Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of platelets (PLT) and white blood cells (WBC) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and discuss its clinical significance. Methods The number of PLT and WBC were examined in 63 patients with TBI by using cytoanalyze and also analyzed together with Glasgow Outcome Scale and concurrent infection, in the meantime, enzyme-linked immu-nosorbent was used to investigate concentration changes of C reactive protein (CRP) and thrombospondin 1 (TSPI) and analyze the correlation between CRP and TSP1. Results The number of WBC in all pa-tients, whether concurred with infection or not, was significantly increased within 24 hours after TBI (P < 0.01), with no statistical difference between patients without infection at day 4 and normal patients (P >0.05). However, the number of WBC was decreased to below 10 × 109/L in patients without infec-tion, which was significantly higher than that in normal patients (P < 0.05). In patients with infection and unfavorable prognosis, the number of WBC was increased again ay days 7-14, whereas that of PLT rose significantly at days 14-21 (P <0. 01). The concentration of TSPI was positively correlated with that of CRP (r = 0.720, P < 0.01). Conclusions Monitoring the dynamic changes of PLT and WBC is promising. The change of WBC at day 4 post injury is a key indicator to provide evidences of prophylactic antibiotic usage. Much attention should be paid to the dynamic change of PLT at days 14-21 post injury so as to evaluate the condition of hypercoagulability that can be potentially caused by inflammation response. Secondary increase of WBC and later increase, of PLT may affect prognosis of the patients. TSP1 and CRP may participate in thrombosis formation induced by inflammation.

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of the plasma growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods A total of 100 patients with CHF were in?cluded in this study (CHF group), and 30 healthy persons were used as control group. CHF group was divided into heart func? tionⅡgrade (n=35),Ⅲgrade (n=32),Ⅳgrade (n=33) groups in accordance with New York Heart Association (NYHA). And CHF group was also divided into left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<0.4 grade (n=52) and LVEF≥0.4 grade (n=48) groups in accordance with LVEF of patients. The plasma GDF-15 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were detected by ELISA. The values of LVEF, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVDs) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were detected by echocardiography. The correlation of GDF-15, NYHA classifi?cation, BNP and index of echocardiography was analyzed between groups. Results Compared with control group, the levels of BNP, GDF-15, LVDd and LVDs were significantly higher in heart failure group, and values of LVEF and LVFS were sig?nificantly lower (P<0.05). The plasma levels of BNP, GDF-15, LVDd and LVDs were in turn increased in control group, LVEF≥0.4 grade group and LVEF<0.4 grade group. The plasma levels of LVFS were in turn decreased, in control group, LVEF≥0.4 grade group and LVEF<0.4 grade group (P<0.05). There were positive correlations between the plasma levels of GDF-15 and BNP, NYHA, LVDd and LVDs (r=0.524, 0.286, 0.453 and 0.531, P<0.05). The plasma level of GDF-15 was negatively correlated with LVEF and LVFS (r=-0.592,-0.587,P<0.05). Conclusion The plasma level of GDF-15 can be used as a new marker for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Objective: To investigate the protection roll of rosuvastatin on chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats with its effect on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) metabolic pathway.
Methods: A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, n=12 in each group. Isoproterenol (ISO) group, the rats received ISO subcutaneous injection (5mg·kg·d) for 7 days to establish CHF model, and then received normal saline gavage administration for 7 days. Rosuvastatin (ROS) treatment group, the rats received ISO with ROS for 7 days, then continuously receiving ROS until 14 days. Normal control group, the rats received saline gavage administration for 7 days. The related serum index and haemodynamic parameters were examined, myocardial pathological changes were observed and the relevant protein expression was measured by Western blot analysis.
Results: Compared with Normal control group, ISO group had obviously increased troponin (cTn I), serum ADMA,-LVdP/dtmin, all P<0.01, and decreased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), heart rate, arterial SP, mean arterial pressure, +LVdP/dtmax, all P<0.01. Compared with ISO group, ROS treatment group showed signiifcantly decreased BNP, cTn I, ADMA , -LVdP/dtmin, all P<0.01, and increased LVSP, heart rate, arterial SP, mean arterial pressure,+LVdP/dtmax, all P<0.01. Compared with Normal control group, ISO group had increased expression of protein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1), decreased expression of dimethyl- arginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDHA2), both P<0.01. Compared with ISO group, ROS treatment group showed decreased expression of PRMT1, P<0.01 and similar expression DDHA2, P>0.05.
Conclusion: Rosuvastatin has the protective roll on ISO induced CHF in rats, which might be related to decreased serum levels of cTn I, BNP and ADMA metabolic pathway regulation.

AIM: To purify and refold the inclusion body of a human anti-HBsAg scFv with a 6?His tag, and to determine the affinity constant of the purified recombinant product.METHODS: Solubilizing in buffers containing urea or guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), the inclusion body was purified by IMAC, and then refolded by dialysis against urea or GuHCl, at the same time, Ni 2+ charged chelate column was utilized for in situ refolding. The affinity constant of the refolded scFv, polished by immune-affinity chromatography, was determined by non-competitive ELISA. RESULTS: The refolded scFv with highest specific bioactivity was produced by dialysis against GuHCl. Under this condition, the recovery of target protein reached (61.08?1 45)%. The affinity constant of the polished scFv was confirmed to be(2.30?0.32) ?10 7 L/mol. CONCLUSION: The inclusion body studied in this paper can be refolded efficiently under optimal dialysis condition in vitro . The antigen-binding property of this recombinant scFv is not affected by the purification tag fused to the N terminal of the protein.

OBJECTIVETo achieve early diagnosis for inheritable hearing loss and determine carrier rate of deafness causing gene mutations in order to provide information for premarital, prenatal and postnatal genetic counseling.

METHODSA total of 17 000 dried heel blood spots of normal newborns in Chengdu were collected with informed consent obtained from their parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots using Qiagen DNA extraction kits. Microarrays with 9 common mutation loci of 4 deafness-associated genes in Chinese population were used. Nine hot mutations including GJB2 (35delG, 176del16, 235delC and 299delAT), GJB3 (538C> T), SLC26A4 (IVS 7-2A> G, 2168A> G), and mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA (1555A> G, 1494C> T) were detected by PCR amplification and microarray hybridization. Mutations detected by microarray were verified by Sanger DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 17 000 new-borns, 542 neonates had mutations of the 4 genes. Heterozygous mutations of GJB2, at 235delC, 299delAT, and 176del16 were identified in 254, 55, and 15 newborns, respectively. Two newborns had homozygous mutation of GJB2, 235delC. Heterozygous mutations at 538C> T of GJB3, 2168A> G and IVS 7-2A> G of SLC26A4 were found in 23, 17 and 128 newborns, respectively. For mutation analysis of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA, 1494C> T and 1555A> G were homogeneous mutations in 4 and 42 neonates, respectively. In addition, 6 complexity mutations were detected, which demonstrated that one newborn had heterozygous mutations at GJB2 235delC and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G, one had heterozygous mutation GJB2 235delC and 12S rRNA homogeneous mutation, 1555 A> G, one heterozygous mutations at GJB2, 299delAT, and GJB3, 538C> T, one at GJB2, 299delAT and 12S rRNA, 1555 A> G, two at GJB2, 299delAT, and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G. All mutations as above were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThe total mutation carrier rate of the 4 deafness genes is 3.19% in healthy newborns at Chengdu. Mutations of GJB2 and SLAC26A4 are major ones (86.5% of total). The mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA is 2.71‰, which may have deafness induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Newborn screening for mutation of genes related to hereditary deafness plays an important role in the early detection and proper management for neonatal deafness as well as genetic counseling for premarital, prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Dried Blood Spot Testing ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Mutation ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics