OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between pathogenesis for Yin-deficiency of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and immediate prognosis as well as its neuro-endocrine mechanism.

METHODSAccording to the TCM standard of Syndrome Differentiation of Deficiency Syndrome, 194 patients with AMI were classified into the typical Yin-deficiency group (n = 26), the non-typical Yin-deficiency group (n = 61) and the non-Yin-deficiency group (n = 107). Their venous blood samples were collected in the morning while lying on their backs to detect plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), corticoid and myocardial enzymes, as well as their hospitalization days and mortality in hospitalized period were calculated and compared in the three groups, with the 30 healthy persons as control.

RESULTSLevels of serum creatine phosphokinase, creatine phosphokinase isozyme, plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, aldosterone, hospitalization days and mortality were higher in the Yin-deficiency groups than in the non-Yin-deficiency group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As compared the indexes between the typical and the non-typical Yin-deficiency groups, significant difference only showed in plasma aldosterone and ANP, which was significantly higher in the former (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Plasma corticoid level was insignificantly different between the Yin-deficieny groups.

CONCLUSIONPatients with AMI of Yin-deficiency type was severer in myocardial damage, with longer hospitalization period and higher mortality, it is probably due to the hyper-activated sympathetic-adrenaline system and strengthened activity of aldosterone in them.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics of pncA gene in multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and its correlation with drug resistance to pyrazinamide.

METHODSA total of 127 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis were collected from Shenzhen from year 2007 to 2009. PZA susceptibility was determined by the BACTEC MGIT 960 PZA method. Pyrazinamidase (PZase) activity testing and pncA gene sequencing were performed in all the isolates. The type and frequency of mutations in pncA were determined. Correlation analysis among PZA susceptibility and PZase activity, pncA mutation was performed.

RESULTSAmong the 127 isolates, 62 isolates (48.8%) were found resistance to PZA. Among the 62 PZA resistant isolates, 45 isolates which had various pncA mutations were negative for PZase. Mutation rate was 77.4% (48/62) in total PZA resistance isolates. Different types of 48 resistant isolates were identified in the pncA gene, including base substitution (33 isolates), frame shift mutation (12 isolates) and codon mutation (3 isolates). No mutations except one isolate (N11D) existed in all PZA-susceptibility isolates which were positive for PZase. A total of 5 mutations which have not been described previously were found as follows: H57P, P62Q, G108R, D110Y and G162V. The correlation among the PZA susceptibility and the PZase activity (r = 0.895, P < 0.05), the pncA mutation (r = 0.779, P < 0.05) were significant in 127 multidrug-resistant isolates.

CONCLUSIONA high diversity of pncA gene mutation was found among PZA resistant strains of MTB. This study revealed five new mutations of the pncA gene that were not previously described, which scattered in the hot-spot regions located in the metal coordination site and active site of the enzyme. Mutations had a high correlation with the PZA resistance.

Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pyrazinamide ; pharmacology ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; genetics ; microbiology

The present study was to investigate the effects of diltiazem, a ghrelin receptor agonist, on food intake and gastrointestinal functions in rats. Rats were intragastrically administered with diltiazem solution (daily 16 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg, 30 d), and the rats with saline as control. To detect the effects of diltiazem on food intake and body weight, the average daily food intake and body weight were recorded, and the serum metabolic hormones of plasma growth hormone (GH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were tested by radioimmunoassay. By means of the spectrophotometer and the modified Mett's method, the effects of diltiazem on rat's gastrointestinal function and pepsin activity were tested, respectively. In addition, the gastric juice's acidity of rats was detected by titration and the secretion amount was calculated. The results showed that the food intake and body weight were maximally promoted by diltiazem at the dose of 30 mg/kg daily (30 d). The average daily food intake and body weight were significantly increased, and the serum concentrations of GH and NPY were also remarkably increased in diltiazem-treated groups compared with those in control group. The results also showed that the gastric emptying rate, gastric acid secretion and the activity of pepsin were significantly increased in diltiazem-treated group compared with those in control group. These results suggest that diltiazem induces enhancement of eating, in the same time, it can also stimulate the gastrointestinal function and regulate growth of rat.
Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diltiazem ; pharmacology ; Eating ; drug effects ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiology ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; agonists

Objective: To investigate the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on fatigue in rats with chronic exercise-induced exhaustion. Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Except rats in the blank group, the remaining rats were subjected to create long-term exhaustion models by repeated swimming. After successful modeling, rats in the moxibustion group received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 15 min, once every other day with a total of 10 times. Rats in the model group and the blank group did not receive moxibustion. At the end of the treatment, the exhausted times, and the body weight of rats before and after the experiment were compared among groups. The levels of blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and urea nitrogen (BUN), as well as the activities of aspartate transarninase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer, 24 h after the exhausting excise. Results: The 10th swimming time was significantly longer in the moxibustion group than that in the model group (P<0.01). The increase rate of the body weight was lower in the rats of the moxibustion group than that in the model group before the 7th and the 10th exhausting excise (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (all P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) can decrease the serum levels of MDA and BUN, as well as activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the long-term fatigue rats, thus to improve the symptoms of fatigue.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Gastrectomy/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Jejunum/surgery* ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of terbutaline sulfate for injection in the treatment of children with wheezing disease. METHODS: From December 2016 to April 2018,440 cases of lower respiratory tract infection with cough and wheezing were hospitalized for treatment in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Children's Hospital of Soochow University,Chengdu Women's & Children's Central Hospital and Dalian Children's Hospital of Dalian Medical University. The children were selected and randomly divided into terbutaline sulfate for injection group(Group A),terbutaline sulphate solution for nebulization group(Group B)and control group(Group C). The efficacy and adverse reactions of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: The scores of wheezing symptoms in group A and group B decreased more significantly than those in group C(P<0.05). Group A and group B had a certain influence on heart rate,and the heart rate at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after nebulization was higher than that of group C. In addition to the effect on heart rate,no other adverse reactions were found in group A and group C;one patient in the group B developed arm tremor and disappeared after stopping the drug. CONCLUSION: Inhalation of terbutaline sulfate for injection in the treatment of children with wheezing disease can shorten the treatment time and effectively improve the clinical treatment effect. The clinical efficacy is comparable to that of terbutaline sulphate solution for nebulization,and it is safe and worthy of clinical application.

BACKGROUNDEctonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (ENPP)-1 is a membrane-bound protein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of extracellular nucleoside triphosphates to monophosphate and extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (ePPi). Mechanical stimulation regulates ENPP-1 expression. This study sought to investigate the changes in ENPP-1 expression after stimulation using cyclic mechanical tension (CMT).

METHODSRat end-plate chondrocytes were cultured and subjected to CMT (at 3%, 6%, and 9% elongation) for 20, 40, and 60 minutes to observe changes in the expression of ENPP-1. To investigate the pathway, end-plate chondrocytes were exposed to 10 ng/ml of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β1 siRNA, or a specific extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK)1/2 inhibitor, U0126, in addition to CMT. Changes in ENPP-1 expression were measured by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTSWe observed the largest increase in ENPP-1 expression following 3% elongation CMT stimulation. ENPP-1 expression was also increased when end-plate chondrocytes were exposed to 10 ng/ml of TGF-β1, but decreased after TGF-β knockdown with siRNA. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was activated after 3% elongation for 40 minutes, and the stimulatory effect of TGF-β1 on ENPP-1 mRNA and protein expression was inhibited by the suppression of the ERK1/2 pathway using U0126.

CONCLUSIONCMT increases the expression of ENPP-1 in end-plate chondrocytes in a manner likely dependent on TGF-β induction by the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pyrophosphatases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Mechanical ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and pathogenic variant in a child diagnosed with mental retardation and microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH). METHODS: Clinical phenotype of the child was reviewed. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of the family member. RESULTS: The proband manifested dyskinesia, development delay, cerebellar hypoplasia and bilateral hearing impairment. WES results revealed that the proband has carried a pathogenic c.1641_1644delACAA (p.Thr548Trpfs*69) variant of the CASK gene, which was verified by Sanger sequencing to be a de novo variant. CONCLUSION The c.1641_1644delACAA (p.Thr548Trpfs*69) variant of the CASK gene probably underlay the MICPCH in the proband. Above finding has provided a basis for genetic counseling. WES should be considered for the diagnosis of neurological dysplasia.
Cerebellum/abnormalities* ; Child ; Developmental Disabilities ; Family ; Humans ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked ; Microcephaly/genetics* ; Nervous System Malformations

Objective:To detect serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), soluble version of the IgE-binding alpha-chain of Fcepsilon-RI (sFcεRIα), immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-IgE, IgG anti-FcεRI in patients with chronic urticaria(CU), and to evaluate their relevanceMethods:Forty-three newly diagnosed patient with CU were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients with dermatitis or eczema and 51 healthy subjects were selected as the disease control (DC) and normal control (NC) group, respectively.Serum IgE was detected by immunoturbidimetry; serum anti-IgE, anti-FcεR Ⅰ and sFcεR Ⅰ α were determined byenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Statistical analysis was carried out by non-parametric test for comparisons of the above variables between groups, and by Spearman correlation analysis for assessment of relationships between the variables as well as between the variables and disease severity, and by receiver operating characteristic curve to analyze the diagnostic value of the variables.Results:Serum IgE, anti-IgE and anti-FcεRI in CU were significantly higher than that of NC.Their medians are 65.70 IU/ml vs 17.10 IU/ml,χ 2=28.541, P=0.001;0.61 vs 0.39,χ 2=27.408, P=0.001;0.64 vs 0.51, χ 2=29.102, P<0.001.Serumanti-FcεRI in CU was significantly lower than that in NC(0.64 vs 0.83,χ 2=25.869, P=0.007).The medians of serum sFcεRIα in CU, DC and NC groups were 5.74,5.38,4.50 ng/ml, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant,χ 2=3.463, P=0.177.There was a positive correlation between IgE and sFcεR Ⅰ α, anti-IgE and anti-FcεRI( r=0.455, P<0.001; r=0.611, P<0.001).No significant correlation was showed between the four variables and the course of disease or the severity of symptoms, P>0.05. The diagnostic performances of IgE, anti-FcεRI for CU were similar (AUC=0.72),which were better than that of sFcεRIα (AUC=0.61).The highest diagnostic efficacy (AUC=0.83) can be achieved by four joint tests.Anti-FcεRI is of value in differential diagnosis of CU and DC, AUC=0.7, P=0.002. Conclusion:The levels of serum IgE, anti-IgE, anti-FcεRI were significantly increased in CU patients, and these mast cell activation-related molecules have the potential to be diagnostic markers for CU.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and pathogenesis of a fetus with holoprosencephaly. METHODS: The findings of prenatal ultrasonography was reviewed. Following elective abortion, whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out to identify potential pathogenic variant. Copy number variants (CNVs) of the abortus and its parents were detected by low-depth high-throughput sequencing. The parents were also analyzed by chromosomal karyotyping. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound suggested that the fetus had holoprosencephaly. WES revealed that it had approximately 33 Mb deletion at chromosome 13 involving ZIC2, a haploid dose sensitive gene. The results of low-depth high-throughput sequencing confirmed that the fetus carried a de novo 32.32 Mb deletion at 13q31.1-34. Karyotyping analysis has excluded gross chromosomal aberration in both parents. CONCLUSION The fetus was diagnosed with holoprosencephaly, which may be attributable to the 13q31.1-34 deletion involving the ZIC2 gene.
Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; genetics ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Testing ; Holoprosencephaly ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Whole Exome Sequencing