Objective To develop an operational gene diagnosis method for Chinese Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) patients Methods Genomic DNAwas double digested with restriction enzymes EcoRⅠ/HindⅢ and EcoRI/BlnI,respectively The digested fragments were separated on a 0 6% agarose gel After transferred to a Nytran SuperCharge Membrane, the fragmented DNAs were hybridized with the probe p13E 11 The hybridizing fragments were analyzed by the software ImageMaster Total Lab v1 11 and the size of each band was then given Results Only a 4q35 EcoRI+HindIII/P13E 11 fragment larger than 33 kb was detected in each of the controls Two fragments were detected in each of the 33 FSHD patients, one of which was smaller than 33 kb Although there was also presence of two small alleles in the 3 other FSHD cases, either of them turned out to be 10q26 derived owing to its BlnI sensitivity Interestingly, we found a sporadic patient who carried three 4q35 type fragments and, strikingly, two of them were smaller than 33 kb In the analysis of FSHD family members, a 9 year old boy with no clinical signs was found to share the small fragment with his affected father, indicating that he may be a pre symptomatic patient Conclusion The double digestion associated Southern blotting method we developed can be applied to both the diagnosis of FSHD patients and the prediction of pre symptomatic patients Furthermore, by the gene detection using this method, we first got the evidence of translocation between 4q and 10q in Chinese FSHD patients, which may be helpful to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of FSHD

Objective To study the correlation between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system angiotensinogen (AGT) gene M235T,angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AGTR1) gene Al166C,aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene -344C/T polymorphisms and large-artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke in a southern Chinese Han population.Methods Polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing technology were used for the genotyping in patients with LAA and normal controls with AGT gene M235T,AGTR1 gene A1166C,and CYP11B2 gene - 344C/T polymorphisms in a southern Chinese Han population,and to determine the correlation between the 3 gene polymorphisms and LAA by binary logistic regression analysis.Results A total of 107 patients with LAA and 142 healthy controls were included in the study.The frequencies of the AGT gene 253TT genotype (66.36％ vs.50.70％,x2 =6.122,P =0.047) and T allele (79.44％ vs.70.07％ ％,x2 =5.581,P =0.018) in the LAA group were significantly higher than those in the control group.The frequencies of the AGTR1 gene 1166CC genotype (0％ vs.0％,x2 =1.494,P =0.222) and C allele (7.48％ vs.4.93％,x2 =1.399,P =0.237) in the LAA group were no significantly differences with those in the control group.The frequencies of the CYP11B2 gene - 344CC genotype (9.35％ vs.4.23％,x2 =3.603,P =0.165) and C allele (27.10％ vs.26.06％,x2 =0.069,P =0.793) in the LAA group were no significant differences with those in the control group.Binary logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between the three gene polymorphisms and the simple LAA diseases.The frequencies of AGT gene 235TT genotype (68.00％ vs.41.90％,x2 =12.446,P =0.002) and T allele (79.33％ vs.64.76％,x2 =8.993,P =0.003) in the LAA patients complicated with hypertension were significantly higher than those in the normotensive control group.Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) exposed to TT genotype was 2.153 (95％ confidence interval [CI] 0.789-5.872).The OR of T allele was 2.089 (95％ CI 1.285-3.396).Conclusions The AGT gene M235T polymorphism is not associated with the simple LAA in the southern Chinese Han population,but it may be associated with the risk of LAA complicated with hypertension;CYP11B2 gene -344C/T polymorphism and AGTR1 gene A1166C polymorphism are not associated with the onset of LAA in the southern Chinese Han population.

Objective To evaluate the detection of culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP10) and 6000 early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6) in cerebrospinal fluid to be used in diagnosing tuberculous meningitis. Methods Dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( Dot ELISA) method that was improved by applying concentrated cerebrospinal fluid was used to detect CFP10 and ESAT-6 in cerebrospinal fluid to analyze small protein antigen secreted by M. tuberculosis. Cerebrospinal fluid of 111 subjects were collected,in which 58 specimens were clinically diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis and 53 as non-tuberculous.CFP10 and ESAT-6 were detected in cerebrospinal fluid using Dot ELISA method and the results were analyzed. Results The sensitivities of detecting CFP10 and ESAT-6 antigen were 93.1% and 91.4% respectively, and the specificities were 92. 5% and 94. 3% respectively. The sensitivities and specificities are generally higher compared with the other methods of detecting M. tuberculosis or materials of M. tuberculosis by acid-fast staining or mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and polymerase chain reaction.Conclusions Using Dot ELISA method to detect CFP10 and ESAT-6 in cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose tuberculous meningitis has a high sensitivity and specificity. Our study provided the evidence of detecting the specific antigen of M. tuberculosis to be used in diagnosing tuberculosis.

Objectives To sequence E2/NS1 gene from genotype Ⅲ Chinese isolates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and analyze homology corresponding to the region of the reported isolates.Methods E2/NS1gene derived from genotype Ⅲ Chinese isolates of HCV was amplified by reverse transcripase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloned into vector pcDNA3. Dideoxy chain termination methods were used to sequence E2/NS1 gene. Results E2/NS1 gene derived from genotype Ⅲ Chinese isolates of HCV was cloned for the first time and named HC-W14. Identity of HC-W14 in nucleotide and putative amino acid to those of genotype Ⅲ Japanese isolates of HCV were 88.37% and 89.29% respectively. Homology to that of non-type Ⅲ isolates was relatively low.Conclusions High variation existed in E2/NS1 region between genotype Ⅲ and Ⅱ Chinese isolates of hepatitis C virus. The variability of E2/NS1 gene should be taken into account in the development of vaccine against HCV in China.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of cryptococcus neoformans patients who suspected as lung cancer and treated with surgery, and to improve the diagnosis of the disease.Methods:A retrospective analysis on clinical data(including preoperative laboratory examination, chest CT imaging and postoperative pathology) of 21 cryptococcosis neoformans patients misdiagnosed as lung cancer in our hospital from February 2016 to July 2019.Results:Among the 21 patients, 17 cases were single nodules and 4 cases were multiple nodules, among which 15 cases were highly suspected malignancy. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was cryptococcal pulmonary granulomatosis. 14 patients were treated with antifungal therapy after surgery. No recurrence was found after postoperative follow-up.Conclusion:The clinical manifestations and imaging examination of pulmonary cryptococcus neoformans patients have no obvious specificity, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as early lung cancer. The diagnosis can only be confirmed by the combination of various means such as regular follow-up, laboratory examination, percutaneous lung puncture or surgical biopsy.

Background and objectives:Hepatic steatosis and inflammation are key characteristics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,whether and how hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation are differentially regulated remains to be elucidated.Considering that disruption of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3(Pfkfb3/iPfk2)dissociates fat deposition and inflammation,the present study examined a role for Pfkfb3/iPfk2 in hematopoietic cells in regulating hepatic steatosis and inflammation in mice. Methods:Pfkfb3-disrupted(Pfkfb3+-)mice and wild-type(WT)littermates were fed a high-fat diet(HFD)and examined for NAFLD phenotype.Also,bone marrow cells isolated from Pfkfb3+/-mice and WT mice were differentiated into macrophages for analysis of macrophage activation status and for bone marrow transplantation(BMT)to generate chimeric(WT/BMT-Pfkfb3+/-)mice in which Pfkfb3 was disrupted only in hematopoietic cells and control chimeric(WT/BMT-WT)mice.The latter were also fed an HFD and examined for NAFLD phenotype.In vitro,hepatocytes were co-cultured with bone marrow-derived macrophages and examined for hepatocyte fat deposition and proinflammatory responses.Results:After the feeding period,HFD-fed Pfkfb3+/-mice displayed increased severity of liver inflam-mation in the absence of hepatic steatosis compared with HFD-fed WT mice.When inflammatory activation was analyzed,Pfkfb3+/-macrophages revealed increased proinflammatory activation and decreased anti-proinflammatory activation.When NAFLD phenotype was analyzed in the chimeric mice,WT/BMT-Pfkfb3+/-mice displayed increases in the severity of HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation compared with WT/BMT-WT mice.At the cellular level,hepatocytes co-cultured with Pfkfb3+/-macrophages revealed increased fat deposition and proinflammatory responses compared with hepatocytes co-cultured with WT macrophages. Conclusions:Pfkfb3 disruption only in hematopoietic cells exacerbates HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation whereas the Pfkfb3/iPfk2 in nonhematopoietic cells appeared to be needed for HFD feeding to induce hepatic steatosis.As such,the Pfkfb3/iPfk2 plays a unique role in regulating NAFLD pathophysiology.

Objective:To investigate the application value of fluorescence imaging in single-port thoracoscopic anatomic segmentectomy.Methods:The clinical data of 280 patients (145 patients with fluorescence method and 135 patients with modified inflation-deflation method) who underwent thoracoscopic anatomic segmentectomy were retrospectively studied in the Anhui Chest Hospital from June 2020 to June 2021. There were 113 patients in the simple segmentectomy group and 167 patients in the complex segmentectomy group. The baseline data of the fluorescence method and the modified inflation-deflation method in the complex segmentectomy group were corrected by propensity score matching, and the perioperative results were compared between the groups.Results:There were no significant differences in segmental resection time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative pain, postoperative extubation time, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications and cost of hand-holding between the fluorescence method and the modified method of the simple segmentectomy group.In the complex segmentectomy group, the time of segmental resection with the fluorescence method was significantly shorter than that with the modified inflation-deflation method( P<0.05), and other indexes had no significant difference. Conclusion:Fluorescence method single-port thoracoscopic anatomic segmentectomy has the same perioperative safety and short-term efficacy as modified inflation-deflation method, which can significantly shorten the operative time and improve the operative efficiency in complex anatomic segmentectomy.