RNA interference provides a new approach for elucidation of gene function. It holds the advantages of quickness, convenience, high effect and high specificity. In spite of these, the application of RNA interference technique in studying the mammalian cells and human disease is still in the beginning. In this paper, a review of the development of RNA interference in mammalian cells and human disease is presented.
Animals ; Genes ; physiology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

Objective To understand the compliance of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and influencing factors in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Nanjing. Methods PLWHA receiving HAART in No. 2 Hospital of Nanjing during May-June 2014 were recruited in this study. Self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect the data about HAART compliance and socio-demographic characteristics of PLWHA surveyed. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to examine the effects of the factors on self-reported HAART adherence. Results A total of 276 PLWHA were surveyed,According to the evaluation criterion of Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE),252 cases showed good compliance (91.3%). logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking,progress of the disease and side effects,reminding of taking drug and age were correlated with self-reported HAART adherence. Conclusion It is suggested to strengthen the education about antiviral therapy compliance in PLWHA with mild infection and those who are smokers and young,suffer from side effects,have no reminding methods for taking drug.

Objective:Comparing with the external fixator technique, investigate the clinical effect of fixator-assisted plating technique for treatment distal femoral valgus deformity in adolescent.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the relevant data of 22 patients (25 limbs) with acute correction of distal femoral valgus deformities from July 2015 to June 2019, according to the difference of the final fixation, they were divided two groups. The fixator-assisted plating group, including 8 patients (9 limbs), 5 boys and 3 girls, 5 left and 2 right, 1 bilateral, the physis were closed in 4 cases and opened in 4 cases, age 14.04±1.99 years (11.7-18 years). The external fixator group, including 14 patients (16 limbs), 6 boys and 8 girls, 8 left and 4 right, 2 bilateral, the physis were closed in 9 cases and opened in 5 cases, age 13.33±1.88 years (10.1-16.5 years). Measuring the mechanical axis deviation (MAD) and the mechanical lateral distal femur angle (mLDFA) in full length standing AP view X-ray of the lower limb pre and post operation. Recording the changed of limb length discrepancy (LLD) before and after surgery and the knee range of motion at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and the last follow up post operation. The Kolcaba comfort status scale was used to evaluate the comfort of two groups at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and the last follow up. Meanwhile recorded the healing time of osteotomy sites and the complications.Results:The difference in general information between the two groups was not statistically significant. The fixator-assisted plating group followed up mean 26 months (range, 12-40 months), the healing time were 4.00±0.66 months, the mLDFA mean 73.33°±4.12° before surgery and 87.89°±1.69° after surgery and there was significant difference ( t=10.582, P<0.05). The external fixator group followed up mean 36 months (range, 22-42 months), the healing time were 4.00±0.66 months, the mLDFA mean 73.31°±3.95° before surgery and 87.31°±1.54° after surgery and there was significant difference ( t=14.118, P<0.05). The MAD were in the normal range in all patients after surgery, and there were no significant difference about healing time of the osteotomy sites and postoperative mLDFA between the two groups ( t=1.514, P=0.150; t=0.845, P=0.411). Comparing with the knee function, the fixator-assisted plating group was better at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months after surgery but there was no difference at the last follow up. Also, the fixator-assisted plating group felt more comfortable at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and there was no difference at the last follow up. All the patients with external fixator have mild pin sites infection and there were no obvious complications in patients with plate. Conclusion:The fixator-assisted plating technique can accurately correct the valgus deformity with satisfactory healing of the osteotomy in distal femoral compare with the external fixator technique, but the patients feel more comfortable and the knee joint function recovers faster and no risk of pin site infection, the clinical results was satisfactory with fewer complication.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongfeng Decoction （痛风汤） for preventing and treating acute gouty arthritis. MethodsSixty Wistar male rats were divided into normal group， model group， colchicine group and low-， medium- and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups according to the random number table， 10 rats in each group. Tongfeng Decoction of 11.34， 22.68 and 45.36 g/kg were given by gavage to low-， medium- and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups， colchicine 3.15×10^-4 g/（kg·d） to the colchicine group， and normal saline 10 ml/（kg·d） to the normal group and model group respectively for 7 consecutive days. After 1 hour of gavage on day 5， rats in all groups except the normal group were modelled as acute gouty arthritis in the ankle joint of the right hind limb with the modified Coderre's method； rats in the normal group were injected with 0.2 ml of normal saline at the same location. The swelling degree of the ankle joint was measured before modelling and after 6 h， 12 h， 24 h and 48 h of modelling， respectively. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological and morphological changes in the synovial tissue of the ankle joint； immunoblotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein （ASC）， cysteine aspartate protease 1 （Caspase-1）， and interleukin 1β （IL-1β） protein and mRNA expression levels in ankle synovial tissues， respectively； immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of Caspase-1 and IL-1β in ankle synovial tissues； ELISA was used to detect the tumour necrosis factor alpha （TNF-α）， IL-1β， and interleukin in serum； immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs） in the synovial tissues of the ankle joints. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group showed elevated joint swelling at all time points， significantly increased inflammatory cell infiltration and the number of synovial cell layers in the synovial tissues of the ankle joints， elevated NLRP3， Caspase-1， ASC and IL-1β protein and mRNA expression， elevated positive expression of Caspase-1 and IL-1β， increased formation of NETs， and elevation of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in serum （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， there was an improvement in synovial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration of the ankle joint in the colchicine group， high- and medium-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups. In the colchicine group and the high-， medium- and low-dose Tongfeng Decoction groups， the degree of joint swelling， positive expression of Caspase-1， IL-1β and formation of NETs in the synovial tissue of the ankle joint， and TNF-α， IL-6 and IL-1β in serum reduced 24 h and 48 h after modelling； in colchicine group and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction group， NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β protein and mRNA expression in the synovial tissues of ankle joints all reduced （P＜0.05）. The colchicine group and high-dose Tongfeng Decoction group were superior to the low-dose Tongfeng Decoction group in reducing ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β protein and mRNA expression in the ankle synovial tissues， the positive expression of Caspase-1， as well as TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β level in serum （P＜0.05）. ConclusionTongfeng Decoction showed effectiveness for the prevention and treatment of acute gouty arthritis， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles in ankle synovial tissues， the inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors， and the formation of NETs.

OBJECTIVETo understand the incidence of drop out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with AIDS/HIV and related factors in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, and Yuncheng, Shanxi province.

METHODSRetrospective cohort analysis was conducted. The cumulative incidence curves of drop out of ART, mortality and drug withdrawal were drawn with Kaplan-Meier method. The related factors were identified with Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTSA total of 1 006 patients were included in Yuncheng, the median length of ART follow-up was 49.59 months (QR: 20.02-92.84), and 976 patients were included in Nanjing, the median length of ART follow-up was 19.93 months (QR: 11.48-34.07). The cumulative incidence of drop out of ART at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 8 years after ART was 8.19%, 9.23%, 11.08%, 13.75%, 17.74%, 27.66% in Yuncheng, and 3.01%, 5.17%, 7.47%, 10.97%, 17.45%, 28.72% in Nanjing respectively. Age, marital status, infection route, baseline CD4 cell count, the clinical stage classified by WHO at the end of the observation were correlated with the drop out of ART.

CONCLUSIONIn order to reduce the drop out of ART among people living with AIDS/HIV, it is necessary to conduct effective interventions targeting the patients with young age, the patients who divorced/widowed, the patients who were intravenous drug users, the patients with higher CD4 cell count at the beginning of ART and clinical stage III or IV at the end of the follow-up and increase the coverage of HIV test.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Anti-Retroviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medication Adherence ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo understand the economic burden caused by antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS and influencing factors in Nanjing.

METHODSPeople living with HIV/AIDS were divided into two groups, HIV infected patients and AIDS patients. The data about their direct medical expenditure, direct non-medical expenditure and indirect economic loss in the past year were collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to identify the potential influencing factors.

RESULTSThe median of direct medical expenditure and total costs for 133 HIV infected patients were 1,200 yuan RMB and 1,972 yuan RMB respectively. The median of direct medical expenditure and total costs for 145 AIDS patients were 1 060 yuan RMB and 2 826 yuan RMB respectively. The differences in direct medical expenditure and total costs between HIV infected patients and AIDS patients showed no statistical significance. The results from univariate analysis indicated that the sample source influenced total costs significantly. Multivariate analysis showed that onset time and CD level were negatively correlated with direct medical expenditure. The patients infected through heterosexual contact had more direct medical expenditure than those infected through homosexual contact. The patients receiving HIV test in hospitals had more direct medical expenditure than those receiving volunteer counseling and testing.

CONCLUSIONFurther efforts should be made to expand HIV testing and treatment coverage in order to detect HIV infections as early as possible. Early antiretroviral treatment should be given to HIV infected patients to maintain their immunity and reduce their medical expenditure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; economics ; Anti-Retroviral Agents ; economics ; therapeutic use ; China ; Cost of Illness ; Counseling ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; economics ; Health Expenditures ; statistics & numerical data ; Heterosexuality ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Voluntary Programs

OBJECTIVETo understand the compliance of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and influencing factors in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Nanjing.

METHODSPLWHA receiving HAART in No. 2 Hospital of Nanjing during May-June 2014 were recruited in this study. Self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect the data about HAART compliance and socio-demographic characteristics of PLWHA surveyed. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to examine the effects of the factors on self-reported HAART adherence.

RESULTSA total of 276 PLWHA were surveyed, According to the evaluation criterion of Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE), 252 cases showed good compliance (91.3%). logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking, progress of the disease and side effects, reminding of taking drug and age were correlated with self-reported HAART adherence.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested to strengthen the education about antiviral therapy compliance in PLWHA with mild infection and those who are smokers and young, suffer from side effects, have no reminding methods for taking drug.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Age Factors ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; China ; Disease Progression ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; statistics & numerical data ; Reminder Systems ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires