ObjectiveTo observe effect of OT training on patients wearing the upper limd prosthesis. MethodsThe effect of OT to 30 patients with upper arm prosthesis was analyzed using FIM score before and after training. ResultsAfter 1-3-month OT training, the patients' FIM score were improved significantly(P<0.01).Conclusions OT is an effective method on the patients wearing upper arm prosthesis.

Objective To explore the changes of gut microbiota in response to abdominal and pelvic radiotherapy and its potential relationship with intestinal infection.Methods Irradiation was delivered to the abdominal region of BALB/c mice,following the regular human pelvic-radiotherapy protocol,2.0 Gy/d,continuous 5 d/week.Samples of ileum tissue and the intestinal content were collected at different time points of irradiation procedure,including after 3 and 5 weeks,and at 1 week after 6 weeks of irradiation.Quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA level of antimicrobial peptides and pro-inflammtory factors.Bacterial translocation was determined by PCR.The gut microbiota was characterized by the denaturing gradient electrophoresis assay.Results The expressions of cryptdin-1 and cryptdin-4 were decreased after 3 weeks of irradiation and at 1 week after 6 weeks of irradiation(t =-7.43,-3.54,-4.72,-4.27,P ＜ 0.05),while they were significantly increased at the 5 weeks of radiation (t =6.15,5.75,P ＜ 0.05).The diversity index and richness of gut microbiota after 3 or 5 weeks irradiation were significantly decreased (t =-3.49,-4.19,-3.44,-4.97,P ＜ 0.05).The gut microbiota dysbiosis of the irradiated mice was characterized with the decrease of probiotics of Lactobacillus and the increasing of opportunistic pathogen of Escherichia coli,Shigella flexneri,et al.Bacterial translocation episodes were more frequently in the irradiated mice than that of control animal.The mRNA levels of IL-1β、IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased after 3 or 5 weeks of irradiation (t =4.85,6.16,7.71,4.60,4.86,5.97,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control,the expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α at the 1 week after 6 weeks of irradiation ending was also obviously enhanced (t =3.67,5.88,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Pelvic radiotherapy can induce abnormality of enteric antimicrobial peptides and may result in gut microbiota dysbiosis.The disturbed gut microbial flora may further trigger an incurrence of bacterial translocation and enteritis.Therefore,the gut microbiota may be a potential interfering target to alleviate radiotherapy adverse effect.

Objective To determine the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) produced by tumor induced fibroblasts in the development of cutaneous melanoma. Methods B16 melanoma cells induced L929 fibroblasts phenotype was transdifferentiated to myofibroblasts (MF) by co-culture in vitro. MF was monitored by morphology and immunophenotype for a-SMA. The level of IL-8 was detected by ELISA. The effect on B16 cell proliferation rate was estimated using MIT method in vitro. Melanoma implanting model was constructed in C57 mice. Results L929 MF phenotype could be modulated by B16 melanoma cells-derived transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and elevated the levels of IL-8. L929 MF did not influence the B16 melanoma cells viability in vitro, but shortened the time of tumor formation and increased the incidence rates of tumors in C57 implanting model mice. Conclusion Fibroblasts can be activated by tumor cells and produce IL-8, which acts as an inflammatory cytokine promoting the development of cutaneous melanoma.

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of genotypes about alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and its relationship with drinking-behaviors in Chinese Han healthy population as to providing a theoretic direction for filtering out high-risk and sensitive individuals and taking preventive measures to decrease the alcohol-related diseases.

METHODSUsing questionnaires to select subjects (201 persons, including men 104, women 97) for collecting blood samples and data about drinking-behaviors. Techniques of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were used to detect the genotypes of ADH2 and ALDH2.

RESULTSHeterozygous ADH2 and homozygous ALDH2 were the two dominant ones (respectively 53.23%, 68.16%). There were no statistical differences among the distributions of nine combinations of ADH2 genotypes and ALDH2 ones. The difference of distribution of homozygous ALDH2 between males having high and middle drinking-frequencies seemed to be statistically meaningful.

CONCLUSIONThe proportion of individuals carrying about "susceptible genotypes of alcohol-related diseases" in Chinese Han healthy population should be more than one half (68.16%), which calls on reinforcing the surveillance and preventing the alcohol-related diseases. Correlation between genotypes of ADH2 and ALDH2 and alcohol-related diseases should be more important.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; ethnology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Drinking Behavior ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; ethnology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Adult ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogenes

OBJECTIVETo investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at a corrected age (CA) of 18 months and related factors influencing the outcomes.

METHODSThe ELBW and VLBW infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, survived, and discharged between January 2013 June 2014 were enrolled. These infants were followed up at CAs of 40 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes. According to the neurodevelopmental status, the infants were divided into normal and abnormal neurodevelopment groups. The differences in clinical data were compared, and the risk factors for abnormal neurodevelopment in ELBW and VLBW infants were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 338 ELBW and VLBW infants were enrolled, and 15 died during hospitalization. At the CA of 18 months, 145 infants (44.9%) survived and had complete follow-up data, 75 (23.2%) died, and 103 (31.9%) were lost to follow-up. Of the 145 infants who survived and had complete follow-up data, 71 (49.0%) had neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI), and 3 (2.1%) had cerebral palsy. No infants experienced visual damage with blindness in one or both eyes or hearing loss with a need for hearing aid. The logistic regression analysis showed that bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP) (OR=3.530, P<0.001) and sepsis (OR=2.528, P=0.035) were independent risk factors for NDI in ELBW and VLBW infants, and the incidence of NDI increased with the severity of BDP.

CONCLUSIONSSepsis and BPD, especially severe BPD, are risk factors for NDI in ELBW and VLBW infants.

Brain ; growth & development ; Child Development ; Developmental Disabilities ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; growth & development ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; growth & development ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and survival rates of primary liver cancer (PLC) among residents in Yangpu district of Shanghai.

METHODSA total of 9 730 736 permanent residents (male 4 996 390 and female 4 734 346) of Yangpu district in Shanghai were recruited in the study between year 2002 and 2010; among whom 2726 PLC cases were diagnosed and 2427 death cases were certified. The incidence and mortality of PLC were calculated under the analysis of the new PLC cases and death cases between year 2002 and 2010. The rates were standardized by the demographic composition developed in the Fifth Nationwide Census in year 2000, in order to analyze the survival condition of PLC patients and explore the prognosis of surgical excision treatment.

RESULTSAmong the new PLC cases between year 2002 and 2010, 1966 cases were male, whose average age of onset was 59.81; while 760 cases were female, whose average age of onset was 68.93. The crude incidence rate was 39.35/100 000 in male, which was higher than it in female, as 16.05/100 000. The difference showed statistical significance (U = 7.32, P < 0.01). The standardized incidence rates were 21.98/100 000 and 6.96/100 000 in male and female, respectively. The difference showed statistical significance (U = 221.76, P < 0.01). There were 2427 PLC death cases in total, including 1734 male death cases and 693 female death cases. The crude mortality rate was 34.71/100 000 in male and 14.64/100 000 in female, whose difference were statistically significant (U = 6.68, P < 0.01). The standardized mortality rate was 19.16/100 000 in male and 6.06/100 000 in female, whose difference were statistically significant (U = 207.18, P < 0.01). The incidence and mortality rates both increased apparently since males aging over 35 and females over 45. The 1 - 5 year survival rates of PLC patients were 33.95%, 23.11%, 17.04%, 14.42% and 12.29%, respectively. In the surgical excision treatment group (321 cases), the 1 - 5 year survival rates were separately 66.78%, 52.87%, 41.88%, 33.57% and 32.64%; while in the non-surgical treatment group (2405 cases), the 1 - 5 year survival rates were separately 29.04%, 18.58%, 13.30%, 11.16% and 9.01%. The differences in 1 - 5 year survival rates between surgical and non-surgical groups all showed statistical significance (U = 12.78, 10.52, 8.28, 5.56 and 5.12, respectively, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of PLC was close to its mortality in Yangpu district of Shanghai. The male incidence and mortality rates were significantly higher than female corresponding rates. The surgical excision treatment could improve the prognosis of PLC.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVERett syndrome (RTT, MIM 312750) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that affects females almost exclusively, caused by mutations in MECP2 gene on chromosome Xq28, with symptoms such as autism, severe mental deficiency, deceleration of head growth, ataxia, loss of purposeful hand function and characteristic stereotypic hand movements. Over 80% MECP2 mutations located in the exon 3 and exon 4 were confirmed by our work and large-scale studies. RTT is defined based on clinical presentation. It is difficult to diagnose in the early life without definite biochemical abnormality, but genetic test is helpful for this. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and clinical significance of applying long range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to RTT diagnosis and establish a simple, economic, efficient method of genetic diagnosis.

METHODGenomic DNA was extracted using standard procedures from the peripheral blood leukocytes of each patient. Long range polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the exon 3 and 4 of MECP2 gene simultaneity in 40 patients with RTT. The PCR products were checked by using 1.5% agarose gel.

RESULTIn total, 18 different MECP2 mutations were identified in 33 of the 40 diagnosed sporadic female patients with RTT. Missense mutations were 16, followed by 14 nonsense mutations and 3 deletions. The 314 base pairs large deletion was identified. The p. T158M mutation (21%, 7/33) was the most common, followed in order of frequency by p. R255X (12%, 4/33), p. R168X and p. R106W (9%, 3/33) respectively, p. R270X and p. Y141X (6%, 2/33) respectively, p. R133C, p. D156H, p. P157L, p. P225R, p. Q244X, p. Q262X, p. R294X, p. R306C, P322L, c. 1005del G, c.1005-1318del 314 bp and c.1127-1179del 53 bp (3%, 1/33), respectively.

CONCLUSIONLong range PCR is a simple, economic, quick, precise method of genetic diagnosis and was able to find 83% MECP2 gene mutations in RTT patients in this study. It is helpful for RTT clinical diagnosis in early stage. On the other hand, it may detect recurrent mutations and large deletions at the same time.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA ; analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Rett Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEGap junctions, the clusters of intercellular channels, play an important role in synchronizing electrical activity. This study investigated the effect of gap junction blocker carbenoxolone (CBX) on epileptic activity in pentylenetetrazo (PTZ)-kindled rats.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, PTZ-kindled and CBX-treated groups (n=10 each). The rats from the PTZ-kindled and the CBX-treated groups were intraperitoneally injected with PTZ (35 mg/kg x d) to induce epilepsy. After epilepsy kindling, they were intraperitoneally injected for 3 days with CBX (10 mg/kg) (CBX-treated group) or with normal saline (PTZ-kindled group). The control group received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline. Anti-GFAP, anti-Fos, and anti-NMDARZ immunohistochemical ABC methods were used to detect the expression of GFAP-Li, Fos-Li and NMDAR2-Li in the hippocampus respectively.

RESULTSSpontaneous seizures occurred in PTZ-kindled epileptic rats. CBX administration reduced spontaneous seizures. The NMDAR2-Li and Fos-Li neurons as well as GFAP-Li astrocytes in hippocampi increased in PTZ-kindled epileptic rats compared with controls. The numbers of Fos-Li (93.75 +/-7.94 vs 165.25 +/-15.87, P < 0.05) and NMDAR2-Li neurons (61.47 +/-3.62 vs 148.72 +/-14.53, P < 0.01) in the CBX-treated group were significantly less than in the PTZ-kindled group. There were no significant differences in the GFAP-Li expression between the CBX-treated and the PTZ-kindled groups.

CONCLUSIONSCBX may inhibit spontaneous seizures and decrease the numbers of Fos-Li and NMDARZ-Li neurons, thus providing anti-epileptic effects.

Animals ; Carbenoxolone ; pharmacology ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kindling, Neurologic ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Pentylenetetrazole ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo classify the Chinese isolates of Coltiviruses.

METHODSThree sets of primers were selected among them two were specific to the 9th and 12th segments of subgroup B2, and one was for the 12th segment of subgroup B1-All the Chinese isolates of Coltivirus selected in the experiment were classified according to the lengths of different amplicons of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase Chain reaction (RT-PCR). The homogenicity of the nucleic acids of the isolates BJ95-75 and YN-6 was also compared with other Coltivirus strains belonging to subgroup B2.

RESULTSWith the primers 12-854-S/12-B2-R, which were specific to the 12th segment of Coltivirus subgroup B2-850 bp amplicons were obtained from Beijing isolate BJ95-75 and all the Yunnan isolates such as YN-6, -67-1, -68-1, -69, -70-1, -70-2, -90, -92-2, -93 of Coltivirus 492 bp DNA fragments were also amplified from all of them with the segment 9th specific primers 9-JKT-S/9-JKT-R. However no positive results were obtained from Northeast isolates NE97-12, NE97-31 and control viruses YN-99(Orbivirus),YN-151-1(JEV) with the same two sets of primers. With 12-B1-S/12-B1R primers specific to the 12th segment of subgroup B1, no amplicons of right length were obtained from any of the Chinese isolates of Coltivirus and the control viruses. When compared the nucleic acid sequences of BJ95-75 and YN-6 with other Coltivirus strains such as Bannavirus, JKT6423, JKT6969, JKT7043, the amplicons from segment 12th of these two strains had more than 89.4% homology with the other strains, especially to the earlier Chinese isolate Bannavirus, the homolog was more then 98.9%. Nearly 96.5% and 99.2% of the nucleic acids of the amplicons from segment 9th of the two strains were being homologous to Bannavirus and about 84.0% to JKT6423, which had been classified into type B2a. But the maximal homogenicity was about 53% when compared with the other two coltivirus strains. JKT6969 and JKT7043 which had been classified into type B2b.

CONCLUSIONGenotyping the recent Chinese isolates of coltivirus for the first time in our country. Most of the Chinese isolates belong to subgroup B2, more exactly type B2a. The Northeast isolates NE97-12 and NE97-31 were not correctly grouped with the available primers.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; China ; Coltivirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Culicidae ; virology ; Genotype ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid