Clinical study of carotid superb microvascular imaging in evaluating the activity of Takayasu's arteritis.

Objective: The goal of this study is to use superb microvascular imaging (SMI) to observe neovascularization in the carotid vessel wall to identify potential Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) inflammation markers. Methods: Bilateral carotid arteries from 96 patients with TAK were imaged by a Doppler ultrasound and SMI. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to document significant differences between the activity and inactivity stages of TAK and the factors closely related to its activity in the binary logistics regression equation. Clinical and laboratory data included age, gender, duration of disease, treatment history, NIH score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Imaging data included the arterial wall thickness, degree of lesion, SMI grade, and arterial aneurysm formation. Results: There were 45 patients in the active TAK stage and 51 in the inactive stage. The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in SMI (p = 0.001) and ESR (p = 0.022) between the active and inactive groups. The binary logistics regression analysis showed that SMI was an independent risk factor for TAK activity (B = -1.505, S.E = 0.340, Wald = 19.528, OR = 0.222 95%, CI = 0.114-0.433, p < 0.01). Using SMI G1 or G2 as the cutoff values for the diagnosis of active TAK, the positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were 60 and 86%, 84% and 56%, and 54% and 92%, respectively. Conclusion: The SMI grade is a potential marker of disease activity in patients with TAK.

Effect of Ethanolic Extracts from Taiwanofungus camphoratus and T. salmoneus (Agaricomycetes) Mycelia on Osteoporosis Recovery.

Osteoporosis is common in postmenopausal women and elderly people. In this study, the ovariectomized mice were used as an in vivo test to evaluate the effects of 70% ethanolic extracts of Taiwanofungus camphoratus and T. salmoneus (Polyporales, Agaricomycetes) on postmenopausal osteoporosis. Ovariectomized mice had significantly higher body weight and histopathological alterations of the liver were found to have diffused fatty infiltrated vesicles. The bone parameters of the femur were determined by microcomputed tomography. In addition, the relative weight of the uterus is significantly lower and atrophy of the uterine glands was found in histopathological alterations. The results of trabecular bone parameters showed that feeding high doses of T. camphoratus mycelia ethanolic extract to ovariectomized mice had the ability to delay bone loss. The bone density of trabecular bone and cortical bone were also significantly higher than those of ovariectomized mice, indicating that the ethanolic extract of T. camphoratus has the potential to delay the occurrence of osteoporosis.

[Correlation studies of distinct mutational signatures with common cancer pathological subtyping].

It holds great promises to precisely stratify cancer subtypes to improve cancer diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. In the past, the diagnosis of pathological subtypes mainly relied on hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. With the development of sequencing technologies, genotype and phenotype analysis of individuals has become possible and precision medicine is on the rise in healthcare. As different tumor subtypes have different cell-of-origin, risk factors and clinical phenotypes, they generate unique combinations of mutation types, termed "Mutational Signatures". Herein, using the exome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we evaluated the utility of mutational landscape for differentiating cell-of-origin within three common cancers (kidney, lung and esophageal cancers). We found that mutational signatures predicted histological subtypes of kidney cancers, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KIRC) vs. chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (KICH), which had different cell-of-origin, with 100% accuracy (95% CI: 0.93-1.00). The mutational signatures also predicted histological subtypes of lung cancers (lung adenocarcinoma vs. lung squamous cell carcinoma) and esophageal cancers (esophageal adenocarcinoma vs. esophageal squamous cell carcinoma) with 78% (95% CI: 0.66-0.86) and 84% accuracy (95% CI: 0.60-0.97), respectively. Collectively, mutational signatures-based subtyping is good at pathological classification, personalized diagnosis, especially early detection for common cancers.

IL-9-producing Th9 cells may participate in pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis.

Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) is a type of large vessel vasculitis which involves the aorta and its major branches. Interleukin (IL)-9 or IL-9-producing Th9 cells were found to be involved in pathogenesis of autoimmune arteritis such as giant cell arteritis, but IL-9 or Th9 cells in TAK were not well known. Here, this study aims to analyze the levels of serum IL-9 and their major source Th9 cells in TAK. With the help of cytometric bead array (CBA), a total of 21 patients with TAK were examined for serum levels of cytokines IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-9. Flow cytometry techniques were used to examine the frequencies of Th9 cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 11 patients with active TAK and 10 healthy controls. Higher serum levels of serum IL-6 (P < 0.05), TNF-α (P < 0.05), and IL-9 level (P < 0.05) were observed in TAK patients compared to those of healthy controls. Higher frequencies of CD4+ IL-9+ T cells and CD4+ PU.1+ T cells in PBMCs and IL-9+ PU.1+ T cells in CD4+ T cells were observed in active TAK patients than those in healthy controls (all P < 0.01). The levels of IL-9 had a positive correlation with ESR (r = 0.975, P = 0.015) in these cases. Our data suggested that Th9 cells and IL-9 could possibly be involved in the pathogenesis of TAK.

Optimization of Extraction Process for Paeoniae radix Alba by Central Composite Design-Response Surface Methodology / 医药导报

Objective To optimize the extraction process of Paeoniae radix alba. Methods Extraction rates of paeoniflorin and total glucosides from Paeoniae radix alba and yield of dry extract were served as research indexes. Extraction process was optimized by central composite design-response surface methodology. Results Optimum condition of extraction technology was to extract 2 times with 9-fold of 85.00% ethanol for 100 min each time. Results of the three batches of confirmatory test were accordant with the predicted values. Conclusion The observed and predicted values were close to each other,and the optimum formulation by CCD-RSM was successful. The established model has a reliable predictability. The optimum extraction process is reasonable,stable and feasible.

HIV-1 impairs human retinal pigment epithelial barrier function: possible association with the pathogenesis of HIV-associated retinopathy.

The breakdown of human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) barrier is considered as the etiology of retinopathy, which affects the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients. Here we demonstrate that HIV-1 could directly impair HRPE barrier function, which leads to the translocation of HIV-1 and bacteria. HRPE cells (D407) were grown to form polarized, confluent monolayers and treated with different HIV-1 infectious clones. A significant increase of monolayer permeability, as measured by trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and apical-basolateral movements of sodium fluorescein, was observed. Disrupted tightness of HRPE barrier was associated with the downregulation of several tight junction proteins in D407 cells, including ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-2, Claudin-3, Claudin-4, and Claudin-5, after exposure to HIV-1, without affecting the viability of cells. HIV-1 gp120 was shown to participate in the alteration of barrier properties, as evidenced by decreased TEER and weakened expression of tight junction proteins in D407 monolayers after exposure to pseudotyped HIV-1, UV-inactivated HIV-1, and free gp120, but not to an envelope (Env)-defective mutant of HIV. Furthermore, exposure to HIV-1 particles could induce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in D407, including IL-6 and MCP-1, both of which downregulated the expression of ZO-1 in the HRPE barrier. Disrupted HRPE monolayer allowed translocation of HIV-1 and bacteria across the epithelium. Overall, these findings suggest that HIV-1 may exploit its Env glycoprotein to induce an inflammatory state in HRPE cells, which could result in impairment of HRPE monolayer integrity, allowing virus and bacteria existing in ocular fluids to cross the epithelium and penetrate the HRPE barrier. Our study highlights the role of HIV-1 in the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS-related retinopathy and suggests potential therapeutic targets for this ocular complication.

From clinical requirement to personalized wellness decision support: a data-driven framework for computer-supported guideline refinement.

Personalized wellness decision support has gained significant attention, owing to the shift to a patient-centric paradigm in healthcare domains, and the consequent availability of a wealth of patient-related data. Despite the success of data-driven analytics in improving practice outcome, there is a gap towards their deployment in guideline-based practice. In this paper we report on findings related to computer-supported guideline refinement, which maps a patient's guideline requirements to personalized recommendations that suit the patient's current context. In particular, we present a novel data-driven personalization framework, casting the mapping task as a statistical decision problem in search of a solution to maximize expected utility. The proposed framework is well suited to produce personalized recommendations based on not only clinical factors but contextual factors that reflect individual differences in non-clinical settings. We then describe its implementation within the guideline-based clinical decision support system and discuss opportunities and challenges looking forward.

[Insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in female systemic lupus erythematosus patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in female systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with different glucose tolerances. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity and beta cell function were compared between SLE patients and non-SLE subjects in the states of normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) respectively. Furthermore, risk factors for insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in SLE patients were analysed by linear regression. RESULTS: In NGT state, insulin sensitivity and beta cell function of newly diagnosed SLE patients without glucocorticoids treatment were not significantly different from those of normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with newly diagnosed SLE patients without glucocorticoids treatment and normal control group, HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), ln (HOMA-ß), ln (early phase insulin secretion index, EISI) and ln (late phase insulin secretion index, LISI) of SLE patients with glucocorticoids treatment were significantly higher (1.91 ± 1.04 vs 0.81 ± 0.75, 0.94 ± 0.27; 5.05 ± 0.65 vs 4.01 ± 0.63, 4.23 ± 0.47; 3.14 ± 0.81 vs 2.42 ± 0.39, 2.50 ± 0.65; 2.30 ± 0.55 vs 1.62 ± 0.57, 1.56 ± 0.43; P < 0.05), while ln (Matsuda index, MI) was significantly lower (4.53 ± 0.54 vs 5.27 ± 0.68, 5.18 ± 0.38; P < 0.05). In IGT and DM state, HOMA-IR (2.84 ± 1.87 vs 1.82 ± 1.22, 3.18 ± 2.29 vs 2.94 ± 2.26) and ln (HOMA-ß) (5.18 ± 0.93 vs 4.06 ± 0.58, 3.99 ± 1.04 vs 3.43 ± 0.83) were significantly higher in SLE patients with glucocorticoids treatment than those of non-SLE subjects (P < 0.05) respectively. BMI and ln (daily glucocorticoids doses) were independent risk factors for insulin sensitivity, and age, the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and ln (daily glucocorticoids doses) were related factors beta cell function. CONCLUSION: In NGT, IGT and DM state, SLE female patients with glucocorticoids treatment have reduced insulin sensitivity and increased beta cell function, these changes are related to the use of glucocorticoids.

Praeruptorin A inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in murine macrophages through inhibition of NF-κB pathway activation.

Praeruptorin A (PA) is a pyranocoumarin compound isolated from the dried root of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn (Umbelliferae). However, the antiinflammatory effect of PA has not been reported. The present study investigated the antiinflammatory effect of PA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. PA significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The mRNA and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-1ß and TNF-α were also suppressed by this compound. Further study showed that PA decreased the cytoplasmic loss of inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α) protein and inhibited the translocation of NF-κB from cytoplasm to nucleus. Taken together, the results suggest that PA may exert antiinflammatory effects in vitro in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages through inhibition of NF-κB signal pathway activation.

Exploration on thyroid hormones changes of different gestation periods / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate the state of thyroid hormones and thyrotropin level in different gestation periods. Methods FT3, FT4, TSH and hCG were measured in 623 patients by ACS-180 automatic chemiluninescence analyzer. The urinary iodine was random measured by the use of iodine catalytic reaction mechanism of Arsenic-Cerium, rapid urinary iodine was detected with cold digestion method of quantitative detection. Result Serum FT3,FT4 ,and hCG levels in the first and second trimester were higher than in the third trimester ( F =53. 19,78.00,58.77, P ＜0. 05) ,and TSH levels were lower than in the third trimester ( F =5.68, P ＜0.05). The incidence of thyrotropin level disorder was 7. 54%, there were no significant differences in the gestation periods ( χ2 = 3.92, P ＞ 0. 05 ). The incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism,subclinical hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were 3.53%, 2. 57%, 1.12% and 0. 32%, respectively. The incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the first and third trimester was high, while the incidence of subclinical hyperthyroidism in the second trimester was high. Conclusions Thyrotropin level in the third trimester was lower than that of the first and second trimester. HCG changes were not the main reason that caused the thyrotropin level disorder during the pregnancy.

Analysis of the high risk factor of the twice cesarean section delivery's pregnancy neopathy / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the high risk factor of the twice cesarean section delivery's pregnancy neopathy,to offer clinical evidence for avoiding tertiurn cesarean section delivery. Methods 18 cesarean section de- livery pregnancy childbirth of neopathy and treat end were retrospectively analyzed. Results Placenta previa's inci- dence rate is 22% (4/18). Placenta previa of cicatricle implant is 6% (1/18). Utero-cicarricle to crack 28% (5/18). Tertium cesarean section delivery have hemorrhoee 5 % (9/18). Operation damage 17 % (3/18 ). Hysterectomia 11% (2/18). Infection of incisional wound 22% (4/18). New birth death rate is 11% (2/18). ConcluSion After twice cesarean section delivery pregnaney, deliver risk is high, neopathy more and serious. Delivery mode chosen for preg- nancy 37-38 weeks vaginal delivery is not proper.

Influence of maternal and perinatal prognosis determined by the time of pregnancy term ination in HELLP syndrome / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the prognosis determined by the time of pregnancy termination.Methotis Clinical data of 36 cases with HELLP syndrome in my hospital were retrospectively analyzed and diagnosed HELLP syndrome for different time terminates were compared as well.Results The mortality of pregnancy termination in 12 h for impregnation and peminatal were lowest with 0 and 50% in the both,It was otherwise 33.3% and 83.3% after 36 h of termination.Conclusions .It is threaten the mother and infant pregnancy with HELLP,cesarean section is the main method to terminate in pregnant 12 h.

[Study on polymorphic Hind III restriction site of the Y chromosome and essential hypertension in Tangshan district].

OBJECTIVE: Since males are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than females, the aim of the study was to examine whether there is an association between BP and a polymorphic Hind III biallelic marker in nonrecombining region of Y chromosome in essential hypertension in Tangshan district in China. METHODS: In the study, 225 patients with essential hypertension and 187 healthy people were enrolled into this study as control group. DNA was extracted from white blood cell. Segments of polymorphic Hind III restriction site of the Y chromosome were amplified from DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were restricted with 10 U of Hind III for a night at 37 degrees C. The digested products were subjected to electrophoresis in 3% agarose gels, and stained with ethidium bromide. RESULTS: We amplified 178 controls (95.2%) and 216 essential hypertensive patients (96.0%) successfully. Hind III(-) genotype was found in 45.8% of the men in essential hypertension and in 32.0% of the men in the controlled group. The Hind III(-) genotype was significantly higher than that in the controls (chi2 = 7.782, P = 0.007). However, the Hind III(+) genotype was lower in SBP (133.16 mm Hg +/- 21.60 mm Hg vs. 143.58 mm Hg +/- 24.16 mm Hg, P < 0.001), DBP (82.82 mm Hg +/- 11.72 mm Hg vs. 86.82 mm Hg +/- 12.65 mm Hg, P = 0.001), pulse pressure (50.34 mm Hg +/- 14.31 mm Hg vs. 56.76 mm Hg +/- 14.20 mm Hg, P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (99.59 mm Hg +/- 14.19 mm Hg vs. 105.74 mm Hg +/- 15.31 mm Hg, P < 0.001) than the Hind III(-) genotype. CONCLUSION: Polymorphic Hind III restriction site of the Y chromosome seemed to be associated with essential hypertension in Tangshan district in China.

Study of the gene deletions and the immunofluorescence of muscle in patients with DMD/BMD / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To detect the deletion distribution of dystrophin gene and dystrophin changes in muscle cells of the patients with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD), furthermore to investigate the relationship between them and clinical symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>42 patients with DMD/BMD were screened by 9 primers multiplex PCR. The patients from 5 DMD and 2 BMD were detected by immunofluorescence technique for analyzing dystrophin located in muscle cell membrane, compared with 2 normal males.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The deletion of one or more exons was found in 21 patients. 16 cases (76.2%) were detected in the central region and 5 patients (23.8%) in the 5' extreme region, especially in exon 48 (6 patients). Negative result of staining was seen in 5 DMD patients. Of these, one case of DMD had no detectable levels of dystrophin, but no deletion of DMD gene. Dystrophin immunostaining from two BMD patients consisted of a discontinuous staining pattern around most fibers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It might be possible that some correlation existed between the type of gene deletion and the degree of severity of the disease. The amount and size of exon deletion may not affect the symptoms. DMD/BMD are highly heterogeneous in clinical manifestation and in inheritance pattern. The pathologic foundation of DMD and BMD is the absence or abnormal expression of dystrophin. The consequence of that depends not only on the degree, but also on the function.</p>

Study on the Serum Levels of Placenta Growth Factor During Normal Pregnancy and in Patients with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To detect serum levels of placenta growth factor(PIGF)throughout normal pregnancy and in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH)as well as to explore the relationship between P1GF and pathogenesis of PIH. Methods: Serum specimens were collected from 51 healthy pregnant women as a control group and 33 women suffered from PIH as third trimester of normal pregnancy(P＜0.001).There was a trend that serum levels of P1GF in PIH group decreased with the severity of PIH(P＜0.001).Conclusion:PlGF play important roles in placental angiogenesis throughout pregnancy, and decreased serum levels of PlGF is associated with PIH.

Study of histochemical characteristics of muscle fiber in patients with Becker type muscular dystrophy / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To investigate the histochemical characteristics of muscle fiber in patients with Becker type muscular dystrophy (BMD) and its clinical significance.Methods Muscular biopsies were performed in 3 patients with BMD. The specimens were stained by HE and nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotid-tetrazole reducase (NADH-TR) methods and observed under light microscope. Normal muscles from healthy people were saved as controls.Results The slice from BMD patients showed varied sizes of muscular fibers, remarkable hypertrophy fibers, splitting fibers, targetoid fibers, lobulated fibers, whorled fibers and ring fibers. Targetoid fibers were also found using NADH-TR staining.Conclusions The degree of fiber necrosis in BMD is mild. Degeneration and proliferation are the main pathological changes, which predict mild clinical symptoms, long course of disease and favourable prognosis.

Study of relative mechanism of the disorder of learning and memory in lead exposure rats / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between the disorder of learning and memory in lead rats and the argnine vasopressin (AVP) and the somatotatin (SS) of hippocampus.Methods Sixty healthy 2-month old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group and lead group. Normal control group was given deionized water and the lead group was given 0.1% lead acetate deionized water for 3 months to make chronic lead rat. Learning and memory ability was tested by the Y-maze test. The content of AVP and SS in hippocampus were tested by the immunohistochemical method. Results The learning memory ability and the content of AVP and SS in hippocampus CA1 section of the lead group were degraded obviously than the control group(all P0.05)in hippocampus CA3 section of the lead group were degraded also.Conclusion The disorder of the learning and memory of the lead exposure rats may be due to the decrease of the content of AVP and SS in hippocampus.

The observation on the relationship between iron deficiency and altitude hypoxia / 实用儿科临床杂志

Background Since the measurement method establishment of serum ferritin abroad in early period of theseventies, the iron deficiency had been divided into two types: the non-anemia and anemia types. In orderto go step further studies, we must ertablish the bemoglobin targets of the two types. Methods One hurdred and fifty-two children in experimontal group, from 6 to 7 years old, and allcome from Qinghai province. There are 29 children in Xining city, 24 in Guide, 26 in Gongbe, 40 in Gui-nan and 33 in Maduo countics. There are 36 health children aged from 6 to 7 years old in the controlgroup, and all comes from Beijing. The Hb, RBC, HCT, HCTW and FEP wcre determined. Results The three targets correlating with Hb (Hb, MCH and MCHC); correlating with RBC (RBC,HCT and MCV); the two targets correlating with RBC_weight (HCTW and CMCW) and correlating withFEP of RBC(FEP and MCEP) have very significant difference between experimental group and control group. Conclusion The determination values of the 10 targets are not same in children in different districts,and the values of all the target: are increased on different degree along with the increase in altitude of ele-vation. There is very important significance on the studies of iron deficiency and altitude hypoxia to establish the normal values of the 10 targets.