Objective To detect the expression of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in the peripheral blood of patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS),and discuss its role in thc pathogenesis of AS.Methods Twenty AS patients and fifteen healthy controls were enrolled in the study.Th17 (IL-17),Th1 (IFN-γ),Th2 (IL-4)cells and HLA-B27 of their peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry,at the same time,the levels of ESR and CRP were also measured in order to analyze thc relation of Th17 and HLA-B27,ESR as well as the CRP level.The statistical analysis was carried out with single-sample t-test and Speraman's correlation test.Results The level of Th17 cells was significantly higher in the perpipheral blood of AS patients[(2.6±0.8 )%] than those in healthy controls[ (1.1±0.4)% ] (P＜0.01).The level of Th 1 cells was significantly lower in the peripheral blood of AS patients[(3.9±0.8)%] than those in healthy controls[(5.1±1.3)%] (P＜0.01)and the level of Th2 cells was not different in the peripheral blood of AS patients[(4.1±1.6)%] when compared to healthy controls[ (3.1±1.4)% ] (P＞0.05).Th 17 cells was not significantly correlated with the percentage and mean fluorescent intensity of HLA-B27,ESR,CRP(P＞0.05); but there was a tendency that increased expression level of Th17 cells was associated with elevated percentage and mean fluorescent intensity of HLA-B27.Conclusion The level of Th1 cells is decreased,but Th17 is increased in the peripheral blood of AS patients.Th cells are imbalance in AS,patients.The change of Th17 cells may be an important part of the pathogenesis of AS.

Objective:To study the early predictors of Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia in children.Methods:Clinical data of 291 children with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae who were hospitalized in Department of Respiratory Intervention, Qilu Children′s Hospital of Shandong University from August 2016 to September 2018, were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into necrotizing pneumonia group (154 cases) and non-necrotizing pneumonia group (137 cases). After comparing clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and bronchoscopy findings, multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out on the indicators with statistical significance to obtain the independent predictive indicators of Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia, and then the cutoff value with the maximum diagnostic value of each indicator was found through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:There were no significant differences in gender and age distribution, duration before admission, and platelet count between the 2 groups(all P>0.05). Necrotizing pneumonia group manifested with 11.0(8.3-14.4)×10 9/L of white blood cell count, 0.740±0.115 of neutrophil, 44.2(21.2-72.0) mg/L of C-reactive protein(CRP), 55(35-80) mm/1 h of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 0.19(0.08-0.60) ng/L of procalcitonin, 2.63(1.62-3.79) mg/L of plasma D-dimer, 456(340-665) U/L of serum lactate dehydrogenase, (35.6±4.3) g/L of serum albumin, 121 cases(78.6%)of bronchoscopic mucosal erosion, 75 cases(48.7%)of purulent lavage, 119 cases(77.3%)of massive secretions embolism; non-necrotizing pneumonia group manifested with 8.7(6.9-11.6)×10 9/L of white blood cell count, 0.660±0.127 of neutrophil percentage, 15.9(7.5-34.3) mg/L of CRP, 45(30-60) mm/1 h of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 0.10(0.06-0.20) ng/L of procalcitonin, 0.69(0.46-1.24) mg/L of plasma D-dimer, 314(250-419) U/L of serum lactate dehydrogenase, (38.9±3.7) g/L of serum albumin, 53 cases(38.7%)of bronchoscopic mucosal erosion, 20 cases(14.6%)of purulent lavage, and 76 cases(55.5%)of massive secretions embolism.All the above indicators had statistical differences between the 2 groups.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, and bronchoscopic mucosal erosion were independent predictors of Mycoplasma necrotizing pneumonia.The area under the ROC curve were 0.643, 0.749, 0.858 and 0.699, respectively, with the cut off point of 53 mm/1 h, 335 U/L, and 1.36 mg/L, respectively. Conclusions:Erythrocyte sedimentation rate≥53 mm/1 h, serum lactate dehydrogenase≥335 U/L, D-dimer≥1.36 mg/L, and bronchoscopic mucosal erosion are early independent predictors of Mycoplasma necrotizing pneumonia in children, among which D-dimer has the highest value.

ObjectiveTo evaluate radio-frequency hemostasis in hepatectomy.MethodsFrom January 2009 to February 2011,the clinical data of 60 patients undergoing curative liver resection were divided into two groups using radio-frequency hemostasis (RFH) and clamp crushing method (CCM) respectively,RFH group (30 cases) and CCM group (30 cases).There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding the age,sex.hepatic function and tumor size.Data regarding the intra-operative and postoperative courses of the patients were analyzed.ResultsNo damage of hepatic vein occured in RFH group.Hepatic veins rupture occurred in 5 cases and massive bleeding occurred in 3 cases in CCM group.lntra-operative blood loss was significantly less in FRH group [ (219 ±62) ml] than in CCM group [ (416 ±96) ml ] (P ＜ 0.05 ).The postoperative drainage volume in RFH group was significantly less than that in CCM group on the third postoperative day.The serum ALT and T-BIL in RFH group was significantly lower than that in CCM group on postoperative day 1 and day 7 ( separately t =5.987,16.803,22.264,8.386,8.255,all P ＜0.05 ).Postoperative hepatic function in RFH group was significantly better than that in CCM group.ConclusionsThe use of radio-frequency hemostasis in hepatectomy is less traumatic,of less bleeding,faster recovery than clamp crashing method.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and tolerance of ibandronate in Chinese healthy volunteers. METHODS: The trial protocol was designed according to the Good Clinical Practice(GCP). After physical examination and laboratory tests were performed, 36 healthy volunteers were divided randomly into 6 dose groups, including 1 mg , 2 mg , 3 mg , 4 mg , 5 mg and 6 mg , with 6 subjects in each group(3 male and 3 female). Clinical symptoms, vital signs, routine blood tests, routine urine tests, hepatic function, renal function, blood electrolytes, electrocardiogram, and electroencephalogram were observed or examined before and after a single intravenous infusion of ibandronate. RESULTS: After single intravenous infusion doses of 1- 6 mg , the vital signs, clinical symptoms and laboratory tests were all in the normal range, but there were some slight ADRs concerned with the drug, such as hypophosphataemia, increased body temperature, perspiring,pain of bone or muscle and hypocalcaemia. But the ADRs were found vanishing in one or two weeks. CONCLUSION: Single intravenous infusion (up to 6 mg ) of domestic ibandronate in 36 chinese healthy volunteers is safe and tolerable.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plants of Senecio chrysanthemoides.

METHODConstituents were isolated by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS C18, as well as reversed-phase HPLC. Structures of the isolates were identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods.

RESULTEighteen glycosides were obtained from a H2O-soluble portion of an ethanolic extract of the whole plants of Senecio chrysanthemoides and their structures were elucidated as 5'-methoxyligusinenoside B (1), hyuganoside III b (2), citrusin A (3), alaschanioside A (4), citrusin B (5), dehydrodieoniferyl alcohol 4, gamma'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), osmanthuside G (7), syringin (8), dehydrosyringin (9), 2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl) ethanol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), 2-phenylethyl beta-gentiobioside (11), phenethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), nikoenoside (13), benzyl beta-D-glucopyranoyl (1 --> 6 ) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (14), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15), icariside B2 (16), sonchuionoside C (17), and 1-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) methyl] -5,6-dihydropyrrolizin-7-one (18).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new lignan glycoside, and the remaining compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Chromatography ; methods ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Senecio ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plants of Senecio chrysanthemoides.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified by chromatographic techniques over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, preparative TLC and preparative HPLC. Structures of the compounds were identified by NMR and MS spectroscopic methods.

RESULTTwenty five compounds were obtained and their structures were elucidated as seneciphyline (1), senecionine (2) , 1,2-dihydrocacalohastine (3) , eu-desm-4( 15)-ene-1beta,6alpha-diol (4), 7,11,15-trimethyl- 3methylidenehexadecane-1,2-diol (5), faradiol 3-O-palmitate (6),maniladiol 3-O-palmitate (7), faradiol (8), maniladiol (9), beta-amyrin (10), alpha-amyrin (11), betulin (12), loranthol (13), (+)-syringaresinol (14) , 1-hydroxy-4-oxo-cyclohexane-1-acetate (15), 2, 6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (16), stigmasta-5, 22-dien-3beta-hydroxy-7-one (17) , stigmasta-5, 22-dien-7-one (18) , stigmasta-4-en-3-one (19), stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (20), beta-sitosterol (21), stigmasterol (22), daucosterol (23), glycerol 1-hendecanoate (24), and methyl hendecanoate (25).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 5-9,13, 17-20 and 24 were obtained from the genus Senecio for the first time.

Acetates ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Senecio ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain.At present,there are many modeling methods for disc degeneration in China and abroad,but there is not a model for low back pain due to disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor α and complete Freund's adjuvant with a conventional disc mechanical puncture alone. METHODS:A total of 18 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,with 6 animals in each group.No treatment was given in the blank group.Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration were made in the L4-5 segments of rats in the control using conventional mechanical puncture.In the experimental group,on the basis of mechanical puncture,tumor necrosis factor α+complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the L4-5 intervertebral discs using a microinjector to establish a model of disc degeneration induced by mechanical puncture combined with inflammatory factors.Four weeks after surgery,the pain threshold of rats was measured by the hot plate method for assessing the perception of heat injury in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration.MRI examination was performed to observe the disc degeneration in each group.ELISA was used to detect the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and prostaglandin E2.Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O-fast green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the disc. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In terms of pain,the behavioral pain threshold of the experimental group was continuously decreased,and the levels of serum inflammatory factors were significantly higher compared with the control group.In terms of morphology,the MRI results showed that the L4-5 nucleus pulposus signal completely disappeared in the experimental group.Histopathological results showed that in the control group,the nucleus pulposus was intact,more notochord cells were visible,and some fiber rings were ruptured,while in the experimental group,there are fewer notochord cells and the structure of the nucleus pulposus and fibrous ring is disturbed,with the boundary disappearing.To conclude,mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor alpha and complete Freund's adjuvant can successfully establish a discogenic low back pain model in rats.This operation is simple and economical to achieve obvious disc degeneration and low back pain,with greatly shortened molding cycle.This model can be used as a reference for studying discogenic low back pain models.

Objective: To investigate the genetic cause for a family with multiorgan dysplasia and "molar tooth sign" on MRI image. Method: The patient, a 3 months and 21 days old boy, was clinically examined and the medical history of his family was collected. Next generation sequencing was performed to analyze his clinical and genetic causes. Result: Clinical manifestation of the child displayed multiorgan dysplasia, such as six finger deformity, short limbs, coloboma of optic disc and choroid, situs inversus.Cranial MRI showed "molar tooth sign" . The gene sequencing confirmed that the child carried a de novo deletion of c. 2843_2844 delAA in OFD1 gene. Conclusion The child has typical clinical features of Joubert syndrome, such as MRI "molar syndrome" , developmental abnormalities of ocular tissue and limb, visceral inversion, and so on.The OFD1 gene had a novel deletion mutation through gene detection. Combined clinical features with gene detection, it was clear that the child was a rare case of Joubert syndrome type 10 which was the first case of Joubert syndrome caused by OFD1 gene mutation in China.

Objective To investigate the genetic cause for a family with multiorgan dysplasia and“molar tooth sign” on MRI image.Method The patient,a 3 months and 21 days old boy, was clinically examined and the medical history of his family was collected .Next generation sequencing was performed to analyze his clinical and genetic causes .Result Clinical manifestation of the child displayed multiorgan dysplasia, such as six finger deformity , short limbs, coloboma of optic disc and choroid , situs inversus.Cranial MRI showed “molar tooth sign”.The gene sequencing confirmed that the child carried a de novo deletion of c.2843_2844 delAA in OFD1 gene.Conclusion The child has typical clinical features of Joubert syndrome , such as MRI “molar syndrome”, developmental abnormalities of ocular tissue and limb , visceral inversion , and so on.The OFD1 gene had a novel deletion mutation through gene detection . Combined clinical features with gene detection , it was clear that the child was a rare case of Joubert syndrome type 10 which was the first case of Joubert syndrome caused by OFD 1 gene mutation in China .

Alternative polyadenylation(APA)is a crucial step in post-transcriptional regulation.Previous bioinformatic studies have mainly focused on the recognition of polyadenylation sites(PASs)in a given genomic sequence,which is a binary classification problem.Recently,computa-tional methods for predicting the usage level of alternative PASs in the same gene have been pro-posed.However,all of them cast the problem as a non-quantitative pairwise comparison task and do not take the competition among multiple PASs into account.To address this,here we propose a deep learning architecture,Deep Regulatory Code and Tools for Alternative Polyadenylation(DeeReCT-APA),to quantitatively predict the usage of all alternative PASs of a given gene.To accommodate different genes with potentially different numbers of PASs,DeeReCT-APA treats the problem as a regression task with a variable-length target.Based on a convolutional neural network-long short-term memory(CNN-LSTM)architecture,DeeReCT-APA extracts sequence features with CNN layers,uses bidirectional LSTM to explicitly model the interactions among com-peting PASs,and outputs percentage scores representing the usage levels of all PASs of a gene.In addition to the fact that only our method can quantitatively predict the usage of all the PASs within a gene,we show that our method consistently outperforms other existing methods on three different tasks for which they are trained:pairwise comparison task,highest usage prediction task,and rank-ing task.Finally,we demonstrate that our method can be used to predict the effect of genetic variations on APA patterns and sheds light on future mechanistic understanding in APA regulation.