Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the relationship between epigenetic changes involving multiple modifications of histones and both happening of glioma and pathological grades of glioma.Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed on 67 samples that were cut off from patients with gliomas who made their definite diagnosis from 2006 to 2008 to evaluate the level of histone 4 lysine 12 acetylation (H4K12Ac), histone 4 arginine 3 monomethylation (H4R3monoMe) and histone 4 lysine 20 acetylation (H3K18Ac). Results H4K12Ac, H4R3monoMe and H4K20triMe were all detected at high frequencies in tumor tissue of glioma. The expressions of H4K12Ac and H4R3monoMe were positively correlated with increasing WHO pathological grades (P＜0.05), while H4K20triMe staining was not significantly correlated with WHO pathological grades (P＞0.05). Conclusion Multiple modifications of histones may affect several steps in tumor cell biology, and may have a prognostic value in gliomas since specific modifications were correlated with WHO pathological grades of glioma.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of these children with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) who had no response to diazoxide and provide a theoretical foundation for the formulation of CHI treatment strategy.Methods Eighteen patients with CHI who had no response to diazoxide hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital from 2008 to 2012 were chosen as research subjects.Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 18 patients with persistent hypoglycemia after using diazoxide,which indicated that they had no response to diazoxide.Twelve patients of them were born as macrosomia and their onset age was less than 6 months.Half of the children(9/18 cases) even had hypoglycemia in neonatal period.All the manifestations were conformed to the clinical characteristics of ATP-sensitive potassium channel CHI.Four children who were unresponsive to diazoxide received octreotide treatment,and it was effective on them.Four patients had a near-total pancreatectomy.After a long-term followup study,their blood sugar maintained a normal level,and they did not appear serious postoperative complications.Conclusions Children with CHI who have no response to diazoxide are characterized by coming earlier and higher birth weight.Octreotide is proposed in case of non-response to diazoxide.When medical treatment is not efficient in prevention of hypoglycemia,a subtotal pancreatectomy has to be considered as a last resort.

Objective To reveal the clinical features of children with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) in order to provide a basis for the TNDM treatment strategy formulation.Methods Four patients diagnosed as TNDM hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from Dec.2008 to Dec.2010 were chosen as research subjects.Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results The 4 patients diagnosed as TNDM started insulin therapy.Two cases of the 4 patients transferred from insulin to oral Sulfonylureas for 2-3 weeks after their conditions became steady.One patient was treated with Sulfonylureas successfully and the other one was partially effective with this therapy.After 2 to 3 years follow-up,3 cases remitted in 1 month after birth with no other severe complications,one case lost.Conclusions Infants with TNDM had unique clinical features.The patients develop diabetes in the first few weeks of life but go into remission in a few months.So the follow-up for those TNDM patient is very essential for clinical classification.Oral glibenclamide therapy seems highly effective and safe for some TNDM patients.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between cardiac troponin I autoantibody (cTnIAAb) and left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: A total of 131 AMI patients were enrolled. Serum levels of cTnIAAb were measured by ELISA. Echocardiography was examined at the onset of AMI and 1 year follow-up evaluation. Taking left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) increasing>15% as left ventricular remodeling, 2-classified logistic stepwise regression analysis was conducted to screen 12 risk factors related to left ventricular remodeling. Results: 23/131(17.6%) patients were with positive cTnIAAb and 82.4% with negative cTnIAAb. 49 patients lost contact and in the rest 91 patients, 21.1% were with positive cTnIAAb. Clinical information was similar between cTnIAAb positive and negative patients upon admission, P>0.05; echocardiography showed that 28 (42.2%) patients had LVESV increasing>15% by 1 year follow-up study whom including 10 (52.6%) patients with cTnIAAb positive and 18 (25.4%) negative. 2-classified logistic stepwise regression analysis indicated that BNP peak and positive cTnIAAb were the risk factors for left ventricular remodeling (OR=1.001, 95% CI 1.001-1.002) and (OR=3.552, 95% CI 1.148-10.989), both P=0.028. Conclusions: Serum cTnIAAb was positive in part of AMI patients which was related to increased risk of left ventricular remodeling; cTnIAAb might be involved in pathophysiological process of left ventricular remodeling in AMI patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality variation and genetic diversity of Desmodium styracifolium from different provenances, and lay a foundation for rational exploitation on germplasm resources and fine variety breeding of D. styracifolium.

METHODAmplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were developed to analyze genetic diversity in D. styracifolium from 18 resources. NTSYSpc-2. 11F software was used to analyze the similarity among the D. styracifolium germplasms and construct the genetic phylogenetic tree. The schaftoside content in D. styracifolium from different provenances was determined by HPLC.

RESULTA total of 844 fragments were amplified with 8 primers, in which 717 were polymorphic bands, accounting for 84. 27% of the total detected variation. All the specimens from 18 resources could be grouped into 3 clusters by cluster analysis. The schaftoside contents of D. styracifolium germplasms differed significantly, with the highest content in the germplasm from Sanya, Hainan.

CONCLUSIONSignificant quality variation and genetic diversity can be observed among D. styracifolium germplasms. The diverse germplasm resources should be explored and the fine variety should be selected to breed.

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Fabaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and indications of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for frontal lobe contusion patients.

METHODSDuring January 2005-December 2008, 34 cases of frontal lobe contusion received ICP monitoring in our department (monitoring group). Different treatment protocols were adopted according to the results of ICP. Meanwhile 46 cases of same type of head-injured patients who did not undergo ICP monitoring served as control group.

RESULTSWe found that ICP elevated dramatically within 24 hours after head injury if the contusions were located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or dispersed in bilateral lobe. After half a year follow-up and on the basis of Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, the monitoring group showed better outcome than the control group with good recovery in 24 cases (70.6%) , moderate disability in 7 cases (20.6%), severe disability in 2 (5.88%) and death in 1 (2.94%). The outcome of control group displayed good condition in 25 cases (54.3%), moderate disabilities in 8 (17.4%), severe disability in 7 (15.2%), and death in 6 (13.0%).

CONCLUSIONSFrontal lobe contusions are vulnerable and complex head injuries, especially when the contusions are located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or diffused in bilateral lobes. These patients should undergo ICP monitoring regardless of their consciousness status. If ICP elevates over 25 mm Hg, the craniotomy is mandatory and will markedly reduce the mortality and disability of these patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Contusions ; physiopathology ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; physiopathology ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; injuries ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic palonosetron hydrochlo-ride injection on its prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.Methods A multi-centered,ran-domized,double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out.A total of 281 patients were enrolled,with 141 of patients in study group and 140 of patients in control group respectively. 0.075 mg of intravenous palonosetron hydrochloride injection was delivered in the study group before anesthesia induction.The drug was substituted by 1.5 ml of NS in the control group.All anesthesia inductions were conducted by the intravenous injection of propofol,fentanyl and rocuronium,and were maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl.Complete remission rate and treatment failure cut-off time of vomiting were evaluated at 0-6 h,6-72 h,0-72 h postoperatively.Results In the study group CR% 0-6 h,6-72 h and 0-72 h were 107 (75.89%),104 (73.76%)and 92 (65.25%),the control group was 81 (57.86%),70 (50%)and 62 (42.86%),CR% of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P <0.01).Insignificant statistical difference but significant clin-ical difference exists in their treatment failure cut-off time,386.5 min and 300.0 min,respectively be-tween the groups.Conclusion Domestic palonosetron hydrochloride injection is safe and effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUNDThe optimal endpoint for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains ambiguous. This study investigated the impact of AF termination as a procedural endpoint and the termination mode on long-term clinical outcome.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-three patients who underwent stepwise ablation for persistent AF were categorized into the AF termination by ablation group and into the electrical cardioversion (CV) group. Subgroups were also analyzed based on different termination modes. Follow-up assessment included early recurrence and sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance.

RESULTSDuring initial ablation, 33 patients (11.3%) were directly converted to SR, 166 patients (56.7%) were converted to atrial tachycardia (AT) that subsequently restored SR with further ablation in 98 patients (33.4%), and a total of 162 patients (55.3%) underwent cardioversion due to persistent atrial arrhythmias. Comparison between termination by ablation and termination by cardioversion in patients exhibiting AF or AT revealed that no significant difference was observed in early recurrence (38.2% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.328) and SR maintenance (67.2% vs. 59.8%, P = 0.198) during the (23 ± 7) months follow-up. Even after repeat ablation, the SR maintenance continued to exhibit no statistical difference in above two groups (72.5% vs. 70.4%, P = 0.686). Further analysis of subgroups, however, demonstrated that patients with AF terminated directly to SR experienced better clinical outcomes than other subgroups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, atrial arrhythmias present during ablation have been implicated in prediction of recurrence mode: AF or AT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTermination as a procedural endpoint is not associated with favorable long-term SR maintenance in persistent AF. AF methods that convert arrhythmia directly to SR have, however, been linked with improved clinical outcomes, although conversions to AT may not be correlated. Atrial arrhythmias observed during the ablation may be used to predict the recurrence mode.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of the level of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in evaluating the conditions and prognosis of children with severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 76 children with severe pneumonia who were admitted from August 2017 to October 2019 were enrolled as the severe pneumonia group. According to the treatment outcome, they were divided into a non-response group with 34 children and a response group with 42 children. Ninety-four children with common pneumonia who were admitted during the same period of time were enrolled as the common pneumonia group. One hundred healthy children who underwent physical examination in the outpatient service during the same period of time were enrolled as the control group. The serum level of sTREM-1, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were measured for each group, and the level of sTREM-1 in BALF was measured for children with severe pneumonia. The correlation of the above indices with the severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children was analyzed. RESULTS: The severe pneumonia group had significantly higher serum sTREM-1 level, APACHEII score, and SOFA score than the common pneumonia group and the control group (P<0.05). For the children with severe pneumonia, the non-response group had significant increases in the levels of sTREM-1 in serum and BALF and SOFA score on day 7 after admission, while the response group had significant reductions in these indices, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Positive correlation was found between any two of serum sTREM-1, BALF sTREM-1, and SOFA score (P<0.05). APACHE II score was not correlated with serum sTREM-1, BALF sTREM-1, and SOFA score (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The level of sTREM-1 in serum and BALF and SOFA score can be used to evaluate the severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children.
APACHE ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Child ; Humans ; Organ Dysfunction Scores ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Sepsis ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1