Objective To analyze the association of Crohn's disease(CD)with vitamin D receptor(VDR) gene polymorphisms. Methods After collecting 326 CD patients and 464 healthy controls,the four single nucleotide polymorphisms of VDR (FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI) were examined by a SNaPshot technique. Results Compared with those in controls,the frequencies of mutant allele(A)and genotype(GA+AA)of BsmI were significantly decreased in CD patients(both P=0.001). The similar conclusions were also drawn for the mutant allele(C)and genotype(TC+CC)of TaqI(both P<0.05). In further stratified analysis,compared with those in controls,the mutant alleles and genotypes of BsmI and TaqI were significantly reduced in stenotic type CD patients (all P<0.0083). The analyses of linkage disequilibrium(LD)and haplotype showed that BsmI,ApaI and TaqI were in a strong LD,and the formed haplotype AAC was significantly lower in CD patients than that in controls (P <0.05). Conclusions VDR(BsmI and TaqI)polymorphisms are significantly related with the reduced susceptibility to CD,especially for patients with stenotic CD. Moreover,the haplotype AAC might engender a reduced risk of CD.

Objective To investigate the association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with fork head/ winged helix transcription factor-3 (Foxp3) polymorphisms in Han population in Zhejiang province,China.Methods A total of 381 UC patients and 490 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.The four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Foxp3 (rs3761547,rs2232365,rs2294021,rs3761548) were examined by SNaPshot.The analyses of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were also performed in all study subjects.Results When male and female UC patients were compared with their corresponding controls respectively,the alleles and genotypes of the four SNPs were not statistically different (all P ＞0.05).According to severity and location of the disease,the UC patients were divided into different subgroups.The alleles (C,G,A) of (rs2232365,rs2294021,rs3761548) were more frequent in male patients with severe UC than in the male controls (69.6％ vs 34.3％,P =0.001;69.6％ vs 34.3％,P =0.001;39.1％ vs 14.4％,P =0.002,respectively).As compared with the female controls,the alleles (C,G,A) and genotypes (TC + CC,AG + GG,CA + AA) of (rs2232365,rs2294021,rs3761548) were significantly increased in the female patients with severe UC (51.9％ vs 38.0％,63.5％ vs 39.2％,53.8％ vs21.4％,80.8％ vs57.7％,84.6％ vs58.4％,76.9％ vs34.7％,all P＜0.05).The four SNPs above were shown to be in a strong LD both in male and in female subjects.When male and female UC patients were compared with their corresponding controls respectively,nevertheless,each haplotype frequency was not statistically different (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Foxp3 (rs2232365,rs2294021,rs3761548) variations might engender the increased risk of severe UC in Chinese Han patients.

Objective To explore the association of Crohn's disease (CD) with T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) gene polymorphisms in patients of Zhejiang Han population in China.Methods A total of 308 CD patients and 573 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in our study.Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Tim-3 (rs1036199 and rs10515746) were examined by the improved multiple ligase detection reaction technique (iMLDR).Analyses of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype were also performed by Haploview 4.2 software in all study subjects.Results In general,the allele and genotype frequencies of Tim-3 (rs1036199 and rs10515746) were not statistically different between CD patients and the controls (all P ＞0.05).According to the Montreal Classification,CD patients were divided into different subgroups.The variant allele (C) and genotype (AC + CC) of rs1036199 were more frequent in CD patients with penetrating diseases than in the controls (10.4％ vs 1.7％,P =0.002;20.8％ vs 3.5％,P =0.023).Similar conclusions were also drawn for the variant allele (A) and genotype (CA + AA) of rs10515746 in patients with penetrating diseases when compared with the controls (10.4％ vs 2.2％,P =0.000;20.8％ vs 4.2％,P =0.033,respectively).The two SNPs of Tim-3 were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D'=1.0,r2 =0.928).The haplotype (AC) formed by their wild-type alleles (A) and (C) was decreased in patients with penetrating CD compared with the controls (89.6％ vs 98.3％,P =0.000).However,the haplotype (CA) formed by their variant alleles was more frequent in patients with penetrating CD than in the controls (10.4％ vs 1.6％,P =0.000).Conclusions Tim-3 (rs1036199 and rs10515746) variations might be correlated with the enhanced risk of penetrating diseases in CD patients.Furthermore,the haplotype (AC) and (CA) formed by the two SNPs might be a protective and a risky factor for penetrating CD respectively.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of sodium hya- luronate in relieving the symptoms of refractory non-bacterial cystitis.Methods Totally,20 patients(1 man and 19 women;mean age,47 years;age range,22-68 years)with refractory non-bacterial cystitis were included.Their disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years.Of them,16 patients had the disease for more than 1 year.Instillation of sodium hyaluronate(50 ml solution of 40 mg HA)was performed intravesically in them for a total of 12 weeks(once a week for the first 4 weeks and once every 4 weeks for the succeeding 8 weeks).Follow-up visit ended at 16 weeks,when the patients filled in the symptom assessment scores(VAS on pain,frequency and urgency)according to the subjective evaluation.Therapeutic results were classified as(1)total response:symptom disappearance or relief by at least 90% of the symptom scores;(2)partial response:symptom relief by 50%-89%;(3)mild response:symptom relief by 49% or less;(4)no re- sponse:no improvement in symptom scores.Results Nineteen patients completed the 16-week follow-up with only 1 withdrawing.The average general symptom score decreased from 22.32?5.53 to 9.47?5.88 (P＜0.001);frequency score from 8.21?1.75 to 3.89v2.31(P＜0.001);urgency score from 7.47?2.14 to 3.37?2.14(P＜0.001);pain score from 6.63?3.47 to 2.21?2.74(P＜0.001).After 16 weeks,overall positive response rate(total+partial response)was 53%(10/19).No serious adverse effect occurred except for urethral irritation(25%,5/20),worsening of distending pain of the bladder(5%,1/20) and vertigo(15%,3/20)caused by the procedure itself.Conclusions For patients suffering from refrac- tory non-bacterial cystitis,intravesical instillations of sodium hyaluronate can significantly relieve the symp- toms and is safe and of good patient compliance.

The industry of germ-free animals has been a hot spot in research along with the rapid development of studies on the relationship between microbiota and host diseases. Because it is pathogen?free, and the high degree of simi?larity in anatomy, physiology, pathogenesis to humans, germ?free pig is considered a clinical relevant model to be widely used in life science research. Based on the current state of research of germ?free pig cultivation at home and abroad and the experimental studies carried out in our laboratory as well, this article gives a simple discussion on germ?free technique of domestic pigs.

BACKGROUNDCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases around the world. Most severe CAP patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and receive intense treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of the pneumonia severity index (PSI), CURB-65, and sepsis score in the management of hospitalized CAP patients and explore the effect of ICU treatment on prognosis of severe cases.

METHODSA total of 675 CAP patients hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively investigated. The ability of different pneumonia severity scores to predict mortality was compared for effectiveness, while the risk factors associated with 30-day mortality rates and hospital length of stay (LOS) were evaluated. The effect of ICU treatment on the outcomes of severe CAP patients was also investigated.

RESULTSAll three scoring systems revealed that the mortality associated with the low-risk or intermediate-risk group was significantly lower than with the high-risk group. As the risk level increased, the frequency of ICU admission rose in tandem and LOS in the hospital was prolonged. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve in the prediction of mortality were 0.94, 0.91 and 0.89 for the PSI, CURB-65 and sepsis score, respectively. Compared with the corresponding control groups, the mortality was markedly increased in patients with a history of smoking, prior admission to ICU, respiratory failure, or co-morbidity of heart disease. The differences were also identified in LOS between control groups and patients with ICU treatment, heart, or cerebrovascular disease. Logistic regression analysis showed that age over 65 years, a history of smoking, and respiratory failure were closely related to mortality in the overall CAP cohort, whereas age, ICU admission, respiratory failure, and LOS at home between disease attack and hospital admission were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in the high-risk CAP sub-group. The 30-day mortality of patients who underwent ICU treatment on admission was also higher than for non-ICU treatment, but much lower than for those patients who took ICU treatment subsequent to the failure of non-ICU treatment.

CONCLUSIONSEach severity score system, CURB-65, sepsis severity score and especially PSI, was capable of effectively predicting CAP mortality. Delayed ICU admission was related to higher mortality rates in severe CAP patients.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Community-Acquired Infections ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; mortality ; pathology ; Sepsis ; mortality ; pathology ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of transcobalamine II (TCN2) gene polymorphisms and serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin Band folate with ulcerative colitis (UC) among Chinese patients.

METHODSFor 397 UC patients and 574 controls, two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TCN2 gene (rs1801198, rs9606756) were tested with an improved multiple ligase detection reaction method. Serum Hcy, vitamin Band folate were measured with an enzymatic cycling assay and an chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively.

RESULTSThe allelic and genotypic frequencies of rs1801198 and rs9606756 did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Compared with those of the control group, the frequencies of G allele and CG+GG genotype of rs1801198 were greater in patients with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.05). The same conclusion may also be drawn for the G allele and AG genotype of rs9606756 (both P< 0.05). Compared with the controls, average Hcy level was enhanced in UC patients (P< 0.01), whereas average vitamin Band folate levels were decreased in UC patients (both P< 0.01). In both groups, the average level of Hcy was lower in individuals carrying CC of (rs1801198) than in those with CG+GG (both P< 0.05). A similar conclusion was also drawn for individuals with AA of rs9606756 when compared with those carrying AG(both P< 0.05). Compared with patients with mild UC, average Hcy level was increased in those with moderate and severe UC (P< 0.01), while average vitamin Band folate levels were decreased in those with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.01). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy), vitamin Bdeficiency and folate deficiency was greater in UC patients than in controls (all P< 0.01). In UC patients, the level of Hcy was negatively correlated with those of vitamin B(P< 0.01), albumin(P< 0.01), red blood cells(P< 0.01) and platelet (P< 0.05), but positively correlated with white blood cells(P< 0.01) and Mayo score (P< 0.01). Both HHcy and folate deficiency were independent risk factors for UC (OR=4.173, OR=5.206, both P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) variations, as well as serum levels of Hcy, vitamin Band folate, are correlated with UC. Both HHcy and folate deficiency are independent risk factors for UC.

Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; blood ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Genotype ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcobalamins ; genetics ; Vitamin B 12 ; blood

Objective ToexploretheMRIperformanceofpapillarythyroidcarcinomawithhobnailfeatures(HPTC)andthedifferential diagnosisfromclassicpapillarythyroidcarcinoma(CPTC).Methods Dataof93patientswithconfirmedPTCandMRIexamination oneweekbeforesurgerywereretrospectivelycollected.Thedifferencesoftheage,sex,tumorsize,ADCvaluesand MRIfeaturesof HPTCandCPTCweredetermined.Results 10HPTCand78CPTCwereincludedinthisstudy.ThefrequencyofT2WIsignificantly highsignal,segmentationlinearlowsignal,lacesignandgyrus-likestructureofHPTCwassignificantlyhigherthanthatofCPTC (P=0.000).ComparedtoCPTC,HPTCshowedmoreirregularshape(P=0.005),largervolume(P=0.025),moremixedT2WI andDWIsignals(P=0.002,0.028,respectively),higherADCvalues(P=0.019),anddelayedmass-likeenhancement(P=0.041). Conclusion HPTClesionshavelargervolume,irregularshape,mixedT2WIsignals,mixedDWIsignalsandhigherADCvalues. Significantlyhighsignal,segmentationlinearlowsignal,lacesignandgyrus-likestructurearecommonlyobservedonT2WI.Delayed mass-likeenhancementpatternismorecommon.ThesecharacteristicscouldcontributetothediagnosisofHPTC.

Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from turmeric rhizome and has multiple pharmacological roles. Recently,its anticancer properties have been recognized. Also,curcumin regulates autophagy in tumor cells via signaling pathways including AMP-activated protein kinase,mammalian target of rapamycin,transcription factor EB,Beclin-1,B-cell lymphoma 2,and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Considering the complicated crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis,in this article we summaize the mechanism of curcumin-induced autophagy and its effect on apoptosis,with an attempt to provide insights on tumor therapy.

Neural recording electrodes enable the acquisition and collection of electrical signals from neu-rons,and these recorded neural electrical signals are an important means of understanding neuronal activity.As a major component of the brain-machine interface,neu-ral recording electrodes serve as a bridge between the nervous system and external devices.The extracted information can be used to understand the state of the brain and acts as a feedback signal to regulate external devices,thus providing important information for the clini-cal treatment of neurological diseases.Moreover,the electrodes can be used as a vehicle for drug injection to directly treat diseases.Since the time that Strumwas-ser used microwires to achieve long-term recordings of neural activity in hibernating squirrels,implantable elec-trode technology has gradually improved over three gen-erations of development,and progress has been made in improving the biocompatibility,mechanical performance(size,shape,density,etc.),and signal-to-noise ratio.Implantable neural recording electrodes can acquire sig-nals from cortical and deep neural clusters,with the advantages of high signal-to-noise ratio,information con-tent,and spatial/temporal resolution.However,there is still a need to improve the structure and performance of these electrodes;for example,their high invasiveness and lack of biocompatibility pose technical difficulties in the process of translation to the clinic.This paper reviews the basic requirements for electrodes,main recording methods and signal types,common types of implant-able neural recording electrodes,and their challenges and future development directions.With the continuous development of electrode materials,equipment,systems,and neurotechnology,it should be possible to apply neu-ral recording electrodes in clinical practice,to promote safe and efficient treatment of human diseases.