Objective To investigate the association between malnutrition parameters and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in male patients aged ≥ 80 years with normal ejection fraction.Methods A total of 197 elderly male patients aged 80 95 years (average 85.4±9.7) were enrolled.Each patient received echocardiograms following admission,and ejection fraction was calculated.Serum concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.Multiple Logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the association between malnutrition parameters and serum level of NT-proBNP.Results Serum NT-proBNP level was higher in patients with malnutrition than in the controls [(711.9±1063.3) ng/L vs.(1375.2-±1891.7) ng/L,P=0.006].Pearson correlation analysis showed that the malnutrition parameters such as body mass index (BMI),blood hemoglobin,albumin and pre-albumin were negatively correlated with serum NT proBNP level (all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and serum pre albumin level were independently associated with serum NT-proBNP level elevation (P=0.028 and 0.006,respectively).ROC curve analysis showed that the malnutrition parameters could predict the serum NT-proBNP level elevation.The area under the ROC curves for BMI,levels of blood hemoglobin,albumin and prealbumin in predicting serum NT proBNP level elevation was 0.7 (P=0.002),0.7 (P=0.004),0.6 (P=0.036),0.6 P=0.002),the sensitivity was 75.5％,51.0％,38.8％,89.8％,and the specificity was 54.4％,70.2 ％,84.2％ and 31.6 ％,respectively.Conclusions The malnutrition parameters including BMI,blood hemoglobin,albumin and pre-albumin can predict serum NT-proBNP level elevation.BMI and serum pre-albumin level are independently associated with serum NT-proBNP level elevation in male patients aged ≥ 80 years with normal ejection fraction.

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from the aqueous extract of leaves of Perilla frutescens. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by chromatography on macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods, including MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral techniques. Results: Seventeen compounds were isolated from the aqueous extract of leaves of P. frutescens, and were identified as (+)- isololiolide (1), dehydrovomifoliol (2), (-)-loliolide (3), scutellarin (4), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5), p-hydroxyacetophenone (6), 3-formylindole (7), trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (8), apigenin (9), luteolin (10), esculetin (11), caffeic acid (12), rosmarinic acid (13), methyl rosmarinate (14), sericoside (15), caffeic acid vinyl ester (16), and negletein (17). Conclusion: Compounds 1-2, 6-8, and 15 are firstly isolated from the plants of Perilla Linn.

Objective To explore the impact of silencing PLCε1 gene on proliferation and cell cycle of esophageal carci-noma Eca109 cells.Methods Three plasmid expression vectors (PLCε11, PLCε12 and PLCε13) were constructed to si-lence PLCε1 gene.A negative control plasmid expression vector (HK) was constructed at the same time to serve as a control .The plasmid expression vectors were transfected into esophageal carcinoma Eca 109 cells by cations liposome . The plasmid expression vector with the best interference effect ( PLCε12 ) was chosen .The study included Eca 109 group , HK group and PLCε12 group .Cell viability of Eca 109 cells was evaluated by MTT assay .The cell cycles were detected by FCM .The mRNA expression of P16 and CyclinD1 gene was measured by RT-PCR.Results The cell vi-abilitys of Eca109 cells in PLCε12 group were 80.73%and 75.88%at 48 and 72 h after transfection , which were significantly lower than that of Eca 109 cells in HK group (P<0.001).The percentage of S phase Eca109 cells in PLCε12 group was lower than that of Eca 109 cells in HK group ( P <0.01 ) , the cell cycle of PLCε12 group Eca109 cells was arrested in G0/G1 phase.The P16 gene mRNA expression of PLCε12 group Eca109 cells was higher than that of HK group Eca 109 cells ( P<0.01 ) .Conclusions Silencing PLCε1 gene may up-regulate P16 gene mRNA expression and then arrest the cell cycle at G 0/G1 phase and so inhibit proliferation of Eca 109 cells.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of complication rate after colorectal cancer operation.Methods This study recruited a total of 254 non-emergency colorectal cancer patients admitted to our hospital between December 2005 and December 2006,and then evaluated the effects of life style,preoperative factors and intraoperative factors on postoperative complications.Results Single factor analysis showed that the postoperative complication rate was not significantly affected by gender,age,obesity,palliative/curative resection,anesthesia style as well as preoperative drinking or smoking history.Preoperative complications(P=0.001),tumor stage and operation time(P=0.025) affected the postoperative complicatin rate.Multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative complications were the only risk factor of postoperative complications [P=0.001,OR=5.871,(95% CI 2.958-11.651)].Conclusion Old age as such does not represent a contraindication for surgical treatment.Preoperative complications,operation time and tumor stage significantly affect the postoperative complication rate.Preoperative complications are the strongest risk factor of all.Therefore,reasonable perioperative managements and shortening operation time are the key to reducing postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVE:To summarize the clinical effect of compound glycyrrhizin(CG)on SARS.METHODS:The clin?ical data of73patients with clinically diagnosed SARS(37cases were treated by CG)were prospectively analysed.RESULTS:After CG treatment,the symptoms of dry cough,chest distress and dyspnea improved quickly and the elevated serum level of aminotransferase decreased.The maximal dosages of corticosteroids used in CG group and control group were(354.3?219.8)mg/d and(430?262.6)mg/d,respectively.The average time to occurrence of antibody,duration for reduction of corticosteroid dosage and duration of hospital stay were shorter in CG group than those in control group.There was no significant difference in titer value of antibody between two groups.CG had little effects on WBC,blood sugar and electrolytes.CONCLUSION:CG may be a promising drug against SARS with less side effect.

Objective: To explore the association of PLCε1 gene rs2274223 A/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and rs11599672 T/G SNP with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a population of Ci County high-incidence region in Hebei Province. Methods:The genotypes of PLCε1 gene rs2274223 A/G SNP and rs11599672 T/G SNP were determined by polymerase chain reaction–ligase detection reaction method in 527 ESCC patients and 527 healthy controls. Results:The frequency of positive family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer UGIC in ESCC patients was 48.6%, which is significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (39.3%) (χ2=9.25, P=0.002). The AA, AG, and GG genotype frequencies of PLCε1 gene rs2274223 A/G SNP were 48.0%, 43.9%, 8.1%in the ESCC patients and 57.1%, 37.5%, 5.4%in the healthy controls, respectively. Compared with AA genotype, AG, GG, and AG/GG genotypes enhanced the risk of ESCC. The age, sex, smoking status, and UGIC family history-adjusted OR were 1.41 (95%CI=1.09-1.83), 1.71 (95%CI=1.03-2.86), and 1.45 (95%CI=1.13-1.85), respectively. No significant difference was observed in the frequency of the genotype and allele of PLCε1 gene rs11599672 T/G SNP between the ESCC cases and the controls (P>0.05). PLCε1 gene rs2274223 A/G SNP and rs11599672 T/G SNP were combined for analysis using a 2LD software. Results showed that no linkage disequilibrium exists between these two SNPs (D'=0.11). Compared with the most frequent AT haplotype, the GT haplotype sig-nificantly increased the risk of ESCC (OR=1.36, 95%CI=1.08-1.71). Conclusion:PLCε1 gene rs2274223 A/G SNP might serve as a marker predicting genetic susceptibility to ESCC of the population from Ci County. The subjects with UGIC family history and the AG-or GG-genotype carriers had higher risk of ESCC and should receive periodic upper gastrointestinal fiber tests for early detection and treatment of ESCC.

Objective:To analyze the effectiveness of antiviral therapy on adolescents and adults with infectious mononucleosis (IM).Methods:The clinical data of patients aged≥16 years old with IM who were hospitalized in Peking University First Hospital from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively, and the patients were divided into antiviral treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group. The duration of hospitalization day, fever duration, ratio of lymphocytes and duration for normalization of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) markers were compared between the two groups through single factor and propensity score matching analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:A total of 274 cases were enrolled and 176 cases (64.23%) were divided into antiviral treatment group and 98 cases (35.77%) into non-antiviral treatment group. The proportion of male (56.25%(99/176) vs 56.12%(55/98)), age (21.0(18.0, 26.0) years old vs 21.0(18.0, 27.0) years old), the ratio of fever (98.30%(173/176) vs 93.88%(92/98)), sore throat (90.34%(159/176) vs 88.78%(87/98)), lymphocyte ratio (0.648(0.568, 0.707) vs 0.663(0.581, 0.711)), atypical lymphocyte ratio (0.150(0.100, 0.235) vs 0.135(0.060, 0.250)) and serum EBV DNA level (2.71(2.70, 3.47) lg copies/mL vs 2.70(2.70, 3.28) lg copies/mL) were comparable between two groups at admission, and the differences were all not statistically significant(all P>0.05). The durations of hospitalization and fever in antiviral treatment group were 14.0(10.0, 18.0) d and (14.91±7.24) d, respectively, which were both significantly longer than those in non-antiviral treatment group (11.0(7.0, 15.0) d and (9.95±5.67) d, respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( Z=-3.294 and t=-5.035, respectively, both P<0.01). Twenty-six patients each in the antiviral treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group were included in the propensity score matching assessment. The fever days of the two groups were 15.0(10.0, 18.0) d and 7.5(5.0, 12.5) d, respectively, and the hospitalization days were (15.4±5.5) d and (12.0±5.7) d, respectively. The differences were both statistically significant ( Z=-3.781 and t=-2.187, respectively, both P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the time required for the ratio of lymphocytes returning to normal, the time required for the ratio of atypical lymphocytes decreasing to <0.100, and the time required for serum EBV DNA becoming negative(all P>0.05). Conclusion:The antiviral treatment could not improve the prognosis of adolescent and adult IM patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have demonstrated that serum interferon-γ-inducible-protein-10 (IP-10) levels at baseline and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL28B gene were associated with viral response and treatment outcomes. Our purpose was to assess the combination of pretreatment IP-10 levels with IL28B SNPs as predictors of treatment response to pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin in patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus in China. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with chronic hepatitis C without fibrosis/cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. The virologic parameters and baseline serum IP-10 levels were determined. IL-28B genotypes were determined by sequencing. RESULTS: In this cohort, serum baseline IP-10 levels lower than 426.7 pg/mL could predict rapid virological response/sustained virological response (SVR). Patients carrying favorable IL28B SNP genotypes had higher SVRs than did those carrying unfavorable variants (IL28B rs12979860, p=0.002; IL28B rs8099917, p=0.020). Combining both baseline IP-10 and IL28B SNPs could improve the prediction of SVR in favorable allele carriers of IL28B, rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT. Serum baseline IP-10 levels and IL28B genotypes were independent predictors of SVR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the combination of baseline serum IP-10 levels and the determination of IL28B SNPs increase the predictability of SVR rates in this cohort.
Alleles ; China* ; Cohort Studies ; Genotype* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interferons ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Ribavirin

The aim of this paper is to compare the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake efficiency of three kinds of poly(b-benzyl-L-amino) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PXA-PEG-NPs) using Calu-3 cells, and select one as a nasal drug delivery vector for curcumin (Cur). Poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLG-PEG-NPs), poly(gamma-benzyl-L-lysine) block-poly(ethyleneglycol) nanoparticles (PZLL-PEG-NPs) and poly(gamma-benzyl-L-aspartate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLA-PEG-NPs) were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. MTT assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of PXA-PEG-NPs against Calu-3 cells. The cellular uptake of nanoparticles was visualized by an inverted fluorescence microscope and quantified by a flow cytometer. The results indicated that even at high concentration of 2 mg x mL(-1) the three nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity on Calu-3 cells. Compared to the curcumin solution, the three curcumin-loaded PXA-PEG-NPs showed significantly higher cellular uptake efficiency on Calu-3 cells (at equal concentration of curcumin with 5 microg x mL(-1) Cur solution), PBLG-PEG-NPs group was the highest. The cellular uptake increased with incubation time, and has positive correlation with nanoparticle concentration. In brief, PXA-PEG-NPs are conducive to delivery Cur into cells, and PBLG-PEG-NPs might be provided as a good nasal drug delivery carrier.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Administration, Intranasal ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Aspartic Acid ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Ethylene Glycol ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lysine ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Polyglutamic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the effect of the SOCS3 rs4969170 A/G alleles on the occurrence of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe promoter region of the SOCS3 gene was amplified by PCR,and luciferase expression vectors were constructed and transfected into HepG2,Huh7 cell lines.The relative luciferase activity of each expression vector was assessed by the dual luciferase reporter gene assay system.Western blotting was used to detect SOCS3 protein expression in PBMCs from groups of patients with the rs4969170 AA and AG genotypes.The state of IR in eight patients was evaluated by determining their HOMA-IR.

RESULTSThe pGL3-A, PGL3-G and pGL3-control vectors showed significantly different luciferase expression in the HepG2 cells (0.121 00 ± 0.022 07,0.027 00+/-0.012 49 and 0.043 33 ± 0.005 51; F =48.068, P=0.001) and in the Huh7 cell lines (0.164 70 ± 0.007 10,0.027 33 ± 0.017 04 and 0.033 67 ± 0.014 98; F =115.137, P=0.001). The expression of SOCS3 protein was significantly higher in the rs4969170 AA genotype group than in the AG genotype group (1.22 ± 0.40 vs. 0.30 ± 0.19; t =4.149, P=0.006).The IR index of patients with the rs4969170 AA genotype and the AG genotype was 4.11 ± 2.62 and 1.47 ± 1.01 respectively.There were three patients with IR in the rs4969170 AA genotype group and one in the rs4969170 AG group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two genotype groups (t=1.881, P=0.109).

CONCLUSIONSThe SOCS3 rs4969170 A haplotype may enhance transcriptional activity of the gene promoter to regulate gene expression, thereby increasing intracellular SOCS3 protein level and ultimately interfering with insulin signaling and causing IR in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, Reporter ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Luciferases ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins