Objective Blood pressure variability (BPV) is an independent risk factor for the death of patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).There is no study on the influencing factors of BPV at home in HD patients in China.The article aimed to investigate MHD patients'BPV at home and related influencing factors in order to provide theoretical basis for reducing home BPV (HBPV) clinically. Methods We chose 103 patients who were treated with MHD in the Renal Medicine Room of Nephrology Department in three upper first -class hospitals including Jiangsu Provincial People 's Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University and the Affiliated Hospi -tal of Jiangsu University from March 2017 to October 2017.We col-lected their 7 days'blood pressure monitoring at home and blood pressure before dialysis, average value and standard deviation in sys -tolic blood pressure monitoring at home, and took the coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure as the expression of HBPV .The patients were divided into high BPV group (BPV≥5.8％) and low BPV group (BPV<5.8％) according to the average BPV.At the same time, we recorded indexes such as sex , age, dialysis age, primary disease, BMI, inter-dialytic weight gain (IDWG), left ven-tricular mass index(LVMI) and analyzed relative influencing factors by multiple linear regression . Results The age, IDWG and LV-MI were positive independent influencing factors of HBPV (R 2 =0.467,F=10.945,P<0.001).According to standardized regression co-efficient, the contribution of each variable to HBPV was as follows : PIBWG >Age>LVMI. Conclusion In clinical nursing, we should actively control the IDWG of patients , encourage patients to monitor their blood pressure at home , and increase their awareness of the importance of home BPV.Meanwhile, HBPV is an important index for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy and can be used as an objective tool to improve patients 'self-management ability.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the proliferation and migration of human ovarian cancer cells (CAOV-3) after knocking down COX-2 gene by RNA interference.

METHODSThe recombinant plasmid of pGenesil-1-siRNA-COX-2 was constructed and transfected into CAOV-3 cells. The transcription of COX-2 gene was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expression of COX-2 was determined by Western blotting . MTT assay was used to investigate the proliferation of the transfected CAOV-3 cells, and the cell migration was evaluated using a transwell migration assay.

RESULTSCOX-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced after pGenesil-1-siRNA-COX-2 transfection into CAOV-3 cells, which showed obvious reduction in the cell proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSIONRNA interference allows obvious COX-2 gene knocking down in human ovarian cancer cells to result in lowered cell growth rate and migration ability. COX-2 gene may become a new therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

Objective To investigate the association between physical activity and glucose metabolism during the second trimester of pregnancy． Methods A cross－sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to November 2018． 1 083 pregnant women at 20－28 weeks of gestation in Guangzhou，China were recruited into this study． A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographics and lifestyles． Physical activity was assessed by the international physical activity questionnaire． The participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test． Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between physical activity and blood glucose． Logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between physical activity and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) ． Results Only 36. 57% of pregnant women met the recommended level of total physical activity． There was a negative correlation ( β= －0. 104， P= 0. 017) between total physical activity and postprandial 2 h blood glucose． Results from different types of physical activities showed that the recreation，sport，and leisure－time physical activity were negatively associated with postprandial 1 h blood glucose ( β = －0. 114，P = 0. 042) ． No significant association was found between either various types of physical activities or sedentary time and GDM． Conclusions Physical activity during mid－pregnancy is inadequate in pregnant women in Guangzhou，China． Higher total physical activity and recreation，sport，and leisure－time physical activity in the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with lower postprandial blood glucose.

Objective: To explore the effects and possible mechanism of rapamycin (RAPA) on apoptosis of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs from the mouse severe aplastic anemia (SAA) model. Methods: The BALB/c female SAA model mice were induced by interferon-gamma in combination with busulphan. The SAA model mice were intraperitoneal injection with RAPA at daily dose of 0.5 mg/kg for 5 days (the RAPA-treated group, n=15) in the SAA group (n=15) and the un-treated group (n=15) were control. Bone marrow hematopoiesis changes were observed by the patho-morphological examination of femurs. The mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood and spleen were subjected to assess the intracellular Foxp3 expression in CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs by flow cytometry (FCM). In addition, after being pured by immunomagnetic beads, the splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs was subjected to assess apoptosis by FCM and the Akt and Stat3 phosphorylation by using of western blot. Results: The patho-morphological examination of femurs showed normal marrow cell proliferation in un-treated group and hypocellularity in both SAA group and RAPA-treat group, with an increase in the number of fat cells. The bone marrow hematopoietic tissue ratio in RAPA-treat group was higher than SAA group [(9.75±1.83)% vs (7.00±2.00)%, Δx=2.15% (95%CI 0.15%-5.35%), P=0.037]. In the SAA group, FCM analysis showed down-expression of Foxp3 in CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs compared with the un-treated group. However, after treatment with RAPA, the expression of Foxp3 in CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs was increased (P<0.017). Compared with the un-treated group, increased CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs apoptosis [(19.84±1.39)% vs (29.85±2.72)%] with increased Akt phosphorylation accompanied by increased Stat3 phosphorylation was found in SAA group (P<0.05, respectively). On the contrary, RAPA-treated group exhibited CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Tregs with a reduction in apoptosis rate [(22.39±3.71)%], Akt phosphorylation and Stat3 phosphorylation compared with the SAA group (P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: These results indicate that RAPA may increase the expression of Foxp3 by down-regulation the levels of Akt and Stat3 phosphorylation and reduce apoptosis in splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs from the mice model of SAA.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Sirolimus ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and memantine on the long-term prognosis in neonatal rats with ischemia-induced periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).

METHODSThirty-two 5-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operated, PVL, GDNF-treated and memantine-treated. PVL was induced by right carotid artery ligation and hypoxia in the PVL, GDNF-treated and memantine-treated groups. GDNF (100 μg/kg) or memantine (20 mg/kg) was injected in the two treatment groups immediately after PVL inducement. The weight of the rats was measured immediately before and after hypoxia ischemia (HI). Both of Morris water maze test and Rivlin inclined plane test were performed at 26 days old (21 days after HI). The values of the escape latency (EL) and swimming distance, and the maximum inclined plane degree which the rats could stand at least 5 seconds were compared among the four groups.

RESULTSThe lower weight, the prolonged mean values of EL and swimming distance and the reduced maximum inclined plane degree were observed in the PVL group compared to those in the sham-operated, GDNF-treated and memantine-treated groups. There were no significant differences in the weight, the values of EI and swimming distance and the maximum inclined plane degree between the two treatment groups and the sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONSThe administration of either GDNF or memantine can markedly increase the abilities of spatial discrimination,learning and memory, and motor coordination, promote weight gain, and improve long-term prognosis in rats with PVL.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Body Weight ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memantine ; therapeutic use ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Rats

AIMTo investigate the cardio-protective effect of crocetin on primary culture of cardiac myocyte treated with noradrenaline.

METHODSAfter adding crocetin, the primary culture of cardiac myocyte was injured by 1.0 micromol x L(-1) noradrenaline. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), mitochondrion succinic dehydrogenase (MSDH) and ATPase were assayed. The mitochondrion membrane potential was detected by Rh123. The percentage of cardiac myocyte apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCrocetin significantly decreased the activity of LDH in culture supernatant, increased the activity of MSDH, ATPase (Na+-K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase) and mitochondrion membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONCrocetin could alleviate the disturbance of energy metabolism and decrease the percentage of apoptosis of cardiac myocyte treated with noradrenaline.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Carotenoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Crocus ; chemistry ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; enzymology ; Norepinephrine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

Objective To assay serum apelin level in obesity and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and body fat parameter,glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance index,etc.Methods Sixty-two patients with type 2 DM and 72 subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were selected and each group was divided into obese and non-obese subgroups according to body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m~2 or

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the frequency and mutation status of IgVH gene expression in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in China.

METHODSIgVH mutation was detected by multiplex PCR and directly sequencing in 29 CLL patients. IgH somatic hypermutation and mutation site were analysed by IMGT/V-QUEST.

RESULTSOf 29 CLL patients, 21 had IgVH mutation (72%). The most frequently expressed VH gene family was found to be VH3 (55%) followed by VH4 (38%), VH2 (3.5%) and VH7 (3.5%), with no expression of VH1, VH5 and VH6.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression frequency of IgVH gene families in Chinese CLL patients is significantly different from that in Western CLL patients, suggesting the involvement of ethnic and/or environmental factors in CLL development, which might partly explain the different incidence of CLL between China and Western countries.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of blood Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in the patients with aplastic anemia (AA). Forty-five patients with AA were enrolled into this study, and were divided into mild aplastic anemia (MAA) group (n = 25) and severe aplastic anemia group (SAA) (n = 20), blood cell count was recorded. 15 healthy donors were enrolled as control. Proportions of blood Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The serum levels of IL-17, IFN-γ and TNF-α, as well as their concentrations in culture supernatant of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) -stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, were measured by ELISA. The results showed that the proportions of blood Th17 cells and concentration of blood serum IL-17 and IFN-γ increased in patients with SAA, compared with MAA and normal controls, but CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg cells obviously decreased in patients with SAA. The concentrations of IL-17 and IFN-γ significantly increased in culture supernatant of SAA group. Hemoglobin level in the patients with AA negatively correlated with the population of Th17 cells and serum IL-17 level, whereas positively correlated with the expression of CD4(+) CD25(+)Treg cells. It is concluded that the increased response of Th17 cells and deficiency of CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells present in severe aplastic anemia. The severity of anemia may be related with the imbalance between Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+)Treg cell response.
Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism ; Th17 Cells ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genetic constitution and mutation status of the immunoglobulin variable heavy chain region (IGVH) gene expression in Chinese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

METHODSThe IGVH mutation was detected by multiplex PCR and direct sequencing of the purified PCR products from 64 CLL patients. The segments of VH, DH and JH family and mutations were analyzed by IMGT/V-QUEST and IGBlast.

RESULTSIn the 64 patients, the most common usage was VH3 (31/64, 48%), followed by VH4 (26/64, 41%), VH1 (4/64, 6%), VH2 (2/64, 3%) and VH7 (1/64, 2%). The results also showed that 44 patients (69%) had mutated VH, 6 cases (9%) had identical germline sequences. Among the 64 sequences of DH segments, DH3 gene family was used most frequently (25/64, 39%), among which 11 cases had unmutated VH. The most frequent usage of the JH segments was JH6.

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference in the frequency of the IGVH gene family in Chinese CLL patients compared to Western patients, suggesting the involvement of antigen selection in different ethnic and/or environmental factors in CLL disease initiation, and its prognostic significance needs further investigation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation