Objective To investigate the feasibility of RNA interference(RNAi)strategy in mouse(embryonic stem)ES cells and study the possibility of RNAi in dermatological research.Methods Specific RNAi was introduced with EGFP gene as a target,either by in situ production of dsRNA from transient trans-fection of a plasmid harboring a547bp inverted repeat,or by direct transfection of dsRNA made by in vitro transcription.Gene silence of EGFP in EGFP-transgenic mouse was investigated by topical delivery of dsRNA.Results This longer dsRNA was capable of inducing a sequence-specific RNAi for the target gene in epi-some and in chromosome of ES cells.It was also shown that this sequence-specific RNAi was observed in EGFP-transgenic mouse by topical delivery of dsRNA.Conclusion These results suggest that ES cell possess RNAi activity by longer dsRNA.We first report the study on RNAi activity by topical delivery of specific dsRNA.Above findings offer a possibility to use dsRNAi for inhibition of gene expression in dermatological re-search.

Objective To assess the alterations of the systolic peak radial strain (RS) and the time to systolic peak radial strain(TRS) in ischemic myocardial segments with different extent of coronary artery stenosis using three-dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI).Methods RS and TRS of 16 left ventricular segments were analyzed by 3D-STI in 87 patients,every left ventricular segment of all patients were divided into 5 groups according to coronary stenosis based on the results of selected coronary angiography:normal,≤25 ％,＞25 ％ - ≤50 ％,＞50 ％ - ≤ 75 ％,＞ 75 ％.All times were corrected by heart rate.Results In the coronary normal group,coronary stenosis extent ≤25％ group and coronary stenosis extent ＞25％ - ≤50％ group,the variance of RS was non-significant( P ＞0.05).Compared with the coronary normal group,coronary stenosis extent ≤25％ group and coronary stenosis extent ＞ 25％ -≤ 50％ group,RS was decreased in groups of coronary stenosis ＞50％ - ≤75％ and ＞75％.Between the coronary normal group and coronary stenosis extent ≤25 ％ group,the variance of TRS was non-significant( P ＞0.05).Compared with coronary normal and coronary stenosis extent ≤25 ％ group,TRS was increased in groups of coronary stenosis ＞25％ - ≤50％,＞50％ - ≤75％,＞75％.Compared with group of coronary stenosis ＞ 50％ -≤ 75％,TRS was shorter in group of coronary stenosis ＞ 75％,some variance was significant( P ＜0.05).Conclusions The RS was decreased along with the coronary stenosis increase,but TRS was increased along with the coronary stenosis increase.There is a tendency that TRS was decreased when the coronary stenosis is more than 75 ％ compared with the coronary stenosis ＞50％ - ≤75 ％ group.3D-STI can access the regional radial systolic function of the ischemic myocardial segment.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on improving left ventricle (LV) function and LV asynchrony in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)using three-dimensional ultrasound speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI).MethodsTwenty one patients with DCM and 25 normal subjects were enrolled in this study.Parameters including LV mean longitudinal peak strain (MLS),LV mean circumferential peak strain (MCS),LV mean radial peak strain (MRS),LV ejection fraction(3D-LVEF),maximal temporal difference in area strain of LV 16 segments (A-MaxTs) and its standard deviation (A-Ts-SD) were investigated by 3D-STI.LV ejection fraction (ECT-LVEF) and LV phase angle width (LVW) were obtained by radionuclide ventriculography and phase image analysis.Results The indexes of MLS,MCS,MRS and 3D-LVEF were decreased and A-MaxTs,A-Ts-SD were prolonged in DCM group compared with those of control group.There was a slightly improvement in MRS and ECTLVEF 1 week after CRT,but other Parameters including MLS,MCS,A-MaxTs,A-Ts-SD and 3D-LVEF had no significant change.Compared with corresponding values before and 1 week after CRT,all parameters (MCS,MRS,A-MaxTs,A-Ts-SD,3D-LVEF and ECT-LVEF) were further improved 6 months after CRT.MLS,MCS,MRS and 3D-LVEF had good relationship with ECT-LVEF,and A-MaxTs,A-Ts-SD had good relationship with LVW in DCM group.Conclusions3D-STI is a simple and accurate method for evaluating effects of CRT on improving LV function and LV asynchrony in patients with DCM.

Objective To compare the clinical effects in patients treated with anterograde reamed intramedullary nail (IMN) and dynamic compression plate (DCP) for diaphyseal fractures of the humerus.Methods Forty-seven patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus,were divided into two groups by random digits table:IMN group (23 cases) and DCP group (24 cases),IMN and DCP were performed fixation,respectively.After the surgery,perioperative,functional outcomes of shoulder and elbow,postoperative complications between two groups were compared.Results The average follow-up time was (22.3 ± 5.7)months,3 cases were lost in 12-month-follow-up,1 case in IMN group and 2 cases in DCP group.The operation time,intraoperative blood loss in IMN group were significantly shorter than those in DCP group [(67.7 ± 15.3) min vs.(87.0 ± 12.5) min,(106.3 ±57.6) ml vs.(226.7 ±60.2) ml,P＜0.05].The incidence rate of subacromial impingement in IMN group was significantly higher than that in DCP group [18.2％ (4/22) vs.0,P ＜ 0.05].The incidence rate of wound infection in IMN group was significantly better than that in DCP group [4.5％(1/22) vs.22.7％(5/22),P ＜ 0.05].There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in other indexes (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions DCP has some advantage in perioperative period,but they are comparable in the functional outcomes of shoulder and elbow and complications.

The distribution and prevalence of low pathogenic avian influenza virus in major live poultry wholesale markets around the Dongting Lake region ,China were investigated in our study to propose prevention and control measures on low pathogenic avian flu in the area of live poultry wholesale market .The samples were injected to SPF chicken embryos by allanto-ic cavity ,and then the allantoic fluid were harvested and used for hemagglutination (HA) .If it was positive by HA ,subtypes of the virus would be determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and RT-PCT .We isolated 627 low pathogenic avian in-fluenza viruses in major live poultry wholesale market around Dongting Lake region systematically in winter and spring during 2009-2011 ,and the total separation rate was 22 .2% .The duck swab separation rate of low pathogenic avian influenza was the highest ,which was 24 .6% ,and the following was chicken swab that reached 21 .5% ,and the goose swab separation rate was 11% .We isolated 6 HA subtypes including H3 ,H4 ,H6 ,H9 ,H10 ,and H11 in every live poultry wholesale market ,and the separation rate of H9 ,H6 and H4 subtypes was relatively high ,which could reach 11% ,6 .3% and 3 .4% ,respectively . Those results indicated that recessive infection of low pathogenic avian influenza virus was serious in live poultry wholesale mar-ket around the Dongting Lake area ,and it was a great threat to the occurrence of avian flu .

Objective To investigate the expression levels of basic leucine zipper and W2 domain 2 (BZW2) and isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate their effect on clinical prognosis of liver transplant recipients with HCC. Methods Pathological specimens and clinical data of 87 liver transplant recipients with HCC were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The recurrence and metastasis of HCC after liver transplantation were assessed. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression levels of BZW2 and IVD. The relationship between BZW2, IVD and clinicopathological parameters of HCC and their effect on postoperative recurrence and clinical prognosis of the recipients was analyzed. Results Among 87 recipients, 31 cases recurred with a recurrence rate of 36%. HCC recurred at postoperative 2-49 months and the median recurrence time was postoperative 7 months. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the positive expression rate of BZW2 in the HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal liver tissues (76% vs. 30%), and the positive expression rate of IVD was significantly lower compared with that in normal liver tissues (51% vs. 69%) (both P < 0.01). BZW2 expression was significantly correlated with tumor diameter and tumor capsule (both P < 0.05), whereas IVD expression was significantly associated with tumor diameter, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) staging and whether vascular invasion was found or not (all P < 0.05). In the high BZW2 expression group, the cumulative recurrence rate of HCC was significantly higher and the cumulative survival rate was significantly lower than those in the low BZW2 expression group. In the low IVD expression group, the cumulative recurrence rate of HCC was significantly higher and the cumulative survival rate was significantly lower compared with those in the high IVD expression group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions The expression level of BZW2 protein is up-regulated, whereas that of IVD protein is down-regulated in the HCC tissues. Moreover, the cumulative recurrence rate of HCC is relatively high and the cumulative survival rate is relatively low in liver transplant recipients with high BZW2 expression and low IVD expression.

【Objective】 To investigate the significance of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the prostate tissue of rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis(EAP). 【Methods】 EAP rat models were established and divided into control group, EAP group, anti-GM-CSF group (blocking control group) and anti-GM-CSFEAP group (blocking EAP group). Pain behaviors were tested. The pathological changes were observed with HE staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of GM-CSF, NGF and IL-17 were detected with RT-PCR and Western blot. 【Results】 Pain test showed the anti-GM-CSF group had less chronic pelvic pain than the EAP group. HE staining showed the anti-GM-CSF group had less tissue inflammatory response. The EAP inflammation score was higher in the control group than in the anti-GM-CSF group. Immunohistochemistry showed GM-CSF was positive in the EAP group (mainly in the nucleus). RT-PCR and Western blot results showed the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-17 and NGF significantly decreased 50 days after EAP in the anti-GM-CSF group. 【Conclusion】 Increased expressions of GM-CSF, NGF and IL-17 in prostate tissue of EAP rats may be important inflammatory mediators of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS);decreased expressions of NGF and IL-17 after resistance against GM-CSF indicate that GM-CSF may be a potential therapeutic target for CP/CPPS.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate curative effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by the transfusion of other convalescent plasma. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 18 patients with severe and critical COVID-19, who were hospitalized in the ICU of Xianghu Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from February 1 to March 15, 2020. Patients were subdivided into an experimental group (=6, who had transfused the plasma) and an observation group (=12, who had no plasma transfusion). Basic clinical data and prognosis indexes of these two groups were compared. Moreover, for the experimental group, the dynamic changes of blood oxygen saturation before and after the transfusion, the changes of lymphocyte absolute value 48 hours after the transfusion, and the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, blood type and other basic clinical data between the two groups (all >0.05).There were no significant differences in ventilator machine weaning time, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) weaning time, body temperature recovery to normal time, and hospitalization days between these two groups (all >0.05). For the experimental group, before, during and after the convalescent plasma transfusion, the blood oxygen saturation of all 6 patients at all time (1, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h) was more than 90%, and there was no significant fluctuation. There were 3 patients whose absolute value of lymphocyte was increased 48 hours after the transfusion, and the remaining was decreased. There were 5 patients whose SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection turned negative 48 hours after the transfusion, accounting for 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS Transfusion of convalescent plasma will not affect outcomesof COVID-19 patients, which can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients and reduce the loading capacity of SARS-CoV-2.
Betacoronavirus ; Blood Component Transfusion ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Pandemics ; Plasma ; Pneumonia, Viral ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Interrupted time series (ITS) is a statistical method for the quasi-experimental design specific to the outcome of time series, in which the effectiveness of an intervening measure is evaluated by examining change in slope and immediate change in level. The key feature of ITS is that the secular trend of time series prior to the intervention can be effectively controlled so as to accurately estimate the intervention effect. The design principle and statistical method for ITS were illustrated by an example of evaluating halving policy for the expert registration fee in the general hospital of a city. The segmented linear regression was used to fit the above time series data and the results were explained in detail. Meanwhile, the study design and model fitting along with explanations of the results with respect to the effects of two types of successive interventions and on different time-points of an intervention were illustrated as well in this paper. The existed upward or downward trend should be taken into account in order to accurately estimate the intervention effect as it exists in most of the public health surveillance data. Two parameters, known as change in slope and immediate change in level, were employed to evaluate the effect of the intervention. The ITS analysis can be widely applied to the program evaluation as it could enrich methods of the evaluation compared to the traditional model of the program evaluation.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018.Methods:Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select hospitals capable of treating patients with spinal cord injury from 3 regions，9 provinces and 27 cities in China to retrospectively investigate eligible patients with traumatic spinal cord injury admitted in 2018. National and regional incidence rates were calculated. The data of cause of injury，injury level，severity of injury，segment and type of fracture，complications，death and other data were collected by medical record questionnaire，and analyzed according to geographical region，age and gender.Results:Medical records of 4，134 patients were included in this study，with a male-to-female ratio of 2.99∶1. The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury in China in 2018 was 50.484 / 1 million （95% CI 50.122-50.846）. The highest incidence in the Eastern region was 53.791 / 1 million （95% CI 53.217-54.365）. In the whole country，the main causes of injury were high falls （29.58%），as well as in the Western region （40.68%），while the main causes of injury in the Eastern and Central regions were traffic injuries （31.22%，30.10%）. The main injury level was cervical spinal cord in the whole country （64.49%），and the proportion of cervical spinal cord injury in the Central region was the highest （74.68%），and the proportion of lumbosacral spinal cord injury in the Western region was the highest （32.30%）. The highest proportion of degree of injury was incomplete quadriplegia （55.20%），and the distribution pattern was the same in each region. A total of 65.87% of the patients were complicated with fracture or dislocation，77.95% in the Western region and only 54.77% in the Central region. In the whole country，the head was the main combined injury （37.87%），as well as in the Eastern and Central regions，while the proportion of chest combined injury in the Western region was the highest （38.57%）. A total of 32.90% of the patients were complicated with respiratory complications. There were 23 patients （0.56%） died in hospital，of which 17（73.91%） died of respiratory dysfunction. Conclusions:The Eastern region of China has a high incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury. Other epidemiological features include high fall as the main cause of injury cervical spinal cord injury as the main injury level，incomplete quadriplegia as the main degree of injury，head as the main combined injury，and respiratory complications as the main complication.