Objective To screen and analyze nucleotide variants in 5'-untranslated region(5'-UTR)in voltage-gated sodium channel α1-subunit gene(SCN1A)in patients with Dravet syndrome and to evaluate the association of the variants with disease.Methods Peripheral blood of 24 patients with Dravet syndrome and 100 unrelated normal persons were collected and genomic DNA was extracted.PCR-sequencing of SCN1 A 5'-UTR in these DNA was performed.To evaluate the possibility of mutation inducing disease,bioinformatics analysis was applied to analyze the conservation of the sequences around the mutation site and predict the potential transcription elements.Results The nucleotide variant of 166.642.520G→A in exon 2 was identified in two patients,but not in normal controls.The mutation was a de novo mutation in a patient with early-onset.In the second proband,the mutation was also carried by his clinically asymptomatic mother.The nucleotide site 166.642.520 was moderately conserved in mammals(62.5%).The average nucleotide identity rate between human and other mammals species in the region adjacent to 166.642.520 was 88.5%.Two potential transcription regulatory elements were predicted on the sequence with the mutation of 166.642.520G>A,and only one on the sequence with wild-type.Conclusions The mutation 166.642.520G>A may be associated with Dravet syndrome and further studied should be performed to verify it and demonstrate its pathogenic mechanisms.

Objective To study the SCN1A gene in a family with partial epilepsy with febrile seizures plus ( PEFS+ ) and its characteristics of inheritance. Methods The clinical features of the 2 patients and their father were summarized. All 26 exons of SCN1A gene were screened with denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), and direct sequence analysis was pedormed on those with abnormal elution peak. Pyrosequencing was subsequently performed in those without abnormality in direct sequence analysis. Results The proband and his sister had the phenotype of PEFS+ . The same heterozygous mutations (AS768G) on exon 26 which caused the related amino acid change (Q1923R) were found among them. Their father had frequent febrile seizures (FS) in childhood, and seizures stopped spontaneously. No abnormality was found in direct sequence but mosaic mutation in the same site was discovered with pyrosequencing (mutation quantity was 25% ). Conclusions The mutatin of SCN1A could cause partial epilepsy. PEFS+ could be inherited, the relatives carrying the affected gene may have mild clinical symptoms, possibly resulting from the low concentration of the mutated gene due to mosaic mutation.

Objective To study the sodium channel α1-subunit (SCN1A) gene in a pair of monozygotic twins with borderland severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEB) and its characteristic of clinical manifestations. Methods The clinical features of 2 monozygotic twins were summarized. All 26 exons of SCNIA genes were screened with denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), and direct sequence analysis was performed on those with abnormal elution peak. Results The proband and her sister showed typical clinical features of SMEB. The same heterozygous mutations on exon 26 which caused the related amino acid change were found among them (c. 5348C > T, A1783E). Conclusion Monozygotic twins with similar clinical phenotype of SMEB have same SCN1A gene mutation.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value ofcerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactic acid (LA) level in bacterial meningitis after craniotomy for cerebral hemorrhage in adults.Methods The clinical data of 162 patients with cerebral hemorrhage,admitted to and accepted craniotomy in our hospital from April 2013 to April 2018,were retrospectively collected;patients were divided into infected group (n=75) and non-infected group (n=87) according to whether postoperative bacterial meningitis occurred;univariate analysis was used to compare the differences of CSF-LA concentration and other indicators of CSF between patients of the two groups;multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent factors affecting the occurrence of postoperative bacterial meningitis;receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive values of CSF-LA and other indicators in postoperative bacterial meningitis.Furthermore,17 patients with positive bacterial CSF were divided into Gram-positive (G+) bacteria group (n=9) and Gram-negative (G-) bacteria group (n=8);the predictive values of CSF-LA and other indicators for postoperative meningitis of G-bacteria patients were analyzed in the same way.Results (1) The CSF-LA concentration in infected group ([6.3±2.8] mmol/L) was significantly increased as compared with that in non-infected group ([3.3±1.6] mmol/L,P＜0.05);the results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CSF-LA was an independent influencing factor for postoperative bacterial meningitis (odd ratio=l.547,95％ confidence interval:1.029-2.326,P=0.036);ROC curve results revealed that the area under the curve of CSF-LA concentration in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis after craniotomy was 0.854 (95％ confidence interval:0.790-0.904),and the optimal cut-off value was 4.61 mmol/L,with sensitivity of 69.3％,specificity of 92.0％,positive predictive value of 88.1％ and negative predictive value of 77.7％.(2) The CSF-LA concentration in G-bacteria group ([9.9±2.9] mmol/L) was significantly increased as compared with that in G+ bacteria group ([5.2±3.1] mmoi/L,P＜ 0.05);ROC curve results revealed that,in patients with positive bacterial CSF,the area under the curve of CSF-LA concentration in diagnosis of meningitis with G-bacteria after craniotomy was 0.861 (95％ confidence interval:0.610-0.978),and the optimal cut-off value was 7.20 mmol/L with sensitivity of 87.5％,specificity of 88.9％,positive predictive value of 87.5％,and negative predictive value of 88.9％.Conclusion Detection for concentration of CSF-LA can help predicting bacterial meningitis afier craniotomy for cerebral hemorrhage and identify G+ and G-bacteria meningitis.

Background and Objectives: Manipulating different signaling pathways via small molecules could efficiently inducecardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). However, the effect of transcription factors on the hiPSC-directed cardiomyocytes differentiation remains unclear. Transcription factor, p53 has been demonstrated indispensable for the early embryonic development and mesendodermal differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC).We tested the hypothesis that p53 promotes cardiomyocytes differentiation from human hiPSC. Methods: and Results: Using the well-characterized GiWi protocol that cardiomyocytes are generated from hiPSC via temporal modulation of Wnt signaling pathway by small molecules, we demonstrated that forced expression of p53 in hiPSC remarkably improved the differentiation efficiency of cardiomyocytes from hiPSC, whereas knockdown endogenous p53 decreased the yield of cardiomyocytes. This p53-mediated increased cardiomyocyte differentiation was mediated through WNT3, as evidenced by that overexpression of p53 upregulated the expression of WNT3, and knockdown of p53 decreased the WNT3 expression. Mechanistic analysis showed that the increased cardiomyocyte differentiation partially depended on the amplified mesendodermal specification resulted from p53-mediated activation of WNT3-mediated Wnt signaling. Consistently, endogenous WNT3 knockdown significantly ameliorated mesendodermal specification and subsequent cardiomyocyte differentiation. Conclusions These results provide a novel insight into the potential effect of p53 on the development and differentiation of cardiomyocyte during embryogenesis.

Macrophages, as important immune cells, are involved in the key processes that maintain the homeostasis of intrahepatic microenvironment. Recent studies have shown that different liver diseases can induce macrophage polarization (MPP) and form M1 and M2 phenotypes with mutual antagonism. The former promotes the clearance of pathogens and inhibits tumor progression, while the latter exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes tissue repair. However, there are significant differences in the mechanism of action and phenotypic switching of MPP in different liver diseases or at different pathological stages of the disease. This article focuses on the origin and polarization characteristics of intrahepatic macrophages and summarizes the research advances in the role of MPP in the pathogenesis and therapeutic drugs of non-neoplastic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver fibrosis, in order to explore the potential of MPP in regulating the immune response and inflammatory response of liver diseases.

Gastrointestinal motility disorder is an important cause of digestive system diseases. Patients often suffer from nausea， vomiting， gastric retention， gastroparesis， constipation， and many other symptoms， and their quality of life is seriously reduced. Prokinetic agents are routinely used in clinical practice， but their long-term use is prone to problems such as reduced efficacy and increased adverse reactions. Since the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases has continued to rise globally in recent years， there is an urgent need for clinical development of safe and effective treatment strategies. Aurantii Fructus， a traditional Chinese medicine， has the effect of smoothing Qi and eliminating distention， and it has been used to treat gastrointestinal diseases for thousands of years. In modern clinical practice， it is mainly used for the treatment and auxiliary treatment of various gastrointestinal diseases such as functional dyspepsia， functional constipation， and irritable bowel syndrome. The efficacy is remarkable， and no adverse reactions have been reported at conventional doses. Therefore， it can greatly improve the symptoms of patients with gastrointestinal diseases and improve their quality of life. Modern research has revealed that there are many active components in Aurantii Fructus， among which flavonoids have the highest content and the most types. Flavonoids are the main active components in Aurantii Fructus to regulate gastrointestinal motility. Aurantii Fructus and its active components can affect gastrointestinal hormones， neural pathways， Cajal mesenchymal cells， and other multiple mechanisms. They can adjust gastrointestinal motility and correct gastrointestinal motility disorders， showing potential application value in the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. However， a comprehensive analysis of Aurantii Fructus in this aspect is still lacking. This study summarized the pharmacological activities of active components of Aurantii Fructus extract and its flavonoids， volatile oils， alkaloids， and coumarin on the regulation of gastrointestinal motility and explored the latest research progress on its mechanism. Finally， the adverse reactions of Aurantii Fructus were summarized. It aims to provide a scientific basis for the research and clinical application of Aurantii Fructus and its active components in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility.