Objective To evaluate levels of endothelin (ET) and ?-human chorionic gonadotropin (?-hCG) and the relationship between them in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH), and to investigate the role of ET and ?-hCG in the pathogenesis of PIH. Methods ET and ?-hCG serum levels of 30 patients with severe PIH, 20 normal term pregnant women and 20 nonpregnant health reproductive age women were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results ET and ?-hCG levels were significantly higher in patients with severe PIH than those in two control groups(P0 05). Conclusions The increased levels of ET and ?-hCG as well as their positive correlation suggested that the dysfunction of the placental cells may be associated with the endothelial cell damage in severe PIH patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Hath1 on epithelial ridge (GER) cells from postnatal rat cochlear. METHODS An experimental method was developed which allowed the isolation and culture of GER cells from P1 rat cochleae using a combinatorial approach of enzymatic digestion and mechanical separation. The dissociated GER cells were cultured in DMEM+10% FBS. The GER explants infected with ad-Hath1 for 3 hours were cultured for 10 days and observed under scanning electron microscope. RESULTS The GER cell cultures tended to attach to the substratum and grow in patches which assume a polygonal morphology similar to that of epithelial cells in medium containing 10% serum. Stereociliary bundle-like structures were observed in the boundary of GER cell patches forced to express Hath1. CONCLUSION That GER cells which are likely hair cell progenitors could be cultured in vitro and generate stereociliary bundle-like structure when forced to express Hath1 suggests that the misexpression of Hath1 probably can induce the predifferentiation of pure hair cell progenitors into hair cells in vitro.

Objective To investigate the occurrence law of autophagy in trophoblast cells from preeclampsia and its underlying mechanisms.Methods Twenty cases of placenta tissues were collected from women suffered from preeclampsia and normal pregnant women respectively.Autophagosome of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope.The expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Atg4B in placenta tissues were detected by western blot and real-time PCR.Results Compared with the control group,typical autophagosomes of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope.The ratio of LC3-Ⅱ / Ⅰ in placenta of PE patients was increased (1.43 ± 0.23) compared with control group (0.59 ±0.12),and the expression of Atg4B was up-regulated in both mRNA [(1.73 ±0.16) folds] and protein levels (0.71 ± 0.13) compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Autophagy was significantly up-regulated in trophoblast cells from patients suffered from preeclampsia.Thus,all the data suggest that autophagy might be involved in the generation of preeclampsia.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of dengue fever in Hangzhou in 2018.Methods:RT-PCR was used to detect the nucleic acids and analyze the serotypes of dengue viruses (DENV) in serum samples collected from dengue fever cases. Phylogenetic trees based on the E gene sequences of DENV isolated from the serum samples were then constructed and analyzed. Epidemiological characteristics of these dengue fever cases were analyzed. Results:A total of 80 cases of dengue fever were detected in Hangzhou in 2018 with 55 imported cases and 25 indigenous cases (24 caused by DENV-1 and one by DENV-3). These indigenous cases mainly occurred during late July to early October with people above 50 years old accounting for 68%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that DENV-1 strains isolated from the indigenous cases in Yuhang, Jianggan-Shangcheng and Qiantang districts all belonged to genotype Ⅰ, and were respectively closely related to the strains from Indonesia in 2015, Myanmar in 2017, Ningbo in 2018 and Hangzhou imported cases from Thailand in 2018. The indigenous DENV-3 strain belonged to genotype Ⅲ, and shared 99.5% homology with the Singapore strain in 2013.Conclusions:Imported cases accounted for a large fraction of the dengue fever cases in Hangzhou, which brought a high risk to indigenous outbreak. Due to multiple imported cases, the current epidemic presented a characteristic of multiple small-scale outbreaks.

Objective The abnormal ankle-brachial index ( ABI) is associated with the incidence of cardiocerebral vascular diseases, but little is known about its relationship with cerebral microbleeds (CMB).This study aimed to investigate the correlation be-tween ABI≤0.9 and different distribution patterns of CMB . Methods We enrolled 187 patients with acute lacunar infarction , inclu-ding 115 non-CMB cases and 72 CMB cases (20 strictly lobar, 24 strictly deep, and 28 lobar and deep).We analyzed the differences between the two groups and the association of abnormal ABI with the occurrence and distribution of CMB by logistic regression analysis . Results ABI≤0.9 was found in 57 (30.5%) of the patients, with a significantly higher incidence rate in the CMB group than in the non-CMB group (43.1%vs 22.6%, P=0.003).The level of ABI was negatively correlated with the number of CMBs (r=-0.211, P=0.006).Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusted for confounders indicated that ABI ≤0.9 was significantly associated with the presence of CMB (OR=2.363;95%CI:1.181-4.729), deep CMB (OR=3.434;95%CI:1.283-9.187), and lobar and deep CMB ( OR=2.837;95%CI:1.098-7.333) in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease . Conclusion Decreased ABI is a risk factor of CMB, particularly deep CMB, in patients with ischemic stroke.

Cytoplasmic processing bodies, termed P bodies, are involved in diverse post-transcriptional processes including mRNA decay, nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD), RNAi, miRNA-mediated translational repression and storage of translationally silenced mRNAs. Regulation of the formation of P bodies in the context of multicellular organisms is poorly understood. Here we describe a systematic RNAi screen in C. elegans that identified 224 genes with diverse cellular functions whose inactivations result in a dramatic increase in the number of P bodies. 83 of these genes form a complex functional interaction network regulating NMD. We demonstrate that NMD interfaces with many cellular processes including translation, ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, intracellular trafficking and cytoskeleton structure.We also uncover an extensive link between translation and RNAi, with different steps in protein synthesis appearing to have distinct effects on RNAi efficiency. Moreover, the intracellular vesicular trafficking network plays an important role in the regulation of RNAi. A subset of genes enhancing P body formation also regulate the formation of stress granules in C. elegans. Our study offers insights into the cellular mechanisms that regulate the formation of P bodies and also provides a framework for system-level understanding of NMD and RNAi in the context of the development of multicellular organisms.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; genetics ; Cytoplasmic Structures ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Helminth ; Genome, Helminth ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay ; physiology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS) and its impact on outcomes.Methods:From July 2016 to October 2019, patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou and diagnosed as PCIS were enrolled retrospectively. Their demography, clinical data, laboratory and imaging findings were collected. HT was defined as no intracranial hemorrhage detected by the first head CT/MRI after onset, and intracranial hemorrhage was found during head CT/MRI reexamination within 10 d after onset. Symptomatic HT was defined as intracranial hemorrhage indicated by imaging reexamination and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was higher than the baseline. The outcome was evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months after onset, and >2 were defined as poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for HT, symptomatic HT, and poor outcomes. Results:A total of 242 patients with PCIS were enrolled. Their age was 68.02±12.0 years, and 111 were females (45.9%). The baseline median NIHSS score was 5.9 (interquartile range: 3.1-8.8). HT occurred in 19 patients (7.9%), and 14 of them (73.7%) were symptomatic HT. Follow-up at 3 months showed that 74 patients (30.58%) had poor outcomes, of which 12 died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher baseline systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [ OR] 1.076, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.021-1.135, P=0.006; OR 1.161, 95% CI 1.087-1.240, P<0.001) and larger infarct volume ( OR 31.293, 95% CI 4.542-215.592, P<0.001; OR 2.084, 95% CI 1.414-3.073, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for HT and symptomatic HT. The higher NIHSS score ( OR 1.511, 95% CI 1.307-1.746; P<0.001), diabetes mellitus ( OR 2.041, 95% CI 1.054-3.952; P=0.034) and symptomatic HT ( OR 4.514, 95% CI 1.458-13.979; P=0.009) were the independent risk factors for poor outcomes. Conclusions:HT is rare in patients with PCIS. Higher baseline systolic blood pressure and larger infarct volume are the independent risk factors for HT in patients with PCIS. Higher baseline NIHSS scores, diabetes mellitus, and symptomatic HT are the independent risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with PCIS.

Objective To observe the condition changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) following medication withdraw of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) treatment and to analyze the factors related to disease relapse.Methods Eighty-five CHB patients who discontinued medication of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues for antiviral therapy in Nanjing Second Municipal Hospital from January 2002 to December 2017 were enrolled in the study, among whom 22 cases met the withdrawal criteria (standard withdrawal group ) and 63 cases did not meet the withdraw criteria ( non-standard withdrawal group).The correlation of condition changes (abnormal liver function, positive rate of HBV DNA, hepatic failure with the drug withdrawal , the course of medication, serological transformation of HBeAg during drug withdrawal, HBsAg level, and liver cirrhosis during drug administration was analyzed.Results In standard withdraw group, the medication lasted for ＞3 years, only 1 case had HBV DNA positive conversion , abnormal ALT and TBil, and liver failure.In non-standard withdraw group, 50 cases (79.4%) had HBV DNA positive conversion, 36 (57.1%) had abnormal ALT, 25 ( 39.7%) had abnormal TBil and 14 (22.2%) had liver failure.There were 19 cases with HBsAg ＞1 000 IU/mL and 3 cases with HBsAg ≤1 000 IU/mL, and 1 case with HBsAg＞1 000 IU/mL (5.3%) had HBV DNA positive conversion , ALT, TBil abnormality and liver failure.In non-standard withdraw group, there were 52 cases with HBsAg ＞1000 IU/mL, among whom 45 cases (86.5%) had positive HBV DNA conversion , 31 (59.6%) had ALT abnormalities, 25 (48.1%) had TBil abnormalities, and 13 (25.0%) had liver failure; there were 11 patients with HBsAg ≤1 000 IU/mL, among whom 6 cases (54.5%) had HBV DNA positive conversion , 5 (45.4%) had ALT abnormalities, and no TBil abnormalities or liver failure occurred.There were 5 cases of liver cirrhosis in the standard withdraw group , only 1 case had HBV DNA positive conversion , ALT, TBil abnormality and liver failure.None of the 17 patients with non-cirrhosis had HBV DNA positive conversion , ALT, TBil abnormality and liver failure.There were 29 patients with liver cirrhosis in non-standard withdraw group showed positive HBV DNA conversion , 28 (96.6%) had ALT abnormalities, 22 (75.8%) had TBil abnormalities, and 11 (37.9%) had liver failure; among 34 non-cirrhosis patients, 21 (61.8%) had positive HBV DNA conversion, 8 (23.5%) had ALT abnormalities, 3 (8.8%) had TBil abnormalities, and 2 (5.9%) had liver failure.According to the standard discontinuation , 12 patients (16.7%) had positive HBV DNA transformation after HBeAg serological conversion , and no ALT abnormality, TBil abnormality and liver failure occurred.In non-standard withdraw group, only 17 cases without HBeAg serological conversion , 10 cases (58.8%) had positive HBV DNA conversion , 5 cases (29.4%) had ALT abnormalities, 2 cases (11.8%) had TBil abnormalities and liver failure did not occur.Conclusion CHB patients with medication of NAs should be discontinued according to the withdrawal criteria .and the course of medication, the immune index and the liver cirrhosis should be taken into account.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for reduced renal function in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods The medical records of patients with ischemic stroke were analyzed retrospectively.They were divided into normal renal function group and reduced renalfunction group.Reduced renal function was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ＜60 ml/(min·1.73 m2).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for reduced renal function in patients with ischemic stroke.Results A total of 805 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study.8.8％ of patients had a reduced renal function.There was no significant differences in the proportion of patients with mild and moderate neurological deficit between the reduced renal function group and the normal renal function group (all P ＞ 0.05),however,the proportion of patients with severe neurological deficit was significantly higher than that in the normal renal function group (8.4％vs.2.6％,x2 =5.573,P =0.017).The proportion of small artery occlusion in the reduced renal function group was sigaificantly higher than that in the normal renal function group (66.2％ vs.46.5％,x2 =9.962,P =0.002),and the proportion of large artery atherosclerosis was significantly lower than that in the normal renal function group (19.7％ vs.43.5％,x2 =15.045,P =0.000).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that old age (odds ratio [ OR] 3.301,95％ confidence interval [ CI],1.575 to 6.918; P=0.002) was the most important independent risk factor for reduced renal function,then was female (OR,2.291,95％ CI 1.355to 3.872; P=0.002) and hyperlipidemia (OR,2.527,95％ CI 1.095 to 5.831; P=0.030).Conclusions Reduced renal function in patients with ischemic stroke is strongly associated with old age,female,and hyperlipidemia.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and relative influence factors of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) in treating colorectal cancer obstruction.Methods Information of 47 patients received SEMS to treat colorectal cancer obstruction from Mar.2012 to Dec.2017 in Beijing Haidian Hospital were collected,who were then followed up in outpatient or by telephone.Effective rate,survival rate and complications were recorded and calculated by the software of SPSS 17.0.Chi-square test was used to analyze relative influence factors.Results Results shown that the clinical efficacy was 100％ (47/47).Patients' 30-day survival rate and 6-month survival rate were 87.2％ (41/47) and 68.1％ (32/47),respectively.After surgery,2 patients presented with perforation,3 patients presented with migration and 5 patients presented with reobstruction.Clinical stage of tumor and stent length were related with complications and survival.Therein,complications presented more in patients with advanced cancer.And the longer stent length,the higher mortality.Conclusions Clinical stage of tumor and stent length maybe risk factors of complications and survival of patients after SEMS surgery of colorectal cancer obstruction.