Objective Recent studies suggest that the red blood cell distribution width ( RDW) may play a role in the diag-nosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) with cardiovascular events in patients with Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) in order to provide the basis for improving the diagnosis level and therapeutic effect. Methods Retrospective study was made on the clinical data of 189 patients with ASTEMI enrolled in Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to March 2014.The survival rates of patients with ASTEMI with different RDW were estimated by Kaplan-Meier and compared by Log-rank test and the prognosis factors were inves-tigated by Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results 97 patients′RDW levels were more than 13.7% and 92 patients′RDW levels were less than or equal to 13.7% in 189 ASTEMI patients. The hs-CRP, BNP, LVEF and HDL-C were significantly different be-tween two groups (P<0.05).The rates of recurrent myocardial in-farction, heart failure, sudden death cardiac in patients with highRDW were higher than that in patients with low RDW (22.7%vs 8.7%, 27.8%vs 10.9%, 15.5%vs 5.4%)(χ2 =6.915, 8.632, 5.019, P<0.05) .There were 60 patients with high RDW who experienced cardiovascular events and the 1-year cardiovascular event-free survival rate was 38.1%, and 20 patients with low RDW cardiovascular events was 79.3% in follow-up period (χ2 =30.959, P<0.001).Multivariate cox regression showed that age>65 (HR=2.43, 95%CI:1.09~5.44) and RDW>13.7%(HR=2.20, 95% CI:1.10~4.43) were risk prognostic factors. Conclusion There is a certain correlation between RDW and cardiovascular e-vents in patients with ASTEMI.The ASTEMI patients with high RDW hold higher risk of cardiovascular events and poorer prognosis.

The ultimate goal of post-genome research is to understand a complete set of proteins in a living organism for their expression pattern and biological function,which is called proteomics.One of the major challenges in proteome research is to study the protein-protein interactions,and the emerging bioinformatics approaches present us tremendous advantages when dealing with protein interaction networking and data analysis.Useful bioinformatics tools include protein-protein interaction network mapping,topology of the network,structure of the module and comparison of the network.The technology advancement in this field brings further understandings to the structure and function of cells at the proteome level,which may eventually lead to the discovery of new drug targets and design methods.This paper attempts to review the current researches on protein-protein interaction with an emphasis on bioinformatics intervention,and also summarizes some widely used methods for network analysis.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of genistein on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats,and explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: saline control(S), genistein alone(G),lipopolysaccaride(LPS) alone(L),and genistein pretreatment(G+L).Each treatment group consisted of eight animals.Animals were observed for 6h after LPS challenge,and the wet/dry(W/D) weight ratio of the lung and the protein contents of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were used as indexes of lung injury.Neutrophil recruitment and activation were evaluated by BALF cellularity and myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity.RT-PCR analysis was performed with lung tissue to assess the gene expression of ICAM-1.The histopathologic changes were also observed using the H&E stains of lung tissue.Results Lung injury parameters,including the wet/dry weight ratio and protein content in BALF,were significantly higher in the L group than in the S group(P

Objective To detect brain structural difference between children with unexplained mental retardation and children with typically normal development. Methods The high-resolution magnetic MR imaging were obtained from 21 children with unexplained mental retardation and 30 age-matched control children without intellectual disabilities. Voxel-based morphometry analysis with an optimization of spatial segmentation and normalization procedures were applied to compare differences of gray matter volume between the two groups. The total and regional gray matter volume were compared between the two groups with independent t test. Meanwhile, correlation was conducted to analyze the relationship between the total gray matter volume and intelligence quotient (IQ) with partial correlation test. Results The total gray matter volume was significantly increased in the mental retardation children [(1. 012 ±0. 079) × 106 mm3]in relative to the controls [(0. 956 ± 0. 059) × 106 mm3, t = - 2. 80, P ＜ 0. 05]. Compared to controls,children with unexplained mental retardation showed significantly increased gray matter volume in different regions, including the bilateral thalami, the bilateral superior frontal gyri, the bilateral gyri rectus, the bilateral temporal poles, the right inferior frontal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus and the right cerebellum. No correlation was detected between the total gray matter volume and IQ in children with mental retardation (r = 0. 078 ,P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusions VBM would detect the gray matter abnormalities that were not founded in routine MR scanning. The increase of gray matter volume in the frontal-thalamus network might indicate the delayed maturation of the brain development. This might be one of the causations of mental retardation in children.

Objective To provide a new method for sacral fracture fixation by means of 3D recon-struction and reverse engineering technique. Methods Pelvis images of 3D CT scan were obtained from patients with sacral fracture. The digital data were transferred into a computer workstation. 3D models of pelvis were reconstructed using Amira 3.1 software and saved in STL format. The 3D fracture models were imported into Imageware 10.0 software. Different situations of reduction (total reduction, half reduction and no-reduction) were simulated using Imageware 10.0 software. The extract locations and the best directions of inserting iliosacral lag screws were defined using Reverse Engineering according to the 3 situations to before navigation templates were designed according to the posterior anatomic features of the ilium and the insertion channels. Exact navi-gational templates were manufactured by rapid prototyping. Drill guides were sterilized and used intraoperatively to assist surgical navigation and placement of iliosacral lag screws. Results Accurate screw placement was confirmed with postoperative X-ray and CT scanning. The navigation templates were found to be helpful and highly accurate. Conclusion The navigation template may be a useful method for mini-invasive fixation of sacroiliac joint fracture.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the femoral head trabecular heterogeneity in Chinese male patients with osteoporotic fracture and their effects on osteoporotie fracture.Methods Human femoral heads were obtained from 11 male osteoporotie fracture (OP) patients ranged from 51 to 82 years old [average age (65±9 ) years old], and 7 male trauma ( TM ) patients ranged from 46 to 75 years old [average age (61±11 ) years old] who underwent total hip arthroplasty within two hours after either osteoporotic or trauma hip fracture.The OP was defined as having a fragility fracture.After laying femoral head as living body position and locating mark, nine trabecular specimens were obtained from femoral heads, each of 6 mm × 6 mm× 7 mm.The cortical shell was not included in each specimen.One cube was selected as the primary compressive trabecular region and the other 8 specimens as non-primary compressive trabecular region.These cubes were scanned using high-resolution microcomputed tomography scanner (μCT).After scanning, the data of total cubes, primary compressive trabecular region and noncompressive trabecular region were used for analysis by t test.Results In OP group volumetric bone mineral deosity(vBMD) [( 182.15±66.00) mg/mm3 vs (223.97±70.92) mg/mm3, t =3.041], tissue bone mineral density (tBMD) [(538.76±64.72) mg/mm3 vs (580.01±63.86 ) mg/mm3, t = 3.160],bone volume fraction (TV/BV) [(0.22 ± 0.06) % vs (0.26 ± 0.07 ) %, t = 2.821], trabecular thickness (Tb.Th.) [( 161.07 ±42.75 ) μm vs ( 205.47 ± 74.44 ) μm, t = 3.233] were significantly decreased while bone surface/bone volume ( BS/BV ) [( 13.75 ± 2.55 ) mm-1 vs ( 12.28 ± 2.70 ) mm-1, t =-2.777] was significantly increased in the non-primary compressive trabecular region than that in the primary compressive trabecular region ( P < 0.05 ).vBMD [( 182.15 ± 66.00) mg/mm3 vs ( 248.05 ±105.48) mg/mm3, t = - 3.598], tBMD [(538.76 ± 64.72) mg/mm3 vs ( 570.54 ± 100.32) mg/mm3,t=-2.108],TV/BV [(0.22±0.06) % vs (0.28±0.12) %, t= -3.466], Tb.Th.[(161.07±42.75) μm vs (200.31 ±96.63) μm, t= -2.866], trabecular number (Tb.N.)[(1.46±0.23)/mm3 vs ( 1.57 ± 0.29)/mm3, t = - 2.396] were significantly decreased while trabecular separation ( Tb.Sp.) [(780.82 ± 144.85 )μm vs ( 653.09 ± 119.64) μm, t = 5.470], degree of anisotropy (DA) ( 1.57±0.20 vs 1.47±0.18, t = 2.930 ) were significantly increased in OP than in TM in the non-compressive trabecular region( P < 0.05 ).No significant differents were found between OP and TM for any of the parameters measured in the primary compressive trabecular region.Tb.Th.[(199.37±68.22)μm vs (176.33 ±71.21 )μm, t = 2.060,P < 0.05] were significantly increased in the primary compressive trabecular region than that in the non-primary compressive trabecular region and no significant differences were found in the other parameters in the all 18 specimens.Conclusions The femoral head trabeculae had a heterogenic distribution in OP.Bone loss in OP primarily takes place in non-compressive trabecular region.Femoral neck fracture cannot be prevented though the bone microstructure do not loss in the primary compressive trabecular region.Tb.Th.in the femoral head could be an interesting parameter which is closely related to the femoral neck fracture.

Adult ; Arthritis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore efficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of Jiedu Quyu Zishen Recipe (JQZR) in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying its effect on Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) signal pathway of murine macrophage cells after JQZR stimulated CpG oligodeoxynucletide (CpG ODN).

METHODSMurine macrophage cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank serum group, the CpG ODN stimulus group, the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group, the CpG ODN + medicated serum group. Murine macrophage cells were collected after 24-h intervention. The expression of TLR9, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), NF-KB, IFN-α mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR. The expression of TLR9 and NF-κB protein were analyzed by Western blot. Changes of the NF-KB transcriptional activity were assayed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTSmRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were enhanced, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the blank serum group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, the protein expression of NF-κB and the NF-κB transcriptional activities decreased in the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group with statistical difference (P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were decreased in CpG ODN+ medicated serum group with statistical difference (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONEfficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of JQZR in treatment of SLE might be realized through regulating TLR9 signal pathways.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; NF-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; metabolism

A cDNA sequence of Arnebia euchroma AP2/ERF named AeAP2/ERF was cloned by in silico cloning in this study, using ACX71873 sequence from Lithospermum erythrorhizon as the probe sequence. Some characters of the AP2/ERF gene and encoded protein sequences were predicted and analyzed by the bioinformatics methods, including general physical and chemical properties, hydrophobieity, signal peptide, secondary structure, localization sites in cells. Results showed that the 876 bp long gene included a 1 077 bp ORF and encoding 205 amino acid. The AeAP2/ERF protein had no signal peptide, it was a hydrophilic proteins located in nucleus. The function of the AP2/ERF protein was mainly involved with metabolism controlling and signal transduction.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Boraginaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Transcription Factors ; chemistry ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of L?Arabinose for bowel preparation before colonos?copy. Methods A total of 170 patients who underwent colonoscopy were randomized into 2 groups. The ex?perimental group (n=85) used L?Arabinose for bowel preparation, while the control group (n=85) used polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution ( PEG?ELS ) . The degree of comfort, adverse effects, and the visibility during colonoscopy were observed. Results Premedication of L?Arabinose for bowel preparation yielded to more comfort ( U=-4?349,P=0?000) , less adverse effects (χ2=29?27,P=0?000) , and similar visibility during colonoscopy ( U=-0?875,P=0?381) compared with PEG?ELS. Conclusion L?Arabinose is safe, comfortable, and effective for bowel preparation before colonoscopy.