Background & Objective: Sleep quality in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) were investigated in two recent studies. However, factors affecting sleep quality have not been studied in NMOSD. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders in Chinese outpatient clinics with NMOSD and its clinical correlates. Methods: We administered Chinese validated self-questionnaires on HRQOL (MSQOL-54), sleep (PSQI), pain (SF-MPQ-2), anxiety (HARS) and depression (HDRS) to 42 patients followed up in our outpatient department. We assessed the relationships between sleep quality with pain, anxiety, depression, gender, age, disability, disease duration, NMO-antibody status and explored the determinants of poor sleep quality. Results: Sixty four percent of NMOSD patients were poor sleepers. Significant correlations were found between duration, disability, pain, anxiety, depression and sleep quality. Disability, depression and the domain of affective descriptors of pain were the three main predictors of poor sleep in NMOSD. Conclusion: This study reveals that poor sleep in NMOSD is common and it decreases physical function of quality of life. It is worthwhile considering exploring adjuvant strategies aimed at controlling pain associated affect, and treatment of depression may help to improve sleep quality in NMOSD.
Neuromyelitis Optica

Objective To observe the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) therapy on the clinical outcome and changes of lymphocyte subsets in children with mild and severe encephalitis.Methods Eighty-two children with mild and severe viral encephalitis were randomly divided into two groups: with DEX treatment (n=46) or without(n=36).The clinical efficacy was evaluated 3 weeks later, and the clinical manifestation were also observed. The changes of CD4~+,CD8~+ T lymphocyte percentage were determined by flow cytometry on admission and at 1 week,4 weeks after treatment.Another group of 20 cases was enrolled as control group.Results Compared with the control group,both the DEX treatment group and non-DEX treatment group showed a reduced CD4~+ lymphocyte count, an increased CD8~+ lymphocyte count(P

Objective To investigate the correlation between extended high-frequency audiometry and distortion product oto acousticemissions (DPOAE) amplitudes. Methods 60 normal hearing people aged 20~40 years were examined with extended high-frequency audiometry and DPOAE. Results Extended high frequency thresholds negatively correlated to DPOAE. Conclusion There is correlation between these two methods, and they can be used for early creening and diagnosis of hearing loss.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Morbidity ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of TIEG1 on apoptosis of HL-60 cells and the expression of Bcl-2/Bax. Different concentration of TIEG1 were used to treat HL-60 cells, the cell growth inhibition rate was detected by MTT method. After treating HL-60 cells with 12.03 ng/ml TIEG1, cell apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry. Bcl-2 and Bax was detected with RT-PCR. The results showed that TIEG1 had inhibitory effect on HL-60 cell proliferation, and in time-and dose-dependent manners. The more obvious inhibitory effect was observed in HL-60 cells treated with TIEG1 of 12.03 ng/ml. During the course of cell apoptosis, Bax expression increased, but Bcl-2 expression decreased (P < 0.05). It is concluded that TIEG1 inhibits HL-60 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in time and dose-dependent manners. During the course of HL-60 cells apoptosis induced by TIEG1, Bcl-2/Bax are associated with HL-60 cell apoptosis induced by TIEG1.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Early Growth Response Transcription Factors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of valproic acid sodium (VPA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells. Jurkat cells were treated with different concentration of VPA. Proliferation-inhibition curve was assayed and plotted by CCK-8 method and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The expression level of anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 and pro-apoptosis gene Bak1 were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the VPA inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in concentration-dependent manner. As compared with the control group, the apoptosis of cells increased along with adding concentration of VPA; VPA could decrease the expression of BCL-2 gene, but did not show obvious effect on the expression of Bak1. It is concluded that the VPA can inhibit proliferation of Jurkat cells which possibly associates with the decrease of BCL-2 expression.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS).

METHODSThirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression.

RESULTSBy one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Adolescent ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; Heart Failure ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Qi

OBJECTIVETo establish a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of resveratrol, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion in root of Polygonum cuspidatum and its extract.

METHODThe separation was performed in a Hypersil ODS C18 column with a mobile phase of Acetonitrile-1%HAc. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and detection wavelength was at 287 nm.

RESULTThe mean recovery and RSD of resveratrol, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion was 101.8%, RSD 1.7%; 96.2%, RSD 1.4%; 99.7%, RSD 1.0%; 98.60%, RSD 0.97% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is accurate, simple and reliable. It can be used for quality control of P. cuspidatum and its extract.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Fallopia japonica ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Stilbenes ; analysis

With increasing use of carbapenem antibiotics , carbapenems-resistant gram-negative bacteria are spreading, and carbapenemase-producing is the main mechanism of carbapenems resistance . Rapid and accurate identification of carbapenemase and its type is of great importance to timely and effective treatment and control of infections .Chromogenic /Fluorogenic culture media, modified Hodge test and double disk synergy test are traditional methods for carbapenemase detection , but all are time-consuming. Biochemical method is more time efficient and with high sensitivity and specificity , but cannot be used to identify subtypes.Now matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization -time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been successfully applied in the identification of species , subtypes and detection of drug -resistant genes.And among various carbapenemase gene detection techniques , next generation sequencing (NGS) can also be used for the detection of integrons , transposons and plasmids, which is important in both epidemiology and resistant mechanism studies .This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various methods for phenotype and gene detection of carbapenemase .

Octapeptin has strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, while it also has activity against some Gram-positive bacteria. This study used natural octapeptin A3 and B3 as lead compounds for structural modification. Twenty-one peptide derivatives (including A3 and B3) containing eight amino acid residues were prepared by solid-phase synthesis, and evaluated for antibacterial activity and renal cytotoxicity. Among them, three compounds 6, 7 and 17 exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and significantly enhanced the activity for Gram-positive bacteria while maintaining the activity of Gram-negative bacteria. Several compounds improved the activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compound 7 was active against all test strains and had relatively low renal cytotoxicity. The results provide a basis for the further development of novel polypeptide antibiotics.