Objective To analyze the relationship between the level of serum homocysteine and cerebral artery stenosis in cerebral infarction patients.Methods Clinical data from 165 cerebral infarction patients who had been done cerebral angiography examination were analyzed.According to the level of serum homocysteine,the patients were divided into 5.0-15.0 μmol/L group,15.1-20.0 μmol/L group and above 20.1 μmol/L group.Other risk fac-tors including age,gender,blood pressure,blood lipid and blood glucose were recorded.The number of cerebral vascu-lar stenosis in different parts of brain were analyzed,and then make a decision of the relationship between the level of serum homocysteine and cerebral artery stenosis,as well as the other risk factors.Results Among 165 cases,74 cases (48.15%)came from 5.0-15.0 μmol/L group and the number of stenosal cerebral vascular was 36strips,50 cases (30.12%)came from 15.0-20.0 μmol/L group and the number of stenosal cerebral vascular was 66 strips,41 cases (24.70%)came from above 20.1 μmol/L group and the number of stenosal cerebral vascular was 67.Analysis of variance was conducted between the numbers of stenosal cerebral vascular of each group,the differences were significant (F =4.12,P <0.05).Conclusion In cerebral infarction patients,the incidence of Hcy(hyperhomocysteinemia) was higher than that of normal hcy.2.shows more serious damage of intracranial and extracranial arterial sclerosis occur in patients with the increase of homocysteine levels.

Aim To investigate the effects of Shaoqiduogan(SQDG)on immunological hepatic fibrosis induced by human albumin in rats as well as its possible mechanisms.Methods The model of immunological hepatic fibrosis induced by human albumin was prepared.The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups,namely normal control group,liver fibrosis model group,SQDG(42.5,85,170 mg·kg~(-1))treated groups and colchicine(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)) treated group.HE staining was used to examine the histopathological change.The activities of transaminase in serum,malondiadehyde(MDA)content,superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activities,hydroxyproline(Hyp)content in liver homogenate were assayed byspectrophotometry.The levels of hyaluronic acid(HA)and procollagen Ⅲ (PCⅢ)in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay.In vitro,the collagen production of hepatic stellate cell(HSC)-T6 stimulated with transforming growth factor beta1(TGF-β1)was measured with 3H-Proline uptake.Results SQDG had obvious protective effects on human albumin induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.The results showed that the serum ALT and AST decreased by SQDG treatment,but had no significant difference compared with model group.Pathological examination showed that SQDG could remarkably alleviate the hepatic fibrosis.SQDG not only decreased the Hyp content in liver homogenates,but also the elevated level of HA,PCⅢ in serum.SQDG also ameliorated the oxidative stress state of hepatic fibrosis rats,decreased the production of MDA and enhanced the activities of antioxidative enzyme including SOD and GSH-Px.Furthermore,SQDG(20～160 mg·L~(-1))inhibited the collagen production of HSC stimulated with TGF-β1 in vitro.Conclusion sSQDG has protective effect on liver fibrosis rats induced by human albumin.The mechanisms of its anti-fibrotic effects may be associated with its action of ameliorating the oxidative stress in liver,and inhibiting the production of collagen in HSC.

Objective To observe the prevalence of anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2) gene G191R mutation in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP),and to investigate the effect of PRSS2 gene G191R mutation on susceptibility to pancreatitis.Methods The blood samples of 82 patients with acute pancreatitis,73 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 138 healthy subjects were collected,and genomic DNA was extracted.Nest PCR were performed to amplify PRSS2 gene and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was followed by using Hpy188Ⅲ to distinguish the G191R mutation.DNA sequencing analysis was performed to confirm the mutation status.Results The size of nest PCR products was 436 bp.RFLP2 produced 309 bp and 127 bp fragments,which were resulted from PRSS2 gene G191R mutation (GGA →AGA).DNA sequencing analysis of the PCR products further confirmed the PRSS2 gene G191R mutation.Five of eighty-two(6.1％) patients with acute pancreatitis had PRSS2 gene G191R mutation (OR=0.682,95％ CI 0.231 ～ 2.010); one of seventy-three (1.4％) patients with chronic pancreatitis had the mutation (OR =0.145,95％ CI 0.019 ～ 1.145),and the corresponding value in healthy group was 8.7％ (12/138).The G191R mutation rate in patients with chronic pancreatitis was significantly lower than that in healthy group (x2 =0.432,P =0.035),but the G191R mutation rates were not significantly different between AP group and healthy group (x2 =0.487,P =0.485).Conclusions PRSS2 gene G191R mutation facilitates the degradation of anionic trypsin,and may reduce the incidence of chronic pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of electrical stimulation to sacral spinal nerve 3 (S₃ stimulation) on gastrointestinal dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSSix rabbits were taken as normal controls to record their gastrointestinal multipoint biological discharge, colon pressure and rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Electrodes were implanted into S₃ in another 18 rabbits. Then the model of SCI was conducted following Fehling's method: the rabbit S₃ was clamped to induce transverse injury, which was claimed by both somatosensory evoked potential and motion evoked potential. Two hours after SCI, S₃ stimulation was conducted. The 18 rabbits were subdivided into 3 groups to respectively record their gastrointestinal electric activities (n=6), colon pressure (n=6), and rectum pressure (n=6). Firstly the wave frequency was fixed at 15 Hz and pulse width at 400 μs and three stimulus intensities (6 V, 8 V, 10 V) were tested. Then the voltage was fixed at 6 V and the pulse width changed from 200 μs, 400 μs to 600 μs. The response was recorded and analyzed. The condition of defecation was also investigated.

RESULTSAfter SCI, the mainly demonstrated change was dyskinesia of the single haustrum and distal colon. The rectoanal inhibitory reflex almost disappeared. S₃ stimulation partly recovered the intestinal movement after denervation, promoting defecation. The proper stimulus parameters were 15 Hz, 400 μs, 6 V, 10 s with 20 s intervals and 10 min with 10 min intervals, total 2 h.

CONCLUSIONS₃ stimulation is able to restore the intestinal movement after denervation (especially single haustrum and distal colon), which promotes defecation.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Sacrum ; innervation ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the serological features of hepatitis G virus (HGV or GBV) in selected population of Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang Provinces (region).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine IgG antibody against GBV (anti-GBV IgG) in serum specimens of 1469 individuals from the 3 provinces (region).

RESULTSThe positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in ethnic minorities (4.11% in Tibetan, 5.36% in Mongolian, 4.55% in Uigur, 4.00% in Hui population) was slightly higher than that in Han population (1.36%-1.73%), but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in drug abusers (11.30%, 34/301) was remarkably higher than that of the normal population (2.44%,18/736) (P<0.01). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in blood donors was 1.02%-7.68%.

CONCLUSIONSThe positivity rates of serum GBV-IgG antibody among ethnic groups in the 3 provinces (region) had no significant differences; blood-borne transmission seemed to be an important transmission route of GBV, therefore supervision of blood donors and drug abusers should be intensified.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flaviviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; GB virus C ; immunology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Substance-Related Disorders ; virology

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus platinum as first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: Patients administered platinum combined with nab-paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for epithelial OC, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer from July 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). Adverse events (AEs) were examined. Subgroup analysis was performed. Results: Seventy-two patients (median age, 54.5 years; range, 20.0–79.0 years) were evaluated, including 12 and 60 administered neoadjuvant therapy and primary surgery with subsequent chemotherapy, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 25.6 months, and the median PFS was 26.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]=24.0–29.3) months in the whole patient population. In the neoadjuvant subgroup, the median PFS was 26.7 (95% CI=22.9–30.5) months vs. 30.1 (95% CI=23.1–37.1) months in the primary surgery subgroup. Twenty-seven patients were administered nab-paclitaxel plus carboplatin and had a median PFS of 30.3 (95% CI=not available [NA]–NA) months. The commonest grade 3–4 AEs included anemia (15.3%), white blood cell decreased (11.1%), and neutrophil count decreased (20.8%). No drug-related hypersensitivity reactions occurred. Conclusion Nab-paclitaxel plus platinum as first-line treatment in OC was associated with a favorable prognosis and was tolerable in patients with OC.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Shaoqiduogan (SQDG) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis rats and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) irritated hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and to explore its possible mechanisms.

METHODThe model of chemical hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 was prepared. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including normal control group, liver fibrosis model group and SQDG (42. 5, 85, 170 mg x kg(-1)) treated groups. The level of collagen type 1 (C-1) in serum was determined by radioimmunoassay. Masson stain was used to examine the histopathological change. MMP-13 and TIMP-1 ex-pression in liver tissues were assayed by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, effects of SQDG on the expression of MMP-13, TIMP-1 and C-1 in HSC-T6 stimulated by TGF-beta were measured by Western-blot.

RESULTThe results showed that SQDG significantly decreased the elevated level of C-1 in serum of hepatic fibrosis rats induced by CCl4. Pathological examination showed that SQDG could remarkably alleviate the degree of liver fibrogenesis and formation of pseudolobulus. The results of immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SQDG significantly increased MMP-13 expression and decreased TIMP-1 expression in liver tissues. Furthermore, SQDG (20-160 mg x L(-1)) could facilitate MMP-13 expression, inhibit TIMP-1 expression and significantly inhibit the C-I production of HSC stimulated with TGF-beta1 in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-fibrotic effects of SQDG may be associated with its action of promoting collagen degradation via controlling the levels of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in liver.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by reduced expression levels of the frataxin gene (FXN) due to expansion of triplet nucleotide GAA repeats in the first intron of FXN. FXN is a mitochondrial protein which plays an important role in the regulation of intracellular iron trafficking, biogenesis of iron-sulfur cluster and heme, and removal of reactive oxygen species. Our previous work showed that tissue-specific expression of FXN in cerebellum and heart generates two novel isoforms. In order to find the isoforms in mouse tissues, we tried to obtain a polyclonal antibody against mouse Fxn with high specificity and sensitivity. Thus, the recombinant plasmid pET24(+)-mFxn was constructed to express his-tagged Fxn in BL21 (DE3) cells. The expressed protein is a mature form with 130 amino acids (aa, 14.38 kDa) without the N-terminal signal peptide (77 aa), purified on Ni-NTA column and further dialyzed with Centrifugal Filtration Device. The polyclonal antibody against Fxn was produced by immunizing rabbits with highly purified protein. The collected antiserums were preliminarily purified by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4. Western blotting analysis and cell immunofluorescence showed that the obtained antibody was able to detect both purified and endogenous Fxn. It also worked well in immunoprecipitation with mouse tissues. This is the first time, to our knowledge, to report that mouse Fxn was used as immunogen to generate antibody with high specificity and sensitivity. This work provides a powerful tool for our further research on mouse Fxn isoforms.
Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; metabolism ; Antibody Specificity ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Immunization ; Iron-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the role of complement C3 in early predicting pregnancy outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer(F-ET).Methods A total of 378 F-ET cycles were prospectively collected and divided into group A(complement C3≤1.05,120 cycles)and group B(complement C3>1.05,258 cycles)based on the best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting F-ET pregnancy outcomes.The outcomes of the two groups were compared,and the best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting F-ET spontaneous abortion was analyzed in group B.Results Age was a risk factor for successful F-ET pregnancy(P<0.05),and complement C3 and embryo type were protective factors for successful F-ET pregnancy(P<0.05).The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve(ROC)of complement C3 for predicting F-ET pregnancy outcome was 0.702,and the best cutoff value was 1.05 g/L,with a clinical pregnancy sensitivity of 87.60%and a specificity of 52.00%.The clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate in group B were both significantly higher than those in group A(67.05%vs.52.75%,P<0.05).The best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting spontaneous abortion after F-ET was 1.32 g/L,with an area under the ROC curve of 0.760,a sensitivity of 69.00%,and a specificity of 81.20%.Conclusions Complement C3 is of significance in the early prediction of F-ET pregnancy outcome.When complement C3 exceeds the level of 1.32 g/L,it may lead to an increase in the rate of spontaneous abortion.

Objective: To evaluate the running status of Qinghai provincial hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) laboratory network in 2017. Methods: The surveillance database developed in Qinghai provincial HFMD laboratory network in 2017 were analyzed, and the indicators for the running status of HFMD laboratory network in Qinghai province were evaluated. Results: It was shown that 574 samples of suspected HFMD cases were detected by real time RT-PCR in 2017, and 368 were positive, the positive rate was 64.11%. Then 121 virus strains were isolated, the results of sequencing and analysis showed that 100 strains were EV71 with C4a genotype, 16 strains were CA16 with B1b genotype, and 5 strains belonged to the other enterovirus. In addition, Qinghai provincial HFMD network labs passed all the confirmatory test and proficiency test, and on-site review held by national HFMD laboratory in 2017, respectively. Conclusions Qinghai provincial HFMD laboratory network has been established and running well. It provided important scientific basis for HFMD surveillance in Qinghai province.