAPH patients and normal population, and inflammation and immune dysfunction are the main pathogenic factors. Trichostatin A and Vorinostat are potential drugs for the treatment of HAPH.

Investigation of Pharmacodynamic Material Basis and Mechanism of Qianyang Yuyin Granules Against Hypertensive Renal Damage Based on LC/Q-TOF-MS and Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To systematically study the chemical components of Qianyang Yuyin granules and explore its main pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism in the prevention and treatment of hypertensive renal damage. Method:Liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry （LC/Q-TOF-MS） was employed to comprehensively analyze the chemical components of Qianyang Yuyin granules. Agilent Poroshell 120 SB-C₁₈ column （3.0 mm×100 mm， 2.7 μm） was used， flow rate was 0.4 mL·min^-1， electrospray ionization （ESI） was applied and operated in positive and negative ion modes， the acquisition range was <italic>m</italic>/<italic>z</italic> 25-1 000. Mobile phase in positive ion mode consisted of water+10 mmol·L^-1 ammonium formate+0.125% formic acid+0.1% methanol （A）-［acetonitrile-water （9∶1）+10 mmol·L^-1 ammonium formate+0.125% formic acid］ （B）， and in negative ion mode consisted of water+10 mmol·L^-1 ammonium formate+0.1% methanol （A）-［acetonitrile-water （9∶1）+10 mmol·L^-1 ammonium formate］ （B） with the gradient elution （0-3.5 min， 5%B； 3.5-4 min， 5%-10%B； 4-9 min， 10%-25%B； 9-18 min， 25%-30%B； 18-25 min， 30%-50%B； 25-27 min， 50%-90%B； 27-32 min， 90%B； 32-33 min， 90%-5%B； 33-39 min， 5%B）. According to the information of the accurate mass， the multistage fragment ions， the mass spectrometric data of the standard substances and the relative reference literature， the structures of the chemical components in Qianyang Yuyin granules were identified. Based on the identified components， network pharmacology study， including target prediction and functional enrichment was applied to screen out the main active substances against hypertensive renal damage， and explore the potential mechanism. Result:A total of 99 chemical components were identified， from which 43 active substances and 48 key targets were screened out. The key components contained kaempferol， quercetin， ferulic acid， luteolin， caffeic acid methyl ester， cinnamic acid， aloe-emodin， emodin， gallic acid， <italic>N</italic>-<italic>trans</italic>-feruloyltyramine， isoorientin， 8-<italic>O</italic>-feruloylharpagide， ethyl caffeate， isookanin， cyasterone， 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-<italic>O</italic>-<italic>β</italic>-<italic>D</italic>-glucopyranoside， loganin， alisol B-23-acetate and harpagide. The key targets included vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA）， serine/threonine protein kinase 1 （AKT1）， Jun proto-oncogene （JUN）， etc. Conclusion:Qianyang Yuyin granules mainly exert the effects of removing heat from the liver， tonifying the kidney and removing blood stasis via modulation of vascular endothelium， angiogenesis， inflammatory reaction， oxidative stress， immune response and so on.

The application and significance in prenatal diagnosis using G-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the procedure and the value of G-banding, fluorescence in sit hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) techniques in prenatal diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Karyotype analyses with three diagnostic procedures, G-banding, G-banding and FISH, G-banding, FISH and CGH, were performed in the amniotic fluid samples taken from 102 fetuses at gestational ages 16-24 weeks. And the significance was valued in prenatal diagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the first procedure of karyotype analysis, 98 cases were diagnosed, 2 cases were not conformed while 2 cases were failed in all 102 cases. In the second procedure, 2 cases were determined, 1 case was not conformed and 1 case was still failed. In the third step, 2 cases were diagnosed. The diagnostic rate of the karyotype reached to 100% (102/102 cases) using all the three procedures. In total, seven cases with chromosomal abnormality were diagnosed. Four cases, 1 case and 2 cases were identified in the first step (4/7, 57.1%), the second (1/7, 14.3%) and the third (2/7, 28.5%), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It can help improve the diagnostic rate of chromosomal aberrations and standardize diagnostic procedure to perform the three detecting steps in prenatal diagnosis.</p>

Systematic continuous sequence approach in diagnosing fetal deformity / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the value of ultrasonographic evaluation in fetal deformity in prenatal diagnosis by a systematic continuous sequence approach (SCSA).@*METHODS@#Successive prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation was performed to monitor the whole anatomic structure,form, posture and movement of 16,685 fetuses during gestation aging 14 approximately 40(+3) weeks.@*RESULTS@#Satisfactory ultrasonic images were obtained in 16,627 fetuses using the SCSA (99.65%). Of them, 514 abnormal fetuses were confirmed after subsequent labor or induced labor and 498 abnormal fetuses were correctly diagnosed using SCSA during prenatal stage (96.89%). Whereas 16 fetuses missed recognition (3.11%). Its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of diagnosis on fetal deformity were 96.98%, 99.96%, 98.66%, and 99.90 %, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#SCSA in prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetal structure and malformation is reliable and accurate.

An evaluation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma and metastasis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic expressions of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 mRNA at different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and their use in clinical diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hepatoma models were developed with 2-FAA using male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Morphological changes of the rat liver histological preparations (H and E stained) were studied. The fragment of TGF-beta 1 gene obtained was amplified by nested RT-PCR. Dynamic change of TGF-beta 1 level was quantitatively analyzed by ELISA. The distribution of TGF-beta 1 in the cells and its gene expression were detected in human HCC tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The progressive increases of hepatic TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 mRNA were observed in rat hepatocytes which progressed from granular degeneration, atypical hyperplasia and finally to HCC development induced by 2-FAA. The expression levels in HCC tissues were significantly higher than those in the normal and degenerative ones. TGF-beta 1 was shown in rat hepatocytes by immunohistochemistry. Plasma TGF-beta 1 was detected in 89.5% of all the patients with HCC, but it was detected in 93.3% of them who had an AFP less than 400 microg/L. TGF-beta 1 mRNA showed a stronger expression in HCC tissues. TGF-beta 1 mRNA was found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all HCC patients with extrahepatic metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGF-beta 1 may participate in hepatocyte canceration. The overexpression of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 mRNA could be useful markers for early diagnosis and predicting prognosis of HCC.</p>

Investigation and analysis on the incidence of "Yunnan unknown-cause sudden cardiac death" during / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the "Yunnan unknown-cause sudden cardiac death (YUSCD)".</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cases of YUSCD occurred in 2002-2004 were investigated with cross-sectional study. Clinical manifestation was observed and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The YUSCD areas were mountainous and most of the YUSCD cases appeared between June and August. Most of the YUSCD cases were young farmers and showed family/village clustering nature. Most of the patients died quickly with only few recovered. The overall incidence of YUSCD was 1.83% with mortality as 1.51%. The fatality rate of YUSCD appeared to be 78.1%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The YUSCD cases had a clustering feature along with time and area. The clinical manifestation of YUSCD could not be specifically identified, making the clinical diagnosis and treatment difficult when practicing in the fields that called for further studies on epidemiology, clinical work and etiology.</p>

Scanning of drug targets related to uterus contraction from the uterine smooth muscles by cDNA microarray / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To screen the differentially expressed gene profile from the smooth muscles in the fundus uterus at the active stage of labor, and to provide candidate genes for picking out the drug targets related to uterine contraction.@*METHODS@#Differentially expressed genes of uterine smooth muscles in the corpus from pro and post spontaneous parturition and those induced by oxytocin,as well as those from the corpus and the lower portion spontaneous parturition,were scanned respectively by human full-length genetic cDNA microarray with 8064 probe sets. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to testify the expression of voltage dependent calcium channel-L subtype (CACNA). The differentially expressed genes in the structure and function of the drug targets were picked out by bio-informatics to serve as candidate drug targets related to uterine contraction.@*RESULTS@#The expressions of 29 genes were upregulated in fundus smooth muscles from the pro and post natural parturition, the pro and post inductive parturition of oxytocin, and the natural parturition. The expression of CACNA gene in RT-PCR was in accordance with that in the microarray. Among the 29 genes, neuromedin B receptor (NMBR) gene and neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene were the genes which not only had the targets of uterine contracted medicine, but also could contract the uterine. The differential expression ratios of NMBR in the above 3 types of uterine myometrium were 6.9,11.3, and 9.0, respectively while those of NPY were 6.0,29.8, and 2.9 respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#NMBR, whose expression in the uterine smooth muscles is always up-regulated at different parturition conditions, is likely to be an ideal candidate target of uterotonic drugs.

Clinical analysis of pregnancy complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the interacting effects between pregnancy and flares of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore the best occasion for SLE patients' conception and the management during the pregnancy.@*METHODS@#Thirty one cases of pregnancy complicated with SLE were investigated retrospectively, among whom 18 were in remission of SLE at the beginning of conception (Group A), and the other 13 either had high-activity of the disease or were first diagnosed as SLE during the pregnancy (Group B). Various doses of prednisone were administered to control SLE.@*RESULTS@#SLE flares still occurred in 6 cases in Group A, but in all cases in Group B. Compared with Group A, the rates of fetal loss and early delivery were significantly higher in Group B (P < 0.05), while the survival rate and the weight of the new born were notably decreased in Group B (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Pregnancy and SLE interacted with each other unfavorably. Selection of remission stage for conception and proper management during the pregnancy could significantly improve the maternal-fetal safety.

In vitro differentiation into megakaryocytes and generation of platelets from CD34+ cells of umbilical cord blood / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To induce hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells of umbilical cord blood to differentiate into mature megakaryocytes and platelets in vitro and to investigate the mechanism of production of platelets.@*METHODS@#The CD34+ cells were sorted from umbilical cord blood by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and then cultured in vitro with optimized medium to be differentiated into mature megakaryocytes and platelets. The cultured cells and the platelet-like particles were isolated from the culture and were checked by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), immunohistochemistry assays, light microscope,electron microscope and platelet aggregation tests.@*RESULTS@#The cultured megakaryocytes were detected with proplatelets and both the cultured cells and the platelet-sized particles were found to have the same structure with the normal megakaryocytes and platelets by light and electron microscope. The immunohistochemistry assays revealed the cultured cells expressed GP II b III a with a positivity of 95% which was a special antigen for platelets and megakaryocytes. Culture-derived platelet-sized particles aggregated in response to thrombin as the plasma derived-platelets did. The cultured platelets had the same positivity of CD41 as the platelets from platelet rich plasma.@*CONCLUSION@#The hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells can be induced to differentiate into purified and mature megakaryocytes and platelets. It provides a practical way to study the mechanism of platelets production.

Fetal posterior cranial fossa in the second and third trimester / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the normal range of the width of posterior cranial fossa (WPCF) in the second and third trimester by ultrasonography, and to investigate its relationship with fetal congenital and chromosome abnormality.@*METHODS@#WPCF of 2484 fetus (gestational age from 14 to 41 weeks) was measured by ultrasonograph routinely, and the infants were followed up.@*RESULTS@#In 2848 fetus, 2772 were normal and 76 were abnormal. WPCF increased before 32 weeks, decreased after 33 weeks, the largest value of WPCF was 13.4 mm. The occurrence rate of WPCF> or =8 mm in normal fetus was 8.84%, and that in abnormal fetus was 17.46%. Most fetuses with chromosome abnormality had normal WPCF in the second trimester, but some fetuses with remarkable broadening in the late stage. Some abnormal fetuses (such as water head, Dandy-Walker's syndrome etc) showed significant extension of WPCF.@*CONCLUSION@#WPCF increases before 32 weeks, decreases after 33 weeks;and can be easily measured during 29 - 32 weeks. WPCF of some fetus with chromosome abnormality or with congenital abnormality is remarkably broadened in the late stage. The fetus of WPCF> or =10 mm should be followed up closely, and antenatal diagnosis should be done if WPCF is more than 14 mm.

Expression of coagulation factor IX in human CD34 + hematopoietic stem cells by adeno-associated virus 2 / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of human coagulation factor IX (hFIX) gene in human umbilical cord blood (CB) CD34+ cells which was transfected with recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV-2).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The CD34+ cells were transfected with rAAV-2/hFIX and cultured for 21 days for inducing differentiation into myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytes, respectively. The expression of hFIX was studied at mRNA, protein and biological activity levels. The cytotoxicity of rAAV-2 to CD34+ cells was evaluated by cell proliferation, cell vitality, CD antigen expressions and CFU yields.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hFIX mRNA was expressed in the cultured cells which was verified by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. An elevated level of hFIX expression and biological activities were detected with a maximum amount of 14.10 ng/10(6) cell x 24 h. During the period of 21 day culture, the cell vitality, cell proliferation, CD antigen expression and CFU yields between the transfected and un-transfected groups had no difference(P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The human CB CD34+ cells are able to produce functional hFIX after transduction by rAAV-2/hFIX. The cell proliferation and differentiation capacities of the host CD34+ cells were not affected by rAAV-2.</p>

Clinical values of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvascular density analysis in liver cancer specimens / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in microvessel angiogenesis, development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cellular distributions of VEGF expression and microvascular density (MVD) in 36 HCCs were investigated, and the levels of total RNA and VEGF were detected in HCCs, Para cancerous, and distal cancerous tissues, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of VEGF was 63.9% in 36 cases of HCCs, 78.3% in non-encapsulated HCCs, and 90.9% in HCCs with extrahepatic metastasis, respectively. The VEGF expression was tightly correlated with MVD (t=4.49, P<0.01). No significant difference was found between VEGF or MVD and tumor diameter or differentiation degree. The level of total RNA in HCCs was lower but the VEGF level significantly higher than those of Para cancerous or distal cancerous ones (q=6.10, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The present data suggest that VEGF over expression and MVD abnormality are useful markers for vascular invasion and metastasis of liver tumors.</p>

Transduction efficiency of recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 in human umbilical cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

To investigate the transduction efficiency of recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV-2) in human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, the CD34(+) cells sorted by the method of magnetic cell sorting from human cord blood were infected with the rAAV-2 expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. After transduction for 19 hours, the expression of GFP was detected under fluorescence microscope. The results showed that 43% CD34(+) cells expressed the GFP gene at a multiplicity of infection of 2 x 10(5). It is concluded that the rAAV-2 can transduce human cord blood CD34(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells efficiently.