A fixation device for experimental rat in moxibustion was developed. Using this device, the points for moxibustion can be fully exposed, and the temperature of moxibustion be relatively constant. This fixation device consists of three parts: fixation seat, fixation clip and moxa-stick holder; characterized as the flexible fixation and easy operation. The device is advantaged at simultaneous operation of moxibustion at many points and supports the point combinations. It makes up for the shortcomings of the existing fixation devices, reduces the workload of moxibustion in experimental rat and improves the work efficiency and experimental safety of experimenters.
Animals ; Rats ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Equipment Design ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate the distribution and diagnostic value of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in healthy women of childbearing age, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian dysfunction (DOR) and premature ovarian failure (POF). This study retrospectively selected female patients of childbearing age who were treated in the affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January to December 2019. According to different clinical manifestations, they were divided into 133 cases in PCOS group, 120 cases in DOR group and 134 cases in POF group. 125 healthy women in the same period were selected as the control group. The values of serum AMH, estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were measured in the four groups. Single sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression analysis and ROC curve were used for comparative analysis. The serum AMH levels of PCOS group, DOR group, POF group and control group were 9.10 (6.67, 11.49) ng/ml, 0.11 (0.05, 0.29) ng/ml, 0.03 (0.02, 0.06) ng/ml and 2.99 (1.57, 4.98) ng/ml, respectively [ M(Q1,Q3)], the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). The basal endocrine levels including E2, FSH, LH and T also had significant differences between groups ( P<0.001). The results of multiple comparisons showed that there were significant differences in AMH and LH between DOR, POF and PCOS groups and the control group. The T level of PCOS group was significantly higher than that of the control group, the E2, LH and T levels of DOR group were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the FSH level of POF group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of AMH and AMH+LH in the diagnosis of PCOS were 0.905 and 0.922, the sensitivity was 82.7% and 85.0%, and the specificity was 88.0% and 88.8%. The AUC of DOR was 0.861 and 0.971, the sensitivity was 89.0% and 92.5%, and the specificity was 63.0% and 92.0%. The AUC of POF was 0.950 and 0.998, the sensitivity was 98.3% and 99.2%, and the specificity was 75.9% and 97.0%, respectively. The AUC of AMH and AMH+LH combined indexes in the differential diagnosis of DOR and POF were 0.768 and 0.937, the sensitivity was 70.3% and 95.5%, and the specificity was 73.9% and 80.8%.

To investigate the distribution and diagnostic value of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in healthy women of childbearing age, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovarian dysfunction (DOR) and premature ovarian failure (POF). This study retrospectively selected female patients of childbearing age who were treated in the affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from January to December 2019. According to different clinical manifestations, they were divided into 133 cases in PCOS group, 120 cases in DOR group and 134 cases in POF group. 125 healthy women in the same period were selected as the control group. The values of serum AMH, estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were measured in the four groups. Single sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression analysis and ROC curve were used for comparative analysis. The serum AMH levels of PCOS group, DOR group, POF group and control group were 9.10 (6.67, 11.49) ng/ml, 0.11 (0.05, 0.29) ng/ml, 0.03 (0.02, 0.06) ng/ml and 2.99 (1.57, 4.98) ng/ml, respectively [ M(Q1,Q3)], the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). The basal endocrine levels including E2, FSH, LH and T also had significant differences between groups ( P<0.001). The results of multiple comparisons showed that there were significant differences in AMH and LH between DOR, POF and PCOS groups and the control group. The T level of PCOS group was significantly higher than that of the control group, the E2, LH and T levels of DOR group were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the FSH level of POF group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of AMH and AMH+LH in the diagnosis of PCOS were 0.905 and 0.922, the sensitivity was 82.7% and 85.0%, and the specificity was 88.0% and 88.8%. The AUC of DOR was 0.861 and 0.971, the sensitivity was 89.0% and 92.5%, and the specificity was 63.0% and 92.0%. The AUC of POF was 0.950 and 0.998, the sensitivity was 98.3% and 99.2%, and the specificity was 75.9% and 97.0%, respectively. The AUC of AMH and AMH+LH combined indexes in the differential diagnosis of DOR and POF were 0.768 and 0.937, the sensitivity was 70.3% and 95.5%, and the specificity was 73.9% and 80.8%.

Objective:To investigate MAML2 gene rearrangement, gene fusion patterns, and the clinicopathological characteristics of primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC).Methods:Forty-six cases of primary PMEC from Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 2017 and 2020 were collected. MAML2 gene rearrangement in all cases was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In 20 cases, MAML2 fusion patterns were detected by targeted RNA sequencing (RNAseq). The relationship between MAML2 gene rearrangement, fusion patterns, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis was analyzed.Results:The average age of PMEC patients was 41 years (range 15-71 years); the ratio of male to female was about 1.1 ∶ 1.0. Most PMECs were low grade in histopathology with an early clinical stage (stageⅠ-Ⅱ).The overall positive rate of MAML2 gene rearrangement detected by FISH was about 80.4% (37/46), and the rate was higher in low-grade PMEC (91.7%, 33/36). Of the 20 cases detected by RNAseq, all the 19 FISH positive cases showed gene fusion, mainly CRTC1-MAML2 fusion (16/19), the other three cases showed CRTC3-MAML2 fusion (3/19), the break point of all the fusion patterns was CRTC1/3 (exon 1)-MAML2 (exon 2); No gene fusion was detected in the single FISH negative case; Compared with the MAML2 FISH negative patients, the PMECs carrying CRTC1-MAML2 fusion were more commonly found in patients age ≤ 40 years, maximum tumor diameter ≤ 2 cm, low histopathological grade and early clinical stage (all P<0.05); The three PMECs carrying CRTC3-MAML2 fusion gene were all female with early clinical stage; Univariate analysis showed that MAML2 gene rearrangement/fusion, onset age ≤ 40 years old, smaller tumor size, low histopathological grade, early clinical stage, no metastasis at diagnosis and surgical treatment were significantly correlated with overall survival ( P<0.05), but Cox regression analysis suggested that none of the above indicators were the independent prognostic factors for the survival of PMEC. Conclusions:The high incidence of MAML2 gene rearrangement in PMEC suggests that it is an important molecular diagnostic marker of PMEC. RNAseq confirms that CRTC1/3-MAML2 is the main fusion pattern in PMEC, suggesting that MAML2 fusion transcription may be an important driving factor of PMEC. MAML2 rearrangement/fusion and related clinicopathological characteristics are associated with good prognosis.

Objective To investigate the detection and significance of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods This study randomly selected 240 PCOS patients from January to October 2018 in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, and 240 healthy women who were admitted to the physical examination center of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University as control group during the same period. Retrospective study was adopted. Serum samples of patients were collected and the serum estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), AMH and INHB were detected. The data were analyzed by single sample Kolmogorov-Smimov test, independent sample T test and logistic regression analysis. Results The detection values of AMH, INHB, E2, LH, FSH, T, SHBG and INHB/AMH in PCOS group were (8.55±3.17) ng/ml, (101.7±15.2) pg/ml, (63± 50) pg/ml, (13.0±5.8) mIU/ml, (6.5±1.5) mIU/ml, (0.68±0.23) ng/ml, (62±52) nmol/ml and (24.03±26.35) respectively. In the control group, the detection values of AMH, INHB, E2, LH, FSH, T, SHBG, INHB and AMH were (4.34±2.07) ng/ml, (83.3±7.7) pg/ml, (66±25) pg/ml, (7.1±3.7) mIU/ml, (7.2±1.9) mIU/ml, (0.40± 0.11) ng/ml, (67±37) nmol/ml and (42.83±62.22). The detection values of AMH, INHB, LH, T and SHBG in PCOS group were higher than those in control group (the t values were 9.843, 7.373, 9.021, 9.349 and 3.867), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The detection values of E2 and FSH in PCOS group were lower than those in control group(the t values were 0.762 and -1.342), with no significant difference (P>0.05). The INHB/AMH value was lower than that in control group(the t value was -2.332), and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The area under the curve of AMH, INHB and AMH+INHB in the diagnosis of PCOS was 0.762, 0.677 and 0.789, respectively. The cut-off value of AMH in predicting polycystic ovary syndrome was 6.96 ng/mL, the sensitivity was 61.0％, and the specificity was 82.1％. The cut-off value of INHB in predicting polycystic ovary syndrome was 94.9 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 59.0％ and a specificity of 74.1％. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of AMH and INHB in predicting polycystic ovary syndrome were 83.6％ and 60.6％. The positive rates of ultrasound, T, AMH and INHB in PCOS group were 51.25％, 61.25％, 69.58％ and 66.25％, respectively. Conclusion The combined detection of AMH and INHB may improve the sensitivity and specificity of PCOS diagnosis, and its serum level is stable.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the content of phthalate in disposable plastic tableware sold on Chengdu market,and to provide primary data for safety evaluation.Methods Sample selection was based on stratified sampling.Sixteen phthalate compounds were investigated in 60 disposable plastic tableware,divided into seven groups.The analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Results In this survey,diethyl phthalate,diisobutyl phthalate,dibutyl phthalate and diethylhexyl phthalate were detected,while the other 12 phthalate compound were not.The positive rates of the four detected phthalate were 6.7％ (4/60),10.0％ (6/60),46.7％ (28/60) and 28.3％ (17/60) respectively,and the highest concentrations were 10.3,6.4,7.2 and 65.6 mg/kg,respectively.Conclusion The observed level of detection rates and maximum concentrations were relatively high in this survey.In addition,some subgroups of PAEs that were not allowed to use in food contact materials were detected.Therefore,the migration in different food simulant would be analyzed in the next step for further health outcome assessment.

Objective To explore effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE)on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model and the associated regulatory effect on Treg/Th17 imbalance.Methods A total of 40 mice were randomly assigned to four experimental groups:control,asthma model,low dose GSPE (40 mg/kg),and high dose GSPE (80 mg/kg).Acute asthma model was established with OVA;airway responsiveness of mice in each group was measured with a noninvasive pulmonary function instrument;lung inflammation changes were observed by pathological HE staining;Treg/Th17 cytokines levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by ELISA;the expressions of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor(Foxp3) mRNA and retinoid-related orphan receptor gammat (RORγt) mRNA in lung tissue of each group were gained by Real-time PCR method.Results GSPE inhibited ovalbumin-induced increases in airway responsiveness(P ＜ 0.05).Histological studies demonstrated that GSPE substantially inhibited OVA-induced airway inflammation in lung tissue.GSPE decreased IL-17A levels and increased IL-10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P ＜ 0.05).In the asthma model group,RORγt mRNA expression in lung tissue was significantly higher than that in the control group(P ＜ 0.05)and Foxp3 mRNA expression was significantly lower than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).In the GSPE group,RORγt mRNA expression was lower than that in asthma model group (P ＜ 0.05),however the Foxp3 mRNA expression was higher than that in asthma model group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion GSPE could alleviate airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation of in asthmatic mice.It can modify the asthmatic mice Treg/Th17 imbalance by decreasing IL-17A and increasing IL-10 concentration at the level of cytokines;and also by increasing Foxp3 mRNA expression and inhibiting the expression of RORγt mRNA at the transcriptional level,which provide a new way for treatment of bronchial asthma.

Brucella ; Brucellosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Cells can adapt to environment and development by reconstructing their transcriptional networks to regulate diverse cellular processes without altering the underlying DNA sequences. These alterations, namely epigenetic changes, occur during cell division, differentiation and cell death. Numerous evidences demonstrate that epigenetic changes are governed by various types of determinants, including DNA methylation patterns, histone posttranslational modification signatures, histone variants, chromatin remodeling, and recently discovered chromosome conformation characteristics and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Here, we highlight recent efforts on how the two latter epigenetic factors participate in the sophisticated transcriptional process and describe emerging techniques which permit us to uncover and gain insights into the fascinating genomic regulation.
Cell Death ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Chromatin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Eukaryotic Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic