Objective To investigate the constitution factors for metabolic syndrome(MS). Methods 271 MS cases and 271 non-MS controls were selected. They were assessed according to the diagnosis standard of constitution of TCM. Results Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that phlegm-dampness constitution and dampness-heat constitution were dangerous factors for MS, normal constitution was protective factor for MS (P<0.05). Conclusion Research on constitution play a role in investigating pathogenesis of MS.

Objective To evaluate the influence of renal insufficiency (RI) on long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) plus metabolic syndrome (MetS) and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This was a retrospective study. From February, 2011 to Octorber, 2013 , we consecutivly enrolled 223 AMI patients with MetS in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. There were 88 patients with RI in group A, and 135 patients as the control group (group B). Patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) for 1 year. Results Compared with group B, the incidence of 1-year MACE of patients in group A was increased (36.4% vs. 18.5%, P= 0.003). Result of Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that RI was a predictive factor for 1-year MACE (HR = 3.56,95%CI 1.004 ~ 4.170, P = 0.002). Conclusion The incidence of 1-year MACE for AMI patients with RI and MetS post-PCI was high. RI was a risk factor for poor prognosis of AMI patients with MetS.

BACKGROUND:A large amount of studies have confirmed that synovial mesenchymal stem cells have the similarity in cellmorphology, immune phenotype, colony forming ability and differentiation potential with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. But bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are better than synovial mesenchymal stem cells in the ability to differentiate into cartilages. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the possibility of using synovial mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells for meniscal tissue engineering. METHODS:The synovial mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rabbit synovial tissues with limiting dilution monoclonal culture method, and then the cells were purified. The morphology, ultrastructure, molecular phenotype, proliferation kinetics, karyotype and tumorigenicity of the in vitro cultured cells were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The synovial mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the rabbit synovial cells had high proliferation capacity during in vitro monolayer culture. The synovial mesenchymal stem cells grew to peak at 6 days, and the doubling time was (30.2±2.4) hours. Flow cytometry results showed the synovial mesenchymal stem cells could express some molecular makers of mesenchymal stem cells, such as CD44 and CD90. DNA contents check, karyotype test and oncogenicity test confirmed isolated and purified synovial mesenchymal stem cells were the normal diploid cells without tumorigenicity, so the cells can be used as seed cells for meniscal tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND:Smal intestinal submucosa is characterized as antimicrobial activity, good biocompatibility, bio-mechanical properties, and rapid degradation in vivo, similar to the extracellular matrix of meniscal
fibrochondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE:To observe whether there exists a good histocompatibility between smal intestinal submucosa and synovial mesenchymal stem cells.
METHODS:Smal intestinal submucosa was treated with physical and chemical treatment. And hematoxylin-eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy observation were performed. Then, smal intestinal submucosa extracts were prepared for the fol owing experiments. (1) Pyrogenic test:smal intestinal submucosa extracts were injected into the ear vein of New Zealand white rabbits. (2) Skin sensitization test:smal intestinal submucosa extracts, paraformaldehyde solution and normal saline were respectively injected intradermal y into New Zealand white rabbits. (3) General toxicity test:smal intestinal submucosa extracts and normal saline were respectively injected into the ear vein of New Zealand white rabbits. Smal intestinal submucosa was co-cultured with osteogenic rabbit synovial mesenchymal stem cells, and smal intestinal submucosa cultured alone served as control. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were some intestinal mucosal epithelial cells, fat cells and other cells adhered onto the surface of smal intestinal submucosa after physical treatment. While, the amount of residual cells decreased sharply after chemical treatment. But the main structure and the component had not been changed. The surface of smal intestinal submucosa was smooth and no cells remained, and there was a three-dimension network spatial structure. The porosity was 80%. Smal intestinal submucosa is a non-toxic, nonirritating, non-immunogenic biomaterial with very good biocompatibility, which has a good histocompatibility with rabbit synovial mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To investigate the biosecurity and biocompatibility of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as scaffold for tissue engineering and to explore the possibility to induce synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) differentiate into cartilage with SIS as the scaffold and SMSCs as the seed cells. Methods The SMSCs were isolated and cultured from the synovial mem-brane of knee joints of rabbits by a conventional method. The SIS was harvested from pigs according to the physical method and Abraham's method. 4 rabbits are divided into the experimental group and control group. The biosecurity of SIS as scaf-folds were investigated in pyrogen test, skin sensitization test and systemic toxicity test. The SMSCs and SIS were co-cultured in vitro and induced to differentiate into cartilage to explore the biocompatibility of SMSCs and SIS, the proliferation and differ-entiation ability of SMSCs on the scaffold of SIS. The varietyies were identified by the microscope. Results The SIS isolated with the physical method and Abraham's method is a milky and translucent membrane with a smooth surface. Under the electron microscope, SIS presented a porous Stereoscopic three-dimensional network structure, which is formed by fibrous tissues' intertex-ture. Its' porosity was about 80%and its aperture was 100-200μm. Meanwhile, the biosecurity and biocompatibility of SIS were also fine. In the trial that the SMSCs and SIS were co-cultured in vitro, the SMSCs can grow, adhere to and differentiate on the sur-face of SIS and into the hollows very well. It can also secrete extracellular matrix. Through scanning microscope observation, cells contact with each other by their neuritis, or adhered to the wall of hole by cellular protrution. On the surface of SIS, the SMSCs maintain the property that it can easily differentiate into the chondrogenic lineage in the chondrogenic medium. Immunochemistry staining showed positive expression of type II collagen post 21 days of co-cultrue. Conclusion SIS can be used as the scaffold to construct tissue engineering meniscus as it has good biosecurity and biocompatibility with SMSCs without disturbing the cell form or inhibiting the growth and function of SMSCs.

Objective: To evaluate the value of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in pregnancies with anomaly in prenatal screening. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 2 837 singleton pregnancies who performed NIPT indicated by isolated anomaly in prenatal screening at Guangdong Women and Children Hospital between November 2014 and August 2016. All pregnancies were divided into 3 groups by single indication: advanced maternal age ( AMA, ≥35), abnormal multiples of the median (MoM) in standard screening, increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT, 2.5-3.0 mm). High risk results were verified by prenatal diagnosis. Low risk cases were followed by a 22-26 week anatomical ultrasound examination. All of the cases were followed up and the performance of NIPT for every single indication was evaluated. Results: There were total of 2 837 pregnant women who underwent NIPT. Twenty-five of 2 448 pregnancies indicated by AMA had high risk results, among which 17 were confirmed by invasive genetic testing, except 1 case rejecting prenatal diagnosis. In 351 pregnant women with abnormal MoM, NIPT found 3 cases of sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) and 2 of them were validated by invasive prenatal diagnosis. Increased NT group included 38 cases, NIPT found 1 case of trisomy 21 which was consistent with karyotype analysis. For common aneuploidies and SCA, the performance of NIPT in the pregnant women who indicated by AMA, abnormal MoM and increased NT were as the follows: the sensitivity were 17/17, 2/2 and 1/1 respectively, the specificity were 99.7% (2 423/2 431), 99.7% (348/349) and 100%(37/37), the positive predictive value were 68% (17/25), 2/3 and 1/1, the negative predictive value were 100% (2 423/2 423), 100% (348/348) and 100% (38/38), respectively. By follow-up survey, a total of 8 cases of abnormal fetus were recorded in NIPT low-risk women, including 5 cases of termination of pregnancy due to abnormal ultrasound findings, 2 cases of abortion as a result of severe obstetric complications and 1 case of stillbirth. Conclusions To the pregnant women who indicated by advanced maternal age, abnormal MoM and increased NT (2.5-3.0 mm), NIPT had satisfactory performance for common aneuploidies, and also had potential value for SCA, resulting in a significant reduction in diagnostic procedures. However, for NIPT low-risk pregnancies, routine antenatal examination and anatomical ultrasound detection would be highly necessary to avoid missing abnormal fetuses.(Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 509-513)

Objective To explore the plasma levels of soluble CD40 (sCD40) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in the patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods The levels of plasma sCD40 and sCD40L were measured in 20 patients with AD, 35 patients with aMCI, and 32 cognitively normal controls (NC) using commercially available ELISAs. The cognitive function of AD and aMCI patients was mea?sured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Results There were significant differences in plasma sCD40 among AD, aMCI and NC groups (P<0.05) as the medians (the upper and lower quartiles) of plasma levels were 123.3 (97.4, 149.5) pg/mL, 102.9 (63.6, 124.0) pg/mL and 70.66 (51.0, 90.8) pg/mL, respectively. There were significant differences in plasma sCD40L among AD, aMCI and NC groups (P<0.05) as plasma levels were 537.0 (316.0, 1134.0) pg/mL, 316.0 (190.0,546.0) pg/mL and 167.0 (107.5,478.0) pg/mL. A negative correlation between the plasma concentrations of sCD40L and the MMSE scores was found in aMCI patients (r=-0.736, P<0.001). Conclusions There are relevant chang?es of plasma sCD40 and sCD40L levels in patients with AD and aMCI. The present results suggest that plasma levels of sCD40 and sCD40L may be appropriate biomarkers for AD patients and indicate that CD40-CD40L signaling may be in?volved in AD pathophysiology.

BACKGROUNDIt has rarely been reported about the changes of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) in elderly patients receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aimed to evaluate the changes of Hb and Hct after TKA or THA in elderly patients, and analyze its relationship with sex and type of arthroplasty.

METHODSThis is a prospective cohort study, including 107 patients receiving TKA or THA without allogeneic blood transfusion. There were 54 males and 53 females, with a mean age of 69.42 years. Levels of Hb and Hct were examined preoperatively and during the 6 months follow-up after operation.

RESULTSLevels of Hb and Hct decreased postoperatively and reached their minimum points on postoperative day 4. Thereafter, Hb and Hct recovered to their preoperative levels within 6-12 weeks. No significant differences in the levels of Hb and Hct were noticed between different sexes. THA patients showed significantly greater drop in Hb and Hct than TKA patients in the first 4 days postoperatively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLevels of Hb and Hct decreased during the first 4 days after arthroplasty and gradually returned to their normal levels within 6-12 weeks postoperatively. THA may be associated with higher postoperative blood loss than TKA.

Arthroplasty ; methods ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Hip ; surgery ; Humans ; Knee ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies

1, 5-diaminopentane, also known as cadaverine, is an important raw material for the production of biopolyamide. It can be polymerized with dicarboxylic acid to produce biopolyamide PA5X whose performances are comparable to that of the petroleum-based polyamide materials. Notably, biopolyamide uses renewable resources such as starch, cellulose and vegetable oil as substrate. The production process does not cause pollution to the environment, which is in line with the green and sustainable development strategy. The biosynthesis of 1, 5-diaminopentane mainly includes two methods: the de novo microbial synthesis and the whole cell catalysis. Lysine decarboxylase as the key enzyme for 1, 5-diaminopentane production, mainly includes an inducible lysine decarboxylase CadA and a constituent lysine decarboxylase LdcC. Lysine decarboxylase is a folded type Ⅰ pyridoxal-5' phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme, which displays low activity and unstable structure, and is susceptible to deactivation by environmental factors in practical applications. Therefore, improving the catalytic activity and stability of lysine decarboxylase has become a research focus in this field, and molecular engineering and immobilization are the mainly approaches. Here, the mechanism, molecular engineering and immobilization strategies of lysine decarboxylase were reviewed, and the further strategies for improving its activity and stability were also prospected, with the aim to achieve efficient production of 1, 5-diaminopentane.
Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Carboxy-Lyases/metabolism* ; Catalysis ; Cadaverine/metabolism*