Objective To investigate the value of plasma miR-22 in diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension ( IPAH ),and its role of regulation mechanisms in the pathogenesis of the disease.Methods Circulating miR-22 levels of IPAH patients and healthy controls were evaluated by RTPCR.The silico analysis of targets for miR-22 was taken, and followed by eGFP reporter assay for verification of predicted target gene Myc binding protein (MYCBP). Results Compared with healthy controls,the expression of plasma miR-22 in IPAH patients was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ).The area under curve (AUC) of ROC curve was 0.744.MYCBP was a real target of miR-22 confirmed by silico analysis and eGFP reporter assay. Conclusions The expression of plasma miR-22 was significantly decreased in IPAH patients,and it could serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis.The miR-22 might be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease through promoting its target gene MYCBP to activate the c-Myc pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of genomic DNA methylation level with unexplained early spontaneous abortion and analyze the role of DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B.

METHODSForty-five villus samples from spontaneous abortion cases (with 33 maternal peripheral blood samples) and 44 villus samples from induced abortion (with 34 maternal peripheral blood samples) were examined with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the overall methylation level of the genomic DNA. The expressions of DNMT mRNAs were detected using fluorescence quantitative-PCR in the villus samples from 33 induced abortion cases and 30 spontaneous abortion cases.

RESULTSGenomic DNA methylation level was significantly lower in the villus in spontaneous abortion group than in induced abortion group (P<0.01), but similar in the maternal blood samples between the two groups (P>0.05). The mean mRNA expression levels of DNMT1 and DNMT3A in the villus were significantly lower in spontaneous abortion group than in induced abortion group (P<0.05), but DNMT3B expression showed no significant difference between them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONInsufficient genomic DNA methylation in the villus does exist in human early spontaneous abortion, and this insufficiency is probably associated with down-regulated expressions of DNMT1 and DNMT3A.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; genetics ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genomics ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To analyze variations of hepatic vein in healthy people with 64-slice spiral CT.Methods Seventy-five healthy subjects underwent multi-slice spiral computed(MSCT)hepatic venography.The anatomy of the junction of the hepatic veins with the inferior vena cava and the intrahepatic drainage territory of the hepatic veins and tributaries were evaluated.The hepatic veins were classified according to three anatomic classification(Nakamura's,Marcos's and Kawasaki's classification)methods respectively.Results There was a common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins before joining the IVC in 86.7%(65/75)of the cases.In 13.3%(10/75)of the cases,the three main hepatic veins joined the IVC separately.The ratios of Nakamura's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 49.4% (37/75),37.3%(28/75),and 13.3%(10/75)respectively.The ratios of Marcos's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 56.0%(42/75),24.0%(18/75),and 20.0%(15/75)respectively. The ratios of Kawasaki's classification type Ⅰ,Ⅱ of hepatic vein were 40.0%(30/75)and 60.0% (45/75).Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT hepatic venography can provide visualization of peripheral hepatic venous branches in details.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the status quo of teaching behaviors of teachers in a medical university and identify the factors affecting teaching behaviors to improve the teaching quality.

METHODSAll the staff conducting direct teaching in a medical college were investigated by cross-sectional survey and case-control study. Logistic regression model was established, with the results of teaching quality as dependent variable and influential factors as independent variable. The case-control study was conducted by one-way analysis of unconditional logistic regression and logistic multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThe differences in teaching quality among 38 various teaching behaviors of the university teachers were significant. Four factors in teaching behaviors were found to influence the improvement of teaching from poor to excellent quality, 6 affecting improvement from moderate to excellent and 7 from poor to moderate.

CONCLUSIONThe critical teaching behaviors affecting teaching quality vary with different levels of teaching quality and potentials of improvement, and the closeness of the association also varies.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education, Medical ; standards ; Faculty, Medical ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Quality Control ; Staff Development ; methods ; standards ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Teaching ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of apple polyphenols extract (APE) in Triton WR-1339-induced endogenous hyperlipidemic model.

METHODSFirstly, APE was isolated and purified from the pomace of Red Fuji Apple and contents of individual polyphenols in APE were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Secondly, forty male National Institude of Health (NIH) mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 8 animals in each group. The Fenofibrate Capsules (FC) group and APE groups received oral administration of respective drugs for 7 consecutive days. All mice except those in the normal group were intravenously injected through tail vein with Triton WR-1339 on the 6th day. Serum and livers from all the mice were obtained 18 h after the injection. The changes in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) were measured by respective kits. Finally, expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) mRNA was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS SERUM TC AND TG LEVELS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY REDUCED THE SERUM LEVEL OF TG IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.01). SERUM LPL AND HTGL ACTIVITIES SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.05). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE SERUM ACTIVITY OF LPL IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01). FURTHERMORE, COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP, HEPATIC MRNA LEVEL OF PPARα IN THE MODEL GROUP SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE EXPRESSION OF PPARα IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01):

CONCLUSIONAPE could reduce TG level via up-regulation of LPL activity, which provides new evidence to elucidate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of APE.

Animals ; Chlorogenic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; PPAR alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tannins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo survey the clinical epidemiological features of norovirus and rotavirus diarrhea among children living in 5 cities.

METHODA prospective epidemiological investigation was conducted among outpatient children with acute diarrhea between August 2008 and July 2009 in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Tianjin. The stool samples were randomly collected from children with non-dysentery diarrhea. Group A rotavirus antigen was tested by the kit that applies colloidal gold method in all specimens. GI and GII genogroups of norovirus were detected by one-step real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The detection rates, seasonality and susceptible age of both viruses-associated diarrhea were analyzed.

RESULTDuring the one-year period, 5091 fecal samples were obtained, of which 1563 (30.7%) were rotavirus-positive. The detection rates of rotavirus were 29.5% (268/916) in Shanghai, 36.1% (334/926) in Hangzhou, 26.3% (254/968) in Guangzhou, 34.1% (359/1054) in Chongqing and 28.2% (348/1233) in Tianjin, respectively. Among the remaining 3528 rotavirus-negative samples, 1049 (29.7%) were identified to be norovirus-positive. The detection rates of norovirus were 21.2%(136/642) in Shanghai, 31.3% (185/592) in Hangzhou, 24.2% (173/714) in Guangzhou, 31.8% (221/695) in Chongqing and 37.7% (334/885) in Tianjin, respectively. It is estimated that the infection rate of norovirus among outpatients with acute diarrhea is at least more than 20.6% (1049/5092). Of 1049 norovirus strains, 1036 (98.7%) were GII genogroup and 16 (1.5%) were GI genogroup, 3 were mixed with GI and GII genogroups. The 1049 children with norovirus diarrhea aged between 1 month and 14 years with the median age of 10 months (mean: 13.9 ± 16.9 months) and 91.8% were 2 years old or younger. The 1563 children with rotavirus diarrhea aged between 1 month and 11.3 years with the median age of 10 months (mean: 12.9 ± 13.7 months) and 92.5% were 2 years old or younger. The median ages between norovirus-infected children and rotavirus-infected children were significantly different (P < 0.05). The peak seasons of rotavirus diarrhea spanned autumn and winter (from October to February). The peak seasons of norovirus diarrhea presented in the winter and spring (from November to April) in Tianjin. Norovirus became active in April and usually predominantly prevalent in the summer and autumn (from July to October) in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chongqing. However, norovirus was sporadically prevalent in the spring and detected more commonly in the other seasons in Guangzhou.

CONCLUSIONBoth rotavirus and norovirus are the major causative agents for childhood diarrhea. The seasonality of rotavirus diarrhea was similar among the 5 cities. Nevertheless, the seasonality of norovirus diarrhea was diverse in the different areas. In Tianjin located in the north of China, norovirus was quite prevalent in the cold season. In the east (Shanghai and Hangzhou) and south-west (Chongqing), norovirus prevailed dominantly in the summer and autumn. In the south (Guangzhou), the activity of norovirus was more obvious in the summer, autumn and winter.

Adolescent ; Caliciviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Norovirus ; Prospective Studies ; Rotavirus ; Rotavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the spectrum and antimicrobial resistance of major pathogens causing nosocomial infections in China, 2016. Methods Non-duplicated nosocomial cases as well as pathogens causing bloodstream infections ( BSI) , hospital-acquired pneumonia ( HAP) and intra-abdominal infections ( IAI ) from 12 teaching hospitals across China were collected. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of important clinical common strains were determined by agar dilution method or broth microdilution method. The CLSI M100-S27 criteria was used for interpretation. Data were analyzed by using WHONET-5. 6 software. Results A total of 2060 cases were collected, including 894 cases from BSI, 630 cases from HAP and 536 cases from IAI. The MICs of 1896 important clinical common strains were determined. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most prevalent pathogens causing BSI and IAI, while Acinetobacter baumanii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were dominated in HAP. All Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin and glycopeptides. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus accounted for 44. 4％ ( 75/169 ) of all the S. aureus. The rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci was 80. 9％ ( 72/89 ) . No Enterococcus strains were found resistant to tigecycline, linezolid or daptomycin. Vacomycin resistant enterococcus was found in Enterococcus faecium, accounting for 1. 8％ ( 2/111 ) of all E. faecium strains. Tigecycline, meropenem, amikacin, imipenem, and polymyxin B exhibited high potency against Enterobacteriaceae and the susceptibility rates were 96. 6％(865/895), 94. 3％ (859/911), 94. 2％ (858/911), 94. 1％ (857/911), and 91. 6％ (820/895), respectively. The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase was 58. 4％ ( 263/450 ) in E. coli and 28. 6％ ( 84/294 ) in K. pneumonia. The rate of carbapenem resistant K. pneumonia and E. coli was 15. 3％ ( 45/294 ) and 1. 8％ ( 8/450 ) , respectively. The percentage of polymyxin B resistant K. pneumonia and E. coli was 4. 1％ ( 12/294 ) and 4. 4％ ( 20/450 ) , respectively. The rate of tigecycline resistant K. pneumonia and E. coli was 2. 4％ ( 7/294 ) and 0. 2％ ( 1/450 ) , respectively. A. baumanii showed low susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents except tigecycline ( 91. 4％, 235/257 ) and polymyxin B (100％, 257/257). The rate of carbapenem resistant A. baumanii was 80. 5％ (207/257). The rate of carbapenem resistant P. aeruginosa was 31. 7％ ( 59/186 ) . Polymyxin B and amikacin demonstrated high antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa with susceptility rate of 100％ ( 186/186 ) and 90. 9％ ( 169/186), respectively. Conclusions Nosocomial pathogens showed high susceptibilities against tigecycline and polymyxin B. Antimicrobial resistance in A. baumannii is a serious problem. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and polymyxin B resistant Enterobacteriaceae has increased, which should be monitored continuously in China.

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF/MS) based chemical profiling approach was used to evaluate chemical constitution between co-decoction and mixed decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely co-decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata: water extract of mixed two herbs, and mixed decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata: mixed water extract of each individual herbs, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC-TOF/MS analysis. The datasets of t(R) m/z pairs, ion intensities and sample codes were processed with supervised partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to holistically compare the difference between these two decoction samples. Significant difference between the two decoction samples was showed in the results of positive ion mode. The contents of hypaconitine and deoxyaconitine decreased, while that of benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconine and dehydrated benzoylmesaconine increased in the samples of co-decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata. The content of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids decreased, while that of monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids increased, which is probably the basis of toxicity-attenuated action when combined ginseng with Radix Aconiti Praeparata.
Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Octreotide ; analogs & derivatives ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Pheochromocytoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by SRCAP mutation. This article reports the clinical features of a boy with FHS. The boy, aged 11 years and 7 months, attended the hospital due to short stature for more than 8 years and had the clinical manifestations of unusual facial features (triangularly shaped face, thin lips and long eyelashes), skeletal dysplasia (curvature finger), expressive language disorder, and retardation of bone age. Genetic detection revealed a novel heterozygous mutation, c.7330 C>T(p.R2444X), in the SRCAP gene. The boy was diagnosed with FHS based on these clinical manifestations and gene detection results. FHS is rare in clinical practice, which may lead to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and gene detection may help with the clinical diagnosis of FHS in children.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Child ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; Growth Disorders ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Male