Kupffer cells (KCs), as residents and sentinels of the liver, are involved in the formation of hepatic fibrosis (HF). However, the biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in KCs to HF have not been determined. In this study, the expression levels of circRNAs, microRNAs, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in KCs from a mouse model of HF mice were investigated using microarray and circRNA-Seq analyses. circDcbld2 was identified as a candidate circRNA in HF, as evidenced by its up-regulation in KCs. Silver staining and mass spectrometry showed that Wtap and Igf2bp2 bind to cirDcbld2. The suppression of circDcbld2 expression decreased the KC inflammatory response and oxidative stress and inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) activation, attenuating mouse liver fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, Wtap mediated the N ⁶-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of circDcbld2, and Igf2bp2 recognized m6A-modified circDcbld2 and increased its stability. circDcbld2 contributes to the occurrence of HF by binding miR-144-3p/Et-1 to regulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. These findings indicate that circDcbld2 functions via the m6A/circDcbld2/miR-144-3p/Et-1 axis and may act as a potential biomarker for HF treatment.

Embryo development is the main stage of the formation of various tissues,organs and systems.Abnormal embryo development can lead to embryo deformity and even death.Many factors are involved in this process.It was found that dual-specificity phosphatase(DUSP)could regulate the growth and development of different cells through a variety of signaling pathways,and it has been confirmed that the DUSPs family has an important association with embryonic development.A large amount of evidences showed that DUSPs and its downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)pathway played a key role in the regulation of gametogenesis,digestive system development and embryonic ear development.dusp27 is another extremely important gene whose role in early embryonic development remains to be studied,but it plays an important role in the development of embryonic muscle tissue.In this paper,the development of the above systems in DUSPs family was briefly reviewed in order to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of embryonic developmental diseases.

Objective:To assess the practical value of visual scores of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features in the diagnosis and classification of dementia with Lewy bodies(DLB).Methods:In this study, 102 DLB patients were prospectively recruited, with 102 cognitively normal elderly people as the normal control group(NC).All included subjects underwent MRI examinations and neuropsychological assessments.Based on the clinical dementia rating(CDR)scale, DLB patients were divided into a mild(CDR=1.0), a moderate(CDR=2.0)and a severe(CDR=3.0)group.The results of MRI were scored visually and the rating scales included medial temporal lobe atrophy(MTA), global cortical atrophy-frontal subscale(GCA-F), posterior cortical atrophy(PCA), white matter lesions(the Fazekas scale), cerebral microbleeds(CMBs), and the Evans Index(EI).Statistical differences were compared between the DLB and NC groups and between DLB patients with different degrees of cognitive impairment.Results:In terms of neuropsychology, the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) score of the DLB group[16.0(11.0, 21.0)]was statistically significantly lower than that of the NC group[29.0(28.0, 30.0)]( Z=-12.31, P<0.001), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score of the DLB group[9.5(6.0, 15.0)]was statistically significantly lower than that of the NC group[28.0(27.0, 29.0)]( Z=-12.40, P<0.001), and the Activities of Daily Living(ADL)score of the DLB group[32.0(23.8, 40.0)]was statistically significantly higher than that of the NC group[20.0(20.0, 20.0)]( Z=-11.98, P<0.001).The scores of all MRI visual assessment scales in DLB patients were statistically significantly higher than those in the NC group( P<0.001).There were significant differences in MTA scores between DLB patients with different degrees of cognitive impairment( P0<0.001).The MTA score of the mild group[1.0(1.0, 1.0)]was statistically significantly lower than that of the moderate group[2.0(1.0, 2.0)]( P1<0.001, P2<0.001); The MTA score of the moderate group[2.0(1.0, 2.0)]was statistically significantly lower than that of the severe group[2.0(2.0, 3.0)]( P1=0.003, P2=0.010). Conclusions:This study has for the first time after comprehensively evaluated the value of various visual scores in DLB diagnosis, MTA can be used to help diagnose DLB and distinguish the severity of DLB, providing a new supplemental tool for clinical diagnosis.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the accurate puncture during sacral neuromodulation (SNM) guided with 3D printing navigation template based on reconstruction techniques using fusing sacral CT and MRI images.Methods:Totally 42 patients operated with SNM were selected in Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University from July 2016 to August 2017. The patients were randomly divided into control group ( n=22) and experimental group ( n=20) using random number table. The conventional cross-positioning technique under X-ray was used for puncture during SNM in the control group. While in the experimental group, the sacral CT and MRI images were fused for reconstruction and design of the navigation template, printed by 3D technique for the puncture in SNM. The times of punctures, the average time for puncture operation, the time of intraoperative testing of the stimulator device, the minimum onset voltage of the stimulator, the X-ray radiation dose, postoperative curative effect (rate of secondary transformation) and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the two methods using independent-simple t test or χ 2 test. Results:Compared to control group, fewer times of punctures, shorter time needed for puncture operation, shorter time of intraoperative testing of the stimulator, smaller radiation dose and minimum effective voltage were found in the experimental group ( P<0.05). There were 15 and 16 patients who completed the secondary transformation in the control group and experimental group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (χ2=0.757, P=0.384). There were 3 cases of complications in the control group, including 2 cases of infection and 1 case of bleeding, while no complications in the experimental group. Conclusions:CT and MRI images fusion reconstruction-guided 3D printing navigation template can help perform accurate and safe punctures in SNM. Compared to conventional puncture positioned under X-ray, it can effectively improve the puncture efficiency, and reduce the radiation dose in the operation.

Objective:To investigate the etiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) in Inner Mongolia and its correlation with gender, age and severity of the disease.Methods:From January 2015 to December 2018, the clinical data of 4 168 patients with AP admitted to six large tertiary general hospitals in Inner Mongolia were retrospectively collected and the etiology of AP was summarized. The etiology of different gender, age and severity of AP was analyzed. Chi-square test and adjusted chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.Results:The etiology of 4 168 patients with AP included 2 060 cases (49.4%) of biliary diseases, 608 cases (14.6%) of hypertriglyceridemia, 579 cases (13.9%) of idiopathic causes, 399 cases (9.6%) of alcohol intake, 256 cases (6.1%) of overeating and 266 cases (6.4%) of other causes. The proporation of biliary AP in male patients was lower than that in female patients (39.2%, 917/2 340 vs. 62.5%, 1 143/1 828), however the proporations of hypertriglyceridemic AP, alcoholic AP, overeating AP and AP caused by other causes were all higher than those of female patients (17.4%, 406/2 340 vs. 11.1%, 202/1 828; 14.9%, 349/2 340 vs. 2.7%, 50/1 828; 7.6%, 178/2 340 vs. 4.3%, 78/1 828 and 7.1%, 165/2 340 vs. 5.5%, 101/1 828), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=223.645, 32.693, 175.859, 19.858, and 4.001, all P<0.05). The proporation of biliary AP in patients aged between 19 and 59 years was lower than that in patients aged less than 18 years and over 60 years (42.4%, 1 100/2 593 vs. 55.1%, 54/98 and 61.3%, 906/1 477), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=6.199 and 134.746, both P<0.016). The proporation of hypertriglyceridemic AP in patients aged over 60 years was lower than that in patients aged between 19 and 59 years and less than 18 years (6.9%, 102/1 477 vs. 18.9%, 491/2 593 and 15.3%, 15/98), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=109.403 and 9.430, both P<0.016). The proporation of idiopathic AP in patients aged between 19 and 59 years was higher than that of patients aged over 18 years (14.8%, 384/2 593 vs. 6.1%, 6/98), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.750, P<0.016). The proporation of alcoholic AP in patients aged between 19 and 59 years was higher than that of patients aged less than 18 years and over 60 years (11.7%, 303/2 593 vs. 1.0%, 1/98 and 6.4%, 95/1 477), the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=10.718 and 29.435, both P<0.016). And the proporation of other causes of AP of the patients aged less than 18 years was higher than those of patients aged between 19 and 59 years and over 60 years (14.3%, 14/98 vs. 5.9%, 152/2 593 and 6.8%, 100/1 477), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=0.559 and 0.959, P<0.016). Among the biliary causes, the proporation of moderate severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) was higher than those of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) (59.6%, 336/564 vs. 47.5%, 1 522/3 204 and 50.5%, 202/400), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=27.959 and 7.814, both P<0.016). In terms of hypertriglyceridemia and other causes, the proporation of MAP was the lowest (12.7%, 407/3 204 and 4.0%, 127/3 204), and the proporations were statistically significant compared with the proporation of MSAP and SAP (23.0%, 130/564; 12.2%, 69/564 and 17.8%, 71/400; 17.5%, 70/400; χ2=42.013, 7.874, 66.520 and 126.094, all P<0.016). The proporation of MSAP was the lowest among the idiopathic causes (0.7%, 4/564), and the difference was statistically significant compared with the proporation of MAP and SAP (16.6%, 533/3 204 and 10.5%, 42/400; χ2=99.540 and 49.369, both P<0.016). The proporation of SAP was lower than that of MAP, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=9.983, P<0.016). In alcoholic and overeating causes, the proporation of MAP was the highest (11.4%, 365/3 204, 7.8%, 250/3 204), and the differences were statistically significant compared with MSAP and SAP (3.5%, 20/564; 0.9%, 5/564; 3.5%, 14/400 and 0.2%, 1/400; χ2=32.182, 23.537, 36.358 and 31.307, all P<0.016). Conclusions:Consistent with reports in most areas of China, the etiology of AP in Inner Mongolia area is mainly biliary diseases and hypertriglyceridemia. Most of the patients with biliary acute pancreatitis are female, mostly in patients more than 60 years old and most of them are MSAP. Hyperlipidemic and alcoholic AP are more common in middle-aged and young male patients, and are mostly MSAP and SAP; while most of alcoholic AP is MAP.

Alkali-salinity exerts severe osmotic, ionic, and high-pH stresses to plants. To under-stand the alkali-salinity responsive mechanisms underlying photosynthetic modulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, physiological and diverse quantitative proteomics analyses of alkaligrass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) under Na2CO3 stress were conducted. In addition, Western blot,real-time PCR, and transgenic techniques were applied to validate the proteomic results and test the functions of the Na2CO3-responsive proteins. A total of 104 and 102 Na2CO3-responsive proteins were identified in leaves and chloroplasts, respectively. In addition, 84 Na2CO3-responsive phospho-proteins were identified, including 56 new phosphorylation sites in 56 phosphoproteins from chloro-plasts, which are crucial for the regulation of photosynthesis, ion transport, signal transduction, and energy homeostasis. A full-length PtFBA encoding an alkaligrass chloroplastic fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) was overexpressed in wild-type cells of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803, leading to enhanced Na2CO3 tolerance. All these results indicate that thermal dissipation, state transition, cyclic electron transport, photorespiration, repair of pho-tosystem (PS) Ⅱ, PSI activity, and ROS homeostasis were altered in response to Na2CO3 stress, which help to improve our understanding of the Na2CO3-responsive mechanisms in halophytes.

BackgroundCervical cancer shows a growing incidence and medical cost in recent years that has increased severe financial pressure on patients and medical insurance institutions. This study aimed to investigate the medical economic characteristics of cervical cancer patients with different payment modes within a Grade A tertiary hospital to provide evidence and suggestions for inpatient cost control and to verify the application of Gamma model in medical cost analysis.

MethodsThe basic and cost information of cervical cancer cases within a Grade A tertiary hospital in the year 2011-2016 were collected. The Gamma model was adopted to analyze the differences in each cost item between medical insured patient and uninsured patients. Meanwhile, the marginal means of different cost items were calculated to estimate the influence of payment modes toward different medical cost items among cervical cancer patients in the study.

Results:A total of 1321 inpatients with cervical cancer between the 2011 and 2016 were collected through the medical records system. Of the 1321 cases, 65.9% accounted for medical insured patients and 34.1% were uninsured patients. The total inpatient medical expenditure of insured patients was RMB 29,509.1 Yuan and uninsured patients was RMB 22,114.3 Yuan, respectively. Payment modes, therapeutic options as well as the recurrence and metastasis of tumor toward the inpatient medical expenditures between the two groups were statistically significant. To the specifics, drug costs accounted for 37.7% and 33.8% of the total, surgery costs accounted for 21.5% and 25.5%, treatment costs accounted for 18.7% and 16.4%, whereas the costs of imaging and laboratory examinations accounted for 16.4% and 15.2% for the insured patient and uninsured patients, respectively. As the effects of covariates were controlled, the total hospitalization costs, drug costs, treatment costs as well as imaging and laboratory examination costs showed statistical significance. The total hospitalization costs, drug costs, treatment costs as well as imaging and laboratory examination costs of insured patient were 1.33, 1.42, 1.52, and 1.44 times of uninsured patients.

ConclusionsThe analysis of different payment modes toward the medical economic characteristics based on Gamma model is basically rational. Medical payment modes are having certain influence toward the hospitalization expenses of cervical cancer patients in an extent, as drug costs, treatment costs, and examination costs appear to be the main causes.

BackgroundThe development and application of medical technologies reflect the medical quality and clinical capacity of a hospital. It is also an effective approach in upgrading medical service and core competitiveness among medical institutions. This study aimed to build a quantitative medical technology evaluation system through questionnaire survey within medical institutions to perform an assessment to medical technologies more objectively and accurately, and promote the management of medical quality technologies and ensure the medical safety of various operations among the hospitals.

MethodsA two-leveled quantitative medical technology evaluation system was built through a two-round questionnaire survey of chosen experts. The Delphi method was applied in identifying the structure of evaluation system and indicators. The judgment of the experts on the indicators was adopted in building the matrix so that the weight coefficient and maximum eigenvalue (λ max), consistency index (CI), and random consistency ratio (CR) could be obtained and collected. The results were verified through consistency tests, and the index weight coefficient of each indicator was conducted and calculated through analytical hierarchy process.

ResultsTwenty-six experts of different medical fields were involved in the questionnaire survey, 25 of whom successfully responded to the two-round research. Altogether, 4 primary indicators (safety, effectiveness, innovativeness, and benefits), as well as 13 secondary indicators, were included in the evaluation system. The matrix is built to conduct the λ max, CI, and CR of each expert in the survey, and the index weight coefficients of primary indicators were 0.33, 0.28, 0.27, and 0.12, respectively, and the index weight coefficients of secondary indicators were conducted and calculated accordingly.

ConclusionsAs the two-round questionnaire survey of experts and statistical analysis were performed and credibility of the results was verified through consistency evaluation test, the study established a quantitative medical technology evaluation system model and assessment indicators within medical institutions based on the Delphi method and analytical hierarchy process. Moreover, further verifications, adjustments, and optimizations of the system and indicators will be performed in follow-up studies.