OBJECTIVETo identify a novel VNTR in C6orf37 and to detect the C6orf37 VNTR polymorphism distribution in Chinese population.

METHODSRT-PCR and sequencing were conducted to identify VNTR alleles in the variable region of C6orf37.SSLP and DHPLC were applied in detecting the VNTR genotypes in 166 Chinese individuals.

RESULTA novel VNTR sequence was found in the second exon of C6orf37, which was composed of 15 base pairs encoding 5-amino-acid (G-G-D-F-G). The repeat times ranged from 3 to 5. There were three common alleles containing three repeats (a), four repeats (b) and five repeats (c), respectively, which produced three homozygotes (a/a, b/b and c/c) and three heterozygotes (a/b, a/c and b/c). The frequency of a, b, c alleles were 0.145, 0.304, 0.551, respectively in Chinese population. Heterozygosity (H) was 0.583. Polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.510. The screened result of DHPLC was consistent with that of SSLP.

CONCLUSIONA novel highly polymorphic VNTR in C6orf37 exists in Chinese population. DHPLC is the most efficient technique for screening VNTR polymorphism.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Exons ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the blockade effect of phenylbutyrate (PB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the in vitro biological function of AML1/ETO to reverse its transcription repression and induce Kasumi-1 cells to differentiate and apoptosis.

METHODSKasumi-1 cells were treated with PB at different concentrations in suspension culture. Cell proliferation was analysed by MTT assay, morphological changes by light and electron microscopy, expression of myeloid-specific differentiation antigen and cell cycle by flow cytometry, cell apoptosis by annexin V staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry.

RESULTSPB treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the cell proliferation. The IC(50) was about 2.3 mmol/L. PB treatment led to a progressive decline in the fraction of S-phase cells and increase in G(0)/G(1) cells. PB induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in expression of myeloid cell surface protein CD(11b) and CD(13). A dose-dependent increase in early apoptosis for 2 days treatment, late apoptosis for 3 days treatment. The DNA ladder of apoptosis was observed on agarose gel electrophoresis for 5 days treatment. Morphological features of monocytoid differentiation and apoptosis were seen on Wright-Giemsa staining smears.

CONCLUSIONPB treatment could inhibit proliferation of Kasumi-1 cells, induce partial differentiation, apoptosis and accumulation of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; pathology ; Phenylbutyrates ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics and the treatment of periorbital injuries.

METHODS61 cases were treated, including 30 cases orbitozygomatic fracture, 6 cases of frontal-orbital fracture, 8 cases of naso-ethmoid-orbital fracture, 7 cases of blow -out fracture and 10 cases of complicated fracture. The patients were diagnosed after physical examination and other examination, like CT. Through bicoronal or local mini incision at the end of eyebrow, combined with subciliary incision and local wound approach, the fractured sites were exposed completely. Then the fractured fragments were repositioned and fixed rigidly. The orbital wall was reconstructed with titanium net and Medpor.

RESULTSThe wounds healed primarily. Good cosmetic and functional results achieved in most of the patients. 4 cases underwent second-stage ophthalmectomy. 2 patients had diplopia after operation, but improved gradually. 3 cases of blepharoptosis needed further treatment.

CONCLUSIONSEarly diagnosis and treatment is very important for periorbital injuries. Fracture reposition and orbital wall reconstruction should he performed at early period.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Fractures ; surgery ; Skull Fractures ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamics and clinical significance of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels during the terminal phase of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) with different hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-seven patients with terminal ACLF were tested for HBeAg status by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and serum HBV DNA levels by real-time PCR at three chronological time ranges, representing increasing severity of disease phases prior to death (day 0): 29-56 d, 15-28 d, and 0-14 d.

RESULTSIn the 37 HBeAg(+) patients, HBV DNA levels at above-mentioned phases were 6.10+/-1.63, 5.61+/-1.50, and 5.29+/-1.96 log10 copies/mL. In the 70 anti-HBe(+) patients, HBV DNA levels were 4.63+/-1.82, 5.81+/-1.78, and 4.93+/-1.73 log10 copies/mL. Phase to phase comparisons revealed that the HBV DNA level in the HBeAg(+) group was significantly higher than that in the anti-HBe(+) group at 29-56 d (P less than 0.05), and that 15-28 d and 0-14 d were not significantly different (P more than 0.05). Intragroup comparisons of phases revealed no significant differences in the HBeAg(+) group (P more than 0.05), but a significant difference between 15-28 d and 0-14 d (P less than 0.05) for the anti-HBe(+) group.

CONCLUSIONSerum levels of HBV DNA in patients with HBeAg positivity are higher than those in patients with anti-HBe positivity as the disease phase of ACLF nears fatality. Following the deterioration to liver failure, the HBV DNA load in HBeAg(+) patients remains stable while that in anti-HBe(+) patients decreases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; End Stage Liver Disease ; blood ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and pathological features of drug-induced liver injury (DILI).

METHODSLiver specimens were obtained through needle biopsies from 100 patients with DILI. The histological preparations of the specimens were stained with haematoxylin eosin, several histochemistry methods, and immunohistochemistry stains. The pathological changes of the livers were analyzed together with the patients's clinical data. The patients were divided into two groups, an acute DILI group (n=39) and a chronic DILI group (n=61), based on their clinical courses and histological changes in their livers. In the chronic DILI group, the clinical courses were longer than 6 months and/or fibrosis or cirrhosis occurred in their liver tissues.

RESULTSAmong our cases the leading cause of DILI was Chinese herb medicine, accounting for 21% of the 100 cases; steroids induced cases were 11% of the total. 78% of the patients presented elevated serum transaminases and/or jaundice. The degree of transaminases elevation and the frequency of jaundice happening in the acute group were significantly higher than those in the chronic group (P less than 0.05). The histopathological liver changes in these DILI cases included: (1) necrosis commonly occurred in acinar zone 3, (2) abundant neutrophil and/or eosinophil infiltrations, (3) hepatocytic and/or canalicular cholestasis with little or no inflammation, (4) microvesicular steatosis mixed with macrovesicular steatosis, and (5) presentation of epitheloid cell granuloma. There were no significant differences in liver histopathology between the acute and the chronic DILI groups, except that the fibrosis and the ductular proliferation were different.

CONCLUSIONDILI has become a notable liver disease in mainland China, and the use of Chinese herbal medicine must be improved, standardized and regulated more closely.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clarify the relationship between fatal severe form hepatitis occurred during chronic hepatitis B and superinfections of hepatitis A, C, D or E virus as well as hepatitis B e system status and to adopt corresponding measures to reduce the mortality of chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSThis study detected the superinfections with hepatitis A, C, D or E virus and hepatitis B e system status in 219 patients with fatal severe form hepatitis occurred during chronic hepatitis B by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe superinfections with hepatitis A, C, D or E virus were found in 1.4% (3/219), 9.6% (21/219), 1.8% (4/219) and 30.1% (66/219) of the patients, respectively, altogether 42.9% (94/219); hepatitis E was prominent and steady in superinfection rate in recent ten years. The causes of 57.1% (125/219) patients were not clear. The positive rate of HBeAg and anti-HBe were 17.0% (16/94) and 54.2% (51/94) in the group of superinfections with hepatitis A, C, D or E virus; and were 27.2% (34/125) and 47.2% (59/125) in the group with unknown causes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that the patients with superinfections reached 42.9% (94/219), and the superinfections may be a part of causes of fatal severe form hepatitis, and the mortality of chronic hepatitis B may be decreased by strict food sanitation and use of safe blood products. There were no significant relation between hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and the fatal severe form hepatitis occurred during chronic hepatitis B.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis A virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; mortality ; virology ; Hepatitis Delta Virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Superinfection ; virology ; Survival Rate

Objective To observe the protective effects of a mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach (保肝益胃合剂) on rat acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4). Methods The model of rat acute liver damage was established by injection of CCl_4 2 ml/kg into the abdominal cavity.The rat models were treated respectively by the mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach 30 g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),the polyene phosphatide acid radical choline capsule [Yi Shanfu (易善复), 180 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)],the glycyrrhizic acid diaminogen capsule [Gan Lixin (甘利欣),30 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)] infused into the stomach.The activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected.In the mean time,the liver pathological changes were observed,the degree of liver cell necrosis was evaluated,and the rat mortality was noted in various groups of treatment.Results The values of ALT,AST and the score of liver cell necrosis in the group treated with the mixture for protecting liver and supplementing stomach [(1.168?1.066) kU/L,(1.845?2.212) kU/L,(0.56?0.53) score] were significantly lower than those in the model group [(4.982?3.502) kU/L,(7.030?3.616) kU/L, (1.38?0.92) scores],and all the differences being statistically significant (all P

Objective:To investigate the subtype distribution of HIV-1 strains prevalent in four areas of China,and to study the characteristics of gag gene variation and changes in antigen epitopes under the host immune pressures. Methods:The plasma of HIV-1 infected people from Henan, Guangdong, Sichuan and Beijing in China were collected. Virion RNA was extracted directly from plasma after the virion was condensed. The gag gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nested-PCR.Sequences were subtyped by Genotyping Tool software, and phylogenetic analysis of gag gene were performed using the MEGA 4.1 software.The gene distances intra each subtype were calculated by Distance program. The Ks/Ka ratios were calculated using SNAP program. The variation analysis of CTL antigen epitopes restricted by main HLA-Ⅰ specificities in China was performed.Results:Six subtypes or circulating recombinant forms(CRFs)of HIV-1,including B',CRF07_BC,CRF01_AE,B,CRF08_BC and CRF02_AG,were identified in four areas of China.The gene distances intra each subtype were CRF01_AE>B>CRF08_BC> CRF07_BC>B' listed in order of size, meanwhile the order of Ks/Ka ratios was CRF01_AE>B>CRF08_BC>B'>CRF07_BC. Far more diversity of antigen epitopes in P17 region was observed than that in P24.Epitope mutations intra subtypes were CRF01_AE>B>B'>CRF07_BC listed in order of size. Conclusion:Itseems that CRF01_AE is under the strongest immune pressures,and displays the most diversity of gene and variation of epitopes intra subtypes prevalent in China, followed by subtype B, B' and CRF07_BC. The discrepancy of epitope mutations intra the subtypes is significant.

Objective To investigate the expression of different inflammatory variables,such as procalcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein (CRP),D-dimer (DD),fibrinogen (FIB),white blood cell (WBC),neutrophils and platelet(PLT)in septic elderly female patients with bacterial bloodstream infection,in order to assess the early diagnostic value of these variables.Methods A total of 308 elderly female patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS)were enrolled for this prospective study in Beijing Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015.Patients were divided into the sepsis group(n=210)and non-sepsis group(n=98)based on the diagnostic criteria of sepsis.The early inflammatory variables in blood,including PCT,CRP,DD,FIB,WBC,neutrophils and PLT,were detected within 6 hours of bloodstream infection,and their correlations were analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of inflammatory variables for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection was plotted,and the area under ROC curve (AUC)was calculated and used to evaluate diagnostic value for bloodstream infection.The best diagnostic cut-off points were identified based on the best(largest)AUC and the best sensitivity and specificity of inflammatory variables for bloodstream infection.Results The levels of all the inflammatory variables were significantly higher in the sepsis group than in non-sepsis group(all P＜0.05).Additionally,PCT and CRP were independent factors for diagnosis of blood stream infection.AUC of the combination of two biomarkers of PCT and CRP was 0.694 for diagnosis of sepsis,which was higher than the either biomarkers alone with AUC of 0.628 for PCT and 0.627 for CRP.The combination group of PCT and CRP showed better values of sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive,and negative predictive (86.2 ％,59.1％,65.1 ％,81.3 ％),as compared with those used individually(63.4％,58.2％,60.3％,61.4％ for PCT;and 62.4％,58.2％,59.9％,60.7％ for CRP,respectively).Conclusions The combination assay of PCT and CRP enhances the diagnostic ability for bacterial bloodstream infection.

Objective To investigate the relationship and clinical significances of HBeAg status with serum HBV DNA loads,model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure during terminal phase.Methods 120 fatal patients were enrolled.At three phases of 0 -14 d,15 -28 d and 29 -90 d before death,they were detected serum HBeAg,HBV DNA loads order meanwhile MELD scores were calculated.Results In 51 patients with HBeAg positive,HBV DNA levels were (5.25 ± 1.99),(5.45 ± 1.47) and (6.06 ± 1.77) log10 copies/ml while MELD scores were (30.33 ± 5.25 ),(26.36 ± 6.43 ) and (20.13 ± 6.47) respectively.In 69 patients with HBeAg negative,HBV DNA loads were (5.14 ± 1.84),(5.49 ± 1.75 ) and (4.62 ± 1.65 ) log10 copies/ml while MELD scores were 32.38 ± 9.95,28.17 ±6.82 and 26.19 ± 5.56 in sequence.Compared with the same phase between HBeAg-positive group and HBeAg-negative group,significant differences in both HBV DNA loads and MELD scores were found only at the phase of 29 - 90 d (P ＜ 0.05 ).In multiple comparisons among three phases,regardless of the HBeAg status,there wasn't significant difference for HBV DNA loads (P ＞0.05).But increasing MELD scores are associated with the disease exacerbation and significant differences were found (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions To initiate acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure,serum HBV DNA loads of HBeAg-positive patients are higher than that of HBeAg-negative ones.Once ACLF has been initiated,sustained high HBV DNA loads may promote the disease worsened and be fatal regardless of the HBeAg status.