AIM: To investigate the effect of soybean isoflavones (SI) on ventricular remodeling induced by myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in male Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: shamThree hours after the operation, the drugs or solvent were administrated ig qd for 35 d. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, heart rate (HR), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), peak systolic left ventricular pressure (Peak), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rising (+dp/dtmax), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure declining (-dp/dtmax) and myocardial maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) were measured. After above hemodynamic parameters were measured, hearts were extracted. The ratio of total ventricle weight to body weight(TVW/BW) was calculated. Myocardial collagen was shown with the collagen-specific picrosirius red stain,myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction(ICVF), perivascular collagen volume fraction(PCVF), infarct size,septal thickness (ST) and left ventricular diameter (LVD) were measured by image analysis system. RESULTS:(31 ± 5) %, respectively, all of which were significantly smaller than that in MI group (( 38.9 ± 2.9) %, P ＜ 0.01 ).In MI group, TVW/BW, LVD, ICVF and PCVF were remarkably increased compared with those in sham group (P ＜ 0.01 ). The increased TVW/BW, LVD, ICVF and PCVF were significantly reduced by treatment with eaprats in MI group was significantly decreased than that in sham group (P ＜ 0.01 ). The reduced ST could be in-dp/dtmax and Vmax were decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ), while LVEDP was increased (P ＜ 0.01 ), significantly. The reSION: SI can improve cardiac function and ventricular remodeling induced by myocardial infarction in the rat.

Aim To examine the inhibitory effect of re-combinant cardiac troponin fusion protein composed of subunit I and artificial peptide which was called CIS on tumor growth. Methods The CIS ’ s effect on the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HU-VEC) was examined using MTT assay in vitro. Chick chorioallantoic membrane model was applied to study the alteration of angiogenesis treated with purified re-combinant CIS protein. The effect of tumor growth trea-ted with CIS was observed using several in vivo mice xenograft models. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in HUVEC cell proliferative rate when the cells were treated with purified CIS fusion protein, which was also shown in a dose-dependent manner. A decreased amount of new blood vessel for-mation ( angiogenesis) on chick embryo chorioallantoic membranes was observed in recombinant CIS protein treated group compared to the untreated control group. A significant inhibition of tumor growth rate was a-chieved in CIS treated mice compared to CIS untreated control mice in 6 different mouse xenograft models. Conclusions The fusion protein CIS shows the inhibi-tory effect on the tumor growth in our in vivo mouse models, and such inhibition could be mediated by the mechanism of CIS’ s effect on the decrease of HUVEC cell proliferation and further the reduction of angiogen-esis in tumor tissues. This work could provide the foundation for the in-depth investigations on the phar-maceutical application of CIS targeting anti-tumor ther-apy.

AIM: To analyse quantitatively the interactions among ethanol, chloral hydrate and naloxone with isobologram, Q-test and multiple logistic regression methods. METHODS: The hypnotic effects of the three drugs on Kunming mice were observed. In two drugs interaction study, chloral hydrate and ethanol were given at different ratios (25∶75, 50∶50, 78∶22 and 80∶20). In three drugs interactions study, 15 min after treatment of naloxone at fixed dose (0.5 mg*kg-1 and 0.2 mg*kg-1) the mixture of chloral hydrate and ethanol (at 1∶1 and 1∶3 ratio) was given to induce sleep. The ED50 for hypnotic action (righting reflex loss) of chloral hydrate, ethanol, naloxone and their mixtures were calculated by use of isobologram, interaction Q-index test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mixtures of ethanol and chloral hydrate in all ratios revealed partial but significant synergism. But in addition with naloxone the three agents showed different natures of interactions according to different naloxone levels. CONCLUSION: There are synergistic interactions in hypnotic ED50s between ethanol and chloral hydrate at different ratios and antagonistic interaction in adding a fixed dose of naloxone. The results coincide with the pharmacologistic mechanism discussed in this paper.

Objective To detect the serum 25- OH-D levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and investigate the function of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of SLE. Methods Eighty SLE patients including 40 healthy donors and 40 RA (rheumatoid arthritis) patients were enrolled in this study. Serum 25-OH-D levels were detected with ECL method. Results (1)Serum 25-OH-D levels in patients with active SLE were lower than those with inactive SLE patients and healthy controls. (2)Serum 25-OH-D levels were negatively correlated with SLEDAI (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index) scores (r = -0.45,P < 0.01) and 24-hours urinary protein excretion (r = -0.32,P < 0.05). Conclusion Serum 25-OH-D levels in SLE patients decrease and have close relationship with disease activity and renal lesions.

Abstract: Objective To clarify the long-term evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasi-species in HBsAg asymptomatic carriers in Long'an county, Guangxi. Methods ELISA was used to detect serological markers of HBV. Viral loads were measured by real time PCR. HBV DNA was extracted from serum by kits. The whole HBV genome was amplified using nested PCR and amplicons were sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS). These sequences from NGS were analyzed by the software like Mega. Results Serum samples were collected from 9 HBsAg asymptomatic carriers in Longan County，Guangxi at 4 different time points in 2004, 2007, 2013, 2019 or 2020. A total of 23 serum samples and 309 full-length gene quasi-species sequences were obtained, with an average amount of (0.18±0.07) G sequencing data for each sample. Genotype of 55.54%(5/9) the studied subjects underwent genotype conversion during the long-term evolution process of HBV quasi-species, and the genotyping results of the phylogenetic tree in the PreS/S region are in perfect agreement with the results of the whole genome analysis; recombinant B/C, I/C were found; the Sn ranged from 0 to 0.37 and the genetic diversity ranged from 0 to 0.11, respectively. A total of 21 special single nucleotide/amino acid mutations (7 in the S region, 2 in the X region, 3 in the PreC region and 9 in the BCP region) and 6 deletion mutations were detected, multiple mutations were found and no drug resistant mutations were found; 77.8%(7/9) of the HBV strains carried by the subjects in 2004 had double mutations at nt1 762(A→T) and 1 764(G→A) and a stop mutation at nt1 896(G→A); HBV mutations can be restored from the mutant type to the wild type and (or) vice versa without antiviral drug pressure, and The evolution rate of HBV genome was 2.03×10-5~3.50×10-3.Conclusion HBV genotype, recombinants, genetic complexity and diversity of HBV quasi-species can change over time during in natural infection. The transformation between HBV mutation type and wild type reduces the value of predicting clinical outcomes by genetic types and related mutations to some extent. The HBV genome evolution rate of asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg in Long'an County is very high.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the total in situ apoptotic cell number and the apoptotic situation in erythroid cell and megakaryocytes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODSApoptosis cell number and the apoptotic situation of erythroid cell and megakaryocytes were analysed on cold embedded bone marrow sections from 25 MDS patients by DNA in situ end labelling (ISEL)/alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) double stained techniques. Fourteen cases of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were taken as control.

RESULTSMean apoptotic cell numbers in MDS and control group were (39.44 +/- 29.34)/mm(2) and (13.43 +/- 8.39)/mm(2) respectively (P < 0.01). RA/RAS subtypes had a higher apoptosis ratio (47.56 +/- 32.86/mm(2)) than that in RAEB/RAEB-t subtypes (21.87 +/- 13.65/mm(2)) (P < 0.05). Double staining showed similar apoptosis percentage in erythroid cell and megakaryocytes in MDS patients comparing with that of controls (P > 0.05). Some apoptotic cells showing erythroid or megakaryocytic morphologic characteristics expressed no cluster differentiation antigen.

CONCLUSIONOverapoptosis existed in MDS, RA/RAS group had a higher apoptosis ratio than RAEB/RAEB-t group. No obvious increased apoptosis in erythroid cell and megakaryocytes was observed in MDS perhaps due to the loss of surface antigens in later stages of apoptotic cells.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; immunology ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Child ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences in body composition between Crohn's disease(CD) patients and healthy subjects as well as the characteristics of human body composition in various types of CD.

METHODSA total of 57 CD patients were prospectively selected from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University as the study group, while 51 healthy subjects as the control group. Protein content, mineral content, fat content, lean body mass, waist circumference, and hip circumference in the two groups were measured by body composition analyzer. Characteristics of CD at different location and different disease activity index were investigated as well.

RESULTSIntracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, weight, protein content, fat content, lean body mass, muscle weight, body fat ratio, waist hip ratio, body weight ratio, arm muscle circumference, arm circumference, quality of cells, BMI and basal metabolic rate in CD patients were significantly lower than those in control group(all P<0.05). Proportion of protein-deficiency patients and fat-deficiency patients were 66.7% and 47.4% respectively. Protein content, fat content, and lean body mass in ileocolic CD patients were lower than those with small bowel and colonic CD(all P<0.05). Protein content, fat content, lean body mass in patients with high disease activity index were lower than those in patients with low and medium index, but higher basal metablic rate was found in the former group(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe human body composition in patients with CD are different from healthy people. Disease location and disease activity index have an impact on protein content, fat content, and lean body mass.

Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Crohn Disease ; physiopathology ; Humans

Objective:To analyse the clinical significance of selective single embryo transfer by time-lapse mo-nitoring(TLM)or conventional morphology assessment(CMA)in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm in-jection and embryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET),and to initially explore the predictive value of Raman spectral analy-sis of embryo culture medium for clinical pregnancy rate.Methods:The study is a prospective randomized con-trolled clinical trial.We assigned 139 patients treated with IVF/ICSI-ET in Reproductive and Genetics Center of Suzhou Municipal Hospital from April 2019 to July 2020,which were randomly assigned to either the CMA or the TLM group.We performed selective single-embryo transfer(fresh cycle and FET)after selecting the optimal em-bryos with TLM or CMA respectively.If the patient's first embryo transfer was unsuccessful,a second one would be performed to compare the differences in the cumulative live birth rate of embryo transfer and other pregnancy outcomes between the two groups.Meanwhile,we collected 15 μl of embryo culture medium at day 3 after IVF/ISCI fertilization for Raman spectroscopy analysis.Results:There were no differences in cumulative live birth,cu-mulative clinical pregnancy,cumulative premature birth,cumulative early spontaneous abortion,cumulative ectopic pregnancy and LGA or SGA between TLM and CMA groups(P＞0.05).The Neonatal sex ratio in the TLM group was lower than that in the CMA group,but the difference was not significant(P＞0.05).Raman spectros-copy analysis of embryo culture medium predicted the clinical pregnancy rate with 67.21％accuracy.Conclu-sions:In young women with a good ovarian reserve,the advantage of using TLM to evaluate embryos is not obvi-ous,so we should remain vigilant that embryo selection based on morphokinetic parameters may affect the sex ratio.Raman spectroscopic analysis of embryo culture medium is not yet able to effectively predict the planting ability of embryos.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the feasibility and clinical value of monitoring the progression of early kidney injury in type 2 diabetic patients by assessment of the urinary C-terminal agrin fragment (uCAF) with enzymatic chemiluminescence immunoassay.Methods:A total of 251 patients with type 2 diabetes, who attended the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from October 2018 to March 2020, were included in this retrospective analysis. One hundred and fifty-six participants undergoing health check-up at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in February 2021 served as controls. Basic clinical information, glycosylated hemoglobin type A 1c and serum creatinine values were recorded, and urine specimens were collected for urinary creatinine, urinary α 1 microglobulin(uα 1M), urinary immunoglobulin G (uIgG), urinary albumin, urinary N-Acetyl-B-D-glycosaminidase (uNAG) and uCAF measurements. Based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 251 patients were classified into G1~G5 stage groups with 116, 22, 28, 55 and 30 patients in each group. One hundred and sixty-six patients with early diabetic kidney disease (stage G1-G3) were divided into subgroups A1 (79), A2 (48) and A3 (39) according to the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), the uα1M levels were divided into uα1M subgroup 1 (83 cases), uα1M subgroup 2 (42 cases), and uα1M subgroup 3 (41 cases), and uIgG subgroup 1 (83 cases), uIgG subgroup 2 (42 cases), and uIgG subgroup 3 (41 cases) according to uIgG levels. The Spearman method was used to analyze the correlation between uCAF levels and eGFR, UACR, uα1M and uIgG levels. Results:(1) The linear range of the uCAF detected by enzymatic chemiluminescence immunoassay was 3.97-2 000.00 ng/ml, with a detection limit of 2.28 ng/ml, intra-batch coefficients of variation of 1.15% and 1.57%, inter-batch coefficients of variation of 1.63% and 5.78%, and a biological reference interval of <95.35 μg/g Cr. (2) The uCAF level and positive rate (UACR≥30 mg/g) increased with the decrease of eGFR from G1-G3, uCAF level was negatively correlated with eGFR value ( r=-0.543, P<0.000 1), and the positive rate increased from 24.14% (28/116) to 85.71% (24/28) from G1-G3. The uCAF level and positivity rate decreased with the decrease of eGFR from G4 to G5. uCAF level was positively correlated with eGFR value ( r=0.495, P<0.001), and the positivity rate decreased from 30.91% (17/55) to 23.33% (7/30) from G4 to G5. (3) In patients with early diabetic kidney disease, uCAF levels and positivity rates increased gradually with the increase of UACR. uCAF levels were positively correlated with UACR values ( r=0.602, P<0.001), and the uCAF positivity rate reached 21.52% (17/79) in the A1 subgroup. (4) uCAF level was positively correlated with uα1M and uIgG levels in patients with early diabetic kidney disease ( r=0.757, 0.596, both P<0.001). Conclusion:Analytical performance of enzyme chemiluminescence immunoassay for the detection of CAF is satisfactory and could be used a biomarker for monitoring damage and progression of early diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To establish theoretical framework, content, and standard of disability data using International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods The structure and content of the Disability Survey Project Form by Washington Group on Disability Statistics, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, Model Disability Survey developed by World Health Organization and ICF Core Set (General) were analyzed with ICF categories and coding. Results The sturcture and contents of disability measurements has been developed and analysed using ICF.Conclusion The framework, content and data standard had been developed.