Objective To explore the effect and significance of AQP4 mRNA expression in bronchial epithelium of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on airway inflammation. Methods Bronchial epithelium was obtained by bronchoscopy in patients with COPD (n=30) and healthy controls (n=30) whose bronchial epithelium was confirmed to be normal by the pathologist. AQP4 mRNA were studied by RT-PCR method. Inflammatory cells infiltration was observed by HE staining; pulmonary function test was performed too before bronchoscopy. Results Compared with that in the healthy controls, AQP4 mRNA expression in COPD was reduced (P

Background Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the frequent glaucomatous types,and genetic factor participates in pathogenesis and development of the disease.Recently,MYOC mutation was found to be associated with POAG.Objective This study was to describe the clinical and genetic findings in a POAG family from Luoyang,China.Methods This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Affiliated First Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology.The study adhered to Declaration of Helsinki.A POAG family with 29 members of 5 generations was surveyed and followed-up for 5-year duration.The mode of inheritance was determined by the pedigree analysis.The periphery blood sample was collected form 12 families and 100 health controls for the extraction of genomic DNA under the informed consent.The third exon and its flanking introns of MYOC were amplified,and quantitative real time PCR products were sequenced,and the structure and function of mutated gene were examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.The predicted effects of the detected variants on the secondary structure of MYOC protein were evaluated using Garnier-Osguthorpe-Robson (GOR) method,and homology analysis of protein was carried out by Blast software provided by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).Results This POAG family included 29 members of 5 generations,and the clinical data were not clear in 11 family members.Three individuals from 3 generations were determined POAG,another one was ocular hypertension,and 2 were carriers.Pedigree analysis appeared an autosomal dominant inheritance.In 12 subjects included 6 members genetically affected and 6 members with normal phenotype,the heterozygous mutation was found in the third exon of MYOC gene in 6 genetically affected members,which revealed a T→C transition at position 1021 (p.S341P),resulting in a switch of serine (Ser) to proline (Pro).It was a missense mutation abolished a CviKI-1 restriction site that segregated with the affected members.Secondary structure prediction of p.S341P suggested that myocilin protein was misfolded.Analysis of protein homology and switched Ser was conservative amine acid at position 1021 (p.S341P).No similar change was found in the 6 normal families and the normal controls.Conclusions Ser341Pro MYOC mutation is disease-causing factor in the POAG family of Luoyang.The clinical and genetic features of this mutation warrant further investigation.The mutation spectrum of MYOC is expanded to offer a better diagnosis and treatment for POAG patients.

Objective:To investigate whether diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) affect the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of Bifidobacterium infantis ( BB ) .Methods: We used simple anaerobic activated ways to culture BB .After the bacterium reached platform growth period ,two concentrations (200 and 1 000 μmol/L) of DDC were added to bacterium medium for a specific period of time (0.5,1,2,4 and 24 h),which was in order to determine if this inhibitor affected the activity of SOD .As a positive control,the in-hibitory effect of DDC on the activity of SOD in murine intestinal samples was also checked .Results:It was found that incubation of BB with DDC for some specific periods showed no effect on the activity of SOD .However , the activity of SOD in intestine reduced dramatically after the mice were given DDC in vivo .Conclusion:DDC affect the SOD activity in mice ,while it showed no effect on SOD activity of BB.The suitable inhibitor for SOD of BB is not commercially available and further research is warranted .

Objective To investigate the relationship between abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and outcomes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods One hundred and seventy MHD patients in the dialysis center of the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from June 2014 and October 2014 were enrolled prospectively. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) was measured using AAC score (AACS) by abdominal lateral plain radiography. According to the AACS, the patients were divided into mild AAC (AACS<5) group and severe AAC (AACS≥5) group for comparison, and Kaplan?Meier analysis was used to compare their survival rates. Multivariable COX regression models were used to determine the risk factors of all?cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in MHD patients. Results Severe AAC (AACS≥5) was present in 28.2%(48/170) patients. The median follow?up duration was 25.6 (22.0, 26.0) months. During the follow?up, 6 patients (4.9%) in AACS<5 group and 14 patients (29.2%) in AACS≥5 group died. Kaplan?Meier analysis showed that patients in AACS≥5 group had higher all?cause mortality rate and cardiovascular disease mortality rate as compared with patients in AACS<5 group (χ2=9.746 ,P=0.002; χ2=9.697 ,P=0.002). Multivariate COX regression analysis demonstrated that high AACS (HR=4.373, 95%CI 1.562?7.246, P=0.005) and hypoproteinemia (HR=0.886, 95%CI 0.797?0.985, P=0.025) were independent risk factors for all?cause mortality, while hypoproteinemia (HR=0.829, 95%CI 0.718?0.956, P=0.010) and low 1,25(OH)D3 (HR=0.769, 95% CI 0.627 ? 0.944, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease mortality. Conclusions AAC is significantly associated with overall survival in MHD patients. To further evaluate the relationship between AAC and outcomes in MHD patients, multi?center and long term follow up studies of large sample size are necessary.

Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate methods for prenatal molecular diagnosis of fetuses at high risk for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy(X-ALD).Methods The amniotic fluid was obtained and genomic DNA was isolated from amniotic fluid cells.Maternal contamination was evaluated by paternity test.PCRRFLP,sequencing and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC)were used to detect the ABCD1 gene of fetal genome.Results In the pedigree 1,the PCR product(799 bp)of the fetus 1 and her father(normal control)could be digested with BcnI. No P560L mutation,which was present in the index patient,was detected in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 1 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 2,the PCR product(232 bp)of the fetus 2 and her father could not be digested with MaeI and no Q177X mutation,which was present in the propositus,was detected in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 2 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 3,the PCR product(271 bp)was digested with AciI.the pattern of the fetus 3 and the propositus being the same,and the R617C mutation was found in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 3 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 4,the PCR product(269 bp)was analyzed with the DHPLC,and the pattern of elution peaks of the fetus 4 and her father was similar,but different from that of the propositus.No K276E mutation was detectable in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 4 by using direct sequencing.Judging from the sex of the fetuses,fetuses 1 and 2 were normal homozygotes,fetus 3 was an ALD hemizygote,and fetus 4 was a normal hemizygote.Conclusion A new protocol for X-ALD prenatal molecular diagnosis is proposed,which would ensure the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis.

Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; drug therapy ; etiology

Objective To evaluate the effects of health education on HIV/AIDS high-risk behaviors,knowledge,and attitude among floating population in China.Methods A computerized literature searching was carried out in Chinese Biomedical Database,Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wan Fang and VIP databases to collect articles published in China between 2005 and 2010.Words as “AIDS”,“ Floating Population”,“ Intervention ”,“ Health Education ”,“ High-risk Behavior” were used.Type of studies would include “self-control intervention studies or studies containing sections of self-control intervention”.Meta-analyses were performed to assess 8 outcomes which targeting on high-risk behavior,knowledge and attitudes of AIDS.RevMan 4.2 software was used to analyze the intervention effects for these indexes.Results After the interventions,the rate on awareness of “Whether condoms can reduce the HIV/AIDS infection risk” increased by 23％ [rate difference (RD) 95％ CI: 0.19,0.27] and “Whether keeping monogamous sexual relationship can reduce the risk of infection” increased by 18％ (RD 95％CI: 0.14,0.23 ).The proportion of “Willing to use condoms in sexual life” increased by 16％ (RD 95％ CI: 0.11,0.22) ; and “The incidence of commercial sex behaviors” reduced by 6％ (RD 95％ CI:-0.11,-0.02).“The Ratio of condom use during commercial sex behaviors” increased by 17％ (RD 95％CI: 0.10,0.23).and “Recent use of condoms during sex” increased by 25％ (RD 95％CI: 0.15,0.35).All the data showed significant differences (P＜0.01),respectively.Conclusion After health education,great improvements were found for HIV-related sexual knowledge,attitudes,and behaviors among the floating population.

Objective To study the clinical value of transcervical resection under hysteroscope in treatment of placental remnants.Methods From March 2003 to April 2006,14 cases of placental remnants were treated with transcervical resection under hysteroscope.They included 3 cases of term birth,and 11 cases of midtrimester induction of labor.Drug pretreatment was performed for those who had more than 80 U/L of blood beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (?-hCG) level,including mifepristone (RU486), Chinese herbs and methotrexate(MTX).RU486 was taken orally at 25 mg,three times daily and misoprostol was given 600 ?g at one dose on the third day.MTX was given by deep intramuscular injection at 1 mg/m~2 if ?-hCG was higher than 150 U/L.Bipolar evaporation was used in the operation with alternation of resection and forceps holder under ultrasonographic supervision.After operation a circular contraceptive device was placed followed by hormone periodic treatment such as estradiol valerate for 2-4 months.Results Under the monitoring by ultrasonography,14 operations were all performed smoothly.The follow-up was from 6 months to 2 years.Menstruations in almost all the cases were recovered,and 3 cases of those were pregnant and delivered smoothly 4,6 and 7 months after operation.Conclusion The transcervical resection under hysteroscope is useful in treatment of placental remnants with obvious effects,little trauma and few complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Child ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; Receptors, Transferrin ; blood ; Young Adult