[Analyzed the related factors of VOTE score for drug-induced sleep endoscopy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea].

Objective:To analyze the related factors of VOTE score for drug-induced endoscopy（DISE） in patients with obstructive sleep apnea （OSA）. Method:Fifty-four OSA patients, diagnosed by polysomnograph, underwent surgical treatment from Nov 2014 to Dec 2016 in our hospital. All patients underwent drug induced sleep endoscope, and then the collapse of pharyngeal space was evaluated. We analyzed the related factors with VOTE score. Result:The occlusion rates were significant statistical different in different spaces of 54 OSA patients undergoing DISE（P=0.000, velum 98.15%, oropharynx 81.48%, tongue base 40.47%, and epiglottis 11.11% respectively）. The rateand of tongue base collapsing was related with Mallampatis（P<0.05） and Friedman stage（P<0.05）. The VOTE score was weakly related with Friedman stage（r=0.297, P<0.05）, medium related with BMI（r=0.376, P<0.05）, AHI（r=0.312, P<0.05） and lowest SpO2（r=0.376, P<0.01）. Conclusion:In the VOTE scoring system for DISE, the rate of collapse in tongue base was related with Mallampatis and Friedman stage. The VOTE score was medium related with BMI, AHI and Lowest SpO2, mild related with Friedman stage.

Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a national epidemiological survey of Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a high morbidity disease in China. The aim of this study was to explore the latest distribution of HCV genotypes in China, mainly focusing on epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of HCV genotype 1 in Chinese Han population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 793 HCV-positive patients were enrolled from 21 hospitals across China. The association of epidemiological data with HCV genotype 1 and the potential risk factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The HCV genotype 1b was detected in 66.9% of 793 patients. The way of infection, disease course, HCV RNA level, history of blood transfusion and smoking were found to be significantly different between patients infected with HCV genotype 1 and non-genotype 1. The result of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCV genotype 1 infection has a close relationship with age, gender, smoking history, the way of infection, allergy, disease course, and HCV RNA level. Moreover, the HCV RNA level, disease course, and blood transfusion history were the related risk factors for infection of HCV genotype 1 as demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The HCV genotype 1 was still the main genotype of HCV infection in China. We should intensify HCV screening for those people who aged over 50 years and had a history of blood transfusion in China. The treatment of genotype 1 should be paid more attention in antiviral of HCV.

Enhancement of the hydrolysis activity of ß-galactosidase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus by saturation mutagenesis.

Thermostable ß-galactosidase (BgaB) from Geobacillus stearothermophilus is characterized by its thermoactivity in the hydrolysis of lactose to produce lactose-free milk products. However, BgaB has limited activity toward lactose. We established a method for screening evolved mutants with high hydrolysis activity based on prediction of substrate binding sites. Seven amino acid residues were identified as candidates for substrate binding to galactose. To study the hydrolysis activity of these residues, we constructed mutants by site-saturation mutagenesis of these residue sites, and each variant was screened for its hydrolysis activity. The first round of mutagenesis showed that changes in amino acid residues of Arg109, Tyr272, and Glu351 resulted in altered hydrolysis activity, including greater activity toward ortho-nitrophenyl-ß-d-galactopyranoside (oNPG). The mutants R109V and R109L displayed changes in the optimum pH from 7.0 to 6.5, and the mutant R109V/L displayed different substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)). Mutant R109G showed complete loss of BgaB enzymatic activity, suggesting that Arg109 plays a significant role in maintaining hydrolysis activity. The optimum pH of mutant E351R increased from 7.0 to 7.5 and this mutant showed a prominent increase in catalytic efficiency with oNPG and lactose as substrates.

Anatomical and temporal differences in the regulation of ZIF268 (NGFI-A) protein in the hamster and mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Several immediate-early genes have been shown to be induced in the rodent circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, by retinal illumination at night. We compared spontaneous and light-evoked levels of the immediate-early gene protein ZIF268 (NGFI-A) in the Syrian hamster and C57BL/6J mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus. Exposure of both hamsters and mice to light pulses early and late in the subjective night caused increased ZIF268 immunoreactivity in the region of the suprachiasmatic nucleus that receives retinal innervation. In contrast to hamsters, mice also showed spontaneous increases in ZIF268 at both subjective night phases at the lateral edges of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Light also evoked a significant increase in ZIF268 levels during the subjective day in the lateral suprachiasmatic nucleus, with few labeled cells in the ventral and dorsal suprachiasmatic nucleus. These results demonstrate a novel circadian pattern and regional differentiation of ZIF268 immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of mice that differ from those in other rodents. There are pronounced species differences in both spontaneous and light-evoked expression of ZIF268 immunoreactivity.

[Changes in the binding characteristics of central kappa-opioid receptor during the development of 100 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) tolerance in rats].

The effect of repetitive 100 Hz EA stimulation on the characteristics of binding of kappa opioid receptors in discrete brain regions and the spinal cord of rats was investigated by radioligand binding assay. 100 Hz EA was administered once a day (30 min) for 7 d. Changes in Bmax and Kd of kappa opioid receptors of 4 discrete brain regions (cortex, midbrain, pons-medulla and striatum) and spinal cord were observed at d 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. It was found that the numbers (Bmax) of kappa opioid receptors of all the brain regions observed were decreased during the development of 100 Hz EA tolerance with a differential time course. In rat cortex and pons-medulla, a marked down regulation of kappa opioid receptors occurred within 24 h and remained at a low level throughout the observation. The Bmax of kappa receptor in spinal cord showed a bell-shaped curve, i.e., up regulation in the first 5 days and down regulation at d 7. In contrast a slow and steady down regulation was found in the midbrain and striatum, matching the course of development of 100 Hz EA tolerance. No significant changes in Kd of [3H]-U69593 were found except for a decrease of Kd in midbrain. In conclusion, administration of 100 Hz EA 30 min per day for 7 consecutive days resulted in a significant down regulation of kappa opioid receptor in CNS, especially in midbrain and striatum.