ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional studies were conducted to examine the relationship between NAFLD and the severity of CAD. CAD was diagnosed by coronary angiography and NAFLD by type-B ultrasound.ResultsThe logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension, NAFLD, diabetes, smoking, and high level of γ-glutamyltransferase were risk factors of multiplevessel lesions and occlusion of CAD( P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ) , and high levels of total cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase were risk factors of multiple-vessel lesions ( P＜0. 05 or P＜0.01 ) , family history was a risk factor of occlusion of CAD, whereas, high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was an important protective factor of multiple-vessel lesions and occlusion of CAD ( P＜0. 01 ). NAFLD was a dependent risk factor of multiple-vessel lesions and occlusion of CAD( P＜0.05 or P＜0. 01 ). ConclusionsNAFLD could be regarded as a main risk factor of the severity of CAD. Clinicians should pay more attention to the prevention and treatment of NAFLD in order to improve the outcome of CAD.

Objective To investigate the relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)45T/G the adiponectin gene with type 2 diabetes of Han nationality in Ningxia.Methods PCR-RFLP method was used to identify the distribution of alleles and genotypes frequencies of SNP45T/G polymorphisms in adiponectin gene in 100 type 2 diabetic patients and 101 normal subjects.Results The distribution of genotypes and alleles frequencies of the SNP45 polymorphisms were significantly different (GG genotype:13% vs 3%,P

Objective To explore the efficacy of blood promoter methylation of Sox10 gene in diagnosis of intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) and to seek a non-invasive genetic diagnosis method based on peripheral blood for diagnosis of IND.Methods Children diagnosed as Hirschsprung disease (HD) or IND from the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University and the Capital Institute of Pediatrics were enrolled in 2017-2018.The blood and colon specimens were collected from 9 IND,15 HD and 15 controls (the colon trauma cases).The blood promoter methylation of Soxl0 and its expression level in colon were both detected and the correlation between them was analyzed.The diagnostic efficacy of blood promoter methylation of Soxl0 was analyzed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.Results The blood promoter methylation level at the 32nd locus of Sox10 was 100％ (90％-100％;95％ CI:91％-98％) in the control,80％ (70％-90％;95％CI:65％-90％) in HD and 60％ (50％-80％;95％ CI:52％-82％) in IND.The expression level of Sox10 in the colon was (1.00 ±0.04) in the control,(2.75 ±0.16) in HD and (3.99 ±0.10) in IND.Western blot showed that the expression of Sox10 protein in the colon of the control group,the HD group and the IND group increased,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The blood promoter methylation level was negatively correlated with its expression level in colon (r =-0.88).ROC curve indicated area under curve (AUC) of Sox10 methylation in diagnosis of HD was 0.818,with a cut-off value of 85％ and low diagnostic sensitivity.The AUC in IND was 0.907,with a cut-off value of 85％,producing a sensitivity of 88.9％ and a specificity of 93.3％ respectively.Conclusion Blood promoter methylation of Sox10 might be used as a non-invasive method for diagnosis of IND.

The enteric nervous system consists of a network of neurons,neurotransmitters,proteins and its supporting cells in the lining of the gastrointestinal wall. The embryonic development of ENS originates from neural crest stem cells,which start to proliferate and migrate from the neural crest to the mesoderm along the head and tail,and finally migrate into the mesenchyme and form ENS. DNA methylation plays an important role in cell proliferation or differentiation in the process of embryonic development. DNA methylation is regulated by DNA methylation transferase,and the methylation state of the genes is passed on to the offspring in the process of cell proliferation differentiation. DNA methylation is the most profound and extensive mechanism in epigenet-ics research. Thus,this article is to review the recent advances in the effects of epigenetic regulation on the devel-opment of the enteric nervous system.

Objective　 To elucidate the molecular basis of G6PD deficiency in the Han and Li nationalities in Hainan, China. Methods　 Polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion were used to screen the mutations 1388G→A, 1360C→T, 1024C→T, 592C→T,517T→C, 493A→G,487G→A,392G→T and 95A→G. Single strand conformation polymorphism analysis was used to screen the other mutations followed by DNA sequencing to characterize the mutations of the samples with abnormal SSCP bands. Results　 Of the fifty-nine Han cases with G6PD deficiency, fourteen with 1388G→A(23.7%), three with 871G→A(5.1%), one with 835A→T(1.7%), one with 517T→C(1.7%), three with 392G→T(5.1%), and four with 95A→G(6.8%) were found. Of the thirty-two Li cases with G6PD deficiency, six with 1388G→A(18.8%), three with 871G→A(9.4%), and two with 95A→G(6.3%) were found. A new mutation 835A→G which causes the substitution of Ala for Thr at 279 in a Han case was identified and named as G6PD-Haikou. The enzyme activity of the variant is about 10% of the normal and lower than the activity of the variant 835A→T with about 40% of the normal. Analysis of the 3D model of human G6PD has revealed that the hydroxyl group of Thr at 279 is a group in maintaining the interaction of the G6PD subunits. Conclusion　 The most common mutations of G6PD deficiency in Han and Li nationalities in Hainan are similar. Compared with the mutation spectrum of G6PD gene in the populations in other regions of China, the results indicate that some G6PD gene mutations are widespread in the populations of different regions in the southern part of China. The hydroxyl group of the Thr at 279 of human G6PD may be a necessary group for maintaining the interaction of the G6PD subunits and the enzyme activity.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among adults in rural areas of Ningxia Hui autonomous region.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 639 adults enrolled with a multistage method from Jingyuan County.The MS was identified according to Chinese type 2 diabetes prevention guide (2013).Results Among all the subjects, 17.4% of them met the MS definition with the standardized prevalence of 14.7% after adjustment of sex and age.The prevalence and standardized rate of MS in men were 19.9% and 17.3%, and in women were 15.3% and 13.5%.The prevalence of MS in men was higher than that in women(P<0.001) and increased with aging in both genders.The prevalence and standardized rate of abdominal obesity,hyperglycemia,hypertension,high triglycerides,and low HDL-C were 19.5% and 16.7%, 15.0% and 12.9%, 42.0% and 37.1%, 25.8% and 23.1%, 28.5% and 27.7%,respectively.The rate of abdominal obesity was higher in women than in men (20.5% vs 18.2%, P=0.004), whereas the rate of hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL-C were higher in men than in women (all P<0.01).The prevalence of having one parameter of the MS was 68.4%.Conclusion The prevalence of MS is higher in rural areas of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, suggesting that a series of comprehensive prevention measures should be carried out to prevent and control the MS so as to improve the public health conditions in rural areas.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid dysfunction in southern mountainouss areas of Ningxia.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 10 639 adults in Jingyuan county with a population proportionate sampling method.High-resolution ultrasound was used to examine the thyroid and fasting blood specimens were collected in the morning for measurement of TSH,FT4,FT3.Chi-square test and spearman rank correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules was 29.08％,the sex-and age-adjusted rate was 27.17％.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in women than in men (32.68％ vs.24.88％,x2=76.029 2,P＜0.001) and age was positively associated with thyroid nodules (r=0.272,P＜0.001).The rate of thyroid dysfunetion,subclinical hypothyroidism,subclinical hyperthyroidism,hypothyroidism,hyperthyroidism were 17.39％,13.00％,0.42％,0.96％,3.01％,respectively.The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in abnormal TSH group than in normal TSH group (39.44％ vs.27.24％,x2=95.624 0,P＜0.001).The level of THS,FT3,FT4 in thyroid nodules group differed fromn control group (Z=-9.144,P＜0.001;Z=-6.140,P＜0.001;Z=-1.997,P=0.046).Conclusion The prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid dysfunction were higher in southern mountainous areas of Ningxia.The relationship between thyroid nodules and thyroid function needs further research.We should pay attention to the early screening and diagnosis of thyroid nodules in mountainous areas.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the role of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) on cell proliferation and testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse testis of different postnatal stages was isolated to detect the expression C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its receptor NPR2 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Leydig cells isolated from mouse testis were cultured and treated with shNPR2 lentiviruses or CNP. And then the cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, testosterone secretion, cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis in mouse Leydig cells were analyzed by ELISA, RT-qPCR, Cell Counting Kit-8, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the expression of NPR2, cell cycle, apoptosis proliferation and cell cycle related gene were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Knockdown of NPR2 by RNAi resulted in S phase cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, and decreased testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides more evidences to better understand the function of CNP/NPR2 pathway in male reproduction, which may help us to treat male infertility.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Proliferation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Germ Cells ; Guanosine Monophosphate ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Lentivirus ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Mice ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Peptide ; Reproduction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA Interference ; S Phase ; Testicular Diseases ; Testis ; Testosterone

To investigate the hypolipidemic effects of gypenosides granules and its combination with lipitor, a model of hyperlipidaemia C57BL/6J mice was established by high-fat diet feeding for 4 weeks. The mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, lipitor group(10 mg/kg of lipitor), low dose group(90 mg/kg of gypenosides granules), medium dose group(120 mg/kg of gypenosides granules), high dose group(180 mg/kg of gypenosides granules)and the combination group(180 mg/kg of gypenosides granules and 10 mg/kg of lipitor). After 4 weeks of continuous administration, the contents of serum lipid indexes, serum ALT, AST and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)were measured. The liver tissues of mice were observed by H&E staining. The expression levels of key factors involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism were observed by RT-PCR and Western blot methods, such as adenosine triphosphate combined box transporter A1(ABCA1), liver X receptor(LXRα), cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase(CYP7A1)and type BΙ scavenger receptor(SR-BΙ). The results revealed that gypenosides granules significantly decreased the mice body weight, total abdominal fat area and the level of serum total cholesterol(TC). The combination group showed a more significant reduction in TC level than the other administration groups. Moreover, gypenosides granules treatment remarkably increased the protein expression of ABCA1 and up-regulated the mRNA expression of ABCA1, CYP7A1 and SR-BI. The above results suggest that gypenosides granules can significantly reduce blood lipid contents, and the combination therapy with lipitor show better the lipid-lowering effect. Meanwhile, gypenosides granules can decrease the level of serum transaminase. Preliminary exploration suggests the lipid-lowering mechanism of gypenosides granules may be involved in cholesterol reversal to regulate the level of TC.

Objective To investigate the prevalences of the obesity and hypertension in southern mountain regions of Ningxia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of 10 639 adults using questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood pressure measurement in southern mountain areas with a population proportionate sampling method. Results The prevalences of overweight,obesity,central obesity,high percentage of body fat,and hypertension were 33.53%,10.71%,19.50%,27.69%,and 31.57% respectively, which were 30.31%,9.62%,16.70%,24.90%,and 27.61% after age-adjustment in rural areas of Ningxia,and increased with aging(Ptrend<0.05). The prevalences of overweight,obesity,and hypertension were higher in males than those in females(P<0.05),and that of central obesity was higher in females than in males(P=0.003).The prevalences of hypertension in subjects with overweight, obesity, central obesity, high percentage of body fat were 38. 14%, 53.75%,52.69%,and 48.90%,respectively. Body mass index,waist circumference,and percentage of body fat were positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure(P<0.05). The multivariable logistic model revealed that the risk of hypertension in different types of obesity increased about 1.5 times. Conclusion There is high prevalence of obesity and hypertension among the adults in southern mountain areas of Ningxia. The prevalence of hypertension in obesity,central obesity,and high percentage of body fat is closed to or more than half of the population investigated.