Objective To study the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy)and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with cer-ebral infarction.Methods During January and November 2013,281 patients with cerebral infarction from Affiliated Hospital of Yan’an University were provided the blood samples as cerebral infarction group,140 healthy volunteers served as control group.Serum Hcy was detected by enzymatic cycle assay.According to the results of carotid artery ultrasonography,cerebral infarction group was divided into five groups:artery normal group,intimal thickening group,soft plaque group,mixed plaque group and hard plaque group.The statistically significance was analyzed by SPSS 19.0.Results The serum Hcy level of cer-ebral infarction group was 19.78 ± 5.21 μmol/L,significantly higher than the control group 10.24 ± 3.33 μmol/L (P <0.001).The serum Hcy levels of control group,artery normal group,intimal thickening group,soft plaque group,mixed plaque group and hard plaque group were 10.24±3.33,15.20±2.99,17.03±1.85,25.44±4.24,19.65±4.74 and 18.31 ±3.67 μmol/L respectively.The differences between groups were statistically significant in addition to intimal thickening group and hard plaque group (P =1.106).The positive rates were 16.4%,53.7%,87.1%,95.7%,83.1% and 77.3% re-spectively,the groups which in cerebral infarction group compared with control group,the differences were statistically sig-nificant (P <0.001).Conclusion Hcy played an important role in the occurrence and development of cerebral infarction. Lower serum Hcy concentration,may be an effective way to prevent carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction.

Studying the literature of blood stasis syndrome (BSS), we reviewed the research course and the perspective of molecular regulation network and BSS. The essence study of BSS was firstly proposed by Chen Ke-ji and Wang Jie, and developed for more than thirty years. The course for BSS study mainly included the formulation of BSS diagnostic standard, the establishment of BSS animal model, pedigree methods, twins combined clinical epidemiological survey of BSS research, the four "zu" subjects combined molecular regulation network of BSS, signal transduction system network and BSS research, and so on. Along with a new sequencing approach in basic research, clinical diagnostics, and drug development, we are promising to see the whole gene network research of human diseases, such as metabolic disease, cancer, and etc. These achievements could provide a new way of thinking for further studying the essence of BSS.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Genomics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an using the auto-regressive integrated moving average product seasonal model.Methods In Xi'an,the trend of the incidence of birth defects was analyzed and tested from October 2009 to August 2015.Using the data from September to December 2015,the actual birth defects were compared with the model fitting data to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.Multiple seasonal ARIMA model was then fitted under time series to predict the incidence of birth defects in 2016.Results Seasonal effect was seen in the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.A multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 was established.The mean of absolute error and the relative error were 9.5 and 0.084,respectively,when compared to the simulated number of patients from September to December in 2015,suggesting that ARIMA (0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 has a better predictive ability.Results under the prediction of multiple seasonal ARIMA model showed that the number of patients in 2016 was similar to that of 2015 in Xi'an,with a slight increase and a decrease in the peak value.Conclusion Multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1)(0,1,1)12 model could be used to successfully predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.

Objective To explore the relationship between first trimester pregnancy infection and congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Methods A hospital-based study was conducted from June 2014 to June 2016.Totally 1618 mothers of infants with cardiovascular system malformation and normal infants were interviewed through a face-to-face questionnaire survey.A propensity score-matched study was conducted to investigate the association between first trimester pregnancy infection and congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Results All important covariates were balanced after matching.First trimester pregnancy infection increased the risk of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system,single congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system and multi-congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.After matched,the OR values were 1.65 (95％ CI:1.21-2.24;P=0.001),1.50 (95％ CI:1.02 2.20;P=0.037),and 1.90 (95％ CI:1.18-3.06;P=0.008),respectively.Conclusion First trimester pregnancy infection increases the risk of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Avoiding infectious diseases during the first trimester in pregnancy is important in decreasing the incidence of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.

Objective To explore the relationship of four kinds of lifestyle factors,namely,prenatal passive smoking,hair dyeing or perming,exposure to noise,living in a house renovated in the past one year,with congenital heart disease.Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted.Totally 270 mothers in the case group and 1633 mothers in the control group were interviewed through a face-to-face questionnaire survey.A generalized linear model was employed to investigate the association between congenital heart disease and prenatal lifestyle factors.Results Both in Model 1 and Model 2,prenatal hair dyeing or perming had no association with congenital heart disease.On the other hand,prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year all increased the risk of congenital heart disease.After adjustment for all confounders,the OR values were 1.771 (95％ CI:1.079-2.909),2.079 (95％ CI:1.310-3.298),and 2.494 (95％ CI:1.511-4.116),respectively.Conclusion Prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year are the risk factors for congenital heart disease.It is very important to avoid such factors during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of warming-needle therapy in treatment of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome.

METHODSEight cases of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome were selected and treated with warming-needle therapy at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) , Zosanli (ST 36), etc.. The gene expression profiles before and after treatment in 4 cases who showed better therapeutic effect were compared. Taking ratio < 0.5 or ratio > 2.0 as differentially expression gene and obtaining differentially expression pathway (P < 0.5, n>3) by http://www. DAVID 2006.

RESULTSTwo cases were clinically cured, 4 cases were markedly effective, 1 case was effective and 1 case was ineffective. With help of the microarray, 449 differentially expression genes, and 10 differentially expression pathways were obtained including 2 energy metabolism pathways (oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthetase), 4 cell signal transduction pathways (insulin signal pathway, Toll-like receptor signal pathway, JAK-STAT signal pathway, and MAPK signal pathway) and cell apoptosis pathway.

CONCLUSIONWarming-needle therapy is an effective therapy for knee osteoarthritis with deficiency-cold syndrome , which is possibly involved in the control and regulation of many gene expression by various signal transduction pathways.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aged ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Janus Kinases ; genetics ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; genetics ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; metabolism ; therapy ; STAT Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective To explore the influencing factors of the vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC), and establish a model for predicting the risk of trial of the trial of labor after cesarean section (TOLAC). Methods From January 2016 to December 2018, total 694 pregnant women who underwent TOLAC in Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Those cases were divided into two groups according to the mode of delivery: the VBAC group and the failed TOLAC group. At the same time, 700 cases in the elective repeat cesarean section (ERCS) group were randomly selected as control group. The influencing factors of VBAC were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and the pregnancy outcomes between the three groups were compared. Results (1) The VBAC rate was 76.1% (528/694) and 166 women underwent the failed TOLAC (23.9%, 166/694). (2) Univariate analysis found that, the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) [(22.0±3.0),(23.3±2.7) kg/m2], the previous vaginal delivery history [10.4%(55/528),3.6%(6/166)], the cervical score (5.2±1.9,4.3±1.6) and the neonatal birth weight [(3 315 ± 468), (3 484 ± 274) g] of the VBAC group were significantly different from the failed TOLAC group (P<0.05). (3) The comparison of pregnancy outcomes: the neonatal birth weight was (3 315± 468) g, and the intrapartum hemorrhage volume was (255 ± 121) ml in the VBAC group, which were significantly lower than those in the failed TOLAC group [intrapartum hemorrhage (325 ± 173) ml] and the ERCS group [(3 572±344) g, (281±125) ml], there were statistically significant differences in the comparison among the three groups (all P<0.05). Two cases of bladder injury occurred during cesarean section in the TOLAC failure group (1.2%,2/166). The rates of the blood transfusion, puerperal infection, 5-minute Apgar score and neonatal ICU admission among the three groups were no statistically significantly different (all P>0.05). There was no maternal or perinatal death. (4) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the delivery age of pregnant women ( OR=0.92, 95% CI : 0.87-0.98), pre-pregnancy BMI ( OR=0.92, 95% CI :0.86-0.98), vaginal delivery history ( OR=3.31, 95% CI : 1.35-8.01), cervical score ( OR=1.29, 95% CI :1.13-1.42) and the birth weight of the neonates <3 300 g ( OR=3.15, 95% CI : 2.02-4.90) were independent influencing factors for VBAC. The area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.74. Conclusions The influencing factors of VBAC are delivery age, pre-pregnancy BMI, vaginal delivery history, cervical score and neonatal birth weight <3 300 g. The adequate individualized management and assessment of the TOLAC may be helpful to improve the VBAC rate.

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic molecular mechanism of the warm-hot drugs treating cold syndrome.

METHODA brother and his sister with deficiency-cold syndrome were chosen and treated with appropriate Chinese formula consisted chiefly of warm-hot drugs for 45 days. Then microarray technique was applied for comparing the gene expression difference of sister who had significant effect, the data was dialed with multiple analysis method and the results were mined though gene function and pathway.

RESULT276 differential genes were obtained, which were related to metabolism and 18 pathways.

CONCLUSIONWarm-hot drugs work on the gene expression of metabolism. It may be exerting the curative action by gene network and there is distinct difference between gene expression of curative effect and syndrome.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the detrimental effects of ouabain on cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGCs) in vivo and in vitro.

METHODSSeventy-five male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. In addition to the normal control group, rats in other 4 groups received 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 mmol/L of Ouabain or saline through cochlear scala tympani drilling. Seven days after surgery, the hearing threshold was measured by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in rats. In the in vitro study, SGNs were isolated from SD rats (E14) and treated with 1 × 10(-8) mmol/L of Ouabain. The damaged of SGCs were detected after ouabain treatment using immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope in vitro.

RESULTSAfter administration of Ouabain, DPOAE did not change significantly. No significant difference in the amplitude of DPOAE could be observed among all the groups (P > 0.05). Compared with saline and normal control, ABR threshold was significantly increased in the Ouabain treated groups (P < 0.05), which correlated with the concentration of Ouabain. Electron microscopy showed that after treated with Ouabain, SGCs presented degenerative changes, including collapse of organelle structures, the karyotheca dissolved, myelin sheath disintegrating. Ouabain could damage type I SGCs but not type II SGNs.

CONCLUSIONSOuabain can damage SGCs, either in the in vivo or in vitro conditions.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Ouabain ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spiral Ganglion ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical significance of KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin in gastric cardia carcinoma and the correlation between the two proteins.

METHODSThe expression of KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin in 80 patients with gastric cardia carcinoma and 20 patients with normal gastric cardia epithelium was detected by immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSThe expression of KiSS- 1 was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis and clinical stage (P < 0.05), but not correlated with the cancer differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of E- cadherin was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical stage, and cancer differentiation (P < 0.05). Spearman test showed a positive correlation between KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin expression (r(s)=0.722, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKiSS- 1 and E- cadherin may play important roles in inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of gastric cardia carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cardia ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kisspeptins ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism