Objective To evaluate the effects of serum procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic therapy in elderly patients with early-onset stroke-associated pneumonia (EOP).Methods Totally 179 eligible elderly patients with EOP were randomly devided into 2 groups:standard therapy group (standard group,n=88) and PCT-guided group (PCT group,n=91).Patients in standard group received antibiotics according to antibiotics guidelines in China by the treating physicians.Patients in PCT group were treated with antibiotics for 5 days,then the antibiotic treatment was based on serum PCT levels as follows:discouraged if PCT＜0.25 μg/L and encouraged if PCT≥0.25 μg/L.Length of hospitalization,duration of antibiotics,costs of hospitalization and antibiotics,clinical efficacy,andmortality,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and Barthel index (BI) on the 28th day were observed.Results There were no significant differences in clinical efficacy,mortality,NIHSS score and BI between the two groups on the 28th day [(85.7％ vs.86.3％),(8.8％ vs.7.9％),10.1 (7.8,16.2) vs.9.8 (6.0,15.5),60.1(42.5,82.3) vs.57.9 (39.2,84.8),respectively,all P＞ 0.05].The length of hospitalization,antibiotic duration,costs of hospitalization and antibiotics were lower in PCT group than in standard group [19 (10,38) d vs.26(17,42) d,10 (7,14) dvs.15 (6,21) d,3350 (2052,6163) yuanvs.10355 (6877,15421) yuan,7532 (4810,12116) yuan vs.5358 (3089,8144) yuan,respectively,all P＜0.05].Conclusions PCT guidance of antibiotic therapy is effective and safe for the treatment of early-onset stroke associated pneumonia in elderly patients.It can reduce the antibiotic duration and costs of hospitalization.

Neonatal persistent pulmonary hypertension refers to the continuous increase of pulmonary artery pressure, right heart pressure, right-to-left shunt at foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus level, severe hypoxemia and even respiratory failure after birth.At present, the drug treatments of neonatal persistent pulmonary hypertension include inhaling nitric oxide, sildenafil, milrinone, endothelin receptor antagonists bosentan, prostaglandins and their analogs.This review briefly summarized the progress on the treatment of neonatal persistent pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUNDThe prethrombotic state can be observed in advanced lung cancer patients. The aim of this study is to determine the dynamic changes and significance of antithrombin and fibrinolytic function in advanced lung cancer patients during chemotherapy.

METHODSAntithrombin activity (AT:A), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (D-D), plasminogen activity (PLG), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1:Ag) were measured in 33 advanced lung can-cer patients before and after chemotherapy, and 30 healthy people as controls.

RESULTSBefore chemotherapy, lung cancer patients had significantly lower AT:A (P < 0.01) and higher D-D, PLG:A, PAI-1:Ag and FIB (P < 0.01) than those of controls. There was no significant difference in t-PA:Ag between lung cancer patients and controls (P > 0.05). During the chemotherapy, AT:A, D-D and t-PA:Ag of lung can-cer patients remarkably decreased (P < 0.01), and PLG:A, PAI-1:Ag and FIB remarkably increased (P < 0.01) compared to those before chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSChemotherapy may enhance the prethrombotic state in advanced lung cancer patients. Dynamic observation of antithrombin and fibrinolytic function during chemotherapy might be useful for preventing pulmonary hemorrhage and pulmonary infarct and estimating prognosis of those patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular pathogenesis for a pedigree affected with hereditary coagulation factor XII (FXII) deficiency. METHODS: Potential variant of the F12 gene was analyzed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Expression plasmids were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis based on the wild-type and transiently transfected into 293T cells. FXII:C and FXII:Ag of the expression products were determined in the supernatant and cell lysate. Western blotting was used to verify the identify of the protein. RESULTS: Gene sequencing revealed that the proband has carried 46TT genetype and heterozygous p.Glu502Lys variants in exon 13, and a heterozygous p.Gly542Ser variant in exon 14 of the F12 gene. Transfection experiment suggested that the FXII:C and FXII:Ag of p.Glu502Lys variant in the supernatant were 28% and 24%, compared with the wild-type (100%) and FXII:Ag of cell lysates was 39% compared to the wild-type (100%). The FXII:C and FXII:Ag of p. Gly542Ser variant in the supernatant were 32% and 17% and the FXII:Ag of cell lysates was 59%. CONCLUSION The 46TT genetype, p.Glu502Lys and p.Gly542Ser variants of the F12 gene probably underlie the low FXII level in the proband. As shown by in vitro experiment, the p.Glu502Lys and p.Gly542Ser variants can both inhibit the synthesis and secrection of the FXII protein.
Exons ; Factor XII ; genetics ; Factor XII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the phenotype and genetic basis for a pedigree affected with hereditary coagulation factor XI deficiency. METHODS: Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen (FIB), FXI activity (FXI:C) and the antigen of FXI (FXI:Ag) were determined for the proband and members from his pedigree. Sanger sequencing was used to analyze all exons, exon-intronic boundaries, as well as the 5'- and 3'- untranslated regions of the F11 gene. Suspected variants were verified in her family members and confirmed by reverse sequencing. The impact of the variants on the protein function was predicted by using PolyPhen-2 and SIFT software. The protein structure and amino acid interaction were analyzed by using Swiss-PdbViewer. RESULTS: The APTT, FXI:C and FXI:Ag of the proband and her sister were significantly reduced to 73.0 s, 10.0%, 15.0% and 87.1 s, 2.0% and 11.5%, respectively. APTT of some family members was slightly prolonged, and FXI:C and FXI:Ag also decreased to various extents. DNA sequencing revealed that the proband and her sister have carried compound heterozygous variants of c.738G>A (p.Trp228stop) and c.938G>T (p.Ser295Ile) respectively in exons 7 and 9 of the F11 gene. Her father, sister and daughter were heterozygous for the c.738G>A (p.Trp228stop) variant, while her mother and nephew were heterozygous for the c.938G>T (p.Ser295Ile). Both PolyPhen-2 and SIFT predicted that the p.Ser295Ile variant is likely to be deleterious and can affect the protein function. Modeling analysis indicated that the p.Ser295Ile variant may lead to disruption of a hydrogen bond, resulting in alteration of protein structure and instability. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous c.738G>A (p.Trp228stop) and c.938G>T (p.Ser295Ile) variants of the F11 gene probably underlie the decreased FXI level in this pedigree.
Factor XI Deficiency ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)is the most common chronic respiratory disease in premature and low birth weight infants, characterized by alveolar and pulmonary vascular dysplasia.This article reviews the factors related to the pathogenesis of BPD, with the aim of providing new ideas for the research of pathogenesis of BPD and its prevention and treatment.Among them, immature lung development, acute lung injury, and abnormal repair after injury are the key links of BPD.Other influencing factors include oxygen poisoning, barotrauma, infection, lack of nutritional support, patent ductus arteriosus, blood transfusion, gastroesophageal reflux, pulmonary interstitial edema, abnormal coagulation function, cholestasis and so on.

Objective:Molecular mechanisms underlying compound heterozygous mutations in a patient with inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency.Methods:The proband was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in November 2018 with a one-day history of sudden syncope and limb twitching. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the proband and members of his lineages, totaling nine persons across three generations, and a family lineage survey was conducted. AT activity (AT:A) was measured using a chromogenic substrate assay, while AT antigen (AT:Ag) was detected through an immunoturbidimetric assay. Mutation sites were identified by means of Sanger sequencing of the SERPINC1 gene, and silico tools were applied to predict the mutational conservation and hydrophobicity changes. Recombinant plasmid expression vectors were constructed and transfected into HEK293T cells for in vitro overexpression studies. The recombinant AT protein was characterized using Western Blotting, ELISA, and cellular immunofluorescence assays.Results:The proband was a 21-year-old man with type Ⅰ AT deficiency. His AT:A was 33%, along with a corresponding reduction in AT:Ag. The genetic analysis revealed there was a heterozygous insertion mutation at c.318_319insT (p.Asn107*) and a heterozygous missense mutation at c.922G>T (p.Gly308Cys) in exons 2 and 5, respectively. These mutation sites were entirely conserved among the homologous species. Additionally, hydrophobicity studies showed that the p.Gly308Cys mutation will decrease the hydrophilicity of amino acid residues 307-313. The in vitro expression studies indicated a reduction of approximately 46.98%±2.94% and 41.35%±1.48% in the amount of recombinant protein AT-G308C in transfected cell lysates and culture supernatants, respectively. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor (MG132) restored the cytoplasmic levels of AT-G308C protein to a level similar to that of wild-type protein. However, neither cell lysate nor culture supernatant demonstrated the presence of the recombinant protein AT-N107*. Conclusions:The heterozygous insertion mutation of p.Asn107* and the heterozygous missense mutation of p.Gly308Cys have been associated with reduced AT levels in proband. The p.Asn107* heterozygous insertion mutation may initiate the degradation of mRNA via nonsense mutation-mediated mechanisms, which would remove the defective transcripts, as well as the p.The Gly308Cys heterozygous missense mutation may cause the AT protein to undergo proteasome-dependent degradation by modifying the hydrophobicity of nearby residues in the cytoplasm.

An ambitious goal has been set for elimination of schistosomiasis in all endemic counties (districts) in Sichuan Province by 2023. To achieve this goal, and to continue to consolidate the control achievements, it is necessary to understand the current endemic status of schistosomiasis, identify the challenges and analyze the experiences and lessons from the schistosomiasis control program, and develop targeted control strategies and interventions in the province. This paper reviews the progress of schistosomiasis control in Sichuan Province since the 12th Five-Year Plan period, analyzes the challenges in the schistosomiasis elimination program, and proposes recommendations for future directions and priorities.