OBJECTIVETo investigate the genome structure variation (SV) related with keloid using the whole-gene resequencing technology.

METHODSWe studied a keloid pedigree containing 4 generation of 27 people. 5 people (4 cases of keloid patients, and 1 case of normal) were selected to extract the genomic DNA. Then the whole-gene resequencing technique was used to check the variations.

RESULTSThrough database comparison and variation annotation analysis, we obtained 2 SVs associated with keloid formation. We used DAVID software to do the gene ontology and pathway analysis. We found a 168 bp inversion in gene tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) in all keloid patients, which contained the forth exon of TSPAN8.

CONCLUSIONSThere was no report about SVs related to keloid. In this study, we found 2 SVs associated with keloid, especially TSPAN8. The tumor cells express the TSPAN8 can up-regulate the vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors, promote the adjacent fibroblasts secrete matrix metalloproteinases and uridylyl phosphate adenosine. So we hypothesis that the inversion of the forth exon in TSPAN8 may lead to the signal transduction disorder in the keloid patients. This study was a preliminary research. It needs a further study containing large sample to confirm.

Base Sequence ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Tetraspanins ; genetics

Objective To study the clinical and genetic characteristics of keloid through investigating on four Han Chinese pedigrees.Methods The pedigree information and clinical data from Han Chinese keloid pedigrees were collected,which consisted of 22 patients in 127 family members,and then the charts of these pedigrees were constructed according to the data.Using the genetic model and pedigree analyses we summarized the clinical features of the disease in the families.Results Four Han Chinese keloid pedigrees were discovered.The three pedigree spans included 3 generations and one was 4 generations.Incidence of KD in the consanguinity family member was 23.7％ (23/93),and 20.8％ (11/53) in male KD,and 27.5％ (11/40) in female.Incidence of anterior chest KD was 40.9 ％.The inheritance pattern observed in these pedigrees was consistent with an autosomal dominant inheritance multi-gene hereditary disease with incomplete penetrance,and its nonpenetrance of KD gene carriers was 12％ (3/25).Conclusions The pattern of inheritance observed in these four Han Chinese keloid pedigrees is similar to previous reports and no gender differences are found in the incidence of disease,but differences in pathogenic site.Pedigree investigation helps to reveal the genetic characteristics of keloid.

Talents constitute core resource in the development of healthcare sector. Based on the situation of the talent team in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, the authors systematically constructed the hierarchical and classified system for talent cultivation, centering on three key areas of talent cultivation, evaluation and assessment. The authors analyzed the achievements since the implementation in 2016, namely the innovation of talent evaluation, the construction of discipline echelon, and the communication and inter-departmental cooperation. At the same time, the authors further put forward targeted suggestions to promote the development of talent teams in terms of transforming the human resource management model, increasing policy support and funding, implementing refined management, and improving talent evaluation indicators by the levels and types.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) on the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin(alpha-SMA) and myosin-II of fibroblasts in scars. Methods Fibroblasts were isolated from tissue specimens of scars contracture. Cells from passages 3-5 were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, low BTXA group (1 U/10(6) Cells), and high BTXA group (2.5 U/ 10(6)Cells)). Growth condition of fibroblasts was observed at 1 , 4, 7 day after BTXA treated. Changes of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSFibroblasts grew well in control group. The proliferation was decreased 4 days later in BTXA groups. Lots of apoptotic cells were seen in high BTXA group at 7th day. Proteins of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts were statistically different between BTXA group and control groups at 4th day (P < 0.05). The expression of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in low BTXA group was higher than that in high BTXA group at 7th day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBTXA could induce the apoptosis of fibroblasts and decrease the expression of alpha-SMA and myosin-II in fibroblasts. The inhibitory effect was strengthened with BTXA concentration increase within a certain range.

Actins ; metabolism ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; pharmacology ; Cicatrix ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; Myosin Type II ; metabolism ; Random Allocation

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes in pe-ripheral blood and the soluble form of HLA-G ( sHLA-G ) in plasma among patients with gastric cancer ( GC) . Methods Blood samples were collected from 135 patients with gastric cancer ( GC group) , 150 pa-tients with chronic gastritis ( CG group) and 80 healthy controls ( HC group) . Flow cytometry analysis and ELISA were used to detect the percentages of CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes in peripheral blood samples, the concentrations of sHLA-G in plasma samples and the levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cacino-embryonic antigen ( CEA) , CA19-9 and CA125 in serum samples. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to analyze the differences between different groups. The feasibility of using CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes, sHLA-G, AFP, CEA, CA19-9 and CA125 as potential biomarkers to differentiate patients with GC from those with CG or healthy subjects was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve analysis. Results The median percentages of CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes in subjects from GC, CG and HC groups were 18. 6% (12. 1%-26. 7%), 7. 3% (4. 2%-11. 0%) and 4. 6% (3. 6%-6. 3%), respectively. The percentages of CD14+HLA-G+monocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with GC were significantly higher than those in patients with CG and healthy subjects (P<0. 001). The concentrations of sHLA-G in plasma samples collected from patients with GC [(100. 6±61. 3) U/ml) were significantly higher than those in pa-tients with CG [(59.5±19. 9) U/ml) and healthy subjects [(45. 8±23. 3) U/ml] (P<0. 001). ROC curve analysis showed that in terms of GC diagnosis, the area under ROC curve ( AUC) , cutoff value, sensi-tivity and specificity for CD14+HLA-G+monocytes and sHLA-G in plasma were 0. 893 and 0. 720, 12% and 85 U/mL, 75. 8% and 50. 5%, 86. 7% and 95. 9% (P<0. 001), respectively, which indicated that CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes and sHLA-G were better than AFP, CEA, CA19-9 and CA125 in differentiating GC from CG and HC. Moreover, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes, sHLA-G in plasma as well as CA19-9 and CA125 in serum were positively correlated with the risk of GC after excluding the differences caused by age and gender factors. Conclusion The levels of CD14+HLA-G+ monocytes in peripheral blood and sHLA-G in plasma increased dramatically in patients with gastric cancer, which suggested that CD14+HLA-G+monocytes and sHLA-G might be risk factors for GC and could be used as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of GC.

Objective To establish a mouse model of acute liver failure induced by lipopolysaccharide /D-galac-tosamine ( LPS/D-GalN) .Methods The optimum dose of LPS/D-GalN was determined by i .p.injection of eight differ-ent doses of LPS and D-GalN into 40 female C57BL/6 mice and observation of their survival time .Then, 32 female C57BL/6 mice were i.p.injected with the optimal dose of LPS/D-GalN and sacrificed at 0, 1, 4, 8 hours after the injec-tion, 8 mice in each group.The control mice received saline injection .Hepatic changes were observed by pathology and se-rum ALT, IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-αwere measured by biochemistry or flow cytometry .Results LPS (2.5 mg/kg) and D-GalN (0.3 g/kg) were determined as the optimal dose for the establishment of mouse model of acute liver injury .Com-pared with the control group , the hepatocellular damages were progressing in a positive correlation with the time course after LPS/D-GalN administration .The level of serum ALT was significantly increased after LPS/D-GalN administration ( P <0.001).The levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-αwere increased and reached a peak at one hour after LPS/D-GalN administration and then decreased almost to that of the control group 8 hours later(P<0.001).Conclusions The mouse model of acute liver injury is successfully established by LPS /D-GalN administration , and provide an effective animal model for the study of pathogenic mechanisms of acute liver failure and evaluation of therapeutic drugs .

The clinical characteristics and radiological data of 6 cases of sacral agenesis in one single family were analyzed and a literature review was performed.On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),all of them presented with a partial absence of sacral vertebra,including associations with lumbar abnormalities (n =2) and sacral agenesis (n =2).One case presented with fourth/fifth lumbar vertebra bone fusion and fifth lumbar/first sacral vertebra bone fusion.On radiology,4 cases had concurrent scoliosis.None of them had tethered cord,diastematomyelia or meningocele.The understanding of sacral agenesis may be improved after reviewing and summarizing clinical features and radiological findings.

Objective To evaluate the validity of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injections for the treatment of scar contracture.Methods 26 patients with scar contracture were randomly assigned into BTXA group and triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) group.Pinpoint tattooing was performed on each side of each scar in the plane of its longest axis.A template was used to ensure consistent length.These two tattoo points were measured to assess scar contraction at baseline,at every month for a total of 6 months.Histological analysis was conducted to study the physiological environment and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of α-SMA and myosin-Ⅱ at different groups.Results Scar contraction was more relaxed in BTXA group than that in TAC group after 1 month (P＜0.05),especially in the 6th month (the D value in BTXA group and TAC group was (1.23±0.42) cm,and (0.56±0.33) cm respectively).For immunohistochemistry,the expression of α-SMA and myosin-Ⅱ also decreased in BTXA group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The treatment of scar contracture by suitable BTXA injections is safe and effective.

Objective To explore the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUC?MSCs) on podocytic apoptosis and injury induced by high glucose (HG) and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Podocytes were divided into six groups according to treatment: ⑴ normal glucose group (NG);⑵high glucose group (HG);⑶mannitol control group (NG+Ma);⑷HUC?MSC co?culture group (HUC?MSCs); ⑸ recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor treatment group (rhHGF);⑹ neutralizing antibody group(HGF?NtAb). Cytometry and Hoechst staining were used to detect the apoptosis rates. Western blot was used to measure the ratio of active PARP to total PARP and the level of Bcl?2. Immunofluorescence was used to study podocytic apoptosis and injury. Neutralizing antibody (NtAb) was used to block its function and the recombinant cytokine was added to induce its function. Results High glucose induced podocytic apoptosis in a time?dependent manner, HUC?MSCs co?culture decreased the podocytic apoptosis rate and the expression of PARP (all P﹤0.05), increased the expression of Bcl?2, prevented the reduced expression and maintained the normal arrangement of podocytic podoplanin. The rhHGF prevented podocytic apoptosis and injury similarly to HUC?MSCs, the beneficial effect of HUC?MSC decreased when blockade of HGF. Conclusions HUC?MSCs co?culture ameliorates podocytic apoptosis and injure induced by HG, probably through secreting soluble HGF.

Objective To investigate the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome ( MDS) and erythroid hyperplasia.Methods MDS patients whose bone marrow was hypercellular with erythroid lineage more than 50% and blasts account for less than 20% of non-erythroid cells were enrolled in this study.The ratio of mature erythrocytes to nucleated erythrocytes was no more than 20, namely MDS patients with erythroid hyperplasia ( MDS-E ).The retrospective analysis comprised 102 patients with MDS-E from the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University.Clinical characteristics , karyotype , and the prognostic significance of erythroid hyperplasia were evaluated.Results A total of 48 MDS-E patients (47.1%) presented a variety of cytogenetic abnormalities.The most frequently involved chromosomes were chromosome 8 (39.5%of all abnormal karyotypes ), chromosome 7 (22.9%), followed by chromosome 5 ( 18.8%) , chromosome 1 ( 16.7%) and chromosome 20 ( 16.7%) .Hemoglobin ( Hb) level affected the prognosis by survival analysis.The overall survival ( OS) of MDS-E patients with Hb equal or more than 70 g/L was longer than that of patients less than 70 g/L ( P<0.001).Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) significantly improved the OS compared with best supportive care (P<0.001) and chemotherapy (P<0.001).The extent of erythroid hyperplasia in bone marrow did not impact on prognosis ( P=0.187 ).Conclusions Compared with previous reports of MDS patients, MDS-E patients have higher level of erythroid hyperplasia , more common erythroid dyshematopoiesis , more frequent 8 and 1 chromosome abnormalities .The degree of erythroid hyperplasia is not correlated with prognosis.Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improves the prognosis.