Objective To elucidate the mechanism of accelerated apoptosis of monocytes in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods 17 LN patients were enrolled in the study and 15 healthy volunteers were selected as controls. The expression of Faa and Fas ligand (FasL) was examined by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometer analysis. The apoptosis and survival rate of monocytes cultured in vitro with human FasL (rHu-FasL) was analyzed by flow cytometer analysis and 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) staining, respectively. Results Faa expression on monocytes was significantly higher in LN patients than that in healthy subjects. There was no difference of monocytes Fas expression between active LN patients and silent LN patients. There was no detectable FasL expression on monocytes from both LN patients and healthy controls. When monocytes cultured in vitro with rHu-FasL, there was a significantly increasing apoptosis and a decreasing survival rate of monocytes in LN patients as compared to healthy controls. Conclusion The up-regulated expression of functional Fas on monocytes may contribute to the accelerated apoptosis of monocytes in LN patients.

Objective To discuss the predictable factors for the occurrence of intraoperative aneurysm rupture(IAR) of anterior circulation aneurysm treated by clipping.Methods The clinical data of 96 patients with 115 aneurysms treated by clipping were retrospectively analyzed.The univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis was performed for the risk factors of IAR such as history of hypertension,pre-operative Hunt-Hess scale,aneurysm location,aneurysm sac,aneurysm dome/neck ratio,aneurysm direction,and operation time.Results Twenty-one patients occurred IAR [18.3 ％ (21/115) of aneurysms,21.9％ (21/96) of patients] during the operation,2 patients died and 94 patients were estimated by Rank scale:0 score was for 66 patients,2 scores was for 10 patients,3 scores was for 6 patients,4 scores was for 4 patients,5 scores was for 6 patients and 6 scores was for 2 patients at 6 months after surgery.Statistic analysis revealed that history of hypertension (P =0.037),pre-operative Hunt-Hess scale (P =0.040),aneurysm direction (P =0.009),aneurysm sac (P =0.010),operation time (P =0.001) and aneurysm dome/neck ratio (P =0.029) were the predictable factors for the occurrence of IAR,while aneurysm location was not included (P =0.198).Conclusion The history of hypertension,pre-operative Hunt-Hess scale,aneurysm direction,aneurysm sac,operation time and aneurysm dome/neck ratio 1.78-2.89 are the predictable factors for the occurrence of IAR and the combination of various factors lead to the occurrence of IAR.

Objective: To study if the immune-enhancing effect of Arg was mediated via liver.Methods: The direct effect of Arg on T cell proliferation was measured by 3H-TdR incorporation. Rat hepatocytes were primarily cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium, and then cultured in medium containing Arg(?mol/L:0,7.5,75,750,7 500), and the supernatant was collected at 0, 24, 48, 72 hours, and added to splenocytes culture, and T cell proliferation, NK cell activity and IL-2 activity,〔Ca 2+〕i were measured respectively.Results: Arg had no direct effect on splenocyte proliferation. The hepatocyte culture supernatant significantly increased the lymphocyte〔Ca 2+〕i ,IL-2 activity and T lymphocyte proliferation; 7 500 ?mol/L was most effective. Conclusion: Arg may enhance immune function via secretion of bioactive molecules by hepatocytes.

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To characterize the phenotypic and genetic features of a patient with Lowe syndrome. METHODS:The clinical data and the MRI of a ten-month-old patient were analyzed.At the same time, all exons of the OCRL gene of the patient and his parents were amplified and Sanger-sequenced.RESULTS:Clinical analysis revealed that the patient has abnormal vision, nystagmus, congenital cataract, hypotonia, proteinuria, hematuria and psychomotor retar-dation.MRI showed white matter myelination delay, bilateral frontal and temporal dysplasia, and subarachnoid cavity en-largement.The results of PCR and Sanger sequencing detected a de novo mutation, NM_000276.3: c.1280-1281delTT (p.Cys428Hisfs*2), a deletion causing a frame shift.To our knowledge, this mutation in OCRL gene has not been repor-ted previously.CONCLUSION:The clinical manifestations suggested a phenotype of Lowe syndrome, and molecular ge-netic testing confirmed the diagnosis.The novel de novo mutation enriches the OCRL mutation spectrum.

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between sensory characteristics and gray matter volumes in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD. Methods: A total of 40 ASD children who were treated or recovered in Xi an medical institutions and 16 typically developing (TD) children who were from several kindergatens in Xi an were invited for participation. Sensory characteristics were evaluated by the sensory processing and self regulation checklist, 3D structural brain images were obtained with TIWI, and gray matter volumes were analyzed by voxel based morphometry. Sensory characteristics and gray matter volumes were compared between groups and the relationship between sensory characteristics and different gray matter volumes were analyzed. Results: The scores of auditory, visual, tactile, sensory processing ability and sensory under responsivity in the ASD group were lower than those in the TD group ( Z/t =-2.63, -2.57 , -3.11, -2.19, -3.83, P <0.05). Gray matter volumes in nine brain regions increased in the ASD group compared to the TD group, including the left and right posterior inferior lobe, right parahippocamal gyrus, left insula, left media frontal gyrus, left superion occipital gyrus, right superion occipital gyrus, right superion parietal lobe, and right posterion central gyrus ( t =3.53, 3.69 , 3.37, 3.86, 3.61, 3.37, 4.04, 3.38, 3.16, P <0.01). In the ASD group, the scores of visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, sensory processing ability, sensory seeking behavior and sensory over responsivity were negatively correlated with gray matter volumes of left superior occipital gyrus ( r =-0.36, -0.40, -0.39, -0.36, -0.40, -0.36), and the scores of visual, vestibular, and sensory over responsivity were negatively correlated with gray matter volumes of the right superior parietal lobule ( r =-0.36, -0.50, -0.42)( P <0.05). Conclusion The presence of paresthesia in children with ASD is associated with gray matter volumes of the left superior occipital gyrus and right superior parietal lobule.

OBJECTIVETo screen for mutations of NTRK1 gene in a Chinese family affected with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from the proband and her family members. All of the 17 exons and intron-exon boundaries of the NTRK1 gene were analyzed by direct Sanger sequencing. For the deletional mutation, the PCR products were subjected to T-A cloning and sequencing to verify the mutation.

RESULTSNTRK1 gene analysis revealed that proband has carried a c.1786C>T (p.Arg596*) nonsense mutation inherited from her mother and a novel deletional mutation c.1928-2028+23del from her father. Her elder brother only carried the deletional mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe diagnosis of CIPA relied on typical clinical symptoms of no pain, anhidrosis and intellectual disability and detection of the biallelic NTRK1 mutations. The novel deletional mutation has enriched the spectrum of NTRK1 mutations.

Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Receptor, trkA ; genetics

Objective:To analyze the 6-year operation faults of PHILIPS Brilliance big bore CT, identify the common problems, make corresponding maintenance plans, reduce the incidence of failures, and carry out simulation prediction of the occurrence rate of failures in the next few years.Methods:The failure data of Brilliance big bore CT from June 2012 to June 2018 were collected, and the curve estimation function in SPASS 19.0 software and the pareto diagram were used to analyze the relationship between the number of failures, time and failure types, and the prediction was made.Results:A total of 28 faults occurred during the 6-year opeation of Brilliance big bore CT. During the first half year, five times of faults occurred with the highest fault rate and then tended to stabilize. The linear function model was obtained using the curve estimation: y=-0.033 x+ 2.099( y for the number of fault, unit for times, x for the unit of time for half a year), the model of R2=0.003. In the next three years, approximately twice faults occurred within half year. The pareto chart showed that 16 faults occurred during data collection, including 3 faults in the treatment bed and 3 faults in the power supply system, respectively. The accumulative ratio of the above three faults was 71.4%, which were the main fault sources. Conclusion:The fault statistical analysis of Brilliance big bore CT is helpful for department maintenance personnel to better understand CT, develop effective maintenance programs, reduce the occurrence of faults, and predict the incidence of faults in the future.

To summarize Prof. ZHANG Zhiyuan's clinical experience in using large doses of Fuzi （Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata）. The effect of Fuzi is based on its acrid and hot propoerties， warming and invigorating yang qi and running without guard. The application of large doses of Fuzi can be categorized into raw and processed， with common dosage ranging from 30 g to 60 g of raw Fuzi， and 15 g to 30 g， 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi. The quantity-effect relationship of the large dose of Fuzi is summarized as 15 g to 30 g of processed Fuzi could warm water， warm yang and eliminate timidity， as the treatment of asthma with deficiency cold phlegm， edema of yang deficiency， and panic and timidity of yang deficiency； 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi could tonify fire， warm the meridians and collaterals， assist yang to dispel cold and relieve pain， as the treatment of coldness in the limbs， abdominal pain， pain in the joints of the limbs， and loose stools due to deficient yang qi and exuberant internal yin cold； 30 g to 60 g raw Fuzi could restore yang to save from collapse， as the treatment of yang depletion after profuse sweating and vomiting. At the same time， different dosages of Fuzi were flexibly paired with other medicines， i.e.， 15 g to 30 g of processed Fuzi was paired with Mahuang （Ephedrae Herba） and Xixin （Asari Radix et Rhizoma） to assist yang to dispel coldness， 30 g to 60 g of processed Fuzi was paired with Baizhu （Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma） or Wuzhuyu （Euodiae Fructus） to warm yang and dispel dampness， and 30 g to 60 g of raw Fuzi was paired with Shanzhuyu （Corni Fructus） to tonify both yin and yang.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based cell transplantation is an effective means of treating chronic liver injury, fibrosis and end-stage liver disease. However, extensive studies have found that only a small number of transplanted cells migrate to the site of injury or lesion, and repair efficacy is very limited. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) were generated that overexpressed the erythropoietin (EPO) gene using a lentivirus. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect the viability of BM-MSCs after overexpressing EPO. Cell migration and apoptosis were verified using Boyden chamber and flow cytometry, respectively. Finally, the anti-fibrosis efficacy of EPO-MSCs was evaluated in vivo using immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: EPO overexpression promoted cell viability and migration of BM-MSCs without inducing apoptosis, and EPO-MSC treatment significantly alleviated liver fibrosis in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced mouse liver fibrosis model. CONCLUSION EPO-MSCs enhance anti-fibrotic efficacy, with higher cell viability and stronger migration ability compared with treatment with BM-MSCs only. These findings support improving the efficiency of MSCs transplantation as a potential therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based cell transplantation is an effective means of treating chronic liver injury, fibrosis and end-stage liver disease. However, extensive studies have found that only a small number of transplanted cells migrate to the site of injury or lesion, and repair efficacy is very limited. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) were generated that overexpressed the erythropoietin (EPO) gene using a lentivirus. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect the viability of BM-MSCs after overexpressing EPO. Cell migration and apoptosis were verified using Boyden chamber and flow cytometry, respectively. Finally, the anti-fibrosis efficacy of EPO-MSCs was evaluated in vivo using immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: EPO overexpression promoted cell viability and migration of BM-MSCs without inducing apoptosis, and EPO-MSC treatment significantly alleviated liver fibrosis in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced mouse liver fibrosis model. CONCLUSION EPO-MSCs enhance anti-fibrotic efficacy, with higher cell viability and stronger migration ability compared with treatment with BM-MSCs only. These findings support improving the efficiency of MSCs transplantation as a potential therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.