MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a novel, extensive class of small RNAs (approximately 21 nucleotides), and play important gene-regulation roles during growth and development in various organisms. Here we conducted a homology search to identify homologs of previously validated miRNAs from silkworm genome. We identified 24 potential miRNA genes, and gave each of them a name according to the common criteria. Interestingly, we found that a great number of newly identified miRNAs were conserved in silkworm and Drosophila, and family alignment revealed that miRNA families might possess single nucleotide polymorphisms. miRNA gene clusters and possible functions of complement miRNA pairs are discussed.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bombyx ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genome ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Software ; Thermodynamics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between serum HBV DNA loads and liver histology damage in the patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSThe retrospective study was performed. The 514 patients were divided into two groups according to the HBeAg status and the HBeAg positive group was as control. The relationship among HBV DNA loads, live histological inflammation grades and fibrosis stages was analyzed.

RESULTSThe HBV DNA loads in HBeAg-negative group and HBeAg-positive group were (5.38 +/- 1.27) log10 copies/ml and (6.80 +/- 1.18) log10 copies/ml respectively (P < 0.001). The inflammation grades and fibrosis stages of liver tissues in HBeAg-negative group were all significantly higher than those in HBeAg-positive group (P < 0.001). In HBeAg-negative group, HBV DNA loads displayed a positive correlation with the inflammation grades and fibrosis stages of liver tissues (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONIn the patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, HBV viral loads are lower than those with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, and HBV viral loads display a positive correlation with liver the inflammation grades and fibrosis stages of liver tissues.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Liver ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Serologic Tests ; Viral Load ; immunology ; Weights and Measures

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with PA-MSHA injection for the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Methods An open, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in this study. 42 locally advanced breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to two groups, namely the experimental group (20 cases) and control group (22 cases). All the patients received chemotherapy of TEC regimen, while, in addition, the patients in experiment group received PA-MSHA injection. After the treatment, the efficacy of treatment was evaluated. The safety and tolerance of patients were also measured during the treatment. Results The overall response rate (CR+PR) [75.0 %(15/20)]in the experiment group was significant higher than that [54.6 %(12/22)]in control group (P < 0.01). Adverse reactions were found for 9 cases in experiment group, four of whom received medical care while the others recovered automatically. Conclusion PA-MSHA injection can significantly enhance the efficaey of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the patients with locally advanced breast cancer. The PA-MSHA injection which has been proved safety in treatment is an ideal supplementary therapy for breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the status quo of aging attitude of aged elderly and analyze its influencing factors. Methods Totally 382 elderly people were surveyed by questionnaire, aging attitude scale and the mental capital scale of the elderly. Results The aging attitude of the elderly was 87.10 ± 12.41, which was in the middle level. Linear regression analysis results showed that the variables into the regression equation with health, exercise and interests at ordinary times, cultural degree, psychological capital dwelling place, family, children, spouses still alive (R2 = 0.340, F = 29.029, P <0.01). Conclusion Elderly college seniors' attitude toward aging is in the medium level, factors affecting the health of the old, exercise at ordinary times and hobbies, culture degree, psychological capital dwelling place, family, children, spouse still alive. Increasing age and social support of the aged education, encourage guide for old people to better adapt to the new era of social change, positive in the face of their own aging, promote the quality of life and subjective well-being among senior citizens steadily on the increase, and promote the formation of healthy aging.

Objective: To analyze risk factors, cardiovascular complications, time of death, gestational age of delivery and offspring outcomes in the maternal deaths with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: Totally 4 112 cases of pregnant women with CVD in Shanghai obstetric heart disease intensive care unit within 26 years (from January 1993 to December 2018) were collected, and 20 maternal deaths within these cases were analyzed retrospectively. Results: (1) Among the 20 deaths, structural heart diseases accounted for 90% (18/20), pregnancy induced heart diseases was 10% (2/20) while there was no dysfunctional heart disease. The mortality of pregnant women with CVD was 0.486% (20/4 112). (2) The following risk factors were common in these women, getting pregnant without counselling (95%, 19/20) , New York Heart Association classⅢ or Ⅳcardiac function (70%, 14/20), complicated with pulmonary hypertension (75%, 15/20) and prior heart events (60%, 12/20). And 85% (17/20) deaths occurred in puerperium, 15% (3/20) occurred before labor,while no death occurred during labor. And 65% (13/20) deaths died due to heart failure, 20% (4/20) deaths were due to pulmonary hypertension crisis, 5% (1/20) died on sudden cardiac arrest, rupture of aortic dissection and sudden death, respectively. Conclusions Women with CVD should get pregnant after strict evaluation. Pulmonary hypertension is one of the most severe contraindications to pregnancy, especially in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension. The puerperium period is a critical period that threatens the safety of these patients. Since heart failure is the most common cause of death, it is necessary to prevent and treat heart failure and to monitor heart function dynamically, especially in those with structural abnormal heart diseases. Moreover, it is also of importance to standardize antenatal care and to identify the severity of heart diseases in time.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of frontoethmoidal cells in normal Chinese subjects.

METHODSTwo hundred and two Chinese subjects without symptoms of frontal sinus disease were undergone spiral computed tomography (CT). The multiplanar reconstruction images were evaluated using a standard triplanar reconstruction protocol on a computer workstation.

RESULTSThere were 121 males and 81 females. The mean age was (39.4 +/- 13.5) years. Of all the frontal cells identified in 159 sides (39.4%) of frontal recesses, the prevalence of type I, type II, type III and type cells were 24.3% (98 sides), 6.9% (28 sides), 8.2% (33 sides) and 0% (0 side) respectively. Suprabulbar cell, supraorbital ethmoid cells, and frontal bulbar cell were identified in 148 sides (36.6%) Jian-hu, 22 sides (5.4%), and 36 sides (8.9%) respectively. While the interfrontal septal cells was found in 25 patients (12.4%). The prevalence of agger nasi cell was 94. 1% (380 sides). Two hundred and forty-four uncinate processes (60.4%) had one superior attachment for each uncinate process; the other 160 uncinate processes (39.6%) had two superior attachments for each uncinate process. The single superior attachment of the uncinate process into the surrounding structures was identified to have the following distribution: 53.0% (n=214) to the lamina papyracea, 5.2% (n=21) to the middle turbinate, 2.2% (n=9) to the skull base. Most of the uncinate process' two superior attachments were either into the lamina papyracea and the skull base (27.5%, n=111) or into the lamina papyracea and the middle turbinate (8.7%, n=35). The other 14 uncinate processes (3.5%) superiorly attached to the skull base and the middle turbinate. The prevalence of recessus terminalis was 89.1% (n=360).

CONCLUSIONThe result demonstrated the normal frontal recess pneumatization patterns in normal Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ethmoid Sinus ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

Bone Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Cyst ; etiology ; surgery ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the progression in morphologic changes of lungs in SARS patients.

METHODSFour cases of SARS with lung tissue samples available (including one for ultrastructural examination) were enrolled into the study. Histochemical study for VG, Masson, reticulin, orcein, PAS, sirius red stains and immunohistochemical study for vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle actin, HHF-35, CD34, F8, collagen types I and III were also performed.

RESULTSAccording to the morphologic changes, lung lesions in SARS were subcategorized into 3 phases: acute exudative inflammation, fibrous proliferation and the final fibrotic stage. Two cases belonged to the acute exudative phase, in which the course was less than 20 days. The principal lesions consisted of acute alveolar exudative inflammation, hyperplasia of alveolar epithelium, necrosis, alveolar hyaline membrane formation, alveolar desquamation and focal fibroplasia. The acute exudative protein was PAS-positive. There was an increase in reticulin fiber formation. The reactive fibroblasts were highlighted by desmin and vimentin. One case belonged to the fibroproliferative stage, in which the course was around 25 days. Major lesions included proliferative interstitial pneumonia with early pulmonary fibrosis. There was also evidence of organizing pneumonia, with an increase in reticulin fiber formation, which had a glomeruloid appearance on special stain. The mesenchymal cells showed either myofibroblastic (which expressed desmin, HHF-35, smooth muscle actin and vimentin) or fibroblastic (which expressed vimentin only) differentiation. Fibroelastosis and fibroplasia was also noted. The remaining case belonged to the fibrotic stage, in which the course was around 75 days. The main features included diffuse fibrosis and honeycomb change, which were highlighted by sirius red stain. Immunohistochemistry showed mainly types I and IV collagen fibers. In all lesions, there was also an increase of number of CD68-positive macrophages.

CONCLUSIONSThe morphologic progression in lungs of SARS patients is characterized by the development of increased fibrosis. The primitive mesenchymal cells, hyperplastic alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe role of nasal obstruction in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has been debated for decades. In this prospective study, we compared the pharyngeal aerodynamic characteristics of OSAHS patients and normal people, and investigated the contribution of total nasal airway resistance to the pathophysiology of OSAHS.

METHODSComputational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to extract the average pressure and average airflow velocity in three transverse cross-sectional planes of the pharynx for statistical analysis, and the correlation between nasal resistance and the average pressure in the pharyngeal cavity was investigated.

RESULTSThe negative pressure within the pharyngeal cavity was significantly higher in OSAHS patients than in normal subjects, and total nasal airway resistance correlated well with the average pressure in three consecutive transverse cross-sections of the pharyngeal cavity.

CONCLUSIONSGreater negative pressure within the pharyngeal cavity contributed to the increased collapsibility of the pharynx in OSAHS patients, and the strong correlation between nasal resistance and pharyngeal pressure suggests that the nose plays a role in the pathogenesis of OSAHS.

Adult ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; physiopathology ; Prospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; etiology ; physiopathology

Objective To evaluate the effects of socioeconomic status on the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and clinicaltreatments of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Beijing.Methods In Beijing, a prospective, muhi-center, registration study was carried out which including 800 patients who were consecutively hospitalized for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction within 24 hours after event attack in 19 different hospitals in Beijing between November, 2005 and December, 2006.Indicators of socioeconomic status included self-reported personal income (＜500, 500-2000,＞2000 RMB/month), educational attainment (≤ 12 and ＞ 12 years) and status of medical insurance (yes/no).According to categories of education, patients were categorized into two groups of lower socioeconomic status and higher socioeconomic status. Differences of cardiovascular risk factors and clinical treatments were compared across the two groups respectively. Results Proportion of diabetes and hyperlipidemia in patients with higher socioeconomic status was much higher than that of patients with lower socioeconomic status (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 respectively). Patients with lower socioeconomic status were more likely to be smokers (P ＜0.05). The rates of receiving coronary angiography and PTCA were much lower in patients with lower socioeconomic status. Medical insurance and income were the most important two socioeconomic factors determining the use of PTCA. Conclusion Compared to patients with lowersocioeconomic status,patients with higher socioeconomic status had higher rates of hyperlipidemia and diabetes but lower smoking rate among cardiovascular risk factors. The rates of receiving interventional therapies were much lower in patients with lower socioeconomic status.