To identify adulterants from medicinal plants of Bletilla H. G. Reichenbach, the suitable candidate DNA barcoding of Bletilla was evaluated. In this study, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, the LFY homologous gene intron 2 and chloroplast ycfl gene were amplified and sequenced from forty-one samples. The intra-specific and inter-specific divergences of Bletilla were calculated, and the identification efficiency was assessed using Barcoding Gap, NJ tree by K2P distance and BLAST1 method. The result showed the intra-specific divergence of nrDNA ITS and ycJfl (0.022-0.106 and 0.017-0.106) were obviously higher than the inter-specific divergence (0-0.012 and 0-0.015), and four species of Bletilla were also accurately distinguished in NJ trees. Whereas, there was no Barcoding Gap on LFY homologous gene intron 2, thus it cannot effectively identify species of Bletilla. Using NJ tree of nrDNA ITS and ycfl gene, powdery medicine and the adulterants of Bletilla were successfully unidentified. In conclusion, nrDNA ITS and ycfl can be used as a potential DNA barcoding to identify the medicinal plants in Bletilla and its adulterants. There were only three basic differences on nrDNA ITS between "Jujing baiji" and Bletilla striata of Lu'an in Anhui province, and two basic differences in ycfl. Based on morphological and molecular data, "Jujing baiji" could be recognized as the species of Bletilla striata.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Orchidaceae ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification

OBJECTIVETo explore the psychosocial effect of fluorosis on patients in fluorosis epidemic areas.

METHODSMultistage, stratified, clustered and random sampling method was used in this survey. Totally 416 inhabitants of 12, 15 and 35-44 years of age from rural fluorosis epidemic areas in Hebei province were selected. Dental fluorosis was classified by Dean's index (DI). A total of 178 patients with different types of fluorosis were involved in a psychosocial questionnaire investigation which included six five-point subscales, including attitude to teeth, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, interpersonal or social anxiety, effect of self-esteem, impact on behavior.

RESULTSFluorosis prevalence in fluorosis epidemic areas of Xingtai in Hebei province was 71.20%, and significant difference existed among three age groups (Pearson Chi-square value = 167.51, P < 0.01). With the increase of DI score, the average value of subscale "attitude to teeth" rising, ranging from 2.58 to 3.51, and value of "subjective well-being" was also increasing, ranging from 2.35 to 2.9. Statistical difference of subscale average value was found only in these two subscales ("attitude to teeth": F = 4.787, P < 0.01; "subjective well-being": F = 2.538, P < 0.05). "Attitude to teeth" was significantly different between control group and moderate group (F = 0.52, P < 0.01) and between control group and severe group (F = 0.72, P < 0.01). While significant difference of "subjective well-being" could only be found between control group and severe group (F = 0.56, P < 0.01). According to the bivariate correlation analysis, strong correlation could be found between the degree of fluorosis and the average value of sub-scales.

CONCLUSIONSThe psychosocial impact of fluorosis on patients in fluorosis epidemic areas mainly appeared in two aspects, i.e. attitude to teeth and the perception of well-being, especially in severe group.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Fluorosis, Dental ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the attitude of the public to the psychosocial effects of fluorosis through investigating the public in different areas.

METHODSTwenty typical fluorosis photos were selected and evaluated by the public in Xingtai, Beijing and Guangzhou, which included 101 dentists, 118 dental students, 103 college students in non-dental schools, 102 clerks and 92 leaders. Each evaluator was required to answer seven five-point questions according to each photo.

RESULTSThe mean of the public evaluation was going up with the increase of Dean's Index (DI) score, ranging from 2.21 to 4.74, meanwhile, the prevalence of reporting that fluorosis would affect their psychosocial status also ascended. Less than 25% people reported that very mild fluorosis (DI < or = 1) would affect the psychosocial status of patients, and mild fluorosis (DI = 2) would affect 25% - 56%, while the prevalence would increase to 48% - 97% in severe fluorosis group (DI > or = 3). "Bivariate Correlation Analysis" showed that significant correlation existed in the evaluation of the public and the degree of fluorosis. The scores of dentists were significantly lower than those of dental students, college students in non-dental schools and clerks. The evaluation scores of the public in Xingtai were generally higher than those in Beijing and Guangzhou.

CONCLUSIONSMild or less fluorosis could lead to little psychosocial effects.

Fluorosis, Dental ; psychology ; Humans ; Psychology, Social

OBJECTIVETo detect the IgH-MMSET fusion gene resulted from t (4;14) translocation in multiple myeloma and illuminate its significance.

METHODSIgH-MMSET fusion gene was detected in bone marrow specimens of 25 multiple myeloma (MM) patients and MM cell line NCI-H929 using reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay followed by nested PCR to increase the sensitivity. The purified PCR products were cloned into pGEM-T vector and then sequenced using M13 forward primers. The fragment sequences were compared with that in GenBank to find matched sequences.

RESULTSOnly a 438 base pair long fragment was obtained after RT-PCR assay and was confirmed by sequencing to be a fusion gene product of IgH gene and MMSET gene in MM cell line NCI-H929. The breakpoints were located within the C micro region of IgH gene on chromosome 14 and intron 3 of MMSET gene on chromosome 4. IgH-MMSET hybrid transcripts were detected in 3 of 25 MM patients through nested PCR assay. The amplified fragments of the 3 patients were 237 base pairs (bp), 239 bp and 239 bp in length, respectively. The breakpoints on chromosome 4 were identical to that of NCI-H929 cell.

CONCLUSIONSThe formation of IgH-MMSET fusion gene is resulted from t (4;14) translocation in MM. The incidence rate is 12.0%. The presence of IgH-MMSET fusion gene may predict poor prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Translocation, Genetic

BACKGROUNDA limitation of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation (BBD) is that airflow must be completely blocked for as long as possible during the operation. However, the patient often cannot hold his or her breath for a long period affecting the efficacy of the procedure. In this study, we used an extra-small-diameter tube to provide assisted ventilation to patients undergoing BBD and assessed the efficacy and safety of this technique.

METHODSBronchoscopic balloon dilatation was performed in 26 patients with benign tracheal stenosis using an extra-small-diameter tube. The tracheal diameter, dyspnea index, blood gas analysis results, and complications were evaluated before and after BBD. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTSSixty-three BBD procedures were performed in 26 patients. Dyspnea immediately improved in all patients after BBD. The tracheal diameter significantly increased from 5.5 ± 1.5 mm to 13.0 ± 1.3 mm (P < 0.001), and the dyspnea index significantly decreased from 3.4 ± 0.8 to 0.5 ± 0.6 (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the partial pressure of oxygen during the operation (before, 102.5 ± 27.5 mmHg; during, 96.9 ± 30.4 mmHg; and after, 97.2 ± 21.5 mmHg; P = 0.364), but there was slight temporary retention of carbon dioxide during the operation (before, 43.5 ± 4.2 mmHg; during, 49.4 ± 6.8 mmHg; and after, 40.1 ± 3.9 mmHg; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSmall-diameter tube-assisted BBD is an effective and safe method for the management of benign tracheal stenosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Dilatation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV DNA and histology in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSThirty-five patients were treated with lamivudine, 16 with interferon alfa (INF-alpha), 24 with sequential Lamivudine and INF-alpha. The total duration of therapy was 12 months. Intrahepatic HBV DNA was measured quantitatively by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThere was significant change in all parameters of the groups of patients at the end of treatment (P < 0.05). The patients treated with sequential treatment had slightly higher HBeAg seroconversion rate (38.1%) than that of the other patients (P=0.1352). The baseline levels of intrahepatic HBV DNA in the patients with HBeAg seroconversion or undetectable serum HBV DNA were significantly lower than that of the other patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAntiviral agents could effectively inhibit intrahepatic HBV DNA and improve hepatic histology. The patients with low baseline intrahepatic HBV DNA level may achieve better antiviral efficacy. Sequential treatment might produce high HBeAg seroconversion rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on cell cycle and expression of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSThe DNA content of MM cells line HS-Sultan was analyzed by flow cytometry after exposure to As(2)O(3), the effects on expression of CDKI P15, P16 AND P21 were studied by reverse transcriptase PCR.

RESULTSDNA flow cytometric analysis showed that As(2)O(3) induced most of HS-Sultan cells, arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase and a small fraction at G(2)/M phase and apoptosis occurred mainly in S phase. There was no expression of P15 and P16 mRNA in untreated HS-Sultan cells and 1.0 micromol/L As(2)O(3) could make them expressed after exposed 24 or 48 hours respectively. Expression of P12 mRNA was obviously elevated by As(2)O(3) comparing with that of control.

CONCLUSIONOne of the pharmacological mechanisms of As(2)O(3) is to activate the expression of CDKI P15, P16 and P21, and consequently affect cell proliferation cycle.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To compare the actions of Longbie Capsules and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)transplantation in repairing the damaged cartilage of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)rats. Methods Thirty-six rats aged 4-6 weeks old were induced into KOA model(bilateral knees)by collagenase injection method. All of the modeled rats were randomly divided into model group(intragastric administration of normal saline), BMSC transplantation group(giving tail vein injection of 1 ×106 of BMSCs per time, 2 times every week), and Chinese medicine group (intragastric administration of Longbie Capsules of 7.5 g·kg-1·d-1),12 rats in each group. Six weeks later,the cartilage of rat bilateral knees was taken out. The pathological changes of cartilage were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining method, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of Col2a1, X-linkedinhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), HuR in rat knee cartilage were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. Results The HE staining results showed that the cartilage tissue surface was rough with more cracks, and the cartilage cells gathered with the cytoplasm collapsed and arranging disorderly in the model group. The number of chondrocytes was increased and cell surface was flat,and the cracks of the cartilage were decreased with the chondrocytes arranging uniformly in Chinese medicine group and BMSC transplantation group compared with the model group. The results of immunohistochemistry and qPCR detection showed that in Chinese medicine dosage group and BMSC transplantation group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of Col2a1,XIAP and HuR were significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.0001), but there was no significant difference between the two medication groups(P>0.05). Conclusion Longbie Capsules and BMSC transplantation can promote the secretion of Col2a1 in the cartilage tissue of KOA rats,improve cartilage, and their mechanism may be related with up-regulating apoptosis-related proteins HuR and XIAP.

Objective Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have potential value in the clinical application of various tumors. This study was to investigate the role of CTCs and their chemokine receptor CCR9 in the invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From May 2018 to June 2019, a total of 62 patients with NSCLC in the clinical oncology center of The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were enrolled in this study. The CanpatrolTM CTC technique was used to detected the expressions of CTCs and CCR9 in CTCs in peripheral blood of patients. Furthermore, the relationships between expression levels of CTCs, CCR9 and clinical, pathological characteristics of NSCLC patients were analyzed. Results CTCs were detected in 56 of 62 (90.3%) NSCLC patients. CTCs counts were associated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis of NSCLC (P<0.05). In the analysis of clinical correlation between CTC subtypes and NSCLC, epithelial CTCs counts were related to TNM stage and distant metastasis of NSCLC (r=0.296 and r=0.273, P<0.05). Additionally, counts of mixed type CTCs were also correlative with NSCLC tumor metastasis (r =0.253, P =0.047). Finally, we found that the positive rate of CCR9 in mixed type CTCs was associated with distant metastasis of NSCLC (r=0.353, P=0.038). Conclusion CTCs counts and subtypes were correlated with TNM stage and metastasis of NSCLC. The expression level of CCR9 on CTC was expected to be a biomarker to evaluate the risk of tumor metastasis in NSCLC.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical features of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) in 26 children, to improve the understanding of MAS diagnosis and treatment, and to achieve early clinical diagnosis of MAS.Methods:The clinical data of 26 children with MAS treated in Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2011 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Their clinical characteristics were summarized and studied. t-test, Mann- Whitney U test, χ 2 test or Fisher′ s exact probability method was used for comparison between groups. Results:(1) Among the 26 MAS patients enrolled, there were 22 females and 4 males.The average onset age of female and male patients was (5.87±2.94) years old and (7.48±3.36) years old, respectively.(2) In female patients, there were 7 cases with the typical triad and 15 cases with the atypical triad.(3) Female patients had the first symptom of vaginal bleeding (8/22) and breast development (14/22). Among the 4 male children, 1 case had " fracture" and 3 cases " lagged behind their peers in height" at the first visit.(4) Compared with the breast development group, the vaginal bleeding group had an earlier onset age[(4.06±1.88) years old vs.(7.82±1.82) years old] ( t=5.023, P<0.001), earlier bone maturation[(1.26±0.07) vs.(1.09±0.13)] ( t=2.933, P<0.05), a greatly lowered predicted adult height[(-2.16±0.98) SDS vs.(-0.96±1.09) SDS]( t=1.352, P<0.05), a lower blood phosphorus level[(1.41±0.14) nmol/L vs.(1.67±0.24) nmol/L] ( t=1.941, P<0.05), and a significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase level[339(313, 656) U/L vs.243(205, 452) U/L] ( U=1.000, P<0.05). All patients (8 cases) in the vaginal bleeding group had fibrous dysplasia of bone.(5) Ten patients progressed to central precocious puberty (CPP). They showed an older average age of onset[(7.27±2.69)years old vs.(4.69±2.68)years old] ( U=44.000, P<0.05), significantly earlier bone maturation at diagnosis[(1.23±0.11) vs.(1.01±0.13)] ( t=1.834, P<0.05), and a lower predicted adult height[(152.00±4.62) cm vs.(162.10±6.91) cm] ( t=3.805, P<0.05), compared with those who did not progress to CPP.(6) Eleven children developed polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of bone, and most common type (8 cases) was polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of bone, primarily at lower limb bones and skulls.(7) Of the 26 children, 20 cases had scattered Café au lait pigments on the skin.The Café au lait pigmented skin lesions in 35% (7/20) cases crossed the midline. Conclusions:With complicated clinical manifestations, MAS is more common and occurs earlier in girls than boys.It is difficult to clinically diagnose MAS in boys due to the insidious onset and atypical symptoms.Female MAS patients with vaginal bleeding as the first symptom usually have an early age of onset, advanced bone age and lower predicted adult height, so they should be monitored and evaluated clinically.Vaginal bleeding is significantly associated with polyostotic fiber dysplasia of bone in MAS patients.Therefore, it is recommended that patients with vaginal bleeding should undergo a routine bone single-photon emission computed tomography scan.This helps understand the situation of occult fiber dysplasia of bone.Patients with later diagnosis and advanced bone age should be aware of the possibility of progression to CPP.