The expressions and significance of APN, D-D, IL-17 and hs-CRP in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory reactions and imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant and protease/anti-protease are the major causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Based on the information mentioned, the expressions and significance of adiponectin (APN), D-dimer (DD), Interleukin (IL)-17, and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were investigated in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were enrolled and divided into stable group (group A, 28 cases) and acute exacerbation group (group B, 42 cases). Thirty-five healthy volunteers were included in the control group (group C, 35 cases). The levels of serum APN, IL- 17, D-D, and hs-CRP were tested and compared RESULTS: Levels of APN from Group B were significantly lower than that of Group A or Group C, while levels of APN of Group A were also significantly lower than that of Group C, (p < 0.05). Levels of IL-17, D-D, and Hs-CRP of group b were significantly increased compared to that of Group A or Group C, and levels of IL-17, D-D, and Hs-CRP of Group A were significantly elevated compared to that of Group C (p < 0.05). A negative statistical correlation was found between APN and IL-17, D-D, and Hs-CRP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of APN were downregulated in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The expression levels of APN, IL-17, D-D, and Hs-CRP were closely correlated with clinical stages and can be used as parameters for the evaluation of the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

[Effects of expanded anterolateral approach for tibial plateau fractures involved the posterolateral column].

Objective: To explore the short-term effects of expanded anterolateral approach in treating fracture involved the posterolateral tibial plateau. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data from 16 patients undergoing extended anterolateral approach for fracture involved the posterolateral tibial plateau in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College between January 2013 and July 2016 was done. The patients were treated with 3.5 mm proximal "L" type proximal tibial locking compression plate with four locking screws through the nail row technique. The X-rays examinations were carried out immediately after the operation and at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months later, to continuously measure the tibial plateau angle (TPA) and posterior slope angle (PA). The Rasmussen radiology score was used to assess the reduction. One year later, the modified Rasmussen knee score was used to assess the recovery of knee function, the Lysholm score was applied to evaluate the cartilage injury, softening and degeneration, and lateral stress test and dial test were carried out to evaluate the stability of the knee. Results: The group consisted of 11 males and 5 females; aged 25 to 71 years, mean (47±12) years; schatzker type Ⅱ 9 cases, type Ⅴ 6 cases and type Ⅵ 1 case. There were 9 cases of type B in Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification, and 7 cases of type C. X-ray was immediately performed after operation and it showed that 14 cases got anatomic reduction, 2 cases left<2 mm of steps. Rasmussen radiology score was 14 to 18 points, mean (17.0±1.5) points. X-ray examination showed no significant difference in TPA immediately after operation and 1.5, 3, 6, 12 months later (F=0.05, P=0.99), and there was no significant difference in PA among the time points (F=0.02, P=1.00). At one-year of follow-up, the modified Rasmussen knee score ranged from 18 to 29 with an average of (25.0±3.3) points, of which 7 were excellent, 8 were good and 1 was fair. The excellent and good rate was 93.75%. Knee range of motion was 110°-135° with a mean of (122±8)°. Lysholm score was 93±4. Evaluation of lateral stress test and dial test were both negative. Conclusions: The short-term curative effect of expanded anterolateral approach in treating fracture involved the posterolateral tibial plateau with the 3.5 mm proximal "L" type proximal tibial locking compression plate proximal to the locking screw is satisfactory, it provides sufficient exposure and effective fixation, the joint function and stability are satisfying.

[Clinical study on effect of bushen jiangu capsule on postmenopausal osteoporosis].

The therapeutic effect of Kidney Tonifying principle and Bushen Jiangu (BSJG) capsule on postmenopausal osteoporosis (17 cases) was observed and compared with calcium treatment group (17 cases) in double-blind method. The result showed that 3 months after treatment with BSJG capsule, the symptoms of 92.85% patients were improved, and 6 months after treatment, the bone density (BD) of lumbar vertebra of 68.8% patients was significantly higher than that of before treatment, but the BD of control group was lower (P < 0.05). This suggested that BSJG capsule could prevent and improve postmenopausal osteoporosis. The therapeutic mechanisms probably is improving the bone formation and declining the bone absorption.

DNA polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of the HLA-DQA1 gene.

The HLA-DQA1 gene exhibits haplotype-specific restriction fragment polymorphisms due to DNA rearrangements. We found that some of these polymorphisms extend into the 5' flanking region of the gene and are distinct from other HLA-DQA1 related DNA polymorphisms so far reported. Sequencing of genomic DNA subclones derived from the 5' flanking region of HLA-DQA1 showed the presence, in a DR4 haplotype, of two repetitive elements of the Alu family, oriented in opposite directions and bracketing an approximately 3 kilobase region immediately adjacent to the promoter of the gene. When DNAs extracted from several cell lines were analyzed by genomic hybridization using single-copy probes relative to these intervening sequences, polymorphisms were observed. No structural alterations of the gene immediately outside the DNA portion delimited by the two Alu elements were observed, thus suggesting that polymorphisms of the 5' end of HLA-DQA1 may be limited to the intervening region between the two Alu repeats. The latter includes upstream regulatory elements controlling the expression of the genes. The possibility that the structure of the DNA in this region may influence the regulation of HLA-DQA1 gene expression in different haplotypes is discussed.

Structure in the precore region of hepatitis B core gene affecting its expression in E. coli.

Restriction fragments of HBV-DNA, cleaved by endonuclease HhaI, containing HBcAg gene were trimmed by BAL-31 exonuclease to remove different lengths of the precore sequence. They were inserted into plasmid pUR222 at EcoRI site through synthetic linker ligation. Transformants in E. coli BMH7118 showing different levels of HBcAg gene expression were screened and analyzed for their nucleotide sequences in the junction region both by Maxam and Gilbert's chemical degradation method and by M13 chain termination method. Results of sequence analysis of different transformants revealed a partial palindromic (loop and stem) structure, at -7 to -35 nucleotide with regard to ATG of the HBcAg gene as position +1, which has dramatic effect on the level of expression of the inserted gene using the same promoter, SD sequence and identical N-terminus. The amount of HBcAg synthesized differed from 9% in the high expressing plasmid to less than 0.01% of the total cell proteins in the low expressing transformants. The findings were compared to results obtained by other workers in studies of HBcAg expression in procaryotes and their significance in the expression of eucaryotic genes in procaryotic cells were discussed.