Objective:To explore the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of precursor B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia with C- MYC rearrangement (preBLL) in children. Methods:The clinical data in 2 cases of childhood preBLL in Department of Hematology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics in June and August 2019 were summarized and analyzed.Results:Both cases were acute lymphoblastic leukemia with precursor B-cell immunophenotype.Hepatosplenomegaly and peripheral white blood cells were significantly increased, and the morphology of bone marrow was L3. C- MYC rearrangement was discovered by cytogenetic tests.Both children have received the treatment of the mature B-cell tumor protocol (FAB/LMB96), and early remission was developed in 1 case with TP53 gene mutation but relapsed thereafter and died finally.Another case had reached sustained complete remission after treatment. Conclusions:Children with preBLL is rare, and routine C- MYC rearrangement should be performed in children with Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia whose morphology of bone marrow was L3.Its treatment needs to be further studied, and multi-center clinical trials need to be actively conducted to analyze and summarize large numbers of cases to identify effective protocol and improve the prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors that affect the clinical pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 611 IUI cycles and analyzed the relationship of the clinical pregnancy rate after IUI with the female age, infertility duration, type of infertility, cycle number, cycle protocol, thickness and type of endometrium, and semen parameters before processing.

RESULTSThe clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the ovulation induction than in the natural ovulation cycles (23.03% vs 11.03%, P < 0.01), but lower in the 4th cycle and above than in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycles (2.04% vs 21.30%, 18.13%, and 12.67%, P < 0.01). Marked decreases were found in the clinical pregnancy rate in the females aged ≥ 40 years and the cases with pre-processing total progressively motile sperm count (TPMSC) < 10 x 10(6), progressive motile sperm < 20%, or morphologically normal sperm < 2% (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed the cycle protocol, cycle number, and percentage of progressively motile sperm as three predictive variables affecting the clinical pregnancy rate after IUI (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cycle protocol, cycle number, percentage of progressively motile sperm, female age, TPMSC, and sperm morphology are the main factors affecting the clinical pregnancy rate following IUI, while infertility duration, type of infertility, and thickness and type of endometrium exert little influence.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination, Artificial ; Male ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

AIMTo investigate the effects of morphine on synaptic transmission of neurons of central nervous system and reveal the mechanism underlying it.

METHODSNew born wistar rats were used for primary culture of hippocampus neurons. Using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we observed the excitatory and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (EPSC, sIPSC) and glutamate-induced current before and after morphine treatment.

RESULTS(1) sEPSC of hippocampal neurons was markedly increased after morphine application. The effect of morphine was blocked by opioid antagonist naloxone (n=18, P < 0.01). (2) The frequency of mEPSC and the amplitude of glutamate-induced current of hippocampal neurons had no significant changes after morphine treatment (P > 0.05). (3) Morphine inhibited sIPSC of hippocampal neurons markedly and naloxone could block this effect (n=13, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the exciting effect of morphine on hippocampal neurons are not due to direct influence of morphine on glutamate synapses transmission, but may result from the inhibition on interneurons, that is "disinhibition" way.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synaptic Transmission ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible mechanism of lycopene on protecting against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-injury.

METHODSPrimary cultured cardiomyocytes, isolated from neonatal mouse, were divided into three groups randomly: control group (C) ; H/R group(4 h H followed by 8 h R); lycopene+H/R group(L+H/R), in which the cardiomyocytes were pretreated with lycopene for 4 h before H/R. The survival of cardiomyocytes was counted. Apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL assays. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondrial matrix into the cytosol, the activity of caspase-3, intracellular ROS levels and the activity of calpain were also determined in these groups respectively at the same time.

RESULTSThe pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with lycopene significantly improved the survival of cardiomyocytes [C: (89.84 ± 5.15)%, H/R: (63.59 ± 5.11)%, L+H/R: (79.25 ± 1.48)%, P < 0.05] and reduced the extent of apoptosis [C: ( 10.37 ± 1.25)%, H/R: (32.03 ± 4.79)%, L+H/R: (22.57 ± 3.22)%, P < 0.05], significantly reduced caspase-3 activation [C: (2.61 ± 0.19), H/R: (5.82 ± 0.92), L+H/R: (3.74 ± 0.64) pNA pmol/µg protein, P < 0.05]. To further study the mechanism underlying the benefits of lycopene, interactions between lycopene and calpain activation were examined. Lycopene pretreatment of cardiomyocytes suppressed the activation of calpain(C:272.33 ± 300.46, H/R: 1156.00 ± 212.02, L+H/R: 607.33 ± 166.23, P < 0.05) by reducing the H/R induced increased intracellular ROS levels [C: 100%, H/R: (239.79 ± 27.27)%, L+H/R: (188.19 ± 17.63)%, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONLycopene may protect against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury by preventing calpain activation.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between rs6267 polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSOne hundred and fourteen children with ADHD and 76 normal volunteers were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques were used for detecting COMT rs6267 polymorphism. The behavioral problems were assessed by Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the COMT genotype distribution and allele frequencies between the ADHD and normal control groups. The frequencies of thinking problems (1.7±1.9 vs 1.0±0.9) and disciplinary problems (4.5±3.7 vs 2.2±1.4) in ADHD children carrying genotype G/G were significantly higher than those in children carrying G/T (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCOMT rs6267 polymorphism may not contribute to susceptibility to ADHD. However, there might be an association between rs6267 polymorphism and some clinical characters of ADHD.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of myocardial inhibition on injury to liver, kidney and intestine and blood perfusion at early stage in rat with severe burn.

METHODSThirty-two healthy male Wistar rats were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into sham scald, propranolol, scald control and scald + propranolol groups, with 8 rats in each group. After intraperitoneal injection of 10 g/L pentobarbital sodium for anesthesia, rats of the former two groups were sham scalded in a water bath of 37 degrees C for 18 s, while the latter two groups were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald in a 97 degrees C water bath for 18 s. Rats were resuscitated with Ringer's lactate solution (4 mL x kg(-1) x 1% TBSA(-1), i. p.) following the Parkland formula 30 mins after the injury. At the same time, rats in propranolol and scald + propranolol groups received propranolol 0.75 mg/kg intravenously. After 6 hours, parameters of myocardiac mechanics (SBP, DBP, MAP, LVSP, LVEDP, +/- dp/dt max) were recorded by the multiple channel physiological signal collecting and processing system; blood flow of liver, kidney and intestine were detected with the laser doppler flowmetry; the serum contents of cTnI, TBA, beta2-MG and DAO were determined for reflecting injuries to the heart, liver, kidney and intestine, respectively.

RESULTSMyocardiac mechanics parameters, with the exception of LVEDP, were decreased in propranolol group as compared with those in sham group (P <.05). All myocardiac mechanics parameters in burn control group were lower than those in sham group and higher than those in burn + propranolol group (P < 0.05). Blood flow of organs showed similar changes in above-mentioned 3 groups (P < 0.05). Organ damages as shown in burn control group [cTnI (4.86 +/- 0.29) microg/L, TBA (83.6 +/- 18.2) micromol/L, beta2-MG (2.75 +/- 0.19) mg/L, DAO (1.45 +/- 0.09) x 10(3) U/L] were more serious than those in sham control group [cTnI (1.73 +/- 0.09) microg/L, TBA (24.5 +/- 2.4) micromol/L, beta2-MG (1.15 +/- 0.18) mg/L, DAO (0.87 +/- 0.13) x 10(3) U/L], and less serious than those in scald + propranolol group [cTnI 5.95 +/- 0.42 microg/L, TBA 125.8 +/- 21.3 micromol/L, beta2-MG 3.25 +/- 0.17 mg/L, DAO (1.83 +/- 0.13) x 10(3) U/L] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPropranolol can aggravate injury to the liver, kidney and intestine at early stage in rat with severe burn, suggesting that "shock heart" may be one of initial factors in lowering blood flow to the organs, thus inducing injury to them.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Burns ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Intestines ; blood supply ; Kidney ; blood supply ; Liver ; blood supply ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Propranolol ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression profiles of serum Golgi protein-73 (GP73) in liver cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) and determine its clinical value for differential diagnosis.

METHODSSerum protein expressions of GP73 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and chemiluminescence assay, respectively, in patients with PHC (n=80), liver cirrhosis (n=65), and healthy controls (n=50). Inter-group changes were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test, and significance of these differences was assessed by Mann-Whitney test. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and determine the cut-off values for GP73 and AFP. Sensitivity and specificity were compared by the Chi-squared test. Correlation between serum GP73 expression and clinical parameters was determined by Spearman's rank correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe PHC group showed significantly higher serum GP73 (282.0 mug/L) than the liver cirrhosis group (211.8 mug/L) and control group (58.3 mug/L) (H = 93.30, P less than 0.01). For differential diagnosis of PHC and liver cirrhosis, the cut-off value was 318.1 mug/L for GP73 and 13.4 mug/L for AFP. Sensitivity of GP73 was lower than AFP (45% (36/80) vs. 65% (52/80); X2 = 8.02, P less than 0.05). Specificity of GP73 was lower than AFP but no significance was found (83.1% (54/65) vs. 87.7% (57/65); X2=0.27, P more than 0.05). The areas under the ROC curves were not significantly different between GP73 and AFP (0.65 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54~0.72) vs. 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67~0.83); Z = 1.88, P more than 0.05). The area under the ROC curves increased but not significantly (0.80 (95% CI: 0.73~0.88) vs. 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67~0.83); Z=2.61, P more than 0.05). Serum GP73 was correlated with liver cirrhosis (r=0.27), vascular invasion (r=0.29), and TNM staging (r=0.27) (all P less than 0.05), but not with sex (r=0.13), age (r=0.10), enhanced AFP (> 13.4 mug/L; r=0.03), tumor size (r=0.18), or distant metastasis (r=0.04), all P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSerum GP73 and AFP have comparable diagnostic efficiency, but the sensitivity of AFP is superior for differential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and primary hepatic carcinoma. Elevated serum GP73 may be correlated with liver tumor load and aggressiveness.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transcriptome ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

BMP6 is a member of TGF-beta superfamily, represent more effective osteogenic activity. Two recombinant plasmids were constructed to expression rhBMP6 in mammalian cells, one contained the cDNA encoding the signal peptide, propeptide and mature peptide of human BMP6, wich was named pcDNA-BMP6, the other contained the recombinant DNA encoding the signal peptide, propeptide of human BMP2 and the mature peptide of BMP6, which was named pcDNA-BMP2/6. Transient expression in Cos7 cells demonstrated that the pcDNA-BMP2/6 produced more rhBMP6 than pcDNA-BMP6. For stable expression, the CHO-dhfr- cells were transfected with pcDNA-BMP2/6 and pSV2-dhfr, then screened by G418 and treated with MTX for targeting gene amplification. The partially purified rhBMP6 by heparin affinity chromatography was shown to possess bone induction activity tested by the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; CHO Cells ; COS Cells ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Myoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; Protein Sorting Signals ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Ximen" (PC 4) of the Pericardium Meridian in treatment of myocardial ischemia.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into 5 groups, sham-operation group, ischemia-reperfusion model group, Neiguan acupuncture group, Ximen acupuncture group and Zhigou acupuncture group. Electroacupuncture (EA) was given at corresponding acupoints for 20 min in the later 3 groups, followed by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and 40 min later, acupuncture was given at the points for another 20 min, reperfusion for 60 min, with ECG monitoring. Then the myocardial tissue sample (below the ligation site) of the left cardiac ventricle was taken for preparation of sarcoplasmic reticulum, and determination of Ca2+-ATPase activity according to quantitative analysis of phosphorum. The relative mRNA levels were determined by Northerm Bolt analysis.

RESULTSIn the acupuncture groups, both the activities of Ca2+-ATPase and the gene expressions increased significantly as compared with the model group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe points of the Pericardium Meridian can obviously improve the Ca2+-ATPase activity and the gene expressions, reduce the degree of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, and strength myocardial functions.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; enzymology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; therapy ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) to diagnostic test in elderly patients with infections.

METHODSC-reactive protein were investigated in 142 elderly patients with infections and 216 elderly patients without. CRP 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were stratified, the index of diagnostic test counted.

RESULTSConcentrations of CRP in patients with different diseases were upper respiratory tract infection 36.9 mg/L +/- 28.9 mg/L, acute bronchitis 30.1 mg/L +/- 28.1 mg/L, pneumonia 55.9 mg/L +/- 32.9 mg/L, urinary infection 49.0 mg/L +/- 27.6 mg/L and enteritis 39.3 mg/L +/- 35.6 mg/L. They were all higher than those in control group (5.2 mg/L +/- 2.9 mg/L, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis disclosed that the specificity of CRP was 83.3% - 99.0% for diagnostic infection disease. The positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were 3.6, 27.0 and 128.0, respectively.

CONCLUSIONC-reactive protein was an important marker to diagnose elderly patients with infections.

Aged ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; diagnosis