This paper designs a heart sound processing analog circuit, in which the amplification circuit, the filter circuit and the lifting of electrical level circuit are involved. It also gives a safety design problem analysis using an electret capacitor microphone to pick-up the heart sound signals. It is proved that the circuit is reliable and effective.

Objective: To identify Euryales Semen and its closely related species using the ITS2 barcode. Method:The total genomic DNAs were extracted from twenty samples of Euryales Semen and its closely related species. The ITS2 regions of the samples were amplified and bidirectional sequenced. Obtained sequences were submitted to the GenBank with Sequin 12.3. ITS2 sequences of 102 samples belonging to thirty species were downloaded from GenBank. The 122 ITS2 sequences were aligned and the genetic distances were analyzed with MEGA 5.1. Identification analyses were performed using BLAST1 and nearest distance methods, and were presented intuitively by constructing neighbor-joining (NJ) tree. Result: The length of ITS2 region of Euryales Semen was 214 bp, which was only one haplotype. There was significant divergence of the ITS2 regions among the samples. The NJ tree showed that Euryales Semen could be obviously differed from its closely related species, which had good 408 monophyly. Conclusion: ITS2 regions as a DNA barcode can stably and accurately distinguish Euryales Semen from its closely related species and also provide a new technique to ensure clinical safety in utilization of tradi-tional Chinese medicines. The new exploration could broaden the application of DNA barcoding technology in identification of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of whole genome sequencing for the identification of de novo structural chromosomal abnormalities. METHODS Whole genome sequencing was utilized to analyze a boy with a peripheral blood karyotype of 46,XY,ins(3)(q21p13p21). The patient manifested with ocular abnormalities including blepharophimosis and ptosis. RESULTS Whole genome sequencing suggested a fragmentation of chromosome 3 (from position 55 473 257 to 78 341 929) has been inserted into between 136 876 730 to 138 643 831, and the breakpoints have occurred in the intergenic region. Meanwhile, there was a deletion between 138 643 831 and 138 694 476. This region contains FOXL2, a pathogenic gene associated with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome. CONCLUSION De novo structural chromosomal abnormalities may be caused by novel breakpoints or microdeletion flanking the deletion region. To confirm its pathogenic nature, a mutation needs to be assessed at both genetic and genomic levels, for which whole genome sequencing is a good option.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)methylation mediated by methyltransferase 3(METTL3)in regulating lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced endothelial cell permeability changes.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were cultured in vitro.HUVECs were treated with LPS 50,125,250,500,1 000,2 000 ng/ml for 24 h.METTL3 mRNA expression was detected by Real-time PCR.After HUVECs were intervened with 500 ng/ml for 24 h,the methylation level of m6A was detec-ted,and cell permeability was measured by cell permeability test.Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of intercellular junction proteins(Claudin-5,Occludin and VE-caherin).METTL3 overexpressed stable cell lines were constructed to measure the changes of m6A methylation level and per-meability of endothelial cells during METTL3 overexpression.Results Compared to the control group,LPS inhibi-ted the expression of HUVECs METTL3 mRNA,decreased the methylation of m6A,increased the cell permeabili-ty,and decreased the mRNA and protein expression of intercellular junction proteins(Claudin-5,Occludin and VE-Caherin).When METTL3 was overexpressed,the m6A methylation levels of endothelial cells were enhanced,and the increase of endothelial cell permeability induced by LPS was reversed.Conclusion METTL3-mediated m6A methylation can improve the permeability of endothelial cells induced by sepsis.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the value of blastocyst culture for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

METHODSDay 3 embryos were biopsied and analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Embryos with normal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts, and the ones with better morphology scores were transferred. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts. Part of the cells taken from the blastocysts were amplified by whole genomic amplification (WGA) and assessed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis.

RESULTSSix blastocysts with normal FISH results were transferred in 5 cycles. Four healthy babies of 3 cycles were delivered. Another one was a singleton pregnancy but with embryo growth arrest, whose villus karyotype was normal. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts and analyzed by array-CGH. Six blastocysts were normal by array-CGH.

CONCLUSIONFISH combined with blastocyst culture may further ensure the accuracy of PGD result. Detection at the blastocyst stage can avoid false positive results and mosaic interferences on Day 3 stage and are therefore more authentic.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; cytology ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods

Objective : To investigate the molecular mechanism of Toll⁃like receptor 4 ( TLR4)/Ras homologue A (RhoA) signaling pathway involved in regulating the effect of septic serum on vascular endothelial cell permeability before and after continuous hemofiltration. Methods : The serum of 5 patients with sepsis before and after continuous hemofiltration treatment was collected , and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum before and after hemofiltration were detected. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with serum before and after continuous hemofiltration for 24 hours. The expression of VE⁃cadherin , F ⁃actin , TLR4 and RhoA in vascular endothelial cells were detected by Western blot. A TLR4 low expression cell line was constructed to detect the effect of TLR4 low expression on the expression of VE⁃cadherin , F ⁃actin and RhoA and the permeability of endothelial cells. Results : After continuous blood treatment , the serum levels of TLR4 , RhoA , interleukin⁃1 (IL⁃1) , interleukin⁃6 (IL⁃6) and tumor necrosis factor⁃α (TNF⁃α ) significantly decreased. The expression levels of VE⁃cadherin , F ⁃actin , TLR4 and RhoA in the serum intervention group after continuous hemofiltration treatment significantly decreased , and the cell permeability significantly decreased. Low expression of TLR4 significantly promoted the expression of VE⁃cadherin and F ⁃actin , and inhibited the expression of RhoA protein. Conclusion TLR4/RhoA signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of changes in vascular endothelial cell permeability induced by septic serum after continuous hemofiltration treatment.

Objective: To investigate the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism. Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 35 to 38 days were collected and vascular endothelial cells were separated and cultured. The morphology of cells was observed after 4 days of culture, and the following experiments were performed on the 2nd or 3rd passage of cells. (1) Rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), with 3 wells in each group. Cells in negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were transfected with GV248 empty plasmid, recombinant plasmid respectively containing HIF-1α interference sequence 1, interference sequence 2, and interference sequence 3 with liposome 2000. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000. After transfection of 24 h, expression levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein of cells in each group were respectively detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting (the same detecting methods below) . The sequence with the highest interference efficiency was selected. (2) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α low expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α low expression group were respectively transfected with GV248 empty plasmid and low expression HIF-1α recombinant plasmid selected in experiment (1) with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in each group were detected. (3) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α high expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α high expression group were respectively transfected with GV230 empty plasmid and HIF-1α high expression recombinant plasmid with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α of cells in each group were detected. (4) After transfection of 24 h, cells of three groups in experiment (1) and three groups in experiment (2) were collected, and mRNA and protein expressions of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), phosphorylated myosin light chain (p-MLC), and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) of cells were detected. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test. Results: After 4 days of culture, the cells were spindle-shaped, and rat vascular endothelial cells were successfully cultured. (1) The interference efficiencies of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were 47.66%, 45.79%, and 62.62%, respectively, and the interference sequence 3 group had the highest interference efficiency. After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in interference sequence 3 group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=18.404, 9.140, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=15.099, 7.096, P<0.01). (2) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=21.140, 5.440, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 14.310, 5.210, P<0.01). (3) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=19.160, 7.710, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 19.890, 7.500, P<0.01). (4) After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.709, 4.011, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.373, 3.744, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=4.285, 5.050, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=9.118, 11.313, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=9.073, 11.280, P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was significantly lower than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=2.889, 2.640, P<0.05). (5) After transfection of 24 h, the protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.652, 3.983, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.792, 4.065, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=3.881, 3.570, P<0.01). The protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were 1.18±0.24 and 0.68±0.22, which were significantly higher than 0.41±0.21 and 0.35±0.14 in blank control group (t=5.011, 3.982, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and 0.43±0.20 and 0.36±0.12 in negative control group (t= 4.880, 3.862, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was 0.08±0.06, which was significantly lower than 0.20±0.09 in blank control group and 0.19±0.09 in negative control group (t=4.178, 3.830, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions HIF-1α up-regulates expressions of MLCK and p-MLC and down-regulates expression of ZO-1, thereby increasing the permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells.