Objective:To investigate the possibility of miR-125b in serum as a novel tumor marker for primary hepatocellular car-cinoma (HCC) and the diagnosis value of combined detection of miR-125b and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for HCC. Methods:We detected serum miR-125b expression of 65 cases of HCC patients and 30 cases of healthy controls by real-time quantitative PCR. Moreover, we analyzed the significance of miR-125b and explored the relationship between miR-125b and clinical pathological factors. Results:The level of miRNA-125b was down regulated in serum of HCC patients compared with healthy controls which showed significant differences (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of miRNA-125b has no distinct correlation with sex, age, HbsAg, AFP, ALT andα-GGT, which had no significant differences (P>0.05). The expression level of miRNA-125b correlated the difference with liver Cirrhosis, tumor size and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages, which were considered significant differences (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of serum miR-125b for the diagnosis of HCC yielded AUC of 0.917(95%CI:0.851~0.960, P<0.001)with 85.9%sensitivity and 93.5%specificity. The ROC curve analysis of combined miR-125b and AFP for HCC detection yielded AUC of 0.951(95%CI:0.894~0.982, P<0.001)with 92.9%sensitivity and 93.5%specificity. The ROC curve analysis of serum miR-125b as biomarkers for the group (AFP<20μg/L) of HCC yielded AUC of 0.889(95%CI:0.776~0.957, P<0.001)with 84.0%sensitivity and 87.1%specificity. Conclusion:Serum miRNA-125b combined with AFP has considerable clinical value for the early diagnosis of primary HCC.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) level and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Uygur children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

METHODSA total of 173 Uygur children or adolescents who were either overweight or obese and 200 controls with normal body weight were included in the study. Body weight, height, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and SUA were measured.

RESULTSThe overweight and obesity groups had significantly higher SUA levels (235 ± 42 and 285 ± 42 μmol/L respectively) than the control group (199 ± 32 μmol/L; P<0.01). The subjects with SUA levels of 300-349 μmol/L and ≥ 350 μmol/L had significantly higher incidence of MS, overweight/obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia than those with SUA levels of <250 μmol/L and 250-299 μmol/L (P<0.01). There were significant differences in SUA levels between groups with different MS components. SUA level was significantly increased in groups with more MS components (P<0.01). Every 1 kg/m2 increment in body mass index (BMI) was associated with 5.74 μmol/L increase in SUA level, according to a multivariate regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONSUygur children and adolescents who are either overweight or obese have higher SUA levels than those with normal body weight. The incidence of MS and its components rises with increasing SUA level. BMI has a positive relationship with SUA.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; Obesity ; blood ; Overweight ; blood ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo determine the relation between the apolipoprotein E(apoE) promoter -427C/T polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Chinese Han population in Shanghai.

METHODSThe apoE promoter -427C/T polymorphism in 104 AD cases and 110 healthy subjects was detected using polymerase chain reaction method and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping technique. The differences in polymorphic distribution between the two groups were tested, and odds ratio was computed.

RESULTSNo differences in apoE -427C/T genotypic distribution were observed between AD cases and controls (P>0.05). Even after stratification according to apoE epsilon 4 stratum, there was not any polymorphic distribution difference when epsilon 4 carriers or non epsilon 4 carriers were compared with controls (P>0.05). The association between AD and apoE epsilon 4 appeared in the TT group(OR=3.94,95%, CI:22067038, chi-square=21.48, P<0.05), but not in CT or CC group.

CONCLUSIONApoE -427C/T polymorphism was not a susceptibility factor for AD in this Han population in Shanghai.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

Acetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Cysts ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To obtain scores in a community-dwelling population over 60 using the SF-36, to assess the reliability and validity of this general health questionnaire, and to analyze the difference in dimension scores among the elderly Chinese in Changsha. METHODS: We randomly selected 602 elders, aged 60 to 91 years, in multi-phases. All the subjects had resided in Changsha for at least one year. The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the validity through factor analysis and correlation analysis, etc. The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and independent-samples t-test. RESULTS: The split-half reliability was 0.72 and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of all the 8 dimensions were more than 0.8; the Pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were more than 0. 59. SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis. Health-related quality was different in different elders. CONCLUSION The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among community-dwelling elders.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Community Health Services ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between G72 gene polymorphisms and depression,and to probe the difference of G72 gene polymorphisms between depression with and without mixed family history.

METHODSThe polymorphisms of G72 gene (rs947267 and rs2181953) were detected by PCR technique in 100 depressive patients without mixed family history, 50 depressive patients with mixed family history and 86 normal controls.

RESULTS(1) The frequencies of rs947267 genotypes and alleles in female depressive patients without mixed family history were significant different to the controls (P=0.017 and P=0.008), the OR scores were 0.300 (A/A, P=0.010), 0.456(A, P=0.008) and 2.195(C, P=0.008) respectively; but in male patients there were no significant differences to the controls (P>0.05). (2) The frequencies of rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients without mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05). (3) The frequencies of rs947267 and rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients with mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe G72 gene polymorphism may be associated with female depressive patients without mixed family history,C allele of rs947267 may be the risk factor.

Alleles ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Depressive Disorder ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Objective To understand the biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA genetic sequence evolution of strains isolated from diarrhea specimens so as to provide basis for classification and identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods Specimens were cultured using MacConkey and SS medium. All isolates were identified as K. pneumoniae by automated biochemical tests. DNA was extracted, 1500 bp fragments of the 16S rDNA gene were by amplified PCR and sequenced with K. pneumoniae 16S rDNA primer, after being cut. Fragments of 1000 bp overlapping sequences were analyzed by Blastn to confirm the identity of the isolates. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by PHYLIP process to analyze the 16S rDNA sequence of the isolated strain with other relative bacteria species in the GenBank databases. Results Among 113 specimens of infectious diarrhea, 25 K. pneumoniae strains were identified by biochemical tests, of which 21 subsp, pneumoniae and 4 subsp, ozaenae, no subsp, of rhinoseleroma were isolated. Strains of subsp, pneumoniae were found having nature of resistance. All isolates were resistant to penicillin G and susceptible to polymyxin with some strains were resistant to Nitrofurantoin, Cephalothin, Kanamycin, Tobramycin. After searching in GenBank of 16S rDNA, strains biochemical identified as subsp, ozaenae shared high similarity with Salmonella strains and other intestinal bacteria. 16S rDNA phylogenetie analysis could be used to confirm subsp, pneumoniae, but could not separate other subspecies of K. pneumoniae completely. Conclusion 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis useful in identifying and classifying K. pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis among migrant workers without liability subject(hereinafter referred to as Pneumoconiosis without Liability Subject) in Hunan Province. METHODS: The cases of pneumoconiosis without liability subject from 2017 to 2019 in Hunan Province were selected as the research subjects using typical sampling method. They were clinical diagnosis by occupational disease diagnostic institutions. The distributions of age, gender, length of service, area, type of work, type of pneumoconiosis, pneumoconiosis stage and the situation of poor households with filing and registration card were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 18 870 cases of pneumoconiosis without liability subject were clinically diagnosed in Hunan Province from 2017 to 2019. The patients were mainly males(accounting for 99.8%), with the age ranged 50-65 years old(64.7%). Most of them had dust exposure service length of 5-29 years(78.4%). The cases of stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ pneumoconiosis accounted for 32.2%, 26.0% and 41.8% respectively. The main types of disease were coal workers′ pneumoconiosis and silicosis(accounted for 99.3%). The first five geographical distributions were Chenzhou City, Zhuzhou City, Hengyang City, Yiyang City and Shaoyang City, accounting for 17.9%, 14.6%, 14.1%, 11.8% and 9.2% respectively. The distribution of work types were mainly mine-related jobs(91.3%). There were 1 774 cases who had complications(9.4%), of which the top three complications were emphysema, pulmonary and bronchial infection and tuberculosis. There were 3 662 cases with poor households archives and cards(19.4%). CONCLUSION: The hazards of pneumoconiosis among migrant workers in Hunan Province should not be ignored. In 2017, Hunan Province took the lead in launching a large-scale basic medical treatment and rescue operation for migrant workers with pneumoconiosis, which helped solve the problem of pneumoconiosis in migrant workers who had no professional history certification and responsible employer.

BACKGROUNDThe sensitization and elicitation phases are involved in the immunopathogenesis of contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Langerhans cells (LCs) are believed to play pivotal roles in the sensitization stage of CHS. Local hyperthermia on skin induces the migration as well as maturation of epidermal LCs. Although fever-range whole body hyperthermia and local hyperthermia at 43°C prior to sensitization were reported to suppress CHS, the effects of different temperatures and the timing sequence of local hyperthermia on CHS have not been tackled.

METHODSLocal hyperthermia was applied to murine dorsal skin 3 days prior to, concurrent with, or 2 days post sensitization with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in BALB/c mice. Local hyperthermia temperatures at 37°C, 39°C, 41°C and 43°C were applied to mouse dorsal skin and the severity of CHS was calculated by measuring the swelling response of the challenged ears.

RESULTSLocal hyperthermia at 39°C, 41°C and 43°C prior to sensitization reduced the severity of CHS, as compared with that at 37°C. The suppression of CHS was temperature dependent in that higher temperature had a stronger effect. On the contrary, the hyperthermia treatments, either concurrent with or post-sensitization, resulted in an enhanced temperature-dependent ear swelling response.

CONCLUSIONSThe severity of murine CHS could be influenced by local hyperthermia at the sensitization stage in a temperature dependent manner. The temporal effect of local hyperthermia suggested a novel factor in interpreting the severity of allergic contact dermatitis.

Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact ; therapy ; Female ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Langerhans Cells ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify lead-resistant Lactobacillus casei strains with lead adsorption ability from the stool of healthy newborns as a new source of bacteria for developing lead-eliminating food products.

METHODSMRS was used to isolate lead-resistant bacteria from the feces of 30 healthy and full-term neonates. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequences of the isolated bacteria. Physiological and biochemical characterizations of the bacteria were performed according to the Berger's Systematic Bacteriology Handbook, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility test and acid-tolerant bile salt test. The adsorption capacity of Pbof the bacteria was determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

RESULTSThree strains of Lactobacillus casei were isolated, which were resistant to penicillin and ceftriaxone and could tolerate the exposure to 500 mg/L Pb. Acid-tolerant bile salt test showed that the bacteria were resistant to culture in the presence of artificial gastric juice (pH 2.0) for 3 h, and their survival rate reached 62.5% following exposure to 0.3% bile salt for 8 h. The bacteria showed a Pbadsorption rate of 90.4% at a low Pbconcentration (1 mg/L) and of 86.27% at a high Pbconcentration (50 mg/L).

CONCLUSIONThree Lactobacillus casei strains lead adsorption ability were isolated from the feces of newborns. These bacterial strains provide a new solution to alleviate lead poisoning by probiotic dietary.