Objective To evaluate the performance of a DNA microarray method for detecting HBV antiviral drug-resistant mutations. Methods Two hundred and twenty four serum samples from patients with CHB were tested in parallel by DNA microarray and direct sequencing for the mutations within the HBV reverse transcriptase (rt) region, which included rtL180, rtA181, rtM204 and rtN236. Samples with discrepant results were retested by clonal sequencing. Results Complete concordance between DNA microarray and direct sequencing results was observed in 214 out of 224 samples (95. 5% ). The presence of mixed viral populations in the other 10 samples detected by DNA microarray but not by direct sequencing was confirmed by clonal analysis. The DNA microarray could detect minor viral populations which constituted 5.0%-15. 0% of the total viral load. Conclusion DNA microarray is highly consistent with direct sequencing in detecting HBV mutations conferring drug resistance and more sensitive in detecting mixed mutant and wild-type sequences than direct sequencing, which makes it a useful tool for early detection of drug resistance early.

AIM:To observe and compare clinical effects of coaxial 1. 8mm microincision phacoemulsification and 3. 2mm small incision phacoemulsification.
●METHODS:A total of 117 eyes of 85 patients with age-related cataract in our hospital were divided randomly into two groups:43 patients (59 eyes) in the coaxial 1. 8 mm microincision cataract surgery group ( C - MlCS ) , 42 patients (58 eyes) in the coaxial 3. 2 mm traditional small incision cataract surgery group (C-SlCS). A total of 117 eyes were received phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Uncorrected visual acuity was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 7, 30 and 90d. The effective phacoemulsification time and average ultrasound energy were recorded in surgery. Corneal endothelial cell and corneal topography were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at 90 d.
●RESULTS:Uncorrected visual acuity ( logMAR) was no overall statistical significance difference between C-MlCS group and C-SlCS group (P>0. 05), but was significant statistical difference in different time-point within both groups(P<0. 05). Uncorrected visual acuity in different time-point had nothing to do with corneal wound size in cataract surgery(P>0. 05). On the 1 day after surgery, uncorrected visual acuity was 0. 16±0. 11 in C-MlCS group and 0. 22±0. 18 in C-SlCS group(P<0. 05). AVE was (7. 00± 2.72)% in C-MlCS group and (6. 16±3. 16)% in C-SlCS group (P>0. 05). EPT was (3. 09±1. 61)s in C-MlCS group and (3. 20±1. 92)s in C-SlCS group (P>0. 05). At 90 d after surgery, corneal endothelial cell loss percentage was (5. 81±2. 28)% in C-MlCS group and (5. 69±2. 38)% in C-SlCS group (P>0.05), SlA was (0.35±0.11) Din C-MlCS group and (0. 61±0. 13) D in C-SlCS group (P<0. 05).
● CONCLUSION: Compared with coaxial 3. 2mm traditional small incision cataract surgery, 1. 8mm coaxial microincision cataract surgery can get earlier visual rehabilitation and significantly reduce SlA. The coaxial 1. 8mm microincision cataract surgery is safe, effective and deserves further clinical applications.

Objective To investigate the expression of human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its clinical value.Methods From April 2014 to December 2015,Serum samples of 92 non-cancer patients diagnosed as CKD and 84 healthy controls were collected in Nantong University Hospital.HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were detected.The difference of HE4 expression in different stages of CKD and the correlation of HE4 with Urea,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were analysized,respectively.ROC curve was used to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic value of HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG.Results The serum HE4 expression in patients with impaired renal function was 388.2 (130.1～1 659.5)mIu/ L,(F=16.237,P=0.001).Which was significantly higher than that in the control group [38.1 (32.77 ～ 48.17)mIu/L].The serum HE4 expression was increased by the stage of renal damage and the difference was existed among different groups (P＜0.05).HE4 expression was positive related with Cys C and β2MG.The AUC of HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were 0.878,0.785,0.816,0.874 and 0.819,respectively.Conlusion It needs to consider the exsits of impaired renal function when the HE4 was detected.The HE4 might be a novel early diagnostic indication for CKD.

Objective To perform the methodological evaluation on Beckman Immage 800 automatic special protein analyzer for determining serum freeκ,λlight chains (sFLC) .Methods The Beckman Immage800 automatic special protein analyzer was used to quantitatively detect sFLC values for investigating its precision and accuracy ,analyzing its detecting range ,interference and residual contamination rate ,meanwhile verifying its reference intervals .Results The low and high values of within‐run precision coefficients of variation(CV) forκsFLC were 7 .84% and 2 .95% respectively ;which of between‐run precision CV were 7 .38% and 5 .57% re‐spectively .The within‐run precision CV for λFLC were 4 .59% and 3 .94% respectively ,which of between‐run precision CV were 3 .97% and 2 .01% respectively ;bias for detecting theκFLC andλFLC fixed quality serum and the target values was less than 5% , when the analytical detection ranges of κFLC andλFLC were 10 .8-128 .0 mg/L and 10 .1-121 .0 mg/L ,a value was 0 .95-1 .05 , r2 ≥0 .98;the carry‐over rates of κFLC andλFLC were 0 .411% and 0 .216% respectively .The interference test results showed that when free hemoglobin≤342 .0 μmol/L ,conjugated bilirubin ≤342 .0 μmol/L ,hemoglobin≤5 g/L and chyle ≤2 400 turbidness , which had no influence on sFLC results ;among 40 healthy subjects undergoing the physical examination ,1 case of κFLC detection results exceeded the reference interval recommended by the manufacturer ,while theλFLC detection values in these 40 cases were all within the reference interval recommended by the manufacturer .Conclusion The main analytical performance of the Beckman Im‐mage800 automatic special protein analyzer for detecting sFLC meets the requirements of quality objectives and can provides the sci‐entific and precise evidence of diagnosis and treatment for clinic .

Objective To investigate the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to establish the correlation between the isokinetic strength and function in patients with KOA. Methods 23 patients with bilateral KOA and 14 matched normal controls finished the isokinetic test of knee extensors and flexors, the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), Gait analysis, and Balance test. The KOA patients were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Results It was less of the peak torque, average peak torque, average power, max rep total work, total work of knee extensors and flexors in the mainly involved limbs than the contralateral limbs (P<0.05), and more of the hamstring/quadriceps peak torque (H/Q) percentage (P<0.05) in the patients. It was less of all the observed indicators of knee extensors and average power of knee flexors in the patients than in the normal controls (P<0.05), and was more of the H/Q percentage (P<0.05). The peak torque of knee extensors correlated with the results of FTSST, walking speed, walking distance, falling index, VAS, and WOMAC-pain (P<0.05), but the peak torque of knee flexors did not (P>0.05). Conclusion It is weak of the isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors in patients with KOA in the mainly involved limb, as well as the isokinetic strength of knee extensors compared with the normal controls. The changes in the extensors and flexors are not equivalent. The peak torque of knee extensors significantly correlated with the pain and functions of the knee.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; enzymology ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

Objective: To analyze the clinical effect of traditionaldog-days acupoint application and Magic Acupuncture Patch (Manji) in the prevention and treatment of chronic bronchitis (CB) in remission stage in the past five years, and explore the principle of action and effective stimulation, to provide the evidence for treating CB by acupoint application. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 405 patients with CB who met the inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with dog-days acupoint application or Magic Acupuncture Patch between 2013 and 2017. The clinical data of 405 patients were statistically analyzed to compare the prevention and treatment effects of dog-days acupoint application and Magic Acupuncture Patch, and different degrees of stimulation of dog-days acupoint application. Results: Among the dog-days acupoint application groups, the total effective rate was 63.6％ in the light stimulation group, 93.1％ in the moderate stimulation group, and 94.8％ in the strong stimulation group. The differences in the total effective rate between the light stimulation group and the moderate stimulation group, as well as the strong stimulation group, were statistically significant (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the moderate stimulation group and the strong stimulation group (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 83.9％ in the dog-days acupoint application group, versus 45.4％ in the Magic Acupuncture Patch group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of dog-days acupoint application in the prevention and treatment of CB is better than that of Magic Acupuncture Patch; the degree of stimulation is the basis for the effect of dog-days acupoint application on prevention and treatment of CB, and the moderate and strong stimulations are more appropriate.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a disorder involving the pulmonary circulation resulting from a blockage of the pulmonary artery. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aspirin on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in a rat model of APE. METHODS: A total of 108 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n=18 rats per group): control group, sham operation group, APE model group, and low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups. Six, 24, and 72 hours after the induction of APE, rats in the low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups were given aspirin at a respective daily dose of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg by gavage for three consecutive days. Rats in the other groups were treated with equal volumes of normal saline. Six rats in each group were anesthetized with 10％ chloral hydrate solution at each time point, and then the lung tissues were colected and analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical staining was present in the bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar cells, macrophages, and surrounding bronchial smooth muscle cells. When compared with the APE model group, the number of positive cells was significantly lower in the other groups at each time point (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences were also observed among the aspirin-treated groups at 6 hours (P<0.05,P<0.001). Compared with the APE model group, NF-κB protein expression was reduced in the other groups at each time point (P<0.05,P<0.001). Rats from the APE model group had thrombosis, damaged alveolar walls, and pulmonary hemorrhage, along with different degrees of infl ammatory cellular infiltration at each time point. However, pathological changes such as pulmonary hemorrhage and infiltration of inflammatory cells were attenuated after the aspirin treatment. CONCLUSION: Aspirin can significantly inhibit NF-κB activity in the lung of rats with APE in a dose-dependent manner, and can alleviate lung injury after APE.

Objective: To observe the efficacy of long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training in improving upper- extremity dysfunction in cerebral stroke patients. Methods: Ninety-five patients with upper-extremity dysfunction after cerebral stroke were randomized into two groups, with 48 cases in the treatment group and 47 cases in the control group. Conventional internal medicine treatment was offered to both groups. In both groups, Anterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal (MS 6, the middle 2/5) and Posterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal (MS 7, the middle 2/5) were selected from the same side of the brain lesion (the side apposing to the hemiplegic limb) for scalp acupuncture treatment. In the treatment group, the scalp acupuncture needles were retained for 7 h, in combination with interactive training, while the needles were also retained for 7 h in the control group but without interactive training. Prior to treatment and at 2-week and 4-week treatment, the two groups were scored using the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong (FTHUE-HK) and simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE). Results: The total effective rate was 97.9％ in the treatment group, higher than 74.5％ in the control group (P<0.01). The FTHUE-HK score was higher at 2-week and 4-week treatment than before treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (all P<0.001); the FTHUE-HK score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (both P<0.001). At 2-week and 4-week treatment, the FTHUE-HK score was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, showing significant between-group differences (both P<0.05). During the whole treatment process, the treatment group had higher FTHUE-HK scores compared with the control group, but there was no statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week treatment (P>0.05), while the between-group difference in the change of the score was statistically significant at 4-week treatment (P<0.05). The FMA-UE score was higher at 2-week and 4-weeks treatment than before treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (all P<0.001); the FMA-UE score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (both P<0.001). At 2-week and 4-week treatment, the FMA-UE was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P<0.01). The FMA-UE score rose gradually with the increase of treatment session, and there was statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week and 4-week treatment, respectively (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training results in more significant efficacy than long-retaining scalp acupuncture alone in improving the upper-limb dysfunction after cerebral stroke and the advantage becomes more notable after 2-week consecutive treatment.

In this study, we explored the mechanism of Huganning tablet (HGNP) in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on network pharmacology and computer-aided drug design. Firstly, the potential ingredients and targets of HGNP were identified from TCMSP database, Swiss Target Prediction database, Chinese pharmacopoeia (2015) and literatures, and then the targets of HGNP intersected with NAFLD disease targets that obtained in GeneCards database to acquired potential targets. The bioconductor bioinformatics package of R software was used for gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The network of “potential ingredient-key target-pathway” was formed in Cytoscape software to study the interactions between potential ingredients of HGNP, key targets, pathways and NAFLD. Based on the results of network pharmacology, the molecular docking analysis of the key targets and potential active ingredients in HGNP tablets with top degree in the network was conducted using Discovery Studio 2020 software, followed by molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculation, drug-likeness properties analysis and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) properties prediction. In vitro, HepG2 cells were used to establish steatosis model, and the effects of five key compounds on hepatocyte steatosis were analyzed by oil red O staining and triglyceride (TG) content determination. The results showed that 141 ingredients and 151 potential targets were obtained. A total of 2 526 items and 151 pathways were identified by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The molecular docking suggested that five components, isorhamnetin, salvianolic acid B, emodin, resveratrol and rhein, exhibited strong binding ability with key targets [retinoic acid receptor RXR-alpha (RXRA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3B), serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (AKT1)]. It was further verified that isorhamnetin and salvianolic acid B bind to key targets with good structural stability and binding affinity based on molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. The drug-likeness properties, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity of five key compounds were more comprehensively analyzed through drug-likeness properties analysis and ADMET properties prediction. In vitro, all five compounds, isorhamnetin, salvianolic acid B, emodin, resveratrol, and rhein, improved hepatocyte steatosis of HepG2 cells, confirming the reliability of the present study. In conclusion, based on network pharmacology, computer-aided drug design and in vitro validation, this study investigated the mechanism of HGNP for the treatment of NAFLD at multiple levels and provided a basis for its clinical application.