Recent research found that human umbilical cord is rich in mesenchymal stem cells. These cells have the potencies of expressing many surface markers of mesenchymal stem cell and of differentiating into a variety of cells of three germ layers, synthesizing and secreting a set of trophic factors and other cytokines, and supporting the expansion and function of other cells hematopoietic stem cells and other cells. In addition, immunogenicity of these cells is realatively low.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of the genotype, phenotype, and follow-up of Gitelman's syndrome (GS) in the largest group of Chinese patients. Methods Sixty seven patients with GS underwent SLC12A3 gene analysis. Clinical characteristics and biochemical findings at the first presentation as well as follow-up were reviewed. Additionally, the associations of genotypes and phenotypes were explored. Results Forty-one different SLC12A3 mutations were identified in 67 patients with GS, including 11 novel ones, and 5 recurrent ones. 3 families (5. 7% ) had triple SLC12A3 mutations. Typical hypocalciuria and hypomagnesemia were not found in 6(9% ) and 8 (11. 9% )patients, respectively. In addition, male patients had an earlier age of onset and a higher urinary fraction excretion of electrolytes. 2 patients presented with chronic kidney disease, 13 (19. 4% ) with type 2 diabetes, 14 (20. 9% )with impaired glucose tolerance, and 5(7. 5% ) with impaired fasting glucose. Conclusion This study revealed 41 mutations in 67 Chinese patients with GS, including 11 novel variants and 5 high-frequency ones. Fraction excretion of electrolyte in urine may be more sensitive in the evaluation of phenotype compared with those of blood. It is difficult to correct hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia in GS. Patients with GS are at higher risk of the development of diabetes than ordinary people.

This paper points out the experimental animal ethics education in pharmacology teaching and the im-portance of the experiment,it is good to raises the student good humanity accomplishment and scientific research quality, and promote medical research and life ethics of benign interaction.It also expounds the basic content of ex-perimental animal ethics education,including:animal welfare, the 3R principle, AAALAC accreditation and analy-sis of the experimental animal welfare legislation status, raises questions about animal ethics education problems and thinking in the pharmacology experiment teaching in ourschool.The experimental animal ethics education should become an important part of pharmacology experimental teaching, which enhanced the students′s ethical awareness to better understand and respect for life, and contribute to the sustainable development of medical and pharmaceutical research.

Objective To analyze the laboratory diagnosis results and epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases in Chongqing Municipality in 2015. Methods According to the Standard Operating Procedures of Malaria Diagnosis Ref-erence Laboratory Manual,all the blood samples collected from the imported malaria patients were detected by microscopy, RDT and nest PCR. Meanwhile,the epidemiological data of the malaria cases were collected from the Parasitic Diseases Informa-tion Management System and analyzed. Results Totally 31 cases of imported malaria were reported in Chonqing Municipality in 2015,among which,there were 2 vivax malaria cases(6.45%),23 falciparum malaria cases(74.19%),5 ovale malaria cas-es(16.13%),1 malariae malaria case(3.22%). For the 5 ovale cases,three of them were confirmed as Plasmodium ovale wal-likeri infection. Among all the cases,30 cases(96.77%)were from African countries,1(3.33%)was from Southeast Asia. Thir-ty patients were male,and 1 was female. All the patients were aged from 23-61 years. There was no obvious seasonality in the case distribution. Both the medians of duration from malaria attack to first visiting a doctor and from first visiting a doctor to diag-nosis were 2 days. The medical care units that the patients first visited were mainly county-level units,while those that made the diagnosis were mainly provincial level institutes. Conclusions All the malaria cases in Chongqing in 2015 are imported,no lo-cal cases have been found,which suggests that this municipality still maintain the malaria elimination state. However,the moni-toring and management of imported malaria cases as well as the training on malaria control for related medical staff still need to be strengthened.

Based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb data of inpatient department and senior famous TCM doctors from many TCM hospitals in China. Existing problems of TCM herb data standardization preprocessing were analyzed in order to explore scientific and reasonable preprocessing program which can provide technical support for the accurate analysis of herbal information. Clinical medicine doctors and herbal pharmacists collaborated and analyzed the real-world TCM herb data collected from multi-regions. In connection with characteristics of TCM, data mining was combined in the analysis of requirement to identify existing problems and explore appropriate problem-solving solutions. The results showed that based on the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (PPRC, 2010 version) and regional herb preparing and dispensing guidelines, the herb collection rules, methods and processes were made for the herb data standardization. Herbal data processing program for different regions were formulated. It was concluded that herb data standardization rules and methods made by this plan solved standardization and accuracy of TCM herb data analysis and utilization in multi-area.

Objective To investigate the effect of elemene and the mechanism of this effect on the proliferation of neuroblastoma.Methods We treated cultured SK-N-SH cells with elemene and used the MTT assay to determine the inhibition of cell proliferation.We used RT-qPCR and Western blotting to measure the effect of elemene on mRNA and protein expression,respectively,of repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) in SK-N-SH cells and evaluated the mRNA expression of CCND1 and CCNE1 in SK-N-SH cells by using RT-qPCR.Results Elemene significantly inhibited the proliferation of SK-N-SH cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner (P =0.001 16).Moreover,the mRNA (P =0.000 38) and protein (P =0.003 39) expression of REST were markedly suppressed by elemene.Furthermore,elemene significantly reduced the mRNA expression of CCND1 (P =0.001 91) and CCNE1 (P =0.000 15),which are related to the cell cycle.Conclusion Elemene significantly suppressed the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells through the reduction of REST,CCND1,and CCNE1.

Objective To investigate correlation between QT interval(QT),corrected QT interval(QTc) and metabolic syndrome(MS). Methods Residents who participated in our survey concerning atherosclerosis and related diseases conducted in Shenyang were included. They accomplished questionnaire,physical examination, laboratory tests and electrocardiography test. We divided them into MS group and non-metabolic syndrome (NMS)group according to International Diabetes Federation(IDF)diagnostic criteria for MS. QT interval was measured from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. QTc was calculated by using Bazett and Fridericia equations. We analyze correlation of QT ,QTc and MS. Results A total of 739 residents who were 35~64 years old were included. Individuals with MS had longer QTcB and QTcF than NMS group[(415.8 ± 31.9)ms vs.(410.1 ± 32.1)ms, (407.2± 29.1)ms vs.(402.6 ± 28.8)ms,P<0.05]. The more the number of abnormal MS parameters they had, the longer the QT,QTcB and QTcF they had. Regression analysis showed that QT was associated with serum potassium,smoking,blood glucose,and LDL,and QTcB and QTcF were associated with hypertension,waist circumference and blood potassium. Conclusions MS is associated with corrected QTc. Careful ECG monitoring among persons with MS for early detection of a long corrected QT interval may prevent severe and often fatal arrhythmias or sudden death.

Genome-scale metabolic network model (GSMM) is becoming an important tool for studying cellular metabolic characteristics, and remarkable advances in relevant theories and methods have been made. Recently, various constraint-based GSMMs that integrated genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and thermodynamic data have been developed. These developments, together with the theoretical breakthroughs, have greatly contributed to identification of target genes, systems metabolic engineering, drug discovery, understanding disease mechanism, and many others. This review summarizes how to incorporate transcriptomic, proteomic, and thermodynamic-constraints into GSMM, and illustrates the shortcomings and challenges of applying each of these methods. Finally, we illustrate how to develop and refine a fully integrated GSMM by incorporating transcriptomic, proteomic, and thermodynamic constraints, and discuss future perspectives of constraint-based GSMM.
Genome/genetics* ; Metabolic Engineering ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics* ; Models, Biological ; Proteomics

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease worldwide. However, unlike that in female infertility, the role of CT infection in male infertility remains controversial. The objective of this retrospective study was to explore the impacts of CT infection in the genital tract on sperm quality, sperm acrosin activity, antisperm antibody levels, and inflammation in a large cohort of infertile males in China. A total of 7154 semen samples were collected from infertile male subjects, 416 of whom were CT positive (CT+ group) and 6738 of whom were CT negative (CT- group), in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2018. Routine semen parameters (semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, viability, motility, morphology, etc.), granulocyte elastase levels, antisperm antibody levels, and sperm acrosin activity were compared between the CT+ and CT- groups. Our results showed that CT infection was significantly correlated with an abnormally low semen volume, as well as an increased white blood cell count and granulocyte elastase level (all P < 0.05) in the semen of infertile males; other routine semen parameters were not negatively impacted. The antisperm antibody level and sperm acrosin activity were not affected by CT infection. These findings suggested that CT infection might contribute to inflammation and hypospermia but does not impair sperm viability, motility morphology, and acrosin activity or generate antisperm antibodies in the infertile males of China.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Spermatozoa

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Gout ; genetics ; Humans ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics ; Receptors, Interleukin-17 ; genetics