Objective To explore the experience of mothers who provide the first direct breast-feeding for preterm infants in hospital. Methods Using qualitative phenomenological research methods, eleven mothers who provided the first direct breast-feeding for preterm infants in hospital participated in semi-structured interviews. Results Four themes were concluded: the motivation of direct breast feeding in hospital, the lack of experience in breastfeeding, the psychological experience of breastfeeding, and the breast feeding health guidance for premature infants in the hospital expected by mothers. Conclusions Mothers who provide premature infants the first direct breast-feeding in hospital were facing many problems ,there is an urgent need to develop the hospital health guidance , to provide effective social support, helping them transit to direct breastfeeding smoothly and safely after discharge.

Objective To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-?B)/inhibitor protein-kappa B(I?B) signal pathway in viral transactivation of transcription in steroid responsive simple nephrotic syndrome(SRSNS).Methods Children with SRSNS(inclu-ding active stage and remissive stage) were examined,and were compared to children with nephritic nephrosis,secondary glomerular di-seases,bronchiolitis and healthy children.Electro-mobility shift assays,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to detect the activity of NF-?B,the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses (including respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and the levels of viral antibody in plasma,respectively.The protein levels of I?B? and IL-8 were measured through Western blot and ELISA in SRSNS at active stage and healthy children.Results Compared with SRSNS at remissive stage and other groups,the activity of NF?B in SRSNS at active stage was much higher.And there was a positive linear correlation trend between the activity of NF-?B and the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses in SRSNS at active stage.With healthy children,the level of IL-8 in plasma from SRSNS at active stage was significantly increased.There was a positive correlation between the activity of NF?B and the level of IL-8(r=0.88 P

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small RNA molecules best known for their function in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Immunologically, miRNA regulates the differentiation and function of immune cells and its malfunction contributes to the development of various autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Over the last decade, accumulating researches provide evidence for the connection between dysregulated miRNA network and autoimmunity. Interruption of miRNA biogenesis machinery contributes to the abnormal T and B cell development and particularly a reduced suppressive function of regulatory T cells, leading to systemic autoimmune diseases. Additionally, multiple factors under autoimmune conditions interfere with miRNA generation via key miRNA processing enzymes, thus further skewing the miRNA expression profile. Indeed, several independent miRNA profiling studies reported significant differences between SLE patients and healthy controls. Despite the lack of a consistent expression pattern on individual dysregulated miRNAs in SLE among these studies, the aberrant expression of distinct groups of miRNAs causes overlapping functional outcomes including perturbed type I interferon signalling cascade, DNA hypomethylation and hyperactivation of T and B cells. The impact of specific miRNA-mediated regulation on function of major immune cells in lupus is also discussed. Although research on the clinical application of miRNAs is still immature, through an integrated approach with advances in next generation sequencing, novel tools in bioinformatics database analysis and new in vitro and in vivo models for functional evaluation, the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of miRNAs may bring to fruition in the future.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; B-Lymphocytes ; Computational Biology ; DNA ; Humans ; Interferon Type I ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; MicroRNAs* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; RNA ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Up to December of 2011, the domestic and overseas literatures of acupuncture for smoking cessation are searched and collected through Pubmed, CNKI, Wanfang and Chongqing VIP databases, which are analyzed from treatment method, action mechanism, influencing factors of efficacy and efficacy evaluation research and so on. The result shows that (1) acupuncture has positive effect on smoking cessation, and large clinical trials has been carried out. However, most of them are needling methods and the short-term effect observation, which lack of long-term efficacy research of withdrawal symptoms, especially continuous withdrawal symptoms and index of life quality. (2) Because of unified clinical treatment, manipulation standard and curative effect criteria, it is difficult to make comparison among them. (3) The study of mechanism on acupuncture for smoking cessation is not of in-depth. In future, clinical research project of acupuncture on smoking cessation should be optimized and regulated, including the unified treatment, manipulation standard and curative effect criteria, also long-term researches with large-scale samples should be launched to confirm effect ofacupuncture for smoking cessation to further discuss its action mechanism.
Acupuncture Therapy ; trends ; Humans ; Internationality ; Smoking ; psychology ; therapy ; Smoking Cessation

OBJECTIVETo screen for mutations of fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene in 4 patients with Marfan syndrome in order to provide prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

METHODSPotential mutations of the FBN1 gene in the probands were detected with PCR and DNA sequencing. Subsequently, genomic DNA was extracted from amniotic fluid sampled between 18 to 20 weeks gestation. The mutations were confirmed with denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography - robust microsatellite instability (DHPLC-MSI) analysis with maternal DNA as reference. The products were further analyzed by direct sequencing and BLAST search of NCBI database.

RESULTSAn IVS46+1G>A substitution was identified in patient A at +1 position of intron 46 of the FBN1 gene. Two novel missense mutations were respectively discovered at positions +4453 of intron 35 in patient B (Cys1485Gly) and position +2585 of intron 21 in patient C (Cys862Tyr). In patient D, a novel deletion (c.3536 delA) was found at position +3536 of intron 28. In all of the 4 cases, the same mutations have been identified in the fetuses.

CONCLUSIONFBN1 gene analysis can provide accurate diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, which can facilitate both prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of ultrasound microbubble carrying herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

METHODSKunming mice were inoculated subcutaneously with H22 tumor cells. 40 male mice bearing subcutaneous hepatoma were randomized into 4 groups: PBS (group A), HSV1-TK (group B), HSV1-TK (group C), and microbubble carrying HSV1-TK (group D) were injected into the tail vein every 3 days. Mice in group C and D were exposed to ultrasound. The expression of TK protein was detected by western blot. Ganciclovir (GCV) was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 100 mg x kg (-1) x d(-1) in group B, group C and group D. The tumor size was measured every 2 days.

RESULTSTK gene could be injected precisely into hepatocellular carcinoma with ultrasound monitor, and the expression of TK protein was found in all 4 groups. Expression in group D was higher than others (P < 0.05). The rate of tumor growth inhibition were 0 in group A, 3.90%+/-1.80% in group B, 22.70%+/-2.86% in group C, 41.25%+/-3.20% in group D (group B vs group C, P < 0.05; group D vs group C, P < 0.05; group D vs group B, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUltrasound microbubble not only improve target gene therapy, but also enhance transfection efficiency.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; Genetic Therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microbubbles ; Simplexvirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonics

AIM:To study the effect of ClC-3 gene over-expression on thyroid structure and function in mice. METHODS:Three-months-old FVB mice were used to study the difference of thyroid structure and function between wild-type(WT)mouse and ClC-3 transgene mice.The expression and distribution of ClC-3 in the thyroid of mice were deter-mined by the methods of qPCR,Western blot and immunofluorescence.Behavioral monitoring was performed on the daily activities of mice.Serum concentrations of total triiodothyronine(TT3), total thyroxine(TT4)and thyrotropin(TSH) were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Compared with the WT group,the expression of ClC-3 in the thyroid of ClC-3 trans-gene group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The thyroid gland showed obvious hyperplasia and the folliculi glandu-lae thyreoideae was significantly bigger in ClC-3 transgene mice(P<0.05).The weight loss was increased in ClC-3 trans-gene mice(P<0.05).The expression of TT3 and TT4 were significantly higher than that of WT group(P<0.05),but the change of TSH was not obvious.CONCLUSION:ClC-3 over-expression results in thyroid hyperplasia and thyroid hor-mone secretion.This study suggests that ClC-3 is likely to be involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of copy number of SMN1 and SMN2 with clinical phenotypes in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS: A total of 45 children with SMA were enrolled. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to measure the gene copy numbers of SMN1 and SMN2. The association of copy number of SMN1 and SMN2 with clinical phenotypes was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 45 children with SMA, 42 (93%) had a homozygous deletion of SMN1 exons 7 and 8, and 3 (7%) had a deletion of SMN1 exon 7 alone. No association was found between SMA clinical types and the deletion types of SMN1 exons 7 and 8 (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in the distribution of SMN2 gene copy numbers between the children with SMA and the healthy children (P<0.05). The children with SMA usually had two or three copies of SMN2 gene, while the healthy children usually had one or two copies of SMN2 gene. There was a significant difference in the distribution of SMN2 copy numbers among the children with different SMA clinical types (P<0.05). The children with two copies of SMN2 gene had a significantly lower age of onset than those with three or four copies. Most of the children with type I SMA had two or three copies of SMN2 gene. Most of the children with type II SMA had three copies of SMN2 gene. Most of the children with type III SMA had three or four copies of SMN2 gene. Children with a higher copy number of SMN2 gene tended to have an older age of onset and better motor function and clinical outcome, and there was a significant association between SMN2 gene copy number and clinical outcome (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The SMN2 gene can reduce the severity of SMA via the dosage compensation effect. SMN2 copy number is associated with the phenotype of SMA, and therefore, it can be used to predict disease severity.
Child ; Humans ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics ; Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein ; genetics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. METHODS: PD patients (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins-α-synuclein oligomer, β-amyloid (Aβ)(1-42), and tau-were measured in 102 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed pathological proteins in PD patients. RESULTS: The frequency of fatigue in the PD patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of α-synuclein oligomer was higher and that of Aβ1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was significantly and positively correlated with the α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with an increased α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF.
Anxiety ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Parkinson Disease* ; Weights and Measures

Based on the duck plague virus (DPV) UL35 gene sequence that our laboratory obtained (GenBank accession number EF643558), a pair of primers was designed using Oligo6.0 and primer5.0, then the UL35 gene was amplified from DPV CHv strain genomic DNA and cloned into the pMD18-T to construct a clone plasmid pMD18-T-UL35. After identification of the pMD18-T-UL35 by PCR amplification and restriction digestion, the fragment of the UL35 gene was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a(+). The resultant recombinant plasmid pET-32a(+)-UL35 was then transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain and optimally-expressed under the induction of 1.0 mmol/L IPTG at 34 degrees C for 5 hours. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the recombinant protein (VP26) had a molecular weight of about 33KDa and accounted for 32.3% of total bacterial protein by gel scanning. The protein was then purified by Ni(2+)-affinity chromatography and used to immunize rabbit for producing the VP26 anti-serum and its antibody titer was up to 1:32 detected by agar diffusion reaction. After the IgG of the polyclonal antibodies was purified by High-Q anion-exchange chromatography, Western blot analysis indicated that the IgG had specific reaction with the VP26. Moreover, the subcellular localization detection was observed using immunofluorescence technique. The results showed that the specific fluorescences appeared relatively few in nucleus in 2 to 8 hours and increased gradually in 12 to 36 hours and eventually reached to the maximum, which aggregated in the spot region of the nucleus after the duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) were infected by DPV. However, there were only a small amount of specific fluorescences in the cytoplasm in 12 hours and increased with the extension of infection time in 24 to 48 hours. The specific fluorescences finally reached to the maximum in the cytoplasm in 72 hours. The results provided significant data for furthering the study on the function of DPV UL35 gene.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Capsid Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Ducks ; virology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Herpesviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Weight ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism