Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the production of interleukin (IL)-17and B-cell activating transcription factor (BATF) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy individuals.Methods PBMCs were isolated from heparinized blood of healthy donors or RA patients using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation.The cells were stimulated by PMA and ionomycin in the absence or presence of simvastatin or MVA at 37 ℃ 5％CO2.The mRAN level of IL-17,BATF and GAPDH was detected by RT-PCR; the protein level of IL-17 in supernatants was assayed by ELISA kit; and the protein level of BATF was detected by Western Blotting.The comparison between the two groups was carried out by paired-t test and Chi-square test was used for muhi-group comparison.Results PBMCs of healthy donors [(69.2±12.2) vs (8.1±2.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (76.6±14.7) vs (10.2±7.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05] and RA patients [(79.6±12.7) vs (15.8±5.8) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (90.3±9.7) vs (12.9±7.9) pg/ml,P＜0.05] were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin to produce high levels of IL-17.After treatment with simvastatin,the expression and secretion level of IL-17 in healthy controls and RA PBMCs were markedly decreased.The inhibition of simvastatin on the production of IL-17 was reversed by mevalonic acid (MVA),but no significant changes of BATF after treating with simvastatin.Conclusion Simvastatin inhibits the production of IL-17 in the PBMCs at gene and protein levels,which is not targeted at suppressing the expression of IL-17 transcription factor BATF.

ObjectiveThe research provided the constructive ideas for evaluation and training of deans of tertiary hospital by analyzing the leadership status quo through using the situational judgment test based on the leadership contingency theory.MethodsBased on the leadership contingency theory,we designed situational judgment test for the dean of tertiary hospital.There were 215 participants involved in the leadership evaluation. Results The coaching leadership style occupied the mainly leadership style of deans of tertiary hospital.In the management situation matched by the coaching leadership style,the leadership of the deans was significantly higher than other management situations.Conclusion The main conclusion included,firstly,the coaching leadership style was the mainly leadership style of deans of tertiary hospital.It was strongly correlated with the deans＇ background thatthey were mainly from clinical professionals.Secondly,the leadership of the deans was at middle level;therefore,it needed to increase the capacity building of deans through management training.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), involving giving sex steroid hormones such as estrogen alone or with a progestogen, is widely used in postmenopausal women.HRT helps to relieve menopausal symptoms and has also been shown to prevent osteoporosis.Although most observational studies have showed that HRT can reduce the risks of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, the subsequent randomized controlled trials were inconsistent with the results.This article reviews the relationship between HRT and stroke from drug type, route of administration, estrogen dosage, and initiation time.

Objective To assess the feasibility of adenoviral vectors mediate cochlear gene transfer by postau-ricular microinjection through the round window membrane in mouse. Methods Twelve 5-week old C57BL/6J mice were selected for the study: 8 were implanted with Ad-EGFP by postauricular microinjection through the round window membrane, and 4 with artificial perilymphatic fluid. On postoperative days 5 and 14, the animals were sac-rificed and the surface preparation of cochleae was observed. Results Two animals died after operation. Bright green fluorescence in the cochleae was observed in Ad- EGFP groups. Gene expression on day 14 after operation was higher than that on day 5. However, the control group was free of fluorescence. Oonclusion The postauricular route of the cochlear gene transfer in mice is simple to operate with little side-effect. The technique of transgenic delivery into the inner ear through RWM by mieroinjection is feasible and effective.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phenotype and genetic characters of a Chinese family with an autosomal-dominant inherited high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. METHOD: A Chinese pedigree associated with an autosomal-dominant inherited high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss was investigated. After obtaining informed consent from all study participants medical and audiological examination to rule out any syndromic hearing impairment. Application of microsatellite markers on DFNA 21 loci preliminary screening of 23 genes, data were analyzed by linkage analysis. RESULT: Proband of the family had been diagnosed with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. A Chinese family SX-H043 with non-syndromic hearing loss were ascertained. This Chinese family with late onset hearing impairment spanned four generations and comprised 43 members. The mode of inheritance of the families should be autosomal dominant according to the pedigree. Hearing impairment of affected members in family SX-H043 occurred 25 to 50 years descending audiograms. Whole frequencies became involved with increasing age. CONCLUSION A Chinese family with late-onset high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss were clinically studied. Positive sites were not found in the known deafness loci screening. The information should facilitate future gene scan and linkage analyses for novel relative genes contributing to high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Inheritance Patterns ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

Objective To explore the relationship between mitochondrial DNA gene,GJB2 gene mutations and the susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss in the army,and to provide scientific evidence for gene screening of susceptible individuals and relevant molecular epidemiology.Methods 182 blood samples were collected from 349 soldiers,consisting of susceptible and tolerance groups exposed to military noise in Beijing.Genomic DNA was isolated,and the targeted fragments of mitochondrial DNA and coding region of GJB2 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The PCR products were analyzed by direct sequencing.Results The results revealed that there were 98 mtDNA variants(41 reside in 12SrRNA) and 12 GJB2 gene variants;among them,mtDNA T1095C and G7642A coexisted in 4 susceptible individuals,but these mutations were not found in the tolerance group.In addition,3 tolerant individuals carried 961delT+insC while no one was found in the susceptible group.Conclusion The 12SrRNA is an area evidenced by high variant and mutation rate.The coexistence of mtDNA T1095C and G7642A in the susceptible group exposed to the similar noise suggests that these mutations are pathogenic mutations associated with NIHL.Three tolerant individuals with the history of long-term noise exposure carry 961delT+insC,suggesting that 961delT+insC might be a conditional pathogenic mutation,but not correlate with NIHL.

Objective:To study the genotype distribution of drug-related gene polymorphism of methotrexate (MTX) and leflunomide (LEF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:The genotyping results of RA patients' MTX and LEF related genes(MTHFR677C/T, MTHFR1298A/C, ABCB13435T/C, DHODH19C/A and CYP1A2734C/A) detected in Shanghai Guanghua Hospital from December 2018 to May2019 and drug-related adverse effect were statisticallyanalyzed. The independence of allele distribution was tested by Hardy-Weinberg test. Counting data of genotypes and allele frequencies among the groups were analyzed by the chi-square test. Measurement data were showed as Mean±SD deviation. The network between incidence of adverse events and genotypes of patients was analyzed by cytoscape software. Results:Genotype distribution in 151 patients was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg genetic balance ( P>0.05), and genotype and allele distribution of each gene showed no statistical difference in gender ( P>0.05). The results showed that the most common genotype in RA were that genotypes of the good response with moderate resistance to MTX (MTHFR677CC/MTHFR1298AA/ABCB13435CT) (16 cases, 13.5%) and the good response with moderate side effect risk to LEF(DHODH19CC/CYP1A2734AC) (25 cases, 28.4%). According to the distribution frequency of alleles, the incidence of high side effects caused by MTX combined with LEF was predicted to be 2.9%, which was close to 1.8% of the actual genotypes of patients. The types and proportion of clinical adverse reactions in patients were retrospectively analyzed and the correlation network analysis was conducted with the genotype analysis results. It was found that the incidence rates of adverse reactions were liver injury (35.4%, 35/99), leukopenia (14.1%, 14/99), thrombocytopenia (2.0%, 2/99), and skin rash (1.0%, 1/99) from the top to the bottom. The top two genotypes that were related to the occurence of adverse events were MTHFR677CT/MTHFR1298AA/ABCB13435CT and DHODH19CA/CYP1A2734AC, respectively, which verified the consistency between drug-related genotype and clinical manifestations in RA patients. Conclusion:Our results suggested that genotype in RA patients is closely related to drug efficacy and adverse events. 2.9% of RA patients need to stop taking MTX and LEF due to high MTX resistance and poor MTX response and increased toxicity when combined with LEF, in which the proportion of liver injury is the highest.

Membrane-disruptive peptides/peptidomimetics (MDPs) are antimicrobials or anticarcinogens that present a general killing mechanism through the physical disruption of cell membranes, in contrast to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, which act on precise targets such as DNA or specific enzymes. Owing to their rapid action, broad-spectrum activity, and mechanisms of action that potentially hinder the development of resistance, MDPs have been increasingly considered as future therapeutics in the drug-resistant era. Recently, growing experimental evidence has demonstrated that MDPs can also be utilized as adjuvants to enhance the therapeutic effects of other agents. In this review, we evaluate the literature around the broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and anticancer activity of MDPs, and summarize the current development and mechanisms of MDPs alone or in combination with other agents. Notably, this review highlights recent advances in the design of various MDP-based drug delivery systems that can improve the therapeutic effect of MDPs, minimize side effects, and promote the co-delivery of multiple chemotherapeutics, for more efficient antimicrobial and anticancer therapy.

Cholesterol is an important precursor of many endogenous molecules. Disruption of cholesterol homeostasis can cause many pathological changes, leading to liver and cardiovascular diseases. CYP1A is widely involved in cholesterol metabolic network, but its exact function has not been fully elucidated. Here, we aim to explore how CYP1A regulates cholesterol homeostasis. Our data showed that CYP1A1/2 knockout (KO) rats presented cholesterol deposition in blood and liver. The serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol were significantly increased in KO rats. Further studies found that the lipogenesis pathway (LXRα-SREBP1-SCD1) of KO rats was activated, and the key protein of cholesterol ester hydrolysis (CES1) was inhibited. Importantly, lansoprazole can significantly alleviate rat hepatic lipid deposition in hypercholesterolemia models by inducing CYP1A. Our findings reveal the role of CYP1A as a potential regulator of cholesterol homeostasis and provide a new perspective for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.