Objective To develop a new methodology of prenatal sonography scoring to assess and dignose clubfoot.Methods Thirty-one fetuses suspected clubfoot(50 foots) and 62 normal fetuses(124 foots) were scanned with both 2D and 3D sonography,and were divided into normal feet group and clubfeet group.Our scoring system was made according to the Pirani-scoring for children,while considering the morphology of mid-foot and hind-foot of infants.The doctors would give final diagnosis for all fetuses after delivery or induced labor,and analyse the correlations among the abnormal signs,sonographic score and the clinical outcomes.Results The curve lat border,the medial crease,the empty heel and the post crease can be observed in the 3D reconstruction images.These four abnormal signs had close correlations with the clinical results.Conclusions The new prenatal clubfeet scoring system by 3D sonography is a promising methodology with clinical values.

Objective To understand the direct medical expense for surgical patients with splenomegalic advanced schisto?somiasis and its influencing factors,so as to provide evidences for relevant departments to improve the rescue strategy of ad?vanced schistosomiasis. Methods The data about the expenses of patients with splenomegalic advanced schistosomiasis hospi?talized in Xiangyue Hospital affiliated to Hunan Institute of Schistosomiasis Control from January 2010 to August 2014 were col?lected,the hospitalization expense and hospital stays of the patients were analyzed,and the factors influencing the hospital ex?penses were analyzed by the univariate and multi?factor analyses. Results From January 2010 to August 2014,totally 249 cas?es were hospitalized in the hospital,their average hospital stays and hospital expenses were 28.92 d and 18 896.13 Yuan,and both of them were increased year by year. Among all the kinds of expenses,the constitution ratios of the medicine expenses were the highest,and those in the 5 years were all above 44%. The results of the univariate and multi?factor analyses showed that the hospital stays,the amount of intraoperative bleeding,liver function classification,postoperative complications,age,portal hy?pertensive gastropathy were the influencing factors of the hospital expenses. Conclusion Presently,the burden of the direct hospital expenses of the patients with splenomegalic advanced schistosomiasis is still heavy. The government should further im?prove the proportion of the compensation of medical assistance and perfect the medical aid scheme. Meanwhile ,the hospitals should strengthen the management and standardize medical behavior to reduce the hospitalization expenses of the patients.

Objective To assess the feasibility and safety of adjustable loop-based purse-string technique in gastrotomy closure of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES).Methods Ten healthy female dogs were used in this study.Transgastric NOTES peritoneal exploration was performed in 5 groups (2 dogs in each) via various sites of the stomach ( greater curvature of the antrum; greater and lesser curvature of the body; anterior and posterior wall of the body).The gastric incision was then closed by using loop-based purse-string technique.Healing of the incision and intra-peritoneal infection were checked by endoscopy,necropsy,bacterial culture and histological examination 2 weeks later.Results The performance of NOTES peritoneal exploration and closure with purse-string technique was successful in ten dogs without significant complications.The mean operation time of closure was 7.3 ± 1.8 min.Minor bleeding occurred in 2 dogs (20％) during the incision of greater curvature of the antrum and body,which was controlled by electrocoagulation.Culture of the ascitic fluid and necropsy revealed no sign of abdominal infection or other complications except for adhesion in 1 dog ( 10％ ).The intact incision was confirmed by endoscopic,postmortem and histological examination,which suggested complete healing of the incision.Conclusion It is easy and safe to use loop-based purse-string technique for closure of multi-regional NOTES gastrotomy.This technology may be used for the repair of gastric ulcer perforation theoretically.

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the genes differentially expressed in the liver of Kkay diabetic and normal mice by genomic-scale gene expression analysis.

METHODScDNA microarray chips containing 8,192 cDNAs were used to explore the gene expression pattern of Kkay mouse liver.

RESULTSOne hundred and fifty-four genes were screened out, including 68 complete cDNAs and expressed sequence tags, and among them 40 genes were up-regulated and 114 genes were down-regulated respectively.

CONCLUSIONMost of the gene expression analysis results were consistent with previous study, and the gene expression pattern of Kkay mouse based on cDNA microarray could be used for high-throughout screening out the genes associated with type 2 diabetes.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct a three plasmids lentiviral vector containing canine coagulation factor IX (cFIX) gene with ubiquinone promoter (PUB) and observe the expression of cFIX gene.

METHODSLentivirus was generated by transient three-plasmid transfection, namely, the VSV-G envelope expression cassette, the delta NRF packaging plasmid and the PTK 164 plasmid. Viral particles were used to infect the target cell, third passage mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and 293T cell respectively at MOI 3: 1. The cFIX activity was detected in cultured cells with one-stage clotting assay.

RESULTSThe MSCs were obtained in vitro. The lentivirus infected MSCs and 293T cells all expressed the active factor IX with the activity of (26.30 +/- 2.10)% and (19.70 +/- 1.53)%, respectively, which are significantly higher than that of control (1.00 +/- 0.05)%.

CONCLUSIONSThe lentiviral vector of three plasmids with ubiquinone promoter (PUB) was constructed and can transfect the MSCs and 293T cells.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Factor IX ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Hemophilia B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection

This study was aimed to propagate and identify the prdm1 gene-knockout mice, so as to lay the foundation for studying Blimp-1 protein. Two kinds of transgenic homozygous mice with B6.prdm1(flox/flox) and B6.Lck-Cre were feed and propagated; after successful propagating, the first passage mice were obtained; after the first passage mice were copulated once again, the genotypes were obtained as follows: B6. prdm1(wild/wild). Lck-Cre, B6. prdm1(wild/wild), B6.prdm1(flox/flox). Lck-Cre, B6.prdm1(flox/wild). Lck-Cre, B6.prdm1(flox/flox), B6. prdm1(flox/wild). The genomic DNA of second passage mice was extracted, the Cre and loxp gene fragments were amplified by PCR, then the size of Cre and loxp genomic DNA were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. The mice with B6.prdm1(flow/flox). Lek-Cre were used as conditionally prdm1-knockout mice, B6.prdm1(flox/wild). Lck-Cre mice, B6.prdm1(flox/flox) and B6 mice were used as controls. The spleen T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes were sorted by using magnetic beads, the blimp-1 target protein was identified by Western blot. The results showed that the two transgenic homozygous mice had the ability to reproduce, and the separation ratio of second passage mice generated from propagation of their offspring cach other meet Mendelian laws, and the prdm1 gene-knockout mice also could successfully obtained. It is concluded that the application of Cre-loxp system may successfully obtain plentiful prdm1 gene-knockout mice.
Animals ; Genotype ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; genetics ; Mice, Knockout ; genetics ; Reproduction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Objective To detect the changes of (interleukin, IL) -1α, IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in lung tissue and serum of drown rats, and to explore the potential value for the diagnosis of drowning in forensic practice. Methods Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into drowning group, blank control group and myocardial infarction group (as control group). The serum of right ventricular, the inferior lobe of right lung and the myocardium were taken from the rats in different groups. The expressions of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in the lung tissue and the serum of right ventricular were detected by TaqMan probe method. Results The expression differences of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in lung tissue between drowning group and blank control group, myocardial infarction group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The expression of IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in serum of right ventricular increased (P<0.05). The expression differences of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in serum between blank con-trol group and myocardial infarction group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion The changes of cytokines IL-1β and IL-13 mRNA in the serum of right ventricular of drown rats are statis-tical significance, which are highly correlated with drowning.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of glycated albumin(GA),a parameter in reflection of recent glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods Four hundred and forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were hospitalized in our hospital from May to November 2006 were enrolled into the study.The fasting plasma glucose(FPG),postprandial 2-hour blood glucose(P2hBG) and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c) were measured,the enzymatic measurement of GA was conducted and the CGMS was performed.The correlation between GA and the other parameters monitored was analysed. Results The correlation analysis indicated that GA was well correlated with HbA1c(r=0.818,P0.05),respectively for those with HbA1c more than 7.5%,between 6.5% and 7.5%,and less than 6.5%. Conclusion GA is well correlated with HbA1c,especially in those with poor glycemic control for a long time.The correlation between GA and long-term glycemic control is stronger than that between GA and instant plasma glucose or MBG in three days.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is an unmet clinical challenge due to the rapid increased occurrence but lacking approved drugs. Autophagy-related protein 16-like 1 (ATG16L1) plays an important role in the process of autophagy, which is indispensable for proper biogenesis of the autophagosome, but its role in modulating macrophage-related inflammation and metabolism during MASH has not been documented. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of ATG16L1 in the progression of MASH. Methods: Expression analysis was performed with liver samples from human and mice. MASH models were induced in myeloid-specific Atg16l1-deficient and myeloid-specific Atg16l1-overexpressed mice by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet or methionine- and choline-deficient diet to explore the function and mechanism of macrophage ATG16L1 in MASH. Results: Macrophage-specific Atg16l1 knockout exacerbated MASH and inhibited energy expenditure, whereas macrophage-specific Atg16l1 transgenic overexpression attenuated MASH and promotes energy expenditure. Mechanistically, Atg16l1 knockout inhibited macrophage lipophagy, thereby suppressing macrophage β-oxidation and decreasing the production of 4-hydroxynonenal, which further inhibited stimulator of interferon genes(STING) carbonylation. STING palmitoylation was enhanced, STING trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi was promoted, and downstream STING signaling was activated, promoting proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines secretion, resulting in hepatic steatosis and hepatic stellate cells activation. Moreover, Atg16l1-deficiency enhanced macrophage phagosome ability but inhibited lysosome formation, engulfing mtDNA released by pyroptotic hepatocytes. Increased mtDNA promoted cGAS/STING signaling activation. Moreover, pharmacological promotion of ATG16L1 substantially blocked MASH progression. Conclusions ATG16L1 suppresses MASH progression by maintaining macrophage lipophagy, restraining liver inflammation, and may be a promising therapeutic target for MASH management.