No abstract available.
Animals ; Dogs* ; Nephrectomy*

Butanedioic acid was isolated from the ethyl alcohol extract of Hedysarum polybotrys. The methylated carboxylic acid was identified by GC-MS method.
Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Succinates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

INTRODUCTIONWe report the fi rst successful preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis in Singapore, involving both fresh and frozen embryo replacement cycles.

CLINICAL PICTURETwo couples who were carriers of the Southeast Asian type double gene deletion (--(SEA) deletion carriers) requested for PGD. Couple A had 2 previous affected pregnancies, while couple B have a child of unknown genotypic status.

TREATMENTOne PGD cycle was performed for each couple. The --(SEA) deletion was detected using a gap-PCR strategy. Couple A had 1 fresh-embryo replacement cycle while couple B underwent 2 frozen-embryo replacement cycles.

OUTCOMECouple A achieved a twin pregnancy. Second trimester complications resulted in premature delivery, where 1 baby girl survived. Couple B achieved a singleton pregnancy resulting in delivery of a healthy baby boy. Genotype analysis of all babies confirmed the PGD results consistent with clinically unaffected status.

CONCLUSIONSWe have successfully performed PGD to avoid Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Genetic Carrier Screening ; Genetic Testing ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Male ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Ovulation Induction ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Singapore ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; alpha-Globins ; genetics

INTRODUCTIONWe report on the first successful preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in Singapore.

CLINICAL PICTUREA couple who are beta-thalassaemia carriers and have an affected daughter requested for PGD.

TREATMENTTwo cycles of PGD were performed on the couple. Beta-thalassaemia mutations were detected using a nested PCR and minisequencing strategy, and unaffected embryos were selected for transfer.

OUTCOMEA singleton pregnancy was achieved in the second PGD cycle, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby boy with carrier genotype.

CONCLUSIONSThis case report documents the first successful PGD in Singapore, involving a couple at-risk of transmitting beta-thalassaemia major.

Adult ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control

Objective: To analyze the mortality and years of life lost (YLL) trends of cervical cancer in Tianjin, and provide references for the research and prevention programs of cervical cancer. Methods: Mortality rate, standard mortality rate, cumulative rate (0-74 years-old) and truncated rate (35-64 years-old) of cervical cancer from 1999 to 2015 were calculated. The annual percentage change of the mortality rate and YLL rate were analyzed by using Joinpoint regression analysis, and the trend in different age-groups were analyzed. Results: From 1999 to 2015, 1 741 cases died of cervical cancer in Tianjin, the average crude mortality rate was 2.15/100 000. The average age-standardized rate of (ASR) China and ASR world were 1.47/100 000 and 1.50/100 000 respectively. The average YLL was 3 347.97 person-years. Deaths occurred in those aged 0-34 years, 35-64 years and 65 years and over accounted for 3.10%, 57.84% and 39.06% of the total, respectively. The mortality rate of cervical cancer in urban area was higher than that in rural area, with a ratio of 1.37∶1 between urban area and rural area. The age-specific mortality rate of cervical cancer during 1999-2015 increased with age. Two peaks of mortality rate were observed in those aged 50 years and aged 75 years, during 2014-2015. From 1999 to 2011, the mortality rate of cervical cancer was stable (APC=-0.2%, P=0.80), but there was a rapid increase from 2011 to 2015 (APC=21.6%, P<0.01). But group aged 20-49 years, it showed an upward trend from 1999 to 2015 (APC=6.9%, P<0.01). For group aged 50-69 years, it showed a downward trend from 1999 to 2007 (APC=-9.2%, P<0.01), and an upward trend from 2007 to 2015 (APC=14.5%, P<0.01). For group aged 70 years and over, it showed a downward trend from 1999 to 2009 (APC=-10.2%, P<0.01), but the difference in the mortality were not significant from 2009 to 2015 (APC=7.8%, P=0.10). Since 2008, the YLL rate of cervical cancer in group aged 50-70 years had exceeded that in group aged >70 years and the gap gradually widened. Conclusions: There had been a rapid increase trend of cervical cancer mortality since 2011 in Tianjin. Women aged 50-70 years were the main group of life loss.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Mortality/trends* ; Regression Analysis ; Residence Characteristics ; Survival Rate/trends* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/mortality* ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the rates on prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in population older than 15 years of age in Beijing, 2013-2014. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Beijing between 2013-2014. Stratified multistage random sampling method was used to select representative sample of 13 057 Chinese individuals aged over 15 years, from the general population. Blood pressure was measured for three readings at sitting position after resting for at least five minutes with an average reading recorded. A standardized structured questionnaire was developed to collect history of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. Results: A total of 4 663 community residents aged over 15 years were hypertensive among the 13 057 individuals, with the standardized prevalence rate as 32.7%, in Beijing area. The age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension appeared 34.6% in men and 30.8% in women. The age-and sexstandardized prevalence of hypertension rates were 33.3% in urban and 24.6% in rural areas. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age and appeared higher in men than in women, in urban than in rural residents. Among the hypertensive patients, rates of awareness, treatment and control were 66.8%, 64.6% and 31.6%, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of hypertension with low rates on awareness and treatment and control, appeared in the general population of Beijing. Related strategies should be developed regarding prevention, control and management of hypertension, to reduce the burden of this disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Awareness ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Determination ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Distribution ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.
Antigens, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; Bacterial Proteins ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Exotoxins ; Female ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Pharyngitis/microbiology* ; Pharynx/microbiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scarlet Fever/microbiology* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purification* ; Superantigens/genetics*

Adult ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

[Abstract] Objective: To analyze the expression of miR-185 and cell division cyclin 42 (CDC42) in osteosarcoma tissues and cells, and to preliminarily explore whether miR-185 affects the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma MG63 cells by regulating CDC42. Methods: The cancer tissues and para-cancerous tissues of 28 patients with osteosarcoma that pathologically confirmed in the Fourth People's Hospital of Hengshui City from January 2020 to January 2021 were collected for this study. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CDC42 in osteosarcoma tissues, and qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-185 in osteosarcoma tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment was applied to verify the targeting relationship between CDC42 and miR-185. According to different transfectants, MG63 cells were divided into miR-185 mimic group, miR-NC group, miR-185 inhibitor group, NC-inhibitor group, CDC42 group (transfected with CDC42 over-expression vector), and negative control (NC) group. The effects of miR-185 and CDC42 expression on the migration, proliferation and cell cycle of MG63 cells were detected by scratch healing assay, CCK-8 method and FCM, respectively. A nude mouse xenograft model was constructed by inoculating osteosarcoma MG63 cells. Immunohistochemistry, qPCR and WB methods were used to detect the effects of over-expression or knock-down of miR-185 on the expression of Ki67 and CDC42 in transplanted tumor tissues. Results: Compared with para-cancerous tissues, the expression of miR-185 in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly decreased, while the expression of CDC42 was significantly increased (all P<0.01). CDC42 was verified to be a target gene of miR-185. Compared with the control group, the migration and proliferation of MG63 cells in the miR-185 mimic group were inhibited (all P<0.01), while the migration and proliferation of MG63 cells in the CDC42 group were increased and the cell cycle was arrested in the S phase (all P<0.01). Compared with the miR-185 group, the migration and proliferation abilities of MG63 cells in the miR-185+CDC42 group were promoted, and the proportion of cells in S phase was increased (all P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of Ki67 and CDC42 in the transplanted tumor tissues of miR-185 mimic group was significantly decreased (all P<0.01), while the opposite results were observed in miR-185 inhibitor group (all P<0.01). Conclusion: miR-185 is lowly expressed while CDC42 is highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues. miR-185 can inhibit the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma MG63 cells by negatively regulating the expression of CDC42.

Background: There is considerable heterogeneity in findings and a lack of consensus regarding the interplay between osteoporosis and outcomes in patients with lumbar degenerative spine disease. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to gather and analyze existing data on the effect of osteoporosis on radiographic, surgical, and clinical outcomes following surgery for lumbar degenerative spinal disease. Methods: A systematic review was performed to determine the effect of osteoporosis on the incidence of adverse outcomes after surgical intervention for lumbar degenerative spinal diseases. The approach focused on the radiographic outcomes, reoperation rates, and other medical and surgical complications. Subsequently, a meta-analysis was performed on the eligible studies. Results: The results of the meta-analysis suggested that osteoporotic patients experienced increased rates of adjacent segment disease (ASD; p=0.015) and cage subsidence (p=0.001) while demonstrating lower reoperation rates than non-osteoporotic patients (7.4% vs. 13.1%; p=0.038). The systematic review also indicated that the length of stay, overall costs, rates of screw loosening, and rates of wound and other medical complications may increase in patients with a lower bone mineral density. Fusion rates, as well as patient-reported and clinical outcomes, did not differ significantly between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic patients. Conclusions Osteoporosis was associated with an increased risk of ASD, cage migration, and possibly postoperative screw loosening, as well as longer hospital stays, incurring higher costs and an increased likelihood of postoperative complications. However, a link was not established between osteoporosis and poor clinical outcomes.