AIM: To investigate the involvement of calcineruin (CaN) signal pathway mediated by angiotension Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) in the myocardial remodeling mechanism in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: 39 patients of mitral valve disease with CHF were randomly selected and 30 cases of healthy persons were included as controls. Cardiac function parameters were measured by echocardiography. Concentration of Ang Ⅱ in plasma and myocardial tissues were determined by radioimmunoassay. Immunoprecitipation was used to assay the protein expression and phosphorylation CaN, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT_3),zinc finger transcription factor (GATA_4) in myocardial tissues. The mRNA expression of ?-myosin heavy chain (?-MHC) was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The Ang Ⅱ concentrations in patients with CHF were positively correlated with the parameters of the cardiac dialtion respectively, but negatively correlated with the paremeters of cardiac function. Compared to the control group, protein of CaN and GATA_4, phosphorylation of CaN, and ?-MHC mRNA expression in myocardial tissues in CHF groups were highly expressed and their expression were positively correlated to the levels of CHF, but the phosphorylation of NFAT_3 was negatively correlated with the levels of CHF. CONCLUSION: CaN signal pathway may play important roles in the myocardial remodeling in CHF.

Aim The goal is to make a further comprehension of the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease (PD) and hence add further knowledge for PD diagnosis by observing the functions of nitric oxide (NO) in striatum (STR). Method Microelectrodes were used to observe the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), L-glutamic acid (GLU) and ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on STR neurons' spontaneous firing rates, and at the same time, we observed the effects of NO on GLU and GABA. Results 77% (51/66) of the tested neurons were excited by SNP, NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME antagonized the excitatory effect of SNP. Duringthe periods of microelectrophoresis GLU and GABA, SNP amplified the excitatory effect of GLU and weakened the inhibitory effect of GABA. L-NAME antagonized the excitatory effect of GLU.Conclusion These results demonstrated clearly that NO, GLU and GABA functions might converge in the same STR neurons. NO and GLU functions are excitatory whereas GABA function is inhibitory on the firing activities in STR neurons.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ) for nursing workload in emergency intensive care unit (EICU).Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Critical patients except for trauma admitted to EICU of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2012 to July 2016 were enrolled. APACHE Ⅱ score and therapeutic intervention scoring system (TISS-28) score were calculated in each case. The relationship between APACHE Ⅱ score and TISS-28 score was analyzed by correlation analysis and curve estimation.Results A total of 1148 patients were enrolled, including 689 male (60.0%), and age of (56±19) years old, APACHE Ⅱ score was 19 (13, 25), and TISS score was 19 (13, 25). The Spearman correlation coefficient between APACHE Ⅱ score and TISS-28 score was 0.849 (P < 0.001), and that among the linear model quadratic model, composite model, growth model, logarithm model, cubic model and exponential modelR2 were 0.669, 0.710, 0.792, 0.764, 0.765, 0.765, respectively (allP < 0.01), and the most suitable description for relationship between APACHE Ⅱ score and TISS-28 score curve was cubic model. The nursing workload was significantly increased when APACHE Ⅱ score ≥30, and it was decreased when APACHE Ⅱ score < 30.Conclusion APACHE Ⅱ was a useful score for predicting the nursing workload in EICU.

GEP (Gene expression programming) is a new genetic algorithm, and it has been proved to be excellent in function finding. In this paper, for the purpose of setting up a diagnostic model, GEP is used to deal with the data of heart disease. Eight variables, Sex, Chest pain, Blood pressure, Angina, Peak, Slope, Colored vessels and Thal, are picked out of thirteen variables to form a classified function. This function is used to predict a forecasting set of 100 samples, and the accuracy is 87%. Other algorithms such as SVM (Support vector machine) are applied to the same data and the forecasting results show that GEP is better than other algorithms.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Data Mining ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; genetics ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Models, Cardiovascular

Objective To evaluate the effects of preoperative prophylactic infusion of cephalosporins antibiotics on electrocardiogram(ECG)during anesthesia induction with propofol. Methods Fifty female patients,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,aged 20-50 yr,weighing 43-75kg,scheduled for elective surgery,were divided into cefuroxime sodium group(group CEFU)and cefathiamidine group(group CEFA),with 25 patients in each group. After cefuroxime sodium was infused in group CEFU or cefathiamidine was infused in group CEFA,propofol was given by target-controlled infusion(plasma concentration 4 μg/ml).Before infusion of cefuroxime sodium or cefathiamidine,after completion of infusion and at 5min after propofol reached the target concentration,12-lead ECG was recorded,and mean arterial pressure and heart rate were simultaneously recorded. Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were calculated.Results Compared with the baseline before infusion of cefuroxime sodium or cefathiamidine,Tp-e interval was significantly prolonged after completion of infusion and at 5min after propofol reached the target concentration in group CEFU,and Tp-e interval was significantly prolonged,and Tp-e/QT ratio was enlarged in group CEFA(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean arterial pressure and heart rate at each time point (P>0.05).Conclusion Preoperative prophylactic infusion of cefuroxime sodium produces less ECG interference than preoperative prophylactic infusion of cefathiamidine during anesthesia induction with propofol.

Novel cancer immunotherapy can treat tumors through regulating innate immunity and adaptive immune system. cGMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a key regulator of innate immune response to both exogenous and endogenous DNA. After recognizing the cytoplasmic DNA, cGAS produces the second messenger cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which subsequently combines with the adaptor STING (also known as MITA, MPYS and ERIS) to mediate innate immunity by inducing the production of type I interferons and inflammatory cytokines. Recent studies have revealed that the cGAS/STING signaling pathway can be activated by tumor-derived DNA and by-products of genomic instability and affect the incidence and development of tumors, which plays a critical role in the natural antitumor immunity across cancer types and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. In this article, current understanding of cGAS/STING signaling pathway in tumors was summarized, the pivotal role in tumor immunity and radiotherapy was highlighted, and the potential targeted or alternative therapy of this signaling pathway was reviewed.

Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture applied to the Jialianquan points in treating post-stroke oropharyngeal dysphagia.Methods:Forty-five stroke survivors with oropharyngeal dysphagia were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group ( n=15), a neuromuscular electrical stimulation group ( n=15) and a control group ( n=15). All groups received 30 minutes of routine swallowing function training 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The electroacupuncture group was additionally provided with 30 minutes of electroacupuncture applied to the Jialianquan (CV23) points, and the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group instead received 30 minutes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation over the bilateral submental muscles. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed before and after the 3 weeks of treatment. Standardized swallowing assessment was conducted producing functional oral intake scale ratings, modified barium swallow impairment profiles and the penetration-aspiration scale scores. Surface electromyography was also employed to evaluate submental muscle functioning through measuring the swallowing time, average EMG (AEMG) value and peak amplitude. Results:After the treatment, significant improvement was observed in all of the evaluations with both groups, but the average scores were significantly better in the electroacupuncture and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups compared with the control group and significantly better in the electroacupuncture group than in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at the Jialianquan point can significantly improve the swallowing of stroke survivors with oropharyngeal dysphagia. It is more effective than neuromuscular electric stimulation.

Anoectochilus, the fresh or dry whole grass of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl., has the effects of cooling blood, dispelling wind, dispelling dampness and resolving toxin, resulting in a wide range of clinical applications and large market demand. However, in the planting process, there are problems such as irregular planting management, excessive addition of pesticides, irregular processing links, even the phenomenon of selling adulteration, which seriously affects the quality of the medicine. In order to guarantee the quality and productivity of Chinese herbal medicines, this paper developed the standard operating procedures for the non-pollution Anoectochilus, including the non-pollution cultivation environment of Anoectochilus, planting methods, field management, pest control and quality control, etc., which provides guidance to promote the healthy development of the Anoectochilus industry.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the results of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and parental origins of unbalanced translocations among 17 patients, so as to provide reference for their genetic counseling. METHODS: The results of CMA for 7 001 samples tested in Chengdu Women and Children's Central Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Unbalanced reciprocal translocation was defined as two non-homologous chromosomes with lost and gained segments respectively or both with gained segments, and their parental origins were identified by parental chromosomal karyotyping and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: In total 17 unbalanced translocations were identified. In three cases, two non-homologous chromosomes both had gained segments, which constituted a derivative chromosome, with the total number of chromosomes being 47. In the remaining 14 cases, there was a terminal deletion on one chromosome and a terminal duplication on the other, 10 of which were confirmed by karyotyping, with the total number of chromosomes being 46. In the derivative chromosome, the lost segment was replaced by a gained segment from another chromosome. Among 15 cases undergoing parental origin analysis, 12 had paternal or maternal chromosomal abnormalities, including 11 balanced translocations and 1 unbalanced translocation. The unbalanced gametes therefore may form through meiosis. In 3 cases, the parental chromosomes were normal, indicating a de novo origin. CONCLUSION Discovery of terminal duplication and deletion or gained segments on two non-homologous chromosomes by CMA is suggestive of parental balanced translocation, which can facilitate genetic counseling and assessment the recurrence risk for subsequent pregnancies.
Child ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic ; Microarray Analysis ; Chromosomes

Objective:To study the effects of immunity index and blood inflammatory markers pre- and post-radiotherapy on prognosis of esophageal cancer patients with clinical stage Ⅲ.Methods:A total of 84 esophageal cancer patients with clinical stage Ⅲ (T 4N 1M 0) in Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were analyzed, from May 2010 to April 2012. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy was delivered with a dose of 56-66 Gy/1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8) and natural killer cells (CD56) in the peripheral blood pre- and post- radiotherapy. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) pre- and post- radiotherapy were also tested. The correlation of immunity index and blood inflammatory markers with prognosis was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results:For all patients, the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 78.57%, 34.52% and 19.59%, respectively. The median OS time was 22.60 months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year progression free survival (PFS) rates were 69.05%, 27.38% and 12.09%, respectively. The median PFS time was 21.20 months. The objective response rate was 61.90%, with 11 patients of complete remission (CR) and 41 patients of partial remission (PR). Univariate analysis revealed that NLR before radiotherapy, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8) after radiotherapy were significantly associated with OS and PFS (OS: χ 2=7.851, 4.443, 8.381, 5.972, P<0.05, PFS: χ 2= 7.475, 6.290, 9.659, 8.738, P<0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that NLR before radiotherapy, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD4/CD8) after radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS (χ 2=10.464, 4.292, 5.507, P<0.05). The NLR before radiotherapy and CD4/CD8 after radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors for PFS (χ 2=10.835, 8.545, P<0.05). Conclusions:Radiotherapy may influence the immune function. NLR before radiotherapy and CD4/CD8 after radiotherapy are of great value in predicting the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.