Objective:To analyze the genetic test results and ultrasonographic markers of 41 fetuses with short femurs and their relationship.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed 41 fetuses who were diagnosed with short femurs by ultrasound during 19-37 gestational weeks and underwent prenatal genetic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to June 2019. According to the results of genetic examination, these cases were divided into three groups after excluding three cases of variants of unknown significance: genetically normal group, chromosome variation (including chromosomal aneuploidy and pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variations) group, and gene mutation (including pathogenic or likely pathogenic gene mutations) group. According to the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), Z FL, FL/HC, FL/AC, ΔZ H-F and ΔZ H+A-2F for each fetus were calculated. One-way ANOVA and LSD- t test were used for statistical analysis. Results:(1) Among the 41 fetuses with short femurs, there were 28 in the genetically normal group, five in the chromosome variation group, three with chromosome variations of unknown significance and five in the gene mutation group. (2) In the genetically normal, chromosome variation and gene mutation groups, Z FL values were -2.78±0.77, -4.36±0.69 and -4.69±0.70; FL/HC ratios were 0.178±0.011, 0.170±0.010 and 0.131±0.022; FL/AC ratios were 0.197±0.013, 0.186±0.011 and 0.151±0.017; ΔZ H-F values were 2.49±1.09, 3.53±1.28 and 8.17±1.30; ΔZ H+A-2F values were 4.44±2.00, 6.78±2.20 and 14.28±1.26, respectively. The differences in Z FL values between the genetically normal group and the chromosome variation group as well as the gene mutation group were statistically significant (both P<0.05); so were the differences in FL/HC, FL/AC and ΔZ H-F values between the gene mutation group and the genetically normal group as well as the chromosome variation group (all P<0.05) and in any pairwise comparison of ΔZ H+A-2F among the three groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The genetic etiology of fetal short femurs is mainly related to chromosomal variations (including chromosomal aneuploidy and pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variations) and gene mutation. In fetuses with chromosome variation and gene mutation, the degree of the femoral development delay relative to the development of HC and AC is worse than that in the normal genetic results group.

Objective To explore the interaction between polymorphisms of rs17222919 which located in the 5-1ipoxygenase-activating protein(ALOX5AP) gene promoter and environmental risk factors in ischemic stroke(IS).Methods We conducted a case-control study involving a total of 622 cases and 631 unrelated healthy controls which were selected from Henan Han populations,and the environment risk factors were recorded.Genotyping aimed at detecting both genetic and environmental factors in relation to IS was performed by TaqMan-polymerase chain reaction technology while interaction indexes (Υ) were calculated to determine interactions and their role models.Results The rs17222919 TG (189/622,30.4％),GG (18/622,2.9％)genotype frequencies and G (225/1244,18.1％)allele frequencies in IS subjects were significantly lower than those in controls (221/631,35.0％ ; 31/631,4.9％ ; 283/1262,22.4％ ; x2 =4.117,P =0.042 ; x2 =4.457,P =0.035 ; x2 =7.294,P =0.007).Negative interactions between TG + GG genotype and hypertension,diabetes or cigarette smoking in the occurrence of IS (Υ =0.943,0.922,0.830) were observed,whose role models were all super-multiplicative models.Conclusions According to our study,ischemic stroke is the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors and G allele of rs17222919 may have weakened the role of environmental factors for hypertension,diabetes and cigarette smoking in IS incidence.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a kind of important Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR), are widely used in electronic products, construction materials and textiles. PBDEs have been detected in many environmental media (including air, water, dust, sediment and food), many animal and human tissues. For their environmental persistence, high bioaccumulative and multiple biotoxicitiies, PBDEs have been viewed as one of the most concerned environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) at present. Although detailed mechanisms are not clear, studies have found that PBDEs can induce toxicity to liver, endocrine system, nervous system, reproduction and immune system. What's more, lots of experiments indicate that PBDEs exposure can alter the levels of thyroid hormones. Recently, studies on the impact of PBDEs exposure on thyroid hormones have been quite a few and have not reached an agreement, especially on the alternation of thyroid hormones caused by PBDEs exposure, which has also been a hot issue. This paper reviews from the basic properties, usage, exposure and biotoxicity of PBDEs. We mainly introduce the impact PBDEs have on the thyroid and thyroid hormones in terms of biotoxicity, and attach importance to the endocrine disruption and neurodeveloptoxicity. We also give a preliminary introduction to hydroxylated and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers, structural analogs of PBDEs, which researchers start late to study. This paper can be a reference for the further research on PBDEs exposure and biotoxicity.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the Trp-p8 protein in the prostate tissue of the PSA "grey zone" with different PSA density of the transition zone (PSADTZ) and explore the value of determining Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSThis study involved 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and another 30 cases of PCa with different PSADTZ values. Using a data imaging and analysis system, we determined the expression levels of Trp-p8 in BPH and PCa tissues and analyzed their correlation with PSADTZ.

RESULTSThe expression of Trp-p8 was weak or negative in the BPH but strong in the PCa tissue and even stronger in the PCa tissue with high PSADTZ (F = 34. 05, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Trp-p8 protein is expressed differently in BPH and PCa tissues of the PSA " grey zone" and its expression is positively correlated with PSADTZ. Determination of the Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ contributes to the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; TRPM Cation Channels ; metabolism

To study the protective effect of Danshen Tongluo capsule on rat hearts in the myocardial infarction (MI) model. After being fed with high fat diets for one month, the SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group and the model group according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The MI model group was duplicated by ligating coronary artery and then divided into five groups: the model group, the positive control group (model + captopril), the small dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo), the medium dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo) and the high dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo). Four weeks later, changes in myocardium ultra-structure were observed by hemodynamics, cardiac ultrasound and electron microscope. The results showed: (1) All doses of Danshen Tongluo capsule could significantly reduce the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (P <0.01), increase the maximum internal pressure of the left ventricle (+ dp/dtmax), and lower the drop rate of left ventricular pressure (- dp/dtmax), with statistical significances in medium and high dose groups; (2) The B ultrasound results showed increase in EF and left ventricular shortening fraction (FS) in all dose groups of Danshen Tongluo capsule; (3) The medium dose group showed significant decrease in myocardial infarction index (P <0.01) and injured and fractured myofilament and sarcomere of ischemic myocardium in myocardial ultra-structure; All of Danshen Tongluo capsule-treated groups revealed reduction in myocardial injury and myocardial infraction area. The study preliminarily proves that Danshen Tongluo capsule can improve hemodynamic function, and has a protective effect on myocardial ischemia.
Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects

Background The pathological change of the anterior uveitis is the disruption of blood-aqueous barrier.Slit lamp examination appears to be limited for the evaluation of inflammatory response,and fluorescine angiography is an objective approach.However,there are few relative studies up to now in China.Objective Aim of this study was to observe the characteristics and assess the clinical applications of iris fluorescein angiography (IFA)in Chinese uveitis with brown iris.Methods Forty eyes of 40 normal subjects and 21 eyes of 13 patients with the anterior uveitis were collected in this study.IFA,slit-lamp examination and iris photograph were performed on the subjects.All individuals were informed consented at the initiation of this study.Results In normal eyes,fluorescence in iris vessels was blocked by the melanin pigment,but peripupillary weak fluorescent leakage was seen in the normal eyes with the age of ＞60 years old.The multiple patterns of fluorescence leakage were found in the patients suffered from uveitis of various etiologies although the negative slit-lamp finding,including the leakage of fluorescein around the pupillary margin and radial iris vessels in the eyes with mild diseases,transmitted fluorescence of regular iris vessels in the eyes with diffuse and local iris atrophy,and vascular tufts of the pupillary margin with coiled interwind tight clusters of thin vessels at the early phase in the eyes with dilated capillaries,microvascular anomalies and new vessel formation.The hyperfluorescence remained throughout the IFA duration.Conclusions IFA findings in uveitis vary depending on the topography,type and severity of inflammation.IFA has a good clinical applying value because of its objective assessment ability of the degree of the blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and iris neovascularization breakdown.It can exhibit the unvisible lesion under the slit-lamp and monitor the efficacy of medical theraphy in patients with active or quiescent uveitis.

Triclosan(TCS)is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that is widely used in personal care products. Humans are exposed to these chemicals through oral intake or direct dermal absorption. The main way to eliminate TCS is through urine. Studies have shown that TCS may interfere with thyroid function and the reproductive endocrine system. In recent years, increasing epidemiological studies have focused on TCS exposure during pregnancy and the relationship between TCS exposure and birth outcomes. Compared with other countries and regions, pregnant women have lower levels of TCS exposure in China. Animal experiments suggested that high dose of TCS exposure during pregnancy may affect birth outcomes through its endocrine disruption. This review is aimed to summarize the effects of TCS exposure during pregnancy on the birth outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the differentially expressed proteins in the plasma exosome of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients with different prognoses, to analyze their functions and biological processes, and to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis. MethodsA prospective study was performed for 10 ACLF patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed in Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2019 to October 2019, and the patients were followed up for 90 days. The patients who died or received liver transplantation were enrolled as liver transplantation/death group (5 patients), and the patients who survived were enrolled as survival group (5 patients). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of general data between the two groups. The label-free quantitative proteomic method was used for identification and quantitative analysis of plasma exosome proteins to screen out differentially expressed proteins, and a functional enrichment analysis was performed. R-3.5.1 software was used to perform a hierarchical cluster analysis of differentially expressed proteins to analyze the biological processes involving these proteins. ResultsA total of 860 proteins were identified by the exosome proteomic analysis, and according to the criteria of upregulation ＞1.2 folds or downregulation ＞1.2 folds (P＜0.05), there were 116 differentially expressed proteins. Compared with the liver transplantation/death group, the survival group had 62 upregulated proteins and 54 downregulated proteins. The bioinformatics analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins mainly participated in immune reaction, signal transduction, vesicle-mediated transport, cell death, and cell proliferation and were closely associated with the signaling pathways including inflammatory response, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, hepatocyte injury, and hepatocyte regeneration. ConclusionDifferentially expressed proteins screened out by the label-free quantitative proteomic method can be used as serological markers for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of ACLF.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

The main purpose of this study was to develop a novel, in situ gel system for sustained delivery of ranitidine hydrochloride. Ranitidine in situ gels at 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1.0% gellan gum concentration (w/v) were prepared, respectively, and characterized in terms of preparation, viscosity and in vitro release. The viscosity of the gellan gum formulations in solution increased with increasing concentrations of gellan gum. In vitro study showed that the release of ranitidine from these gels was characterized by an initial phase of high release (burst effect) and translated to the second phase of moderate release. Single photon emission computing tomography technique was used to evaluate the stomach residence time of gel containing 99mTc tracer. The animal experiment suggested in situ gel had feasibility of forming gels in stomach and sustained the ranitidine release from the gels over the period of at least 8 h. In conclusion, the in situ gel system is a promising approach for the oral delivery of ranitidine for the therapeutic effects improvement.
Animal Experimentation ; Gels ; Gingiva ; Ranitidine* ; Stomach ; Viscosity