Objective To investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of curcumin in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced intestinal fibrosis in rats and its mechanism. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into model group, treatment group, control group and normal group with 10each. Except the normal group, the other three groups were given 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mg of TNBS enema on the 1st, 8 th, 15th, 22nd and 29th days,respectively. The rats in treatment group were intraperitonealy injected with 30 mg/kg of curcumin daily. Control group was injected with 0. 9%NaCl solution and normal group received an equal volume of 50% ethanol enema without any treatment. The damage and fibrosis of colon were detected with HE staining and Masson collagen staining, respectively. The contents of interleukin (IL) -2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, IL-4 and IL-17 in colon were measured by enzyme-link immunosorbent analysis (ELISA). The expressions of intestinal fibrosis related cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF) -β1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), Smad3, collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ mRNA were determined by FQ-PCR.Results The macroscopic and micrpscopic colonic damage scores and collagen area were significantly higher in model group (6.14 ± 1.07, 8. 42 ± 1.40 and 36. 59% ± 4.07%, respectively) and control group (6.17 ± 1.47, 8. 17 ±1.47 and 37.18 %±4.05 %, respectively) than those in normal group (2.13±0.64, 2.25±1.28 and 25.43%±5.39% ,respectively)(P＜0.05). Contents of IL2, TNF-α, IL-17, as well as expressions of intestinal fibrosis related cytokines including TGF-β1, CTGF,Smad3, collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ mRNA were also higher in model group [(378. 25±29. 90) ng/L,(87.11±23.85) ng/L, (47.80±5.62) ng/L, 4.71%±2.71%,10.33%±6.99%,9.35%±7.32%,1.52% ± 1.11% and 3.04% ±1.33%, respectively] and control group [(410. 06 ± 64.74) ng/L,(100.41±12.59) ng/L, (41.45±2. 12) ng/L, 4. 12%±3.01%,11.46%±4.72%,10. 11%±3.80%,1. 57% ± 1. 35% and 3. 03% ± 3. 53%, respectively] in comparision with normal group [(179.74±20. 73) ng/L, (35. 47±7. 13) ng/L, (14. 48±7. 52) ng/L and 0. 90%± 1. 13%,0.53%±0.47%, 0. 62%±0. 44%, 0. 16%±0. 09% and 0. 18%±0. 10%, respectively] (P＜0.05). While in treatment group, the macroscopic (4.00 ± 1.07 ) and micrpscopic (5. 13 ± 1.46)colonic damage scores, collagen area (30.01%±7.56%), contents of IL-2 [(223.91±28.04) ng/L],TNF-α [(44.19±4. 77) ng/L] and IL-17 [(14.89±4. 31) ng/L], expressions of TGF-β1 (0.85%±0.76%), CTGF (1.56%±1.13%), Smad3 (3.62%±3.03%), collagen Ⅰ (0.40%±0.31%) and Ⅲ (0.60 % ± 1.02 % ) mRNA were much lower than those in model group and control group (P＜0.05 ), but similar to those in normal group (P＞ 0.05 ). Conclusions Curcumin can inhibit intestinal fibrosis caused by excessive "wound-healing" reaction via reducing the overexpression of cytokines in colonic mucosa and attenuating the inflammation of colon.

Objective:To observe the artifacts produced by dental metal crown made from different materials on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:Mental crows made from Co-Gr,Ni-Gr,low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti were respectively fabricated for upper right second premolar of a ripe crossbreed dog.The 4 different casting crowns were respectively put on experimental tooth and head MRI scan was carried out with 4 sequences of 1.5 T and 6 sequences of 3.0 T MRI respectively.The existence and extent of the arti-facts were assessed and compared.Results:On both 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI,the Go-Gr alloy crown exhibited significantly wider arti-facts than the others (ANAVO analysis,P<0.01).There were no significant differences among Ni-Gr,low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti on 1.5 T MRI(P>0.05).On 3.0 T MRI the artifacts produced by Ni-Gr was larger than that by low-Ti alloy or Pure-Ti(P<0.05,be-tween low-Ti alloy and pure-Ti,P>0.05).By any of the test sequence either on 1.5 T or on 3.0 T,the Co-Gr alloy produced arti-facts in the most slices of MRI imaging and Pure-Ti in the least.Conclusion:Go-Gr alloy may produce larger artifacts than Ni-Gr, low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti on MRI.

Objective To analyze the clonality in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions by evaluating Xchromosome inactivation pattern in the human androgen receptor (HUMARA) gene.Methods Twenty-five paraffinembedded tissue specimens were collected from female patients with KS (n =15) or cutaneous hemangioma (n =10).DNA was extracted from these specimens,and digested with the methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease Hpa Ⅱ.PCR was performed to amplify the HUMARA gene,and the amplicons were separated on a 10％ denaturing polyacrylamied gel and stained with ethidium bromide (EB).The loss of heterozygosity of the HUMARA gene was defined as the presence of two DNA fragments before and one fragment after the endonuclease digestion.The clonality in KS lesions was assessed based on the above results.Results Among the 15 patients with KS,13 (86.7％) were heterozygous for the HUMARA gene,of which,92.31％ (12/13) showed loss of heterozygosity of the HUMARA gene on X-chromosome,suggesting a monoclonal origin.Of the 10 patients with hemangioma,9 were heterozygous for the HUMARA gene,and only one lost heterozygosity of the HUMARA gene.The heterozygosity rate for HUMARA gene was significantly different between the patients with KS and hemangioma (P ＜ 0.01).No statistical difference was observed in the clonality status of KS between patients of different nationality,at different stages,or between patients with and without complicated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion KS is monoclonal in origin.

Objective To evaluate the effects of non-wounded leg ischemic post-conditioning on the serum TNF-α and NO level of rats undergoing pancreas transplantation. Methods Group Sham consisted of 6 normal SD rats. 12 diabetic SD rats were randomly assigned to 2 groups: I/R group consisted of 6 diabetic rats which received ischemia reperfusion and NWLIPO group consisted of 6 diabetic rats which received ischemic post-conditioning. Blood glucose was measured before and after reperfusion. The level of serum NO and TNF-α was monitored 2 hours after long-time reperfusion. Results The level of blood glucose and TNF-α in NWLIPO group was lower than that in I/R group (P＜0. 01) while the level of NO was higher in NWLIPO group than in I/R group (P＜0.01). Conclusion Non-wounded leg ischemic post-conditioning can increase serum NO synthesis and down-regulate TNF-α.

Objective To investigate the effect of ultraviolet ray on DNA methylation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its role in the pathogenesis of SLE.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 45 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls and were cultured in vitro.Then they were irradiated with 311 nm narrow band-ultraviolet my (NB-UVB) in various dosages.DNA methylation was,detected by high-performance capillary electrophoresis and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) mRNA expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR.Results The level of DNA methylation in SLE pafients was lower than that in the control group (P=0.014).DNA methylation was,decreased after UVB exposure with the dosage of 50,100 mJ/cm2 (P＜0.01),but no significant difference could be found in the DNMT1 mRNA expression.No significant correlation was found between the level of DNA methylation and systemic lupus erythematosus activity index (SLEDAI).Conclusion Changes take palce in DNA methylation after UVB exposure,and UVB may affect the pathogenesis of SLE by changing DNA methylation.

Objective To evaluate the application value of confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM)in the differentiation between seborrheic keratosis and Bowen′s disease. Methods CLSM was used to observe typical skin lesions in 88 patients clinically diagnosed with seborrheic keratosis and 18 patients clinically diagnosed with Bowen′s disease. Then, tissue specimens were resected from these lesions and subjected to histopathological examination. Results CLSM imaging of seborrheic keratosis lesions showed gyrus?like structures and keratin?filled inclusion cysts in the epidermis with trabecula?like extension of rete ridges in all the 88 cases, basal cells arranged in a cordike or radial pattern in 9 cases, and bright reflective structures in the basal layer and dermis in 6 cases. CLSM imaging of Bowen′s disease lesions revealed disorderly arrangement of large, irregularly shaped atypical cells in some areas in the middle and lower epidermis, and infiltration of scattered mononuclear cells in the superficial dermis. Conclusion CLSM images of seborrheic keratosis are different from those of Bowen′s disease, and CLSM may be helpful for their differential diagnosis.

Predicting protein-coding genes still remains a significant challenge. Although a variety of computational programs that use commonly machine learning methods have emerged, the accuracy of predictions remains a low level when implementing in large genomic sequences. Moreover, computational gene finding in newly sequenced genomes is especially a difficult task due to the absence of a training set of abundant validated genes. Here we present a new gene-finding program, SCGPred, to improve the accuracy of prediction by combining multiple sources of evidence. SCGPred can perform both supervised method in previously well-studied genomes and unsupervised one in novel genomes. By testing with datasets composed of large DNA sequences from human and a novel genome of Ustilago maydi, SCG-Pred gains a significant improvement in comparison to the popular ab initio gene predictors. We also demonstrate that SCGPred can significantly improve prediction in novel genomes by combining several foreign gene finders with similarity alignments, which is superior to other unsupervised methods. Therefore, SCG-Pred can serve as an alternative gene-finding tool for newly sequenced eukaryotic genomes. The program is freely available at http://bio.scu.edu.cn/SCGPred/.
Algorithms ; Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Exons ; genetics ; Genes, Fungal ; genetics ; Genome, Fungal ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Software ; Ustilago ; genetics

Objective:To explore the team construction and treatment strategy of the Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team.Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients with severe ischemic diabetic foot treated by our Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team Center from Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 were collected, and the overall amputation rate, above-ankle major amputation rate, minor amputation rate and mortality, Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team consultation discipline participation rate and treatment participation degree were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Nineteen patients (15 males and 4 females) were enrolled, aged 26 to 94 (68.6±14.2). All were with severe ischemic diabetic foot ulcer:Rutherford grade 5 or up and dysfunction in 2 or more organs. Complications included arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities in 18 cases, heart diseases in 18, hypertension in 15, and renal insufficiencies in 10. The overall amputation rate was 36.8%, major amputation rate in 21.1%, minor amputation rate in 15.8%, and mortality rate was 15.8%. A total of 16 disciplines participated in Diabetic Foot-Multidisciplinary Team; the main participating disciplines were vascular surgery (19 times), endocrinology (12 times), and cardiology (11 times). The main treatment disciplines were vascular surgery (14 times), plastic surgery (3 times), and cardiology (2 times).Conclusion:For the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot, it is necessary to set up a multidisciplinary team as early as possible to control the causes of diabetic foot ulcer, prevent the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcer, reduce the mortality and amputation rate, and improve the quality of life of patients.

Objective To investigate the distribution and changing resistance proifle ofSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China during the period from January 2005 to December 2014.Methods Seventeen general hospitals and two children’s hospitals were involved in this program. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by means of a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or MIC determination. The results were analyzed according to CLSI 2014 breakpoints.Results The proportion ofSalmonella isolates increased with time from 0.2% in 2005 to 0.7% in 2014. A total of 3 478Salmonella strains were collected from 19 hospitals. The proportion ofSalmonella typhimurium andSalmonella enteritidis was 27.4% and 24.4%, respectively. During the 10-year period, theSalmonella strains showed highest resistance rate to ampicillin (33.3%-64.8%), but low resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam (0-5.3%) and ciprofloxacin (2.4%-14.3%).S. typhimurium showed higher resistance rate thanS. typhi,S. paratyphi andS. enteritidis. About 76.8% and 50.5% ofS. typhimurium were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The average prevalence of multi-drug resistantSalmonellawas 3.9% in the ten-year period, the highest (7.5%) was in 2005, the lowest (1.5%) in 2013.Conclusions During the period from 2004 to 2015, majority of theSalmonella isolates in hospitals across China wasS. typhimurium andS. enteritidis. Ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are no longer appropriate for empirical treatment ofS. typhimurium infection due to high resistance rate.Salmonella isolates are relatively more susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and quinolones. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to identify multi-drug resistant strains ofSalmonella.