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Objective To explore the correlation between mutations in the promoter region of TBX1 gene and conotruncal heart defects. Methods A total of 621 children with conotruncal heart defects were recruited. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe ampliifcation (MLPA) was used to detect the copy numbers of chromosomal region 22 q 11 . 2 . Children with 22 q 11 . 2 deletion were excluded. Polymerase chain reaction ampliifcation (PCR) and gene sequencing were applied to analyze promoter region of TBX 1 (-2000 ..+1 ) in 605 children with conotruncal heart defects without 22 q 11 . 2 deletion and 588 healthy children. Bioinformatics software was used to predict and analyze the function of the variable loci. Results There were mutations in the promoter region of TBX 1 gene in children with conotruncal heart defects, including 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) sites and 7 rare loci. The incidence of mutation was 1 . 7%. The analysis of 7 rare loci by AliBaba 2 . 1 to showed that 3 of them may inlfuence the combination of trans-acting factors and cis-acting elements of the promoter of TBX 1 gene. Conclusion The mutation in the TBX 1 promoter region may be related to the occurrence of conotruncal heart defects.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of needle-pricking therapy, a newly medical and minimally invasive technique, for functional retrograde ejaculation and to explore its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six patients with functional retrograde ejaculation were randomly divided into an observation group(19 cases) and a control group(17 cases) In the observation group,needle-pricking therapy was used at Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral sacral plexus nerve,lumbar 1 nerve and greater occipital nerve stimulating points,once a week. In the control group, midodrine tablets were prescribed orally,three times a day. All the treatment was given for 9 weeks. The clinical effects of the two groups were observed, and the levels of luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone(Tes) and estra4 diol(E2) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of the observation group was, 89. 47%(17/19), which was better than 47.06% (8/17) of the control group(P<0. 05). The LH and Tes were obviously increased and E2 was decreased compared with those before treatment in the observation group(all P< 0. 01). Tes was raised(P<0. 05) and E2 was apparently declined in the control group(P<0. 01). After treatment, the differences of serum LH and Tes were statistically significant between the two groups(both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONNeedle-pricking therapy has advantages for functional retrograde ejaculation probably in that stimulating lumbosacral nerves can strengthen the function of pelvic floor muscles and urethral expansion muscle and regulate sexual gland axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) vaccine on the degree of hepatic fibrosis in rats ,and to explore the effect of TGF-β1 vaccine on the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)3 and IGFBP7 .Methods The hepatic fibrosis rat model was set up by injecting N-nitrosodimethylamine . Among them , 10 rats were injected with TGF-β1 vaccine , and additional 10 rats were set up as healthy control group .Changes in hepatic pathology were observe and the expressions of IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 were detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot in rat fibrosis tissues after 6 weeks . Normality test and analysis of variance were conducted .LSD test was conducted if variances were tested homogeneity .Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher exact test . Results Changes in hepatic histology and serum levels of hyaluronic acid and laminin suggested that TGF-β1 vaccine interventions could reduce the extent of hepatic fibrosis in rats .The expressions of IGFBP3 mRNA in control group ,hepatic fibrosis model group and vaccine intervention group were 1 .735 ± 0 .097 ,1 .165 ± 0 .096 and 1 .491 ± 0 .046 ,respectively (t= 4 .575 ,6 .285 and 8 .489 ,respectively ,all P< 0 .05) .The expressions of IGFBP7 in the above three groups were 0 .497 ± 0 .021 ,1 .250 ± 0 .064 and 0 .885 ± 0 .149 ,respectively (t= 5 .161 ,30 .101 and 7 .250 , respectively ,all P < 0 .05 ) . Immunohistochemistry proved that the expressions of IGFBP7 in fibrosis model group and TGF-β1 vaccine group were all significantly higher than control group ;and the expressions of IGFBP3 in fibrosis model group and TGF-β1 vaccine group were all significantly lower than control group .The expressions of IGFBP3 protein in control group , hepatic fibrosis model group and vaccine intervention group were 7 .508 ± 0 .357 ,5 .200 ± 0 .210 and 5 .751 ± 0 .178 ,respectively (t = 7 .622 ,6 .180 and 29 .156 , respectively ,all P < 0 .05) . The expressions of IGFBP7 were 1 .176 ± 0 .051 ,1 .735 ± 0 .115 and 1 .428 ± 0 .056 ,respectively (t = 7 .188 ,4 .827 and 8 .649 ,respectively ,all P< 0 .05) .Conclusion TGF-β1 vaccine can affect the expressions of IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 ,which plays an important role in the formation and development of hepatic fibrosis .

BACKGROUND: Neural stem cell transplantation is an emerging therapeutic option in the recovery of neural lesions and neurodegenerative diseases. Neural stem cell culture and differentiation lay a foundation for the further study. OBJECTIVE: To improve the techniques for the isolation, cultivation, differentiation and identification of neural stem cells, and to explore the biological characteristics of cells. METHODS: The neural stem cells from C57BL/6 fetal rats were isolated and cultured in vitro using neurophere culture method followed by morphological and ultrastucture examination. The growth curve and cell cycle of passage 3 cells were drawn and analyzed. Nestin expression was tested by immunofluorescence. Neural stem cells induced in 1% and 10% fetal bovine serum were identified using anti-GFAP, anti-βⅢ-tubulin and anti-MBP by immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The neurospheres exhibited strong cell proliferation ability. Under transmission electron microscope, there was a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in the neural stem cells, indicating a low differentiation degree. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that neural stem cells were positive for Nestin. The induced cells were positive for GFAP, βⅢ-tubulin, and MBP, indicating these cells were induced to differentiate into astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes, and there were more neurons in 1% fetal bovine serum than those in 10% fetal bovine serum. In conclusion, we could successfully isolate neural stem cells in C57BL/6 mice, and low concentration of fetal bovine serum contributes to more neurons differentiated from neural stem cells.

Congenital bicuspid aortic valves(BAV)is one of the most common congenital heart diseases.It is generally diagnosed by echocardiography when deterioration of the abnormal leaflets becomes clinically evident.Patients with BAV are at increased risks of developing serious complications, including aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, aortic dilation, aortic dissection and/or aneurysm, which seriously threatens the health of patients.Although its diagnosis and surgical treatment have been clear, the specific pathogenesis has not been completely revealed.Recently, studies have found that gene mutations and related signaling pathway abnormalities are associated with BAV and its complications.And epigenetics and environmental factors are involved in the development and progress of BAV.Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular basis of normal and pathological aortic valve development may improve the preventative and therapeutic approaches to valve degeneration.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is an ocular fundus disease involving multiple cytokines.Its important pathological process is epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important inflammatory response inducing factor, which can be produced by activated RPE cells, microglia, monocytes and macrophages, and then participate in the occurrence and development of PVR.In addition to cytokines, epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation also play an important role in the development of PVR, in which methyl-CpG binding protein 2(MeCP2) is involved in EMT and fibrosis, and is highly expressed in PVR membrane.The positive expression of MeCP2 is also found in transformed RPE cells and microglia.It is speculated that MeCP2 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of PVR.TNF can also stimulate the expression of MeCP2.This article reviews the role of MeCP2 and the interaction between TNF and MeCP2 in the formation of PVR.

Objective: To investigate the effect of cephalosporin sequential therapy on acute mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by bacterial infection. Methods: From December 2015 to December 2018, 66 patients with acute mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by bacterial infection in Shaoxing Central Hospital were randomly selected.The control group(33 cases) received intravenous infusion of cefuroxime.The observation group(33 cases) was treated with intravenous infusion of cefuroxime, after the abdominal pain disappeared and the peripheral blood cell count returned to normal, the cefuroxime axetil tablet was given orally.The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated, and the treatment costs and adverse reactions of the two groups were counted. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 96.97%(32/33), compared with 90.91%(30/33) of the control group, the difference was not statistically significant(χ²=1.26, P=0.53). The total cost of treatment in the observation group was (326.85±51.88)CNY, which was lower than that of the control group[(576.82±72.17)CNY], the difference was statistically significant(t=16.15, P=0.00). There were no significant adverse reactions in the two groups during treatment periods. Conclusion Sequential therapy with cefuroxime and venous infusion of cefuroxime for the treatment of acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children with bacterial infection is safe, but sequential therapy is less expensive and therefore recommended.