Objective To reveal the effect of lutein on the status of oxidative stress in rats with high homocysteine levels (HHcy) and relevent molecular mechanisms.Methods The wistar rat HHcy model was established by intra-gastric administration with L-methionine suspension and treated with lutein.The oxidative stress status and the gene expression changes of transcription Nf-E2-related factor2 (Nrf2),a regulation factor of down stream antioxidant protein gene expression,were detected in HHcy rats and lutein intervention rats.Results Compared with the rat serum SOD activities (134.32 ± 12.65) U/mL in the control group,the serum SOD activities in the HHcy model group (95.6 ± 10.92) U/mL were significantly lower (P ＜ 0.05).The serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the HHcy model group (121.66 ± 18.64) U/mL were also significantly lower as compared with the the control group (183.17 ± 21.29) U/mL,P ＜ 0.05.However,the serum SOD (126.75 ± 11.26) U/mL and GPx activities (167.18 ± 19.66) U/mL in the lutein intervention group were significantly higher as compared with the HHcy model group.As compared with the rat serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content (5.11 ± 0.68) μmol/L as well as the hydroxyl free radical levels (0.53 ± 0.05) U/L in the control group,the serum MDA content (7.65 ± 0.87) μmol/L and the hydroxyl free radical levels (0.92 ± 0.09) U/L in the HHcy model group were significantly higher.The serum MDA content (6.44 ±0.91) μmol/L and the hydroxyl free radical levels (0.74 ± 0.06) U/L in the lutein intervention group were significantly lower as compared with the HHcy model group.RT-PCR and Western blot results also showed decreased expression of SOD2 and GPxl mRNA in aorta epithelial tissues of HHcy model rats.With lutein intervention,the expressions ofSOD2 and GPx1mRNA were significantly increased and the gene expression of Nrf2 also up-regulated.Conclusions The Hhcy model rats were under the status of augmented oxidative stress,and carotenoid lutein could attenuate the Hcy-mediated oxidative stress,and its mechanism might be potentially associated with up-regulating the expression of Nrf2,thereby inducing the expression of its downstream antioxidant proteins.

Objectives:To investigate the effects of morning blood pressure on vascular endothelial function and chronic inflammatory response in the elderly.Methods:349 elderly people aged ≥60 who underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Gaomi Municipal Hospital from April 2018 to October 2019 were selected to detect brachial artery flow mediated vasodilation (FMD) and chronic inflammatory factors [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17] levels. According to the results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the subjects were divided into normal blood pressure group ( n=108), simple morning hypertension group ( n=114) and hypertension group ( n=127). The clinical data, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure parameters, vascular endothelial function and inflammatory factors of the three groups were compared. The correlation between 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure parameters and FMD and inflammatory factors was analyzed by partial correlation. Results:Compared with the normal blood pressure group, the simple morning hypertension group and the hypertension group had lower FMD (all P<0.05), higher serum hsCRP and TNF-α , IL-17 levels (all P<0.05). Compared with the simple morning hypertension group, the hypertension group had lower FMD ( P<0.05), higher serum hsCRP, TNF-α and IL-17 levels (all P<0.05). After controlling for age, sex, smoking history, drinking history, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and 24 h average blood pressure, the morning systolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with FMD ( P<0.05), and positively correlated with serum hsCRP and TNF-α and IL-17 levels (all P<0.05); the morning diastolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with FMD ( P<0.05) and positively correlated with serum hsCRP and TNF-α levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Morning blood pressure level is closely related to vascular endothelial function and chronic inflammation level, and is independent of 24-hour average blood pressure. The increase of morning blood pressure may be an important risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for three Chinese patients with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). METHODS: Three children who had respectively presented at Shandong Provincial Hospital in April 2019 and Peking Union Medical College Hospital in August 2020 and May 2021 were selected as the research subjects. Peripheral blood samples of the probands and their family members were taken for the extraction of genomic DNA. Potential variants were screened by whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing of the patients and their family members. RESULTS: The proband from family 1 was found to harbor a heterozygous c.601C>T (p.R201C) missense variant in exon 8 of the GNAS gene, whilst the probands from families 2 and 3 were both found to harbor a heterozygous c.602G>A (p.R201H) missense variant in exon 8 of the GNAS gene. Both variants were known to be pathogenic, and all probands were found to be mosaics for the corresponding variants but with various degrees. CONSLUSION WES can effectively diagnose MAS and other somatic genetic disorders. In this study, the combined WES and Sanger sequencing have verified the degree of mosaicisms of pathogenic variants in the three MAS patients, albeit no apparent correlation was found between the degree of mosaicisms and the phenotype of patients. Above finding has provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the affected families.
Humans ; Mutation ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Exons ; Phenotype ; Pedigree

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic effect of percutaneous intranodal lymphography in patient with chylous leakage.Methods:The clinical data of percutaneous intranodal lymphography in patients with chylous leakage from January 2019 to November 2019 in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 8 patients (5 males and 3 females, median age 64 years old) were enrolled. Four patients were iatrogenic chylothorax, 3 patients iatrogenic chyloperitoneum, and 1 patient chyloperitoneum with unknown cause. All 8 patients were received inguinal lymph nodes puncture under ultrasound guidance, and contrast agent iodinated oil was injected for lymphography. The procedure complications were recorded and the follow-up data were collected for efficacy assessment.Results:The percutaneous intranodal lymphography was successfully performed in all patients (8/8). The median amount of iodinated oil used was 17.5 ml; the median operation time was 88 min, without complications found during the procedure. The results of percutaneous intranodal lymphography was positive in 5/8 cases, of which chylothorax and chyloperitoneum was 4/4 and 1/4, respectively. Four cases with chylothorax showed contrast extravasation at different level of thoracic duct, and 1 case after pancreatic cancer resection showed contrast extravasation at L3-4 level. The chylous leakage was treated in 5 patients (5/8) during and resolved after percutaneous intranodal lymphography, with 3 chylothorax and 2 chyloperitoneum cases, respectively.Conclusion:Percutaneous intranodal lymphography is a safe and effective lymphography method for the diagnosis of chylous leakage, and also has application values in the treatment of chylous leakage.