Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on stroke in stroke unit, and its cost-effectiveness. Methods60 patients were divided into control group (n=30) and treatment group (n=30). All the patients were treated with structural therapy known as stroke unit, and the treatment group accepted acupuncture in addition. They were assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) and Barthel Index (BI) before, 15 d and 30 d after treatment. Their expenses for hospital were investigated. ResultsThe scores of NIHSS and BI improved in the treatment group compared with those in control group (P<0.05) 15 d and 30 d after treatment. The average cost for a score improved in both NIHSS and BI was less in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe acupuncture applied in stroke unit is effective and economical for stroke patients.

Objective To observe the expression of cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 in different malignancy astrocytoma by immunohistochemistry,so as to judge the invasive action of COX-2 in astrocytoma.Methods A total of 55 cases with astrocytoma underwent 63 times operation including 8 recurrent cases were selected,and 9 cases with severe brain injury who needed decompression surgery were selected as control group.The astrocytoma tissues and decompression surgery to remove tissues removed immediately fixed in 10％ formalin buffer solution.The expression of COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results The positive expression rate of COX-2 in astrocytoma tissues was higher than that in decompression surgery to remove tissues[69.84％ (44/63) vs.1/9],and there was significant difference (x2 =11.589,P ＜ 0.01).The positive expression rate of COX-2 in recurrent astrocytoma tissues was higher than that in primmy astrocytoma tissues [8/8 vs.65.45％ (36/55)],and there was significant difference (x2 =3.957,P ＜ 0.05).With increased astrocytoma malignancy,the positive expression rate of COX-2 also increased,and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion COX-2 may have some relationship with the invasion of astrocytoma,leading to increase tumor grade,and relapse.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significances of CD4/CD8 ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 124 MM patients in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from December 2002 to April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and 31 healthy people were chosen as the controls. Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were detected by using flow cytometry, and the correlations between CD4/CD8 ration and related clinical indicators were also investigated. All MM patients were divided into the high NLR group and the low NLR group according to the media of NLR, and the correlation of them with related clinical indicators, chromosome karyotype, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was also compared.Results:Compared with the healthy control group, the proportion of CD4 + T cells [(35.28±6.58)% vs. (31.85±6.76)%, t = -2.067, P = 0.043], absolute value of NK cells [0.22×10 9/L (0.13×10 9/L-0.59×10 9/L) vs. 0.17×10 9/L (0.00×10 9/L-0.42×10 9/L), Z = -2.614, P = 0.009] and CD4/CD8 ratio [0.97 (0.50-2.69) vs. 0.81 (0.30-1.28), Z = -2.253, P = 0.024] was decreased, respectively. The proportion of CD8 + cells was increased [(36.93±7.38)% vs. (40.50±6.50)%, t = 2.074, P = 0.042] in MM group. The hemoglobin level of CD4/CD8 ratio ≥0.94 group was higher than that of CD4/CD8 ratio <0.94 [(98.89±21.35) g/L vs.(80.60±23.23) g/L, t = -2.066, P = 0.047]. Compared with the healthy control group, NLR was increased in MM group [1.54 (1.10-3.23) vs. 1.95 (0.29-12.70), Z = -2.384, P = 0.017]. Compared with the low NLR group (<1.95), serum β 2-microglobulin [4.56 mg/L (1.63-12.60 mg/L) vs. 6.17 mg/L (1.58-67.50 mg/L), Z = -2.586, P = 0.010] and serum creatinine [84.5 μmol/L (43.0-376.5 μmol/L) vs. 113.0 μmol/L (46.5-754.0 μmol/L), Z = -3.866, P < 0.001] was increased in the high NLR group for MM patients. The proportion of the male patients, β 2-microglobulin > 5.5 mg/L, serum creatinine > 177 μmol/L, stage Ⅲ of international staging system (ISS) in the high NLR group was higher than that in the low NLR group (all P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the composition of chromosome karyotype (all P > 0.05). The median OS time in the low NLR group was longer than that in the high NLR group [30 months (20-40 months) vs. 17 months (7-27 months), χ 2 = 4.519, P = 0.034], and there was no statistically significant difference in the PFS of both groups ( P > 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that the age, corrected serum calcium, serum creatinine, lactic dehydrogenase were the independent influencing factors of OS in MM (all P < 0.05), while NLR wasn′t an independent influencing factor of OS in MM ( P = 0.513). Conclusions:CD4/CD8 ratio is decreased and immune dysfunction occurs in MM patients. MM patients with high NLR have a shorter OS time.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the identification of numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations (CNVs) in fetuses. METHODS: 46 197 pregnant women undergoing NIPT at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Chenzhou First People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Positive cases were subjected to chromosomal karyotyping and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) following amniocentesis. RESULTS: Nearly 50% of common chromosomal aneuploidies were found in the elder pregnant women. Among these, sex chromosome aneuploidies were mainly found in pregnant women with advanced age as well as borderline risks by serological screening. Rare autosomal aneuploidies and CNVs were mainly found in those with borderline or high risks by serological screening. The positive predictive values (PPV) for fetal chromosomal abnormalities indicated by NIPT were as follows: T21 (92.37%, 109/118), T18 (53.85%, 14/26), sex chromosome aneuploidies (45.04%, 59/131), T13 (34.62%, 9/26), CNVs (29.17%, 14/48), and rare autosomal aneuploidies (2.60%, 2/77). CONCLUSION NIPT has a high detection rate for T21, T18, T13 and sex chromosome aneuploidies. It can also detect rare autosomal aneuploidies and CNVs, including some rare structural abnormalities, though verification is required by analyzing amniotic fluid samples.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders/genetics* ; Aneuploidy ; Fetus

Objective: To investigate the effect of PR domain zinc finger protein 9 (PRDM9), one of the histone methylated transferases, on osteogenic differentiation ability of periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (PDLSC). Methods: PDLSC with PRDM9 gene knocked down by PRDM9 shRNA using recombinant lentiviral vector were allocated into the PRDM9sh group, and the transfected shRNA was as the control group. The gene expression efficiency was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), alizarin red staining, mineralization and osteocalcin, which belongs to osteogenic differentiation markers detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting to detect the osteogenic differentiation ability of stem cells from periodontal ligaments in vitro. In vivo, PRDM9sh and control group cells was transplanted into the dorsal dermal to explore the osteogenesis. The area percentage of new osteogenic tissue was calculated by image pro software and statistically analyzed. Results: RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression of PRDM9 gene in PRDM9sh (0.460±0.017) was significantly lower than that in control group (1.000±0.107) (P<0.05). The results of ALP activity determined at 5 days postinduction in a significant decrease in PRDM9sh cells (0.762±0.063) compared with control group (1.225±0.058) (P<0.01). Alizarin red staining induced by osteogenesis at 2 weeks and 3 weeks showed that the staining of PRDM9sh was significantly lighter than that in control group. Quantitative calcium analysis results showed that the calcium ion concentration induced by osteogenesis at 2 weeks and 3 weeks [(0.071±0.004), (0.075±0.001)] in PRDM9sh was significantly lower than that in control group at 2 weeks and 3 weeks [(0.282±0.006), (0.485+0.004)] (P<0.01). RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression of osteocalcin mRNA in PRDM9sh (1.059±0.148) was significantly lower than that in control group at 2 weeks (2.542±0.190) (P<0.01). Western blotting results showed that osteocalcin expression in PRDM9sh was significantly lower than that in control group at 1 and 2 weeks after osteogenesis induction. Animal transplantation experiments results indicated that PRDM9 significantly inhibited the osteogenesis of PDLSC in vivo, and the proportion of osteogenic area calculated showed that the osteogenic capacity of PRDM9sh [(3.8±2.41)%] was significantly lower than that in control group [(24.54±7.06)%](P<0.05). Conclusions Depletion of PRDM9 repressed the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from periodontal ligament in vitro and in vivo.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Treatment should alleviate inflammation, regulate the immune reaction and promote periodontal tissue regeneration. Icariin is the main active ingredient of Epimedii Folium, and it is a promising compound for the enhancement of mesenchymal stem cell function, promotion of bone formation, inhibition of bone resorption, alleviation of inflammation and regulation of immunity. The study investigated the effect of icariin on periodontal tissue regeneration in a minipig model of periodontitis. The minipig model of periodontitis was established. Icariin was injected locally. The periodontal clinical assessment index, a computed tomography (CT) scan, histopathology and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) were used to evaluate the effects of icariin. Quantitative analysis results 12 weeks post-injection demonstrated that probing depth, gingival recession, attachment loss and alveolar bone regeneration values were (3.72 ± 1.18) mm vs. (6.56 ± 1.47) mm, (1.67 ± 0.59) mm vs. (2.38 ± 0.61) mm, (5.56 ± 1.29) mm vs. (8.61 ± 1.72) mm, and (25.65 ± 5.13) mm vs. (9.48 ± 1.78) mm in the icariin group and 0.9% NaCl group, respectively. The clinical assessment, CT scan, and histopathology results demonstrated significant enhancement of periodontal tissue regeneration in the icariin group compared to the 0.9% NaCl group. The ELISA results suggested that the concentration of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the icariin group was downregulated compared to the 0.9% NaCl group, which indicates that local injection of icariin relieved local inflammation in a minipig model of periodontitis. Local injection of icariin promoted periodontal tissue regeneration and exerted anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory function. These results support the application of icariin for the clinical treatment of periodontitis.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; chemistry ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Periodontitis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed