Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the modified esophageal capsule endoscopy (stringed esophageal capsule endoscopy,SCE) for esophageal diseases.Methods A total of 80 patients with esophageal related symptoms underwent SCE followed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).The examination time,detection rate of esophageal lesions,complications and adverse effects were compared.Results All patients completed the study.The mean examination time of SCE and EGD was 226.18 ± 1 10.30 seconds and 21.28 ± 8.01 seconds respectively (t =-16.665,P =0.000).A total of 119 lesions were detected by SCE and EGD,and the diagnostic accordance rate of SCE and EGD was 82.4％ (98/119).Ten lesions of advanced squamous carcinoma,5 lesions of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and 3 lesions of early squamous carcinoma were detected by both examinations,all of which were confirmed by histopathologic examination.The overall rate of complication in SCE (1.3％,1/80) was significantly lower than that of EGD (8.8％,7/80,x2 =4.238,P =0.040) and the rates of swallow difficulty (P =0.022),throat discomfort (P =0.007) and vomiting (P =0.000) of SCE were significantly lower than those of EGD.Conclusion SCE is a feasible,easy-to-operate,safe,well tolerated and accurate method for detection of esophageal diseases,and could be a non-invasive alternative for conventional EGD.

【Objective】 To understand the antigen profile and antibody frequency of Wr^a in voluntary blood donors in Shaanxi province. 【Methods】 Wr^a antigen and antibody screening as well as blood group typing and antibody identification were performed by serological tests and confirmed by genetic testing. 【Results】 The incidence of Wr^a antigen in 7 490 voluntary blood donors was 0.013%(1/7 490), and the frequency of anti-Wr^a in 729 voluntary blood donors was 0.823%(6/729). 【Conclusion】 This study explored the polymorphism of Wr^a antigen and antibodies in blood donors, which is informative in the risk assessment of blood transfusion and the screening and identification of respective antibodies.

Objective To prepare serum cholesterol and triglycerides reference materials.Methods Blood units were collected from healthy donors and the sera separated and screened for cholesterol and triglycerides levels.Four serum pools were prepared by pooling sera grouped according to cholesterol and triglyceride levels.The materials were tested for homogeneity and stability and their values for total cholesterol,total glycerol and free glycerol and triglycerides were assigned by HPLC methods.Results The materials were tested to be homogeneous and stable for at least 4 years at-20℃.The certified values (reference value±expanded uncertainty)of the 4 materials for total cholesterol were(5.110±0.065) mmol/L,(4.761±0.062)mmol/L,(3.941±0.050)mmol/L and(3.158±0.041)mmol/L,respectively;for total glycerol(2.212±0.043)mmol/L,(1.679±0.033)mmol/L,(1.275±0.027)mmol/L and(1.067±0.023)mmol/L;for free glycerol(0.142±0.005)mmol/L,(0.149±0.004)mmol/L,(0.146±0.003)mmol/L and(0.122±0.003)mmol/L;and for triglycerides(2.069±0.043)mmol/L,(1.530±0.033)mmol/L,(1.129±0.027)mmol/L and(0.945±0.023)mmol/L.Conclusion Certified reference materials for serum total cholesterol,total glycerol,free glycerol and triglycerides have been prepared.

OBJECTIVETo determine the frequency of RHD1227A allele in Chinese Hans.

METHODSFor a total of 890403 ethnic Han blood donors, the D antigen was determined with a saline method and indirect antiglobulin test. The RHD1227A allele and number and type of zygosity of RHD gene were determined with PCR sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). Allelic frequency was calculated through statistics.

RESULTSIn total 2385 donors were found to be Rh-negative, 108 individuals were found to be weakly positive for D antigen (including weak D and partial D phenotypes). The remaining 887 910 individuals were Rh-positive. Among the Rh-negative individuals, 516 were found with RHD1227A. Among these, 467 were RHD1227A/d and 49 were RHD1227A/RHD1227A. Two of 108 D antigen weak-positive individuals were found as RHD1227A/RHD+. In addition, 8 of 1073 random Rh-positive samples were found to be RHD1227A/RHD+. The allele frequency of RHD1227A in the population was calculated as 0.004 036. The figure should be 0.006 682 if calculated based on the detected rate of the allele in Rh-negative individuals, and 0.007 884 if calculated based on the reported average phenotype rate of DEL in Rh-negative individuals.

CONCLUSIONBy taking main influencing factors such as the RHD zygosity, the rate of RHD1227A and DEL phenotype may be determined. The allele frequency of RHD1227A in Chinese Hans is between 0.004 036 and 0.007 884.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular basis of an individual featuring weak A phenotype of ABO blood group system.

METHODSSerologic investigations, serum transferases activity assay and absorption-elution test were carried out to identify the ABO blood group. The 7 exons and flanking introns of ABO glycosyltransferase gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The products were sequenced bidirectinally following enzyme digestion. Haplotypes of exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were analyzed.

RESULTSA weak A antigen was identified on red blood cells of the proband. Eight heterozygous sites in exons 6 and 7 (261delG 297A/G, 421C/T, 467C/T, 646T/A, 681G/A, 771C/T, 829G/A) of the ABO gene were identified. Based on haplotype analysis, one allele was determined as O02, while a novel mutation 421T>C was identified in another allele, which resulted in the amino acid change Ser141Pro of the A glycosyltransferase.

CONCLUSIONAbove results suggested that amino acid substitutions resulted from a novel mutation 421T>C of the ABO gene may decrease the enzymatic activity and result in the weak A phenotype.

ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Adult ; Alleles ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases ; genetics

Objective:To explore the value of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided carbon nanoparticles tattooing for preoperative localization of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.Methods:Sixty patients diagnosed as having rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical resection in the 900th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force from April 2018 to April 2019 were randomly divided into the endoscopic ultrasonography-guided tattoo group (group A), the colonoscopy-guided tattoo group (group B) and the control group (group C) by random number table. The leakage rate of dye in intestinal tract, complications, and the tattooed serosa stained with carbon nanoparticles during laparoscopic surgery were recorded. Identification time of lesions, the total operation time, the length of resected rectal segment, tumor distance to distal resection margin, and the rate of anal preservation were analyzed and the postoperative pathology were compared.Results:In group A, endoscopic ultrasonography revealed 2 cases of suspected tumor extension toward the anal side within distal intestinal wall. The extension length was 0.42 cm and 0.71 cm respectively, and the extension length was 0.36 cm and 0.64 cm under microscope respectively. In group B, the pathology result showed that the extension length was 0.53 cm under microscope. In group C, the pathology result showed that the extension length were 0.43 cm, 0.36 cm and 0.28 cm under microscope respectively. Obvious black staining in the rectal serosa was found in all tattooed patients during the surgery. There were scattered black staining spots at the surface of peritoneum and mesentery in 3 cases in group B. The identification time of lesions in group A and B were shorter than that in group C (1.29 ± 0.87 min, 1.31 ± 0.63 min VS 15.3 ± 10.50 min, P<0.05). The total operation time in group A and B were shorter than that in group C (176.12 ± 27.64 min, 175.67 ± 26.48 min VS 198.65 ± 38.67 min, P<0.05). The length of resected rectal segment in group A and B were shorter than that in group C (11.81 ± 5.76 cm, 12.31 ± 3.94 cm VS 15.24 ± 4.12 cm, P<0.05). The tumor distance to distal resection margin in group A and B were shorter than that in group C (3.61 ± 1.26 cm, 4.57 ± 1.58 cm VS 6.13 ± 2.47 cm, P<0.05). Anal preservation rates of three groups were 65.0% (13/20), 60.0% (12/20), 40.0% (8/20) respectively with no significant difference ( P>0.05). No residual tumor cells were found in any specimens. Conclusion:Carbon nanoparticles tattooing guided by endoscopic ultrasonography could reduce unnecessary intestinal segment incision and shorten the operation time. It can also reveal tumor extension toward the anal side within intestinal wall, which provides more accurate localization for the distal incision of the lower rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE： To study the academic characteristics and connotation of Sichuan Nanpai Tibetan medicine （SNTM）， to provide relevant information for the inheritance and development of Nanpai Tibetan medicine， and to provide reference for the development and utilization of commonly used medicinal materials in SNTM. METHODS： The type characteristics， medication frequency， main treatment disease and medication rule of 672 preparations of Tibetan hospital of SNTM were analyzed by means of data mining， statistical analysis and inductive deduction methods of TCM inheritance support system （TCMISS）. Based on the core combination drugs， the new prescriptions were evolved by the entropy hierarchical clustering method. RESULTS： A total of 624 medicinal materials were used in formulation of SNTM， involving 509 plant drugs （81.67％）， 61 mineral drugs （9.77％） and 54 animal drugs （8.65％）. There were 16 medicines with frequency＞120； among them， top 3 medicines were Terminalia chebula （57.44％）， Carthamus tinctorius （43.15％） and Aucklandia lappa （42.26％）. Main treatment diseases involved 13 categories， and top 3 categories were gastric diseases （28.13％）， hepatobiliary diseases （12.80％） and neurological diseases （11.90％）. In the treatment of stomach diseases， T. chebula， C. tinctorius， Alpinia katsumadai， Piper longum， A. lappa and Punica granatum were mainly used； totally 61 commonly used drug combinations were obtained and the most commonly used combination was P. longum-A. katsumadai. In the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases， T. chebula， C. tinctorius， Herpetospermum caudigerum， Swertia bimaculata， Zhaxun were mainly used； 64 commonly used drug combinations were obtained and the most commonly used combination is T. chebula-C. tinctorius. In the treatment of neurological diseases， Myristica fragrans， T. chebula， A. lappa， Syzygium aromaticum， Aquilaria sinensis， Choerospondias axillaris were mainly used； 73 commonly used drug combinations were obtained， and the most commonly used combination was T. chebula-M. fragrans. 5 candidate new formulations had been evolved by the entropy hierarchical clustering method， involving Lacciferlacca-Lithospermum erythrorhizon-Rubia cordifolia- Punica granatum. CONCLUSIONS： Obtained high frequency drug pairs and evolved new candidate formulation based on the core combinations drugs of SNTM for commonly diseases can provide reference for the development of modern new Tibetan medicines for gastric， hepatobiliary and neurological diseases.

PURPOSE: Mannitol is one of the first-line drugs for reducing cerebral edema through increasing the extracellular osmotic pressure. However, long-term administration of mannitol in the treatment of cerebral edema triggers damage to neurons and astrocytes. Given that neural stem cell (NSC) is a subpopulation of main regenerative cells in the central nervous system after injury, the effect of mannitol on NSC is still elusive. The present study aims to elucidate the role of mannitol in NSC proliferation. METHODS: C57 mice were derived from the animal house of Zunyi Medical University. A total of 15 pregnant mice were employed for the purpose of isolating NSCs in this investigation. Initially, mouse primary NSCs were isolated from the embryonic cortex of mice and subsequently identified through immunofluorescence staining. In order to investigate the impact of mannitol on NSC proliferation, both cell counting kit-8 assays and neurospheres formation assays were conducted. The in vitro effects of mannitol were examined at various doses and time points. In order to elucidate the role of Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in the suppressive effect of mannitol on NSC proliferation, various assays including reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were conducted on control and mannitol-treated groups. Additionally, the phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) was examined to explore the potential mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of mannitol on NSC proliferation. Finally, to further confirm the involvement of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent (MAPK) signaling pathway in the observed inhibition of NSC proliferation by mannitol, SB203580 was employed. All data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). The statistical analysis among multiple comparisons was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Turkey's post hoc test in case of the data following a normal distribution using a Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Comparisons between 2 groups were determined using Student's t-test, if the data exhibited a normal distribution using a Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Meanwhile, data were shown as median and interquartile range and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, if the data failed the normality test. A p < 0.05 was considered as significant difference. RESULTS: Primary NSC were isolated from the mice, and the characteristics were identified using immunostaining analysis. Thereafter, the results indicated that mannitol held the capability of inhibiting NSC proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner using cell counting kit-8, neurospheres formation, and immunostaining of Nestin and Ki67 assays. During the process of mannitol suppressing NSC proliferation, the expression of AQP4 mRNA and protein was downregulated, while the gene expression of p-p38 was elevated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining, and western blotting assays. Subsequently, the administration of SB203580, one of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors, partially abrogated this inhibitory effect resulting from mannitol, supporting the fact that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway participated in curbing NSC proliferation induced by mannitol. CONCLUSIONS Mannitol inhibits NSC proliferation through downregulating AQP4, while upregulating the expression of p-p38 MAPK.
Humans ; Animals ; Mannitol/pharmacology* ; Brain Edema ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation

Objective: To analyse the mental state of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Chengdu. Methods: One thousand five hundred and thirty-six AR patients from Sichuan Provincial Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan People′s Hospital, Sichuan Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected from July 2013 to January 2018. Eight hundred and twenty-seven patients were screened into study group by inclusion and exclusion standards. The symptom check list 90 (SCL-90) was used to group and score the mental state of these patients according to nine classification criteria: gender, BMI, age, marital status, monthly salary, disease duration, living environment, education level and working environment. Then, the scores were compared within groups. Inter-group comparison was made between the study group and the Chinese norm, and the positive factors for psychological disorders were extracted. Four symptoms in the study group, i.e. nasal itching, sneezing, clear discharge and nasal congestion, were scored on the visual analogue scale (VAS). SPSS 19.0 software was used to carry out statistical analysis. Partial correlation analysis was performed between the positive factors and the symptom scores by multiple regression statistical method. Results: The total score of SCL-90 in the study group was 2.64±0.25, which was accorded with mild to moderate mental health impairment. There were 124 (15.0%) without mental health damage, 176 (21.3%) with mild damage, 474 (57.3%) with mild to moderate damage, 41 (5.0%) with moderate to severe damage and 12 (1.4%) with severe damage. The in-group comparison showed that the top three categories of different items were the living environment, gender and working environment. The scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, psychosis, other (sleep, diet) and total average score of urban residents were higher than that of country residents (3.29±0.61 vs 2.65±0.50, 2.81±0.77 vs 2.05±0.38, 3.10±0.19 vs 2.49±0.67, 3.40±0.84 vs 2.49±0.70, 3.04±0.64 vs 2.33±0.51, 3.02±0.55 vs 2.40±0.77, 3.40±0.41 vs 2.52±0.77, 2.91±0.11 vs 2.29±0.40, Z value was 4.88, 5.25, 4.57, 5.91, 5.09, 4.63, 5.55, -4.55, respectively, all P<0.05). Women scored higher than man for somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression and others (2.66±0.51 vs 2.00±0.45, 3.37±0.47 vs 2.63±0.51, 3.44±0.57 vs 2.85±0.52, 3.47±0.36 vs 2.76±0.45, Z value was -5.10, -5.51, -4.86, -5.28, respectively, all P<0.05). The scores of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, psychosis and other (sleep, diet) were higher in the indoor group than those in the outdoor group (3.49±0.64 vs 2.78±0.46, 3.33±0.30 vs 2.56±0.68, 3.28±0.60 vs 2.67±0.31, 3.50±0.85 vs 2.85±0.37, Z value was 5.31, 5.79, 4.89, 5.00, respectively, all P<0.05). The outdoor group scored higher on obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety and hostility (3.44±0.40 vs 2.83±0.35, 3.40±0.50 vs 2.57±0.93, 3.34±0.88 vs 2.69±0.56, Z value was 4.96, 6.22, 5.08, respectively, all P<0.05). The inter-group comparison found that depression, anxiety, psychosis and other (sleep, diet) could be partially correlated with VAS scores as 4 positive factors. The results of partial correlation analysis showed that depression was positively correlated with sneezing and nasal runny discharge, anxiety was positively correlated with nasal itching and nasal obstruction, psychosis was positively correlated with nasal itching and sneezing, and other (sleep, diet) was positively correlated with nasal runny discharge and nasal obstruction. Conclusion AR patients have mild to moderate mental health impairments, which are correlated with AR symptoms.