Clinicopathological parameters are important to predict the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC),they mainly include TNM stage related indexes of the tumor,tumor length,vessel and nerve invasion, tumor budding, peripheral blood cells, etc. To predict the prognosis of ESCC patients accurately is the prerequisite of precise treatment and the key to improve the patients survival rate and survival quality.

Objective To construct a recombinant adenovirus carrying UL138 gene, which was re-lated to the latent infection of human cytomegalovirus, and to investigate the effects of UL138 gene on the functions of THP-1 mononuclear cells. Methods The recombinant adenovirus expressing the UL138 gene was packaged. The titer of the recombinant adenovirus was determined by calculating 50% tissue culture in-fective dose ( TCID50 ) . THP-1 mononuclear cells were infected with the recombinant adenovirus at different multiplicity of infection (MOI) and the optimal MOI was determined (100 PFU/cell) by observing the ex-pression of green fluorescent protein ( GFP ) . Changes in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines by THP-1 mononuclear cells that was induced by overexpressed UL138 were analyzed by quantitative PCR. The expression of chemokines and their receptors were measured by quantitative PCR array. Results The re-combinant adenovirus carrying the UL138 gene was successfully constructed with a titer of 1×1011 PFU/ml. The rate of THP-1 mononuclear cells that was infected with the recombinant adenovirus was 60% at the MOI of 1 ∶ 100. Results of the RT-PCR analysis and Western blot assay further confirmed that the recombinant adenovirus could infect THP-1 mononuclear cells successfully and the expression of UL138 protein increased gradually over time. The overexpressed UL138 in THP-1 mononuclear cells significantly inhibited the expres-sion of IL-18, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α as indicated by the results of quantitative PCR. Results ob-tained from the quantitative PCR array analysis showed that most of the chemokines and their receptors were downregulated in the transfected THP-1 mononuclear cells except for the chemokines of CCL17, CCL21, CCL2 and XCL2 and the receptors of CCR2, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR4 and CX3CR1 which were upregulat-ed. Conclusion We successfully constructed the recombinant adenovirus carrying UL138 gene which could be used to infect THP-1 mononuclear cells. Overexpressed UL138 in THP-1 mononuclear cells significantly affected the functions of THP-1 mononuclear cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of a fetus with Melnick-Needles syndrome (MNS). METHODS: A fetus with MNS diagnosed at Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital in November 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data was collected. Pathogenic variant was screened by using trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasonography of the fetus had shown multiple anomalies including intrauterine growth retardation, bilateral femur curvature, omphalocele, single umbilical artery, and oligohydramnios. Trio-WES revealed that the fetus has harbored hemizygous c.3562G>A (p.A1188T) missense variant of the FLNA gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was maternally derived, whilst its father was of a wild type. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PS4+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The hemizygous c.3562G>A (p.A1188T) variant of the FLNA gene probably underlay the structural abnormalities in this fetus. Genetic testing can facilitate accurate diagnosis of MNS and provide a basis for genetic counseling for this family.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Filamins/genetics* ; Genetic Counseling ; Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias

Objective To analyze miR-92a expression and its clinical significance in the plasma of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Methods Plasma samples from 44 SLE patients,16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls were collected.The small RNAs in these plasma samples were isolated and reversely transcribed.Using cel-miR-39 as the external reference,the levels of miR-92a expression were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.MiR-92a and cel-miR-39 were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.The sensitivity and specificity of miR-92a as SLE were analyzed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.The correlation between the levels of miR-92a expression and the clinic pathological features of SLE and biological significance of miR-92a expression in SLE were further analyzed by Pearson or Chi-square test.Results Our data indicated that the plasma levels of miR-92a expression was 49.20 (5.33,95.17) in SLE patients,411.30 (320.84,504.69) in healthy controls,and 25.59(11.20,30.54) in RA patients.The difference was significant (x2=40.77,P＜0.01).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.958 for discriminating between SLE patients and normal subjects and 1.00 for discriminating between RA patients and healthy controls.The levels of miR92a expression cutoff values were set the as 198.59 for healthy control and 85.35 for RA patients,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 93.2％,90％,and 100％,100％,res-pectively.The analysis of the correlation between miR-92a expression and the clinic pathological features of SLE had shown that the levels of plasma miR-92a expressions were much lower in SLE patients with down-regulated complement C3,and up-regulated urea nitrogen,creatinine,LDH,ATH (all P＜0 05).Conclusion Down-regulated miR-92a expression in plasma of SLE may be involved in the SLE disease occurrence or development and could be used as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker for SLE.

Impaired eady phase insulin secretion is an important reason for leading to postprandial hyperglycemia.Nateglinide is a rapid-acting insulin secretagogue,which reduces postprandial blood glucose of type 2diabetic patient by restoring early phase insulin secretion.The efficacy and safety have been fully verified by clinical administration and it is more widely used to treat type 2 diabetic patients.Both sulfonylureas and glinides were named insulin secretagogue agents and regarded as alternative first-line drugs in the 2010 Chinese Guideline for treatment of type 2 diabetes.AACE/ACE Consensus statement claimed that glinides would be one of the important choices after metformin.In order to further guide the clinical application of nateglinide,16 national specialists in the field of endocrinology and metabolism of China discussed,drafted,and edited this consensus.The current consensus combined clinical evidences at home and abroad.systematically reviewed and summarized tlle results of these studies about nateglinide.It will provide guiding recommendations and reference concerning how to reasonably and effectively use nateglinide in the clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of Vici syndrome in a Chinese family. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing (WES) technology was used to detect gene variants in a fetus of abnormal ultrasonic structure without abnormalities in routine chromosome karyotype analysis and SNP-array. Sanger sequencing and bioinformatics prediction were performed for the suspected variants of the fetus and parents. RESULTS: The fetus and the elder sister have carried c. 2427delC (p.T809fs) and c.1886A>T (p.E629V) compound heterozygous variants of the EPG5 gene, which were respectively inherited from their mother and father. Neither variant was reported previously. According to ACMG guidelines, the c.2427delC variant was predicted as pathogenic, while the c.1886A>T variant was of uncertain significance. PolyPhen-2 and PROVEAN software indicated that c.1886A>T variant was probably damaging. CONCLUSION The c.2427delC and c.1886A>T variants of the EPG5 gene probably underlie the pathogenesis of the Vici syndrome in this family. Above finding has enriched the variational spectrum of EPG5 gene and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the family.
Aged ; Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; Autophagy-Related Proteins ; Cataract ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics* ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a fetus with dysgenesis of corpus callosum and other brain malformations. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the fetus and its parents. Suspected pathogenic variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: A novel de novo missense variant c.758T>A (p.L253Q) of the TUBB2B gene was identified, which was unreported previously. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics, the c.758T>A variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the leucine at position 253 was highly conserved among various species, and the c.758T>A variant may impact the formation of hydrogen bonds between Leu253 and Asp249 and Met257 residues, which in turn may affect the combination of GTP/GDP and function of the TUBB2B protein. CONCLUSION The c.758T>A variant of the TUBB2B gene probably underlay the fetal malformations in this Chinese family. Above discovery has enriched the spectrum of TUBB2B gene variants and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.
Brain ; Female ; Fetus/abnormalities* ; Humans ; Malformations of Cortical Development/genetics* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Tubulin/genetics* ; Whole Exome Sequencing

Xiaoer-Feire-Kechuan (XFK) is an 11-herb Chinese medicine formula to treat cough and pulmonary inflammation.The complicated composition rendered its chemical analysis and effective-component elucidation.In this study,we combined quantitative analysis and bioactivity test to reveal the anti-inflammatory constituents of XFK.First,UPLC-DAD and UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS methods were estab-lished and validated to quantify 35 analytes (covering 9 out of 11 herbs) in different XFK formulations.Parallel reaction monitoring mode built in Q-Orbitrap-MS was used to improve the sensitivity and selectivity.Then,anti-inflammatory activities of the 35 analytes were analyzed using in vitro COX-2 inhibition assay.Finally,major analytes forsythosides H,I,A (8-10),and baicalin (15) (total contents varied from 21.79 to 91.20 mg/dose in different formulations) with significant activities (inhibitory rate ≥ 80％) were proposed as the anti-inflammatory constituents of XFK.The present study provided an effective strategy to discover effective constituents of multi-herb formulas.

Objective To evaluate the significance of kidney depth obtained by computed tomography (CT) in measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by Gates method in living kidney transplant donors.Methods Individual kidney depth was compared among the estimates of Tφnnesen,Taylor and Li Qian formulas and CT measurements in 167 living-related kidney transplant donors respectively.While maintaining the active region of interest of kidney and background unchanged in 137 99mTe-DTPA renal dynamic imaging cases,GFR was measured by Gates' method and individual kidney compared among the estimates of Tφnnesen,Taylor and Li Qian formulas and CT measurements.Results Left/right kidney depth obtained by CT,Tφnnesen,Taylor and Li Qian formula was 6.82 ± 0.96/7.02 ± 1.00,5.67 ± 0.58/5.71 ± 0.59,6.43 ± 0.77/6.81 ± 0.72 and 7.03 ± 0.76/7.06 ± 0.70 cm;GFR 45.44 ± 9.04/46.61 ± 9.06,37.54 ± 6.34/37.37 ± 6.02,43.39 ± 7.59/44.62 ± 6.94 and 46.99 ± 8.04/46.70 ± 7.30 ml/min respectively.Individual kidney depth and GFR calculated by Taylor and Li Qian were higher than those of Tφnnesen formula (P＜0.01).Individual kidney depth and GFR calculated by CT were higher than those of Tφnnesen and Taylor formulas (P＜0.01).Left kidney depth and GFR calculated by Li Qian formula were higher than those of CT measurements (P＜0.01).And no significant difference existed in right kidney(P＞0.05).Conclusions Kidney depth measured by CT improves the accuracy of kidney depth estimated by Gates method and optimizes GFR in living donors for renal transplant.

Objective To explore the expressions of costimulatory molecules OX40 and OX40L in peripheral blood (PB) samples of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients,and reveal their clinical significance.Methods PB samples of 39 MS patients and 37 health control subjects (HC) were collected from June 2013 to October 2018.OX40 expressions on CD4+ T cells,OX40L expressions on CD14+ monocytes and CD19+ B cells were detected by immunofluorescent labeling and flow cytometer.The correlations between expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores and OX40 and OX40L expressions were analyzed,and the influences of different clinical typing and gender in OX40 and OX40L expressions were analyzed.The changes of OX40 and OX40L expressions before and after methylprednisolone shock therapy in 8 patients with recurrent MS were observed.Results (1) As compared with those in the HC group,the expressions of CD4+OX40+ and CD 14+OX40L+ in the peripheral blood of patients in the MS group were significantly increased (P＜0.05).(2) The OX40 expression on the surface of CD4+ T cells was positively correlated with EDSS scores of MS patients (r=0.684,P=0.000).(3) As compared with that in the MS patients at remission phase,the OX40 expression in the CD4+ T cells of MS patients at recurrence phase was significantly increased (P＜0.05);there were no significant differences in the expressions of OX40 and OX40L between male and female MS patients (P＞0.05).(4) EDSS scores of 8 patients with relapsed MS after intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone were significantly lower than those before treatment (P＜0.05);the OX40 expression on the surface of CD4+ T cells after intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone was significantly decreased as compared with that before treatment (P＜0.05).Conclusion Abnormal OX40 expression is closely correlated to neurologic impairment and clinical characteristics,and distinctly responded to corticosteroid therapy in MS patients,which suggests that OX40 may be a promising biomarker and is involved in the pathogenesis of MS.