AIM: We sought to identify key genes related to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(NAION)and provide bioinformatics support for elucidating the pathogenesis of NAION.METHODS: Based on rat GSE43671 dataset, which was acquired from GEO, we identified modular genes with highly correlated clinical phenotype by WGCNA package in the R language. Then Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)analysis were performed with ClusterProfiler package. In addition, Cytoscape was used to screen potential key genes and establish miRNA-key genes network.RESULTS: There were 22 modules identified from the GSE43671 dataset by the WGCNA method, among which the blue module has the highest correlation coefficient. GO enrichment analysis suggested that the genes in the module mainly manifest in the epithelial tube morphogenesis and other biological processes, receptor complex and other cell components, and structural constituent of eye lens and other molecular functions. KEGG suggested that the genes in the module mainly relate to signaling pathways including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, human papillomavirus, MAPK and PI3K/Akt. There were 10 key genes screened by PPI network and Cytoscape including Psmb9, Psma7, Map3k14, Psme1, Nfkb1, Rela, Psma5, Relb, Psmb4 and Nfkb2, and 6 miRNA were predicted as miR-383-5p, miR-9a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-495 and miR-325-3p.CONCLUSION: Using the WGCNA method to screen out the relevant pathways, key genes, and microRNA for NAION, it provides a theoretical basis for exploring pathogenesis and treatment methods of NAION, however, more animal and cell experiments are needed to further validate.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of prostaglandin transporter (PGT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe mRNA and protein levels of PGT were determined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical methods in cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissue from 80 patients with colorectal cancer and their relationship with clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the adjacent normal tissue of colorectal cancer, the PGT mRNA relative expression (0.57 ± 0.33 vs. 2.33 ± 1.20) and the PGT protein expression in cancer tissues decreased significantly [PGT/GAPDH 0.45 ± 0.16 vs. 0.78 ± 0.23, integral A 718.7 ± 359.4 vs. 10412.0 ± 6423.3, average A 0.03 ± 0.01 vs. 0.12 ± 0.09, all P<0.01]. Lower mRNA and protein expressions of PGT in colorectal cancer were associated with depth of invasion T3 to T4 and TNM stage III( to IIII( (P<0.01), while not associated with gender, age, tumor location and differentiation degree (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONExpression levels of PGT mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissue are significantly down-regulation. PGT expression is associated with invasion depth and late stages.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organic Anion Transporters ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and clinical significance of the detection of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in human colorectal cancer.

METHODSLevels of NGAL in serum samples from 133 healthy people, 125 colorectal polyps patients and 100 colorectal cancer patients respectively were determined by sandwich ELISA assay. Relationship of NGAL level with clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients was analyzed. The optimal cut-off value of serum NGAL for diagnosing colorectal cancer was determined by ROC curve and compared with CEA and CA19-9. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the relationship of NGAL level with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

RESULTSThe median serum NGAL protein level in 100 colorectal cancer cases was 67.96 (53.30-79.86) μg/L, significantly higher than that in healthy people and colorectal polyps patients. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). Serum NGAL protein level was significantly associated with tumor diameter, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and vascular involvement (P<0.05). The optimal cut-off point of serum NGAL protein level for diagnosing colorectal cancer was 49.78 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 81% respectively. As for colorectal cancer patients with stage I, the sensitivity of serum NGAL (78.9%) was significantly higher as compared to CA19-9 (31.6%) and CEA (36.8%); as for those with stage II, the sensitivity of serum NGAL(88.0%) was also significantly higher compared to CA19-9 (48.0%) and CEA (52.0%). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with positive NGAL (≥49.78 μg/L) had worse survival than those with negative NGAL (P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that NGAL was an independent prognostic factor (HR=2.060, 95%CI:1.023-4.150, P=0.043).

CONCLUSIONSNGAL can be served as the novel malignant biological phenotype marker for human colorectal cancer and can be used for the risk stratification. NGAL may be an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Lipocalin-2 ; Lipocalins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; blood

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the epidemiological characteristics (season, age, gender, mixed infection and clinical manifestations, etc.) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in children in Hainan Province, so as to provide epidemiological evidence-based medical basis for the prevention and control of MP infection in children in Hainan Province. Methods　The serum IgM antibodies of MP, Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumoniae, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Q fever Rickettsia, parainfluenza virus, influenza A virus and influenza B virus in children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) who were hospitalized in pediatrics of many hospitals in Hainan Province from March 2012 to February 2020 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence method. The positive serum MP-IgM antibody was defined as MP infection. The epidemiological and clinical data of MP infected cases were analyzed retrospectively. Results　From March, 2012 to February, 2020, a total of 35 731 qualified pediatric inpatients with RTIs in many hospitals in Hainan Province were tested for serum MP-IgM with the total positive rate of 39.12% (13 978/35 731). The yearly positive rates of MP-IgM from 2012 to 2020 were 48.39%, 56.23%, 56.62%, 47.04%, 29.71%, 24.14%, 47.55%, 36.84% and 24.46% respectively. The positive rates of MP-IgM in 2013 and 2014 were significantly higher than those in other years (P<0.05). The positive rate of MP-IgM in summer in Hainan Province was the highest (41.34%) and the lowest in winter (35.77%) (P<0.05). MP infection occurred in all age groups, the positive rate of MP-IgM in children of preschool (51.80%) was significantly higher than that in other age groups (P<0.01), and the positive rate of MP IgM in children of infancy (15.36%) was lower than that in other age groups (P<0.01). The positive rate of MP-IgM in female was 44.77%, which was significantly higher than that in male (35.83%) (P<0.05). MP infection combined with positive IgM of another pathogen accounted for 32.63% (4 561 cases), positive IgM of another two pathogens accounted for 1.26% (176 cases). MP infection was mostly found in pneumonia (68.73%), and the main clinical symptoms were cough (84.72%), fever (51.01%) and wheezing (3.16%). Conclusions　MP is an important pathogen of respiratory tract infection in children in Hainan Province, and infection is more common in children in early school age and early childhood. Mp-specific tests should be performed to identify the pathogen in children suspected of MP infection. In the high incidence season, health education should be strengthened in kindergartens, schools and other places to prevent respiratory tract infection.

AIM: To investigate the effect of different degrees of traction power on the survival rate of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)and nerve conduction in rats, and to discuss the effect of autophagy level of RGCs on the above parameters.METHODS: A total of 30 healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into empty group, sham-operation group, 0.15N, 0.3N and 0.6N group, with 6 rats in each group.Modeling group was performed the transverse quantitative traction to make a rat model of optic nerve injury. In addition, rats in empty group were not operated and rats in sham-operation group only got optic nerve exposed. Flash visual evoked potentials(f-VEP)were performed respectively on 1 and 3d after modeling.The survival of retinal ganglion cells was observed by Brn-3a staining at 3d after modeling, autophagy bodies were observed by transmission electron microscope, and the expression level of LC3B II/I protein was detected by Western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with sham-operation group, the f-VEP P2 peak was significantly delayed and the amplitude reduced at 3d after modeling. In addition, the survival rate of RGCs was decreased, and the expression level of LC3B II/I protein were decreased. Autophagy bodies were observed in the retinal tissue of rats in all groups.CONCLUSION: Optic nerve traction reduced early retinal autophagy level, death of RGCs and corresponding nerve conduction dysfunction in rats,and different traction caused different degrees of injury. In addition,there was a correlation between the autophagy level and the survival of RGCs.

With Sophora japonica at the flowering stage as the object, the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on the yield composition factors, yield and quality of Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) was studied. The results indicated that in early spring, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on the amplification rate of S. japonica, FSI yield composition, yield and quality were different significantly, middle to high nitrogen (1.5-2.0 kg/plant) significantly increased the level of panicled clusters, raceme and flower bud number and yield. Phosphorus (1.5-2.0 kg/plant) could significantly increase the total buds of flower number and yield, potassium showed no significant increase in yield and yield components. Comprehensively considering yield and quality of FSI, nitrogen 1.5-2.0 kg/plant, phosphorus 1.5-2.0 kg/plant and potassium 0.6-0.9 kg/plant are appropriate.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Shenbei Guchang capsules in treatment of diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome (yang deficiency of spleen and kidney) under widely used conditions, an open, multicenter, controlled, phase Ⅳ clinical trial was conducted in the drug clinical trial centers of 16 domestic hospitals. 2 123 patients from June 10, 2011 to November 29, 2012 were enrolled in the trial. Drug clinical trial was approved by Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Ethics Committee before implementation. Before the start of trial, subjects were selected according to the research scheme and inclusion criteria, then they would step into the 14 d study after signing Informed Consent Form. All subjects were treated according to the research scheme, evaluated the conditions and filled in CFR sheet, to provide the evaluation data and information on safety and efficacy of Shenbei Guchang capsules. Shenbei Guchang capsules were used to treat diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome in widely used conditions (2 123 cases), and 2 029 cases of them entered FAS set, cure+markedly effective in 1 921 cases, with a comprehensive curative effect rate of 94.68%; 2 010 cases of them entered PPS set, cure+markedly effective in 1 906 cases, with a comprehensive curative effect rate of 94.83%. The primary symptoms of IBS were abdominal pain and diarrhea. After treatment, both abdominal pain and diarrhea were improved, with significant differences (P<0.000 1). There were significant differences in traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores on both post-treatment day 7 and day 14 as compared with the conditions before treatment (P<0.000 1). 35 cases of adverse events occurred during the trial with an incidence of 1.65%, including 12 cases of drug-related adverse events (adverse reaction) with an incidence of 0.57%, mainly manifested as nausea, abdominal distension and dry mouth, most of which would be spontaneously relieved without any measures. No serious adverse events occurred. The commercially available Shenbei Guchang capsules are proved safe and effective for the treatment of diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome (yang deficiency of spleen and kidney) under widely used conditions (2 123 cases), and can be continued for clinical promotion and application.