Obesity and sleep disorders are both familial clustering. Childhood obesity can cause sleep disordered breathing and sleep deprivation. The expression of energy metabolism related genes can also be inlfuenced by obesity, which may lead to overweight or obesity, even metabolic syndrome. In this review, the recent progress on obesity related gene polymorphism and its relationship to childhood sleep disorders is summerized.

Objective:To explore the effect of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on growth plate development of tibial growth plate in young chronic renal failure (CRF) rats.Methods:Four-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into control group and CRF group ( n=20/per group). Control group was intragastric administration with distilled water, and CRF group was given adenine suspension (150 mg·kg -1·d -1). All the young rats were sacrificed after continuous gavages for 6 weeks. The full length of tibia was compared between the two groups. The width of tibia proximal growth plates was measured by micro-CT scanning, and the width of the growth plate was also measured in histological sections. Chondrocytes isolated from growth plate in two groups were cultured in vitro to P3 generation. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of collagen Ⅱ, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and β-catenin in chondrocytes. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of collagen Ⅱ, MMP-13 and β-catenin. Results:Compared with the control group, the tibial length of rats in the CRF group was shorter [(27.32±5.81) mm vs (35.43±3.61) mm, t=5.226, P<0.001], the width of growth plate in micro-CT picture was more narrow [(0.72±0.22) mm vs (1.13±0.27) mm, t=5.096, P<0.001], and the relative width of the growth plate was also more narrow ( t=6.744, P<0.001) in histological sections. The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed the expressions of collagen Ⅱ in the CRF group decreased significantly ( t=8.212, P<0.001), MMP-13 ( t=13.091, P<0.001) and β-catenin ( t=7.534, P<0.001) increased significantly compared the control group in chondrocytes. Conclusion:The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is highly expressed in the tibial growth plate of young rats with chronic renal failure, which leads to accelerated degeneration and differentiation of chondrocytes and a closure tendency of growth plate.

Objective To evaluate the right ventricular function of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) by Doppler echocardiography. Methods In 16 patients with CTEPH,end-diastolic left ventricular diameter(LVDd), end-diastolic right ventricular areas (RVEDA), end-systolic right ventricular areas (RVESA), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), pulmonary accelerative time (Pact), pressure gradient of tricuspid valve regurgitation (PGT1), area of tricuspid valve regurgitation (AT1) were measured by echocardiography. Results Fifteen and thirty days after surgery,the LVDd and Pact had increased,RVEDA, RVESA,PGT1 and AT1 had decreased while RVFAC had increased in all cases. Conclusions PTE may effectively improve the right ventricular function of patients with CTEPH.

Objective To analyze the imaging features of several rare primary renal tumors.Methods The CT and MR images of 1 3 cases with pathologically proved rare primary renal tumors were analyzed retrospectively.The imaging features including location, number,size,shape,margin,density or intensity,internal structures and pattern of enhancement were observed.Results Of the 13 cases,4 were primary renal lymphoma (PRL),which performed as renal hilar mass involving the renal parenchyma in 3 cases and multiple nodules at bilateral kidney in 1 case.3 were hemanyiopericytoma (HA),which located in the renal parenchyma in 1 case and protruded from renal surface in 2 cases.All the HA showed obvious enhancement,with small vessels within the tumor in 2 cases.Two cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT)were mainly located in renal sinus,among which the renal parenchyma was involved in 1 case. One case with adult Wilms tumor showed mixed heterogeneous signal intensity in both T1-and T2-weighted images,indicating intratumoral hemorrhage.One case of neuroendocrine tumor was located in the renal parenchyma with ipsilateral adrenal and regional lymph node metastasis. One case of metanephric adenoma (MA)demonstrated as renal parenchymal mass with slightly enhancement.One case of meoblastic nephroma (MN)showed as a heterogeneous mass with continuous enhancement.Conclusion The imaging features of rare primary renal tumors are characteristical.It is important to analyze the imaging characteristics carefully in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7–18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959– 0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755–0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7–18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959– 0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755–0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

Objective:To investigate the expression of miRNA-34b (miR-34b) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and its effect on proliferation and invasion of human NSCLC A549 cells in vitro.Methods:The specimens of cancer tissues and paracancerous normal epithelial tissues (more than 5 cm from the edge of the tumor) were collected from 40 NSCLC patients in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from June 2015 to March 2017. A549 cells were transfected with miR-34b mimics (experimental group) and irrelevant sequences (negative control group), respectively. The expression of miR-34b in tissues and each group of A549 cells was detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation activity of A549 cells in the experimental group and the negative control group was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the invasion ability of A549 cells in the two groups was detected by Transwell assay.Results:The relative expression of miR-34b in NSCLC tissues was lower than that in paracancerous normal epithelial tissues (0.52±0.06 vs. 1.05±0.17), and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). The relative expression of miR-34b in A549 cells of the experimental group was higher than that in the negative control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). MTT assay showed that the cell proliferation ability (absorbance value) of A549 cells in the experimental group was lower than that in the negative control group after cultured for 24 and 48 hours (both P < 0.01). Transwell assay showed that the number of invaded A549 cells in the experimental group was less than that in the negative control group [(49.53±5.03) cells vs. (121.00±12.06) cells, P < 0.01]. Conclusions:The expression of miR-34b is low in NSCLC tissues, and the up-regulation of miR-34b expression can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC A549 cells.

The regulator of expression of virion(Rev)protein binds specifically to the Rev-responsive element(RRE)RNA in order to regulate the expression of the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-1 genes.Fluores-cence indicator displacement assays have been used to identify ligands that can inhibit the Rev-RRE interaction;however,the small fluorescence indicators cannot fully replace the Rev peptide or protein.As a result,a single rhodamine B labeled Rev(RB-Rev)model peptide was utilized in this study to develop a direct and efficient Rev-RRE inhibitor screening model.Due to photon-induced electron transfer quenching of the tryptophan residue on the RB fluorophore,the fluorescence of RB in Rev was weakened and could be dramatically reactivated by interaction with RRE RNA in ammonium acetate buffer(approximately six times).The interaction could reduce the electron transfer between tryptophan and RB,and RRE could also increase RB fluorescence.The inhibitor screening model was evaluated using three known positive Rev-RRE inhibitors,namely,proflavin,6-chloro-9-[3-(2-chloroethylamino)pro-pylamino]-2-methoxyacridine(ICR 191),and neomycin,as well as a negative drug,arginine.With the addition of the positive drugs,the fluorescence of the Rev-RRE decreased,indicating the displacement of RB-Rev.This was confirmed using atomic force microscopy(AFM)and the fluorescence was essentially unaffected by the addition of arginine.The results demonstrated that RB-Rev can be used as a fluorescent probe for recognizing small ligands that target RRE RNA.The Rev-RRE inhibitor screening model offers a novel approach to evaluating and identifying long-acting Rev inhibitors.

Objective: To construct nomogram to predict the risk of bone metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods: The clinical data of NSCLC patients diagnosed in the hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including the occurrence of bone metastasis, age, gender, pathological type, smoking status, PS score, TN stage, metastasis of other sites before bone metastasis, carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) level, alpha fetoprotein(AFP) level, serum calcium(Ca2+), serum phosphorus(P), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) level, which were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) and decision curve analysis were used, DCA was used to verify the accuracy and clinical benefit of the model, and nomogram was used to visualize the model. Results: Area under the ROC curve(AUC) showed that in the modeling group(n=138) and the validation group(n=92), the AUC value predicted by combined indicators(age, gender, pathological type, CEA, ALP)(modeling group=0.792, validation group=0.629) was higher than that predicted by single indicator. Conclusion The prediction model constructed in this study has good effect and can provide reference for clinical screening of high-risk patients with bone metastasis of NSCLC.