Mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) gene expression is positively correlated with insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it is unclear if Mfn2 is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and lipid homeostasis. In order to investigate the specific functions of Mfn2 in glycometabolism and lipid homeostasis in BALB/c mice, a RNA interference technique-mediated hydrodynamic injection was developed, in which short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were used to inhibit the Mfn2 expression in vivo. Seventy-two mice were randomly divided into two groups: the Mfn2 reduction group (Mfn2/shRNA) and the negative control group (NC). Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests were used to evaluate glycometabolism and insulin sensitivity. D-(3-(3)H) glucose or (3)H(2)O was injected into the tail vein or intraperitoneally to facilitate the calculation of the rate of hepatic glucose production and fatty acid synthesis in vivo. The results showed that, in Mfn2/shRNA mice, the liver Mfn2 protein was significantly decreased, and fasting blood glucose concentrations were increased by approximately 48%, when compared with the NC mice. In parallel with the changes in fasting glucose levels, hepatic glucose production was significantly elevated in Mfn2/shRNA mice. When insulin was administrated, these mice exhibited impaired insulin tolerance. It was also found that the reduction of Mfn2 markedly decreased the rate of fatty acid synthesis in the liver, and the Mfn2/shRNA mice exhibited hypertriglyceridema. Taken together, our results indicate that Mfn2 plays an important role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis, and in the development of insulin resistance in vivo.

Objective: To analyze the genotypes and the genetic evolution of the hemagglutinin genes of measles viruses in the city of Yancheng in 2016. Methods: Using a set of primers and probes for screening positive for measles viruses, specimens of throat swab were detected using the method of real time RT-PCR. The sequences of the nucleoprotein and hemagglutinin genes of measles viruses were amplified through one step RT-PCR method and the PCR products were sequenced. The sequences of nucleotide and amino acid of the nucleoprotein and hemagglutinin genes of measles viruses were analyzed and the evolutional trees were generated using bioinformatics software. Results: The genotypes of measles viruses in the Yancheng area in 2016 included subgenotype H1a and genotype D8. Phylogenetic trees analysis showed that the five representative strains of subgenotype H1a in Yancheng area and Jiangxi representative strain (KJ136545) clustered into independent evolutionary branches, belonged to the clade of H1a -1 evolutionary genes. The seven representative strains of genotype D8 in Yancheng area were clustered with the American representative strain in 2009 (JN635404), belonged to the D8-3-2 small clade genes. Compared with vaccine strain of Shanghai S191, the amino acid site in 240^thof the five representative strains of subgenotype H1a in Yancheng area mutated from serine to asparagine, leading to a loss of the N-glycosylation site NLS_238-240. The seven representative strains of genotype D8 in Yancheng area had no change in N-glycosylation. Conclusions In 2016, the prevalent strains of measles viruses in Yancheng area were mainly Chinese H1a dominant subgenotype and D8 imported genotype. In addition to a loss of the N-glycosylation site NLS_238-240in 240^thof the five representative strains of subgenotype H1a, most of the major neutralizing antigen sites of hemagglutinin gene of measles viruses in Yancheng area did not mutate. The Chinese vaccine of Shanghai S191 can effectively prevent infection caused by subgenotype H1a and subgenotype D8 strains.

Objective: To analyze the genetic characteristics of the hemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase(NA) genes of the influenza A/H1N1(09pdm) viruses isolated in the city of Yancheng in 2014-2017. Methods: The throat swab specimens of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) from sentinel surveillance hospitals and outbreak sites were detected using the method of real time RT-PCR. The influenza A/H1N1(09pdm) viruses were isolated using MDCK cell culture method in 2014-2017. The strains in 2014-2017 were selected randomly and their sequences of the HA1 and NA genes were amplified through one step RT -PCR method and the PCR products were sequenced. The mutations of genes and acid locus were analyzed and the evolutional trees were generated using bioinformatics software. Results: The clustering relationships of the respective branches of HA1 and NA genes of seventeen A/H1N1(09pdm) strains isolated in Yancheng area were basically the same and the phylogenetic trees of HA1 and NA genes were respectively clustered into four evolutionary branches. Compared with the vaccine strain A/California/07/2009(H1N1pdm)in the Northern Hemisphere, a total of three antigen epitopes (Ca, Sa, Sb) in HA1 genes of strains in Yancheng area were involved in six antigenic sites (K154R, S162N, K163Q, S185T, L191I, S203T); there were three mutations (D222G/N, G223R, E224K) in the 220 ring and one locus (L191I) in the 190 helix of the receptor binding sites; the two strains (A/Jiangsu-YC/SWL1540/2017, A/Jiangsu-YC/SWL1545/2017) isolated in 2017 increased the 162NQS glycosylation site. Because the strains of the antigen epitopes, receptor binding sites and glycosylation sites in the HA1 genes had a certain degree of variations in Yancheng area in 2014-2017, the protective effects of vaccine strain A/California/07/2009 (H1N1pdm) was limited at the gene level. The two strains (A/Jiangsu-YC/SWL1540/2017 and A/Jiangsu-YC/SWL1545/2017) isolated in 2017 were clustered with vaccine strain A/Michigan/45/2015(H1N1pdm) and had better protective effects. Seventeen A/H1N1(09pdm) strains had no mutations in catalytic residues and drug resistant sites of NA genes, but a part of strains had a certain degree of variations in glycosylation sites of NA genes. Conclusions These results indicated the HA1 and NA genes of influenza A/H1N1(09pdm) viruses circulated in Yancheng area in 2014-2017 changed gradually. The accumulation of these mutations would result in antigenic drift of influenza A/H1N1(09pdm) viruses.

Biomedical Research ; China ; Freeze Drying ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Safety ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; adverse effects ; immunology

Objective: To observe the status of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and their correlation with the number of hospitalizations within 1 year in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF). Methods: This study is a prospective investigation. Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation treated in the Department of Cardiology of the Third People's Hospital of Yancheng from May 2020 to April 2021 were selected. General information and AF6 questionnaire were used to define PROs. The number of hospitalizations within 1 year after discharge was obtained. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between PROs and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the number of hospitalizations in AF patients within 1 year. Results: A total of 197 patients were enrolled, the mean age was (74.1±9.0) years, 106 (53.8%) patients were female. The mean AF6 score was (24.3±8.3). The proportion of patients with 6 entries≥1 point exceeded 50%. There was a positive correlation between NYHA classification and PROs (r=0.360, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the older age (OR=1.058, P=0.004) and the AF6 scores≥24(OR=4.082, P<0.001) were the risk factors of rehospitalization within 1 year for AF patients. Conclusions: The PROs of AF patients are at the medium level and poor levels of PROs are associated with increased risk of rehospitalization within 1 year.
Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Prospective Studies ; Hospitalization ; Patient Discharge ; Patient Reported Outcome Measures

Objective: To observe the status of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and their correlation with the number of hospitalizations within 1 year in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF). Methods: This study is a prospective investigation. Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation treated in the Department of Cardiology of the Third People's Hospital of Yancheng from May 2020 to April 2021 were selected. General information and AF6 questionnaire were used to define PROs. The number of hospitalizations within 1 year after discharge was obtained. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between PROs and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the number of hospitalizations in AF patients within 1 year. Results: A total of 197 patients were enrolled, the mean age was (74.1±9.0) years, 106 (53.8%) patients were female. The mean AF6 score was (24.3±8.3). The proportion of patients with 6 entries≥1 point exceeded 50%. There was a positive correlation between NYHA classification and PROs (r=0.360, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the older age (OR=1.058, P=0.004) and the AF6 scores≥24(OR=4.082, P<0.001) were the risk factors of rehospitalization within 1 year for AF patients. Conclusions: The PROs of AF patients are at the medium level and poor levels of PROs are associated with increased risk of rehospitalization within 1 year.
Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Prospective Studies ; Hospitalization ; Patient Discharge ; Patient Reported Outcome Measures

The imaging techniques have been widely used in the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis,including plain radiography,magnetic resonance imaging,computed tomography and radionuclide imaging.Plain radiography is useful in the early detection of suspected osteomyelitis,but its sensitivity is low.Due to its high resolution and sensitivity,MRI has been the most widely used but its specificity is relatively poor.CT is mainly recommended for diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis in complicated anatomic regions.Radionuclide imaging will have prospects of broad application due to its diverse radiotracers and high sensitivity.This paper reviewed the research of imaging modalities in diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis.

Analgesics are widely used in fracture patients before and after operation.The analgesics frequently used include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,as well as central nerve and local medications.Recently,researches report that some analgesics may inhibit fracture healing,which has attracted much attention from orthopedic surgeons.However,there are researchers who hold opposite opinions.Accordingly,this paper reviews the progress in research concerning the effect of analgesics on fracture healing.

Objective To compare the effect of clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) with that of conventional acupuncture of the body points plus conventional rehabilitation intervention after cerebral infarction using blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).Methods Thirty acute cerebral infarction patients with hemiplegia were equally divided into two groups at random.The test group received the clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with CIMT,while the control group received the body point acupuncture plus conventional rehabilitation intervention.Before and after two weeks of treatment,blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T was performed during a passive digital opposition movement.The volume and intensity of the activated areas were compared.Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) was carried out as well.Results The most pronounced activation appeared in the contralateral somatosensory motor cortex for both groups.There was no significant difference in average FMA scores between the two groups before the treatment,but after the treatment the averages were significantly different.An increase in activated volume and intensity in the contralateral SMC was observed in both groups after the treatment,but the test group showed a much larger change in both activated volume and intensity.Conclusion The clustered acupuncture of the scalp combined with CIMT can achieve a more significant improvement in functional recovery after acute cerebral infarction than conventional acupuncture of the body points plus conventional rehabilitation intervention.Such combined therapy is worthy of application in clinical practice.

Osteomyelitis,particularly chronic one,is still a huge challenge to orthopedic surgeons.The current treatment for osteomyelitis centers on sensitive antibiotic coverage and surgical debridement of nonviable tissue.However,treatment failure and recurrence are common.Recently,adjunctive therapies such as hyperbaric oxygenation have been widely applied in treatment of osteomyelitis to promote sanative effect on osteomyelitis.In this review,we will outline the rationales and current status of potential adjunctive therapies in osteomyelitis management.