Hannum and colleagues performed DNA methylation sequencing to examine the relationship between DNA methylome and aging rate. Notably, they succeeded in building a quantitative and reproducible model based on the epigenetic bio-markers to predict aging rate with high accuracy. This progress enlightens us in many aspects particularly in applying this novel set of bio-markers on studying the mechanism of aging rate using adult tissue-specific stem cells, building up a potential quantitative model to explore the mechanism for other epigenetic factors like non-coding RNA, and understanding the principle and mechanism of 3D chromatin structure in epigenetic modulation.
Aging ; genetics ; pathology ; Base Sequence ; Chromatin ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; trends

BACKGROUNDThe solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is one of the most common findings on chest radiographs. The objectives of clinical practice are to differentiate malignant nodules from benign nodules in the least invasive way and to make a specific diagnosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between perfusion imaging features and microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in SPNs using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT); and to provide the theoretical basis for SPN blood flow pattern and blood flow quantitative features. Also, the study called for the discussion of the method's clinical application value in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant SPNs.

METHODSSixty-eight patients with SPN underwent multi-location dynamic contrast enhanced (nonionic contrast material was administrated via the antecubital vein at a rate of 4 ml/s) MSCT. Precontrast and postcontrast attenuations on every scan was studied. Perfusion, peak height, and the ratio of the peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta were analyzed. Perfusion was calculated using the maximum gradient of the time-density curves (TDC) and the peak height of the aorta. The quantitative parameters (perfusion, peak height, ratio of peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta) of the blood flow pattern were compared with MVD and the VEGF expression of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe perfusion peak heights of malignant ((96.15 +/- 11.55) HU) and inflammatory ((101.15 +/- 8.41) HU) SPNs were significantly higher than those of benign ((47.24 +/- 9.15) HU) SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Ratios of SPN-to-aorta of malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than those of benign SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the peak height and SPN-to-aorta ratio of malignant SPNs and inflammatory SPNs (P > 0.05, P > 0.05). The precontrast densities of inflammatory SPNs were lower than those of malignant SPNs (P < 0.05). Perfusion values of malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than those of the benign SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). The VEGF positive expressions appeared in 32 patients with malignant SPNs and 2 patients with benign SPNs, and the average value of the MVD was higher in patients with malignant SPNs (36.88 +/- 6.76) than in patients with either benign (4.51 +/- 0.60) or inflammatory (26.11 +/- 5.43) SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between the CT perfusion feature and the MVD. The highest correlation was between the peak height of SPN and the MVD (r = 0.657, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTumor microvessel density and VEGF expression facilitate the exploration of the pathophysiological basis of CT perfusion in SPNs. Multi-slice CT perfusion has shown strong positive correlations with angiogenesis in SPNs.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Perfusion Imaging ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between cryoablation (Cryo) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation for treating patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods Patients with AVNRT (n=304) were divided into Cryo group (n=67) and RF group (n=237). The procedure success rate, complete slow pathway block rate, atrioventricular block rate and relapse rate were compared between two groups. Results There was no statistically difference between 2 groups in the success rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 97.0%, P=0.820), complete slow pathway block rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 91.6%, P=0.088), atrioventricular block rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 2.5%, P=0.413), relapse rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 1.7%, P=0.643). But Cryo group had more advantage than RF group. Conclusion Efficacy and safety were comparable between cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation for treating patients with AVNRT.

Objective To explore the feasibility and methodology of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) guided by 3D navigation system (Ensite-NavX) for right atrioventricular accessory pathway.Method Thirty-three cases of right accessory pathway atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia including 16 cases in right free wall,3 in right middle septum,14 in right posterior septum; 23 cases of dominant accessory pathway and 10 cases of concealed were treated by RFCA guided by NavX navigation.NavX navigation modeling method or spatial localization method was exploited to locate target positioning.Result All patients were successfully ablated without serious complications.Among them,25 cases were operated without exposure to X-ray,7 patients were exposed for several seconds to verify catheter position,1 case in right free wall was ablated under X-ray combined with Swartz sheath ablation.Conclusion Nonfluoroscopy or less fluoroscopy RFCA for right atrioventricular accessory pathway with Ensite-NavX is safe and feasible,modeling or spatial orientation method are helpful to locate the ablation target positioning.

[Objective]To investigate the effect of KIF23 gene expression on the proliferation,migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro,and to explore the possible mechanism.[Methods]The KIF23 siRNA was transfected into HepG2 cells by lipofectamine 3000.The expression of KIF23 mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells was de-tected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.The effect of silencing KIF23 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells was studied by CCK-8 assay and plate clone formation assay.The tumor cell abilities of migration and invasion after transfection were measured by scratch assay and Transwell assay.The expression of protein kinase B(PKB/Akt)and phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)protein in HepG2 cells transfected with KIF23-siRNA2 was detected by Western blot.[Results]KIF23-siRNA could effectively si-lence the expression of KIF23 mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells(P<0.01).The results of CCK-8 assay,plate clone forma-tion assay,scratch assay and Transwell assay demonstrated that the cell proliferation,migration and invasion ability of the KIF23-siRNA2 interference group were significantly inhibited,compared to the negative control group and the blank control group(P<0.05).The expression level of total Akt protein in HepG2 cells was not changed,but the expression level of phos-phorylated Akt protein was down-regulated(P<0.05).[Conclusions]KIF23 may promote the proliferation,migration and in-vasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating Akt signal transduction pathway.KIF23 is expected to be a new target for gene therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective:To construct a scientific and reasonable early warning evaluation index system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth, so as to provide a content framework for the establishment of an information management platform.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 15 experts from 2 colleges and universities, 5 ClassⅢ Grade A general hospitals and 2 ClassⅢ Grade A maternal and child health hospitals in Henan Province as the subject of consultation. The early warning evaluation indicators of high-risk pregnancy during childbirth were determined through literature research, group discussion, and Delphi expert consultation method. Convenience sampling method was adopted to select 288 pregnant women admitted to the hospital for delivery from February to April 2020 in a ClassⅢ Grade A hospital in Henan Province as the research object. The early warning evaluation index system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth was used to evaluate pregnant women.Results:The final early warning evaluation index system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth included 7 first-level indicators and 27 second-level indicators. The expert authority coefficients of the two rounds of consultation were 0.91 and 0.93, respectively, and the Kendall harmony coefficients were 0.241 and 0.385, respectively ( P<0.001) . The area under the ROC curve predicted by the early warning evaluation index system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth was> 0.85, and the best cut-off point was 9.98. Conclusions:The constructed early warning evaluation index system for high-risk pregnancy during childbirth has comprehensive content and high reliability, which will help midwives to identify high-risk pregnancy during childbirth.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2 in rats and pigs.

METHODSThe silicosis models in rats and pigs were established by non-exposure method. The pathologic changes in lung tissues of rats and pigs were observed with HE staining under a light microscopy and under a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the expression of cytokines was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) The main pathologic changes of silicosis models in rats and pigs included: in 7 ∼ 15 days after treatment, silica dusts, dust cells, a lot of macrophages, lung epithelial cells, a few neutrophils, macrophage alveolar inflammation and nodules of stage I were found in alveolar space; in 30 ∼ 90 days after treatment, many nodules of stage I-III or IV with lymphocytes infiltration were observed in respiratory bronchioles, alveoli, interlobular septa, the subpleural and around blood vessels and bronchi. (2) The expression levels of CK protein, SP-A protein, CD68, b-FGF, TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, NFKappa/P50, Kappa/P65 and VEGF reduced with exposure time, but still were higher than those of the control. (3) The shed alveolar type I cells, proliferation of alveolar type II cells or macrophages and activated cellular function induced by silica were observed under TEM.

CONCLUSIONThe development of pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis models corresponded with the process from macrophages alveolar inflammation to pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Lung ; cytology ; pathology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; metabolism ; Male ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silicosis ; pathology ; Swine

Stroke， including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke， has the characteristics of high morbidity， high disability rate， high mortality rate， high recurrence rate， and high economic burden. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke， which is mainly caused by intracranial artery occlusion. The clinical manifestations of patients are hemiplegia， aphasia， sensory disturbance， and other neurological deficits， accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation and gastrointestinal bleeding. Intestinal flora plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke， and its potential biological effects have received extensive attention. Intestinal flora can not only affect intestinal barrier function but also regulate gastrointestinal immunity and affect host homeostasis. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has shown remarkable effects and small adverse reactions in the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia. The research on the effect of TCM in improving cerebral ischemia injury by regulating the structure and metabolism of intestinal flora and maintaining the function of intestinal flora has gradually become a hot topic. Based on the interaction between TCM and intestinal flora in relevant literature in recent years， this review investigated the mechanism of anti-cerebral ischemic injury of TCM via regulating intestinal flora structure， affecting intestinal flora metabolism， and regulating body immunity and made a summary， proving a basis for further elucidating the role of intestinal flora in cerebral ischemia and the mechanism of TCM in prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of domestic levosimendan versus dobutamine for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Methods ADHF patients from 8 medical centers were recruited in this multicenter,blind,positive-controlled,randomized study and received 24 h intravenous levosimendan (n =114) or dobutamine (n =114) therapy.SWAN-GANZ catheter was performed in patients with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ≥ 15 mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0.133kPa) and cardiac index (CI) ≤ 2.5 L · min-1 · m-2 ( n =39 each).Results Compared with baseline level,LVEFincreased [(31.56 ±9.69)％ vs.(28.44 ±7.08)％,P＜0.01] at 24 h in both groups.LVEF increase at 24 h was similar between two groups [ ( 3.11 ± 6.90 ) ％ vs.( 3.00 ± 6.63 ) ％,P ＞0.05].The PCWP decrease at 24 h was significantly greater in levosimendan group than in dobutamine group [ ( - 8.90 ± 7.14) mm Hg vs.( - 5.64 ± 6.83) mm Hg,P =0.04 ].Decrease in NT-proBNP at 3 days was also more significant in levosimendan group than in dobutamine group [ the percentage change compared to baseline:( - 22.36 ± 38.98) ％ vs.( - 8.56 ± 42.42) ％,P ＜ 0.01 ].Dyspnea improvement at 24 h was more significant in levosimendan group than in dobutamine group.The incidences of adverse reactions and events were similar between two groups.Conclusion LVEF improvement is similar between dobutamine and domestic levosimendan while greater decreases in PCWP and NT-proBNP are achieved with domestic levosimendan in patients with ADHF.

Animals ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Swine