OBJECTIVE: To accurately measure human energy metabolism with high temporal resolution, a respiratory gas analysis system was designed using a breath-by-breath approach. METHODS: Firstly, indirect calorimetry was employed in respiratory gas analysis to measure the respiratory flow and concentration signals in real-time. Secondly, oxygen consumption QO2 and carbon dioxide production QCO2 were calculated through respiratory characteristic alignment and respiratory signal segmentation. Finally, metabolic indexes were calculated according to the Weir formula. Furthermore, a controlled trial was formulated for validation comparisons with the MGC ULTIMA SYSTEM PFX CARDIO2. RESULTS: The results indicate that the data points of metabolic indexes measured by this system all fall within the confidence interval when compared with those of the MGC. CONCLUSION The system has high consistency with the MGC measurement results. Thus, the system can accurately measure metabolism in real-time and provide data support for clinical nutrition assessment and therapy.
Humans ; Energy Metabolism ; Breath Tests/instrumentation* ; Calorimetry, Indirect/instrumentation* ; Equipment Design

The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.

Nine novel compounds, comprising seven tetrahydroanthraquinones (auxarthrolones A-G, 1-7), a γ-butenolide glycoside (malfilamentoside E, 26), and a γ-butenolide (auxarthrolide A, 27), together with eighteen known compounds (8-25) were isolated from rice-based solid culture of Auxarthron umbrinum (A. umbrinum) DSM3193 using the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) approach. The structural elucidation of these compounds was accomplished through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and NMR calculation combined with DP4+ analysis or MAEΔΔδ parameter, while the absolute configurations of new compounds were established through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic data analysis and/or chemical derivatization. Austrocortilutein (10) and auxarthrol H (14) demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity against U87 and U251 [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) 3.5-12.1 μmol·L^-1]. Additionally, auxarthrolone A (1), auxarthrol H (14), eupolyphagin B (15), and 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (17) exhibited torsional effects on fibroblast proliferation challenges induced by oleic acid, thus demonstrating fibroblast proliferation-promoting activity.
4-Butyrolactone/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Anthraquinones/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Objective: To explore the method of relieving intestinal obstruction in patients with recurrent cervical cancer accompanied with intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy. Methods: The data of 10 recurrent cervical cancer patients accompanied with high risk weak constitution and intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy from May 2012 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including preoperative radiotherapy dose, physique and obstruction status, operation time, operation blood loss, postoperative digestive tract patency and diet. All of the 10 patients with cervical cancer recurrence accompanied with intestinal obstruction and disturbance of independent walking after radical radiotherapy. Results: The median fasting time of the 10 patients was 21 days, the median weight was 35.5 kg, the median body mass index (BMI) was 13.3 kg/m^2, the median value of hemoglobin was 67 g/L, and the median value of platelet was 44×10⁹ /L. All of the patients underwent enterostomy. the median operation time was 6.0 min and the median amount of bleeding was 5.0 ml. All of the patients defecated after operation, fed on the first day after operation, and were able to walk on their own 5 days after operation. Conclusions Although the cervical cancer patients with recurrent intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy are extremely weak, some patients still have the opportunity to relieve intestinal obstruction if the treatment strategy and surgical method are appropriate.

Objective:To investigate the types and treatment methods of easily-missed, misdiagnosed intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 21 patients with intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer in our hospital from May 2013 to May 2019 were collected, including the radiation dose, obstruction symptoms, surgical methods and treatment outcomes. The types and treatment methods of intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer were further investigated.Results:The intestinal obstruction occurred in 21 patients with cervical cancer after radical radiotherapy. All patients were initially diagnosed as rectal obstruction and underwent the transverse colostomy. The obstruction symptoms were successfully resolved in 15 patients while failed in other 6 patients who then underwent the re-operation. Four patients with rectal obstruction accompanied by middle or terminal ileum obstruction underwent ileostomy, the other 2 patients with terminal ileum obstruction underwent the transverse ileal anastomosis and partial intestines exclusion surgery. All of the obstruction symptoms were alleviated.Conclusions:Rectal is the major obstruction site of the cervical cancer patients with intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy. However, a possibility of obstruction at the middle or end of the ileum also exists. Therefore, it is very important to avoid misdiagnosis and conduct appropriate operative treatment according to the obstruction site.

Objective:To investigate the types and treatment methods of easily-missed, misdiagnosed intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 21 patients with intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer in our hospital from May 2013 to May 2019 were collected, including the radiation dose, obstruction symptoms, surgical methods and treatment outcomes. The types and treatment methods of intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer were further investigated.Results:The intestinal obstruction occurred in 21 patients with cervical cancer after radical radiotherapy. All patients were initially diagnosed as rectal obstruction and underwent the transverse colostomy. The obstruction symptoms were successfully resolved in 15 patients while failed in other 6 patients who then underwent the re-operation. Four patients with rectal obstruction accompanied by middle or terminal ileum obstruction underwent ileostomy, the other 2 patients with terminal ileum obstruction underwent the transverse ileal anastomosis and partial intestines exclusion surgery. All of the obstruction symptoms were alleviated.Conclusions:Rectal is the major obstruction site of the cervical cancer patients with intestinal obstruction after radical radiotherapy. However, a possibility of obstruction at the middle or end of the ileum also exists. Therefore, it is very important to avoid misdiagnosis and conduct appropriate operative treatment according to the obstruction site.

Objective To explore the potential genetic variants related with late-onset Alzheimer's disease(LOAD),and to broaden the AD genetic susceptibility factor profile.Methods We targetedly sequenced four lipids metabolism related genes including apolipoprotein E(APOE),sortilin-related receptor gene (SORL 1),apolipoprotein C-I (APOC1) and clusterin (CLU),validated these candidate variants in patients with LOAD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)and the controls with normal cognitive function,and made a bioinformatic analysis.Results The mutation in the allele of CLU rs117389184,a low-frequency single nucleotide polymorphism,would increase the risk of LOAD and MCI[OR (95 ％ CI):3.56 (1.08-4.84),P =0.026;OR (95 ％ CI):3.06 (0.98-4.03),P =0.026],suggesting CLU rs117389184 gene variant was associated with cognitive impairment.This variation could affect CLU gene expression by interfering with the binding of transcription factors.Conclusions CLU rs117389184 is a new genetic risk variant for LOAD and MCI.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a genetic cardiac muscle disease that accounts for approximately 30% sudden cardiac death in young adults. The Ser358Leu mutation of transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) was commonly identified in the patients of highly lethal and fully penetrant ARVD subtype, ARVD5. Here, we generated TMEM43 S358L mouse to explore the underlying mechanism. This mouse strain showed the classic pathologies of ARVD patients, including structural abnormalities and cardiac fibrofatty. TMEM43 S358L mutation led to hyper-activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in heart tissues and primary cardiomyocyte cells. Importantly, this hyper activation of NF-κB directly drove the expression of pro-fibrotic gene, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1), and enhanced downstream signal, indicating that TMEM43 S358L mutation up-regulates NF-κB-TGFβ signal cascade during ARVD cardiac fibrosis. Our study partially reveals the regulatory mechanism of ARVD development.

Objective To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection correlated with primary infertility,whether H.pylori infection caused the abnormal elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in primary infertility women,and whether cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) protein played a key role in it.Methods From September 2015 to August 2016,213 patients with primary infertility (infertility group) and 97 healthy individuals (control group) were selected.According to the common etiologies,patients with primary infertility were divided into groups with single-factor infertility,multifactorial infertility and unexplained reason groups.Serum H.pylori IgG antibody and CagA antibody were examined by H.pylori antibody type test kits.The levels of interleukin (IL)-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-13,IL-18,IL-1β,granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF),interferon-γ (IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and IL-12p70 were tested by ProcartaPlex Immunoassays.Chi square test and independent sample t test were performed for statistical analysis and risk was assessed.Results The positive rate of serum H.pylori IgG antibody of patients with primary infertility was higher than that of healthy control group (74.0％,37/50 vs 56.7％,55/97),and the difference was statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) =2.173,95 ％ confidence interval (CI) 1.028 to 4.595,x2=4.216,P =0.040).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate of CagA antibody between primary infertility group and healthy control group (71.7 ％,91/127 vs 74.5 ％,41/55,OR=0.863,95％CI0.421 to1.772,P＞0.05).The serum levels ofIL-8,IL-18 andIFN-γ of H.pylori positive primary infertility patients were (35.14 ± 12.16),(11.83 ± 4.01) and (11.05 ±3.17) ng/L,respectively,which were all higher than those of H.pylori positive healthy control group ((21.44±12.35),(9.89±2.23) and (8.90±1.45) ng/L,respectively) and H.pylori negative primary infertility group ((11.45±8.63),(7.90±0.99) and (8.18±1.10) ng/L,respectively),and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.947,3.366 and 4.811;15.596,8.900 and 8.068;all P＜0.05).The levels of IL-8,IL-18 and IFN-γ of H.pylori positive unexplained reason primary infertility group were (39.97 ± 11.52),(13.12±4.61) and (13.06±3.70) ng/L,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of single-factor infertility group ((31.65 ±11.20),(11.12 ± 3.46) and (10.14 ± 2.41) ng/L,respectively) and multifactorial infertility group ((30.47±8.49),(11.13±3.79) and (10.07±2.50) ng/L,respectively);and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.217,2.942 and 5.738;5.138,2.562 and 5.218;all P＜0.05).In H.pylori positive primary infertility group,the levels of IL-8,IL-18 and IFN-γ of CagA positive patients were (40.42 ± 13.80),(13.04 ± 4.19) and (11.51± 3.41) ng/L,respectively,which were all significantly higher than those of CagA negative patients ((23.49 ± 11.57),(9.08 ± 1.43) and (10.04 ± 2.29) ng/L,respectively) and CagA positive individuals in healthy control group ((21.85 ± 12.14),(10.20 ± 2.29) and (9.31 ± 2.38) ng/L,respectively);and the differences were statistically significant (t =6.507,5.533 and 2.380;7.417,4.069 and 3.738;all P＜0.05).Conclusion CagA positive H.pylori infection can increase the level of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines,which may be a risk factor of primary infertility.To patients with unexplained primary infertility,this may be the cause of infertility.

Objective To observe the influence of calcitriol combined with prolonged hemodialysis on parathyroid hormone (PTH),phosphorus and calcium in maintenance hemodialysis patients with refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism.Methods Twenty-two maintenance hemodialysis patients received prolonged hemodialysis (3 times per week and 6 hours each session) and therapy with calcitriol (3 times per week and 1 μ g each time) for 3 months.The levels of serum PTH,calcium and phosphorus of these patients were recorded before and after treatment.Results Compared with that before treatment,the level of serum PTH and phosphorus was decreased significantly[(484.21 ± 230.18) nmol/L vs.(750.53 ± 327.41) nmol/L,(1.49 ±0.27) mmol/L vs.(2.37 ±0.76) mmol/L],but calcium was increased after treatment [(2.35 ±0.32) mmol/L vs.(1.81 ±0.53) mmol/L],and there was significant difference (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The treatment of calcitriol combined with prolonged hemodialysis not only effectively clear phosphorus and PTH but also increase calcium in maintenance hemodialysis patients.The therapeutic schedule is good to maintenance hemodialysis patients with refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism.