The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin (APN) on the expression of T-cadherin in cultured Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat cardiomyocytes injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Primary myocardial cells from neonatal rats were obtained by enzymatic digestion. The cells were divided into control group, H/R group and H/R+APN (3, 10, 20 and 30 μg/mL) groups. The H/R group was incubated in anoxic environment (anoxic solution saturated with high concentration N2) for 3 h, and then in the reoxygenation environment (the reoxygenation solution saturated with pure oxygen) for 1 h. The H/R+APN group was pretreated with different concentrations of APN for 24 h prior to the initiation of H/R. The content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured by chemistry chromatometry. Cellular apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of T-cadherin was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that, compared with control group, the apoptotic rate and release of LDH were significantly increased in the H/R group, whereas the expressions of T-cad mRNA and protein were decreased. Pretreating with APN significantly and dose-dependently decreased apoptotic rate and LDH release, and up-regulated T-cad mRNA and protein level in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes under H/R conditions. These results suggest that APN may protect cardiomyocytes against H/R-induced injury by up-regulating H/R-decreased T-cad expression.
Adiponectin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVEWe have identified a SNP within the seed-binding region for miR-502 in the 3'-UTR of the SET8 gene that codes for a methyltransferase for histone H4. SET8 methylates TP53 and thus regulates cell proliferation and genome stability. This study is to investigate the role for this SNP and its interaction with the TP53 codon 72 SNP in the age of onset of breast cancer.

METHODSWe conducted a case-only study of 1, 110 breast cancer cases. PCR-RFLP was used for SNP genotyping. Ages of onset of breast cancer among different genotypes were analyzed using SAS software.

RESULTSOur analysis revealed that the SET8 CC and TP53 GG genotypes were independently associated with earlier age of onset of breast cancer in an allele-dose dependent manner. Moreover, individuals with both SET8 CC and p53 GG genotypes developed cancer at age of 47.74 years, compared with 54.55 years for individuals with both SET8 TT and TP53 CC genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSmiR-502-binding SNP in SET8 may modulate SET8 expression and contribute to early development of breast cancer either independently or together with the TP53 codon 72 SNP.

3' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Codon ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of predicting the stage of prostate cancer with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and pathological grade.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-seven patients were studied retrospectively with prostate cancer diagnosed by systemic biopsy in our hospital. The rank correlation analysis, rank sum test and stepwise discriminant multivariate analysis were used to assess the correlation of serum PSA level, ratio of free PSA to total PSA (FPSA/TPSA ratio) with Gleason score (GS) and stage.

RESULTSSerum PSA level increased with GS for prostate cancer patients (r = 0.369, P < 0.001). With increasing stage, serum PSA level and GS increased (r = 0.398, 0.530, P < 0.001). Overall, FPSA/TPSA ratio was not correlated with stage (P > 0.70), but a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between them when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L (r = -0.600, P < 0.05). When serum PSA > 20 microg/L, 67% - 87% patients with prostate cancer may be stage C or D. The equation using serum PSA and GS to predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer was: x = -3.488 + 0.041 x PSA + 0.428 x GS.

CONCLUSIONSSerum PSA level is positively correlated with GS for prostate cancer patients. Serum PSA level and GS are positively correlated with stage. A negative correlation between FPSA/TPSA ratio and stage is demonstrated when serum PSA < or = 10 microg/L. The combination of serum PSA and GS may predict the stage of patients with prostate cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

AIMTo develop a method for assessing sperm function by measuring released acrosin activity during the acrosome reaction (AR).

METHODSHuman semen samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors with proven fertility after 3-7 days of sexual abstinence. After collection, samples were liquefied for 30 min at room temperature. Standard semen parameters were evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Calcium ionophore A23187 and progesterone (P4) were used to stimulate the sperm to undergo AR. After treatment, sperm were incubated with the supravital dye Hoechst33258, fixed in a glutaraldehyde-phosphate-buffered saline solution, and the acrosomal status was determined by fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA). The percentage of sperm undergoing AR (AR%) was compared to sperm acrosin activities as assessed by spectrocolorimetry. The correlation between AR% and acrosin activity was determined by statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe AR% and released acrosin activity were both markedly increased with A23187 and P4 stimulation. Sperm motility and viability were significantly higher after stimulation with P4 versus stimulation with A23187 (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between released acrosin activity and AR% determined by FITC-PSA staining (r=0.916, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSpectrocolorimetric measurement of released acrosin activity might serve as a reasonable alternative method to evaluate AR.

Acrosin ; physiology ; Acrosome Reaction ; Adult ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Semen ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology

BACKGROUNDPneumonia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence, etiology, risk factors and prognosis of pneumonia in LT recipients.

METHODSThe LT cohort consisted of 28 recipients receiving LT in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from August 2005 to April 2011. Data collected included demographic data, underlying disorders, time and type of transplant, follow-up information, date of last follow-up, and patient status. A retrospective analysis was made of observational data that were prospectively collected.

RESULTSTwenty-two patients of 28 LT recipients had 47 episodes of pneumonia throughout the study period. Thirtyeight episodes of pneumonia in 19 recipients occurred post-LT with a median follow-up of 257.5 days (1-2104 days), the incidence of pneumonia was 192.4 episodes per 100 LT/year and its median time of onset was 100.5 days (0-946 days) post-transplantation. Bacteria, virus and fungi accounted for 62%, 16% and 15% of the microbial pathogens, respectively. The most frequent were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (15%), and Aspergillus fumigatus (10%). A total of 29% (11/38) of pneumonias occurred in the first month post-LT, and then the incidence decreased gradually. The incidence of CMV pneumonia was 25% (7/28) with a median time of 97 days (10-971 days). More than one bacterial infection and CMV infection were independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was 18% (5/28), and the history of TB was a risk factor for TB relapse. There were 58% (7/12) of recipients who died of infection, and 71% (5/7) of these died in the first year after LT.

CONCLUSIONSPneumonia is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in LT recipients. The most frequent microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CMV, and Aspergillus fumigates. The incidence of CMV pneumonia decreases with a delayed median time of onset. More than one incidence of bacterial infection and CMV infection are independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. LT recipients are at high risk for TB, and the history of TB is a risk factor for TB relapse.

Aspergillus fumigatus ; pathogenicity ; Cytomegalovirus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Lung Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; microbiology ; virology ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; pathogenicity

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of observation and psychological intervention, splint or brace fixation as well as surgical treatment on habitual dislocation of the hip (HDH) and to combine the authors' data with a compilation of the cases from the literature, evaluingating the epidemiological characteristics of HDH and the treatment scheme to maintain the stability of hip joint by systematic literature review in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the relevant data of 11 patients (12 hips) with HDH were treated from March 2007 to March 2021, including 2 boys and 9 girls. The age of the first dislocation was 2.25 (1.66, 3.75) years old and 4.33 (3.33, 6.17) years old at the age of diagnosis. At the same time, the relevant literature reports were searched from 1932 to 2022, and 24 HDH patients reports and clinical studies were confirmed to be included in this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data of 33 patients (38 hips) with HDH who were obtained in the literature, including 5 boys and 28 girls. The age of the first dislocation was 2.00 (1.50, 2.00) years old and 4.00 (2.55, 5.00) years old at the age of diagnosis. A total of 44 patients (50 hips) with HDH who were analyzed, including gender, age of first dislocation, age of diagnosis, mode of stimulating dislocation, side and direction of dislocation, accompanying symptoms, family history, trauma history and imaging examination. The data of 41 patients with HDH (3 patients were excluded due to lack of treatment description) were treated with observation and psychological intervention in 19 patients, splint or brace fixation in 13 patients, and surgical treatment in 9 patients. The femoral neck-stem angle, acetabular index, central edge angle (CE angle) and Reimers instability index were measured by AutoCAD software, and the hip function was evaluated by Harris standard. Meantime, the disappearance time of dislocation was recorded.Results:The average follow-up time of 44 patients (50 hips) with HDH were 4.05±2.93 years old, and the time of disappearance of dislocation after treatment were 1.28±1.19 years old. Patients were diagnosed as 7 boys and 37 girls, 30 right and 8 left as well as 6 bilateral, the age of the first dislocation was 2.64±1.54 years old and 4.52±2.64 years old at the age of diagnosis. The data of 39 patients took hip flexion, adduction, internal rotation or hip flexion and adduction as the mode of stimulating dislocation. There were 43 patients with posterior dislocation, 41 patients with an audible "click" sound during dislocation, 36 patients with painless dislocation, and 37 patients with "vacuum phenomenon" were captured at the moment of dislocation. All patients with HDH had no specific family history and obvious history of trauma. There was no significant difference in general data between observation and psychological intervention group, splint or brace fixation group as well as surgical treatment group ( P>0.05). Harris standard to evaluate hip function, CE angle and Reimers instability index of the affected side were significantly different from those before and after treatment at the moment of dislocation ( H=127.51, P<0.001; H=55.70, P<0.001; H=54.69, P<0.001). Compared with the immediate disappearance of dislocation in the surgical treatment group, the disappearance time of dislocation in the observation and psychological intervention group and the splint or brace fixation group were significantly longer, and the difference was statistically significant ( H=20.83, P<0.001). Conclusion:Without specific family history and obvious trauma at young girls, painless posterior dislocation of hip with an audible "click" sound and "vacuum phenomenon" at the moment of dislocation are the significant epidemiological characteristics of HDH. Observation and psychological intervention, splint or brace fixation are recommended as the initial treatment scheme. When conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment is needed to stabilize the hip joint quickly.

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) combined with direct bilirubin (DB) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. METHODS: A total of 667 infants with cholestasis who were hospitalized and treated from July 2010 to December 2018 were enrolled as subjects. According to the results of intraoperative cholangiography and follow-up, they were divided into biliary atresia group with 234 infants and cholestasis group with 433 infants. The two groups were compared in terms of age of onset, sex, and serum levels of total bilirubin (TB), DB, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bile acid (TBA), and GGT. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for indices with statistical significance, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis were calculated. RESULTS: The biliary atresia group had a significantly younger age of onset than the cholestasis group (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in sex, ALT, and AST between the two groups (P>0.05), while the biliary atresia group had significantly higher serum levels of TB, DB, TBA, and GGT than the cholestasis group (P<0.05). GGT combined with DB had the highest AUC of 0.892 (95% confidence interval: 0.868-0.916) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. At the optimal cut-off values of 324.0 U/L for GGT and 115.1 μmmol/L for DB, GGT combined with DB had a sensitivity of 79.8% and a specificity of 83.2% in the diagnosis of biliary atresia. CONCLUSIONS GGT combined with DB has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of biliary atresia and can be used as an effective indicator for diagnosis of biliary atresia in infants.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biliary Atresia ; diagnosis ; Bilirubin ; Humans ; Infant ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Objective:Compared with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) treatment, evaluating the clinical observation of utilizing a transolecranon pin joystick technique combined with CRPP in the teatment of multidirectionally unstable supracondylar humeral fractures in children.Methods:From thirty nine pediatric multidirectionally unstable supracondylar humeral fractures hospitalized between January 2012 and January 2019, twenty seven males (69.23%) and twelve females (30.77%) were included in the study, with a average age of 6.68±2.52 years (range, 2.17-13.75 y), twenty three fractures (65.7%) were treated with CRPP (CRPP group) and the remaining Sixteen fractures (41.03%) were treated utilizing a transolecranon pin joystick technique combined with CRPP (joystick group). Both groups were followed over 16 weeks. The paired sample t test or χ2 test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the surgical time, times of fluoroscopy, quality of reduction and neurological or vascular complications, Baumann angle, carrying angle, lateralcapitellohumeral angle, postoperative range of motion as well as function-al outcomeduringthe Sixteen weeks and the last follow-up appointment. Results:All caseswere followed up for 1.98±1.43 years, and all fractures achieved clinical healing at 4 to 6 weeks postoperation. The surgical time and times of fluoroscopy were significantly shorter for patients in the joystick group (27.17±9.68 min, 24.25±5.92 times) when compared with CRPP group (48.59±15.75 min, 49.65±23.83 times, P<0.05). All cases showed restoration of the normal lateral capitellohumeral angle. Compared with Baumann angle of normal contralateral upper extremity during the sixteen weeks and the last follow-up appointment, the quality of reduction on the anteroposterior radiographic view was significantly better for patients in the joystick group than that of CRPP group ( P<0.05). The Baumann angle of the affected upper extremity was 77.70°±2.16°, and that of the normal contralateral upper extremity was 73.78°±4.04° in the CRPP group, joystick group was 73.06°±1.81° and 72.81°±3.45°, respectively at the sixteen weeks follow-up. The Baumann angle of the affected upper extremity was 77.13°±2.20°, and that of the normal contralateral upper extremity was 74.17°±4.17° in the CRPP group, joystick group was 72.69°±1.70° and 73.38°±3.48°, respectively at the last follow-up. The range of motion and clinical outcomes based on the criteria of Flynn were similar in both groups ( P<0.05). The elbow joint function of excellent and good rate of the criteria of Flynn was 82.61%, elbow flexion was 134.13°±8.61°, elbow extension was -3.48°±6.47° in the CRPP group, joystick group was 81.25%, 132.19°±9.48° and -3.44°± 4.37°, respectively at the sixteen weeks follow-up. The elbow joint function of excellent and good rate of the criteria of Flynn was 91.30%, elbow flexion was 140.14°±5.76°, elbow extension was -0.65±3.79° in the CRPP group, joystick group was 93.75%, 141.88°±5.12° and -0.31°±3.86°, respectivelyat the last follow-up. No immediate postoperative complications were observed. Conclusion:A transolecranon pin joystick technique combined with CRPP is a safe and effective method, can decrease surgical time and times of fluoroscopy and improve quality of reduction with no increasing risk of complications for closed reduction of multidirectionally unstable supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

Objective:To investigate the treatment strategy for pediatric humeral supracondylar fractures with callus formation and displacement neglected for over 1 week.Methods:A retrospective analysis was made of the clinical data of 36 children who had been treated at Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2011 to January 2021 for humeral supracondylar fractures with callus formation and displacement neglected for over 1 week. There were 22 boys and 14 girls, with an age of (6.7±2.7) years (from 2.3 to 12.8 years). All fractures were Gartland type Ⅲ. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their treatment methods: a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) group of 15 patients subjected to the CRPP treatment only, and a leverage group of 21 patients subjected to CRPP assisted by the "lever technique" with posterior elbow Kirschner wire prying and pulling. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, fluoroscopy frequency, quality of reduction, and recovery time for elbow range of motion; the elbow range of motion, visual analogue scale (VAS), Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and complications were assessed at the last follow-up.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there was no significant difference between them in the general information before operation ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (26.2±16.3) months (from 6 to 96 months). All the fractures obtained acceptable reduction and clinical union 4 to 6 weeks after operation. The operation time [(28.2±6.8) min] and fluoroscopy frequency [(27.0±6.0) times] in the leverage group were significantly less than those in the CRPP group [(40.8±10.8) min and (43.3±11.4) times] ( P<0.05). The CRPP group was significantly better than the leverage group in the intraoperative Baumann angle (78.1°±1.6° versus 73.7°±4.1°), lateral capitellohumeral angle (58.3°±2.6° versus 49.6°±5.2°) and horizontal rotation rate (109.5%±3.0% versus 103.2%±4.9%) ( P<0.05). The intraoperative reduction in the CRPP group was significantly closer to the normal mean value than that in the leverage group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the recovery time for elbow range of motion between the CRPP and the leverage groups ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the Baumann angle (75.4°±2.8°) and the lateral capitellohumeral angle (53.2°±3.6°) in the leverage group were still significantly better than those in the CRPP group (78.3°±1.5° and 57.5°±2.3°) ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the elbow range of motion, VAS, MEPS or incidence of complications between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:To treat humeral supracondylar fractures with callus formation and displacement neglected for over 1 week in children, CRPP assisted by the "lever technique" with posterior elbow Kirschner wire prying and pulling is an efficient and accurate method, because it can lead to more satisfactory reduction than CRPP only.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of double S-shaped elastic stable intramedullary nailing in the treatment of paediatric fractures of the distal tibia diaphyseal metaphyseal junction.Methods:From January 2018 to January 2022, a total of 25 children with fracture of the distal tibia diaphyseal metaphyseal junction were treated at Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University. All of them were treated with closed reduction and double S-shaped elastic stable intramedullary nailing. There were 16 males and 9 females with an average age of (10.4±3.3) years, and 14 left sides and 11 right sides. The operation time, imaging results and complications were recorded after operation. At the last follow-up, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring was used to evaluate the efficacy.Results:Closed reduction succeeded in all patients. The operation time was (55.6±23.7) min. Follow-up lasted (20.5±4.7) months for this cohort. Bony union was achieved in all patients after (11.5±2.7) weeks. No postoperative complications occurred in the patients, like infection, loss of reduction, disparity in length of lower limbs, delayed union or non-union. The AOFAS scoring at the last follow-up yielded 23 excellent and 2 good cases, and an excellent and good rate of 100% (25/25).Conclusion:In the treatment of paediatric fractures of the distal tibia diaphyseal metaphyseal junction, double S-shaped elastic stable intramedullary nailing is a safe, effective and feasible option.