Objective To examine mutations in the WT1 and PLCE1 gene in three Chinese families with autosomal recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) once mutations in NPHS2 had been excluded. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected for genetic analysis from three probands of three Chinese families and their parents, and two probands' siblings, and 50 adult volunteers with normal urinalysis. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes. Ten exons and exon-intron boundaries of WT1, and 31 exons and exon-intron boundaries of PLCE1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mutational analysis was performed by DNA sequencing directly and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and/or PCR. Results No mutation in both WT1 and PLCE1 was identified in three probands from three Chinese families with autosomal recessive SRNS. However, three variants of WT1, 126C>T, ⅣS5-64A>G and 903A>G, and 13 variants of PLCE1, -134A>G, 810T>C, 960G>A, ⅣS11-28C>G, ⅣS15+26A>C, 4724G>C, ⅣS20+40C>T, ⅣS21+64G>A, ⅣS22-26T> A, 5320C>T, 5780A>G, ⅣS27+24A>G and ⅣS31 +48_49insT, were detected in three probands and some controls, indicating that all these variants were gene polymorphisms. WT1 polymorphism ⅣS5-64A>G, and PLCE1 polymorphism ⅣS22-26T>A were novel. Conclusion All the encoding exons and exon-intron boundaries of both WT1 and PLCE1 in three probands are examined, and no causative mutations in WT1 and PLCE1 axe found, suggesting that mutation in WT1 and PLCE1 genes is not a major cause of the Chinese families with autosomal recessive SRNS.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between severity of airway obstruction and peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods 81 COPD patients [aged (78.32 ± 6.98)yrs,73 males,8 females] from Jan 2008 to Oct 2012 were enrolledin Geriatric Department of Peking University First Hospital.All patients underwent spirometry and Holter evaluation,while age,sex,BMI,smoking pack-years,medical history,blood levels of lipid profiles,glucose,high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP)and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)were recorded.The severity of airway obstruction was evaluated by spirometry.The patients were divided into two groups:mild/moderate group [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1％) predicted ≥ 50 ％,n=51] and severe group (FEV1％ predicted ＜ 50％,n=30).24-hour average heart rate (HR)was assessed by holter.Arterial stiffness was assessed by the brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).The baPWV increment was considered to be a direct witness of arterial stiffness increase.Blood levels of lipid profiles,glucose,arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)and hsCRP were compared between the two groups.Results Age,gender,smoking index,medical history of the two groups were matched.BMI was less in severe group than in mild/moderate group [(22.8± 4.2) kg/m2 vs.(25.3± 3.2) kg/m2,t=3.017,P＜0.05].24-hour average HR was higher in severe group than in mild/moderate group [(77.4± 12.7)bpm vs.(70.8± 9.6)bpm,t=-2.602,P＜0.05].The PaO2 was lower in severe group than in mild/moderate group [(74.6±13.0)mmHg vs.(82.4± 13.1)mmHg,t=2.456,P＜0.05].There were no differences in blood lipid profile and glucose levels between the two groups.76 patients (93.4％)were detected with peripheral arterial stiffness by baPWV＞14.00 m/s.baPWV was significantly increased in severe group as compared with mild/moderate group [(20.77 ± 3.71) m/s vs.(18.84 ± 1.88) m/s,t=-2.109,P＜0.05].hsCRP was significantly higher in severe group than in mild/moderate group [[(6.51±5.66)mg/L vs.(3.27±3.34)mg/L,t=-2.658,P＜0.01].Conclusions The morbidity of peripheral arterial stiffness is increased in patients with COPD.Progression of arterial stiffness is related to the severity of airway obstruction,which may be related to chronic inflammation,hypoxia,or excessive sympathetic activation.

Objective To construct the eukaryotic expression vector of pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 and analyze the effect of NOR1 on the liver cancer cells. Methods NOR1cDNA was cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+), recombinant eukaryotic expressing plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 was transiently introduced into human liver cancer cell line HepG2 mediated by cation iron lipofectamin.The biology effect of NOR1 on the liver cancer cells was analyzed through the MTT test, trypan blue exclusion assay and flowcytometric analysis. Results The eukaryotic expression vector of pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 was successfully constructed.The liver cancer cell growth rate was obviously slow after it was transfected by recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 and the cell cycle from G0/G1 to S distinctly prolong.Conclusions Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 can express in HepG2 cells and affect the growth of HepG2 cells.

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of CT-DRAGON score for clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke underwent endovascular intervention in Xuzhou Central Hospital from May 2015 to June 2019 were enrolled retrospectively. CT-DRAGON score was performed before treatment, and the outcomes of patients were evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months after treatment, and good outcome was defined as mRS0-2. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent factors for the outcomes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of CT-DRAGON score for clinical outcome. Results: A total of 67 patients were enrolled. The age was 68.69±11.63 years. The median CT-DRAGON score was 5 (interquartile interval: 4-7), and the baseline NIHSS score was 17.45±5.19. Thirty-five patients (52.2%) had a good outcome and 32 (47.8%) had a poor outcome, of which 13 (19.4%) died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher CT-DRAGON score was an independent predictor for poor outcome (odds ratio 1.997, 95% confidence interval 1.271-3.136; P=0.003). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT-DRAGON score to clinical outcome was 0.808 (95% confidence interval 0.706-0.911; P<0.001). The optimal cutoff value was 5, the corresponding sensitivity was 65.6%, and the specificity was 80.0%. Conclusions Baseline CT-DRAGON score can effectively predict the clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke at 3 months after endovascular treatment.

Perimenopausal syndrome （MPS）， a common endocrine system disease， is one of the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. The China Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in endocrinology， gynecology， and interdisciplinary fields of both Western and Chinese medicine to discuss the advantages and challenges of diagnosing and treating MPS with Western medicine， TCM， and integrative medicine. Experts at the conference believe that MPS is initiated by estrogen decline and rooted in deficiency， with the pathogenesis being imbalance between Yin and Yang in the kidney. The hormone replacement therapy in Western medicine for menopause can rapidly alleviate related symptoms by quickly restoring the estrogen level and timely detect and delay complications of menopause， whereas such a therapy has certain risks， necessitating close monitoring of adverse reactions. Moreover， the various contraindications and precautions limit the clinical application of the hormone replacement therapy. TCM has advantages in synergistically alleviating symptoms such as hot flashes， sweating， sleep disorders， and emotional abnormalities of MPS without causing obvious adverse reactions. However， its efficacy is slower than the hormone replacement therapy， and the TCM evidence for preventing and treating complications of menopause remains unclear. Three suggestions were proposed for the future development of both Western and TCM for ameliorating MPS. First， an integrated diagnosis and treatment system for MPS with both Western and Chinese medicine should be established. Second， high-quality evidence-based interventions for MPS should be developed with TCM alone or in combination with Western medicine. Third， efforts should be made to promote the new TCM drug development and the interdisciplinary cooperation for treating MPS.