Objective To investigate low-field MRU scanning technique to optimize the quality of images.Methods Airis-Ⅱcomfort open 0.3T low-field MR imaging system made by HITACHI company were used in the examination.The quality of images was improved when combining 3D-FSE sequences.Results MRU examination was implemented in all 33 cases and all the cases had distinct images except two.The total diagnostic accuracy was 98.0%.The accuracy of MRU in the detection of the degree and location of ureter obstruction was 100%.Conclusion This study shows that if patients are well-prepared before examination,low-field MR can also produce good MRU images of high quality by using manifold scanning techniques and suitable technical parameters.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture-moxibustion on chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and explore the methods of acupoint selection along meridian for transplanted-kidney-related diseases.

METHODSA total of 180 patients of CAN were randomized into a syndrome differentiation group, a spleen-meridian group, a kidney-meridian group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. A total of 33 cases dropped out before the end of the study, including 8 cases in the syndrome differentiation group, 12 cases in the spleen-meridian group, 13 cases in the kidney-meridian group and no case in the control group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine; based on this, patients in other three groups were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion. In the syndrome differentiation group, Qihai (CV 6), Hegu (LI 4), Guanyuan (CV 4), Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. were selected for qi deficiency of lung and kidney; Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. were selected for deficiency of qi and yin; Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Ququan (LR 8), etc. were selected for yin deficiency of liver and kidney; Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Mingmen (GV 4), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), etc. were selected for yang deficiency of spleen and kidney. In addition, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), etc. were added in the spleen-meridian group; Taixi (KI 3), Zhaohai (KI 6), Fuliu (KI 7), Ciliao (BL 32), etc: were added in the kidney-meridian group. Serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and 24-hour urinary protein before and after the treatment were com- pared among the four groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, 24-hour urinary protein in the acupuncture-moxibustion groups and control group were all reduced (all P < 0.05); compared before treatment, the Scr in the spleen-meridian group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05); the difference of Ccr before and after treatment was insignificant in all the groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, 24-hour urinary protein in spleen-meridian group could relieve or recover the damage of transplant kidney induced by CAN. A new interlink may be established between the transplanted kidneys and the spleen meridians, indicating that transplanted kidney-related diseases can be treated by selecting acupoints of spleen meridian.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Allografts ; physiopathology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; etiology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects

Highly conjugated linear molecular wires are one of the basic elements for constructing molecular electronic devices. Among these conjugated compounds, ferrocene-terminated compounds as well as their derivatives have been widely studied because of their ideal electrochemical activity. Based on these, a new ferrocene-terminated phenylethynyaniline ( Fc-NH2 ) was synthesized by Sonogashira cross coupling reaction. The structure of the target compound was identified by infrared ( IR) , nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR) , mass spectra ( MS) and cyclic voltammetry ( CV) . Combined the graphene-chitosan ( GH-CS) and Fc-NH2 , a new composite of GH-CS/Fc-NH2 was prepared and then used for immobilization of Cytc to prepare the GH-CS/Fc-NH2/Cytc/GCE. It was found from the CV result that a pair of peaks near-0. 2 V appeared which can be attributed to Cytc. The GH-CS/Fc-NH2/Cytc modified GCE showed good catalysis towards NaNO2 , and good linear relationship was found in the range of 1 ×10-7-1. 5 ×10-4 mol/L,and the determination limit was bellow 4×10-8 mol/L. Therefore, cytochrome c (Cytc) can be immobilized on the GH-CS/Fc-NH2 and the direct electron transfer can be realized between the electrode and solution and shows good prospect for detection of NaNO2 .

Objective To explore the relationship between reduction of regional cerebral blood flow in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and the extent of age-related white matter lesions (WML).Methods We used Fazekas scale to divide all participants into four groups (normal,mild,moderate,severe) according to the extent of the lesions showed on MRI.Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the area of WML and NAWM was measured by xenon contrast CT examination.Results A total of 56 cases were selected.The average rCBF (ml · 100 g-1 · min-1) in the lesions (WML) around ventricle,in right centrum ovale and in left centrum ovale respectively was 20.33 ± 2.52,21.27 ± 1.02,21.03 ± 1.83 for mild; 16.33 ±2.03,15.55 ±1.71,15.91 ±0.98 for moderate; 14.05 ±2.63,14.46 ±2.17,14.23 ± 1.95 for severe.The average rCBF (ml · 100 g-1 · min-1) in the NAWM around ventricle,in right centrum ovale and in left centrum ovale respectively was 20.79 ± 2.78,22.26 ± 1.9,22.15 ± 2.4 for normal; 21.12 ± 2.95,22.17 ± 1.50,22.25 ± 2.13 for mild,18.02 ± 2.41,19.45 ± 1.94,19.62 ± 1.54for moderate; 16.38 ± 3.22,18.18 ± 2.84,16.74 ± 2.97 for severe.The decrease of rCBF in the severe and moderate lesion areas was more serious than that in the mild lesion areas and reached statistic significance (P ＜ 0.05) ; The decrease of rCBF in the severe and moderate lesion areas was more serious than that in the area of NAWM in the same grade and reached statistic significance (P ＜ 0.05).The decrease of rCBF in the area of NAWM around severe and moderate lesion areas was more serious compared with that around mild lesion areas or normal areas (P ＜ 0.05) ; But the difference of rCBF in the area of NAWM around mild lesion areas and normal areas did not show any statistic significance.Conclusions Chronic ischemia was found to be existed not only in the lesions (WML) but also in the area of NAWM around the lesions,and was related to the extent of the lesions.Chronic ischemia may play a key role in the mechanism of aged-related WML.

Jingzhaotoxin-V(JZTX-V) isolated from the venom of the spider Chilobrachys jingzhao is a novel potent inhibitor that acts on tetrodotoxin-resistant and tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels in adult rat dorsal root ganglion(DRG) neurons. It is a 29-residue polypeptide toxin including three disulfide bridges. To investigate the structure-function relationship of the toxin, a mutant of JZTX-V in which Arg20 was substituted by Ala, was synthesized by solid-phase chemistry method with Fmoc-protected amino acids on the PS3 automated peptide synthesizer. The synthetic linear peptide was then purified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and oxidatively refolded under the optimal conditions. The refolded product was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS) and electrophysiological experiments for its relative molecular weight and prohibitive activity of sodium channels respectively. The present findings show that the prohibitive effect of R20A-JZTX-V on TTX-S sodium channels in DRG neurons is almost the same as that of native JZTX-V, suggesting that Arg20 does not play any important role in inhibiting TTX-S sodium currents in DRG neurons. In contrast, the prohibitive level of R20A-JZTX-V on TTX-R sodium channels is reduced by at last 18.3 times, indicating that Arg20 is a key amino acid residue relative to the bioactivity of JZTX-V. It is presumed that the decrease in activity of R20A-JZTX-V is due to the changes of the property in the binding site in TTX-R sodium channels.
Amino Acid Substitution ; Animals ; Arginine ; genetics ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Peptides ; chemistry ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; Spider Venoms ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spiders ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology

Objective To study the relationship between behavioral problems and family environment in preschool-age children. Methods Children between 4-6 years of age in the kindergartens of Zhongshan city were randomly selected. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to assess the behavioral problems in children, and self-designed general situation question-naire and Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) were applied to evaluate the family environment. Results A total of 3445 children were enrolled and 29.87%children showed behavioral problems. There were signiifcant differences in the scores of feeling expression, family conlfict, intelligence, recreation, organization and control between children with and without behavior problems (P<0.001). The scores of feeling expression, intelligence, recreation, organization and control were signiif-cantly higher and the score of family conlfict was lower in healthy children in comparison with children with behavior problems. Through multivariate logistic regression, it was suggested that female (OR=2.04), non-urban population (township OR=1.45, rural OR=1.51), non-local Zhongshan resident (OR=1.39), father’s low educational level (technical secondary school OR=1.77, junior high school OR=2.17, primary school and below OR=3.24), discipline styles (indulgent OR=1.47, mixed OR=1.37), family conlfict (OR=1.13) were independent risk factors for behavioral problems (P<0.05). Mother’s age over 30 (OR=0.74) or over 40 (OR=0.46), feeling expression (OR=0.94) and intelligence (OR=0.87) were independent protective factors for behavioral prob-lems (P<0.05). Conclusions Behavioral problems in preschool-age children are closely related to family environment, which needs to be paid more attention.

Objective To investigate the distribution of host animals and the serological distribution and virulence gene of Yersinia eterocolitica in Gaomi City.Methods Sample stools of poultry and domestic and diarrhea patients,as well as flies and chilled (frozen) poultry and domestic animal meats in Gaomi City were preliminarily identified and the suspected strains isolated were sent to Shandong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention for further identification from 2012 to 2015.The bacteria were analyzed by the systematic biochemistry to determine the serotypes,bio-types and virulence genes [Yersinia enterocolitica adhesion aggression site gene (ail),heat-tolerance enterotoxin gene (ystA),organism type 1A enterotoxin gene (ystB),adhesin (yadA),yop regulator transcription activation action factor (virF)].Results Eighty-five stains of Yersinia enterocolitica were detected in 2 860 specimens and the detection rate was 3.0％ (85/2 860).The chicken strains accounted for 50.6％ (43/85),the swine strains accounted for 20.0％ (17/85),and the sheep strains accounted for 10.6％ (9/85).In all the serotypes,the highest was O ∶ 8 (24.7％,21/85),followed by O ∶ 5 (12.9％,11/85),the bacteria were detected in the stools of chickens,duck,and swine etc.,as well as in diarrhea patients and chilled (frozen) poultry and domestic animal meats,biotype is 1A.One strain O ∶ 3/4 was detected from swine stool with ail,ystA,yadA and virF genes.Conclusions The Yersinia enterocolitica is widely distributed and both pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains coexist in Gaomi City;the main serological types are O ∶ 5/1A and O ∶ 8/1A;the pathogenic serotype is O ∶ 3/4,and chicken,swine and sheep are the main host animals.

Objective To investigate the morbidity, diagnostic profile and perinatal outcome of pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) in 15 hospitals in Guangdong province. Methods A total of 41338 women delivered in the 15 hospitals during the 6 months,195 women with PGDM(PGDM group) and 195 women with normal glucose test result(control group)were recruited from these tertiary hospitals in Guangdong province from January 2016 to June 2016. The morbidity and diagnostic profile of PGDM were analyzed. The complications during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. In the PGDM group, pregnancy outcomes were analyzed in women who used insulin treatment (n=91) and women who did not (n=104). Results (1)The incidence of PGDM was 0.472%(195/41338). Diabetes mellitus were diagnosed in 59 women (30.3%, 59/195) before pregnancy, and 136 women (69.7%,136/195) were diagnosed as PGDM after conceptions. Forty-six women (33.8%) were diagnosed by fasting glucose and glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) screening. (2) The maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), prenatal BMI, percentage of family history of diabetes, incidence of macrosomia, concentration of low density lipoprotein were significantly higher in PGDM group than those in control group (all P<0.05). Women in PGDM group had significantly higher HbA1c concentration((6.3±1.3)% vs (5.2±0.4)%), fasting glucose [(6.3±2.3) vs (4.8±1.1) mmol/L], oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)-1 h glucose((12.6±2.9) vs (7.1± 1.3) mmol/L)and OGTT-2 h glucose [(12.0±3.0) vs (6.4±1.0) mmol/L] than those in control group (P<0.01). (3)The morbidity of preterm births was significantly higher (11.3% vs 1.0%, P<0.01), and the gestational age at delivery in PGDM group was significantly smaller [(37.6±2.3) vs (39.2±1.2) weeks, P<0.01]. Cesarean delivery rate in the PGDM group (70.8% vs 29.7%) was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01). There was significantly difference between PGDM group and control in the neonatal male/female ratio (98/97 vs 111/84, P=0.033). The neonatal birth weight in PGDM group was significantly higher((3159±700) vs (3451±423) g, P<0.01). And the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in the PGDM group was higher than the control group (7.7% vs 2.6%, P=0.036).(4)In the PGDM group, women who were treated with insulin had a smaller gestational age at delivery [(36.9±2.9) vs (37.9±2.5) weeks, P<0.01], and the neonates had a higher neonatal ICU(NICU)admission rate (24.2% vs 9.6% , P<0.01). Conclusions The morbidity of PGDM in the 15 hospitals in Guangdong province is 0.472%. The majority of PGDM was diagnosed during pregnancy; HbA1c and fasting glucose are reliable parameters for PGDM screening. Women with PGDM have obvious family history of diabetes and repeated pregnancy may accelerate the process of diabetes mellitus. Women with PGDM have higher risk for preterm delivery and neonatal hypoglycemia. Unsatisfied glucose control followed by insulin treatment may increase the need for NICU admission.

Objective:To investigate the factors affecting the application of systemic glucocorticoids in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with carbon dioxide (CO 2) retention, and to guide the formulation of a strategy to reduce systemic glucocorticoid exposure. Methods:The AECOPD patients with CO 2 retention admitted to the Ningde Municipal Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled. The general information, past history, times of acute exacerbations within 1 year, pneumonia on admission, causes of COPD, heart failure, blood gas analysis, eosinophil count (EOS), albumin (Alb) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) levels, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level, inhaled glucocorticoid and non-invasive mechanical ventilation treatment at acute exacerbation were collected. The patients were divided into recommended dosage group (exposure levels in the recommended dosage range, cumulative prednisone dosage ≤ 200 mg) and exceeded group (exposure levels exceeded the recommended dose, cumulative prednisone dosage > 200 mg) according to cumulative systemic glucocorticoid exposure dosage of the patients during hospitalization. The clinical data of patients between the two groups were compared, and possible factors with P < 0.1 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis to screen the related factors of systemic glucocorticoid exposure level in AECOPD patients with CO 2 retention. Results:According to the order of hospitalization, 151 AECOPD patients with CO 2 retention were enrolled, 8 patients were excluded, and 143 patients were enrolled in the analysis. Of the 143 patients, 68 received the recommended dose of systemic glucocorticoid, and 75 received excessive systemic glucocorticoid. Age, percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) at stable phase, frequency of acute exacerbation within 1 year, heart failure ratio, oxygen index (PaO 2/FiO 2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), serum EOS and ApoE levels at admission, the ratio of aerosolized inhaled glucocorticoids and non-invasive mechanical ventilation showed statistical differences between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that related factors affecting systemic glucocorticoid exposure levels of AECOPD patients with CO 2 retention were FEV1% at stable phase [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.957, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.921-0.994, P = 0.023], acute exacerbation frequency within 1 year ( OR = 1.530, 95% CI was 1.121-2.088, P = 0.007), heart failure ( OR = 3.022, 95% CI was 1.263-7.231, P = 0.013), PaCO 2 ( OR = 1.062, 95% CI was 1.010-1.115, P = 0.018) and EOS at admission ( OR = 0.103, 95% CI was 0.016-0.684, P = 0.019), aerosolized inhaled glucocorticoids ( OR = 0.337, 95% CI was 0.145-0.783, P = 0.011) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation at acute exacerbation ( OR = 0.422, 95% CI was 0.188-0.948, P = 0.037), of which high FEV1% at stable phase, high EOS at admission, aerosolized inhaled glucocorticoid and non-invasive mechanical ventilation at acute exacerbation were protective factors, while high frequency of acute exacerbation within 1 year, heart failure and high PaCO 2 were risk factors. Conclusions:For AECOPD patients with CO 2 retention, high FEV1% at stable phase, high EOS level at admission, aerosolized inhaled glucocorticoid and non-invasive mechanical ventilation at acute exacerbation can reduce systemic glucocorticoid exposure. In addition, high frequency of acute exacerbation within 1 year, heart failure, and high PaCO 2 can increase systemic glucocorticoid exposure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential substitution effect of hOGG1 and hMTH1 on oxidative DNA damage, based on gene-deficient cell strains models.

METHODShOGG1 and hMTH1 gene deficient cell strains models were established by Human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HFL) cells. After HFL cells being exposed to 100 µmol/L H₂O₂ for 12 h, HPLC-EC detecting technique and RT-PCR method were adopted to analyze the genetic expression level of 8-oxo-dG (7, 8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine).

RESULTSThe gene-deficient cell strains models of hOGG1 and hMTH1 were obtained by infecting target cells with high titer of lentivirus. The mRNA expression level of hOGG1 was 0.09 ± 0.02, 91% lower than it in normal HFL cells, which was 1.00 ± 0.04. As the same, the mRNA expression level of hMTH1 (0.41 ± 0.04) also decreased by 60% compared with it in normal HFL cells (1.02 ± 0.06). After induced by 100 µmol/L H₂O₂ for 12 h, the genetic expression level of hMTH1 in hOGG1 gene-deficient cells (1.26 ± 0.18) increased 25% compared with it in control group (1.01 ± 0.07). Meanwhile, the genetic expression level of hOGG1 in hMTH1 gene-deficient cells (1.54 ± 0.25) also increased by 52%. The DNA 8-oxo-dG levels in hOGG1 gene-deficient cells (2.48 ± 0.54) was 3.1 times compared with it in the control group (0.80 ± 0.16), the difference showed statistical significance (P < 0.01). Whereas the 8-oxo-dG levels in hMTH1 gene-deficient cells (1.84 ± 0.46) was 2.3 times of it in the control group, the difference also showed statistical significance (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBased on gene-deficient HFL cells models, a synergetic substitution effect on DNA damage and repair activity by both hOGG1 and hMTH1 were firstly discovered when induced by oxidation. The substitution effect of hOGG1 were stronger than that of hMTH1.

Cell Line ; DNA Damage ; DNA Glycosylases ; genetics ; DNA Repair ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; genetics ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; genetics