BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia (HUA), serving as a component of metabolic syndromes (MS), has a major regulatory role in inflammatory responses. However, the correlation between G-308A tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and MS is still controversial.OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation among G-308A TNF-α genotype distribution, TNF-α mRNA expression and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with HUA.DESrGN: Patients with HUA were selected as the subjects, while normal peoplewere taken as the controls.SETTING: Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were selected from 5 003 people, including 188 patients with HUA and 51 healthy people.Patients with HUA included 40 patients with simple HUA, 42 patients with HUA and dyslipidemia, 80 patients with HUA and dyslipidemia and hypertension, and 26 patients with gout (administration of allopurinol was stopped at one week before the experiment).METHODS: TNF-α gene promoter G-308A genotype was determined by using PCR application followed by Nco/digestion.TNF-α mRNA expression was studied by RT-PCR with semi-quantitative analysis. Antibody sandwich method and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were adopted to determine the CRP concentration. And the serum uric acid was measured by uricase method, while the insulin resistance index (IRI) was evaluated with homeostasis model.MArN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test of genotypic frequency. ② Changes in distribution of G-308A TNF-α genotypes and TNF-α mRNA expression in patients with HUA. ③ Changes in TNF-α mRNA expression and other parameters in G-308A TNF-α AA+GA and GG groups. ④ Multiple stepwise regression analysis.RESULTS: A total of 188 patients and 51 normal people were involved in the analysis of results. ① G-308A TNF-α genotypes distribution in 239 enrolled subjects accorded with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. ② AA+GA was compared with GG due to lower frequency of AA in population. The results revealed the HUA with dyslipidemia and hypertension group displayed a greater prevalence in G-308A TNF-α AA+GA genotype (30%) than that in the control group (12%) (P ＜ 0.05),while there were no significant differences among other groups. ③ TNF-α mRNA expression and CRP concentration were the highest in the gout group, and HUA accompanied by dyslipidemia and hypertension group listed the second,and then was the HUA and dyslipidemia group, while simple HUA group listed the last, all of which were higher than those in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). TNF-α mRNA expression in HUA accompanied by dyslipidemia and hypertension group, gout group was higher than that in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). The WHR, SBP, DBP,serum uric acid, triglycerides, TNF-α mRNA expression and CRP concentration in AA+GA group were remarkably higher than those in the GG group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). ④ After adjustment of age, gender, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure,fasting blood glucose, and multiple variable linear stepwise regression showed that triglycerides, uric acid, TNF-α 308 A carrier were related with quantityof TNF-α mRNA expression. Meanwhile, the uric acid concentration, WHR and the quantity expression of TNF-α were significantly in positive association with CRP concentration.CONCLUSTON:The genotype of TNF-α 308 A carriers is associated with TNF-α expression and plasma CRP levels in HUA patients.

Objeictivie To investigate the diagnostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and glucose-6-phospha-teisomerase (GP1) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Anti-MCV antibody, GPI and anti-CCP antibody were detected in serum samples of 109 RA patients, 24 non-RA rheumatic diseases patients and 19 healthy blood donors. The sensitivity and specificity of these parameters for the diagnosis of RA were analyzed. Results Both the positive rate and average cut off concentration of anti-MCV and GPI in RA were higher than those of non-RA rheumatic diseases or healthy controls (P<0.05). A significant difference was found between anti-MCV and GPI in RA patients. The most sensitive and specific parameter in RA was anti-MCV (99.1%) and anti-CCP (90.7%) respectively, but, when anti-MCV combined with anti-CCP, or GPI or anti-CCP and GPI, the specificity could be up to 98.1%. Coniclusions Anti-MCV, anti-CCP and GPI alone or in combination may be valuable parameters for the diagnosis of RA.

BACKGROUND:Volar locking plate is the dominant treatment of distal radial fractures, but it is difficult to judge the distance between the plate position and the carpal articular surface, thus leading to screw penetration of the articular surface. Arthroscopy or operative perspective has their pros and cons, there is no simple and effective method of positioning the plate.
OBJECTIVE:To find the optimal position of Volar LCP in distal radius fractures and explore the role of computer simulation in this treatment.
METHODS:The CT data of the wrists in 20 adult patients were col ected to calculate 3D models of the radius by MIMICS software. 3D model of the LCP was calculated by UG in working station. The distance between the plate and the distal radius joint was measured by computer simulation, and the mean value was calculated. A total of 33 Patients with distal radial fractures were divided into two groups:conventional treatment group (regular X-ray and CT) and computer simulation group (preoperative plan based on the computer-measured data).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The safe distance between the screw center and the articular facet was 11.13 mm in males and 10.97 in females. The number of radiation and operating time were shortened significantly in computer simulation group (P<0.05). Experimental findings indicate that, computer simulation is a powerful tool to find the optimal position of volar LCP in the distal radius fractures. The time of the operation and X-ray fluoroscopy are also shortened significantly.

Object To study the effects of Veratrum nigrum L. var. ussuriense Nakai alkaloids (VnA) on platelet aggregation in rats and coagulation time, bleeding time in mice. Methods The antiplatelet effect of VnA was examined by determining platelet aggregation rate in normal rats and blood stasis model rats by turbidimetric method developed by Born. Whole blood coagulation time (CT) in mice was measured by capillary glass tube method, bleeding time (BT) by hemorrhagic transection of mouse tail model. Results VnA (45, 30, and 15 ?g/kg, iv) significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in rats in a dose-dependent manner. VnA (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 ?g/kg, ip) markedly increased CT and BT in mice. VnA [49.3 ?g/kg, which was anticoagulantly equieffective to heparin (1.25 mg/kg), ip] prolonged BT. There was no statistically significant difference in BT between VnA and heparin, although BT increase induced by VnA was shorter than that induced by heparin. Conclusion VnA has significant antiplatelet effect in rats and can prolong CT and BT in mice. At equieffective dose VnA-induced BT increase does not exceed that heparin induced.

AIM: To construct a knock-out vector for ?~(maj) & ?~(min) gene of ?-globin gene and establish embryonic stem cell lines by gene knock-out in ES level for generating gene knock-out animal model. METHODS: Two homologous sequences 1.7 kb and 7.0 kb were inserted into basic plasmic vector pNTK, which contains positive and negative selection system of the neomycin resistance (Neo) and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) resistant gene to construct a gene knock-out recombinant plasmic vector nominated ?-pNTK, which was certified by polymerase chain reaction, enzyme digested and DNA sequencing. The ?-pNTK that contains two homologous sequence was linearized with Sal I and introduced into the D3 line of ES cells by electroporation. Positive cloning of ES cells was selected with positive and negative selection system of G418 600 mg/L and 2.5 mol/L Gancyclovir for four weeks. ES cells clone were picked, explanded and certified by polymerase chain reaction, Southern blotting. Examination of the undifferentiated state and pluripotential characteristics of the cell lines were made with the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) staining and embryoid bodies formation test and teratomas formation in nude mice. RESULTS: A knock-out recombinant plasmic vector for ? maj & ? min gene of ?-globin gene, ?-pNTK, was constructed in C129 mouse, which contains 8.7 kb length inserted homologous sequence and deleted most part of the ?~(maj) & ?~(min) gene. 8 strains of positive ES cells cloning were obtained, all of them were testified positive with polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. The results of AKP staining, embryoid bodies formation in vitro and teratomas formation in nude mice showed undifferentiated state and pluripotential characteristic of cell line. CONCLUSIONS: A knock-out recombinant plasmic vector of ?~(maj) & ?~(min) of ?-globin gene in C129 mouse was constructed, in which a knock-out ?~(maj) & ?~(min) gene of ?-globin gene ES-D3 cell line was established by electroporation, characterization of these cells show a prospect utility in producing gene knock-out mice in blastocysts stages.

Objective To use the liquid protein combined with MALDI-TOF-MS for screening the serum differential peptides markers in lung adenocarcinoma patients and to establish the lung adenocarcinoma diag-nosed prediction model for founding the potential markers for the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.Methods 37 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 33 healthy subjects and benign lung disease which were made up in control group were collected,in the two groups the age and the sex were matched.The two groups were ran-domly divided into training group(30 cases of lung adenocarcinoma,26 cases of control)and test group(7 ca-ses of lung adenocarcinoma,7 cases of control)according to 3:1.T he differential diagnosis of lung adenocarci-noma and control group was performed by liquid chip-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and software ClinPro-Tools 3.0 to establish a prediction model of lung adenocarcinoma.The diagnostic model was validated by using serum samples from the test group to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the model.Results Nine peptide peaks with significant differences(P<0.05)were obtained by ClinProTools 3.0 software analysis.The up-regulated peaks in lung adenocarcinoma(m/z)were 8 976.5,4 469.05,4 966.78,8 925.5,4 531.05,and the down-reg-ulated m/z were 3 304.44,8 594.76,3 266.82,3 195.52.According to the genetic algorithm(GA),the lung ad-enocarcinoma diagnosis and prediction model was established.The overall recognition ability of the model was 94.49%.The model was evaluated by the test group.The results showed that the sensitivity of the model was 100.0% and the specificity was 85.7%.Conclusion Among lung adenocarcinoma patients,serum benign lung disease and healthy,there are differences in the serum peptide.T he use of differential peptide peaks to estab-lish lung adenocarcinoma diagnostic prediction model for the early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma provides a new method.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of prenatal ultrasonography in the fetal hemivertebra. Methods The ultrasonographic findings of three fetuses with hemivertebra diagnosed in our hospital were reviewed and compared with those of postnatal ultrasonography,other image modalities,and autopsy. Results In all fetuses,a distortion of the spine was observed where only one half of the vertebra could be identified. The parents opted for termination of the pregnancy in one case and the deformity was confirmed by autopsy. The other two fetuses were delivered and in one fetus the diagnosis was confirmed by radiological assessment. Conclusions Hemivertebra can be diagnosed accurately by second-trimester ultrasonography. The prognosis is mostly favorable when no other anomalies are associated. Meticulous examination may disclose the lesion and help decide the fate of pregnancy.

Objective To determine the diagnostic value of two and three dimensional ultrasound in detecting fetal hand malformations. Methods In the retrospectively analysis,the severe fetal hand malformations detected by prenatal ultrasound during the recent three years in our hospital were classified according to the prenatal sonographic characteristics,family history,karyotype analysis and autopsy results,etc.Results Fourteen fetuses with hand-anomaly were detected during the 16-28th week of gestation,both hands were affected in 10 cases,with the same morphology bilaterally in 8 cases.Thirteen cases had other abnormal sonographic findings.They were detected and classified into three categories,Wrist deformity (9 cases),three fetuses were associated with total absence of radius and radial clubhand,and six fetuses had palmar deviated hands,with various etiologies including familial hereditary arthrogryposis multiplex congenita,distal type 1 (AMCD1),amniotic band syndrome,body stalk anomaly,trisomy18 and micromelia.Hand (figer) hypoplasia or aphasia (3 cases),one hand was absent in one fetus without associated anomaly,absence of five fingers with ipsilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney in the second fetus,and the third fetus had split hand/foot malformation (SHFM).Overlapping fingers (4 cases),three of them were trisomy18,and two fetuses had both wrist deformity and overlapping fingers.Conclusions Prenatal two and three dimensional ultrasound play an important role in detecting and diagnosing severe type of fetal hand malformations.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and prognosis of prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of fetal isolated vascular ring at 11-13 + 6 weeks. Methods:A total of 36 996 fetuses were selected to compare the results of ultrasound screening at 11-13 + 6 weeks and 20-24 weeks of pregnancy in Guangxi Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital from January 2016 to January 2020, the reasons for missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of fetal isolated vascular ring by ultrasonography in the first trimester were summarized. Results:Thirty-five cases were diagnosed as isolated vascular ring in the first trimester, including 19 cases right aortic arch combined with aberrant left subclavian artery with "U-shaped" vascular ring, 7 cases double aortic arch with "O-shaped" vascular ring, and 9 cases aberrant right subclavian artery with "C-shaped" vascular ring. While 155 cases were diagnosed as isolated vascular ring at 20-24 weeks of pregnancy, consisting of 18 cases of combined with aberrant left subclavian artery, 9 cases of double aortic arch, 126 cases of aberrant right subclavian artery and 2 cases of pulmonary artery sling, the diagnosis coincidence rates were 94.74%, 77.78%, 7.14%, 0(Kappa value were 0.97, 0.88, 0.13, 0). For the diagnosis of right aortic arch combined with aberrant left subclavian artery, double aortic arch and aberrant right subclavian artery in the first trimester, the specificities were 99.99%, 100%, 100%, the sensitivities were 100%, 77.78%, 7.14%, the false-positive rates were 0.01%, 0, 0, the false-negative rates were 0, 22.22%, 92.86%, and the Youden′s indices were 0.99, 0.78, 0.07.Conclusions:Right aortic arch combined with aberrant left subclavian artery and double aortic arch have high coincidence rate by ultrasonography in the first trimester, while the diagnostic coincidence rate of isolated aberrant right subclavian artery was low. Ultrasound screening for isolated vascular ring in the first trimester still needs ultrasound examination in the second trimester to exclude the minor cardiac malformations that are difficult to diagnose in the first trimester.