Objective To study the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B specific Bw4 epitope on disease progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.Methods Eighty-six cases of HCV infection through paid blood donation were enrolled in the study.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect HCV IgG and IgM,real-time reverse transcriptation polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect HCV RNA,and sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) to analyze HLA type was performed.Categorical data were analyzed by chi-square test,and measurement data were compared by independent sample t test.Results Among the 86 HCVinfected individuals,there were 29 (33.7 ％) cases of Bw4/4 homozygote,38 cases (44.2 ％) of Bw4/6 heterozygote and 19 (22.1％) cases of Bw6/6 homozygote.The HCV RNA levels in Bw4/4 group,Bw4/6 group and Bw6/6 group were (3.98±0.32),(5.22±0.29),(5.04±0.38) lg IU/mL,respectively.The HCV RNA level in Bw4/4 group was significantly lower than those in the other two groups (t=2.821,P=0.0063 ; t =2.106,P =0.0407,respectively).The spontaneous clearance rates of Bw4/4 group,Bw4/6 group and BW6/6 group were 58.6％,26.3％ and 21.0％,respectively.The spontaneous clearance rate of Bw4/4 group was significantly higher than those of Bw4/6 group and Bw6/6 group (x2 =7.135,P =0.008; x2 =6.583,P =0.010,respectively).HCV infected individuals with homozygous epitopes of Bw4/4 had 4.351 times higher probability of spontaneous viral clearance than that of Bw4/6 heterozygote or Bw6/6 homozygote (OR=4.351,95％CI:1.676-11.294).Conclusions Homozygosity for HLA-Bw4-bearing B alleles is associated with significant lower HCV viral load and higher spontaneous clearance rate.The HLA-Bw4 epitopes have a protective effect against HCV infection.

Objective To study the influence of Bw4 broad specific motif on hepatitis C virus (HCV) specific T cell response.Methods The 86 patients with HCV infection were enrolled in this study,who had history of non-standard paid blood donation.The sequence specific primer SSP-PCR and specific primer Amplification Refractory Mutation system was used to analyze HLA type.The T cell response,using PBMCs stimulated by HCV nonstructural protein NS3,NS4 and NS5 was tested by ELISPOT assay.Results There were 29 (33.7％) cases with homozygosity Bw4/4,38 cases (44.2％) with heterozygosity Bw4/6 and 19(22.1％) cases with homozygosity Bw6/6 in 86 patients with HCV infection.HCV viral loads in Bw4/4group,Bw4/6 group and Bw6/6 group were (3.98±0.32) Log (copy/ml),(5.22± 0.29) Log (copy/ml),(5.04±0.38) Log(copy/ml),respectively and there was a significant difference in HCV load among three groups(P=0.0153).The 24 cases with HCV infection were test HCV specific T cell response divided homozygosity Bw4/4 group and non-homozygosity Bw4/4 group.The HCV specific T cell response frequency in homozygosity Bw4/4 group and non-homozygosity Bw4/4 group was 50％ (5/10) and 14.28％ (2/14,respectively.The HCV specific T cell response magnitude in homozygosity Bw4/4 group and non-homozygosity Bw4/4 group was 70 SFU/106 PBMC (0-2020 SFU/106 PBMC)and 0 SFU/106 PBMC (0-200 SFU/106 PBMC).The response magnitude and frequency in homozygosity Bw4/4 group was significantly higher than that of non-homozygosity Bw4/4 group,P value was 0.0450 and 0.069,respectively.In homozygosity Bw4/4 group NS5 induced T cell response was dominant.The NS5 specific T cell response frequency in Bw4/4 group and non-Bw4/4 group was 50％ and 7.14％,respectively,and the difference was nearly significant(P=0.050).Conclusion The HCV-infected blood donors with homozygosity for HLA-Bw4 alleles is associated with a significant lower HCV virus load and stronger HCV specific T cell response,compared with non-homozygosity Bw4/4 group.

The discovery, sorting and identification methods as well as targeted drug delivery systems for cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reviewed by consulting the recent research papers. CSCs have been believed to be responsible for the occurrence and development of chemo-resistance, leading to the failure of chemotherapy. Much progress has been made in the approaches for CSCs targeting drug delivery systems. The understanding and targeted drug delivery systems for CSCs are promising to provide an alternative for cancer therapy.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

Objective To summarize the clinical features,natural history and causes of death of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy,lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS).Methods We retrospectively evaluated the clinical findings of 64 patients diagnosed as MELAS more than 3 years (death cases excluded) in Huashan Hospital from January 2005 to March 2017 and analyzed the natural course and the causes of death of the disease.Results Among 64 patients,the male-to-female ratio was 1.3 ∶ 1.Median onset age was 20.5 (16.8) years.The peak of incidence age was from 14 to 22 years.The most common features of MELAS in acute phase were seizures (48/64,75.0％),headache (41/64,64.1％),blurred vision (37/64,57.8％),nausea and vomiting (27/64,42.1％),fever (25/64,39.1％),mental and behavioral disorder (24/64,37.5％).Lactate dehydrogenase (31/60,51.6％),resting blood lactic acid (43/58,74.1％) and cerebral spinal fluid lactic acid (9/9) were elevated.Abnormal findings in electroencephalogram (36/40,90.0％),electrocardiogram (37/47,78.7％),electromyography (25/41,61.0％) were detected.In this cohort,20 patients (20/64,31.3％) with MELAS were dead.A Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed the estimated overall median survival time was 12 years.The median survival time of the group onset before sex maturity (≤ 14 years) was 8 years and that in the group onset after sex maturity (＞ 14 years) was 21 years.The causes of death were cardiogenic incidence (4/20,20.0％),pulmonary infection (4/20,20.0％),lactic acidosis (2/20,10.0％) and status epilepticus (2/20,10.0％).Conclusions MELAS is usually presented in young people associated with high mortality rate.The leading causes of death are cardiogenic,pulmonary infection and lactic acidosis.

Objective:To investigate the impact of " staging" hybrid coronary artery revascularization (HCR) on the short-and long-term efficacy of patients with multiple coronary artery lesions.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. Eighty patients with multiple coronary artery lesions admitted to the Baoding Second Central Hospital from January 2017 to October 2018 were selected and divided into two groups according to different surgical methods. Forty patients were treated with " staging" HCR and were designated as the HCR group, and 40 patients were treated with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and were designated as the OPCAB group. The perioperative related indicators and perioperative serious complications were compared between the two groups. The serum myocardial injury marker levels were detected preoperatively and 48 hours postoperatively, including heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and troponin I (cTnI). All subjects were followed up for at least 3 years to calculate the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).Results:The bypass surgery time, mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay time, and total hospital stay time in the HCR group were all less than those in the OPCAB group (all P<0.05), and the incision length in the HCR group was shorter than that in the OPCAB group ( P<0.05). The intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative 24-hour drainage volume, red blood cell transfusion volume, and plasma transfusion volume in the HCR group were all less than those in the OPCAB group (all P<0.05). Forty-eight hours after surgery, the serum H-FABP and cTnI levels in both groups were significantly higher than those preoperatively (all P<0.05), but the increase was more significant in the OPCAB group (all P<0.05). The perioperative serious complication rate in the HCR group was 2.50%(1/40), which was significantly lower than that in the OPCAB group [20.00%(8/40)] ( P<0.05). During the 3-year follow-up after surgery, the MACCE incidence in the HCR group was 12.50%(5/40), and that in the OPCAB group was 22.50%(9/40). There was no significant difference in the long-term MACCE incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:" Staging" HCR treatment for multiple coronary artery lesions can achieve ideal surgical results. Compared with OPCAB, its short-term efficacy is more significant, and long-term efficacy is equivalent.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and the management on the treatment and follow-up of this disease in Jiangsu Province, China. METHODS: The neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia who were admitted to 13 hospitals in Jiangsu Province from January to December, 2018, were enrolled as subjects. A retrospective analysis was performed on their mediacal data and follow-up data. RESULTS: In 2018, 740 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia were reported from the 13 hospitals in Jiangsu Province, accounting for 2.70% (740/27 386) of the total number of neonates admitted to the department of neonatology. Among these neonates, 620 (83.8%) had severe hyperbilirubinemia, 106 (14.3%) had extremely severe hyperbilirubinemia, and 14 (1.9%) had hazardous hyperbilirubinemia. Four neonates (0.5%) were diagnosed with acute bilirubin encephalopathy. A total of 484 neonates (65.4%) were readmitted due to severe hyperbilirubinemia after discharge from the delivery institution, with a median age of 7 days, among whom 214 (44.2%) were followed up for jaundice at the outpatient service before readmission, with a median age of 6 days at the first time of outpatient examination. During hospitalization, 211 neonates (28.5%) underwent cranial MRI examinations, among whom 85 (40.3%) had high T1WI signal in the bilateral basal ganglia and the globus pallidus; 238 neonates (32.2%) underwent brainstem auditory evoked potential examinations, among whom 14 (5.9%) passed only at one side and 7 (2.9%) failed at both sides. The 17 neonates with acute bilirubin encephalopathy or hazardous hyperbilirubinemia were followed up. Except one neonate was lost to follow-up, and there were no abnormal neurological symptoms in the other neonates. CONCLUSIONS Neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia account for a relatively high proportion of the total number of neonates in the department of neonatology. Jaundice monitoring and management after discharge from delivery institutions need to be strengthened. For neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia, relevant examinations should be carried out more comprehensively during hospitalization and these neonates should be followed up comprehensively and systematically after discharge.
Bilirubin ; China ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of nutrition intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by sarcopenia.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, seventy CHF patients with sarcopenia, aged 80 years or older, who had received standard CHF medication treatment and had stable conditions with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from June 2021 to October 2022 at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital outpatient clinic were continuously selected. The patients were randomly divided into a test group ( n=35) and a control group ( n=35) using a random number table. The test group continued the original heart failure medication treatment, and on the basis of daily meal, supplemented with whey protein powder [37 g per serving (including 16.2 g of whey protein, 145 kcal), twice a day]; they were given resistance exercise primarily focused on resistance training (5 sets of exercises, progressively increasing to 3 days per week, twice a day, 5 sets per session, 20 repetitions per set). The control group maintained the original heart failure medication treatment plan and lifestyle. The body mass index, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, 6-meter walking speed, 6-minute walk test, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction, ratio of early mitral flow peak velocity to early mitral annulus diastolic peak velocity (E/e′), serum albumin, hemoglobin, and serum creatinine were compared between the two groups before and after 3 months of intervention using t-tests and chi-square tests to analyze the efficacy of nutrition intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise in elderly patients with CHF complicated by sarcopenia. Results:Among the 70 patients, there were 42 males and 28 females. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the test group and the control group (all P>0.05). After 3 months of intervention, ASMI, grip strength and 6 min walking distance in the test group were all significantly higher than those in the control group [(6.43±1.07) vs (6.09±0.86) kg/m 2, (27.75±2.13) vs (23.45±0.47) kg, (361.51±58.71) vs (273.50±69.85) m], and significantly higher than those before intervention [(5.99±1.45) kg/m 2, (23.55±9.64) kg, (273.50±69.86) m]. The time of Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, BNP and E/e′ in the test group were both significantly lower than those in the control group [(11.20±2.09) vs (15.36±0.46) s, (278.80±58.69) vs (400.80±87.86) ng/L, (11.10±0.81) vs (14.66±1.90)], and significantly lower than those before intervention [(18.51±2.90) s, (407.50±122.74) ng/L and (14.00±1.15)]. There was no significant difference in remaining indicators between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Nutritional intervention combined with rehabilitation exercise primarily focused on whey protein supplementation and resistance training can significantly improve limb muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle function, and cardiac function in elderly patients with CHF complicated by sarcopenia on the basis of heart failure medication treatment.

Objective: To analyze the epidemic characteristics and drug resistance of pulmonary tuberculosis among the floating population in Beijing and to provide a scientific basis for formulating strategies for the prevention and control of tuberculosis among the floating population. Methods: Data of tuberculosis patients who were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was collected from 16 districts and one municipal institution of tuberculosis control and prevention in Beijing in 2019. The strain samples were tested for drug sensitivity by the proportional method. According to household registration location, patients were divided into the floating population and Beijing registration. SPSS 19.0 software analyzed tuberculosis patients' epidemic characteristics and drug resistance in the floating population. Results: In 2019, there were 1 171 culture-positive tuberculosis patients in Beijing, among the floating population, 593 (50.64%) patients were identified, with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.2∶1 (409∶184). Compared to patients under household registration as Beijing residents, a higher proportion of young adults aged 20-39 years (65.09%,386/593) were noticed, with 55.65% (330/593) reported from the urban areas and 96.80% (574/593) were reported the first time. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After completing the drug sensitivity test, 37 cases were with multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis, accounting for 6.24% (37/593). The rates of isoniazid resistance (42.11%,8/19) and multidrug resistance (21.05%,4/19) in floating population patients after retreatment were significantly higher than those in newly treated patients (11.67%, 67/574 and 5.75%, 33/574), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Most patients with tuberculosis in the floating population in Beijing in 2019 were young males aged 20-39 years. The reporting areas were urban areas and the newly treated patients mainly. The patients with tuberculosis in the re-treated floating population were more likely to suffer from multidrug and drug resistance, which should be taken as the key population for prevention and control.
Young Adult ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/epidemiology* ; Drug Resistance

This paper explores the relationship between the cardiac volume and time, which is applied to control dynamic heart phantom. We selected 50 patients to collect their cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) images, which have 20 points in time series CTA images using retrospective electrocardiograph gating, and measure the volume of four chamber in 20-time points with cardiac function analysis software. Then we grouped patients by gender, age, weight, height, heartbeat, and utilize repeated measurement design to conduct statistical analyses. We proposed structured sparse learning to estimate the mathematic expression of cardiac volume variation. The research indicates that all patients' groups are statistically significant in time factor ( = 0.000); there are interactive effects between time and gender groups in left ventricle ( = 8.597, = 0.006) while no interactive effects in other chambers with the remaining groups; and the different weight groups' volume is statistically significant in right ventricle ( = 9.004, = 0.005) while no statistical significance in other chambers with remaining groups. The accuracy of cardiac volume and time relationship utilizing structured sparse learning is close to the least square method, but the former's expression is more concise and more robust. The number of nonzero basic function of the structured sparse model is just 2.2 percent of that of least square model. Hence, the work provides more the accurate and concise expression of the cardiac for cardiac motion simulation.

OBJECTIVE: To detect whether Danlou Tablet (DLT) regulates the hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α-angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) mRNA signaling pathway and explore the role of DLT in treating chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced dyslipidemia and arteriosclerosis. METHODS: The mature adipocytes were obtained from 3T3-L1 cell culturation and allocated into 8 groups including control groups (Groups 1 and 5, 0.1 mL of cell culture grade water); DLT groups (Groups 2 and 6, 0.1 mL of 1,000 µg/mL DLT submicron powder solution); dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) groups (Groups 3 and 7, DMOG and 0.1 mL of cell culture grade water); DMOG plus DLT groups (Groups 4 and 8, DMOG and 0.1 mL of 1,000 µg/mL DLT submicron powder solution). Groups 1-4 used mature adipocytes and groups 5-8 used HIF-1 α-siRNA lentivirus-transfected mature adipocytes. After 24-h treatment, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1 α and Angptl4. In animal experiments, the CIH model in ApoE^-/- mice was established. Sixteen mice were complete randomly divided into 4 groups including sham group, CIH model group [intermittent hypoxia and normal saline (2 mL/time) gavage once a day]; Angptl4 Ab group [intermittent hypoxia and Angptl4 antibody (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally injected every week]; DLT group [intermittent hypoxia and DLT (250 mg/kg) once a day], 4 mice in each group. After 4-week treatment, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG). Hematoxylin-eosin and CD68 staining were used to observe the morphological properties of arterial plaques. RESULTS: Angptl4 expression was dependent on HIF-1 α, with a reduction in mRNA expression and no response in protein level to DMOG or DLT treatment in relation to siHIF-1 α -transfected cells. DLT inhibited HIF-1 α and Angptl4 mRNA expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and reduced HIF-1 α and Angptl4 protein expressions with DMOG in mature adipocytes (all P<0.01), as the effect on HIF-1 α protein also existed in the presence of siHIF-1 α (P<0.01). ApoE^-/- mice treated with CIH had increased TG and TC levels (all P<0.01) and atherosclerotic plaque. Angptl4 antibody and DLT both reduce TG and TC levels (all P<0.01), as well as reducing atherosclerotic plaque areas, narrowing arterial wall thickness and alleviating atherosclerotic lesion symptoms to some extent. CONCLUSION DLT had positive effects in improving dyslipidemia and arteriosclerosis by inhibiting Angptl4 protein level through HIF-1 α-Angptl4 mRNA signaling pathway.
Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/genetics* ; Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Dyslipidemias/genetics* ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Mice ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Powders ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; Triglycerides ; Water