Objective To study the synovial lesions of finger joint of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with high frequency ultrasound ( HFUS). Methods HFUS examination of finger joints of both hands were performed in 42 patients with RA and 30 healthy volunteers. The ultrasound findings of the finger joints in RA patients included intra-articular fluid,the thickness of synovial membrane,vascular proliferation. and the blood flow characteristics. Results The intra-articular fluid was found in 256 joints and the detection rate was 42. 38% (256/840). Synovial membrane hyperplasia was found in 223 joints with the detection rate of 26.55% (223/840). The detection rate of HFUS for vascular proliferation was 6.07% (51/840). Conclusions HFUS is an easy, safe and effective method for the diagnosis of RA thus providing useful evidences for clinical diagnosis.

Objective: To seek a treatment that can improve the effect on dysphagia following post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated into observation and control groups, 30 cases each. The observation group was treated with Western drugs plus acupuncture at Tiantu (CV 22) and other three acupoints around Lianquan (CV 23) and the control group with simple Western drugs. Results: The effective rate was 86.7% in the observation group and 30.0% in the control group. Conclusion: Acupuncture can improve the curative effect of Western drugs on dysphagia following post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy.

0.05)in healthy volunteers.

Selection of suitable signal peptides is an important factor for efficient secretion of heterologous proteins. We defined structural fusion degree (SFD) as the compatibility degree of target proteins and signal peptides by a bioinformatics approach. We mathematically analyzed the interaction of fused signal peptides and adjacent residues of proteins, and proposed a mathematical model of extended signal region and the protein. SFD Features was extracted from this model to characterize the secretability of heterologous proteins. Simulation tests showed that SFD features can effectively discriminate high secretory proteins from poor ones in the host Bacillus subtilis. Results from this research will be useful in signal peptide selection and have a better guiding significance for the optimization of heterologous protein secretion.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Metalloendopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Sorting Signals ; genetics ; Proteins ; secretion ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:The effects of engineered bone scaffold containing seeding cels with different shapes to repair bone defect are varied, while the loaded cellquantity is the important factor influencing the curative effect, but which is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:By preparing self-made corrugated tissue-engineered bone scaffold and other three forms of bone tissue engineering scaffolds, to study the quantity of loaded cels on different scaffolds and osteogenesis of corrugated tissue-engineered bone scaffold so as to discuss the advantages and features of self-made corrugated tissue-engineered bone scaffold. METHODS: (1) Experimentin vitro: There were four kinds of scaffolds with the same volume and samples: calcium phosphate cement (CPC) corrugated surface scaffold group, smooth surface scaffold group, cylindrical scaffold group and porous cylindrical scaffold with holow tubes group, in which the latter three groups are control ones. A certain volume with same density of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels (BMSCs) suspension after osteogenesis induction was seeded onto the scaffolds. After incubation, culture, digestion and colection, cellquantity was counted, absorbance value was finaly detected and cellactivity was proofed by alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining. (2) Experimentin vivo: New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equaly divided into recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)/CPC/BMSCs corrugated scaffold group, pure CPC corrugated scaffold group and cancelous bone implant group. Three kinds of scaffold implants with the same volume were inserted into the area between rabbit’s L5, 6 transverse processes bilateraly. At 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively, gross and histological observation was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Experimentin vitro: The drip of cellsuspension steadily stayed on the surface of corrugated scaffold because of corrugated shape groove and the surface tension of the liquid. The amount of cels per sample digested down from the CPC corrugated surface scaffold was significantly more than that from the other three groups (P < 0.05), while the absorbance values did not differ (P > 0.05). (2) Experimentin vivo: At each time point the osteogenesis quantity of rhBMP-2/CPC/BMSCs corrugated scaffold group was more than that of the pure CPC corrugated scaffold group (P < 0.05), while there was no difference from the cancelous bone implant group (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that the characteristics of the self-made corrugated engineered bone scaffold are beneficial to seed cellloading, which supports a large number of osteogenesis and provides feasibility to promote the healing of segmental bone defects.

Objective: To analyze the influence of atmospheric particulate matters (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) on low-birth-weight (LBW) infants at different periods of gestation. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search for 2 471 articles related to particulate matter and LBW published from January 1st 2000 to January 1st 2016 using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, Chinese Web of Knowledge, Wanfang and Weipu, and the keywords were" air pollution" , "adverse birth outcomes" , "adverse pregnancy outcomes" , "low birth weight/LBW" . According to criteria, 27 literatures were selected and included. Metafor package of the R 3.1.1 Software was used to check the heterogeneity and merge the effect value of the selected literatures, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias were detected and adjusted. Results: A total of 2 471 studies selected form the databases, 27 enrolled in this analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was associated with combined OR values of 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester and entire gestation at 1.02(95% CI: 0.87-1.19), 1.03 (95% CI: 0.91-1.16) , 1.07 (95%CI: 1.04-1.11) and 1.09 (95%CI: 1.04-1.15), respectively. And 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ was associated with combined OR values of 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester and entire gestation at 1.66 (95%CI: 1.06-2.61), 1.58 (95%CI:1.28-1.95) , 1.38 (95%CI: 1.23-1.56) and 1.04 (95%CI: 0.99-1.09), respectively. After adjusting the bias of publication, each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was associated with the risk of low birth weight at 1.11 (95%CI: 1.02-1.21). Conclusion This meta analysis supports an adverse impact of maternal exposure to particulate air pollution on low birth weight, varying in effects by exposure period.

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-218-1-3p on the proliferation,cycle,and apoptosis of A549 cells in non-small-cell lung cancer.Methods miR-218-1-3p was transfected into non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by LipofectamineTM 2000 Reagent,and the expression of miR-218-3p was detected by real-time PC R.Invasion and migration were assayed using the Transwell method.The effect of miR-218-1-3p on the proliferation of A549 cells was assayed by the MTS method.Changes in the cell cycle and apoptosis of A549 cells transfected with miR-218-1-3p was detected by flow cytometry.Changes in indicators related to cell proliferation,cycle,and apoptosis were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results Compared to the control group,the cell proliferation of A549 cells was significantly inhibited (P ＜ 0.05) and the proportion of cells in the S and G2-M phases was significantly decreased when miR-218-1-3p was up-regulated.In addition,compared with the control group,the early apoptotic rate was significantly increased by up-regulating miR-218-1-3p.We further detected indicators related to cell proliferation,cycle,and apoptosis and found that CYCLIN-D1 and BCL-2 were significantly downregulated.Conclusion miR-218-1-3p may inhibit proliferation,induce cell cycle arrest,and promote cell apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells by regulating CYCLIN-D 1 and BCL-2.