Objective The main economic qualities of natural triploid were evaluated and the result laid a foundation to culture new triploid variety of Dioscorea zingiberensis. Methods The ploidy level of series of D. zingiberensis from some areas of Yunnan Province were identified and the qualities of outputs per plantlet,propagation ratio,and diosgenin content etc. were measured. Results Five natural triploids were found and the qualities of the triploids all displayed diversity,output per plantlet 1 090.00—628.57 g,propagation ratio (ploidy) 72.43—29.43,dry substance ratio 36.95%—24.06%,and diosgenin content 4.40%—1.50%. The outputs of series 1 and series 3 exceed 1 000 g,the diosgenin content of series 2 reached to 4.40%,and series 3 displayed excellent quality of outputs per plantlet,propagation ratio,and diosgenin content. The synthetical index is maximum. Conclusion The series comprising good quality are obtained by the discovery of triploid and evaluation of qualities. The triploid variety is to be created with judgment and selection of progeny.

Objective To investigate the effects of cytokines on the expression of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in rats. Methods Primary cultured VSMCs from SD rat thoracic aorta were cultured in serum-free DMEM for 24 h, and then in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for another 12 h. The cultured VSMCs were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =6 each): control group (group C); 10% cytokine group (group L); 50% cytokine group (group N); 100% cytokine group (group H) and L-arginine methy ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) group. In group C, the cellswere cultured continuously for 12 h. In L, N and H groups, 10%, 50% and 100% cytokines (IL-1β 50 ng/ml +TNF-α 100 ng/ml + IFN-γ 500 ng/ml) were added to the culture medium respectively and the cells were then incubated for 12 h. In group L-NAME, 100% cytokines + L-NAME 5 mmol/L were added to the culture medium and the cells were then incubated for 12 h. The expression of AT1R mPNA and protin was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.Results Cytokines down-regulated AT1R mRNA and protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). L-NAME reversed cytokines-induced changes in AT1R mRNA and protein expression ( P ＜ 0.01). Conclusion Cytokines can down-regulate the expression of AT1R in rat VSMCs and the mechanism is related to the NO synthesis.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of of patients with Staphylococcus aureus blood-stream infection and risk factors for septic shock.Methods A total of 51 patients diagnosed with Staphylococ-cus aureus bloodstream infection in the hospital from January 2018 to March 2023 were enrolled in the study.According to whether the patients developed septic shock,they were divided into septic shock group and non-septic shock group.The clinical data of the patients were collected,and the clinical laboratory indicators were detected on the day of blood culture samples were collected.Bacteria isolated from blood culture specimens of patients were identified and tested for drug sensitivity.The clinical data and clinical laboratory test indicators of the two groups were compared.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of septic shock in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of clinical laboratory test indicators for septic shock in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection.Results Septic shock occurred in 12 of 51 patients,with an incidence of 23.5％.The proportion of patients with diabetes,gouty arthritis,the proportion of patients with long-term glucocorticoid use,the proportion of patients with respiratory tract in-fection,the proportion of patients who died,and the hospitalization cost in the septic shock group were higher than those in the non-septic shock group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Long-term glucocorticoid use was an independent risk factor for septic shock in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection(P＜0.05).The combination of C-reactive protein(CRP),albumin(Alb),neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and procalcitonin(PCT)had high value in predicting septic shock in patients with Staphylococ-cus aureus bloodstream infection,and the area under the ROC curve was 0.983.Conclusion Long-term use of glucocorticoids can lead to an increased risk of septic shock in patients with Staphylococcus aureus blood-stream infection.The combined detection of CRP,Alb,NLR and PCT has a higher predictive value than single detection for septic shock in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection.

Objective:To compare the differences in sleep structure between healthy children and children with cerebral palsy (CP) using polysomnography (PSG).Methods:Fifty-six children aged 1-15 hospitalized for cerebral palsy formed the experimental group, while 30 healthy children served as controls. Both groups were given 24-hour PSG, and their sleep structures were compared and analyzed.Results:The incidence of sleep disorders in the children with cerebral palsy (55.4%) was significantly higher than among the healthy children (20.0%). The average sleep latency was significantly higher than among the healthy children, while the duration and the percentage of the rapid eye movement (REM) stage were significantly lower than among the healthy children. Total sleep time [(458.47±95.62)min], sleep efficiency [(74.26±13.63)%], duration of REM [(68.90±42.70)min] and REM percentage [(13.87±7.12)%] were all significantly lower for the children with severe cerebral palsy than for those with mild or moderate disorder. Their time to wake up after falling asleep was significantly longer. Moreover, the duration of REM and the REM percentage of children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy were significantly lower than for those with spastic cerebral palsy.Conclusions:The incidence of sleep disorders among children with cerebral palsy is higher than among healthy children. They have more difficulty in falling asleep and have a shorter REM stage. Children with severe cerebral palsy and involuntary cerebral palsy have more sleep problems.

Objective:To document the clinical features of children with cerebral palsy (CP) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:The gross motor functioning of 325 children diagnosed as having CP was graded using the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). The GMFCS grades were correlated with MRI results in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The significance of any relationship between the MRI results and co-morbidities was tested using chi-squared tests.Results:Cerebral dysplasia, cerebroventricular enlargement, periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), abnormal signals in the thalami, and morphological changes after hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were all found to be significantly correlated with GMFCS grading. Moreover, the chi-squared tests indicated that PVL children, children with thinning of the corpus callosum and/or abnormal signals in the thalami were significantly more likely to have visual, auditory or speech impairment complications and/or mental retardation.Conclusions:The findings from MRI correlate well with types of CP, GMFCS grades and co-morbidities among CP children. MRI can be an effective tool for early diagnosis and prognosis of CP in children, indicating needs for clinical rehabilitation.