OBJECTIVETo explore the biological and clinical significance of the double mutations of C1673T/C1799G in HBV C promoter (CP).

METHODSTotally 136 patients were enrolled, including 25 asymptomatic carriers (AsC), 38 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 24 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB), 36 cases with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 13 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV subgenotypes and mutations in CP of all samples were determined by nested-PCR and direct nucleotide sequence analysis. The C to T mutation at nucleotide 1673 and C to G at nucleotide 1799 were analyzed in different subgenotypes, and the relationships of C1673T/C1799G double mutations with HBV replication, the expression of HBeAg, and with the severity of liver disease after chronic HBV infection were studied.

RESULTSOf the 136 patients, 110 were subgenotype Ba, 1 was Bj, 7 were C1, and 18 were C2. C1673T/C1799G double mutations in Ba were determined in 106 (96. 4%) samples, which was significantly higher than in C1 (14.3%) and C2 (12.5%) subgenotype (P < 0.0001). In contrast to non-mutation group, HBV DNA content in mutation group had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The prevalence of the mutation was lower in HBeAg positive patients (71.4%) than in HBeAg negative patients (87.5%) (P < 0.05). The frequencies of the double mutations were not significantly different among ASC, CHB, CSHB, LC and HCC groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn Ba subgenotype, double mutations of C1673T/C1799G is much popular than in C1 and C2; the mutation has no effect on HBV replication, and may not be associated with the outcome of chronic HBV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; Ligation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the expression of mll-af9 oncogene and the proliferation of human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. One group of siRNA was designed targeting mll-af9 mRNA and finally obtained by chemosynthesis. Then the obtained siRNA was transfected into cultured human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 by lipofectamine. Flow cytometry was used to detect siRNA transfection efficiency. The level of mll-af9 mRNA expression was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cell proliferation rate was assayed by MTT. The change of cell cycles and apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the siRNA transfection efficiency was 69.1%+/-1.8%. The level of mll-af9 mRNA expression was significantly inhibited in siRNA-transfected cells as compared with the controls. mll-af9-targeted siRNA inhibited the proliferation of THP-1 cells and induced cell apoptosis effectively after transfection. The percentage of G0/G1 phase cells significantly increased in siRNA-transfected cells in comparion with the control cells, but the percentage of S phase cells significantly decreased. It is concluded that the mll-af9-targeted siRNA can effectively inhibit the proliferation of human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; pathology ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Sarcoidosis ; diagnosis ; Takayasu Arteritis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for anastomotic infectious complications after bowel resection in patients with Crohn disease.

METHODSClinical data of 124 patients with Crohn disease undergoing bowel resection between January 1990 and October 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The risk factors were identified by χ(2) test and Logistic regression.

RESULTSFourteen patients (12.3%, 14/114) developed anastomotic infectious complications in the postoperative period, including anastomotic leak (n=7), intra-abdominal abscess (n=6), and enterocutaneous fistula (n=1). Crohn disease activity index (CDAI)>150 (OR=2.185, 95%CI:1.098-6.256, P=0.040), steroid usage (OR=2.674, 95%CI:1.118-8.786, P=0.027), and the presence of preoperative abscess/fistula (OR=3.447, 95%CI:1.254-10.462, P=0.014) were identified as independent risk factors of anastomotic infectious complications. In the absence of these 3 risk factors, the rate of anastomotic infectious complication was 5.7% (3/53), which increased to 11.4% (4/35) when one risk factor was present, 21.1% (4/19) when two risk factors were present, and 42.9% (3/7) when all the 3 risk factors were present.

CONCLUSIONSCDAI>150, steroid usage and preoperative abscess/fistula are associated with higher rates of anastomotic infectious complications following bowel resection for Crohn disease. A prudent management should be carried out if risk factors can not be eliminated preoperatively.

Abdominal Abscess ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Anastomotic Leak ; pathology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Colectomy ; adverse effects ; Crohn Disease ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; pathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Surgical Wound Infection ; etiology ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of different dialysates on expression of protein kinase C-? (PKC?) and apoptosis of U937 cell line. Methods Different dialysates were added into culture fluid with U937 cell line at exponential phase of growth, and groups were divided: fluid A+fluid B group (dialysate A+dialysate B), fluid A+fluid B+rottlerin (PKC? specific inhibitor)group, fluid A+powder B group (dialysate A+powder B) and fluid A+powder B + rottlerin group. Besides, blank control group and normal control group were established. Cells were harvested 24 h and 48 h after treatment, morphological changes were observed by Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining, cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining, and expression of PKC? mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results Cell apoptosis significantly increased in fluid A+powder B group, with typical morphology of apoptosis. After treatment for 24 h and 48 h, cell apoptosis rates in fluid A+powder B group were significantly higher than those at corresponding time points in blank control group, normal control group and fluid A+powder B+rottlerin group (P0.05). Conclusion Fluid A+powder B can significantly increase apoptosis of U937 cell line, the mechanism of which may be associated with the up-regulation of expression of PKC?. Compared with fluid A+powder B, fluid A+fluid B is superior in reducing apoptosis of peripheral blood monouclear cells.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the growth of preterm infants up to a corrected age of 24 months, and to understand the growth trend and pattern of preterm infants. METHODS: A preterm infant follow-up database was established based on the Internet Plus follow-up system. A total of 3 188 preterm infants who were born from April 2018 to April 2021 were enrolled. Their length, weight, and head circumference were recorded at birth and at the corrected ages of 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The preterm infants were grouped by perinatal factors. The growth curves of these infants were plotted and compared with the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) standard and World Health Organization (WHO) standard. RESULTS: The weight, length, and head circumference curves of each group of preterm infants grouped by various perinatal factors all rose rapidly within the corrected age of 6 months, but the growth rate slowed down after the corrected age of 6 months. Based on the actual age for the groups of preterm infants with different gestational ages (<28 weeks, 28-31 CONCLUSIONS The physical growth rate of preterm infants is faster within the corrected age of 6 months, and the growth rate slows down after the corrected age of 6 months. Preterm infants with a smaller gestational age need longer time to catch up in weight and head circumference. More attention should be paid to the physical growth of extremely preterm infants, extremely low birth weight infants, and small-for-gestational-age infants.
Cephalometry ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUNDThe second-trimester maternal serum screening in twin pregnancy is still controversial, as the serum marker levels in twins are not as clear as those in singletons. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the levels of the second-trimester maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in normal twin and singleton pregnancies and to estimate feasible analysis methods for utilizing these markers in second trimester screening for twin pregnancy.

METHODSOn the basis of a prospective population-based study of second-trimester maternal serum screening, the concentrations of maternal serum AFP and free beta-HCG of 195 normal twin pregnancy and 26,512 singleton controls at gestational weeks 15 to 20 were measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in one laboratory. The levels of markers were compared between the twins and singletons using weight-correction and gestational age-specific model.

RESULTSAccording to the research protocol, 95 communities were randomly sampled, which covered the whole Jiangsu province, the east of China. A total of 26 803 pregnant women (98%), from the target population accepted prenatal screening for maternal serum AFP, beta-HCG detection, and all babies were followed up for at least six months. There were 197 (0.73%) twin pregnancies, of which one case had fetal trisomy 18, and one case with fetal anencephaly. The others were normal twin pregnancy. From a total enrollment of 26 803 women participants, 26 512 women with normal singleton pregnancies were selected as the model controls. The other 291 pregnancies, including trisomy 21, neural tube defect (NTD), trisomy 18, and other fetal abnormalities, were excluded. No significant differences were found in the medians of gestational age-specific maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twin pregnancy comparing with twice those in model controls with the exception of the medians for free beta-hCG during the 16th gestational week (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONThe weight-correction and gestational age-specific levels of Chinese Han population maternal serum free beta-hCG and AFP in normal twins were twice the levels as those in the singleton controls during the 17-19 gestational weeks.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Twins ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

Objective To evaluate the role of ultrasound for thyroid nodules with atypia of undetermined significance(AUS).Methods From January 2014 to December 2015,83 thyroid nodules with AUS diagnosed by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy were collected from 1984 subjects. On the basis of ultrasonic features,each thyroid nodule was prospectively classified into one of three categories: low suspicion for malignancy,intermediate suspicion for malignancy,and high suspicion for malignancy. Results Among 83 lesions,19 lesions(22.9%) were confirmed malignant,8 lesions (9.6%)were benign,56 lesions (67.5%)had no abnormal changes during clinical follow-up. The nodules were solitary in 36 cases (43.4%)and multiple in 47 cases(56.6%).The maximum diameter was (1.2±0.7)cm. Based on the ultrasonic feature of 19 malignant cases,16 cases (84.2%) were classified as high suspicion for malignancy,2 cases(10.5%) as intermediate suspicion for malignancy,and 1 case(5.3%) for low suspicion for malignancy. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the degree of malignancy of thyroid nodules was significantly associated with ultrasound image classification[OR=9.23(2.96-28.79),P=0.00],but not with age,gender,nodule number,and nodule size (all P>0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound diagnosis by using the present thyroid ultrasound classification system can be helpful for distinguishing malignant and benign AUS thyroid nodules.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

There are 400 thousand patients with long-term hemodialysis in China nowadays. Hemodialysis, as the most common alternative to renal replacement therapy, prolongs the life span of patients with end stage renal failure. However, there are still many complications of hemodialysis treatment. These complications reduce the quality of life of patients and may even endanger their life, and sometimes they are difficult to deal with. Classical prescriptions, commonly referred to as classical effective prescriptions in modern medicine, mainly indicating the formulas recorded in Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Synopsis of Golden Chamber, were relative to contemporary prescriptions emerging after Song and Yuan dynasties. Prescriptions corresponding to syndromes means one-to-one correspondence between syndromes and prescriptions, with many advantages and that is the key of clinical efficacy. Many complications of hemodialysis patients have typical clinical manifestations, which can match the syndromes corresponding to classical prescriptions, thus quickly relieving the symptoms of patients in clinical application. Six clinical cases of dialysis muscle spasm, disequilibrium syndrome, restless legs syndrome, uremic encephalopathy, post dialysis arrhythmia, and secondary hyperparathyroidism were used in this paper, to explore the intervention strategies for hemodialysis related complications.