ABSTRACT
In order to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of Gymnocypris chilianensis, D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA was sequenced in 50 individuals of G. chilianensis obtained from 2 geographic locations (Heihe River and Shule River) and 25 individuals of G. przewalskii (Qinghai Lake). Twenty-five homologous sequences of another G. eckloni (Yellow River) downloaded from GenBank were analyzed together. The sequences were analyzed by using the MEGA (version 7.0) and DnaSP (version 6.0) software. The results revealed that 82 haplotypes were detected among 100 individuals. The haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (Pi) of G. chilianensis of the Shule River were 0.963 ± 0.029 and 0.00414 ± 0.00069, which were lower than those of 3 other populations. The genetic distance of G. chilianensis in both Heihe River and Shule River was 0.0013. The genetic distances between the 2 G. chilianensis populations and the G. eckloni were 0.0148 and 0.0141, respectively. Population differentiation values (Fst) and gene flow (Nm) showed that 4 population had occurred obvious genetic differentiation (Fst: 0.20811 â¼ 0.98863. p < 0.01; Nm < 1). Compared with G. przewalskii and G. eckloni, the differentiation degree was more significant between Heihe River G. chilianensis and Shule River G. chilianensis (Fst = 0.98863, p < 0.01; Nm = 0.00287). Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree showed that G. chilianensis had further genetic distance with G. eckloni and G. przewalskii. In conclution, G. chilianensis (HH&SL) had lower genetic diversity and further genetic distance than G. przewalskii (QH) and G. eckloni (YL). We suggest strengthen the protection of genetic resources of G. chilianensis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury in septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Interleukin-8 (IL-8), as a proinflammatory mediator causing recruitment of inflammatory cells, induces an increase in oxidant stress mediators and makes it as a key parameter for localized inflammation. However, it has not been well established whether the level of serum IL-8 is associated with the severity of lung injury and whether it is a prognosis marker for severe lung contusion. This study was to investigate the expression of plasma vWF and IL-8 and their association with the severity and outcomes of severe pulmonary contusion. METHODS: A total of 63 patients were divided into a severe pulmonary contusion with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group, or a survivor group and a non-survivor group, or an injury severity score (ISS) <20 group and an ISS ≥20 group. Another 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. The levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injury. The expression patterns of the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were compared between different groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were significantly increased in all severe pulmonary contusion patients at all time points in comparison with the control group. The concentrations of plasma vWF in patients with ARDS increased during the whole study period, but vWF in patients with non-ARDS increased gradually until day 5 and then decreased at day 7. The concentration of serum IL-8 showed a similar expression pattern in both groups, but the expression increased more significantly in the ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group. Interestingly, both plasma vWF and serum IL-8 levels steadily increased in the non-survivor group. Furthermore, the level of plasma vWF was higher in the ISS≥20 group than in the ISS<20 group. The level of serum IL-8 in the ISS≥20 group was consistently high, while that in the ISS<20 group peaked at day 3 and decreased at day 5. In addition, the level of plasma vWF was positively correlated with platelet count, but negatively correlated with oxygen index. The level of serum IL-8 was positively correlated with white blood cell count and ISS score, and inversely correlated with oxygen index. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 in severe pulmonary contusion patients reflect the severity of pulmonary injury and patients outcomes, suggesting that the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 are sensitive markers for clinical evaluation of the severity of pulmonary injury and predication of patient prognosis.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) by observing the changes in mitral valve reserve after PBMV and during the long-term follow-up and by exploring the relations of these changes with stress echocardiographic scores. METHODS: Stress echocardiogaphy was performed in patients receiving PBMV for mitral stenosis both after surgery and during the long-term follow-up study, and Wilkins scores of the patients were obtained pre-operatively. Intravenous isoproterenol was administered before test to increase the heart rate to simulate mild, moderate and heavy exercises, and the indices for cardiac function were recorded. RESULTS: After PBMV, mitral valve reserve and cardiac function reserve were partly restored, and stress echocardiographic score was closely related to long-term cardiac function ( = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: PBMV can increase mitral valve area and partly resotreit funtional reserve, and stress echocardiographic score is more predictive of the long-term cardiac function than Wilkins score.
