Objective To provide valid data and useful genetic counseling in the clinical application of non‐invasive prenatal test (NIPT) ,fetal chromosomal disorder were screened by massive parallel sequencing and made a follow‐up study .Methods Preg‐nant women with Down screening in high‐risk were screened by NIPT ;NIPT verified high‐risk individuals were suggested for kary‐otyping ;and we follow up on whoever showed low risk by NIPT before and after their deliveries .Results (1)Totally 1 676 cases of pregnant women were tested by NIPT ,25 cases prompted to be abnormal ,with an abnormal rate of 1 .49% ,karyotype analysis re‐sults in 12 cases of abnormalit ,the accuracies of NIPT for T21 ,T18 ,XO ,XXY ,and XYY were 99 .93% ,100 .00% ,99 .66% , 100 .00% ,100 .00% respectively ;the accuracy of NIPT for women with advanced paternal age and twins were both 100 .00% ;kary‐otyping positive individuals underwent abortion ,which gives a prenatal intervention rate of 100 .00% .(2)Out of 1 651 cases of NIPT low risk testers ,1 468 cases were successfully followed up ,with a 88 .91% success rate .We found chromosome abnormality with one case of inversion of chromosome 9 (maternal) .(3)Ultrasound‐detection possessed 98 .17% accuracy and 7 .69% in detec‐tion rate;in high‐risk pregnant woman ,Down screening had an accuracy of 0 .88% and false positive rate of 99 .12% ;98 .71%women were avoided prenatal diagnosis via NIPT .Conclusion Compare to ultrasound and maternal plasma screening ,NIPT is a far more accurate prenatal screening approach .To build effective follow‐up and service systems of NIPT is necessary to reduce birth de‐fects in medical institutions .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels and voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V)) channels in rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and evaluate the vasorelaxation mechanisms of DHA.

METHODSBK(Ca) and K(V) currents in individual CASMC were recorded by patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration. Effects of DHA at various concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L) on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels were observed.

RESULTS(1) DHA enhanced IBK(Ca) and BK(Ca) tail currents in a concentration-dependent manner while did not affect the stably activated curves of IBK(Ca). IBK(Ca) current densities were (68.2 ± 22.8), (72.4 ± 24.5), (120.4 ± 37.9), (237.5 ± 53.2), (323.6 ± 74.8) and (370.6 ± 88.2)pA/pF respectively (P < 0.05, n = 30) with the addition of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA concentration, and half-effect concentration (EC(50)) of DHA was (36.22 ± 2.17)µmol/L. (2) IK(V) and K(V) tail currents were gradually reduced, stably activated curves of IK(V) were shift to the right, and stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left in the presence of DHA. IK(V) current densities were (43.9 ± 2.3), (43.8 ± 2.3), (42.9 ± 2.0), (32.3 ± 1.9), (11.7 ± 1.5) and (9.6 ± 1.2)pA/pF respectively(P < 0.05, n = 30)post treatment with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA under manding potential equal to +50 mV, and EC(50) of DHA was (44.19 ± 0.63)µmol/L.

CONCLUSIONDHA can activate BK(Ca) channels and block K(V) channels in rat CASMCs, the combined effects on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels lead to the vasodilation effects of DHA on vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Female ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among hepatitis C patients in Chinese Han population .Methods This was a multicenter ,cross-sectional study . A total of 997 Chinese Han patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were enrolled .Demographic data ,anthropometric data and clinical parameters related to metabolic syndrome were collected .Statistical analysis was performed by t-test (normal distribution) or Mann-Whitney U two-sample test (non-normal distribution) and χ test .Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the parameters significantly related to metabolic syndrome .Results Among the 997 patients ,170 (17 .1%) patients were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome .Binary logistic regression showed that genotype 2 (OR＝1 .594 ;95% CI :1 .045－2 .431 , P＝ 0 .030) ,older age (OR＝ 1 .040 ;95% CI :1 .022 －1 .058 , P＜ 0 .01) , overweight (OR＝3 .876 ;95% CI :2 .593－5 .792 ,P＜0 .01) ,fatty liver history (OR＝2 .106 ;95% CI : 1 .384－3 .204 ,P＝0 .001) ,homeostasis model assessment insulin (HOMA-IR) (OR＝1 .263 ;95% CI :1 .118－1 .427 , P＜0 .01) ,fasting insulin (OR＝0 .949 ;95% CI :0 .915 －0 .985 , P＝0 .006) ,lower serum albumin level (OR＝0 .957 ;95% CI :0 .915 －1 .000 , P＝0 .049) and higher γ-GT level (OR＝1 .004 ;95% CI :1 .000 －1 .008 , P＝ 0 .0041 ) were all significantly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome .Conclusions Hepatitis C patients with genotype 2 ,older age ,overweight ,fatty liver history ,higher HOMA-IR ,lower fasting insulin level ,lower serum albumin level or higher γ-GT level should be screened for metabolic syndrome .

This study explored the protective effect of atractylenolide Ⅰ(AO-Ⅰ) against acetaminophen(APAP)-induced acute liver injury(ALI) in mice and its underlying mechanism. C57 BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into a control group, an APAP group(500 mg·kg~(-1)), a low-dose combination group(500 mg·kg~(-1) APAP + 60 mg·kg~(-1) AO-Ⅰ), and a high-dose combination group(500 mg·kg~(-1) APAP + 120 mg·kg~(-1) AO-Ⅰ). ALI was induced by intraperitoneal injection of APAP(500 mg·kg~(-1)). AO-Ⅰ by intragastric administration was performed 2 hours before APAP treatment, and the control group received the same dose of solvent by intragastric administration or intraperitoneal injection. The protective effect of AO-Ⅰ against APAP-induced ALI was evaluated by detecting alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels in the plasma and H&E staining in liver tissues of mice. The malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione(GSH) content and catalase(CAT) activity in mouse liver tissues were detected to evaluate the effect of AO-Ⅰ on APAP-induced oxidative stress in the liver. The proteins in the liver p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK), c-jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), and nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65) signaling pathways were measured by Western blot, and the liver inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were detected by real-time PCR. Compared with the APAP group, the combination groups showed reduced APAP-induced ALT level and liver MDA content, potentiated liver CAT activity, and elevated GSH content. Mechanistically, AO-Ⅰ treatment significantly inhibited APAP-up-regulated MAPK phosphorylation and NF-κB p65, and significantly reduced the transcriptional activities of IL-1β and IL-6, downstream targets of NF-κB p65. AO-Ⅰ can improve APAP-induced ALI and the underlying mechanism is related to the inhibition of the MAPK/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway in APAP-challenged mice.
Acetaminophen/adverse effects* ; Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/drug therapy* ; Lactones ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Sesquiterpenes ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To summarize the patient profiles and therapeutic efficacies of ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantations at 19 domestic transplant centers and provide rationales for clinical application of ABOi-KT.Methods:Clinical cases of ABO-incompatible/compatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT/ABOc-KT) from December 2006 to December 2009 were collected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted from the aspects of tissue matching, perioperative managements, complications and survival rates of renal allograft or recipients.Results:Clinical data of 342 ABOi-KT and 779 ABOc-KT indicated that (1) no inter-group differences existed in age, body mass index (BMI), donor-recipient relationship or waiting time of pre-operative dialysis; (2) ABO blood type: blood type O recipients had the longest waiting list and transplantations from blood type A to blood type O accounted for the largest proportion; (3) HLA matching: no statistical significance existed in mismatch rate or positive rate of PRA I/II between two types of surgery; (4) CD20 should be properly used on the basis of different phrases; (5) hemorrhage was a common complication during an early postoperative period and microthrombosis appeared later; (6) no difference existed in postoperative incidence of complications or survival rate of renal allograft and recipients at 1/3/5/10 years between ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT. The acute rejection rate and serum creatinine levels of ABOi-KT recipients were comparable to those of ABOc-KT recipients within 1 year.Conclusions:ABOi-KT is both safe and effective so that it may be applied at all transplant centers as needed.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the trends in characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients in tertiary Chinese medicine (CM) hospitals in China between 2006 and 2013. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on two nationwide epidemiological surveys of AMI in tertiary CM hospitals during 2 years (2006 and 2013). Patients admitted to the hospital for AMI were enrolled. Hospital records were used as the data source. Case data were derived regarding baseline characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients to assess changes from 2006 to 2013. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between prognosis, general influencing factors of disease, and various treatment measures. RESULTS: Totally 26 tertiary CM hospitals in 2006 and 29 tertiary CM hospitals in 2013 (18 were repetitive) were surveyed. A total of 2,311 patients with AMI were enrolled (1,094 cases in 2006 and 1,217 cases in 2013). From 2006 to 2013, the mean age did not significantly change, but the proportion of patients younger than 65 years increased. The prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia also increased. Significant increases were observed in primary percutaneous coronary intervention [20.48% (2006) vs. 24.90% (2013)] and revascularization [36.11% (2006) vs. 52.42% (2013)]. In-hospital mortality decreased from 11.15% in 2006 to 10.60% in 2013. A mortality logistic regression analysis identified reperfusion therapy [odds ratio (OR), 0.222; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.106-0.464], Chinese patent medicines (OR, 0.394; 95% CI, 0.213-0.727), and CM decoctions (OR, 0.196; 95% CI, 0.109-0.353) as protective factors. CONCLUSION Reperfusion and revascularization capabilities of tertiary CM hospitals have improved significantly, but in-hospital mortality has not significantly decreased. Efforts are needed to improve medical awareness of AMI and expand the use of CM to reduce in-hospital mortality in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.
Mice ; Animals ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Apoptosis ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*