The antisense transcript long non-coding RNA (1ncRNA) (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus,ANRIL) is an antisense of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B) gene on chromosome 9p21 that contains an overlapping 299-bp region and shares a bidirectional promoter with alternate open reading frame (ARF).In the context of gene regulation,ANRIL is responsible for directly recruiting polycomb group (PcG) proteins,including polycomb repressive complex-1 (PRC-1) and polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC-2),to modify the epigenetic chrornatin state and subsequently inhibit gene expression in cis-regulation.On the other hand,previous reports have indicated that ANRIL is capable of binding to a specific site or sequence,including the Alu element,E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1),and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF),to achieve trans-regulation functions.In addition to its function in cell proliferation,adhesion and apoptosis,ANRIL is very closely associated with atherosclerosis-related diseases.The different transcripts and the SNPs that are related to atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD-SNPs) are inextricably linked to the development and progression of atherosclerosis.Linear transcripts have been shown to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis,whereas circular transcripts are protective against atherosclerosis.Furthermore,ANRIL also acts as a component of the inflammatory pathway involved in the regulation of inflammation,which is considered to be one of the causes of atherosclerosis.Collectively,ANRIL plays an important role in the formation of atherosclerosis,and the artificial modification of ANRIL transcripts should be considered following the development of this disease.

OBJECTIVEThis is a preliminary study of the endoscopic technique on open surgery. The purpose of this study is to introduce the use of endoscopic technique for the reconstruction of the condyle with costochondral graft through a preauricular incision.

METHODS33 patients of temporomandibular joint diseases (n=49) underwent reconstruction of mandibular condyle with costochondral graft. After preparation of the recipient site through a preauricular incision, maxillo-mandibular fixation, and preparation of the costochondral graft, the graft was fixed to the lateral side of the mandible ramus under the supervision of arthroscope.

RESULTSAll the patients had successful reconstruction of the condyle with costochondral graft without any severe bleeding or craniocerebral injury.

CONCLUSIONThis case series demonstrates the feasibility of endoscopic technique for the reconstruction of the condyle through a preauricular incision. It has the advantage of high efficiency, minimal postoperative morbidity, great patient comfort, and little appearance impairment. The endoscopic technique has a promising future.

Adult ; Arthroscopes ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Mandibular Condyle ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

OBJECTIVETo investigate one-staged orthognathic surgery and arthroscope-assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft for temporomandibular diseases combined with dental-maxillofacial deformities.

METHODSThe preoperative measurement and model surgery was performed. The patients underwent arthroscope assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft combined with bimaxillary surgery or mandibular surgery.

RESULTSFrom Sept. 2003 to Dec. 2005, 15 cases were treated successfully with no bleeding, nerve injury and infection. The patients were followed up for 29 to 52 months (mean, 31.8 months). The appearance was markedly improved. TMJ function was good with no pain. The average maximum interincisal opening was 33.6 mm.

CONCLUSIONCompared with traditional operation, one-staged orthognathic surgery and arthroscope-assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft has its advantages. Indication selection and preoperative design are very important.

Adult ; Cartilage ; transplantation ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Ribs ; transplantation ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe main therapeutic treatments for hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) include thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stent placement, and liver retransplantation. The prognosis of hepatic artery complications after OLT is not only related to the type, extent, and timing but also closely associated with the selection and timing of the therapeutic methods. However, there is no consensus of opinion regarding the treatment of these complications. The aim of this study was to determine optimal treatment for hepatic artery complications after OLT.

METHODSThe clinical data of 25 patients diagnosed with hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) between October 2003 and March 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatments included liver retransplantation and interventions which contain thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement.

RESULTSAmong five patients with HAT, 3 were treated with thrombolysis. One recovered, one died after thrombolysis and another one died of multi-organ failure after retransplantation because of recurrent HAT. The remaining 2 patients underwent successful retransplantation and have survived after that. Among 12 patients presented with HAS within 1 month postoperatively, 2 patients underwent retransplantation due to irreversible liver failure and another 10 patients were treated with interventions. The liver function failed to improve in 3 patients and retransplantations were performed in 4 patients after stent placement because of ischemic cholangitis. Among 6 patients undergoing liver retransplantations, two died of intracranial hemorrhage and infection respectively. Eight patients presented with HAS after 1 month postoperatively, 5 patients were treated with interventional management and recovered after stent placement. Among another 3 patients presented with HAS, 2 patients' liver function was stable and one patient received late liver retransplantation due to ischemic bile duct lesion.

CONCLUSIONSIndividualized therapeutic regimens should be adopted in treating hepatic artery complications after OLT, according to postoperative periods, types and whether ischemic bile duct lesion exists or not. Liver retransplantation is the best treatment for patients with hepatic artery thrombosis. Interventional treatments of late HAS without irreversible liver failure or bile duct ischemia are appropriate, whereas retransplantation is recommended for early HAS.

Adult ; Aged ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; therapy

This study was purposed to evaluate the safety and curative effect of autologous cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) combined with low-dose IL-2 regimen containing immune enhancement of thymic peptide on elderly patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Thymic peptide α1 was subcutaneously given as the immunoenhancement agent at a dose of 1.6 mg/d, 14 days as one cycle. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 5 patients with B-CLL were isolated once a week to induce ex vivo CIK cells through culture in the context of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. The PBMNC were separated from patients before and after 14 days as one cycle of thymic peptide α1 administration. Parameters of amplification ability, effector cells quantity, lymphocyte subgroups percentage and antitumor cytotoxicity were compared before and after thymic peptide administration. The 5 patients were treated with CIK cells combined with low-dose IL-2 regimen immediately after injection of thymic peptide α1. The CIK cells plus low-dose IL-2 regimen containing thymic peptide enhancement was defined as: thymic peptide α1 1.6 mg/d was subcutaneously administered once every other day; (4 - 6) ×10(9) of CIK cells were transfused followed by IL-2 subcutaneous administration of 1 mU/d on days 1-10, 28 days as one cycle. Clinical evaluation parameters including cellular immunity function, CLL related biomarkers, disease state and infectious frequency and degree were investigated before and after CIK cells infusion puls IL-2. The results showed that the amount of amplified CIK cells, the percentage and amplification times of effector cells and antitumor cytotoxicity more significantly increased after thymic peptide α1 treatment than before its use (P < 0.05). The total 46 cycles of CIK cells infusion plus IL-2 were completed in the 5 CLL patients. No adverse reaction was observed. After treatment of CIK cells plus IL-2, the general conditions of 5 CLL patients were to different extent improved. Simultaneously, percentages of CD3(+), CD3(+)CD8(+), and CD3(+)CD56(+) cells in peripheral blood remarked by raised (P < 0.05), the serum level of β2 microglobulin was significantly declined (P < 0.05), and the frequency and degree of infection was also decreased (P < 0.05). Following CIK cells plus IL-2 therapy, the transformation of disease state from partial remission (PR) to complete remission was seen in 3 patients, from stable disease (SD) to PR in 1 patient, and from progress of disease to SD in 1 patient. It is concluded that the regimen of autologous CIK cells combined with low-dose IL-2 containing immune enhancement of thymic peptide is safety and effective for the treatment of elderly patients with B-CLL.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; therapy ; Male ; Thymosin ; immunology

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinicopathological features, therapy and prognostic factors of elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The clinical data including general clinical characteristics, pathological features, chemotherapy selection and treatment response of 30 patients with NHL in our hospital from January 2003 to December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The survival was analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier methods, and the prognosis was evaluated by COX regression multivariate analysis model. The clinical parameters selected include age, Ann Arbor stage, international prognostic index (IPI), B symptom and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The results showed that all the patients suffered from underlying disease, and the cardiovascular disease (hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia) is the most common, and minority (8/30) combined with secondary tumor, the 63% (19/30) cases had B symptoms at diagnosis. only 2 cases were diagnosed as T-cell lymphoma; the 93% (28/30) cases combined with B-cell lymphoma, 57% (17/28) of them combined with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Ann-Arbor stage ≤ IIwas 37% (11/30);10(37%) patient's IPI score was ≤ 2, and 67% (20/30) was scored 3-5; 13(43%) patient's serum LDH level was abnormal. Modified R-CHOP chemotherapy was given individually on the basis of clinical features. The patients achieved complete remission, partial remission, stable disease, or progressive disease accounted for 14 (46.7%), 13 (43.3%), 1 (3.3%), and 2 (6.7%), respectively; the total reaction rate was 90% after 4 cycles of chemotherapy; the overall survival (OS) rate at 1 and 2 years was 73.3% and 43.3%, and progression-free survival (PFS)rate at 0.5 and 1 years was 62.2% and 54.9%; multivariate analysis by COX regression showed that B symptoms and Ann-Arbor stage were independent factors (P = 0.014, 0.039; RR = 6.678, 4.939, respectively) affecting the OS of elderly NHL, and IPI score affected PFS independently. It is concluded that elderly patients with NHL usually are of late stage at newly diagnosis and have suffered from underlaying diseases. Besides strengthening supportive treatment, modified R-CHOP chemotherapy should be given individually according to different prognosis. B symptoms and Ann-Arbor stage >II are indicators for poor prognosis of elderly NHL.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the efficacy of Getong Tongluo Capsule (, GTC, consisted of total flavone of Radix Puerariae) on improving patients' quality of life and lowering blood pressure are superior to the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) for patients with convalescent-phase ischemic stroke and primary hypertension. METHODS: This randomized, positive-drug- and placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted from September 2015 to October 2017. Totally 477 eligible patients from 18 hospitals in China were randomly assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to the following interventions, twice a day for 12 weeks: (1) GTC 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (237 cases, GTC group), (2) EGB 40 mg plus GTC-matching placebo 250 mg (120 cases, EGB group) or (3) GTC-matching placebo 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (120 cases, placebo group). Moreover, all patients were orally administered aspirin enteric-coated tablets 100 mg, once a day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Barthel Index (BI). The secondary outcomes included the control rate of blood pressure and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. The incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) were calculated and assessed. RESULTS: The BI relative independence rates, the clinical recovery rates of NIHSS, and the total effective rates of NIHSS in the GTC and EGB groups were significantly higher than the placebo group at 12 weeks after treatment (P<0.05), and no statistical significance was found between the GTC and EGB groups (P>0.05). The control rate of blood pressure in the GTC group was significantly higher than the EGB and placebo groups at 12, 18 and 24 weeks after treatment (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of AEs, adverse drug reactions, or serious AEs among the 3 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION GTC exhibited significant efficacy in improving patients' quality of life as well as neurological function and controlling hypertension. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800016667).