Objective To determine the effect of iron deficiency on hemoglobin A2(HbA2) expression in patients with β-thalassemia.Methods The participants were recruited from the out-patient clinics of the Pediatrics Department and Obstetrics Department of Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College and from some β-thalassemia major families.Blood samples from the participants were used for blood smear tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis and to analyze serum ferritin (SF),3 alpha-globin gene deletions,and 17 beta-globin point mutations.Results Of the 408 individuals,304 were assigned to group A (normal controls),26 to group B (iron deficiency),56 to group C (β-thalassemia),and 22 to group D (β-thalassemia combined with iron deficiency). The results for the comparison of the mean HbA2 values among pairs of groups were as follows: group A vs group B,q=5.074 7,P<0.05; group A vs group C,q=37.650 8,P<0.05; group A vs group D,q=16.043 0,P<0.05;group C vs group D,q=7.682 9,P<0.05; Group B vs group D,q=15.806 6,P<0.05. There were no significant correlation between SF and HbA2 in all 4 groups.Conclusions Iron deficiency decreased the HbA2 level in both controls and individuals with β-thalassemia. HbA2 levels decreased significantly in individuals with both β-thalassemia and iron deficiency as compared with β-thalassemia group alone. However,they remained significantly higher than both the control and iron-deficient groups. Therefore,the elevation of HbA2 could be used to diagnose β-thalassemia reliably even in the presence of iron deficiency.

Retrospective study was conducted to analyze the efficacies of using round hepatic and falciform ligaments in acute abdominal repair for 22 cases between December 2010 to March 2013.There was no occurrence of perioperative mortality.Twenty patients (90％) were followed up for 3 to 24 months.All cases recovered favorably and no complications of common bile duct stricture,bile leakage,postoperative hemorrhage or pancreatic fistula occurred.The anatomic and morphological advantages of pedicled ligamentum teres hepatic and falciform ligaments have made it a high-quality autologous biological repair material applicable for a variety of acute abdominal repairs.

Objective To explore the relationship between gastric juice pH and hospital-acquired pneumonia ( HAP) , the gastric bacterial colonization and etiology of HAP in neurologic intensive care unit patients by monitoring gastric juice pH value.Methods From October 2014 to May 2015, consecutive seventy-two tube feeding patients admitted in the Department of Neurology Intensive Care Unit in Xijing Hospital were enrolled in this research.The type and concentration of pathogens from gastric contents were collected, while samples from upper respiratory tract and pharynx were detected dynamically at the same time.Results (1)The group with new onset HAP was higher in gastric juice pH (6.4(5.4,6.4) vs 5.4 (2.5, 6.4), Z=-2.37, P=0.01); (2) The isolation rate of colonized bacteria in gastric cavity was associated with the pH of gastric juice , achieving 60.8% ( 42/69 ) in HAP group; ( 3 ) When the gastric juice pH was >4, the isolation rate of Gram-negative bacilli in gastric cavity obviously increased (63.6%(28/44) vs 35.7%(10/28),χ2 =5.323, P=0.021); (4)The same pathogens were found in stomach-pharynx-upper respiratory tract in 7 cases ( 17.5%) of the total 40 HAP patients.Conclusion Increased gastric juice pH was associated with gastric colonization , especially Gram-negative bacilli , and may lead to a higher incidence of new onset HAP in patients on enteral feeding.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the histopathological features, complications, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).

METHODSThe lung tissue sections from 14 autopsy cases of CWP were subjected to HE staining and observed under a light microscope, and a retrospective analysis was performed considering the occupational history and clinical features.

RESULTSThe 14 cases were 46-71 years of age (mean, 57.7 years). Two cases were diagnosed as dust reaction, 1 case as simple CWP (stage I anthracosilicosis), and 11 cases as complicated CWP (9 cases of stage II anthracosilicosis, 1 case of stage III anthracosilicosis, and 1 case of stage III silicosis). Twelve cases were complicated by chronic bronchitis and emphysema, 8 cases by pulmonary heart disease, 4 cases by pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 cases by liver cirrhosis and liver cancer with pulmonary metastases, and 2 cases by cerebral hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONAmong patients with CWP, the pathological changes of lung tissue become more complex with increasing years of dust exposure. Coal macule is the common pathological feature of CWP, and dust nodules and massive fibrosis are the necessary indices of pathological diagnosis.

Aged ; Anthracosis ; complications ; pathology ; Coal Mining ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of tanshinol,caffeic acid,rosmarinic,salviano-lic acid B,salvianolic acid A,tanshinoneⅠ,cryptotanshinone,tanshinone ⅡA and ursolic acid in Compound xueshuantong cap-sules. METHODS:UPLC-MS/MS method was adopted. The determination was performed on ACQUITY UPLC? BEH C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1%formic acid(gradient elution)at the flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The column tempera-ture was 40 ℃,and the temperature of injector was 10 ℃. Analysis time was 7 min,and sample size was 5 μL. The electrospray ionization source(ESI)was used;ion source temperature was 150℃;capillary voltage was 3.5 kV;cone flow was 50 L/h;desol-vation temperature was 350 ℃;desolvation gas flow was 650 L/h;nebuliser pressure was 7 × 105 Pa;ion monitoring and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was performed. RESULTS:The linear ranges of tanshinol,caffeic acid,rosmarinic,salvianolic acid B,salvianolic acid A,tanshinoneⅠ,cryptotanshinone,tanshinone ⅡA and ursolic acid were 10.0-100.0 μg/mL (r=0.9998), 0.1-1.0 μg/mL(r=0.9998),4.0-40.0 μg/mL(r=0.9999),10.0-100.0 μg/mL(r=0.9999),15.0-150.0 μg/mL(r=0.9997), 8.0-80.0 μg/mL(r=0.9998),10.0-100.0 μg/mL(r=0.9997),50.0-500.0 μg/mL(r=0.9997)and 6.0-60.0 μg/mL(r=0.9998), respectively. The limits of quantitation were 40.0,9.6,38.0,88.0,130.0,39.0,4.4,3.2 and 10.0 ng/mL,separately. The limits of detection were 12.0,3.0,11.0,26.0,39.0,12.0,1.3,1.0 and 3.0 ng/mL,respectively. RSDs of precision,stability and repro-ducibility tests were all lower than 3%. The recoveries were 97.34%-103.20%(RSD=2.19%,n=6),97.22%-102.39%(RSD=2.03%,n=6),98.51%-101.70%(RSD=1.32%,n=6),97.86%-102.49%(RSD=2.09%,n=6),96.75%-103.12%(RSD=2.36%,n=6),98.43%-101.65%(RSD=1.25%,n=6), 97.59%-101.50%(RSD=1.50%,n=6), 96.45%-102.88%(RSD=2.58%,n=6),97.02%-103.11%(RSD=2.38%,n=6),separately. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple and accurate,and can be used for simultaneous determination of 9 components in Compound xueshuantong capsules.

Objective The protective effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion ( IR) injury via anti-apoptotic signaling is well established , but the underlying mechanism remains unclear .This study was to investigate whether H 2 S could protect cardiomyocytes from endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS)-mediated apoptosis in hypoxia/reoxygenation ( HR) injury by regulating the expression of microRNA-455 ( miR-455 ) . Methods Cardiomyocytes from neonatal SD rats were primarily cultured and the model of HR injury was established .The cardiomyocytes were divided into a control group (normally cultured for 27 hours), an HR group (subjected to HR injury), and an H2S protection group (pretreated with the precursor of H2S NaHS at 40 μmol/L at 30 min before HR treatment followed by the same procedure as in the HR group ) .The cell viability was monitored by MTT , the release of lactate de-hydrogenase ( LDH) in the culture supernatant measured by full-automatic chemical analysis , and the apoptosis rate of the cardiomyo-cytes detected by flow cytometry .The mRNA and protein expressions of Grp 78 and caspase-12 were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western bot .To verify whether miR-455 was involved in the ERS-mediated apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes , the cells were subjec-ted to HR after transfected with miR-455 mimic or anti-miR-455 oligonucleotide (AMO) for 24 hours, followed by detection of the ex-pressions of Grp78 and caspase-12. Results After HR injury, the H2 S protection group showed an enhanced viability of the cardio-myocytes in comparison with the control group ([67.02 ±6.90] vs [29.27 ±5.66] %), an decreased LDH release ([91.33 ± 10.63] vs [168.17 ±15.38] U/L), and a reduced rate of cell apoptosis ([13.98 ±1.90] vs [24.31 ±2.79] %).H2 S pretreat-ment significantly downregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of Grp 78 and caspase-12 (1.66 ±0.39 vs 2.56 ±0.34;1.75 ± 0.32 vs 2.54 ±0.48;2.01 ±0.45 vs 3.26 ±0.34;1.85 ±0.52 vs 3.21 ±0.84, P<0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of Grp78 and caspase-12 were evidently increased after transfection with miR-455 mimic (3.56 ±0.37 vs 1.00 ±0.00;3.61 ±0.41 vs 1.00 ±0.00;2.87 ±0.38 vs 1.00 ±0.00;2.98 ±0.49 vs 1.00 ±0.00), but remarkably decreased after transfection with miR-455 AMO (0.62 ±0.16 vs 1.00 ±0.00;0.65 ±0.13 vs 1.00 ±0.00;0.54 ±0.13 vs 1.00 ±0.00;0.62 ±0.16 vs 1.00 ±0.00, P<0.05). Conclusion H2S could protect cardiomyocytes from HR injury by regulating the expression of miR-455 and reducing ERS-mediated cell apoptosis .

From the process of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) invading cells, the combination of gp120 and CD4 is the first step for HIV-1 to invade cells. Interfering with this process can prevent HIV from recognizing target cells and inhibit virus replication. Therefore, HIV-1 gp120 is an important part of the HIV-1 life cycle. Fostesavir, a phosphatate prodrug derived from the gp120 inhibitor BMS-626529 modified by the prodrug strategy, was approved for the treatment of adult patients with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency in 2020 and 2021, respectively. In this review, we focus on the research progress of small molecule inhibitors targeting the interaction of gp120-CD4 from the perspective of medicinal chemistry, in order to provide reference for the subsequent research of gp120 inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among perceived stress,sleep and fatigue status; and to analyze the effect of sleep status in mediating and regulating perceived stress and fatigue status in soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time. METHODS: A total of 700 soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time were investigated with convenient sampling. They were evaluated using Perceived Stress Scale,Sleep Status Self-evaluation Test,and Fatigue Scale-14. The mediating effect was analyzed by structural equation model,and the moderating effect was analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The total score of fatigue among soldiers that often took part in recreational activities was significant lower than that who did not( P < 0. 01). The total score of fatigue among soldiers that had training injury was significant higher than that who had not( P < 0. 01). The total score of fatigue among soldiers that had high training expectations was significant higher than that that didn't have high training expectations( P < 0. 01). Sleep status,sense of overload and training expectations had remarkable predicting effect on fatigue status among soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time( P < 0. 01). Sleeping status has a complete mediating effect on the sense of prediction,sense of overload and fatigue status( P < 0. 01),and has a moderating effect on the sense of control,sense of overload and fatigue status( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION:s Perceived stress and sleeping status had close relationship with fatigue status among soldiers that were acute exposed to high altitude for the first time. Sleeping status has intermediary and regulating effect between senses of overload and fatigue state.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis induced by SiO2 in rats and pigs.

METHODSThe silicosis models in rats and pigs were established by non-exposure method. The pathologic changes in lung tissues of rats and pigs were observed with HE staining under a light microscopy and under a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the expression of cytokines was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) The main pathologic changes of silicosis models in rats and pigs included: in 7 ∼ 15 days after treatment, silica dusts, dust cells, a lot of macrophages, lung epithelial cells, a few neutrophils, macrophage alveolar inflammation and nodules of stage I were found in alveolar space; in 30 ∼ 90 days after treatment, many nodules of stage I-III or IV with lymphocytes infiltration were observed in respiratory bronchioles, alveoli, interlobular septa, the subpleural and around blood vessels and bronchi. (2) The expression levels of CK protein, SP-A protein, CD68, b-FGF, TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, NFKappa/P50, Kappa/P65 and VEGF reduced with exposure time, but still were higher than those of the control. (3) The shed alveolar type I cells, proliferation of alveolar type II cells or macrophages and activated cellular function induced by silica were observed under TEM.

CONCLUSIONThe development of pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis models corresponded with the process from macrophages alveolar inflammation to pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Lung ; cytology ; pathology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; metabolism ; Male ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silicosis ; pathology ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo develop a quantitative method for methylation analysis of the p16 gene based on mismatch hybridization and chemiluminescence.

METHODSGenomic DNA was modified by sodium bisulfite to convert all unmethylated but not methylated cytosines to uracil, and subsequently a pair of primer having no CpG sites was designed for amplification target DNA containing methylated or unmethylated CpG sites. The PCR product spanning CpG sites were hybridized with two oligonucleotide probes which perfectly matched the methylated and unmethylated CpG sequences respectively, and the hybrids were detected by chemiluminescent method. The percentage of methylated target sequences could be estimated by calculating the ratio of signals obtained with two probes.

RESULTSThe percentage of methylation of artificial mixtures DNA showed a linear relation. There was a negative correlation between the methyaltion index with p16 transcriptional mRNA of p16 gene in tumor cell lines.

CONCLUSIONCompared with existing methods, this assay is nonisotopic, rapid, simple, and can be widely applied to the study of DNA methylation.

Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sulfites