Professional postgraduates in geriatric medicine are one of the most important re-courses of geriatric specialists. However, training model for geriatric postgraduates is still unclear in China. In general, geriatric medicine has no independent training plan, and is included in internal medicine training. Such model cannot represent the feature of geriatric medicine. The present paper aimed to discuss the ability construction for geriatric postgraduates based on the geriatric medicine specialist training experience both at home and abroad, including diagnosis and treatment of multi-system diseases, ability of geriatric assessment, management of geriatric syndromes, consultation for geriatric rehabilitation and ability for continuity health service in order to cultivate the compound tal-ents suitable for the aging society requirement for geriatric medicine in China.

Aim To investigate the role of P2X7 recep-tor and its mediated NLRP3 inflammatory signaling pathway in alcohol-induced liver injury. Methods The acute alcoholic liver injury model was established by NIAAA method, and thirty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups (n =10):control group, model group, A438079 group, The three groups were processed as follows in the last week:control group and model group: given an equal dose of saline intraperitoneal injection(about 0.2 mL/only) once a day. According to the weight of the mice, A438079 group was given intraperitoneally injection by 200 μmol·kg-1of A-438079 (prepared at 7 g·L-1 of A438079,about 0.2 mL/only) once a day. And it was given a single 31.5% alcohol solution by intragas-tric administration on the last day of the morning,with the dose of 10 mL·kg-1. Nine hours later alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST),cholesterol(TCHO),triglyceride(TG) were measured by orbital blood in mice. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the liver. Immunohistochemical method was applied to detect the expression of P2X7R in liver tissues. Western blot was employed to detect the levels of P2X7R, NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18 in liver tissues. Results Compared with control group,the levels of ALT,AST, TG and TCHO in model group were significantly en-hanced, and the liver injury was obvious. Compared with model group, the levels of ALT, AST, TG and TCHO in A438079 group significantly decreased. Compared with control group, the expressions of P2X7, NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, IL-18 in model group were significantly higher than those in control group. Compared with model group, the expression levels of P2X7, NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18 in A438079 group significantly decreased. Conclusion Alcohol-induced liver injury may be associated with P2X7R-NLRP3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo identify non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and/or prognosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 48 patients with CHB, including 24 with mild fibrosis (stage 1, S1) and 24 with severe fibrosis (stage 4, S4), and subjected to Ficoll density gradient centrifugation in order to obtain enriched samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).The PBMC proteomes of the two groups were assessed by first separating the total proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and then identifying the differentially expressed proteins by liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS).

RESULTSThe enriched PBMC samples from the S1 group and the S4 group had similar amounts of platelets [(19.268+/- 6.413) * 109/L and(19.480+/- 6.538) * 109/L, respectively); however, for both, the platelet amounts were 5 to 15-fold lower than that of the normal reference (100-300 *109/L). There was no significant difference found between the platelet amounts in the S1 patients and healthy controls (P=0.930). Twelve differentially expressed proteins were identified through 2DE-LC-MS/MS, including proteins such as moesin and NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 3 that are involved in various biological processes like cell movement, cell adhesion, kinase signaling and transcription.

CONCLUSIONs The 12 proteins with differential expression in S1 and S4 patients with CHB and liver fibrosis may represent markers related to development and/or progression of liver fibrosis.

Biomarkers ; Disease Progression ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Prognosis ; Proteome ; Proteomics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

This study was aimed to evaluate the frequencies and prognostic significance of the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation, the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation and c-KIT mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to explore their relevance to clinical characteristics, cytogenetics and survival. Genomic DNA from 78 newly diagnosed AML from August 2010 to October 2012 was screened by PCR and sequencing or capillary electrophoresis (CE) for NPM1, FLT3 and c-KIT mutations. The results showed that the incidence of NPM1 mutation was 14.1% in AML patients and 26.7% in normal karyotype AML patients. NPM1 mutant cases were significantly associated with old age (P < 0.05), high peripheral white cell count and platelet counts (P < 0.05) and low expression of CD34 (P < 0.05), but no statistic difference was found in sex, percentage of bone marrow blasts, Hb, expression of CD117 and HLA-DR, complete remission rate, overall survival and relapse rate (P > 0.05). The prevalences of FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD mutations were 11.5% (9/78) and 3.8% (3/78) respectively, and no one patient has both of the two mutations. Patients with FLT3-ITD mutation had higher white blood cell counts and percentage of in bone marrow blasts (P < 0.05), and lower overall survival (P < 0.05), more relative to normal karyotype (P < 0.05), while no statistic difference was found in sex, age, platelet count, Hb level, complete remission rate and relapse rate (P > 0.05). No statistic analysis was performed due to the cases of less FLT3-TKD mutation. C-KIT mutation accounts for 7.7% (6/78). Patients with C-KIT mutation had a higher percentage in abnormal karyotype (P < 0.05), and higher relapse rate (P < 0.05), and lower overall survival, whereas no statistic difference was found in sex, age, percentage of bone marrow blasts, peripheral blood cell count, complete remission rate (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the detection of NPM1, FLT3 and C-KIT mutations may contribute to guiding treatment and evaluating prognosis of patients with AML.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; Young Adult ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic diagnosis for a pedigree affected with cutis laxa. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from members of the pedigree and 50 unrelated healthy controls. Potential mutation was screened by next-generation sequencing and verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: A heterozygous c.1985delG mutation was identified in the ELN gene among all patients from this pedigree. The same mutation was not found among unaffected family members and 50 healthy controls. CONCLUSION The genetic etiology for the pedigree has been elucidated, which has enabled genetic counseling and guidance for reproduction.
Cutis Laxa ; genetics ; Elastin ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect and safety of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) combined with double pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) in the treatment of children with severe Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). METHODS: A total of 60 children with severe HSPN who were admitted to the hospital from January 2014 to March 2018 were enrolled and were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group (n=30 each). In addition to routine treatment, the children in the control group were given MP+CTX pulse therapy. Those in the observation group were given DFPP treatment in addition to the treatment in the control group, with three courses of treatment in total. After three courses of treatment, the two groups were compared in terms of 24-hour urinary protein, urinary microproteins, renal function parameters, adverse reactions, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: After three courses of treatment, the observation group had significantly greater reductions in 24-hour urinary protein, urinary albumin, urinary immunoglobulin G, urinary β2-microglobulin, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen than the control group (P<0.05). After the treatment ended, the observation group had a significantly shorter time to achieve remission than the control group (P<0.05). No serious adverse reactions, such as hemorrhagic cystitis, thrombocytopenia, and hemolysis, were observed, and there was no significant difference in the overall incidence rate of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compared with MP+CTX pulse therapy alone in the treatment of severe HSPN in children, DFPP combined with MP+CTX pulse therapy can further alleviate renal injury and improve clinical outcome and does not increase the incidence rate of adverse reactions.
Child ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Nephritis ; Plasmapheresis ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch

This study aims at making full use of microbial resources, and screening the active endophytic fungi of anti-rheumatoid arthritis from Zanthoxylum simulans. The endophytic fungi were cultured and isolated by tissue culture and scribing method, and the active strain of inhibiting the proliferation of human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (HFLS-RA) was screened by MTT method. Morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences were applied for the taxonomy of endophytic fungi. Strains were isolated from Z. simulans. Among them, MK-05, MK-17, MK-19, MK-23 having inhibiting activity to HFLS-RA, the IC₅₀ were 0.367, 0.775, 0.689, 0.757 g·L⁻¹, respectively. By classic morphologic classification and sequencing the PCR-amplified rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions, four effective strains were identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis sp., P. liquidambari and Diaporthe perseae. The active endophyic fungi that inhibited the proliferation of HFLS-RA were screened from Z. simulans for the first time, and the results lay the foundation for the development and utilization of the Z. simulans resources.

Trichinosis is a global food-borne zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Trichinella spiralis(T.spiralis),which causes serious harm to animal production,and the public health safety of humans and animals.T.spiralis has a complex devel-opment history,and its entire life cycle is completed in the same host.To coexist with the host,it has evolved various immune escape mechanisms for avoiding immune clearance by the host,thus establishing long-term chronic infection.In this study,to aid in understanding the pathogenic mechanism of T.spiralis,the immune escape mechanism of Trichinella is discussed from three aspects:the molecular role of antigens in various stages,the immune regulatory effect on the host,and the formation of cysts to generate immune isolation.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol (ISO) to induce cardiac remodeling in FVB/N mice.

METHODSForty-eight FVB/N mice were divided into back subcutaneous saline group (subcutaneous saline group), intraperitoneal saline group, back subcutaneous ISO group (subcutaneous ISO group), and intraperitoneal ISO group according to the route of administration of saline or ISO. ISO (30 μg/g body weight/day) was given to the subcutaneous ISO group and the intraperitoneal ISO group, twice daily with an interval of 12 hours, for 14 consecutive days. The subcutaneous saline group and the intraperitoneal saline group were injected with an equal volume of saline. The left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness was measured by echocardiography, and the ratio of heart weight to tibia length was determined. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to determine the myocardial fiber diameter. Picric-sirius red staining was used to determine the myocardial collagen deposition area. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of collagen I.

RESULTSCompared with the subcutaneous ISO, subcutaneous saline, and intraperitoneal saline groups, the intraperitoneal ISO group had increased sizes of the cardiac cavity and the heart. Compared with the subcutaneous saline and intraperitoneal saline groups, the subcutaneous ISO group showed no significant changes in the gross morphology of the cardiac cavity and the heart. The intraperitoneal ISO group showed significant increases in the ratio of heart weight to tibia length, myocardial fiber diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness, myocardial collagen area percentage, and the mRNA expression of collagen I compared with the subcutaneous ISO, subcutaneous saline, and intraperitoneal saline groups (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the above five indices between the subcutaneous ISO group and the subcutaneous saline and intraperitoneal saline groups (P>0.05). No significant difference in the mortality rate was found between the subcutaneous ISO and intraperitoneal ISO groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntraperitoneal injection of ISO can induce cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in FVB/N mice.

Animals ; Atrial Remodeling ; drug effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Isoproterenol ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To investigate the impact of various distribution of bone cement on the early clinical outcomes in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) patients treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).Methods A total of 312 patients (54 males and 258 females,mean age 69.37 years) who diagnosed as OVCF and received PKP treatment from January 2015 to July 2017 were enrolled in the present study.All subjects were divided into two groups according to different distribution of bone cement:the shaped "O" distribution (group O,113 cases),in which bone cement in the vertebral body presented whole crumb,no separation or loss of bone cement,and the shaped "H" distribution (group H,199 cases),in which bone cement in the vertebral body presented two briquettes,connected with or without a small amount of bone cement.Demographic data,surgical details,radiographic data,and clinical outcomes (at preoperatively,two-days and one-year follow-up) were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in bone mineral density (BMD),operation duration,blood loss,and occurrence of leakage of bone cement between two groups.In comparison with group O,group H was accompanied with higher volume of injected bone cement and higher proportion of bilateral approach (P＜0.05).Both groups achieved significant improvement of VAS scores after surgery,while the group H had a dramatical reduction of VAS scores at one-year follow-up compared with two-days follow-up (P＜0.05).In addition,group H had a better restoration of VAS scores at one-year follow-up than group O (P＜0.05),though no significant difference was observed at preoperative and two-days follow-up.Both groups achieved significant improvement of radiographic data after surgery (P＜0.05) with similar effects of correction.Conclusion Either shaped "H" or shaped"O" distribution of bone cement can obtain satisfied early clinical effects of PKP for the treatment of OVCF.Compared with shaped "O" distribution,shaped "H" distribution can achieve better pain relief at early follow-up.